Catalytic Aldol Reaction Research Articles

Enantioselective Catalytic Aldol Reactions in the Presence of Knoevenagel Nucleophiles: A Chemoselective Switch Optimized in Deep Eutectic Solvents Using Mechanochemistry.

In the presence of different nucleophilic Knoevenagel competitors, cyclic and acyclic ketones have been shown to undergo highly chemoselective aldol reactions with aldehydes. In doing so, the substrate breadth for this emerging methodology has been significantly broadened. The method is also no longer beholden to proline-based catalyst templates, e.g., commercially available O-t-Bu-L-threonine is advantageous for acyclic ketones. The key insight was to exploit water-based mediums under conventional (in-water) and non-conventional (deep eutectic solvents) conditions. With few exceptions, high aldol-to-Knoevenagel chemoselectivity (>10:1) and good product profiles (yield, dr, and ee) were observed, but only in DESs (deep eutectic solvents) in conjunction with ball milling did short reaction times occur.

Organocatalytic Assembly Based on Aromatic Donor–Acceptor Interactions for the Asymmetric Aldol Reaction on Water

AbstractAromatic donor modified prolinamide and aromatic acceptor modified thiourea were synthesized. They self‐assembled into a cooperative organocatalytic system through the aromatic donor‐acceptor interaction and catalyzed aldol reactions in high yields and stereoselectivity on water. The aromatic donor‐acceptor interaction was confirmed by mass spectrum, UV‐vis titraition and 1H‐NMR titration experiments.

A catalytic enantioselective stereodivergent aldol reaction.

The aldol reaction is among the most powerful and strategically important carbon-carbon bond-forming transformations in organic chemistry. The importance of the aldol reaction in constructing chiral building blocks for complex small-molecule synthesis has spurred continuous efforts toward the development of direct catalytic variants. The realization of a general catalytic aldol reaction with control over both the relative and absolute configurations of the newly formed stereogenic centers has been a longstanding goal in the field. Here, we report a decarboxylative aldol reaction that provides access to all four possible stereoisomers of the aldol product in one step from identical reactants. The mild reaction can be carried out on a large scale in an open flask, and generates CO2 as the only by-product. The method tolerates a broad substrate scope and generates chiral β-hydroxy thioester products with substantial downstream utility.

Structurally Informed Mutagenesis of a Stereochemically Promiscuous Aldolase Produces Mutants That Catalyze the Diastereoselective Syntheses of All Four Stereoisomers of 3-Deoxy-hexulosonic Acid.

A 2-keto-3-deoxygluconate aldolase from the hyperthermophile Sulfolobus solfataricus catalyzes the nonstereoselective aldol reaction of pyruvate and d-glyceraldehyde to produce 2-keto-3-deoxygluconate (d-KDGlc) and 2-keto-3-deoxy-d-galactonate (d-KDGal). Previous investigations into curing the stereochemical promiscuity of this hyperstable aldolase used high-resolution structures of the aldolase bound to d-KDGlc or d-KDGal to identify critical amino acids involved in substrate binding for mutation. This structure-guided approach enabled mutant variants to be created that could stereoselectively catalyze the aldol reaction of pyruvate and natural d-glyceraldehyde to selectively afford d-KDGlc or d-KDGal. Here we describe the creation of two further mutants of this Sulfolobus aldolase that can be used to catalyze aldol reactions between pyruvate and non-natural l-glyceraldehyde to enable the diastereoselective synthesis of l-KDGlc and l-KDGal. High-resolution crystal structures of all four variant aldolases have been determined (both unliganded and liganded), including Variant 1 with d-KDGlc, Variant 2 with pyruvate, Variant 3 with l-KDGlc, and Variant 4 with l-KDGal. These structures have enabled us to rationalize the observed changes in diastereoselectivities in these variant-catalyzed aldol reactions at a molecular level. Interestingly, the active site of Variant 4 was found to be sufficiently flexible to enable catalytically important amino acids to be replaced while still retaining sufficient enzymic activity to enable production of l-KDGal.

Using Experimental Spectroscopic Data to Guide and Validate Mechanisms in Catalyzed Aldol Reactions

Using Experimental Spectroscopic Data to Guide and Validate Mechanisms in Catalyzed Aldol Reactions

Trypsin-catalyzed aldol reactions of isatins with ketones and the mechanism probe of substrate selectivity by molecular simulations

Bovine trypsin displays a promiscuous activity to catalyze aldol reactions between isatins and ketones for easy access to 3-hydroxyindolin-2-ones. Detailed optimizations on the reaction conditions afforded the products with good yields, this system, which was compatible with various isatins. However, gradually enlarging the structure of ketones led to a significant decrease in yields. Molecular simulations were utilized to reveal the possible source of substrate selectivity. These results may provide valuable information for organic synthesis catalyzed by hydrolases.

Total Synthesis of ( + )-Swainsonine, (–)- Swainsonine, ( + )-8-epi-Swainsonine and ( + )- Dideoxy-Imino-Lyxitol by an Organocatalyzed Aldolization/Reductive Amination Sequence

A tactical combination of either ( S)- or ( R)-proline catalyzed aldol reaction followed by intramolecular reductive amination enabled the synthesis of a chiral pyrrolidine derivative with 3 contiguous stereocenters in only 2 synthetic steps, starting from achiral precursors. This product, obtainable in both enantiomeric forms, was further exploited as a common intermediate in total syntheses of the biologically active iminosugars: ( + )-swainsonine, (–)-swainsonine, ( + )-8- epi-swainsonine, and ( + )-dideoxy-imino-lyxitol.

Cinchona Alkaloid‐Derived Zwitterions Catalyzed Enantioselective Steglich Rearrangement and Aldol Reaction of O‐Acylated Oxindoles

AbstractA class of cinchona alkaloid‐derived zwitterions has been successfully applied to achieve highly enantioselective Steglich rearrangement. A series of O‐acylated oxindoles afforded C‐acylated oxindoles possessing a quaternary stereocenter. These products were obtained in high yields and with excellent enantioselectivity. The same catalytic protocol was also found to be applicable in the asymmetric aldol reaction of oxindoles. Studies were conducted to elucidate a clearer mechanism. These findings will advance the development of new reaction protocols that exploit cinchona alkaloid‐derived zwitterions as asymmetric nucleophilic catalysts.

A Molecular-Wide and Electron Density-Based Approach in Exploring Chemical Reactivity and Explicit Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) Solvent Molecule Effects in the Proline Catalyzed Aldol Reaction.

Modelling of the proline (1) catalyzed aldol reaction (with acetone 2) in the presence of an explicit molecule of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) (3) has showed that 3 is a major player in the aldol reaction as it plays a double role. Through strong interactions with 1 and acetone 2, it leads to a significant increase of energy barriers at transition states (TS) for the lowest energy conformer 1a of proline. Just the opposite holds for the higher energy conformer 1b. Both the ‘inhibitor’ and ‘catalyst’ mode of activity of DMSO eliminates 1a as a catalyst at the very beginning of the process and promotes the chemical reactivity, hence catalytic ability of 1b. Modelling using a Molecular-Wide and Electron Density-based concept of Chemical Bonding (MOWED-CB) and the Reaction Energy Profile–Fragment Attributed Molecular System Energy Change (REP-FAMSEC) protocol has shown that, due to strong intermolecular interactions, the HN-C-COOH (of 1), CO (of 2), and SO (of 3) fragments drive a chemical change throughout the catalytic reaction. We strongly advocate exploring the pre-organization of molecules from initially formed complexes, through local minima to the best structures suited for a catalytic process. In this regard, a unique combination of MOWED-CB with REP-FAMSEC provides an invaluable insight on the potential success of a catalytic process, or reaction mechanism in general. The protocol reported herein is suitable for explaining classical reaction energy profiles computed for many synthetic processes.

Varying the Directionality of Protein Catalysts for Aldol and Retro-Aldol Reactions.

Natural aldolase enzymes and created retro-aldolase protein catalysts often catalyze both aldol and retro-aldol reactions depending on the concentrations of the reactants and the products. Here, we report that the directionality of protein catalysts can be altered by replacing one amino acid. The protein catalyst derived from a scaffold of a previously reported retro-aldolase catalyst, catalyzed aldol reactions more efficiently than the previously reported retro-aldolase catalyst. The retro-aldolase catalyst efficiently catalyzed the retro-aldol reaction but was less efficient in catalyzing the aldol reaction. The results indicate that protein catalysts with varying levels of directionality in usually reversibly catalyzed aldol and retro-aldol reactions can be generated from the same protein scaffold.

Stereoselective Sc(OTf)3 -Catalyzed Aldol Reactions of Disubstituted Silyl Enol Ethers of Aldehydes with Acetals.

Facile and modular access to stereodefined disubstituted aldehyde-derived silyl enol ethers allowed their successful application in a stereoselective aldol reaction affording the products with excellent yields and diastereomeric ratios. The counter-intuitive stereochemical behavior of this Mukaiyama-aldol reaction is accounted for by a non-classical open transition state.

Stereoselective Sc(OTf)3‐Catalyzed Aldol Reactions of Disubstituted Silyl Enol Ethers of Aldehydes with Acetals

AbstractFacile and modular access to stereodefined disubstituted aldehyde‐derived silyl enol ethers allowed their successful application in a stereoselective aldol reaction affording the products with excellent yields and diastereomeric ratios. The counter‐intuitive stereochemical behavior of this Mukaiyama‐aldol reaction is accounted for by a non‐classical open transition state.

Rapid Evaluation of the Mechanism of Buchwald-Hartwig Amination and Aldol Reactions Using Intramolecular 13C Kinetic Isotope Effects.

A practical approach is introduced for the rapid determination of 13C kinetic isotope effects that utilizes a "designed" reactant with two identical reaction sites. The mechanism of the Buchwald-Hartwig amination of tert-butylbromobenzene with primary and secondary amines is investigated under synthetically relevant catalytic conditions using traditional intermolecular 13C NMR methodology at natural abundance. Switching to 1,4-dibromobenzene, a symmetric bromoarene as the designed reactant, the same experimental 13C KIEs are determined using an intramolecular KIE approach. This rapid methodology for KIE determination requires substantially less material and time compared to traditional approaches. Details of the Buchwald-Hartwig amination mechanism are investigated under varying synthetic conditions, namely a variety of halides and bases. The enantioselectivity-determining step of the l-proline catalyzed aldol reaction is also evaluated using this approach. We expect this mechanistic methodology to gain traction among synthetic chemists as a practical technique to rapidly obtain high-resolution information regarding the transition structure of synthetically relevant reactions under catalytic conditions.

L-proline/cholesterol and diosgenin based thiourea cooperative system for the direct asymmetric aldol reaction in the presence of water.

A series of cholesterol and based hydrophobic urea and thiourea compounds were synthesized and successfully used as a cocatalyst for L-proline catalyzed aldol reactions in the presence of water. The anticonfigured products were obtained with good yields (up to 94%), high diastereoselectivities (up to 95:5), and high enantiomeric excesses (up to 93% ee ). The successful results for catalytic efficiency of L-proline in the presence of water reveal the importance of the hydrophobic nature of cholesterol and diosgenin parts of thiourea on the reactivity and selectivity in the presence of water.

Surface wettability modification of amine-functionalized polyacrylonitrile fiber to enhance heterogeneous catalytic performance for aldol reaction in water

Heterogeneous catalytic aldol reaction has widely focused on tethering multiple functional groups upon support that can act together (for example, acid-base cooperation) to improve reaction rate beyond individual moiety alone. Here, a series of amine-functionalized fibers with additional surface wettability modification were prepared to promote aldol reaction in water. The result showed that an enhanced catalytic activity was achieved by introducing hydroxyl group to fiber. Hydrophilic prolinamide-functionalized fiber (PANEF-PLA) exhibited the best catalytic performance, and its activity proved to be higher than those of hydrophobic-modified fiber and even the small molecule prolinamide. This enhancement is attributed to that the favorable hydrophilic microenvironment consisting of hydroxyl group, residual cyano group and prolinamide facilitates the accessibility of reactants to catalytic sites and increases the rate of mass transfer in water for promoting reaction. This work provides an effective protocol to maximize performance of fiber-supported catalyst by appropriate wettability modification.

A comprehensive model for the role of water and silanols in the amine catalyzed aldol reaction

The experimentally observed effects of water, and the effects of silanol groups, on the liquid-phase amine-catalyzed aldol reaction of acetone with 4-nitrobenzaldehyde have been elucidated with a comprehensive theoretical model describing the reaction kinetics. The CBS-QB3 model chemistry is used, with bulk solvent effects accounted for according to COSMO-RS theory, and water molecules explicitly considered. Two promoting water molecules were found to be optimal in reducing the Gibbs free energy barriers for reactions involving a proton transfer, i.e., the carbinolamine and enamine formation steps, and the aldol product liberation step. The presence of one water molecule in the carbon-carbon coupling step was already sufficient to prevent the formation of a site-blocking enamine species, which would otherwise lead to deactivation of the amine. Compared to a single water molecule, isolated silanol groups were found to assist the amine in a similar and slightly more pronounced manner, resulting in overall lower barriers for all transition states. Promotion by two vicinal silanols resulted in even lower barriers. The effect of water was found to be more pronounced in apolar hexane as compared to DMSO, i.e., resulting in a less pronounced deactivation of the amine, and lower barriers for reactions where water is assisting in the transition state.

Short path to a complex ring

Organic Chemistry Nucleotide analogs are valuable tools and therapeutics because of their ability to interfere with processes such as DNA synthesis, which are vital to rapidly dividing cells and replicating viruses. These molecules are challenging to synthesize chemically. Meanwell et al. developed a “ribose last” synthetic strategy in which a fluorinated acyclic nucleic acid is formed by an l- or d-proline–catalyzed aldol reaction (see the Perspective by Miller). This intermediate can then be cyclized to yield the nucleic acid analog in one pot with control of anomeric conformation based on cyclization conditions. Nucleotide analogs accessible by this strategy include those with modifications at C2′ and C4′, purines and pyrimidines, and locked and protected products. Science , this issue p. [725][1]; see also p. [623][2] [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.abb3231 [2]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.abd1283

A short de novo synthesis of nucleoside analogs.

Nucleoside analogs are commonly used in the treatment of cancer and viral infections. Their syntheses benefit from decades of research but are often protracted, unamenable to diversification, and reliant on a limited pool of chiral carbohydrate starting materials. We present a process for rapidly constructing nucleoside analogs from simple achiral materials. Using only proline catalysis, heteroaryl-substituted acetaldehydes are fluorinated and then directly engaged in enantioselective aldol reactions in a one-pot reaction. A subsequent intramolecular fluoride displacement reaction provides a functionalized nucleoside analog. The versatility of this process is highlighted in multigram syntheses of d- or l-nucleoside analogs, locked nucleic acids, iminonucleosides, and C2'- and C4'-modified nucleoside analogs. This de novo synthesis creates opportunities for the preparation of diversity libraries and will support efforts in both drug discovery and development.

Organocatalytic asymmetric aldol reaction using protonated chiral 1,2-diamines

Organic-catalyzed stereoselective reactions have gained attention because they avoid the problems associated with metal catalysts, but existing catalysts based on proline have limitations. Therefore, (R,R)-(+)-1,2-diphenylethylenediamine (DPEN) was selectively mono-N-alkylated through reductive alkylation and used as an organic catalyst for the aldol reaction. Using a variety of aldehydes in the catalytic aldol reaction, the N-alkylated DPEN catalyst proceeded from primary amine to enamine and iminium intermediates and achieved both a high yield (80%) and enantioselectivity (90%). It was found that the steric hindrance of the N-alkyl substituent of the chiral diamine and the hydrogen bond between the ammonium moiety and the oxygen of the aromatic aldehyde determine the enantioselectivity. Various aromatic aldehydes were tested, and electron-withdrawing substituents led to good yields, whereas electron-donating substituents led to poor yields via the deactivation of the carbonyl group of the aldehyde. Further, ortho substituents resulted in higher stereoselectivities than para substituents because the stereoscopic effect was enhanced.

An L-threonine aldolase for asymmetric synthesis of β-hydroxy-α-amino acids

L-threonine aldolase (LTA) is a PLP-dependent enzyme that can reversibly catalyze aldol reaction of glycine and acetaldehyde to produce β-hydroxy-α-amino acids. In the present work, a putative lta gene from Actinocorallia herbida (AhLTA) was mined and over-expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3). The substrate spectrum assay indicated that AhLTA only used glycine as donor substrate and tolerated a wild range of aromatic aldehydes as acceptor substrates. It was found that the type and position of substituents in the aromatic aldehydes exerted a significant impact on the activity and stereoselectivity at β-carbon of AhLTA. Among those substrates, AhLTA could catalyze glycine and 4-methylsulphonyl benzaldehyde (14a) to produce L-threo-4-methylsulfonylphenylserine ((2S,3R)-14b) with high conversion (94.4%) and moderate stereoselectivity (19% de). By conditional optimization, the de value of (2S, 3R)-14b was improved to 61% and the conversion was 75%. Taken together, our study suggested that AhLTA might be a promising catalyst for producing chiral β-hydroxy-α-amino acids.