Imine Substrates Research Articles

Phenanthrenequinone-Sensitized Photocatalytic Synthesis of Polysubstituted Quinolines from 2-Vinylarylimines.

Visible-light-excited 9,10-phenanthrenequinone (PQ*) was used as a photocatalyst for the synthesis of polysubstituted quinolines via the electrocyclization of 2-vinylarylimines. Up to quantitative yields of 2,4-disubstituted quinolines were received after 1 h of excitation with blue LEDs at room temperature when MgCO3 was used as an additive in DCM. On the basis of experimental and DFT studies, we propose that PQ* induces one-electron oxidation of the imine substrate that triggers the electrocyclization mechanism.

Identification, Characterization, and In Silico Analysis of New Imine Reductases From Native Streptomyces Genomes

The development of biocatalytic tools for the synthesis of optically pure amines has been the focus of abundant research in recent years. Among other enzymes, imine reductases have attracted much attention associated with the possibility of attaining chiral secondary amines. Furthermore, the reductive aminase activity associated with some of these enzymes has facilitated the production of optically pure amines from a prochiral ketone, a transformation that opens doors to an incredible array of products. In this work, the genomes from native Streptomyces strains isolated in our lab have been explored on the search for novel imine reductases. Application of different structural criteria and sequence motif filters allowed the identification of two novel enzymes, Ss-IRED_S and Ss-IRED_R. While the former presented outstanding activity towards bulky cyclic imine substrates, the latter presented reductive aminase activity with the assayed ketones. A bioinformatic analysis based on modeling and docking studies was performed in order to explain the differences in enzyme activity, searching for additional criteria that could be used to analyze enzyme candidates in silico, providing additional tools for enzyme selection for a particular application. Our findings suggest that imine reductase activity could be predicted by this analysis, overall accounting for the number of docking positions that meet the catalytic requirements.

Post-Synthetic Modification of Metal-Organic Frameworks Bearing Phenazine Radical Cations for aza-Diels-Alder Reactions.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) consisting of organic radicals are of great interest because they have exhibited unique and intriguing optical, electronic, magnetic, and chemo-catalytic properties, and thus have demonstrated great potential applications in optical, electronic, and magnetic devices, and as catalysts. However, the preparation of MOFs bearing stable organic radicals is very challenging because most organic radicals are highly reactive and difficult to incorporate into the framework of MOFs. Herein we reported a post-synthetic modification strategy to prepare a novel MOF containing phenazine radical cations, which was used as heterogeneous catalyst for aza-Diels-Alder reaction. The zinc-based metal-organic framework Zn2 (PHZ)2 (dabco) (N) was successfully synthesized from 5,10-di(4-benzoic acid)-5,10-dihydrophenazine (PHZ), triethylene diamine (dabco) with Zn(NO3 )2 ⋅ 6H2 O by solvothermal method. The as-synthesized MOF N was partially oxidized by AgSbF6 to form MOF R containing ∼10% phenazine radical cation species. The resultant MOF R was found to keep the original crystal type of N and very persistent under ambient conditions. Consequently, MOF R was successfully employed in radical cation-catalyzed aza-Diels-Alder reactions with various imine substrates at room temperature with high reaction conversion. Moreover, heterogeneous catalyst MOF R was reusable up to five times without much loss of catalytic activity, demonstrating its excellent stability and recyclability. Therefore, the post-synthetic modification developed in this work is expected to become a versatile strategy to prepare radical-based MOFs for the application of heterogeneous catalysts in organic synthesis.

LiAlH4‐catalyzed Imine Hydrogenation with Dihydrogen: New DFT Mechanistic Insights

AbstractRecently, it was found that the widely used stoichiometric reducing reagent LiAlH4 can also be used as a useful catalyst for imine hydrogenation with H2 under relatively mild conditions. In this work, extensive state‐of‐the‐art DFT calculations are conducted to explore the detailed catalytic mechanism. In sharp contrast to the recent proposal involving heterolytic H2‐activation over Al−N amide bonds after multiple imine insertion, our new mechanism highlights the dual role of the Lewis‐acidic lithium cation in frustrated‐Lewis‐pair‐like activation of both imine substrate and H2 when combined with the aluminum‐bound hydride and amide ligands, respectively. Ionic Li−N amide bonds are about 13 kcal/mol more reactive than Al−N amide bonds for H2 activation, thus providing a useful structural feature for rational design of active hydrogenation catalysts.

Formal Aza‐Diels−Alder Reactions of Spiroindolenines with Electronrich Dienes

AbstractSpiroindolenines were employed as cyclic imine substrates in formal aza‐Diels−Alder reactions with Danishefsky's diene or silyloxy‐substituted electron‐rich dienes for the synthesis of the corresponding tetrahydropyrido[1,2‐a]spiroindolinones. The reactions occur under mild conditions in the presence of ytterbium triflate as Lewis acidic catalyst delivering the desired compounds in good yield. The reaction results in the preparation of a small library of a new class of conformational constrained heterocyclic derivatives that easily undergo selective and efficient manipulations.

Olefin Hydroarylation Catalyzed by a Single-Component Cobalt(-I) Complex

A single-component Co(-I) catalyst, [(PPh3)3Co(N2)]Li(THF)3, has been developed for olefin hydroarylations with (N-aryl)aryl imine substrates. More than 40 examples were examined under mild reaction conditions to afford the desired alkyl-arene product in good to excellent yields. Catalysis occurs in a regioselective manner to afford exclusively branched products with styrene-derived substrates or linear products for aliphatic olefins. Electron-withdrawing functional groups (e.g., -F, -CF3, and -CO2Me) were tolerated under the reaction conditions.

The Rid family member RutC of Escherichia coli is a 3-aminoacrylate deaminase

The Rid protein family (PF14588, IPR006175) is divided into nine subfamilies, of which only the RidA subfamily has been characterized biochemically. RutC, the founding member of one subfamily, is encoded in the pyrimidine utilization (rut) operon that encodes a pathway that allows Escherichia coli to use uracil as a sole nitrogen source. Results reported herein demonstrate that RutC has 3-aminoacrylate deaminase activity and facilitates one of the reactions previously presumed to occur spontaneously in vivo. RutC was active with several enamine–imine substrates, showing similarities and differences in substrate specificity with the canonical member of the Rid superfamily, Salmonella enterica RidA. Under standard laboratory conditions, a Rut pathway lacking RutC generates sufficient nitrogen from uracil for growth of E. coli. These results support a revised model of the Rut pathway and provide evidence that Rid proteins may modulate metabolic fitness, rather than catalyzing essential functions.

Highly efficient Lewis acid catalytic activity of the tritylium ion at the node of a tensile organic framework.

Tritylium salts have been used as Lewis acid catalysts in organic synthesis for a long time. In this work, we found that the Lewis acid catalytic activity of tritylium ions at the node of a tensile framework is significantly improved compared to that of the free tritylium salts. The tritylium-based framework, PAF-201 (PAF, porous aromatic framework), was prepared by acidification of a semi-rigid triphenylcarbinol-based parent framework, PAF-200. When PAF-200 was alternately exposed to HCl and NH3 gas, a fast allochroic cycle was observed due to repeated formation of tritylium species. Interestingly, the pseudo-first-order reaction rate of a Povarov model reaction catalyzed by PAF-201 as a Lewis acid was ∼3.7 times and ∼4.7 times as those of tritylium tetrafluoroborate and tri(4-biphenyl)carbonium tetrafluoroborate, respectively. Theoretical calculations revealed that the tritylium ion at the node of PAF-201 has a quasi-planar structure. The transformation of triphenylcarbinol in PAF-200 to tritylium in PAF-201 can make the framework taut, and the rebounding force toward the tetrahedral structure is stored. This is favorable for tritylium to activate the imine substrate along with a deformation of the quasi-plane to tetrahedron. PAF-201 could be easily recycled at least three times without evident loss of catalytic activity. This work presents the catalytic activity of the tritylium ion under stress.

Chiral N-heterocyclic carbene-iridium complexes for asymmetric reduction of prochiral ketimines

Enantioselective reduction of imines to the corresponding chiral secondary amines has been studied using a series of chiral half-sandwich iridium complexes. Chiral N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands in these complexes were synthesized from readily available, naturally occurring amino acids. Inexpensive phenylsilane was used as a convenient hydrogen donor. Under the optimized conditions, Ir-NHC complexes could reduce ketimines in good yields, albeit with moderate enantiomeric excess (ee). The phenylglycine derived chiral NHC was shown to give the best Ir catalyst and it also gave the maximum ee compared to catalysts prepared from other NHCs in this series. The opposite enantiomer of the reduction product was always obtained while using the Ir complex bearing a valine based NHC. The yields were consistently high with a variety of imine substrates having different steric and electronic demands.

Enantioselective, Visible Light Mediated Aza Paternò–Büchi Reactions of Quinoxalinones

Abstract3‐Substituted quinoxalin‐2(1H)‐ones and various aryl‐substituted or tethered olefins underwent an enantioselective, inter‐ or intramolecular aza Paternò–Büchi reaction upon irradiation at λ=420 nm in the presence of a chiral sensitizer (10 mol %). For the intermolecular reaction with 1‐arylethenes as olefin components, the scope of the reaction was studied (14 examples, 50–99 % yield, 86–98 % ee). The absolute and relative configuration of the products were elucidated by single‐crystal X‐ray crystallography. The reaction is suggested to occur by triplet energy transfer in a hydrogen‐bonded 1:1 complex between the imine substrate and the catalyst. The intramolecular cycloaddition, consecutive reactions of the product azetidines, and an alternative reaction mode of quinoxalinones were investigated in preliminary experiments.

Crossing the Border: From Keto- to Imine Reduction in Short-Chain Dehydrogenases/Reductases.

The family of NAD(P)H‐dependent short‐chain dehydrogenases/reductases (SDRs) comprises numerous biocatalysts capable of C=O or C=C reduction. The highly homologous noroxomaritidine reductase (NR) from Narcissus sp. aff. pseudonarcissus and Zt_SDR from Zephyranthes treatiae, however, are SDRs with an extended imine substrate scope. Comparison with a similar SDR from Asparagus officinalis (Ao_SDR) exhibiting keto‐reducing activity, yet negligible imine‐reducing capability, and mining the Short‐Chain Dehydrogenase/Reductase Engineering Database indicated that NR and Zt_SDR possess a unique active‐site composition among SDRs. Adapting the active site of Ao_SDR accordingly improved its imine‐reducing capability. By applying the same strategy, an unrelated SDR from Methylobacterium sp. 77 (M77_SDR) with distinct keto‐reducing activity was engineered into a promiscuous enzyme with imine‐reducing activity, thereby confirming that the ability to reduce imines can be rationally introduced into members of the “classical” SDR enzyme family. Thus, members of the SDR family could be a promising starting point for protein approaches to generate new imine‐reducing enzymes.

Au(I)-catalyzed cycloaddition pathways of non-terminal propargyl substrates

Novel chiral menthol-based pyridyl nitrone ligands were synthesized and Au(I) coordination of the ligands gave chiral Au(I)–nitrone complexes. 1H NMR studies of the gold(I) coordination experiments with nitrone ligands afforded a convenient method for monitoring complex formation. The catalytic effect of Au(I)–nitrone complexes, shown to tune catalytic systems to produce uncommon products, was evaluated in [2 + 2 + 2] cyclotrimerization and [2 + 4] cyclodimerization reactions of non-terminal propargyl acetals. Alternative gold(I)-catalyzed [2 + 2], [2 + 4] and [3 + 4] cycloaddition reaction pathways of non-terminal propargyl acetals with imine substrates gave a diverse range of N-heterocyclic products. The present screening study demonstrates the potential and the versatility of non-terminal propargyl acetals in gold(I)-catalyzed cycloaddition reactions.

Substrate‐Induced Dimerization Assembly of Chiral Macrocycle Catalysts toward Cooperative Asymmetric Catalysis

AbstractAn artificial system of substrate‐induced dimerization assembly of chiral macrocycle catalysts enables a highly cooperative hydrogen‐bonding activation network for efficient enantioselective transformation. These macrocycles contain two thiourea and two chiral diamine moieties and dimerize with sulfate to form a sandwich‐like assembly. The macrocycles then adopt an extended conformation and reciprocally complement the hydrogen‐bonding interaction sites. Inspired by the guest‐induced dynamic assembly, these macrocycles catalyze the decarboxylative Mannich reaction of cyclic aldimines containing a sulfamate heading group. The imine substrate can be activated toward nucleophilic attack of β‐ketoacid by a cooperative hydrogen‐bonding network enabled by sulfamate‐induced dimerization assembly of the macrocycle catalysts. Highly efficient (>95 % yield in most cases) and enantioselective (up to 97.5:2.5 er) transformation of a variety of substrates using only 5 mol % macrocycle was achieved.

Substrate-Induced Dimerization Assembly of Chiral Macrocycle Catalysts toward Cooperative Asymmetric Catalysis.

An artificial system of substrate-induced dimerization assembly of chiral macrocycle catalysts enables a highly cooperative hydrogen-bonding activation network for efficient enantioselective transformation. These macrocycles contain two thiourea and two chiral diamine moieties and dimerize with sulfate to form a sandwich-like assembly. The macrocycles then adopt an extended conformation and reciprocally complement the hydrogen-bonding interaction sites. Inspired by the guest-induced dynamic assembly, these macrocycles catalyze the decarboxylative Mannich reaction of cyclic aldimines containing a sulfamate heading group. The imine substrate can be activated toward nucleophilic attack of β-ketoacid by a cooperative hydrogen-bonding network enabled by sulfamate-induced dimerization assembly of the macrocycle catalysts. Highly efficient (>95 % yield in most cases) and enantioselective (up to 97.5:2.5 er) transformation of a variety of substrates using only 5 mol % macrocycle was achieved.

Stereoselective Biotransformations of Cyclic Imines in Recombinant Cells of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803

AbstractLight‐driven biotransformations in recombinant cyanobacteria allow to employ photosynthetic water‐splitting for cofactor‐regeneration and thus, to save the use of organic electron donors. The genes of three recombinant imine reductases (IREDs) were expressed in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 and eight cyclic imine substrates were screened in whole‐cell biotransformations. While initial reactions showed low to moderate rates, optimization of the reaction conditions in combination with promoter engineering allowed to alleviate toxicity effects and achieve full conversion of prochiral imines with initial rates of up to 6.3 mM h−1. The high specific activity of up to 22 U gCDW−1 demonstrates that recombinant cyanobacteria can provide large amounts of NADPH during whole cell reactions. The excellent optical purity of the products with up to >99 %ee underlines the usefulness of cyanobacteria for the stereoselective synthesis of amines.

A Diaminopropane Diolefin Ru(0) Complex Catalyzes Hydrogenation and Dehydrogenation Reactions

AbstractNew ruthenium (0) complexes with a cooperative diolefin diaminopropane (DAP) or the dehydrogenated iminopropenamide ligand (IPA) were synthesized for comparison with their diaminoethane (DAE)/ diazadiene (DAD) ruthenium analogues. These DAP/IPA complexes are efficient catalysts in dehydrogenation reactions of alkaline aqueous methanol which proceeds under mild conditions (T=70 °C) and of higher alcohols, forming the corresponding carbonate and carboxylates, respectively. The scope of the reaction includes an example of a 1,2‐diol as model for biomass derived alcohols. Their catalytic applications are extended to the atom‐efficient dehydrogenative coupling of alcohols and amines to amides. The reaction proceeds without any additives and is applicable to the synthesis of formamides from methanol. Moreover, DAP/IPA complexes catalyze the hydrogenation of a series of esters, lactone, ketone, activated olefin, aldehyde and imine substrates. The diaminopropane Ru catalyst exhibits higher activity compared to the dehydrogenated β‐ketiminate (IPA) and previously studied DAD/DAE based catalysts. We present studies on their stoichiometric reactivity with relevance to their possible catalytic mechanisms and the isolation and full characterization of key reaction intermediates.

Imine Metathesis by Silica-Supported Catalysts Using the Methodology of Surface Organometallic Chemistry.

With this protocol, a well-defined singlesite silica-supported heterogeneous catalyst [(≡Si-O-)Hf(=NMe)(η1-NMe2)] is designed and prepared according to the methodology developed by surface organometallic chemistry (SOMC). In this framework, catalytic cycles can be determined by isolating crucial intermediates. All air-sensitive materials are handled under inert atmosphere (using gloveboxes or a Schlenk line) or high vacuum lines (HVLs, <10-5 mbar). The preparation of SiO2-700 (silica dehydroxylated at 700 °C) and subsequent applications (the grafting of complexes and catalytic runs) requires the use of HVLs and double-Schlenk techniques. Several well-known characterization methods are used, such as Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), elemental microanalysis, solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (SSNMR), and state-of-the-art dynamic nuclear polarization surface enhanced NMR spectroscopy (DNP-SENS). FTIR and elemental microanalysis permit scientists to establish the grafting and its stoichiometry. 1H and 13C SSNMR allows the structural determination of the hydrocarbon ligands coordination sphere. DNP SENS is an emerging powerful technique in solid characterization for the detection of poorly sensitive nuclei (15N, in our case). SiO2-700 is treated with about one equivalent of the metal precursor compared to the amount of surface silanol (0.30 mmol·g-1) in pentane at room temperature. Then, volatiles are removed, and the powder samples are dried under dynamic high vacuum to afford the desired materials [(≡Si-O-)Hf(η2π-MeNCH2)(η1-NMe2)(η1-HNMe2)]. After a thermal treatment under high vacuum, the grafted complex is converted into metal imido silica complex [(≡Si-O-)Hf(=NMe)(η1-NMe2)]. [(≡Si-O-)Hf(=NMe)(η1-NMe2)] effectively promotes the metathesis of imines, using the combination of two imine substrates, N-(4-phenylbenzylidene)benzylamine, or N-(4-fluorobenzylidene)-4-fluoroaniline, with N-benzylidenetert-butylamine as substrates. A significantly lower conversion is observed with the blank runs; thus, the presence of the imido group in [(≡Si-O-)Hf(=NMe)(η1-NMe2)] is correlated to the catalytic performance.

Addition of a Carbene Catalyst to Indole Aryl Aldehyde Activates a Remote δ-sp2 Carbon for Protonation and Formal [4+2] Reaction.

The addition of a carbene catalyst to an indole aryl aldehyde leads to the activation of a remote sp2 carbon that is five atoms away from the catalyst. The unsaturated Breslow intermediate formed between the catalyst and substrate undergoes an internal redox reaction and remote carbon protonation to generate an analogous azolium vinyl enolate intermediate. Subsequent [4+2] reaction with cyclic imine substrates eventually affords multicyclic pyridoindoles as nearly single diastereomers with excellent enantioselectivities.

Promoting Frustrated Lewis Pairs for Heterogeneous Chemoselective Hydrogenation via the Tailored Pore Environment within Metal-Organic Frameworks.

Frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs) have recently been advanced as efficient metal-free catalysts for catalytic hydrogenation, but their performance in chemoselective hydrogenation, particularly in heterogeneous systems, has not yet been achieved. Herein, we demonstrate that, via tailoring the pore environment within metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), FLPs not only can be stabilized but also can develop interesting performance in the chemoselective hydrogenation of α,β-unsaturated organic compounds, which cannot be achieved with FLPs in a homogeneous system. Using hydrogen gas under moderate pressure, the FLP anchored within a MOF that features open metal sites and hydroxy groups on the pore walls can serve as a highly efficient heterogeneous catalyst to selectively reduce the imine bond in α,β-unsaturated imine substrates to afford unsaturated amine compounds.

Promoting Frustrated Lewis Pairs for Heterogeneous Chemoselective Hydrogenation via the Tailored Pore Environment within Metal–Organic Frameworks

AbstractFrustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs) have recently been advanced as efficient metal‐free catalysts for catalytic hydrogenation, but their performance in chemoselective hydrogenation, particularly in heterogeneous systems, has not yet been achieved. Herein, we demonstrate that, via tailoring the pore environment within metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), FLPs not only can be stabilized but also can develop interesting performance in the chemoselective hydrogenation of α,β‐unsaturated organic compounds, which cannot be achieved with FLPs in a homogeneous system. Using hydrogen gas under moderate pressure, the FLP anchored within a MOF that features open metal sites and hydroxy groups on the pore walls can serve as a highly efficient heterogeneous catalyst to selectively reduce the imine bond in α,β‐unsaturated imine substrates to afford unsaturated amine compounds.