Enantioselective aldol reactions with aqueous 2,2-dimethoxyacetaldehyde organocatalyzed by binam-prolinamides under solvent-free conditions

Aqueous 2,2-dimethoxyacetaldehyde (60% wt solution) is used as an acceptor in aldol reactions, with cyclic and acyclic ketones and aldehydes as donors, organocatalyzed by 10 mol % of N-tosyl-(Sa)-binam-l-prolinamide [(Sa)-binam-sulfo-l-Pro] at rt under solvent-free conditions. The corresponding monoprotected 2-hydroxy-1,4-dicarbonyl compounds are obtained in good yields and with high levels of diastereo- and enantioselectivity mainly as anti-aldols. In the case of 4-substituted cyclohexanones a desymmetrization process takes place to mainly afford the anti,anti-aldols. 2,2-Dimethyl-1,3-dioxan-5-one allows the synthesis of a useful intermediate for the preparation of carbohydrates in higher yield, de and ee than with l-Pro as the organocatalyst.

Curtin-Hammett versus non-Curtin-Hammett frameworks is optimizing the enantioselective binolam/titanium(IV)-catalyzed cyanobenzoylation of aldehydes: Part 2

Extensive experimental and computational studies have been carried out on the enantioselective titanium(IV)-catalyzed cyanobenzoylation of aldehydes using 1:n Binolam:Ti(OiPr)4 mixtures as precatalysts, with the purpose of identifying the key mechanistic aspects governing enantioselectivity. HCN and isopropyl benzoate were detected in the reacting mixtures. This, as well as the reaction’s response to the presence of an exogenous base, and the failure to react in the presence of Binol:Ti(OiPr)4 mixtures, led us to propose not a direct cyanobenzoylation but an indirect process involving enantioselective hydrocyanation followed by O-benzoylation. Computational work provided positive evidence for the intervention of both indirect and direct cyanobenzoylation routes, the former being faster. However, the standard Curtin–Hammett-based optimization search ended with unsatisfactory results. Experimental and computational DFT studies (B3LYP/6-31G*) led us to conclude that: (1) the overall cyanobenzoylation of aldehydes catalyzed by 1:n Binolam:Ti(OiPr)4 mixtures involves an enantioselective hydrocyanation followed by an stereochemically inert O-benzoylation; (2) the initial complexes prevailing in a 1:1 Binolam:Ti(OiPr)4 mixture are the solvated mononuclear monomer 5·2(iPrOH) and solvated dinuclear dimer 9·2(iPrOH), whereas 9·2(iPrOH) is the major component in a 1:2 or higher 1:n mixture; (3) since the slowest step is that of benzoylation of ligated iPrOH which yields the actual catalysts 5–9, the catalytic system fits into a non-Curtin–Hammett framework, the final products deriving from a kinetic quench of the competing routes; and (4) accordingly, catalysis by 1:1 Binolam:Ti(OiPr)4 mixtures should involve cyanobenzoylations promoted by mononuclear 5, contaminated with those promoted by some dinuclear open dimer 9, whereas cyanobenzoylations catalyzed by a 1:2 and higher 1:n mixtures should be the result of catalysis promoted by the large amounts of dinuclear open dimer 9.

Solvent-Free Enantioselective Organocatalyzed Aldol Reactions

The use of proline as catalyst for the aldol process has given a boost to the development of organocatalysis as a research area. Since then, a plethora of organocatalysts of diverse structures have been developed for this and other organic transformations under different reaction conditions. The use of an organic molecule as catalyst to promote a reaction meets several principles of Green Chemistry. The implementation of solvent-free methodologies to carry out the aldol reaction was soon envisaged. These solvent-free processes can be performed using conventional magnetic stirring or applying ball milling techniques and are even compatible with the use of supported organocatalysts as promoters, which allows the recovery and reuse of the organocatalysts. In addition, other advantages such as the reduction of the required amount of nucleophile and the acceleration of the reaction are accomplished by using solvent-free conditions leading to a “greener” and more sustainable process.

Synthesis of Dihydroisobenzofurans via Palladium-Catalyzed Sequential Alkynylation/Annulation of 2-Bromobenzyl and 2-Chlorobenzyl Alcohols under Microwave Irradiation

The palladium-catalyzed synthesis of dihydroisobenzofurans has been performed by sequential Sonogashira cross-coupling/cyclization reactions between terminal alkynes and 2-(hydroxymethyl)bromo- and chlorobenzenes in methanol as solvent at 130 °C under microwave irradiation. A 4,4′-dichlorobenzophenone oxime-derived chloro-bridged palladacycle is an efficient pre-catalyst to perform this tandem process using 2-dicyclohexylphosphanyl-2′,4′,6′-triisopropylbiphenyl (Xphos) as ancillary ligand and potassium hydroxide as base in the absence of a copper cocatalyst. Under these conditions, functionalized 2-bromo- and 2-chlorobenzaldehydes are also suitable partners in the domino process affording phthalans in good yields. All the reactions can be performed under air and employing reagent-grade chemicals under low loading conditions (1 mol% Pd).

Pyrimidine-Derived Prolinamides as Recoverable Bifunctional Organocatalysts for Enantioselective Inter- and Intramolecular Aldol Reactions under Solvent-Free Conditions

Chiral L-prolinamides 2 containing the (R,R)- and (S,S)-trans-cyclohexane-1,2-diamine scaffold and a 2-pyrimidinyl unit are synthesized and used as general organocatalysts for intermolecular and intramolecular aldol reactions with 1,6-hexanedioic acid as a co-catalyst under solvent-free conditions. The intermolecular reaction between ketone–aldehyde and aldehyde–aldehyde must be performed under wet conditions with catalyst (S,S)-2b at 10 °C, which affords anti-aldols with high regio-, diastereo-, and enantioselectivities. For the Hajos–Parrish–Eder–Sauer–Wiechert reaction, both diastereomers of catalyst 2 give similar results at room temperature in the absence of water to give the corresponding Wieland–Miescher ketone and derivatives. Both types of reactions were scaled up to 1 g, and the organocatalysts were recovered by extractive workup and reused without any appreciable loss in activity. DFT calculations support the stereochemical results of the intermolecular process and the bifunctional role played by the organocatalyst by providing a computational comparison of the H-bonding networks occurring with catalysts 2a and 2b.

Silver-catalysed multicomponent 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of 2-oxoaldehydes-derived azomethine ylides

The silver-catalysed multicomponent reaction between ethyl glyoxylate, 2,2-dimethoxyacetaldehyde, or phenylglyoxal as aldehyde components with a α-amino ester hydrochloride and a dipolarophile in the presence of triethylamine is described. This domino process takes place at room temperature by in situ liberation of the α-amino ester followed by the formation of the imino ester, which is the precursor of a metalloazomethine ylide. The cycloaddition of this species and the corresponding dipolarophile affords polysubstituted proline derivatives. Ethyl glyoxylate reacts with glycinate, alaninate, phenylalaninate and phenylglycinate at room temperature in the presence of representative dipolarophiles affording endo-2,5-cis-cycloadducts in good yields and high diastereoselection. In addition, 2,2-dimethoxyacetaldehyde is evaluated with the same amino esters and dipolarophiles, under the same mild conditions, generating the corresponding endo-2,5-cis-cycloadducts with higher diastereoselections than the obtained in the same reactions using ethyl glyoxylate. In the case of phenylglyoxal the corresponding 5-benzoyl-endo-2,5-cis cycloadducts are obtained in short reaction times and similar diasteroselection.

Bifunctional primary amine 2-aminobenzimidazole organocatalyst anchored to trans-cyclohexane-1,2-diamine in enantioselective conjugate additions of aldehydes

Bifunctional chiral primary amine 8 containing an (S,S)-trans-cyclohexane-1,2-diamine scaffold and a 2-benzimidazole unit is used as a general organocatalyst for the Michael addition of α,α-branched aldehydes to nitroalkenes and maleimides. The reactions take place, with 20 mol % of catalyst in dichloromethane at rt for nitroalkenes and with 15 mol % catalyst loading in toluene at 10 °C for maleimides, in good yields and enantioselectivities. DFT calculations demonstrate the bifunctional character of this organocatalyst activating the aldehyde by enamine formation and the Michael acceptor by double hydrogen bonding.

Pursuing Chemical Efficiency by Using Supported Organocatalysts for Asymmetric Reactions under Aqueous Conditions

Over the past decade, a great effort has been made by the chemical community to improve the efficiency of organic transformations and allow sustainable processes. Merging the use of supported and recyclable organocatalysts and aqueous conditions for the asymmetric synthesis of valuable molecules, has led to outstanding contributions in the area of green chemistry. Recent progresses in the field include the implementation of these methodologies in the large scale production of chiral molecules using automated flow chemistry.

Remote Substituent Effects on the Stereoselectivity and Organocatalytic Activity of Densely Substituted Unnatural Proline Esters in Aldol Reactions

The organocatalytic activities of highly substituted proline esters obtained through asymmetric [3+2] cycloadditions of azomethine ylides derived from glycine iminoesters have been analyzed by 19F NMR and through kinetic isotope effects. Kinetic rate constants have been determined for unnatural proline esters incorporating different substituents. It has been found that exo-L and endo-L unnatural proline methyl esters yield opposite enantiomers in aldol reactions between cyclic ketones and aromatic aldehydes. The combined results reported in this study show subtle and remote effects that determine the organocatalytic behavior of these synthetic but readily available amino acid derivatives. These data can be used as design criteria for the development of new pyrrolidine-based organocatalysts.