Clément Mazet

Dinuclear {(salen)Al} Complexes Display Expanded Scope in the Conjugate Cyanation of α,β-Unsaturated Imides†

Covalently linked dinuclear {(salen)Al} complexes catalyze the conjugate cyanation of,-unsaturated imides with several orders of magnitude greater reactivity over the mononuclear analogue, and with comparable enantioselectivity. Imides that were completely unreactive with homo- and heterobimetallic combinations of mononuclear catalysts can now be converted into the corresponding cyanation products with high enantiomeric excess.

Access to High Levels of Molecular Complexity by One-Pot Iridium/Enamine Asymmetric Catalysis†

Independent workers with team spirit: A catalytic sequence that exploits the compatibility of (chiral) cationic iridium catalysts for the isomerization of primary allylic alcohols to aldehydes with organocatalysts has been developed for the highly enantioselective α functionalization of aldehydes (see scheme: up to 66 % yield, d.r. 49:1, 99 % ee). The reaction displayed useful generality with respect to both the nucleophile and the electrophile.

Iridium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Isomerization of Primary Allylic Alcohols†

Nothing to sm(Ir)k at: Under appropriate reaction conditions, iridium hydride catalysts promote the isomerization of primary allylic alcohols. The best catalysts, like (R)-1 (P green, O red, N blue, Ir yellow), deliver the desired chiral aldehydes with excellent enantioselectivity and good yields. Mechanistic hypotheses have been developed on the basis of preliminary investigations.

Improved Catalysts for the Iridium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Isomerization of Primary Allylic Alcohols Based on Charton Analysis

An improved generation of chiral cationic iridium catalysts for the asymmetric isomerization of primary allylic alcohols is disclosed. The design of these air-stable complexes relied on the preliminary mechanistic information available, and on Charton analyses using two preceding generations of iridium catalysts developed for this highly challenging transformation. Sterically unbiased chiral aldehydes that were not accessible previously have been obtained with high levels of enantioselectivity, thus validating the initial hypothesis regarding the selected ligand-design elements. A rationale for the high enantioselectivities achieved in most cases is also presented.

Copper‐Catalyzed Asymmetric β‐Boration of α,β‐Unsaturated Carbonyl Derivatives

The β generation: Transition metal- catalyzed asymmetric β-boration of α,β- unsaturated carbonyl derivatives has recently received much attention. Although a variety of metals can be used to promote this reaction, copper has recently emerged as the candidate of choice. Given the appropriate chiral ligand and reaction conditions, the challenging β-boration of β,β-disubstituted cyclic enones is achieved with excellent yields and enantioselectivities.

Scope and Mechanism in Palladium-Catalyzed Isomerizations of Highly Substituted Allylic, Homoallylic, and Alkenyl Alcohols

Herein we report the palladium-catalyzed isomerization of highly substituted allylic alcohols and alkenyl alcohols by means of a single catalytic system. The operationally simple reaction protocol is applicable to a broad range of substrates and displays a wide functional group tolerance, and the products are usually isolated in high chemical yield. Experimental and computational mechanistic investigations provide complementary and converging evidence for a chain-walking process consisting of repeated migratory insertion/β-H elimination sequences. Interestingly, the catalyst does not dissociate from the substrate in the isomerization of allylic alcohols, whereas it disengages during the isomerization of alkenyl alcohols when additional substituents are present on the alkyl chain.

Atropoisomeric (P,N) Ligands for the Highly Enantioselective Pd‐Catalyzed Intramolecular Asymmetric α‐Arylation of α‐Branched Aldehydes

Three-in-one: a short synthetic route readily gives access to a new class of chiral (P,N) ligands characterized by three distinct elements of chirality. These ligands are highly enantioselective in the challenging Pd-catalyzed intramolecular asymmetric α-arylation of α-branched aldehydes.

Isomerization of terminal epoxides by a [Pd-H] catalyst: a combined experimental and theoretical mechanistic study.

An unusual palladium hydride complex has been shown to be a competent catalyst in the isomerization of a variety of terminal and internal epoxides. The reaction displayed broad scope and synthetic utility. Experimental and theoretical evidence are provided for an unprecedented hydride mechanism characterized by two distinct enantio-determining steps. These results hold promise for the development of an enantioselective variant of the reaction.

Palladium-Catalyzed Long-Range Deconjugative Isomerization of Highly Substituted α,β-Unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds.

The long-range deconjugative isomerization of a broad range of α,β-unsaturated amides, esters, and ketones by an in situ generated palladium hydride catalyst is described. This redox-economical process is triggered by a hydrometalation event and is thermodynamically driven by the refunctionalization of a primary or a secondary alcohol into an aldehyde or a ketone. Di-, tri-, and tetrasubstituted carbon-carbon double bonds react with similar efficiency; the system is tolerant toward a variety of functional groups, and olefin migration can be sustained over 30 carbon atoms. The refunctionalized products are usually isolated in good to excellent yield. Mechanistic investigations are in support of a chain-walking process consisting of repeated migratory insertions and β-H eliminations. The bidirectionality of the isomerization reaction was established by isotopic labeling experiments using a substrate with a double bond isolated from both terminal functions. The palladium hydride was also found to be directly involved in the product-forming tautomerization step. The ambiphilic character of the in situ generated [Pd-H] was demonstrated using isomeric trisubstituted α,β-unsaturated esters. Finally, the high levels of enantioselectivity obtained in the isomerization of a small set of α-substituted α,β-unsaturated ketones augur well for the successful development of an enantioselective version of this unconventional isomerization.

Catalyst-Directed Diastereoselective Isomerization of Allylic Alcohols for the Stereoselective Construction of C(20) in Steroid Side Chains: Scope and Topological Diversification

The stereoselective construction of C20 in steroidal derivatives by a highly diastereoselective Ir-catalyzed isomerization of primary allylic alcohols is reported. A key aspect of this strategy is a straightforward access to geometrically pure steroidal enol tosylate and enol triflate intermediates for subsequent high yielding stereoretentive Negishi cross-coupling reactions to allow structural diversity to be introduced. A range of allylic alcohols participates in the diastereoselective isomerization under the optimized reaction conditions. Electron-rich and electron-poor aryl or heteroaryl substituents are particularly well-tolerated, and the stereospecific nature of the reaction provides indifferently access to the natural C20-(R) and unnatural C20-(S) configurations. Alkyl containing substrates are more challenging as they affect regioselectivity of iridium-hydride insertion. A rationale for the high diastereoselectivities observed is proposed for aryl containing precursors. The scope of our method is further highlighted through topological diversification in the side chain and within the polycyclic domain of advanced and complex steroidal architectures. These findings have the potential to greatly simplify access to epimeric structural analogues of important steroid scaffolds for applications in biological, pharmaceutical, and medical sciences.