Ken-ichi Yamada

Copper-Catalyzed Asymmetric Alkylation of Imines with Dialkylzinc and Related Reactions

The catalytic asymmetric addition reactions of organometallic reagents to CdN double bonds of imines are fundamentally important processes, which provide convenient and versatile routes to optically active amines bearing a stereogenic center at the R-position. Optically active R-branched amines are important chiral building blocks, and are abundantly present in biologically active compounds, such as methoxyphenamine (a 2-adrenergic antagonist for treatment of asthma), rivastigmine (an AcCh esterase inhibitor for treatment of Alzheimer’s disease), tamsulosin (a selective R1-adrenergic antagonist to improve urinary trouble due to prostatic hyperplasia), and repaglinide (a blocker of ATP-dependent K channels in cells used as a hypoglycemic agent) (Figure 1). Asymmetric addition to CdN double bonds has been achieved based on the use of a chiral auxiliaries or chiral ligands. In 1982, Takahashi and co-workers reported the pioneering work of a chiral auxiliary-controlled asymmetric addition of organolithium reagents to imines 1 derived from aldehydes and valinol or phenylglycinol (Scheme 1). The chiral auxiliary strategy is still an important technology from a practical point of view because separation of the diastereomeric products prior to cleavage of the chiral auxiliary provides enantiomerically pure products. In the past two decades, the asymmetric additions of organometallic reagents to the CdN double bonds of imines in the presence of a stoichiometric or catalytic amount of a chiral ligand have been developed as a new technology for the synthesis of optically active amines, including alkaloids. The ligandinduced enantioselective synthesis has the potential for direct recovery and reuse of the unchanged chiral ligands. In 1990, Tomioka and co-workers reported the first chiral ligandcontrolled asymmetric addition reaction of organometallic compounds to CdN double bonds of imines with organolithium reagents activated by a chiral amino ether ligand 5 (Scheme 2). Even with 5 mol % of ligand 5, enantiomerically enriched amine 6 was produced, though with moderate ee, opening up the door to catalytic asymmetric addition reactions of organometallic reagents to a CdN double bond of an imine. Denmark and co-workers also showed the excellent ability of asymmetric induction of (-)-sparteine and bisoxazoline ligands and the catalytic use of these ligands for addition of organolithium reagents to imines (Scheme 3). In 1992, Soai and co-workers reported the first catalytic asymmetric addition reaction of a dialkylzinc reagent to a CdN double bond. In the presence of chiral amino alcohol 11, addition of dialkylzinc reagents to N-(diphenylphosphinoyl) imines proceeded with high enantioselectivity (Scheme 4). Surprisingly good enantioselectivity was observed even with 10 mol % of the amino alcohol, although the chemical yield was not satisfactory. Since these early examples, considerable energetic approaches toward the catalytic asymmetric addition of organometallic reagents to CdN double bonds of imines have appeared. Among these, chiral π-allylpalladium-catalyzed allylation with allylstannane or allylsilane, and rhodiumMOP-based phosphine-catalyzed arylation with arylstannanes showed impressive early success. A key concept is catalytic generation of reactive organometal-chiral ligand complexes from corresponding less reactive organometallic reagents in situ. Excellent feature articles have been published on this exciting topic. However, in great contrast to the chiral amino alcohol catalyzed asymmetric alkylation of aldehydes with organozinc reagents, which has become a very effective and general method, the catalytic asymmetric * To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: 81-(0)75-753-4553. Fax: 81-(0)75-753-4604. E-mail: tomioka@pharm.kyoto-u.ac.jp. Chem. Rev. 2008, 108, 2874–2886 2874

THE FIRST CATALYTIC ASYMMETRIC NITRO-MANNICH-TYPE REACTION PROMOTED BY A NEW HETEROBIMETALLIC COMPLEX

The best ratio is 1:1:3 for the components Yb, K, and binaphthol in the new heterobimetallic complex, which efficiently catalyzes an asymmetric nitro-Mannich-type reaction. The desired nitro-Mannich products 2 are obtained with up to 91 % ee starting from N-phosphinoyl imines 1.

C2 Symmetric Chiral NHC Ligand for Asymmetric Quaternary Carbon Constructing Copper-Catalyzed Conjugate Addition of Grignard Reagents to 3-Substituted Cyclohexenones

The asymmetric construction of quaternary carbon centers by conjugate addition of Grignard reagents to 3-methyl- and 3-ethylcyclohexenones was realized in a maximum enantioselectivity of 80% by using a C 2 symmetric chiral N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-copper catalyst, generated from (4 S,5 S)-1,3-bis(2-methoxyphenyl)-4,5-diphenyl-4,5-dihydro-1 H-imidazol-3-ium tetrafluoroborate and copper(II) triflate. The stereostructures of the NHC-Au complexes were analyzed by X-ray crystallography, which rationalized the good stereocontrolling ability of N-aryl NHCs.

Dimethylzinc-initiated radical reactions.

Developments in modern organic synthesis owe much to the field of radical chemistry. Mild reaction conditions, high selectivity, good functional group tolerance and high product yield are features that have made reactions involving radical species indispensable tools for synthetic chemists. In part, the discovery of new radical initiators has led to the efficiency that now characterizes most radical reactions. This Account describes our investigations of radical reactions initiated by dimethylzinc. In 2001, we unexpectedly observed this reaction while investigating the amidophosphane-copper-catalyzed asymmetric addition of dimethylzinc to N-sulfonyl imines with tetrahydrofuran (THF) as reaction solvent. However, instead of adding the desired methyl group to the N-sulfonyl imine, we produced the THF adduct in excellent yield. This result laid the foundation for our discovery of novel modes of reactivity. Further investigations of the unexpected addition reaction revealed that a trace amount of air was needed for reaction progress, indicating that radical intermediates were involved. Indeed, controlled injection of air into the reaction flask by a syringe pump through a sodium hydroxide tube afforded the products in good to excellent yield. In addition, the reaction proved to be chemoselective for a C=N bond over a C=O bond, as well as for 1,4-addition over 1,2-addition. We developed asymmetric variants of the radical addition reaction of ethers to imines using chiral N-sulfinyl imines to produce the adducts in reasonably high stereoselectivity (up to 11:1). A 93:7 diastereomeric ratio of the adduct was obtained when bis(8-phenylmenthyl) benzylidenemalonate was used in the radical addition of ethers to C=C bonds. Interestingly, in the presence of dimethylzinc and air, arylamines, alkoxyamines, and dialkylhydrazines react with THF to give amino alcohols, oximes, and hydrazones, respectively, in moderate to high yields. We performed a tin-free intermolecular addition of functionalized primary alkyl groups, generated from their corresponding iodides, to N-sulfonyl imines using dimethylzinc, air, boron trifluoride diethyl etherate, and a catalytic amount of copper(II) triflate. Direct C-H bond cleavage from cycloalkanes was also feasible in the presence of dimethylzinc, air, and boron trifluoride diethyl etherate to give the corresponding cycloalkyl radicals, which were suitable nucleophiles for N-sulfonyl imines. In all of the above reactions, dimethylzinc was a superior radical initiator than other conventional initiators such as dibenzoyl peroxide, diethylzinc, and triethylborane. We hope the coming decades will witness the report of other novel radical initiators that would complement the reactivity modes of existing ones.

Enhanced Rate and Selectivity by Carboxylate Salt as a Basic Cocatalyst in Chiral N-Heterocyclic Carbene-Catalyzed Asymmetric Acylation of Secondary Alcohols

The rate and enantioselectivity of chiral NHC-catalyzed asymmetric acylation of alcohols with an adjacent H-bond donor functionality are remarkably enhanced in the presence of a carboxylate cocatalyst. The degree of the enhancement is correlated with the basicity of the carboxylate. With a cocatalyst and a newly developed electron-deficient chiral NHC, kinetic resolution and desymmetrization of cyclic diols and amino alcohols were achieved with extremely high selectivity (up to s = 218 and 99% ee, respectively) at a low catalyst loading (0.5 mol %). This asymmetric acylation is characterized by a unique preference for alcohols over amines, which are not converted into amides under the reaction conditions.

Total synthesis of (-)-lycorine and (-)-2-epi-lycorine by asymmetric conjugate addition cascade.

Total syntheses of (-)-lycorine and (-)-2-epi-lycorine were accomplished using chiral ligand-controlled asymmetric cascade conjugate addition methodology, which enables the formation of two C-C bonds and three stereogenic centers in one pot to give synthetically useful chiral cyclohexane derivatives.

Chiral N-Heterocyclic Carbene―Copper(I)-Catalyzed Asymmetric Allylic Arylation of Aliphatic Allylic Bromides: Steric and Electronic Effects on γ-Selectivity

Chiral N-heterocyclic carbene ligands were electronically and sterically tuned to improve γ-selectivity in copper(I)-catalyzed asymmetric allylic arylation of aliphatic allylic bromides with several aryl Grignard reagents. High γ-selectivity was realized when either the aryl group of the Grignard reagent or the aryl group on the N-substituent of the carbene ligand was electron-deficient or when either the carbene ligand or allylic bromide was bulky. The results indicated that electron deficiency and steric hindrance of the initially formed σ-allyl copper intermediate enhance the rate of the reductive elimination to give γ-products as major isomers.

ERSTE KATALYTISCHE ASYMMETRISCHE NITRO-MANNICH-REAKTION MIT EINEM NEUEN HETERODIMETALLKOMPLEX ALS KATALYSATOR

1:1:3 ist das geeignete Verhaltnis der Komponenten Yb, K und Binaphthol im neuen chiralen Heterodimetallkomplex, der effizient die asymmetrische Nitro-Mannich-Reaktion katalysiert. Die gewunschten Nitro-Mannich-Produkte 2 ausgehend von N-Phosphinoyliminen 1 wurden mit bis zu 91 % ee erhalten.

Steric Tuning of the Amidomonophosphane-Rhodium(I) Catalyst in Asymmetric Addition of Arylboroxines to N-Phosphinoyl Aldimines

Highly enantioselective rhodium-catalyzed addition of arylboroxines to N-phosphinoylaldimines was realized by the steric tuning of a diphenylphosphorus moiety to a di(o-tolyl)phosphorus moiety of a chiral amidomonophosphane. The presence of MS 4 A in a 5:1 solvent mixture of dioxane-propanol was essential to afford the corresponding diarylmethylamines in high yield.

Tin-free radical addition of acyloxymethyl to imines.

Acyloxymethyl radicals were generated from the corresponding iodomethyl esters and successfully underwent addition to the CN bond of N-Ts, N-PMP, and N-Dpp imines by the action of dimethylzinc or triethylborane. Ethyl acetate, toluene, and benzene as well as dichloromethane were suitable solvents. The utility of acyloxymethyl radicals as a hydroxymethyl anion equivalent was highlighted by the facile hydrolysis of the acyloxy moiety of the adducts to give the corresponding amino alcohol derivatives in good to high yield.