Laure Guénée

Enantioselective Organocatalytic Fluorination-Induced Wagner–Meerwein Rearrangement†

Cracked under strain: Strained allylic cyclobutanols and cyclopropanols readily undergo a ring expansion described by the title rearrangement. This reaction is promoted by catalytic amounts of 1 and displays high tolerance with respect to the substrate scope. The corresponding β-fluoro spiroketone products are isolated in high yields and with excellent stereoselectivities. EDG=electron-donating group, EWG=electron-withdrawing group.

Optimizing sensitization processes in dinuclear luminescent lanthanide oligomers: selection of rigid aromatic spacers.

This work illustrates a simple approach for optimizing the lanthanide luminescence in molecular dinuclear lanthanide complexes and identifies a particular multidentate europium complex as the best candidate for further incorporation into polymeric materials. The central phenyl ring in the bis-tridentate model ligands L3–L5, which are substituted with neutral (X = H, L3), electron-withdrawing (X = F, L4), or electron-donating (X = OCH3, L5) groups, separates the 2,6-bis(benzimidazol-2-yl)pyridine binding units of linear oligomeric multi-tridentate ligand strands that are designed for the complexation of luminescent trivalent lanthanides, Ln(III). Reactions of L3–L5 with [Ln(hfac)3(diglyme)] (hfac– is the hexafluoroacetylacetonate anion) produce saturated single-stranded dumbbell-shaped complexes [Ln2(Lk)(hfac)6] (k = 3–5), in which the lanthanide ions of the two nine-coordinate neutral [N3Ln(hfac)3] units are separated by 12–14 Å. The thermodynamic affinities of [Ln(hfac)3] for the tridentate binding sites in L3–L5 are average (6.6 ≤ log(β(2,1)(Y,Lk)) ≤ 8.4) but still result in 15–30% dissociation at millimolar concentrations in acetonitrile. In addition to the empirical solubility trend found in organic solvents (L4 > L3 >> L5), which suggests that the 1,4-difluorophenyl spacer in L4 is preferable, we have developed a novel tool for deciphering the photophysical sensitization processes operating in [Eu2(Lk)(hfac)6]. A simple interpretation of the complete set of rate constants characterizing the energy migration mechanisms provides straightforward objective criteria for the selection of [Eu2(L4)(hfac)6] as the most promising building block.

Formation of Quaternary Stereogenic Centers by NHC–Cu-Catalyzed Asymmetric Conjugate Addition Reactions with Grignard Reagents on Polyconjugated Cyclic Enones

The copper-catalyzed conjugate addition of various Grignard reagents to polyconjugated enones (dienone and enynone derivatives) is reported. The catalyst system, composed of copper triflate and an NHC ligand, led to the unusual selective formation of the 1,4-addition products. This reaction allows for the creation of all-carbon chiral quaternary centers with enantiomeric excesses up to 99%. The remaining unsaturation on the 1,4 adducts give access to valuable synthetic transformations.

Lanthanide-Mediated Supramolecular Cages and Host–Guest Interactions

The structure and thermodynamic properties of lanthanide complexes with a new tripodal ligand L2 have been elucidated using different physicochemical methods. At stoichiometric ratios, the tetrahedral three-dimensional complexes with lanthanide cations are formed in acetonitrile with good stabilities. Despite minor structural changes comparing to previously investigated tripodal ligands, the resulting assembly exhibits different features revealed with the crystal structure of [Eu(4)L2(4)](OH)(ClO(4))(11) (orthorhombic, Pbcn). Interestingly, the highly charged edifice contains an inner cage encapsulating a perchlorate anion. Such lanthanide mediated cage-like assemblies are rare, and may be of interest for different sensing applications. Indeed, the anionic guest can be exchanged with different anions. The related host-guest equilibria were investigated with NMR techniques. Various aspects of these reactions are qualitatively discussed.

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.

Copper-catalyzed enantioselective synthesis of axially chiral allenes.

A simple copper-catalyzed enantioselective synthesis of axially chiral chloroallenes from the propargylic dichlorides is reported, employing a catalytic amount of easily prepared SimplePhos ligand. Exclusive formation of the desired allenes was observed with good enantioselectivities (ees 62-96%). Further transformations to trisubstituted allenes or terminal alkynes with a propargylic quaternary carbon center keep a high level of enantiopurity.

Enantioselective organocatalytic iodination-initiated Wagner-Meerwein rearrangement.

The present manuscript describes a high-yielding enantioselective semipinacol transposition, initiated by an electrophilic iodination event. The title transformation makes use of the anionic phase-transfer catalysis (PTC) paradigm for chirality induction. Thus, when combined appropriately, the insoluble cationic iodinating reagent S9 and the lipophilic phosphoric acid L9 act as an efficient source of chiral iodine that performs the semipinacol transposition of strained allylic alcohols A(x) to β-iodo spiroketones B(x) in good yields and with high levels of diastereo- and enantio-induction. The product β-iodo spiroketones could be derivatized stereospecifically and without stereoerosion, giving rise to products inaccessible directly from a semipinacol rearrangement.

N-Heterocyclic Tridentate Aromatic Ligands Bound to [Ln(hexafluoroacetylacetonate)3] Units: Thermodynamic, Structural, and Luminescent Properties

Herein, we discuss how, why, and when cascade complexation reactions produce stable, mononuclear, luminescent ternary complexes, by considering the binding of hexafluoroacetylacetonate anions (hfac(-)) and neutral, semi-rigid, tridentate 2,6-bis(benzimidazol-2-yl)pyridine ligands (Lk) to trivalent lanthanide atoms (Ln(III)). The solid-state structures of [Ln(Lk)(hfac)(3)] (Ln=La, Eu, Lu) showed that [Ln(hfac)(3)] behaved as a neutral six-coordinate lanthanide carrier with remarkable properties: 1) the strong cohesion between the trivalent cation and the didentate hfac anions prevented salt dissociation; 2) the electron-withdrawing trifluoromethyl substituents limited charge-neutralization and favored cascade complexation with Lk; 3) nine-coordination was preserved for [Ln(Lk)(hfac)(3)] for the complete lanthanide series, whilst a counterintuitive trend showed that the complexes formed with the smaller lanthanide elements were destabilized. Thermodynamic and NMR spectroscopic studies in solution confirmed that these characteristics were retained for solvated molecules, but the operation of concerted anion/ligand transfers with the larger cations induced subtle structural variations. Combined with the strong red photoluminescence of [Eu(Lk)(hfac)(3)], the ternary system Ln(III)/hfac(-)/Lk is a promising candidate for the planned metal-loading of preformed multi-tridentate polymers.

One-Step Catalytic Asymmetric Synthesis of Configurationally Stable Tröger Bases

Bridging the gap: Configurationally stable ethano-bridged Troger bases have been prepared in a single step by the direct rhodium(II)-catalyzed reaction of methano-bridged Troger bases and diazo esters (see scheme). The process is general, enantiospecific, diastereoselective (with introduction of a new quaternary carbon center), and regioselective.