Luca Mantilli

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.

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.

Highly enantioselective isomerization of primary allylic alcohols catalyzed by (P,N)-iridium complexes*

The catalytic asymmetric isomerization of allylic amines to enamines stands out as one of the most accomplished and well-studied reactions in asymmetric catalysis as illustrated by its industrial application. In contrast, the related asymmetric isomerization of primary allylic alcohols to the corresponding aldehydes still constitutes a significant challenge in organic synthesis. Herein, we show that under appropriate reaction conditions, iridium-hydride catalysts promote the isomerization of primary allylic alcohols under very mild reaction conditions. The best catalysts deliver the desired chiral aldehydes with unprecedented levels of enantioselectivity and good yields. Mechanistic hypotheses have been drawn based on preliminary investigations.

Highly modular C(1) -symmetric chiral (P,N) ligands with a stereolabile P center: experimental and theoretical studies.

An improved synthesis of a novel class of bidentate (P,N) ligands is presented, the structures of which are characterized by three distinct elements of chirality. The stereoselective installation of the elements of central chirality (at the benzylic carbon and the phosphorus atom) depends on the size of the phosphorus substituent. Thermal inversion of the phosphorus center has been studied experimentally and further correlated by DFT calculations. The potential of these ligands and the role of the phosphorus atom in the asymmetric α-arylation of aldehydes (Pd) and hydrogenation of allylic alcohols (Ir) have also been investigated.