Yidong Liu

Kinetic Resolution of β-Sulfonyl Ketones through Enantioselective β-Elimination using a Cation-Binding Polyether Catalyst

Reported herein is the first enantioselective β-elimination reaction catalyzed by a chiral cation-binding polyether. By using this catalytic protocol, a wide range of β-sulfonyl ketones could be effectively resolved with high stereoselectivity (S up to >300). Key to the success of this process is the favorable secondary interactions of the catalyst with the Lewis basic groups on the sulfone substrate. The enone product of this process can be easily converted into the racemic starting material, and allows an effective recycling and overall synthesis of chiral β-sulfonyl ketones in high yield and excellent enantioselectivity.

Asymmetric Synthesis of Trisubstituted Tetrahydrothiophenes via in Situ Generated Chiral Fluoride-Catalyzed Cascade Sulfa-Michael/Aldol Reaction of 1,4-Dithiane-2,5-diol and α,β-Unsaturated Ketones

A chiral fluoride-catalyzed asymmetric cascade sulfa-Michael/aldol condensation reaction of 1,4-dithiane-2,5-diol and a series of α,β-unsaturated ketones is described to access chiral trisubstituted tetrahydrothiophene derivatives. The target products, including the spiro tetrahydrothiophene derivatives bearing a five-, six-, and seven-membered ring, were highly functionalized and showed high ee value. This established protocol realized a highly enantioselective reaction with a catalytic amount of KF and Songs chiral oligoEG via in situ generated chiral fluoride to construct useful heterocyclic skeletons with great complexity.

Direct Access to Chiral β-Fluoroamines with Quaternary Stereogenic Center through Cooperative Cation-Binding Catalysis

A direct route to chiral β-fluoroamines with tetrasubstituted C-F centers through the organocatalytic Mannich reaction of α-fluoro cyclic ketones and α-amidosulfones by using a chiral oligoethylene glycol as a cation-binding catalyst and KF as a base is reported. For most substrates, nearly perfect enantioselectivities were achieved even at very high temperatures (>80 °C). The salient features of this process include a) a transition-metal-free and operationally simple procedure, b) direct use of α-amidosulfones as bench-stable precursors of sensitive imines, c) direct enolization of racemic α-fluoro cyclic ketones, and d) excellent stereoselectivity up to 99 % enantiomeric excess and >20:1 diastereoselectivity (anti/syn). Thus, this protocol is easily scalable and provides a new approach for the synthesis of biologically relevant products with tetrasubstituted C-F centers. Furthermore, this protocol was also successfully extended to generate C-Cl and C-Br quaternary stereogenic centers.

Enantioselective Synthesis of anti–syn-Trihalides and anti–syn–anti-Tetrahalides via Asymmetric β-Elimination

Structural motifs containing contiguous halide-bearing stereocenters are common in natural products as well as bioactive molecules. A few successful examples have been reported in the area of asymmetric vicinal dihalogenation of alkenes for accessing dihalogenated products; in this report, an alternative generation method of contiguous halide-bearing stereocenters α,β,γ,δ relative to carbonyl group in excellent enantioselectivity is proposed by utilizing a Songs oligoEG catalyst-catalyzed asymmetric β-elimination. According to this methodology, a wide range of anti-syn-trihalides and anti-syn-anti-tetrahalides with high levels of enantioselectivity were synthesized. The synthetic utility of the contiguous halide-bearing stereocenters was demonstrated by several transformations. The results of high-resolution mass spectrometry indicated that the favorable interaction between catalyst and one of the enantiomers of racemic contiguously multihalogenated ketone contributed to the original enantioselectivity of dehydrohalogenation. A deuterium kinetic isotope effect experiment revealed that this β-elimination reaction proceeds by the E2 mechanism. This strategy opens a new pathway for the asymmetric synthesis of contiguous halide-bearing stereocenters of great complexity.

Fluoride Anions in Self-Assembled Chiral Cage for the Enantioselective Protonation of Silyl Enol Ethers

The potential of Songs chiral oligoethylene glycols (oligoEGs) as catalysts was explored in the enantioselective protonation of trimethylsilyl enol ethers in combination with alkali metal fluoride (KF and CsF) and in the presence of a proton source. Highly enantioselective protonations of various silyl enol ethers of α-substituted tetralones were achieved, producing chiral α-substituted tetralones in full conversion and with up to 99% ee. The established protocol was successfully extended to the synthesis of biologically relevant chiral α-substituted chromanone and thiochromanone derivatives.

Organocatalytic Enantioselective Construction of Axially Chiral Sulfone-Containing Styrenes

We describe herein an organocatalytic enantioselective approach for the construction of axially chiral sulfone-containing styrenes. Various axially chiral sulfone-containing styrene compounds were prepared with excellent enantioselectivities (up to >99% ee) and almost complete E/ Z selectivities (>99% E/ Z). Furthermore, the axially chiral sulfone-containing styrenes could be easily converted into phosphonic acid and S/P ligands, which could be potentially used as organocatalysts or ligands in asymmetric catalysis.

Organocatalytic Atroposelective Intramolecular [4+2] Cycloaddition: Synthesis of Axially Chiral Heterobiaryls

The enantioselective construction of axially chiral aryl-naphthopyran skeletons was realized by organocatalytic atroposelective intramolecular [4+2] cycloaddition of in situ generated vinylidene ortho-quinone methides, from 2-ethynylphenol derivatives, with alkynes. Through this method, the heteroatropisomers were obtained with excellent yields and enantioselectivities. Moreover, a speculative model of the stereochemical outcome is proposed based on preliminary mechanistic studies. The products having various functional groups can be easily transformed into valuable intermediates as either potential ligands or organocatalysts.

Asymmetric Mannich Reaction and Construction of Axially Chiral Sulfone-Containing Styrenes in One Pot from α-Amido Sulfones Based on the Waste–Reuse Strategy

A simultaneous asymmetric Mannich reaction and the construction of axially chiral sulfone-containing styrenes in one pot from α-amido sulfones based on the waste-reuse strategy was demonstrated. A series of chiral β-amino diesters and axially chiral sulfone-containing styrenes with various functional groups were synthesized in good to excellent yields and enantioselectivities under mild conditions. In addition, this protocol has been successfully applied to synthesize the anti-HIV drug Maraviroc and chiral trichloro derivatives.