Ziyuan Ding

Highly Enantioselective Hydrogenation of Quinolines Using Phosphine-Free Chiral Cationic Ruthenium Catalysts: Scope, Mechanism, and Origin of Enantioselectivity

Asymmetric hydrogenation of quinolines catalyzed by chiral cationic η(6)-arene-N-tosylethylenediamine-Ru(II) complexes have been investigated. A wide range of quinoline derivatives, including 2-alkylquinolines, 2-arylquinolines, and 2-functionalized and 2,3-disubstituted quinoline derivatives, were efficiently hydrogenated to give 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolines with up to >99% ee and full conversions. This catalytic protocol is applicable to the gram-scale synthesis of some biologically active tetrahydroquinolines, such as (-)-angustureine, and 6-fluoro-2-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline, a key intermediate for the preparation of the antibacterial agent (S)-flumequine. The catalytic pathway of this reaction has been investigated in detail using a combination of stoichiometric reaction, intermediate characterization, and isotope labeling patterns. The evidence obtained from these experiments revealed that quinoline is reduced via an ionic and cascade reaction pathway, including 1,4-hydride addition, isomerization, and 1,2-hydride addition, and hydrogen addition undergoes a stepwise H(+)/H(-) transfer process outside the coordination sphere rather than a concerted mechanism. In addition, DFT calculations indicate that the enantioselectivity originates from the CH/π attraction between the η(6)-arene ligand in the Ru-complex and the fused phenyl ring of dihydroquinoline via a 10-membered ring transition state with the participation of TfO(-) anion.

Highly Effective Asymmetric Hydrogenation of Cyclic N-Alkyl Imines with Chiral Cationic Ru-MsDPEN Catalysts

A range of cyclic N-alkyl imines were efficiently hydrogenated by using a chiral cationic Ru(η(6)-cymene)(MsDPEN)(BArF) complex (MsDPEN = N-(methanesulfonyl)-1,2-diphenylethylenediamine) in high yields and up to 98% ee. A one-pot synthesis of chiral 2-phenylpyrrolidine via reductive amination was also developed.

Asymmetric hydrogenation of 2- and 2,3-substituted quinoxalines with chiral cationic ruthenium diamine catalysts.

The enantioselective hydrogenation of 2-alkyl- and 2-aryl-subsituted quinoxalines and 2,3-disubstituted quinoxalines was developed by using the cationic Ru(η(6)-cymene)(monosulfonylated diamine)(BArF) system in high yields with up to 99% ee. The counteranion was found to be critically important for the high enantioselectivity and/or diastereoselectivity.

Highly Enantioselective Hydrogenation of 2,4‐Diaryl‐1,5‐Benzodiazepines Catalyzed by Dendritic Phosphinooxazoline Iridium Complexes

A PHOX with arms: A series of dendrimers with Ir phosphinooxazoline (PHOX) cores were designed and synthesized and found to be highly effective and recoverable catalysts for asymmetric hydrogenation of 2,4-diaryl-1,5-benzodiazepines. An obvious positive dendritic effect on reactivity was observed, leading to chiral nitrogen-containing heterocycles with excellent enantioselectivities.