/pdf/self-assembled-monolayers-of-thiolates-on-metals-as-a-form-1neb0hj3k4.pdf

Self-assembled monolayers of thiolates on metals as a form of nanotechnology.

About Supramolecular Assemblies of π-Conjugated Systems

Asymmetric enamine catalysis.

Most enzymatic transformations have a synthetic counterpart. Often though, the mechanisms by which natural and synthetic catalysts operate differ markedly. The catalytic asymmetric aldol reaction as a fundamental C-C bond forming reaction in chemistry and biology is an interesting case in this respect. Chemically, this reaction is dominated by approaches that utilize preformed enolate equivalents in combination with a chiral catalyst.1 Typically, a metal is involved in the reaction mechanism.1d Most enzymes, however, use a fundamentally different strategy and catalyze the direct aldolization of two unmodified carbonyl compounds. Class I aldolases utilize an enamine based mechanism,2 while Class II aldolases mediate this process by using a zinc cofactor.3 The development of aldolase antibodies that use an enamine mechanism and accept hydrophobic organic substrates has demonstrated the potential inherent in amine-catalyzed asymmetric aldol reactions.4 Recently, the first small-molecule asymmetric class II aldolase mimics have been described in the form of zinc, lanthanum, and barium complexes.5,6 However, amine-based asymmetric class I aldolase mimics have not been described in the literature.7 Here we report our finding that the amino acid proline is an effective asymmetric catalyst for the direct aldol reaction between unmodified acetone and a variety of aldehydes. Recently we developed broad scope aldolase antibodies that show very high enantioselectivities, have enzymatic rate accelerations, and use the enamine mechanism of class I aldolases.4 During the course of these studies, we found that one of our aldolase catalytic antibodies (Aldolase Antibody 38C2, Aldrich) is an efficient catalyst for enantiogroup-differentiating aldol cyclodehydrations of 2,6-heptanediones to give cyclohexenones, including the Wieland-Miescher ketone.8,9 These intramolecular reactions are also catalyzed by proline (Hajos-Eder-Sauer-Wiechert reaction)10 and it has been postulated that they proceed via an enamine mechanism.11 However, the proline-catalyzed direct intermolecular asymmetric aldol reaction has not been described. Further, there are no asymmetric small-molecule aldol catalysts that use an enamine mechanism.7 Based on our own results and Shibasaki’s work on lanthanum-based small-molecule aldol catalysts,4,6 we realized the great potential of catalysts for the direct asymmetric aldol reaction. We initially studied the reaction of acetone with 4-nitrobenzaldehyde. Reacting proline (30 mol %) in DMSO/acetone (4:1) with 4-nitrobenzaldehyde at room temperature for 4 h furnished aldol product (R)-1 in 68% yield and 76% ee (eq 1). This result

https://www.scripps.edu/barbas/pdf/List00JACS.pdf

Proline-Catalyzed Direct Asymmetric Aldol Reactions

In studying the evolution of organic chemistry and grasping its essence, one comes quickly to the conclusion that no other type of reaction plays as large a role in shaping this domain of science than carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions. The Grignard, Diels-Alder, and Wittig reactions are but three prominent examples of such processes, and are among those which have undeniably exercised decisive roles in the last century in the emergence of chemical synthesis as we know it today. In the last quarter of the 20th century, a new family of carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions based on transition-metal catalysts evolved as powerful tools in synthesis. Among them, the palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions are the most prominent. In this Review, highlights of a number of selected syntheses are discussed. The examples chosen demonstrate the enormous power of these processes in the art of total synthesis and underscore their future potential in chemical synthesis.

Palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions in total synthesis.

The First Heterobimetallic Multifunctional Asymmetric Catalyst.

The direct catalytic asymmetric aldol reaction using aldehydes and unmodified ketones is described for the first time herein. This reaction was first found to be promoted by 20 mol % of anhydrous (R)-LLB (L = lanthanum, L = lithium, B = (R)-binaphthol moiety) at −20 °C, giving a variety of aldol products in ee's ranging from 44 to 94%. This asymmetric reaction has been greatly improved by developing a new heteropolymetallic asymmetric catalyst [(R)-LLB, KOH, and H2O]. Using 3−8 mol % of this catalyst, a variety of direct catalytic asymmetric aldol reactions were again found to proceed smoothly, affording aldol products in ee's ranging from 30 to 93% and in good to excellent yields. Interestingly, the use of this new heteropolymetallic asymmetric catalyst has realized a diastereoselective and enantioselective aldol reaction using cyclopentanone for the first time. It is also noteworthy that a variety of aldehydes, including hexanal, can be utilized for the current direct catalytic asymmetric aldol reaction...

Direct Catalytic Asymmetric Aldol Reaction

The first chiral isoxazoline ligands bearing spiro skeleton are developed. The spiro bis (isoxazoline) ligands (SPRIXs) are readily synthesized from diethyl malonate via double intramolecular nitrile oxide cycloaddition as a key step. The complex of (M, S, S) -R-SPRIX and Pd (OCOCF3)2 promoted the catalytic asymmetric Wacker-type cyclization of alkenyl alcohols to give optically active cyclic ethers for the first time. Furthermore, starting from dialkenyl alcohol, the enantioselective tandem cyclization via oxy-palladation was achieved with up to 95% ee. Asymmetric ligands other than SPRIXs promote neither the Wacker-type reaction nor the tandem reaction.

Development of the First Spiro Bis (isoxazoline) Ligands (SPRIXs) and Their Applications to Catalytic Enantioselective Reactions

Enantioselective oxidative couplings of 4-hydroxycarbazoles using a chiral dinuclear vanadium(V) complex have been achieved for the first time. Under the mild reaction conditions, the corresponding...

Chiral Vanadium(V)-catalyzed Oxidative Coupling of 4-Hydroxycarbazoles

The first asymmetric PdII/PdIV catalysis has been achieved by employing the combination of a hypervalent iodine reagent and a chiral ligand, SPRIX. Enantioselective cyclization of enyne derivatives catalyzed by the Pd−i-Pr-SPRIX complex furnished lactones bearing a bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane skeleton with up to 95% ee.

Hiroaki Sasai

Papers

The First Heterobimetallic Multifunctional Asymmetric Catalyst.

Direct Catalytic Asymmetric Aldol Reaction

Development of the First Spiro Bis (isoxazoline) Ligands (SPRIXs) and Their Applications to Catalytic Enantioselective Reactions

Chiral Vanadium(V)-catalyzed Oxidative Coupling of 4-Hydroxycarbazoles

PdII/PdIV Catalytic Enantioselective Synthesis of Bicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes via Oxidative Cyclization of Enynes.