Efficient synthetic methods required to assemble complex molecular arrays include reactions that are both selective (chemo-, regio-, diastereo-, and enantio-) and economical in atom count (maximum number of atoms of reactants appearing in the products). Methods that involve simply combining two or more building blocks with any other reactant needed only catalytically constitute the highest degree of atom economy. Transition metal-catalyzed methods that are both selective and economical for formation of cyclic structures, of great interest for biological purposes, represent an important starting point for this long-term goal. The limited availability of raw materials, combined with environmental concerns, require the highlighting of these goals.

http://science.sciencemag.org/content/sci/254/5037/1471.full.pdf

The atom economy--a search for synthetic efficiency

The direct functionalization of C-H bonds in organic compounds has recently emerged as a powerful and ideal method for the formation of carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bonds. This Review provides an overview of C-H bond functionalization strategies for the rapid synthesis of biologically active compounds such as natural products and pharmaceutical targets.

C-H bond functionalization: emerging synthetic tools for natural products and pharmaceuticals

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.

4.2.8. Reductive Coupling 3109 5. Reaction of Aromatic Compounds 3110 5.1. Electrophilic Substitutions 3110 5.2. Radical Substitution 3111 5.3. Oxidative Coupling 3111 5.4. Photochemical Reactions 3111 6. Reaction of Carbonyl Compounds 3111 6.1. Nucleophilic Additions 3111 6.1.1. Allylation 3111 6.1.2. Propargylation 3120 6.1.3. Benzylation 3121 6.1.4. Arylation/Vinylation 3121 6.1.5. Alkynylation 3121 6.1.6. Alkylation 3121 6.1.7. Reformatsky-Type Reaction 3122 6.1.8. Direct Aldol Reaction 3122 6.1.9. Mukaiyama Aldol Reaction 3124 6.1.10. Hydrogen Cyanide Addition 3125 6.2. Pinacol Coupling 3126 6.3. Wittig Reactions 3126 7. Reaction of R,â-Unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds 3127

Organic Reactions in Aqueous Media with a Focus on Carbon−Carbon Bond Formations: A Decade Update

The increasing demand to produce enantiomerically pure pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, flavors, and other fine chemicals has advanced the field of asymmetric catalytic technologies.1,2 Among all asymmetric catalytic methods, asymmetric hydrogenation utilizing molecular hydrogen to reduce prochiral olefins, ketones, and imines, have become one of the most efficient methods for constructing chiral compounds.3 The development of homogeneous asymmetric hydrogenation was initiated by Knowles4a and Horner4b in the late 1960s, after the discovery of Wilkinson’s homogeneous hydrogenation catalyst [RhCl(PPh3)3]. By replacing triphenylphosphine of the Wilkinson’s catalystwithresolvedchiralmonophosphines,6Knowles and Horner reported the earliest examples of enantioselective hydrogenation, albeit with poor enantioselectivity. Further exploration by Knowles with an improved monophosphine CAMP provided 88% ee in hydrogenation of dehydroamino acids.7 Later, two breakthroughs were made in asymmetric hydrogenation by Kagan and Knowles, respectively. Kagan reported the first bisphosphine ligand, DIOP, for Rhcatalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation.8 The successful application of DIOP resulted in several significant directions for ligand design in asymmetric hydrogenation. Chelating bisphosphorus ligands could lead to superior enantioselectivity compared to monodentate phosphines. Additionally, P-chiral phosphorus ligands were not necessary for achieving high enantioselectivity, and ligands with backbone chirality could also provide excellent ee’s in asymmetric hydrogenation. Furthermore, C2 symmetry was an important structural feature for developing new efficient chiral ligands. Kagan’s seminal work immediately led to the rapid development of chiral bisphosphorus ligands. Knowles made his significant discovery of a C2-symmetric chelating bisphosphine ligand, DIPAMP.9 Due to its high catalytic efficiency in Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of dehydroamino acids, DIPAMP was quickly employed in the industrial production of L-DOPA.10 The success of practical synthesis of L-DOPA via asymmetric hydrogenation constituted a milestone work and for this work Knowles was awarded the Nobel Prize in 2001.3k This work has enlightened chemists to realize * Corresponding author. 3029 Chem. Rev. 2003, 103, 3029−3069

New Chiral Phosphorus Ligands for Enantioselective Hydrogenation

The 1,4-addition of alkylmagnesium chlorides to conjugated N-enoylsultams and subsequent ‘enolate trapping’ with aq. NH4Cl or MeI/hexamethylphosphoric triamide generated centers of asymmetry at C(β) and/or at C(α) with good to excellent π-face defferentiation as demonstrated by the conversions 1→2, 1→4, and 8→9. This holds also for the regioselective 1,4-addition of EtMgC1 to a dienoylsultam (15→16). Reactive conformations 1≠, 8≠, 13, and 14 are postulated in agreement with X-ray evidence which also served for the structure determination of the product 9j.

Asymmetric induction at C(β) and C(α) of N-enoylsultams by organomagnesium 1,4-addition/enolate trapping

1,4-Additions of PhCu · BF3, n-Bu · BF3 and MeCu · BF3 to the trans-8-phenyl-menthyl enoates 1 proceeded with high chiral induction. Saponification of the resulting esters 2 gave the corresponding enantiomerically pure β-substituted alkanoic acids 3 and the recovered (−)-8-phenylmenthol in good overall yields. Analogous additions to the cis-crotonate 1 led preferentially to the acids 3 enantiomeric to those obtained from the trans-crotonate 1, although with lower selectivity. A stereochemical model is proposed consistent with the observed results (Scheme 2, Table).

High Asymmetric Induction in Conjugate Additions of RCu · BF3 to Chiral Enoates. Preliminary communication

(−)-Pumiliotoxin-C-hydrochloride, as well as its unnatural enantiomer, have been synthesized in an enantioselective manner starting from (S)- or (R)-norvaline, respectively. In the crucial cycloaddition step 11 12(cf. scheme 2) the chiral center of 11 controls to a major extent the three developing centers of chirality. This synthesis shows unambigously the (2S)-configuration of natural pumiliotoxin-C.

Wolfgang Oppolzer

Papers

Asymmetric induction at C(β) and C(α) of N-enoylsultams by organomagnesium 1,4-addition/enolate trapping

High Asymmetric Induction in Conjugate Additions of RCu · BF3 to Chiral Enoates. Preliminary communication

An enantioselective synthesis and the absolute configuration of natural pumiliotoxin‐C. Preliminary communication

Chiral toluene-2,α-sultam auxiliaries: Asymmetric diels-alder reactions of N-enoyl derivatives

Asymmetric alkylations of a sultam-derived glycinate equivalent: practical preparation of enantiomerically pure α-amino acids