Enantiomers absolute configuration

Kosaka M, Kuwahara S, Watanabe M, Harada N, Job GE, Pir-kle WH. Comparison of CD spectra of (2-methylphenyl) and (2,6-dimethylphenyl)-phenylmethanols leads to erroneous absolute configurations. Enantiomer 2002 7 213-218. 

Techniques for determining the absolute configuration of chiral molecules were not developed until the 1950s and so it was not possible for Eischer and his contemporaries to relate the sign of rotation of any substance to its absolute configuration A system evolved based on the arbitrary assumption later shown to be correct that the enantiomers... 

The presence of asymmetric C atoms in a molecule may, of course, be indicated by diastereotopic shifts and absolute configurations may, as already shown, be determined empirically by comparison of diastereotopic shifts However, enantiomers are not differentiated in the NMR spectrum. The spectrum gives no indication as to whether a chiral compound exists in a racemic form or as a pure enantiomer. 

One further point needs to be mentioned—the matter of absolute configuration. How do we know that our assignments of R,S configuration are correct in an absolute, rather than a relative, sense Since we can t see the molecules themselves, how do we know that the R configuration belongs to the dextrorotatory enantiomer of lactic acid This difficult question was finally solved in 1951, when J. M. Bijvoet of the University of Utrecht reported an X-ray spectroscopic method for determining the absolute spatial arrangement of atoms in a molecule. Based on his results, we can say with certainty that the R,S conventions are correct. 

The synthesis of key intermediate 12, in optically active form, commences with the resolution of racemic trans-2,3-epoxybutyric acid (27), a substance readily obtained by epoxidation of crotonic acid (26) (see Scheme 5). Treatment of racemic 27 with enantio-merically pure (S)-(-)-1 -a-napthylethylamine affords a 1 1 mixture of diastereomeric ammonium salts which can be resolved by recrystallization from absolute ethanol. Acidification of the resolved diastereomeric ammonium salts with methanesulfonic acid and extraction furnishes both epoxy acid enantiomers in eantiomerically pure form. Because the optical rotation and absolute configuration of one of the antipodes was known, the identity of enantiomerically pure epoxy acid, (+)-27, with the absolute configuration required for a synthesis of erythronolide B, could be confirmed. Sequential treatment of (+)-27 with ethyl chloroformate, excess sodium boro-hydride, and 2-methoxypropene with a trace of phosphorous oxychloride affords protected intermediate 28 in an overall yield of 76%. The action of ethyl chloroformate on carboxylic acid (+)-27 affords a mixed carbonic anhydride which is subsequently reduced by sodium borohydride to a primary alcohol. Protection of the primary hydroxyl group in the form of a mixed ketal is achieved easily with 2-methoxypropene and a catalytic amount of phosphorous oxychloride. 

Metalated SAMP- or RAMP-hydrazones derived from alkyl- or arylethyl ketones 3 add to arylaldehydes both diastereo- and enantioselectively. Substituted / -hydroxy ketones with relative syn configuration of the major diastereomer are obtained with de 51-80% and 70-80% ee. However, recrystallization of the aldol adducts, followed by ozonolysis, furnishes diastereo- and enantiomerically pure (lS, S )-. yn-a-mcthyl-/3-hydroxy ketones 5 in 36-51% overall yield. The absolute configuration of the aldol adducts was established by X-ray crystallographic analysis. Starting from the SAMP- or RAMP-hydrazone either enantiomer, (S,S) or (R,R), is available using this methodology16. 

Addition of enantiomerically pure cnamines derived from (.Y -jmethoxymethyfipyrrolidine (SMP) and ketones (cyclohexanone, cycloheptanone, propiophenone) to AGY-dimethylmethylene-iminium tetrachloroaluminate11,42 give the corresponding Mannich bases in moderate to good yields (56 -79%) and low to moderate enantioselectivities (30-66% ce)12, l3. The (-)-isomer is the major enantiomer in each case. The absolute configuration of the major enantiomer has not been determined. The auxiliary can be recovered. 

In spite of the former widespread use of d and l to denote absolute configuration, the method is not without faults. The designation of a particular enantiomer as d or l can depend on the compounds to which it is related. Examples are known where an enantiomer can, by five or six steps, be related to a known d compound, and by five or six other steps, be related to the l enantiomer of the same compound. In a case of this sort, an arbitrary choice of d or l must be used. Because of this and other flaws, the DL system is no longer used, except for certain groups of compounds such as carbohydrates and amino acids. 

Another problem that required solving was the moderate yield obtained in the cyclopropanation reaction when only one equivalent of styrene was used. By increasing the amount of styrene up to its use as the reaction solvent, a noticeable effect on the selectivities was observed when laponite was used as the support [58]. The active role of the clay support was definitely estabhshed when the results in homogeneous and heterogeneous phases were compared (Table 9). These effects involved the reversal of the trans preference in solution to the cis preference with the laponite-supported catalyst in styrene, and also a reversal in the absolute configuration of the major cis enantiomer ob-... 

Kuz mina LG, Struchkov YT, Troitskaya LL, Sokolov VI, Reutov OA (1979) Absolute configuration of the (—)-R,Sp enantiomer of cyclo-l-(l -dimethylaminoethylferrocene)-2-(acetylacetonato)palladium. Izv Akad Nauk SSSR Ser Khim 7 1528-1534... 

When comparing calculations, or calculations and experiment, it is important to ensure consistent sign conventions are applied. This requires that the absolute configuration of the enantiomer and photon hehcity used in a calculation be clearly specified. See Appendix B... 

From the discussion provided here, it should be apparent that the current level of theory can provide a reliable description for available experimental data that in favorable cases approaches near exact agreement. Certainly, the prediction of shape, magnitude, and importantly sign of the curves is already sufficiently good to indicate that PECD could now serve to establish absolute configuration of an enantiomer (R- or S-) where this is initially unknown. 

Cycloamylose forms inclusion complexes stereoselectively with the enantiomers of isopropyl methylphosphinate (124) from which it was possible to isolate one enantiomer with an optical purity of 66%. The absolute configuration of menthyl methylphosphinate has been revised to the opposite of that previously assigned. 

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