Anti-Selective Aldol Additions

Yamamoto has also investigated the use of 1 and 2 with racemic aldehydes such as 5 in a series of addition reactions (Eq. (8.2)). The chiral enolate participates in aldol additions to afford a mixture of anti- and yn-products 6 and 7 in which the aldehyde facial selectivity has been determined in large part by the overriding bias of the auxiliary. Thus the process offers great promise for the construction of stereochemically complex, densely functionalized fragments common in numerous polypropionate-derived natural products. 

In addition to the acetate aldol problem, stereoselective aldol additions of substituted enolates to yield 1,2-anti- or f/treo-selective adducts has remained as a persistent gap in asymmetric aldol methodology. A number of innovative solutions have been documented recently that provide ready access to such products. The different successful approaches to anri-selective propionate aldol adducts stem from the design of novel auxiliaries coupled to the study of metal and base effects on the reaction stereochemistry. The newest class of auxiliaries are derived from A-arylsulfonyl amides prepared from readily available optically active vicinal amino alcohols, such as cw-l-aminoindan-2-ol and norephedrine. 

Masamune has documented the addition of optically active ester enolates that afford lanfi-aldol adducts in superb yields and impressive stereoselectivity (Eq. (8.3)) [4]. The generation of a boryl enolate from 8 follows from groundbreaking studies of ester enolization by Masamune employing dialkyl boryl tri-flates and amines [5]. Careful selection of di-n-alkyl boron triflate (di-n-butyl versus dicyclopentyl or dicyclohexyl) and base (triethyl amine versus Hiinigs base) leads to the formation of enolates that participate in the 2u//-selective propionate aldol additions. Under optimal conditions, 8 is treated with 1-2 equiv of di-c-hex-yl boron triflate and triethyl amine at -78 °C followed by addition of aldehyde the products 9 and 10 are isolated in up to 99 1 antv.syn diastereomeric ratio. The asymmetric aldol process can be successfully carried out with a broad range of substrates including aliphatic, aromatic, unsaturated, and functionalized aldehydes. 

An attractive feature of the Masamune process is the subsequent ease of removal of the sulfonamide auxiliary to afford the corresponding acid (LiOH, THF/H2O) without loss of stereochemical integrity of the products. 

Gosh has independently reported a second and-selective aldol addition process (Eq. (8.4)) [6]. Amino indanol derived esters such as 11 are enolized with excess TiCl4 (2 equiv) and Hiinig s base to furnish a brown solution consisting exclusively of the Z-enolate as determined by H NMR spectroscopy. Addition of aldehyde (2 equiv) at -78 °C affords the corresponding aldol adducts 12/13 in 44-97% yield and up to 99 1 antitsyn diastereoselectivity. The optimal substrates in the addition reaction include aliphatic and unsaturated aldehydes. It is interesting to note that the only aromatic aldehyde examined, benzaldehyde, yielded products as a 1 1.l mixture of antv.syn diastereomers. 

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Ruiz, M., Ojea, V., Quintela, J. M. Computational study of the syn,anti-selective aldol additions of lithiated bis-lactim ether to 1,3-dioxolane-4-carboxaldehydes. Tetrahedron Asymmetry 2002,13, 1863-1873. 

A highly diastereoselective anti aldol addition utilizing a variety of N-glycolyloxazolidinethiones has been developed by Crimmins. Enolization of an Atglycolyoxazlidinethione with titanium(IV) chloride and (-)-sparteine followed by the addition of an aldehyde activated with additional TiCU resulted in highly anti-selective aldol additions, typically with no observable syn isomers. 

More recently, Evans has developed experimental conditions for the use of acyl oxazolidinones in the preparation of anti products [54,59,60]. In this case, treatment of 44 and a range of aromatic and a,/5-unsaturated aldehydes in the presence of 20 mol % MgCl2 and EtjN resulted in highly anti-selective aldol additions (cf. 87, dr= 32 1, Equation 5) [59]. Remarkably, the complementaiy anti diastereomer 90 was isolated in equally high diastereoselectivity under otherwise identical reaction conditions when the corresponding acylthiazoli-dinethione 88 was employed (Equation 6) [60]. It was proposed that the aldol addition reactions of 44 and 88 proceeded through boat-like transition states 86 and 89, respectively, as supported by semiempirical calculations. 

Gosh independently reported another anti-selective aldol addition process employing aminoindanol-derived esters 114 (Equation 11) [72]. These were subjected to enolization with excess TiCl, and Hiinig s base to furnish titanium 2-enolates, as determined by NMR spectroscopy. Addition reactions with a variety of aliphatic and unsaturated aldehydes, precomplexed with TiCl4, furnished the anti aldol adducts such as 116 in 44—97% yields and up to 99 1 anti/syn ratios of diastereomers. The stereochemical outcomes of the reactions have been attributed to chelated Zimmerman-Traxler transition state structures, such as 115. It is interesting to note that benzaldehyde, as the only aromatic aldehyde examined, yielded a 1 1.1 mixture of antijsyn products. 

Among chiral auxiliaries, l,3-oxazolidine-2-thiones (OZTs) have attracted much interest for their various applications in different synthetic transformations.2 Such simple structures, directly related to far better known chiral oxazolidinones,11,12,57 have been explored in asymmetric Diels-Alder reactions and asymmetric alkylations, but mainly in condensation of their /V-acyl derivatives with aldehydes. Chiral OZTs have shown interesting characteristics in anti-selective aldol reactions58 or combined asymmetric addition. 

In order to construct the basic skeleton of tetrahydrolipstatin, an aldol addition is virtually predestined. The structure of tetrahydrolipstatin may be regarded formally as an a-branched carboxylic acid with oxygen functions at positions 3 and 5. These ought to be established easily by an anti-selective aldol reaction from a )S-hydroxyaldehyde and an enolate component at the oxidation level of a carboxylic acid. The hydroxy-function on the stereogenic centre at position 5 can be used moreover as a stereodifferentiating structural fragment. 

These results might be rationalized by assuming an aldol-like transition state induced by electrostatic forces as proposed by Seebach et al25,29 in order to explain the anti selectivity in the addition of titanium enolates to arylideniminium salts generated in situ (17-73% yield d.r. 66 34- >95 5 for related examples, see refs 30-32). 

Ono and Kamimura have found a very simple method for the stereo-control of the Michael addition of thiols, selenols, or alcohols. The Michael addition of thiolate anions to nitroalkenes followed by protonation at -78 °C gives anti-(J-nitro sulfides (Eq. 4.8).11 This procedure can be extended to the preparation of a/jti-(3-nitro selenides (Eq. 4.9)12 and a/jti-(3-nitro ethers (Eq. 4.10).13 The addition products of benzyl alcohol are converted into P-amino alcohols with the retention of the configuration, which is a useful method for anri-P-amino alcohols. This is an alternative method of stereoselective nitro-aldol reactions (Section 3.3). The anti selectivity of these reactions is explained on the basis of stereoselective protonation to nitronate anion intermediates. The high stereoselectivity requires heteroatom substituents on the P-position of the nitro group. The computational calculation exhibits that the heteroatom covers one site of the plane of the nitronate anion.14... 

Traditional models for diastereoface selectivity were first advanced by Cram and later by Felkin for predicting the stereochemical outcome of aldol reactions occurring between an enolate and a chiral aldehyde. [37] During our investigations directed toward a practical synthesis of dEpoB, we were pleased to discover an unanticipated bias in the relative diastereoface selectivity observed in the aldol condensation between the Z-lithium enolate B and aldehyde C, Scheme 2.6. The aldol reaction proceeds with the expected simple diastereoselectivity with the major product displaying the C6-C7 syn relationship shown in Scheme 2.7 (by ul addition) however, the C7-C8 relationship of the principal product was anti (by Ik addition). [38] Thus, the observed symanti relationship between C6-C7 C7-C8 in the aldol reaction between the Z-lithium enolate of 62 and aldehyde 63 was wholly unanticipated. These fortuitous results prompted us to investigate the cause for this unanticipated but fortunate occurrence. 

From these and related examples, the following generalizations have been drawn about kinetic stereo selection in aldol additions.9 (1) The chair transition-state model provides a basis for explaining the stereoselectivity observed in aldol reactions of ketones having one bulky substituent. The preference is Z-enolate —> syn aldol E-enolate —> anti aldol. (2) When the enolate has no bulky substituents, stereoselectivity is low. (3) Z-Enolates are more stereoselective than E-enolatcs. Table 2.1 gives some illustrative data. 

Catalysis with Bisoxazoline Complexes of Sn(II) and Cu(II). The bisoxazoline Cu(IT) and Sn(II) complexes 81-85 that have proven successful in the acetate additions with aldehydes 86,87, 88 also function as catalysts for the corresponding asymmetric propionate Mukaiyama aldol addition reactions (Scheme 8B2.8) [27]. It is worth noting that eithersyn or anti simple diastereoselectivity may be obtained by appropriate selection of either Sn(II) or Cu(II) complexes (Table 8B2.12). 

The Evans Cu(II)- and Sn(II)-catalyzed processes are unique in their ability to mediate aldol additions to pyruvate. Thus, the process provides convenient access to tertiary a-hydroxy esters, a class of chiral compounds not otherwise readily accessed with known methods in asymmetric catalysis. The process has been extended further to include a-dike-tone 101 (Eqs. 8B2.22 and 8B2.23). It is remarkable that the Cu(II) and Sn(II) complexes display enzyme-like group selectivity, as the complexes can differentiate between ethyl and methyl groups in the addition of thiopropionate-derived Z-silyl ketene acetal to 101. As discussed above, either syn or anti diastereomers may be prepared by selection of the Cu(II) or Sn(II) catalyst, respectively. 

A systematic study of methyl ketone aldol additions with a-alkoxy and o ,/5-bisalkoxy aldehydes has been undertaken, under non-chelating conditions.130 With a single a-alkoxy stereocentre, diastereoselectivity generally follows Cornforth/polar Felkin-Anh models. With an additional /5-alkoxy stereocentre, 7r-facial selectivity is dramatically dependent on the relative configuration at a- and /3-centres if they are anti, high de results, but not if they are syn. A model for such acyclic stereocontrol is proposed in which the /5-alkoxy substituent determines the position in space of the a-alkoxy relative to the carbonyl, thus determining the n-facial selectivity. 

In this system, the chiral phase transfer catalyst (PTC) is able to recognize one aldolate selectively. There is an equilibrium between syn- and anti-aldolates via retro-aldol addition, and the formation of a stable, chelated lithium salt blocks the non-catalyzed subsequent reaction from yielding the epoxide product ... 

As shown in Scheme 8, the synthesis of aldehyde 45 was achieved in eight steps utilizing the common precursor 31 [46-48], Remarkably, the Mukaiyama aldol addition of silyl enol ether 46 to aldehyde 47 proceeded with anti-Felkin selectivity, which was attributed to involvement of the Weinreb amide and aldehyde carbonyl... 

The alkylation of asymmetric acyclic ketones takes place regioselectively on the most-substituted carbon, thus affording the syn isomers as major products. a-Hydroxyketones showed anti selective additions similar to that observed in related aldol, and Mannich-type additions (Scheme 2.39). Such selectivity is due to the preferred formation of the Z-enamine intermediate, stabilized by intramolecular hydrogen bonding between the hydroxy group and the tertiary amine of the catalyst [23]. 

Fig. 13.48. anti-Selectivity of the aldol addition with a Heathcock lithium enolate including a mechanistic explanation. The Zimmerman-Traxler transition state Cis destabilized by a 1,3-diaxial interaction, while the Zimmerman-Traxler transition state B does not suffer from such a disadvantage. The reaction thus occurs exclusively via transition state B. 

Boryl enolates prepared from A-propionylsultam reacted with aliphatic, aromatic and a,/Tunsaturated aldehydes to provide diastereomerically pure. qw-aldols (Equation (174), whereas the presence of TiCl4 caused complete reversal of the diastereoface selectivity giving anti-aldols (Equation (175)).676-678 Camphor-derived chiral boryl enolates 423 were highly reactive and highly anti-selective enolate synthon system in aldol addition reactions promoted by TiCl4 or SnCl4 co-catalyst (Equation (176)).679... 

Non-Evans Aldol Reactions. Either the syn- or onri-aldol adducts may be obtained from this family of imide-derived eno-lates, depending upon the specific conditions employed for the reaction. Although the illustrated boron enolate affords the illustrated jyn-aldol adduct in high diastereoselectivity, the addition reactions between this enolate and Lewis acid-coordinated aldehydes afford different stereochemical outcomes depending on the Lewis acid employed (eq 35). Open transition states have been proposed for the Diethylaluminum Chloride mediated, anti-selective reaction. These anfi-aldol reactions have been used in kinetic resolutions of 2-phenylthio aldehydes. ... 

The blend SnC -ZnCli is an effective catalyst in the aldol reaction of silyl enol ethers with aldehydes (Eq. 87), acetals (Eq. 88), or ketones [122]. Product antilsyn ratios vary (32 69 to 89 11). The blend also catalyzes the Michael addition of silyl enol ethers with a,/3-unsaturated ketones (Eq. 89), yielding alkylation products (84-100 %) with anti selectivity antilsyn = 55 45 to 87 23). 

The same bisoxazoline Cu(II) and Sn(II) complexes have been utilized successfully in the corresponding propionate aldol addition reactions (Scheme 8-7). A remarkable feature of these catalytic processes is that either syn or anti simple dia-stereoselectivity may be accessed by appropriate selection of either Sn(II) or Cu(II) complexes. The addition of either - or Z-thiopropionate-derived silyl ke-tene acetals catalyzed by the Cu(II) complexes afford adducts 78, 80, and 82 displaying 86 14-97 3 syn anti) simple diastereoselectivity. The optical purity of the major syn diastereomer isolated from the additions of both Z- and i -enol silanes were excellent (85-99% ee). The stereochemical outcome of the aldol addition reactions mediated by Sn(Il) are complementary to the Cu(U)-catalyzed process and furnish the corresponding anp -stereoisomers 79, 81, and 83 as mixtures of 10 90-1 99 syn/anti diastereomers in 92-99% ee. 

Myers et al. found that silyl enolates derived from amides undergo a facile non-catalyzed aldol addition to aldehydes at or below ambient temperature [90]. In particular, the use of cyclic silyl enolate 27, derived from (S)-prolinol propionamide, realizes high levels of diastereoface-selection and simple diastereoselection (anti selectivity) (Scheme 10.27). It has been proposed that this non-catalyzed highly stereoselective reaction proceeds via attack of an aldehyde on 27 to produce a trigonal bipyramidal intermediate 29 in which the aldehyde is apically bound 29 then turns to another isomer 30 by pseudorotation and 30 is then converted into 28 through a six-membered boat-like transition state (rate-determining step). 

Evans has recently reported the use of structurally well-defined Sn(II) Lewis acids 119 and 120 (Fig. 9)for the enantioselective aldol addition reactions of a-heterosubstituted substrates [83]. These complexes are easily assembled from Sn(OTf)2 and C2-symmetric bisoxazoline Hgands 124 and 126 (Fig. 10). The facile synthesis of these ligands commences with optically active 1,2-amino alcohols 122, which are themselves readily available from the corresponding a-amino acids 121 [84, 85]. The Sn(II) bis(oxazoHne) complexes were shown to function optimally as catalysts for enantioselective aldol addition reactions with aldehydes and ketone substrates that are suited to putatively chelate the Lewis acid. For example, using 10 mol % of 119, thioacetate and thiopropionate derived silyl ketene acetals add at -78 °C in CH2CI2 to glyoxaldehyde to give hydroxy diesters 130 in superb yields and enantioselectivities as well as diastereo-selectivities (Eq. 12). The process represents an unusual example wherein 2,3-anti-aldol adducts are obtained in a stereoselective manner. 

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