Asymmetric hydrogenation enantioselection

Catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation was one of the first enantioselective synthetic methods used industrially (82). 2,2 -Bis(diarylphosphino)-l,l -binaphthyl (BINAP) is a chiral ligand which possesses a Cg plane of symmetry (Fig. 9). Steric interactions prevent interconversion of the (R)- and (3)-BINAP. Coordination of BINAP with a transition metal such as mthenium or rhodium produces a chiral hydrogenation catalyst capable of inducing a high degree of enantiofacial selectivity (83). Naproxen (41) is produced in 97% ee by... 

Efficient enantioselective asymmetric hydrogenation of prochiral ketones and olefins has been accompHshed under mild reaction conditions at low (0.01— 0.001 mol %) catalyst concentrations using rhodium catalysts containing chiral ligands (140,141). Practical synthesis of several optically active natural... 

Asymmetric synthesis is a method for direct synthesis of optically active amino acids and finding efficient catalysts is a great target for researchers. Many exceUent reviews have been pubHshed (72). Asymmetric syntheses are classified as either enantioselective or diastereoselective reactions. Asymmetric hydrogenation has been appHed for practical manufacturing of l-DOPA and t-phenylalanine, but conventional methods have not been exceeded because of the short life of catalysts. An example of an enantio selective reaction, asymmetric hydrogenation of a-acetamidoacryHc acid derivatives, eg, Z-2-acetamidocinnamic acid [55065-02-6] (6), is shown below and in Table 4 (73). 

Both reactions were carried out under two-phase conditions with the help of an additional organic solvent (such as iPrOH). The catalyst could be reused with the same activity and enantioselectivity after decantation of the hydrogenation products. A more recent example, again by de Souza and Dupont, has been reported. They made a detailed study of the asymmetric hydrogenation of a-acetamidocin-namic acid and the kinetic resolution of methyl ( )-3-hydroxy-2-methylenebu-tanoate with chiral Rh(I) and Ru(II) complexes in [BMIM][BF4] and [BMIM][PFg] [55]. The authors described the remarkable effects of the molecular hydrogen concentration in the ionic catalyst layer on the conversion and enantioselectivity of these reactions. The solubility of hydrogen in [BMIM][BF4] was found to be almost four times higher than in [BMIM][PFg]. 

Although the asymmetric hydrogenation of itaconic acid derivatives is a potential synthetic approach to many useful product [105], lower enantioselectivities are often reported. In contrast with other catalysts, f-Bu-BisP, Ad-BisP, t-Bu-MiniPHOS, BIPNOR 27, and Brown s ligand 25 gave high to almost perfect ees in the hydrogenation of these substrates (Scheme 23) [101]. 

The Rh(I)-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of dimethyl 1-benzoyloxy-ethenephosphonate 2 using f-Bu-BisP as the chiral ligand gave the corresponding (S)-product in 88% ee (Scheme 27) [120], enantioselectivity being comparable to those observed by Burk et al. [121]. 

The reductive amination of ketones can be carried out under hydrogen pressure in the presence of palladium catalysts. However, if enantiopure Q -aminoketones are used, partial racemization of the intermediate a-amino imine can occur, owing to the equilibration with the corresponding enam-ine [102]. Asymmetric hydrogenation of racemic 2-amidocyclohexanones 218 with Raney nickel in ethanol gave a mixture of cis and trans 1,2-diamino cyclohexane derivatives 219 in unequal amounts, presumably because the enamines are intermediates, but with excellent enantioselectivity. The two diastereomers were easily separated and converted to the mono-protected cis- and trans- 1,2-diaminocyclohexanes 220. The receptor 221 has been also synthesized by this route [103] (Scheme 33). 

Pd metals immobilized on SBA-15 and NaY were applied as catalysts in the synthesis of amino alcohol. These catalysts afford a high level of enantioselectivity in the asymmetric hydrogenation of a-keto alcohol to corresponding amino alcohol. The large peilladium metal exhibited higher catalytic activity and enantioselectivity than well dispersed one over porous supports in the hydrogenation. 

Catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation is a relatively developed process compared to other asymmetric processes practised today. Efforts in this direction have already been made. The first report in this respect is the use of Pd on natural silk for hydrogenating oximes and oxazolones with optical yields of about 36%. Izumi and Sachtler have shown that a Ni catalyst modified with (i ,.R)-tartaric acid can be used for the hydrogenation of methylacetoacetate to methyl-3-hydroxybutyrate. The group of Orito in Japan (1979) and Blaser and co-workers at Ciba-Geigy (1988) have reported the use of a cinchona alkaloid modified Pt/AlaO.i catalyst for the enantioselective hydrogenation of a-keto-esters such as methylpyruvate and ethylpyruvate to optically active (/f)-methylacetate and (7 )-ethylacetate. 

The modifier in these cases seems to generate enantioselective sites at the metal surface and helps the molecule to adsorb in a preferred fashion so that the formation of only one stereo- product is possible. There are several milestones that have contributed to this state-of-the-art technology. Discovery of Wilkinson s catalyst led to the feasibility of asymmetric hydrogen transfer with the aid of an optically active Wilkinson-type catalyst for L-DOPA (Monsanto s anti-Parkinson disease drug) synthesis (Eqn. (21)). 

The asymmetric hydrogenation of C=N (Eqn. (23)), in contrast with C=0 and C=C bonds, is much less developed. Hexahydrowoquinoline was used as its phosphoric acid salt. Iridium-ferrocenyl complexes were found to be sati.sfactory. After optimisiation, Meyer et al. (1997) were able to realize an enantioselectivity of 89% ee. 

BITIANP, were tested as ruthenium ligands for the asymmetric hydrogenation of various olefinic substrates. The results collected in Scheme 8.8 show that these novel ligands were able to induce high enantioselectivities of up to 94% ee. ... 

Several S/N ligands have also been investigated for the asymmetric hydrogenation of prochiral olefins. Thus, asymmetric enamide hydrogenations have been performed in the presence of S/N ligands and rhodium or ruthenium catalysts by Lemaire et al., giving enantioselectivities of up to 70% ee. Two... 

In 1998, Ruiz et al. reported the synthesis of new chiral dithioether ligands based on a pyrrolidine backbone from (+ )-L-tartaric acid. Their corresponding cationic iridium complexes were further evaluated as catalysts for the asymmetric hydrogenation of prochiral dehydroamino acid derivatives and itaconic acid, providing enantioselectivities of up to 68% ee, as shown in Scheme 8.18. 

Enantioselectivities of up to 47% ee were reported by Ruiz et al. in 1997 for the asymmetric hydrogenation of various prochiral dehydroamino acid derivatives and itaconic acid by using iridium cationic complexes of the novel chiral... 

On the other hand, James reported, in 1976, the use of a chiral sulfoxide as a ligand of ruthenium for the asymmetric hydrogenation of itaconic acid, providing a low enantioselectivity of 12% ee (Scheme 8.23). ... 

In recent years, the asymmetric hydrogenation of prochiral olefins have been developed in the presence of various chiral sulfur-containing ligands combined with rhodium, iridium or more rarely ruthenium catalysts. The best results have been obtained by using S/P ligands, with enantioselectivities of up to 99% ee in... 

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