Asymmetric hydrogenation substrate complexes

The rhodium complex of the (R,R)-counter-enantiomer of (S,S)-BisP achieved a high level of ee (97%) in the asymmetric hydrogenation of 3-methoxy-substituted substrate (S)-122 (Scheme 25), which constitutes a precursor to the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor SDZ-ENA-713 (123). 

The bis-DIOP complex HRh[(+)-DIOP]2 has been used under mild conditions for catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation of several prochiral olefinic carboxylic acids (273-275). Optical yields for reduction of N-acetamidoacrylic acid (56% ee) and atropic acid (37% ee) are much lower than those obtained using the mono-DIOP catalysts (10, II, 225). The rates in the bis-DIOP systems, however, are much slower, and the hydrogenations are complicated by slow formation of the cationic complex Rh(DIOP)2+ (271, 273, 274) through reaction of the starting hydride with protons from the substrate under H2 the cationic dihydride is maintained [cf. Eq. (25)] ... 

If a reaction that must be investigated follows a reaction sequence as in Scheme 10.1, and if the reaction order for the substrate equals unity, it means that (with reference to Eq. (4 b)), the observed rate constant (k0bs) is a complex term. Without further information, a conclusion about the single constants k2 and fCM is not possible. Conversely, from the limiting case of a zero-order reaction, the Michaelis constant cannot be determined for the substrate. For particular questions such as the reliable comparison of activity of various catalytic systems, however, both parameters are necessary. If they are not known, the comparison of catalyst activities for given experimental conditions can produce totally false results. This problem is described in more detail for an example of asymmetric hydrogenation (see below). 

The catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation with cationic Rh(I)-complexes is one of the best-understood selection processes, the reaction sequence having been elucidated by Halpern, Landis and colleagues [21a, b], as well as by Brown et al. [55]. Diastereomeric substrate complexes are formed in pre-equilibria from the solvent complex, as the active species, and the prochiral olefin. They react in a series of elementary steps - oxidative addition of hydrogen, insertion, and reductive elimination - to yield the enantiomeric products (cf. Scheme 10.2) [56]. 

If Q-symmetric ligands are employed in asymmetric hydrogenation instead of the corresponding C2-symmetric ligands, there coexist principally four stereoiso-meric substrate complexes, namely two pairs of each diastereomeric substrate complex. Furthermore, it has been shown that, for particular catalytic systems, intramolecular exchange processes between the diastereomeric substrate complexes should in principle be taken into account [57]. Finally, the possibility of non-estab-hshed pre-equilibria must be considered [58]. The consideration of four intermediates, with possible intramolecular equilibria and disturbed pre-equihbria, results in the reaction sequence shown in Scheme 10.3. This is an example of the asymmetric hydrogenation of dimethyl itaconate with a Rh-complex, which contains a Q-symmetrical aminophosphine phosphinite as the chiral ligand. 

In the case of the a-dehydroamino acid (Fig. 10.23, right), it could be shown by using low-temperature NMR spectroscopy that the isolated crystals correspond to the major substrate complex in solution. However, according to the major-minor concept (see Scheme 10.2), it does not lead to the main enantiomer [63]. On the contrary, it could be proven unequivocally for various substrate complexes with yS-dehydroamino acids that the isolated substrate complexes are major-substrate complexes. Surprisingly, they also gave the main enantiomer of the asymmetric hydrogenation, which would not be expected on the basis of... 

The so-called minor-substrate complexes of asymmetric hydrogenations are not detectable in many cases, even though they determine the stereochemical course of the hydrogenation due to their high reactivity according to classical ideas. 

Rh complexes with ChiraPhos, PyrPhos, or ferrocenyl phosphines lacking amino alkyl side chains (such as BPPFA) are much less active toward tetrasubstituted olefins. Table 6-1 shows that in asymmetric hydrogenations catalyzed by 5a-d, the coordinated Rh complex exerts high selectivity on various substrates. It is postulated that the terminal amino group in the ligand forms an ammonium carboxylate with the olefinic substrates and attracts the substrate to the coordination site of the catalyst to facilitate the hydrogenation. 

Another interesting issue is the possibility of creating optically active compounds with racemic catalysts. The term chiral poisoning has been coined for the situation where a chiral substance deactivates one enantiomer of a racemic catalyst. Enantiomerically pure (R,R)-chiraphos rhodium complex affords the (iS )-methylsuccinate in more than 98% ee when applied in the asymmetric hydrogenation of a substrate itaconate.109 An economical and convenient method... 

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