Asymmetric synthesis mechanism

Throughout each chapter, clear structures, schemes, and figures accompany the text. Mechanism, reactivity, selectivity, and stereochemistry are especially addressed. Special emphasis is also placed on introducing both the logic of total synthesis and the rationale for the invention and use of important synthetic methods. In particular, we amplify the most important developments in asymmetric synthesis, catalysis, cyclization reactions, and organometallic chemistry. 

In Ugi four-component reactions (for mechanism, see Section 1.4.4.1.) all four components may potentially serve as the stereodifferentiating tool65. However, neither the isocyanide component nor the carboxylic acid have pronounced effects on the overall stereodiscrimination60 66. As a consequence, the factors influencing the stereochemical course of Ugi reactions arc similar to those in Strecker syntheses. The use of chiral aldehydes is commonly found in substrate-controlled syntheses whereas the asymmetric synthesis of new enantiomerically pure compounds via Ugi s method is restricted to the application of optically active amines as the chiral auxiliary group. 

Allylic alcohols can be converted to epoxy-alcohols with tert-butylhydroperoxide on molecular sieves, or with peroxy acids. Epoxidation of allylic alcohols can also be done with high enantioselectivity. In the Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation,allylic alcohols are converted to optically active epoxides in better than 90% ee, by treatment with r-BuOOH, titanium tetraisopropoxide and optically active diethyl tartrate. The Ti(OCHMe2)4 and diethyl tartrate can be present in catalytic amounts (15-lOmol %) if molecular sieves are present. Polymer-supported catalysts have also been reported. Since both (-t-) and ( —) diethyl tartrate are readily available, and the reaction is stereospecific, either enantiomer of the product can be prepared. The method has been successful for a wide range of primary allylic alcohols, where the double bond is mono-, di-, tri-, and tetrasubstituted. This procedure, in which an optically active catalyst is used to induce asymmetry, has proved to be one of the most important methods of asymmetric synthesis, and has been used to prepare a large number of optically active natural products and other compounds. The mechanism of the Sharpless epoxidation is believed to involve attack on the substrate by a compound formed from the titanium alkoxide and the diethyl tartrate to produce a complex that also contains the substrate and the r-BuOOH. ... 

We have developed the efficient synthesis of the SERM drug candidate 1 and successfully demonstrated the process on a multiple kilogram scale to support the drug development program. A novel sulfoxide-directed borane reduction of vinyl sulfoxides was discovered. The mechanistic details of this novel reaction were explored and a plausible mechanism proposed. The sequence of asymmetric oxidation of vinyl sulfoxides followed by stereospecific borane reduction to make chiral dihydro-1,4-benzoxathiins was applied to the asymmetric synthesis of a number of other dihydro-1,4-benzoxathiins including the sweetening agent 67. 

On the other hand, optically active telluroxides have not been isolated until recently, although it has been surmised that they are key intermediates in asymmetric synthesis.3,4 In 1997, optically active telluroxides 3, stabilized by bulky substituents toward racemization, were isolated for the first time by liquid chromatography on optically active columns.13,14 The stereochemistry was determined by comparing their chiroptical properties with those of chiral selenoxides with known absolute configurations. The stability of the chiral telluroxides toward racemization was found to be lower than that of the corresponding selenoxides, and the racemization mechanism that involved formation of the achiral hydrate by reaction of water was also clarified. Telluroxides 4 and 5, which were thermodynamically stabilized by nitrogen-tellurium interactions, were also optically resolved and their absolute configurations and stability were studied (Scheme 2).12,14... 

Halpern, J. Asymmetric catalytic hydrogenation Mechanism and origin of en-antioselection. In Morrison, J.D. (Ed.), Asymmetric Synthesis. Academic Press, Orlando, 1985, Vol. 5, p. 41. 

For the mechanism of asymmetric hydrogenation, see Halpem, J. Asymmetric Catalytic Hydrogenation Mechanism and Origin of Enantioselection in Morri-sion, J. D. ed. Asymmetric Synthesis, Academic Press, New York, 1985, vol. 5. 

It is of some historical interest that Kiliani s cyanohydrin synthesis (24) enabled Emil Fischer (25) to carry out the first asymmetric synthesis. Lapworth (26) used this base-catalyzed nucleophilic 1,2-addition reaction in one of the first studies of a reaction mechanism. Bredig (27,28) appears to have been the first to use quinine (29) in this reaction as the chiral basic catalyst. More recently, others (20) have used basic polymers to catalyze the addition of cyanide to aldehydes. The structure of quinine has been known since 1908 (30). Yet it is of critical importance that Prelog s seminal work on the mechanism of this asymmetric transformation (eq. [4]) could not have begun (16) until the configuration of quinine was established in 1944 (31,32). 

However, the major factor stimulating the rapid development of static and dynamic sulfur stereochemistry was the interest in the mechanism and steric course of nucleophilic substitution reactions at chiral sulfur. Very recently, chiral organic sulfur compounds have attracted much attention as useful and efficient reagents in asymmetric synthesis. 

A very successful example for the use of dendritic polymeric supports in asymmetric synthesis was recently described by Breinbauer and Jacobsen [76]. PA-MAM-dendrimers with [Co(salen)]complexes were used for the hydrolytic kinetic resolution (HKR) of terminal epoxides. For such asymmetric ring opening reactions catalyzed by [Co(salen)]complexes, the proposed mechanism involves cooperative, bimetallic catalysis. For the study of this hypothesis, PAMAM dendrimers of different generation [G1-G3] were derivatized with a covalent salen Hgand through an amide bond (Fig. 7.22). The separation was achieved by precipitation and SEC. The catalytically active [Co "(salen)]dendrimer was subsequently obtained by quantitative oxidation with elemental iodine (Fig. 7.22). 

Hong and co-workers have described a formal [3-t-3] cycloaddition of a,P-unsaturated aldehydes using L-proline as the catalyst (Scheme 72) [225], Although the precise mechanism of this reaction is unclear a plausible explanation involves both iminium ion and enamine activation of the substrates and was exploited in the asymmetric synthesis of (-)-isopulegol hydrate 180 and (-)-cubebaol 181. This strategy has also been extended to the trimerisation of acrolein in the synthesis of montiporyne F [226],... 

The P- and M-cis-syn-conformers give photoreactions, whose rates are proportional to el when left-handed CPL is used. Therefore, a high optical yield requires a high g-factor 69 After the excitation cyclization occurs leading to a DHP, which is readily oxidized to helicene. The precursor remains racemic as racemization in the ground state, is easy. Racemization in the excited state, however, may be slow, compared to cyclization. According to Kagan 69) this mechanism explains the asymmetric synthesis well. 

The mechanism of this interesting asymmetric synthesis may be assumed to be as follows ... 

A group at the Academy of Sciences in Moscow 197) has synthesized chiral threonine. Derivatives of cyclic imino acids form copper complexes with glacine and carbonyl compounds. Hydroxyethylation with acetaldehyde and decomposition of the resulting complexes produced threonine with an optical purity of up to 97-100% and with threo/allo ratios of up to 19 1 197). The chiral reagents could be recovered and re-used without loss of stereoselectivity. The mechanism of this asymmetric synthesis of amino acids via glacine Schiff base/metal complexes was also discussed 197). 

When (2S)-1-(1-cyclohexene-l-yl)-2-(methoxymethyl)pyrrolidine (206), enamine from cyclohexanone, and (S)-proline-derived (2S)-(methoxymethyl)pyrrolidine is added to the Knoevenagel condensation products (207), mainly one of the possible four diastereomers is formed. The diastereomeric purity was found to be excellent (d.s. > 90%) 203). The stereochemical course of this highly effective asymmetric synthesis allowed the synthesis of the optically active target molecules (208). A possible mechanism discussed by Blarer and Seebach 203). 

Asymmetric synthesis, either enantioselective or diastereoselective, has seldom been performed by photochemical reactions. One of the first examples that may be classified as a photochemical asymmetric synthesis is the photoalkylation of the most simple amino acid, glycine. Elad and Sperling 220) demonstrated that, if glycine is part of a polypeptide chain, there is good control (up to 40 % e.e.) in the creation of the new chiral center. A radical mechanism operates after the first step of photoinitiation of the process. 

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