Copper catalysis conjugate addition

Whereas the mono- and the S/S-dithioether moieties have been used to date, the 1,3-dithianyl motif was used for the first time in 2005 by Ricci et al. as a new hybrid ligand in asymmetric catalysis. Hence, a series of new chiral oxazoline-1,3-dithianes have been successfully applied to the copper-catalysed conjugate addition of ZnEt2 to enones (Scheme 2.16). The expected products were obtained in almost quantitative yields and enantioselectivities of up to 69% ee. 

Nickel catalysts can be used instead of copper catalysts to promote the conjugate addition reaction, providing, in some cases, better results than the corresponding copper catalysts. In 2000, Yang et al. discovered a series of (li ,25, 3i )-3-mercaptocamphan-2-ol derivatives, which proved to be efficient ligands in the conjugate addition of ZnEt2 to chalcone upon catalysis with Ni(acac)2 (Scheme 2.29). 

This chapter will begin with a discussion of the role of chiral copper(I) and (II) complexes in group-transfer processes with an emphasis on alkene cyclo-propanation and aziridination. This discussion will be followed by a survey of enantioselective variants of the Kharasch-Sosnovsky reaction, an allylic oxidation process. Section II will review the extensive efforts that have been directed toward the development of enantioselective, Cu(I) catalyzed conjugate addition reactions and related processes. The discussion will finish with a survey of the recent advances that have been achieved by the use of cationic, chiral Cu(II) complexes as chiral Lewis acids for the catalysis of cycloaddition, aldol, Michael, and ene reactions. 

The conjugate addition of organometallic reagents R M to an electron-deficient alkene under, for instance, copper catalysis conditions results in a stabilized car-banion that, upon protonation, affords the chiral yS-substituted product (Scheme 7.1, path a). Quenching of the anionic intermediate with an electrophile creates a disubstituted product with two new stereocenters (Scheme 1, path b). With a pro-chiral electrophile, such as an aldehyde, three new stereocenters can be formed in a tandem 1,4-addition-aldol process (Scheme 1, path c). 

The related 6-trifluoromethyl-l,3-dioxin-4-ones underwent conjugate addition reactions with Gilman reagents, or with Grignards with copper(I) catalysis (Eq. 112). The 6-substituted compounds were also available, and were used to synthesise threonine and aZZo-threonine analogues [303]. Stark contrast between the behaviour of fluorinated and non-fluorinated compounds is revealed in Eq. (113). While benzylmagnesium chloride adds smoothly to the 6-methyl... 

The copper-catalysed asymmetric conjugate addition of dialkylzinc leads to homo-chiral zinc enolates.28 These intermediates have been trapped in situ with activated allylic electrophiles, without the need for additional palladium catalysis (Scheme 3). 

Although in some cases, copper catalysis has little effect on the stereochemistry, some asymmetric induction by chiral copper catalysts such as copper(i) complexes of aminotropone iminates (8) [79] or the chiral arylthiocopper compound (9) [80] has been achieved. Chiral zinc(n) complexes (8) also promote enantioselective conjugate addition [81]. 

Reactions of organomagnesium compounds with a,[3-unsaturated esters show a somewhat greater tendency to conjugate addition than reactions with a,(3-unsaturated ketones (see p. 124). However, copper(i) catalysis may be beneficial even in cases where conjugate addition is the main uncatalysed reaction [30] ... 

Tlie latter reagent undergoes 1,2-addition to a,p-unsaturated aldehydes 1,4-addition, with copper catalysis, is observed with cyclohexenone alone. A more satisfactory reagent for the conjugate introduction of the hydroxymethyl group is the allyldimethylsilylmethyl Grignt reagent... 

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