Enantioselective Lewis acid catalysed reactions

To the best of our knowledge the data in Table 3.2 constitute the first example of enantio selectivity in a chiral Lewis-acid catalysed organic transformation in aqueous solution. Note that for the majority of enantioselective Lewis-acid catalysed reactions, all traces of water have to be removed from the... 

The first enantioselective synthesis of cis- and trans- 3-hydroxyflavanones is based on the Lewis-acid-catalysed reaction of phenylmethanethiol with chalcone epoxides <96CC2747>. Further support for the intermediacy of epoxides in the Algar-Flynn-Oyamada flavone synthesis has been provided by the isolation of epoxides in the corresponding preparation of 3-hydroxy-2-phenylquinol-4-ones <96JCS(P2)269>. 

Formyl hydrogen bonds, in which die C—H bond of a formyl group acts as an acceptor (typically to oxygen), have recently been identified in Lewis acid-catalysed reactions of aldehydes.523 An X-ray crystal structure of such a complex has been reported.5213 This type of hydrogen bond is now suggested as a likely organizing stereochemical element in a variety of enantioselective aldol, allylation, and Diels-Alder reactions catalysed by Lewis acids reported in the literature.520 Further examples of such reactions are also discussed.53... 

In the chemistry of (3-lactam antibiotics, isolations of carboxylic acid derivatives are successfully achieved by formation of amidinium salts [56]. Lewis acid catalysed reaction of 4-substituted 1-trimethylsilyloxyfurans with 4-acetoxyazetidinone chiron leads to highly enantioselective construction of tricyclic carbapenam and penems, in which DBU (1) and Eshenmoser amidine (4) were used for the introduction of the exo double bond on the (3-lactam skeleton by demesylation (A route) and the isolation of carboxylic acids as... 

Titanium complexes are often encountered in Lewis acid-catalysed reactions. This is certainly true for catalysed aldol reactions. Mikami and Matsukawa demonstrated that titanium/BINOL complexes e.g. complex (7.20) afforded high yield and enantioselectivity in the aldol reactions of thioester ketene silylacetals with a variety of aldehydes. In contrast to some of the aldol reactions described above, the stereochemistry of the adducts is dependant on the geometry of the enol ether. Thus, reaction of the (B)-enol ether (7.21) with aldehyde (7.22) yields the sy -aldol adduct (7.23) predominantly while the (Z)-e.no ether (7.24) results in isolation of the anti-adduct (7.25) as the major product. The authors invoke a closed silatropic ene transition state (structure (7.26) for syn-transition state), substantiated by suitable crossover experiments, to explain the diastereoselectivities... 

Clearly, complete understanding of solvent effects on the enantioselectivity of Lewis-acid catalysed Diels-Alder reactions has to await future studies. For a more detailed mechanistic understanding of the origins of enantioselectivity, extension of the set of solvents as well as quantitative assessment of the strength of arene - arene interactions in these solvent will be of great help. 

Throughout this thesis reference has been made to hydrophobic effects. Enforced hydrophobic interactions are an important contributor to the acceleration of uncatalysed and also of the Lewis-acid catalysed Diels-Alder reactions which are described in this thesis. Moreover, they are likely to be involved in the beneficial effect of water on the enantioselectivity of the Lewis-acid catalysed Diels-Alder reaction, as described in Chapter 3. Because arguments related to hydrophobic effects are spread over nearly all chapters, and ideas have developed simultaneously, we summarise our insights at the end of this thesis. 

The majority of catalytic enantioselective allylation reactions involve the chiral Lewis-acid-catalysed additions of allylsilanes or allylstannanes to carbonyl compounds. Monothiobinaphthol has been used by Woodward et al. as a chiral promoter in the enantioselective catalytic allylation of aryl ketones with impure Sn(allyl)4, prepared from allyl chloride, air-oxidised magnesium and SnCl4. Therefore, the allylation of arylketones in these conditions was achieved very efficiently, since the corresponding allylic alcohols were formed in... 

In total, over the past six years, the chelating P,N-ligands have shown considerable promise in a variety of enantioselective processes, including transfer-hydrogenation and hydrosilylation of ketones, hydroboration of alkenes, conjugate addition to enones and Lewis-acid catalysed Diels-Alder reactions, in addition to those described above.128,341 It is anticipated that this list will continue to grow, and... 

An extensive review of the use of chiral Lewis acid catalysts in Diels-Alder cycloadditions has been presented. Brpnsted acid-assisted chiral Lewis acids have been shown to be highly efficient catalysts for the enantioselective Diels-Alder reactions of a- and /3-substituted-Q, /i-enals with numerous dienes. The chiral Lewis acid-catalysed Diels-Alder reaction between cyclopentadiene and alkenoyloxazolidi-nones can be catalysed by bis(oxazolone)magnesium catalysts. ... 

Catalytic asymmetric aldol reactions in water have been attained by a combination of Cu(DS)2 and chiral bis(oxazoline) ligand 4. In this case, addition of a Br0sted acid, especially a carboxylic acid such as lauric acid, is essential for good yield and enantioselectivity (Equation (5)) [29]. This is the first example of Lewis acid-catalysed asymmetric aldol reactions in water without using organic solvents. Although the yield and the selectivities have not yet been optimized, it is noted that this enantioselectivity has been achieved at ambient temperature in water. 

Other reactions of oxetanes reported include the asymmetric ring expansion of 2-substituted oxetanes in an enantioselectively catalysed reaction with diazoacetic esters to give 2,3-disubstituted tetrahydrofiirans <01T262I>, and the Lewis acid promoted reactions of 2-methoxy-2-siloxyoxetane with allylsilane <00MI651 >. 

A mild Lewis-acid-catalysed enantioselective Henry reaction has been carried out in water at 0 °C, using copper(II) bromide and a prolinol with a pendant phenol (69) yields and ee up to 99% were obtained. ... 

Having available, for the first time, a reaction that is catalysed by Lewis acids in water in an enantioselective fashion, the question rises how water influences the enantioselectivity. Consequently,... 

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