Lanthanoid-sodium-BINOL complexes

Figure 11. Structure of lanthanoid-sodium-BINOL complexes (LnSB).

In the presence of the sodium-containing heterobimetallic catalyst (R)-LSB (10 mol%), the reaction of enone 52 with TBHP (2 equiv) was found to give the desired epoxide with 83% ee and in 92% yield [56]. Unfortunately LSB as well as other bimetallic catalysts were not useful for many other enones. Interestingly, in marked contrast to LSB an alkali metal free lanthanoid BINOL complex, which was prepared from Ln(0- -Pr)3 and (R)-BINOL or a derivative thereof (1 or 1.25 molar equiv) in the presence of MS 4A (Scheme 17), was found to be applicable to a range of enone substrates. Regarding enones with an aryl-substitu-ent in the a-keto position, the most effective catalytic system was revealed when using a lanthanum-(.R/)-3-hydroxymethyl-BINOL complex La-51 (l-5mol%) and cumene hydroperoxide (CMHP) as oxidant. The asymmetric epoxidation proceeded with excellent enantioselectivities (ees between 85 and 94%) and yields up to 95%. 

The second part of the chapter deals with several kinds of asymmetric reactions catalyzed by unique heterobimetallic complexes. These reagents are lanthanoid-alkali metal hybrids which form BINOL derivative complexes (LnMB, where Ln = lanthanoid, M = alkali metal, and B = BINOL derivative). These complexes efficiently promote asymmetric aldol-type reactions as well as asymmetric hydrophosphonylations of aldehydes (catalyzed by LnLB, where L = lithium), asymmetric Michael reactions (catalyzed by LnSB, where S = sodium), and asymmetric hydrophosphonylations of imines (catalyzed by LnPB, where P = potassium) to give the corresponding desired products in up to 98% ee. Spectroscopic analysis and computer simulations of these asymmetric reactions have revealed the synergistic cooperation of the two different metals in the complexes. These complexes are believed to function as both Brpnsted bases and as Lewis acids may prove to be applicable to a variety of new asymmetric catalytic reactions.1,2... 

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