Lewis-base asymmetric aldol-type reactions

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... 

Recently, novel bifunctionalized zinc catalysts have been developed (compounds (N) and (P), Scheme 55). They have both Lewis-acid and Lewis-base centers in their complexes, and show remarkable catalytic activity in direct aldol reactions.233-236 A Zn11 chiral diamine complex effectively catalyzes Mannich-type reactions of acylhydrazones in aqueous media to afford the corresponding adducts in high yields and selectivities (Scheme 56).237 This is the first example of catalytic asymmetric Mannich-type reactions in aqueous media, and it is remarkable that this chiral Zn11 complex is stable in aqueous media. 

The asymmetric aldol reaction is one of the most important topics in modern catalytic synthesis [54]. The products, namely />-hydroxy carbonyl compounds, have a broad range of applications and play a key role in the production of pharmaceuticals [55], Since the discovery of the catalytic asymmetric aldol reaction with enolsi-lanes by Mukaiyama et al. [56], steady improvements of the metal-catalyzed asymmetric aldol reaction have been made by many groups [57]. For this type of aldol reaction a series of chiral metal catalysts which act as Lewis acids activating the aldol acceptor have been shown to be quite efficient. It was recently shown by the Shibasaki group that the asymmetric metal-catalyzed aldol reaction can be also performed with unmodified ketones [57a], During the last few years, several new concepts have been developed which are based on use of organocatalysts [58], Enolates and unmodified ketones can be used as aldol donors. 

The mechanism A very detailed mechanistic study of this phosphoramide-catalyzed asymmetric aldol reaction was conducted by the Denmark group (see also Section 6.2.1.2) [59, 60], Mechanistically, the chiral phosphoramide base seems to coordinate temporarily with the silicon atom of the trichlorosilyl enolates, in contrast with previously used chiral Lewis acids, e.g. oxazaborolidines, which interact with the aldehyde. It has been suggested that the hexacoordinate silicate species of type I is involved in stereoselection (Scheme 6.15). Thus, this cationic, diphosphoramide silyl enolate complex reacts through a chair-like transition structure. 

Cinchona alkaloid-derived ammonium phenoxides as Lewis base catalysts have been appUed to asymmetric vinylogous Mukaiyama-type aldol reactions (Scheme 14.8) [30]. In the first step of this reaction, silyl compound 14 reacts with ammonium phenoxide to produce ammonium dienolate 15 with generation of trimethyl(phenoxy) silane. The latter part of this reachon mechanism is basically simQar to the reaction mechanism of ammonium fluoride-catalyzed reactions with silyl nucleophiles as shown in Scheme 14.7. This reaction system was also appUed to other asymmetric transformations [6a, 31]. 

According to Mayr s nucleophilicity scale (N), silyl enol ethers derived from aldehydes (N > 3.5) and ketones (N > 5) and, in particular, silyl ketene acetals (N > 8) [70] represent powerful nucleophihc reagents. Indeed, the aldol-type addition of trichlorosilyl enol ethers 76a-d to aldehydes 1 proceeds readily at room temperature without a catalyst (Scheme 15.14), which is in contrast with the lack of reactivity of allyl silanes in the absence of a catalyst. As a result, the reaction exhibits simple first-order kinetics in each component [71, 72]. Nevertheless, the reaction is substantially accelerated by Lewis bases, which provides a sohd ground for the development of an asymmetric variant The required trichlorosilyl enol ethers 76 can be generated in various ways, for example (i) from the corresponding trimethylsilyl enol ethers on reaction with SiCLt, catalyzed by (AcO)2Hg,... 

In conclusion, chiral heterobimetallic lanthanoid compexes LnMB, which were recently developed by Shibasaki et al., are highly efficient catalysts in stereoselective synthesis. This new and innovative type of chiral catalyst contains a Lewis acid as well as a Bronsted base moiety and shows a similar mechanistic effect as observed in enzyme chemistry. A broad variety of asymmetric transformations were carried out using this catalysts, including asymmetric C-C bond formations like the nitroaldol reaction, direct aldol reaction, Michael addition and Diels-Alder reaction, as well as C-0 bond formations (epoxidation of enones). Thereupon, asymmetric C-P bond formation can also be realized as has been successfully shown in case of the asymmetric hydrophosphonylation of aldehydes and imines. It is noteworthy that all above-mentioned reactions proceed with high stereoselectivity, resulting in the formation of the desired optically active products in high to excellent optical purity. 

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