Ruthenium epoxidation

From the reaction of 5-0-benzoyl-l,2-0-isopropylidene-o -D-en/t/iro-pentofuranos-3-ulose (prepared in 80% yield by oxidation of 5-0-benzoyl-l,2-0-isopropylidene- -D-xylofuranose (35,36) with ruthenium tetroxide) with an excess of diazomethane in methanol-ether, two main products (m.p. 44°-45°C. and 76°-77°C.), both epoxides, could be isolated by chromatography of the product on a silica column. An... 

High-valent ruthenium oxides (e. g., Ru04) are powerful oxidants and react readily with olefins, mostly resulting in cleavage of the double bond [132]. If reactions are performed with very short reaction times (0.5 min.) at 0 °C it is possible to control the reactivity better and thereby to obtain ds-diols. On the other hand, the use of less reactive, low-valent ruthenium complexes in combination with various terminal oxidants for the preparation of epoxides from simple olefins has been described [133]. In the more successful earlier cases, ruthenium porphyrins were used as catalysts, especially in combination with N-oxides as terminal oxidants [134, 135, 136]. Two examples are shown in Scheme 6.20, terminal olefins being oxidized in the presence of catalytic amounts of Ru-porphyrins 25 and 26 with the sterically hindered 2,6-dichloropyridine N-oxide (2,6-DCPNO) as oxidant. The use... 

Asymmetric epoxidation of olefins with ruthenium catalysts based either on chiral porphyrins or on pyridine-2,6-bisoxazoline (pybox) ligands has been reported (Scheme 6.21). Berkessel et al. reported that catalysts 27 and 28 were efficient catalysts for the enantioselective epoxidation of aryl-substituted olefins (Table 6.10) [139]. Enantioselectivities of up to 83% were obtained in the epoxidation of 1,2-dihydronaphthalene with catalyst 28 and 2,6-DCPNO. Simple olefins such as oct-l-ene reacted poorly and gave epoxides with low enantioselectivity. The use of pybox ligands in ruthenium-catalyzed asymmetric epoxidations was first reported by Nishiyama et al., who used catalyst 30 in combination with iodosyl benzene, bisacetoxyiodo benzene [PhI(OAc)2], or TBHP for the oxidation of trons-stilbene [140], In their best result, with PhI(OAc)2 as oxidant, they obtained trons-stilbene oxide in 80% yield and with 63% ee. More recently, Beller and coworkers have reexamined this catalytic system, finding that asymmetric epoxidations could be perfonned with ruthenium catalysts 29 and 30 and 30% aqueous hydrogen peroxide (Table 6.11) [141]. Development of the pybox ligand provided ruthenium complex 31, which turned out to be the most efficient catalyst for asymmetric... 

In the second oxidation method, a metalloporphyrin was used to catalyze the carotenoid oxidation by molecular oxygen. Our focus was on the experimental modeling of the eccentric cleavage of carotenoids. We used ruthenium porphyrins as models of cytochrome P450 enzymes for the oxidation studies on lycopene and P-carotene. Ruthenium tetraphenylporphyrin catalyzed lycopene oxidation by molecular oxygen, producing (Z)-isomers, epoxides, apo-lycopenals, and apo-lycopenones. 

These reports sparked off an extensive study of metalloporphyrin-catalyzed asymmetric epoxidation, and various optically active porphyrin ligands have been synthesized. Although porphyrin ligands can make complexes with many metal ions, mainly iron, manganese, and ruthenium complexes have been examined as the epoxidation catalysts. These chiral metallopor-phyrins are classified into four groups, on the basis of the shape and the location of the chiral auxiliary. Class 1 are C2-symmetric metalloporphyrins bearing the chiral auxiliary at the... 

Dioxo-ruthenium porphyrin (19) undergoes epoxidation.69 Alternatively, the complex (19) serves as the catalyst for epoxidation in the presence of pyridine A-oxide derivatives.61 It has been proposed that, under these conditions, a nms-A-oxide-coordinated (TMP)Ru(O) intermediate (20) is generated, and it rapidly epoxidizes olefins prior to its conversion to (19) (Scheme 8).61 In accordance with this proposal, the enantioselectivity of chiral dioxo ruthenium-catalyzed epoxidation is dependent on the oxidant used.55,61 In the iron porphyrin-catalyzed oxidation, an iron porphyrin-iodosylbenzene adduct has also been suggested as the active species.70... 

Oxidizing enzymes use molecular oxygen as the oxidant, but epoxidation with synthetic metalloporphyrins needs a chemical oxidant, except for one example Groves and Quinn have reported that dioxo-ruthenium porphyrin (19) catalyzes epoxidation using molecular oxygen.69 An asymmetric version of this aerobic epoxidation has been achieved by using complex (7) as the catalyst, albeit with moderate enantioselectivity (Scheme 9).53... 

Besides ruthenium porphyrins (vide supra), several other ruthenium complexes were used as catalysts for asymmetric epoxidation and showed unique features 114,115 though enantioselectivity is moderate, some reactions are stereospecific and treats-olefins are better substrates for the epoxidation than are m-olcfins (Scheme 20).115 Epoxidation of conjugated olefins with the Ru (salen) (37) as catalyst was also found to proceed stereospecifically, with high enantioselectivity under photo-irradiation, irrespective of the olefmic substitution pattern (Scheme 21).116-118 Complex (37) itself is coordinatively saturated and catalytically inactive, but photo-irradiation promotes the dissociation of the apical nitrosyl ligand and makes the complex catalytically active. The wide scope of this epoxidation has been attributed to the unique structure of (37). Its salen ligand adopts a deeply folded and distorted conformation that allows the approach of an olefin of any substitution pattern to the intermediary oxo-Ru species.118 2,6-Dichloropyridine IV-oxide (DCPO) and tetramethylpyrazine /V. V -dioxide68 (TMPO) are oxidants of choice for this epoxidation. 

Annual Volume 71 contains 30 checked and edited experimental procedures that illustrate important new synthetic methods or describe the preparation of particularly useful chemicals. This compilation begins with procedures exemplifying three important methods for preparing enantiomerically pure substances by asymmetric catalysis. The preparation of (R)-(-)-METHYL 3-HYDROXYBUTANOATE details the convenient preparation of a BINAP-ruthenium catalyst that is broadly useful for the asymmetric reduction of p-ketoesters. Catalysis of the carbonyl ene reaction by a chiral Lewis acid, in this case a binapthol-derived titanium catalyst, is illustrated in the preparation of METHYL (2R)-2-HYDROXY-4-PHENYL-4-PENTENOATE. The enantiomerically pure diamines, (1 R,2R)-(+)- AND (1S,2S)-(-)-1,2-DIPHENYL-1,2-ETHYLENEDIAMINE, are useful for a variety of asymmetric transformations hydrogenations, Michael additions, osmylations, epoxidations, allylations, aldol condensations and Diels-Alder reactions. Promotion of the Diels-Alder reaction with a diaminoalane derived from the (S,S)-diamine is demonstrated in the synthesis of (1S,endo)-3-(BICYCLO[2.2.1]HEPT-5-EN-2-YLCARBONYL)-2-OXAZOLIDINONE. 

The synthesis of the /V-protected 7-methylazepine derivative 34 was achieved in 89% yield by a ring-closing metathesis reaction on 33 mediated by Grubbs I ruthenium catalyst. This azepine was an important precursor for the preparation, via epoxidation of the double bond, of a number of 7-methylazepanone derivatives for evaluation as cathepsin K inhibitors <06JMC1597>. 

The tetraene precursor 14, assembled in a similar way to 11, underwent smooth cyclization using the ruthenium initiator 3 (0.1 equiv) to give macrolactone 15, again in good yield and with complete E-selectivity. Despite the incorrect olefin geometry, transformation into epoxides 16 provided further encour-... 

Aldol reaction of keto-acid 21 with aldehyde 10 and esterification of the resulting acids with alcohol 22 led rapidly to cyclization precursor 23 and its 6S,7R-diastereomer (not shown). RCM using ruthenium initiator 3 (0.1 equiv) in dichloromethane (0.0015 M) at 25 °C afforded macrolactones 24a and 24b in a 1.2 1 ratio. Deprotection and epoxidation of the desired macrolactone, 24a, afforded epothilone A (4) via 25a (epothilone C) (Scheme 5). Varying a number of reaction parameters, such as solvent, temperature and concentration, failed to improve significantly the Z-selectivity of the RCM. However, in the context of the epothilone project, the formation of the E-isomer 24b could actually be viewed as beneficial since it allowed preparation of the epothilone A analog 26 for biological evaluation. 

Using a similar C12,C 13 disconnection approach, Schinzer et al. also achieved a total synthesis of epothilone A (4) [16]. The key step involved a highly selective aldol reaction between ketone 27 and aldehyde 10 to afford exclusively alcohol 28 with the correct C6,C7 stereochemistry (Scheme 6). Further elaboration led to triene 29, which underwent RCM using ruthenium initiator 3 in dichloromethane at 25°C, to afford macrocyles 30 in high yield (94%). Although no selectivity was observed (Z E=1 1), deprotection and epoxidation of the desired Z-isomer (30a) completed the total synthesis [16]. 

The transformations discussed in Sects. 2.2-2.3 highlight several important features of the RCM process. Firstly, the compatibility of the ruthenium initiator 3 with a wide range of functional groups including epoxides, vinyl iodides, thia-zoles and alcohols is demonstrated. The versatility of 3 is further illustrated in Sect. 2.3, where it is used to effect RCM of polymer-bound substrates. Previously, the molybdenum complex 1 has been reported to be more sensitive than 3 [19]. Experiments reported here are consistent with this view (Sect. 2.2.3) [14b]. 

The current research areas with ruthenium chemistry include the effective asymmetric hydrogenation of other substrates such as imines and epoxides, the synthesis of more chemoselective and enantioselective catalysts, COz hydrogenation and utilization, new methods for recovering and recycling homogeneous catalysts, new solvent systems, catalysis in two or three phases, and the replace-... 

The enantioseiective hydrogenation of a-amino ketones has been applied extensively to the synthesis of chiral drugs such as the / -agonist SR 58611 (Sanofi Cie). m-Chlorstyreneoxide was obtained via carbene-induced ring closure of the amino alcohol. Epoxide-opening by a chiral amine obtained via a ruthenium-catalyzed hydrogenation of an enamide has led to the desired compound where... 

Although salen complexes of chromium, nickel, iron, ruthenium, cobalt, and manganese ions are known to serve as catalysts for epoxidation of simple olefins, the cationic Mn-salen complex is the most efficient. 

The asymmetric epoxidation of /i-alkenes and terminal alkenes proved to be more difficult, though a recent finding, describing the use of a modified salen complex to epoxidize ( )-0-methylstyrene to form the corresponding epoxide in 83% ee, represents another important step forward. Alternatively, chiral (D2-symmetric) porphyrins have been used, in conjunction with ruthenium or iron, for efficient asymmetric oxidation of trans- and terminal alkenes[92]. 

Introduction of mesityl groups at the porphyrin ring can prevent the formation of the dimeric products and the reaction with dioxygen now leads to ruthenium(VI)-dioxo complexes of TMP (tetramesitylporphyrin) [35], The tram-Ru(VI)02-TM P species can catalyse the epoxidation of alkenes as well as whole range of other oxidation reactions. After transfer of one oxygen atom to an organic substrate Ru(IV)0-TMP is formed, which disproportionates to an equilibrium of Ru02 and llu ). 

It is realised that both ruthenium and the substituted porphyrins are expensive catalyst components for industrial applications. Both turnover frequencies and turnover numbers are modest. Nevertheless it remains an interesting option to use dioxygen directly in epoxidation reactions. 

Other examples involve the immobilization of ruthenium porphyrin catalysts [74]. While Severin et al. generated insoluble polymer-embedded catalysts 16 by co-polymerizing porphyrin derivatives with ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGD-MA) [74 a], Che et al. linked the ruthenium-porphyrin unit to soluble polyethylene glycol (PEG) 17 [74b]. Both immobilized catalysts were employed in a variety of olefin epoxidations with 2,6-dichloropyridine N-oxide (Gl2pyNO), providing similar conversions of up to 99% and high selectivities (Scheme 4.9). 

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