Silyl thiopropionate-derived

The Evans Cu(II)- and Sn(II)-catalyzed processes are unique in their ability to mediate aldol additions to pyruvate. Thus, the process provides convenient access to tertiary a-hydroxy esters, a class of chiral compounds not otherwise readily accessed with known methods in asymmetric catalysis. The process has been extended further to include a-dike-tone 101 (Eqs. 8B2.22 and 8B2.23). It is remarkable that the Cu(II) and Sn(II) complexes display enzyme-like group selectivity, as the complexes can differentiate between ethyl and methyl groups in the addition of thiopropionate-derived Z-silyl ketene acetal to 101. As discussed above, either syn or anti diastereomers may be prepared by selection of the Cu(II) or Sn(II) catalyst, respectively. 

Evans et al. recently reported the use of structurally well-defined Sn(II) Lewis acids for the enantioselective aldol addition reactions of a-heterosubstituted substrates [47]. These complexes are readily assembled from Sn(OTf)2 and C2-symmetric bis(oxazoline) ligands. The facile synthesis of these ligands commences with optically active 1,2-diamino alcohols, which are themselves readily available from the corresponding a-amino acids. The Sn(II)-bis(oxazoline) complexes were shown to function optimally as catalysts for enantioselective aldol addition reactions with aldehydes and ketone substrates that are suited to putatively chelate the Lewis acid. For example, use of 10 mol % Sn(II) catalyst, thioacetate, and thiopropionate derived silyl ketene acetals added at -78 °C in dichloromethane to glyoxaldehyde to give hydroxy diesters in superb yields, enantioselectivity, and diastereoselectivity (Eq. 27). The process represents an unusual example wherein 2,3-ant/-aldol adducts are obtained stereoselec-tively. 

Aldol additions to methyl pyruvate by silyl ketene thioacetals have been shown to proceed in high yield and with excellent asymmetric induction (Eq. 28). This process is an uncommon example of catalytic, asymmetric aldol additions to ketones, providing access to synthetically useful compounds. The remarkable ability of the catalyst to differentiate between subtle steric differences of substituents flanking a 1,2-diketone has been elegantly demonstrated in highly enantioselective additions to 2,3-pentane-dione (Eq. 29). Tlie aldol adduct of 5-ferr-butyl thiopropionate derived silyl ketene acetal afforded 2,3-anh-aldol adduct (>99 1 antilsyn) in 98 % ee and 97 3 chemoselec-tivity for the methyl ketone. 

The same bisoxazoline Cu(II) and Sn(II) complexes have been utilized successfully in the corresponding propionate aldol addition reactions (Scheme 8-7). A remarkable feature of these catalytic processes is that either syn or anti simple dia-stereoselectivity may be accessed by appropriate selection of either Sn(II) or Cu(II) complexes. The addition of either - or Z-thiopropionate-derived silyl ke-tene acetals catalyzed by the Cu(II) complexes afford adducts 78, 80, and 82 displaying 86 14-97 3 syn anti) simple diastereoselectivity. The optical purity of the major syn diastereomer isolated from the additions of both Z- and i -enol silanes were excellent (85-99% ee). The stereochemical outcome of the aldol addition reactions mediated by Sn(Il) are complementary to the Cu(U)-catalyzed process and furnish the corresponding anp -stereoisomers 79, 81, and 83 as mixtures of 10 90-1 99 syn/anti diastereomers in 92-99% ee. 

A remarkable feature of the Evans process is its ability to mediate enantio-, chemo-, and diastereo-selective additions to 1,2-diketones (Eq. (8.18)). The Cu(II) and Sn(Il) bisoxazoline complexes display superb group selectivity, differentiating between ethyl and methyl groups in the addition of thiopropionate-derived Z-silyl ketene acetal to 84. As discussed above, the Cu(II) and Sn(ll) catalysts elicit complementary simple diastereoselectivity with the Cu(II) catalyst leading to the for-... 

When catalyzed by the Cu(II) complexes 81-83, the addition of either E- or Z-thiopropion-ate-derived silyl ketene acetals afford adducts displaying 86 14-97 3 simple diastereoselectiv-... 

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