Styrene cyclopropanation

The data from Masamune s papers underscore the impressive range the results can cover when the substituents are varied. The last reaction utilises a very bulky ester group to make practically one diastereomer in 94% e.e. The catalyst is CuC104 or CuOTf. For styrene cyclopropanation Evans [7] found a similar relationship between the steric bulk of the ester group of the diazocompound and the selectivity for trans products. 

Styrene cyclopropanation continues to attract much interest. Cationic complex CpFe(CO)2(THF) BF4" mediates carbene transfer from ethyl diazoacetate with high cis selectivity cis trans = 85 15) [38]. On the other hand, Tp Cu(C2H4), where Tp is hydrotris(3,5-dimethyl-l-pyrazolyl)borate, is one of the rare catalysts to promote carbene transfer from ethyl diazoacetate to alkenes and also to alkynes. While cyclopropanes are formed in high yield, cyclopropenes are obtained only in moderate yield [39]. The same complex also catalyzes nitrene transfer from PhI=NTs to alkenes to produce aziridines in high yields. 

There are examples of all metals from groups 8 to 11 to catalyze the transfer of a carbene group from a diazo compound to organic substrates. One of the most studied transformation is the olefin cyclopropanation reaction, " for which the use of Tp ML catalysts has provided valuable improvement. Thus, the diastereoselectivity of this reaction, that usually leads to mixtures of both cis and trans isomers, was directed toward the d.y-cyclopropane with the complex Tp Cu(thf) (hydrotris [3-mesitylpyrazolyl]borate) as the catalyst, affording a 98 2 cisdrans mixture with styrene (Scheme 5) and ethyl diazoacetate (EDA) as the carbene source. Other olefins were also cyclopropanated with the preferential formation of the cis isomer. The catalysts can be prepared in situ by mixing a Cu(I) source and the MTp salt. Also, the Tp Cu(NCMe) complex has been employed as catalyst in a fluorous phase for the styrene cyclopropanation reaction. ... 

Che and coworkers [152] were able to isolate and characterize a pure bis-carbene (TPFPP)Os(CPh2)2 (Fig. 3). The bis-carbene species represents the first structurally characterized fra s-bis-carbene metal complex whose carbene groups are not stabilized by heteroatoms. The related pentacoor-dinated mono-carbene complex was also prepared and characterized by an X-ray structure. A comparison of the reactivity of these complexes with olefins suggests that the bis-carbene species acts as an intermediate in cy-clopropanation. Thus, the inertness of the mono-carbene complex towards stoichiometric styrene cyclopropanation and the observation of an efficient cyclopropanation of styrene in the presence of the bis-carbene complex as a catalyst support this suggestion [152]. A recent X-ray structure determination for (TPFPP)Os(CPh2)(MeIm) revealed an Os = C distance of 1.902(3) A (Table 3) [141]. Recently, Che and coworkers [153] and Miyamoto and coworkers [154] reported oxo-bridged carbene complexes of osmium porphyrins (see Table 3). These compounds are rare examples of oxo-binuclear carbene complexes. 

Catalytic, enantioselective cyclopropanation enjoys the unique distinction of being the first example of asymmetric catalysis with a transition metal complex. The landmark 1966 report by Nozaki et al. [1] of decomposition of ethyl diazoacetate 3 with a chiral copper (II) salicylamine complex 1 (Scheme 3.1) in the presence of styrene gave birth to a field of endeavor which still today represents one of the major enterprises in chemistry. In view of the enormous growth in the field of asymmetric catalysis over the past four decades, it is somewhat ironic that significant advances in cyclopropanation have only emerged in the past ten years. 

Fig. 3.8 Cyclopropanation of styrene in the presence of alcohol ligands. [Yang, Z. Lorenz, ).C. Shi, Y. Tetrahedron Lett. 1998, 39, 8621. Reprinted with permission from Elsevier Ltd.)...

Incorporation of the phenethyl moiety into a carbocyclic ring was at first sight compatible with amphetamine-like activity. Clinical experience with one of these agents, tranylcypromine (79), revealed the interesting fact that this drug in fact possessed considerable activity as a monamine oxidase inhibitor and as such was useful in the treatment of depression. Decomposition of ethyl diazoacetate in the presence of styrene affords a mixture of cyclopropanes in which the trans isomer predominates. Saponification gives acid 77. Conversion to the acid chloride followed by treatment with sodium azide leads to the isocyanate, 78, via Curtius rearrangement. Saponification of 78 affords tranylcypromine (79). 

The preparation of cyclopropane derivatives has been greatly facilitated by the development of carbene-type intermediates (see Chapter 13) and their ready reaction with olefins. The preparation of phenylcyclopropane from styrene and the methylene iodide-zinc reagent proceeds in only modest yield, however, and the classical preparation of cyclopropane derivatives by the decomposition of pyrazolines (first employed by Buchner in 1890) is therefore presented in the procedure as a convenient alternative. 

Ruthenium porphyrin complexes are also active in cyclopropanation reactions, with both stoichiometric and catalytic carbene transfer reactions observed for Ru(TPP)(=C(C02Et)2> with styrene. Ru(Por)(CO)orRu(TMP)(=0)2 catalyzed the cyclopropanation of styrene with ethyidiazoacetate, with aiiti.syn ratios of 13 1... 

These two compounds with S configuration on their oxazohne rings were tested as copper(I) catalysts for the cyclopropanation of styrene, the hgand 9 with S axial chirality being much more enantioselective than 10 with the R configuration. Thus, the catalytic system CuOTf-(S,S)-bis(oxazolyl)-binaphthyl (9, R = Bu) led to excellent enantioselectivities, particularly for the cyclopropanation of styrene with (-menthyldiazoacetate 95% ee for the trans-cyclopropane and 97% ee for the cis, with trans/cis = 68/32. 

The aza-bis(oxazoline) 14, bearing sterically hindering groups, led to very good results in terms of activity and selectivity, comparable to those obtained from corresponding aza-semicorins or bis(oxazolines). For the enantioselec-tive cyclopropanation of styrene, the trans isomer was obtained in 92% ee... 

Davies [30] studied the PyBOx-induced conformational effects by testing several ligands sterically hindered on the oxazoUne moieties (Scheme 11, structures 18 and 19). However, these new ligands gave poorer results in terms of yields and enantioselectivities than ligand 16 for the Ru-catalyzed cyclopropanation reaction, indicating unfavorable steric interactions between styrene and the carbene complex. 

Rhodium complexes with chelating bis(oxazoline) ligands have been described to a lesser extent for the cyclopropanation of olefins. For example, Bergman, Tilley et al. [32] have prepared a family of bis(oxazoline) complexes of coordinatively unsaturated monomeric rhodium(II) (see 20 in Scheme 13). Interestingly, the use of complex 20 in the cyclopropanation reaction of styrene afforded mainly the cis cyclopropane cis/trans = 63137), with 74% ee and not the thermodynamically favored trans isomer. No mechanistic suggestions are proposed by the authors to explain this unusual selectivity. 

Pyridine-based N-containing ligands have been tested in order to extend the scope of the copper-catalyzed cyclopropanation reaction of olefins. Chelucci et al. [33] have carefully examined and reviewed [34] the efficiency of a number of chiral pyridine derivatives as bidentate Hgands (mainly 2,2 -bipyridines, 2,2 6, 2 -terpyridines, phenanthrolines and aminopyridine) in the copper-catalyzed cyclopropanation of styrene by ethyl diazoacetate. The corresponding copper complexes proved to be only moderately active and enantios-elective (ee up to 32% for a C2-symmetric bipyridine). The same authors prepared other chiral ligands with nitrogen donors such as 2,2 -bipyridines 21, 5,6-dihydro-1,10-phenanthrolines 22, and 1,10-phenanthrolines 23 (see Scheme 14) [35]. 

Chelucci et al. [41] synthesized further chiral terpyridines derived from (-)-yd-pinene, (-i-)-camphor, and (-l-)-2-carene and tested their ability to chelate copper or rhodium for the asymmetric cyclopropanation of styrene. The copper catalysts were poorly efficient and selective in this reaction. The corresponding rhodium complexes led to the best result (64% ee) with the ligand derived from (-l-)-2-carene (ligand 33 in Scheme 17). 

In dichloromethane, this complex with alow catalyst loading (1 mol%) achieved the cyclopropanation of styrene with ethyldiazoacetate in high di-astereoselectivity (trans/cis = 90/10) and enantioselectivity (up to 97% ee for the major isomer). 

Metalloporphyrins have proved their efficiency as ruthenium carbonyl hg-ands for the enantioselective cyclopropanation of styrene [50,51]. 

Woo et al. [54] prepared new chiral tetraaza macrocyclic hgands (48 in Scheme 23) and their corresponding iron(II) complexes and tested them, as well as chiral iron(II) porphyrin complexes such as Fe (D4 -TpAP) 49, in asymmetric cyclopropanation of styrene. 

Clarke and Shannon also supported copper bis(oxazoline) complexes onto the surfaces of inorganic mesoporous materials, such as MCM-41 and MCM-48, through the covalent binding of the ligand, modified by alkoxysilane functionalities [59]. The immobilized catalysts allowed the cyclopropanation of styrene with ethyldiazoacetate to be performed as for the corresponding homogeneous case, and were reused once with almost no loss of activity or selectivity. 

Cornejo et al. [65] reported the first immobihzation of pyridine-bis(oxa-zoline) chiral hgands and the use of the corresponding solid ruthenium complex in the model cyclopropanation test. They synthesized vinyl-PyBOx, the vinyl functionahty being introduced in the fourth position of the pyridine ring. This monomer was further homo- or copolymerized in the presence of styrene and divinylbenzene. The corresponding ruthenium catalysts proved... 

The copper complexes of these ligands were tested in the cyclopropanation of styrene with ethyl diazoacetate (Scheme 7) and the ene reaction between a-methylstyrene and ethyl glyoxylate (Scheme 8). hi both cases moderate enantioselectivities were obtained but these were lower than those foimd with the parent hgand. 

The solids were used as catalysts in the benchmark cyclopropanation reaction between styrene and ethyl diazoacetate (Scheme 7). As far as the nature of the clay is concerned, laponite was foimd to be the best support for the catalytic complexes. The best enantioselectivity results (Table 7) were obtained with ligand 6b (69% ee in trans cyclopropanes and 64% ee in cis cyclopropanes) but the recovered solid showed a lower activity and enantioselectivity, which was attributed to partial loss of the chiral ligand from the support. In general, the use of the three chiral ligands led to enantioselectivity results that were intermediate between those obtained in homogeneous phase with CuCl2 and Cu(OTf)2 as catalyst precursors. This seemed to indicate that the sohd behaved as a counterion with an intermediate coordinating abihty to the copper centers. 

Another problem that required solving was the moderate yield obtained in the cyclopropanation reaction when only one equivalent of styrene was used. By increasing the amount of styrene up to its use as the reaction solvent, a noticeable effect on the selectivities was observed when laponite was used as the support [58]. The active role of the clay support was definitely estabhshed when the results in homogeneous and heterogeneous phases were compared (Table 9). These effects involved the reversal of the trans preference in solution to the cis preference with the laponite-supported catalyst in styrene, and also a reversal in the absolute configuration of the major cis enantiomer ob-... 

It is concluded from these results that with this kind of non-C2 symmetric ligand (that led necessarily to poor enantioselectivities in homogeneous phase), it is possible to exploit support effects to change the trans/cis selectivity and to improve the enantioselectivity. This is demonstrated for the trans-cyclopropanes obtained with ligand 10a in styrene. Due to the relative disposition of the ester and phenyl groups in the transition state, support ef-... 

The same type of porphyrin-Ru complex was immobilized by coordina-tive adsorption on aminopropylsilicas (Fig. 26) as either amorphous or crystalline supports [79]. Mesoporous crystalline MCM-48 was the best support, as shown by the improved results obtained in the epoxidation of styrene with 2,6-dichloropyridine N-oxide (TON > 13 000 and 74% ee). The versatility of this catalyst was demonstrated in the intramolecular cyclopropanation of frans-cinnamyl diazoacetate. TON was ten times higher than that obtained in solution and 85% ee was observed. The solid was recycled and reused, although partial loss of selectivity occurred. 

---