Highly enantioselective isomerization of primary allylic alcohols catalyzed by (P,N)-iridium complexes

The catalytic asymmetric isomerization of allylic amines to enamines stands out as one of the most accomplished and well-studied reactions in asymmetric catalysis as illustrated by its industrial application. In contrast, the related asymmetric isomerization of primary allylic alcohols to the corresponding aldehydes still constitutes a significant challenge in organic synthesis. Herein, we show that under appropriate reaction conditions, iridium-hydride catalysts promote the isomerization of primary allylic alcohols under very mild reaction conditions. The best catalysts deliver the desired chiral aldehydes with unprecedented levels of enantioselectivity and good yields. Mechanistic hypotheses have been drawn based on preliminary investigation

A Striking Case of Enantioinversion in Gold Catalysis and Its Probable Origins

The cyclization of the hydroxy-allene 2 to the tetrahydrofuran 3 catalyzed by the gold-phosphoramidite complex 1, after ionization with an appropriate silver salt AgX, is one of the most striking cases of enantioinversion known to date. The major reason why the sense of induction can be switched from (S) to (R) solely by changing either the solvent or the temperature or the nature of the counterion X is likely found in the bias of the organogold intermediates to undergo assisted proto-deauration. Such assistance can be provided by a protic solvent, a reasonably coordinating counterion or even by a second substrate molecule itself; in this case, the reaction free energy profile gains a strong entropic component that can ultimately dictate the stereochemical course

Stereoselective synthesis of a natural product inspired tetrahydroindolo[2,3-a]-quinolizine compound library

AbstractA natural product-inspired synthesis of a compound collection embodying the tetrahydroindolo[2,3-a]quinolizine scaffold was established with a five step synthesis route. An imino-Diels–Alder reaction between Danishefsky’s diene and the iminoesters derived from tryptamines was used as a key reaction. Reductive amination of the ketone function and amide synthesis with the carboxylic acid derived from the ethyl ester, were used to decorate the core scaffold. Thus a compound library of 530 tetrahydroindolo[2,3-a]quinolizines was generated and submitted to European lead factory consortium for various biological screenings

Encapsulation of Crabtree's catalyst in sulfonated MIL-101(Cr): enhancement of stability and selectivity between competing reaction pathways by the MOF chemical microenvironment

Crabtree's catalyst was encapsulated inside the pores of the sulfonated MIL‐101(Cr) metal–organic framework (MOF) by cation exchange. This hybrid catalyst is active for the heterogeneous hydrogenation of non‐functionalized alkenes either in solution or in the gas phase. Moreover, encapsulation inside a well‐defined hydrophilic microenvironment enhances catalyst stability and selectivity to hydrogenation over isomerization for substrates bearing ligating functionalities. Accordingly, the encapsulated catalyst significantly outperforms its homogeneous counterpart in the hydrogenation of olefinic alcohols in terms of overall conversion and selectivity, with the chemical microenvironment of the MOF host favouring one out of two competing reaction pathways