Ruthenacycles and Iridacycles as Catalysts for Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation and Racemisation

Ruthenacycles, which are easily prepared in a single step by reaction between enantiopure aromatic amines and [Ru(arene)Cl2]2 in the presence of NaOH and KPF6, are very good asymmetric transfer hydrogenation catalysts. A range of aromatic ketones were reduced using isopropanol in good yields with ee’s up to 98%. Iridacycles, which are prepared in similar fashion from [IrCp*Cl2]2 are excellent catalysts for the racemisation of secondary alcohols and chlorohydrins at room temperature. This allowed the development of a new dynamic kinetic resolution of chlorohydrins to the enantiopure epoxides in up to 90% yield and 98% enantiomeric excess (ee) using a mutant of the enzyme Haloalcohol dehalogenase C and an iridacycle as racemisation catalyst.

Enantioselective oxidative rearrangements with chiral hypervalent iodine reagents

A stereoselective hypervalent iodine-promoted oxidative rearrangement of 1,1-disubstituted alkenes has been developed. This practically simple protocol provides access to enantioenriched α-arylated ketones without the use of transition metals from readily accessible alkenes

Stereoselective ketone rearrangements with hypervalent iodine reagents

The first stereoselective version of an iodine(III)-mediated rearrangement of arylketones in the presence of orthoesters is described. The reaction products, α-arylated esters, are very useful intermediates in the synthesis of bioactive compounds such as ibuprofen. With chiral lactic acid-based iodine(III) reagents product selectivities of up to 73 % ee have been achieved

Reagent and Catalyst Design for Asymmetric Hypervalent Iodine Oxidations

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