New Strategies for the Development of Catalytic Regio- and Enantioselective Allylic Substitution and Conjugate Addition Reactions

Abstract

Chapter 1. Catalytic SN2”-Selective and Enantioselective Substitution Reactions. The first broadly applicable strategy for SN2”-selective and enantioselective catalytic allylic substitution will be presented. It will be shown that transformations can be promoted by 5.0 mol% of a sulfonate-containing NHC–Cu complex (NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene), and may be carried out by the use of a commercially available allenyl–B(pin) (pin = pinacolato) or a readily accessible silyl protected propargyl–B(pin). Products bearing a 1,3 diene, a silyl allenyl or a propargyl moiety were obtained in high efficiency and selectivities. Also provided is insight regarding several of the unique mechanistic attributes of the catalytic process, obtained on the basis of kinetic isotope effect measurements and DFT studies. These investigations indicated that cationic π-allyl–Cu complexes are the likely intermediates, clarifying the role of the s-cis and s-trans conformers of the intermediate organocopper species and their impact on E:Z selectivity and enantioselectivity. It will also be shown we were able to highlight the utility of the approach by chemoselective functionalization of various product types, through which the propargyl, allenyl, or 1,3-dienyl sites within the products can be converted catalytically and chemoselectively to several synthetically useful derivatives. Chapter 2. NHC–Copper–Hydride-Catalyzed Enantioselective Processes with Allenyl Boronates and its Application in Natural Product Synthesis. Here, the development of a catalytic process that delivers otherwise difficult-to-access organoboron compound will be detailed. These processes involve the combination of a hydride, an allenyl–B(pin) and an allylic phosphate. As will be discussed, two unique selectivity problems were solved: avoiding rapid Cu–H reduction of an allylic phosphate, while promoting its addition to an allenylboronate as opposed to the commonly observed Cu–B exchange. We were able to underscore the considerable utility of the approach by applications to preparation of the linear fragment of pumiliotoxin B (myotonic, cardiotonic) and the first enantioselective synthesis of netamine C (anti-tumor), which also served to confirm its stereochemical identity. Chapter 3. Catalytic Enantioselective Prenyl Conjugate Addition Reactions. In this final section, studies leading to the development of the first class of catalytic enantioselective strategies for prenyl conjugate additions will be detailed. At the core of these investigations was finding ways to overcome two problems. One challenge originated from the fact that highly activated allylmetal species often deliver product with low enantioselectivity. The other was that regioselectivity was difficult to control owing to a strong preference for γ-selective additions. As will be described, we were able to address these difficulties by the use of a hydroxy NHC-copper complex and 3,3-dimethyl allyl–B(pin) as a reagent. In the end, we were able to use acyclic as well as cyclic enoates as substrates. The results of DFT studies that provide insight regarding varying selectivity profiles with different chiral ligands will be discussed as well.