Nickel-catalyzed asymmetric cross-couplings of secondary allylic chlorides and planar-chiral compounds in asymmetric synthesis

Abstract

In Part I, nickel-catalyzed asymmetric carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions are described. A nickel/Pybox system effectively catalyzes regio- and enantioselective cross-couplings between racemic secondary allylic chlorides and readily available alkylzinc halides. This method is applied to generate two stereo centers in a formal total synthesis of fluvirucinine A1. In Part II, the use of planar-chiral compounds as ligands or catalysts in organic synthesis is described. A C2-symmetric planar-chiral bipyridine is an efficient ligand for copper-catalyzed asymmetric [4+1]-cycloadditions between enones and diazoacetates to form 2,3-dihydrofurans. The highly substituted dihydrofurans are not only obtained in good stereoselectivity but also readily converted to other useful molecules. This method is applied to the first catalytic enantioselective synthesis of a deoxy-C-nucleoside. The synthesis of new C2-symmetric planar-chiral catalysts is described. The diastereoslective functionalization of ferrocene using a chiral directing group enables the formation of a number of amines in enantiopure form. These catalysts are tested as several asymmetric catalysts.