Toward a rational design of the assembly structure of polymetallic asymmetric catalysts: design, synthesis, and evaluation of new chiral ligands for catalytic asymmetric cyanation reactions
New chiral ligands (4 and 5) for polymetallic asymmetric catalysts were designed based on the hypothesis that the assembled structure should be stable when made from a stable module 8. A metal-ligand 5:6+mu-oxo+OH complex was generated from Gd((OPr)-Pr-i)(3) and 4 or 5, and this complex was an improved asymmetric catalyst for the desymmetrization of meso-aziridines with TMSCN and conjugate addition of TMSCN to alpha,beta-unsaturated N-acylpyrroles, compared to the previously reported catalysts derived from 1-3. These two groups of catalysts produced opposing enantioselectivity even though the ligands had the same chirality. The functional difference in the asymmetric catalysts is derived from differences in the higher-order structure of the polymetallic catalysts. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Catalytic Enantioselective Desymmetrization of <i>meso</i>-<i>N</i>-Acylaziridines with TMSCN
A catalytic enantioselective desymmetrization of meso-N-p-nitrobenzoylaziridines with TMSCN was developed using a chiral gadolinium catalyst generated from Gd(OiPr)3 and d-glucose-derived ligand 1. In this reaction, the addition of a catalytic amount of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) improved enantioselectivity. High enantioselectivity was obtained from a range of meso-aziridines at 0-60 degrees C. The product could be easily transformed into beta-amino acids. Thus, the developed catalytic enantioselective desymmetrization reaction allowed for efficient catalytic synthesis of chiral cyclic beta-amino acids. The incorporation of TFA into the catalyst complex was observed using ESI-MS. Generation of this new complex might be the origin of the improved enantioselectivity.