SN2″-Selective and Enantioselective Substitution with Unsaturated Organoboron Compounds and Catalyzed by a Sulfonate-Containing NHC-Cu Complex

J Am Chem Soc. 2018 Dec 5;140(48):16842-16854. doi: 10.1021/jacs.8b10885. Epub 2018 Nov 16.

Abstract

The first broadly applicable strategy for SN2″-selective and enantioselective catalytic substitution is disclosed. Transformations are promoted by 5.0 mol% of a sulfonate-containing NHC-Cu complex (NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene), and are carried out in the presence of commercially available allenyl-B(pin) (pin = pinacolato) or a readily accessible silyl-protected propargyl-B(pin). Acyclic, or aryl-, heteroaryl-, and alkyl-substituted penta-2,4-dienyl phosphates, as well as those bearing either only 1,2-disubstituted olefins or a 1,2-disubstituted and a trisubstituted alkene were found to be suitable starting materials. Cyclic dienyl phosphates may also serve as substrates. The products containing, in addition to a 1,3-dienyl group, a readily functionalizable propargyl moiety (from reactions with allenyl-B(pin)) were obtained in 51-82% yield, 84-97% SN2″ selectivity, 89:11-97:3 E: Z ratio, and 86:14-98:2 enantiomeric ratio (er). Reactions with a silyl-protected propargyl-B(pin) compound led to the formation of the corresponding silyl-allenyl products in 53-89% yield, 69-96% SN2″ selectivity, 98:2 to >98:2 E: Z ratio, and 94:6-98:2 er. Insight regarding several of the unique mechanistic attributes of the catalytic process was obtained on the basis of kinetic isotope effect measurements and DFT studies. These investigations indicate that cationic π-allyl-Cu complexes are 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. The utility of the approach is demonstrated by chemoselective functionalization of various product types, through which the propargyl, allenyl, or 1,3-dienyl sites within the products have been converted catalytically and chemoselectively to several useful derivatives.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Alkadienes / chemical synthesis
  • Boron Compounds / chemistry*
  • Catalysis
  • Coordination Complexes / chemistry*
  • Copper / chemistry
  • Models, Chemical
  • Stereoisomerism
  • Sulfonic Acids / chemistry

Substances

  • Alkadienes
  • Boron Compounds
  • Coordination Complexes
  • Sulfonic Acids
  • Copper