Lewis Base-Catalyzed Enantioselective Conjugate Reduction of β,β-Disubstituted α,β-Unsaturated Ketones with Trichlorosilane: E/ Z-Isomerization, Regioselectivity, and Synthetic Applications

J Org Chem. 2019 Sep 20;84(18):11458-11473. doi: 10.1021/acs.joc.9b01298. Epub 2019 Sep 9.

Abstract

The chiral bisphosphine dioxide-catalyzed asymmetric conjugate reduction of acyclic β,β-disubstituted α,β-unsaturated ketones with trichlorosilane affords saturated ketones having a stereogenic carbon center at the carbonyl β-position with high enantioselectivities. Because the E/Z-isomerizations of enone substrates occur concomitantly, reduction products with the same absolute configurations are obtained from either (E)- or (Z)-enones. Conjugate reduction is accelerated in the presence of an electron-rich aryl group at the β-position of the enone owing to its carbocation-stabilizing ability. Computational studies were also conducted in order to elucidate the origin of the observed enantioselectivity. The regio- and enantioselective reductions of dienones were realized and applied to the syntheses of ar-turmerone, turmeronol A, mutisianthol, and jungianol, which are optically active sesquiterpenes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't