Chiral auxiliary

A chiral auxiliary is a chemical compound or unit that is temporarily incorporated into an organic synthesis in order to control the stereochemical outcome of the synthesis.[1][2] The chirality present in the auxiliary can bias the stereoselectivity of one or more subsequent reactions. The auxiliary can then be cleaved from the substrate and is typically recovered for future use.


General scheme for employing a chiral auxiliary in asymmetric synthesis

Most biological molecules and pharmaceutical targets exist as one of two possible enantiomers; consequently, chemical syntheses of natural products and pharmaceutical agents are frequently designed to obtain the target in enantiomerically pure form.[3] Chiral auxiliaries are one of many strategies available to synthetic chemists to selectively produce the desired stereoisomer of a given compound.[4]

Chiral auxiliaries were introduced by E.J. Corey in 1975[5] with chiral 8-phenylmenthol and by B.M. Trost in 1980 with chiral mandelic acid. The menthol compound is difficult to prepare and as an alternative trans-2-phenyl-1-cyclohexanol was introduced by J. K. Whitesell in 1985.

Asymmetric synthesis

Chiral auxiliaries are incorporated into synthetic routes to control the absolute configuration of stereogenic centers. David Evans' synthesis of cytovaricin, considered a classic, utilizes oxazolidinone chiral auixiliaries for one asymmetric alkylation reaction and four asymmetric aldol reactions, setting the absolute stereochemistry of nine stereocenters.[6]


Cytovaricin, synthesized by D. A. Evans in 1990. Blue and red bonds indicate stereocenters set with the use of chiral auxiliaries.

A typical auxiliary-guided stereoselective transformation involves three steps: first, the auxiliary is covalently coupled to the substrate; second, the resulting compound undergoes one or more diastereoselective transformations; and finally, the auxiliary is removed under conditions that do not cause racemization of the desired products.[4] The cost of employing stoichiometric auxiliary and the need to spend synthetic steps appending and removing the auxiliary make this approach appear inefficient. However, for many transformations, the only available stereoselective methodology relies on chiral auxiliaries. In addition, transformations with chiral auxiliaries tend to be versatile and very well-studied, allowing the most time-efficient access to enantiomerically pure products.[2]

Furthermore,[7] the products of auxiliary-directed reactions are diastereomers, which enables their facile separation by methods such as column chromatography or crystallization.

8-phenylmenthol

In an early example of the use of a chiral auxiliary in asymmetric synthesis, E.J. Corey and coworkers conducted an asymmetric Diels-Alder reaction between (−)-8-phenylmenthol acrylate ester and 5-benzyloxymethylcyclopentadiene.[5] The cycloaddition product was carried forward to the iodolactone shown below, an intermediate in the classic Corey synthesis of the prostaglandins. It is proposed that the back face of the acrylate is blocked by the auxiliary, so that cycloaddition occurs at the front face of the olefin.

Diastereoselective Diels-Alder cycloaddition with the chiral auxiliary (−)-8-phenylmenthol in route to the prostaglandins.

(−)-8-phenylmenthol can be prepared from either enantiomer of pulegone,[8] though neither route is very efficient. Because of the widespread utility of the 8-phenylmenthol auxliliary, alternative compounds that are more easily synthesized, such as trans-2-phenyl-1-cyclohexanol[9] and trans-2-( 1-pheyl-1-methylethyl)cyclohexanol[10] have been explored.

Oxazolidones

Oxazolidinone auxiliaries, popularized by David Evans, have been applied to many stereoselective transformations, including aldol reactions,[11] alkylation reactions,[12] and Diels-Alder reactions.[13][14] The oxazolidinones are substituted at the 4 and 5 positions. Through steric hindrance, the substituents direct the direction of substitution of various groups. The auxiliary is subsequently removed e.g. through hydrolysis.

Preparation

Oxazolidinones can be prepared from amino acids or readily available amino alcohols. A large number of oxazolidinones are commercially available, including the four below.

Some of the commercially available oxazolidinone chiral auxiliaries.

Acylation of the oxazolidinone is achieved by deprotonation with n-butyllithium and quench with an acid chloride.

Acylation of a chiral oxazolidinone with propionyl chloride.

Alkylation reactions

Deprotonation at the α-carbon of an oxazolidinone imide with a strong base such as lithium diisopropylamide selectively furnishes the (Z)-enolate, which can undergo stereoselective alkylation.


Alkylation of an oxazolidinone imide with benzyl bromide.

Activated electrophiles, such as allylic or benzylic halides, are very good substrates.

Aldol reactions

Chiral oxazolidinones have been employed most widely in stereoselective aldol reactions.

Soft enolization with the Lewis acid dibutylboron triflate and the base diisopropylethylamine gives the (Z)-enolate, which undergoes a diastereoselective aldol reaction with an aldehyde substrate. The transformation is particularly powerful because it establishes two contiguous stereocenters simultaneously.


Stereoselective Evans aldol reaction.

A model for the observed stereoselectivity can be found below. The syn-stereorelationship between the methyl group and the new secondary alcohol results from a six-membered ring Zimmerman-Traxler transition state, wherein the enolate oxygen and the aldheyde oxygen both coordinate boron. The aldehyde is oriented such that the hydrogen is placed in a pseudo-axial orientation to minimize 1,3-diaxial interactions. The absolute stereochemistry of the two stereocenters is controlled by the chirality in the auxiliary. In the transition structure, the auxiliary carbonyl is oriented away from the enolate oxygen so as to minimize the net dipole of the molecule; one face of the enolate is blocked by the substituent on the chiral auxiliary.


Model for the stereoselectivity of an Evans aldol reaction.

Removal

A variety of transformations have been developed to facilitate removal of the oxazolidinone auxiliary to generate different synthetically useful functional groups.


Transformation of an oxazolidinone imide to different functional groups.

Pseudoephedrine

Both (R,R)- and (S,S)-pseudoephedrine can be used as chiral auxiliaries.[15] Pseudoephedrine is reacted with a carboxylic acid, acid anhydride, or acyl chloride to give a pseudoephedrine amide.

The α-proton of the carbonyl compound is easily deprotonated by a non-nucleophilic base to give the enolate, which can further react. The configuration of the addition compound, such as with an alkyl halide, is directed by the methyl group. Thus, any addition product will be anti to the methyl and syn with the hydroxyl group. The pseudoephedrine chiral auxiliary is subsequently removed by cleaving the amide bond with an appropriate nucleophile.

Preparation

Both enantiomers of pseudoephedrine are commercially available. Racemic pseudoephedrine is marketed as Sudafed and under other brand names as a nasal decongestant. Because pseudoephedrine can be converted to the illicit substance methamphetamine, the purchase of pseudoephedrine for use in academic or industrial research is very regulated. As an alternative, Myers and coworkers recently reported the utility of pseudoephenamine chiral auxiliaries in alkylation reactions.[16] While pseudoephenamine is not readily available from commercial sources, it can be synthesized from other available materials and is not subject to the same regulations as pseudoephedrine.


Pseudoephedrine and pseudoephenamine chiral auxiliaries.

Pseudoephedrine amides are typically prepared by acylation with an acid chloride or acid anhydride.[17]


Acylation of (S,S)-psueodphedrine with an acid anhydride.

Alkylation

Pseudoephedrine amides undergo deprotonation by a strong base such as lithium diisopropylamide (LDA) to give the corresponding (Z)-enolates. Alkylation of these lithium enolates proceeds with high facial selectivity.


Diastereoselective alkylation of a pseudoephedrine amide.

The diastereoselectivity is believed to result from a configuration wherein one face of the lithium enolate is blocked by the secondary lithium alkoxide and the solvent molecules associated with that lithium cation. In accordance with this propsal, it has been observed that the diastereoselctivity of the alkylation step is highly dependent on the amount of lithium chloride present and on the solvent, tetrahydrofuran (THF). Typically, 4 to 6 equivalents of lithium chloride are sufficient to saturate a solution of enolate in THF at the reaction molarity.


Model for the diastereoslective alkylation of a pseudoephedrine amide enolate.

One primary advantage of asymmetric alkylation with pseudoephedrine amides is that the amide enolates are typically nucleophilic enough to react with primary and even secondary halides at temperatures ranging from –78 °C to 0 °C. Construction of quaternary carbon centers by alkylation of α-branched amide enolates is also possible, though the addition of DMPU is necessary for less reactive electrophiles.[18]

Removal

Conditions have been developed for the transformation of pseudoephedrine amides into enantiomerically enriched carboxylic acids, alcohols, aldehydes, and ketones.


Transformation of pseudoephedrine amides into synthetically useful functional groups.

After cleavage, the auxiliary can be recovered and reused.

tert-Butanesulfinamide

The use of chiral sulfinamide derivatives as chiral auxiliaries has been explored extensively by Jonathan Ellman.[19]


Both enantiomers of tert-butanesulfinamide

Preparation

Either enantiomer of tert-butanesulfinamide can be reached from tert-butyl disulfide in two steps: a catalytic asymmetric oxidation reaction gives the disulfide monooxidation product in high yield and enantiomeric excess. Treatment of this compound with lithium amide in ammonia affords optically pure inverted product.


Synthesis of tert-butanesulfinamide from readily available 'tert-butyl disulfide

Condensation of tert-butanesulfinamide with an aldehyde or ketone proceeds in high yield and affords only the (E)-isomer of the corresponding aldimines and ketimines or N-Sulfinyl imines.


Condensation of tert-butanesulfinamide with aldehydes and ketones

Synthesis of chiral amines

Addition of a Grignard reagent to a tert-butanesulfinyl aldimine or ketimine results in asymmetric addition to give the branched sulfinamide. The observed stereoselectivity can be rationalized by a six-membered ring transition structure, wherein both oxygen and nitrogen of the sulfinyl imine coordinate magnesium.


Addition of a Grignard reagent to a tert-butanesulfinyl aldimine

Removal

The auxiliary can be removed from the desired amine by treatment with hydrochloric acid in a protic solvent.


Acidic cleavage of the sulfinamide auxiliary

SAMP/RAMP

Alkylation reactions of chiral (S)-1-amino-2-methoxymethylpyrrolidine (SAMP) and (R)-1-amino-2-methoxymethylpyrrolidine (RAMP) hydrazones were developed by Dieter Enders and E.J. Corey.[20][21]

Preparation

SAMP can be prepared in six steps from (S)-proline, and RAMP can be prepared in six steps from (R)-glutamic acid.


Preparation of SAMP and RAMP from commercially available materials.

Alkylation reactions

Condensation of SAMP or RAMP with an aldehyde or ketone affords the (E)-hydrazine. Deprotonation with lithium diisopropylamide and addition of an alkyl halide affords the alkylated product. The auxiliary can be removed by ozonolysis or hydrolysis.


Condensation, alkylation, and cleavage with SAMP/RAMP chiral auxiliaries

Chiral auxiliaries in industry

Chiral auxiliaries are generally reliable and versatile, enabling the synthesis of a large number of enantiomerically pure compounds in a time-efficient manner. Consequently, chiral auxiliaries are often the method of choice in the early phases of drug development.[2]

Tipranavir

The HIV protease inhibitor Tipranavir is marketed for the treatment of AIDS. The first enantioselective medicinal chemistry route to Tipranavir included the conjugate addition of an organocuprate reagent to a chiral Michael acceptor.[22] The chiral oxazolidinone in the Michael acceptor controlled the stereochemistry of one of two stereocenters in the molecule. The final, commercial route to Tipranavir does not feature a chiral auxiliary; instead, this stereocenter is set by an asymmetric hydrogenation reaction.[23]


Synthetic strategies for setting a key stereocenter in Tipranavir.

Atorvastatin

The calcium salt of atorvastatin is marketed under the trade name Lipitor for the lowering of blood cholesterol. The first enantioselective medicinal chemistry route to atorvastatin relied on a diastereoselective aldol reaction with a chiral ester to set one of the two alcohol stereocenters.[24] In the commercial route to atorvastatin, this stereocenter is carried forward from readily available isoascorbic acid.[25]


Synthetic strategies for setting a key stereocenter in atorvastatin.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Key Chiral Auxiliary Applications (Second Edition)(ed.: Roos, G.), Academic Press, Boston, 2014. ISBN 978-0-12-417034-6.
  2. 1 2 3 Glorius, F.; Gnas, Y. (2006). "Chiral Auxiliaries — Principles and Recent Applications". Synthesis 12: 1899–1930. doi:10.1055/s-2006-942399.
  3. ↑ Jamali, Fakhreddin (1993). "Chapter 14: Stereochemically Pure Drugs: An Overview". In Wainer, Irving W. Drug Stereochemistry: Analytical Methods and Pharmacology. Marcel Dekker, Inc. pp. 375–382. ISBN 0-8247-8819-2.
  4. 1 2 Evans, D. A.; Helmchen, G.; Rüping, M. (2007). "Chiral Auxiliaries in Asymmetric Synthesis". In Christmann, M. Asymmetric Synthesis — The Essentials. Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. pp. 3–9. ISBN 978-3-527-31399-0.
  5. 1 2 Corey, E. J.; Ensley, H. E. (1975). "Preparation of an Optically Active Prostaglandin Intermediate via Asymmetric Induction". J. Am. Chem. Soc. 97 (23): 6908–6909. doi:10.1021/ja00856a074.
  6. ↑ Nicolau, K. C. (2008). Classics in Total Synthesis (5th ed.). New York, New York: Wiley-VCH. pp. 485–508. ISBN 978-3-527-29231-8.
  7. ↑ Miller, J. P. (2013). "ChemInform Abstract: Recent Advances in Asymmetric Diels-Alder Reactions". ChemInform 44 (48). doi:10.1002/chin.201348243.
  8. ↑ Corey, E. J.; Ensley, H. E.; Parnell, C. A. (1978). "Convenient Synthesis of a Highly Efficient and Recyclable Chiral Director for Asymmetric Induction". J. Org. Chem. 43 (8): 1610–1611. doi:10.1021/jo00402a037.
  9. ↑ Whitesell, J. K.; Chen, H. H.; Lawrence, R. M. (1985). "trans-2-Phenylcyclohexanol. A powerful and readily available chiral auxiliary". J. Org. Chem. 50 (23): 4663–4664. doi:10.1021/jo00223a055.
  10. ↑ Comins, D. L; Salvador, J. D. (1993). "Efficient Synthesis and Resolution of trans-2-( 1-Aryl-1-methylethyl)cyclohexanols: Practical Alternatives to 8-P henylmenthol". J. Org. Chem. 58 (17): 4656–4661. doi:10.1021/jo00069a031.
  11. ↑ Evans, D. A.; Bartroli, J.; Shih, T. L (1981). "Enantioselective aldol condensations. 2. Erythro-selective chiral aldol condensations via boron enolates". J. Am. Chem. Soc. 103 (8): 2127–2129. doi:10.1021/ja00398a058.
  12. ↑ Evans, D. A.; Ennis, M D.; Mathre, D. J. (1982). "Asymmetric Alkylation Reactions of Chiral Imide Enolates. A Practical Approach to the Enantioselective Synthesis of a-Substituted Carboxylic Acid Derivatives". J. Am. Chem. Soc. 104 (6): 1737–1739. doi:10.1021/ja00370a050.
  13. ↑ Evans, D. A.; Chapman, K. T.; Bisaha, J. (1984). "New Asymmetric Diels-Alder Cycloaddition Reactions. Chiral α,β-Unsaturated Carboximides as Practical Chiral Acrylate and Crotonate Dienophile Synthons". J. Am. Chem. Soc. 106 (15): 4261–4263. doi:10.1021/ja00327a031.
  14. ↑ Evans, D. A.; Chapman, K. T.; Hung, D. T.; Kawaguchi, A. T. (1987). "Transition State π-Solvation by Aromatic Rings: An Electronic Contribution to Diels-Alder Reaction Diastereoselectivity". Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 26 (11): 1184–1186. doi:10.1002/anie.198711841.
  15. ↑ Myers, A. G., et al., Pseudoephedrine as a Practical Chiral Auxiliary for the Synthesis of Highly Enantiomerically Enriched Carboxylic Acids, Alcohols, Aldehydes, and Ketones, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1997, 119, 6496-6511.doi:10.1021/ja970402f
  16. ↑ Myers, A. G.; Morales, M. R.; Mellem, K. T. (2012). "Pseudoephenamine: A Practical Chiral Auxiliary for Asymmetric Synthesis". Angew. Chem. 124: 4646–4649. doi:10.1002/ange.201200370.
  17. ↑ Myers, A. G.; Yang, B. H.; McKinstry, L.; Kopecky, D. J.; Gleason, J. L. (1997). "Pseudoephedrine as a Practical Chiral Auxiliary for the Synthesis of Highly Enantiomerically Enriched Carboxylic Acids, Alcohols, Aldehydes, and Ketones". J. Am. Chem. Soc. 119: 6496–6511. doi:10.1021/ja970402f.
  18. ↑ Kummer, D. A.; Chain, W. J.; Morales, M. R.; Quiroga, O.; Myers, A. G. (2008). "Stereocontrolled Alkylative Construction of Quaternary Carbon Centers". J. Am. Chem. Soc. 130: 13231–13233. doi:10.1021/ja806021y.
  19. ↑ Ellman, J. A.; Owens, T. D.; Tang, T. P. (2002). "N-tert-Butanesulfinyl Imines: Versatile Intermediates for the Asymmetric Synthesis of Amines". Acc. Chem. Res. 35: 984–995. doi:10.1021/ar020066u.
  20. ↑ Corey, E. J., Enders, D. (1976). "Applications of N,N-dimethylhydrazones to synthesis. Use in efficient, positionally and stereochemically selective C-C bond formation; oxidative hydrolysis to carbonyl compounds". Tetrahedron Letters 17 (1): 3–6. doi:10.1016/s0040-4039(00)71307-4.
  21. ↑ Kurti, L.; Czako, B. (2005). Strategic Applications of Named Reactions in Organic Synthesis. Burlington, MA: Elsevier Academic Press. pp. 150–151. ISBN 0-12-369483-3.
  22. ↑ Turner, S. T.; et al. (1998). "Tipranavir (PNU-140690): A Potent, Orally Bioavailable Nonpeptidic HIV Protease Inhibitor of the 5,6-Dihydro-4-hydroxy-2-pyrone Sulfonamide Class". J. Med. Chem. 41: 3467–3476. doi:10.1021/jm9802158.
  23. ↑ Caron, Stéphane (2011). "Chapter 15: Synthetic Route Development of Selected Contemporary Pharmaceutical Drugs". In Caron, Stéphane. Practical Synthetic Organic Chemistry. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. pp. 666–670. ISBN 978-0-470-03733-1.
  24. ↑ Roth, B. D. '; et al. (1991). "Inhibitors of Cholesterol Biosynthesis. 3. Tetrahydro-4-hydroxy-6-[2-( lH-pyrrol-l-yl)ethyl]-2H-pyran-2-one Inhibitors of HMG-CoA Reductase. 2. Effects of Introducing Substituents at Positions Three and Four of the Pyrrole Nucleus". J. Med. Chem. 34: 357–366. doi:10.1021/jm00105a056.
  25. ↑ Jie Jack Li, Douglas S. Johnson, Drago R. Sliskovic, Bruce D. Roth (2004). "Chapter 9. Atorvastatin Calcium (Lipitor)". Contemporary Drug Synthesis. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. pp. 113–125. ISBN 0-471-21480-9.
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