Control of Absolute Stereochemistry in Transition‐Metal‐Catalysed Hydrogen‐Borrowing Reactions.

Kwok, Timothy; Hoff, Oskar; Armstrong, Roly J.; Donohoe, Timothy J.

Hydrogen‐borrowing catalysis represents a powerful method for the alkylation of amine or enolate nucleophiles with non‐activated alcohols. This approach relies upon a catalyst that can mediate a strategic series of redox events, enabling the formation of C−C and C−N bonds and producing water as the sole by‐product. In the majority of cases these reactions have been employed to target achiral or racemic products. In contrast, the focus of this Minireview is upon hydrogen‐borrowing‐catalysed reactions in which the absolute stereochemical outcome of the process can be controlled. Asymmetric hydrogen‐borrowing catalysis is rapidly emerging as a powerful approach for the synthesis of enantioenriched amine and carbonyl containing products and examples involving both C−N and C−C bond formation are presented. A variety of different approaches are discussed including use of chiral auxiliaries, asymmetric catalysis and enantiospecific processes.

STEREOCHEMISTRY; CATALYSTS; CATALYSIS; NUCLEOPHILES; ALKYLATION

Chemistry - A European Journal, 2020, Vol 26, Issue 57, p12912

0947-6539

Academic Journal

10.1002/chem.202001253