Synlett 2001; 2001(10): 1499-1505
DOI: 10.1055/s-2001-17436
account
© Georg Thieme Verlag, Rüdigerstr. 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany. All rights reserved. This journal, including all individual contributions and illustrations published therein, is legally protected by copyright for the duration of the copyright period. Any use, exploitation or commercialization outside the narrow limits set by copyright legislation, without the publisher's consent, is illegal and liable to criminal prosecution. This applies in particular to photostat reproduction, copying, cyclostyling, mimeographing or duplication of any kind, translating, preparation of microfilms, and electronic data processing and storage.

Enantioselective Acyl Transfer Using Chiral Phosphine Catalysts

E. Vedejs* , O. Daugulis, J. A. MacKay, E. Rozners
  • *Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor MI 48109, USA; Fax + 1(616) 6 47 48 65; E-mail: edved@umich.edu
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
27 September 2001 (online)

Early studies of kinetic resolution by Pasteur, Marckwald, Mackenzie and Dakin established that acyl transfer reactions could be used in the synthesis of enantio-enriched chiral substances. More recent work has resulted in improved enantioselectivity in kinetic resolutions using lipases, as well as non-enzymatic catalysts based on nucleophilic activation. The development of chiral, nucleophilic phosphine catalysts for this purpose is reviewed. Optimum reactivity and enantioselectivity were achieved with phosphabicyclo[3.3.0]octane (PBO) derivatives for the kinetic resolution of unsaturated benzylic or allylic alcohols. With highly hindered substrates, the enantioselectivities approach and sometimes exceed, those reported for lipase catalysts. In cases where neither the lipase nor the chiral phosphine reacts with sufficiently high selectivity, the recently developed technique of parallel kinetic resolution can give products with improved enantioselectivity. This method uses two simultaneous kinetic resolutions, catalyzed by the lipase and the chiral phosphine, respectively, to afford two different products that can be easily separated. Under conditions where both enantiomeric alcohols react at similar rates, product enantiomeric purity remains nearly constant regardless of percent conversion.

    >