Development of P-OP Ligands with New Structural Motifs for Rhodium- and Iridium- Mediated Asymmetric Hydrogenations

Identifier:  TDX:2294

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/TDX2294

Authors:  Bugga, Balakrishna

Abstract:
he synthesis of enantiopure phosphine-phosphite (P-OP) ligands with new phosphite fragments and coordination studies with rhodium and iridium precursors for asymmetric hydrogenations have been performed. The resulting P-OP-rhodium and iridium complexes were efficiently employed in asymmetric hydrogenations of an array of structurally diverse substrates. The designed P-OP ligands were synthesized by a well-established synthetic route developed in the group, which comprised the ring-opening of an enantiopure Sharpless epoxy ether with a phosphorus nucleophile and the O-phosphorylation of the resulting phosphino alcohol with the corresponding phosphorus electrophiles (chlorophosphite derivatives). The synthetic route towards the highest performing pre-catalysts in rhodium-mediated hydrogenative transformations has been optimized by developing a chromatography-free synthesis involving the crystallization of the target [Rh(P-OP)] pre-catalysts as the purification method. Studies on [Ir(P-OP)]-mediated asymmetric hydrogenations of a variety of seven-membered heterocycles that contain C=N bonds have revealed that these iridium complexes are excellent catalysts (up to full conversion; up to 97% ee). The enantioselectivity has been rationalized by means of DFT calculations, which have identified the position of the Cl-ligand in catalytically relevant iridium structures and a number of non-covalent interactions (i.e. N-H···Cl, C-H…π and C-H···H-Ir interactions) as key features in the rationalization of the stereochemical outcome of the reactions. As regards the hydrogenation of functionalized alkenes, [Rh(P-OP)] pre-catalysts incorporating new phosphite fragments have been prepared. High catalytic activity (> 99% conversion) and excellent enantioselectivity (up to >99%) were achieved in asymmetric hydrogenations of a variety of functionalized alkenes by P-OP ligands incorporating 3,3’-diphenyl-[1,1'-biaryl]-2,2'-diol-derived phosphite groups.