Rationalization of enantioselectivities in dialkylzinc additions to benzaldehyde catalyzed by fenchone derivatives

J Org Chem. 2000 Jan 14;65(1):77-82. doi: 10.1021/jo991070v.

Abstract

Three (-)-fenchyl alcohol derivatives, ¿(1R,2R,4S)-exo-(2-Ar)-1,3, 3-trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1] heptan-2-ol, Ar = o-anisyl (2), 2-N-methylimidazolyl (3), 2-N,N-dimethylbenzylamine (4)¿ were synthesized, characterized by X-ray analyses, and employed as precatalysts in diethyl zinc additions to benzaldehyde. Directions and relative degrees of enantioselectivities are rationalized by QM/MM ONIOM computations of mu-O transition structure models. Enantioselectivities arise from repulsive interactions between "transferring" or "passive" alkyl groups at the zinc centers and the substituents at donor groups or the bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane moieties. These results enable predictions for ligand-tuning to improve catalyst efficiency of fenchone-based ligands in dialkylzinc additions to aldehydes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Benzaldehydes / chemistry*
  • Camphanes
  • Catalysis
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Structure
  • Norbornanes / chemistry*
  • Stereoisomerism
  • Zinc / chemistry*

Substances

  • Benzaldehydes
  • Camphanes
  • Norbornanes
  • fenchone
  • Zinc
  • benzaldehyde