Enantioselective, palladium-catalyzed alpha-arylation of N-Boc-pyrrolidine.
This communication discloses the first instance of the enantioselective Pd-catalyzed alpha-arylation of N-Boc-pyrrolidine. The methodology relies on Beak's sparteine-mediated, enantioselective deprotonation of N-Boc-pyrrolidine to form the 2-pyrrolidinolithium specices in high enantiomeric ratio (er). Transmetalation of this intermediate with zinc chloride generates the stereochemically rigid, 2-pyrrolidinozinc reagent, which was readily coupled to a variety of functionalized aryl halides at room temperature using a catalyst generated from Pd(OAc)2 and PtBu3-HBF4. A diverse array of 2-aryl-N-Boc-pyrrolidines was synthesized using this methodology, providing adducts consistently in a 96:4 er. A survey of the stoichiometry revealed that as little as 0.3 equiv of zinc could be used in the coupling reaction, and the 2-pyrrolidinozinc reagent was found to exhibit stereochemical stability up to 60 degrees C. The method allows for the most convergent and reliable preparation of a broad range of functionalized 2-aryl-N-Boc-pyrrolidines in high enantioselectivity, which is highlighted in this report by the enantioselective synthesis of (R)-nicotine.
Department of Process Research, Merck Research Laboratories, P.O. Box 2000, Rahway, New Jersey 07065, USA. kevin_campos@merck.com
Kevin R
KR
Campos
Artis
A
Klapars
Jacob H
JH
Waldman
Peter G
PG
Dormer
Cheng-yi
CY
Chen
D002384:Catalysis; D006841:Hydrocarbons, Aromatic / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D010165:Palladium / Q000737:chemistry; D011759:Pyrrolidines / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D013237:Stereoisomerism
D006841:Hydrocarbons, Aromatic; D011759:Pyrrolidines; D010165:Palladium