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Choosing the optimal catalyst for a new transformation is challenging because the ideal molecular requirements of the catalyst for one reaction do not always simply translate to another. Large groups at the 3,3′ positions of the binaphthol rings are important for efficient stereoinduction but if they are too large this can lead to unusual or poor results. By applying a quantitative steric assessment of the substituents at the 3,3′ positions of the binaphthol ring, we have systematically studied the effect of modulating this group on enantioselectivity for a wide range of reactions involving imines, and verified this analysis using ONIOM calculations. We have shown that in most reactions, the stereochemical outcome depends on both proximal and remote sterics. Summarising detailed calculations into a simple qualitative model identifies and explains the steric features required for high selectivity. This model is consistent with seventy seven papers reporting reactions (over 1000 transformations in total), and provides a straightforward decision tree for selecting the best catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the synthesis of both polysubstituted oxazolo-pyrrolidinones and -piperidinones by a domino process. The methodology is based on the reaction between hydroxyl halogenoamides and Michael acceptors, which leads efficiently to bicyclic lactams. The process is compatible with unsymmetrical electron-withdrawing groups on the Michael acceptor, which allows the formation of two contiguous and fully controlled tertiary and quaternary stereocenters. In the case of tetrasubstituted Michael acceptors, two adjacent quaternary stereocenters are formed in good yield. Starting from ( R)-phenylglycinol derived amides results in the formation of enantioenriched bicyclic lactams in low to good yields and with high levels of stereoselectivity, thus greatly increasing the scope and interest of this strategy. The origins of chirality transfer and diastereoselectivity were studied by DFT calculations and have been attributed to a kinetic control in one of the last two steps of the reaction sequence. This selectivity is dependent upon both the substituents on the Michael acceptor and the sodium cation chelation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the reaction of manganese halides with the chiral Schiff bases obtained by condensation of o‐vanillin and (R)‐ or (S)‐phenylglycinol, 11 complexes based on pentanuclear cages with trigonal bipyramidal [MnIIMnIII3M′] (M′=NaI, CaII, MnII) or enneanuclear [MnIIMnIII6NaI2] cores were synthesized. Structural, supramolecular chirality, and optical properties were explored. The magnetic properties of related systems were reviewed, and the magnetic response of the new systems was rationalized to the bond parameters. Mirror, mirror: A family of chiral clusters with [MnIIMnIII3M′] or [MnIIMnIII6NaI2] cores (see figure) was obtained from enantiomerically pure Schiff bases. Structural characteristics, optical properties, and magnetic response were studied for these complexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first stereoselective version of an iodine(III)-mediated rearrangement of arylketones in the presence of orthoesters is described. The reaction products, α-arylated esters, are very useful intermediates in the synthesis of bioactive compounds such as ibuprofen. With chiral lactic acid-based iodine(III) reagents product selectivities of up to 73 % ee have been achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pores/channels of porous 3D metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been widely applied to incorporate gas, solvent, or organic molecules. On the contrary, the utilization of the interlamellar void of layered metal-organic complexes (MOCs) remains underappreciated, although it is more flexible and available to accommodate molecules with different sizes. In this work, diverse sulfonates have been intercalated purposely into an identical layered MOC, which constructed various novel intercalation compounds possessing fluorescent, white-light emitting, photochromic, homochiral, or nonlinear optical (NLO) properties. With the help of single-crystal X-ray diffraction, their structures and the mutual interactions between the MOC host and the sulfonate guests were characterized. The properties of the guest molecules were tuned and meanwhile some new performances were generated after confining them into the interlayer region. Such a hybrid approach provides an efficient strategy to design and prepare multifunctional materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we report a simple one-pot route to enantiopure copper(I) complexes featuring a unique [2.2]paracyclophane-based P,N-ligand system. Phosphine and pyridine moieties can be varied allowing the modular synthesis of these rigid and stable [2.2]paracyclophane-based P,N-ligands. These P,N-ligands are a new ligand class for different transition-metal complexes, which is shown exemplarily for palladium(II). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis is reported of a series of homo- and hetero-dinuclear octahedral complexes of the ligand 1, 1,2-bis(1-methyl-benzimidazol-2-yl) ethanol, where the two metal centres are linked by hydrogen bonds between coordinated alcohols and coordinated alkoxides. Homonuclear divalent MIIMII, mixed-valent MIIMIII and heteronuclear MIIM′III species are prepared. The complexes have been characterised by X-ray crystallography and show unusually short O⋅⋅⋅O distances for the hydrogen bonds. Magnetic measurements show the hydrogen-bond bridges can lead to ferromagnetic or antiferromagnetic coupling. The electrochemistry of the dinuclear species is significantly different from the mononuclear systems: the latter show irreversible waves in cyclic voltammograms as a result of the need to couple proton and electron transfer. The dinuclear species, in contrast, show reversible waves, which are attributed to rapid intramolecular proton transfer facilitated by the hydrogen-bonded structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of enantiomerically pure 3-aryl substituted indanones is developed using an enantioselective sulfoxide-based Knoevenagel condensation/Nazarov cyclization procedure. After the reductive desulfonation of the methyl para-tolyl sulfoxide-containing chiral auxiliary under mild conditions, selected enantiomerically pure indanone is used for the divergent total syntheses of three resveratrol natural products (+)-isopaucifloral F, (+)-quadrangularin A, and (+)-pallidol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A highly enantio- and diastereoselective synthesis of 3-aminocyclopenta[ b]indoles has been developed through formal [3+2] cycloaddition reaction of enecarbamates and 3-indolylmethanols. This transformation is catalyzed by a chiral phosphoric acid that achieves simultaneous activation of both partners of the cycloaddition. Mechanistic data are also presented that suggest that the reaction occurs through a stepwise pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]