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The scope of Ni(II)-catalyzed hydrovinylation has been extended to strained alkenes such as heterobicyclic [2.2.1]heptanes and cylobutenes. Reactions involving the heterobicyclic compounds are rare examples for this class of compounds where the metal-catalyzed C-C bond-forming reactions proceed without a concomitant ring-opening process. While the enantioselectivity in these systems remains modest, hydrovinylation of endo-5,6--bis-benzyloxymethylbicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene gives excellent yield (>90%) of the product with one of the highest enantioselectivities (95-99% ee) reported for a C-C bond-forming reaction of norbornenes.

Density functional theory calculations were performed to evaluate the proposed mechanism of a yttrium-salen complex-catalyzed acylation of secondary alcohols using an enol acetate as the acyl-transfer agent. A key step in the proposed mechanism is an intramolecular nucleophilic reaction between the coordinated alcohol and enol ester, brought into close proximity by the yttrium catalyst. The use of the BP86 pure density functional for reproduction of the geometry of the yttrium complex was validated by comparison with the experimental crystal structure. Mapping of the free energy surface of the reaction followed, employing both the BP86 and B3LYP functionals, and results suggest that the proposed mechanism (Org. Lett. 2002, 4, 1607-1610) is a reasonable pathway for the reaction. Reproduction of the experimentally observed enantioselectivity of the reaction was subsequently attempted, with diastereomeric transition states identified for the turnover-limiting step in the reaction, the intramolecular nucleophilic attack of the alcohol into the enol ester reagent. The predicted experimental enantioselectivities were successfully reproduced for the three ligands studied, although the energetic predictions did not perfectly correlate with the experimental enantioselectivities.

Mono- and 2,2'-disubstituted terminal alkenes can be isomerized into the more stable internal (Z)- and (E)-alkenes by treating them with catalytic amounts of [(allyl)PdCl](2) or [(allyl)NiBr](2), a triarylphosphine, and silver triflate at room temperature. The isomeric ratio (E:Z) depends on the alkenes, the E-isomer being the major one. The reaction is tolerant to a wide variety of functional groups including other reactive olefins. Unlike the more reactive Ir catalysts, monosubstituted alkenes give almost exclusively the 2-alkenes. Direct comparison to two of the best-known catalysts for this process {[Ir(PCy(3))(3)](+)[BPh(4)](-) and Grubbs generation II metathesis catalyst} is also described.

A three-step procedure for the synthesis of 2-arylpropionic acids (profens) from vinyl arenes in nearly enantiomerically pure form has been developed. Excellent yields (>97%), regioselectivities (>99%), and enantioselectivities (>97% ee) for the desired branched products were obtained in the asymmetric hydrovinylation reactions of vinyl arenes, and the products from these reactions were transformed into 2-arylpropionic acids via oxidative degradation. Subsequent Curtius or Schmidt rearrangements of these acids provided highly valued 1-arylethyl amines, including a prototypical primary amine with an alpha-chiral tertiary N-alkyl group, in very good yields.

Halide or alkoxide free yttrium-salen complexes are excellent catalysts for the ring opening of epoxides mediated by TMSCN and TMSN3. Substrate to catalyst ratios up to 10000 have been realized in these potentially useful reactions, which can be run under solvent-free conditions. Even though the enantioselectivities for the TMSCN-mediated reaction remains modest (best 77% ee), these studies with a highly tunable ligand system may provide further impetus for work in this important area of catalysis. Even though attempts to isolate a Y-cyanide complex, which was detected by in situ IR spectroscopy, failed, a related dimeric hydroxide complex was isolated. A kinetic study using in situ IR spectroscopy did not provide conclusive data to assign an order with respect to Y in this reaction.

Among the handful of monophosphine ligands that effect asymmetric hydrovinylation of vinylarenes, 2-diphenylphosphino-2'-methoxy-1,1'-binaphthyl (MOP) is among the most accessible. Addition of a methyl group at the 3'-position of this ligand significantly improves the enantioselectivity of hydrovinylation of prototypical alkenes. Introduction of a chiral phospholane at the C2 position of this scaffolding has no effect on the enantioselectivity. These results are consistent with a model proposed for the asymmetric induction for this exacting reaction.

Starting from succinamide and 1,2-heptadiene-4-ol, a racemic allene-aldehyde substrate, 20, suitable for R(3)SiSnR'(3)-mediated cyclization was synthesized in six steps and in 21% yield. Stereoselective cyclization (relative cis configuration at the new stereogenic centers of the homoallyl alcohol generated) proceeded smoothly, giving a mixture of indolizidinols bearing five contiguous stereocenters in a combined yield of 80%. Relative configurations of each of the products were unequivocally established by a combination of 2D NMR experiments and single-crystal X-ray analysis. The major indolizidinol obtained in 32% yield was elaborated into indolizidine 5,8-epi-indolizidine 223A via a five-step reaction sequence in 32% overall yield. The second major component (24%) of the key cyclization yielded, in four steps, indolizidine 6,8-epi-223 in 14% yield. Even though revision of the initially postulated structure foiled our original synthetic plans for the natural product, indolizidine 223A, the new stereoselective cyclization strategy and several selective transformations of the indolizidine derivatives reported here may find further applications for the synthesis of highly alkylated indolizidine and other related alkaloids.

Catalyzed by Pd(0), trialkylsilyltrialkylstannane (R(3)Si-SnR'(3)) reagents undergo highly selective additions to 1,2-dien-7-ynes and 1,2-dien-8-ynes to give 2-vinylalkylidenecyclopentanes with silicon and tin substituents on the double bonds. Similar additions of distannanes and borostannanes show that the reactions with silylstannanes are superior in terms of ease of handling of the bifunctional reagents and the isolation of the products after the reaction. The chemo- and regioselectivities are controlled by the enhanced reactivity of the allene unit, while the (Z)-geometry of the exocyclic stannylvinylidene is a consequence of the syn-carbometalation and subsequent reductive elimination from Pd with retention of configuration at the vinyl carbon. Synthesis of highly functionalized pyrrolidines and indolizidines and the reluctance of certain kinds of allenynes and silicon-tin reagents to undergo the cyclization illustrate the scope and limitations of the reaction. Based on the isolation of intermediates, a mechanism for the formation of the cyclic compounds is proposed. Model transition states to explain the stereoselectivity in cyclization of substituted allenynes are provided. Further elaboration using the vinyltin and vinylsilane moieties should lead to highly functionalized carbocyclic and heterocyclic compounds. Under similar conditions, addition of silylstannanes to highly functionalized allenes gives E-allylstannanes with high stereoselectivity. Functional groups such as THP- and silyl-ethers, lactones, beta- and gamma-lactams, alpha,beta-unsaturated esters, olefins, and substituted acetylenes are tolerated under the reaction conditions.

Through a systematic examination of ligand and counterion effects, new protocols for a nearly quantitative and highly selective codimerization of ethylene and various functionalized vinylarenes have been discovered. In a typical reaction, 4-bromostyrene and ethylene undergo codimerization in the presence of 0.0035 equiv each of [(allyl)NiBr]2, triphenylphosphine, and AgOTf in CH2Cl2 at -56 degrees C to give 3-(4-bromophenyl)-1-butene in >98% yield and selectivity. Corresponding reactions with [(allyl)PdX]2 are much less efficient and less selective and may require further optimization before a viable system can be identified. Another useful protocol that gives comparable yield and selectivity involves the use of a single-component catalyst prepared from allyl 2-diphenylphosphinobenzoate, Ni(COD)2, and (C6F5)3B. Recognition of a synergistic relationship between a chiral hemilabile ligand (for example, (R)-2-methoxy-2'-diphenylphosphino-1,1'-binaphthyl, MOP) and a highly dissociated counteranion (BARF or SbF6) in an enantioselective version of the Ni-catalyzed reaction raises the prospects of developing a practical route for the synthesis of 3-arylbutenes. Several pharmaceutically relevant compounds, including widely used 2-arylpropionic acids, can be synthesized from these key intermediates. This reaction appears to be quite general. Synthesis of several new 2-diphenylphosphino-1,1-binaphthyl derivatives, prepared to probe the effect of hemilabile coordination on the efficiency and selectivity of the reaction, are also described.

A series of water-soluble chelating bis-phosphinite ligands have been prepared from D-salicin (2-(hydroxymethyl)phenyl beta-D-glucopyranoside). The 4- and 6-hydroxyl groups of salicin were protected as a cyclic ketal. Mitsunobu reaction with phthalimide at the benzylic position was used to install the aminomethyl side-chain in the C(1)-aromatic substituent. Formation of the bis-2,3-O-diarylphosphinite was accomplished by reaction of the resulting diol with chlorodiarylphosphine. Quaternization with Meerwein's salt (Me(3)O(+) BF(4)(-)) followed by reaction with Rh(+)(COD)(2) BF(4)(-) gave precatalysts with limited aqueous solubility. Deprotection of the ketal group with acidic resin in methanol gave water-soluble cationic Rh complexes that are competent to carry out highly efficient hydrogenation of acetamidoacrylic acid derivatives in organic, aqueous, or biphasic media. However, enantioselectivities of these reactions in neat aqueous or biphasic media are generally lower than those observed in organic medium.

Enantioselectivity of Rh(I)-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of dehydroamino acid derivatives and dimethyl itaconate can be enhanced by the appropriate choice of substituents on the aromatic rings of vicinal diarylphosphinites derived from carbohydrates as well as trans-cyclohexane-1,2-diol. For example, the use of phosphinites with electron-donating bis(3,5-dimethylphenyl) groups at phosphorus provide high ee's in these reactions whereas electron-withdrawing aryl substituents decrease the enantioselectivity. In this paper, an attempt is made to clarify the origin of these remarkable electronic effects at two levels. First, crystal structures of a number of precatalysts ([phosphinite](2)Rh(+)[diolefin]X(-)) were determined and their structures were studied in detail to examine the electronic effects, if any, on the ground-state conformations of these molecules. A study of six of these complexes reveals that the gross conformational features of these precatalysts are largely unaffected by electronic effects, which suggests that other explanations have to be sought for the electronic amplification of enantioselectivity. One possibility is a change in the diastereomeric equilibrium between the initially formed [substrate]Rh(+)[phosphinite] complexes as a function of electronic effect of the ligand. In the Rh-catalyzed hydrogenation of dimethyl itaconate, we have examined this equilibrium between the major and minor complexes by (31)P NMR. There is a clear difference in the ratio of these two diastereomers when 3,5-dimethylphenylphosphinite vis-à-vis the unsubstituted diphenylphosphinite is used. Electron-deficient ligands such as 1,2-bis-3,5-diflurophenylphosphinite and 1,2-bis-3,5-bis-trifluromethylphenylphosphinite appear to form these diastereomers more readily at room temperature, even though the exact ratio of the diastereomers could not be established with any certainty.