Synthesis and Langmuir-Blodgett Film Analysis of Atropisomers of “Picket Fence” Porphyrin

Four ＂picket fence＂ porphyrin atropisomers were respectively synthesized from the four corresponding atropisomers of meso-tetra（o-aminophenyl）porphyrin that had been chromatographed on a column eluted with petroleum ether and ethyl acetate. Results show that each atropisomer could be successfully synthesized by controlling the acylation temperature at 0 ℃. They were characterized by 1H NMR, HRMS, IR, UV-Vis and Langmuir-Blodgett（LB） film analyses. Although the results of HRMS, IR, UV-Vis analyses indicate there is no remarkable difference among the atropisomers, the results of the 1H NMR and the mean molecular areas obtained by LB film technique imply that the atropisomers are significantly discrepant. The former shows that the chemical shifts of the methyl and amide protons of each atropisomer are distinct, while the later presents that the different atropisomer molecules can occupy the different surface areas at the air/water interface.

Separation of atropisomers by chiral liquid chromatography and thermodynamic analysis of separation mechanism

In the pharmaceutical industry, the analysis of atropisomers is of considerable interest from both scientific and regulatory perspectives. The compound of interest contains two stereogenic axes due to the hindered rotation around the single bonds connecting the aryl groups, which results in four potential configurational isomers(atropisomers). The separation of the four atropisomers was achieved on a derivatized β-cyclodextrin bonded stationary phase. Further investigation showed that low temperature conditions, including sample preparation(-70 °C), sample storage(-70 °C), and chromatographic separation(6 °C), were critical to preventing interconversion. LC-UV-laser polarimetric analysis identified peaks 1 and 2 as a pair of enantiomers and peaks3 and 4 as another. Thermodynamic analysis of the retention data indicated that the separation of the pairs of enantiomers is primarily enthalpy controlled as indicated by the positive slope of the van't Huff plot. The difference in absolute Δ(Δ H), ranged from 2.20 k J/mol to 2.42 k J/mol.

“Atropisomeric” Drugs: Basic Concept and Example of Application to Drug Development

Many therapeutic drugs are racemates;i.e. they are chiral molecules consisting of “left”- and “right-handed” enantiomers (stereoisomers that are mirror images of each other, and are non-superimposable). In some cases, both enantiomers of the drug contribute to some extent (or equally) to the therapeutic effect;in other cases they contribute not at all. The same is true for the adverse effects of racemate drugs: the adverse effects of a racemate drug can be greater-than, less-than, or equal to one or the other enantiomer. An unusual situation arises when a drug consists of “atropisomers”, stereoisomers arising because of hindered rotation about a single chemical bond. We summarize the concept of atropisomerism, and give examples.

An Assembly of Pyrano[3,2-b]indol-2-ones via NHC-Catalyzed[3+3]Annulation of Indolin-3-ones with Ynals

We report herein an unprecedented N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed formal[3+3]annulation of ynals with N-Ts indolin-3-ones under the oxidation condition affording the functionalized pyrano[3,2-b]indol-2-ones.The alkynyl acylazoliums via the combination of a carbene with ynals in the presence of oxidate proved to be the important intermediates for the success of this transformation.This method features a broad substrate scope and mild conditions,including axially chiral skeletons with suitable substitutions.

Chiral Lewis Base/Achiral Acid Co-Catalyzed Atroposelective Sulfenylation of Pyrrole Derivatives: Construction of C-N Axially Chiral Sulfides

Chiral BINAM-derived selenide/achiral acid co-catalyzed atroposelective electrophilic sulfenylation of pyrrole derivatives has been realized for the first time.A variety of C-N axially chiral sulfur-containing pyrrole derivatives were readily obtained in moderate to good yields with moderate to excellent enantioselectivities.This catalytic system involves sequential desymmetrization and kinetic resolution.

Enantioselective Synthesis of Benzimidazole Atropisomers Featuring a N-N Axis

Atroposelective synthesis of N-N atropisomers is an emerging area but remains underexplored;in particular,the synthesis of N-N benzimidazole atropisomers is still unprecedented.Herein,the first enantioselective synthesis of N-N benzimidazole atropisomers via the palladium-catalyzed de novo construction of benzimidazole skeleton is presented.With readily available palladium catalyst and biphosphine ligand,a broad range of nonbiaryl benzimidazole and indole-benzimidazole atropisomers were conveniently ac-cessed in high yields and with excellent enantioselectivities.Significantly,these N-N benzimidazole atropisomers showed great anti-tumor activity and selectivity to breast cancer MCF-7 cells.The simple catalytic system,broad substrate scope,high enantioselectivi-ty,and good bioactivity make this approach highly attractive.

Asymmetric Two-Component Alkenyl Catellani Reaction for the Construction of C—N Axial Chirality

Herein,we report an asymmetric two-component alkenyl Catellani reaction for the construction of C—N axial chirality through a palladium/chiral norbornene cooperative catalysis and an axial-to-axial chirality transfer process.Various partially aromatic iodinated 2-pyridones,quinolones,coumarin and uracil substrates react with 2,6-disubstituted aryl bromides with a tethered amide group,to afford a wide variety of polycyclic C—N atropisomers(38 examples,up to 97%e.e.).The obtained C—N axial chirality originates from the preformed transient C—C axial chirality with high fidelity.The synthetic utility of this chemistry is demonstrated by facile prepa-ration of complex quinoline and pyridine based C—N atropisomers through a N-deprotection and aromatization sequence.In addi-tion,a remote axial-to-central diastereoinduction process dictated by C—N axial chirality is observed with excellent diastereocontrol.

Carbene-Catalyzed Asymmetric Ring-Opening Reaction of Biaryl Lactams to Access Axially Chiral Biaryls

Axially chiral biaryls represent the most important class of atropisomers,and they widely exist in natural products and biologically active molecules.They also constitute a unique scaffold for chiral ligands and catalysts in organic synthesis.The development of synthetic methods to obtain such chiral compounds has received widespread attention,among which catalytically atroposelective ring-opening of configurationally labile compounds represents one of the most attractive strategies.Various substrates with strained cyclic structures,such as the renowned Bringmann's lactones,can undergo asymmetric transformation into stable atropisomers.Known advancement primarily relies on metal catalyst combined with well-designed chiral ligands,the approaches utilizing organocatalysis as a critical resolution strategy are notably scarce.In this study,we disclosed a N-heterocyclic carbene(NHC)-catalyzed asymmetric ring-opening reaction of biaryl lactams via direct atroposelective nucleophilic activation.The optimized bulky carbene catalyst ensures that the reaction can proceed under mild conditions,affording the desired product with good to excellent yields and atroposelectivity.

Preparation of Optically Active 2,2'-Dibromo-6,6'-diiodo-1,1'-biphenyl:A Powerful Precursor for Modular Synthesis of Functionalized Atropisomers

The widespread applications of atropisomeric compounds have led to an increasing demand for their synthesis.Rather than synthesizing different functionalized atropisomers individually,an attractive alternative is to identify a key intermediate or precursor that can be readily elaborated and functionalized to realize divergent synthesis of this class of compounds.Building on our previous research on asymmetric ring-opening of cyclic diaryliodoniums,in this work we developed a copper-catalyzed enantioselective ring-opening reaction of ortho,ortho’-dibromo substituted cyclic diaryliodonium with lithium iodide.The resulting optically active product 2,2'-dibromo-6,6'-diiodo-1,1'-biphenyl,possessing two C—Br bonds and two C—I bonds,can be selectively advanced to form different functionalities.Remarkably,the utilities of the product were highlighted by successively demonstrating C—I and C—Br metalation,followed by carboxylation,boroylation,oxygenation,allylation,phosphinylation,etc.,all of which provide a new and convenient approach to synthesizing a range of functionalized axially chiral biphenyls.

Chiral discrimination of small substituents in biaryl atropisomer construction:enantioselective synthesis of axially chiral 1-azafluorene via Ni-catalyzed[2+2+2]cycloaddition

Construction of axially chiral 1-azafluorenes via nickel-catalyzed[2+2+2]cycloaddition of alkynes and(o-alkynyl)benzyl nitriles is described.This strategy enables enantioselective discrimination of two sterically similar ortho substituents,such as H and F,during the construction of tri-ortho-substituted biaryl atropisomers.Mechanistic studies including the stereochemistry model and the stability of the atropenantiomers toward racemization are provided.The unique steric hindrance provided by 1-azafluorene skeleton and the fine chiral cavity of the nickel catalyst are key to achieving high enantioselectivity.

Atroposelective Construction of Axially Chiral Alkene-lndole Scaffolds via Catalytic Enantioselective Addition Reaction of 3-Alkynyl-2-indolylinethanols

Atroposelective construction of axially chiral alkene-heteroaryl scaffolds is highly desired but challenging.In this work,we established an atroposelective construction of axially chiral alkene-indole scaffolds via the strategy of catalytic enantioselective addition reaction of 3-alkynyl-2-indolylmethanols with bulky nucleophiles.

Atroposelective sp3 C—H Coupling for Kinetic Resolution of Thioanilide Atropisomers

A highly efficient kinetic resolution of racemic thioanilide atropisomers via C(sp^(3))-H arylation has been achieved by a hybrid palladium catalyst bearing an anionic chiral Co^(Ⅲ)-complex and a phosphoramidite ligand,leading to both enantioenriched atropisomeric arylation thioanilides(up to 99%ee)and N-Me atropisomeric thioanilides(up to 99%ee),simultaneously.The remained enantioenriched substrates can be arylated again by using an achiral anionic ligand to give the enantiomer with the opposite configuration.

Synthesis of Axially Chiral Anilides Enabled by a Palladium/Ming-Phos-Catalyzed Desymmetric Sonogashira Reaction

Atropisomeric anilides are one of important C-N axially chiral compounds.Compared with the A/-terminal functionalization to prepare such compounds,C-terminal functionalization strategies have been rarely reported.We describe herein an efficient synthesis of axially chiral anilides enabled by Pd-catalyzed desymmetric Sonogashira cross-coupling reactions with the use of a newly identified Ming-Phos.Moderate to high yields with high enantioselectivities(up to 98%ee)were obtained.

Visible Light Accelerated Vinyl C-H Arylation in Pd-Catalysis：＂ Application in the Synthesis of ortho Tetra-substituted Vinylarene Atropisomers

A visible light accelerated C-H functionalization reaction in palladium-catalyzed arylation of vinyl arenes with diaryliodonium salts is reported in the absence of additional photosensitizer. The kinetic isotope effect （kH/kD） was changed from 3.6 （under darkness） to 1.1 when irradiated by visible light, which indicated that the C-H functionalization step was the rate determining step under darkness and significantly accelerated by the irradia- tion of visible light. Finally the synthesis of ortho tetra-substituted vinylarene atropisomers with high enantiospecificity was realized via this protocol.

Atropisomer-based construction of a new perylene diimide macrocycle as visible-light photocatalyst for selective sulfide oxidation

By using a perylene diimine(PDI)syn-atropisomer as highly preorganized precursor,we successfully constructed a visible-light-active organic macrocycle PDI-M.The formation of macrocyclic structure effectively avoids self-aggregation of PDI cores and enhances the absorption in visible region.As a photocatalyst,PDI-M exhibits excellent activity on aerobic selective oxidation of sulfide into sulfoxide under visible light irradiation at room temperature.Mechanism studies show that both superoxide and singlet oxygen act as reactive oxygen species.This work provides a typical case toward the maximum utilization of photosensitive groups under mild conditions.