Double-Asymmetric Hydrogenation Strategy for the Reduction of 1,1-Diaryl Olefins Applied to an Improved Synthesis of CuIPhEt, a C-2-Symmetric N-Heterocyclic Carbenoid
by Spahn, Elizabeth Suzanne; Albright, Abigail Lynn; Shevlin, Michael; Pauli, Larissa; Pfaltz, Andreas; Gawley, Robert E.
A library of iridium and rhodium phosphine catalysts have been screened for the double-asymmetric hydrogenation of 2,6-di-(1-phenylethenyl)-4-methylaniline to produce the C-2-symmetric aniline precursor of the N-heterocyclic carbenoid CuIPhEt. The best catalyst produced the desired enantiomer in 98.6% selectivity. This rare example of a highly selective hydrogenation of a 1,1-diaryl olefin enables a four-step asymmetric synthesis of the C-2-symmetric phenylethyl imidazolium ion (IPhEt) from p-toluidine and phenylacetylene and its conversion to the hydrosilylation catalyst CuIPhEt.
- Journal
- Journal of Organic Chemistry
- Volume
- 78
- Issue
- 6
- Year
- 2013
- Start Page
- 2731
- ISBN/ISSN
- 0022-3263; 1520-6904
- PMID
- 23383707
- DOI
- 10.1021/jo3026548