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A Theoretical Investigation on the Strecker Reaction Catalyzed by a Ti IV ‐Complex Catalyst Generated from a Cinchona Alkaloid, Achiral Substituted 2,2′‐Biphenol, and Tetraisopropyl Titanate
Author(s) -
Su Zhishan,
Li Weiyi,
Wang Jun,
Hu Changwei,
Feng Xiaoming
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.201202237
Subject(s) - chemistry , cinchona , cinchonidine , cinchonine , isomerization , selectivity , medicinal chemistry , catalysis , lewis acids and bases , quinoline , ligand (biochemistry) , stereochemistry , associative substitution , organic chemistry , enantioselective synthesis , biochemistry , receptor
The mechanism and the origin of selectivity of the asymmetric Strecker reaction catalyzed by a Ti IV ‐complex catalyst generated from a cinchona alkaloid, achiral substituted 2,2′‐biphenol, and tetraisopropyl titanate have been investigated by DFT and ONIOM methods. The calculations indicate that the reaction proceeds through a dual activation mechanism, in which Ti IV acts as Lewis acid to activate the electrophile aldimine substrate, whereas the tertiary amine in cinchona alkaloid works as Lewis base to promote the activation and isomerization of HCN. The CC bond formation step is predicted to be the selectivity‐controlling step in the reaction with an energy barrier of 9.3 kcal mol −1 . The “asymmetric activation” is achieved by the transfer of asymmetry from the chiral cinchonine ligand to the axially flexible achiral biphenol ligand through coordination interaction with the central metal Ti IV . The large steric hindrance from the 3,3′‐position substitute of biphenol, combined with the quinoline fragment of cinchona alkaloid and the orientation of hydrogen bonding of i PrOH, play a key role in controlling the stereoselectivity, which is in good agreement with the experimental observations.