Direct catalytic asymmetric aldol reaction

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/ja990031y

The direct catalytic asymmetric aldol reaction using aldehydes and unmodified ketones is described for the first time herein. This reaction was first found to be promoted by 20 mol % of anhydrous (R)-LLB (L = lanthanum, L = lithium, B = (R)-binaphthol moiety) at -20 °C, giving a variety of aldol products in ee's ranging from 44 to 94%. This asymmetric reaction has been greatly improved by developing a new heteropolymetallic asymmetric catalyst [(R)-LLB, KOH, and H₂O]. Using 3-8 mol % of this catalyst, a variety of direct catalytic asymmetric aldol reactions were again found to proceed smoothly, affording aldol products in ee's ranging from 30 to 93% and in good to excellent yields. Interestingly, the use of this new heteropolymetallic asymmetric catalyst has realized a diastereoselective and enantioselective aldol reaction using cyclopentanone for the first time. It is also noteworthy that a variety of aldehydes, including hexanal, can be utilized for the current direct catalytic asymmetric aldol reaction. Chiral aldehydes containing α-hydrogen including (S)-hydrocinnamaldehyde-α-d have been found to produce the corresponding aldol products with negligible racemization (0-4%) at the α-position. One of the aldol products has been successfully converted to the key synthetic intermediates of epothilone A and bryostatin 7. The possible structure of the heteropolymetallic catalyst is also discussed. Finally, mechanistic studies have revealed a characteristic reaction pathway, namely that the reaction is kinetically controlled and the rate-determining step is the deprotonation of the ketone. This is consistent with the fact that the reaction rate is independent of the concentration of the aldehyde.

Full text of DOI:10.1021/ja990031y

4168
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1999, 121, 4168-4178
Direct Catalytic Asymmetric Aldol Reaction
Naoki Yoshikawa, Yoichi M. A. Yamada, Jagattaran Das, Hiroaki Sasai,† and
Masakatsu Shibasaki*
Contribution from the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The UniVersity of Tokyo,
Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
ReceiVed January 4, 1999
Abstract: The direct catalytic asymmetric aldol reaction using aldehydes and unmodified ketones is described
for the first time herein. This reaction was first found to be promoted by 20 mol % of anhydrous (R)-LLB (L
) lanthanum, L ) lithium, B ) (R)-binaphthol moiety) at -20 °C, giving a variety of aldol products in ee’s
ranging from 44 to 94%. This asymmetric reaction has been greatly improved by developing a new
heteropolymetallic asymmetric catalyst [(R)-LLB, KOH, and H2O]. Using 3-8 mol % of this catalyst, a variety
of direct catalytic asymmetric aldol reactions were again found to proceed smoothly, affording aldol products
in ee’s ranging from 30 to 93% and in good to excellent yields. Interestingly, the use of this new
heteropolymetallic asymmetric catalyst has realized a diastereoselective and enantioselective aldol reaction
using cyclopentanone for the first time. It is also noteworthy that a variety of aldehydes, including hexanal,
can be utilized for the current direct catalytic asymmetric aldol reaction. Chiral aldehydes containing R-hydro-
gen including (S)-hydrocinnamaldehyde-R-d have been found to produce the corresponding aldol products
with negligible racemization (0-4%) at the R-position. One of the aldol products has been successfully con-
verted to the key synthetic intermediates of epothilone A and bryostatin 7. The possible structure of the het-
eropolymetallic catalyst is also discussed. Finally, mechanistic studies have revealed a characteristic reaction
pathway, namely that the reaction is kinetically controlled and the rate-determining step is the deprotonation
of the ketone. This is consistent with the fact that the reaction rate is independent of the concentration of the
aldehyde.
Introduction
to be a valuable contribution to asymmetric synthesis.6 In all
of these catalytic asymmetric aldol-type reactions, however,
preconversion of the ketone moiety to a more reactive species
such as an enol silyl ether, enol methyl ether, or ketene silyl
acetal is an unavoidable necessity (Scheme 1). Development
of a direct catalytic asymmetric aldol reaction, starting from
aldehydes and unmodified ketones is thus a noteworthy en-
deavor.7 Such reactions are known in enzyme chemistry,8 with
the fructose-1,6-bisphosphate and/or DHAP aldolases being
characteristic examples. The mechanism of these enzyme-
catalyzed aldol reactions is thought to involve cocatalysis by a
Zn2+ cation and a basic functional group in the enzyme’s active
site, with the latter abstracting a proton from a carbonyl
The aldol reaction is generally regarded as one of the most
powerful of the carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions. An
extensive number of enantioselective aldol reactions1 of B,2 Ti,3
Si4 and other enolates5 using stoichiometric amounts of chiral
sources have been reported. Furthermore, the development of
a range of catalytic asymmetric aldol-type reactions has proven
† Current address: The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research,
Osaka University, 8-1 Mihogaoka, Ibaraki, Osaka 567-0047, Japan.
(1) For some reviews, see: (a) Kim, B. M.; Williams, S. F.; Masamune,
S. ComprehensiVe Organic Synthesis; Trost, B. M., Fleming, I., Eds.;
Pergamon Press: Oxford, 1991; Vol. 2 (Heathcock, C. H., Ed.), Chapter
1.7, p 239. (b) Heathcock, C. H. Asymmetric Synthesis; Morrison, J. D.,
Ed.; Academic Press: New York, 1984; Vol. 3, part B, p 111.
(2) (a) Liu, J.-F.; Abiko, A.; Pei, Z.; Buske, D. C.; Masamune, S.
Tetrahedron Lett. 1998, 39, 1873-1876. (b) Wang, Y.-C.; Hung, A.-W.;
Chang, C.-S.; Yan, T.-H. J. Org. Chem. 1996, 61, 2038-2043. (c) Bernardi,
A.; Gennari, C.; Goodman, J. M.; Paterson, I. Tetrahedron: Asymmetry
1995, 6, 2613-2636. (d) Otsuka, K.; Ishizuka, T.; Kimura, K.; Kunieda,
T. Chem. Pharm. Bull. 1994, 42, 748-750. (e) Oppolzer, W.; Lienard, P.
Tetrahedron Lett. 1993, 34, 4321-4324. (f) Corey, E. J.; Decicco, C. P.;
Newbold, R. C. Tetrahedron Lett. 1991, 32, 5287-5290. (g) Walker, M.
A.; Heathcock, C. H. J. Org. Chem. 1991, 56, 5747-5750. (h) Reetz, M.
T.; Rivadeneira, E.; Niemeyer, C. Tetrahedron Lett. 1990, 31, 3863-3866.
(i) Meyers, A. I.; Yamamoto, Y. Tetrahedron 1984, 40, 2309-2315. (j)
Evans, D. A. Aldrichimica Acta 1982, 15, 23-32. (k) Evans, D. A.; Bartroli,
J.; Shih, T. L. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1981, 103, 2127-2129 and references
therein.
(3) (a) Ghosh, A. K.; Onishi, M. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1996, 118, 8, 2527-
2528. (b) Palomo, C.; Oiarbide, M.; Gonza´lez, A.; Garc´ıa, J. M.; Berre´e,
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Hung, A.-W.; Lee, H.-C.; Chang, C.-S.; Liu, W.-H. J. Org. Chem. 1995,
60, 3301-3306. (d) Nerz-Stormes, M.; Thornton, E. R. J. Org. Chem. 1991,
56, 2489-2498. (e) Bonner, M. P.; Thornton, E. R. J. Am. Chem. Soc.
1991, 113, 1299-1308. (f) Duthaler, R. O.; Herold, P.; Wyler-Helfer, S.;
Riediker, M. HelV. Chim. Acta 1990, 73, 659-673 and references therein.
(4) (a) Mukaiyama, T.; Shiina, I.; Uchiro, H.; Kobayashi, S. Bull. Chem.
Soc. Jpn. 1994, 67, 1708-1716. (b) Oppolzer, W.; Starkemann, C.
Tetrahedron Lett. 1992, 33, 2439-2442. (c) Myers, A. G.; Widdowson,
K. L. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1990, 112, 9672-9674. (d) Gennari, C.; Bernardi,
A.; Colombo, L.; Scolastico, C. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1985, 107, 5812-5813.
(e) Helmchen, G.; Leikauf, U.; Taufer-Kno¨pfel, I. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed.
Engl. 1985, 24, 874-875 and references therein.
(5) For Zr enolates, see: (a) Braun, M.; Sacha, H. Angew. Chem., Int.
Ed. Engl. 1991, 30, 1318-1320. (b) Evans, D. A.; McGee, L. R. J. Am.
Chem. Soc. 1981, 103, 2876-2878 and references therein. For Sn enolates,
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Soc. 1990, 112, 2767-2772. (d) Narasaka, K.; Miwa, T. Chem. Lett. 1985,
1217-1220. (e) Evans, D. A.; Weber, A. E. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1986, 108,
6757-6761. (f) Iwasawa, N.; Mukaiyama, T. Chem. Lett. 1982, 1441-
1444, and references therein. For Li enolates, see: (g) Palomo, C.; Gonza´lez,
A.; Garc´ıa, J. M.; Landa, C.; Oiarbide, M.; Rodr´ıguez, S.; Linden, A. Angew.
Chem., Int. Ed. 1998, 37, 180-182. (h) Muraoka, M.; Kawasaki, H.; Koga,
K. Tetrahedron Lett. 1988, 29, 337-339 and references therein. See also:
refs 3b and 5c. For other enolates, see: (i) Powers, T. S.; Kenneth, Y. S.;
Wilson, K. J.; Wulff, W. D. J. Org. Chem. 1994, 59, 6882-6884. (j) Davies,
S. G.; Dordor-Hedgecock, I. M.; Warner, P. Tetrahedron Lett. 1985, 26,
2125-2128 and references therein.
10.1021/ja990031y CCC: $18.00 © 1999 American Chemical Society
Published on Web 04/17/1999

Direct Catalytic Asymmetric Aldol Reaction
J. Am. Chem. Soc., Vol. 121, No. 17, 1999 4169
Scheme 1. Several Types of Catalytic Asymmetric Aldol
Reactions
Figure 1. Structure of LnLi3tris((R)-binaphthoxide) ((R)-LnLB).9k
Scheme 2. Catalytic Cycle of Direct Catalytic Asymmetric
Aldol Reactions
compound while the former functions as a Lewis acid to activate
the other carbonyl component. These aldolases can thus be
thought of as multifunctional catalysts displaying both Lewis
acidity and Brønsted basicity, and thus making possible efficient
catalytic asymmetric aldol reactions under typically mild in vivo
conditions. An analogous cooperative mode of action can be
seen in reactions mediated by any of several heterobimetallic
asymmetric catalysts, having both Lewis acidity and Brønsted
basicity, which have been developed by our research group.9,10
We speculated that it might be possible to develop a direct
catalytic asymmetric aldol reaction of aldehydes and unmodified
(6) For recent examples of catalytic asymmetric Mukaiyama-aldol
reactions, see: (a) Evans, D. A.; Burgey, C. S.; Paras, N. A.; Vojkovsky,
T.; Tregay, S. W. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1998, 120, 5824-5825. (b) Kru¨ger,
J.; Carreira, E. M. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1998, 120, 837-838. (c) Chen, C.-
T.; Chao, S.-D.; Yen, K.-C.; Chen, C.-H.; Chou, I.-C.; Hon, S.-W. J. Am.
Chem. Soc. 1997, 119, 11341-11342. (d) Yanagisawa, A.; Matsumoto, Y.;
Nakashima, H.; Asakawa, K.; Yamamoto, H. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1997, 119,
9319-9320. (e) Denmark, S. E.; Wong, K.-T.; Stavenger, R. A. J. Am.
Chem. Soc. 1997, 119, 2333-2334. (f) Sodeoka, M.; Tokunoh, R.; Miyazaki,
F.; Hagiwara, E.; Shibasaki, M. Synlett 1997, 463-466. (g) Uotsu, K.; Sasai,
H.; Shibasaki, M. Tetrahedron: Asymmetry 1995, 6, 71-74. (h) Keck, G.
E.; Krishnamurthy, D. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1995, 117, 2363-2364. (i)
Mikami, K.; Matsukawa, S. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1994, 116, 4077-4078. (j)
Kobayashi, S.; Uchiro, H.; Shiina, I.; Mukaiyama, T. Tetrahedron 1993,
49, 1761-1772. (k) Corey, E. J.; Cywin, C. L.; Roper, T. D. Tetrahedron
Lett. 1992, 33, 6907-6910. (l) Kiyooka, S.-I.; Kaneko, Y.; Kume, K.-I.
Tetrahedron Lett. 1992, 33, 4927-4930. (m) Parmee, E. R.; Hong, Y.;
Tempkin, O.; Masamune, S. Tetrahedron Lett. 1992, 33, 1729-1732. (n)
Furuta, K.; Maruyama, T.; Yamamoto, H. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1991, 113,
1041-1042 and references therein. For some reviews, see: (o) Nelson, S.
G. Tetrahedron: Asymmetry 1998, 9, 357-389. (p) Gro¨ger, H.; Vogl, E.
M.; Shibasaki, M. Chem.sEur. J. 1998, 4, 1137-1141.
(7) (a) Noyori, R. Asymmetric Catalysis in Organic Synthesis; John Wiley
& Sons: New York, 1994. (b) Sawamura, M.; Ito, Y. In Catalytic
Asymmetric Synthesis; Ojima, I., Ed; VCH: New York, 1993, pp 367-
388.
(8) (a) Fessner, W.-D.; Schneider, A.; Held, H.; Sinerius, G.; Walter,
C.; Hixon, M.; Schloss, J. V. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. Engl. 1996, 35, 2219-
2221 and references therein. For catalytic asymmetric aldol reactions using
catalytic antibodies, see: (b) Zhong, G.; Shabat, D.; List, B.; Anderson, J.;
Sinha, S. C.; Lerner, R. A.; Barbas, C. F., III. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 1998,
37, 2481-2484 and references therein.
ketones by employing such catalysts in the manner shown in
Scheme 2. Brønsted base functionality (OM) in the heterobi-
metallic asymmetric catalyst I could deprotonate an R-proton
of a ketone to generate the metal enolate II, while at the same
time Lewis acid functionality (LA) could activate an aldehyde
to give III. The latter would then react with the metal enolate
in a chelation-controlled asymmetric environment to afford a
â-keto metal alkoxide IV. Proton exchange between the metal
alkoxide moiety and an aromatic hydroxy proton or an R-proton
of a ketone could then lead to the generation of an optically
active aldol adduct and regeneration of the catalyst I. We now
wish to report the first successful example of such a reaction,11
in which we haVe obtained optically actiVe aldol adducts in up
to 94% ee.
Results and Discussion
Direct Catalytic Asymmetric Aldol Reactions of Aldehydes
with Unmodified Ketones Promoted by Heterobimetallic
Asymmetric Catalysts. Although we speculated that the
development of a direct catalytic asymmetric aldol reaction
might be feasible, our initial concerns were dominated by the
possibility that our heterobimetallic asymmetric catalysts would
be ineffective at promoting aldol reactions due to their rather
low Brønsted basicity. We were thus pleased to find that aldol
reactions of the desired type proceeded smoothly using LaLi3-
tris(binaphthoxide) (LLB)9e as catalyst (Figure 1). As shown
in Table 1, when the direct catalytic asymmetric aldol reaction
of pivalaldehyde (1a) with 5.0 equiv of acetophenone (2a) was
carried out in the presence of 20 mol % of (R)-LLB, with 1.0
mol equiv of H2O with respect to LLB in THF at -20 °C for
(9) For a review, see: (a) Shibasaki, M.; Sasai, H.; Arai, T. Angew.
Chem., Int. Ed. Engl, 1997, 36, 1236-1256. For each reaction, see: (b)
Sasai, H.; Arai, T.; Satow, Y.; Houk, K. N.; Shibasaki, M. J. Am. Chem.
Soc. 1995, 117, 6194-6198. (c) Arai, T.; Yamada, Y. M. A.; Yamamoto,
N.; Sasai, H.; Shibasaki, M. Chem.sEur. J. 1996, 2, 1368-1372. (d) Sasai,
H.; Arai, S.; Tahara, Y.; Shibasaki, M. J. Org. Chem. 1995, 60, 6656-
6657. (e) Sasai, H.; Suzuki, T.; Itoh, N.; Tanaka, K.; Date, T.; Okamura,
K.; Shibasaki, M. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1993, 115, 10372-10373. (f) Sasai,
H.; Suzuki, T.; Arai, S.; Arai, T.; Shibasaki, M. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1992,
114, 4418-4420. (g) Emori, E.; Arai, T.; Sasai, H.; Shibasaki, M. J. Am.
Chem. Soc. 1998, 120, 4043-4044. (h) Arai, T.; Sasai, H.; Yamaguchi,
K.; Shibasaki, M. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1998, 120, 441-442. (i) Iida, T.;
Yamamoto, N.; Matsunaga, S.; Woo, H,-G.; Shibasaki, M. Angew. Chem.,
Int. Ed. 1998, 37, 2223-2226. (j) Gro¨ger, H.; Saida, Y.; Sasai, H.;
Yamaguchi, K.; Martens, J.; Shibasaki, M. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1998, 120,
3089-3103. (k) Takaoka, E.; Yoshikawa, N.; Yamada, Y. M. A.; Sasai,
H.; Shibasaki, M. Heterocycles 1997, 46, 157-163.
(11) A partially successful attempt to develop a direct catalytic asym-
metric aldol reaction has been reported; however, only one reactive aldehyde
and acetone were used, and the ee of the corresponding product was not
determined. See: Nakagawa, M.; Nakao, H.; Watanabe, K.-I. Chem. Lett.
1985, 391-394.
(10) For an excellent review, see: Steinhagen, H.; Helmchen, G. Angew.
Chem., Int. Ed. Engl. 1996, 35, 2339-2342.

4170 J. Am. Chem. Soc., Vol. 121, No. 17, 1999
Yoshikawa et al.
Table 2. Effects of Other Heterobimetallic Complexes
Table 1. Direct Catalytic Asymmetric Aldol Reactions Promoted
by (R)-LLB (20 mol%)
entry
catalyst
yield (%)
ee (%)
1
2
3
4
5
LLB
LSB
LPB
ALB
GaLB
71
94
nd
nd
nd
nd
trace
trace
trace
trace
cinnamaldehyde (1e), which possesses two R-hydrogens, and
2a proved more difficult. Although 3f was obtained in 52% ee,
the yield was low (28%) due to the formation of self-con-
densation byproducts (entry 9).17
ketone
(equiv)
time
(h)
yield
(%)
ee
(%)
entry
1a
2
3
4
aldehyde
product
1a
1a
1a
1a
1a
1b
1c
1d
1e
1b
1a
1b
2a (5)
2a (5)
2a (1.5)
2a (10)
2b (8)
2a (7.4)
2a (8)
3a
3a
3a
3a
3b
3c
3d
3e
3f
88
88
135
91
253
87
169
277
72
43
76
43
81
55
90
72
59
28
82
53
71
89
88
87
91
76
69
44
54
52
74
73
94
Aldol reactions which utilize acetone (2c) as a starting
material are generally difficult to control. However, in this case
the reaction between aldehyde (1b) and 10 equiv of acetone
(2c), with LLB, gave 3g in 74% ee and in 82% yield (entry
10). The reaction of 1a with 10 equiv of 2c, at -20 °C, gave
3h in 73% ee and in 53% yield (entry 11), and the reaction of
1b with 50 equiv of 2-butanone (2d) at -20 °C, afforded the
adduct 3i in excellent ee (94%) and in 71% yield (entry 12).18,19
Acetone and 2-butanone are widely used as solvents and are
much cheaper than the corresponding enol silyl ethers and
methyl enol ethers, which are used as substrates in the catalytic
asymmetric Mukaiyama-aldol reaction.4,6 The use of large
excesses of ketone can thus be justified in this particular case.
The effects of other heterobimetallic complexes were also
examined in the reaction of 1b with 50 equiv of 2d at -20 °C
(Table 2). We have already succeeded in developing a variety
of heterobimetallic catalysts9 for other enantioselective reac-
tions, with the best choice of catalyst being strongly dependent
on the type of reaction. For example, LaNa3tris(binaphthox-
ide) (LSB)9g and AlLibis(binaphthoxide) (ALB)9h are effi-
cient catalysts for asymmetric Michael reactions, and GaLibis-
(binaphthoxide) (GaLB) is suitable for the asymmetric ring-
opening reaction of epoxides,9i whereas LaK3tris(binaphthoxide)
(LPB)9d,j promotes the asymmetric hydrophosphonylation of
imines, most effective among our heterobimetallic complexes.
These four complexes, however, all afforded only a trace amount
of the aldol product (3i) (Table 2, entry 2-5). Consequently,
the LLB complex in THF proved to be the best catalyst system
for direct catalytic asymmetric aldol reactions.
5
6
7
8b
9
2a (8)
2a (10)
2c (10)
2c (10)
2d (50)
10
11
12
3g
3h
3i
185
100
185
a (R)-LLB and addition of 1 equiv of H2O to LLB; see ref 13. b The
reaction was carried out at -30 °C.
88 h, we obtained the desired adduct 3a in 43% yield and with
89% ee (entry 1).12 The use of anhydrous LLB instead of
hydrated LLB was found to be more effective, affording 3a in
88% ee and in 76% yield after 88 h (entry 2).13 Furthermore,
the use of 1.5 equiv of 2a gave 3a with 87% ee, albeit in only
43% yield (entry 3), and the use of 10 equiv of 2a afforded 3a
in 91% ee and in 81% yield after 91 h (entry 4).14
With these results in hand we then turned our attention to
broadening the range of substrates. The reaction of 1a with 2b
proceeded satisfactorily at -20 °C to give 3b in 76% ee and in
55% yield (entry 5), together with the reaction of 1b with 2a
(at -20 °C) which gave the aldol adduct 3c in 69% ee and in
90% yield (entry 6). The achievement of developing an efficient
catalytic asymmetric aldol reaction using aldehydes with
R-hydrogens clearly represents a much greater challenge than
for cases such as those above, since self-aldol products can easily
be formed. However, we found that the reaction of cyclohex-
anecarboxaldehyde (1c) with 2a proceeded smoothly without
significant formation of the self-aldol product of 1c. Thus, after
several experiments, the reaction of 1c with 8.0 equiv of 2a, in
the presence of 20 mol % of LLB, was found to give 3d in
44% ee and in 72% yield. No self-condensation products were
detected (entry 7).15,16 The reaction of isobutyraldehyde (1d)
also proceeded smoothly at -30 °C, giving 3e in 54% ee and
in 59% yield (entry 8). However, the reaction between hydro-
Improved Direct Catalytic Asymmetric Aldol Reactions
Using the Heteropolymetallic Asymmetric Catalyst. As
described above, we have achieved success in carrying out direct
catalytic asymmetric aldol reactions of aldehydes with unmodi-
fied ketones for the first time, utilizing heterobimetallic catalyst
LaLi3tris(binaphthoxide) (LLB).20a,b However, to attain a syn-
(15) Results using 20 mol % of other catalysts at -20 °C: LLB in toluene
(25%, 31% ee), LLB in CH2Cl2 (33%, 15% ee), LnLB where Ln ) Pr,
Sm, Gd, Dy, or Yb in THF (low ee’s), LLB* in THF (B* ) 6,6′-bis-
((triethylsilyl)ethynyl)(binaphthoxide) (low ee), 6,6′-dibromo(binaphthox-
ide) (low ee), 6,6′-dimethoxy(binaphthoxide) (low ee)).
(16) The moderate yield is mainly due to the low reactivity of LLB. A
small amount of dehydrated product was detected.
(17) The self-condensation of the aldehyde can be suppressed at low
temperature (-40 °C) using 3′-nitroacetophenone (see Table 4, entry 11).
(18) A trace amount of 4-hydroxy-3,5,5-trimethyl-6-phenyl-2-hexanone
was detected.
(19) The reaction of benzaldehyde and 8 equiv of 2a in the presence of
20 mol % of (R)-LLB for 198 h gave the desired aldol adduct with only
3% ee (S) and 41% yield. However, when (R)-LLB was replaced with YbLi3-
tris((R)-binaphthoxide) ((R)-YbLB), the same reaction conditions gave the
aldol product with 36% ee (R) and 47% yield.
(12) The enantiomeric excesses of all of the aldol adducts were
determined by HPLC analysis using DAICEL CHIRALPAK AS, AD,
CHIRALCEL OJ or OD. The absolute configurations of 3k, 3m, and 3o
were determined to be (S)-form and that of 3l to be (R)-form by the Mosher’s
method. See: Dale, J. A.; Mosher, H. S. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1973, 95, 512-
519. The absolute configuration of 3n was determined to be (R)-form by
relation to 3m. For other adducts, see refs 20a, c and references therein.
(13) To (R)-LLB in THF was added 1.0 mol equiv of H2O in THF (1.0
M) to give hydrated (R)-LLB. This had been found to be a more effective
catalyst for previously reported catalytic asymmetric nitroaldol reactions.
See ref 9c.
(14) Results using 5 or 10 mol % of (R)-LLB: 42% yield, 77% ee; 52%
yield, 88% ee, respectively.

Direct Catalytic Asymmetric Aldol Reaction
J. Am. Chem. Soc., Vol. 121, No. 17, 1999 4171
Table 3. Direct Catalytic Asymmetric Aldol Reactions of 1b with
2a under Various Conditions
2a produces 3e in 90% yield but in rather low ee (33%) (entry
7), whereas the same aldehyde with 2e yields 3k in 68% yield
and 70% ee (entry 8). Substrate 1g, another secondary aldehyde,
is also found to form the aldol product 3l with 2e highly
selectively (yield 60%, 80% ee, entry 9). The higher ee’s
observed in the products derived from 2e than those derived
from 2a can be understood by considering that lower reactive
enolate from 2e reacts only with an activated aldehyde.
It is noteworthy that even 3m can be produced from hexanal
(1h), which has two acidic protons at the R-position, in 55%
yield and 42% ee without the formation of the corresponding
self-aldol product (entry 10). This result can be understood by
considering that, in general, aldehyde enolates are not generated
by the catalyst at low temperature. To ensure this assumption,
the reaction of chiral aldehyde 1i21 with acetophenone (2a) was
carried out (Scheme 3). The corresponding aldol product (anti-
3p) was obtained in 73% yield and 99% ee (syn-3p: y. 12%,
93% ee). From this result, the racemization of aldehyde 1i during
the reaction has been found to be less than 1%.22 Moreover, a
primary aldehyde 1j,23 which possesses a chiral center with a
deuterium at R-position, was treated with 3′-nitroacetophenone
(2e) in the presence of heteropolymetallic catalyst to determine
the extent of the racemization of the aldehyde. Consequently,
the corresponding aldol products syn-3q and anti-3q were
obtained in more than 95 and 78% ee respectively (Scheme 3),
indicating that the racemization of the aldehyde should be less
than 4%.24
entry
base
H2O (mol %) time (h) yield (%) ee (%)
1
2
3
4
5a
6
7
8
9
(LLB itself)
KHMDS
KHMDS
KHMDS
KHMDS
KHMDS
LHMDS
NHMDS
KHMDS
18
18
18
18
33
18
5
trace
83
89
83
71
67
22
28
74
0
8
58
79
85
85
89
80
86
84
16
16
32
16
16
16
5
5
a 3 mol % of catalyst was used.
thetically useful level for this methodology, the challenge
remains to reduce the amounts of ketones and catalysts used,
shorten reaction times, and increase enantioselectivities. In this
section we report our efforts in this direction utilizing a novel
concept in heteropolymetallic catalysis for direct catalytic
asymmetric aldol reactions, leading to a synthetically valuable
method, and we outline mechanistic studies of these reactions.
Previously we observed for a different reaction (asymmetric
nitroaldol reaction) that the LLB‚LiOH tight complex enhanced
the catalytic activity of LLB.9c Encouraged by this result,
development of a new strategy to activate LLB for the direct
catalytic asymmetric aldol reaction was attempted. As a result
the catalyst generated from LLB, KHMDS (0.9 equiv to LLB),
and H2O (1 equiv to LLB), which presumably forms a
heteropolymetallic complex, was found to be a superior catalyst
for the direct catalytic asymmetric aldol reaction, giving 3c in
89% yield and 79% ee [using 8 mol % of LLB (Table 3, entry
3)]. We employed this method to generate KOH in situ because
of its insolubility in THF. The use of KO-t-Bu instead of
KHMDS gave a similar result, indicating that HMDS does not
play a key role. Interestingly, further addition of H2O (1 equiv
with respect to LLB) resulted in the formation of 3c in 83%
yield and higher ee (entry 4), different from LLB catalysis (Table
1, entry 1). The powder obtained from the catalyst solution by
evaporation of the solvent showed a similar result. This powder
can be easily handled without the need of an inert atmosphere.
In addition, we were pleased to find that as little as 3 mol % of
the catalyst promoted the reaction efficiently to give 3c in 71%
yield and 85% ee (entry 5). However, in the absence of base, 8
mol % of LLB afforded only a trace amount of 3c under similar
reaction conditions (entry 1). Moreover, in contrast to catalytic
asymmetric nitroaldol reactions, the generation of LiOH or other
bases was found to give less satisfactory results (entry 7 and
8). The results are summarized in Table 3.
The direct catalytic asymmetric aldol reaction between 1b
and cyclopentanone (2f) also proceeded smoothly to afford 3o
in 95% yield (syn/anti ) 93/7, syn ) 76% ee, anti ) 88% ee)
(Table 4, entry 12).25 To the best of our knowledge, this is the
first example of a diastereoselective catalytic asymmetric aldol
reaction using an unmodified ketone.
(21) Aldehyde 1i was synthesized as follows:
(22) (R)-Catalyst has also been found to promote the aldol reaction with
negligible racemization of aldehyde 1i as well.
(23) Aldehyde 1j was synthesized as follows: (a) Evans, D. A.;
Morrissey, M. M.; Dorow, R. L. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1985, 107, 4346-
4348. (b) Hutchins, R. O.; Kandasamy, D.; Dux, F., III; Maryanoff, C. A.;
Rotstein, D.; Goldsmith, B.; Burgoyne, W.; Cistone, F.; Dalessandro, J.;
Puglis, J. J. Org. Chem. 1978, 43, 2259-2267.
This newly developed heteropolymetallic catalyst system was
applied to a variety of direct catalytic asymmetric aldol reactions,
giving aldol products 3a-3o in modest to good ee’s as shown
in Table 4. It is evident from the table that aldehydes 1a, 1b,
and 1f (tertiary aldehydes) react with the ketones 2a, 2c, and
2d as described in Table 4 to give the corresponding aldol
products in good to excellent yields (62-91%) and ee’s (76-
93%) (entries 1-6). The reaction of secondary aldehyde 1d with
(24) The purity of starting aldehyde (1j) was calculated to be less than
98% by considering the D atom purity of NaBD4. Furthermore, the ee of
this aldehyde was determined to be more than 92% on the basis of analyses
of the corresponding aldol products.
(25) The diastereomeric ratio was determined by H NMR analysis of
the crude product. The relative configuration of syn -3o was determined by
(20) The result was reported previously, see: (a) Yamada, Y. M. A.;
Yoshikawa, N.; Sasai, H.; Shibasaki, M. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. Engl. 1997,
36, 1871-1873. (b) C&EN News 1997, September 8, 30. We have also
succeeded in developing the direct asymmetric aldol reaction utilizing the
first asymmetric barium catalyst. See: (c) Yamada, Y. M. A.; Shibasaki,
M. Tetrahedron Lett. 1998, 39, 5561-5564.
1
X-ray crystallographic analysis.

4172 J. Am. Chem. Soc., Vol. 121, No. 17, 1999
Yoshikawa et al.
Table 4. Direct Catalytic Asymmetric Aldol Reactions Promoted by Heteropolymetallic Asymmetric Catalyst and Following Baeyer-Villiger
Oxidations
entry
aldehyde (R1)
ketonea (R2) (equiv)
aldol
time (h)
yield (%)
ee (%)
yield of esterb
1
2
1a
1b
1b
1b
1f
2a (5)
2a (5)
2c (10)
2d (15)
2a (5)
2a (5)
2a (5)
2e (3)
2e (3)
2e (5)
2e (3)
2f (5)
3a
3c
3g
3i
3j
3j
3e
3k
3l
3m
3n
3o
15
28
20
95
36
24
15
70
96
96
31
99
75
85
62
72
91
70
90
68
60
55
50
95
88
89
76
88
90
93
33
70
80
42
30
76/88
(syn/anti)
4a: 80%c
3
4d
5
6e
7g
8h
9j
1f
4b: 73%f
4c: 80%i
1d
1d
1g
1h
1e
1b
10h,k
11l
12
4d: 85%c
(syn/anti ) 93/7)
a Excess of ketone was recovered after reaction. b The yield from aldol product 3. See ref 28. c Conditions: SnCl4 (cat.), (TMSO)2, ligand 8
(cat.), MS 4 Å, CH2Cl2. d 8 mol % of H2O was used. e The reaction was carried out in 5.7 mmol (1f) scale. f Conditions: mCPBA, NaH2PO4, DCE.
g The reaction was carried out at -30 °C. h The reaction was carried out at -50 °C. i Conditions: (i) PtO2, H2, MeOH; (ii) ZCl, Na2CO3, MeOH-
H2O; (iii) SnCl4 (cat.), (TMSO)2, ligand 8 (cat.), MS 4 Å, CH2Cl2. R2 (4c) ) 3-ZNH-C6H4. j Conditions: (R)-LLB (15 mol %), KHMDS (13.5 mol
%), H2O (30 mol %), -45 °C. k Conditions: (R)-LLB (30 mol %), KHMDS (27 mol %), H2O (60 mol %). l The reaction was carried out at -40
°C.
Scheme 3. Aldol Reactions of Aldehydes Possessing a
Chiral Center at R-Position
Scheme 4. Synthesis of the Key Intermediates en route to
Natural Products
b
a The ee of anti-7 was 95%; that of syn-7 was 61%. trans-N,N′-
Bis(p-toluenesulfonyl)cyclohexane-1,2-diamine (see ref 28).
intermediate 5,26 by a four-step sequence of reactions (Scheme
4), and also into aldehyde 6 which upon treatment with aceto-
phenone (2a) in the presence of (S)-heteropolymetallic catalyst,
produced the anti-adduct 7 in high yield (90%, anti/syn ) 7/1).
This reaction was found to be catalyst-controlled, giving anti-7
(95% ee) and syn-7 (61% ee), respectively. This diastereose-
lective aldol reaction was also examined using achiral base. For
Applications to the Syntheses of Natural Products. Several
of the aldol products obtained were readily converted to their
corresponding esters by Baeyer-Villiger oxidation (Table 4).
Ester 4b was further transformed into key epothilone A
(26) Schinzer, D.; Limberg, A.; Bauer, A.; Bo¨hm, O. M.; Cordes, M.
Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. Engl. 1997, 36, 523-524.

Direct Catalytic Asymmetric Aldol Reaction
J. Am. Chem. Soc., Vol. 121, No. 17, 1999 4173
Scheme 5. Working Model for Direct Catalytic Asymmetric
Aldol Reactions Promoted by the Heteropolymetallic
Asymmetric Catalyst
Figure 2. The LDI-TOF(+)MS of the heteropolymetallic asymmetric
catalyst.
example the enolate, generated from acetophenone (2a) and
LDA, was reacted with aldehyde 6 to afford aldol product 7 in
a lower diastereomeric ratio (anti/syn ) 3/1). Alcohol 9, which
is a key synthetic intermediate for bryostatin 7, was successfully
synthesized from 7 in three steps (Scheme 4).27
Mechanistic Studies. What is the mechanism of the present
direct catalytic asymmetric aldol reactions using a heteropoly-
metallic asymmetric catalyst? It is obvious that the self-assembly
of LLB and KOH (generated from KHMDS and H2O) takes
place because of the formation of a variety of aldol products in
high ee’s and yields. The 13C NMR spectrum of LLB‚LiOH
clearly shows 10 peaks, whereas the spectrum of LLB‚KOH
does not indicate any significant peak corresponding to binaph-
thol moiety. This result appears to suggest that there is a rapid
exchange between Li+ and K+. Indeed, the LDI-TOF(+)MS
spectrum of LLB‚KOH shows four peaks corresponding to [LLB
+ Li]+ (I, m/z ) 1023), [LLB + K]+ (II, m/z ) 1057), [LaLiK2-
tris(binaphthoxide) + Li]+ (III, m/z ) 1089) and [LaK3tris-
(binaphthoxide) (LPB) + Li]+ (IV, m/z ) 1121) (Figure 2).
We have already found that LPB itself is not a useful catalyst
for aldol reactions and that the complexes LPB‚KOH or LPB‚
LiOH, where the three lithium of LLB are substituted by
potassium, give rise to much less satisfactory results. Conse-
quently, we believe that the BINOL core of the active complex
is essentially LLB. Therefore, the heteropolymetallic complex
of LLB and KOH, with KOH axially coordinated to La (see
Scheme 5), among other possible complexes (eg., I, III, etc.),
would be the most effective catalyst for the present reaction.
As outlined above in these reactions the lanthanum atom is
believed to function as a Lewis acid, and potassium hydroxide
(KOH) to act as a Brønsted base. To clarify the reaction mech-
anism, we carried out kinetic studies. As a result, significant
isotope effects (kH/kD ≈5) were observed (Figure 3), and the
Figure 3. Isotope Effects of aceto-d3-phenone on the aldol reaction
of 1b with 2a.
Figure 4. Dependence of the reaction (1b + 2a) rate on the
concentration of the aldehyde.
reaction rate has been found to be independent of the concentra-
tion of the aldehyde (Figure 4).29 Both of these results indicate
that the rate-determining step is the deprotonation of the ketone,
and they also suggest that the catalyst readily forms a relatively
tight complex with the aldehyde, thus activating it.
The nature of the coordination of the aldehyde appears to be
important since the accompanying activation makes possible
the smooth reaction of the postulated LLB-enolate (VII in
Scheme 5). On the basis of pKa values this enolate can be
(28) Go¨ttlich, R.; Yamakoshi, K.; Sasai, H.; Shibasaki, M. Synlett 1997,
971-973.
(29) In usual aldol reactions, the rate is known to be proportional to the
concentration of the aldehyde. See: (a) Coombs, E.; Evans, D. P. J. Chem.
Soc. 1940, 1295-1300. (b) Noyce, D. S.; Pryor, W. A. J. Am. Chem. Soc.
1955, 77, 1397-1401. (c) Noyce, D. S.; Pryor, W. A.; Bottini, A. H. J.
Am. Chem. Soc. 1955, 77, 1402-1405.
(27) Kageyama, M.; Tamura, T.; Nantz, M. H.; Roberts, J. C.; Somfai,
P.; Whritenour, D. C.; Masamune, S. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1990, 112, 7407-
7408.

4174 J. Am. Chem. Soc., Vol. 121, No. 17, 1999
Yoshikawa et al.
of tertiary aldehyde, leading to the catalytic asymmetric
synthesis of key intermediates en route to natural products. The
results of secondary aldehydes are also encouraging. However,
further fine-tuning of the catalyst is needed to overcome the
difficulties associated with primary aldehydes (i.e., low yield
and selectivity). We have also succeeded in demonstrating the
first example of a direct diastereoselective catalytic asymmetric
aldol reaction. In addition, mechanistic studies have revealed a
characteristic reaction pathway. Further studies are currently
underway.
Experimental Section
General. Infrared (IR) spectra were recorded on a JASCO FT/IR-
410 Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer. NMR spectra were
recorded on a JEOL JNM-LA500 spectrometer, operating at 500 MHz
for 1H NMR and 125.65 MHz for 13C NMR. Chemical shifts in CDCl3
and C6D6 were reported on the δ scale relative to CHCl3 (7.26 ppm for
1H NMR and 77.00 ppm for 13C NMR) or C6H6 (7.15 ppm for 1H NMR
and 128.00 ppm for 13C NMR), respectively, as an internal reference.
THF was used as solvent for the NMR investigations of the catalysts.
Optical rotations were measured on a JASCO P-1010 polarimeter. EI
mass spectra were measured on JEOL JMS-DX303 or JMS-BU20
GCmate. LDI-TOF mass spectra were measured on Shimadzu MALDI
IV. Column chromatography was performed with silica gel Merck 60
(230-400 mesh ASTM). The enantiomeric excess (ee) was determined
by HPLC analysis. HPLC was performed on JASCO HPLC systems
consisting of the following: pump, 880-PU or PU-980; detector, 875-
UV or UV-970, measured at 254 nm; column, DAICEL CHIRALPAK
AS, AD, DAICEL CHIRALCEL OD or OJ; mobile phase, hexane-
2-propanol; flow rate, 0.30-1.0 mL/min. Reactions were carried out
in dry solvents under an argon atmosphere, unless otherwise stated.
Tetrahydrofuran (THF) and diethyl ether were distilled from sodium
benzophenone ketyl. Dichloromethane (CH2Cl2) was distilled from
calcium hydride. La(O-i-Pr)3 was purchased from Kojundo Chemical
Laboratory Co., Ltd., 5-1-28, Chiyoda, Sakado-shi, Saitama 350-0214,
Japan (fax, ++(81)-492-84-1351). Other reagents were purified by the
usual methods.
General Procedure for the Direct Catalytic Asymmetric Aldol
Reactions of Aldehydes 1 Using (R)-LLB (GP1). To a stirred solution
of (R)-LLB (0.1 mmol) in THF (1.67 mL) at -20 °C, was added
2-butanone (2d, 25 mmol). After 30 min, 2,2-dimethyl-3-phenylpropanal
(1b, 0.5 mmol) was added, and the solution was stirred at -20 °C for
185 h. The reaction mixture was then quenched by addition of 2 mL
of 1 N HCl and extracted with Et2O (3 × 10 mL). The combined
organic layers were washed with brine and dried over Na2SO4. The
solvent was removed under reduced pressure, and the residue was
purified by flash chromatography (SiO2, Et2O/hexane 1/12) to give (S)-
3i in 94% ee and in 71% yield.
Procedure for the Preparation of (R)-LLB Complex (Which Was
Used for (R)-Heteropolymetallic Asymmetric Catalyst). To a stirred
solution of (R)-binaphthol (3.50 g, 12.2 mmol), in THF (39.7 mL) at
0 °C, was added a solution of La(O-i-Pr)3 (20.4 mL, 4.07 mmol, 0.2
M in THF, freshly prepared from the powder of La(O-i-Pr)3 and dry
THF). The solution was stirred for 30 min at room temperature, and
then the solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure. The resulting
residue was dried for 1 h under reduced pressure (ca. 5 mmHg) and
dissolved in THF (60.5 mL). The solution was cooled to 0 °C, and
n-BuLi (7.45 mL, 12.2 mmol, 1.64 M in hexane) was added. The
mixture was stirred for 12 h at room temperature to give a 0.06 M
(R)-LLB solution, which was used for the preparation of (R)-
heteropolymetallic asymmetric catalyst. This catalyst solution can be
stored for several months under an atmosphere of argon. (CAUTION:
The powder of La(O-i-Pr)3 should be used immediately after opening
the ampule).
Figure 5. Chemical shift of formyl hydrogen in 1a.
expected to be present in only low concentrations, thus enabling
control of the orientation of the aldehyde and therefore facilitat-
ing an enantioselective reaction. To determine the extent of
coordination between aldehydes and the lanthanum cation, we
carried out a 1H NMR study using a mixture of PrLi3tris-
(binaphthoxide) (PrLB)9e and 1a (Figure 5).9b The PrLB catalyst
was chosen because the propensity of Pr complexes to induce
upfield shifts is known30 and also because Pr-containing catalysts
show comparable chemical reactivity to La-containing catalysts
as seen by the reaction of 1a with 2a [(R)-PrLB gives 3a in
79% ee, whereas (R)-LLB gives 3a in 88% ee]. In the relevant
1H NMR spectra the chemical shift of the formyl hydrogen of
1a in THF is δ ) 9.37. However, when 20 mol % of PrLB, or
a heteropolymetallic catalyst containing Pr, was added, an
upfield shift of this signal was observed (δ ) 9.27 and 9.33,
respectively). In contrast, the addition of 60 mol % of the
dilithium salt of (R)-BINOL alone gave no detectable chemical
shift of 1a, and moreover, the reaction of 1a with 2a catalyzed
by this salt gave rac-3a. These results clearly indicate that
coordination of the aldehyde to Pr is occurring, thus allowing
activation and stereocontrol to occur as proposed.31
Although the precise role of H2O is not clear at present, we
have suggested a working model of the catalytic cycle and a
possible reaction intermediate which allows us to explain the
observed absolute configurations of the products (Scheme 5).
The stereoselectivities appear to be kinetically controlled. In
fact, the ee of 3c was constant during the course of the reaction
(Figure 3).
Conclusion
In conclusion, we have succeeded in carrying out the first
catalytic asymmetric aldol reaction between aldehydes and
unmodified ketones by using heterobimetallic multifunctional
catalysts. Furthermore, we have succeeded in developing a novel
heteropolymetallic asymmetric catalysis system for the much
improved direct catalytic asymmetric aldol reaction. Several
reactions are already synthetically useful especially in the case
(30) For a review, see: Cockerill, A. F.; Davies, G. L. O.; Harden, R.
C.; Rackham, D. M. Chem. ReV. 1973, 73, 553-588 and references therein.
(31) It is unlikely, even if the aldehyde coordinates to a Li-atom of the
Pr complex, that either the proximity to the Pr or alternatively the positioning
of the formyl C-H in the shielding region of the naphthyl ring could produce
a shift of such magnitude, since no such chemical shift is observed in the
presence of LLB.
General Procedure for the Direct Catalytic Asymmetric Aldol
Reactions of Aldehydes 1 Using Heteropolymetallic Asymmetric
Catalyst (GP2). To a stirred solution of potassium bis(trimethylsilyl)-
amide (KHMDS, 43.2 µL, 0.0216 mmol, 0.5 M in toluene) at 0 °C,
was added a solution of water (48.0 µL, 0.048 mmol, 1.0 M in THF).

Direct Catalytic Asymmetric Aldol Reaction
J. Am. Chem. Soc., Vol. 121, No. 17, 1999 4175
The solution was sitirred for 20 min at 0 °C and then (R)-LLB [prepared
by the procedure described above (400 µL, 0.024 mmol, 0.06 M in
THF)] was added and the mixture was stirred at 0 °C for 30 min. The
resulting pale yellow solution was then cooled to -20 °C, and
acetophenone (2a) (175 µL, 1.5 mmol) was added. The solution was
stirred for 20 min at this temperature and then 2,2-dimethyl-3-
phenylpropanal (1b) (49.9 µL, 0.3 mmol) was added and the reaction
mixture was stirred for 28 h at -20 °C. The mixture was quenched by
addition of 1 N HCl (1 mL), and the aqueous layer was extracted with
ether (2 × 10 mL). The combined organic layers were washed with
brine and dried over Na2SO4. The solvent was removed under reduced
pressure, and the residue was purified by flash chromatography (SiO2,
ether/hexane 1/12) to give 3c (72 mg, 85%, 89% ee).
(DAICEL CHIRALPAK AS, 2-propanol/hexane 1/9, flow 1.0) tR 8.0
and 10.6 min; Anal. Calcd for C16H22O2 C, 78.01; H, 9.00. Found C,
77.84; H, 9.24.
(2R)-2-[(1S)-1-Hydroxy-2,2-dimethyl-3-phenylpropyl]cyclopen-
1
tanone (anti-3o): IR (KBr) ν 3456, 1717 cm-1; H NMR (C6D6) δ
7.33-7.31 (m, 2H), 7.22-7.18 (m, 2H), 7.13-7.09 (m, 1H), 5.16 (d,
J ) 2.3 Hz, 1H), 3.32 (dd, J ) 7.8, 2.3 Hz, 1H), 3.19 (d, J ) 12.4 Hz,
1H), 2.38 (d, J ) 12.4 Hz, 1H), 1.83-1.74 (m, 2H), 1.60-1.54 (m,
1H), 1.52-1.43 (m, 1H), 1.26-1.21 (m, 1H), 0.94 (s, 3H), 0.95-0.84
(m, 2H), 0.77 (s, 3H); 13C NMR (C6D6) δ 223.8, 139.4, 131.4, 126.2,
77.6, 50.8, 45.5, 39.3, 37.7, 29.4, 24.2, 22.9, 20.6; MS m/z 246(M+),
228 (M+ - H2O); [R]27 +95.1 (c 0.54, CH2Cl2) (88% ee); HRMS
D
(M+ - H2O) Calcd for C16H20O 228.1514. Found 228.1508.
Synthesis of the Aldol Products 3a-3o Using (R)-Heteropoly-
metallic Asymmetric Catalyst. The aldol products 3a-3o were
prepared according to the general procedure (GP2). The compounds
3b, 3c, 3g, 3i, and 3j were reported in ref 20a or 20c. For the compounds
3a, 3d-3f, and 3h, see: Narasaka, K.; Miwa, T.; Hayashi, H.; Ohta,
M. Chem. Lett. 1984, 1399-1402; Ramachandran, P. V.; Xu, W.-C.;
Brown, H. C. Tetrahedron Lett. 1996, 37, 4911-4914.
The Aldol Reaction of Aldehyde 1i with Acetophenone (2a). The
aldol reaction was carried out according to the general procedure (GP2).
Diastereomers of the aldol product (3p) were separated from each other
by flash chromatography (SiO2, hexane/ether 12/1) to afford anti-3p
and syn-3p. Both diastereomers were analyzed by chiral HPLC
(DAICEL CHIRALCEL OD) to determine the enantiomeric excesses.
(3R,4S)-4-(tert-Butyldimethylsilyloxy)-3-hydroxy-1-phenyl-1-pen-
tanone (anti-3p): IR (neat) ν 3490, 2929, 2857, 1682, 1256, 1088 cm-1
;
(S)-3-Hydroxy-4-methyl-1-(3-nitrophenyl)-1-pentanone (3k): IR
1
(neat) ν 3541, 1688, 1535, 1351 cm-1; H NMR (CDCl3) δ 8.77 (m,
1H NMR (C6D6) δ 7.86-7.84 (m, 2H), 7.11-7.07 (m, 1H), 7.03-
7.00 (m, 2H), 4.08-4.04 (m, 1H), 3.89-3.84 (m, 1H), 3.23 (brs, 1H),
3.08-2.98 (m, 2H), 1.13 (d, J ) 6.0 Hz, 3H), 0.93 (s, 9H), 0.062 (s,
3H), 0.058 (s, 3H); 13C NMR (C6D6) δ 200.2, 137.6, 133.1, 128.6,
128.3, 72.8, 71.5, 40.6, 26.0, 19.7, 18.2, -4.4, -4.6; MS m/z 309 (M+
1H), 8.44-8.42 (m, 1H), 8.31-8.29 (m, 1H), 7.69 (m, 1H), 4.04 (m,
1H), 3.14 (d, J ) 7.0 Hz, 1H), 3.13 (d, J ) 5.0 Hz, 1H), 2.85 (d, J )
3.5 Hz, 1H), 1.82 (m, 1H), 1.02 (d, J ) 7.0 Hz, 3H), 1.01 (d, J ) 7.0
Hz, 3H); 13C NMR (CDCl3) δ 198.7, 148.5, 138.2, 133.6, 129.9, 127.6,
123.0, 72.3, 42.6, 33.2, 18.5, 17.7; MS m/z 237 (M+), 194 (M+ - CH3),
165 (M+ - i-PrCHO), 150 (ArCtO+, base peak); [R]28D -40.8 (c 0.56,
CHCl3) (70% ee); HPLC (DAICEL CHIRALPAK AS, 2-propanol/
hexane 1/9, flow 1.0) tR 16.1 and 18.4 min; Anal. Calcd for C12H15-
NO4 C, 60.75; H, 6.37; N, 5.90. Found C, 60.49; H, 6.51; N, 5.71.
(S)-4-Ethyl-3-hydroxy-1-(3-nitrophenyl)-1-hexanone (3l): IR (neat)
+ 1), 251 (M+ - t-Bu), 105 (PhCtO+, base peak); [R]20 +45.2 (c
D
1.13, CH2Cl2) (99% ee); HPLC (DAICEL CHIRALCEL OD, 2-pro-
panol/hexane 5/95, flow 0.3) tR 16.4 and 18.3 min; Anal. Calcd for
C17H28O3S C, 66.19; H, 9.15. Found C, 66.48; H, 9.14.
(3S,4S)-4-(tert-Butyldimethylsilyloxy)-3-hydroxy-1-phenyl-1-pen-
tanone (syn-3p): IR (neat) ν 3484, 2929, 2857, 1683, 1255, 1093 cm-1
;
1
ν 3545, 2963, 1686, 1534 cm-1; H NMR (C6D6) δ 8.45-8.44 (m,
1H NMR (C6D6) δ 7.88-7.85 (m, 2H), 7.11-7.08 (m, 1H), 7.04-
7.01 (m, 2H), 4.24-4.20 (m, 1H), 3.92-3.87 (m, 1H), 3.02 (dd, J )
16.2, 3.8 Hz, 1H), 2.92 (dd, J ) 16.2, 8.1 Hz, 1H), 2.88 (d, J ) 5.0
Hz, 1H), 1.16 (d, J ) 6.0 Hz, 3H), 0.89 (s, 9H), 0.00 (s, 3H), -0.02
(s, 3H); 13C NMR (C6D6) δ 199.6, 137.6, 133.0, 128.6, 128.4, 71.9,
70.8, 40.9, 26.0, 19.0, 18.2, -4.4, -4.8; MS m/z 251 (M+ - t-Bu),
1H), 7.79-7.77 (m, 1H), 7.66-7.64 (m, 1H), 6.65-6.62 (m, 1H), 4.16
(m, 1H), 2.69 (dd, J ) 17.1, 9.8 Hz, 1H), 2.45 (brs, 1H), 2.44 (dd, J
) 17.1, 2.1 Hz, 1H), 1.52-1.31 (m, 3H), 1.22-1.13 (m, 2H), 0.89 (t,
J ) 7.6 Hz, 6H); 13C NMR (C6D6) δ 198.3, 138.2, 133.0, 129.3, 127.1,
123.0, 68.9, 46.6, 42.6, 22.3, 21.7, 11.9, 11.9; MS m/z 266 (M+ + 1),
248 (M+ - OH); [R]28 -47.5 (c 0.42, CHCl3) (80% ee); HPLC
105 (PhCtO+, base peak); [R]20 -26.5 (c 1.06, CH2Cl2) (99% ee);
D
D
(DAICEL CHIRALPAK AS, 2-propanol/hexane 1/9, flow 1.0) tR 12.0
and 13.6 min; HRMS (M+ - OH) Calcd for C14H18NO3 248.1287.
Found 248.1294.
HPLC (DAICEL CHIRALCEL OD, 2-propanol/hexane 5/95, flow 0.3)
tR 17.0 and 20.9 min; Anal. Calcd for C17H28O3S C, 66.19, H, 9.15.
Found C, 66.05, H, 9.00.
(R)-3-Hydroxy-1-(3-nitrophenyl)-1-octanone (3m): IR (neat) ν
3432, 2929, 1688, 1532, 1351 cm-1; 1H NMR (CDCl3) δ 8.70 (m, 1H),
8.38-8.35 (m, 1H), 8.23-8.21 (m, 1H), 7.64-7.61 (m, 1H), 4.22-
4.16 (m, 1H), 3.12-3.04 (m, 2H), 1.60-1.24 (m, 8H), 0.85-0.83 (m,
3H); 13C NMR (CDCl3) δ 198.4, 148.5, 138.1, 133.6, 130.0, 127.6,
123.0, 67.7, 45.5, 36.6, 31.7, 25.2, 22.6, 14.0; MS m/z 266 (M+ + 1),
The Aldol Reaction of Aldehyde 1j with 3′-Nitroacetophenone
(2e): The aldol reaction was carried out according to the general
procedure (GP2). After purification by flash chromatography (SiO2),
(R)-OH-product and (S)-OH-product were separated by chiral HPLC
(DAICEL CHIRALCEL OJ, 2-propanol/hexane 1/9, flow 1.0). Both
stereoisomers were analyzed by 1H NMR to determine diastereomeric
ratios.
248 (M+ - OH), 150 (ArCtO+, base peak); [R]28 -29.5 (c 0.3,
D
(3S,4S)-3-Hydroxy-1-(3-nitrophenyl)-5-phenyl(4-2H1)-1-pen-
tanone (syn-3q). This material contains less than 6% of another
diastereomer on the basis of 1H NMR analysis. IR (neat) ν 3432, 2924,
1688, 1531, 1351 cm-1; 1H NMR (CDCl3) δ 8.75-8.74 (m, 1H), 8.45-
8.43 (m, 1H), 8.27-8.25 (m, 1H), 7.71-7.63 (m, 1H), 7.32-7.18 (m,
1H), 4.30-4.25 (m, 1H), 3.16 (d, J ) 5.1 Hz, 1H), 3.15 (d, J ) 6.2
Hz, 1H), 3.01 (d, J ) 3.1 Hz, 1H), 2.88 (dd, J ) 13.2, 9.1 Hz, 1H),
2.77 (dd, J ) 13.2, 6.8 Hz, 1H), 1.84-1.81 (m, 1H); 13C NMR (CDCl3)
δ 198.3, 148.5, 141.6, 137.9, 133.5, 130.0, 128.5, 127.7, 126.0, 123.0,
66.8, 45.5, 37.8, 31.7; MS m/z 300 (M+), 282 (M+ - H2O), 150 (ArCt
CHCl3) (42% ee); HPLC (DAICEL CHIRALPAK AS, 2-propanol/
hexane 1/9, flow 1.0) tR 12.6 and 15.3 min; HRMS (M+ + 1) Calcd
for C14H20NO4 266.1392. Found 266.1393.
(R)-3-Hydroxy-1-(3-nitrophenyl)-5-phenyl-1-pentanone (3n): IR
(neat) ν 3543, 2926, 1688, 1530, 1351 cm-1; 1H NMR (CDCl3) δ 8.74-
8.73 (m, 1H), 8.44-8.41 (m, 1H), 8.27-8.25 (m, 1H), 7.70-7.67 (m,
1H), 7.31-7.18 (m, 5H), 4.31-4.25 (m, 1H), 3.16 (d, J ) 5.7 Hz,
1H), 3.08 (d, J ) 3.3 Hz, 1H), 2.92-2.86 (m, 1H), 2.80-2.73 (m,
1H), 2.01-1.93 (m, 1H), 1.89-1.81 (m, 1H); 13C NMR (CDCl3) δ
198.3, 148.4, 141.6, 137.9, 133.5, 130.0, 128.4, 127.7, 125.9, 122.9,
66.8, 45.5, 38.0, 31.7; MS m/z 299 (M+), 281 (M+ - H2O), 150 (ArCt
O+), 91 (Bn+, base peak); [R]14 -29.8 (c 0.42, CHCl3) (> 99% ee);
D
Ã+); [R]24 -10.7 (c 0.825, CHCl3) (30% ee); HPLC (DAICEL
HRMS (M+) Calcd for C17H162HNO4 300.1219. Found 300.1213.
(3R,4S)-3-Hydroxy-1-(3-nitrophenyl)-5-phenyl(4-2H1)-1-pen-
tanone (anti-3q): This material contains less than 5% of another
diastereomer on the basis of 1H NMR analysis. IR (neat) ν 3426, 2924,
1688, 1496, 1352 cm-1; 1H NMR (CDCl3) δ 8.75-8.74 (m, 1H), 8.45-
8.43 (m, 1H), 8.28-8.25 (m, 1H), 7.71-7.67 (m, 1H), 7.32-7.18 (m,
5H), 4.30-4.25 (m, 1H), 3.16 (m, 2H), 3.01 (d, J ) 3.5 Hz, 1H), 2.87
(dd, J ) 13.1, 5.1 Hz, 1H), 2.77 (dd, J ) 13.1, 8.8 Hz, 1H), 1.98-
1.93 (m, 1H); 13C NMR (CDCl3) δ 198.3, 148.4, 141.6, 137.9, 133.5,
130.0, 128.5, 127.7, 126.0, 123.0, 66.8, 45.5, 31.7; MS m/z 300 (M+),
282 (M+ - H2O), 150 (ArCtO+, base peak), 91 (Bn+); [R]14D +32.7
D
CHIRALCEL OJ, 2-propanol/hexane 1/9, flow 1.0) tR 54.8 and 70.0
min; HRMS (M+) Calcd for C17H17NO4 299.1157. Found 299.1161.
(2S)-2-[(1S)-1-Hydroxy-2,2-dimethyl-3-phenylpropyl]cyclopen-
1
tanone (syn-3o): IR (KBr) ν 3437, 1730 cm-1; H NMR (C6D6) δ
7.19-7.05 (m, 5H), 4.02 (d, J ) 5.5 Hz, 1H), 2.52 (d, J ) 12.4 Hz,
1H), 2.41 (d, J ) 12.4 Hz, 1H), 1.99-1.86 (m, 2H). 1.76-1.67 (m,
2H), 1.57-1.51 (m, 1H), 1.28 (d, J ) 5.5 Hz, 1H), 1.22-1.10 (m,
1H), 0.77 (s, 3H), 0.69 (s, 3H); 13C NMR (C6D6) δ 220.2, 139.2, 131.1,
126.3, 75.9, 51.4, 45.6, 39.2, 38.0, 24.3, 23.6, 23.1, 21.0; MS m/z 246
(M+), 228 (M+ - H2O); [R]29D -100.0 (c 0.89, CHCl3) (75% ee); HPLC

4176 J. Am. Chem. Soc., Vol. 121, No. 17, 1999
Yoshikawa et al.
(c 0.15, CHCl3) (> 99% ee); HRMS (M+) Calcd for C17H162HNO4
300.1219. Found 300.1206.
mixture was stirred for 30 min at 0 °C and then allowed to warm to
room temperature over 30 min. Water and ethyl acetate were added to
the mixture, and the aqueous layer was separated and extracted with
ethyl acetate. The combined organic layers were washed with brine
and dried over Na2SO4. The solvent was removed under reduced
pressure, and the residue was purified by flash chromatography (SiO2,
acetone/hexane 1/8) to give ii (168.8 mg, 99%) as a colorless solid:
Phenyl (S)-3-Hydroxy-4,4-dimethyl-5-phenylpentanoate (4a): To
a mixture of molecular sieves 4 Å (111 mg, dried at 180 °C under
reduced pressure (ca. 5 mmHg) for 12 h) and racemic trans-N,N′-bis-
(p-toluenesulfonyl)cyclohexane-1,2-diamine (8) (18.8 mg, 0.0446 mmol)
was added bis(trimethylsilyl)peroxide (2.23 mL, 2.23 mmol, 1.0 M in
CH2Cl2). SnCl4 (44.6 µL, 0.0446 mmol, 1.0 M in CH2Cl2) was added
at 0 °C, and the suspension was stirred for 10 min. A solution of aldol
product 3c (157.4 mg, 0.557 mmol, 89% ee) in 3 mL of CH2Cl2 was
then added (1.2 mL rinse) at 0 °C, and the reaction mixture was stirred
at room temperature for 8 h. Saturated aqueous NaHCO3 (1 mL) and
sodium sulfite (330 mg) were added at 0 °C, and the reaction mixture
was allowed to warm to room temperature (3 h) while being stirred.
After filtration through a pad of Celite, the filtrate was washed with 1
N HCl and brine and dried over Na2SO4, and the solvent was removed
under reduced pressure. The resulting residue was dissolved in THF/
H2O (3.23 mL/0.87 mL), and acetic acid (1.47 mL) was added to the
solution. The reaction mixture was stirred for 18 h and then washed
twice with saturated aqueous NaHCO3. The combined aqueous layers
were extracted twice with ether, and the combined organic layers were
washed with 1 N HCl and brine and dried over Na2SO4. The solvent
was removed under reduced pressure, and the residue was purified by
flash chromatography (SiO2, ether/hexane 1/10) to give the ester 4a
1
IR (KBr) ν 3511, 3311, 1714, 1670, 1228 cm-1; H NMR (CDCl3) δ
7.94 (s, 1H), 7.71-7.64 (m, 2H), 7.44-7.35 (m, 6H), 6.81 (brs, 1H),
5.23 (s, 2H), 4.00-3.96 (m, 1H), 3.14 (d, J ) 17.0 Hz, 1H), 3.08 (d,
J ) 3.4 Hz, 1H), 3.03 (dd, J ) 17.0, 9.3 Hz, 1H), 1.83-1.76 (m, 1H),
1.01 (d, J ) 6.8 Hz, 3H), 0.99 (d, J ) 6.8 Hz, 3H); 13C NMR (CDCl3)
δ 200.9, 153.4, 138.5, 137.6, 135.8, 129.3, 128.6, 128.4, 128.2, 123.5,
123.0, 118.0, 72.4, 67.1, 42.1, 33.1, 18.5, 17.8; MS m/z 341 (M+), 323
(M+ - H2O); [R]29 -32.6 (c 0.71, CHCl3); Anal. Calcd for C20H23-
D
NO4 C, 70.36; H, 6.79; N, 4.10. Found C, 70.11; H, 6.89; N, 3.80.
3-(Benzyloxycabonylamino)phenyl (S)-3-hydroxy-4-methylpen-
tanoate (4c). To a mixture of molecular sieves 4 Å (40 mg, dried at
180 °C under reduced pressure (ca. 5 mmHg) for 12 h), racemic trans-
N,N′-bis(p-toluenesulfonyl)cyclohxane-1,2-diamine (8) (21.1 mg, 0.05
mmol) and ketone ii (68.3 mg, 0.2 mmol) in dry CH2Cl2 (1.0 mL) at
0 °C were added bis(trimethylsilyl)peroxide (0.8 mL, 0.8 mmol, 1.0
M in CH2Cl2) and SnCl4 (50.0 µL, 0.05 mmol, 1.0 M in CH2Cl2). The
suspension was stirred for 3 h, and then saturated aqueous NaHCO3 (1
mL) and sodium sulfite (120 mg) were added to the suspension. The
mixture was stirred for 3 h and then filtered through a pad of Celite.
The aqueous layer was separated and extracted with ether, and the
combined organic layers were washed with H2O and brine and dried
over Na2SO4. The solvent was removed under reduced pressure, and
the resulting residue was dissolved in THF/H2O (2.0 mL/0.5 mL).
Acetic acid (500 µL) was added, and the solution was stirred at room
temperature for 1 h. The reaction mixture was then washed with
saturated aqueous NaHCO3, and the combined aqueous layers were
extracted twice with ether. The combined organic layers were washed
with 1 N HCl and brine and dried over Na2SO4. The solvent was
removed under reduced pressure, and the residue was purified by flash
chromatography (SiO2, acetone/hexane 1/6) to give the ester 4c (57.1
mg, 80%) as a colorless oil: IR (neat) ν 3334, 1733, 1605, 1546, 1223
(133.2 mg, 80%) as a colorless oil: IR (neat) ν 3526, 1749, 1196 cm-1
;
1H NMR (CDCl3) δ 7.41-7.37 (m, 2H), 7.30-7.20 (m, 6H), 7.11-
7.08 (m, 2H), 3.88 (ddd, J ) 10.2, 3.7, 2.1 Hz, 1H), 2.89 (d, J ) 3.7
Hz, 1H), 2.84 (d, J ) 12.6 Hz, 1H), 2.81 (dd, J ) 16.0, 2.1 Hz, 1H),
2.72 (dd, J ) 16.0, 10.2 Hz, 1H), 2.56 (d, J ) 12.6 Hz, 1H), 0.97 (s,
3H), 0.89 (s, 3H); 13C NMR (CDCl3) δ 172.5, 150.4, 138.4, 130.8,
129.5, 127.9, 126.1, 126.0, 121.5, 73.5, 44.6, 38.2, 36.6, 23.3, 22.1;
MS m/z 298 (M+), 94 (PhO+H); [R]27D +2.43 (c 3.93, CHCl3); HRMS
(M+) Calcd for C19H22O3 298.1569. Found 298.1583.
Phenyl
(S)-5-Benzyloxy-3-hydroxy-4,4-dimethylpentanoate
(4b): To a solution of 3j (21.6 mg, 0.069 mmol, 93% ee) in
1,2-dichloroethane (1.0 mL) were added NaH2PO4 (49.7 mg, 0.41
mmol) and m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid (mCPBA, 85 mg, 0.35 mmol,
>70%). The mixture was stirred for 50 h at 40 °C, and the resulting
suspension was filtered through a pad of Celite. The filtrate was washed
with saturated aqueous NaHCO3 and brine (twice) and dried over
Na2SO4. The solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure, and the
residue was purified by flash chromatography (SiO2, ether/hexane 1/9)
to give the starting ketone 3j (2.3 mg, 11%) and the ester 4b (16.5 mg,
73%) as a colorless oil: IR (neat) ν 3493, 2963, 2873, 2360, 1757,
1
cm-1; H NMR (CDCl3) δ 7.40-7.33 (m, 5H), 7.27-7.24 (m, 1H),
7.15-7.13 (m, 1H), 7.00 (brs, 1H), 6.80-6.78 (m, 1H), 5.19 (s, 2H),
3.91 (m, 1H), 2.81 (brs, 1H), 2.73 (dd, J ) 15.9, 2.9 Hz, 1H), 2.66
(dd, J ) 15.9, 9.3 Hz, 1H), 1.82-1.75 (m, 1H), 1.00 (d, J ) 6.7 Hz,
3H), 0.97 (d, J ) 6.7 Hz, 3H); 13C NMR (CDCl3) δ 171.8, 153.1,
150.9, 139.0, 135.9, 129.6, 128.6, 128.3, 128.3, 116.3, 116.0, 72.7,
1
1593 cm-1; H NMR (C6D6) δ 7.25-6.94 (m, 10H), 4.26 (brs, 1H),
67.1, 38.8, 33.3, 18.4, 17.6; MS m/z 357 (M+), 243 (ArO+H); [R]30
D
4.24 (s, 2H), 3.37 (brs, 1H), 3.17 (d, J ) 8.9 Hz, 1H), 3.10 (d, J ) 8.9
Hz, 1H), 2.68-2.56 (m, 2H), 0.89 (s, 3H), 0.84 (s, 3H); 13C NMR
(C6D6) δ 171.4, 151.5, 138.7, 130.0, 129.5, 125.7, 122.1, 78.2, 74.1,
-13.3 (c 2.52, CHCl3); HRMS (M+) Calcd for C20H23NO5 357.1576.
Found 357.1565.
(6S)-6-[(1R)-1-Hydroxy-2,2-dimethyl-3-phenylpropyl]-2-pyrone
(4d). To a mixture of molecular sieves 4 Å (60 mg, dried at 180 °C
under reduced pressure (ca. 5 mmHg) for 12 h), racemic trans-N,N′-
bis(p-toluenesulfonyl)cyclohxane-1,2-diamine (8) (10 mg, 0.024 mmol)
and the aldol product syn-3o (73.9 mg, 0.3 mmol, 76% ee), in dry
CH2Cl2 (1.5 mL) at 0 °C, were added bis(trimethylsilyl)peroxide (1.2
mL, 1.2 mmol, 1.0 M in CH2Cl2) and SnCl4 (24.0 µL, 0.024 mmol,
1.0 M in CH2Cl2). The reaction mixture was stirred for 23 h at room
temperature, and then saturated aqueous NaHCO3 (600 µL) and sodium
sulfite (180 mg) were added. The mixture was stirred for 3 h at room
temperature and then filtered through a pad of Celite. The aqueous
layer was separated, and the organic layer was washed with 1 N HCl
and brine and dried over Na2SO4. The solvent was removed under
reduced pressure, and the residue was dissolved in THF/AcOH (1.0
mL/50 µL). Tetrabutylammonium fluoride (TBAF, 300 µL, 1.0 M in
THF) was added to the solution. After 2 h of stirring at room
temperature, the reaction mixture was washed with saturated aqueous
NaHCO3 and brine, which was dried over Na2SO4. The solvent was
removed under reduced pressure, and the residue was purified by flash
chromatography (SiO2, acetone/hexane 1/15-1/8) to give the ester 4d
(66.9 mg, 85%) as a colorless solid: IR (KBr) ν 3424, 1708, 1254
cm-1; 1H NMR (C6D6) δ 7.20-7.08 (m, 5H), 3.94-3.89 (m, 1H), 3.38-
3.35 (m, 1H), 2.69 (d, J ) 13.0 Hz, 1H), 2.43 (d, J ) 13.0 Hz, 1H),
2.06-1.91 (m, 2H), 1.82 (brs, 1H), 1.49-1.39 (m, 1H), 1.36-1.30
73.5, 38.5, 37.9, 22.0, 20.0; MS m/z 328 (M+ + 1); [R]25 -31.2 (c
D
0.35, CHCl3); Anal. Calcd for C20H24O4 C, 73.15; H, 7.32. Found C,
72.88; H, 7.47.
The Conversion of the Aldol Product 3k to the Ester 4c, (S)-1-
(3-Aminophenyl)-4-methyl-3-hydroxy-1-pentanone (i). To a solution
of 3k (951 mg, 4.01 mmol, 70% ee) in MeOH (24 mL) was added
PtO2 (19.5 mg). This suspension was stirred under H2 (1 atm) for 45
min at room temperature. The reaction mixture was filtered through a
pad of Celite, and the solvent was removed under reduced pressure.
The residue was purified by flash chromatography (SiO2, acetone/
hexane 1/4) to give i (828 mg, quant) as a pale yellow oil: IR (neat)
1
ν 3363, 1671 cm-1; H NMR (C6D6) δ 7.17-7.12 (m, 2H), 6.94 (m,
1H), 6.37-6.35 (m, 1H), 3.94 (m, 1H), 3.32 (brs, 1H), 2.97 (brs, 2H),
2.77 (dd, J ) 16.7, 8.5 Hz, 1H), 2.73 (dd, J ) 16.7, 2.8 Hz, 1H), 1.64
(m, 1H), 0.97 (d, J ) 6.5 Hz, 3H), 0.90 (d, J ) 6.8 Hz, 3H); 13C NMR
(C6D6) δ 201.2, 147.5, 138.6, 129.4, 119.5, 118.3, 113.9, 72.4, 42.6,
33.6, 18.9, 17.8; MS m/z 207 (M+), 120 (ArCtO+, base peak); [R]28
D
-53.8 (c 0.575, CHCl3); Anal. Calcd for C12H17NO2 C, 69.54; H, 8.27;
N, 6.76. Found C, 69.63; H, 8.11; N, 6.50.
(S)-1-[3-(Benzyloxycarbonylamino)phenyl]-3-hydroxy-4-methyl-
1-pentanone (ii). To a solution of i (103.5 mg, 0.499 mmol) in MeOH/
H2O (1.5 mL/2.0 mL) at 0 °C were added Na2CO3 (68.8 mg, 0.649
mmol) and benzyl chloroformate (92.7 µL, 0.649 mmol). The resulting

Direct Catalytic Asymmetric Aldol Reaction
J. Am. Chem. Soc., Vol. 121, No. 17, 1999 4177
(m, 1H), 1.18-1.10 (m, 1H), 1.05-0.95 (m, 1H), 0.83 (s, 3H), 0.71
(s, 3H); 13C NMR (C6D6) δ 171.1, 138.9, 131.2, 128.3, 128.1, 126.4,
81.6, 77.9, 46.1, 38.0, 29.8, 23.7, 23.2, 23.0, 18.5; MS m/z 262 (M+),
and the aqueous layer was extracted twice with ether. The combined
organic layers were washed with brine and dried over MgSO4.
Evaporation of the solvent and flash chromatography (SiO2, ether/
hexane 2/98) yielded a TBS-ether (435 mg). This substrate (425 mg)
in CH2Cl2 (2 mL) at -78 °C, was reduced to the alcohol by the addition
of diisobutylaluminum hydride (DIBAL, 2.12 mL, 1 M in CH2Cl2).
The reaction mixture was stirred for 1 h at -78 °C, and then MeOH
was added to quench the reaction. The mixture was allowed to warm
to room temperature and then filtered through a pad of Celite to remove
the solid precipitate. The filtrate was washed with 1 N HCl followed
by aqueous NaHCO3 and brine and dried over MgSO4. The solvent
was evaporated under reduced pressure, and purification of the residue
by flash chromatography (SiO2, ether/hexane 1/9) afforded an alcohol
(320 mg). A solution of this alcohol (300 mg) in CH2Cl2 (2 mL) was
added to a stirred suspension of PCC (266 mg, 1.23 mmol) and Celite
(530 mg) in CH2Cl2 (5 mL). The reaction mixture was stirred for 5 h
and then ether (15 mL) was added and the mixture was passed through
a florisil column, which was washed thoroughly with ether (25 mL).
Evaporation of the solvent and purification by flash chromatography
(ether/hexane 2/98) yielded the aldehyde 6 (270 mg, 87% from 4b) as
171 (M+ - Bn); [R]28 +11.9 (c 0.665, CHCl3); Anal. Calcd for
D
C16H22O3 C,73.25; H, 8.45. Found C, 72.96; H, 8.59.
Synthesis of the Key Epothilone A Intermediate, (S)-5-Benzyloxy-
4,4-dimethyl-1,3-pentanediol (iii). To a solution of 4b (255 mg, 0.777
mmol, 93% ee) in ether (9.0 mL) at 0 °C, was added LiAlH4 (74 mg,
1.94 mmol). The suspension was stirred for 15 min at 0 °C and then
allowed to warm to room temperature and stirred for a further 30 min.
The reaction was quenched by adding Na2SO4‚10H2O (300 mg) at 0
°C and stirred for an additional 1 h. The reaction mixture was filtered
through a pad of Celite and then concentrated under reduced pressure.
The crude residue was purified by flash chromatography (SiO2, acetone/
hexane 1/6) to give the diol iii (183 mg, 99%) as a colorless oil: IR
1
(neat) ν 3398, 1073 cm-1; H NMR (CDCl3) δ 7.38-7.29 (m, 5H),
4.51 (s, 2H), 3.86-3.83 (m, 2H), 3.74-3.70 (m, 1H), 3.40 (d, J ) 8.5
Hz, 1H), 3.32 (d, J ) 8.5 Hz, 1H), 3.04 (brs, 2H), 1.68-1.62 (m, 2H),
0.93 (s, 3H), 0.90 (s, 3H); 13C NMR (CDCl3) δ 137.6, 128.5, 127.8,
127.6, 80.1, 79.8, 73.7, 62.5, 38.2, 32.9, 22.6, 19.5; MS m/z 220 (M+
- H2O); [R]30D -15.6 (c 1.04, CHCl3); HRMS (M+ - H2O) Calcd for
C14H20O2 220.1463. Found 220.1467.
a colorless oil; IR (neat) ν 2956, 2856, 2700, 2361, 1727, 1091 cm-1
;
1H NMR (CDCl3) δ 9.70 (s, 1H), 7.23 (m, 5H), 4.39 (d, J ) 12.2 Hz,
1H), 4.30 (d, J ) 12.2 Hz, 1H), 4.15 (t, J ) 5.4 Hz, 1H), 3.17 (d, J )
8.9 Hz, 1H), 3.09 (d, J ) 8.9 Hz, 1H), 2.64 (dd, J ) 5.4, 1.8 Hz, 1H),
2.47 (dd, J ) 5.4, 2.8 Hz, 1H), 0.90 (s, 3H), 0.85 (s ×2, 3H and
9H), 0.04 (s, 3H), 0.00 (s, 3H); 13C NMR (CDCl3) δ 202.1, 138.5,
128.3, 127.5, 127.4, 76.6, 73.0, 71.5, 48.2, 40.0, 25.9, 21.4, 21.2, 18.1,
(S)-4-(2-Benzyloxy-1,1-dimethylethyl)-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxane
(iv). The diol iii (18.7 mg, 0.078 mmol) was dissolved in acetone/2,2-
dimethoxypropane (200 µL/100 µL), and the solution was treated with
p-toluenesufonic acid (TsOH‚H2O, 2.7 mg). The mixture was stirred
at room temperature for 17 h, and then the mixture was washed twice
with saturated aqueous NaHCO3 and brine and dried over Na2SO4. The
solvent was evaporated, and the residue was purified by flash
chromatography (SiO2, ether/hexane 1/30) to give iv (21.8 mg, quant)
-4.0, -4.8; MS m/z 350 (M+); [R]29 +0.88 (c 1.14, CHCl3); Anal.
D
Calcd for C20H34O3Si C, 68.52; H, 9.77. Found C, 68.60; H, 9.67.
(3S,5S)-7-Benzyloxy-5-(tert-butyldimethylsiloxy)-3-hydroxy-6,6-
dimethyl-1-phenyl-1-heptanone (anti-7) and (3R,5S)-7-Benzyloxy-
5-(tert-butyldimethylsiloxy)-3-hydroxy-6,6-dimethyl-1-phenyl-1-
heptanone (syn-7). A solution of water (230 µL, 0.23 mmol, 1 M in
THF) was added to KHMDS (210 µL, 0.105 mmol, 0.5 M in toluene)
in a 10-mL test tube at 0 °C, and the mixture was stirred at the same
temperature for 0.5 h. (S)-LLB solution which was prepared by the
procedure described above (1.90 mL, 1.14 mmol, 0.06 M in THF) was
added, and the mixture was stirred at 0 °C for 0.5 h and then further
cooled to -20 °C. Acetophenone (2a) (334 µL, 2.87 mmol) was added,
and after the solution was stirred for 30 min, aldehyde 6 (200 mg,
0.57 mmol) in THF (300 µL) was added. The reaction mixture was
stirred at -20 °C for 24 h and then quenched by addition of 1 N HCl
(2 mL). The organic layer was separated, and the aqueous layer was
extracted with ether (2 × 5 mL). The combined organic layers were
washed with brine and dried over MgSO4. Purification by flash
chromatography (SiO2) produced anti-7 (212 mg, 78.9%) as a colorless
oil: IR (neat) ν 3525, 2956, 2855, 1679, 1450 cm-1; 1H NMR (C6D6)
δ 7.73-7.00 (m, 10H), 4.53 (m, 1H), 4.46 (d, J ) 12.2 Hz, 1H), 4.29
(d, J ) 12.2 Hz, 1H), 4.25 (m, 1H), 3.31 (d, J ) 8.8 Hz, 1H), 3.29 (m,
3H), 3.27 (d, J ) 8.8 Hz, 1H), 2.64 (m, 2H), 1.82 (m, 1H), 1.49 (m,
1H), 1.13 (s, 3H), 1.08 (s, 3H), 1.02 (s, 9H), 0.32 (s, 3H), 0.17 (s, 3H);
13C NMR (C6D6) δ 200.2, 139.4, 137.2, 133.12, 77.5, 73.8, 73.4, 64.5,
46.3, 40.0, 39.9, 26.6, 22.0, 21.6, 18.8, -3.5, -3.9; MS m/z 471 (M+
+ 1), 453 (M+ - OH); [R]29D +1.58 (c 1.09, CHCl3) (95% ee); HPLC
(DAICEL CHIRALPAK AS, 2-propanol/hexane 1/9, flow 0.5) tR 7.5
and 8.0 min; Anal. Calcd for C28H42O5Si C, 69.09; H, 8.70. Found C,
68.92; H, 8.74, and syn-7 (30 mg, 11.2%) as a colorless oil: IR (neat)
1
as a colorless oil: IR (neat) ν 1098 cm-1; H NMR (C6D6) δ 7.30-
7.28 (m, 2H), 7.20-7.14 (m, 2H), 7.11-7.07 (m, 1H), 4.33 (s, 2H),
3.78 (dd, J ) 11.0, 2.3 Hz, 1H), 3.71-3.61 (m, 2H), 3.33 (d, J ) 8.2
Hz, 1H), 3.10 (d, J ) 8.2 Hz, 1H), 1.62-1.53 (m, 1H), 1.48 (s, 3H),
1.31 (s, 3H), 1.00 (s, 3H), 0.98-0.92 (m, 1H), 0.90 (s, 3H); 13C NMR
(C6D6) δ 139.5, 128.5, 127.6, 127.6, 98.3, 76.7, 73.5, 72.4, 60.2, 38.2,
30.3, 25.6, 21.2, 20.2, 19.4; MS m/z 263 (M+ - CH3), 115 (M+
-
BnOCH2C(CH3)2); [R]29 +8.3 (c 1.62, CHCl3); Anal. Calcd for
D
C17H26O3 C, 73.34; H, 9.41. Found: C, 73.13; H, 9.34.
(S)-2-(2,2-Dimethyl-[1,3]dioxan-4-yl)-2-methylpropionaldehyde
(5). To a solution of the acetonide iv (26.3 mg, 0.094 mmol) in THF
(260 µL) were added t-BuOH (36.0 µL) and liquid NH3 (ca. 1 mL).
The solution was cooled to -78 °C, and then lithium (25 mg) was
added. The reaction mixture was stirred at -78 °C for 20 min. The
mixture was diluted with ether (3.0 mL), and then NH4Cl (200 mg)
was added. The liquid ammonia was allowed to evaporate, and the
suspension was washed with saturated aqueous NaHCO3 and brine and
dried over Na2SO4. The solvent was removed under reduced pressure
to give the corresponding crude alcohol.
DMSO (27.2 µL, 0.351 mmol) was added to a stirred solution of
oxalyl chloride (17.3 µL, 0.198 mmol) in CH2Cl2 (100 µL) at -78 °C.
The solution was stirred at -78 °C for 1 h, and then previously obtained
crude alcohol dissolved in CH2Cl2 (150 µL) was added (the flask was
rinsed with 50 µL of CH2Cl2). The reaction mixture was stirred for 30
min at -78 °C, and then Et3N (62.0 µL, 0.445 mmol) was added at
the same temperature. It was then allowed to warm to 0 °C and stirred
for 3 h. After the reaction mixture was quenched with the addition of
water (1 mL), the aqueous layer was separated, and the organic layer
was washed with water and brine and dried over Na2SO4. The solvent
was evaporated to afford aldehyde 5 (16.5 mg, 94%) as a colorless oil,
The analytical data of this product was found to be identical to the
reported literature values. [R]20 (lit.) +10.7 (c 1.0, CHCl3); [R]29
1
ν 3535, 2955, 2855, 1680, 1450 cm-1; H NMR (C6D6) δ 7.75-7.00
(m, 10H), 4.36 (d, J ) 12.2 Hz, 1H; m, 1H), 4.29 (d, J ) 12.2 Hz,
1H), 4.04 (m, 1H), 3.26 (d, J ) 8.9 Hz, 1H), 3.21 (d, J ) 8.9 Hz, 1H;
m, 1H), 2.74 (s, 1H), 2.72 (m, 1H), 1.92 (m, 1H), 1.77 (m, 1H), 1.08
(s, 3H), 1.03 (s, 9H), 0.99 (s, 3H), 0.28 (s, 3H), 0.17 (s, 3H); 13C NMR
(C6D6) δ 200.2, 139.4, 137.6, 133.3, 77.9, 74.1, 73.7, 66.9, 46.1, 41.8,
D
D
+10.2 (c 0.76, CHCl3) ( Schinzer, D.; Limberg, A.; Bo¨hm, O. M. Chem.
Eur. J. 1996, 2, 1477-1482).
40.8, 26.6, 21.8, 21.3, 18.8, -3.3, -4.3; MS m/z 470 (M+); [R]29
D
-19.7 (c 1.34, CHCl3) (95% ee); Anal. Calcd for C28H42O4Si C, 71.44;
H, 8.99. Found C, 71.21; H, 8.71. The relative configuration of anti-7
was confirmed after conversion to known compound 9 and comparison
of data with literature values.
Synthesis of the Key Bryostatin 7 Intermediate, (S)-5-Benzyloxy-
3-(tert-butyldimethylsiloxy)-4,4-dimethyl-1-pentanal (6). To a stirred
solution of ester 4b (330 mg, 1.01 mmol, 93% ee) in CH2Cl2 (2 mL)
at 0 °C, was added diisopropylethylamine (350 mL, 2.01 mmol) at
0 °C followed by tert-butyldimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate
(TBSOTf, 342 µL, 1.5 mmol). The reaction was quenched with water
after 45 min and diluted with ether. The organic layer was separated,
2-[(4R,6S)-6-(2-Benzyloxy-1,1-dimethylethyl)-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-di-
oxan-4-yl]ethanol (9): To a mixture of molecular sieves 4 Å (85 mg,
dried at 180 °C under reduced pressure (ca. 8 mmHg)) and racemic

4178 J. Am. Chem. Soc., Vol. 121, No. 17, 1999
Yoshikawa et al.
trans-N,N′-bis(p-toluenesulfonyl)-cyclohexane-1,2-diamine (8) (45 mg,
0.106 mmol) in CH2Cl2 (200 µL) was added a solution of SnCl4 (106
µL, 0.106 mmol, 1 M in CH2Cl2). The reaction mixture was cooled to
0 °C, and bis(trimethylsilyl)peroxide (424 µL, 0.424 mmol, 1 M in
CH2Cl2) was added via syringe. Ketone anti-7 (50 mg, 0.106 mmol)
in CH2Cl2 (300 µL) was then added, and the reaction mixture was stirred
at 0 °C for 6 h. Aqueous NaHCO3 solution was added, and the mixture
was diluted with ether. The organic layer was separated, and the aqueous
layer was extracted with ether (2 × 5 mL). The combined organic layers
were stirred with solid Na2SO3 for 3 h and filtered, and the solvent
was evaporated under reduced pressure. Purification by flash chroma-
tography (ether/hexane 1/9) gave the starting ketone anti-7 (10 mg)
and an ester (20.5 mg).
To a mixture of this ester (15 mg), 2,2-dimethoxypropane (15 µL,
0.12 mmol) and camphorsulfonic acid (CSA) (1 mg), in CH2Cl2 (200
µL) at 0 °C, was added 70% hydrogen fluoride-pyridine (HF‚Py)
solution (4 drops). The cooling bath was removed, and the reaction
mixture was stirred for 0.5 h and then cooled to 0 °C and quenched by
the addition of saturated aqueous NaHCO3 solution. Ether (5 mL) was
added to this solution, and organic layer was separated. The aqueous
layer was extracted with ether (2 × 5 mL), and the combined organic
layers were dried over MgSO4. Purification by flash chromatography
yielded an acetonide (9 mg).
of KHMDS (28.8 µL, 0.0144 mmol, 0.5 M in toluene), at 0 °C, was
added a solution of deuterium oxide (32.0 µL, 0.032 mmol, 1.0 M in
THF). The mixture was stirred for 20 min at this temperature and then
(R)-LLB (prepared by the procedure described above, 267 µL, 0.016
mmol, 0.06 M in THF) was added and the solution was stirred for 30
min at 0 °C. The resulting pale yellow solution was cooled to -20 °C,
and aceto-d3-phenone (234 µL, 2 mmol, 10 eq to the aldehyde) was
added. The solution was stirred for 20 min and then 2,2-dimethyl-3-
phenylpropanal (1b) (33.3 µL, 0.2 mmol) was added and the mixture
was stirred at -20 °C. The reaction was quenched by addition of 1 N
HCl (1 mL) and extracted with ether. The combined organic layers
were washed with brine and dried over Na2SO4. The solvent was
removed under reduced pressure, and the residue was analyzed by
HPLC (DAICEL CHIRALPAK AD, 2-propanol/hexane 1/9, flow 1.0).
Kinetic Study to Find Out the Dependence of the Reaction Rate
on the Concentration of the Aldehyde (1b) (Figure 4). The reactions
were carried out under the following conditions: [(R)-LLB] ) 0.0196
M; KHMDS (0.9 equiv to LLB); H2O (2 equiv to LLB); [acetophenone
(2a)] ) 3.27 M; THF; -20 °C; 2 h. The reactions were worked up
according to the procedure (GP2). The crude product was analyzed by
HPLC (DAICEL CHIRALPAK AD, 2-propanol/hexane 1/9, flow 1.0).
Acknowledgment. This study was financially supported by
CREST, The Japan Scinence and Technology Corporation (JST),
and by a Grant-in Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry
of Education, Science, and Culture, Japan. Y.M.A.Y thanks
JSPS, and J.D. thanks JST. For the X-ray structure determination
of syn-3o, thanks are due to Mr. Ken-ichi Yamada and Mr.
Satoshi Yokoshima.
To a stirred suspension of LiAlH4, in THF (200 µL) at 0 °C, was
added a solution of the preceding acetonide (9 mg) in THF (200 µL).
The cooling bath was removed, and the reaction mixture was stirred
for 1 h at room temperature. MeOH (200 µL) was added to quench the
reaction, and the precipitate was filtered through a pad of Celite and
washed thoroughly with ether. Concentration of the filtrate and
purification of the resulting residue by flash chromatography afforded
the alcohol 9 as a colorless oil. Analytical data of the product was
identical with the reported data for the known compound in the literature
Supporting Information Available: 1H NMR and 13C NMR
spectra of products, synthesis of aldehydes 1i and 1j and X-ray
structual information on syn-3o (PDF). This material is available
free of charge via the Internet at http://pubs.acs.org.
(IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, MS): [R]24D (lit.) -28.4 (c 2.7, CHCl3); [R]29
D
-28.4 (c 0.63, CHCl3) (95% ee) (Blanchette, M. A.; Malamas, M. S.;
Nantz, M. H.; Roberts, J. C.; Somfai, P.; Whritenour, D. C.; Masamune,
S. J. Org. Chem. 1989, 54, 2817-2825).
Observation of Isotope Effects of Aceto-d3-phenone on the Direct
Catalytic Asymmetric Aldol Reaction (Figure 3). To a stirred solution
JA990031Y