anti-selective SMP-catalyzed direct asymmetric Mannich-type reactions: Synthesis of functionalized amino acid derivatives

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(02)01772-0

The first (S)-2-methoxymethylpyrrolidine (SMP)-catalyzed direct asymmetric Mannich-type reactions of unmodified aldehydes with N-PMP-protected α-imino ethyl glyoxylate are described. The reaction proceeded in a highly anti-selective manner (dr up to 19:1) with enantioselectivities between 74 and 92%.

Full text of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(02)01772-0

TETRAHEDRON
LETTERS
Pergamon
Tetrahedron Letters 43 (2002) 7749–7752
anti-Selective SMP-catalyzed direct asymmetric Mannich-type
reactions: synthesis of functionalized amino acid derivatives
Armando Co´rdova and Carlos F. Barbas, III*
The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology and The Department of Molecular Biology, The Scripps Research Institute,
10550 North Torrey Pines Rd, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
Received 6 August 2002; revised 21 August 2002; accepted 23 August 2002
Abstract—The first (S)-2-methoxymethylpyrrolidine (SMP)-catalyzed direct asymmetric Mannich-type reactions of unmodified
aldehydes with N-PMP-protected a-imino ethyl glyoxylate are described. The reaction proceeded in a highly anti-selective manner
(dr up to 19:1) with enantioselectivities between 74 and 92%. © 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.
The Mannich reaction is a key carbonꢀcarbon bond
forming reaction for the synthesis of b-amino ketones
and aldehydes. The versatility of this reaction has been
proven time and again in pharmaceutical chemistry and
natural product syntheses.1,2 Increasing demand for
optically pure nitrogen containing synthons from the
pharmaceutical industry has led to the search for asym-
metric versions of this reaction. The first methods
developed were non-catalytic and employed preformed
enolates and enamines as nucleophiles with chiral auxil-
iary control.3 Thereafter, catalytic asymmetric versions
were reported that utilized preformed enolates for addi-
tions to imines.4 Recently, several laboratories have
reported the first direct asymmetric Mannich-type reac-
tions wherein unmodified ketones are used as nucle-
ophiles for the diastereo- and enantioselective
preparation of chiral b-amino ketone compounds.5
Recently, we extended the scope of this reaction to
encompass the use of unmodified aldehydes as nucle-
ophiles in Mannich-type reactions.6
the selective synthesis of b-amino carbonyl compounds
with anti-diastereoselectivity.
In our earlier studies concerning organocatalysis with
amines,7 we have reported chiral pyrrolidine derivatives
that are superior to proline in the Michael and certain
types of aldol reactions. Herein, we report the first
direct (S)-2-methoxymethylpyrrolidine (SMP)-catalyzed
asymmetric Mannich-type reactions with unmodified
aldehydes that provides functionalized amino acid
derivatives with high anti-selectivity and ee’s up to 92%.
To address the issue of modifying the diastereoselectiv-
ity of the direct Mannich-type reaction, we performed a
catalyst screen focused on pyrrolidine derivatives lack-
ing the stereo-directing carboxylate of proline. In initial
experiments, we screened for catalysts of the Mannich
reaction of isovaleraldehyde (0.2 M) and N-PMP pro-
tected a-imino ethyl glyoxylate (0.1 M) in dioxane at
room temperature. Catalyst loading was fixed at 20
mol%. Of all the catalysts screened, only ester and ether
functionalized proline derivatives were catalysts of this
reaction.8 The commercially available derivative SMP9
was the best catalyst and afforded the corresponding
b-formyl functionalized leucine derivative 1a in 48%
yield, with dr >10:1 (anti/syn) and 69% ee (Eq. (1)).10
Proton NMR analysis of the Mannich product 1a
revealed that the reaction proceeded with high anti-
diastereoselectivity.11 SMP has been reported to be an
effective chiral auxiliary in Mannich-type reactions
involving preformed SMP-enamines derived from
ketones.3a In accord with our studies here, SMP
directed formation of the anti product. After SMP,
The development of methodologies that provide for the
directed synthesis of all possible stereoisomers is an
important task in asymmetric catalysis and is still
required for direct Mannich-type reactions. For exam-
ple, in proline-catalyzed asymmetric Mannich-type
reactions with unmodified ketones and aldehydes, two
new stereocenters are created in a single step with high
syn-diastereoselectivity.5c–e,6 However, to the best of
our knowledge, there is no report of a direct catalytic
asymmetric Mannich type-reaction that provides for
* Corresponding author. Tel.: +1-858-784-9098; fax: +1-858-784-2583;
e-mail: carlos@scripps.edu
L-proline benzyl ester was the most effective catalyst
0040-4039/02/$ - see front matter © 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.
PII: S0040-4039(02)01772-0

7750
A. Co´rdo6a, C. F. Barbas, III / Tetrahedron Letters 43 (2002) 7749–7752
and provided 1a in 20% yield, with dr >19:1 and 18%
ee. To further optimize the SMP-catalyzed reaction a
solvent screen was performed. We found that the ee of
the SMP-catalyzed reaction could be increased to 82%
using DMSO as a solvent.12
the diastereomeric ratio to 1.1:1. Separation of the two
diastereomers by chiral-phase HPLC provided known
syn-adduct 1c with a (2S,3S)-stereochemistry with an
ee of 82%.16 In addition, compound 1c that had been
synthesized by
(vide infra) to 1a with a (2S,3R)-stereochemistry.17
Furthermore, the -proline derived syn-adduct 1d was
L-proline-catalysis was also converted
D
isomerized to 1b with a (2R,3S)-stereochemistry.18
Thus, an alternative to direct anti synthesis is imida-
zole-mediated isomerization of the proline-derived
products. This route provides anti-diastereomers with
excellent enantioselectivity, albeit reduced yields. We
did not observe elimination or racemization of the C-2
carbon center of the amino acid derivatives during the
reaction. Thus, SMP provides functionalized amino
acid derivatives with anti-stereochemistry.
(1)
Encouraged by this result, several aliphatic aldehydes
were reacted with N-PMP protected a-imino ethyl gly-
oxylate in DMSO as described (vide infra) to afford
b-formyl functionalized amino acid derivatives 1–7 in
moderate yield (Table 1).13 The reactions afforded
products with ee’s between 74 and 92% and with a
diasteromeric ratio that increased with bulkiness of the
aldehyde donor in the order of Et>n-Bu>i-Pr, n-Pent.
Significantly, aldehydes with chain lengths longer than
six carbons produced a predominant diastereomer (dr
>19:1) with anti-diastereoselectivity. Noteworthy, the
reaction with the sterically demanding donor 2,2-
dimethylbutyraldehyde was catalyzed by SMP to afford
2 in 57% yield, with dr >10:1 and 92% ee (entry 2),14
In the Mannich transition-state, we have assumed (E)-
configurations of both the enamine and the imine. In
the proline-catalyzed reaction (transition-state 10), the
whereas it was not catalyzed by
can also be used as a catalyst for aldehydes that are not
substrates for -proline.
L-proline. Thus, SMP
L
To establish the absolute configuration of the SMP-
derived products, we performed an imidazole-promoted
anti–syn isomerization of 1a and 1b produced by SMP
and its enantiomer RMP, respectively (Scheme 1).15
Consequently, as determined by 1H NMR anti–syn
isomerization of the C-3 carbon center of 1a changed
Scheme 1. Imidazole promoted isomerization of the b-formyl
functionalized amino acid derivatives.
Table 1. SMP-catalyzed Mannich reactions of unmodified aldehydes with N-PMP-protected a-imino ethyl glyoxylate
Entry
R
Yield (%)b
drc
eed
Product
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
i-Pr
t-Bu
Et
n-Bu
n-Pent
n-Hex
52
57
44
54
78
68
67
10:1 (19:1)e
82
92
75
74
76
76
78
1a
2
3
4
5
\10:1 (\19:1)e
1:1 (5:1)e
10:1 (\10:1)e
\10:1 (\19:1)e
\19:1 (\19:1)e
\19:1 (\19:1)e
6
7
n-(CH2)CHꢁCH(CH2)4CH3 trans
a PMP=p-methoxyphenyl. In a typical experiment, N-PMP-protected a-imino ethyl glyoxylate (0.5 mmol) was dissolved in anhydrous DMSO
(Vtot=5 mL), the corresponding aldehyde donor (1.0 mmol) was added followed by SMP (20 mol%) and the mixture was stirred for 2–24 h at
room temperature. Following aqueous work-up with half-saturated ammonium chloride solution and extraction with ethyl acetate, the organic
layer was dried (MgSO4), filtered, and concentrated and the residue purified by column chromatography (silica, hexanes/EtOAc mixtures) to
afford the corresponding Mannich addition product.
b
Yield of isolated pure compound after column chromatography.
dr=anti/syn as determined by NMR of the isolated product.
The ee values of products 1a–7 were determined by chiral-phase HPLC analyses.
dr=anti/syn as determined by NMR of the product after extraction.
c
d
e

A. Co´rdo6a, C. F. Barbas, III / Tetrahedron Letters 43 (2002) 7749–7752
7751
3. See for example: (a) Kober, R.; Papadopoulos, K.; Miltz,
W.; Enders, D.; Steglich, W.; Reuter, H.; Puff, H. Tetra-
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1063; (c) Enders, D.; Ward, D.; Adam, J.; Raabe G.
Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. Engl. 1996, 35, 981; (d) Corey, E.
J.; Decicco, C. P.; Newbold, R. C. Tetrahedron Lett.
1991, 39, 5287; (e) Seebach, D.; Betschart, C.; Schiess, M.
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Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. Engl. 1995, 34, 2639.
4. (a) Fujii, A.; Hagiwara, E.; Sodeoka, M. J. Am. Chem.
Soc. 1999, 121, 5450; (b) Ishitani, H.; Ueno, M.;
Kobayashi, S. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2000, 122, 8180; (c)
Ishihara, K.; Miyata, M.; Hattori, K.; Yamamoto, H. J.
Am. Chem. Soc. 1994, 116, 10520; (d) Ishitani, H.; Ueno,
M.; Kobayashi, S. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1997, 119, 2060; (e)
Ferraris, D.; Yong, B.; Dudding, T.; Leckta, T. J. Am.
Chem. Soc. 1998, 120, 4548; (f) Ferraris, D.; Young, B.;
Cox, C.; Dudding, T.; Drury, W. J., III; Ryzhkov, L.;
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(g) Kobayashi, S.; Matsubara, R.; Kitagawa, H. Org.
Lett. 2002, 4, 143.
Scheme 2. Plausible transition-states.a
si-face of the imine is attacked by the enamine’s si-face
with a potential hydrogen bond from proline’s carboxyl-
ate assisting in fixing the relative topicity of the attack.
Lacking the stereodirecting carboxylate of proline, the
topicity of the SMP catalyzed reaction is altered (transi-
tion-state 11). In the SMP-catalyzed reaction the si-face
of the imine is selectively attacked by the re-face of the
enamine drawing the ethereal oxygen closer to the
imine nitrogen, which if protonated, may provide for a
favorable coulombic interaction (Scheme 2).19 This
attractive force could compensate for potential steric
interactions between the pyrrolidine group of SMP and
the PMP protecting group of the imine.
In conclusion, we have developed the 2-methoxy-
methylpyrrolidine-catalyzed direct asymmetric Man-
nich-type reaction with unmodified aldehydes and N-
PMP protected a-imino ethyl glyoxylate that provides
both enantiomeric forms of b-formyl functionalized
amino acid derivatives. The reaction proceeds with high
anti-diastereoselectivity and enantioselectivities up to
92%. This study indicates that the popular and highly
successful chiral-auxiliary SMP can be used in a cata-
lytic manner. Further development of this methodology
is underway and will be reported in due course.
5. (a) Yamasaki, S.; Iida, T.; Shibasaki, M. Tetrahedron
1999, 55, 8857; (b) Juhl, K.; Gathergood, N.; Jorgensen,
K. A. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2001, 40, 2995; (c) Notz,
W.; Saktihvel, K.; Bui, T.; Zhong, G.; Barbas, C. F., III
Tetrahedron Lett. 2001, 42, 199; (d) List, B. J. Am. Chem.
Soc. 2000, 122, 9336; (e) Co´rdova, A.; Notz, W.; Zhong,
G.; Betancort, J. M.; Barbas, C. F., III J. Am. Chem.
Soc. 2002, 124, 1842.
6. Co´rdova, A.; Watanabe, S.-i.; Tanaka, F.; Notz, W.;
Barbas, C. F., III J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2002, 124, 1866.
7. (a) List, B.; Lerner, R. A.; Barbas, C. F., III J. Am.
Chem. Soc. 2000, 122, 2395; (b) Saktihvel, K.; Notz, W.;
Bui, T.; Barbas, C. F., III J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2001, 123,
5260; (c) Bui, T.; Barbas, C. F., III Tetrahedron Lett.
2000, 41, 6951; (d) Betancort, J. M.; Saktihvel, K.;
Thayumanavan, R.; Barbas, C. F., III Tetrahedron Lett.
2001, 42, 4441; (e) Betancort, J. M.; Barbas, C. F., III
Org. Lett. 2001, 3, 3737; (f) Co´rdova, A.; Notz, W.;
Barbas, C. F., III J. Org. Chem. 2002, 67, 301.
Acknowledgements
This study was supported in part by the NIH
(CA27489) and the Skaggs Institute for Chemical
Biology.
8. Screened catalysts: SMP,
L
-prolinol, (S)-1-(2-pyrro-
(S)-1-(2-pyrrolidinylmethyl)-
-proline benzyl ester
L-proline methyl ester HCl salt.
lidinylmethyl)pyrrolidine,
piperidine,
HCl salt,
L-proline benzyl ester, L
References
9. This proline-derived amine was developed by Enders et
al. as a chiral auxiliary and is commercially available in
both enantiomeric forms. For an excellent review of its
use in asymmetric synthesis, see: Enders, D.; Klatt, M.
Synthesis 1996, 1403.
1. (a) Kleinmann, E. F. In Comprehensive Organic Synthe-
sis; Trost, B. M.; Flemming, I., Eds.; Pergamon Press:
New York, 1991; Vol. 2, Chapter 4.1; (b) Arend, M.;
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99, 1069; (d) Denmark, S.; Nicaise, O. J.-C. In Compre-
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Yamomoto, H., Eds.; Springer: Berlin, 1999; Vol. 2, p.
93; (e) Enantioselective Synthesis of i-Amino Acids; Juar-
isti, E., Ed.; Wiley-VCH, New York, 1997.
2. The first example of the application of the Mannich
reaction to natural product synthesis is attributed to
Robinson in his synthesis of tropinone. See: Robinson,
R. J. Chem. Soc. 1917, 762.
10.
L-Prolinol, (S)-1-(2-pyrrolidinylmethyl)pyrrolidine, (S)-1-
(2-pyrrolidinylmethyl)piperidine and the hydrochloric
salts of proline methyl or benzyl esters were not catalysts
of this reaction.
11. Ethyl
(2S,3R)-3-formyl-2-(p-methoxyphenylamino)-4-
methylpentanoate (1a): 1H NMR (250 MHz): l 1.08 (d,
3H, J=7.0 Hz, CHCH3), 1.12 (d, 1H, J=7.0 Hz,
CHCH3), 1. 21 (t, 3H, OCH2CH3), 2.11 (m, 1H), 2.59 (m,
1H), 3.74 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.85 (bs, 1H, ArNHCH), 4.15
(m, 2H, OCH2CH3), 4.36 (bs, 1H), 6.66 (d, 2H, J=7.0

7752
A. Co´rdo6a, C. F. Barbas, III / Tetrahedron Letters 43 (2002) 7749–7752
Hz, ArH), 6.77 (d, 2H, J=7.0 Hz, ArH), 9.75 (d, 1H,
ArH), 6.77 (d, 2H, J=9.7 Hz, ArH), 9.76 (d, 1H, J=3.3
Hz, CHCHO); 13C NMR (125 MHz): l 203.3, 173.6,
153.4, 140.7, 116.1, 115.1, 62.8, 61.6, 56.5, 55.9, 33.4,
29.2, 14.3; HPLC (Daicel Chiralpak AS, hexane/i-
PrOH=99:1, flow rate 1.0 mL/min, u=254 nm); tR
(major)=11.78 min; tR (minor)=16.22 min; [h]D=−22 (c
2.3, CH2Cl2). HRMS calcd for C17H25NO4 (M+H+):
308.1856. Found: 308.1858.
J=3.3 Hz, CHCHO); 13C NMR (125 MHz): l 203.6,
173.4, 153.5, 140.7, 116.2, 115.1, 61.7, 59.9, 57.5, 55.9,
27.8, 21.6, 19.5, 14.4; HPLC (Daicel Chiralpak AS, hex-
ane/i-PrOH=99:1, flow rate 1.0 mL/min, u=254 nm); tR
(major)=7.00 min; tR (minor)=10.84 min; [h]D=−16.5 (c
1.2, CH2Cl2). HRMS calcd for C16H23NO4 (M+Na+):
316.1519. Found: 316.1521.
12. Reactions performed in THF, EtOH, EtOAc and
CH3CN were very slow.
15. Ward, D. E.; Sales, M.; Sasmal, P. K. Org. Lett. 2001, 3,
3671.
13. In a typical experiment, N-PMP-protected a-imino ethyl
glyoxylate (0.5 mmol) was dissolved in anhydrous diox-
ane or DMSO and the corresponding aldehyde donor
(1.0 mmol) was added, followed by SMP (20 mol%). The
total volume of the reaction mixture was 5 mL. After
stirring for 2–24 h at room temperature, the mixture was
worked-up by addition of half-saturated ammonium
chloride solution and extraction with ethyl acetate. The
combined organic layers were dried (MgSO4), filtered,
concentrated and the residue purified by column chro-
matography (silica, hexanes/ethyl acetate mixtures) to
afford the corresponding Mannich addition product. The
ee’s of all products were determined by chiral-phase
HPLC analysis.
14. Ethyl (2S,3R)-3-formyl-2-(p-methoxyphenylamino)-4,4-
dimethylpentanoate (2): 1H NMR (250 MHz): l 1.15 (s,
9H, J=7.0 Hz, CHCH3), 1. 19 (t, 3H, OCH2CH3), 2.77
(dd, J=7.8 Hz, J=3.3 Hz, 1H), 3.74 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.85
(bs, 1H, ArNHCH), 4.15 (m, 2H, OCH2CH3), 4.34 (dd,
J=18.3 Hz, J=6.6 Hz, 1H), 6.65 (d, 2H, J=9.7 Hz,
16. NMR was in accordance with the previously reported
(2S,3S)-enantiomer 1c (Ref. 6). HPLC (Daicel Chiralpak
AS, hexane/i-PrOH=99:1, flow rate 1.0 mL/min, u=254
nm); tR=8.82 min. The (2R,3R)-enantiomer 1d has a
tR=13.24 min under the same HPLC conditions.
17. Imidazole promoted anti–syn isomerization of 1c with an
ee of 93% and a dr of 10:1 provided a diastereomeric
mixture with a anti/syn ratio of 1:1.1. Removal of imida-
zole by column chromatography provided 1a in 95% yield
with a dr of 3:1 and an ee of 93%.
18. Imidazole promoted anti–syn isomerization of 1c with an
ee of 93% and a dr of 10:1 provided a diastereomeric
mixture with a anti/syn ratio of 1:1.1. Removal of imida-
zole by column chromatography provided 1a in 95% yield
with a dr of 3:1 and an ee of 93%.
19. Electrostatic interactions of this type have been postu-
lated in non-catalytic asymmetric Mannich-type reactions
with preformed SMP enamines. See: Ref. 1b and
Vinkovic, V.; Sunjic, V. Tetrahedron 1997, 53, 689.