Chen Weihao, Zhang Zhifeng, Ho Chun-Yu
Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), Shenzhen, China.
Shenzhen Grubbs Institute, Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), Shenzhen, China.
Nat Commun. 2025 Jul 1;16(1):5670. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-60932-w.
Development of contra-steric alkene hydrometallation method is one of the keys in branched product synthesis, especially when a bulky ligand steric environment is essential at other stages of the catalytic cycle. This study presents our efforts in this regard with broad scope using N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC), and establishes a chiral (NHC)Ni(II)-catalyzed intermolecular cross-hydroalkenylation system of enamine (alkenyl-carbamate/phthalimide) and α-olefin for the synthesis of highly substituted branched allylamines. A sterically adaptable chiral NHC-Ni(II) catalyst design with an open quadrant enhances interaction with the heteroatom on enamine, offering a precise chemo-, regio-, and enantioselective insertion control throughout the process in a mixture of olefins and allowing convergent synthesis. Besides, α-olefin serves as both terminal and internal 2-alkenyl reagents, yielding a 1,2,3-substituted allylamine by regio- and E-selective isomerization of the 1,2-disubstituted allylamine. Overall, the success of this alkene-based strategy addresses the intrinsic problems associated with alkyne- and alkenyl halide reagent-based synthesis, demonstrates good versatility and scope, and addresses the shortcomings of conceivable approaches based on rigid and sterically bulky NHCs.
反式空间烯烃氢金属化方法的开发是支链产物合成的关键之一,尤其是当庞大配体的空间环境在催化循环的其他阶段至关重要时。本研究展示了我们在这方面使用N-杂环卡宾(NHC)所做的广泛努力,并建立了一种手性(NHC)Ni(II)催化的烯胺(烯基氨基甲酸酯/邻苯二甲酰亚胺)与α-烯烃的分子间交叉氢烯基化体系,用于合成高度取代的支链烯丙胺。一种具有开放象限的空间适应性手性NHC-Ni(II)催化剂设计增强了与烯胺上杂原子的相互作用,在烯烃混合物的整个过程中提供了精确的化学、区域和对映选择性插入控制,并允许汇聚合成。此外,α-烯烃既作为末端又作为内部2-烯基试剂,通过1,2-二取代烯丙胺的区域和E-选择性异构化生成1,2,3-取代烯丙胺。总体而言,这种基于烯烃的策略的成功解决了与基于炔烃和烯基卤化物试剂的合成相关的固有问题,展示了良好的通用性和适用范围,并解决了基于刚性和空间庞大的NHC的可设想方法的缺点。