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Improved Methodology for the Preparation of Chiral Amines

Improved Methodology for the Preparation of Chiral Amines

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generated trans- and cis-imine mixture. This means that <strong>the</strong> addition <strong>of</strong> Yb(OAc) 3<br />

may results in enrichment <strong>of</strong> trans- over cis- imines be<strong>for</strong>e hydrogenation. This idea<br />

is only applicable if Yb(OAc) 3 was capable <strong>of</strong> isomerizing some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> cis-imine to<br />

<strong>the</strong> trans-imine.<br />

To test this proposed idea practically I syn<strong>the</strong>sized N-(S)-MBA ketimine <strong>of</strong> 2-<br />

octanone using Dean-Stark trap. To <strong>the</strong> isolated imine, Yb(OAc) 3 (1.1 equiv) in<br />

anhydrous MeOH was added and stirred <strong>for</strong> half an hour at 22 °C be<strong>for</strong>e <strong>the</strong> addition<br />

<strong>of</strong> Raney-Ni slurry in THF and <strong>the</strong> <strong>the</strong>n <strong>the</strong> whole mixture was hydrogenated at 8.1<br />

bar (120 psi) <strong>for</strong> 12h. GC analysis after 12 h showed that all imine was consumed and<br />

<strong>the</strong> product de was 86%. Repeating <strong>the</strong> same reaction but with extended stirring time<br />

<strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> imine with Yb(OAc) 3 resulted in similar de (86%). These results correlate with<br />

<strong>the</strong> earlier obtained results <strong>of</strong> enhanced diastereoselectivity utilizing Yb(OAc) 3 in <strong>the</strong><br />

reductive amination <strong>of</strong> 2-octanone. Fur<strong>the</strong>r examination <strong>of</strong> effect <strong>of</strong> changing reaction<br />

conditions on <strong>the</strong> reaction out come as changing <strong>the</strong> solvent during prestirring period<br />

was also tested. THF was used instead <strong>of</strong> MeOH in <strong>the</strong> prestirring period resulting in<br />

lowering <strong>the</strong> de <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>for</strong>med amine to 77%. This may be a direct result <strong>of</strong> low<br />

solubility <strong>of</strong> Yb(OAc) 3 in THF allowing <strong>the</strong> back round reaction to occur and<br />

showing <strong>the</strong> importance <strong>of</strong> having MeOH as <strong>the</strong> prestirring solvent. All <strong>the</strong>se findings<br />

support <strong>the</strong> proposed hypo<strong>the</strong>sis <strong>of</strong> Yb(OAc) 3 promoted isomerization <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> in situ<br />

<strong>for</strong>med imine.<br />

In our attempt to clarify <strong>the</strong> role <strong>of</strong> Yb(OAc) 3 in reductive amination <strong>of</strong> prochiral<br />

ketones, I proposed a mechanism <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> in situ imine isomerization (scheme 7.1). The<br />

reaction starts with <strong>the</strong> <strong>for</strong>mation <strong>of</strong> a Lewis acid-base pair between <strong>the</strong> imine and<br />

Yb(OAc) 3 in <strong>the</strong> cis con<strong>for</strong>mation. In this adduct, acetate ligand <strong>of</strong> ytterbium attacks<br />

<strong>the</strong> electrophilic carbonyl carbon <strong>of</strong> iminium ion via a six-membered transition state<br />

<strong>for</strong>ming an oxygen-acetylated hemi-aminal in gauche con<strong>for</strong>mation. This<br />

con<strong>for</strong>mation suffers from steric crowding because <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> gauche relationship between<br />

<strong>the</strong> “α-methylbenzyl” substituent on <strong>the</strong> nitrogen atom and <strong>the</strong> “R” substituent <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

<strong>for</strong>mer carbonyl carbon. To relief this steric strain <strong>the</strong> molecule undergoes pyrimidal<br />

inversion at nitrogen atom. This process is a low energy process which readily occurs<br />

at room temperature.<br />

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