[Acid-base catalysis of chiral Pd complexes: development of novel asymmetric reactions]

Using a unique character of the chiral palladium complexes 1 and 2, several types of novel catalytic asymmetric reactions have been developed. In contrast to the conventional Pd(0)-catalyzed reactions, these complexes function as an acid-base catalyst. Thus active methine compounds were activated to form chiral palladium enolates, which underwent the enantioselective Michael reaction and Mannich-type reaction with up to 99% ee. Interestingly, these palladium enolates acted cooperatively with a strong protic acid activating the electrophiles, formed concomitantly during the formation of the enolates, whereby the C-C bond-forming reaction was promoted. In addition, this palladium enolate chemistry was also applicable to the electrophilic asymmetric fluorination reactions, and thus various carbonyl compounds including beta-ketoesters, beta-ketophosphonates, and oxindoles were fluorinated in a highly enantioselective manner (up to 98% ee). It is advantageous that these reactions were carried out in environmentally friendly alcoholic solvents such as ethanol, and exclusion of air and moisture is not necessary.