A Josiphos ligand is a type of chiral diphosphine which has been modified to be substrate-specific; they are widely used for enantioselective synthesis.[1] They are named after the technician who made the first one, Josi Puleo.[2]
Modern enantioselective synthesis typically applies a well-chosen homogeneous catalyst for key steps. The ligands on these catalysts are essential to a reaction's success (or failure): they influence the chemoselectivity of the catalyst, especially the catalyzed reaction's chirality. Thus a powerful technique in the development of homogenously-catalyzed reactions is to modify ligands to select the desired substrates. The Josiphos family of privileged ligands provides especially high yields in enantioselective synthesis.[3][4]
In the early 1990s, Antonio Togni began studying at the Ciba (now Novartis) Central Research Laboratories[5] previously-known[6] ferrocenyl ligands for a Au(I)-catalyzed aldol reaction.[5] Togni's team began considering diphosphine ligands, and technician Josi Puleo prepared the first ligands with secondary phosphines. The team applied Puleo's products in an Ru-catalyzed enamide hydrogenation synthesis; in a dramatic success, the reaction had e.e. >99% and a turnover frequency (TOF) 0.3 s−1.[5][6]
The same ligand proved useful in production of (S)-metolachlor, active ingredient in the most common herbicide in the United States. Synthesis requires enantioselective hydrogenation of an imine; after introduction of the catalyst, the reaction proceeds with 100% conversion, turnover number (TON) >7mil, and turnover frequency >0.5 ms−1. This process is the largest-scale application of enantioselective hydrogenation, producing over 10 kilotons/year of the desired product with 79% e.e.[1][3][7]
Josiphos ligands also serve in non-enantioselective reactions: a Pd-catalyzed reaction of aryl chlorides and aryl vinyl tosylates with TON of 20,000 or higher,[8] catalytic carbonylation,[9] or Grignard and Negishi couplings[10][11]
A variety of Josiphos ligands are commercially available under licence from Solvias. The (R-S) and its enantiomer provide higher yields and enantioselectivities than the diastereomer (R,R).[2][12]
The ferrocene scaffold has proved to be versatile.[2][13][14][15][16] One structural parameter that influences reactivity is the bite angle. The P1-M-P2 angle has an average value of 92.7°.[2]
The general consensus for the naming is abbreviating the individual ligand as (R)-(S)-R2PF-PR'2. The substituent on the Cp is written in front of the F and the R on the chiral center after the F.[1]
The modern preparation of Josiphos ligands starts from Ugi's amine.
An important improvement on initial syntheses has been using N(CH3)2 as a leaving group over acetate, although an acetic acid solvent gives better yields.[5]
Some reactions that are accomplished using M-Josiphos complexes as catalyst are listed below. Other reactions where Josiphos ligands can be used are: hydrogenation of C=N, C=C and C=O bonds, catalyzed allylic substitution, hydrocarboxylation, Michael addition, allylic alkylation, Heck-type reactions, oxabicycle ring-opening, and allylamine isomerization.[citation needed]
Original source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josiphos ligands.
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