IChO 2022 · Theory problem 6

Enabling Phosphines

Phosphines are phosphorus analogues of amines. They also carry a lone pair of electrons at the phosphorus atom and thus exhibit Lewis basicity or nucleophilicity. But in contrast with tertiary amines, chiral phosphines like P1 with three different substituents can be isolated as single enantiomers. Chiral phosphines are often used as chiral ligands in transition metal catalysis.

Figure 1

6.1 Using \(R/S\) symbol, assign the absolute configuration of P1.

In the past two decades, as organocatalysis grew rapidly, a large number of nucleophilic phosphinecatalyzed synthetic reactions have emerged. Among them, one of the most famous phosphine-catalyzed reactions is the Lu (3+2) cycloaddition reaction, which was first developed by Chinese scientist Xiyan Lu. For instance, under the catalysis of triphenylphosphine, ethyl allenoate 1 and methyl acrylate 2 smoothly produce two cyclopentene derivatives 3 (major) and 4 (minor).

Lu (3+2) cycloaddition:

Figure 2

In a generally accepted mechanism, the Lu (3+2) reaction is a formal cycloaddition reaction. Initially, the catalyst triphenylphosphine engages in a nucleophilic addition to ethyl allenoate 1 to generate a zwitterionic intermediate A, which subsequently cyclizes with methyl acrylate 2 by two paths. In the path leading to compound 3, an in situ generated phosphorus ylide intermediate B reversibly converts into intermediate C via proton transfer; C undergoes an elimination to deliver the major product 3 and release the phosphine catalyst. In the path leading to compound 4, a phosphorus ylide intermediate B′ is formed, which also reversibly converts into intermediate C′ via proton transfer; C′ undergoes an elimination to give the minor product 4 and regenerate the phosphine catalyst.

Mechanism:

Figure 3

6.2 Draw the two major resonance structures that make up the shown resonance hybrid A (the involvement of ester group is not considered, and stereochemistry is not required).

6.3 Draw the structures of intermediates B′ and C′ (stereochemistry is not required).

Under similar conditions, ethyl allenoate 1 and diethyl fumarate 5 readily deliver the corresponding cycloaddition product 6.

Figure 4

6.4 Draw the structure of compound 6 (stereochemistry is not required).

Asymmetric Lu (3+2) cycloaddition reaction can be readily realized by utilizing chiral phosphine catalysts. For example, under the catalysis of a chiral bicyclic phosphine P2, ethyl allenoate 1 and methyl acrylate 2 smoothly delivered an enantio-enriched cycloaddition product 3 in 80% ee (enantiomeric excess).

Asymmetric Lu (3+2) cycloaddition:

Figure 5

Calculation equation of ee:

\[ \mathrm{ee} =\frac{n_{\mathrm{major}}-n_{\mathrm{minor}}} {n_{\mathrm{major}}+n_{\mathrm{minor}}}\times100\% \]

\(n_{\mathrm{major}}\) = the amount of major enantiomer

\(n_{\mathrm{minor}}\) = the amount of minor enantiomer

6.5 Mark the chirality centers in the chiral phosphine P2 by using asterisks. (Note: points will be deducted for every wrong asterisk until 0 points)

6.6 Give the ratio of \(n_{\mathrm{major}}/n_{\mathrm{minor}}\) of product 3.

Lu (3+2) cycloaddition reaction is a versatile tool in organic synthesis. For example, it was successfully used to synthesize (–)-hinesol, an important component of the Chinese medicinal herb Chang Zhu (Atractylodes lancea var Chinensis). Under the catalysis of \(\ce{PPh3}\), a chiral cyclohexanone 7 cyclized with tertbutyl allenoate 8, affording a major product 9 and three minor products 10, 11 and 12. Minor products 10–12 are all the isomers of 9. Compound 9 could be readily transformed into (–)-hinesol by a multistep process.

Figure 6
Figure 7
Figure 8

6.7 In the following compounds, choose which one does not belong to the minor products 10–12.

Figure 9

Official English text of the problem.

Answers

  • 6.1: \(R\). P1 is \((R)\)-methyl(2-methoxyphenyl)(phenyl)phosphine: COc1ccccc1[P@](C)c1ccccc1.

  • 6.2: The two contributors to the β-triphenylphosphonium allylic zwitterion A are:

  • α-carbanion contributor: C=C([P+](c1ccccc1)(c1ccccc1)c1ccccc1)[CH-]C(=O)OCC
  • γ-carbanion contributor: [CH2-]C([P+](c1ccccc1)(c1ccccc1)c1ccccc1)=CC(=O)OCC

  • 6.3:

  • B′, the cyclic triphenylphosphonium ylide: [C-]1([P+](c2ccccc2)(c2ccccc2)c2ccccc2)C(C(=O)OCC)C(C(=O)OC)CC1
  • C′, the proton-transferred phosphonium ester enolate: C1([P+](c2ccccc2)(c2ccccc2)c2ccccc2)[C-](C(=O)OCC)C(C(=O)OC)CC1

  • 6.4: 6 is triethyl cyclopent-3-ene-1,2,3-tricarboxylate: CCOC(=O)C1=CCC(C(=O)OCC)C1C(=O)OCC.

  • 6.5: Mark four carbon atoms: both bridgehead carbons bonded to phosphorus and both methyl-bearing ring carbons. These are C1, C2, C4 and C5 of the 7-phosphabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane framework. Do not mark phosphorus.
    P2, 2,5-dimethyl-7-phenyl-7-phosphabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane: C[C@H]1C[C@@H]2[C@@H](C)C[C@H]1P2c1ccccc1.

  • 6.6: \(\boxed{n_{\mathrm{major}}/n_{\mathrm{minor}}=9}\), or \(9:1\); the mixture contains 90% \((R)\)-3 and 10% \((S)\)-3.

  • 6.7: (d) does not belong. It is tert-butyl (5S,6S)-6-methyl-10-oxospiro[4.5]dec-3-ene-2-carboxylate, with its C2 configuration unspecified: O=C1CCC[C@H](C)[C@]12CC(C(=O)OC(C)(C)C)C=C2.

Solution

6.1

For pyramidal phosphorus, the lone pair is treated as the lowest-priority group. The CIP order is

\[ \text{2-methoxyphenyl}>\text{phenyl}>\text{methyl}>\text{lone pair}. \]

All three organic groups begin with carbon. The aromatic groups outrank methyl at the next comparison, and the ortho oxygen distinguishes 2-methoxyphenyl from phenyl.

In the drawing, the phenyl bond is a solid wedge toward the observer, while methyl is behind the page. Orienting the lowest-priority lone pair away makes the sequence \(1\rightarrow2\rightarrow3\) clockwise. Thus P1 is \(R\).

The positive optical rotation shown in the figure does not itself establish an \(R\) configuration; the assignment follows from the molecular geometry and CIP priorities.

6.2

The starting materials relevant here are ethyl buta-2,3-dienoate, or ethyl allenoate 1, C=C=CC(=O)OCC, and triphenylphosphine, P(c1ccccc1)(c1ccccc1)c1ccccc1.

Label the allenoate carbon adjacent to the ester α, its central allene carbon β, and its terminal methylene carbon γ. Phosphorus attacks β, and the α–β π electrons move onto α. This gives the first contributor:

\[ \ce{CH2=C(PPh3^{+})-CH^{-}-CO2Et <-> ^{-}CH2-C(PPh3^{+})=CH-CO2Et}. \]

To obtain the second contributor, move the α-carbon lone pair into the α–β bond and move the β–γ π electrons onto γ.

Thus, in the requested drawings:

  • Phosphorus is positively charged and bonded to β in both contributors.
  • One contributor has a β–γ double bond and a negative charge on α.
  • The other has an α–β double bond and a negative charge on γ.
  • The ester group is unchanged.

These are resonance contributors of one zwitterion, not species interconverting by proton transfer.

6.3

The alkene partner is methyl acrylate 2, or methyl prop-2-enoate, C=CC(=O)OC.

The two products are:

  • 3, ethyl 4-(methoxycarbonyl)cyclopent-1-ene-1-carboxylate: CCOC(=O)C1=CCC(C(=O)OC)C1.
  • 4, ethyl 5-(methoxycarbonyl)cyclopent-1-ene-1-carboxylate: CCOC(=O)C1=CCCC1C(=O)OC.

For the minor pathway, the γ end of A bonds to the terminal carbon of methyl acrylate. The resulting acrylate-derived carbanion closes the ring by bonding to the allenoate α carbon, producing B′.

For a precise drawing, number the five-membered ring consecutively as follows:

Ring atom Origin Substitution in B′
1 Allenoate β carbon \(\ce{PPh3+}\), negative charge on carbon, no hydrogen
2 Allenoate α carbon \(\ce{CO2Et}\) and one hydrogen
3 Ester-bearing acrylate carbon \(\ce{CO2Me}\) and one hydrogen
4 Terminal acrylate carbon Methylene
5 Allenoate γ carbon Methylene

All ring bonds in B′ are single bonds. The adjacent formal charges on ring carbon 1 and phosphorus identify the phosphorus ylide.

To draw C′, transfer the hydrogen from ring carbon 2 to ring carbon 1:

  • Carbon 1 becomes neutral and bears hydrogen and \(\ce{PPh3+}\).
  • Carbon 2 bears the negative charge and \(\ce{CO2Et}\), with no hydrogen.
  • The remaining connectivity is unchanged.

Finally, the lone pair on carbon 2 forms the carbon 1–carbon 2 double bond. The carbon–phosphorus bond breaks with its electrons returning to phosphorus, releasing triphenylphosphine and giving 4.

The elimination is atom-balanced:

\[ \ce{C28H29O4P -> C10H14O4 + C18H15P}. \]

The overall cycloaddition, for either regioisomer, is

\[ \ce{C6H8O2 + C4H6O2 -> C10H14O4} \qquad(\ce{PPh3}\text{ catalyst}). \]

6.4

Diethyl fumarate 5, diethyl \((E)\)-but-2-enedioate, is CCOC(=O)/C=C/C(=O)OCC.

Its two alkene carbons each carry an ethoxycarbonyl group. Both carbons enter the new five-membered ring, retaining those substituents. The allenoate supplies the other three ring carbons and the third ester.

Consequently, 6 has:

  • One \(\ce{CO2Et}\) group on an alkene carbon.
  • One \(\ce{CO2Et}\) group on each of two adjacent saturated ring carbons.

The two possible orientations of fumarate give the same constitution because fumarate is symmetric. No stereochemical specification is required.

The balanced overall equation is

\[ \ce{C6H8O2 + C8H12O4 -> C14H20O6} \qquad(\ce{PPh3}\text{ catalyst}). \]

6.5

There are four chirality centers in P2:

  1. The two methyl-bearing ring carbons, C2 and C5. Each is attached to hydrogen, methyl and two different paths through the bicyclic framework.
  2. The two bridgehead carbons, C1 and C4. Each is attached to hydrogen, phosphorus and two different carbon paths; one path immediately encounters a methyl-bearing carbon, while the other encounters a methylene carbon.

Place an asterisk on each of these four carbons.

The two carbon ligands attached to phosphorus are equivalent within the stereochemical framework. Phosphorus therefore does not have three distinguishable organic substituents and is not an additional chirality center.

The isomeric SMILES in the answer records the four carbon configurations; it does not reproduce the particular perspective used to draw the cage.

6.6

Let

\[ r=\frac{n_{\mathrm{major}}}{n_{\mathrm{minor}}}. \]

Using the given 80% ee,

\[ \frac{r-1}{r+1}=0.80, \]

so

\[ r-1=0.80r+0.80, \qquad 0.20r=1.80, \qquad \boxed{r=9}. \]

Equivalently,

\[ x_{\mathrm{major}}=\frac{1+0.80}{2}=0.90, \qquad x_{\mathrm{minor}}=\frac{1-0.80}{2}=0.10. \]

The ratio is dimensionless. The enantiomers are:

  • Major \((R)\)-3: ethyl (4R)-4-(methoxycarbonyl)cyclopent-1-ene-1-carboxylate, CCOC(=O)C1=CC[C@@H](C(=O)OC)C1.
  • Minor \((S)\)-3: ethyl (4S)-4-(methoxycarbonyl)cyclopent-1-ene-1-carboxylate, CCOC(=O)C1=CC[C@H](C(=O)OC)C1.

6.7

The starting compounds are:

  • 7, (3S)-3-methyl-2-methylidenecyclohexan-1-one: C=C1[C@@H](C)CCCC1=O.
  • 8, tert-butyl buta-2,3-dienoate: C=C=CC(=O)OC(C)(C)C.

Their cycloaddition has the balanced molecular equation

\[ \ce{C8H12O + C8H12O2 -> C16H24O3} \qquad(\ce{PPh3}\text{ catalyst}). \]

The existing methyl-bearing stereocenter is retained. Two regioisomeric connections are possible, and each can give either configuration at the new spiro center. These produce four products in total: major product 9 and the three minor products represented by (a), (b) and (c).

Their identities are:

Structure Name SMILES
9 tert-Butyl (5S,6S)-6-methyl-10-oxospiro[4.5]dec-2-ene-2-carboxylate O=C1CCC[C@H](C)[C@]12CC(C(=O)OC(C)(C)C)=CC2
(a) tert-Butyl (5R,6S)-6-methyl-10-oxospiro[4.5]dec-2-ene-2-carboxylate O=C1CCC[C@H](C)[C@@]12CC(C(=O)OC(C)(C)C)=CC2
(b) tert-Butyl (5R,6S)-6-methyl-10-oxospiro[4.5]dec-1-ene-1-carboxylate O=C1CCC[C@H](C)[C@]12C(C(=O)OC(C)(C)C)=CCC2
(c) tert-Butyl (5S,6S)-6-methyl-10-oxospiro[4.5]dec-1-ene-1-carboxylate O=C1CCC[C@H](C)[C@@]12C(C(=O)OC(C)(C)C)=CCC2

Thus, (a) is the spiro epimer of 9, while (b) and (c) are the two spiro configurations of the alternative regioisomer.

In every one of these products, elimination of phosphine forms a double bond involving the allenoate’s ester-bearing α carbon. The ester is consequently conjugated with the ring double bond.

In (d), the ester is attached to a saturated ring carbon, and the double bond lies elsewhere. That connectivity does not result from either of the two illustrated cycloaddition/elimination pathways. Therefore,

\[ \boxed{\text{(d) does not belong to products 10–12.}} \]

The configuration of the additional, saturated ester-bearing stereocenter in (d) is not specified in the drawing.

The answers were checked against the official answers published by the organisers.