Enantioselective C-H Amination Catalyzed by Nickel Iminyl Complexes Supported by Anionic Bisoxazoline (BOX) Ligands

The trityl-substituted bisoxazoline ((BOX)-B-TrH) was prepared as a chiral analogue to a previously reported nickel dipyrrin system capable of ring-closing amination catalysis. Ligand metalation with divalent NiI2(py)(4) followed by potassium graphite reduction afforded the monovalent ((BOX)-B-TrH)Ni(py) (4). Slow addition of 1.4 equiv of a benzene solution of 1-adamantylazide to 4 generated the tetrazido ((BOX)-B-TrH)Ni (kappa(2)-N(4)Ad(2)) (5) and terminal iminyl adduct ((BOX)-B-TrH)Ni(NAd) (6). Investigation of 6 via single-crystal X-ray crystallography, NMR and EPR spectroscopies, and computations revealed a Ni(II)-iminyl radical formulation, similar to its dipyrrinato congener. Complex 4 exhibits enantioselective intramolecular C-H bond amination to afford N-heterocyclic products from 4-aryl-2-methyl-2-azidopentanes. Catalytic C-H amination occurs under mild conditions (5 mol % catalyst, 60 degrees C) and provides pyrrolidine products in decent yield (29%-87%) with moderate ee (up to 73%). Substrates with a 3,5-dialkyl substitution on the 4-aryl position maximized the observed enantioselectivity. Kinetic studies to probe the reaction mechanism were conducted using H-1 and F-19 NMR spectroscopies. A small, intermolecular kinetic isotope effect (1.35 +/- 0.03) suggests an H-atom abstraction step with an asymmetric transition state while the reaction rate is measured to be first order in catalyst and zeroth order in substrate concentrations. Enantiospecific deuterium labeling studies show that the enantioselectivity is dictated by both the H-atom abstraction and radical recombination steps due to the comparable rate between radical rotation and C-N bond formation. Furthermore, the competing elements of the two-step reaction where H-removal from the pro-R configuration is preferred while the preferential radical capture occurs with the Si face of the carboradical likely lead to the diminished ee observed, as corroborated by theoretical calculations. Based on these enantio-determining steps, catalytic enantioselective synthesis of 2,5-bis-tertiary pyrrolidines is demonstrated with good yield (50-78%) and moderate ee ( up to 79%).

Automated summary

The chiral trityl-substituted bisoxazoline ligand was prepared as an analog to the previously reported nickel dipyrrin system for ring-closing amination catalysis. The ligand-metal complex exhibited enantioselective intramolecular C-H bond amination with decent yield and moderate enantioselectivity. Kinetic and isotopic studies suggested that the enantioselectivity is determined by both H-atom abstraction and radical capture steps in the reaction mechanism.