Synthesis and Application of Chiral Carbocations

Abstract

Consulta en la Biblioteca ETSI Industriales (Riunet)

[EN] Asymmetric synthesis is most significant method to generate chiral compounds from prochiral substrates. It usually involves a chiral catalysis, which can be either metal based or organo-catalysis. Both of these systems have their own advantages and disadvantages. In recent times, organocatalysts are gathering widespread attention due to their low toxicity and inexpensive nature. Organocatalysts can replace traditional metal based Lewis acid catalysts in several useful organic transformations like the Diels-Alder reactions. Carbocations are compounds with positively charged carbon atoms and they can activate the substrate by pulling its electrons thus making it more electrophilic. Though carbocations are well-known in literature, they are not well explored in catalysis despite their tremendous potential. The aim of this project is to synthesize new chiral carbocations, derived from different chiral auxiliaries and substitution on aromatic moiety and to investigate them in asymmetric Diels- Alder reactions. We envisioned the final product to be enantio-enriched as the carbocations are chiral in nature. We have synthesized several chiral secondary and tertiary alcohols as a precursor of carbenium salts. These alcohols were mainly synthesized by addition of Grignard reagent or organolithium reagents to the carbonyl compounds. Though, we have synthesized several chiral alcohols, only three carbocations could be isolated those having methoxy group in the aromatic ring. The methoxy group was found to be crucial for the stabilization of the carbocation. All the isolated carbocations were able to catalyze the Diels-Alder reactions, however it was found that carbocation 4 with BF4 as a counter ion was better reactive than others. Unfortunately, we could not get any chiral induction with the use of these catalysts. We believe that with better tuning in catalysts structure and the reaction conditions these carbocations might able to produce chiral induction in the product.