Synthesis of Atropisomers by Transition-Metal-Catalyzed Asymmetric C–H Functionalization Reactions

• Published in: Journal of the American Chemical Society Vol. 143; no. 35; pp. 14025 - 14040
• Main Authors: Liu, Chen-Xu, Zhang, Wen-Wen, Yin, Si-Yong, Gu, Qing, You, Shu-Li
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Chemical Society 08.09.2021
• Subjects: carbon-hydrogen bond activation; catalytic activity; enantioselectivity; ligands; stereoselective synthesis
• ISSN: 0002-7863; 1520-5126; 1520-5126
• DOI: 10.1021/jacs.1c07635

Transition-metal-catalyzed enantio­selective C–H functionalization has become a powerful strategy for the formation of C–C or C–X bonds, enabling the highly asymmetric synthesis of a wide range of enantio­enriched compounds. Atrop­isomers are widely found in natural products and pharmaceutically relevant molecules, and have also found applications as privileged frameworks for chiral ligands and catalysts. Thus, research into asymmetric routes for the synthesis of atrop­isomers has garnered great interest in recent years. In this regard, transition-metal-catalyzed enantio­selective C–H functionalization has emerged as an atom-economic and efficient strategy toward their synthesis. In this Perspective, the approaches for the synthesis of atrop­isomers by transition-metal-catalyzed asymmetric C–H functionalization reactions are summarized. The main focus here is on asymmetric catalysis via Pd, Rh, and Ir complexes, which have been the most frequently utilized catalysts among reported enantio­selective C–H functionalization reactions. Finally, we discuss limitations on available protocols and give an outlook on possible future avenues of research.