A series of biaryl anologues with a fused bicyclic bridge were synthesised in a diastereoselectivity of up to 14:86 via an intramolecular cyclisation of an in situ generated N-acyliminium ion. The absolute configuration of products 9b-d and 10b-d was clearly defined by a combination of X-ray crystal-structural analysis, NOE difference, and CD experiments.Axially enantiopure biaryls are highly important molecules and are widely used in asymmetric catalysis, 1,2 medicinal, 3-9 and supramolecular chemistry. 10 It has been documented that the pharmacological properties of bioactive chiral biaryls are mainly governed by the stereogenic configuration of biaryl axes 11,12 and that the catalytic reactivity and stereoselectivity of biaryl catalysts are also significantly affected by the axial chirality. Due to the unique stereochemical characteristics of biaryl compounds, a number of excellent asymmetric methodologies have been developed for the atroposelective synthesis of rotationally hindered biaryl compounds. [13][14][15][16][17][18] In this work, we wish to report a new approach to the synthesis of a series of conformationally restrained biaryls 9 and 10 containing a fused chiral bicyclic bridge (Table 1). Using a-amino acids as chiral sources, the construction of the target molecules was accomplished diastereoselectively via a cascade cyclisation involving the initial formation of a cyclic N-acyliminium ion intermediate, followed by a second diastereoselective intramolecular cyclisation with a nitrogen-based nucleophile. 19The key acyclic precursors 8a-d were synthesised in 83-97% yields based on the strategy developed by us previously (Scheme 1). 20 It was indicated by 1 H NMR spectral data that compounds 8b-d existed as a mixture of two inseparable diastereoisomers in a ratio of about 70:30. The cyclisation reaction of compounds 8b-d were carried out in the presence of TsOH (Table 1). 21 In the cyclisation reactions, compounds 10b-d were obtained as major diastereoisomers and 9b-d as minor diastereoisomers. For example, compound (R)-8b was cyclised to give a 35:65 diastereoisomeric mixture of (2R,12bR,P)-9b and (2R,12bS,M)-10b, and the two diastereoisomers can be readily separated by flash column chromatography on silica gel. For compound (R)-8c, diastereoisomers (2R,12bR,P)-9c and (2R,12bS,M)-10c were obtained in a diastereoisomeric ratio of 14:86. Apparently, the cyclisation of (R)-8c gave the products with higher diastereoselectivity as compared to that of compound (R)-8b.
Scheme 1 Synthesis of a-amino acid based biaryls 8a-dIn the case of compound (R)-8d, a diastereoisomeric mixture of (2R,12bR,P)-9d and (2R,12bS,M)-10d was provided in a 15:85 ratio. Accordingly, compounds (R)-8c and (R)-8d exhibited a similar degree of diastereoselectivity in the cyclisation reactions. Obviously, the diastereoselectivities of the products from the antipodal (S)-8b-d were the same as those of (R)-8b-d. It should be pointed out toluene 110 °C Pd(PPh 3 ) 4 CuBr, THF reflux TsOH, benzene 80 °C EtOH, r.t. H 2 , PtO 2 1 NO 2 Br NO ...