Enantioselective cyclopropanation of conjugated cyanosulfones using carbohydrate-based crown ether catalysts

Abstract

A few new d-galactose- and d-glucose-based monoaza-15-crown-5 type lariat ethers have been synthesized. These macrocycles and their derivatives proved to be efficient catalysts in the cyclopropanation of (E)-3-phenyl-2-(phenylsulfonyl)acrylonitrile performed with diethyl bromomalonate under mild phase transfer conditions. Among the catalysts tested, the macrocycle having methyl α-d-galactopyranoside unit generated the highest asymmetric induction (80% ee). In the reactions of the aryl-substituted phenylsulfonyl-acrylonitrile derivatives, the cyclopropanation of the meta- and para-substituted starting materials took place with high ee values (75–84% ee). The cyclopropane derivatives synthesized from analogous α,β-unsaturated cyanosulfones containing naphthyl, pyridyl, furyl and thienyl groups were obtained with enantioselectivities up to 85%, and in excellent yields.