Understanding chiral proton catalysis using cinchonium derivatives in aza-Michael additions

This work presents a detailed mechanistic study of a quininium‐catalyzed aza‐Michael reaction, providing essential information for advancing chiral proton catalysis (CPC). The use of cinchona derivatives as chiral proton catalysts demonstrates their potential beyond their conventional roles as base‐...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Auria-Luna, Fernando, Marqués-López, Eugenia, Gimeno, M. Concepción, Alegre-Requena, Juan V., Herrera, Raquel P.
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Institución:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Repositorio:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
OAI Identifier:oai:digital.csic.es:10261/400792
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/400792
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Chiral proton catalysis
Cinchonium derivatives
DFT calculations
Reaction mechanism
aza-Michael reaction
Descripción
Sumario:This work presents a detailed mechanistic study of a quininium‐catalyzed aza‐Michael reaction, providing essential information for advancing chiral proton catalysis (CPC). The use of cinchona derivatives as chiral proton catalysts demonstrates their potential beyond their conventional roles as base‐promoted and phase‐transfer catalysts. Competitive reaction pathways are explored using density functional theory (DFT), wavefunction theory, and microkinetic simulations. Theoretical analyses are complemented with experimental titration and kinetic techniques to verify the intrinsic details of the reaction. This study reveals an intricate hydrogen bond network formed in the rate‐ and selectivity‐determining step, involving four noncovalently attached components that favor a stronger substrate⋅⋅⋅catalyst interaction in the R transition state. Significantly, this research emphasizes the pivotal role of carboxylate anions as nucleophile‐activating bases impacting reaction yield and enantioselectivity. Therefore, this work introduces cinchonium derivatives as new options for CPC and provides a thorough mechanistic analysis significant in expanding this underdeveloped catalytic domain.