Ugi’s amine is a chemical compound named for the chemist who first reported its synthesis in 1970, Ivar Ugi. It is a ferrocene derivative. Since its first report, Ugi’s amine has found extensive use as the synthetic precursor to a large number of metal ligands that bear planar chirality. These ligands have since found extensive use in a variety of catalytic reactions. The compound may exist in either the 1S or 1R isomer, both of which have synthetic utility and are commercially available. Most notably, it is the synthetic precursor to the Josiphos class of ligands.
History
In 1967, Schlӧg repurposed the term “planar chirality” for use in substituted ferrocene terminology, which is necessary for ferrocenes in which ferrocene's innate plane of symmetry is broken by introducing two substituents to one of its ring. Nozaki, et al. demonstrated that a ferrocene derivative bearing a chiral amine substituent could participate in directed ortho lithiation of the same ring of the ferrocene, yielding products with planar chirality diastereoselectively. Nozaki’s ferrocene derivative provided products that were only 86% optically pure. Ugi, et al. improved the stereoselectivity by using [1-(dimethylamino)ethyl]-ferrocene, providing products that had an optical purity >95%. The utility of Ugi’s amine in forming ligands for asymmetric catalysis was first reported in 1974 by Kumada, et al.
Synthesis
The first synthesis of Ugi’s amine was reported in 1970 by Ugi, et al. It begins by converting (±)1-ferrocenylethanol to (±)1-ferrocenylchloroethane. This is then substituted in situ with dimethylamine, resulting in a racemic mixture of [1-(dimethylamino)ethyl]-Ferrocene. The racemic mixture is subsequently resolved via recrystallization of the tartrate salt, providing both enantiomers in their enantio-pure form.
Since the original report, other syntheses of Ugi’s amine have been reported. These are generally directed towards the synthesis of only one of the enantiomers rather than a racemic mixture. An enzymatic resolution of (±)1-ferrocenylethanol can be performed by Pseudomonas Fluorescens lipase-mediated acylation with vinyl acetate, providing unreacted (1S)-1-ferrocenylethanol (92% ee) and (1R)-[1-(acetyloxy)ethyl]-ferrocene (96% ee). The later can be easy hydrolyzed to (1R)-1-ferrocenylethanol. Either stereoisomer of can be converted to Ugi’s amine first by conversion to the acetate, then displacement with dimethylamine with complete stereoretention (see below for stereochemical outcome). Additionally, Knochel, et al. reported a stereoselective synthesis of Ugi’s amine using the same acetylation/displacement strategy, but accesses (1R)-1-ferrocenylethanol from a Corey-Bakshi-Shibata reduction of acetylferrocene.
Reactions
Ugi’s amine is capable of promoting directed ortho lithiation diastereoselectively (with respect to planar chirality). [(1S)-(dimethylamino)ethyl]-ferrocene treated with n-BuLi, then quenched with TMSCl produces a planar chirality of (Rp). Treatment of [(1R)-(dimethylamino)ethyl]-ferrocene under these conditions produces a planar chirality of (Sp). This selectivity is dictated by the orientation of the methyl substituent on the starting material in the conformation necessary for the nitrogen to be chelated to the lithiate. In one case this methyl substituent suffers from steric interactions with the other Cp ring, and in the other it points away from all other atoms. The high diastereoselectivity is independent of the electrophile used to trap the metalate, providing evidence for the stereoinductive step being lithiation and allowing broad synthetic utility of Ugi’s amine. If the (S,Sp) or (R,Rp) diastereomers are desired, the first metalate can be trapped with TMSCl to block the more favored lithiation position. Subsequent lithiation occurs at the only available, less favored site. Trapping with the desired electrophile and TBAF deprotection of the TMS group will provide the (S,Sp) or (R,Rp) diastereomer.
Further functionalization can take place at the carbon alpha to the ferrocene by substituting the dimethylamine with various nucleophiles. This is usually accomplished by quaternization of the amine with methyl iodide or acetic acid, which upon heating eliminates, resulting in a stable α-ferrocenylethyl cation intermediate. Addition of nucleophiles results substitution that is usually completely stereoretentive. Amines, carboxylates, alcohols, thiols, and phosphines are all competent nucleophiles. This is a common phenomenon for α-substituted ferrocenes.