Application of H-Cu-P complexes in organic synthesis

Abstract

A survey of the literature up to February 2008 on the progress of the preparation of [ HCuPPh3 ]6 and the application of copper hydride-organo phosphine complexes in organic synthesis is presented in this article. As a reductant, [HCuPPh3 ]6 can selectively reduce the C =C double bond in α,β-unsaturated ester, ketone, aldehyde, nitro and nitrile compounds and CξC triple bond in alkyne; as a catalyst, it can promote the reduction of C =C double bonds of aforementioned compounds by hydrogen or silane. The C =C double bond in these compounds or carbonyl group in α,βunsaturated ketone and aldehyde, alkyl aryl ketone can be selectively reduced by changing the phosphorous ligand. By employing suitable chiral phosphorous ligands, high enantioselective reductions of the C = C double bond, C = 0 double bond in prochiral substrates have been achieved. The special reactivity and catalytic activity have been utilized in the synthesis of structurally complex natural products and compounds of biological importance.