Catalytic Kinetic Resolution of Disubstituted Piperidines by Enantioselective Acylation: Synthetic Utility and Mechanistic Insights

The catalytic kinetic resolution of cyclic amines with achiral N-heterocyclic carbenes and chiral hydroxamic acids has emerged as a promising method to obtain enantio-enriched amines with high selectivity factors. In this report, we describe the catalytic kinetic resolution of disubstituted piperdines with practical selectivity factors (<i>s</i>, up to 52) in which we uncovered an unexpected and pronounced conformational effect resulting in disparate reactivity and selectivity between the cis- and trans-substituted piperidine isomers. Detailed experimental and computational studies of the kinetic resolution of various disubstituted piperidines revealed a strong preference for the acylation of conformers in which the α-substituent occupies the axial position. This work provides further experimental and computational support for the concerted 7-member transition state model for acyl transfer reagents and expands the scope and functional group tolerance of the secondary amine kinetic resolution