A strategy for oxidative kinetic resolution of racemic indolines was developed, employing salicylaldehyde derivative as the pre-resolving reagent and chiral phosphoric acid as the catalyst. The iminium intermediate, formed by the condensation reaction of an enantiomer of indoline with salicylaldehyde derivative, was hydrogenated by the same enantiomer of indoline to afford another enantiomer of indoline by a self-redox mechanism. The oxidative kinetic resolution of 2-aryl-substituted indolines proceeded to give enantiomers in good yields with excellent enantioselectivities.

A strategy for oxidative kinetic resolution of racemic indolines was developed, employing salicylaldehyde derivative as the pre-resolving reagent and chiral phosphoric acid as the catalyst. The iminium intermediate, formed by the condensation reaction of an enantiomer of indoline with salicylaldehyde derivative, was hydrogenated by the same enantiomer of indoline to afford another enantiomer of indoline by a self-redox mechanism. The oxidative kinetic resolution of 2-aryl-substituted indolines proceeded to give enantiomers in good yields with excellent enantioselectivities.

Described herein are differences in behavior between a Hantzsch ester and a benzothiazoline as hydrogen donors in the chiral phosphoric acid catalyzed asymmetric reductive amination of ketones with p-anisidine. The asymmetric reductive amination of ketones with a Hantzsch ester as a hydrogen donor provided the corresponding chiral amines exclusively, regardless of the structures of the ketones, whereas a similar transformation with a benzothiazoline provided chiral amines and p-methoxyphenyl-protected primary amines in variable yields, depending on the structures of both the ketones and benzothiazolines. Because a benzothiazoline has an N,S-acetal moiety that is vulnerable to p-anisidine, the primary amine can be formed through transimination of the benzothiazoline with p-anisidine followed by reduction of the resulting aldimine with remaining benzothiazoline.

Asymmetric synthesis of tetrahydrobenzodiazepines was achieved by transfer hydrogenation of dihydrobenzodiazepines with benzothiazoline having a hydrogen-bonding donor substituent by means of a newly synthesized chiral phosphoric acid. This method was applicable to various racemic dihydrobenzodiazepines to give the corresponding products in good yields with excellent diastereoselectivities and enantioselectivities taking advantage of the dynamic kinetic resolution. Furthermore, the effect of bulky substituent at 3,3′-position on the catalyst and hydrogen-bonding donor substituent on benzothiazoline was fully elucidated by the theoretical study.

Chiral phosphoric acid catalyzed transfer hydrogenation of ketimines derived from propiophenone derivatives and reductive amination of alkyl ethyl ketone derivatives were extensively examined in the presence of two representative hydrogen donors. The excellent enantioselective transfer hydrogenation was achieved by use of benzothiazoline as a hydrogen donor. The theoretical studies elucidated that the unsymmetrical structure of benzothiazoline plays an important role in high enantioselective hydrogenation.

A remarkable kinetic resolution was achieved in a chiral phosphoric acid catalyzed intramolecular aldol reaction. Its combination with an enantioselective Michael reaction resulted in the formation of cyclohexenone derivatives with excellent enantioselectivities. DFT calculations on the intramolecular aldol reaction revealed the importance of the 3,3′-substituents of the phosphoric acid for the high enantioselectivity in the kinetic resolution process.

Benzothiazoline was employed as an efficient and versatile reducing agent for the chiral phosphoric acid-catalyzed transfer hydrogenation of α-imino esters. The corresponding α-amino esters were furnished with excellent enantioselectivities. Novel and readily removable benzothiazolines bearing a hydroxy group were also investigated.

2-Trimethylsiloxyfuran underwent a vinylogous Mannich-type reaction with aldimines under the action of a new chiral phosphoric acid, bearing iodine on the 6,6′-positions of the binaphthyl group, as a chiral Brønsted acid to give γ-butenolide derivatives bearing an amino functionality with high diastereo- and enantioselectivity.

It was found that zero-valent niobium is an efficient catalyst for the intramolecular CC coupling reactions of o-aryl and o-alkenyl α,α,α-trifluorotoluene derivatives. The superstrong CF bonds of CF₃ groups and neighboring C(sp²)H bonds were doubly activated, and fluorenes and indenes were obtained in good yields. The niobium fluorocarbenoid species is proposed to be the key intermediate.