Macromolecules, Vol.51, No.23, 9547-9554, 2018
Polymerization Amplified Stereoselectivity (PASS) of Asymmetric Michael Addition Reaction and Aldol Reaction Catalyzed by Helical Poly(phenyl isocyanide) Bearing Secondary Amine Pendants
A novel enantiopure phenyl isocyanide (1) carrying tert-butyloxycarboryl (Boc) protected L-prolinol ester was designed and synthesized. Living polymerization of 1 using a alkyne Pd(II) catalyst afforded helical poly-1(m)s in high yields with controlled molecular weights (M(n)s) and narrow molecular weight distributions (M-w/M(n)s). Removing the protecting Boc groups on the L-prolinol ester pendants lead to the formation of helical poly-2(m), which showed high optical activity owing to the preferred left-handed helix of polyisocyanide main chain. The poly-2(m)s showed excellent catalytic ability on asymmetric Michael addition reaction. Both the enantiomeric excess (ee) and diastereomeric ratio (dr) values of the product were linearly correlated to the M-n, and optical activity of poly-2(m). Increasing the M-n of poly-2(m)s will amplify the stereoselectivity of the asymmetric Michael addition reaction until the M-n reached to 44.9 kDa, revealing the polymerization amplified stereoselectivity (PASS) behavior of the asymmetric reaction. Under optimized the reaction condition, the ee and dr values of the Michael addition reaction product can be up to 99% and >99/1, respectively. Poly-2(200) can be easily recovered and reused in the Michael addition reaction for at least S cycles without loss of its activity and stereoselectivity significantly. The poly-2(200) can also be used to catalyze the asymmetric aldol reaction. The ee and dr values of the model aldol reaction were respectively up to 99% and >99/1. Moreover, the poly-2(200) can be facilely recovered and alternatively catalyzed Michael addition reaction and aldol reactions for at least six cycles with maintained selectivity and activity.