Efficient synthesis of N-Me, N-Boc-protected α-hydrazinoacids: access to 1:1:1 [N-Me α-hydrazino/α/N-Me α-hydrazino]trimers

The preparation of optically pure N^α-Me, N^β-Boc-protected α-hydrazinoacids in large scale is described via a S_N2 protocol. These compounds were used as starting materials for the synthesis of 1:1:1 [N^α-Me α-hydrazino/α/N^α-Me α-hydrazino]trimers.     

N-Chlorosuccinimide as a versatile reagent for the sulfenylation of ketones: a facile synthesis of α-ketothioethers

The sulfenylation of ketones having α-hydrogens has been achieved using N-chlorosuccinimide (NCS) under mild reaction conditions to produce α-ketothioethers in excellent yields with high selectivity. The use of NCS makes this method quite simple, convenient and practical.     

Oligomerization of N-aminodipeptides: to the synthesis of heterogeneous backbone with 1:1 α:α-N-amino aminoacid residue patterns

A large number of N-aminodipeptides compounds have been obtained via a Mitsunobu protocol performed in solution or by solid-phase synthesis. The oligomerization of some of them has been studied in solution or on solid support leading to the formation of 1:1[α:α-N-amino]mers.     

Synthetic application of in situ generation of N-acyliminium ions from α-amido p-tolylsulfones for the synthesis of α-amino nitriles

In the presence of catalytic amount of bismuth bromide (5 mol %) the α-amido p-tolylsulfones are converted into N-acyliminium ions, which undergo the nucleophilic addition of trimethylsilyl cyanide (TMSCN) to provide the N-protected α-amino nitriles in very good yield. A variety of α-amido p-tolylsulfones were prepared from aromatic as well as aliphatic aldehydes for the synthesis of α-amino nitriles.     

RCM/PCC oxidation strategy for synthesis of functionalized cyclic α,β-unsaturated lactones: synthesis of (+)-triacetoxygoniotriol and its diastereomers

A novel methodology leading to the synthesis of (+)-triacetoxygoniotriol 2 from d-glucose is described. Construction of the core six-membered α,β-unsaturated lactone moiety involved ring closing metathesis (RCM) followed by a PCC oxidation. Later exploiting the pseudo-symmetry of d-glucose three other diastereomers of triacetoxygoniotriol were synthesized using the developed methodology.     

Simple synthesis and separation of the diastereomers of α-thio analogs of ribo- and deoxyribo- di- and triphosphates

Nucleoside 5′-0-(1-thiodi-) and triphosphates can be obtained in yields of up to 45% directly from the nucleosides. Their diastereomers can be separated by preparative reversed phase chromatography.     

The use of two optically active N-sulfinyl α-imino esters in the stereoselective aza-Diels-Alder reaction

Diastereoselective aza-Diels-Alder (aza-DA) reactions of ethyl (S)-N-(tert-butanesulfinyl)iminoacetate (2a) and ethyl (S)-N-(p-toluenesulfinyl)iminoacetate (2b) with different dienes including activated, non-activated, cyclic, and acyclic dienes in the presence of Lewis acids are described. Reactions with 2a were found to be more selective. Reactions of unactivated dienes (acyclic and cyclic) with stoichiometric amounts of TMSOTf as Lewis acid afforded the aza-DA adducts in modest yields and in diastereoselectivities up to 99%. A strong preference for Re-approach was observed for 2a. Cyclic dienes gave the exo adducts as major products. For the aza-DA reaction with activated Danishefsky type dienes poor diastereoselectivities were observed. In these cases, the best results were obtained using stoichiometric amounts of BF₃·Et₂O as Lewis acid (up to 69% de, 76% yield). The absolute configurations of six of the addition products were established by chemical correlation with known compounds. Acidic cleavage of the sulfinyl group occurred without racemization to optically active non-proteinogenic α-amino acid ethyl esters.     

Diastereoselective alkylation of a newly designed bislactim ether towards the asymmetric synthesis of α-alkylated serines

Diastereoselective alkylation of ethyl (5S)-3,6-diethoxy-2,5-dihydro-5-isopropyl-2-pyrazinecarboxylate (5S)-3 with alkyl halides was investigated by using NaH and n-BuLi. These alkylated products (2R,5S)-4b–d were converted to the corresponding α-alkylated serines (S)-6b–d.     

Asymmetric synthesis of vicinal amino alcohols via organocatalytic sequential α-amination/Grignard addition reactions of aldehydes

An organocatalytic sequential α-amination/Grignard addition reaction of aliphatic aldehydes is reported. The synthetically useful anti-vicinal amino alcohol derivatives were obtained in high yields and with high stereoselectivities. These derivatives could be easily transformed into oxazolidinones.     

Transition-metal-free synthesis of multisubstituted N-arylindoles via reaction of arynes and α-amino ketones

A simple transition-metal-free protocol for the synthesis of indoles has been developed using aryne cycloaddition. The in situ-generated arynes couple with α-amino ketones through a one-step N-arylation–nucleophilic addition process under mild conditions and efficiently produce multisubstituted N-arylindoles.     

Application of the addition of triorganozincates to N-(tert-butanesulfinyl)imines to the enantioselective synthesis of α-amino acids

Highly enantiomerically enriched N-protected α-amino acids can be easily prepared from optically pure N-(tert-butanesulfinyl)imines by a four-step sequence involving: diastereoselective addition of a triorganozincate to the imine, removal of the sulfinyl group, benzoylation of the nitrogen atom of the obtained primary amine and oxidation of one of the substituents on the carbon atom α to the nitrogen. Using the same configuration in the sulfinyl chiral auxiliary, amino acids with the (R) or the (S) configuration can be prepared by choosing the proper combination of imine and organozincate. α,α-Disubstituted α-amino esters with high optical purity can also be prepared by the diastereoselective addition of trialkylzincates to α-imino esters.     

Investigation of the reaction of α-thioamides, α-esters and α-nitriles with N-halosuccinimides

Investigation of the reaction of α-thioamides, α-esters and α-nitriles with NBS and NCS is described. The scope of this stereoselective oxidative transformation to the β-haloacrylamides, β-acrylates and β-acrylonitriles has been determined. A mechanistic rationale to explain the observed differences in reactivity between the amide, ester and nitrile series is proposed.     

Samarium diiodide-promoted electrophilic amination of ketone enolates: efficient synthesis of quaternary carbon-containing α-aminated ketones

An efficient and practical electrophilic amination method that allows the preparation of useful quaternary carbon-containing α-aminoketones was developed. The reaction proceeds regiospecifically via a samarium enolate intermediate at room temperature in the presence of mild reducing agent SmI₂. Unlike the most reported lithium enolate cases, this new amination method does not require the use of strong base such as BuLi or LDA.     

N-Carbamate α-aminoalkyl-p-tolylsulfones—convenient substrates in the nitro-Mannich synthesis of secondary N-carbamate protected syn-2-amino-1-nitroalkanephosphonates

An efficient one-pot synthesis of secondary N-carbamate protected syn-β-amino-α-nitroalkanephosphonates using diethyl nitromethanephosphonate and N-Boc or N-Cbz imines, generated in situ from stable N-Boc or N-Cbz α-aminoalkyl-p-tolylsulfones has been developed under PTC conditions. A model enantioselective version of this reaction is also described. Enantioselectivity up to 67% ee is achieved using a chiral thiourea catalyst derived from a cinchona alkaloid. Completely stereoselective conversion of the title compounds into partially N-carbamate protected syn-1,2-diaminoalkanephosphonates has also been elaborated.     

Synthesis and decarboxylation of N-acyl-α-triphenylphosphonio-α-amino acids: a new synthesis of α-(N-acylamino)alkyltriphenylphosphonium salts

4-Phosphoranylidene-5(4H)-oxazolones 1 undergo hydrolysis in THF in the presence of HBF₄ at room temperature to give N-acyl-α-triphenylphosphonioglycines 3 (R² = H) in very good yields. 4-Alkyl-4-triphenylphosphonio-5(4H)-oxazolones 2 react with water in CH₂Cl₂/THF solution without any acidic catalyst at 0-5 °C in a few days yielding N-acyl-α-triphenylphosphonio-α-amino acids 3 (R² = Me) or α-(N-acylamino)alkyltriphenylphosphonium salt 4 (R² = CH₂OMe). α-Triphenylphosphonio-α-amino acids 3, on heating up to 105-115 °C under reduced pressure (5 mmHg) or on treatment with diisopropylethylamine in CH₂Cl₂ at 20 °C undergo decarboxylation to give the corresponding α-(N-acylamino)alkyltriphenylphosphonium salts 4, usually in very good yields.     

Photocatalytic aerobic cross-coupling reaction of N-substituted anilines with N-aryl glycine esters: Synthesis of α-aryl α-amino esters

A novel photocatalytic cross dehydrogenative coupling reaction of N-aryl glycine esters with N-substituted anilines has been developed. The reaction proceeds effectively using methylene blue as a photocatalyst under visible light irradiation without any metal, chemical oxidant or additive. A variety of α-aryl α-amino derivatives were prepared in moderate to excellent yields with a high para-regioselectivity.     

Alkaloid synthesis using 2nd generation palladium-catalyzed cycloalkenylation. Diastereoselective total synthesis of α-skytanthine

An efficient approach to the synthesis of 3-azabicyclo[3.3.0]octanes and 3-azabicyclo[4.3.0]nonanes by 2nd generation palladium-catalyzed cycloalkenylation is described. Additionally, this reaction is used for the diastereoselective total synthesis of (±)-α-skytanthine.     

A simple one-pot 2-step N-1-alkylation of indoles with α-iminoketones toward the expeditious 3-step synthesis of N-1-quinoxaline-indoles

A straightforward procedure for the preparation of N-quinoxaline-indoles is presented. A base-catalyzed one-pot addition of indoles to a preformed α-iminoketone proceeds on the N-1 indole and the subsequent adduct undergoes an acid-mediated deprotection of an internal amino nucleophile, intramolecular cyclization, and final oxidation generating N-1-quinoxaline-indoles in good yield.     

Chiral N-phosphonyl imine chemistry: asymmetric additions of malonate-derived enolates to chiral N-phosphonyl imines for the synthesis of β-aminomalonates

Chiral N-phosphonyl imines attached by 1-naphthyl group were found to react with lithium malonate enolates smoothly to give chiral β-aminomalonates. Good yields and excellent diastereoselectivity were achieved for sixteen examples. The chiral auxiliary can be readily removed by treating with trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) to give free amino malonates. The absolute structure has been unambiguously determined by converting one of the products into an authentic sample.