Preparation of (S)-N-substituted 4-hydroxy-pyrrolidin-2-ones by regio- and stereoselective hydroxylation with Sphingomonas sp. HXN-200

[reaction: see text] Enantiopure (S)-N-substituted 4-hydroxy-pyrrolidin-2-ones have been prepared for the first time by regio- and stereoselective hydroxylation of the corresponding pyrrolidin-2-ones by use of a biocatalyst. Hydroxylation of 6 and 8 with Sphingomonas sp. HXN-200 afforded 68% of (S)-7 in >99.9% ee and 46% of (S)-9 in 92% ee, respectively. Simple crystallization increased the ee of (S)-9 to 99. 9% in 82% yield.     

Photo-Arbuzov rearrangements of 1-arylethyl phosphites: stereochemical studies and the question of radical-pair intermediates.

The direct UV irradiation of the 1-arylethyl phosphites 7, 8, and 9 was carried out in acetonitrile, benzene, and cyclohexane, as was the triphenylene-sensitized reaction of 9. Dimethyl 1-phenylethyl phosphite, 7, gives the photo-Arbuzov rearrangement product, dimethyl 1-phenylethylphosphonate (10), in 67% average yield and minor amounts (2%) of 2,3-diphenylbutane (11a) in quantum yields of 0.32 and 0.02, respectively. The photorearrangement of optically active, predominantly (R)-1-phenylethyl phosphite 7 (R/S = 97/3; 94% ee), at 35-40 degrees C proceeds with a high degree of stereospecificity at the stereogenic migratory carbon to give predominantly (R)-10 (R/S = 86/14, 72 +/- 2% ee). Use of the nitroxide radical trap TEMPO affords phosphonate 10, presumably all cage product, from predominantly (R)-7 (R/S = 97/3; 94% ee) in 64% yield (80% ee, R/S = 90/10). By contrast, the 1-(4-acetylphenyl)-ethyl phosphite, predominantly (S)-8 (S/R = 98/2, 96% ee), on direct irradiation gives the corresponding phosphonate (12) in only 20% yield along with dimer 11b in 40% accountability yield. Phosphonate 12 is nearly racemic (R/S = 52/48). Direct irradiation of predominantly (R)-9 (R/S = 98/2, 96% ee), a 1-(1-naphthyl)ethyl phosphite, results in a product distribution similar to that from predominantly (R)-7, but with a somewhat higher degree of retention of configuration in the product phosphonate 13 (R/S = 93/7, 86 +/- 3 ee). By contrast, the triplet triphenylene-sensitized photorearrangement of largely (R)-9 (R/S = 98/2, 96% ee) leads to product distributions similar to those from direct irradiation of predominantly (S)-8 and is accompanied by almost total loss of stereochemistry in its product phosphonate, 13 (R/S = 51/49). The partial loss of stereochemistry on direct irradiation of 7 and 9 provides evidence for radical pair formation. Furthermore, these stereochemical results are diagnostic of the multiplicity of the initial radical pair formed. Values for kcomb/krot for the proximate free radical pairs from 7 and 9, derived experimentally, are severalfold larger than those for the proximate singlet pair from Ph2C=C=N-CHPhMe, corrected to 35 degrees C. The possibility that kcomb is increased for the pairs from 7 and 9 is proposed.     

Preparation of (R)- and (S)-N-protected 3-hydroxypyrrolidines by hydroxylation with Sphingomonas sp. HXN-200, a highly active, regio- and stereoselective, and easy to handle biocatalyst.

Hydroxylation of N-benzylpyrrolidine 8 with resting cells of Sphingomonas sp. HXN-200 gave N-benzyl-3-hydroxypyrrolidine 15 in 53% ee (S) with an activity of 5.8 U/g CDW. By changing the "docking/protecting group" in pyrrolidines, hydroxylation activity and enantioselectivity were further improved and the enantiocomplementary formation of 3-hydroxypyrrolidines was achieved: hydroxylation of N-benzoyl-, N-benzyloxycarbonyl-, N-phenoxycarbonyl-, and N-tert-butoxycarbonyl-pyrrolidines 9-12 gave the corresponding 3-hydroxypyrrolidines 16-19 in ee of 52% (R), 75% (R), 39% (S), and 23% (R), respectively, with an activity of 2.2, 16, 14, and 24 U/g CDW, respectively. Simple crystallizations increased the ee of 16-18 to 95% (R), 98% (R), and 96% (S), respectively. Hydroxylation of pyrrolidines 8-12 with soluble cell-free extracts of Sphingomonas sp. HXN-200 and equimolar NADH gave 3-hydroxypyrrolidines 15-19 in nearly the same ee as the products generated by whole cell transformation, suggesting that this strain possesses a novel soluble alkane monooxygenase. Cells of Sphingomonas sp. HXN-200 were produced in large amounts and could be stored at -80 degrees C for 2 years without significant loss of activity. The frozen cells can be thawed and resuspended for biohydroxylation, providing a highly active and easy to handle biocatalyst for the regio- and stereoselective hydroxylation of nonactivated carbon atoms. These cells were used to prepare 1.0-3.2 g (66.4-93.5% yield) of 3-hydroxypyrrolidines 16-19 by hydroxylation of pyrrolidines 9-12 on 0.9-2 L scale. Preparative hydroxylation was also achieved with growing cells as biocatalysts; hydroxylation of pyrrolidine 11 on 1 L scale gave 1.970 g (79.7% yield) of 3-hydroxypyrrolidine 18.     

Determination of absolute configuration of a metabolite (−)-hydroxyhexamide from acetohexamide, syntheses of (−)- and (+)-hydroxyhexamides and (−)- and (+)-acetoxyhexamides

Enantioselective acetylation of (±)-4-(1-hydroxyethyl)benzenesulfonamide 6 with ‘Acylase I’ (No. A 2156) from Aspergillus melleus in the presence of vinyl acetate gave (R)-4-(1-acetoxyethyl)benzenesulfonamide 7 (98% ee) and (S)-6 (98% ee). Both (S)-6 and (R)-7 were individually converted to the (S)-hydroxyhexamide 2 (>99% ee) and (R)-hydroxyhexamide 2 (>99% ee), respectively. The absolute configuration of a metabolite (−)-hydroxyhexamide 2 from acetohexamide 1 was found to be S based on unequivocal chemical methods including X-ray analysis.     

Highly selective palladium catalyzed kinetic resolution and enantioselective substitution of racemic allylic carbonates with sulfur nucleophiles: asymmetric synthesis of allylic sulfides,allylic sulfones,and allylic alcohols

We describe the highly selective palladium catalyzed kinetic resolutions of the racemic cyclic allylic carbonates rac-1 a-c and racemic acyclic allylic carbonates rac-3 aa and rac-3 ba through reaction with tert-butylsulfinate, tolylsulfinate, phenylsulfinate anions and 2-pyrimidinethiol by using N,N'-(1R,2R)-1,2-cyclohexanediylbis[2-(diphenylphosphino)-benzamide] (BPA) as ligand. Selectivities are expressed in yields and ee values of recovered substrate and product and in selectivity factors S. The reaction of the cyclohexenyl carbonate 1 a (>/=99 % ee) with 2-pyrimidinethiol in the presence of BPA was shown to exhibit, under the conditions used, an overall pseudo-zero order kinetics in regard to the allylic substrate. Also described are the highly selective palladium catalyzed asymmetric syntheses of the cyclic and acyclic allylic tert-butylsulfones 2 aa, 2 b, 2 c, 2 d and 4 a-c, respectively, and of the cyclic and acyclic allylic 2-pyrimidyl-, 2-pyridyl-, and 4-chlorophenylsulfides 5 aa, 5 b, 5 ab, 6 aa-ac, 6 ba and 6 bb, respectively, from the corresponding racemic carbonates and sulfinate anions and thiols, respectively, in the presence of BPA. Synthesis of the E-configured allylic sulfides 6 aa, 6 ab, 6 ac and 6 bb was accompanied by the formation of minor amounts of the corresponding Z isomers. The analogous synthesis of allylic tert-butylsulfides from allylic carbonates and tert-butylthiol by using BPA could not be achieved. Reaction of the cyclopentenyl esters rac-1 da and rac-1 db with 2-pyrimidinethiol gave the allylic sulfide 5 c having only a low ee value. Similar results were obtained in the case of the reaction of the cyclohexenyl carbonate rac-1 a and of the acyclic carbonates rac-3 aa and rac-3 ba with 2-pyridinethiol and lead to the formation of the sulfides 5 ab, 6 ab, and 6 bb, respectively. The low ee values may be ascribed to the operating of a "memory effect", that is, both enantiomers of the substrate give the substitution product with different enantioselectivities. However, in the reaction of the racemic carbonate rac-1 a as well as of the highly enriched enantiomers 1 a (>/=99 % ee) and ent-1 a (>/=99 % ee) with 2-pyrimidinethiol the ee values of the substrates and the substitution product remained constant until complete conversion. Similar results were obtained in the reaction of the cyclic carbonates rac-1 a, ent-1 a (>/=99 % ee) and ent-1 c (>/=99 % ee) with lithium tert-butylsulfinate. Thus, in the case of rac-1 a and 2-pyrimidinthiol and tert-butylsulfinate anion as nucleophiles the enantioselectivity of the substitution step is, under the conditions used, independent of the chirality of the substrate; this shows that no "memory effect" is operating in this case. Hydrolysis of the carbonates ent-1 a-c, ent-3 aa and ent-3 ba, which were obtained through kinetic resolution, afforded the enantiomerically highly enriched cyclic allylic alcohols 9 a-c (>/=99 % ee) and acyclic allylic alcohols 10 a (>/=99 % ee) and 10 b (99 % ee), respectively.     

Discovery of a new efficient chiral ligand for copper-catalyzed enantioselective Michael additions by high-throughput screening of a parallel library

A combinatorial library of 125 chiral Schiff base ligands 5 was synthesized with the use of solution-phase parallel synthesis and solid-phase extraction (SPE) techniques to scavenge excess reagents and reaction by-products and avoid chromatography. The synthetic methodology coupled five N-Boc-protected beta-amino sulfonyl chlorides 1a-e with five different amines 2f-j to give 25 N-Boc sulfonamides 3, which were in turn deprotected and coupled with five salicylaldehydes 4p-t to give 125 ligands 5 in good yields and of sufficient purity to be used in ligand-catalyzed reactions. These ligands were tested in the copper-catalyzed conjugate addition of dialkyl zinc to cyclic and acyclic enones. A multisubstrate high-throughput screening of the library was performed with an equimolar mixture of 2-cyclohexenone and 2-cycloheptenone (9 and 10, respectively, 0.2 mmol total), with 5.5 mol% ligand 5 (0.011 mmol) and 5 mol% Cu(OTf)2 (OTf= OSO2CF3) (0.010 mmol) in 1:1 toluene/ hexane at - 20 degrees C. From the screening of the library, 5bhr was identified as the best ligand, which yielded 3-ethylcyclohexanone (12) and 3-ethylcycloheptanone (13) in 82% and 81% ee, respectively, and complete conversions. Under optimized conditions (2.75 mol% 5bhr, 2.5 mol% copper(i) triflate, toluene as reaction solvent), improved results were obtained for 12 (90% ee, 93% yield) and for 13 (91% ee, 95% yield). Selected ligands 5 were also tested in the addition of Me2Zn to 2-cyclohexenone (9, ee up to 79%), of Et2Zn to 2-cyclopentenone (11, ee up to 80%) and to acyclic enones 16 and 17 (ee up to 50%).     

Asymmetric synthesis of 2 degrees- and 3 degrees-Carbinols via B-methallyl-10-(TMS and Ph)-9-borabicyclo[3.3.2]decanes

Simple Grignard procedures provide methallylboranes 1a and 1b in enantiomerically pure form from air-stable precursors in 98% and 95% yields, respectively. These reagents add smoothly to aldehydes and methyl ketones, respectively, providing branched 2 degrees- (6, 69-89%, 94-99% ee) and 3 degrees- (10, 71-87%, 74-96% ee) homoallylic alcohols.     

Stereoselective construction of a beta-isopropenyl alcohol moiety at the C(2) and (3) of kallolide A and pinnatin a using a [2,3] Wittig rearrangement of cyclic furfuryl ethers

A stereocontrolled synthesis of anti- and syn-beta-isopropenyl alcohol moieties at the C(2)-C(3) positions of kallolide A and pinnatin A was accomplished employing the [2,3] Wittig rearrangement of (E)-and (Z)-cyclic furfuryl ethers 8. Enantioselective Wittig rearrangement of (E)- and (Z)-furfuryl ethers 8 using butyllithium and a chiral bis(oxazoline) was also examined to provide (2R,3R)-homoallylic alcohol anti-9 in up to 61% ee and (2R,3S)-syn-9 in up to 93% ee, respectively.     

Asymmetric hydrosilylation of styrenes catalyzed by palladium-MOP complexes: ligand modification and mechanistic studies

In the palladium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrosilylation of styrene (3a) with trichlorosilane, several chiral monophosphine ligands, (R)-2-diarylphosphino-1,1'-binaphthyls (2a-g), were examined for their enantioselectivity. The highest enantioselectivity was observed in the reaction with (R)-2-bis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]phosphino-1,1'-binaphthyl (2g), which gave (S)-1-phenylethanol (5a) of 98% ee after oxidation of the hydrosilylation product, 1-phenyl-1-(trichlorosilyl)ethane (4a). The palladium complex of 2g also efficiently catalyzed the asymmetric hydrosilylation of substituted styrenes on the phenyl ring or at the beta position to give the corresponding chiral benzylic alcohols of over 96% ee. Deuterium-labeling studies on the hydrosilylation of regiospecifically deuterated styrene revealed that beta-hydrogen elimination from 1-phenylethyl(silyl)palladium intermediate is very fast compared with reductive elimination giving hydrosilylation product when ligand 2g is used. The reaction of o-allylstyrene (9) with trichlorosilane catalyzed by (R)-2g/Pd gave (1S,2R)-1-methyl-2-(trichlorosilylmethyl)indan (10) (91% ee) and (S)-1-(2-(propenyl)phenyl)-1-trichlorosilylethanes (11a and 11b) (95% ee). On the basis of their opposite configurations at the benzylic position, a rationale for the high enantioselectivity of ligand 2g is proposed.     

Enantioselective Norrish-Yang cyclization reactions of N-(omega-oxo-omega-phenylalkyl)-substituted imidazolidinones in solution and in the solid state

The four N-(omega-oxo-omega-phenyl-alkyl)-substituted imidazolidinones 5-8 were prepared from N-acetylimidazolidinone (4). Upon irradiation, these substrates underwent Norrish-Yang cyclization to the racemic products rac-9-rac-12 (51-75%). The reactions of the N-2-oxoethylimidazolidinones 5 and 6 were conducted in tBuOH, and yielded 1:1 mixtures of exo/endo diastereoisomers rac-9a/rac-9b and rac-10a/rac-10b, accompanied by Norrish type II cleavage products. The reactions of the N-3-oxopropylimidazolidinones 7 and 8 were performed in toluene. The exo diastereoisomers rac-11a and rac-12a were the major diastereoisomers (d.r. approximately equal to 4:1). In the presence of the chiral compounds 1-3, the photocyclization of substrate 8 proceeded with significant enantiomeric excess (5-60% ee). The more sophisticated complexing agents 3 and ent-3 provided better enantiofacial differentiation (up to 60% ee) than the lactams 1 and 2 (up to 26% ee). Low temperatures and an excess of the complexing agent helped to increase the enantioselectivity. The absolute configuration of the major exo product 12a obtained from compound 8 in the presence of complexing agent 3 was unambiguously established by single-crystal X-ray crystallography of its chiral N-methoxyphenylacetyl derivative 15a. In a similar fashion, the absolute configurations of the endo products 12b and ent-12b were established. The N-2-oxoethylimidazolidinone 5, which crystallized in a chiral space group, was irradiated in the solid state. At low levels of conversion, the product 9a/ent-9a was formed with high enantiomeric excess (78% ee). The enantioselectivity deteriorated at higher levels of conversion.     

Enantioselective [4+2]-cycloaddition reaction of a photochemically generated o-quinodimethane: mechanistic details, association studies, and pressure effects

1,2,3,4-Tetrahydro-2-oxoquinoline-5-aldehyde (2) was prepared from m-aminobenzoic acid and 3-ethoxyacryloyl chloride (4) in 19 % overall yield. Compound 2 underwent a photochemically induced [4+2]-cycloaddition reaction with various dienophiles upon irradiation in toluene solution. The exo product 10 a was obtained with acrylonitrile (9 a) as the dienophile, whereas methyl acrylate (9 b) and dimethyl fumarate (9 c) furnished the endo products 11 b and 11 c (69-77 % yield). The reactions proceeded at -60 degrees C in the presence of the chiral complexing agent 1 (1.2 equiv) with excellent enantioselectivity (91-94 % ee). The enantiomeric excess increases in the course of the photocycloaddition as a result of the lower product association to 1. The intermediate (E)-dienol 8 was spectroscopically detected at -196 degrees C in an EPA (diethyl ether/isopentane/ethanol) glass matrix. The association of the substrate 2 to the complexing agent 1 was studied by circular dichroism (CD) titration. The measured association constant (K(A)) was 589 M(-1) at room temperature (25 degrees C) and normal pressure (0.1 MPa). An increase in pressure led to an increased association. At 400 MPa the measured value of K(A) was 703 M(-1). Despite the stronger association the enantioselectivity of the reaction decreased with increasing pressure. At 25 degrees C the enantiomeric excess for the enantioselective reaction 2 + 9 a-->10 a decreased from 68 % ee at 0.1 MPa to 58 % ee at 350 MPa. This surprising behavior is explained by different activation volumes for the diastereomeric transition states leading to 10 a and ent-10 a.     

Chemoenzymatic synthesis of (+)-totarol, (+)-podototarin, (+)-sempervirol, and (+)-jolkinolides E and D

The enzymatic resolution products [(1R,4aR,8aR)-1,2,3,4,4a,5,6,7,8,8a-decahydro-5,5,8a-trimethyl-2-oxo-trans-naphthalene-1-methanol-2-ethylene acetal (8aR)-7 (98% ee) and {acetate of (1S,4aS,8aS)-1,2,3,4,4a,5,6,7,8,8a-decahydro-5,5,8a-trimethyl-2-oxo-trans-naphthalene-1-methanol-2-ethylene acetal} (8aS)-9 (>99% ee)] obtained by the lipase-catalyzed enantioselective acetylation of (±)-7 in the presence of vinyl acetate as an acyl donor were converted to the ,β-unsaturated ketones (8aR)-6 and (8aS)-6, respectively. Concise syntheses of (+)-totarol 1, (+)-podototarin 2 and (+)-sempervirol 3 were achieved based on Michael reactions between (8aS)-6 and the appropriate β-keto ester followed by aldol condensation. The first chiral syntheses of (+)-jolkinolides E 4 and D 5 were achieved from (5R,10R,12R)-12-hydroxypodocarpa-8(14)-en-13-one 15 derived from (8aR)-6.     

Catalysis by amino acid-derived tetracoordinate complexes: enantioselective addition of dialkylzincs to aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes

Me(2)Zn and Et(2)Zn added to aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes in the presence of 3 mol % of 2. (S)-1-Phenylethanol (91% ee) and (S)-1-phenylpropanol (86% ee) were synthesized from benzaldehyde and (S)-1-furan-2-yl-1-propanol (86% ee) from 2-furaldehyde. Nonanal and 3-phenylpropanal provided (S)-3-undecanol (96% ee) and (S)-1-phenyl-3-pentanol (94% ee). A solid-phase variant was effective with reduced ee's (e.g., 86% ee --> 79% ee) for (S)-1-phenylpropanol.     

Molecular structures and compositions of trans-1,2-dichlorocyclohexane and trans-1,2-difluorocyclohexane in the gas phase: an electron-diffraction investigation

The structures and compositions of gaseous trans-1,2-dichloro- (DCCH) and trans-1,2-difluorocyclohexane (DFCH), each of which may exist with the halogen atoms in a diaxial (aa) or diequatorial (ee) conformation, have been investigated by electron diffraction. The analysis was aided by rotational constants from microwave spectroscopy for the ee form of DFCH and by ab initio and density functional theory molecular orbital calculations for all species. The skeletons of the molecules have similar parameter values, but for the Cl-C-C-Cl and F-C-C-F fragments there are significant differences between the corresponding C-C-X bond angles and the X-C-C-X torsion angles in the two systems. There are also significant differences between the values of these parameters in the aa and ee forms of the same system. The composition of DCCH at 100 degrees C was measured to be 60(4)% aa, and that of DFCH at 70 degrees C was 42(7)% aa; the uncertainties are estimated 2sigma. From the preferred B3LYP/aug-cc-pVTZ calculations, the predicted theoretical composition is 51.2% aa for DCCH and 40.8% aa for DFCH. (Calculations at the levels B3LYP/6-31G(d) and MP2/6-31G(d) give similar results for DCCH, but both predict more aa than ee for DFCH.) Values (r(g)/A and angle(alpha)/degree) for some of the more important parameters of the aa/ee forms of DCCH are = 1.525(4)/1.525(6), C-Cl = 1.806(2)/1.787(2), angleC2-C1-Cl = 107.3(3)/111.5(3), angleC1-C2-C3 = 113.9(5)/111.6(5), angleC2-C3-C4 = 111.3(12)/109.9(12), and Cl-C2-C3-Cl = 165.3(9)/-59.4(9); and for DFCH C-C = 1.525(6)/1.520(9), C-F = 1.398(2)/1.390(2), angleC2-C1-F = 106.5(6)/109.2(6), angleC1-C2-C3 = 111.4(9)/110.9(9), angleC2-C3-C4 = 113.1(10)/113.1(10), and F-C2-C3-F = 171.1(37)/-67.2(37). The structures and compositions are discussed.     

Hydrogenation versus transfer hydrogenation of ketones: two established ruthenium systems catalyze both

The established standard ketone hydrogenation (abbreviated HY herein) precatalyst [Ru(Cl)(2)((S)-tolbinap)[(S,S)-dpen]] ((S),(S,S)-1) has turned out also to be a precatalyst for ketone transfer hydrogenation (abbreviated TRHY herein) as tested on the substrate acetophenone (3) in iPrOH under standard conditions (45 degrees C, 45 bar H(2) or Ar at atmospheric pressure). HY works at a substrate catalyst ratio (s:c) of up to 10(6) and TRHY at s:c<10(4). Both produce (R)-1-phenylethan-1-ol ((R)-4), but the ee in HY are much higher (78-83 %) than in TRHY (4-62 %). In both modes, iPrOK is needed to generate the active catalysts, and the more there is (1-4500 equiv), the faster the catalytic reactions. The ee is about constant in HY and diminishes in TRHY as more iPrOK is added. The ketone TRHY precatalyst [Ru(Cl)(2)((S,S)-cyP(2)(NH)(2))] ((S,S)-2), established at s:c=200, has also turned out to be a ketone HY precatalyst at up to s:c=10(6), again as tested on 3 in iPrOH under standard conditions. The enantioselectivity is opposite in the two modes and only high in TRHY: with (S,S)-2, one obtains (R)-4 in up to 98 % ee in TRHY as reported and (S)-4 in 20-25 % ee in HY. iPrOK is again required to generate the active catalysts in both modes, and again, the more there is, the faster the catalytic reactions. The ee in TRHY are only high when 0.5-1 equivalents iPrOK are used and diminish when more is added, while the (low) ee is again about constant in HY as more iPrOK is added (0-4500 equiv). The new [Ru(H)(Cl)((S,S)-cyP(2)(NH)(2))] isomers (S,S)-9 A and (S,S)-9 B (mixture, exact structures unknown) are also precatalysts for the TRHY and HY of 3 under the same conditions, and (R)-4 is again produced in TRHY and (S)-4 in HY, but the lower ee shows that in TRHY (S,S)-9 A/(S,S)-9 B do not lead to the same catalysts as (S,S)-2. In contrast, the ee are in accord with (S,S)-9 A/(S,S)-9 B leading to the same catalysts as (S,S)-2 in HY. The kinetic rate law for the HY of 3 in iPrOH and in benzene using (S,S)-9 A/(S,S)-9 B/iPrOK or (S,S)-9 A/(S,S)-9 B/tBuOK is consistent with a fast, reversible addition of 3 to a five-coordinate amidohydride (S,S)-11 to give an (S,S)-11-substrate complex, in competition with the rate-determining addition of H(2) to (S,S)-11 to give a dihydride [Ru(H)(2)((S,S)-cyP(2)(NH)(2))] (S,S)-10, which in turn reacts rapidly with 3 to generate (S)-4 and (S,S)-11. The established achiral ketone TRHY precatalyst [Ru(Cl)(2)(ethP(2)(NH)(2))] (12) has turned out to be also a powerful precatalyst for the HY of 3 in iPrOH at s:c=10(6) and of some other substrates. Response to the presence of iPrOK is as before, except that 12 already functions well without it at up to s:c=10(6).     

Optically active cyclohexene derivative as a new antisepsis agent: an efficient synthesis of ethyl (6R)-6-[N-(2-chloro-4-fluorophenyl)sulfamoyl]cyclohex-1-ene-1-carboxylate (TAK-242)

Two new synthetic methods were established for the efficient synthesis of optically active cyclohexene antisepsis agent, ethyl (6R)-6-[N-(2-chloro-4-fluorophenyl)sulfamoyl]cyclohex-1-ene-1-carboxylate [(R)-1: TAK-242)]. The first method involved recrystallization from methanol of the diastereomeric mixture (6RS,1'R)-7, obtained by esterification of carboxylic acid 3 with (S)-1-(4-nitrophenyl)ethanol [(S)-5)] to give the desired isomer (6R,1'R)-7 with 99% de in 32% yield. Subsequent catalytic hydrogenolysis and esterification gave (R)-1 with >99% ee. The second method employed enantioselective hydrolysis of acetoxymethyl ester 9a (prepared by alkylation of 3 with bromomethyl acetate) with Lipase PS-D to give the eutomeric enantiomer (R)-9a with excellent enantioselectivity (>99% ee) and high yield (48%). The desired (R)-1 was then obtained by transesterification with ethanol in the presence of concentrated sulfuric acid without loss of ee. Of these, the procedure employing enzymatic kinetic resolution using Lipase PS-D is the more efficient and practical preparation of (R)-1.     

Enzymatic synthesis of (-)- and (+)-acetoxyhexamides and (-)- and (+)-hydroxyhexamides.

The enantioselective hydrolysis of (+/-)-4-(1-acetoxyethyl)-N-(cyclohexylcarbamoyl)-benzenesulfona mides 3 with lipase Amano P from Pseudomonas sp. in a water-saturated solvent gave (R)-4-(1-hydroxyethyl)-N-(cyclohexylcarbamoyl)benzenesulfonamide 2 (39%, > 99% ee) and unchanged (S)-3 (50%, 62% ee). On the other hand, enantioselective esterification of (+/-)-2 with lipase Amano P in the presence of vinyl acetate provided (R)-3 (41%, > 99% ee) and unchanged (S)-2 (46%, 78% ee).     

Asymmetric conjugate reduction of alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones and esters with chiral rhodium(2,6-bisoxazolinylphenyl) catalysts

New asymmetric conjugate reduction of beta,beta-disubstituted alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones and esters was accomplished with alkoxylhydrosilanes in the presence of chiral rhodium(2,6-bisoxazolinylphenyl) complexes in high yields and high enantioselectivity. (E)-4-Phenyl-3-penten-2-one and (E)-4-phenyl-4-isopropyl-3-penten-2-one were readily reduced at 60 degrees C in 95 % ee and 98 % ee, respectively, by 1 mol % of catalyst loading. (EtO)2MeSiH proved to be the best hydrogen donor of choice. tert-Butyl (E)-beta-methylcinnamate and beta-isopropylcinnamate could also be reduced to the corresponding dihydrocinnamate derivatives up to 98 % ee.     

Chemoenzymatic route to optically active dihydroxy cyclopenta[b]naphthalenones; precursors for decalin-based bioactive natural products

The development of an efficient chemoenzymatic route for the synthesis of optically active dihydroxy cyclopenta[b]naphthalenones; (+)-1,4a-dihydroxy-4a,5,6,7,8,8a,9,9a-octahydro-1H-cyclopenta[b]naphthalen-2(4H)-one (+)-10 and (+)-1,8a-dihydroxy-4a,5,6,7,8,8a,9,9a-octahydro-1H-cyclopenta[b]naphthalen-2(4H)-one (+)-11 is described. Different lipases and esterases were tested in the enzymatic hydrolysis of the corresponding acetates (±)-4a-hydroxy-2-oxo-2,4,4a,5,6,7,8,8a,9,9a-decahydro-1H-cyclopenta[b]naphthalen-1-yl acetate (±)-8, (±)-8a-hydroxy-2-oxo-2,4,4a,5,6,7,8,8a,9,9a-decahydro-1H-cyclopenta[b]naphthalen-1-yl acetate (±)-9, CRL (Candida Rugosa Lipase) and PLE (Pig Liver Esterase) were found to be the most effectual enzymes; for (?)-8 by 47% ee with the corresponding dihydroxy; (+)-10 by 98% ee in the presence of CRL; whereas, (?)-8 was obtained with 40% ee with the corresponding dihydroxy, (+)-10 with 58% ee in the PLE hydrolysis. It was concluded that CRL was the best biocatalyst for the substrate (±)-8. Moreover, enzymatic resolution in the presence of CRL yields, (?)-9 with 46% ee with the corresponding dihydroxy derivative; (+)-11 with 98% ee; however, in the presence of PLE, yields (?)-9 with 36% ee as well as the related dihydroxy derivative; (+)-11 with 49% ee respectively. The study concluded that CRL is the best biocatalyst for compounds (±)-8 and (±)-9.     

Enantioselective synthesis of (R)- and (S)-alpha-alkylcysteines via phase-transfer catalytic alkylation

We reported efficient enantioselective synthetic methodologies for (R)-alpha-alkylcysteines and (S)-alpha-alkylcysteines. The phase-transfer catalytic alkylation of 2-phenyl-2-thiazoline-4-carboxylic acid tert-butyl ester and 2-o-biphenyl-2-thiazoline-4-carboxylic acid tert-butyl ester, in the presence of chiral catalysts (1 or 2), gave the corresponding alkylated products, which could be hydrolyzed to provide (R)-alpha-alkylcysteines (67->99% ee) and (S)-alpha-alkylcysteines (66-88% ee), respectively.