Stereoselective synthesis,solution structure and metal complexes of (1S,2S)-2-amino-1-hydroxyalkylphosphonic acids

The highly stereoselective synthesis of (1S,2S)-2-amino-1-hydroxyalkylphosphonic acids was achieved by addition of dimethyl phosphite to N-protected aminoaldehydes. Relative configuration and solution conformations of (1S,2S)-2-amino-1-hydroxy-alkylphosphonic acids (in D₂O) and their dimethyl esters (in CDCl₃ and CD₃OD) were established by means of NMR basing on the dependence between observed values of coupling constants (³J_HH, ³J_PC, ³J_HP) and corresponding dihedral angles. Potentiometric and spectroscopic methods were used for the evaluation of the structure of the complexes of (1S,2S)-2-amino-1-hydroxy-alkylphosphonic acids with Zn(II) and Cu(II) ions in aqueous solutions.     

Diastereoselective synthesis of (2S)-2-[(R)-1H-indol-3-yl(phenyl)methyl]-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-1-one

Double asymmetric induction in Michael reactions has been studied. Enantioselective alkylation of a cyclic ketone (1-indanone) with α-phenyl-nor-gramine was carried out. The relative configuration of (2S^∗)-2-[(R^∗)-1H-indol-3-yl(phenyl)methyl]-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-1-one was established by X-ray diffraction. The relative configuration of (R^∗,R^∗,S^∗)- and (S^∗,R^∗,S^∗)-2-1H-indol-3-yl(phenyl)methyl]-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-1-ols was established by ¹H NMR studies.     

Resolution and conformational analysis of diastereoisomeric esters of cis- and trans-2-(aminomethyl)-1-carboxycyclopropanes

(1R,2S)-, (1S,2R)-, (1R,2R)- and (1S,2S)-2-(Aminomethyl)-1-carboxycyclopropanes, conformationally restricted analogues of the neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), have been resolved by chromatographic separation of the corresponding diastereoisomeric esters which were formed between the cis- and trans-2-(acetamidomethyl)-1-carboxycyclopropanes with (R)-(−)-pantolactone. ¹H NMR, semi-empirical conformational analysis, ab initio (DFT) structure and NMR shielding tensor calculations of the cis-diastereoisomers allowed the absolute configuration assignments of the cis-amino acids.     

Acid-catalyzed enzymatic hydrolysis of 1-methylcyclohexene oxide

Limonene-1,2-epoxide hydrolase from Rhodococcus erythropolis DCL14, an enzyme involved in the limonene metabolism of this microorganism, catalyzes the enantioselective hydrolysis of 1-methylcyclohexene oxide. (1R,2S)-1-Methylcyclohexene oxide was the preferred substrate and it was mainly hydrolyzed to (1S,2S)-1-methylcyclohexane-1,2-diol, while (1S,2R)-1-methylcyclohexene oxide was converted more slowly and mainly yielded (1R,2R)-1-methylcyclohexane-1,2-diol. The reaction proceeded with a high regioselectivity (C1:C2, 85:15). H₂¹⁸O-labelling experiments confirmed that the nucleophile was mainly incorporated at the most substituted carbon atom, suggesting that limonene-1,2-epoxide hydrolase uses an acid-catalyzed enzyme mechanism.     

New chiral ligands and iron(III) complexes based on 2,6-bis(1-benzyl-4-isopropyl-4-methyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-5-on-2-yl)pyridines

New ligands and their complexes with iron(III) chloride have been suggested and prepared: (R,S)-, (R,R)- and (S,S)-2,6-bis(1-benzyl-4-isopropyl-4-methyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-5-on-2-yl) pyridines. Both the ligands and their complexes were characterised by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, optical rotation and X-ray diffraction.     

Synthesis and absolute configuration of two diastereoisomeric (1R,2S,3R)-and (1S,2S,3R)-2-amino-1-(2-furyl)-1,3-butandiols

The synthesis of (1R, 2S, 3R) and (1S, 2S, 3R)-2-(N-benzoylamino)-1-(2-furyl)-1, 3-butandiols (15) and (16) from D-threonine is described. The assignment of absolute configuration of the newly formed asymmetric center at C-1 was based on the ¹H-NMR spectra of O-isopropylidene derivatives 17 and 18.     

Steric mode of enzymic hydroxylation at primary carbon atoms: Hydroxylation of (1R)- and (1S)-[1-3H, 2H, 1H][1-14C]-octanes by Pseudomonas Oleovorans

(1R)- and (1S) [1-³H, ²H, ¹H]-octanes and mixed with [1-¹⁴C]-octane, were synthesized. The mixed samples were incubated with homogenats of P. oleovorans strain TF4-1L and the biosynthesized mixtures of octanols isolated. It was shown that mainly the achiral termini [-C¹H₃] were hydroxylated and that chiral methyls were oxygenated to the extent of 20–30%. In all instances the products derived from hydroxylation at the chiral methyls [-C-³H, ²H, ¹H] were mixtures of (1R)- and (1S)-octanols, the major component of which was the alcohol obtained by displacement of ¹H. The results indicate that hydroxylation proceeded with a normal isotope effect k_h>k_d>k_t. The amount of (1R)-octanol in the mixtures of octanols derived from (1R)- and (1S)-octane was determined. It was found that the C-1 hydroxylation of octane proceeded with retention, i.e. the incoming hydroxyl assumed the orientation of the displaced hydrogen (or isotopic hydrogen) atom.     

Absolute configuration of 2-hydroxy-2-(1-naphthyl)propionic acid as determined by the 1H NMR anisotropy method

Enantiopure 2-hydroxy-2-(1-naphthyl)propionic acid (+)-2 was prepared by the stereoselective Grignard reaction of 1-naphthylmagnesium bromide with (1R,3R,4S)-menthyl pyruvate 3 or (1R,3R,4S)-8-phenylmenthyl pyruvate 4, and the absolute configuration of acid (+)-2 was unambiguously determined to be S by the ¹H NMR anisotropy method.     

Regioselectivity in the formation of norbornene-fused pyrazoles: preparation of 1-substituted derivatives of 4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1H-4,7-methanoindazole

The structural characteristics of (±)-(exo,exo)-3-(hydroxymethylene)-5,6-(isopropylidenedioxy)bicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-one make the reactions between this β-diketone and hydrazines particularly interesting for elucidating the mechanism of pyrazole formation. The isolation and X-ray structure determination of two 5-hydroxy substituted Δ²-pyrazolines [(±)-(3aR*,4R*,5R*,6S*,7R*,7aR*)-7a-hydroxy-5,6-(isopropylidenedioxy)-3a,4,5,6,7,7a-hexahydro-4,7-methano-1H-indazole] and [(±)-(3aS*,4R*,5R*,6S*,7R*,7aR*)-7a-hydroxy-5,6-(isopropylidene-dioxy)-1-phenyl-3a,4,5,6,7,7a-hexa-hydro-4,7-methano-1H-indazole] has been determinant for proposing a mechanism. Besides B3LYP/6-31G* calculations have been carried out on all intermediate dihydroxypyrazolidines and 5-hydroxypyrazolines. Finally, the annular tautomerism of the NH-methanotetrahydroindazoles has been studied both experimentally (¹³C NMR) and theoretically: the Mills-Nixon effect favours the 2H-tautomer.     

Diastereoselective synthesis of 1-alkyl-2,4,6-trioxoperhydropyrimidine-5-spiro-3′-(1′,2′,3′,4′-tetrahydroquinolines)

Knoevenagel products formed by the condensation of N-monoalkyl barbituric acids with o-tert-amino benzaldehydes undergo tert-amino effect reactions (T-reactions) yielding 1-alkyl-2,4,6-trioxoperhydropyrimidine-5-spiro-3′-(1′,2′,3′,4′-tetrahydroquinoline) derivatives as a mixture of (S^∗,S^∗)- and (S^∗,R^∗)-diastereomers. Mostly, the major diastereomer has the S^∗,S^∗-configuration. According to X-ray diffraction data in the solid form and NOE data in solution, diastereoselectivity of the T-reactions can be associated with the structure of the Knoevenagel products whose conformation is fixed by the strong intramolecular C-H?π interaction.     

Asymmetric synthesis of methyl bacteriopheophorbide-d and analogues by stereoselective reduction of the 3-acetyl to the 3-(1-hydroxyethyl) group

Asymmetric borane-reduction of 3-acetyl-13¹-oxo-tetrapyrroles (=bacteriochlorin, chlorin and porphyrin) in the presence of a chiral source gave selectively chiral 3-(1-hydroxyethyl)-13¹-oxo-tetrapyrroles. Oxazaborolidines were effective as chiral auxiliaries. Reduction with (S)-oxazaborolidines led to the (3¹S)-alcohol as the major product, whose stereoselectivity was the opposite of that in the same asymmetric reduction of usual prochiral ketones ArCOR. The asymmetric reduction of the 3-acetyl group in methyl bacteriopyropheophorbide-a and the 7,8-oxidation afforded 3¹-epimeric methyl (3¹S)-bacteriopheophorbide-d (89% de).     

Direct observation of aziridinium ions in a 2-(N,N-dibenzylamino)- to 1-(N,N-dibenzylamino)phosphonate rearrangement

Aziridinium mesylates stable in the reaction medium for several hours to over a week were observed in a rearrangement of dimethyl (1R,2S)-2-(N,N-dibenzylamino)-1-mesyloxyethylphosphonates substituted at C2 with Bn, i-Pr and t-Bu to the respective 1-(N,N-dibenzylamino)-2-mesyloxyethylphosphonates. Rates of formation of these aziridinium mesylates and rates of their reactions with poorly nucleophilic mesylate anion were governed by steric and electronic factors. The conformation of (2S,3S)-1,1-dibenzyl-2-(tert-butyl)-3-(dimethoxyphosphoryl)aziridinium mesylate in solution was established based on ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopic studies including a NOESY experiment.     

Stereoselective synthesis of (1′S,3R,4R)-4-acetoxy-3-(2′-fluoro-1′-trimethylsilyloxyethyl)-2-azetidinone

A stereoselective synthesis of (1′S,3R,4R)-4-acetoxy-3-(2′-fluoro-1′-trimethylsilyloxyethyl)-2-azetidinone as a new fluorine-containing intermediate towards β-lactams, is described. The synthetic key step relies upon the dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) of ethyl 2-benzamidomethyl-4-fluoro-3-oxo-butanoate via asymmetric transfer hydrogenation catalyzed by [Ru(η⁶-arene)(S,S)-R₂NSO₂DPEN].     

Studies towards the synthesis of (1R,2S)- and (1S,2S)-1,2-epoxy-3-hydroxypropylphosphonates and (1S,2S)- and (1R,2S)-2,3-epoxy-1-hydroxypropylphosphonates

The trans-configured fosfomycin analogue, diethyl (1S,2S)-1,2-epoxy-3-hydroxypropylphosphonate, was synthesised by the intramolecular Williamson reaction of diethyl (1S,2R)-1,3-dihydroxy-2-mesyloxypropylphosphonate. The cis-analogue was obtained as O-ethyl or O,O-diethyl (1R,2S)-1,2-epoxy-3-hydroxypropylphosphonates, when (1R,2R)-1,3-dihydroxy-2-mesyloxypropylphosphonate or its 3-O-trityl derivative were used as starting materials, respectively. The intramolecular Williamson cyclisations of diethyl (1S,2R)- and (1R,2S)-1-benzyloxy-3-hydroxy-2-mesyloxypropylphosphonates led to diethyl (1S,2S)- and (1R,2S)-2,3-epoxy-1-benzyloxypropylphosphonates, respectively, with the concomitant formation of diethyl (E)-1-benzyloxy-3-hydroxyprop-1-en-1-phosphonate. From diethyl (1S,2S)- and (1R,2S)-2,3-epoxy-1-benzyloxypropylphosphonates, enantiomerically pure diethyl (1S,2S)- and (1R,2S)-1,2-dihydroxypropylphosphonates were obtained by catalytic hydrogenation, while diethyl (1S,2S)- and (1R,2S)-3-acetamido-1,2-dihydroxypropylphosphonates were produced after epoxide ring opening with dibenzylamine, acetylation and hydrogenolysis.     

Homochiral (R)- and (S)-1-heteroaryl- and 1-aryl-2-propanols via microbial redox

Preparation of various heteroaryl propanols 2a–g and of the corresponding propanones 3a–g as starting materials for microbial redox is described. The kinetic resolution of the racemic propanols 2a–g is obtained via oxidation with Pseudomonas paucimobilis and Bacillus stearothermophilus [(R)-alcohols, ee 74–100%]. Similar results are achieved with 3-(2-hydroxypropyl)trifluoromethylbenzene 7 (44%, ee 100% of the (R)-alcohol 6). The reduction of the propanones 3a–d and 3g with baker's yeast and other fungi gives the (S)-alcohols (ee 100%). The pure (S)-alcohols are also obtained by reduction of 1-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-2-propanone 7. 1-[(4,4-Dimethyl)-2-(Δ²)oxazolinyl]-2-propanone 3e and 1[2-(Δ²)-thiazolinyl)-2-propanone 3f are not reduced. The heterocyclic rings of (S)-5-(2-hydroxypropyl)-3-methylisoxazole 2d and of (S)-2-(2-hydroxypropyl)-4-methylthiazole 2g are deblocked to the homochiral enamino ketone 8 (78%) and to the protected β-hydroxy aldehyde 9 (73%), respectively. The (R)-3-(2-hydroxypropyl)trifluoromethylbenzene 6 is transfomed into the homochiral precursor of (S)-fenfluramine 10 (overall yield 65%).     

Dithiophosphorylation of racemic and enantiomerically pure trimethyl-N-(1-phenylethyl)silanamine

Trimethylsilyl P-aryl-N-[(RS)-, (S)-(?)-, and (R)-(+)-(1-phenylethyl)]phosphonamidodithioates were synthesized by reactions of 2,4-diaryl-1,3,2λ⁵,4λ⁵-dithiadiphosphetane 2,4-disulfides with racemic and and enantiomerically pure trimethyl-N-(1-phenylethyl)silanamine.     

Di- and tri-organotin(IV) complexes of the new bis(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-2-ylthio)acetate ligand and the decarboxylated analogues

The new sodium bis(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-2-ylthio)acetate, Na[(S-tim)₂CHCO₂], has been prepared in ethanol solution using 2-mercapto-1-methylimidazole, dibromoacetic acid and NaOH. New di- and tri-organotin(IV) derivatives have been synthesized from reaction between SnR_nCl_4−n (R = Ph, Cy and ⁿBu, n = 2-3) acceptors and Na[(S-tim)₂CHCO₂]. Complexes of the type {[κ¹O-(S-tim)₂CHCO₂]SnR₃} and related decarboxylated species {[κ²N,N-(S-tim)₂CH₂]SnR₂Cl₂} have been obtained and characterized by elemental analyses, FT-IR, ESIMS and multinuclear (¹H, ¹³C and ¹¹⁹Sn) NMR spectral data. The adduct {κ¹O-[(S-tim)₂CHCO₂]Sn(H₂O)(C₄H₉)₃} was characterized by single crystal X-ray studies. The dichloromethane reaction solution of {κ¹O-[(S-tim)₂CHCO₂]Sn(C₆H₅)₃} was re-crystallized and the decarboxylated species {[(S-tim)₂CH₂]SnCl(H₂O)(C₆H₅)₃} was obtained as a crystalline solid and characterized by X-ray crystallography.     

Chiral solvating properties of (S)-1-benzyl-6-methylpiperazine-2,5-dione

In CDCl₃ solution, enantiopure (S)-1-benzyl-6-methylpiperazine-2,5-dione (S)-1a formed diastereomeric CO⋯H–N hydrogen-bonded associates with racemic (RS,Z)-1-benzyl-3-[(dimethylamino)methylidene]piperazine-2,5-diones 2a and 2b, (RS)-tert-butyl pyroglutamate (RS)-2c and (RS)-N-benzoylalanine methyl ester (RS)-2d. This resulted in splitting (doubling) of the characteristic signals in the ¹H NMR and ¹³C spectra of racemic compounds 2a–d in the presence of 1 equiv of (S)-1a. The formation of hydrogen-bonded dimers in CDCl₃ solution was studied by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and 2D NMR and confirmed by the intermolecular NOE observed between the hydrogen-bonded amide protons from each of the monomeric units, (S)-1a and 2a–c. On the other hand, a slightly different binding mode was proposed for association of (S)-1a with alaninamide (RS)-2d. Enantiomer compositions of known (weighed) mixtures of both enantiomers of tert-butyl pyroglutamate 2c were re-determined by ¹H NMR in the presence of (S)-1a in CDCl₃. The experimental values were in good agreement with the theoretical values, thus indicating the potential applicability of (S)-1a and related diketopiperazines as chiral solvating agents in NMR spectroscopy.     

Synthesis and characterization of the two enantiomers of a chiral sigma-1 receptor radioligand: (S)-(+)- and (R)-(-)-[18F]FBFP

Racemic [¹⁸F]FBFP ([¹⁸F]1) proved to be a potent σ₁ receptor radiotracer with superior imaging properties. The pure enantiomers of unlabeled compounds (S)- and (R)-1 and the corresponding iodonium ylide precursors were synthesized and characterized. The two enantiomers (S)-1 and (R)-1 exhibited comparable high affinity for σ₁ receptors and selectivity over σ₂ receptors. The Ca²⁺ fluorescence assay indicated that (R)-1 behaved as an antagonist and (S)-1 as an agonist for σ₁ receptors. The ¹⁸F-labeled enantiomers (S)- and (R)-[¹⁸F]1 were obtained in >99% enantiomeric purity from the corresponding enantiopure iodonium ylide precursors with radiochemical yield of 24.4% ± 2.6% and molar activity of 86–214 GBq/µmol. In ICR mice both (S)- and (R)-[¹⁸F]1 displayed comparable high brain uptake, brain-to-blood ratio, in vivo stability and binding specificity in the brain and peripheral organs. In micro-positron emission tomography (PET) imaging studies in rats, (S)-[¹⁸F]1 exhibited faster clearance from the brain than (R)-[¹⁸F]1, indicating different brain kinetics of the two enantiomers. Both (S)- and (R)-[¹⁸F]1 warrant further evaluation in primates to translate a single enantiomer with more suitable kinetics for imaging the σ₁ receptors in humans.     

Determination of absolute configuration of 2-methyl-1-(o-tolyl)naphthalene and the related axially chiral biaryls

An enantiomerically enriched sample (84.3% ee) of (aS)-2-methyl-1-[(((o-triisopropylsilyl)oxy)methyl)phenyl]naphthalene was produced via catalytic asymmetric Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling using an atropisomeric naphthamide-derived phosphine (A²phos) as the chiral ligand. After one recrystallization, enantiopurity of the biaryl product was improved to 98.9% ee and its absolute configuration was determined by X-ray crystal structural analysis. Through chemical transformations, the (aS)-enantiomers of 1-[(o-hydroxymethyl)phenyl]-2-methylnaphthalene, 1-[(o-chloromethyl)phenyl]-2-methylnaphthalene, and 2-methyl-1-(o-tolyl)naphthalene were obtained. Several other chiral biaryls were synthesized and stereochemically assigned.