Sensing Remote Chirality: Stereochemical Determination of β‐, γ‐, and δ‐Chiral Carboxylic Acids

Determining the absolute stereochemisty of small molecules bearing remote nonfunctionalizable stereocenters is a challenging task. Presented is a solution in which appropriately substituted bis(porphyrin) tweezers are used. Complexation of a suitably derivatized β‐, γ‐, or δ‐chiral carboxylic acid to the tweezer induces a predictable helicity of the bis(porphyrin), which is detected as a bisignate Cotton Effect (ECCD). The sign of the ECCD curve is correlated with the absolute stereochemistry of the substrate based on the derived working mnemonics in a predictable manner.     

Chiral lithium binaphtholate aqua complex as a highly effective asymmetric catalyst for cyanohydrin synthesis

A highly enantioselective cyanohydrin synthesis with aromatic aldehydes using chiral lithium binaphtholate aqua or alcohol complexes has been developed and is a simple and inexpensive catalyst suitable for process chemistry to give gram-scale cyanohydrins successfully. Dramatic improvements in enantiomeric excess have been realized along with an interesting changeover in absolute stereochemistry of cyanohydrin product against the thoroughly "dry" catalytic systems.     

A chiroptical approach for the absolute stereochemical determination of P-stereogenic centers

A simple chiroptical solution for the absolute stereochemical determination for asymmetric phosphorus V stereocenters is presented. Strong coordination of the phosphorus oxide with the Zn-metallo center of the racemic host Zn-MAPOL 2 leads to an induced axial chirality of the host, yielding a strong ECCD signal. A mnemonic is proposed to correlate the asymmetry of the guest molecule with the observed ECCD signal.

A simple chiroptical solution for the absolute stereochemical determination for asymmetric phosphorus V stereocenters is presented.     

Enantio‐ and Chemoselective Differentiation of Protected α‐Amino Acids and β‐Homoamino Acids with a Single Copper(II) Host

The association between an achiral copper(II)‐containing host 1 and chiral carboxylates has been expanded beyond previous studies to new chiral carboxylate guests, both α‐amino acids and β‐homoamino acids. The observed exciton‐coupled circular dichroism (ECCD) signals for the enantiomers of each carboxylate were equal and opposite, and these signals differed in size and shape between the individual amino acids. Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) was applied as a statistical analysis technique to differentiate the amino acids, both enantioselectively and chemoselectively, giving the absolute configuration and identity of the amino acid. The identity of each of the α‐amino acids and β‐homoamino acids were determined independently by LDA, and then the two were considered together. Each of these analyses showed good differentiation of the amino acid guests with the use of only one host molecule.     

Synthesis of degraded cyanogenic glycosides from Sambucus nigra

Two natural cyanohydrins, isolated from Sambucus nigra, have been synthesised from mandelonitrile and penta-O-acetyl-beta-galactopyranose. The synthesis confirmed the stereochemistry of the compounds, which had been assigned on biogenetic grounds.     

Absolute stereochemical determination of chiral carboxylic acids

Monoamidation of 1,4-diaminobenzene with alpha-chiral carboxylic acids leads to a carrier strategy for absolute stereochemical determination with bis-zinc porphyrin tweezers by exciton-coupled circular dichroism (ECCD). The helicity induced in the porphyrin tweezers upon complexation with the derivatized carrier originates from the preferred conformation of the C(carbonyl)-C(chiral) bond. Correct ECCD signs can be predicted by the rotamer that places the large group perpendicular to the carbonyl group with the small group facing the porphyrin. [reaction: see text]     

Long-range stereo-relay: relative and absolute configuration of 1,n-glycols from circular dichroism of liposomal porphyrin esters

The relative and absolute configurations of long-chain syn- and anti-1,5-, 1,7- and 1,9-glycols were determined from exciton-coupled circular dichroism (ECCD) of the corresponding bis-5-(4'-carboxyl)-5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrin esters measured in uniform (phi = 26 nm), unilamellar liposomes. Long-range transmission of configuration by ECCD is made possible through partial ordering of glycol ester-lipid molecules by liposomal bilayers.     

Diastereoselective Cyanation of α‐Keto Amides Derived from N‐Phenyl Camphorpyrazolidinone and Camphorsultam

The diastereoselective cyanation of α‐keto amides using trimethylsilyl cyanide in the presence of a Lewis acid is described. The corresponding O‐acetylated cyanohydrins are obtained in good to high levels of stereoselectivities. The predominance of products with the S absolute configuration at the newly generated stereogenic center was deduced from single crystal X‐ray analysis. ¹³C NMR data suggest that a preferential s‐cis conformation was formed by the chelation of a Lewis acid to the dicarbonyl oxygen atoms.     

A simple method for the determination of enantiomeric excess and identity of chiral carboxylic acids

The association between an achiral copper(II) host (1) and chiral carboxylate guests was studied using exciton-coupled circular dichroism (ECCD). Enantiomeric complexes were created upon binding of the enantiomers of the carboxylate guests to the host, and the sign of the resultant CD signal allowed for determination of the configuration of the studied guest. The difference in magnitudes and shapes of the CD signals, in conjunction with linear discriminant analysis (LDA), allowed for the identity of the guest to be determined successfully. A model was created for the host-guest complexes which successfully predicts the sign of the observed CD signal. Further, Taft parameters were used in the model, leading to rationalization of the observed magnitudes of the CD signals. Finally, the enantiomeric excess (ee) of unknown samples of three chiral carboxylic acid guests was determined with an average absolute error of ±3.0%.     

Asymmetric Syntheses Aided by Biocatalysts

This article summarizes the achievements of the authors‘ group in the area of biocatalyst-catalyzed organic reactions in recent 10 years. A strain of Geotrichum sp. obtained by screeninu is capable of stereoselectlvely reducing a number of carbonyl compounds. In many cases, the stermghemistry is complementary with that obtained by baker‘ s yeast. Therefore, this microorganism provides a useful pathway to the preparation of alcohol eompounds with specific configurations. On the other hand, a nmmber of plant sourees have been screened for oxynitrilases and the hydrocyanation reactions of various arylcarboxalde-hydes have been investigated.A“micro-aqueous reaction system“ was invented,by which a serles of novel optically active cyanohydrins were prepared.On this hasis,a high through-put comtimasous reaction system has been designed.This paper also deseribes examples of the syntheses of bio-active compounds by using the optieally active compounds obtained from the above mentioned catalytic reactions as precursors.     

Enantio- and chemoselective differentiation of protected α-amino acids and β-homoamino acids with a single copper(II) host

The association between an achiral copper(II)-containing host 1 and chiral carboxylates has been expanded beyond previous studies to new chiral carboxylate guests, both α-amino acids and β-homoamino acids. The observed exciton-coupled circular dichroism (ECCD) signals for the enantiomers of each carboxylate were equal and opposite, and these signals differed in size and shape between the individual amino acids. Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) was applied as a statistical analysis technique to differentiate the amino acids, both enantioselectively and chemoselectively, giving the absolute configuration and identity of the amino acid. The identity of each of the α-amino acids and β-homoamino acids were determined independently by LDA, and then the two were considered together. Each of these analyses showed good differentiation of the amino acid guests with the use of only one host molecule.     

Lessons from 1,3‐Hydride Shifts in Sesquiterpene Cyclizations

Stereospecifically labelled precursors were subjected to conversion by seven bacterial sesquiterpene cyclases to investigate the stereochemistry of their initial 1,10‐cyclisation‐1,3‐hydride shift cascades. Enzymes with products of known absolute configuration showed a coherent stereochemical course, except for (?)‐α‐amorphene synthase, for which the obtained results are better explained by an initial 1,6‐cyclisation. The link between the absolute configuration of the product and the stereochemical course of the 1,3‐hydride shifts enabled assignment of the absolute configurations of three enzyme products, which were confirmed independently through the absolute configuration of the common byproduct germacrene D‐4‐ol.     

Synthesis and Characterization of New Pyrospirophosphoranes Containing a P‐O‐P Bond by the Atherton–Todd Reaction

The classical Atherton–Todd reaction has been successfully applied to the synthesis of pentacoordinate pyrospirophosphoranes containing a P‐O‐P bond under mild conditions. The absolute configurations of the products were confirmed by X‐ray diffraction analysis and spectroscopic identification. And ³¹P NMR chemical shifts of the products were correlated with stereochemistry. A possible mechanism for explaining the stereochemistry of the reaction was proposed, and it could well explain the results of the reactions of different pentacoordinate hydrospirophosphoranes.     

Kinetic Resolution of Acylsilane Cyanohydrins via Organocatalytic Cycloetherification

An asymmetric cyanation of acylsilanes involving the in‐situ formation of chiral acylsilane cyanohydrins followed by their kinetic resolution via organocatalytic cycloetherification is described. The highly enantio‐ and diastereoselective cycloetherification was crucial for achieving a high efficiency in the kinetic resolution. Consequently, acylsilane cyanohydrins containing a tetrasubstituted chiral carbon atom bearing silyl, cyano, and hydroxy groups were obtained in an enantioenriched form. This protocol therefore offers an efficient catalytic approach to optically active acylsilane cyanohydrins, which exhibit potential as chiral building blocks for the synthesis of pharmaceutically relevant chiral organosilanes.     

Isolation,Structure Determination,and Synthesis of Allo‐RA‐V and Neo‐RA‐V,RA‐Series Bicyclic Peptides from Rubia cordifolia L.

Two bicyclic hexapeptides, allo‐RA‐V ( 4 ) and neo‐RA‐V ( 5 ), and one cyclic hexapeptide, O‐seco‐RA‐V ( 6 ), were isolated from the roots of Rubia cordifolia L. Their gross structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis and X‐ray crystallography of compound 5 . The absolute stereochemistry of compounds 4 and 5 were established by their total syntheses, and the absolute stereochemistry of compound 6 by chemical correlation with deoxybouvardin ( 3 ). Comparison of the 3D structures of highly active RA‐VII ( 1 ) with less‐active compounds 4 and 5 suggests that the orientation of the Tyr‐5 and/or Tyr‐6 phenyl rings plays a significant role in their biological activity. The isolation of peptides 4 – 6 , along with compound 3 , and the comparison of their structures seem to indicate that peptide 6 may be the common precursor to bicyclic peptides 3 – 5 in the plant.     

Minor Enantiomer Recycling: Metal Catalyst,Organocatalyst and Biocatalyst Working in Concert

A minor enantiomer recycling one‐pot procedure employing two reinforcing chiral catalysts has been developed. Continuous regeneration of the achiral starting material is effected via selective enzyme‐catalyzed hydrolysis of the minor product enantiomer from Lewis acid–Lewis base catalyzed addition of acyl cyanides to prochiral aldehydes in a two‐phase solvent system. The process provides O‐acylated cyanohydrins in close to perfect enantioselectivities, higher than those obtained in the direct process, and in high yields. A combination of a (S,S)‐salen Ti Lewis acid and Candida antarctica lipase B provides the products with R absolute configuration, whereas the opposite enantiomer is obtained from the (R,R)‐salen Ti complex and Candida rugosa lipase.     

Prompt determination of absolute configuration for epoxy alcohols via exciton chirality protocol

A microscale protocol for determination of absolute configurations of 2,3-epoxy alcohols is described. 2,3-Disubstituted (cis and trans), 2,2-disubstituted, 2,2,3-trisubstituted, and 2,3,3-trisubstituted epoxy alcohols rendered prominent ECCD signals upon complexing with a Lewis acidic porphyrin tweezer and consequently provide straightforward assignment of chirality for epoxy alcohols. This method proved to be rapid, simple, sensitive, and reliable for the class of molecules listed above.     

Enantioselective Total Synthesis of (−)‐Martinellic Acid

An enantioselective total synthesis of martinellic acid is described. The pyrroloquinoline alkaloid core is efficiently prepared from a quinoline, employing a method which relies on a newly developed Cu‐catalyzed enantioselective alkynylation using the chiral imidazole‐based biaryl P,N ligand StackPhos to establish the absolute stereochemistry. The remaining carbon atoms are then installed by means of a diastereoselective Pd‐catalyzed decarboxylative allylation and the synthesis is completed after straightforward functional‐group manipulation. This new synthetic method enables the most concise enantioselective synthesis of this important class of molecules to date.     

Stereocontrolled Synthesis of Adjacent Acyclic Quaternary‐Tertiary Motifs: Application to a Concise Total Synthesis of (−)‐Filiformin

Lithiation/borylation methodology has been developed for the synthesis of acyclic quaternary‐tertiary motifs with full control of relative and absolute stereochemistry, thus leading to all four possible isomers of a stereodiad. A novel intramolecular Zweifel‐type olefination enabled acyclic stereocontrol to be transformed into cyclic stereocontrol. These key steps have been applied to the shortest enantioselective synthesis of (?)‐filiformin to date (9 steps) with full stereocontrol.     

Total Synthesis and Configurational Assignment of Ascospiroketal A

The total synthesis of the marine fungus‐derived natural product ascospiroketal is described. This concise synthesis relies on a unique Ag^I‐promoted tandem cascade cyclization that provides direct access to the correctly configured tricyclic core of the natural product from a linear precursor. The synthesis of candidate stereostructures of ascospiroketal A allowed for the confident assignment of both the relative and absolute stereochemistry of this unusual octaketide.