Oxidative Methoxycarbonylation of Propyne and Allene with Carbon Monoxide and Methanol in the Presence of Copper-palladium Catalyst

A direct oxidative methoxycarbonylation of propyne with carbon monoxide in methanol medium in the presence of copper-palladium catalytic system results in methyl 2-butynoate in 18-31% yield. Depending on reaction conditions allene provides either a mixture of methyl 2-(chloromethyl)acrylate and methyl 2-(methoxymethyl)acrylate (3-4:1) in overall yield 16-23%, or methyl 2-(methoxymethyl)acrylate in 19% yield.     

Sequential synthesis of a new analogue of amlodipine bearing a short amino polyethyleneglycol chain

3-Ethyl 5-methyl 2-[(2-(2-(2-aminoethoxy)ethoxy)ethoxy)methyl]-4-(2-chlorophenyl)-6-methyl-1,4-dihydropyridine-3,5-dicarboxylate as new analogue of amlodipine was prepared in five steps with an overall yield of 22%. The 1,4-dihydropyridine nucleus was built in two steps via Knoevenagel reaction and the amino group of this analogue has been prepared in good yield by Staudinger reduction of the azido 1,4-dihydropyridine precursor in the last step.     

Synthesis of dimethyl sulfomycinamate

[reaction: see text] Dimethyl sulfomycinamate, the oxazole-thiazole-pyridine product generated in the methanolysis of the thiopeptide antibiotic sulfomycin I, is prepared in 13 steps and 8% overall yield by the Bohlmann-Rahtz heteroannulation of 1-(oxazol-4-yl)enamines and methyl 4-(trimethylsilyl)-2-oxobut-3-ynoate.     

A short approach to the bicyclo[4.3.0]nonane fragment of stawamycin

The bicyclo[4.3.0]nonane (C₁₁-C₂₁) fragment of stawamycin has been prepared by a sequence involving 11 steps (10% overall yield) from methyl (R)-(−)-3-hydroxy-2-methylpropionate. Key steps are a Pd-catalysed Stille coupling reaction between a vinyl iodide and a vinyl stannane followed by an intramolecular Diels-Alder cycloaddition reaction to give the desired adduct as the major isomer in 21% overall yield.     

A concise approach to both enantiomers of phytoprostane B1 type II

The synthesis of enantiomeric phytoprostane B₁ type II methyl esters has been accomplished in approximately 30% overall yield via two basic transformations starting from 3-[(dimethoxyphosphoryl)methyl]cyclopentenone as a key reagent. They include ethylation of the ring C(2) carbon and a Horner olefination reaction using the phosphonate moiety at C(3). The novel components of the Horner reaction, the enantiomeric methyl 9-formyl-9-hydroxynanoates, were easily prepared from racemic methyl 9-hydroxy-10-undecenoate via asymmetric Sharpless epoxidation (kinetic resolution) followed by ozonolysis.     

The Asymmetric Syntheses of Methyl <small>D</small>-Digitoxoside, <small>L</small>-Oleandrose and <small>L</small>-Cymarose from Methyl Sorbate, an Achiral Precursor

The addition of 4?eq of chloral to osmundalactone (4S,5R)-4 gave quantitative formation of the hemiacetal derivative (4S,5R)-8, which was treated with methane sulfonic acid to afford the intramolecular Micheal addition product (+)-(3S,4S,5R)-9 possessing a 3,4-cis-dihydroxy-δ-lactone in 78% overall yield from (4S,5R)-4. The obtained (+)-(3S,4S,5R)-9 was subsequently converted to methyl D-digitoxoside (pyranoside) (12) in 13% overall yield and methyl D-digitoxoside (furanoside) (12) in 20% overall yield. The reaction of benzyl-osmundalactone (4R,5S)-3 and MeOH in the presence of Amberlyst A-26 as a basic catalyst gave 3,4-trans-δ-lactone (－)-(3S,4R,5S)-20 in 28% yield and 3,4-cis-δ-lactone (－)-(3R,4R,5S)-21 in 45% yield. Dibal-H reduction of (－)-(3S,4R,5S)-20 followed by catalytic hydrogenation gave L-oleandrose (6) in 86% overall yield, while Dibal-H reduction of (－)-(3R,4R,5S)-21 followed by catalytic hydrogenation provided L-cymarose (7) in 85% overall yield.     

dl-六甲基化丹酚酸A甲酯的合成

以2,3二-甲氧基苯甲醛为原料,经还原、溴化、Wittig反应、在正丁基锂作用下醛基化、Knoevenagel反应生成四甲基化丹酚酸F(9),9再与草酰氯反应成酰氯后与甲基化丹参素甲酯反应得到dl-六甲基化丹酚酸A甲酯,其结构经1HNMR和MS表征,总收率44.7%。     

A new type of organocatalyst for highly stereoselective Michael addition of ketones to nitroolefins on water

(S)-2-((Naphthalen-2-ylsulfonyl)methyl)pyrrolidine, prepared in three steps from (S)-N-Boc-2-[((4-toluenesulfonyl)oxy)methyl]pyrrolidine in 62% overall yield, was used as a new type of organocatalyst bearing a pyrrolidine and a sulfone moiety. It shows very high catalytic activity toward the direct asymmetric Michael reaction of cyclohexanone and nitroolefins. All the corresponding adducts can be furnished in 90-99% yields and with up to 98% ee and over 99:1 dr on water in the presence of this catalyst (15 mol %) without any additive.     

Structure reassignment and synthesis of Jenamidines A1/A2, synthesis of (+)-NP25302, and formal synthesis of SB-311009 analogues

The proposed structures of jenamidines A, B, and C (1-3) were revised to jenamidines A1/A2, B1/B2, and C (8-10). Jenamidines A1/A2 (8) were synthesized from activated proline derivative 43 by conversion to 26 in two steps and 50% overall yield. Acylation of 26 with acid chloride 38d gave 39d, which was deprotected with TFA and then mild base to give 8 in 45% yield from 26. (-)-trans-2,5-Dimethylproline ethyl ester (49) was prepared by the enantioselective Michael reaction of ethyl 2-nitropropionate (51) and methyl vinyl ketone (50) using modified dihydroquinine 60 as the catalyst. Further elaboration converted 49 to natural (+)-NP25302 (12). A Wittig reaction of proline NCA (76) with ylide 79 gave 72 as a 9/1 E/Z mixture in 27% yield, completing a one-step formal synthesis of SB-311009 analogues.     

Synthesis of 2-{2-hydroxy-3-[2-(vinyloxy)ethoxy]propoxy}-benzaldehyde and Schiff bases derived therefrom

Base-catalyzed reaction of 2-hydroxybenzaldehyde with 2-{[2-(vinyloxy)ethoxy]methyl}oxirane gave 2-{2-hydroxy-3-[2-(vinyloxy)ethoxy]propoxy}benzaldehyde in 42% yield, and subsequent condensations of the product with thiosemicarbazide and primary aliphatic amines afforded the corresponding thiosemicarbazone (yield 86%) and 1-{2-[(alkylimino)methyl]phenoxy}-3-[2-(vinyloxy)ethoxy]propan-2-ols (74–81%).     

Reactions of hydro(pero)xy derivatives of polyunsaturated fatty acids/esters with nitrite ions under acidic conditions. Unusual nitrosative breakdown of methyl 13-hydro(pero)xyoctadeca-9,11-dienoate to a novel 4-nitro-2-oximinoalk-3-enal product

13(S)-hydroperoxy- and 13(S)-hydroxyoctadeca-9,11-dienoic acids (1a/b), 15(S)-hydroperoxy- and 15(S)-hydroxyeicosa-5,8,11,13-tetraenoic acids (2a/b), and their methyl esters reacted smoothly with NO2- in phosphate buffer at pH 3-5.5 and at 37 degrees C to afford mixtures of products. 1b methyl ester gave mainly the 9-nitro derivative 3b methyl ester (11% yield) and a peculiar breakdown product identified as the novel 4-nitro-2-oximinoalk-3-enal derivative 4 methyl ester (15% yield). By GC-MS hexanal was also detected among the products. Structures 3b and 4 methyl esters were secured by 15N NMR analysis of the products prepared from 1b methyl ester upon reaction with Na15NO2. 4 methyl ester (14% yield) was also obtained from 1a methyl ester along with the nitrated hydroperoxy derivative 3a methyl ester (10% yield). Under the same conditions, 2a/b methyl esters gave mainly the corresponding nitrated derivatives 5a/b, with no detectable breakdown products, whereas the model compound (E,E)-2,4-hexadienol (6) afforded two main nitrated derivatives identified as 7 and 8. A reaction pathway for 1a/b methyl esters was proposed involving conversion of nitronitrosooxyhydro(pero)xy intermediates which would partition between two competing routes, viz., loss of HNO2, to give 3a/b methyl esters, and a remarkably facile fission leading to 4 methyl ester and hexanal.     

Synthesis of (R)-curcumene and (R)-xanthorrizol based on 1,2-Aryl migration via phenonium ion

Solvolysis reaction of methyl (4S,5S)-4-(4'-methoxyphenyl)-5-tosyloxy-2(E)-hexenoate 5 in water-saturated MeNO(2) gave the 1,2-migration product, (4S,5S)-5-hydroxy-4-(4'-methoxyphenyl)-2-(E)-hexenoate 6 (55% yield), which was converted to methyl (R)-(4'-methylphenyl)hexanoate 11 in 25% overall yield (5 steps). Treatment of (R)-11 with MeLi gave tertiary alcohol congener 12, which was subjected to dehydration to afford (R)-(-)-curcumene 1. An introduction of hydroxyl group at meta-position of the aromatic ring in (R)-11 was achieved based on consecutive treatment [1) selective iodination, 2) conversion of aryl iodide to aryl boronate, 3) conversion of aryl boronate to phenol]. Thus obtained phenol (R)-16 was treated with MeLi to give tertiary alcohol congener 17, which was subjected to dehydration to afford (R)-(-)-xanthorrizol 2.     

An efficient synthesis of 5-bromo-2-methoxy-6-methylaminopyridine-3carboxylic acid

An efficient synthesis of 5-bromo-2-methoxy-6-methylaminopyridine-3-carboxylic acid (1), a carboxylic acid moiety of a potent dopamine D2 and D3 and serotonin-3 (5-HT3) receptors antagonist, (R)-5-bromo-N-(1-ethyl-4-methylhexahydro-1 ,4-diazepin-6-yl)-2-methoxy-6-methylaminopyridine-3-carboxamide, is described. Reaction of methyl 2,6-difluoropyridine-3-carboxylate (12) with methylamine in EtOH at -25 degrees C gave a mixture of methyl 2-fluoro-6-methylaminopyridine-3-carboxylate (13) and the regioisomer 14 in a ratio of 57 : 43. On the other hand, reaction of 12 and methyl 2,6-dichloropyridine-3-carboxylate (16) with sodium methoxide in tetrahydrofuran (THF) and CH2Cl2 provided the 2-methoxypyridine-3-carboxylic esters 20 and 23, respectively, as main products. Similar reaction of 16 in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and MeOH proved to be highly regioselective for the 6-position. A much greater regioselectivity for substitution at the 6-position (>97%) was observed when 16 was treated with 4-methylbenzenethiolate anion in DMF (quantitative yield). After methoxylation of methyl 2-chloro-6-(4-methylbenzenethio)pyridine-3-carboxylate (25b) and successive oxidation of the 6-benzenethio moiety, nucleophilic substitution of the sulfoxide derivative 28 with methylamine gave the 6-methylamino derivative 8. Finally, bromination of 8 and alkaline hydrolysis produced the desired product 1 in an overall yield of 67%.     

Reactions of methyl (E,Z)-2-(2-benzoyl-2-ethoxycarbonyl-1-ethenyl)-amino-3-dimethylaminopropenoate with heteroarylhydrazines. 2-(2-Benzoyl-2-ethoxycarbonyl-1-ethenyl)amino-3-heteroarylhydra-zonopropanoates and 1-heteroaryl-4-ethoxycarbonyl-3-phenylpyrazoles

In the reaction of methyl (E,Z)-2-(2-benzoyl-2-ethoxycarbonyl-1-ethenyl)amino-3-dimethylaminopro-penoate ( 1 ) with heteroarylhydrazines 2 in ethanol in the presence of catalytic amounts of hydrochloric acid two types of products were formed: methyl 2-(2-benzoyl-2-ethoxycarbonyl-1-ethenyl)amino-3-heteroaryl-hydrazonopropanoates 4 in 73-86% yield and 1-heteroaryl-4-ethoxycarbony-3-phenylpyrazoles 5 in 5-16% yield.     

Enantioselective synthesis of Fmoc-l-3-(2-benzothienyl)alanine (2-BtAla) via diastereoselective alkylation of a glycine equivalent

Stereoselective alkylation of the anion derived from (2R)-2,5-dihydro-3,6-dimethoxy-2-isopropylpyrazine with 2-chloromethylbenzothiophene afforded the corresponding trans-monosubstituted product, (2S,5R)-2-((1-benzo[b]thiophen-2-yl)methyl)-3,6-dimethoxy-5-(propan-2-yl)-2,5-dihyropyrazine in 88% yield. Hydrolysis of the alkylated product using 40% TFA/H₂O at 0?°C and subsequent protection of the α-amino functional group with Fmoc-OSu afforded Fmoc-l-3-(2-benzothienyl)alanine methyl ester in 88% yield. Hydrolysis of the methyl ester with aqueous LiOH gave Fmoc-l-3-(2-benzothienyl)alanine in 62% overall yield.     

Microwave-assisted rapid synthesis of methyl 2,4,5-trimethoxyphenylpropionate, a metabolite of Cordia alliodora

Microwave assisted condensation of asaronaldehyde (2) with malonic acid in piperidine-AcOH provides 2,4,5-trimethoxycinnamic acid (3) in 87% yield within 4 min, which upon further reduction with PdCl2- HCOOH-aq. NaOH gives 3-(2,4,5-trimethoxy)phenyl propionic acid (4) in 88% yield within 3 min. Esterification of 4 with MeOH-H+ gives methyl 2,4,5-trimethoxyphenylpropionate (1), a metabolite of Cordia alliodora, in 94% yield within 3 min (overall 69% yield).     

Synthesis of mimosamycin

Mimosamycin (1) was synthesized in eight steps with an overall yield of 13% from 2-methoxy-3-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone by regioselective introduction of a chloromethyl group at C-6 and a methoxycarbonylmethyl group at C-5 and subsequent reaction of the intermediate methyl (o-(chloromethyl)phenyl)acetate derivative 16 with methylamine. Oxidation of the 5,7,8-trimethoxy-2,6-dimethyl-1, 4-dihydroisoquinoline-3(2H)-one 17 thus obtained, using cerium(IV) ammonium nitrate as a selective oxidizing agent, gave mimosamycin (1) in good overall yield.     

Practical synthesis of (2S,3R)-3-hydroxy-3-methylproline, a constituent of papuamides, using a diastereoselective tandem Michael-aldol reaction

(2S,3R)-3-Hydroxy-3-methylproline, a constituent of cyclodepsipeptides polyoxypeptins A and B, was efficiently synthesized by lithium chloride-induced diastereoselective tandem Michael-aldol reaction using methyl vinyl ketone and N-1-naphthylsulfonylglycine (R)-binaphthyl ester and subsequent hydrolysis of the product in 39% overall yield and five steps.     

Sequential kinetic resolution catalyzed by halohydrin dehalogenase

A sequential kinetic resolution catalyzed by halohydrin dehalogenase was employed for the synthesis of two valuable enantiopure building blocks. Resolution of methyl 4-chloro-3-hydroxybutanoate methylester ((R,S)-2) with use of a Trp249Phe mutant of halohydrin dehalogenase yielded methyl 4-cyano-3-hydroxybutanoate methylester ((S)-4) with 96.8% ee (40% yield) and (S)-2 with 95.2% ee (41% yield). This reaction is carried out in aqueous solution under mild conditions and provides access to a useful statin side-chain building block.     

A slightly shorter route to carbocyclic nucleosides. Synthesis of (±)-trans-1-[2-(hydroxymethyl)cyclopentylmethyl]uracil

(±)-trans-1-[2-(Hydroxymethyl)cyclopentylmethyl]uracil ( 1 ) was prepared in two steps and 56% yield from 2-hydroxymethylcyclopentylmethylamine (7) and 3-methoxy-2-propenoylisocyanate ( 6 ). Isocyanate 6 was prepared from methyl 3-methoxy-2-propenoate in four steps and 38% overall yield.