Highly stereoselective transformation of (1S,3S)-cis-1,3-disubstituted tetrahydro-β-carbolines into (1S,3R)-trans-1,3-disubstituted tetrahydro-β-carbolines: an improved asymmetric synthesis of tadalafil from l-tryptophan

An efficient and general method for the highly stereoselective transformation of (1S,3S)-cis-1,3-disubstituted 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carbolines (THBCs) into (1S,3R)-trans-1,3-disubstituted THBCs is described. The method contains the following three steps: the enantiomerically pure (1S,3S)-cis-1,3-disubstituted THBCs 1 were first converted into (1S,3S)-cis-1,2,3-trisubstituted THBCs 2 by N-1-naphthylmethylation/benzylation; (1S,3S)-cis-1,2,3-trisubstituted THBCs2 were then converted into (1S,3R)-trans-1,2,3-trisubstituted THBCs 3 in high yields and with high stereoselectivities via a base-catalyzed epimerization at C-3; (1S,3R)-trans-1,2,3-trisubstituted THBCs 3 were subsequently converted into (1S,3R)-trans-1,3-disubstituted THBCs 4 after reductive removal of the 1-naphthylmethyl/benzyl group. In addition, as an application of this method, an improved and highly stereoselective synthesis of the PDE5 inhibitor tadalafil (Cialis®) starting from natural and less expensive l-tryptophan was developed.     

Asymmetric synthesis of 1,4-disubstituted 3-methylidenedihydroquinolin-2(1H)-ones

A series of enantiomerically pure or highly enriched (R)- or (S)-3-methylidenetetrahydroquinolin-2-ones was readily prepared by highly diastereoselective Michael additions of various Grignard reagents to quinolin-2(1H)-ones, containing an (R,R)- or (S,S)-di(1-phenylethylamino)phosphoryl group as chiral auxiliary, followed by Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons olefination of formaldehyde. An efficient synthesis of the starting (R,R)- and (S,S)-3-({di[(1-phenylethyl)amino]}phosphoryl)-1-alkyl-quinolin-2(1H)-ones is also described. The relative and absolute configurations of the intermediate adducts and final methylidenequinolinones were established by NMR and X-ray analysis.     

Unexpected highly diastereoconvergent Grignard additions to d-xylofuranose-derived t-butanesulfinyl aldimines

Unexpected high levels of diastereoconvergence (dr >15:1) were observed in the addition of a series of Grignard reagents in THF to d-xylose-derived t-BS aldimines 2a,b affording (S_S,5R)- and (R_S,5R)-adducts. This anomaly was absent when using ethereal solutions of organometallic reagents, revealing the subtle solvent effects. This study illustrates the scope and limitations of N-t-BS imine chemistry in complex systems.     

Efficient stereoselective synthesis of enantiopure cis- and trans-1,2,4-trisubstituted piperidines

Enantiomerically pure (2R,4S)- and (2R,4R)-2-[(S)-1,2-dibenzyloxyethyl]-4-[2-(diphenylmethoxy)ethyl]-1-[(S)-1-phenylethyl]piperidines cis-1 and trans-1 have been synthesised from N-[(S)-1-phenylethyl]-(S)-2,3-di-O-benzylglyceraldimine in six steps in 31% and 18% overall yields, respectively. The efficiency of the synthetic strategy developed for the synthesis of these compounds relies on: (a) the totally diastereoselective tandem Mannich–Michael reaction between Danishefsky’s diene and the starting glyceraldimine, (b) the high yielding Wadsworth–Emmons reaction of the 4-piperidone intermediate and (c) the diastereodivergent reduction of the exocyclic C–C double bond at C₄ of the piperidine ring. These transformations led to 1,2,4-trisubstituted piperidines with two new stereogenic centres with excellent stereoselectivity.     

Novel Grignard reaction of chelated boric esters derived from diethyl (2R,3R)-tartrate: a one-step access to a bulky γ,γ,γ-trisubstituted γ-hydroxy-β-ketoester via selective arylation and sequent deboronation

Reaction of the tetracoordinated spiroborate esters derived from diethyl (2R,3R)-tartrate with Grignard reagents was further examined and found that sterically hindered MesMgBr has different reaction behavior from PhMgBr to the spiroborate esters. It has been proved that in the case of PhMgBr reaction, the formation of the chiral bicyclodiboronic ester (R,R)-2 was accomplished step by step via two 1,3-cyclizations of the hydrolytic products of the resulting boron compound. However, in the case of MesMgBr reaction, only one esteral group of the tartrate moiety was diarylated, and a bulky γ,γ,γ-trisubstituted γ-hydroxy-β-ketoester and mesitylboronic anhydride were provided after the resultant was worked up. The composition and structure of the products were authorized by the spectral and single crystal X-ray analysis. A formation mechanism of γ-hydroxy-β-ketoester and mesitylboronic anhydride was also suggested.     

Stereoconvergent synthesis of N-Boc-(2R,3S)-3-hydroxy-2-phenylpiperidine

The stereoconvergent synthesis of N-Boc-(2R,3S)-3-hydroxy-2-phenylpiperidine from (R)-1-(2-((tert-butyldimethylsilyl)oxy)-1-phenylethyl)piperidin-2-one is described. The key steps involved are α-hydroxylation of quiral lactam with O₂, stereoconvergent reduction of (R)- or (S)-3-(benzyloxy)-piperidin-2-one with Red-Al® which afforded in both cases the trans-bicyclic oxazolidine in high stereoselectivity after chromatographic purification and a stereospecific Grignard addition to chiral bicyclic oxazolidine.     

In 2- und 3-Stellung verzweigte,enantiomerenreine 4,4,4-Trifluor-3-hydroxy-buttersäure-Derivate aus 6-Trifluormethyl-1,3-dioxan-und -dioxin-4-onen

Preparation of Enantiomerically Pure 4,4,4-Trifluoro-3-hydroxy-butanoic Acid Derivatives, Branched in the 2- or 3-Position, from 6-Trifluoromethyl-1,3-dioxan- and -dioxin-4-ones Enantiomerically pure 3-hydroxy-3-trifluoromethyl-propionic acid and esters, substituted in the 2- or 3-position, are prepared (13 examples) from (R)- or (S)-4,4,4-trifluoro-3-hydroxy-butanoic acid. Key intermediates are the 2-t-butyl-6-trifluoromethyl-1,3-dioxan- and -dioxin-4-ones. The Li enolate of the cis-dioxanone is generated with t-BuLi and reacts with electrophiles (alkyl halides, aldehydes, imines, nitroolefins, Br₂, I₂) with predominant formation of trans,trans-2,5,6-trisubstituted dioxanones (9 examples). Elimination of HBr from the 5-Br-substituted dioxanone gives the (R)- or (S)-dioxinone, a chiral derivative of 4,4,4-trifluoro-3-oxo-butanoic acid (trifluoro-acetoacetate). Michael additions of cuprates or of CuCl-doped Grignard reagents to the dioxinone produce 6,6-disubstituted dioxanones (10 examples) bearing a CF₃ group in the 6-position. In most cases this addition is highly diastereoselective, with the new substituent winding up in the trans position. There are, however, surprising exceptions, such as the product formed with benzylmagnesium chloride which is an abnormal adduct with a p-quinoid structure ( 26 ) and with the newly introduced group in the cis position with respect to the t-Bu group. The structures of four trisubstituted dioxanones bearing CF₃ groups are determined by X-ray crystal structure analysis (Figure 1, Table 1), one of them including the absolute configuration (by anomalous diffraction). Besides the well-known sofa, a twist-boat conformation of dioxanones appears to be favorable. The solution conformations of the different types of CF₃-substituted dioxanones are derived from Nuclear Overhauser NMR measurements and compared with the crystal structures (Figure 3).     

Synthesis and conformational and configurational studies of diastereoisomeric O-protected 4-(arylsulfonimidoyl)butane-1,2,3-triols

Chiral sulfoximines have applications as transition-state mimicking enzyme inhibitors, as peptide isosteres and as chiral auxiliaries in synthesis. To access the required O-protected 4-(arylsulfonimidoyl)butane-1,2,3-triols, 4S,5S-di(hydroxymethyl)-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane (prepared from diethyl R,R-tartrate) was converted into its monobenzyl ether. Mitsunobu-like coupling with thiophenols gave 4S,5R-4-(benzyloxymethyl)-2,2-dimethyl-5-(arylthiomethyl)-1,3-dioxolanes. Sulfoxidation and S-imination (trifluoroacetamide, iodosobenzene diacetate, rhodium acetate) proceeded without stereoselectivity, giving inseparable diastereomeric mixtures of 4S,5R,S(±)-4-(benzyloxymethyl)-2,2-dimethyl-5-(N-(trifluoroacetyl)arylsulfonimidoylmethyl)-1,3-dioxolanes. Removal of the trifluoroacetyl protection allowed chromatographic separation of the diastereomeric 4S,5R,S(±)-4-(benzyloxymethyl)-2,2-dimethyl-5-(arylsulfonimidoylmethyl)-1,3-dioxolanes. The configurations at sulfur were determined by X-ray crystallography and some analysis of the solution and solid-state conformations was carried out. The resulting O-protected 4-(arylsulfonimidoyl)butane-1,2,3-triols are of use in developing enzyme inhibitors.     

Asymmetric synthesis of all isomers of α-methyl-β-phenylserine

This report describes the synthesis of enantiomerically pure (2R,3R)-, (2R,3S)-, (2S,3S)- and (2S,3R)-2-amino-3-hydroxy-2-methyl-3-phenylpropanoic acids, four quaternary α-amino acids, using a stereodivergent synthetic route and starting from (S)- and (R)-N-Boc-N,O-isopropylidene-α-methylserinals. The key step involves the asymmetric Grignard additions to the above chiral aldehydes, in which high levels of asymmetric induction are observed.     

Asymmetric total synthesis of (20S)-Camptothecin using a chiral auxiliary strategy

An asymmetric eight-step total synthesis of (20S)-camptothecin, starting from the known compound tert-butyl (2-chloroquinolin-3-yl)methylcarbamate, is described. A Heck reaction followed by an intramolecular Michael addition to form the C-ring provides the first key step in this synthesis. The construction of the 20(S) chiral center relies on a chiral auxiliary-mediated Michael addition using (2R,5R)-2-tert-butyl-5-ethyl-1,3-dioxolan-4-one as the auxiliary.     

Practical and efficient synthesis of chiral 2,4-disubstituted oxazolines from β-phosphonoamides

Herein we report a practical and efficient method for the synthesis of optically active 2,4-disubstituted oxazolines (S)-1a–h in good to excellent yields. The target compounds were prepared in good yield through the Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons reaction of β-phosphonoamide 3 bearing l-phenylalaninol with commercially available aryl aldehydes followed by the cyclodehydration of the corresponding N-(cinnamoyl)-(S)-phenylalaninol derivatives (S)-2a–h. Additionally, the cyclodehydration of β-phosphonoamide (S)-3 followed by the Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons reaction of β-phosphono-oxazoline (S)-4 with aryl aldehydes also gave the 2,4-disubstituted oxazolines (S)-1a–h.     

Regio- and stereoselective SN2′ reaction of an allylic picolinate in the synthesis of LY426965

Allylic substitution of secondary γ,γ-disubstituted allylic picolinates with ArMgBr-based copper reagents was applied to the synthesis of LY426965. Reduction of (R)-6-(PMB-oxy)-3-hexyn-2-ol of 93% ee (PMB?=?p-MeOC₆H₄CH₂) using Red-Al gave (R,Z)-4-iodo-5-(PMB-oxy)hex-3-en-2-ol, which was later converted to the Me-substituted allylic picolinate by Pd-catalyzed coupling with MeZnI followed by esterification with picolinic acid. Allylic substitution with PhMgBr/Cu(acac)₂ proceeded with high anti S_N2′ selectivity (99%). Ozonolysis, addition of c-Hex-MgBr to the resulting aldehyde, and reductive amination with the piperazine derivative afforded LY426965.     

Asymmetric synthesis of the new marine epoxy lipid, (6S,7S,9S,10S)-6,9-epoxynonadec-18-ene-7,10-diol

An efficient and stereocontrolled process is described for the preparation of (6S,7S,9S,10S)-6,9-epoxynonadec-18-ene-7,10-diol, a marine epoxy lipid isolated from the brown alga, Notheia anomala. The key 2,3,5-trisubstituted tetrahydrofuran ring was constructed by stereoselective hydrogenation of the hemiketal derivative elaborated through nucleophilic addition of Grignard reagent in the presence of CeCl₃ to the highly functionalized lactone derived from L-galactono-1,4-lactone.     

Stereoselective synthesis of (2S,3S,7S)-3,7-dimethylpentadec-2-yl acetate and propionate, the sex pheromones of pine sawflies

The stereoselective synthesis of (2S,3S,7S)-3,7-dimethylpentadec-2-yl acetate (2) and propionate (3) was accomplished by utilizing the cheap and easily available chiron (R)-4-methyl-δ-valerolactone (4). The key steps were chelation-controlled addition of Gilmann reagent to chiral β-alkoxy aldehyde 12 and the Cu(I)-catalyzed coupling of Grignard reagent with bromoester 5 in the presence of NMP.     

Uncommon transformations of methyl (1S,2S,3R,4R)-2,3-isopropylidenedioxy-5-iodomethyl-2-tetrahydrofurylacetate initiated by bases

Methyl (1S,2S,3R,4R)-2,3-isopropylidenedioxy-5-iodomethyl-2-tetrahydrofurylacetate prepared in two stages from D-ribose acetonide underwent a series of uncommon transformations under the treatment with bases providing the following different products depending on the base applied: methyl 3-(5-acetyl-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxol-4-yl)propionate (DBU), methyl 2,3-isopropylidenedioxy-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-6-carboxylate (t-BuOK), methyl {(5R)-2,2-dimethyl-5-[(2R)-oxiranyl]-1,3-dioxolan-4-ylidene}propionate and methyl-(E)-3-{(4S,5R)-2,2-dimethyl-5-[(1R)-(2-oxiranyl)]-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl}-2-propenoate (t-BuOK and LDA).     

First asymmetric synthesis of a C2-symmetric 2-endo,6-endo-disubstituted bispidine

The enantioselective synthesis of a C₂-symmetric 2-endo,6-endo-disubstituted bispidine (3,7-diazabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane) has been accomplished for the first time. The key step was a Michael addition of the protected β-amino ester methyl (R)-3-{N-benzyl-N-[(S)-1-phenylethyl]amino}-3-phenylpropionate to its α-methylene derivative delivering an anti,anti-configured α,α′-methylene-bridged bis(β-amino ester) as the major diastereomer. Deprotection, reduction and cyclisation furnished (1R,2R,5R,6R)-2,6-diphenyl-3,7-bis((S)-1-phenylethyl)-3,7-diazabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane in six steps and 15% overall yield.     

A common and stereoselective strategy for the synthesis of N,O,O,O-tetra-acetyl d-ribo-(2S,3S,4R)-phytosphingosine and 2-epi-jaspine B

A common and stereoselective strategy for the synthesis of N,O,O,O-tetra-acetyl d-ribo-(2S,3S,4R)-phytosphingosine and 2-epi-jaspine B was achieved by using Grignard addition on N-benzyl sugar lactamine and Wittig olefination as key steps.     

Catalytic asymmetric hetero-Diels–Alder route to a key intermediate for the synthesis of calyxin L

A catalytic asymmetric formal synthesis of diarylheptanoid natural product calyxin L has been achieved by incorporating an enantio- and diastereoselective hetero-Diels–Alder (HDA) reaction, a Suzuki–Miyaura coupling, and a stereocontrolled catalytic hydrogenation of 2,4,6-trisubstituted dihydropyran as the key steps. The HDA reaction between 4-(4-benzyloxyphenyl)-2-triethylsilyloxy-1,3-butadiene and (4-benzenesulfonyloxyphenyl)propynal catalyzed by dirhodium(II) tetrakis[(R)-3-(benzene-fused-phthalimido)-2-piperidinonate], Rh₂(R-BPTPI)₄, provided cis-2,6-disubstituted tetrahydropyran-4-one in 91% yield with 91% ee.     

Stereoselective additions to the exocyclic CC bond of some α-alkylidene-(+)-camphor derivatives

Stereoselective additions to the exocyclic CC double bond of some (1R,3E,4S)-3-alkylidene-1,7,7-trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-ones and (1R,4E,5S)-4-alkylidene-1,8,8-trimethyl-2-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-3-ones were studied. All additions took place predominantly from the less hindered endo-face of the methylidene compounds to give the corresponding exo-adducts as the major isomers. Thus, catalytic hydrogenations afforded the α-alkylated (1R,3R,4R)-1,7,7-trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-ones and (1R,4R,5R)-1,8,8-trimethyl-2-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-3-ones in 28–100% de. Similarly, 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of 2,4,6-trisubstituted benzonitrile oxides gave the corresponding spiro cycloadducts in 66–100% de. The structures were determined by 2D NMR techniques, NOESY spectroscopy and X–ray diffraction.     

A stereoselective synthetic approach to (2S,3R)-N-(1′,1′-dimethyl-2′,3′-epoxypropyl)-3-hydroxytryptophan,a component of cyclomarin A

A stereoselective synthetic approach to (2S,3R)-N-(1′,1′-dimethyl-2′,3′-epoxypropyl)-3-hydroxytryptophan an amino acid contained in cyclomarin A was accomplished. The synthesis is based on a diastereoselective addition of an indole Grignard into a chiral serine aldehyde equivalent.