Studies on the Michael addition of naphthoquinones to sugar nitro olefins: first synthesis of polyhydroxylated hexahydro-11H-benzo[a]carbazole-5,6-diones and hexahydro-11bH-benzo[b]carbazole-6,11-diones

A strategy for the synthesis of the novel (6bR,7R,8S,9S,10S,10aR)-8-(benzyloxy)-7,9,10-trihydroxy-6b,7,8,9,10,10a-hexahydro-11H-benzo[a]carbazole-5,6-dione is reported. The key steps were the Michael addition of 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone to 1-nitrocyclohexene or 3-O-benzyl-5,6-dideoxy-1,2-O-isopropylidene-6-nitro-α-d-xylo-hex-5-enefuranose and the diastereoselective intramolecular Henry reaction of 3-O-benzyl-5,6-dideoxy-5-C-(3′-hydroxy-1′,4′-naphthoquinon-2′-yl)-1,2-O-isopropylidene-6-nitro-α-d-glucofuranose to give the key (1S,2S,3S,4R,5R,6R)-3-(benzyloxy)-1,2,4-trihydroxy-5-(3′-hydroxy-1′,4′-naphthoquinon-2′-yl)-6-nitrocyclohexane. When 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone was replaced by (1,4-dimethoxynaphthalen-2-yl)lithium, the novel (1R,2S,3S,4R,4aS,11bS)-2-(benzyloxy)-1,3,4-trihydroxy-1,2,3,4,4a,5-hexahydro-11bH-benzo[b]carbazole-6,11-dione was obtained.     

New analogues of fosfomycin—synthesis of diethyl (1R,2R)- and (1S,2R)-1,2-epoxy-3-hydroxypropylphosphonates

The trans-configured fosfomycin analogue, diethyl (1R,2R)-1,2-epoxy-3-hydroxypropylphosphonate, was synthesised via the intramolecular Williamson reaction from 3-O-protected (trityl or TBDMS) or even unprotected diethyl (1S,2R)-2,3-dihydroxy-1-mesyloxypropylphosphonate, which was obtained from the known diethyl (1S,2R)-2,3-O-cyclohexylidene-1,2,3-trihydroxypropylphosphonate. On the other hand, the cis-analogue, diethyl (1S,2R)-1,2-epoxy-3-hydroxypropylphosphonate, could only be prepared from diethyl (1R,2R)-2-hydroxy-1-mesyloxy-3-trityloxypropylphoshonate.     

Enantiomerically pure 4-amino-1,2,3-trihydroxybutylphosphonic acids

(1S,2R,3S)-, (1R,2R,3S)- and (1S,2R,3R)-4-amino-1,2,3-trihydroxybutylphosphonic acids were synthesised. The synthetic strategy involved preparation of the respective 4-azido-2,3-O-isopropylidene-l-threose or -d-erythrose, addition of dialkyl phosphites, separation of C-1 epimeric O,O-dibenzyl phosphonates, the reduction of azides and the removal of the protecting groups. The (2R,3S) and (2R,3R) configurations in the final products were secured by employing diethyl l-tartrate and d-isoascorbic acid as starting materials. The stereochemical course of the addition to the carbonyl groups in 4-azido-2,3-O-isopropylidene-l-threose or -d-erythrose followed that established earlier for 2,3-O-isopropylidene-d-glyceraldehyde and similar (3:1-4:1) diastereoselectivities were achieved.     

TARTROL-derived chiral phosphine–phosphite ligands and their performance in enantioselective Cu-catalyzed 1,4-addition reactions

By using (R,R,R,R)-2,3-dimethoxy-2,3-dimethyl-1,4-dioxane-5,6-bis-diphenylmethanol (TARTROL) as a chiral building block, a set of six modular phosphine–phosphite ligands (with a 1,2-phenylene backbone) were synthesized and evaluated in the Cu-catalyzed asymmetric 1,4-addition of Grignard reagents to cyclohexenone. Ligands with bulky substituents at the ortho- and para-positions to the chiral phosphite moiety were found to be the most selective affording the 1,4-addition products with enantioselectivities of up to 84% ee.     

Total synthesis of (+)-piericidin A1 and (−)-piericidin B1

The convergent syntheses of (+)-piericidin A₁ 1 and (?)-piericidin B₁ 2 have been achieved based on classical Julia-Lythgoe olefination between 4-hydroxy-5,6-dimethoxy-3-methyl-2-[5-oxo-3-methyl-pent-(2E)-enyl]-pyridine 3 corresponding to the left half of the final molecule, and chiral phenyl sulfones, (4R,5R)-2,4,6-trimethyl-5-methoxy-1-phenylsulfonyl-octa-(2E,6E)-diene 20 and (4R,5R)-5-tert-butyldimethylsiloxy-2,4,6-trimethyl-1-phenylsulfonyl-octa-(2E,6E)-diene 33, corresponding to the right halves. The construction of the two stereogenic centers in the right half of piericidins was achieved based on lipase-catalyzed hydrolysis of methyl (2,3)-anti-3-acetoxy-2,4-dimethyl-hex-(4E)-enoate (±)-22.     

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.     

A chiral cyclohex-2-enone carrying a hexofuranosyl substituent which directs highly stereoselective 1,4-conjugate additions

The reaction of (Z)-3-deoxy-3-C-[(hydroxymethyl)methylene]-1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-α-D-ribo-hexo-furanose, prepared from D-glucose, with 1,1-dimethoxycyclohexane in the presence of propanoic acid at 135°C, then at 200°C, provided two Claisen rearrangement products, namely (2R,3R,4S,5S)-2,3-(isopropylidene)dioxy-5-[(1R)-1,2-(isopropylidene)dioxyethyl]-4-[(1S)- and (1R)-2-oxocyclohexyl]-4-vinyltetrahydrofuran in a ratio of 3.3:1. L-Selectride^® reduction of the major product gave the corresponding (S)-cyclohexanol exclusively. In contrast, the Claisen rearrangement of the aforementioned allylic alcohol with 3,3-dimethoxycyclohexene proceeded with complete stereoselectivity to provide the corresponding 4-[(1S)-2-oxocyclohex-3-enyl]-4-vinyltetrahydrofuran exclusively. The 1,4-conjugate additions to the thus formed cyclohexenone derivative with dimethyl and divinylcuprates proceeded with complete π-facial selection to provide the 3-methylated and 3-vinylated cyclohexanone derivatives, both in high yields.     

Resolution of 1-n-propoxy-3-methyl-3-phospholene 1-oxide by diastereomeric complex formation using TADDOL derivatives and calcium salts of O,O′-dibenzoyl-(2R,3R)- or O,O′-di-p-toluoyl-(2R,3R)-tartaric acid

1-n-Propoxy-3-methyl-3-phospholene 1-oxide was prepared in optically active form by extending resolution methods applying (−)-(4R,5R)-4,5-bis(diphenylhydroxymethyl)-2,2-dimethyldioxolane (‘TADDOL’) and (−)-(2R,3R)-α,α,α′,α′-tetraphenyl-1,4-dioxaspiro[4.5]decan-2,3-dimethanol (‘spiro-TADDOL’), as well as the acidic and neutral Ca²⁺ salts of (−)-O,O′-dibenzoyl- and (−)-O,O′-di-p-toluoyl-(2R,3R)-tartaric acid. In one case, the diastereomeric complex could be identified by single crystal X-ray analysis. The absolute P-configuration of the enantiomers of the phospholene oxide was also determined by CD spectroscopy.     

Polynuclear Iron and Rhodium Complexes of 7-Oxa[2.2.1]hericene (2,3,5,6-tetramethylidenebicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-7-one)

μ-Carbonyl(Rh? Rh)di(η⁵-indenyl)[(2R,3S)-C,2,3,C-η-(2,3,4,5-tetramethylidenebicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-7-one)]]-dirhodium(I)(Rh? Rh) (7) and cis-μ-[(2R,3S,5R,6S))-C,2,3,C-η:C,5,6,C-η-(2,3,5,6-tetramethylidenebicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-7-one)]bis[μ-carbonyldi(η⁵-indenyl)dirhodium(I)(Rh? Rh)] ( 8 ) have been prepared. Complex 7 reacts with Fe₂(CO)₉ in hexane/MeOH and gives cis-μ-[(2R,3S,5R,6S] ( 9 ), trans-μ-[(2R,3S,5S,6R)-C,2,3,C-η: C,5,6, C-η-(2,3,5,6-tetramethylidenebicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-7-one)-μ-carbonyldi(η⁵-indenyl)dirhodium(I)(Rh? Rh)-(tricarbonyliron) ( 10 ), and, μ-carbonyl(Rh? Rh)[(2R,3S)-C,2,3,C-η-(2,3-dimethyl-5,6-dimethylidenebicyclo-[2.2.1]hept-2-en-7-one)]di(η⁵-indenyl)dirhodium(I)(Rh? Rh) ( 11 ). Treatment of 7-oxa[2.2.1]hericene ( 4 ) with Fe₂(CO)₉ or (cyclooctene)₂Fe(CO)₃ gave a 1:2 mixture of cis-μ-[(2R,3S,5R,6S)-] ( 12 ) and trans-μ-[(2R,3S,5S,6R)-C,2,3,C-η:C,5,6,C-η-(2,3,5,6-tetramethylidenebicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-7-one)]bis(tricarbonyliron)( 13 ).     

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).     

Reactive diene for synthesis of substituted catechols

(2R,3R)-2,3-Dimethoxy-2,3-dimethyl-5,6-dimethylene-1,4-dioxane has been synthesized and is a highly efficient diene in Diels-Alder reactions. Reaction with acetylenic dienophiles provides a simple route to substituted catechols. Reactions with some ethylenic dienophiles are also reported.     

Synthesis of Polypropionate Fragments Containing Tertiary-Alcohol Moieties. Cross-aldolisations with lithium enolates of 7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-one derivatives

The Diels-Alder adduct of 2,4-dimethylfuran to 1-cyanovinyl (1′R)-camphanate ((+)-(1R,2S,4R)-2-exo-cyano-1,5-dimethyl-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-endo-yl (1′R)-camphanate ((+)- 1 )) was converted into (+)-2,7-dideoxy-2,4-di-C-methyl-L -glycero- ((+)- 6 ) and -D -glycero-L -altro-heptono-1,4-lactone ((+)- 7 ), into (?)-(3R,4R,5R,6S)-3,4:5,7-bis(isopropylidenedioxy)-4,6-dimethylheptan-2-one ((?)- 22 ), and into (+)-(2R,3R,4R,5S,6S)-3,4:5,6-bis(isopropylidenedioxy)-2,4-dimethylheptanal ((+)- 34 ). Condensation of ((+)- 34 with the lithium enolate of (?)-(1R,4R,5S,6R)-6-exo-[(tert-butyl)dimethylsilyloxy]-1,5-endo-dimethyl-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1] heptan-2-one ((?)- 38 ; derived from (+)- 1 ) gave a 3:2 mixture of aldols (+)- 39 and (+)- 40 (mismatched pairs of a α-methyl-substituted aldehyde and (E)-enolate) whereas the reaction of (±)- 34 with (±)- 38 gave a 10:1 mixture of aldols (±)- 41 and (±)- 39 . A single aldol, (?)- 44 , was obtained to condensing (+)- 34 with the lithium enolate of (+)-(1S,4S,5S,6S)-5-exo-(benzyloxy)-1,5-endo-dimethyl-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-one ((+)- 43 ; derived from (?)-(1S,2R,4S)-2-exo-cyano-1,5-dimethyl-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-endo-yl (1′S)-camphanate ((?)- 3 )). All these cross-aldolisations are highly exo-face selective for the bicyclic ketones. The best stereochemical matching is obtained when the lithium enolates and α-methyl-substituted aldehydes can realize a ‘chelated transition state’ that obeys the Cram and Felkin-Anh models (steric effects). Polypropionate fragments containing eleven contiguous stereogenic centres and tertiary-alcohol moieties are thus prepared with high stereoselectivity in a convergent fashion. The chiral auxiliaries ((1R)- and (1S)-camphanic acid) are recovered at the beginning of the syntheses.     

Five-membered 2,3-dioxoheterocycles: LXXXVII. [4+2]-cycloaddition of alkyl vinyl ethers and 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran to 4,5-diaroyl-1 H-pyrrole-2,3-diones

1-Aryl-4,5-diaroyl-1H-pyrrole-2,3-diones react with alkyl vinyl ethers and 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran affording 1,4-diaryl-7a-aroyl-6-ethoxy-7,7a-dihydropyrano[4,3-b]pyrrole-2,3(1H,6H)-diones and 1,4-diaryl-9baroyl-1,7,8,9,9a-hexahydro-5aH-pyrano[3??,2??:5,6]pyrano[4,3-b]-pyrrole-2,3-diones respectively.     

Stereoselective reactions of a thioester butanediacetal with various electrophiles

The reactions of the lithium enolate of S-ethyl (2R,5R,6R)-5,6-dimethoxy-5,6-dimethyl-[1,4]-dioxane-2-carbothioate were investigated in the presence or absence of hexamethylphosphoramide (HMPA). Fluorination gave a single isomer with a much better yield than for the corresponding methyl ester. Alkylation with alkyl halides strongly depended upon their structure. Without HMPA, only methyl iodide reacted with moderate yield and gave a single isomer. In the presence of HMPA, all of the alkyl halides reacted almost quantitatively (81–98% yield) with moderate stereoselectivity and preferentially gave products with the alkyl chain attached at the equatorial position. The silyl enol ether obtained from the thioester had the opposite geometry to that obtained from the methyl ester, which thus explains the difference in stereoselectivity between these two compounds.     

A P,N ligand with central and axial chiral elements: synthesis and application in allylic alkylation

Two epimers of 4-({5-[(diphenylphosphino)methyl]-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl}methyl)-4,5-dihydro-3H-dinaphtho[1,2-e:2′,1′-c]azepine were prepared starting from (2S,3S)-4-amino-2,3-O-isopropylidenebutane-1,2,3-triol and (R)- and (S)-binaphthol. These ligands, in association with Pd(0) gave enantioselectivities up to 89% (S) and 36% (R) ee for the (S_A,4S,5R) and the (R_A,4S,5R) ligands in the alkylation of racemic 1,3-diphenylprop-2-enyl acetate with dimethyl malonate, showing that the binaphthyl moiety is the most important structure in the enantioselective creation of the new stereogenic center.     

Stereocontrolled transformation of nitrohexofuranoses into cyclopentylamines via 2-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptanes. Part 6: synthesis and incorporation into peptides of the first reported 2,3-dihydroxycyclopentanecarboxylic acid

Herein we report the intramolecular alkylation of nitronates of methyl-5-O-benzyl-3,6-deoxy-6-nitro-β-d-glucofuranoside and methyl-5-O-benzyl-3,6-deoxy-6-nitro-α-d-glucofuranoside into the corresponding 2-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane derivatives. Similarly, methyl-3-O-benzyl-5-deoxy-5-nitromethyl-β-d-xylofuranoside and methyl-3-O-benzyl-5-deoxy-5-nitromethyl-α-d-xylofuranoside were cyclized to (1R,3R,4S,5R,7R)-7-benzyloxy-3-methoxy-5-nitro-2-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane and (1R,3S,4S,5R,7R)-7-benzyloxy-3-methoxy-5-nitro-2-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane, respectively. These 2-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane derivatives were eventually transformed into enantiopure methyl (1S,2S,3R,4S,5R)-2-amino-2,3-dihydroxycyclopentanecarboxylate and this novel β-amino acid was incorporated into peptides.     

Studies on the transformation of nitrosugars into iminosugars III: synthesis of (2R,3R,4R,5R,6R)-2-(hydroxymethyl)azepane-3,4,5,6-tetraol and (2R,3R,4R,5R,6S)-2-(hydroxymethyl)azepane-3,4,5,6-tetraol

A divergent synthesis of the two novel polyhydroxylated azepanes (2R,3R,4R,5R,6R)-2-(hydroxymethyl)azepane-3,4,5,6-tetraol and (2R,3R,4R,5R,6S)-2-(hydroxymethyl)azepane-3,4,5,6-tetraol from d-mannose is described. The method involves a Henry reaction between dimethyl-tert-butylsilyl 2,3-O-isopropylidene-α-d-lyxo-pentodialdo-1,4-furanoside and 2-nitroethanol followed by a reductive ring closure of the resulting epimeric nitro aldols. Glycosidase inhibition tests showed that (2R,3R,4R,5R,6S)-2-(hydroxymethyl)azepane-3,4,5,6-tetraol exhibits a weak but selective inhibition against α-l-fucosides.     

Radical mediated stereoselective synthesis of (4R,8R)-4,8-dimethyldecanal, an aggregation pheromone of Tribolium flour beetles

(4R,8R)-4,8-Dimethyldecanal, a common aggregation pheromone of Tribolium flour beetles, has been synthesized from (R)-2,3-O-isopropylideneglyceraldehyde in 11 steps and 7% overall yield. The key step in the synthesis is the highly diastereoselective chelation-controlled radical reaction of ethyl (4S,5R)-4-benzyloxy-5,6-(isopropylidenedioxy)-2-methylenehexanoate with ethyl (R)-5-iodo-3-methylpentanoate performed in the presence of 7 equiv of MgBr₂·OEt₂.     

Stereoselective synthesis of 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-d-allitol and formal synthesis of (2S,3R,4S)-3,4-dihydroxyproline

A stereoselective synthesis of 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-d-allitol 1 and formal synthesis of (2S,3R,4S)-3,4-dihydroxyproline was achieved via the addition of vinylmagnesium bromide to the benzylimine derived from (R)-2,3-O-isopropylidene glyceraldehyde followed by N-allylation, ring-closing metathesis (RCM), and dihydroxylation.     

Highly Stereoselective Total Syntheses of 2,5-Anhydro-4-deoxy-D-ribo-hexonic Acid and of (1S)-1-C-(6-amino-7H-purin-8-yl)-1,4-anhydro-3-deoxy-D-erythro-pentitol (= cordycepin C)

Highly regio- and stereoselective monohydroxylation of the C?C bond of (+)-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-one ( 8 ) was achieved via LiAlH₄ reduction of the corresponding 5,6-exo-epoxy dimethyl acetal 9 . The reaction gave exclusively (–)-(1R, 2R, 4S)-6,6-dimethoxy-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-exo-ol ( 10 ) which was transformed into 2,5-anhydro-3-O-benzyl-4-deoxy-D -ribo-hexonic acid ( 15 ) and 2,5-anhydro-4-deoxy-D -ribo-hexonic acid ( 6 ) via ozonolysis of (–)-(1R, 4S, 6R)-6-exo-benzyloxy-2-{[(tert-butyl)dimethylsilyl]oxy}-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene ( 14 ). Cordycepin C ( 5 ) was derived from 6 and 4,5,6-triaminopyrimidine using CsF/DMF to generate the adenine heterocycle.