Synthesis and analytical properties of (S)-(+)-2-methoxy-2-(9-phenanthryl)propionic acid

2-Methoxy-2-(9-phenanthryl)propionic acid was synthesized as a novel chiral resolving agent. The absolute configuration of (+)-2-methoxy-2-(9-phenanthryl)propionic acid was determined to be S by using X-ray structural analysis of the (1R,2S,5R)-menthyl ester. In the crystal, the methoxyl and carbonyl groups of the ester are in a syn-periplanar position. The syn-periplanar conformations of (1R,2S,5R)-menthyl esters were also observed by the NMR analyses in CDCl₃. The utility of (S)-(+)-2-methoxy-2-(9-phenanthryl)propionic acid was exemplified by the resolution of (±)-3-octanol.     

Asymmetric synthesis of (−)-chicanine using a highly regioselective intramolecular Mitsunobu reaction and revision of its absolute configuration

First asymmetric synthesis of (−)-chicanine has been accomplished in 14 steps by employing the Evans asymmetric syn-selective aldol reaction, diastereoselective hydroboration and an regioselective, intramolecular Mitsunobu etherification. The absolute configuration of (+)- and (−)-chicanine has been revised to 2R,3S,4R,5R and 2S,3R,4S,5S, respectively, through CD analysis.     

Total synthesis of diastereomeric marine butenolides possessing a syn-aldol subunit at C10 and C11 and the related C11-ketone

Two diastereomeric marine butenolides, (4S,10R,11R)- and (4S,10S,11S)-4,11-dihydroxy-10-methyldodec-2-en-1,4-olide, possessing a syn-aldol subunit at C10 and C11 have been efficiently synthesized by using a three-module coupling strategy. The enantiomeric syn-aldol modules prepared by the syn-selective aldol reaction of the norephedrine-derived chiral propionates were coupled with the chiral C3-C7 module via 1,3-dithiane bisalkylation. The butenolide ring was then installed via a high-yielding ring-closing metathesis (RCM) reaction. Oxidation of the diastereomeric C11-alcohols furnished the corresponding C11-ketones, which are produced by the same marine microorganism.     

Asymmetric synthesis of syn-aryl-(2S,3R)-2-chloro-3-hydroxy esters via an engineered ketoreductase-catalyzed dynamic reductive kinetic resolution

We report here a generic, green synthesis of 17 valuable syn-aryl-(2S,3R)-2–chloro-3–hydroxy esters(syn-(2S,3R)-1) in 73%-99% isolated yields along with 6.1:1–83:1 dr and 31%～>99% ee, through dynamic reductive kinetic resolution of racemic aryl α–chloro β-keto esters(2) catalyzed by an engineered ketoreductase which was obtained via ep PCR-based directed evolution. The hectogram scale synthesis of syn-(2S,3R)-1b at a substrate concentration of 120 g/L showcased the application potential of th...     

Enzymatic synthesis of enantio- and diastereomerically enriched syn-3-nitro-2-pentanol

The enzymatic resolution of a commercial mixture of nitropentanol isomers was achieved. The syn isomer could be obtained in high de and ee in either the (2S,3S) or (2R,3R) configuration by combining an enantioselective enzymatic acylation or deacylation with a stereoselective elimination of the minor anti isomer.     

Asymmetric synthesis of syn and anti methyl 2,3-diamino-3-phenylpropanoate derivatives from N-substituted imines and Schöllkopf's bislactim ether

The reaction between differently N-substituted benzaldimines and (2R)-Schöllkopf's bislactim ether was studied: the azaenolate addition to imines followed by hydrolysis of the resulting adducts gave syn-(2S,3R) and anti-(2S,3S)-methyl 2,3-diamino-3-phenylpropanoate derivatives in good yields. The configurations of the newly formed stereocenters of α,β-diamino acids were assigned on the basis of the ¹H NMR analysis and by comparison with known products. The diastereoisomeric ratios were explained taking into account the effect of the substituent present on the imine nitrogen on the transition state stability. This method represents a new approach for stereoselective synthesis of α,β-diamino acids.     

Chiral building blocks from d-xylose and their application in synthesis of avocadotriol monoacetate

Facile routes to several enantiomerically pure flexible chiral building blocks carrying a hidden syn or anti 1,3-diol motif were developed with the inexpensive and readily available carbohydrate d-xylose as the starting material. Application of the newly developed chiral building blocks in total synthesis is exemplified through a synthesis of (2S,4S)- and (2S,4R)-avocadotriol. Both triols were selectively acetylated on the primary hydroxyl group in high yields with Novozyme 435/vinyl acetate. On the basis of comparison of the ¹H NMR, optical rotation, and melting point data, the natural avocadotriol 1-monoacetate was assigned to be of (2R,4R) configuration.     

A highly enantioselective chemoenzymatic synthesis of syn-3-amino-2-hydroxy esters: key intermediates for taxol side chain and phenylnorstatine

Starting from the bromination of α-ketoesters to obtain 3-bromo-2-oxoalkanoates and bioreduction with Saccharomyces cerevisiae entrapped in calcium alginate pellets with double gel layers, syn-(2R,3S)-β-bromo-α-hydroxy esters were obtained regioselectively in high yields and high ee. These chiral bromohydrins were cyclized to epoxides that were transformed into oxazolidines and finally opened by acidic hydrolysis to give syn-(2S,3S)-β-amino-α-hydroxy esters in high overall yields and high ee. The enantiomeric excesses of all the intermediates were maintained during the reaction sequence.     

Asymmetric synthesis of l-proline regio- and stereoselectively labelled with deuterium

A synthesis of l-proline where all of the ring methylenes are stereoselectively labelled with deuterium is described. A catalytic deuteration of protected 3,4-dehydro-l-proline using transition metal catalyst followed by RuO₄-oxidation gave a [3,4-D₂]pyroglutamic acid derivative. A syn-selective deuteration of the aminal derived from the pyroglutamate with Et₃SiD–BF₃·OEt₂ furnished (2S,3S,4R,5S)-[3,4,5-D₃]proline. The present procedure is also applied to the synthesis of the corresponding (2S,3S,4R,5R)-isomer.     

Enantiomeric phosphonate analogs of the docetaxel C-13 side chain

Addition of dimethyl phosphite to racemic N-Boc-phenylglycinal led to a 75:25 mixture of syn and anti dimethyl 2-[(tert-butoxycarbonyl)amino]-1-hydroxy-2-phenylethylphosphonates. The syn-diastereoisomer was obtained in 50% yield after a single crystallization. Resolution of the syn-isomer was achieved via the (S)-O-methylmandelate esters. Racemization-free ammonolysis gave both enantiomers in high enantiomeric excess. Benzoates of both N-Boc syn-enantiomers were transformed into dimethyl (1R,2R)- and (1S,2S)-2-(benzoylamino)-1-hydroxy-2-phenylethylphosphonates in good yields.     

Dye-sensitized photooxygenation of sugar furans: novel bis-epoxide and spirocyclic C-nucleosides

Dye-sensitized photooxygenation of 2-methyl 5-(2,3,5-tri-O-acetyl-β-d-ribofuranosyl)furoate leads to (1S,4R)-endo-peroxide, highlighting a high facial diastereoselectivity. This endo-peroxide rearranges into syn-(1R,2R:3S,4R)-diepoxide C-nucleoside, while by Et₂S-reduction followed by NEt₃ catalysis affords a spirocyclic C-nucleoside.     

Assignment of the relative and absolute configurations of acyclic secondary 1,2-diols

The NMR profiles (¹³C-δ, ¹H-δ, ¹H(OH)-δ, and ³J_H,H) of syn- and anti-diols—3a,b in achiral solvents were found to be very similar to each other. Contrarily, their Δδ (Δδ=δ_(R,R)-2−δ_(S,S)-2) behaviors in chiral bidentate NMR solvent (R,R)- and (S,S)-BMBA-p-Me (2) were found to be significantly different. On the basis of this NMR characteristic, a method has been developed to predict both the relative and absolute configurations of acyclic secondary 1,2-diols.     

Stereoselective synthesis of (2S,3S,7S)-3,7-dimethylpentadecan-2-ol and its propionate,the sex pheromones of pine sawflies

The stereoselective synthesis of (2S,3S,7S)-3,7-dimethylpentadecan-2-ol (diprionol) and its propionate, the sex pheromones of pine sawflies (Neodiprion sp. and other), in high enantiomeric purity was achieved from (1R,3S)-2,2-dichloro-3-methylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid. The carbon skeleton of diprionol was formed via copper-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions and diastereoselective methylation of the intermediate chiral α-methylbranched aldehyde with MeTi(Oi-Pr)₃ in the presence of [(R,R)-TADDOL]Ti(Oi-Pr)₂. The latter transformation leads to a syn-adduct with high stereoselectivity, which depends on the presence and configuration of the α-stereogenic center in the aldehyde. The diastereomeric purity of (2S,3S,7S)-diprionol can be substantially increased via crystallization of its 3,5-dinitrobenzoate.     

Novel fungi-catalyzed reduction of α-alkyl-β-keto esters

A screening of 15 fungi and yeast strains was carried out in fermentation processes to perform the diastereo- and enantioselective reduction of ethyl 2-methyl-3-oxobutanoate, to the corresponding (R¹,S¹)-3-hydroxy-2-methyl esters. Overall, biotransformations led to excellent conversions, as well as good to excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivities. A strain of Aureobasidium pullulans (CCM H1) was found to be the most efficient biocatalyst in terms of conversion (100%), syn:anti ratio (3:97), and enantiomeric excess (94% anti-(2S,3S) isomer). This biotransformation was successfully carried out on a preparative level as well. Other microorganisms, such as Fusarium graminearum (CCM HH 224), Aspergillus terreus (BFQU 121), Geotrichum candidum (CCM H38), Trichoderma koningii (ATCC 76666), and Aspergillus niger (CCM H21) also showed excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivities, combined with high conversions (>95% conversion, ?95% ee, and excellent syn:anti ratios). Many of the strains used in this work had scarcely been described as oxido-reducing agents, or had never been used with the substrates reported herein.     

Bifunctional acyclic nucleoside phosphonates: synthesis of chiral 9-{3-hydroxy[1,4-bis(phosphonomethoxy)]butan-2-yl} derivatives of purines

We report herein a general method for the synthesis of new types of chiral acyclic nucleoside four-carbon bisphosphonates. The alkylation of 2-amino-6-chloropurine and adenine was performed with (2S,3S)- or (2R,3R)-1,4-[bis(diisopropoxyphosphoryl)methoxy]]-3-[(methylsulfonyl)oxy]butan-2-yl benzoate. Alkylations provided (2R,3R) or (2S,3S) N⁹-substituted nucleobases, which were further converted to other derivatives. These conversions included either a modification of the nucleobase or transformation of the bisphosphonate chain. Subsequent deprotection of the diisopropyl esters with bromotrimethylsilane provided the resulting (2R,3R)- or (2S,3S)-bisphosphonic acids.     

Synthesis of (2R,3S)-isobutyl phenylisoserinate,the Taxol® side chain,from ethyl benzoylacetate

Reduction of ethyl 2-chloro-3-phenyl-3-oxopropionate with borohydride affords predominately the syn-chlorohydrin. Resolution of this ester with the lipase MAP-10 gives (2S,3R)-2-chloro-3-hydroxypropionic acid which after esterification with MeOH/HCl is converted to the cis-epoxide with potassium carbonate and DMF. Aminolysis of the epoxide with aqueous ammonia results in ring opening and amide formation. The amide is converted to an ester upon treatment with isobutyl alcohol and HCl(g) at 100°C. Neutralization then affords the Taxol^® side chain as the free amine.     

Chemoenzymatic synthesis of the C-13 side chain of paclitaxel (Taxol) and docetaxel (Taxotere)

Reduction of methyl 3-chloro-2-oxo-3-phenylpropanoate with various reducing agents gave syn- and anti-3-chloro-2-hydroxy-3-phenylpropanoates 3, which underwent an efficient lipase-catalyzed resolution. All four diastereomers were subsequently converted to N-benzoyl-(2R,3S)-3-phenylisoserine methyl ester, C-13 side chain analogues of paclitaxel (Taxol).     

Study of the origin of enantioselectivity in cyclopropanation reactions using the chiral iron carbene complex [(η5-C5H5)(CO)2FeCH[(η6-o-MeOC6H4)Cr(CO)3]]+

During our low temperature NMR studies we observed two rotational isomers of the carbene complex [(η⁵-C₅H₅)(CO)₂FeCH[(η⁶-o-MeOC₆H₄)Cr(CO)₃]]+ (3) with the O–Me group either anti or anti to the Fp moiety. While the Cr(CO)₃ group very effectively shields one face of the carbene complex from attack by the olefin, the presence of anti and anti isomers allows for the formation of both R and S configuration on C-1 of the cyclopropane through a backside or a frontside ring closure mechanism. The reaction of olefin with anti R-3 can result in R-configuration of the cyclopropane carbon C-1 through a frontside closure mechanism, or in S-configuration if backside closure takes place. In a similar manner, anti R-3 may produce S-configuration through frontside closure or R-configuration through backside closure. We previously have shown by crystallography that reaction the R-isomer of 3 with 2-methyl-propene induces predominantly a R-configuration at C-1 of the resulting cyclopropane (RR-(−)-2,2 dimethyl-1-o-methoxyphenyl(tricarbonyl chromium)cyclopropane, whereas the S-carbene results in the corresponding SS isomer. These findings are consistent with cyclopropane formation from the syn isomer through a frontside closure mechanism or from anti isomer through a backside closure mechanism. In the case of [(η⁵-C₅H₅)(CO)₂FeCH[(η⁶-o-MeC₆H₄)Cr(CO)₃]]+ (4), only anti isomer is observed and optical rotation data indicate that the methylcarbene exhibits the same asymmetric induction (i.e., R-carbene yields R-cyclopropane C-1 and S-carbene yields S-cyclopropane C-1) as the methoxy analogue, and the assumption of the anti isomer being the reactive one then implies that the reaction proceeds through a backside closure mechanism rather a frontside mechanism. It is very likely that this preference is also valid for the methoxy substituted complex 4. Our results on 4 indicate that the enantioselectivity of the cyclopropanation reaction is not determined by the relative abundance of the isomers. As the syn isomer is the more abundant one, the anti isomer has to be the more reactive one compared to the syn isomer. Interchange of syn and anti isomers occurs fast compared to the rate of reaction of the carbene with olefin. The fast rate of interchange of syn and anti isomers relative to the rate of reaction with olefin precludes the direct observation of any differential reactivity form a change in the syn to anti ratio in the NMR spectrum. However, the in general lower ee values observed for 3 compared with 4 are consistent with the fact that the reactive isomer is less abundant in this case. Our data thus show that enantioselectivity of cyclopropanation with “chiral at carbene” complexes is controlled by the higher reactivity of the anti isomer and occurs through a backside ring closure mechanism.     

Synthesis of tripeptide hydrolysate from papuamide A: determination of absolute stereostructure of β-methoxytyrosine

Four diastereomers, (2R,3R), (2S,3S), (2S,3R) and (2R,3S) at β-methoxytyrosine (β-OMeTyr), of the tripeptide hydrolysate, H-(S)-N-MeThr-β-OMeTyr-(S)-Hpr-OH, from papuamide A have been synthesized. Comparison of the ¹H NMR data of the natural hydrolysate with the four synthetic diastereomers unambiguously establishes the relative and absolute stereochemistry of the methoxytyrosine as 2R,3R.     

The synthesis of the insect pheromone (2S,3R,7R)-3,7-dimethyltridec-2-yl acetate from racemic 3,4-dimethyl-γ-butyrolactone by diastereoselective chiral resolution

The insect pheromone (2S,3R,7R)-3,7-dimethyltridec-2-yl acetate 1-Ac was prepared from diastereomerically enriched (2S¹,3R¹,7R)-1, which in turn was obtained by the coupling of racemic 3,4-dimethyl-γ-butyrolactone with (7S)-2-methyloctyllithium, followed by a Wolff–Kishner reduction of the resulting ketone. Conversion of (2S¹,3R¹,7R)-1 to the corresponding alkyl hydrogen phthalate and diastereomer salt formation with (S)-PhCHMeNH₂ provided after several crystallizations individual diastereomer, which was later transformed into target 1-Ac after hydrolysis and acylation.