The First Stereoselective Total Synthesis of Naturally Occurring,Bioactive (3R,5R)‐1‐(4‐Hydroxyphenyl)‐7‐phenylheptane‐3,5‐diol and the Synthesis of Its Enantiomer

The first stereoselective total synthesis of the naturally occurring anti‐emetic diarylheptanoid (3R,5R)‐1‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)‐7‐phenylheptane‐3,5‐diol ( 1 ) was accomplished starting from 4‐hydroxybenzaldehyde and involving a Sharpless kinetic resolution and an asymmetric epoxidation as the key steps (Scheme 2). The enantiomer 1a of this compound was also simultaneously prepared.     

Enantioselective Synthesis of (−)‐(R)‐Cordiachromene and (−)‐(R)‐Dictyochromenol Utilizing Intramolecular SNAr Reaction

A simple and efficient enantioselective synthesis of chromene, (?)‐(R)‐cordiachromene ( 1 ), and (?)‐(R)‐dictyochromenol ( 2 ) has been accomplished. This convergent synthesis utilizes intramolecular S_NAr reaction for the formation of chroman ring, and Seebach's method of ‘self‐reproduction of chirality’ should establish the (R)‐configuration of the C(2) side chain as key steps.     

Enantiospecific Synthesis of (R)‐3‐Amino‐4‐(2,4,5‐trifluorophenyl)butanoic Acid Using (S)‐Serine as a Chiral Pool

Starting from (S)‐serine, a new method was developed for the synthesis of the β‐amino acid part of sitagliptin in ten steps and with an overall yield of 30%. The crucial step of the synthesis was the ring opening of N‐ and O‐protected (R)‐aziridin‐2‐methanol with (2,4,5‐trifluorophenyl)magnesium bromide to give N‐ and O‐protected (R)‐2‐amino‐3‐(2,4,5‐trifluorophenyl)propan‐1‐ol.     

Stereoselective Total Synthesis of the Natural Oxylipin (6R,7E,9R,10S)‐6,9,10‐Trihydroxyoctadec‐7‐enoic Acid

The stereoselective total synthesis of the natural oxylipin, (6R,7E,9R,10S)‐6,9,10‐trihydroxyoctadec‐7‐enoic acid, has been accomplished using nonanal and hexane‐1,6‐diol as the starting materials. The synthesis involves Sharpless kinetic resolution, asymmetric epoxidation, and olefin cross‐metathesis as the key steps.     

Studies toward the Synthesis of (R)‐(+)‐Harmicine

The study toward the total synthesis of (R)‐(+)‐harmicine is reported in this paper. The enantioselective synthesis of pyrrolidinone, the main backbone of of (R)‐(+)‐harmicine, has been completed by the methodology based on photo‐induced Wolff rearrangement of α‐diazo‐β‐carbonyl compounds.     

Alkyne‐Mediated Approach to the Synthesis of (4R,5R)‐5‐Hydroxy‐4‐decanolide and (−)‐Muricatacin

The asymmetric synthesis of two naturally occurring 5‐hydroxy‐γ‐butyrolactones, (4R,5R)‐5‐hydroxy‐4‐decanolide ( 1a ) and (?)‐muricatacin ( 2 ), is described using a general alkyne‐mediated strategy. The key steps involved are Sonogashira coupling for the desired carbon‐chain extension followed by Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation to construct the hydroxy‐lactone framework.     

Facile and Efficient Synthesis of (R)‐4‐(Benzyloxy)‐3‐methylbutanenitrile: Toward Developing a Versatile Chiral Building Block

A practical synthesis of (R)‐4‐(benzyloxy)‐3‐methylbutanenitrile, a potential chiral building block, from the corresponding α‐keto ester in high yield and large scale was presented.     

Enantioselective Synthesis of (−)‐(19R)‐Ibogamin‐19‐ol

The first total synthesis of the natural product (?)‐(19R)‐ibogamin‐19‐ol ((?)‐ 1 ) is reported (biogenetic atom numbering). Starting with L ‐glutamic acid from the chiral pool and (2S)‐but‐3‐en‐2‐ol, the crucial aliphatic isoquinuclidine (= 2‐azabicyclo[2.2.2]octane) core containing the entire configurational information of the final target was prepared in 15 steps (overall yield: 15%). The two key steps involved a highly effective, self‐immolating chirality transfer in an Ireland–Claisen rearrangement and an intramolecular nitrone‐olefin 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition reaction (Scheme 3). Onto this aliphatic core was grafted the aromatic moiety in the form of N(1)‐protected 1H‐indole‐3‐acetic acid by application of the dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) method (Scheme 4). Four additional steps were required to adjust the substitution pattern at C(16) and to deprotect the indole subunit for the closure of the crucial 7‐membered ring present in the targeted alkaloid family (Schemes 4 and 5). The spectral and chiroptical properties of the final product (?)‐ 1 matched the ones reported for the naturally occurring alkaloid, which had been isolated from Tabernaemonatana quadrangularis in 1980. The overall yield of the entire synthesis involving a linear string of 20 steps amounted to 1.9% (average yield per step: 82%).     

Efficient Synthesis of a Styryl Analogue of (2S,3R,4E)‐N2‐Octadecanoyl‐4‐tetradecasphingenine via Cross‐Metathesis Reaction

The first total synthesis of sphingolipid (2S,3R,4E)‐N²‐octadecanoyl‐4‐tetradecasphingenine ( 1a ), a natural sphingolipid isolated from Bombycis Corpus 101A, and of its styryl analogue 1b was achieved in good overall yield (Schemes 1 and 2). The key step involved the installation with (E) stereoselectivity of a long lipophilic chain or phenyl group on allyl alcohol derivative 3 via a cross‐metathesis reaction (→ 5a or 5b ). The N‐Boc protected 3 was easily accessible from (S)‐Garner aldehyde.     

X‐Ray Structure Analyses of syn/anti‐Conformers of N‐Furfuroyl‐, N‐Benzoyl‐, and N‐Picolinoyl‐Substituted (2R)‐Bornane‐10,2‐sultam Derivatives

The synthesis and the X‐ray structure of the three new N‐(arylcarbonyl)‐substituted derivatives 2a – 2c of (2R)‐bornane‐10,2‐sultam are presented and discussed. Direct comparison of the solid‐state analyses shows that the dipole‐directed SO₂/C?O anti‐/syn‐conformations may be very sensitive to weak electronic/electrostatic repulsions of the heteroatom lone pairs. The optimum interactions are reached when the lone pair of the β‐positioned heteroatom is oriented in the O(3)?C(11)? N(1) plane. Such rare syn‐conformations may be observed with at least up to 1.8 kcal/mol higher energy as compared to their ground states. Additionally, these anti/syn‐conformations are also very sensitive to external influences such as, for example, the crystal‐packing forces.     

The Stereoselective Total Synthesis of (6S)‐5,6‐Dihydro‐6‐[(2R)‐2‐hydroxy‐6‐phenylhexyl]‐2H‐pyran‐2‐one via Prins Cyclization

The stereoselective total synthesis of an antiproliferative and antifungal α‐pyrone natural product (6S)‐5,6‐dihydro‐6‐[(2R)‐2‐hydroxy‐6‐phenylhexyl]‐2H‐pyran‐2‐one is described. The key steps involved are the Prins cyclization, Mitsunobu reaction, and ring‐closing metathesis reaction.     

Synthesis of (−)‐Pinellic Acid and Its (9R,12S,13S)‐Diastereoisomer

The total synthesis of (?)‐pinellic acid with (9S,12S,13S)‐configuration and its (9R,12S,13S)‐diastereoisomer was achieved in high overall yields from a common intermediate derived from (+)‐L ‐diethyl tartrate.     

A Facile Synthesis of Enantiomerically Pure (R)‐6‐Arylbinols

This work reported a convenient method for the preparation of enantiomerically pure 6‐aryl‐2,2′‐dihydroxy‐1,1′‐binaphthyl derivatives starting from the commercially available (R)‐2,2′‐hydroxy‐1,1′‐binaphthyl [(R)‐ 1 ] via bromination, hydrolysis and Suzuki cross coupling reaction. This novel synthetic method was characterized with high regioselectivity, simple operation, mild reaction conditions, and excellent yield (up to 73%). On the other hand, we synthesized the target unknown compounds, which were confirmed by IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, MS and elementary analysis.     

Total Synthesis of (R,R,R)‐γ‐Tocopherol through Cu‐Catalyzed Asymmetric 1,2‐Addition

Based on the asymmetric copper‐catalyzed 1,2‐addition of Grignard reagents to ketones, (R,R,R)‐γ‐tocopherol has been synthesized in 36 % yield over 12 steps (longest linear sequence). The chiral center in the chroman ring was constructed with 73 % ee by the 1,2‐addition of a phytol‐derived Grignard reagent to an α‐bromo enone prepared from 2,3‐dimethylquinone.     

A Practical and Enantiospecific Synthesis of (−)‐(R)‐ and (+)‐(S)‐Piperidin‐3‐ols

A highly enantiospecific, azide‐free synthesis of (?)‐(R)‐ and (+)‐(S)‐piperidin‐3‐ol in excellent yield was developed. The key step of the synthesis involves the enantiospecific ring openings of enantiomerically pure (R)‐ and (S)‐2‐(oxiran‐2‐ylmethyl)‐1H‐isoindole‐1,3(2H)‐diones with the diethyl malonate anion and subsequent decarboxylation.     

Axially Dissymmetric Chiral (R)‐N,W‐Bis(2‐hydroxy‐3,5‐ditert‐butyl‐arylmethyl)‐1, 1′‐binaphthalene‐2,2′‐diamine as Chiral Ligands in the Reaction of Diethylzinc to Aldehydes†

Chiral ligand (A)‐N,N′‐Bis(2‐hydroxy‐3,5‐di‐tert‐butyl‐arylmethyl)‐1,1′‐binaphthalene‐2,2′‐diamine derived from the reduction of Schiff base (R)‐2,2′‐bis (3,5‐di‐tert‐butyl‐2‐hydroxybenzylideneamino)‐1, 1′‐binaphthyl with LiAlH₄, is fairly effective in the asymmetric addition reaction of diethylzinc to aldehydes by which good yields (46%‐94%) of the corresponding sec‐alcohols can be obtained in moderate ee (51%‐79%) with R configuration for a variety of aldehydes.     

Asymmetric Mannich‐Type Synthesis of N‐Phosphinyl α‐Aminophosphonic Acid Monoesters

A convenient diastereoselective synthesis of diisopropyl (2R,3R)‐3‐{{{(R/S)‐aryl[(diethoxyphosphinyl)amino]methyl}hydroxyphosphinyl}oxy}‐2‐hydroxybutanedioate through Mannich‐type reactions is reported. The reactions take place under mild conditions in good yields, and this makes it possible to introduce various substituents at the α‐position to the P‐atom of α‐aminophosphonates. The chiral diisopropyl (4R,5R)‐2‐chloro‐1,3,2‐dioxaphospholane‐4,5‐dicarboxylate ( 3 ) was found to be a good phosphonylating agent in this stereoselective reaction.     

Asymmetric Photochemical Synthesis of Chiral 5‐(R)‐(l)‐Menthyloxy‐4‐Cycloaminobutyrolactones

Through photocatalysed regiospecific and stereoselective additions of cycloamines to 5‐(R)‐(l)‐menthyloxy‐2 (5H)‐furanone (3), chiral 5‐(R)‐(l)‐menthyloxy‐4‐cycloaminobutyrolactones were synthesized. In the new asymmetric photoaddition of compound 3, the N‐methyl cyclic amines (4) gave novel chiral C? C photoadducts (5) in 24–50% isolated yields with d. e. ≥ 98%. However, the secondary cyclic amines (6) afforded optically active N? C photoadducts (7) in 34–58% isolated yields with d. e. ≥ 98% under the same condition. All the synthesized optically active compounds were identified on the basis of their analytical data and spectroscopic data, such as [α]₅₈₉²⁰, IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, MS and elementary analysis. The photosynthesis of chiral butyrolactones and its mechanism were discussed in detail.     

The chiral bioconversion and preclinical pharmacokinetic analysis of (R)‐(+)‐rabeprazole in beagle dogs by HPLC and HPLC‐MS/MS

In order to accurately investigate the preclinical pharmacokinetics of (R)‐(+)‐rabeprazole sodium injection, a reliable high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was developed using a Chiral‐AGP column to prove that there is no chiral bioconversion of (R)‐(+)‐rabeprazole to (S)‐(?)‐rabeprazole in beagle dogs after single intravenous administration of (R)‐(+)‐rabeprazole sodium injection. An HPLC–tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC‐MS/MS) method for analysis of (R)‐(+)‐rabeprazole was developed and validated, and used to acquire the pharmacokinetic parameters in beagle dogs. (R)‐(+)‐Rabeprazole and internal standard omeprazole were extracted from plasma samples by protein precipitation and separated on a C₁₈ column using methanol–5 mm ammonium acetate as mobile phase. Detection was performed using a turbo‐spray ionization source and mass spectrometric positive multi‐reaction monitoring mode. The linear relationship was achieved in the range from 2.5 to 5000 ng/mL. The method also afforded satisfactory results in terms of sensitivity, specificity, precision, accuracy and recovery as well as the stability of the analyte under various conditions, and was successfully applied to a preclinical pharmacokinetic study in beagle dogs after single intravenous administrations of (R)‐(+)‐rabeprazole sodium injection at 0.33, 2 and 6 mg/kg. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An Efficient Synthesis of Optically Active trans‐(3R,4R)‐3‐Acetoxy‐4‐aryl‐1‐(chrysen‐6‐yl)azetidin‐2‐ones Using (+)‐Car‐3‐ene as a Chiral Auxiliary

An efficient enantioselective synthesis of 3‐acetoxy trans‐β‐lactams 7a and 7b via [2+2] cycloaddition reactions of imines 4a and 4b , derived from a polycyclic aromatic amine and bicyclic chiral acid obtained from (+)‐car‐3‐ene, is described. The cycloaddition was found to be highly enantioselective, producing only trans‐(3R,4R)‐N‐azetidin‐2‐one in very good yields. This is the first report of the synthesis of enantiomerically pure trans‐β‐lactams 7a and 7b with a polycyclic aromatic substituent at N(1) of the azetidin ring.