Analysis of primaquine and its metabolite carboxyprimaquine in biological samples: enantiomeric separation, method validation and quantification

The clinical formulation of primaquine (PQ) is a mixture of (−)‐(R)‐ and (+)‐(S)‐ primaquine enantiomers which may show different pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties. To assess the efficacy and toxicity of primaquine enantiomers, a method using LC‐MSD‐TOF has been developed. The enantiomers were well separated using a Chiralcel OD column (250 × 4.6 mm, 10 µm) with a linear gradient of mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile (0.1% formic acid) and aqueous ammonium formate (20 mm ; 0.1% formic acid) adjusted to pH 5.9 at a flow rate of 0.7 mL/min. The method was validated for linearity, precision, accuracy and limits of detection and quantification. The calibration curves were linear with all correlation coefficients being >0.999. The average recoveries of (−)‐(R)‐ and (+)‐(S)‐primaquine and (−)‐(R)‐ and (+)‐(S)‐carboxyprimaquine were 88 and 92%, respectively, in spiked human plasma and 89 and 93% respectively in spiked mouse plasma samples. The RSD of (−)‐(R)‐ and (+)‐(S)‐primaquine and (−)‐(R)‐ and (+)‐(S)‐carboxyprimaquine were 2.15, 1.74, 1.73 and 2.31, respectively, in spiked human plasma and 2.21, 1.09, 1.95 and 1.17% in spiked mouse plasma, respectively. The intra‐day and inter‐day precisions expressed as RSD were lower than 10% in all analyzed quality control levels. The method as reported is suitable for study of the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of the enantiomers of primaquine. The method was successfully applied to study plasma pharmacokinetic profile of enantiomers of primaquine and carboxyprimaquine in mice administered with primaquine in racemic form. The analytical method was found to be linear, accurate, precise and specific. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and Olfactory Evaluation of (+)‐ and (−)‐γ‐Ionone

The synthesis of enantiomerically pure (+)‐ and (−)‐γ‐ionone 3 is reported. The first step in the synthesis is the diastereoisomeric enrichment of 4‐nitrobenzoate derivatives of racemic γ‐ionol 12 . The enantioselective lipase‐mediated kinetic acetylation of γ‐ionol 13b afforded the acetate 14 and the alcohol 15 , which are suitable precursors of the desired products (−)‐ and (+)‐ 3 , respectively. The olfactory evaluation of the γ‐ionone isomers shows a great difference between the two enantiomers both in fragrance response and in detection threshold. The selective reduction of (−)‐ 3 and (+)‐ 3 to the γ‐dihydroionones (−)‐(R)‐ 16 and (+)‐(S)‐ 17 , respectively, allowed us to assign unambiguously the absolute configuration of the γ‐ionones.     

Validation of an enantioselective LC–MS/MS method to quantify enantiomers of (±)‐OTX015 in mice plasma: Lack of in vivo inversion of (−)‐OTX015 to its antipode

A highly sensitive, specific and enantioselective assay has been validated for the quantitation of OTX015 enantiomers [(+)‐OTX015 and (−)‐OTX015] in mice plasma on LC–MS/MS‐electrospray ionization as per regulatory guidelines. Protein precipitation was used to extract (±)‐OTX015 enantiomers and internal standard (IS) from mice plasma. The active [(−)‐OTX015] and inactive [(+)‐OTX015] enantiomers were resolved on a Chiralpak‐IA column using an isocratic mobile phase (0.2% ammonia/acetonitrile 20 : 80, v /v) at a flow rate of 1.2 mL/min. The total run time was 6.0 min. (+)‐OTX015, (−)‐OTX015 and IS eluted at 3.34, 4.08 and 4.77 min, respectively. The MS/MS ion transitions monitored were m/z 492 → 383 for OTX015 and m/z 457 → 401 for IS. The standard curves for OTX015 enantiomers were linear (r ² > 0.998) in the concentration range 1.03–1030 ng/mL. The inter‐ and intraday precisions were in the range 2.20–13.3 and 8.03–12.1% and 3.80–14.4 and 8.97–13.6% for (+)‐OTX015 and (−)‐OTX015, respectively. Both the enantiomers were found to be stable in a battery of stability studies. This novel method has been applied to the study of stereoselective oral pharmacokinetics of (−)‐OTX015 and unequivocally demonstrated that (−)‐OTX015 does not undergo chiral inversion to its antipode in vivo in mice.     

Enzyme‐Mediated Preparation of (+)‐ and (−)‐β‐Irone and (+)‐ and (−)‐cis‐γ‐Irone from Irone alpha®

The (−)‐ and (+)‐β‐irones ((−)‐ and (+)‐ 2 , resp.), contaminated with ca. 7 – 9% of the (+)‐ and (−)‐trans‐α‐isomer, respectively, were obtained from racemic α‐irone via the 2,6‐trans‐epoxide (±)‐ 4 (Scheme 2). Relevant steps in the sequence were the LiAlH₄ reduction of the latter, to provide the diastereoisomeric‐4,5‐dihydro‐5‐hydroxy‐trans‐α‐irols (±)‐ 6 and (±)‐ 7 , resolved into the enantiomers by lipase‐PS‐mediated acetylation with vinyl acetate. The enantiomerically pure allylic acetate esters (+)‐ and (−)‐ 8 and (+)‐ and (−)‐ 9 , upon treatment with POCl₃/pyridine, were converted to the β‐irol acetate derivatives (+)‐ and (−)‐ 10 , and (+)‐ and (−)‐ 11 , respectively, eventually providing the desired ketones (+)‐ and (−)‐ 2 by base hydrolysis and MnO₂ oxidation. The 2,6‐cis‐epoxide (±)‐ 5 provided the 4,5‐dihydro‐4‐hydroxy‐cis‐α‐irols (±)‐ 13 and (±)‐ 14 in a 3 : 1 mixture with the isomeric 5‐hydroxy derivatives (±)‐ 15 and (±)‐ 16 on hydride treatment (Scheme 1). The POCl₃/pyridine treatment of the enantiomerically pure allylic acetate esters, obtained by enzymic resolution of (±)‐ 13 and (±)‐ 14 , provided enantiomerically pure cis‐α‐irol acetate esters, from which ketones (+)‐ and (−)‐ 22 were prepared (Scheme 4). The same materials were obtained from the (9S) alcohols (+)‐ 13 and (−)‐ 14 , treated first with MnO₂, then with POCl₃/pyridine (Scheme 4). Conversely, the dehydration with POCl₃/pyridine of the enantiomerically pure 2,6‐cis‐5‐hydroxy derivatives obtained from (±)‐ 15 and (±)‐ 16 gave rise to a mixture in which the γ‐irol acetates 25a and 25b and 26a and 26b prevailed over the α‐ and β‐isomers (Scheme 5). The (+)‐ and (−)‐cis‐γ‐irones ((+)‐ and (−)‐ 3 , resp.) were obtained from the latter mixture by a sequence involving as the key step the photochemical isomerization of the α‐double bond to the γ‐double bond. External panel olfactory evaluation assigned to (+)‐β‐irone ((+)‐ 2 ) and to (−)‐cis‐γ‐irone ((−)‐ 3 ) the strongest character and the possibility to be used as dry‐down note.     

Synthesis of Aristotelia‐Type Alkaloids,Part XVI

Two independent total syntheses of the Aristotelia alkaloid (−)‐serratenone ((−)‐ 1 ) are disclosed, one starting with (−)‐α‐pinene, the other one with (S)‐α‐terpineol. These correlations led to a revision of the originally proposed absolute configuration of the natural product. In the course of systematic investigations of the behavior of the indole alkaloids (+)‐makomakine ((+)‐ 18 ) and (−)‐hobartine ((−)‐ 22 ) towards oxidizing reagents, it was found that treatment with I₂ leads to no less than five different products. Depending on the exact reaction conditions, each of them can be obtained as the major component in yields between 40 and 60%. One of these compounds was shown to be identical with the natural product (+)‐11,12‐didehydromakonin‐10‐one ((+)‐ 28 ).     

(−)‐(3S)‐3‐(Tosylamino)butano‐4‐lactone,a Versatile Chiral Synthon for the Enantioselective Synthesis of Different Types of Polyamine Macrocycles: Determination of the Absolute Configuration of (−)‐(R)‐Budmunchiamine A

(−)‐(3S)‐3‐(Tosylamino)butano‐4‐lactone ( 1 ) and its derivative ethyl (−)‐(3S)‐4‐iodo‐3‐(tosylamino)butanoate ( 2 ) are presented as easily accessible chiral building blocks for the construction of a range of different macrolactam frameworks important for the synthesis of naturally occurring polyamine alkaloids as well as for establishing a substance library of such compounds, including S‐containing derivatives for biological tests. In addition to that, the absolute configuration of the spermine alkaloid (−)‐(R)‐budmunchiamine A ( 3 ) from Albizia amara was determined by total synthesis according to the new methodology.     

反相高效液相色谱法测定不同烟叶中的游离氨基酸

用乙醇水溶液提取烟叶中的游离氨基酸并通过阳离子交换柱纯化后,采用OPA(邻苯二甲醛丹酰氯)、FMOC(9-芴基甲氧基羰酰氯)联合在线衍生反相高效液相色谱法对烤烟、白肋烟和香料烟中的游离氨基酸进行了对比研究,发现白肋烟、香料烟和烤烟的烟叶中所含游离氨基酸总量分别为14.0mg/g、7.7mg/g和3.3mg/g;三者在所含主要氨基酸种类上存在显著差别。用该方法考察了不同产地烟叶中游离氨基酸的含量。     

Synthesis of (S)-(−)- and (R)-(+)-O-methylbharatamine using a diastereoselective Pomeranz–Fritsch–Bobbitt methodology

Laterally lithiated (S)-(−)- and (R)-(+)-o-toluamides 6 with a chiral auxiliary derived from (S)- and (R)-phenylalaninol, respectively, were used as the building blocks and chirality inductors in the asymmetric modification of the Pomeranz–Fritsch–Bobbitt synthesis of isoquinoline alkaloids. Their addition to imine 2 proceeded with partial cyclization, giving isoquinolones (+)-7 and (−)-7 along with acyclic products, (−)-8 and (+)-8, respectively. LAH-reduction of (+)-7 and (−)-7, followed by cyclization, afforded both enantiomers of the alkaloid, (S)-(−)- and (R)-(+)-O-methylbharatamine 5, in 32% and 40% overall yield and with 88% and 73% ees, respectively.     

Direct TLC Resolution of (±)-Ketamine and (±)-Lisinopril by Use of (+)-Tartaric Acid or (−)-Mandelic Acid as Impregnating Reagents or Mobile Phase Additives. Isolation of the Enantiomers

Direct resolution of the enantiomers of the racemic drugs ketamine and lisinopril has been achieved by TLC. Enantiomerically pure tartaric acid and mandelic acid were used as chiral impregnating reagents and as mobile phase additives. When (−)-mandelic acid was used as chiral impregnating reagent use of ethyl acetate–methanol–water 3:1:1 (v/v) as mobile phase enabled successful resolution of the enantiomers of both compounds. For lisinopril, the mobile phase acetonitrile–methanol–water–dichloromethane 7:1:1:0.5 (v/v) was successful when (+)-tartaric acid was used as impregnating agent. When (+)-tartaric acid was used as mobile phase additive the mobile phase acetonitrile–methanol–(+)-tartaric acid (0.5% in water, pH 5)–glacial acetic acid 7:1:1.1:0.7 (v/v) enabled successful resolution of the enantiomers of lisinopril. The effects on resolution of temperature, pH, and the amount of chiral selector were also studied. The separated enantiomers were isolated and identified. Spots were detected with iodine vapour. LODs were 0.25 and 0.27 μg for each enantiomer of ketamine with (+)-tartaric acid and (−)-mandelic acid, respectively, whereas for lisinopril LODs were 0.14 and 0.16 μg for each enantiomer with (+)-tartaric acid (both conditions) and (−)-mandelic acid, respectively.

     

New Dimeric Monoterpenes and Dimeric Diterpenes from the Heartwood of Chamaecyparis obtusa var. formosana

Two dimeric monoterpenes obtusal A and B, and two dimeric diterpenes obtusanol A and B, along with (−)‐(S)‐citronellol, (−)‐(S)‐citronellic acid, (+)‐borneol, (+)‐sugiol, and (−)‐6,12‐dihydroxyabieta‐5,8,11,13‐tetraen‐7‐one, have been isolated from the heartwood of Chamaecyparis obtusa var. formosana and were characterized by spectroscopic means, including 2D‐NMR techniques and chemical methods. Synthesis of (−)‐obtusal A and (+)‐obtusal B were carried out.     

Enantioselective determination of R‐(−)‐manidipine and S‐(+)‐manidipine in human plasma by a sensitive and selective chiral LC–MS/MS assay

A sensitive and selective liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometric (LC–MS/MS) assay method has been developed and validated for the enantioselective determination of manidipine in human plasma using isotope‐labeled compounds as internal standards. After solid‐phase extraction, R ‐(−)‐manidipine and S ‐(+)‐manidipine were chromatographed on a Chiralpack IC‐3 C₁₈ column using a isocratic mobile phase composed of 2 mm ammonium bicarbonate and acetonitrile (15:85, v /v). The precursor ion to product ion transitions for the enantiomers and internal standards were monitored in the multiple reaction monitoring and positive ionization mode using an API‐4000 mass spectrometer. The method was linear over the concentration range of 0.05–10.2 ng/mL for both enantiomers. The precision and accuracy results over five concentration levels in five different batches were well within the acceptance limits. The mean extraction recovery was >80% for both enantiomers. A variety of stability tests were executed in plasma and in neat samples, which complies with the FDA guidelines. After complete validation, the method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study of a manidipine 20 mg oral dose in 10 healthy South India subjects under fasting conditions. The assay reproducibility is shown through incurred samples reanalysis of 20 subject plasma samples.     

Asymmetric Syntheses of New Polyhydroxylated Quinolizidines: Cross‐Aldol Reactions of 7‐Oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptan‐2‐one and 3a,4a,7a,7b‐Tetrahydro[1,3]dioxolo[4,5]furo[2,3‐d]isoxazole‐3‐carbaldehyde Derivatives

The cross‐aldolization of (−)‐(1S,4R,5R,6R)‐6‐endo‐chloro‐5‐exo‐(phenylseleno)‐7‐oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptan‐2‐one ((−)‐ 25 ) and of (+)‐(3aR,4aR,7aR,7bS)‐ ((+)‐ 26 ) and (−)‐(3aS,4aS,7aS,7bR)‐3a,4a,7a,7b‐tetrahydro‐6,6‐dimethyl[1,3]dioxolo[4,5]furo[2,3‐d]isoxazole‐3‐carbaldehyde ((−)‐ 26 ) was studied for the lithium enolate of (−)‐ 25 and for its trimethylsilyl ether (−)‐ 31 under Mukaiyama's conditions (Scheme 2). Protocols were found for highly diastereoselective condensation giving the four possible aldols (+)‐ 27 (`anti'), (+)‐ 28 (`syn'), 29 (`anti'), and (−)‐ 30 (`syn') resulting from the exclusive exo‐face reaction of the bicyclic lithium enolate of (−)‐ 25 and bicyclic silyl ether (−)‐ 31 . Steric factors can explain the selectivities observed. Aldols (+)‐ 27 , (+)‐ 28 , 29 , and (−)‐ 30 were converted stereoselectively to (+)‐1,4‐anhydro‐3‐{(S)‐[(tert‐butyl)dimethylsilyloxy][(3aR,4aR,7aR,7bS)‐3a,4a,7a,7b‐tetrahydro‐6,6‐dimethyl[1,3]dioxolo[4,5]‐furo[2,3‐d]isoxazol‐3‐yl]methyl}‐3‐deoxy‐2,6‐di‐O‐(methoxymethyl)‐α‐D ‐galactopyranose ((+)‐ 62 ), its epimer at the exocyclic position (+)‐ 70 , (−)‐1,4‐anhydro‐3‐{(S)‐[(tert‐butyl)dimethylsilyloxy][(3aS,4aS,7aS,7bR)‐3a,4a,7a,7b‐tetrahydro‐6,6‐dimethyl[1,3]dioxolo[4,5]furo[2,3‐d]isoxazol‐3‐yl]methyl}‐3‐deoxy‐2,6‐di‐O‐(methoxymethyl)‐α‐D ‐galactopyranose ((−)‐ 77 ), and its epimer at the exocyclic position (+)‐ 84 , respectively (Schemes 3 and 5). Compounds (+)‐ 62 , (−)‐ 77 , and (+)‐ 84 were transformed to (1R,2R,3S,7R,8S,9S,9aS)‐1,3,4,6,7,8,9,9a‐octahydro‐8‐[(1R,2R)‐1,2,3‐trihydroxypropyl]‐2H‐quinolizine‐1,2,3,7,9‐pentol ( 21 ), its (1S,2S,3R,7R,8S,9S,9aR) stereoisomer (−)‐ 22 , and to its (1S,2S,3R,7R,8S,9R,9aR) stereoisomer (+)‐ 23 , respectively (Schemes 6 and 7). The polyhydroxylated quinolizidines (−)‐ 22 and (+)‐ 23 adopt `trans‐azadecalin' structures with chair/chair conformations in which H−C(9a) occupies an axial position anti‐periplanar to the amine lone electron pair. Quinolizidines 21 , (−)‐ 22 , and (+)‐ 23 were tested for their inhibitory activities toward 25 commercially available glycohydrolases. Compound 21 is a weak inhibitor of β‐galactosidase from jack bean, of amyloglucosidase from Aspergillus niger, and of β‐glucosidase from Caldocellum saccharolyticum. Stereoisomers (−)‐ 22 and (+)‐ 23 are weak but more selective inhibitors of β‐galactosidase from jack bean.     

Crystal and molecular structure and determination of absolute configuration of two enantimers of methoxycarbonylmethyl carboxymethyl sulfoxide

Crystal and molecular structures of two enantiomers of methoxycarbonylmethyl carboxymethyl sulfoxide 2 ( 2(−) and 2(+) ) have been determined by X-ray methods. Crystals of 2 are orthorhombic, space group P2₁2₁2₁, Z = 4, with a = 5.1900(4) Å, b = 8.7960(7) Å, and c = 18.489(2) Å in 2(−) and a = 5.1897(7) Å, b = 8.787(1) Å, and c = 18.520(2) Å in 2(+). Structures 2(−) and 2(+) were refined to R factors equal to 0.041 and 0.052, respectively. The absolute configuration at the sulfur atom in enantiomer 2(−) with [α]equation/tex2gif-stack-1.gif = −20° (MeOH) is R_s. (In 2(+) , where [α]equation/tex2gif-stack-2.gif equals + 20° (MeOH), the absolute configuration at S atom is S_s.) In compounds 2(−) and 2(+) , a strong intermolecular hydrogen bond O3 H3 … O1 occurs.     

Synthesis and Optical Resolution of the Floral Odorant (±)‐2,3‐Dihydro‐2,5‐dimethyl‐1H‐indene‐2‐methanol,and Preparation of Analogues

The title compound (±)‐ 1 , a recently discovered, valuable, floral‐type odorant, has been synthesized by a straightforward procedure (Scheme 1). To determine the properties of the enantiomers of 1 , their separation by preparative HPLC and the determination of their absolute configuration by X‐ray crystallography were carried out (Figure). Furthermore, the analogues 2 – 6 were synthesized, either from differently methylated 2‐methylindan‐1‐ones (Schemes 2 and 3) or, in the case of the 2,4,6‐trimethylated homologue 6 , by a completely different synthetic approach (Scheme 4). An evaluation of (+)‐(S)‐ 1 , (−)‐(R)‐ 1 , and (±)‐ 1 showed only minor differences in terms of odor (Table).     

BF3-induced cyclobutane-opening of verbenone and its deconjugate homolog. Efficient preparation of o-mentha-1,8-dien-3-one and o-menth-1-en-3-one in optically active forms

Starting with (+)-verbenone, readily obtainable from (+)-nopinone, enantioselective preparation of (S)-(+)-4-isopropenyl-, (S)-(−)-4-isopropyl- and (R)-(+)-4-(1-acetoxy-1-methylethyl)-3-methyl-2-cyclohexen-1-ones was accomplished with little loss of stereochemical integrity via BF₃-induced cyclobutane-opening of (+)-4-(methylene)nopinone. As we have developed an efficient chemical transformation of (+)-nopinone into (−)-verbenone, the present syntheses of the above cyclohexenones are formal syntheses of their enantiomers from (+)-nopinone.     

Comparison of methods for extraction of tobacco alkaloids

Ultrasound and microwave techniques were used to extract tobacco alkaloids, and response surface methodology was used to optimize extraction conditions. Ultrasonic technique factors were temperature, 30-85 degrees C; time, 3-45 min; solvent volume, 8-80 mL. Microwave extraction factors were pressure, 15-75 psi; time, 3-40 min; power, 30-90% of the maximum magnetron power of 650 W. Soxhlet and solvent AOAC-modified extraction methods were also applied after some improvements. Nicotine, nornicotine, anabasine, and anatabine were quantified by gas chromatography. A steam distillation International Standards Organization method for total alkaloid evaluation was used as reference. The results obtained by the different methods were compared using a least squares deviation test. The ultrasonic and the proposed modified-AOAC extraction method were the more convenient with regard to practicability and precision. The relative deviations (n = 5) were as follows: For the ultrasonic method in low-level alkaloid tobaccos, 0.7% nicotine and 1.4-14% minor alkaloids; in high-level alkaloid tobaccos, 2.4% nicotine and 4.5-5.1% minor alkaloids. For the modified AOAC method in low-level alkaloid tobaccos, 0.9% nicotine and 2.4-11.6% minor alkaloids; and in high-level alkaloid tobaccos, 1.7% nicotine and 2.0-2.4% minor alkaloids.     

Preparative enantioseparation of loxoprofen precursor by recycling countercurrent chromatography with hydroxypropyl‐β‐cyclodextrin as a chiral selector

Recycling countercurrent chromatography was successfully applied to the resolution of 2‐(4‐bromomethylphenyl)propionic acid, a key synthetic intermediate for synthesis of nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drug loxoprofen, using hydroxypropyl‐β‐cyclodextrin as chiral selector. The two‐phase solvent system composed of n‐hexane/n‐butyl acetate/0.1 mol/L citrate buffer solution with pH 2.4 (8:2:10, v/v/v) was selected. Influence factors for the enantioseparation were optimized, including type of substituted β‐cyclodextrin, concentration of hydroxypropyl‐β‐cyclodextrin, separation temperature, and pH of aqueous phase. Under optimized separation conditions, 50 mg of 2‐(4‐bromomethylphenyl)propionic acid was enantioseparated using preparative recycling countercurrent chromatography. Technical details for recycling elution mode were discussed. The purities of both the S and R enantiomers were over 99.0% as determined by high‐performance liquid chromatography. The enantiomeric excess of the S and R enantiomers reached 98.0%. The recovery of the enantiomers from eluted fractions was 40.8–65.6%, yielding 16.4 mg of the S enantiomer and 10.2 mg of the R enantiomer. At the same time, we attempted to enantioseparate the anti‐inflammatory drug loxoprofen by countercurrent chromatography and high‐performance liquid chromatography using a chiral mobile phase additive. However, no successful enantioseparation was achieved so far.     

Reversed‐phase liquid chromatographic determination of enantiomers of atenolol in rat plasma using derivatization with Marfey's reagent

An HPLC method was established for enantioseparation of (R,S)‐atenolol (ATE) and determination of enantiomers in rat plasma. Marfey's reagent (1‐fluoro‐2,4‐dinitrophenyl‐5‐L‐alanine amide, FDNP‐L‐Ala‐NH₂, MR) was used as chiral derivatizing reagent with detection of diastereomers at 340 nm. It was shown that the R‐isomer eluted before the S‐isomer. The method was validated for linearity, repeatability, limits of detection and limit of quantification (LOQ). Recovery of ATE at LOQ was 92.8% for (R)‐ATE and 92.6% for (S)‐ATE. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

New Efficient Route to the Synthesis of Enantiopure (+) and (−) Bicyclo[2.2.1]heptan‐syn‐2,7‐diol using Lipase‐Catalyzed Transesterifications

Abstract

Starting from racemic 7,7‐dimethoxy‐1,4,5,6‐tetrachlorobicyclo[2.2.1]hept‐5‐en‐2‐endo‐ol (±)‐7, using lipase‐catalyzed transesterification and a series of standard procedures, we prepared the enantiomers (+)‐(2R, 7S) and (?)‐(2S, 7R) bicyclo[2.2.1] heptan‐2,7‐syn‐diol 3 through a new alternative route with excellent yields and enantiomeric excess (up to 99%). These chiral bidentate compounds possess very rigid molecular structures and a favorable stereochemistry for metal coordination, thus becoming promising chiral ligands for asymmetric synthesis.     

Bioinspired Total Synthesis of (−)‐Vescalin: A Nonahydroxytriphenoylated C‐Glucosidic Ellagitannin

The first total synthesis of the 2,3,5‐O ‐(S ,R )‐nonahydroxytriphenoylated (NHTP) C ‐glucosidic ellagitannin (−)‐vescalin was accomplished through a series of transformations mimicking the sequence of events leading to its biogenesis. The key steps of this synthesis encompass a Wittig‐mediated ring opening of a glucopyranosic hemiacetal, a C‐glucosidation event through a phenolic aldol‐type reaction, and a Wynberg–Feringa–Yamada‐type oxidative phenolic coupling, which forged the NHTP unit of (−)‐vescalin.