Asymmetric synthesis of unsaturated, fused bicyclic proline analogues through amino alkylation of cyclic bis(allylsulfoximine)titanium complexes and migratory cyclization of delta-amino alkenyl aminosulfoxonium salts

Described is an asymmetric synthesis of new Delta(3a,4)-unsaturated, fused bicyclic proline analogues from cyclic bis(allylsulfoximine)titanium complexes and N-tert-butylsulfonyl imino ethyl ester. Treatment of the enantiomerically pure five-, six-, seven-, and eight-membered cyclic bis(allylsulfoximine)titanium complexes with the imino ester gave mixtures of the corresponding (E,syn)- and (Z,syn)-configured, delta-sulfoximine substituted, cyclic gamma,delta-unsaturated alpha-amino acid esters with high regio- and diastereoselectivities in good yields. Activation of the N-methyl sulfoximine group of these amino acid derivatives through methylation with Me(3)OBF(4) afforded in nearly quantitative yields the corresponding (dimethylamino)sulfoxonium salts. A novel migratory cyclization of these salts with DBU gave via an isomerization to the corresponding allylic (dimethylamino)sulfoxonium salts and an intramolecular substitution of the (dimethylamino)sulfoxonium group the enantio- and diastereomerically pure, bicyclic, N-tert-butylsulfonyl protected proline analogues having a six- and eight-membered unsaturated carbocyclic ring. Cyclization of the alkenyl (dimethylamino)sulfoxonium salts was independent of the configuration of the double bond. N,N-Dimethylphenylsulfinamide of > or =99% ee was obtained in good yield as a further reaction product. Conversion of the sulfinamide to N,S-dimethyl-S-phenylsulfoximine of > or =99% ee, the starting material for the synthesis of the allylic sulfoximines, had been accomplished previously. Finally, cleavage of the tert-butylsulfonyl protecting group with anhydrous acid furnished the fused bicyclic proline analogue containing an unsaturated six-membered ring in high yield.     

Highly selective addition of chiral,sulfonimidoyl substituted bis(allyl)titanium complexes to N-sulfonyl alpha-imino esters: asymmetric synthesis of gamma,delta-unsaturated alpha-amino acids bearing a chiral,electron-withdrawing nucleofuge at the delta-position

Selective addition of the chiral, sulfonimidoyl substituted bis(allyl)titanium complexes 5a-d, which are configurationally labile in regard to the Calpha-atoms, to N-toluenesulfonyl (Ts)-, N-2-trimethylsilylethanesulfonyl (SES)-, and N-tert-butylsulfonyl (Bus) alpha-imino ester (9a-c) in the presence of Ti(OiPr)(4) and ClTi(OiPr)(3) afforded with high regio- and diastereoselectivities in good yields the (syn, E)-configured beta-alkyl-gamma,delta-unsaturated alpha-amino acid derivatives 2a-g, which carry a chiral, electron-withdrawing nucleofuge at the delta-position and a cyclohexyl, an isopropyl, a phenyl, and a methyl group at the beta-position. Addition of the cyclic bis(allyl)titanium complex 14 to N-Bus alpha-imino ester 9c afforded with similar high regio- and diastereoselectivities the (E)- and (Z)-configured amino acid derivatives (E)-8 and (Z)-8. Reaction of complexes 5a-d with alpha-imino esters 9a-c in the presence of Ti(OiPr)(4) occurs stepwise to give first the mono(allyl)titanium complexes containing 2a-g as ligands, which react in the presence of ClTi(OiPr)(3) with a second molecule of 9a-c with formation of two molecules of 2a-g. Formation of (S,R,E)-configured homoallylic amines 2a-g entails Si,Re,E processes of alpha-imino esters 9a-c with the (R,R)-configured bis(allyl)titanium complexes (R,R)-5a-d and (R)-configured mono(allyl)titanium complexes (R)-17a-d, both of which are most likely in rapid equilibrium with their (S,S)-diastereomers and (S)-diastereomers, respectively. Interestingly, in the reaction of 5a-d with aldehydes, the (S,S)-configured complexes (S,S)-5a-d are the ones which react faster. Reaction of the N-titanated amino acid derivatives Ti-2a and Ti-2b with N-Ts alpha-imino ester 9a led to the highly diastereoselective formation of imidazolidinones 15a and 15b, respectively. Cleavage of the sulfonamide group of the N-Bus amino acid derivative 2d with CF(3)SO(3)H gave quantitatively the sulfonimidoyl functionalized amino acid H-2d. A Ni-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of the amino acid derivative 2e with ZnPh(2) led to a substitution of the sulfonimidoyl group by a phenyl group and furnished the enantiomerically pure protected alpha-amino acid Bus-1. Two new N-sulfonyl alpha-imino esters, the SES and the Bus alpha-imino esters 9b and 9c, respectively, have been synthesized from the corresponding sulfonamides by the Kresze method in medium to good yields. The N-SES alpha-imino ester 9b and the N-Bus alpha-imino ester 9c should find many synthetic applications, in particular, in cases where the N-Ts alpha-imino ester 9a had been used before.     

Investigation of the diastereoselective cyclization of bis-sulfonyl esters

[reaction: see text] The diastereoselective cyclization of bissulfonyl esters was investigated by varying both the size and the placement of the substituent on the tether adjoining the reacting centers. Substitution at either the alpha or beta position relative to the ester moiety gave diastereomeric ratios of (1-3):1, while gamma substitution dramatically increased the diastereomeric ratios to (6-20):1.     

Et2AlCl-promoted asymmetric phenylseleno group transfer radical cyclization reactions of unsaturated beta-hydroxy esters

We have developed a new method for asymmetric phenylseleno group transfer radical cyclization of unsaturated beta-hydroxy esters. Various unsaturated alpha-phenylseleno beta-hydroxy esters underwent radical cyclization in the presence of Et(2)AlCl in benzene with sunlamp irradiation at 25-30 degrees C to give mono- and bicyclic group-transferred products in an efficient and highly regioselective and diastereoselective manner. To rationalize the high diastereoselectivities observed in this reaction, we propose a model based on chelation control of the aluminum alkoxides that are formed in situ. We devised a general method to prepare chiral radical precursors from which we obtained highly optically pure mono- and bicyclic group transfer products. The synthetic advantages of this method are demonstrated by our formal total synthesis of (-)-wilforonide. This paper presents the first examples of stereoselective group transfer radical cyclizations that occur via 1,2-asymmetric induction.     

Stereocontrol in the EtAlCl(2)-induced cyclization of chiral gamma,delta-unsaturated methyl ketones to form cyclopentanones

EtAlCl(2)-induced cyclization of chiral gamma,delta-unsaturated ketones 11c and 17b takes place mainly from the expected face. The selectivity is modest for 11c (60:40) in which the large substituent is a primary alkyl group and the medium substituent is a methyl group and excellent for 17b (93:7) in which the large substituent is a cyclohexyl group and the medium substituent is a methyl group. The cyclization of 17a is anomalous, suggesting that the phenyl group has more than a simple steric effect.     

Synthesis of spirohydantoins and spiro-2,5-diketopiperazines via resin-bound cyclic alpha,alpha-disubstituted alpha-amino esters

A seven-step solid-phase synthesis of spirohydantoins and an eight-step solid-phase synthesis of spiro-2,5-diketopiperazines is reported. Key intermediate in the synthesis of both compound libraries is the resin-bound cyclic alpha,alpha-disubstituted alpha-amino ester, which can be obtained after selective homogeneous reduction of the aliphatic nitro ester using tin(II) chloride dihydrate. Nitro ester, in turn, is synthesized by a high-pressure-assisted [4 + 2] cycloaddition of resin-bound nitro alkene and butadiene, whereas nitro alkene is obtained by a Knoevenagel condensation of resin-bound nitro acetate with an imine. Novel spirohydantoins are obtained by isocyanate coupling with the resin-bound amino ester 5, followed by cyclization cleavage using a base. Novel spiro-2,5-diketopiperazines are obtained by PyBOP coupling of a Fmoc-protected amino acid with resin-bound amino ester, followed by Fmoc deprotection and an acid-assisted cyclization cleavage. After preparation of seven different resin-bound alpha,alpha-disubstituted alpha-amino esters, a 7 x 8 compound library of spirohydantoins was synthesized using eight different isocyanates, and a 7 x 8 compound library of spiro-2,5-diketopiperazines was synthesized using eight different Fmoc amino acids.     

Diastereoselective Zwitterionic Aza-Claisen Rearrangement: The Synthesis of Bicyclic Tetrahydrofurans and a Total Synthesis of (+)-Dihydrocanadensolide

The zwitterionic Claisen rearrangement of optically-active N-allyl pyrrolidines and various acid chlorides proceeds with high simple diastereoselection (internal asymmetric induction) and high 1,2-asymmetric induction, generating a new C-C bond adjacent to a chiral C-O function. The resulting gamma,delta-unsaturated amides were cyclized to the corresponding optically active gamma-butyrolactones, which are useful intermediates in natural product synthesis. On one hand, a diastereoselective iodocyclization of several lactones led to tetrahydrofurans with a substitution pattern representing a key intermediate of an oxa-prostaglandin synthesis. On the other, a one-pot procedure of a Swern oxidation and consecutive Grignard reaction of one gamma-lactone allowed a diastereoselective chain elongation. The final oxidation/cyclization sequence completed a highly efficient synthesis of the (+)-dihydrocanadensolide or its C-3 epimer, respectively.     

Preparation of alpha-(2,2-diphenylhydrazino)lactones and related compounds by radical cyclization: use of glyoxylic acid hydrazone derivatives

Glyoxylic acid diphenylhydrazone (2a) and the corresponding O-benzyloxime (2b) are easily esterified in high yield by beta-bromo alcohols. The resulting esters undergo radical cyclization to alpha-(2,2-diphenylhydrazino)- or alpha-[(phenylmethoxy)amino]lactones on treatment with tributyltin hydride. Esters for radical cyclization were also made using a beta-(phenylseleno) alcohol and an enol ether. Several derivatives of glyoxylic acid were evaluated, but none was as effective as 2a or 2b. The imine 28 was prepared by an indirect route; it undergoes radical cyclization with displacement of the nitrogen substituent (28 --> 30) so that an alpha-amino lactone can be generated by acid hydrolysis of the cyclization product.     

Stereoselective formal [3 + 2] cycloaddition of N-alkylidene glycine ester anions to chiral Fischer alkenylcarbene complexes. Asymmetric synthesis of 3,4,5-trisubstituted prolines

The reaction between N-alkylidene glycine ester enolates, generated from glycine esters aldimines with LDA in THF at low temperature, and chiral alkoxyalkenylcarbene complexes of chromium provided directly 2,4,5-trisubstituted-3-pyrrolidinylcarbene complexes with total exo selectivity and very high syn and facial diastereoselectivity when carbene complexes bearing the (-)-8-phenylmenthyloxy group were employed. Oxidation of the metal carbene moiety followed by basic hydrolysis of the esters afforded enantiomerically highly enriched syn,exo-3,4,5-trisubstituted prolines, whereas acidic hydrolysis of the same functional groups proceeded with epimerization at the alpha-amino acid center leading to anti,exo-3,4,5-trisubstituted prolines of very high enantiomeric purity as well.     

Asymmetric Pictet-Spengler Reactions：Synthesis of Tetrahydroisoquinoline Derivatives from L-DOPA

The cis-l-substituted-6,7-dihydroxy-l,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid esters 3 can be obtained in a highly diastereoselective fashion through 1,3-induction Pictet- Spengler(P-S) cyclization of the L-DOPA (3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine) methyl ester with aromatic or aliphatic aldehydes under acidic conditions. Their epimers 4 are also obtained as minor products.     

Total synthesis of (+)-epiquinamide

The stereoselective total synthesis of the novel quinolizidine alkaloid (+)-epiquinamide is presented, starting from the amino acid l-allysine ethylene acetal. Key steps in the synthesis involved a highly diastereoselective N-acyliminium ion allylation and a ring-closing metathesis reaction to provide the bicyclic skeleton. [reaction: see text]     

Functionalized cis- and trans-fused bicyclic alpha-amino acids via stereoselective double annulation and dequaternization reactions

Fused bicyclic alpha-amino acids can be prepared by a double Michael reaction of p-anisyl ethynyl ketone and a tethered diacid, cyclization via hydrogenation or hydration of a CN group, and oxidation of the p-anisyl group. The substitution level of the alpha-amino acids can be adjusted by decyanation or decarboethoxylation of the intermediates. Bicyclic alpha-amino acids prepared in this way include cis- and trans-perhydroisoquinoline-3-carboxylic acids and cis-perhydro-2-pyrindine-3-carboxylic acids of various substitutions and oxidation levels. The bicyclic alpha-amino acids may be regarded as functionalized and conformationally restricted analogues of proline, pipecolic acid, 2-aminoadipic acid, or glutamic acid.     

C‐Selective and Diastereoselective Alkyl Addition to β,γ‐Alkynyl‐α‐imino Esters with Zinc(II)ate Complexes

Since umpolung α‐imino esters contain three electrophilic centers, regioselective alkyl addition with traditional organometallic reagents has been a serious problem in the practical synthesis of versatile chiral α‐amino acid derivatives. An unusual C‐alkyl addition to α‐imino esters using a Grignard reagent (RMgX)‐derived zinc(II)ate was developed. Zinc(II)ate complexes consist of a Lewis acidic [MgX]⁺ moiety, a nucleophilic [R₃Zn]^? moiety, and 2 [MgX₂]. Therefore, the ionically separated [R₃Zn]^? selectively attacks the imino carbon atom ,which is most strongly activated by chelation of [MgX]⁺. In particular, chiral β,γ‐alkynyl‐α‐imino esters can strongly promote highly regio‐ and diastereoselective C‐alkylation because of structural considerations, and the corresponding optically active α‐quaternary amino acid derivatives are obtained within 5 minutes in high to excellent yields.     

Ring-closing metathesis of sulfoximine-substituted N-tethered trienes: modular asymmetric synthesis of medium-ring nitrogen heterocycles

A synthesis of sulfoximine-substituted medium-ring nitrogen heterocycles (MRNHs) having a high degree of substitution has been developed. Its key steps are the modular asymmetric synthesis of sulfoximine-substituted N-tethered trienes and their Ru-catalyzed ring-closing metathesis (RCM) reaction. The highly substituted N-tethered trienes were obtained enantio- and diastereopure through 1) the diastereoselective aminoalkylation of sulfoximine-substituted allyltitanium complexes with N-tert-butylsulfonyliminoester, 2) N-allylation of homoallylic N-sulfonyl amines, 3) allylation, hydroxylalkylation, and formylation of α-lithioalkenylsulfoximines, and 4) allylation of α-formylalkenylsulfoximines. The Ru-catalyzed RCM reaction of the sulfoximine-substituted 1,7,10- and 1,7,12-trienes stereoselectively afforded the corresponding nine-, ten-, and eleven-membered MRNHs in good yields. An interesting difference in reactivity was noted in the case of a sulfoximine-substituted 1,7,10-triene and its corresponding 1,10-diene. While the triene readily underwent a RCM reaction, the diene reacted only in the presence of Ti(OiPr)(4) under formation of the corresponding MRNH. The feasibility of a removal of the sulfoximine auxiliary and the N-sulfonyl protecting group from the MRNHs were demonstrated through reduction and cleavage, respectively, of a nine-membered heterocycle, both of which proceeded readily and gave the corresponding cyclic alkene and amine, respectively.     

Umpolung Reactions of α‐Imino Esters: Useful Methods for the Preparation of α‐Amino Acid Frameworks

This paper summarizes our recent efforts toward the development of tandem reactions utilizing umpolung reactions of α‐imino esters. A highly diastereoselective tandem N‐alkylation–Mannich reaction of α‐imino esters was developed. A tandem N‐alkylation–addition reaction of α‐imino esters derived from ethyl glyoxylate with various aldehydes proceeded to give 1,2‐amino alcohols. The same reaction also proceeded efficiently using a novel flow system comprising two connected microreactors. Novel syntheses of α‐quaternary alkynyl amino esters and allenoates were developed through the use of umpolung N‐addition to β,γ‐alkynyl α‐imino esters, followed by regioselective acylation. In addition, a highly regioselective tandem N‐alkylation–vinylogous aldol reaction of β,γ‐alkenyl α‐imino esters was discovered. N‐Alkylation of α‐iminophosphonates followed by a Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons reaction with aldehydes occurred to afford enamines, which can be used in a four‐component coupling reaction with methyl vinyl ketone. α‐N‐Acyloxyimino esters served as highly efficient substrates for the N,N,C‐trialkylation reaction to introduce various nucleophiles at the imino nitrogen and carbon atoms.     

Synthesis of optically active 2-alkyl-3,4-iminobutanoic acids. Beta-amino acids containing an aziridine heterocycle

All four stereoisomers of 2-alkyl-3,4-iminobutanoic acid, a novel class of beta-amino acids bearing a chemically versatile aziridine ring, were synthesized starting with aspartic acid. The synthetic strategy involves the introduction of an alkyl group at the beta-position of fully protected optically active aspartic acid followed by the construction of an aziridine ring making use of the alpha-carboxylate and alpha-amino groups. The alpha-carboxylate was reduced to the corresponding alcohol, which was then subjected to cyclization to form an aziridine ring with the N-protected amino group. Removal of the protection groups yielded the target compounds.     

alpha,beta-Unsaturated and cyclopropyl acyl radicals, and their ketene alkyl radical equivalents. Ring synthesis and tandem cyclisation reactions

Treatment of the alpha,beta-unsaturated selenyl esters 12 and 14 with Bu(3)SnH-AIBN produces the corresponding 2-cyclohexenones 13 and 15 respectively via presumed alpha-ketene alkyl radical intermediates, viz. 10. By contrast, the 2,7-diene esters 34 and 39 undergo tandem radical cyclisations producing diquinanes, e.g.(76%), and the corresponding allene-substituted alpha,beta-unsaturated selenyl ester 48 gives the cyclooctadienone 56 on treatment with Bu(3)SnH-AIBN in refluxing benzene. The selenyl ester 19 derived from chrysanthemic acid produces a mixture of the gamma,delta-unsaturated aldehyde 22 and the corresponding dimer 25a on treatment with Bu(3)SnH-AIBN. Furthermore, in the presence of methanol the only product from this reaction was the bis(methyl ester) dimer 25b, thereby lending further credence to the involvement of ketene alkyl radical intermediates in these reactions, and in the aforementioned reactions involving 2,6- and 2,7-diene selenyl esters. Treatment of the cyclopropane selenyl esters and , containing keto- and oxy-group functionality in their side-chains, with Bu(3)SnH-AIBN led to excellent syntheses of the enol lactone 66 (76%) and the trans-fused bicyclo[6.1.0]nonane 67 (80-95%) respectively.     

Asymmetric synthesis of 2,3-dihydrofurans and of unsaturated bicyclic tetrahydrofurans through alpha-elimination and migratory cyclization of silyloxy alkenyl aminosulfoxonium salts. Generation and intramolecular O,Si-bond insertion of chiral disubstituted beta-silyloxy alkylidene carbenes

Treatment of the bis(allylsulfoximine)titanium complexes derived from the beta-methyl-substituted acyclic allylic sulfoximines 13a and 13b with aldehydes gave with high selectivities the corresponding sulfoximine-substituted homoallylic alcohols which were isolated as the silyl ethers 15a-h. Methylation of sulfoximines 15a-h afforded the aminosulfoxonium salts 5a-h which upon treatment with LiN(H)tBu gave in high yields the enantio- and diastereomerically pure silyl-substituted 2,3-dihydrofurans 4a-h. Treatment of the titanium complexes derived from the cyclic allylic sulfoximines 17a, 17b, and ent-17c with p-MeOC(6)H(4)CHO delivered with high selectivities the corresponding sulfoximine-substituted cyclic homoallylic alcohols which were isolated as the silyl ethers 18a, 18b, and ent-18c, respectively. Methylation of sulfoximines 18a, 18b, and ent-18c furnished the aminosulfoxonium salts 8a, 8b, and ent-8c, respectively, whose treatment with LiN(H)t-Bu gave the enantio- and diastereomerically pure fused bicyclic 2,3-dihydrofurans 6a, 6b, and ent-6c, respectively, in good yields. It is proposed that the 1-alkenyl aminosulfoxonium salts 5a-h, 8a, 8b, and ent-8c react with the base under alpha-elimination and formation of the acyclic and cyclic beta-silyloxy alkylidene carbenes 2a-h, 7a, 7b, and ent-7c, respectively, which then undergo a 1,5-O,Si-bond insertion and 1,2-silyl migration. The cyclic aminosulfoxonium salts 8a, 8b, and ent-8c upon treatment with 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]-7-undecene did not undergo an alpha-elimination but suffered a novel migratory cyclization with formation of the enantio- and diastereomerically pure bicyclic tetrahydrofurans 9a, 9b, and ent-9c, respectively. It is proposed that the 1-alkenyl sulfoxonium salts 8a, 8b, and ent-8c are isomerized to the allylic aminosulfoxonium salts 10a, 10b, and ent-10c, respectively, which then suffer an intramolecular substitution of the (dimethylamino)sulfoxonium group by the silyloxy group followed by a desilylation. The syntheses of the 2,3-dihydrofurans 4a-h, 6a, and 6b and of the tetrahydrofurans 9a and 9b are accompanied by the formation of sulfinamide 16 of >or=98% ee, which can be converted via sulfoxide 28 of >or=98% to the starting sulfoximine 11 of >or=98% ee.     

Direct catalytic asymmetric mannich reactions of malonates and beta-keto esters

The first catalytic asymmetric direct Mannich reaction of malonates and beta-keto esters has been developed. Malonates react with an activated N-tosyl-alpha-imino ester catalyzed by chiral tert-butyl-bisoxazoline/Cu(OTf)(2) to give the Mannich adducts in high yields and with up to 96% ee. These reactions create a chiral quaternary carbon center and it is demonstrated that this new direct Mannich reactions provides for example a new synthetic procedure for the formation of optically active beta-carboxylic ester alpha-amino acid derivatives. A series of different beta-keto esters with various ester substituents has been screened as substrates for the catalytic asymmetric direct Mannich reaction and it was found that the best results in terms of yield, diastereo- and enantioselectivity were obtained when tert-butyl esters of beta-keto esters were used as the substrate. The reaction of different beta-keto tert-butyl esters with the N-tosyl-alpha-imino ester gave the Mannich adducts in high yields, diastereo- and enantioselectivities (up to 95% ee) in the presence of chiral tert-butyl-bisoxazoline/Cu(OTf)(2) as the catalyst. To expand the synthetic utility of this direct Mannich reaction a diastereoselective decarboxylation reaction was developed for the Mannich adducts leading to a new synthetic approach to attractive optically active beta-keto alpha-amino acid derivatives. Based on the stereochemical outcome of the reactions, various approaches of the N-tosyl-alpha-imino ester to the chiral bisoxazoline/Cu(II)-substrate intermediate are discussed.     

CamTHP*OH: a camphor-derived delta-lactol auxiliary for the effective desymmetrization of attached glycinamide residues. Asymmetric synthesis of alpha-amino carbonyl compounds

Stereoselective allylation of camphor and subsequent terminal hydroformylation affords a new delta-lactol auxiliary (camTHP*OH) on multigram scale. Stereoselective condensation with glycine dimethylamide and Cbz protection affords a camTHP*-desymmetrized glycinamide building block which undergoes efficient and highly diastereoselective metal enolate alkylation reactions. Acid-mediated deprotection affords the N-Cbz-protected alpha-amino amide products which may be converted directly to alpha-amino ketones on treatment with Grignard or organolithium reagents without loss of stereochemical integrity. [reaction: see text]