The first example of an enantiopure planar chiral hydroxyferrocene ligand

Lithiation of 2-ferrocenyl-4,4-dimethyloxazoline followed by addition of bis(trimethylsilyl)peroxide led to the isolation of air-stable 2-(2-hydroxyferrocenyl)-4,4-dimethyloxazoline. Repetition of this procedure on (S)-2-ferrocenyl-4-(1-methylethyl)oxazoline gave the lithium salt of (S)-2-((_pS)-2-hydroxyferrocenyl)-4-(1-methylethyl)oxazoline, a stable precursor to the first example of an enantiopure hydroxyferrocene ligand.     

Asymmetric synthesis of 3-substituted 8-hydroxy-3,4-dihydroisocoumarins from (S)-4-isopropyl-2-(2-methoxy-6-methylphenyl)oxazoline

Reaction of the laterally lithiated (S)-4-isopropyl-2-(2-methoxy-6-methylphenyl)oxazoline with p-tolualdehyde gave an inseparable mixture of the addition products in low diastereoselectivity. However, the (S,S)-product cyclized to the corresponding 3,4-dihydroisocoumarin faster than the (S,R)-product on silica gel, which allowed to be produced both enantiomers of 8-methoxy-3-(p-tolyl)-3,4-dihydroisocoumarin in moderate to good optical purity [S-enantiomer: 75% ee; R-enantiomer: 96% ee]. This procedure was applied to the short-step synthesis of optically active 3,4-dihydroisocoumarin natural products such as (R)-8-hydroxy-3-(1-tridecyl)-3,4-dihydroisocoumarin and (R)-phyllodulcin.     

The reaction of (Sp)-2-(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenecarboxylic acid with carbodiimide reagents: Characterisation of the acid anhydride and urea products

Interaction of (S_p)-2-(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenecarboxylic acid [(S_p)-1] with N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) and N-ethyl-N′-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]carbodiimide (EDC) have been investigated in order to study the reacting system itself and to characterise side-products typically arising during the diimide-promoted condensation of acid (S_p)-1 with nucleophiles. The reaction between (S_p)-1 and DCC was found to give preferentially the respective urea derivative in the absence of a base, and (S_p)-2-(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenecarboxylic anhydride [(S_p,S_p)-3] when the same reaction was performed in the presence of 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine (DMAP). With EDC, the preference for a reaction pathway was less pronounced: whereas the reaction without the base afforded exclusively the corresponding urea, that in the presence of DMAP yielded a mixture of the urea and anhydride (S_p,S_p)-3.     

Synthesis of (R)- and (S)-4-hydroxyisophorone by ruthenium-catalyzed asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of ketoisophorone

The first synthesis of (R)- and (S)-4-hydroxyisophorone by catalytic transfer hydrogenation of ketoisophorone is reported. Ruthenium catalysts containing commercially available chiral amino alcohols afforded 4-hydroxyisophorone in up to 97% selectivity and 97% ee. (R)- or (S)-4-Hydroxyisophorones with >99% ee were isolated by crystallization. The catalyst precursors [RuCl₂((S,R)-ADPE)(η⁶-p-cymene)] ((S,R)-ADPE=(1S,2R)-amino-1,2-diphenylethanol-N) and (R_Ru)-[RuCl((S,R)-ADPE⁻¹)(η⁶-p-cymene)] (ADPE⁻¹=amino-1,2-diphenylethanolato-N,O) were isolated for the first time and the X-ray crystal structure of the latter determined.     

Modified synthesis of methyl (1R,2R,3E,5R)-3-(hydroxyimino)-5-methyl-2-(1-methylethyl)-cyclohexanecarboxylate from (R)-4-menthen-3-one

A modified stereospecific synthesis of potentially biologically and pharmacologically active methyl (1R,2R,3E,5R)-3-(hydroxyimino)-5-methyl-2-(1-methylethyl)cyclohexanecarboxylate from (R)-4-menthen-3-one was developed using sequential 1,4-conjugate addition of Norman reagent catalyzed by CuI?CBF₃?Et₂O?CCuCl₂ and ozonolysis?Creduction of the intermediate (R,R,R)-vinylmenthone by hydroxylamine hydrochloridein MeOH.     

Synthesis, properties and complexation of (pS)-1-isocyano-2-methylferrocene, the first planar-chiral isocyanide ligand

Reaction of enantiomerically pure, planar-chiral (_pS)-1-bromo-2-methylferrocene (1) with phthalimide in the presence of Cu₂O produces (_pS)-1-phthalimido-2-methylferrocene (2), quantitative reduction of which with hydrazine hydrate affords (_pS)-1-amino-2-methylferrocene (3) with >99% ee. Formylation of amine 3 followed by dehydration of the resulting (_pS)-1-formamido-2-methylferrocene (4) provides (_pS)-1-isocyano-2-methylferrocene (5), the first example of a planar-chiral isocyanide ligand, in a good yield. Isocyanide 5 reacts with PdI₂ to give the crystallographically characterized chiral complex trans-[PdI₂{(_pS)-1-isocyano-2-methylferrocene}₂] (6). The redox behavior of 4, 5, and 6, accessed by cyclic voltammetry, is discussed.     

An investigation into the diastereoselective palladation of oxazoline appended cobalt metallocenes

The diastereoselective reactions of palladium acetate with (η⁵-(S)-2-(4-methylethyl)oxzazolinylcyclopentadienyl)(η⁴-tetraphenylcyclobutadiene)cobalt, which gives a planar chiral palladacycle with (_pR) configuration, and (η⁵-(S)-2-(4-dimethylethyl)oxzazolinylcyclopentadienyl)(η⁴-tetraphenylcyclobutadiene)cobalt, which results in the opposite (_pS) configuration, are shown to be a consequence of these reactions displaying thermodynamic and kinetic control, respectively.     

Synthesis and structure of chiral-at-metal complexes with the ligand (S)-2-[(Sp)-2-(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenyl]-4-isopropyloxazoline

Half-sandwich complexes of formula [(ηⁿ-ring)MClL]PF₆ [L = (S)-2-[(S_p)-2-(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenyl]-4-isopropyloxazoline; (ηⁿ-ring)M = (η⁵-C₅Me₅)Rh; (η⁵-C₅Me₅)Ir; (η⁶-p-MeC₆H₄iPr)Ru; (η⁶-p-MeC₆H₄iPr)Os] have been prepared and spectroscopically characterised. The molecular structures of the rhodium and iridium compounds have been determined by X-ray crystallography. The related solvate complexes [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)ML(Me₂CO)]²⁺ (M = Rh, Ir) are active catalysts for the Diels-Alder reaction between methacrolein and cyclopentadiene.     

Asymmetric intramolecular Pd(II)-catalysed amidocarbonylation of unsaturated amino alcohols

The first example of an asymmetric carbonylative bicyclisation of racemic N-protected 1-amino-pent-4-ene-3-ols (±)-1 catalysed by palladium(II) with chiral bis(oxazoline) ligands was investigated. The kinetic resolution of (±)-1 in the presence of chiral catalyst, p-benzoquinone in acetic acid under carbon monoxide atmosphere afforded enantiomerically enriched derivatives of 2-oxa-6-azabicyclo[3.3.0]octan-3-ones (R,R)-2 and (S,S)-2, respectively.     

A new chiral oxazoline derived from camphor and its conversion to (R)-2-methylalkanoic acids

(1S,5R,7R)-(−)-10,10-Dimethyl-3-ethyl-4-oxa-2-azatricyclo[5.2.1.0^1,5]dec-2-ene 2 was prepared in 95% yield from (1S)-1-amino-2-exo-hydroxyapocamphane 1. The chiral oxazoline could be alkylated (LDA/THF/−78°C/RX, RX=ethyl, n-propyl, n-butyl iodides or benzyl bromide) to 3 in 95% yield and >95% diastereoselectivity, and the products hydrolysed to (R)-2-methylalkanoic acids 4 (43–47% yield, 93–98% e.e.).     

Synthesis of methyl (E)-2-[(3S,4S)-4-hydroxy-3-(pent-3-yloxy)-pyrrolidin-2-ylidene]propanoate and its unusual recyclization

Methyl (2E,4S,5S)-5-hydroxy-6-mesyloxy-2-methyl-4-(pent-3-yloxy)hex-2-enoate was synthesized from l-tartaric acid. Attempted substitution of the mesyloxy group by the reaction with NaN₃ directly led to methyl (E)-2-[(3S,4S)-4-hydroxy-3-(pent-3-yloxy)pyrrolidin-2-ylidene]propanoate. The latter on treatment with CF₃COOH and then NaOH gave methyl (2E)-2-methyl-4-[(S)-oxiran-2-yl]-4-(pent-3-yloxy)but-2-enoate.     

Enantioselective synthesis of (1S,2S)-1,2-di-tert-butyl and (1R,2R)-1,2-di-(1-adamantyl)ethylenediamines

An enantioselective synthesis of sterically congested 1,2-di-tert-butyl and 1,2-di-(1-adamantyl)ethylenediamines has been developed. Thus, diastereomerically pure trans-1-apocamphanecarbonyl-4,5-dimethoxy-2-imidazolidinones 6 and 7 were successfully prepared by optical resolution of (±)-trans-4,5-dimethoxy-2-imidazolidinone using apocamphanecarbonyl chloride (MAC-Cl) followed by stereospecific and stepwise substitution of the dimethoxyl groups using tert-butyl or 1-adamantyl cuprates to provide (4S,5S)-4,5-di-tert-butyl and (4R,5R)-4,5-di-(1-adamantyl)-2-imidazolidinones 12 and 15, respectively. Furthermore, N-acetyl 4,5-di-tert-butyl and 4,5-di-(1-adamantyl)-2-imidazolidinones 16a,b were enantioselectively deacetylated using a catalytic oxazaborolidine system to provide enantiopure 1-p-tolylsulfonyl-4,5-di-tert-butyl-2-imidazolidinones 12 and 19 and 1-p-tolylsulfonyl-4,5-di-(1-adamantyl)-2-imidazolidinones 18 and 20, respectively. Finally, N-p-tolylsulfonyl-2-imidazolidinones 12 and 15 were treated with 30 equiv of Ba(OH)₂·8H₂O to achieve ring cleavage and to provide (1S,2S)-1,2-di-tert-butylethylenediamine 3 and (1R,2R)-1,2-di-(1-adamantyl)ethylenediamine 4.     

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.     

A new strategy in enantioselective intramolecular hetero Diels-Alder reaction: catalytic double asymmetric induction during the tandem transetherification-intramolecular hetero Diels-Alder reaction of methyl (E)-4-methoxy-2-oxo-3-butenoate with rac-6-methyl-5-hepten-2-ol

An efficient catalytic double asymmetric induction during the tandem transetherification-intramolecular hetero Diels-Alder reaction has been developed. The enantioselective tandem reaction of methyl (E)-4-methoxy-2-oxo-3-butenoate with rac-6-methyl-5-hepten-2-ol has been achieved to provide methyl (2R,4aS,8aR)-3,4,4a,8a-tetrahydro-2,5,5-trimethyl-2H,5H-pyrano[4,3-b]-pyran-7-carboxylate in good yield with effective kinetic resolution (up to 95% selectivity), high diastereoselectivity (up to 92% de), and high enantioselectivity (up to 97% ee) in the presence of (S,S)-tert-Bu-bis(oxazoline)-Cu(SbF₆)₂ and 5 Å molecular sieves.     

Synthesis of dirhodium(II) tetrakis[methyl 1-(3-phenylpropanoyl)-2-oxaimidazolidine-4(S)-carboxylate], Rh2(4S-MPPIM)4

The large-scale synthesis with greatly improved yields of methyl 1-(3-phenylpropanoyl)-2-oxaimidazolidine-4(S)-carboxylate and the chiral dirhodium(II) carboxamidate derived from it, Rh₂(4S-MPPIM)₄, is described. The key step in the overall synthesis is the Hofmann rearrangement of Boc-protected l-asparagine, the procedure for which has been modified to achieve near quantitative yield.     

An approach to an asymmetric synthesis of stemofoline

A stereoselective Mannich reaction between an (S)-tert-butylsulfinimine and methyl (S)-4-benzyloxy-3-methylbutanoate followed by treatment with acid and N-protection was used to prepare methyl (2R,3S)-2-[(S)-2-benzyloxy-1-methylethyl]-3-tert-butoxycarbonylamino-6-methylenedecanoate. This was taken through to methyl (4R,5S)-4-[(S)-2-benzyloxy-1-methylethyl]-5-tert-butoxycarbonylamino-3,8-dioxododecanoate which on treatment with trifluoroacetic acid cyclised stereoselectively to give (1R,2S,4R,5S)-4-[(S)-2-benzyloxy-1-methylethyl]-1-butyl-2-methoxycarbonyl-8-tert-butoxycarbonyl-3-oxo-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane, a potential precursor of stemofoline. Reduction and N-deprotection of this ketone gave (1R,2S,3R,4R,5S)-4-[(S)-2-benzyloxy-1-methylethyl]-1-butyl-2-methoxycarbonyl-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-3-ol the structure of which was confirmed by X-ray diffraction.     

Ring opening of chiral 2-(1-aminoalkyl)epoxides by aliphatic thiols with total selectivity: synthesis of enantiopure 3-amino-1-(alkylthio)alkan-2-ols

We have studied the thiolysis of (2R,1′S)- or (2S,1′S)-2-(1-aminoalkyl)epoxides 1 or 2 in the presence of BF₃·OEt₂. The ring opening took place at C-3 with complete regioselectivity, affording the corresponding enantiopure (2R,3S)- or (2S,3S)-3-amino-1-(alkylthio)alkan-2-ols 3 or 4 in good or high yield. The structures of compounds 3 and 4 have been proposed based on HMBC NMR experiments.     

Fluorescence signaling of aromatic oxoanion inclusion within metal-ion activated molecular receptor complexes formed from 2-(9-anthracenylmethylamino)ethyl-appended cyclen

Our observations that 1-[2-[(9-anthracenylmethylamino)ethyl)-4,7,10-tris[(2S)-2-hydroxy-3-phenoxypropyl]-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane, L¹, complexes Cd(II) to form fluorescent [CdL¹]²⁺ which undergoes a fluorescence change when it acts as an aromatic anion receptor complex has caused us to explore further the potential development of an interesting sequestration/sensor system. Accordingly, three new, octadentate, fluorescent, macrocyclic ligands, 1-[2-[(9-anthracenylmethyl)((2S)-2-hydroxy-3-phenoxypropyl)amino]ethyl]-4,7,10-tris[(2S)-2-hydroxy-3-phenoxypropyl]-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane, (L²), 1-[2-[(9-anthracenyl-methyl)((2S)-2-hydroxy-3-(4??-methyl)phenoxypropyl)amino]ethyl]-4,7,10-tris[(2S)-2-hydroxy-3-(4??-methyl)phenoxypropyl]-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane, (L³), and 1-[2-[(9-anthracenylmethyl)((2S)-2-hydroxy-3-(4??-t-butyl)phenoxypropyl)amino]ethyl]-4,7,10-tris[(2S)-2-hydroxy-3-(4??-t-butyl)phenoxypropyl]-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane, (L⁴), have been prepared with a view to using their metal complexes to study aromatic anion sequestration. The eight-coordinate Cd(II) complexes of L² and L³, [CdL²](ClO₄)₂·5H₂O and [CdL³](ClO₄)₂·2H₂O·2Et₂O are both capable of acting as receptors for a range of aromatic oxoanions. This is demonstrated by perturbation of the anthracene derived fluorescence emission intensity as the guest aromatic oxoanion and the receptor complex combine. In 20% aqueous 1,4-dioxane the receptor complex/aromatic oxoanion association constants are in the range of 10^3.2 M^?1 (guest = p-hydroxybenzoate) to 10^7.3 M^?1 (guest = 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoate).     

Stereoselective synthesis of (1′S,3R,4R)-4-acetoxy-3-(2′-fluoro-1′-trimethylsilyloxyethyl)-2-azetidinone

A stereoselective synthesis of (1′S,3R,4R)-4-acetoxy-3-(2′-fluoro-1′-trimethylsilyloxyethyl)-2-azetidinone as a new fluorine-containing intermediate towards β-lactams, is described. The synthetic key step relies upon the dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) of ethyl 2-benzamidomethyl-4-fluoro-3-oxo-butanoate via asymmetric transfer hydrogenation catalyzed by [Ru(η⁶-arene)(S,S)-R₂NSO₂DPEN].     

Collagen cross-links: a convenient synthesis of tert-butyl-(2S)-2-[(tert-butoxycarbonyl)amino]-4-(2-oxiranyl)butanoate

An efficient synthesis of tert-butyl-(2S)-2-[(tert-butoxycarbonyl)amino]-4-(2-oxiranyl) butanoate (5), the key intermediate for preparation of collagen cross-links (+)-pyridinoline (Pyd, 1) and (+)-deoxypyridinoline (Dpd, 2) was described from (4S)-5-(tert-butoxy)-4-[(tert-butoxycarbonyl)amino]-5-oxopentanoic acid (6) in six steps. Also, an improved synthesis of iodide (2S)-(−)-4b was presented.