Asymmetric synthesis of 3,4-diaminocyclohexanol and endo-7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-amine

Hydroboration of (1R,2R)-bis[(S)-1-phenylethylamino]cyclohex-4-ene and its derivatives with several borane reagents gave diastereomeric mixtures of the 3,4-diaminocyclohexanol derivatives. Cyclization of the prevalent diastereomer with the R configuration of the newly formed stereocenter under Mitsunobu conditions, followed by reductive removal of the N-substituents, gave the optically pure endo-7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-2-amine.     

Purine acyclic nucleosides. Unambiguous synthesis of acyclovir via a furazano[3,4-d]pyrimidine

Acyclovir was synthesized in five steps from 7-formamido-5-methylthiofurazano[3,4-d]pyrimidine 2 . Alkylation of 2 with 2-(benzoyloxy)ethoxymethyl chloride, followed by reductive cleavage of the furazan ring gave 9-[[2-(benzoyloxy)ethoxy]methyl]-2-(methylthio)adenine 5 . Hydrolysis of the 6-amino group of 5 , followed by amination of 7 with ammonia gave 9-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]guanine ( 1 , acyclovir).     

Synthesis of [4,5-Bis(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-dithiolan-2-yl]nucleosides as Potential Inhibitors of HIV(1)

The synthesis of [4,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-dithiolan-2-yl]nucleosides is described. (2S,3S)-1,2:3,4-Diepoxybutane (13) was reacted with potassium thiocyanate to give (2R,3R)-1,2:3,4-diepithiobutane (14). Thiiranering opening with acetate followed by deacetylation gave (2R,3R)-2,3-dithiothreitol (19) which was silylated and treated with trimethyl orthoformate to give the 2-methoxy-1,3-dithiolane 20. Condensation of 20 with silylated thymine, uracil, N(4)-benzoylcytosine and 6-chloropurine using a modified Vorbrüggen procedure, followed by deprotection, gave the nucleoside analogues. Compounds 26, 28, and 30 were found to be inactive when tested for anti-HIV activity in vitro.     

Chiral Cyclopentane-Based Mimics of D-myo-Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate from D-Glucose

Two routes from D-glucose to chiral, ring-contracted analogs of the second messenger D-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate are described. Methyl alpha-D-glucopyranoside was converted by an improved procedure into methyl 4,6-O-(p-methoxybenzylidene)-alpha-D-glucopyranoside (6) and thence into methyl 2-O-benzyl-3,4-bis-O-(p-methoxybenzyl)-alpha-D-gluco-hexodialdopyranoside (1,5) (14) in four steps. In the first ring-contraction method 14 was converted into methyl 2-O-benzyl-6,7-dideoxy-3,4-bis-O-(p-methoxybenzyl)-alpha-D-gluco-hept-6-enopyranoside (1,5) (15), which on sequential treatment with Cp(2)Zr(n-Bu)(2) followed by BF(3).Et(2)O afforded a mixture of (1R,2S,3S,4R,5S)-3-(benzyloxy)-4-hydroxy-1,2-bis[(p-methoxybenzyl)oxy]-5-vinylcyclopentane (16) and its 4S,5R diastereoisomer 17. Removal of the p-methoxybenzyl groups of 16 and subsequent phosphorylation and deprotection afforded the first target compound, (1R,2R,3S,4R,5S)-3-hydroxy-1,2,4-tris(phosphonooxy)-5-vinylcyclopentane (3). In the second route, intermediate 14 was subjected to SmI(2)-mediated ring contraction to give (1R,2S,3S,4R,5S)-3-(benzyloxy)-4-hydroxy-5-(hydroxymethyl)-1,2-bis[(p-methoxybenzyl)oxy]cyclopentane (20). Benzylation of 20 provided (1R,2S,3S,4R,5S)-3-(benzyloxy)-6-[(benzyloxy)methyl]-4-hydroxy-1,2-bis[(p-methoxybenzyl)oxy]cyclopentane (22) and (1R,2S,3S,4R,5S)-3,4-bis(benzyloxy)-5-(hydroxymethyl)-1,2-bis[(p-methoxybenzyl)oxy]cyclopentane (21), which were elaborated to the target trisphosphates (1R,2R,3S,4R,5S)-3-hydroxy-5-(hydroxymethyl)-1,2,4-tris(phosphonooxy)cyclopentane (4) and (1R,2S,3R,4R,5S)-1,2-dihydroxy-3,4-bis(phosphonooxy)-5-[(phosphonooxy)methyl]cyclopentane (5), respectively. Both 3 and 4 mobilized intracellular Ca(2+), but 4 was only a few fold less potent than D-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, demonstrating that effective mimics can be designed that do not bear a six-membered ring.     

Synthesis of a novel chiral binaphthyl phospholane and its application in the highly enantioselective hydrogenation of enamides

[formula: see text] A new chiral phosphine, (R,R)-1,2-bis[(R)-4,5-dihydro-3H-dinaphtho[2,1- c:1',2'-e]phosphepino]benzene [abbreviated as (R,R)-binaphane] was prepared on the basis of a practical route from a readily accessible enantiomerically pure binaphthanol. This ligand possesses both binaphthyl chirality and phospholane functionality. Excellent enantioselectivities (95-99.6% ee) have been observed in hydrogenation of an isomeric mixture of (E)- and (Z)-beta-substituted-alpha-arylenamides by using a Rh-binaphane catalyst. These enantioselectivities are the highest reported to date for this transformation.     

Accurate determinations of the extent to which the SE2' reactions of allyl-, allenyl- and propargylsilanes are stereospecifically anti

The allylsilanes, (R)-E- and (R)-Z-4-trimethylsilylpent-2-ene 16, were prepared in essentially an enantiomerically and geometrically pure state (er >99.95 : 0.05, E : Z and Z : E >99.95 : 0.05) by, successively, conjugate addition of lithium dimethylcuprate to N-[(E)-3'-trimethylsilylpropenoyl]-(7S)-10,10-dimethyl-4-aza-5-thiatricyclo[5.2.1.0(3,7)]decane 5,5-dioxide 13, to give N-[(E)-(3'R)-3'-trimethylsilylbutanoyl]-(7S)-10,10-dimethyl-4-aza-5-thiatricyclo[5.2.1.0(3,7)]decane 5,5-dioxide, removal of the chiral auxiliary with bromomagnesium benzyloxide, aldol reaction with acetaldehyde, and decarboxylative elimination, to give either the Z- or E-isomer. Both the E- and Z-allylsilanes 16 reacted with the adamantyl cation to give mixtures of E- and Z-4-adamantylpent-2-enes 17. The E-allylsilane gave the E- and Z-products in a ratio of 40 : 60, and the Z-allylsilane gave the E- and Z-products in a ratio of 99.8:0.02. The enantiomer ratio was >99:1 for the reaction of the E-allylsilane giving the Z-product, 90:10 for the E-allylsilane giving the E-product, and 95 : 5 for the Z-allylsilane giving the E-product, showing that the reactions were stereospecific to a high degree, but not always quite completely so. The allenylsilane, 2-trimethylsilylpenta-2,3-diene 29, was prepared enantiomerically highly enriched (er 99:1) by copper-catalysed reaction of methylmagnesium chloride with (S)-4-trimethylsilylbut-3-yn-2-yl camphor-10-sulfonate 28. The allenylsilane 29 reacted with the adamantyl cation to give (S)-4-adamantylpent-2-yne (S)-30 with the same level of enantiomeric purity, showing that the reaction was, as accurately as can be measured, completely stereospecific. The allenylsilane 29 also reacted with isobutanal in the presence of titanium tetrachloride to give 2,4-dimethylhept-5-yn-3-ol as a mixture of diastereoisomers, syn 31 and anti 32, in a ratio of 95:5, with the major diastereoisomer present as a mixture of enantiomers (4R,5R):(4S,5S) in a ratio of 99:1, showing that the reaction was, as accurately as can be measured, completely stereospecific in the anti sense. The corresponding propargylsilane, 4-trimethylsilylpent-2-yne 37, reacted with the adamantyl cation to give dienes assigned the structures 2,3-diadamantyl-1,3-pentadiene 42 and 2,4-diadamantyl-1,3-pentadiene 43, and reacted with isobutanal in the presence of titanium tetrachloride to give 2-(1-hydroxy-2-methylpropyl)-3-trimethylsilylpenta-1,3-dienes 45 and 2,4-dimethyl-5-trimethylsilylhept-5-en-3-one 46. The enantiomerically enriched propargylsilane (R)-1,3-bis(trimethylsilyl)but-1-yne (er >99.7:0.3) was prepared from the sultam 13, by removal of the chiral auxiliary with lithium ethoxide, reduction of the ethyl ester to give (R)-3-trimethylsilylbutanal 60, enol triflate formation, beta-elimination and C-silylation. The propargylsilane reacted with 2,4-dinitrobenzaldehyde in the presence of titanium tetrachloride to give the allenes, 1-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)-2-trimethylsilylpenta-2,3-dienols 63-66, as two diastereoisomers in a ratio of 2 : 1, each of which was a pair of enantiomers in a ratio of approximately 3:1, showing that there was considerable loss of stereospecificity, but that what there was was in the anti sense. A similar reaction with isobutanal gave a similar set of four allenes, 2-methyl-4-trimethylsilylhepta-4,5-dien-3-ol 73-76, but with a negligible degree of stereospecificity.     

Synthesis of 2,3,9,10,16,17,23,24-Octaalkynylphthalocyanines and the Effects of Concentration and Temperature on Their (1)H NMR Spectra

The syntheses of 3,4- and 4,5-diiodophthalonitriles are described. Coupling of the latter compound with Pd(PPh(3))(2)Cl(2) and 1-octyne, 1-heptyne, 1-hexyne, 1-pentyne, and 3,3-dimethyl-1-butyne gave a series of 4,5-dialkynylphthalonitriles. Hydrogenation of 4,5-bis(1-pentynyl)phthalonitrile and 4,5-bis(3,3-dimethyl-1-butynyl)phthalonitrile gave 4,5-dipentylphthalonitrile and 4,5-bis(3,3-dimethylbutyl)phthalonitriles. Condensation of the dialkynylphthalonitriles with lithium 1-pentoxide in 1-pentanol gave 2,3,9,10,16,17,23,24-octaalkynylphthalocyanines, while intervention of the intermediate dilithium phthalocyanines with zinc acetate gave the related zinc(II) phthalocyanines. (1)H NMR spectroscopy of these octaalkynylphthalocyanines exhibited large chemical shifts (1-2 ppm) of the internal and aromatic protons at concentrations ranging from 10(-)(2) to 10(-)(5) M and at temperatures from 27 to 147 degrees C. The effects of aggregation phenomena are discussed. The importance of reporting concentration and temperature values for NMR spectra of phthalocyanines is stressed.     

Synthesis of ansa-2,2′-bis[(4,7-dimethyl-inden-1-yl)methyl]-1,1′-binaphthyl and nsa-2,2′-bis[(4,5,6,7-tetrahydroinden1-yl)methyl]-1,1′-binaphthyltitanium and -zirconium dichlorides

2,2′-Bis[(4,7-dimethyl-inden-1-yl)methyl]-1,1′-binaphthyl and [2,2′-bis[(4,5,6,7-tetrahydroinden-1-yl)methyl]-1,1′-binaphthyl]titanium and -zirconium dichlorides have been synthesized from 2,2′-bis(bromomethyl)-1,1′-binaphthylene. 2,2′-Bis(bromomethyl)-1,1′-binaphthylene was alkylated with the lithium salt of 4,7-dimethylindene to yield 2,2′-bis[1-(4,7-dimethyl-indenylmethyl)]-1,1′-binaphthylene (S)-(−)-9. The lithium salt of 9 was metalated with either titanium trichloride followed by oxidation or zirconium tetrachloride to give titanocene dichloride (S)-(+)-10 and zirconocene dichloride 11. The known complexes ansa-[2,2′-bis[(1-indenyl)methyl]-1,1′-binaphthyl]titanium and -zirconium dichlorides were formed and hydrogenated to ansa-[2,2′-bis[(4,5,6,7-tetrahydroinden-1-yl)methyl]-1,1′-binaphthyl]titanium and -zirconium dichlorides 12 and 14 or to ansa-[2,2′-bis[(4,5,6,7-tetrahydroinden-1-yl)methyl]-5,5′,6,6′,7,7′,8,8′-octahydro-1,1′-binaphthyl]titanium dichloride 13 whose solid state structure was determined by X-ray crystallography. Complex 13 adopts a C₁-symmetrical conformation in the solid state, but is conformationally mobile in solution, exhibiting C₂-symmetry in its room temperature NMR spectra.     

The first enantiomerically pure [n]triangulanes and analogues: sigma-[n]helicenes with remarkable features

(M)-(-)- and (P)-(+)-Trispiro[2.0.0.2.1.1]nonanes [(M)- and (P)-3] as well as (M)-(-)- and (P)-(+)-tetraspiro[2.0.0.0.2.1.1.1]undecanes [(M)- and (P)-4]-enantiomerically pure unbranched [4]- and [5]triangulanes-have been prepared starting from racemic bicyclopropylidenecarboxylic [(1RS)-12] and exo-dispiro[2.0.2.1]heptane-1-carboxylic [(1RS,3SR)-13] acids. The optical resolutions of rac-12 and rac-13 furnished enantiomerically pure acids (S)-(+)-12, (R)-(-)-12, (1R,3S)-(-)-13, and (1S,3R)-(+)-13. The ethyl ester (R)-25 of the acid (R)-(-)-12 was cyclopropanated to give carboxylates (1R,3R)-26 and (1R,3S)-26. The ester (1R,3S)-26 and acids (1R,3S)-13 and (1S,3R)-13 were converted into enantiomerically pure methylene[3]triangulanes (S)-(-)- and (R)-(+)-28. An alternative approach consisted of an enzymatic deracemization of endo-[(1SR,3SR)-dispiro[2.0.2.1]heptyl]methanol (rac-20) or anti-[(1SR,3RS)-4-methylenespiropentyl]methanol (rac-18). This afforded (S)-(-)- and (R)-(+)-28 (starting from rac-20), as well as enantiomerically pure (M)-(-)- and (P)-(+)-1,4-dimethylenespiropentanes [(M)- and (P)-23] starting from rac-18. The methylenetriangulanes (S)-(-)- and (R)-(+)-28 were cyclopropanated furnishing (M)- and (P)-3. The rhodium-catalyzed cycloaddition of ethyl diazoacetate onto (S)-(-)- and (R)-(+)-28 yielded four diastereomeric ethyl trispiro[2.0.0.2.1.1]nonane-1-carboxylates in approximately equal proportions. The enantiomerically pure esters (1R,3S,4S)- and (1S,3R,4R)-30 were isolated by careful distillation and then transformed into [5]triangulanes (M)- and (P)-4 using the same sequence of reactions as applied for (M)- and (P)-3. The structures of the key intermediates (R)-12 and rac-31 were confirmed by X-ray analyses. Although [4]- and [5]triangulanes have no chromophore which would lead to any significant absorption above 200 nm, they have remarkably high specific rotations even at 589 nm with [alpha](20)D=-192.7 [(M)-3, c=1.18, CHCl(3))] or +373.0 [(P)-4, c=1.18, CHCl(3))]. This remarkable optical rotatation is in line with their helical arrangement of sigma bonds, as confirmed by a full valence space single excitation configuration interaction treatment (SCI) in conjunction with DFT computations at the B3LYP/TZVP//B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) level of theory which reproduce the ORD very well. Thus, it is appropriate to call the helically shaped unbranched [n]triangulanes the "sigma-[n]helicenes", representing the sigma-bond analogues of the aromatic [n]helicenes.     

Catalysis of oxo transfer to prochiral sulfides by oxovanadium(v) compounds that model the active center of haloperoxidases

The catalytic properties of a new class of chiral vanadium compounds--[(S,S,S)-VO(OMe)L1] (5), [(S,S)-VO(OMe)L2] (6), [(S,S)-VO(OMe)L3] (7), and [(R,R,R)-VO(OMe)L4] (8), as well as the system VO(OiPr)(3)/(R,R,R)-H(2)L4 [H(2)L1=(S,S)-bis(2-hydroxypropyl)-(S)-1-phenylethylamine, 1; H(2)L2=(S,S)-bis(2-hydroxypropyl)benzylamine, 2; H(2)L3=(S,S)-bis(2-hydroxypropyl)isopropylamine), 3; (H(2)L4)=(R,R)-bis(2-phenylethanol)-(R)-1-phenylethylamine, 4]--in the asymmetric oxidation of prochiral sulfides by organic hydroperoxides have been investigated. Particular attention has been paid to the factors that guide the discrimination between the two prochiral faces of the sulfides (methyl p-tolyl sulfide and benzyl phenyl sulfide), to steric implications stemming from the oxidant (cumyl hydroperoxide and tert-butyl hydroperoxide), and to the specific complex used. As an example, (S)-methyl p-tolyl sulfoxide was obtained in a 31 % enantiomeric excess by use of cumyl hydroperoxide as oxidant and complex 5 as the catalyst, after 150 min at 0 degrees C and with 100 % conversion of the sulfide. The crystal and molecular structures of 5 and 6 reveal the close relationship between these complexes and the active center of vanadate-dependent haloperoxidases: the vanadium is in a slightly distorted trigonal-bipyramidal environment with the nitrogen and the methoxy group in the axial positions, and the oxo and alkoxide functions of L2 and L3 are the plane. The presence and equilibrium situation of isomers of the catalysts in solution has been investigated by (51)V EXSY and variable-temperature multinuclear NMR spectroscopy. An intermediately formed peroxo (ROO(-)) vanadium complex was detected by (51)V NMR spectroscopy.     

A Tandem Horner-Emmons Olefination-Conjugate Addition Approach to the Synthesis of 1,5-Disubstituted-6-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octanes Based on the AE Ring Structure of the Norditerpenoid Alkaloid Methyllycaconitine

A novel Horner-Emmons olefination conjugate addition reaction of N-acetylamides to form 1,5-disubstituted-6-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octanes with two bridgehead quarternary carbon centers is reported. This reaction is a key step in an approach to the synthesis of small ring analogues based on the AE ring structure of the Delphinium norditerpenoid, methyllycaconitine (MLA) (1). Initially, 3-(hydroxymethyl)cyclohex-2-en-1-one (10) was selected as the starting material to these structures, but its generation proved inefficient. In contrast, the synthesis of 3-[(phenylthio)methyl]cyclohex-2-en-1-one (6) and 3-(1,3-dithian-2-yl)cyclohex-2-en-1-one (11) proceeded in good yield. Subsequent hydrocyanation, ketalization, reduction, acetylation, deprotection of the acetal, and Horner-Emmons olefination-conjugate addition reaction to form 1-[(phenylthio)methyl]-5-[(ethoxycarbonyl)methyl]-6-acetamido-6-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane (28), 1-(1,3-dithian-2-yl)-5-[(ethoxycarbonyl)methyl]-6-acetyl-6-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane (29), respectively, are reported, as well as for readily available 3-methylcyclohex-2-en-1-one (12). Studies on the Pummerer rearrangement of 28 and subsequent desulfurization and reduction to form an hydroxymethyl-substituted azabicyclo[3.2.1.]octane (40) and then selective protection to form a protected hydroxyethyl N-ethyl (hydroxymethyl)azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane (3) are also described.     

Lipase-catalysed resolution of 3,3′-bi-indolizines: The first preparative access to enantiomerically pure samples

The lipase-catalysed kinetic resolution of the axially chiral 3,3′-bis[1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-phenylindolizine] [(±)-1a] and the corresponding 3-hydroxypropyl derivative (±)-1b by acylation with vinyl acetate in the presence of lipases from different origins has been investigated. For the first time, enantiomerically pure 3,3′-biindolizine derivatives were obtained on a preparative scale by careful monitoring of the conversion.     

Synthesis of 4,5-dihydro-4-phenyl-3H-1,3,4-benzotriazepines

Several 4,5-dihydro-4-phenyl-3H-1,3,4-benzotriazepines were synthesized by conversion of 1-[(2-nitrophenyl)methyl]-1-phenylhydrazine to either 1-[(2-aminophenyl)methyl]-1-phenylhydrazine or 1-[(2-aminophenyl)-methyl]-2-methyl-1-phenylhydrazine. Ring closure of these intermediates with triethyl orthoacetate or triethyl orthopropionate gave the title compounds in overall yields of 40-60%.     

Direct synthesis of NNN-donor enantiopure scorpionate ligands by an efficient diastereoselective nucleophilic addition to imines

New enantiopure imines (1-9) with a chiral substrate to control the stereochemistry of a newly created stereogenic center have been synthesized by reaction of the commercially available (1R)-(-)-myrtenal and different primary amines. The diastereomerically enriched lithium-scorpionate compounds [Li(κ(3)-mobpza)(THF)] (10) (mobpza = N-p-methylphenyl-(1R and 1S)-1-[(1R)-6,6-dimethylbicyclo[3.1.1]-2-hepten-2-yl]-2,2-bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)ethylamide), [Li(κ(3)-mobpza)(THF)] (11) (mobpza = N-p-methoxyphenyl-(1R and 1S)-1-[(1R)-6,6-dimethylbicyclo[3.1.1]-2-hepten-2-yl]-2,2-bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)ethylamide), [Li(κ(3)-fbpza)(THF)] (12) (fbpza = N-p-fluorophenyl-(1R and 1S)-1-[(1R)-6,6-dimethylbicyclo[3.1.1]-2-hepten-2-yl]-2,2-bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)ethylamide), and [Li(κ(3)-clbpza)(THF)] (13) (clbpza = N-p-chlorophenyl-(1R and 1S)-1-[(1R)-6,6-dimethylbicyclo[3.1.1]-2-hepten-2-yl]-2,2-bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)ethylamide) were obtained by a diastereoselective 1,2-addition of an organolithium reagent to imines in good yield and with good diastereomeric excess (ca. 80%). The complexes [LiCl(κ(2)-R,R-fbpzaH)(THF)] (14) and [LiCl(κ(2)-R,R-clbpzaH)(THF)] (15) were obtained in enantiomerically pure form by the treatment of THF solutions of 12 or 13 with NH(4)Cl. The enantiomerically pure amines (R,R-mbpzaH) (16), (R,R-mobpzaH) (17), (R,R-fbpzaH) (18), and (R,R-clbpzaH) (19) were obtained by hydrolysis of the lithium-scorpionate compounds 10-13 with H(2)O. The lithium compound 12 was reacted with [TiCl(4)(THF)(2)] or [ZrCl(4)] to give the enantiopure complexes [MCl(3)(κ(3)-R,R-fbpza)] [M = Ti (20), Zr (21)]. The amine compound 18 reacted with [MX(4)] (M = Ti, X = O(i)Pr, OEt; M = Zr; X = NMe(2)) to give the complexes [MX(3)(κ(3)-R,R-fbpza)] (22-24). The reaction of Me(3)SiCl with [Zr(NMe(2))(3)(κ(3)-R,R-fbpza)] (24) in different molar ratios led to the halide-amide-containing complexes [ZrCl(NMe(2))(2)(κ(3)-R,R-fbpza)] (25) and [ZrCl(2)(NMe(2))(κ(3)-R,R-fbpza)] (26) and the halide complex 21. The isolation of only one of the three possible diastereoisomers of complexes 25 and 26 revealed that chiral induction from the ligand to the zirconium center took place. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by (1)H and (13)C{(1)H} NMR spectroscopy, and the X-ray crystal structures of 5, 12, 14, 15, and 24 were also established.     

The reaction of (4R,5R)- and (4S,5S)-4,5-epoxy-2(E)-hexenoates and secondary amines.

A reaction of methyl (4R,5R)-4,5-epoxy-2(E)-hexenoate 1 with N-benzylmethylamine gave a diastereomerically pure methyl (4R,5R)-4,5-epoxy-(3S)-N-benzylmethylamino hexanoate 6 and methyl (4S,5R)-4-N-benzyl-methylamino-5-hydroxy-2(E)-hexenoate 7. The former was chemoenzymatically converted to (-)-osmundalactone 11, which is an aglycone of osmundalin. On the other hand, the directly conjugated addition of dimethylamine to methyl (4S,5S)-4,5-epoxy-2(E)-hexenoate 1 followed by treatment with MeOH at 40 degrees C exclusively provided methyl (4R,5S)-4-dimethylamino-5-hydroxy-2(E)-hexenoate 16, which was converted into L-(-)-forosamine 18.     

An asymmetric synthesis of (+)-grandisol, a constituent of the aggregation pheromone of the cotton boll weevil, via a kinetic resolution

A novel approach to the asymmetric synthesis of (+)-grandisol, (1R, 2S)-isopropenyl-1-methylcyclobutaneethanol, involves the use of catalytic kinetic resolution of a primary allylic alcohol, [(1RS, 5SR)-5-methylbicyclo[3.2.0]hept-2-en-2-yl] methanol. The allylic alcohol is prepared in four steps from simple achiral materials involving the use of a modified Shapiro reaction. The resolved alcohol (95% ee) is then reduced in two steps to the corresponding methyl alkene, (1S,5R)-2,5-dimethylbicyclo[3.2.0]hept-2-ene. This alkene is converted to (+)-grandisol (95% ee), in three steps, by modified literature procedures.     

Stereocomplexity and stereoselective synthesis of triamine molecules bearing four chiral carbon centers: Stereodifferentiated preparation of all 10 stereoisomers of 2,6-bis[1-(1-phenylethylamino)ethyl]pyridines

Compounds (S,S)-2,6-bis(1-hydroxyethyl)pyridine, (R,R)-2,6-bis(1-acetoxyethyl)pyridine, and (1R,1'S)-2-(1-acetoxyethyl)-6-(1'-hydroxyethyl)pyridine were obtained by lipase-catalyzed kinetic acetylation of 2,6-bis(1-hydroxyethyl)pyridine as enantiomerically pure forms. The stereospecific replacement of hydroxy groups with (R)-phenylethylamine or (S)-phenylethylamine via its methanesulfonate or toluenesulfonate simultaneously or stepwise afforded all the stereoisomers of 1. Stereospecific preparation of all the 10 possible stereoisomers of 2,6-bis[1-(1-phenylethylamino)ethyl]pyridines 1a-f was achieved. Triamine 1b reacted with ZnCl2 to form Zn-triamine complex 16, the structure of which was determined by X-ray crystallographic analysis.     

[2+3]Cycloaddition reaction of a kinetically stabilized distibene with a nitrile oxide leading to the formation of a unique heterocyclic compound

The synthesis of a 1-oxa-5-aza-2,3-distibacyclopent-4-ene derivative by the [2+3]cycloaddition reaction of a kinetically stabilized distibene, BbtSb=SbBbt (Bbt = 2,6-bis[bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl]-4-[tris-(trimethylsilyl)methyl]phenyl), with MesCNO (Mes = mesityl) has been performed. Dedicated to Prof. Dr. E. Lukevics on the occasion of his 70th birthday __________ Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 12, pp. 1880–1887, December, 2006.     

Flexible synthesis of enantiomerically pure 2,8-dialkyl-1,7-dioxaspiro[5.5]undecanes and 2,7-dialkyl-1,6-dioxaspiro[4.5]decanes from propargylic and homopropargylic alcohols

A new approach to enantiomerically pure 2,8-dialkyl-1,7-dioxaspiro[5.5]undecanes and 2,7-dialkyl-1,6-dioxaspiro[4.5]decanes is described and utilizes enantiomerically pure homopropargylic alcohols obtained from lithium acetylide opening of enantiomerically pure epoxides, which are, in turn, acquired by hydrolytic kinetic resolution of the corresponding racemic epoxides. Alkyne carboxylation and conversion to the Weinreb amide may be followed by triple-bond manipulation prior to reaction with a second alkynyllithium derived from a homo- or propargylic alcohol. In this way, the two ring components of the spiroacetal are individually constructed, with deprotection and cyclization affording the spiroacetal. The procedure is illustrated by acquisition of (2S,5R,7S) and (2R,5R,7S)-2-n-butyl-7-methyl-1,6-dioxaspiro[4.5]-decanes (1), (2S,6R,8S)-2-methyl-8-n-pentyl-1,7-dioxaspiro[5.5]undecane (2), and (2S,6R,8S)-2-methyl-8-n-propyl-1,7-dioxaspiro[5.5]undecane (3). The widely distributed insect component, (2S,6R,8S)-2,8-dimethyl-1,7-dioxaspiro[5.5]undecane (4), was acquired by linking two identical alkyne precursors via ethyl formate. In addition, [(2)H(4)]-regioisomers, 10,10,11,11-[(2)H(4)] and 4,4,5,5-[(2)H(4)] of 3 and 4,4,5,5-[(2)H(4)]-4, were acquired by triple-bond deuteration, using deuterium gas and Wilkinson's catalyst. This alkyne-based approach is, in principle, applicable to more complex spiroacetal systems not only by use of more elaborate alkynes but also by triple-bond functionalization during the general sequence.     

Chiral lithium amide base-mediated rearrangement of meso-cyclohexene oxides: asymmetric synthesis of amino- and aziridinocyclohexenols

Two different chiral lithium amide base routes for the synthesis of amino- and aziridino-containing cyclohexenols have been explored. The first strategy involved the diastereoselective preparation of novel meso-aziridinocyclohexene oxides and their subsequent enantioselective rearrangement using chiral bases. In this approach, the diphenylphosphinoyl nitrogen protecting group proved optimal and aziridinocyclohexenols of 47-68% ee were obtained. Of particular note was the smooth rearrangement of the epoxide to an allylic alcohol in the presence of an aziridine: under optimised chiral base conditions, the aziridine remained essentially unaffected. A second more straightforward strategy for introduction of an amino functionality was also investigated: (1S,4R,5S)- and (1R,4R,5S)-4,5-bis(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)cyclohex-2-enols, readily prepared in > 95% ee using a chiral base approach, were subjected to Mitsunobu substitution using a sulfonamide and Overman rearrangement.