1,3‐Diaxial Repulsion vs. π‐Delocalization in the 7‐Amino‐2,4‐diazabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan‐3‐one Skeleton

(1R,5S,6S,8R)‐6,8,9‐Trihydroxy‐3‐oxo‐2,4‐diazabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan‐7‐ammonium chloride hydrate ( 3 Cl⋅H₂O) and (1R,5S,6S,8R)‐7‐amino‐6,8,9‐trihydroxy‐2,4‐diazabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan‐3‐one ( 4 ) have been prepared, and their crystal structures have been determined from single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction data. Both compounds consist of a bicyclic skeleton with the three N‐atoms in an all‐cis‐1,3,5‐triaxial arrangement. Considerable repulsion between these axial N‐atoms is indicated by a significant distortion of the two cyclohexane chairs and by increased N⋅⋅⋅N distances. The lone pair of the free amino group of 4 is involved in intermolecular H‐bonding and is turned away from the adjacent carbonyl C‐atom of the urea moiety. The structural properties together with the observed reactivity do not provide any evidence for an intramolecular donor‐acceptor interaction between the carbonyl C‐ and the amine N‐atom.     

Synthesis,Structure, and Conformation of 2′,3′‐Fused Oxathiane and Thiomorpholine Uridines

The syntheses of two 2′,3′‐fused bicyclic nucleoside analogues, i.e., 1‐[(4aR,5R,7R,7aS)‐hexahydro‐5‐(hydroxymethyl)‐4,4‐dioxidofuro[3,4‐b][1,4]oxathiin‐7‐yl]pyrimidine‐2,4(1H,3H)‐dione ( 1a ) and 1‐[(4aS,5R,7R,7aS)‐hexahydro‐7‐(hydroxymethyl)‐1,1‐dioxido‐2H‐furo[3,4‐b][1,4]thiazin‐5‐yl]pyrimidine‐ 2,4(1H,3H)‐dione ( 1b ), are described, the key step being an intramolecular hetero‐Michael addition. Their structures and conformations, previously solved by X‐ray crystallography, were analyzed in more detail, using 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR as well as HR‐MS analyses.     

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.     

Solid‐state conformations of linear depsipeptide amides with an alternating sequence of α,α‐disubstituted α‐amino acid and α‐hydroxy acid

Depsipeptides and cyclodepsipeptides are analogues of the corresponding peptides in which one or more amide groups are replaced by ester functions. Reports of crystal structures of linear depsipeptides are rare. The crystal structures and conformational analyses of four depsipeptides with an alternating sequence of an α,α‐disubstituted α‐amino acid and an α‐hydroxy acid are reported. The molecules in the linear hexadepsipeptide amide in (S)‐Pms‐Acp‐(S)‐Pms‐Acp‐(S)‐Pms‐Acp‐NMe₂ acetonitrile solvate, C₄₇H₅₈N₄O₉·C₂H₃N, ( 3b ), as well as in the related linear tetradepsipeptide amide (S)‐Pms‐Aib‐(S)‐Pms‐Aib‐NMe₂, C₂₈H₃₇N₃O₆, ( 5a ), the diastereoisomeric mixture (S,R)‐Pms‐Acp‐(R,S)‐Pms‐Acp‐NMe₂/(R,S)‐Pms‐Acp‐(R,S)‐Pms‐Acp‐NMe₂ (1:1), C₃₂H₄₁N₃O₆, ( 5b ), and (R,S)‐Mns‐Acp‐(S,R)‐Mns‐Acp‐NMe₂, C₃₀H₃₇N₃O₆, ( 5c ) (Pms is phenyllactic acid, Acp is 1‐aminocyclopentanecarboxylic acid and Mns is mandelic acid), generally adopt a β‐turn conformation in the solid state, which is stabilized by intramolecular N—H…O hydrogen bonds. Whereas β‐turns of type I (or I′) are formed in the cases of ( 3b ), ( 5a ) and ( 5b ), which contain phenyllactic acid, the torsion angles for ( 5c ), which incorporates mandelic acid, indicate a β‐turn in between type I and type III. Intermolecular N—H…O and O—H…O hydrogen bonds link the molecules of ( 3a ) and ( 5b ) into extended chains, and those of ( 5a ) and ( 5c ) into two‐dimensional networks.     

The Absolute Configuration of (+)‐Ethyl cis‐1‐Benzyl‐3‐hydroxypiperidine‐4‐carboxylate and (+)‐4‐Ethyl 1‐Methyl cis‐3‐Hydroxypiperidine‐1,4‐dicarboxylate; a Revision

Discrepancies between chiroptical data from the literature and our determination of the structure of the title compounds (+)‐ 5 and (+)‐ 9a were resolved by an unambiguous assignment of their absolute configuration. Accordingly, the dextrorotatory cis‐3‐hydroxy esters have (3R,4R)‐ and the laevorotatory enantiomers (3S,4S)‐configuration. The final evidences were demonstrated on both enantiomers (+)‐ and (?)‐ 5 by biological reduction of 4 by bakers' yeast and stereoselective [Ru^II(binap)]‐catalyzed hydrogenations of 4 (Scheme 2), by the application of the NMR Mosher method on (+)‐ and (?)‐ 5 (Scheme 3), as well as by the transformation of (+)‐ 5 into a common derivative and chiroptical correlation (Scheme 4).     

Enantiomeric high‐performance liquid chromatography resolution and absolute configuration of 6β‐benzoyloxy‐3α‐tropanol

The absolute configuration of the naturally occurring isomers of 6β‐benzoyloxy‐3α‐tropanol ( 1 ) has been established by the combined use of chiral high‐performance liquid chromatography with electronic circular dichroism detection and optical rotation detection. For this purpose (±)‐ 1 , prepared in two steps from racemic 6‐hydroxytropinone ( 4 ), was subjected to chiral high‐performance liquid chromatography with electronic circular dichroism and optical rotation detection allowing the online measurement of both chiroptical properties for each enantiomer, which in turn were compared with the corresponding values obtained from density functional theory calculations. In an independent approach, preparative high‐performance liquid chromatography separation using an automatic fraction collector, yielded an enantiopure sample of _OR(+)‐ 1 whose vibrational circular dichroism spectrum allowed its absolute configuration assignment when the bands in the 1100–950 cm^‐1 region were compared with those of the enantiomers of esters derived from 3α,6β‐tropanediol. In addition, an enantiomerically enriched sample of 4 , instead of _OR(±)‐ 4 , was used for the same transformation sequence, whose high‐performance liquid chromatography follow‐up allowed their spectroscopic correlation. All evidences lead to the _OR(+)‐(1S,3R,5S,6R) and _OR(?)‐(1R,3S,5R,6S) absolute configurations, from where it follows that samples of 1 isolated from Knightia strobilina and Erythroxylum zambesiacum have the _OR(+)‐(1S,3R,5S,6R) absolute configuration, while the sample obtained from E. rotundifolium has the _OR(?)‐(1R,3S,5R,6S) absolute configuration.     

Oxidative Fragmentations of the 5α‐ and 5β‐Hydroxy‐B‐norcholestan‐ 3β‐yl Acetates

Oxidations of 5α‐hydroxy‐B‐norcholestan‐3β‐yl acetate ( 8 ) with Pb(OAc)₄ under thermal or photolytic conditions or in the presence of iodine afforded only complex mixtures of compounds. However, the HgO/I₂ version of the hypoiodite reaction gave as the primary products the stereoisomeric (Z)‐ and (E)‐1(10)‐unsaturated 5,10‐seco B‐nor‐derivatives 10 and 11 , and the stereoisomeric (5R,10R)‐ and (5S,10S)‐acetals 14 and 15 (Scheme 4). Further reaction of these compounds under conditions of their formation afforded, in addition, the A‐nor 1,5‐cyclization products 13 and 16 (from 10 ) and 12 (from 11 ) (see also Scheme 6) and the 6‐iodo‐5,6‐secolactones 17 and 19 (from 14 and 15 , resp.) and 4‐iodo‐4,5‐secolactone 18 (from 15 ) (see also Scheme 7). Oxidations of 5β‐hydroxy‐B‐norcholestan‐3β‐yl acetate ( 9 ) with both hypoiodite‐forming reagents (Pb(OAc)₄/I₂ and HgO/I₂) proceeded similarly to the HgO/I₂ reaction of the corresponding 5α‐hydroxy analogue 8 . Photolytic Pb(OAc)₄ oxidation of 9 afforded, in addition to the (Z)‐ and (E)‐5,10‐seco 1(10)‐unsaturated ketones 10 and 11 , their isomeric 5,10‐seco 10(19)‐unsaturated ketone 22 , the acetal 5‐acetate 21 , and 5β,19‐epoxy derivative 23 (Scheme 9). Exceptionally, in the thermal Pb(OAc)₄ oxidation of 9 , the 5,10‐seco ketones 10, 11 , and 22 were not formed, the only reaction being the stereoselective formation of the 5,10‐ethers with the β‐oriented epoxy bridge, i.e. the (10R)‐enol ether 20 and (5S,10R)‐acetal 5‐acetate 21 (Scheme 8). Possible mechanistic interpretations of the above transformations are discussed.     

Stereoselective Synthesis of 8‐Oxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane‐2,3,4,6,7‐pentols and Total Asymmetric Synthesis of 2,6‐Anhydrohepturonic Acid Derivatives and of β‐C‐manno‐Pyranosides Suitable for the Construction of (1→3)‐C,C‐Linked Trisaccharides

Enantiomerically pure (+)‐(1S,4S,5S,6S)‐6‐endo‐(benzyloxy)‐5‐exo‐{[(tert‐butyl)dimethylsilyl]oxy}‐7‐oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptan‐2‐one ((+)‐ 5 ) and its enantiomer (−)‐ 5 , obtained readily from the Diels‐Alder addition of furan to 1‐cyanovinyl acetate, can be converted with high stereoselectivity into 8‐oxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane‐2,3,4,6,7‐pentol derivatives (see 23 – 28 in Scheme 2). A precursor of them, (1R,2S,4R,5S,6S,7R,8R)‐7‐endo‐(benzyloxy)‐8‐exo‐hydroxy‐3,9‐dioxatricyclo[4.2.1.0^2,4]non‐5‐endo‐yl benzoate ((−)‐ 19 ), is transformed into (1R,2R,5S, 6S,7R,8S)‐6‐exo,8‐endo‐bis(acetyloxy)‐2‐endo‐(benzyloxy)‐4‐oxo‐3,9‐dioxabicyclo[3.3.1]non‐7‐endo‐yl benzoate ((−)‐ 43 ) (see Scheme 5). The latter is the precursor of several protected 2,6‐anhydrohepturonic acid derivatives such as the diethyl dithioacetal (−)‐ 57 of methyl 3,5‐di‐O‐acetyl‐2,6‐anhydro‐4‐O‐benzoyl‐D ‐glycero‐D ‐galacto‐hepturonate (see Schemes 7 and 8). Hydrolysis of (−)‐ 57 provides methyl 3,5‐di‐O‐acetyl‐2,6‐anhydro‐4‐O‐benzoyl‐D ‐glycero‐D ‐galacto‐hepturonate 48 that undergoes highly diastereoselective Nozaki‐Oshima condensation with the aluminium enolate resulting from the conjugate addition of Me₂AlSPh to (1S,5S,6S,7S)‐7‐endo‐(benzyloxy)‐6‐exo‐{[(tert‐butyl)dimethylsilyl]oxy}‐8‐oxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct‐3‐en‐2‐one ((−)‐ 13 ) derived from (+)‐ 5 (Scheme 12). This generates a β‐C‐mannopyranoside, i.e., methyl (7S)‐3,5‐di‐O‐acetyl‐2,6‐anhydro‐4‐O‐benzoyl‐7‐C‐[(1R,2S,3R,4S,5R,6S,7R)‐6‐endo‐(benzyloxy)‐7‐exo‐{[(tert‐butyl)dimethylsilyl]oxy}‐4‐endo‐hydroxy‐2‐exo‐(phenylthio)‐8‐oxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct‐3‐endo‐yl]‐L ‐glycero‐D ‐manno‐heptonate ((−)‐ 70 ; see Scheme 12), that is converted into the diethyl dithioacetal (−)‐ 75 of methyl 3‐O‐acetyl‐2,6‐anhydro‐4,5‐dideoxy‐4‐C‐{[methyl (7S)‐3,5,7‐tri‐O‐acetyl‐2,6‐anhydro‐4‐O‐benzoyl‐L ‐glycero‐D ‐manno‐heptonate]‐7‐C‐yl}‐5‐C‐(phenylsulfonyl)‐L ‐glycero‐D ‐galacto‐hepturonate ( 76 ; see Scheme 13). Repeating the Nozaki‐Oshima condensation to enone (−)‐ 13 and the aldehyde resulting from hydrolysis of (−)‐ 75 , a (1→3)‐C,C‐linked trisaccharide precursor (−)‐ 77 is obtained.     

Three new dihydro‐β‐agarofuran sesquiterpenes from the seeds of Maytenus boaria

As part of a project studying the secondary metabolites extracted from the Chilean flora, we report herein three new β‐agarofuran sesquiterpenes, namely (1S,4S,5S,6R,7R,8R,9R,10S)‐6‐acetoxy‐4,9‐dihydroxy‐2,2,5a,9‐tetramethyloctahydro‐2H‐3,9a‐methanobenzo[b]oxepine‐5,10‐diyl bis(furan‐3‐carboxylate), C₂₇H₃₂O₁₁, ( II ), (1S,4S,5S,6R,7R,9S,10S)‐6‐acetoxy‐9‐hydroxy‐2,2,5a,9‐tetramethyloctahydro‐2H‐3,9a‐methanobenzo[b]oxepine‐5,10‐diyl bis(furan‐3‐carboxylate), C₂₇H₃₂O₁₀, ( III ), and (1S,4S,5S,6R,7R,9S,10S)‐6‐acetoxy‐10‐(benzoyloxy)‐9‐hydroxy‐2,2,5a,9‐tetramethyloctahydro‐2H‐3,9a‐methanobenzo[b]oxepin‐5‐yl furan‐3‐carboxylate, C₂₉H₃₄O₉, ( IV ), obtained from the seeds of Maytenus boaria and closely associated with a recently published relative [Paz et al. (2017). Acta Cryst. C 73 , 451–457]. In the (isomorphic) structures of ( II ) and ( III ), the central decalin system is esterified with an acetate group at site 1 and furoate groups at sites 6 and 9, and differ at site 8, with an OH group in ( II ) and no substituent in ( III ). This position is also unsubstituted in ( IV ), with site 6 being occupied by a benzoate group. The chirality of the skeletons is described as 1S,4S,5S,6R,7R,8R,9R,10S in ( II ) and 1S,4S,5S,6R,7R,9S,10S in ( III ) and ( IV ), matching the chirality suggested by NMR studies. This difference in the chirality sequence among the title structures (in spite of the fact that the three skeletons are absolutely isostructural) is due to the differences in the environment of site 8, i.e. OH in ( II ) and H in ( III ) and ( IV ). This diversity in substitution, in turn, is responsible for the differences in the hydrogen‐bonding schemes, which is discussed.     

Stereoselective Reduction of `Capsanthol‐3′‐ones' (=3,6′‐Dihydroxy‐β,κ‐caroten‐3′‐ones) by Complex Hydrides

The (3R,5′R,6′R)‐ and (3R,5′R,6′S)‐capsanthol‐3′‐one (=3,6′‐dihydroxy‐β,κ‐caroten‐3′‐one; 4 and 5 , resp.) were reduced by different complex metal hydrides containing organic ligands. The ratio of the thus obtained diastereoisomeric (3′S)‐capsanthols 2 and 3 or (3′R)‐capsanthols 6 and 7 , respectively, was investigated. Four complex hydrides showed remarkable stereoselectivity and produced the (3′R,6′S)‐capsanthol ( 6 ) in 80 – 100% (see Table 1). The starting materials and the products were characterized by UV/VIS, CD, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR, and mass spectra.     

Chiral Heterospirocyclic 2H‐Azirin‐3‐amines as Synthons for 3‐Amino‐2,3,4,5‐tetrahydrofuran‐3‐carboxylic Acid and Their Use in Peptide Synthesis

The heterospirocyclic N‐methyl‐N‐phenyl‐5‐oxa‐1‐azaspiro[2.4]hept‐1‐e n‐2‐amine (6 ) and N‐(5‐oxa‐1‐azaspiro[2.4]hept‐1‐en‐2‐yl)‐(S)‐proline methyl ester ( 7 ) were synthesized from the corresponding heterocyclic thiocarboxamides 12 and 10 , respectively, by consecutive treatment with COCl₂, 1,4‐diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane, and NaN₃ (Schemes 1 and 2). The reaction of these 2H‐azirin‐3‐amines with thiobenzoic and benzoic acid gave the racemic benzamides 13 and 14 , and the diastereoisomeric mixtures of the N‐benzoyl dipeptides 15 and 16 , respectively (Scheme 3). The latter were separated chromatographically. The configurations and solid‐state conformations of all six benzamides were determined by X‐ray crystallography. With the aim of examining the use of the new synthons in peptide synthesis, the reactions of 7 with Z‐Leu‐Aib‐OH to yield a tetrapeptide 17 (Scheme 4), and of 6 with Z‐Ala‐OH to give a dipeptide 18 (Scheme 5) were performed. The resulting diastereoisomers were separated by means of MPLC or HPLC. NMR Studies of the solvent dependence of the chemical shifts of the NH resonances indicate the presence of an intramolecular H‐bond in 17 . The dipeptides (S,R)‐ 18 and (S,S)‐ 18 were deprotected at the N‐terminus and were converted to the crystalline derivatives (S,R)‐ 19 and (S,S)‐ 19 , respectively, by reaction with 4‐bromobenzoyl chloride (Scheme 5). Selective hydrolysis of (S,R)‐ 18 and (S,S)‐ 18 gave the dipeptide acids (R,S)‐ 20 and (S,S)‐ 20 , respectively. Coupling of a diastereoisomeric mixture of 20 with H‐Phe‐O^tBu led to the tripeptides 21 (Scheme 5). X‐Ray crystal‐structure determinations of (S,R)‐ 19 and (S,S)‐ 19 allowed the determination of the absolute configurations of all diastereoisomers isolated in this series.     

Metabolism of Deuterated threo‐Dihydroxy Fatty Acids in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: Enantioselective Formation and Characterization of Hydroxylactones and γ‐Lactones

Biotransformation of (±)‐threo‐7,8‐dihydroxy(7,8‐²H₂)tetradecanoic acids (threo‐(7,8‐²H₂)‐ 3 ) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae afforded 5,6‐dihydroxy(5,6‐²H₂)dodecanoic acids (threo‐(5,6‐²H₂)‐ 4 ), which were converted to (5S,6S)‐6‐hydroxy(5,6‐²H₂)dodecano‐5‐lactone ((5S,6S)‐(5,6‐²H₂)‐ 7 ) with 80% e.e. and (5S,6S)‐5‐hydroxy(5,6‐²H₂)dodecano‐6‐lactone ((5S,6S)‐5,6‐²H₂)‐ 8 ). Further β‐oxidation of threo‐(5,6‐²H₂)‐ 4 yielded 3,4‐dihydroxy(3,4‐²H₂)decanoic acids (threo‐(3,4‐²H₂)‐ 5 ), which were converted to (3R,4R)‐3‐hydroxy(3,4‐²H₂)decano‐4‐lactone ((3R,4R)‐ 9 ) with 44% e.e. and converted to ²H‐labeled decano‐4‐lactones ((4R)‐(3‐²H₁)‐ and (4R)‐(2,3‐²H₂)‐ 6 ) with 96% e.e. These results were confirmed by experiments in which (±)‐threo‐3,4‐dihydroxy(3,4‐²H₂)decanoic acids (threo‐(3,4‐²H₂)‐ 5 ) were incubated with yeast. From incubations of methyl (5S,6S)‐ and (5R,6R)‐5,6‐dihydroxy(5,6‐²H₂)dodecanoates ((5S,6S)‐ and (5R,6R)‐(5,6‐²H₂)‐ 4a ), the (5S,6S)‐enantiomer was identified as the precursor of (4R)‐(3‐²H₁)‐ and (2,3‐²H₂)‐ 6 ). Therefore, (4R)‐ 6 is synthesized from (3S,4S)‐ 5 by an oxidation/keto acid reduction pathway involving hydrogen transfer from C(4) to C(2). In an analogous experiment, methyl (9S,10S)‐9,10‐dihydroxyoctadecanoate ((9S,10S)‐ 10a ) was metabolized to (3S,4S)‐3,4‐dihydroxydodecanoic acid ((3S,4S)‐ 15 ) and converted to (4R)‐dodecano‐4‐lactone ((4R)‐ 18 ).     

Total Synthesis and Structure Elucidation of JBIR‐39: A Linear Hexapeptide Possessing Piperazic Acid and γ‐Hydroxypiperazic Acid Residues

The total synthesis and stereochemical structural elucidation of JBIR‐39, containing four nonproteinogenic piperazic acid (Piz) residues, is reported. The synthesis includes Sc(OTf)₃‐catalyzed acylation of a Piz(γ‐OTBS) derivative with piperazic acid chloride, providing the desired Piz‐Piz(γ‐OTBS) dipeptide in high yield without epimerization. After assembling two additional Piz moieties and (S)‐isoleucic acid at the N‐terminus, amidation with the (R)‐α‐methylserine ester at the C‐terminus, and deprotection afforded the desired (2R,8S)‐hexapeptide, which is the assumed structure of JBIR‐39. Although the spectral data of the (2R,8S)‐hexapeptide was not identical to JBIR‐39, further synthesis of three stereoisomers confirmed the stereochemical structure of JBIR‐39 to be (2S,6S,8S,11R,16S,21R,26S,27S).     

The diastereoisomers methyl 5‐(S)‐[2‐(R)/(S)‐methoxycarbonyl)‐2,3,4,5‐tetrahydropyrrol‐1‐ylcarbonyl]‐1‐(4‐methylphenyl)‐4,5‐dihydropyrazole‐3‐carboxylate

The title diastereoisomers, methyl 5‐(S)‐[2‐(S)‐methoxy­carbonyl)‐2,3,4,5‐tetra­hydro­pyrrol‐1‐yl­carbonyl]‐1‐(4‐methyl­phenyl)‐4,5‐di­hydro­pyrazole‐3‐carboxyl­ate and methyl 5‐(S)‐[2‐(R)‐methoxycarbonyl)‐2,3,4,5‐tetrahydropyrrol‐1‐ylcarbonyl]‐1‐(4‐methyl­phenyl)‐4,5‐di­hydro­pyrazole‐3‐carboxylate, both C₁₉H₂₃N₃O₅, have been studied in two crystalline forms. The first form, methyl 5‐(S)‐[2‐(S)‐methoxy­carbonyl)‐2,3,4,5‐tetrahydropyrrol‐1‐ylcarbonyl]‐1‐(4‐methylphenyl)‐4,5‐di­hydro­pyrazole‐3‐carboxyl­ate–methyl 5‐(S)‐[2‐(R)‐methoxy­carbonyl)‐2,3,4,5‐tetra­hydro­pyrrol‐1‐yl­carbonyl]‐1‐(4‐methylphenyl)‐4,5‐dihydropyrazole‐3‐carboxylate (1/1), 2(S),5(S)‐C₁₉H₂₃N₃O₅·2(R),5(S)‐C₁₉H₂₃N₃O₅, contains both S,S and S,R isomers, while the second, methyl 5‐(S)‐[2‐(S)‐methoxycarbonyl)‐2,3,4,5‐tetrahydro­pyrrol‐1‐ylcarbonyl]‐1‐(4‐methyl­phenyl)‐4,5‐di­hydro­pyrazole‐3‐carboxyl­ate, 2(S),5(S)‐C₁₉H₂₃N₃O₅, is the pure S,S isomer. The S,S isomers in the two structures show very similar geometries, the maximum difference being about 15° on one torsion angle. The differences between the S,S and S,R isomers, apart from those due to the inversion of one chiral centre, are more remarkable, and are partially due to a possible rotational disorder of the 2‐­(methoxycarbonyl)tetrahydropyrrole group.     

Induced Folding of Protein‐Sized Foldameric β‐Sandwich Models with Core β‐Amino Acid Residues

The mimicry of protein‐sized β‐sheet structures with unnatural peptidic sequences (foldamers) is a considerable challenge. In this work, the de novo designed betabellin‐14 β‐sheet has been used as a template, and α→β residue mutations were carried out in the hydrophobic core (positions 12 and 19). β‐Residues with diverse structural properties were utilized: Homologous β³‐amino acids, (1R,2S)‐2‐aminocyclopentanecarboxylic acid (ACPC), (1R,2S)‐2‐aminocyclohexanecarboxylic acid (ACHC), (1R,2S)‐2‐aminocyclohex‐3‐enecarboxylic acid (ACEC), and (1S,2S,3R,5S)‐2‐amino‐6,6‐dimethylbicyclo[3.1.1]heptane‐3‐carboxylic acid (ABHC). Six α/β‐peptidic chains were constructed in both monomeric and disulfide‐linked dimeric forms. Structural studies based on circular dichroism spectroscopy, the analysis of NMR chemical shifts, and molecular dynamics simulations revealed that dimerization induced β‐sheet formation in the 64‐residue foldameric systems. Core replacement with (1R,2S)‐ACHC was found to be unique among the β‐amino acid building blocks studied because it was simultaneously able to maintain the interstrand hydrogen‐bonding network and to fit sterically into the hydrophobic interior of the β‐sandwich. The novel β‐sandwich model containing 25 % unnatural building blocks afforded protein‐like thermal denaturation behavior.     

Diastereoselective Electrophilic Amination of Chiral 1‐Benzoyl‐2,3,5,6‐tetrahydro‐3‐methyl‐2‐(1‐methylethyl)pyrimidin‐4(1H)‐one for the Asymmetric Syntheses of α‐Substituted α,β‐Diaminopropanoic Acids

The chiral compounds (R)‐ and (S)‐1‐benzoyl‐2,3,5,6‐tetrahydro‐3‐methyl‐2‐(1‐methylethyl)pyrimidin‐4(1H)‐one ((R)‐ and (S)‐ 1 ), derived from (R)‐ and (S)‐asparagine, respectively, were used as convenient starting materials for the preparation of the enantiomerically pure α‐alkylated (alkyl=Me, Et, Bn) α,β‐diamino acids (R)‐ and (S)‐ 11 – 13 . The chiral lithium enolates of (R)‐ and (S)‐ 1 were first alkylated, and the resulting diasteroisomeric products 5 – 7 were aminated with ‘di(tert‐butyl) azodicarboxylate’ (DBAD), giving rise to the diastereoisomerically pure (≥98%) compounds 8 – 10 . The target compounds (R)‐ and (S)‐ 11 – 13 could then be obtained in good yields and high purities by a hydrolysis/hydrogenolysis/hydrolysis sequence.     

2′,3′‐Dehydrosalannol

The title compound, methyl (2aS,3R,5R,5aS,6S,6aS,8R,9aS,10aR,10bR,10cS)‐8‐(3‐furyl)‐2a,4,5,5a,6,6a,8,9,9a,10a,10b,10c‐dodeca­hydro‐3‐hydroxy‐2a,5a,6a,7‐tetra­methyl‐5‐(3‐methylbut‐2‐enoyl­oxy)‐2H,3H‐cyclo­penta­[4′,5′]­furo­[2′,3′:6,5]benzo[cd]­isobenzo­furan‐6‐acetate, C₃₂H₄₂O₈, was isolated from uncrushed green leaves of Azadirachta indica A. Juss (neem) and has been found to possess antifeedant activity against Spodptera litura. The conformations of the functional groups are similar to those of 3‐des­acetyl­salannin, which was isolated from neem kernels. The mol­ecules are linked into chains by intermolecular O—H?O hydrogen bonds.     

Helical Structures of Bicyclic α‐Amino Acid Homochiral Oligomers with the Stereogenic Centers at the Side‐Chain Fused‐Ring Junctions

Chiral bicyclic α‐amino acid (R,R)‐Ab_5,6=c with stereogenic centers at the γ‐position of fused‐ring junctions, and its enantiomer (S,S)‐Ab_5,6=c, were synthesized. The CD spectra of (R,R)‐Ab_5,6=c oligomers indicated that the (R,R)‐Ab_5,6=c hexapeptide formed a mixture of right‐handed (P)‐ and left‐handed (M)‐3₁₀‐helices, while, in the (R,R)‐Ab_5,6=c nonapeptide, a right‐handed (P)‐3₁₀‐helix slightly dominated over the (M)‐helix. X‐Ray crystallographic analyses of (S,S)‐tripeptide and (R,R)‐hexapeptide revealed that both the tripeptide and hexapeptide formed a mixture of (P)‐ and (M)‐3₁₀‐helices, respectively. These results indicated that the side‐chain environments around the stereogenic centers are particularly important to control the helical‐screw handedness of foldamers.     

(1R,3R,4S)‐1‐Benzyl‐3‐(tert‐butyldimethylsilyloxy)‐4‐(hydroxymethyl)pyrrolidine–borane: novel B—H...H—O hydrogen bonding

The absolute configuration of the title cis‐(1R,3R,4S)‐pyrrolidine–borane complex, C₁₈H₃₄BNO₂Si, was confirmed. Together with the related trans isomers (3S,4S) and (3R,4R), it was obtained unexpectedly from the BH₃·SMe₂ reduction of the corresponding chiral (3R,4R)‐lactam precursor. The phenyl ring is disordered over two conformations in the ratio 0.65:0.35. The crystallographic packing is dominated by the rarely found donor–acceptor hydroxy–borane O—H...H—B hydrogen bonds.     

Asymmetric Synthesis of Complicated Bicyclic and Tricyclic Polypropanoates via the Double Diels‐Alder Addition of 2,2′‐Ethylidenebis[3,5‐dimethylfuran]

A new, non‐iterative method for the asymmetric synthesis of long‐chain and polycyclic polypropanoate fragments starting from 2,2′‐ethylidenebis[3,5‐dimethylfuran] ( 2 ) has been developed. Diethyl (2E,5E)‐4‐oxohepta‐2,5‐dienoate ( 6 ) added to 2 to give a single meso‐adduct 7 containing nine stereogenic centers. Its desymmetrization was realized by hydroboration with (+)‐IpcBH₂ (isopinocampheylborane), leading to diethyl (1S,2R,3S,4S,4aS,7R,8R,8aR,9aS,10R,10aR)‐1,3,4,7,8,8a,9,9a‐octahydro‐3‐hydroxy‐2,4,5,7,10‐pentamethyl‐9‐oxo‐2H,10H‐2,4a : 7,10a‐diepoxyanthracene‐1,8‐dicarboxylate ((+)‐ 8 ; 78% e.e.). Alternatively, 7 was converted to meso‐(1R,2R,4R,4aR,5S,7S,8S,8aR,9aS,10s,10aS)‐1,8‐bis(acetoxymethyl)‐1,8,8a,9a‐tetrahydro‐2,4,5,7,10‐pentamethyl‐2H‐10H‐2,4a : 7,10a‐diepoxyanthracene‐3,6,9(4H,5H,7H)‐trione ( 32 ) that was reduced enantioselectively by BH₃ catalyzed by methyloxazaborolidine 19 derived from L ‐diphenylprolinol giving (1S,2S,4S,4aS,5S,6R,7R,8R,8aS,9aR,10R,10aS)‐1,8‐bis(acetoxymethyl)‐1,8,8a,9a‐tetrahydro‐6‐hydroxy‐2,4,5,7,10‐pentamethyl‐2H,10H‐2,4a : 7,10a‐diepoxyanthracene‐3,9(4H,7H)‐dione ((−)‐ 33 ; 90% e.e.). Chemistry was explored to carry out chemoselective 7‐oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptanone oxa‐ring openings and intra‐ring C−C bond cleavage. Polycyclic polypropanoates such as (1R,2S,3R,4R,4aR,5S,6R,7S,8R,9R,10R,11S,12aR)‐1‐(ethoxycarbonyl)‐1,3,4,7,8,9,10,11,12,12a‐decahydro‐3,11‐dihydroxy‐2,4,5,7,9‐pentamethyl‐12‐oxo‐2H,5H‐2,4a : 6,9 : 6,11‐triepoxybenzocyclodecene‐10,8‐carbolactone ( 51 ), (1S,2R,3R,4R,4aS,5S,7S,8R,9R,10R,12S,12aS)‐1,10‐bis(acetoxymethyl)tetradecahydro‐8‐(methoxymethoxy)‐2,4,5,7,9‐pentamethyl‐3,9‐bis{[2‐(trimethylsilyl)ethoxy]methoxy}‐6,11‐epoxycyclodecene‐4a,6,11,12‐tetrol ((+)‐ 83 ), and (1R,2R,3R,4aR,4bR,5S,6R, 7R,8R,8aS,9S,10aR)‐3,5‐bis(acetoxymethyl)‐4a,8a‐dihydroxy‐1‐(methoxymethoxy)‐2,6,8,9,10a‐pentamethyl‐2,7‐bis{[2‐(trimethylsilyl)ethoxy]methoxy}dodecahydrophenanthrene‐4,10‐dione ( 85 ) were obtained in few synthetic steps.