Reactions of (1R,2S)-1,2-di(2-furyl)-1,2-di(3-guaiazulenyl)ethane and (1R,2S)-1,2-di(3-guaiazulenyl)-1,2-di(2-thienyl)ethane with tetracyanoethylene (TCNE) in benzene: comparative studies on the products and their spectroscopic properties

Reactions of the title meso forms, (1R,2S)-1,2-di(2-furyl)-1,2-di(3-guaiazulenyl)ethane (1) and (1R,2S)-1,2-di(3-guaiazulenyl)-1,2-di(2-thienyl)ethane (2), with a two molar amount of TCNE in benzene at 25 °C for 5 h (for 1) and 48 h (for 2) under oxygen give new compounds, 2,2,3,3-tetracyano-4-(2-furyl)-8-isopropyl-6-methyl-1,4-dihydrocyclohepta[c,d]azulene (3) and 2,2,3,3-tetracyano-8-isopropyl-6-methyl-4-(2-thienyl)-1,4-dihydrocyclohepta[c,d]azulene (4), respectively, in 74 and 21% isolated yields. Comparative studies on the above reactions as well as the spectroscopic properties of the unique products 3 and 4, possessing interesting molecular structures, are reported and, further, a plausible reaction pathway for the formation of these products is described.     

Reaction of azulene with 1,2-bis[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]-1,2-ethanediol in a mixed solvent of methanol and acetonitrile in the presence of hydrochloric acid: a facile one-pot synthesis and properties of new triarylethylenes possessing an azulen-1-yl group

Reaction of azulene (1) with 1,2-bis[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]-1,2-ethanediol (2) in a mixed solvent of methanol and acetonitrile in the presence of 36% hydrochloric acid at 60 °C for 3 h gives 2-(azulen-1-yl)-1,1-bis[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]ethylene (3) (8% yield), 1-(azulen-1-yl)-(E)-1,2-bis[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]ethylene (4) (28% yield), and 1,3-bis{2,2-bis[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]ethenyl}azulene (5) (9% yield). Besides the above products, this reaction affords 1,1-di(azulen-1-yl)-2,2-bis[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]ethane (6) (15% yield), a meso form (1R,2S)-1,2-di(azulen-1-yl)-1,2-bis[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]ethane (7) (6% yield), and the two enantiomeric forms (1R,2R)- and (1S,2S)-1,2-di(azulen-1-yl)-1,2-bis[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]ethanes (8) (6% yield). Furthermore, addition reaction of 3 with 1 under the same reaction conditions as the above provides 6, in 46% yield, which upon oxidation with DDQ (=2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone) in dichloromethane at 25 °C for 24 h yields 1,1-di(azulen-1-yl)-2,2-bis[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]ethylene (9) in 48% yield. Interestingly, reaction of 1,1-bis[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]-2-(3-guaiazulenyl)ethylene (11) with 1 in a mixed solvent of methanol and acetonitrile in the presence of 36% hydrochloric acid at 60 °C for 3 h gives guaiazulene (10) and 3, owing to the replacement of a guaiazulen-3-yl group by an azulen-1-yl group, in 91 and 46% yields together with 5 (19% yield) and 6 (13% yield). Similarly, reactions of 2-(3-guaiazulenyl)-1,1-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)ethylene (12) and 1,1-bis{4-[2-(dimethylamino)ethoxy]phenyl}-2-(3-guaiazulenyl)ethylene (13) with 1 under the same reaction conditions as the above provide 10, 2-(azulen-1-yl)-1,1-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)ethylene (16), and 1,3-bis[2,2-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)ethenyl]azulene (17) (93, 34, and 19% yields) from 12 and 10 and 2-(azulen-1-yl)-1,1-bis{4-[2-(dimethylamino)ethoxy]phenyl}ethylene (18) (97 and 58% yields) from 13.     

Specificity of the reaction of (−)-1-{(1S,2R,4R)-1-ethenyl-2-hydroxy-7,7-dimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl}xethanone with ethenylmagnesium bromide

Ethenylmagnesium bromide (1.5 equiv) forms a chelate with (?)-1-{(1S,2R,4R)-1-ethenyl-2-hydroxy-7,7-dimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl} ethanone in THF and promotes its fast primary α-ketol rearrangement into 1-ethenyl-2-hydroxy-2,8,8-trimethylbicyclo[3.2.1]octan-3-one. The latter reacts with excess magnesium reagent (0.5 equiv) according to common 1,2-addition pattern at the carbonyl group and is simultaneously involved in the second α-ketol rearrangement which leads to 1-ethenyl-3-hydroxy-3,8,8-trimethylbicyclo[3.2.1]octan-2-one as thermodynamically more stable regioisomer.     

Novel and enantioselective syntheses of (R)- and (S)-3-hydroxy-4-(2,4,5-trifluorophenyl)butanoic acid: a synthon for sitagliptin and its derivatives

A new synthetic strategy for (R)- and (S)-3-hydroxy-4-(2,4,5-trifluorophenyl)butanoic acid, a building block in the preparation of sitagliptin and its derivatives, was developed. Pd(OAc)₂ catalyzed coupling of 2,4,5-trifluoro-1-iodobenzene with allyl alcohol gave 3-(2,4,5-trifluorophenyl)propanal in a yield of 95%. l-Proline catalyzed reaction of the 3-phenylpropanal (in only 1.2 molar equiv) with nitrosobenzene followed by reduction with NaBH₄ and Pd/C catalyzed hydrogenation gave (R)-3-(2,4,5-trifluorophenyl)propane-1,2-diol with >99% ee and 65% yield. Selective tosylation of primary hydroxyl group of the 1,2-propandiol unit followed by cyanide displacement afforded (R)-3-hydroxy-4-(2,4,5-trifluorophenyl)butanenitrile (80%). The nitrile was converted to the title β-hydroxy acid under basic hydrolysis in a yield of 90%. Thus, (R)-3-hydroxy-4-(2,4,5-trifluorophenyl)butanoic acid was prepared enantioselectively from the starting material in four steps and 45% overall yield. The reaction sequence was repeated with d-proline as the catalyst to give (S)-3-hydroxy-4-(2,4,5-trifluorophenyl)butanoic acid in 45% overall yield and >99% enantiomeric excess.     

Trichosporon cutaneum-promoted deracemization of (±)-2-hydroxindan-1-one: a mechanistic study

A mechanistic study of the deracemization of (±)-2-hydroxy-1-indanone mediated by the yeast Trichosporon cutaneum to afford pure (1S,2R)-1,2-indandiol is reported. The key aspect of the study was the use of pure (R)- and (S)-2-hydroxy-1-indanone enantiomers to ensure reliable conclusions. Experiments in the absence of yeast cells or using dead cells disclosed that the pure enantiomers were not racemized, which suggest that the whole dynamic kinetic resolution process is enzymatic in character. When living yeast cells were used the (R)-substrate was smoothly converted to (1S,2R)-1,2-indandiol, whilst the (S)-2-hydroxy-1-indanone was converted to the same diol through a more complex fashion, which requires a more lengthy oxidation–reduction pathway having the 1,2-indanedione as an achiral intermediate. An unexpected observation was that 1,2-indanone acts as a moderate inhibitor of the reductive enzymes acting in the conversion of (R)-2-hydroxy-1-indanone to (1S,2R)-1,2-indandiol.     

Enantiopure vic-amino alcohols and vic-diamines from (1R,2S)-1,2-dihydroxy-1,2-dihydronaphthalene

(1S,2S)-2-Hydroxy-1-amino-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene, (1R,2R)-1-hydroxy-2-amino-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene, (1S,2R)-1,2-diamino-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene, (2R,3S)-2-hydroxy-3-amino-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene and (2S,3S)-2,3-diammino-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene have been synthesized from (1R,2S)-1,2-dihydroxy-1,2-dihydronaphthalene. The latter was obtained, using a protocol reported in a previous paper, from naphthalene using an Escherichia coli recombinant strain containing the naphthalene dioxygenase gene cloned from Pseudomonas fluorescens N3.     

Gold-catalyzed consecutive [1,2] alkyl migration-oxygen transfer reaction of 2-alkynyl-1-tetralones

Gold-catalyzed isomerization of 2-alkynyl-1-tetralones afforded the corresponding 2-naphthylmethyl ketones in good to high yields. For example, the reaction of 2-{4-(methoxyphenyl)methyl}-2-(phenylethynyl)-3,4-dihydronaphthalen-1(2H)-one and 2-benzyl-2-(phenylethynyl)-3,4-dihydronaphthalen-1(2H)-one in the presence of 5 mol % of (Ph₃P)AuCl and 5 mol % of AgOTf in THF at 50 °C gave 2-{1-(4-methoxyphenylmethyl)naphthalen-2-yl}-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)ethanone and 2-(1-benzylnaphthalen-2-yl)-1-phenylethanone in 85% and 96% yields, respectively. The present reaction proceeds through [1,2] alkyl migration followed by oxygen transfer.     

Polymerization of methyl methacrylate in the presence of iron(II) complex with tetradentate nitrogen ligands under conditions of atom transfer radical polymerization

Four tetradentate nitrogen ligands, viz. dichloro{[N,N^′-diphenyl-N,N^′-di(quinoline-2-methyl)]-1,2-ethylene diamine} (1), {[N,N^′-dioctyl-N,N^′-di(quinoline-2-methyl)]-1,2-ethylene diamine} (2), {[N,N^′-dibenzyl-N,N^′-di(quinoline-2-methyl)]-1,2-ethylene diamine} (3), and (1R,2R)-(−)-N,N^′-di(quinoline-2-methyl) di-iminocyclohexane (4), were investigated as novel complexing ligands in iron-mediated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of methyl methacrylate where ethyl-2-bromoisobutyrate was the initiator in o-xylene at 90 °C. With ligands 1 and 2 the experimental molecular weights increased gradually with monomer conversion. High to moderate conversions (87%, 43%) were obtained in relatively short times (90 min for 1 and 30 min for 2), which indicates an efficient catalyst system, but after these times a dramatic increase in viscosity of the polymerization medium led to loss of control. It is noteworthy that polymerization proceeded in a controlled manner with ligand 1, which has two rather bulky substituents on the N-atom. Such bulky ligands did not work for a copper-based system, where they led to excessive terminations or other side reactions. When the bulkiness of the substituents was significantly increased, as in ligand 3, a decrease in polymerization rate and loss of control occurred. Ligand 4 was less efficient than the other ligands, probably because the ethylene bridge was replaced by cyclohexane bridge.     

New analogues of fosfomycin—synthesis of diethyl (1R,2R)- and (1S,2R)-1,2-epoxy-3-hydroxypropylphosphonates

The trans-configured fosfomycin analogue, diethyl (1R,2R)-1,2-epoxy-3-hydroxypropylphosphonate, was synthesised via the intramolecular Williamson reaction from 3-O-protected (trityl or TBDMS) or even unprotected diethyl (1S,2R)-2,3-dihydroxy-1-mesyloxypropylphosphonate, which was obtained from the known diethyl (1S,2R)-2,3-O-cyclohexylidene-1,2,3-trihydroxypropylphosphonate. On the other hand, the cis-analogue, diethyl (1S,2R)-1,2-epoxy-3-hydroxypropylphosphonate, could only be prepared from diethyl (1R,2R)-2-hydroxy-1-mesyloxy-3-trityloxypropylphoshonate.     

Synthesis and oxidation of (E)-1,2-diphenyl-2-(arylimino) ethanol derivatives

The compounds (E)-1,2-diphenyl-2-(phenylimino)ethanol, (E)-1,2-diphenyl-2-(p-tolylimino)ethanol, and (E)-2-((4-chlorophenyl)imino)-1,2-diphenylethanol) were synthesized by reaction of a p-substituted aniline with benzoin then oxidized with chromium trioxide–triethylamine in chloroform to give (E)-1,2-diphenyl-2-(phenylimino)ethanone, (E)-1,2-diphenyl-2-(p-tolylimino)ethanone, and (E)-2-((4-chlorophenyl)imino)-1,2-diphenylethanone in very high yield. The products were characterized by IR and NMR spectral analysis.     

Synthesis of optically active β′-hydroxy-β-enaminoketones via enzymatic resolution of carbinols derived from 3,5-disubstituted isoxazoles

The preparation of several enantiomerically pure β′-hydroxy-β-enaminoketones from the corresponding isoxazolic carbinols, which have been obtained by enzymatic kinetic resolution of the racemic β-hydroxyisoxazoles catalyzed by lipases, is described. The enzymatic transesterification of racemic (±)-5-(2-hydroxypropyl)-3-methylisoxazole 3a, and racemic (±)-5-(2-hydroxy-2-p-tolylethyl)-3-methylisoxazole 3d, has been studied with respect to the influence of experimental variables such as the used enzyme, the acylating agent or the solvent on the enantioselectivity of the reaction. After the reductive cleavage of the isoxazolic ring of the enantiopure carbinols, (R)- and (S)-2-amino-4-oxo-2-hepten-6-ol, (R)- and (S)-5, and (R)-2-amino-6-p-tolyl-4-oxo-2-hexen-6-ol, (R)-7 with an enantiomeric excess >98% were obtained.     

Studies on the Michael addition of naphthoquinones to sugar nitro olefins: first synthesis of polyhydroxylated hexahydro-11H-benzo[a]carbazole-5,6-diones and hexahydro-11bH-benzo[b]carbazole-6,11-diones

A strategy for the synthesis of the novel (6bR,7R,8S,9S,10S,10aR)-8-(benzyloxy)-7,9,10-trihydroxy-6b,7,8,9,10,10a-hexahydro-11H-benzo[a]carbazole-5,6-dione is reported. The key steps were the Michael addition of 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone to 1-nitrocyclohexene or 3-O-benzyl-5,6-dideoxy-1,2-O-isopropylidene-6-nitro-α-d-xylo-hex-5-enefuranose and the diastereoselective intramolecular Henry reaction of 3-O-benzyl-5,6-dideoxy-5-C-(3′-hydroxy-1′,4′-naphthoquinon-2′-yl)-1,2-O-isopropylidene-6-nitro-α-d-glucofuranose to give the key (1S,2S,3S,4R,5R,6R)-3-(benzyloxy)-1,2,4-trihydroxy-5-(3′-hydroxy-1′,4′-naphthoquinon-2′-yl)-6-nitrocyclohexane. When 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone was replaced by (1,4-dimethoxynaphthalen-2-yl)lithium, the novel (1R,2S,3S,4R,4aS,11bS)-2-(benzyloxy)-1,3,4-trihydroxy-1,2,3,4,4a,5-hexahydro-11bH-benzo[b]carbazole-6,11-dione was obtained.     

Novel titanocene anti-cancer drugs derived from fulvenes and titanium dichloride

Starting from 6-(p−N,N-dimethylanilinyl)fulvene (1a) or 6-(pentamethylphenyl)fulvene (1b) [1,2-di(cyclopentadienyl)-1,2-di(p−N,N-dimethylaminophenyl)ethanediyl] titanium dichloride (2a) and [1,2-di(cyclopentadienyl)-1,2-bis(pentamethylphenyl)ethanediyl] titanium dichloride (2b) and their corresponding dithiocyanato complexes (3a, 3b) were synthesized. Titanocene 2b did not show a cytotoxic effect, but when 2a was tested against pig kidney carcinoma cells (LLC-PK) or human ovarian carcinoma cells (A2780/cp70) inhibitory concentrations (IC₅₀) of 2.7 × 10⁻⁴ and 1.9 ×  10⁻⁴ M, respectively, were observed.     

Electrochemical synthesis of 2-arylimino-4,5-di(2-furyl)-1,3-dioxoles and (E)-1,2-di(2-furyl)vinylene bis(N-arylchloroformimidates). HF and B3LYP computational study of the topomerization mechanism of aryliminodioxoles

Cathodic reductions of 2,2′-furils in the presence of N-arylcarbonimidoyl dichlorides lead to 2-arylimino-4,5-di(2-furyl)-1,3-dioxoles in high yields, along with minor amounts of (E)-1,2-di(2-furyl)vinylene bis(N-arylchloroformimidates). HF and B3LYP density functional theory methods have been applied to the determination of molecular geometries and to study the topomerization mechanism of aryliminodioxoles. The molecular structure of (E)-1,2-di(2-furyl)vinylene bis[N-(2-chloro-4-methylphenyl)chloroformimidate] has been determined by X-ray crystallography and compared with the calculated structure.     

Asymmetric synthesis of spiro 2-pyrrolidin-5-ones, 2-piperidin-6-ones and 1-isoindolin-3-ones. Part 2: N-Acyliminium ion cyclisations with an internal alkene nucleophile

Chiral non-racemic bicyclic and tricyclic oxylactams obtained in two steps from N-(2-hydroxy-1(R)-phenylethyl)-succinimide and phthalimide are cyclised diastereoselectively in formic acid to give spiro[cyclohexane-1,2′-pyrrolidin]-5-ones and spiro[cyclohexane-1,1′-isoindolin]-3-ones, respectively.     

Kinetic resolution of 1,2-dihydroxy-3-ferrocenylpropane by sequential lipase-catalysed esterification

One-pot sequential esterification of 1,2-dihydroxy-3-ferrocenylpropane 1, catalysed by lipase from Pseudomonas cepacia, allowed kinetic resolution of the racemate, affording (−)-(R)-1-acetoxy-2-hydroxy-3-ferrocenyl-propane (−)-2, and (+)-(S)-1,2-diacetoxy-3-ferrocenylpropane (+)-3, in high chemical yield and enantiomeric excess.     

Studies towards the synthesis of (1R,2S)- and (1S,2S)-1,2-epoxy-3-hydroxypropylphosphonates and (1S,2S)- and (1R,2S)-2,3-epoxy-1-hydroxypropylphosphonates

The trans-configured fosfomycin analogue, diethyl (1S,2S)-1,2-epoxy-3-hydroxypropylphosphonate, was synthesised by the intramolecular Williamson reaction of diethyl (1S,2R)-1,3-dihydroxy-2-mesyloxypropylphosphonate. The cis-analogue was obtained as O-ethyl or O,O-diethyl (1R,2S)-1,2-epoxy-3-hydroxypropylphosphonates, when (1R,2R)-1,3-dihydroxy-2-mesyloxypropylphosphonate or its 3-O-trityl derivative were used as starting materials, respectively. The intramolecular Williamson cyclisations of diethyl (1S,2R)- and (1R,2S)-1-benzyloxy-3-hydroxy-2-mesyloxypropylphosphonates led to diethyl (1S,2S)- and (1R,2S)-2,3-epoxy-1-benzyloxypropylphosphonates, respectively, with the concomitant formation of diethyl (E)-1-benzyloxy-3-hydroxyprop-1-en-1-phosphonate. From diethyl (1S,2S)- and (1R,2S)-2,3-epoxy-1-benzyloxypropylphosphonates, enantiomerically pure diethyl (1S,2S)- and (1R,2S)-1,2-dihydroxypropylphosphonates were obtained by catalytic hydrogenation, while diethyl (1S,2S)- and (1R,2S)-3-acetamido-1,2-dihydroxypropylphosphonates were produced after epoxide ring opening with dibenzylamine, acetylation and hydrogenolysis.     

Cyclocondensations of (+)-camphor derived enaminones with hydrazine derivatives

Reactions of 3-[(E)-(dimethylamino)methylidene]-(+)-camphor and (1R,5S)-4-[(E)-(dimethylamino)methylidene]-1,8,8-trimethyl-2-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-3-one with hydrazine derivatives were studied. Treatment of 3-[(E)-(dimethylamino)methylidene]-(+)-camphor with hydrazines afforded the corresponding fused pyrazoles. Similarly, fused pyrazoles were obtained upon reaction of (1R,5S)-4-[(E)-(dimethylamino)methylidene]-1,8,8-trimethyl-2-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-3-one with ortho-unsubstituted phenylhydrazines, while reactions with ortho-substituted phenylhydrazines and with hydrazine hydrochloride resulted in ‘ring switching’ type of transformation to furnish 2-aryl-4-[(1S,3R)-3-hydroxy-2,2,3-trimethylcyclopentyl]-1,2-dihydro-3H-pyrazol-3-ones.     

Application of axially dissymmetric ligand recoverable with fluorous solvent as a chiral auxiliary

(Ra)-(R)₂-2,2′-Bis(1-hydroxy-1H-perfluorooctyl)biphenyl ((Ra)-(R)₂-1c), which is an axially dissymmetric ligand with two chiral centers, works as a good chiral auxiliary for asymmetric aldol reaction. Thus, the reaction of monopropanoyl ester of 1c (2) with benzaldehyde in the presence of triethylamine and titanium(IV) chloride gave (2R),(3S)- and (2R),(3R)-3-hydroxy-2-methyl-3-phenylpropanoic acid esters (3a) in an approximate ratio of 4:1 in a total high yield. This result shows that stereoselectivity at 2-position is quite high, while that at 3-position is moderate. Both isomers were easily separated by column chromatography. Methanolysis of the separated isomers gave nearly quantitative recovery of 1c by extraction with a fluorous solvent without any loss of ee, while methyl (2R),(3S)- or (2R),(3R)-3-hydroxy-2-methyl-3-phenylpropanoates were obtained by CH₂Cl₂ extraction quantitatively in >99% ee. Aldol reaction of 2 with various aldehydes gave similar results.     

A practical synthesis of enantiopure β-methyltryptophan ethyl ester for a preparation of diabetes drug

A practical synthesis of (2R,3S)- and (2S,3R)-β-methyltryptophan ethyl ester (β-MeTrp-OEt) has been developed. Racemic threo-β-MeTrp-OEt was diastereoselectively prepared via crystallization-induced diastereomer transformation (CIDT) of the α-nitro equivalent of β-MeTrp-OEt. The enantiomers were resolved via diastereomeric salt formation using a half equivalent of (R)-2-(4-hydroxyphenoxy)propionic acid. The process allowed a diabetes drug candidate N-[(1R,2S)-1-({5-[(dimethylamino)methyl]-2-ethoxyphenyl}aminocarbonyl)-2-(1H-indol-3-yl)propyl]-4-phenyl-1-piperidinecarboxamide to be prepared in good yield with high quality.