Studies of rhodium-catalyzed ring opening of vinyl epoxides

The stereoselective 6-endo mode cyclization of vinyl epoxides has been achieved by the use of a catalytic amount of [Rh(CO)₂Cl]₂ affording six-membered heterocycle systems, such as piperidines and tetrahydropyrans. The scope and limitations of the reaction are discussed.     

Convenient high yield and stereoselective synthesis of O-glycopeptides using N-α-Fmoc-Tyr/Ser[β-d-Glc(OAc)4]OPfp generated in solution

Fmoc-AA-OPfp (AA=Tyr or Ser) (1 equiv) was reacted with β-d-Glc(OAc)₅ (6 equiv) in the presence of BF₃.Et₂O (6 equiv) in CH₂Cl₂ at room temperature for 2 h, and the glycosylation reaction mixture was used directly to couple to the amino group of the peptide resin without isolation and purification of the Fmoc-AA[β-d-Glc(OAc)₄]-OPfp. Moreover, the -OAc protecting groups of glucose was removed just prior to releasing the peptide from the resin using 6 mM NaOMe in 85% DMF-MeOH. The crude product obtained by TFA cleavage contained >90% of the target O-glycopeptide, and the 500 MHz ¹H NMR analysis revealed that the glycosylation reaction was nearly stereoselective (>97% β-anomer). This method is rapid and stereoselective, and can now be exploited for the routine synthesis of O-glycopeptides.     

Combined directed ortho-metalation, remote metalation, and Stille cross-coupling strategies. Concise stereoselective synthesis of polysubstituted 9H-fluoren-9-ones

The new sequential stereoselective synthesis of diversely substituted 9H-fluoren-9-ones by ortho-lithiation/Bu₃SnCl quench of unprotected benzoic acids followed by Stille cross-coupling reaction and remote metalation is reported.     

An imino-Diels-Alder route to meso-2,6-disubstituted-4-piperidones

A convenient stereoselective preparation of meso-2,6-disubstituted-4-piperidones has been developed by imino-Diels-Alder reaction of 2-amino-1,3-butadienes with imines in the presence of catalytic amount of Cu(TfO)₂.     

Synthesis of C-glycosyl β-amino acids by asymmetric Mannich-type three-component reactions

C-Galactosyl and C-ribosyl β-amino acids were prepared by one-pot InCl₃-catalyzed Mannich-type three-component condensation (3CC) by combining the corresponding formyl C-glycoside, p-methoxybenzyl amine, and a ketene silyl acetal. In each case the reaction was highly stereoselective and afforded only one single product in good to excellent yields.     

An unexpected migration of O-silyl group under Mitsunobu reaction conditions

A 1,4 O→O silyl migration followed by nucleophilic substitution with phthalimide was observed under Mitsunobu reaction conditions. This one step secondary alcohol protection and primary alcohol substitution with N-nucleophiles was extended to a variety of 2-hydroxyethyl trialkylsilylether derivatives. A possible mechanism has been postulated based on the pK_a values of the alcohol and nucleophile. The present one-pot silyl migration and substitution reaction might find application in the stereoselective synthesis of novel iminosugar derived anti diabetic agents.     

Stereoselective fluorination of methylenecyclopropanes with N-F reagents: A modular entry to γ-fluorohomoallylic sulfonimides and γ-fluorohomoallylic amides

A convenient and efficient method for fluorination of methylenecyclopropanes is reported. This is exemplified in the stereoselective preparation of N-[(E)-3-fluorobut-3-en-1-yl]-benzenesulfonimides by the reaction of methylenecyclopropanes with N-fluorobenzenesulfonimide in good to excellent yields. Moreover, γ-fluorohomoallylic amides are synthesized using Selectfluor in R₃CN at 60 °C.     

Facile stereoselective synthesis of cis- and trans-3-alkoxyazetidin-2-ones

A highly stereoselective synthesis of cis- and trans-3-alkoxy-3-phenyl/benzylthioazetidin-2-ones is described. The reaction of α-chlorosulfide-β-lactams with various alcohols catalyzed by a Lewis acid such as ZnCl₂ in the presence of molecular sieves (3-4 Å) leads to cis-3-alkoxy-3-phenyl/benzylthio-β-lactams whereas treatment of potassium 2-alkoxy-2-phenylthioethanoate with appropriate Schiff's base using POCl₃ in the presence of triethylamine leads to the formation of trans-3-alkoxy-3-phenylthioazetidin-2-ones as major products.     

Hydrothiolation of terminal alkynes with diaryl disulfides and diphenyl diselenide: selective synthesis of (Z)-1-alkenyl sulfides and selenides

A simple, stereoselective and efficient method for the hydrothiolation of terminal alkynes with diaryl disulfides and diphenyl diselenide has been developed. In the presence of CuI, rongalite, and Cs₂CO₃, a variety of disulfides underwent the reaction of terminal alkynes stereoselectively to afford the corresponding (Z)-1-alkenyl sulfides in moderate to excellent yields. It is noteworthy that hydroselenations of 1,2-diphenyldiselane with alkynes are also conducted smoothly to afford (Z)-1-alkenyl selenides in good yields under the standard conditions.     

Stereoselective aldol coupling of α,β-acetylenic ketones promoted by MgI2

A highly stereoselective synthesis of (Z)-β-iodovinyl ketone has been achieved with the tandem formation of CC and CI bonds in a three-component reaction. This new catalysis utilizes MgI₂ as a Lewis acid as well as an iodine source for a Michael-type addition. α,β-Acetylenic ketone is initially converted to an active β-iodo allenolate intermediate and then can be attacked by a variety of aldehydes to afford Z-selective Baylis-Hillman adducts in excellent yields.     

10b-Substituted hexahydropyrrolo-isoquinolines: studies on diastereoselective formation of a quaternary carbon stereocenter via N-acyliminium ion cyclization

The stereoselective synthesis of hexahydro-pyrroloisoquinolines with a quaternary carbon stereocenter is described. The presented methodology employs the addition of a Grignard reagent to the carbonyl group of imide 1, derived from l-tartaric acid, followed by acetylation and BF₃·Et₂O induced cyclization. The acetylation-cyclization sequence can be run either as a one-pot process, or stepwise in a selected solvents. The crucial step, an acid-catalyzed carbon-carbon bond-forming reaction via an N-acyliminium ion offers high stereoselectivity, which has been shown to be strongly dependent on the size of the R¹ substituents and the reaction conditions, that is, choice of solvent, amount of a Lewis acid, temperature, and concentration of the substrate. Based on the results observed, participation of solvent in the cyclization, via an N-acyliminium cation is proposed.     

Convenient and efficient stereoselective synthesis of (2Z)-2-(chloromethyl)alk-2-enoates using iron(III) or indium(III) chloride

The stereoselective synthesis of (2Z)-2-(chloromethyl)alk-2-enoates has been achieved efficiently and in high yields and in short reaction times from Baylis-Hillman adducts, 3-hydroxy-2-methylene-alkanoates, by treatment with FeCl₃ or InCl₃ at room temperature.     

Efficient three-component reactions of α-thiocyanato ketones stereoselectively forming E-3-aroylidene-2-oxindole derivatives

A new three-component reaction of α-thiocyanato ketones under microwave irradiation for the stereoselective synthesis of 25 examples of E-3-aroylidene-2-oxindole derivatives has been described. The domino reaction simultaneously installs C–S and C–C bonds through continuous [3+2] cycloaddition/ring opening of in situ generated 1,3-oxathiolanes/S_N2-type reaction sequence.     

A new methodology of intramolecular hetero Diels-Alder reaction with β-alkoxy-substituted conjugated nitroalkenes as heterodienes: stereoselective one-pot synthesis of trans-fused bicyclic γ-lactones

Tandem reaction of (E)-1-ethoxy-2-nitroethylene with δ,ε-unsaturated alcohols leading to stereoselective trans-fused bicyclic γ-lactones has been developed using a catalytic amount of a Lewis acid such as Yb(OTf)₃ and Ni(ClO₄)₂·6H₂O. This process involves the stereoselective tandem transetherification-intramolecular hetero Diels-Alder reaction leading to bicyclic nitronates, and sequential transformation of the nitronate moiety to a lactone functional group under similar reaction conditions in good yields.     

Chemistry of odorants: stereoselective synthesis of octahydronaphthalene-based perfumery Georgywood, (+,−)-1-[(1R,2S)-1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8-octahydro-1,2,8,8-tetramethylnaphthalen-2-yl]ethan-1-one

A straightforward synthesis of octahydronaphthalene-based fragrance, such as Georgywood, is described. The Lewis acid tin (IV) chloride catalyzed efficiently an original one-pot sequential cycloaddition-clyclization process by reaction of myrcene with 3-bromo-but-3-en-2-one, leading directly to the octahydronaphthalene skeleton in very good yields (85%). Then, dehydrohalogenation with DBU gave the key 2,4-dienone intermediate in excellent yield (85%). Regioselective Michael addition gave rise to the formation of the addition product as a trans/cis diastereoisomeric mixture, by reaction either with CH₃Cu·BF₃ (6:1 ratio, 70%) or (CH₃)₂CuLi/TMSCl reagents (3:1 ratio, 80%). The generation of thermodynamically more stable enolate by treatment of the diastereoisomeric mixture with sodium hydride in tetrahydrofuran in the presence of an excess of methyl iodide, allowed stereoselective introduction of the methyl group at C2, leading to the formation of Georgywood in good yield (60%), as the only diastereoisomer, with a trans stereochemistry of the two methyl groups as demonstrated by NMR experiments.     

An asymmetric synthesis of (+)-desoxoprosophylline

An efficient synthesis of (+)-desoxoprosophylline is described. The key steps in the reaction sequence include the preparation of an N-Cbz-sulfilimine from the corresponding sulfoxide using the Burgess reagent, regio- and stereoselective hetero-functionalization of an alkene using the pendant sulfilimine as the nucleophile and a stereoselective amidomercuration to form the cis-2,6-disubstituted piperidine ring.     

Stereoselective total synthesis of 4-((3S,5R)-3,5-dihydroxynonadecyl)phenol

A stereoselective total synthesis of 4-((3S,5R)-3,5-dihydroxynonadecyl)phenol has been accomplished in two different synthetic approaches. In the first approach, Prins cyclization has been successfully utilized to produce the anti-1,3-diol unit, which was further converted into a required syn-1,3-diol through Mitsunobu reaction. The side chain was constructed through cross metathesis and hydrogenation sequence. In the second approach, the chiral syn-1,3-diol was prepared by a sequence of reactions such as alkylation of 1,3-dithane with (R)-epichlorohydrin, ring opening of the epoxide with vinylmagnesium bromide, and 1,3-syn-reduction of the β-hydroxyketone with NaBH₄ in the presence of diethylmethoxyborane.     

First stereoselective total synthesis of (6R)-6-[(4R,6R)-4,6-dihydroxy-10-phenyldec-1-enyl]-5,6-dihydro-2H-pyran-2-one

A stereoselective total synthesis of (6R)-6-[(4R,6R)-4,6-dihydroxy-10-phenyldec-1-enyl]-5,6-dihydro-2H-pyran-2-one is reported. The strategy utilizes an iterative Jacobsen hydrolytic kinetic resolution, ring opening with a chiral propargylic synthon and a preferential (Z)-Wittig olefination reaction and lactonization as the key steps.     

Synthesis of imidazolidin-4-one and 1H-imidazo[2,1-a]isoindole-2,5(3H,9bH)-dione derivatives of primaquine: scope and limitations

The synthesis of imidazolidin-4-one derivatives of primaquine as potential antimalarial agents is described. The target compounds were synthesized in three steps: (i) condensation of (±)-primaquine with N^α-protected amino acids, (ii) removal of the N^α-protecting group, and (iii) reaction of the N-acylprimaquine with a carbonyl compound: acetone, three cyclic ketones and veratraldehyde. Using 2-formylbenzoic acid in the third step afforded 1H-imidazo[2,1-a]isoindole-2,5(3H,9bH)-diones. All products were isolated in good to excellent yields. Whereas imidazolidin-4-ones were formed as mixtures of all possible diastereomers in equal amounts, 1H-imidazo[2,1-a]isoindole-2,5(3H,9bH)-diones were produced in a stereoselective fashion. The compounds hydrolyse very slowly (t_1/2 5-30 d) in pH 7.4 buffer to release primaquine. These primaquine derivatives are being submitted to biological assays, and preliminary results of their antimalarial activity are quite encouraging.     

Convenient stereoselective synthesis of (Z)-chalcone derivatives from 1,3-diaryl-2-propynyl silyl ethers

Various (Z)-chalcone derivatives were easily synthesized in a stereoselective manner from 1,3-diaryl-2-propynyl silyl ethers by a catalytic reaction using potassium tert-butoxide under very mild conditions after acid treatment.