Efficient approach to the Azaspirane core of FR 901483

[reaction: see text] An efficient approach to the azaspirane core of FR 901483 is described employing lithiated methoxyallene as a crucial C3 building block and a suitably protected enantiopure ketimine as the second component. The resulting dihydropyrrole derivative was smoothly converted into a spiro keto aldehyde which under acidic conditions provided a novel azanorbornane derivative 15. Under basic reaction conditions, the desired 5-azatricyclo[6.3.1.0(1,5)]dodecane skeleton 16 was generated. The ratio of diastereomers strongly depends on the reaction conditions employed with l-proline in DMSO providing the highest selectivity in favor of one azaspirane product.     

Diastereoselectively switchable enantioselective trapping of carbamate ammonium ylides with imines

The diastereoselectively switchable enantioselective trapping of protic carbamate ammonium ylides with imines is reported. The intriguing Rh(2)(OAc)(4) and chiral Br?nsted acid cocatalyzed three-component Mannich-type reaction of a diazo compound, a carbamate, and an imine provides rapid and efficient access to both syn- and anti-α-substituted α,β-diamino acid derivatives with a high level control of chemo-, diastereo-, and enantioselectivity.     

Asymmetric synthesis of syn- and anti-1,3-amino alcohols

The first application of metalloenamines derived from N-sulfinyl imines is reported for the highly diastereoselective addition to aldehydes. Reduction of the beta-hydroxy-N-sulfinyl imine products with catecholborane and LiBHEt3 provides syn- and anti-1,3-amino alcohol derivatives, respectively, with very high diastereomeric ratios.     

Substrate scope in the direct imine acylation of ortho-substituted benzoic acid derivatives: the total synthesis (±)-cavidine

The direct imine acylation (DIA) and subsequent cyclisation of a range of imines with ortho-substituted benzoic acid derivatives is described. Variation in the coupling reagents, imine and benzoic acid were all examined. The DIA procedure was also applied in the total synthesis of (±)-cavidine.     

A new color of the synthetic chameleon methoxyallene: synthesis of trifluoromethyl-substituted pyridinol derivatives: an unusual reaction mechanism, a remarkable crystal packing, and first palladium-catalyzed coupling reactions

Addition of lithiated methoxyallene to pivalonitrile afforded after aqueous workup the expected iminoallene 1 in excellent yield. Treatment of this intermediate with silver nitrate accomplished the desired cyclization to the electron-rich pyrrole derivative 2 in moderate yield. Surprisingly, trifluoroacetic acid converted iminoallene 1 to a mixture of enamide 3 and trifluoromethyl-substituted pyridinol 4 (together with its tautomer 5). A plausible mechanism proposed for this intriguing transformation involves addition of trifluoroacetate to the central allene carbon atom of an allenyl iminium intermediate as crucial step. Enamide 3 is converted to pyridinol 4 by an intramolecular aldol-type process. A practical direct synthesis of trifluoromethyl-substituted pyridinols 4, 10, 11, and 12 starting from typical nitriles and methoxyallene was established. Pyridinol 10 shows an interesting crystal packing with three molecules in the elementary cell and a remarkable helical supramolecular arrangement. Trifluoromethyl-substituted pyridinol 4 was converted to the corresponding pyridyl nonaflate 13, which is an excellent precursor for palladium-catalyzed reactions leading to pyridine derivatives 14-16 in good to excellent yields. The new synthesis of trifluoromethyl-substituted pyridines disclosed here demonstrates a novel reactivity pattern of lithiated methoxyallene which is incorporated into the products as the unusual tripolar synthon B.     

Efficient conversion of carbohydrates into 1-C-alditols: application to the synthesis of chiral gamma-substituted butenolides and bicyclic alkaloid analogues

Readily available sugar derivatives were transformed in a few steps into valuable, more complex products. The tandem radical scission of carbohydrates-oxidation reaction gave acetoxy acetals, which were converted into a variety of chiral C-alditols in good global yields and excellent 1,2-trans stereoselectivity. The reaction was the key step in the synthesis of hydroxylated gamma-substituted butenolides and bicyclic alkaloid analogues.     

The development of a catalytic synthesis of münchnones: a simple four-component coupling approach to alpha-amino acid derivatives

A new palladium-catalyzed route to prepare 1,3-oxazolium-5-oxides (i.e., Münchnones) directly from imine, carbon monoxide, and acid chloride building blocks has been developed. This provides a straightforward catalytic synthesis of Münchnones and is amenable to generating a diverse range of products by simple modification of the imine or acid chloride starting materials. Münchnones are vital synthetic intermediates to a variety of heterocyclic and peptide-based molecules. As such, this methodology has been utilized to design a new catalytic synthesis of alpha-amino acid derivatives via a one-pot coupling of imines, carbon monoxide, and acid chloride followed by alcohol. The latter represents the first reported catalytic synthesis of alpha-amino acids directly from imine and carbon monoxide building blocks.     

Asymmetric Synthesis of Homoallylic Amines and Functionalized Pyrrolidines via Direct Amino-Crotylation of In Situ Generated Imines

The asymmetric synthesis of functionalized homoallylic amines and silyl functionalized pyrrolidines through the Lewis acid promoted condensation of chiral (E)-crotylsilanes with sulfonyl imines and in situ generated N-acyl imines is described. We had anticipated that this bond construction could be used in the asymmetric synthesis of the N-terminal amino acid subunit of the nikkomycins. Aryl sulfonyl imines condense with chiral silane reagents in the presence of BF₃·OEt₂ to form homoallylic arylsulfonyl amines with useful levels of syn selectivity. For cases involving aryl N-acyl imines we have learned that the temperature controls the course of the reaction. For instance, at temperatures of −78°C or below the major product is the pyrrolidine, while at higher temperatures (−30 to −20°C) the homoallylic amine is produced. For the cases studied, the [3+2]-annulation is limited to aryl imine derivatives, as alkyl- and branched- imines failed to produce the pyrrolidine derivatives: higher reaction temperatures promote the conversion of the annulation product to the homoallylic amines. In double stereodifferentiating reactions with in situ generated imines, good levels of selectivity were achieved in the formation of secondary amines bearing syn–anti and syn–syn stereochemical triads.     

Enantio- and diastereoselective synthesis of 2,5-disubstituted pyrrolidines through a multicomponent Ugi reaction and their transformation into bicyclic scaffolds

A new enantio- and diastereoselective synthesis of 2,5-disubstituted pyrrolidines through a multicomponent approach has been developed, using highly reactive pyrrolines 4 as preformed cyclic imines. The pyrrolidines obtained using protected aspartic acid as acid component in the Ugi condensation have been transformed into two epimeric bicyclic lactones 18, 19, which may find an application as external reverse turn inducers.     

Synthesis of highly oxygenated decalins from sugar allyltins: an access to sulfur and phosphorus derivatives

A sugar allyltin derivative (with the d-gluco-configuration) was converted into d-xylo-dienoaldehyde and then into several bicyclic highly oxygenated compounds. The proposed methodology allows for a convenient synthesis of such derivatives containing heteroatoms other than oxygen. Molecular docking studies employing AutoDock 4.2 and AutoDock Vina were conducted in order to evaluate their activity as glycosidase inhibitors.     

Catalytic asymmetric Mannich reactions of glycine derivatives with imines. A new approach to optically active alpha,beta-diamino acid derivatives

Imines of glycine alkyl esters react with imines in a diastereo- and highly enantioselective Mannich reaction in the presence of chiral copper(I) complexes as the catalyst to give optically active alpha,beta-diamino acid derivatives. A series of imines of glycine esters derived from glycine and aromatic carbonyl compounds has been screened as substrates for the Mannich reaction with different imines in the presence of various combinations of metal salts and chiral ligands. The benzophenone imine of glycine esters was found to react with N-protected imines in a diastereoselective fashion giving functionalized alpha,beta-diamino acid esters with excellent enantioselectivities. The most effective chiral catalysts are chiral copper(I) complexes having phosphino-oxazoline (P,N)-ligands, and among these ligands, those derived from (1R,2S)-dihydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene gave the best results. The scope of this new catalytic asymmetric reaction of the benzophenone imine glycine esters is demonstrated for the reaction with different N-protected-C-aryl and C-alkyl imines giving the Mannich adducts with excellent optical purity. Furthermore, the synthetic aspects of the reaction are presented by converting the Mannich adducts into alpha,beta-diamino acid derivatives. The relative and absolute configuration of the Mannich adduct have been determined and based on the stereochemical outcome of the reaction a tetrahedral chiral-copper(I)-imino glycine alkyl ester intermediate is proposed. In this intermediate the Re-face of the benzophenone imine glycine ester is shielded by the chiral ligand leaving the Si-face available for approach of the Si-face of the imine. A series of semiempirical calculations has been performed to support the structure of the tetrahedral chiral-copper(I) complex and to account for the influence of the substituents in the chiral phosphino-oxazoline ligands.     

Practical stereoselective synthesis of beta-branched alpha-amino acids through efficient kinetic resolution in the phase-transfer-catalyzed asymmetric alkylations

Phase-transfer-catalyzed alkylation of glycinate Schiff base with racemic secondary alkyl halides proceeded with excellent levels of syn- and enantioselectivities under the influence of chiral quaternary ammonium bromide 1d and 18-crown-6. The alkylation product can be selectively converted to the corresponding anti isomer, allowing the preparation of all the stereoisomers of beta-alkyl-alpha-amino acid derivatives, an extremely valuable chiral building block.     

Highly diastereoselective synthesis of beta-carboxy-gamma-lactams and their ethyl esters via Sc(OTf)(3)-catalyzed imino Mukaiyama-aldol type reaction of 2,5-bis(trimethylsilyloxy)furan with imines

Functionalized gamma-lactams are found to be crucial intermediates in the synthesis of biologically important natural products. We herein described a highly diastereoselective synthesis of beta-carboxy-gamma-lactams and their ethyl ester derivatives, in high yields with high diastereomeric ratio, via the Mukaiyama-aldol type reaction of 2,5-bis(trimethysilyloxy)furan with imines, employing Sc(OTf)(3) as a catalyst.     

Asymmetric synthesis of 1,3-thiazolidine-derived spiro-β-lactams via a Staudinger reaction between chiral ketenes and imines

Enantiomerically pure 1,3-thiazolidine-derived spiro-β-lactams were stereoselectively synthesised by means of a Staudinger ketene–imine reaction starting from optically active N-Boc-1,3-thiazolidine-2-carboxylic acid derivatives and imines. The reactions were stereoselective and afforded spiro-β-lactams with a relative trans-configuration. The absolute configuration of the new stereocentres was assigned on the basis of the well-accepted mechanism and confirmed by means of the X-ray crystal structure analysis. The spiro-β-lactams were transformed into enantiomerically pure chiral monocyclic β-lactams by opening the thiazolidine ring and recovering the chiral auxiliary.     

Synthesis and polymerization studies of formaldehyde oxime and its derivatives

Formaldehyde oxime and three O‐alkyl derivatives were examined as potential imine monomers. Formaldehyde oxime spontaneously polymerized below 60 °C and did not polymerize above 60 °C (ceiling temperature), even in the presence of free‐radical or cationic initiators. The O‐benzoyl derivative was isolated as the cyclic trimer but could not be converted into the monomeric form. Formaldehyde O‐benzyloxime was synthesized and isolated. Attempted homopolymerizations in the presence of free‐radical initiators only led to oligomers, whereas with cationic initiators only cyclic trimer was obtained. Copolymerizations with appropriate vinyl monomers and free‐radical and anionic initiators yielded only low molecular weight polymers. Cationic copolymerizations gave higher molecular weights and polymer yields, but the polymers containing appreciable amounts of imine function had very low molecular weights. We conclude that the polymerizability of imines is extremely sensitive to the substitution pattern: imines with only a substituent on nitrogen are unstable and readily polymerize, whereas imines with more substituents generally do not polymerize. Electron‐withdrawing substituents are more favorable to polymerizability. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 1866–1872, 2000     

Expedient stereoselective synthesis of coronafacic acid through intramolecular Diels-Alder cyclization

A stereoselective synthesis of coronafacic acid, a natural component of the phytotoxin coronatin, was achieved using an intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction as the key step. The triene precursor bearing a substituted diene and a vinylketone as dienophile was synthesized and then tested in the thermal intramolecular cyclization. We have devised a new strategy to assemble the E,Z-diene through the stereoselective aldol reaction of an ester enolate followed by a stereoselective dehydration. Following the thermal cyclization, the corresponding hydrindanone thereby obtained with the desired relative stereochemistry could easily be converted into the natural product. The synthesis of the coronafacic acid was accomplished in six steps in 29% overall yield.     

Asymmetric total syntheses of (+)-cheimonophyllon e and (+)-cheimonophyllal

The highly enantiocontrolled total syntheses of natural (+)-cheimonophyllon E (5) and (+)-cheimonophyllal (6), biologically intriguing oxygenated bisabolane-type sesquiterpenoids, have been completed. The present synthetic strategy featured the use of an asymmetric aldol-type reaction for preparing in the first synthetic step an optically active 6-C-substituted 3-methyl-2-cyclohexenone derivative. Thus, a Mukaiyama aldol reaction of 1-methyl-3-silyloxy-1,3-cyclohexadiene 31 with alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehyde 11 in the presence of a chiral (acyloxy)borane (CAB)-type Yamamoto catalyst 33 proceeded with high levels of both diastereo- and enantioselectivities. The predominant aldol adduct, syn-9, was transformed into gamma,delta-epoxy allylic alcohol 8 by a nine-step sequence, including the substrate-controlled 1,2-reduction of enone, syn-12, also the epoxidation of allylic alcohol 15. Epoxy-alcohol 8 underwent 5-exo-cyclization in a high regioselective manner under acidic conditions to produce a bicyclic key intermediate (+)-7, which was eventually efficiently converted to (+)-cheimonophyllon E (5) or (+)-cheimonophyllal (6).     

Cycloaddition reactions of 1-lithio-1,3-dienes with aromatic nitriles affording multiply substituted pyridines, pyrroles, and linear butadienylimines

Fully or partially substituted 1-iodo- or 1-bromo-1,3-dienes could be readily lithiated using t-BuLi or n-BuLi to afford their corresponding 1-lithio-1,3-diene derivatives in quantitative yields. When these in situ generated lithium reagents were treated with organonitriles, depending on the substitution patterns of the butadienyl skeletons, substituted pyridines, pyrroles, and/or linear butadienyl imines were formed in good to excellent yields via N-lithioketimine intermediates. In the cases of 1,2,3,4-tetrasubstituted and 2,3-disubstituted 1-lithio-1,3-dienes, pyridine derivatives or linear butadienyl imines were generally formed depending on the reaction temperatures. When 1,2,3,4-tetrasubstituted 4-halo-1-lithio-1,3-dienes and 1,2-disubstituted 1-lithio-1,3-dienes were treated with organonitriles, pyrrole derivatives or linear butadienyl imines were obtained. Competition between 5-exo and 6-endo cyclization was found to be responsible for the formation of either pyrroles or pyridines. Selective elimination of RLi from the lithiated cyclic N-containing intermediates was observed. The order of elimination was found to be LiCl > Me3SiLi > LiH.     

Stereoselective synthesis of N-heterocycles: application of the asymmetric Cu-catalyzed addition of Et2Zn to functionalized alkyl and aryl imines

The preparation of N-heterocycles from alkyl- and aryl-substituted imines is described. The key step involves a copper-catalyzed addition of diethylzinc to functionalized alkyl-substituted imines that were generated in situ from the sulfinic acid adducts. The nucleophilic addition products were then converted to 2-substituted pyrrolidines and piperidines. Aryl-substituted imines were transformed into enantioenriched 1- and 1,4-substituted tetrahydroisoquinolines.