Synthesis and resolution of 2,2′-bis[di(p-tolyl)stibano]-1,1′-binaphthyl (BINASb); the first example of an optically active organoantimony ligand for asymmetric synthesis

Racemic 2,2′-bis[di(p-tolyl)stibano]-1,1′-binaphthyl (BINASb) (±)-2 has been prepared from 2,2′-dibromo-1,1′-binaphthyl 1 via 2,2′-dilithio-1,1′-binaphthyl intermediate, and has been resolved via the separation of a mixture of the diastereomeric Pd complexes 4A and 4B, derived from the reaction of (±)-2 with di-μ-chlorobis{(S)-2-[1-(dimethylamino)ethyl]phenyl-C,N}dipalladium(II) 3. The optically active BINASbs (S)-(+)-2 and (R)-(−)-2 have been shown to be effective chiral ligands for the rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrosilylation of ketones.     

Preparation and resolution of 2,2′-dimercapto-6,6′-dimethoxy-1,1′-biphenyl: a C2-symmetric sulfur building block

The preparation of the title dimercaptan 1 starting from 2,2′-dihydroxy-6,6′-dimethoxy-1,1′-biphenyl 2 is described. Resolution of dimercaptan 1 was performed using (−)-(1R,2S,5R)-menthyl chloroformate as a chiral resolving agent. The procedure affords dimercaptan (+)-1 and (−)-1 in 98% ee and 93% ee, respectively. A new and direct intermolecular Ullmann coupling resulting in an improved preparation of diol 2 is also reported.     

Stereospecific Synthesis of (−)-β-Turmerone and (−)-Bisacurol

The structure of (+)-β-turmerone ((+)- 1a ), a constituent of the rhizomes of Curcuma longa Linn. , and Curcuma xanthorriza, is established as (1′R,6S)-2-methyl-6-(4′-methylenecyclohex-2′-en-1′-yl)hept-2-en-4-one by synthesis of its enantiomer (−)- 1a , and of the corresponding (1′S,6S)-diastereoisomer (+)- 1b as well. In a stereospecific seventeen-step procedure, the monoterpene diols 2a and 2b of well-established configuration are converted into the target compounds (−)- 1a and (+)- 1b , respectively. Moreover, (−)-bisacurol (−)- 3a (II), the enantiomer of another bisabolane sesquiterpene derived from Curcuma xanthorriza, is obtained as a single stereoisomer and shown to be (1′S,6R)-2-methyl-6-(4′-methylenecyclohex-2′-en-1′-yl)hept-2-en-4-ol, the relative configuration at the remaining OH-substituted chiral center C(4) still being unknown.     

Chiral diphenylthiophosphoramides: a new class of chiral ligands for the silver(I)-promoted enantioselective allylation of aldehydes

Chiral C₂-symmetric diphenylthiophosphoramides 1 and 2 were prepared in high yields from the reaction of diphenylthiophosphinic chloride with (1R,2R)-(−)-1,2-diaminocyclohexane and (1R,2R)-(+)-1,2-diphenylethylenediamine, respectively. Another novel chiral ligand 4 was prepared from reaction of diphenylthiophosphinic chloride with (R)-(+)-1,1′-binaphthyl-2,2′-diamine using butyllithium as a base. They were used as catalytic chiral ligands in the silver(I)-promoted enantioselective allylation reaction of aldehydes with allyltributyltin.     

Chiral diphenylselenophosphoramides: a new class of chiral ligands for the titanium(IV) alkoxide-promoted addition of diethylzinc to aldehydes

Chiral C₂-symmetric diphenylselenophosphoramides 1 and 2 were prepared from the reaction of diphenylselenophosphinic chloride with (1R,2R)-(−)-1,2-diaminocyclohexane and (1R,2R)-(+)-1,2-diphenylethylenediamine, respectively, in high yields. Another novel chiral ligand 3 was prepared from the reaction of diphenylselenophosphinic chloride with (R)-(+)-1,1′-binaphthyl-2,2′-diamine using butyllithium as the base. The ligands were used as catalytic chiral ligands in the titanium(IV) alkoxide-promoted enantioselective addition reaction of diethylzinc to aldehydes.     

2,2′-Dihydroxy-3,3′-dimethoxy-5,5′-dimethyl-6,6′-dibromo-1,1′-biphenyl: preparation,resolution, structure and biological activity

The preparation and resolution of the titled conformationally stable biphenyl 1 has been performed in high chemical yield starting from creosol 2. Enantiopure biphenyls (aR)-(+)-1 and (aS)-(−)-1 were obtained by the corresponding menthylcarbonate diastereomer and successive reduction. The absolute configuration and specific rotation were correlated by X-ray analysis of the crystal structure of diastereopure menthylcarbonate (aS,1R,1′R,2S,2′S,5R,5′R)-(+)-16. Preliminary biological evaluation of both racemic enantiomers of 1 has been carried out on melanoma cell lines and significant and selective anticancer activity has been observed for the enantiomer (aS)-(−)-1.     

Synthesis of 3 or 3,3′-substituted BINOL ligands and their application in the asymmetric addition of diethylzinc to aromatic aldehydes

Three new substituted BINOL ligands (R)-3-[4,6-bis(dimethylamino)-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl]-1,1′-bi-2-naphthol (R)-1, (R)-3,3′-bis[4,6-bis(dimethylamino)-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl]-1,1′-bi-2-naphthol (R)-2 and 2,4-bis(2,2′-dihydroxy-1,1′-binaphthalen-3-yl)-6-(p-tolyl)-1,3,5-triazine (R,R)-3 have been obtained by directed ortho-lithiation or Suzuki cross-coupling process. Ligand (R)-1 shows improved catalytic properties for the asymmetric diethylzinc addition to aromatic aldehydes.     

Synthesis of enantiopure 1,1′-(1-dimethylamino-propanediyl)ferrocene via a highly diastereoselective imine reduction

1,1′-(1-Oxo-propanediyl)ferrocene 4 reacts with (S)-(−)-1-(1-naphthylethyl)amine to give the corresponding syn imine exclusively which undergoes a highly diastereoselective reduction with sodium borohydride to give the diastereomerically pure (R,S)-(+)-amine 6. Conversion of 6 leads in three steps to the final product (R)-(+)-1,1′-(1-dimethylamino-propanediyl)ferrocene 2 in 53% overall yield (based on 4) and in >98% e.e. Use of (S)-(−)-1-phenylethylamine as the chiral auxiliary leads to an 84:16 mixture of syn and anti imines. After reduction and separation of the resulting diastereomers the major isomer (R,S)-(−)-10 can also be converted to the final product (R)-(+)-2 in 55% overall yield (based on 4) and in >98% e.e.     

Desymmetrization of 2,2′,6,6′-tetramethoxybiphenyl by regioselective sulfenylation reaction

A practical regioselective sulfenylation reaction of the achiral title compound 1 provides desymmetrization and access to C₂-symmetric sulphur derivatives. Resolution of 2,2′,6,6′-tetramethoxy-3,3′-dimercapto-1,1′-biphenyl 7 was achieved by conversion to the corresponding dithiocarbonate diastereomers. The absolute configuration of (aR)-(−)-7 and (aS)-(+)-7 was assigned unambiguously.     

New methodology for the synthesis of enantiopure (3R,2aR)-(−)-3-phenyl-hexahydro-oxazolo[3,2-a]-pyridin-5-one: a synthesis of (S)-(+)-coniine

A new and efficient methodology for the enantiopure synthesis of (3R,2aR)-(−)-3-phenyl-hexahydro-oxazolo[3,2-a]pyridin-5-one 3 starting from (1′R)-(−)-1-(2′-hydroxy-1′-phenyl-ethyl)-(1H)-pyridin-2-one 1 is described. In addition, the enantiospecific synthesis of (S)-(+)-coniine hydrochloride 6 in good yield from 3 is reported.     

Lipase mediated enantiomer and diastereomer separation of 2,2′-[1,2- and 1,3-phenylenebis(oxy)]dicyclohexanols

Separation of diastereomeric and enantiomeric mixtures of 2,2′-[1,2- and 1,3-phenylenebis(oxy)]dicyclohexanols rac-3a and meso-3a, and rac-3b and meso-3b—resulting from the reactions of pyrocatechol 1a and resorcinol 1b with cyclohexene oxide 2—were performed using acetylation catalyzed by the highly stereoselective Candida antarctica lipase B (Novozym 435). The absolute configurations of the resulting diols (S,S,S,S)-3a,b, monoacetates (R,R,S,S)-4a,b and diacetates (R,R,R,R)-5a,b were assigned on the basis of the steric analogy to the acetylation of racemic trans-2-phenoxycyclohexanol rac-6 with the same enzyme resulting in the known acetate (−)-(R,R)-7.     

Asymmetric hydrogenation reactions mediated by a new class of bicyclic bisphosphinites

The bicyclic alcohol (−)-4 was prepared from (−)-bicyclo[3.2.0]hept-2-en-6-one (−)-1 in 50% yield. The diol (−)-4 was coupled to selected chlorophosphines 6–12 to produce a series of bisphosphinites 13–19 in 89–95% yield. From these bisphosphinites were prepared the rhodium complexes 20–26 which were characterised by ³¹P NMR and used in situ for the asymmetric hydrogenation of α-enamides 27–29. Complexes 21, 23–25 proved to be the superior catalysts for the production of (R)-N-acetylphenylalanine (91, 84, 90 and 87.5% ee) from 27 and (S)-N-acetylalanine methyl ester (70, 72, 68 and 71% ee) from 28.     

Preparation of chiral α-diazophosphonic acid derivatives

The chiral α-diazophosphonic acid derivatives 3, 6 and 8 were prepared from (−)-ephedrine and (S,S)-N,N′-dimethyl-1,2-diaminocyclohexane; preliminary experiments suggest that the chiral auxiliary exerts little influence in the dirhodium(II) acetate catalysed OH and NH insertion reactions.     

Synthesis and applications of (R)- and (S)-7,7′-dimethoxy-2,2′-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1′-binaphthalene

The synthesis of (R)- and (S)-7,7′-dimethoxy-2,2′-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1′-binaphthalene 5a and 5b is described. The phosphorus atoms in (S)-(−)-5b are shown to be slightly more basic than the phosphorus atoms in (S)-BINAP by comparing the magnitude of the ¹J (³¹P–⁷⁷Se) coupling constant in their respective diselenide derivatives. (S)-(−)-5b behaved similarly to (S)-BINAP in asymmetric Heck reactions.     

Enantioselective synthesis of 2,3-diphenyl-1,4-butanediol via oxidative coupling of phenylacetic acid chiral 1,1′-bi-2-naphthyl ester using TiCl4/Et3N

Oxidative coupling of phenylacetic acid ester of homochiral 1,1′-bi-2-naphthol 2 was achieved by reaction with TiCl₄/Et₃N to obtain the corresponding 2,3-diphenylsuccinic acid derivative 3, which on reduction using the NaBH₄/I₂ reagent gives homochiral 2,3-diphenyl-1,4-butanediol. X-Ray structural analysis was carried out for the compounds (R)-(+)-2 and (R,R,R)-(−)-3.     

Microbial reduction of 2-(6-m-methoxyphenyl-3-oxohexyl)-2,4-dimethylcyclopenta-1,3-dione with Schizosaccharomyces pombe (NRRL Y-164)

A mixture of cis- and trans-2-(6-m-methoxyphenyl-3-oxohexyl)-2,4-dimethylcyclopenta-1,3-dione (±)-10 was synthesized and incubated with Schizosaccharomyces pombe (NRRL Y-164) to give (+)-11, (+)-12, (−)-13, and (−)-14 in 19, 13, 22, and 16% yields, respectively. Chromic acid oxidation of these microbiologically reduced products gave (−)-10a, (+)-10b, (+)-10a, and (−)-10b, respectively.     

2-Methoxy-2-(1-naphthyl)propionic acid,a powerful chiral auxiliary for enantioresolution of alcohols and determination of their absolute configurations by the 1H NMR anisotropy method

Racemic 2-methoxy-2-(1-naphthyl)propionic acid (1, MαNP acid) was enantioresolved as its esters derived from various chiral alcohols. For example, a diastereomeric mixture of esters prepared from (±)-1 and (1R,3R,4S)-(−)-menthol was easily separated by HPLC on silica gel yielding esters (−)-2a and (−)-2b, the separation factor α=1.83 being unusually large. The ¹H NMR chemical shift differences, Δδ=δ(R)–δ(S), between diastereomers 2a and 2b, are much larger than those of conventional chiral auxiliaries, e.g. Mosher’s MTPA and Trost’s MPA acids. This acid 1 is therefore very powerful for determining the absolute configuration of chiral alcohols by the ¹H NMR anisotropy method. Solvolysis of the separated esters yielded enantiopure acids (S)-(+)-1 and (R)-(−)-1, which are useful for enantioresolution of racemic alcohols.     

New chiral phosphorus catalysts derived from (S)-binaphthol for highly enantioselective reduction of acetophenone by borane

New chiral (+)-2,2′-O,O-(1,1′-binaphthyl)-dioxo-N,N-diethylphospholidine 1 and its borane complex 3 were prepared from (S)-binaphthol and their use as catalysts in enantioselective borane reductions of prochiral acetophenone were investigated. Enantiomeric excesses of up to 98.5% have been obtained using 6 mol% of 1 at room temperature and using 6 mol% of 3 at 100°C.     

Stereoselective synthesis of both enantiomers of 1,4-anhydro-alditols, 1,4-anhydro-2-amino-alditols and d- and l-isonucleosides from 2,3-O-isopropylidene-d-glyceraldehyde using iodine-induced cyclization as the key step

We have stereoselectively prepared the enantiomeric 1,4-anhydro-alditols (−)-15 and (+)-15, 1,4-anhydro-2-amino-alditols (−)-19 and (+)-19, and isonucleosides (−)-22, (+)-22 and 25, from 2,3-O-isopropylidene-d-glyceraldehyde. The key step was the iodine-induced cyclization of 4-pentene-1,2,3-triols 2 and 3 to give, respectively, the tetrahydrofuran derivatives 4 and 5. In these compounds we have optimized the substitution of iodine for oxygen-bearing groups. Results were best when we used potassium superoxide as a nucleophile.     

Convenient access to both enantiomers of new azido- and aminoinositols via a chemoenzymatic route

1,2-diacetylconduritol E, (±)-1, through complementary use of Mucor miehei (Lipozyme^® IM) and Candida cylindracea lipases, affords (1S)-1,2-diacetylconduritol E, (+)-1, (1R)-1,2-diacetylconduritol E, (−)-1, (1S)-1,2,4-triacetylconduritol E, (+)-2, (1R)-1,2,4-triacetylconduritol E, (−)-2, with high enantiomeric excesses and chemical yields. Following two different methods, diester (+)-1 has been transformed into azidoinositol (−)-4 to give 1L-4-amino-4-deoxy-chiro-inositol, whereas triester (−)-2 furnished the azidoinositol (+)-13, easily converted into 1L-4-amino-4-deoxy-myo-inositol.