Kinetic and mechanistic studies of the hydrolysis of sulfamate esters: a non-elimination decomposition route

The kinetics of hydrolysis at pH 2 and ionic strength (μ) = 1 of a series of sulfamate esters p-XC₆H₄OSO₂NH₂ have been examined using structure- and solvent-reactivity studies, thermodynamic data, a ‘nucleophilicity test’ and a kinetic solvent isotope effect to probe the mechanism of the hydrolysis. These esters can be regarded as models for the more complex medicinally and biologically important esters now under extensive study. The mechanism of hydrolysis involves the neutral ester undergoing nucleophilic attack by water in a bimolecular TS.     

Chemical resolution of inherently racemic dihydropyrimidinones via a site selective functionalization of Biginelli compounds with chiral electrophiles: a case study

Lithiation/substitution of 4-aryl-6-methyl-3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-one ester derivatives with n-BuLi can be directed selectively at N-3 or C-6 positions, depending upon nature and equivalents of the base used and ‘hardness or softness’ of the metalated site/electrophile used. Biginelli dihydropyrimidinone substrate appended with enantiopure N-protected l-phenylalanine amino acid chloride, at N-3 position after resolution and deprotection yielded both enantiomers of 3,4-dihydropyrimidinones.     

Novel biotransformation of pentacyclic triterpenoid acids by Nocardia sp. NRRL 5646

Six pentacyclic triterpene acids, ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, betulinic acid, 23-hydroxybetulinic acid, glycyrrhetinic acid, and senegenin, were metabolized by the microbe Nocardia sp. NRRL 5646 to selectively furnish their corresponding 28-methyl esters. Notably, ursolic acid (1) was converted to oleanolic acid methyl ester (4) via two intermediates, oleanolic acid (2), and ursolic acid methyl ester (3), which are formed by participation of ‘retro-biosynthetic’ methyl migration from C-19 to C-20. Senegenin (11) was selectively converted to a nortriterpene methyl ester, senegenic acid methyl ester (12), via an unprecedented C-C bond cleavage. The stereochemical assignments of compounds 11 and 12 were made unambiguously for the first time using 2D NMR spectroscopy.     

Synthesis of 1,4-benzothiazin-2-yl derivatives of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds and benzothiazinone spiro derivatives by the reaction of 2-chloro-1,4-benzothiazin-3-ones with ‘push-pull’ enamines

The reaction of 2-chloro-3-oxo-3,4-dihydro-2H-1,4-benzothiazines with ‘push-pull’ enamines was investigated. The reaction with the enamines occurs at the β-carbon atom in the presence of a small excess of triethylamine. As a result, a set of 3-oxo-3,4-dihydro-2H-1,4-benzothiazin-2-yl derivatives of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds and benzothiazinone spiro derivatives was prepared. On acidic hydrolysis of ethyl 2-ethyl-3-(methylimino)-2-(3-oxo-3,4-dihydro-2H-1,4-benzothiazin-2-yl)butanoate, a new rearrangement affording ethyl 11-ethyl-2,3-dimethyl-4-oxo-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-2,5-methano-6,1,3-benzothiadiazocine-11-carboxylate was discovered. A plausible mechanism and factors influencing the course of the reaction are discussed.     

Synthesis of 11C labelled methyl esters: transesterification of enol esters versus BF3 catalysed esterification—a comparative study

C-11 labelled methyl esters have been synthesized via the transesterification of enol esters in the presence of C-11 methanol and 1,3 dichlorodibutylstannoxane as catalyst. This method leaves functional groups intact and allows access to a wider variety of C-11 labelled methyl esters compared to the BF₃ catalysed ester formation, which uses carboxylic acids and C-11 methanol as starting materials.     

Rearrangement or gem-difluorination of quinine and 9-epiquinine and their acetates in superacid

In HF-SbF₅, quinine 1a or its dihydrochloride rearranges into compound 3 (89%), the preferred conformation of the substrate favouring the observed cyclization. Under similar conditions epiquinine 2a dihydrochloride yields in equal amounts two 10,10-difluoro derivatives, epimeric at C-3. In this case, the more stable conformation of the substrate in which the benzylic hydroxyl group is ‘exo’ to the quinuclidyl moiety, prevents the cyclisation. Similarly acetates 1b and 2b give the corresponding 10,10-difluoro derivatives epimeric at C-3. Formation of gem-difluoro compounds implies the formation of chloro intermediates at C-10 followed by an hydride abstraction, yielding an α-chloronium ion. This one is trapped by a fluoride ion and leads to the product by halogen exchange.     

A new and efficient method for the synthesis of 3-(2-nitrophenyl)pyruvic acid derivatives and indoles based on the Reissert reaction

The formation of 3-(2-nitrophenyl)pyruvic acid and its amide and ester derivatives – key compounds for the Reissert indole synthesis – was achieved under various reaction conditions via the acid catalyzed hydrolysis of 5-(2-nitrobenzyliden)-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-oxazolidin-4-one, which is readily available from 3-(2-nitrophenyl)oxirane-2-carboxamide. A new and highly efficient method for the synthesis of indole-2-carboxylic acid derivatives via the intramolecular reductive cyclization of o-nitrophenylpyruvic acid and its amide and ester derivatives was developed using Na₂S₂O₄ in dioxane/water at reflux.     

Substituent effects in the ring-chain tautomerism of 4-aryl-1,3,4,6,7,11b-hexahydro-2H-pyrimido[6,1-a]isoquinolines

By condensation of 1-(2′-aminoethyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives with substituted benzaldehydes, 1,6-unsubstituted and diastereomers of 1-methyl- or 6-methyl-substituted 4-aryl-9,10-dimethoxy-1,3,4,6,7,11b-hexahydro-2H-pyrimido[6,1-a]isoquinolines were prepared. The ring-chain tautomeric equilibria of most of these compounds in CDCl₃ at 300 K were found to be shifted nearly totally towards either the cyclic or the open tautomeric forms, while the (6R*,11bR*)-6-methyl substituted compounds proved to be three-component tautomeric mixtures, the equilibria of which could be characterized by a Hammett-type equation. The conformational equilibria of the cyclic forms turned out to be strongly influenced by the 1- and 6-methyl substituents and the configurations of the substituted carbons (C-1 or C-6 and C-4) relative to C-11b.     

Influence of steric parameters on the synthesis of tetramates from α-amino-β-alkoxy-esters and Ph3PCCO

α-Aminoesters react with Ph₃PCCO in a domino addition–Wittig cyclization sequence affording enantiomerically pure tetramates. In the case of β-oxo functionalized α-aminoesters, e.g., esters of serine, threonine or β-hydroxyornithine the yields of this reaction depend heavily on the bulkiness of the β-OR group and on the configuration of β-carbon atom C-3. Smaller residues and 2R/3R-configured aminoesters give better yields. The alkoxycarbonyl group of the ester moiety and the residue on the N-atom are less important. These findings can be accounted for by assuming an early puckered transition state for the intramolecular ring-closing Wittig reaction. The addition of sub-stoichiometric amounts of benzoic acid or N-hydroxysuccinimide (for acid-sensitive compounds) is advantageous in some cases as it accelerates the formation of the intermediate amide ylides.     

Synthese von 3-desoxy-3-amino-vitamin D3 und 3-desoxy-3-epiamino-vitamin D3 und D2

Vitamin D₂ and D₃ are transformed with triphenylphosphane-diethylazodicarboxylate-HN₃ into the epimeric azidoderivatives 1 and 3 with inversion of the configuration at C-3. Reduction with LiAlH₄ yields 3-desoxy-3-epiamino-vitamin D₂ and D₃2 and 4, which are characterized as their acetamides 2a and 4a. Furthermore epivitamin D₃-p-nitrobenzoate 5 is produced by reaction of vitamin D₃ with triphenyl- phosphanediethylazodicarboxylate-p-nitrobenzoic acid, which yields epivitamin D₃5a after saponification. Utilizing the same method as above leads with epivitamin D₃ to 5a 3-desoxy-3-azidovitamin D₃6, which is reduced to 3-desoxy-3-amino-vitamin D₃7 by LiAlH₄ and characterized as its acetamide 7a.     

Substituent effects in 13C NMR spectroscopy: Methyl,ethyl, 2-propyl and 2-methyl-2-propyl carboxylates

The ¹³C chemical shifts of the 28 carboxylic esters have been determined by high-resolution NMR spectroscopy with the aid of proton decoupling. A linear relationship is shown to exist between the ¹³C chemical shifts of the carbinyl carbon (C-1) of the esters and the pK_a values of the acids from which they are derived. This is a consequent of the polar character of the

bond. Similarly, if the carboxyl group is kept constant, but the alcoholic part of the ester is varied from primary to secondary and tertiary alcohols, the esterification effect on C-1 can be correlated with the increasing stability of the +δ charge on the carbinyl carbon. The smallest esterification effect at C-1 (1.3 ppm, relative to the parent alcohol) is observed for methyl pivalate (pK_a 5.03 for the parent acid), and the highest effect (17.7 ppm) for 2-methyl-2-propyl trichloroacetate (pK_a 0.70). In contrast, the C-2 esterification effect has been found to be essentially constant (?3.8±0.7 ppm), which is in agreement only with a conformation of the ester group in which the carbinyl carbon is cis with respect to the CO group.     

Porphyrins with exocyclic rings. Part 24. Synthesis and spectroscopic properties of pyrenoporphyrins, potential building blocks for porphyrin molecular wires

Porphyrins with fused pyrene units have been prepared by ‘2+2’ and ‘3+1’ methodologies. Nitration of 1,2,3,6,7,8-tetrahydropyrene, followed by oxidation with DDQ, gave 4-nitropyrene and this condensed with ethyl isocyanoacetate in the presence of DBU or a phosphazene base to generate a pyrenopyrrole ethyl ester. Ester saponification and decarboxylation with KOH in ethylene glycol at 190 °C gave the parent pyreno[4,5-c]pyrrole and this was further condensed with 2 equiv of acetoxymethylpyrroles to afford the corresponding tripyrranes protected at the terminal positions with tert-butyl esters. In a one pot procedure, the ester protective groups were cleaved with TFA and following dilution with dichloromethane, ‘3+1’ condensation with a pyrrole dialdehyde, and dehydrogenation with DDQ, the targeted pyrenoporphyrins were generated in good overall yields. A dialdehyde was also prepared from the pyrenopyrrole intermediate and this reacted to give an opp-dipyrenoporphyrin. The pyrenopyrrole ethyl ester reacted with dimethoxymethane in the presence of an acid catalyst to give a dipyrenopyrrolylmethane, and this was used to prepare an adj-dipyrenoporphyrin using the MacDonald ‘2+2’ approach. The pyrenopyrrole dialdehyde was also used to prepare a porphyrin with fused pyrene and phenanthroline moieties. Although the UV-vis spectra of these new porphyrin systems are unexceptional, pyrenoporphyrins show many of the features necessary for the construction of porphyrin molecular wires.     

Development of effective Lewis acids for the catalytic Diels-Alder reaction of α,β-unsaturated lactones with cyclopentadiene

We found that ‘Tf₂CH₂ + Me₃Al’ systems are effective catalytic systems for the DA reaction of less reactive α,β-unsaturated lactone derivatives, compared to α,β-unsaturated ester derivatives, with cyclopentadiene. Mononuclear aluminum methide complex, Tf₂CHAlMe₂, as an active species is formed in these catalytic systems. Effects of lactone ring-size on the reactivity and stereoselectivity were also examined. By expanding ring-size, reactivity of α,β-unsaturated lactones reduced but endo-selectivity notably increased.     

Synthesis of Optically Active,Ring-Substituted N-Benzyloxycarbonylphenylalanines via 2-Benzyloxycarbonylamino-2-arylalkylmalonates

Diethyl or dimethyl benzyloxycarbonylaminomalonate was reacted with ring substituted benzyl halides and the resulting arylalkyl derivatives ( 3 to 6 ) half-saponified to the DL -monoacid-monoesters ( 7 to 10 ). Decarboxylation by refluxing in dioxane afforded the N-benzyl oxycarbonyl-DL -amino acid esters ( 11 to 14 ), which were resolved into their optical antipodes by enzymic hydrolysis of the ester group with Subtilisin, type Carlsberg. Enzymic hydrolysis led to the N-benzyloxycarbonyl-L -amino acids ( 15 to 18 ) and to the corresponding D -amino acid esters. The latter were converted to the N-benzyloxycarbonyl-D -amino acids ( 19 and 20 ) by alkaline hydrolysis of the ester groups. These derivatives could be used directly for further peptide synthesis. The following compounds were prepared: N-benzyloxycarbonyl derivatives of p-methyl-L -phenylalanine ( 15 ), p-methyl-D -phenylalanine ( 19 ), p-fluoro-L -phenylalanine ( 16 ), m-fluoro-L -phenylalanine ( 17 ), m-fluoro-D -phenylalanine ( 20 ) and penta-fluoro-L -phenylalanine ( 18 ). The free amino acids were obtained by removal of the benzyloxycarbonyl group with HBr in acetic acid.     

PtCl2-mediated cycloisomerization of unsaturated propargylic carboxylates

The PtCl₂-mediated cycloisomerization of unsaturated propargylic carboxylates yields differently functionalized bicyclo[4.1.0]heptane enol esters from moderate to good yield, in a very diastereoselective manner. We have prepared and submitted to PtCl₂-catalyzed cycloisomerization a series of differently substituted hept-1-en-6-ynes with different O-acyl (acetyl, trichloroacetyl, 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoyl, etc.) protecting groups at propargylic positions, investigating also the effect of the geometry at the double bond, as well as the effect of the number of substituents at the alkene moiety. As a result, we have found that the O-acetyl migrating group is the best one in terms of simplicity and chemical yields. In this reaction we have isolated mixtures of compounds formed by minor 1-acetoxy-allenes and major bicyclo[4.1.0]heptane derivatives. Major products are the result of a sequential process involving steps of cycloisomerization plus cyclopropanation, followed by acyl migration. The basic methanolysis (K₂CO₃, MeOH) of these intermediates gave mixtures of cis and trans-caran-2-ones. This two-step protocol (cycloisomerization plus basic methanolysis) for the syntheses of α,β-unsaturated cyclopropyl ketones constitutes a synthetic alternative to the usual unfriendly, intramolecular cyclopropanation of unsaturated α-diazocarbonyl derivatives. The formation of these bicyclo[4.1.0]heptane derivatives is a simple, but efficient entry into the skeleton of the ‘carane’ family of natural products.     

On the lithium dimethylcuprate induced conversion of propargylic esters into allenes using a steroidal C/D fragment derived from vitamin D3 as a stereochemical probe.

The reactions of (CH₃)₂CuLi with various C-8 epimeric propargylic esters derived from Grundmann's ketone, a C/D steroid fragment originating from vitamin D₃, lead to the corresponding allenes, the stereochemistry of which indicate a preferred $\text{anti}$ 1,3-substitution.     

Acceleration of Cu(I)-mediated Huisgen 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition by histidine derivatives

Acceleration of Cu(I)-mediated Huisgen 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition (Sharpless ‘click reaction’) by non-basic histidine derivatives was found. An efficient ‘self-activating’ click reaction between the azide- and acetylene-containing peptides on the solid-phase has also been achieved by introducing the N^im-benzylhistidine residue on the reacting peptides.     

Discovery of the first non-planar flavonoid that can strongly inhibit xanthine oxidase: protoapigenone 1′-O-propargyl ether

Xanthine oxidase (XO) is a key enzyme in purine metabolism with an important role in various pathologies. Several flavonoids have been reported for their capacity to inhibit this enzyme, and, for these compounds, the ability to adopt a planar 3D structure has been accepted as fundamental prerequisite for such activity. Here we report the in vitro investigation of a series of non-planar protoflavone derivatives as XO inhibitors, among which protoapigenone 1′-O-propargyl ether was found to be an efficient competitive inhibitor of the enzyme with an IC₅₀ value of 3.61 μM, significantly (p <0.001) stronger than the anti-gout drug allopurinol (IC₅₀ = 8.72 μM). Methoxy substitution at C-7, however, resulted in complete loss of activity. In silico docking supported the observed structure–activity relationships, based on which a ‘planar structure’ itself can no longer be considered as a criterion for flavonoid-type inhibitors of XO.     

Porphyrins with exocyclic rings. Part 23: Synthesis of porphyrins with large exocyclic rings—cyclohexadeca[b]pyrroles and porphyrins therefrom

Knorr-type condensation of cyclododecanone, cyclopentadecanone, and cyclohexadecanone with phenylhydrazones derived from acetoacetate esters in the presence of zinc dust at elevated temperatures gave the corresponding large ring cycloalka[b]pyrroles in excellent yields. A cyclohexadeca[b]pyrrole was reacted with lead tetraacetate to give an acetate derivative, and this condensed with α-unsubstituted pyrroles in the presence of p-toluenesulfonic acid in acetic acid to give a series of related dipyrrolic structures. Hydrogenolysis of the benzyl ester protective groups, followed by ‘2+2’ condensations with dipyrrylmethane dialdehydes, gave unusual cycloalkanoporphyrins with 16-membered exocyclic rings. When an alkyl group is situated next to the carbocyclic ring, proton NMR spectroscopy indicates that the conformational mobility of the carbocyclic unit is severely restricted.     

New synthesis of methyl 5-aryl or heteroaryl pyrrole-2-carboxylates by a tandem Sonogashira coupling/5-endo-dig-cyclization from β-iododehydroamino acid methyl esters and terminal alkynes

A new and versatile ‘Pd’/CuI catalyzed protocol was developed for the synthesis in good to high yields of substituted pyrroles from N-Boc-β-iododehydroamino acid methyl esters and several terminal alkynes. This one-pot, two-step procedure occurs by a Sonogashira coupling followed by a 5-endo-dig-cyclization, which involves the nitrogen atom of the dehydroamino acid. After several experiments using different Pd(0) and Pd(II) species it was possible to establish the more general reaction conditions, which are: the use of a Pd(II) catalyst, CuI and Cs₂CO₃ as base in dry DMF at 70 °C. The best yields were obtained with arylacetylenes bearing electron-donating groups and with electron-rich heteroarylacetylenes.