Synthesis of 2-cyclopropyl-4-pyrones and 5-cyclopropyl-2-alkylene-3(2H)-furanones based on tandem cyclization-cyclopropanation strategy

In AgSbF₆/Rh₂(OAc)₄/DCE system, two-component diastereoselective reactions of 2-diazo-3,5-dioxo-6-ynoates (phosphonates and sulphones) and alkenes provided easy access to 2-cyclopropyl-γ-pyrones through 6-endo-dig cyclization-cyclopropanation. In AgOAc/Rh₂(OAc)₄/Et₃N/DCE system, two-component reaction of 2-diazo-3,5-dioxo-7-aryl-6-ynoates and alkenes afforded 2-cyclopropyl-2-alkylene-3(2H)-furanones through 5-exo-dig cyclization-cyclopropanation. The possible mechanism of reaction is discussed. A simple procedure and mild conditions are significant features of this strategy.     

Metal complexes of 2-aza-2-benzyl-5,10,15,20-tetraphenyl-21-carbaporphyrin: M(2-NCH2C6H5NCTPP) (M = Ni, Pd) and Mn(2-NCH2C6H5NCTPP)Br (NCTPP = N-confused 5,10,15,20-tetraphenyl porphyrinate)

The crystal structures of (2-aza-2-benzyl-5,10,15,20-tetraphenyl-21-carbaporphyrinato-N,N′,N″) nickel(II) methylene chloride solvate [Ni(2-NCH₂C₆H₅NCTPP); 4], (2-aza-2-benzyl-5,10,15,20-tetraphenyl-21-carbaporphyrinato-N,N′,N″) palladium(II) [Pd(2-NCH₂C₆H₅NCTPP); 5] and bromo(2-aza-2-benzyl-5,10,15,20-tetraphenyl-21-carbaporphyrinato-N,N′,N″) manganese(III) toluene solvate [Mn(2-NCH₂C₆H₅NCTPP)Br·C₆H₅CH₃; 3·C₆H₅CH₃] have been established. The coordination sphere around the Ni²⁺ ion in 4 (or Pd²⁺ ion in 5) is distorted square planar (DSP), whereas for Mn³⁺ in 3·C₆H₅CH₃, it is a square-based pyramid with the Br atom lying in the axial site. The g value of 11.34, measured from parallel polarization of the X-band EPR spectra at 4 K, is consistent with a high spin mononuclear manganese(III) centre (S = 2) in 3. The magnitude of the axial (D) zero-field splitting (ZFS) for the mononuclear Mn(III) centre in 3 was determined approximately to be 1.4 cm⁻¹ by paramagnetic susceptibility measurements and conventional EPR spectroscopy.     

An Approach Toward Oxidopyrylium Ylides Using Rh(II)-Catalyzed Cyclization Chemistry

The Rh(II)-catalyzed reaction of the E-isomer of 2-diazo-3,6-dioxo-6-phenyl-hex-enoic acid methyl ester was carried out in the presence of various carbonyl compounds and was found to give 1,3-dioxoles in moderate to good yield. In an attempt to prepare the starting α-diazo substrate, an unexpected pseudo-dimerization reaction was encountered when 5-phenyl-furan-2,3-dione was heated in the presence of sodium methoxide.     

A molecular warhead and its target: tissue transglutaminase and Celiac Sprue

The substitution of a glutamine residue with 6-diazo-5-oxo-norleucine (DON) transforms an immunodominant gluten peptide into a potent inhibitor of tissue transglutaminase. DON-modified peptides could be useful for the study and therapy of celiac sprue.     

Facile synthesis of novel CF3-substituted ring-fused furo[2,3-c]pyrazoles through Rh2(OAc)4 catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition of 4-diazo-1-phenyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazol-5(4H)-one with aromatic alkynes

The Rh₂(OAc)₄ catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition of 4-diazo-1-phenyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazol-5(4H)-one with aromatic alkynes was studied, and this protocol can be efficiently applied to the synthesis of the novel CF₃-substituted ring-fused furo[2,3-c]pyrazoles.     

Enantioselective synthesis of sabina ketone

Both enantiomers of sabina ketone were efficiently prepared via an easy synthesis of 1-diazo-5-methylene-6-methylheptan-2-one, starting from succinic anhydride, followed by its highly enantioselective cyclization catalyzed by chiral dirhodium(II) compounds having ortho-metalated phosphines as ligands.     

A reinvestigation of the structures for 5-diazouracil, 5-diazouridine, 5-diazo-2′-deoxyuridine and certain related derivatives by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy

The structure of 5-diazouracil and several closely related derivatives have been revised on the basis of pmr spectroscopy. 5-Diazouracil, 5-diazouracil hydrate, 5-diazouracil methanol adduct, 5-diazouridine and 5-diazo-2′-deoxyuridine have been reassigned the structures 5-diazopyrimidin-2,4(3H)dione (XI), 5-diazo-6-hydroxy-1,6-dihydropyrimidin-2,4(1H,3H,6H)dione (XIII), 5-diazo-6-methoxy-1,6-dihydropyrimidin-2,4(1H,3H,6H)dione (XII), 1 -(β-D-ribofuranosyl)-O^5′ -6(S)cyclo-5-diazo-1,6-dihydropyrimidin-2,4(3H,6H)dione (XVII) and 1-(2-deoxy-β-D-ribofuranosyl)-O^5′ -6(S)cyclo-5-diazo-1,6-dihydropyrimidin-2,4(3H,6H)dione (XIX), respectively. Treatment of XII with dimethylamine resulted in a coupling of the 5-diazo group with dimethylamine and a concomitant rearomatization of the heterocyclic ring by expulsion of the 6-methoxy group to furnish 5-(3,3-dimethyl-1-triazeno)uracil (XIV). A similar reaction of XIX and XVII with dimethylamine furnished the corresponding 5-(3,3-dimethyl-1-triazeno)derivatives. The effect which certain resonance hybrids of the diazo moiety may exert in reactions of the above hetero-cycles and the assignment of S configuration at C-6 for the nucleoside derivatives is also discussed.     

Novel chromeno[2,3-c]pyrroles synthesized via intramolecular rhodium(ii) carbene trapping

Rhodium(ii) carbenes generated from (E)-3-diazo-4-(2-hydroxybenzylidene)-1-phenylpyrrolidine-2,5-dione under- went a facile transformation into novel succinimide-fused 2H-chromenes, chromeno[2,3-c]pyrrole-1,3(2H,3aH)-diones. The process presumably involves an intramolecular O-H insertion reaction.     

Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of descurainin via 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of a carbonyl ylide using Rh2(R-TCPTTL)4

A catalytic asymmetric synthesis of descurainin has been achieved by incorporating an enantioselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition, a stereoselective alkene hydrogenation, an oxidation with Fremy’s salt and a regioselective demethylation with NbCl₅ as the key step. The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of a carbonyl ylide derived from tert-butyl 2-diazo-5-formyl-3-oxopetanoate with 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenylacetylene in the presence of dirhodium(II) tetrakis[N-tetrachlorophthaloyl-(R)-tert-leucinate], Rh₂(R-TCPTTL)₄, provided an 8-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane skeleton in 95% ee.     

5-Diazouracils in Azo Coupling Reactions

6-Hydroxy-5-diazo-6H-uracil and 6-hydroxy-5-diazo-1,3-dimethyl-6H-uracil enter into azo coupling reaction with CH-acids, active phenols, arylamines, and heterocycles. The conditions of reaction depend on the substrate character.     

The structures of (phenylato)(N-2-thiophenecarboxamido-meso-tetraphenylporphyrinato)mercury(II) and bisphenylmercury(II) complex of 21-(4-tert-butyl-benzenesulfonamido)-5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrin

The reaction of PhHgOAc with N-NHCO-2-C₄H₃S-Htpp (5) and N-p-HNSO2C6H4^tBu-Htpp (4) gave a mercury (II) complex of (phenylato) (N-2-thiophenecarboxamido-meso-tetra phenylporphyrinato)mercury(II) 1.5 methylene chloride solvate [HgPh(N-NHCO-2-C₄H₃S-tpp) · CH₂Cl₂ · 0.5C₆H₁₄;  6 · CH₂Cl₂ · 0.5C₆H₁₄] and a bismercury complex of bisphenylmercury(II) complex of 21-(4-tert-butyl-benzenesulfonamido)-5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrin, [(HgPh)2(N-p-NSO₂C₆H₄^tBu-tpp); 7], respectively. The crystal structures of 6 · CH₂Cl₂ · 0.5C₆H₁₄ and 7 were determined. The coordination sphere around Hg(1) in 6 · CH₂Cl₂ · 0.5C₆H₁₄ and Hg(2) in 7 is a sitting-atop derivative with a seesaw geometry, whereas for the Hg(1) in 7, it is a linear coordination geometry. Both Hg(1) in 6 · CH₂Cl₂ · 0.5C₆H₁₄ and Hg(2) in 7 acquire 4-coordination with four strong bonds [Hg(1)–N(1) = 2.586(3) Å, Hg(1)–N(2) = 2.118(3) Å, Hg(1)–N(3) = 2.625(3) Å, and Hg(1)–C(50) = 2.049(4) Å for 6 · CH₂Cl₂ · 0.5C₆H₁₄; Hg(2)–N(1) = 2.566(6) Å, Hg(2)–N(2) = 2.155(6) Å, Hg(2)–N() = 2.583(6) Å, and Hg(2)–C(61) = 2.064(7) Å for 7]. The plane of the three pyrrole nitrogen atoms [i.e., N(1)–N(3)] strongly bonded to Hg(1) in 6 · CH₂Cl₂ · 0.5C₆H₁₄ and to Hg(2) in 7 is adopted as a reference plane 3N. For the Hg²⁺ complex in 6 · CH₂Cl₂ · 0.5C₆H₁₄, the pyrrole nitrogen bonded to the 2-thiophenecarboxamido ligand lies in a plane with a dihedral angle of 33.4° with respect to the 3N plane, but for the bismercury(II) complex in 7, the corresponding dihedral angle for the pyrrole nitrogen bonded to the NSO₂C₆H₄^tBu group is found to be 42.9°. In the former complex, Hg(1)²⁺ and N(5) are located on different sides at 1.47 and −1.29 Å from its 3N plane, and in the latter one, Hg(2)²⁺ and N(5) are also located on different sides at −1.49 and 1.36 Å form its 3N plane. The Hg(1)?Hg(2) distance in 7 is 3.622(6) Å. Hence, no metallophilic Hg(II)?Hg(II) interaction may be anticipated. NOE difference spectroscopy, HMQC and HMBC were employed to unambiguous assignment for the ¹H and ¹³C NMR resonances of 6 · CH₂Cl₂ ·  0.5C₆H₁₄ in CD₂Cl₂ and 7 in CDCl₃ at 20 °C. The ¹⁹⁹Hg chemical shift δ for a 0.05 M solution of 7 in CDCl₃ solution is observed at −1074 ppm for Hg(2) nucleus with a coordination number of four and at −1191 ppm for Hg(1) nucleus with a coordination number of two. The former resonance is consistent with that chemical shift for a 0.01 M solution of 6 in CD₂Cl₂ having observed at −1108 ppm for Hg(1) nucleus with a coordination number of four.     

Cu(I)-catalyzed reaction of diazo compounds with terminal alkynes: a direct synthesis of trisubstituted furans

A method for the synthesis of tri-substituted furans has been developed based on Cu(I)-catalyzed reaction of terminal alkynes with β-keto α-diazoesters. This method for the synthesis of 2,3,5-trisubstituted furans is operationally simple and applicable to wide substrate scope. Moreover, this synthesis employs cheap Cu(MeCN)₄PF₆ as the catalyst and no additional ligand is needed. Similar reaction has also been applied to ethyl (E)-2-diazo-3-(methoxyimino)butanoate for the synthesis of 2,3,5-trisubstituted N-methoxypyrroles with limited success.     

First synthesis of naturally occurring (±)-epi-conocarpan

(±)-epi-Conocarpan 1 was synthesized via the key intermediate 5-bromo-cis-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-methyl-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran 6 which was synthesized by a ruthenium(II) porphyrin-catalyzed intramolecular C-H insertion reaction using aryl tosylhydrazone salt 5 as the carbene source, starting from the commercially available 5-bromo-2-hydroxyacetophenone.     

Chemo- and stereoselective six-membered oxonium ylide formation–[2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement of 2-diazo-3-ketoesters with dirhodium(II) catalyst and its application to the synthesis of (+)-tanikolide

Dirhodium(II)-catalyzed oxonium ylide formation–[2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement of 6-allyloxy-2-diazo-3-ketoesters possessing a C-6 substituent is described. The reaction of 6-alkyl- or 6-aryl-substituted 6-allyloxy-2-diazo-3-ketoesters with a catalytic amount of Rh₂(S-PTTL)₄ proceeded in a chemoselective and stereoselective manner to provide 6-substituted 2-allyl-3-oxotetrahydropyran-2-carboxylates in good yields and with high diastereoselectivities. To demonstrate the utility of this sequential reaction, we conducted the total synthesis of (+)-tanikolide, in which the construction of the δ-lactone skeleton was achieved by employing a 2-iodobenzamide-catalyzed oxidative cleavage of tetrahydropyran-2-methanol.     

Selective syntheses of 2H-1,3-oxazines and 1H-pyrrol-3(2H)-ones via temperature-dependent Rh(II)-carbenoid-mediated 2H-azirine-ring expansion

The Rh(II)-catalyzed reaction of 2-carbonyl-substituted 2H-azirines with ethyl 2-cyano-2-diazoacetate or 2-diazo-3,3,3-trifluoropropionate provides an easy access to 2H-1,3-oxazines and 1H-pyrrol-3(2H)-ones. These compounds can be selectively prepared from the same starting material using temperature as the only varied parameter. The 2-azabuta-1,3-diene intermediate, a common precursor for both heterocyclic products, isomerizes into 2H-1,3-oxazine under kinetic control, while 1H-pyrrol-3(2H)-one is the sole product of the reaction at elevated temperatures. According to DFT-calculations a one-atom oxazine ring contraction involving ring-opening to a 2-azabuta-1,3-diene intermediate, followed by a 1,5- and 1,2-prototropic shift leads to the consecutive formation of imidoylketene and azomethine ylide, which then further undergo cyclization to the pyrrole derivative.     

Design,synthesis, and evaluation of gluten peptide analogs as selective inhibitors of human tissue transglutaminase

Recent studies have implicated a crucial role for tissue transglutaminase (TG2) in the pathogenesis of Celiac Sprue, a disorder of the small intestine triggered in genetically susceptible individuals by dietary exposure to gluten. Proteolytically stable peptide inhibitors of human TG2 were designed containing acivicin or alternatively 6-diazo-5-oxo-norleucine (DON) as warheads. In biochemical and cell-based assays, the best of these inhibitors, Ac-PQP-(DON)-LPF-NH(2), was considerably more potent and selective than other TG2 inhibitors reported to date. Selective pharmacological inhibition of extracellular TG2 should be useful in exploring the mechanistic implications of TG2-catalyzed modification of dietary gluten, a phenomenon of considerable relevance in Celiac Sprue.     

Intramolecular Carbenoid Reactions of Pyrrole Derivatives. A Total Synthesis of (±)-Ipalbidine

A new method for alkaloid synthesis is described. The rhodium(II)-acetate-catalyzed decomposition of 3-(4-acetoxyphenyl)-1-diazo-4-(pyrrol-1-yl)-2-butanone ( 5d ) gave 6-(4-acetoxyphenyl)-5,6-dihydro-7(8H)-indolizinone ( 6d ) in 82% yield via an intramolecular carbenoid reaction. The latter compound was converted in four steps in 13% overall yield to (±)-ipalbidine ( 1b ).     

Reactivity of Carbenes and Related Compounds towards Molecular Nitrogen

The thermal N₂ exchange of a number of ¹⁵N-labelled diazo compounds was studied in solution. The compounds involved were 3-diazo-1-methylindolin-2-one ( 1 ), 9-diazofluorene ( 2 ), 5-diazo-1,3-cyclopentadiene-1,2,3,4-tetracarbonitrile ( 3 ), 2-diazo-2H-imidazole-4,5-dicarbonitrile ( 4 ), 4-diazocyclohexa-2,5-dienone ( 5 ), and the conjugate acids of 4 and 5 , namely 4,5-dicyano-1H-imidazole-2-diazonium ion ( 6 ) and 4-hydroxybenzenediazonium ion ( 7 ). Only 1 , 4 , 6 , and 7 exchange their diazo group with ‘external’ molecular N₂. The results are explained on the hypothesis that only organic species which have an empty σ orbital and which are effective in π electron back-donation are able to react with N₂. Thus, reaction with carbenes is likely to occur only if the carbene is in the ¹A₂ singlet state and if its electrophilicity is high.     

Mechanism-of-action determination of GMP synthase inhibitors and target validation in Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus

Mechanism-of-action (MOA) studies of bioactive compounds are fundamental to drug discovery. However, in vitro studies alone may not recapitulate a compound's MOA in whole cells. Here, we apply a chemogenomics approach in Candida albicans to evaluate compounds affecting purine metabolism. They include the IMP dehydrogenase inhibitors mycophenolic acid and mizoribine and the previously reported GMP synthase inhibitors acivicin and 6-diazo-5-oxo-L-norleucine (DON). We report important aspects of their whole-cell activity, including their primary target, off-target activity, and drug metabolism. Further, we describe ECC1385, an inhibitor of GMP synthase, and provide biochemical and genetic evidence supporting its MOA to be distinct from acivicin or DON. Importantly, GMP synthase activity is conditionally essential in C. albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus and is required for virulence of both pathogens, thus constituting an unexpected antifungal target.     

Epoxidation of olefins catalyzed by manganese(III) porphyrin in a room temperature ionic liquid

The epoxidation of several alkenes catalyzed by (meso-tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphinato) manganese(III) chloride (MnTFPPCl) was carried out in a 3:1 [bmim]PF₆ ionic liquid/CH₂Cl₂ mixed solvent. The conversion and the yield of epoxide are excellent. It was also found that [bis(acetoxy)iodo]benzene [PhI(OAc)₂] is a more efficient oxidant than PhIO. The catalyst in the ionic liquids can be recycled for several runs without substantial diminution in the catalytic activity.