Enantioselective synthesis of axially chiral 1-(1-naphthyl)isoquinolines and 2-(1-naphthyl)pyridines through sulfoxide ligand coupling reactions

Racemic 1-(1′-isoquinolinyl)-2-naphthalenemethanol rac-12 was prepared through a ligand coupling reaction of racemic 1-(tert-butylsulfinyl)isoquinoline rac-7 with the 1-naphthyl Grignard reagent 10. Resolution of rac-12 was achieved through chromatographic separation of the Noe-lactol derivatives 14 and 15, providing (R)-(−)-12 of >99% ee and (S)-(+)-12 of 90% ee. The ligand coupling reaction of optically enriched sulfoxide (S)-(−)-7 (62% ee) with Grignard reagent 10 furnished rac-12, with the absence of stereoinduction resulting from competing rapid racemisation of the sulfoxide 7. Reaction of optically enriched (S)-(−)-7 with 2-methoxy-1-naphthylmagnesium bromide was also accompanied by racemisation of the sulfoxide 7, and furnished optically active (+)-1-(2′-methoxy-1′-naphthyl)isoquinoline (+)-3b in low enantiomeric purity (14% ee). The absolute configuration of (+)-3b was assigned as R using circular dichroism spectroscopy, correcting an earlier assignment based on the Bijvoet method, but in the absence of heavy atoms. Optically active 2-pyridyl sulfoxides were found not to undergo racemisation analogous to the 1-isoquinolinyl sulfoxide 7, with the ligand coupling reactions of (R)-(+)- and (S)-(−)-2-[(4′-methylphenyl)sulfinyl]-3-methylpyridines, (R)-(+)-17 and (S)-(−)-17, with 2-methoxy-1-naphthylmagnesium bromide providing (−)- and (+)-2-(2′-methoxy-1′-naphthyl)-3-methylpyridines, (−)-18 and (+)-18, in 53 and 60% ee, respectively. The free energy barriers to internal rotation in 3b and 18 have been determined, and the isoquinoline (R)-(−)-12 examined as a ligand in the enantioselectively catalysed addition of diethylzinc to benzaldehyde; (R)-(−)-12 was also converted to (R)-(−)-N,N-dimethyl-1-(1′-isoquinolinyl)-2-naphthalenemethanamine (R)-(−)-19, and this examined as a ligand in the enantioselective Pd-catalysed allylic substitution of 1,3-diphenylprop-2-enyl acetate with dimethyl malonate.     

One-pot synthesis of macrocyclic compounds possessing two cyclobutane rings by sequential inter- and intramolecular [2+2] photocycloaddition reactions

Sensitized photocycloaddition reactions of 6,6′-dimethyl-4,4′-[1,3-bis(methylenoxy)phenylene]-di-2-pyrone (1) with electron-poor α,ω-diolefins such as ethylene diacrylate (2a) and polyoxyethylene dimethacrylates (2b-d) afforded site- and stereoselective macrocyclic dioxatetralactones (3a-d) and (4b) having 18- to 25-membered rings across the C5-C6 and C5′-C6′ double bonds, or C5-C6 and C3′-C4′ double bonds in 1, respectively. Similar photoreactions of 1 with electron-rich α,ω-diolefins such as poly(ethylene glycol)divinyl ether (2e and 2f) afforded crown ether-type macrocyclic compounds (5e and 5f) having 18- and 21-membered rings across the C3-C4 and C3′-C4′ double bonds in 1, respectively. The stereochemical features of 3b, 5e-xx, and 5e-nn were determined by the X-ray crystal analysis. The reaction mechanism was inferred by MO methods.     

Microwave-assisted synthesis of novel bis(2-thioxothiazolidin-4-one) derivatives as potential GSK-3 inhibitors

(5Z,5′Z)-3,3′-(1,4-Phenylenebis(methylene)-bis-(5-arylidene-2-thioxothiazolidin-4-one) derivatives (5a-r) have been synthesized by the condensation reaction of 3,3′-(1,4- or 1,3-phenylenebis(methylene))bis(2-thioxothiazolidin-4-ones) (3a,b) with suitably substituted aldehydes (4a-f) or 2-(1H-indol-3-yl)2-oxoacetaldehydes (8a-c) under microwave conditions. The bis(2-thioxothiazolidin-4-ones) were prepared from the corresponding primary alkyl amines (1a,b) and di-(carboxymethyl)-trithiocarbonyl (2). The 2-(1H-indol-3-yl)-2-oxoacetaldehydes (8a-c) were synthesized from the corresponding acid chlorides (7a-c) using HSnBu₃.     

Synthesis and evaluation of new chiral diols based on the dicyclopentadiene skeleton

The resolution by Lipase PS of rac-5 (from reduction of ketone 6, obtained from dicyclopentadiene with a new environment-friendly synthesis) gives (2S)-5, which was further reduced to the endo(2R)-1a alcohol. The endo(2S)-1b alcohol was obtained from camphor with a multistep synthesis. Pinacol couplings of 3a,b, carried out with Mg/Hg or Corey's general procedure respectively, afforded with high diastereoselectivity the C₂ symmetry diols (2R,2′R)-2a and (2S,2′S)-2b, with endo oriented OH functions. The enantiogenic power of the endo alcohol (2R)-1a and (2S)-1b and of the diols (2R,2′R)-2a and (2S,2′S)-2b was tested towards the LiAlH₄ reduction of acetophenone. The C₂ symmetry appears to play a fundamental role.     

Synthesis of d-gluco-, l-ido-, d-galacto-, and l-altro-configured glycaro-1,5-lactams from tartaric acid

The d-gluco-, l-ido-, d-galacto-, and l-altro-configured glycaro-1,5-lactams 1-4 were prepared from the known tartaric anhydride 5 via the aldehyde 6. These lactams are known (1) or potential (2-4) inhibitors of β-d-glucuronidases and α-l-iduronidases. Olefination of 6 to the (E)- and (Z)-alkenes 7 or 8, followed by reagent or substrate controlled dihydroxylation, lactonization, azidation, reduction, and deprotection led in 10 steps and in overall yields of 11-20% to the title lactams.     

Synthesis of imidazo[5,1-b]thiazoles or spiro-β-lactams by reaction of imines with mesoionic compounds or ketenes generated from N-acyl-thiazolidine-2-carboxylic acids

New mesoionic compounds (2H, 3H-thiazolo[3,2-c]oxazol-7-ones) (β) or ketenes ((3-acyl-1,3-thiazolidin-2-ylidene)methanone) (β′) were generated from N-acetyl and N-benzoyl-thiazolidine-2-carboxylic acids (7a,b) using different methods, and their reactivity towards N-(phenylmethylene)benzenesulfonamide (2) and N-(phenylmethylene)aniline (3) was tested. When (7a,b) were treated with (2) and acetic anhydride in refluxing toluene solution, only imidazo[5,1-b]thiazoles (8a,b) were obtained from the mesoionic compound intermediates (β). When the ketene intermediates (β′) were generated from (7a,b) by means of Mukaiyama's reagent, only spiro-β-lactams (9a,b) were isolated.     

Synthesis and properties of 4,9-methanoundecafulvenes and their transformation to 3-substituted 7,12-methanocycloundeca[4,5]furo[2,3-d]pyrimidine-2,4(1H,3H)-diones: photo-induced autorecycling oxidizing reaction toward amines

The synthesis and properties of 4,9-methanoundecafulvene [5-(4,9-methanocycloundeca-2′,4′,6′,8′,10′-pentaenylidene)pyrimidine-2,4,6(1,3,5H)-trione] derivatives 8a,b were studied. Their structural characteristics were investigated on the basis of the ¹H and ¹³C NMR and UV-vis spectra. The rotational barrier (ΔG^‡) around the exocyclic double bond of 8a was found to be 12.55 kcal mol⁻¹ by the variable temperature ¹H NMR measurement. The electrochemical properties of 8a,b were also studied by CV measurement. Furthermore, the transformation of 8a,b to 3-substituted 7,12-methanocycloundeca[4,5]furo[2,3-d]pyrimidine-2,4(1H,3H)-diones 16a,b was accomplished by oxidative cyclization using DDQ and subsequent ring-opening and ring-closure. The structural details and chemical properties of 16a,b were clarified. Reaction of 16a with deuteride afforded C13-adduct 19 as the single product, and thus, the methano-bridge controls the nucleophilic attack to prefer endo-selectivity. The photo-induced oxidation reaction of 16a and a vinylogous compound, 3-methylcyclohepta[4,5]furo[2,3-d]pyrimidine-2,4(3H)-dione 2a, toward some amines under aerobic conditions were carried out to give the corresponding imines (isolated by converting to the corresponding 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazones) with the recycling number of 6.1-64.0 (for 16a) and 2.7-17.2 (for 2a), respectively.     

From N,N-diphenyl-N-naphtho[2,1-b]thieno[2,3-b:3′,2′-d]dithiophene-5-yl-amine to propeller-shaped N,N,N-tri(naphtho[2,1-b]thieno[2,3-b:3′,2′-d]dithiophene-5-yl)-amine: syntheses and structures

Three unique propeller-shaped helicenyl amines compounds: N,N-diphenyl-N-naphtho[2,1-b]thieno[2,3-b:3′,2′-d]dithiophene-5-yl-amine (1), N-phenyl-N,N-di(naphtho[2,1-b]thieno[2,3-b:3′,2′-d]dithiophene-5-yl)amine (2), and N,N,N-tri(naphtho[2,1-b]thieno[2,3-b:3′,2′-d]dithiophene-5-yl)amine (3) were efficiently synthesized by Wittig reaction and oxidative photocyclization. The crystal structures of 1, 2 and molecular configuration optimization (DFT-B3LYP/6-31+G(d)) of 3 reveal that the steric hindrance from the moiety of trithia[5]helicene effectively forces the nitrogen atom and the three bonded carbon atoms to coplanar and the interplanar angles of the facing terminal thiophene ring and benzene ring becoming larger when the helical arm increased from 1 to 3. Electrochemical properties and UV–vis absorption behaviors of 1, 2, 3 were primarily determined by the moiety of trithia[5]helicene.     

Convenient preparation of chiral phase-transfer catalysts with conformationally fixed biphenyl core for catalytic asymmetric synthesis of α-alkyl- and α,α-dialkyl-α-amino acids: application to the short asymmetric synthesis of BIRT-377

Chiral phase-transfer catalysts (S)-1a, (S)-1b, and (S)-2 with conformationally fixed biphenyl cores were conveniently prepared from the known, easily available (S)-6,6′-dimethylbiphenyl-2,2′-diol 3 and (S)-4,5,6,4′,5′,6′-hexamethoxybiphenyl-2,2′-dicarboxylic acid 14, respectively, in five steps. The catalysts, (S)-1a and (S)-1b are readily applicable to asymmetric alkylation of N-(diphenylmethylene)glycine tert-butyl ester with excellent enantioselectivity. In particular, catalyst (S)-1b was found to exhibit the unique temperature effect on the enantioselectivity, and asymmetric alkylation of glycine derivatives at room temperature gave higher enantiomeric excess than that at 0 °C. In addition, the catalyst (S)-2 exhibited the high catalytic performance (0.01-1 mol %) in the asymmetric alkylation of N-(diphenylmethylene)glycine tert-butyl ester and N-(p-chlorophenylmethylene)alanine tert-butyl ester compared to the existing chiral phase-transfer catalysts, thereby allowing to realize a general and useful procedure for highly practical enantioselective synthesis of structurally diverse natural and unnatural α-alkyl-α-amino acids as well as α,α-dialkyl-α-amino acids. This approach is successfully applied to the short asymmetric synthesis of cell adhesion BIRT-377.     

Ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of N-cycloalkyl-7-oxanorbornene dicarboximides by well-defined ruthenium initiators

Ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of exo-N-(1-adamantyl)-7-oxanorbornene-5,6-dicarboximide (AdONDI) (3a), exo-N-cyclohexyl-7-oxanorbornene-5,6-dicarboximide (ChONDI) (3b) and exo-N-phenyl-7-oxanorbornene-5,6-dicarboximide (PhONDI) (3c) using well-defined alkylidene ruthenium catalysts (PCy₃)₂(CI)₂RuCHPh (I) and (1,3-dimesityl-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene) (PCy₃)CI₂RuCHPh (II) was studied. The catalysts I and II gave polymers with around 70% and 50% trans vinylene content, respectively. The homopolymer of 3a had a T_g of 198 °C, while poly-3b showed a T_g of 122 °C. Copolymers of 3a, 3b and 3c with norbornene (NB) showed significant T_g increases over poly-NB.     

Total synthesis of apigenin 7,4′-di-O-β-glucopyranoside, a component of blue flower pigment of Salvia patens, and seven chiral analogues

We have succeeded in the first total synthesis of apigenin 7,4′-di-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (1a), a component of blue pigment, protodelphin, from naringenin (2). Glycosylation of 2 according to Koenigs-Knorr reaction provided a monoglucoside 4a in 80% yield, and this was followed by DDQ oxidation to give apigenin 7-O-glucoside (12a). Further glycosylation of 4′-OH of 12a with 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-α-d-glucopyranosyl fluoride (5a) was achieved using a Lewis acid-and-base promotion system (BF₃·Et₂O, 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylpyridine, and 1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidine) in 70% yield, and subsequent deprotection produced 1a. Synthesis of three other chiral isomers of 1a, with replacement of d-glucose at 7 and/or 4′-OH by l-glucose (1b-d), and four chiral isomers of apigenin 7-O-β-glucosides (6a,b) and 4′-O-β-glucosides (7a,b) also proved possible.     

Simultaneous stereoselective 4-amination with cyclic secondary amines and 2-O-deacetylation of peracetylated sialic acid derivatives

Treatment of methyl 5-acetamido-2,4,7,8,9-penta-O-acetyl-3,5-dideoxy-β-l-glycero-d-galacto-2-nonulopyranosidonate (1) with cyclic secondary amines in pyridine at room temperature for 24 h afforded unusual products (2a-g). Related experiments were carried out to explain the formation of 4-amination and 2-O-deacetylation of peracetylated sialic acid derivatives (2a-g). This reaction may provide a new strategy for the preparation of Zanamivir analogues as neuraminidase inhibitors for anti-H5N1 subtype of avian influenza virus (AIV).     

Synthesis of procyanidins by stepwise- and self-condensation using 3,4-cis-4-acetoxy-3-O-acetyl-4-dehydro-5,7,3′,4′-tetra-O-benzyl-(+)-catechin and (−)-epicatechin as a key building monomer

3,4-cis-4-Acetoxy-3-O-acetyl-4-dehydro-5,7,3′,4′-tetra-O-benzyl-(+)-catechin (1a) or (−)-epicatechin (1b) reacted high regio- and stereo-selectively with 1.5 equiv of the 5,7,3′,4′-tetra-O-benzyloxyflavan-3-ol (4a or 4b) in the presence of 1 equiv of TMSOTf to give the corresponding procyanidins. On the other hand, the self-condensation of 1a in the presence of a catalytic amount of B(C₆F₅)₃ afforded wide-range procyanidins from dimer to 15-mer like a biomass.     

A novel transformation of 1-exo-substituted 2a-aroyl-1,2,2a,8b-tetrahydro-3H-benzo[b]cyclobuta[d]pyran-3-ones with sulfoxonium ylide to highly strained 2a-(1-arylethenyl)-1,2,2a,7b-tetrahydrocyclobuta[b]benzofurans

When 1-substituted 2a-aroyl-1,2,2a,8b-tetrahydro-3H-benzo[b]cyclobuta[d]pyran-3-ones (1) were treated with dimethylsulfoxonium methylide, 1-endo isomers (endo-1) gave 1-substituted 3-aroyl-1,2,4a,9b-tetrahydrodibenzofuran-4-ols (2) exclusively as expected. On the other hand, 1-exo isomers (exo-1) underwent a novel transformation to 1-substituted 2a-(1-arylethenyl)-1,2,2a,7b-tetrahydrocyclobuta[b]benzofurans (3), together with 2.     

Stereoselective total syntheses of (+)-exo- and (−)-exo-brevicomins, (+)-endo- and (−)-endo-brevicomins, (+)- and (−)-cardiobutanolides, (+)-goniofufurone

Stereoselective total syntheses of aggregation pheromones (+)-exo-brevicomin (9a), (−)-exo-brevicomin (9b), (+)-endo-brevicomin (9c), (−)-endo-brevicomin (9d) and styryllactones (+)-cardiobutanolide (14a), (−)-cardiobutanolide (14b), and (+)-goniofufurone (19a) were achieved in good yields from enantiomerically pure highly functionalized furanoid glycal building blocks (1a-d) involving similar synthetic strategies, thus making these furanoid glycals highly useful building blocks in diversity-oriented synthesis (DOS).     

Synthesis of (3′R,5′S)-3′-hydroxycotinine using 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of a nitrone

To synthesize (3′R,5′S)-3′-hydroxycotinine [(+)-1], the main metabolite of nicotine (2), cycloaddition of C-(3-pyridyl)nitrones 3a, 3c, and 15 with (2R)- and (2S)-N-(acryloyl)bornane-10,2-sultam [(2R)- and (2S)-8] was examined. Among them, l-gulose-derived nitrone 15 underwent stereoselective cycloaddition with (2S)-8 to afford cycloadduct 16, which was elaborated to (+)-1.     

Sodium dithionite initiated regio- and stereoselective radical addition of polyfluoroalkyl iodide with norbornene analogs

Sodium dithionite initiated free-radical addition of polyfluoroalkyl iodides (2m-2s) with norbornene 1a and its derivatives, such as norbornene-2-carboxylates 1b and 1c, and norbornene-2-carboxylic acids 1d and 1e was investigated. In all the cases, the addition of R_F group was stereoselectively delivered at exo-position and the predominant configuration of products was trans. Under the similar condition, norbornene-2-carboxylic ethyl ester 1b reacted with 2p to give 6-exo-R_F-5-endo-iodo adduct 3bp and 5-exo-R_F-6-endo-iodo adduct 5bp in the ratio of 4:1. While 1c, which has a heavy crowded group in the 2-endo-position, gave 6-exo-R_F-5-endo-iodo adduct 3cp and polyfluoroalkylated product 4cp retaining the trans-configuration and the exo-orientation of R_F group. The fluoroalkylation-lactonization reaction occurred in the reaction of norbornene-2-endo-carboxylic acids 1d and 1e with polyfluoroalkyl iodides to afford the corresponding fluoroalkylated γ-lactone products (7dp-7ds, and 7em-7er). The configuration of the products was further confirmed by 2D NMR and X-ray diffraction analyses for the first time.     

Preparation and structures of 6- and 7-coordinate salen-type zirconium complexes and their catalytic properties for oligomerization of ethylene

A series of salen-type zirconium complexes of the general formula LZrCl₂ (L = N,N′-ethylenebis(salicylideneiminate), 3a; N,N′-ethylenebis(3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylideneiminate), 3b; N,N′-ethylenebis(5-methoxysalicylideneiminate), 3c; N,N′-ethylenebis(5-chlorosalicylideneiminate), 3d; N,N′-ethylenebis(5-nitrosalicylideneiminate), 3e; N,N′-o-phenylenebis(salicylideneiminate), 4a; N,N′-o-phenylenebis(3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylideneiminate), 4b; N,N′-o-phenylenebis(5-methoxysalicylideneiminate), 4c; N,N′-o-phenylenebis(5-chloro-salicylideneiminate), 4d) were prepared. The crystal structures of 6- and 7-coordinate zirconium complexes 4b and [4b · OCMe₂] were determined by X-ray crystallography, which reveals that a salen-type zirconium complex possesses a labile coordination site on the Zr center with a relatively stable framework and that the coordination and the dissociation of O-donor molecules occur readily at this site. The catalytic properties of 3(a-e) and 4(a-d) were studied for ethylene oligomerization in combination with Et₂AlCl as co-catalyst. Complex 3c featuring a methoxy-substituted salen ligand displayed higher activity than its analogous precursors having chloro and nitro groups as substituents. The catalytic reactions by 3(a-e) and 4(a-d) gave C₄-C₁₀ olefins and low-carbon linear α-olefins in good selectivity.     

Chemoselective asymmetric synthesis of C-3a-(3-hydroxypropyl)tetrahydropyrrolo[2,3-b]indole and C-4a-(2-aminoethyl)-tetrahydropyrano[2,3-b]indole derivatives

The asymmetric synthesis of new tetrahydropyrrolo[2,3-b]indole 19 and tetrahydropyrano[2,3-b]indole 20 rings, substituted in position C-3a and C-4a with a hydroxy- and an amino functionalized chain, respectively, was performed starting from the racemic spiro[cyclohexane-1,3′-indoline]-2′,4-diones 7. The enantiopure spiro oxo-azepinoindolinone (+)-10, obtained from (±)-7 by the way of an asymmetric ring enlargement, and the amino acid (+)-14, obtained by the hydrolysis of 10, were prepared as key intermediates for the synthesis of enantiopure compounds (−)-19 and (−)-20. Since the amino acid 14 is the common intermediate for the chemoselective preparation of derivatives 19 and 20, experimental and computational studies were performed in order to selectively obtain these compounds and to provide a mechanistic rationalization for their formation.     

Synthesis of 5-endo-, 5-exo-, 6-endo- and 6-exo-hydroxylated analogues of epibatidine

A convenient, high-yield synthesis of N-Boc-7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-one (7) was developed by SmI₂-mediated desulfonylation of 6. Thus, 5-endo-, 5-exo-, 6-endo-, and 6-exo-hydroxylated epibatidine analogues 2a,b and 3a,b were synthesized from 7 by using a Pd(PPh₃)₄-catalyzed reductive Heck coupling reaction and SmI₂-mediated reduction of the carbonyl group as the key steps. Other reaction conditions for the reductive Heck procedure and the reduction step were also investigated.