Synthesis of both enantiomers of baclofen using (R)- and (S)-N-phenylpantolactam as chiral auxiliaries

Esterification of racemic 4-nitro-3-(4-chlorophenyl)butanoic acid with (R)- or (S)-N-phenylpantolactam as the chiral auxiliary allowed us to obtain the (3R,3′R)- or (3S,3′S)-nitro esters with >98:2 dr after column chromatography. Hydrolysis of the resulting diastereopure nitro esters gave the corresponding enantiopure nitro acids, which were readily converted in high yields into either (R)- or (S)-baclofen hydrochloride.     

Chemo-enzymatic synthesis of (R)-5-hydroxymethyl-2-isopropyl-5-methylcyclopent-1-en-1-yl trifluoromethylsulfonate,a potential chiral building block for multicyclic terpenoids

The chemo-enzymatic synthesis of (R)-5-hydroxymethyl-2-isopropyl-5-methylcyclopent-1-en-1-yl trifluoromethylsulfonate, a potential chiral building block for polycyclic terpenoids containing a five–membered ring having isopropyl and angular methyl substituents, such as erinacin A and dolatriol, was achieved over 11 steps from ethyl 2-oxocyclopentane-1-carboxylate. The key synthetic precursor for this triflate was ethyl (1S,2R)-2-hydroxycyclopentanecarboxylate (>99% ee), which was prepared by a lipase-catalyzed enantioselective hydrolysis of the corresponding racemic acetate. The antipodal (S)-triflate is expected to be the synthetic intermediate for another group of terpenoids involving hamigeran B and stolonidiol. Enantiomerically pure (1R,2S)-hydroxyester (>99% ee) was prepared in high yield using the asymmetric reduction of the oxoester with commercially available carbonyl reductase, “Chiralscreen® OH”-E001.     

Synthesis of BINOL-containing oxacalix[4]arenes

Unprecedented chiral oxacalixarenes were obtained from the reaction of (±)-1,1′-binaphthyl-2,2′-diol (BINOL) with 1,5-difluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene. Structural elucidation of C_2h-symmetric meso (R,S)-oxacalix[4]arene and D₂-symmetric racemic (as well as enantiopure) (R,R)- and (S,S)-oxacalix[4]arene was carried out by means of 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, ESI-MS, X-ray diffractometry, and circular dichroism spectroscopy.     

Efficient access to N-protected derivatives of (R,R,R)- and (S,S,S)-octahydroindole-2-carboxylic acid by HPLC resolution

The preparation of the proline analogue (2S,3aS,7aS)-octahydroindole-2-carboxylic acid (Oic) and its enantiomer, (2R,3aR,7aR)-Oic, is described. A racemic precursor has been synthesized in good yield and subjected to HPLC resolution on a chiral column. The high efficiency of both the synthetic and chromatographic procedures has allowed the isolation of multigram quantities of each amino acid in enantiomerically pure form and suitably protected for use in peptide synthesis.     

Stereoselective synthesis of (S,S)-palythazine from d-mannitol

Exploiting the symmetry element, an asymmetric synthesis of (S,S)-palythazine was accomplished with (R)-glyceraldehyde acetonide as the chiral precursor. The prominent steps involved stereoselective Barbier allylation, ring-closing metathesis, regioselective nucleophilic opening of epoxide, and auto-condensation of aminoketone moiety.     

The preparation and resolution of 2-(2-pyridyl)- and 2-(2-pyrazinyl)-Quinazolinap and their application in palladium-catalysed allylic substitution

The preparation and resolution of two new axially chiral quinazoline-containing phosphinamine ligands, 2-(2-pyridyl)-Quinazolinap and 2-(2-pyrazinyl)-Quinazolinap, is described. The ligands were synthesised in good yield over eight steps and included two Pd-catalysed reactions, a Suzuki coupling to form the biaryl linkage and the introduction of the diphenylphosphino group, as the key transformations. The racemic ligands were resolved via the fractional crystallisation of diastereomeric palladacycles derived from (+)-di-μ-chlorobis{(R)-dimethyl[1-(1-naphthyl)ethyl]aminato-C₂,N}dipalladium (II) X-ray crystal structures of the (S,R)-2-pyridyl- and (S,R)-2-pyrazinyl-palladacycles are included. Displacement of the resolving agent by reaction with 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane gave enantiopure 2-(2-pyridyl)-Quinazolinap and 2-(2-pyrazinyl)-Quinazolinap, new atropisomeric phosphinamine ligands for asymmetric catalysis. These ligands were applied in the palladium-catalysed allylic substitution of 1,3-diphenylprop-2-enyl acetate resulting in moderate conversions and enantioselectivities of up to 81%.     

Novel chiral hexaazamacrocycles for the enantiodiscrimination of carboxylic acids

New enantiopure amines (R,R)-1 and (S,S)-1 were obtained from (R)- or (S)-2,2′-diamino-1,1′-binaphthyl and 2,6-diformylpyridine in a synthesis templated by lead(II) or lanthanide(III) ions, reduction with NaBH₄ and subsequent demetallation. Similarly new amines (R,R,R,R)-2 and (S,S,S,S)-2 were obtained from (1R, 2R)- or (1S, 2S)-1,2-diphenylethylenediamine. The X-ray crystal structure of the Pb(II) complex with macrocyclic Schiff base precursor of (R,R)-1 indicates helical twisted conformation of this macrocycle, while the ROESY spectrum of R,R-1 suggests less twisted conformation. (R,R)-1 and (R,R,R,R)-2 were tested as chiral shift reagents (chiral solvating agents) for various α-substituted carboxylic acids, including non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Enantiodiscrimination of carboxylate ¹H NMR signals was observed with ΔΔδ values up to 0.1 ppm.     

Surface chiroselective assembly of enantiopure crystalline porous films containing bichiral building blocks

The development of chiral crystalline porous materials (CPMs) containing multiple chiral building blocks plays an important role in chiral chemistry and applications but is a challenging task. Herein, we report the first example of bichiral building block based enantiopure CPM films containing metal–organic cages (MOCs) and metal complexes. The functionalized substrate was immersed subsequently into homochiral metal complex (R)- or (S)-Mn(DCH)₃ (DCH = 1,2-diaminocyclohexane) and racemic Ti₄L₆ cage (L = embonate) solutions by a layer-by-layer growth method. During the assembly process, the substrate surface coordinated with (R)- or (S)-Mn(DCH)₃ can, respectively, layer-by-layer chiroselectively connect Δ- or Λ-Ti₄L₆ cages to form homochiral (R, Δ)- or (S, Λ)-CPM films with a preferred [111] growth orientation, tunable thickness and homogeneous surface. The resulting enantiopure CPM films show strong chirality, photoluminescence, and circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) properties as well as good enantioselective adsorption toward enantiomers of 2-butanol and methyl-lactate. The present in situ surface chiroselective strategy opens a new route to assemble homochiral CPM films containing multiple chiral building blocks for chiral applications.

Bichiral building block based enantiopure CPM films containing metal–organic cages (MOCs) and metal complexes are chiroselectively assembled on the substrate surface by a layer-by-layer method.     

Convenient access to sterically hindered C2 chiral 2,2,5,5-tetraphenyltetrahydrofuran-3,4-diols: intramolecular selective 1,4-cyclocondensation of (2R,3R)- and (2S,3S)-1,1,4,4-tetraphenylbutanetetraols

Sterically hindered C₂ chiral (3R,4R)- and (3S,4S)-2,2,5,5-tetraphenyltetrahydrofuran-3,4-diols have been conveniently prepared in a very high yield via heterogeneous intramolecular selective 1,4-cyclocondensation of (2R,3R)- and (2S,3S)-1,1,4,4-tetraphenylbutanetetraol in concentrated hydrohalic acids, respectively. Preliminary examination of additives for the Barbas–List reaction showed that in certain cases, the hindered C₂ chiral tetrahydrofuran-3,4-diols were better chiral auxiliaries than enantiopure (R)- and (S)-1,1′-bi-2-naphthols.     

A novel enantiopure tricyclic β-lactam via stereoselective intramolecular nitrilimine cycloaddition

Starting from the Staudinger [2+2] cycloaddition between the 1-azadiene 1 and acetoxyacetylketene, generated in situ from acetoxyacetyl chloride, we developed a seven-step synthesis of the novel azeto[3′,4′:2,3]pyrano[4,5-c]pyrazole skeleton 9 in both racemic and enantiopure forms. Silver carbonate treatment of the functionalised hydrazonoyl chloride 7 promoted in situ generation of the corresponding nitrilimine 8, which underwent a clean, stereoselective cycloaddition to the target tricyclic β-lactam 9. The key step of the synthetic pathway leading to enantiopure 9 was the production of the enantiopure azetidinone (3R,4S)-3 by enzymatic resolution with Amano Lypase PS of the racemic precursor (3S1,4R1)-2.     

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.     

Synthesis of (+)-(1S,2R) and (−)-(1R,2S)-2-aminocyclobutane-1-carboxylic acids

(+)-(1S,2R) and (−)-(1R,2S)-2-aminocyclobutane-1-carboxylic acids have been prepared in >97% ee and in 33% and 20% overall yields starting from a single, chiral, bicyclic compound perceived as a chiral uracil equivalent. Construction of the cyclobutane ring is achieved via a [2+2] photocycloaddition reaction of this chiral precursor with ethylene.     

A short and efficient synthesis of (R)-(−)-sporochnol A

A short and efficient synthesis of (R)-(−)-sporochnol A in five steps and 9% overall yield has been developed. The sequence uses as starting material the easily available enantiopure monoketal derived from 1,4-cyclohexanedione and (R,R)-hydrobenzoin that serves as a chiral auxiliary.     

Total synthesis of (4R,5S,6E,14S)- and (4R,5S,6E,14R)-cystothiazoles F

Total synthesis of (4R,5S,6E,14S)- and (4R,5S,6E,14R)-cystothiazoles F 3 was achieved from the chiral bithiazole-type primary alcohols [(S)- and (R)-4-ethoxycarbonyl-2′-(1-hydroxymethylethyl)-2,4′-bithiazoles 8], which were obtained based on the enzymatic resolution of racemic alcohol 8 and its acetate 9. From a direct comparison by means of chiral HPLC between natural cystothiazole F 3 and synthetic compounds [(4R,5S,6E,14S)- and (4R,5S,6E,14R)-cystothiazoles 3], natural cystothiazole F 3 was found to be a 33:67 diastereomeric mixture [(4R,5S,6E,14S)-3:(4R,5S,6E,14R)-3 = 33:67].     

A simple and efficient enantioselective route to 2,6-disubstituted piperidines: synthesis of (2R,6S)-isosolenopsin A and (2S,6R)-isosolenopsin

The enantioselective synthesis of 2,6-cis-disubstituted piperidine alkaloids, (2R,6S)-isosolenopsin A 2 and (2S,6R)-isosolenopsin 5 from fire ant venom is described. Starting from the dodecanal and decanal, the synthesis presents two key steps. The first step involves Keck allylation to afford the chiral homoallylalcohol with the required stereochemistry and the second key step consists of Grubbs olefin cross metathesis. The synthesis was achieved in five steps with 44% overall yield.     

Total synthesis of the antibiotic 4-hydroxycyclopent-2-en-1-one acrylate derivative EA-2801

The first total synthesis of (±)-EA-2801, a naturally occurring 4-hydroxycyclopent-2-en-1-one acrylate produced by the fungus Trichoderma atroviridae UB-LMA, was achieved The synthesis started from furfuryl alcohol, manufactured industrially from furfural, produced from waste biomass such as corncobs or sugar cane bagasse. (±)-EA-2801 was synthesized in 5 steps and 71% overall yield starting from 4-hydroxycyclopent-2-en-1-one. Enantio-pure (R)- and (S)-EA-2801 were obtained from racemic mixture by preparative chiral supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC).     

Stereoselective synthesis of (1R,2S)- and (1S,2R)-1-amino-cis-3-azabicyclo[4.4.0]decan-2,4-dione hydrochlorides: bicyclic glutamic acid derivatives

Asymmetric synthesis of (1R,2S)- and (1S,2R)-1-amino-cis-3-azabicyclo[4.4.0]decan-2,4-diones has been achieved. The underlying second generation asymmetric synthesis proceeds via a Strecker reaction with commercially available (R)-1-phenylethylamine (1-PEA) as chiral auxiliary, TMSCN as cyanide source and racemic ethyl 2-(2-oxocyclohex-1-yl)ethanoate. A ring closure addition-elimination reaction between an amide nitrogen and the ester functionality leads to the 1-amino-3-azabicyclo[4.4.0]decan-2,4-diones. The absolute configurations of the title compounds have been assigned based on detailed NMR-spectroscopic analysis and X-ray data.     

Short, convergent, stereoselective syntheses of enantiopure 2-benzopyran-5,8-quinones related to the aphid insect pigments, the protoaphins

The enantiopure (1S,3S,4R)-, (1R,3S,4S)- and (1S,3S,4S)-3,4-dihydro-1,3-dimethyl-4-hydroxy-2-benzopyrans 16, 25 and 26 are prepared in two related reaction sequences, each in eight steps and good overall yield. The starting materials are 4-methoxyphenol 6 and (2S,1′R and 2S,1′S)-1′ ethoxyethoxypropanal 9, the latter providing the source of asymmetry from the chiral pool. The three key reactions involved in each sequence are either highly or completely diastereoselective.     

Asymmetric reduction of prochiral ketones using in situ generated oxazaborolidine derived from (1S,2S,3R,4R)-3-amino-7,7-dimethoxynorbornan-2-ol. An efficient synthesis of enantiopure (R)-tomoxetine

Catalytic asymmetric reduction of prochiral ketones was examined in the presence of chiral oxazaborolidine catalyst 2 prepared in situ from (1S,2S,3R,4R)-3-amino-7,7-dimethoxynorbornan-2-ol (1). The optically active secondary alcohols were generally obtained in moderate to high enantiomeric excesses (ee 43-95%) and good yields (75-94%), except for ketones bearing electron-withdrawing groups. The methodology was applied to the synthesis of enantiopure (R)-tomoxetine, a potent anti-depressant drug.     

Asymmetric syntheses of dihydroxyhomoprolines via doubly diastereoselective lithium amide conjugate addition reactions

The asymmetric syntheses of novel dihydroxyhomoprolines have been achieved using the doubly diastereoselective conjugate additions of the antipodes of lithium N-benzyl-N-(α-methylbenzyl)amide to a set of four chiral α,β-unsaturated esters (derived from d-pentoses) as one of the key steps. A full account of the diastereoselectivity observed in these conjugate additions is presented and the stereochemical outcomes of these reactions have been established unambiguously via a combination of hydrogenolytic chemical correlation and single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. A tandem hydrogenolysis/intramolecular reductive amination reaction was then used to create the corresponding enantiopure pyrrolidines, providing access to (2′S,3′S,4′R)-dihydroxyhomoproline and (2′S,3′R,4′S)-dihydroxyhomoproline after deprotection.