Synthesis of the end-capped 5-(N,N-dimethylamino)naphthyl-1-ethynyl derivatives and their 1,4-di[5-(N,N-dimethylamino)naphthyl]-1,3-butadiynes: anti rotamer structure

A new family of the end-capped 5-(N,N-dimethylamino)naphthylethynyl chains were synthesized, as terminal acetylenes or poly(yne) structures, by heterocoupling between 5-iodo-N,N-dimethylnaphthalen-1-amine and 2-methyl-3-butyn-2-ol or 4-(5-iodo-1-naphthyl)-2-methyl-3-butyn-2-ol, catalyzed by the palladium-copper system. Catalytic homocoupling of the terminal acetylenes, affords to 1,4-dinaphthyl-1,3-butadiyne nanostructures. X-ray diffraction analysis of 1,4-di(α-naphthyl)-1,3-butadiyne shows that the naphthalene rings are in the anti configuration along the acetylene axis. All the conjugated compounds show an important fluorescent emission radiation.     

Rational use of substituted N-allyl and N,N-diallylanilines in the stereoselective synthesis of novel 2-alkenyltetrahydro-1-benzazepines

Two new series of 1,4-epoxy-2-exo-vinyl(isopropenyl)tetrahydro-1-benzazepines and cis-2-vinyl(isopropenyl)-4-hydroxytetrahydro-1-benzazepines were prepared by an efficient three/four-step route from available substituted N,N-diallylanilines and mono N-allylanilines. The amino-Claisen rearrangement and the sequential oxidation/intramolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions were used as the key steps in this synthesis. All the synthesized compounds were fully characterized by IR, GC-MS and NMR techniques.     

Reactivity of azafulvenium methides derived from pyrrolo[1,2-c]thiazole-2,2-dioxides: synthesis of functionalised pyrroles

Extrusion of sulfur dioxide from pyrrolo[1,2-c]thiazole-2,2-dioxides led to the synthesis of functionalised pyrroles via the generation of 1-azafulvenium methides. Sealed tube reaction conditions allowed the synthesis of N- and C-vinylpyrroles whereas from FVP methyl 1,3-dimethyl-5-oxo-5H-pyrrolizine-2-carboxylate and 4-oxo-1,4-dihydro-1-aza-benzo[f]azulene-3-carboxylates were obtained. These last compounds could also be obtained from the FVP of the N- and C-vinylpyrroles.     

Synthesis of N-substituted 1,2,3,4-tetrahydrobenz[g]isoquinoline-5,10-diones

The synthesis of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydrobenz[g]isoquinoline-5,10-dione hydrochlorides is reported starting from 1,4-dihydrobenz[g]isoquinoline-3(2H)-ones or ethyl (3-aminomethyl-1,4-dimethoxynaphth-2-yl)acetates. A third strategy relies on the synthesis of the title compounds via an N-protected 2-(3-bromomethyl-1,4-dimethoxynaphth-2-yl)ethylamine. The synthesized 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-benz[g]isoquinoline-5,10-diones are a new class of quinones, which have not been reported yet.     

Me3SiCl-promoted intramolecular cyclization of aromatic compounds tethered with N,O-acetals leading to the facile preparation of 1,4-benzodiazepine skeletons

The Me₃SiCl-promoted intramolecular aminomethylation of a novel type of N,O-acetals, which were prepared via a facile three-step synthesis from N-alkylaniline derivatives and N-alkyl-2-oxazolidinones that leads to the production of pharmaceutically useful 1,4-benzodiazepine skeletons with a variety of functional groups is described. This method was successfully applied to the facile preparation of both tricyclic benzodiazepine derivatives and a 1,4-benzoxazepine derivative via 7-exo-trig cyclization.     

Stereoselective synthesis of 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-d-allitol and formal synthesis of (2S,3R,4S)-3,4-dihydroxyproline

A stereoselective synthesis of 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-d-allitol 1 and formal synthesis of (2S,3R,4S)-3,4-dihydroxyproline was achieved via the addition of vinylmagnesium bromide to the benzylimine derived from (R)-2,3-O-isopropylidene glyceraldehyde followed by N-allylation, ring-closing metathesis (RCM), and dihydroxylation.     

Investigation towards an efficient synthesis of benzo[g]isoquinoline-1,5,10(2H)-triones

As part of our research on 2-aza analogues of pentalongin, the active principle of Pentas longiflora Oliv., the first synthesis of 2,3-disubstituted benzo[g]isoquinoline-1,5,10(2H)-triones via 3,4-disubstituted 6-hydroxybenzo[g]furo[4,3,2-de]isoquinoline-2,5(4H)-diones as the key intermediates is reported. The latter compounds have been prepared by treating 2-methoxycarbonyl-1,4-naphthoquinone with N-substituted enaminoesters under acidic conditions. These reagents are easily accessible from readily available 1,4-dihydroxy-2-naphthoic acid, β-ketoesters and primary amines. Finally, a short synthesis of substituted benzo[g]isoquinoline-1,5,10(2H)-triones is achieved by an oxidative addition of N-substituted enaminoesters onto methyl 1,4-dihydroxynaphthalene-2-carboxylate.     

The substrate specificity of a glucoamylase with steroidal saponin-rhamnosidase activity from Curvularia lunata

In previous work, we studied and reported that an enzyme from Curvularia lunata 3.4381 had the novel specificity to hydrolyze the terminal rhamnosyl at C-3 position of steroidal saponin and obtained four transformed products; the enzyme was purified and ascertained as glucoamylase (EC 3.2.1.3 GA). In this work, the enzyme exhibiting steroidal saponin-rhamnosidase activity was systematically studied on 21 steroidal saponins and 6 ginsenosides. The results showed that the α-1,2-linked end-rhamnosyl residues at C-3 position of steroidal saponins could be hydrolyzed to corresponding secondary steroidal saponins, among which 18 compounds were isolated and identified, including 3 new secondary compounds. For the furostanosides having glucosyl residues at the C-26 position, hydrolysis occurred first at end-rhamnosyl at C-3 position to produce secondary furostanosides. The reaction of hydrolyzing glucosyl at C-26 position depended considerably on longer reaction times yielding the corresponding secondary spirostanosides (without rhamnosyl and glucosyl residues). The enzyme had the strict specificity for the terminal α-1,2-linked rhamnosyl residues of linear chain, or the terminal α-1,2-linked rhamnosyl residues with branched chain of 1,4-linked glycosyl residues of sugar chain at C-3 position of steroidal saponins, it was not specific for different aglycones, different glycons, and the number of glycon of sugar chain of steroidal saponin. The end-rhamnosyl of ginsenosides and p-nitrophenyl-α-l-rhamnopyranoside (pNPR) could not be hydrolyzed by the enzyme from C. lunata.     

Asymmetric synthesis of (−)-(S,S)-homaline

The asymmetric synthesis of (−)-(S,S)-homaline was achieved in 8 steps from commercially available starting materials using the diastereoselective conjugate addition of the novel lithium amide reagent lithium (R)-N-(3-chloropropyl)-N-(α-methyl-p-methoxybenzyl)amide to methyl cinnamate to install the correct stereochemistry. Subsequent functional group manipulation of the resultant β-amino ester and Sb(OEt)₃-mediated macrolactamisation was followed by homodimerisation to give (−)-(S,S)-homaline in 18% overall yield, representing the first asymmetric, and by far the most efficient synthesis of this natural product reported to date.     

Highly enantioselective hydrogenation of exocyclic double bond of N-tosyloxazolidinones catalyzed by a neutral rhodium complex and its synthetic applications

A highly enantioselective synthesis of optically active N-tosyl-4-alkyl-1,3-oxazolidin-2-ones based on the asymmetric hydrogenation of the trisubstituted exocyclic double bond of N-tosyl-4-alkylidene-1,3-oxazolidin-2-ones under the catalysis of neutral [Rh(COD)Cl]₂ (COD=1,5-cyclooctadiene) and (S)-(+)-DTBM-SEGPHOS was developed. The utility of this highly enantioselective reaction was exemplified by the synthesis of optically active amino acids, amino alcohols, and piperidine derivatives.     

Synthesis of annelated [a]aza-anthracenones and thieno[3,2-g]aza-naphthalenones through ring transformation of 2H-pyran-2-one followed by photocyclization

A concise synthesis of some new classes of heterocycles (4-aryl-11-oxo-1,2,3,11-tetrahydro-1,3a-diaza-cyclopenta[a]anthracen-6-carbonitriles and 5-aryl-12-oxo-1,3,4,12-tetrahydro-2H-1,4a-diazabenzo[a]anthracene-7-carbonitriles) has been developed by the ring transformation of suitably functionalized 2H-pyran-2-one with α-oxoketene cyclic aminals to intermediates (8-aroyl-5-aryl-2,3-dihydro-1H-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-7-ylidene)-acetonitriles and (9-aroyl-6-aryl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidin-8-ylidene)-acetonitriles) followed by their photocyclization either in CHCl₃ or acetonitrile. This reaction was further explored for the synthesis of methyl 4-aryl-11-oxo-1,2,3,11-tetrahydro-1,3a,9-triaza-cyclopenta[a]anthracene-6-carboxylate, 4-aryl-11-oxo-1,2,3,11-tetrahydro-1,3a,9-triaza-cyclopenta[a]anthracene-6-carbonitriles, 5-aryl-12-oxo-1,3,4,12-tetrahydro-2H-1,4a,10-triazabenzo[a]anthracene-7-carbonitriles, 4-aryl-10-oxo-1,2,3,10-tetrahydro-9-thia-1,3a-diazadicyclopenta[a,g]naphthalene-6-carbonitriles and 5-aryl-11-oxo-1,3,4,11-tetrahydro-2H-10-thia-1,4a-diazacyclopenta[b]phenanthrene-7-carbonitriles from the similar reactions.     

Unexpected course of rearrangement of substituted S-(1(3H)-isobenzofuranone-3-yl)isothiuronium bromides

Three series of S-(1(3H)-isobenzofuranone-3-yl)isothiuronium bromides differing in substitution at the isothiuronium moiety (none, one or two methyl groups) and at the benzene ring were prepared and characterized. These salts were then treated with various bases (acetate, triethylamine, Na₂CO₃) to give either 1-hydroxy-3-oxo-1,3-dihydro-2H-isoindol-2-carbothioamides or the product of S to N isobenzofuranone-3-yl migration, i.e., 1,3-dimethyl-1-(3-oxo-1,3-dihydro-2-benzofuran-1-yl)thioureas. If ammonia was used in reaction with N,N′-dimethyl isothiuronium salts then 3-hydroxy-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-1-ones were formed together with 1,3-dimethyl-1-(3-oxo-1,3-dihydro-2-benzofuran-1-yl)thioureas in parallel reaction with the yields increasing with ammonia concentration. The formation of isoindolones takes place in two steps with an aldehyde intermediate, which can be trapped with N,N-dimethylhydrazine.     

Synthesis of N,N-diethyldithiocarbamate functionalized 1,4-polyisoprene, from natural rubber and synthetic 1,4-polyisoprene

N,N-Diethyldithiocarbamate functionnalized 1,4-polyisoprenes were prepared from 1,4-polyisoprenes (natural or synthetic). The syntheses were performed by nucleophilic addition of N,N-diethyldithiocarbamate salts upon oxirane rings of epoxidized units according to a SN2 mechanism with ring opening. Studies on model molecules of epoxidized 1,4-polyisoprene units (1,2-epoxy-1-methylcyclohexane and 4,5-epoxy-4-methyloctane) were previously achieved to develop the procedure. The best yields were obtained at low temperature in polar medium, and more especially in water with sodium N,N-diethyldithiocarbamate (DEDT-Na) as reagent. A diastereospecific addition was noted when reaction was performed in water with DEDT-Na. Afterwards, the developed procedure was successfully generalized to epoxidized synthetic polyisoprenes and epoxidized natural rubber (in THF, then in latex medium). Excellent results were obtained in latex medium with epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) latices. As with the models, a diastereospecific addition of sodium N,N-diethyldithiocarbamate trihydrate onto epoxidized 1,4-polyisoprene units of ENR was observed at the condition to bring the latex medium to pH 8 before introduction of DEDT-Na. Influence of temperature, drc, and DEDT-Na concentration were successively examined to determine the best conditions of the addition on ENR latices.     

An efficient method for the synthesis of imidazo[1,5-a]quinoxalines from 3-acylquinoxalinones and benzylamines via a novel imidazoannulation

The reaction of 3-aroylquinoxalin-2(1H)-ones and their N-alkyl analogues with benzylamines in DMSO proceeds through an intermediate formation of N-(α-quinoxalinylbenzylydene)benzylamine, which when subjected to oxidative cyclocondensation gives imidazo[1,5-a]quinoxalines. Applying this new approach of imidazoannullation to the bis-3-aroylquinoxalines makes it possible to develop fundamentally new methods of the synthesis of bis-imidazo[1,5-a]quinoxalines with the use of different benzylamines and heteromacrocycles with the 1,3-bis(3-arylimidazo[1,5-a]quinoxalin-1-yl)benzene structural fragment when m-xylylenediamine is used.     

A general method for the synthesis of oligosaccharides consisting of α-(1→2)- and α-(1→3)-linked rhamnan backbones and GlcNAc side chains

A general method has been developed for the synthesis of oligosaccharides consisting of (1→2)- and (1→3)-linked rhamnans with GlcNAc side chains. As examples, highly effective and convergent syntheses of two decasaccharides in the O polysaccharide moiety of the lipopolysaccharide of the phytopathogenic bacterium Pseudomonas syringae pv. ribicola NCPPB 1010 were achieved. The two decasaccharides consist of O polysaccharide repeating units I+II and II+I, respectively. Allyl 3-O-acetyl-4-O-benzoyl-α-l-rhamnopyranoside, allyl 2-O-benzoyl-3-O-chloroacetyl-α-l-rhamnopyranoside, 2,4-di-O-benzoyl-3-O-chloroacetyl-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate, and 3-O-acetyl-2,4-di-O-benzoyl-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate, which were obtained by highly regioselective 3-O-acylations, were used as the key synthons to obtain the required α-(1→2)- and α-(1→3)-linked rhamnoocta saccharide acceptors with 3³- and 3⁷-free hydroxyl groups. Therefore, several disaccharides were synthesized, from which tetrasaccharides and hexasaccharides were then synthesized. Coupling of the hexasaccharide donors with the disaccharide acceptors gave the octasaccharide acceptors. Finally, the coupling of 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-2-phthalimido-β-d-glucopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate with the octasaccharide acceptors, followed by deprotection, afforded the two target decasaccharides. A repeating hexasaccharide unit of the cell wall polysaccharide of β-hemolytic Streptococci Group A was also synthesized in a similar way.     

Regioselective synthesis of β-fluoro-α,β-unsaturated ketones by the reaction of β-diketones with DFMBA

The deoxyfluorination reaction of β-diketones with N,N-diethyl-α,α-difluoro-m-methylbenzylamine (DFMBA) gave β-fluoro-α,β-unsaturated ketones in good yields. The reaction proceeded regioselectively, and only one regioisomer was obtained from the unsymmetrical 1-aryl-1,3-diketones. The reaction is applicable to diketones with a trifluoromethyl group, obtaining good yields of 3,4,4,4-tetrafluorobutenones. We used the resulting β-fluoro-α,β-unsaturated ketones for the reaction with lithium dialkyl cuprates.     

Diastereoselective synthesis of homo-N,O-nucleosides

A new class of homo-N,O-nucleosides has been designed, based on the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of C-substituted nitrones with allyl nucleobases. The N-methyl-C-ethoxycarbonyl nitrone 1, and the C-α-silyloxymethyl-N-methyl nitrone 7 have been exploited: the stereochemical features of the obtained nucleosides are dependent on the nature of the dipole. The results obtained with DFT calculations fully agree with the experimental results and successfully reproduce the experimentally observed reversal of endo/exo selectivity for nitrones 1 and 7.     

Interaction of 3,5-di-tert-butyl-o-benzoquinone with secondary amines—a pathway to new sterically hindered N,N-disubstituted o-aminophenols

The interaction of 3,5-di-tert-butyl-o-benzoquinone with secondary amines has been studied. The synthetic procedure was developed in order to synthesize a series of new N,N-disubstituted o-aminophenols. The interaction of 3,5-di-tert-butyl-o-benzoquinone with dimethylamine leads to 2-(N,N-dimethylamino)-4,6-di-tert-butyl-phenol, which is oxidized in the reaction medium by the parent 3,5-di-tert-butyl-o-benzoquinone forming spirocompound 4,5′,6,7′-tetra-tert-butyl-3′-methyl-3′H-spiro[1,3-benzodioxol-2,2′-[1,3]benzoxazole].     

Reaction of (1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-2-ylidene)propanedinitrile with N-arylisoindolines

In a multistep reaction, 3,3′-(2-aryl-2H-isoindol-1,3-ylene)-di-(1,4-naphthoquinone-2-carbonitriles) 13a-f have been formed in 25-61% yield from a series of N-arylisoindolines 8a-f with (1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-2-ylidene)propanedinitrile (1) in aerated pyridine. The structure of one of these products (13f) has been unambiguously confirmed by a single crystal X-ray structure analysis. Under otherwise the same conditions, 2-(3-methoxyphenyl)-isoindoline (8g) and 1 gave 38% of [4-(2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-2-yl)-2-methoxyphenyl]-1,3-dioxoindan-2-ylidene)acetonitrile (15). Rationales for these conversions involving the known rearrangement of the radical anion of 1 into the radical anion of 1,4-naphthoquinone-2,3-dicarbonitrile (3) are presented.     

Stereoselective radical cyclizations of N-(2-halobenzoyl)-cyclic ketene-N,X(X=O, S)-acetals

2-Alkyloxazolines and 2-alkylthiazolines react with 2-halobenzoyl chlorides to form N-(2-halobenzoyl)-cyclic ketene-N,O-acetals and N-(2-halobenzoyl)-cyclic ketene-N,S-acetals in excellent yields, respectively. These ketene acetals readily undergo stereocontrolled aryl radical cyclizations to afford the central six-membered rings of substituted-2,3,10,10α-tetrahydrooxazolo[3,2-b]isoquinolin-5-ones and their 2,3,10,10α-tetrahydrothiazolo[3,2-b]isoquinolin-5-one analogs. The tertiary N,O- and N,S-radicals formed upon aryl radical reaction at the ketene-N,X(X=O, S)-acetal double bond appear to have reasonable stability. The stereoselectivity in hydrogen abstractions by these intermediate radicals from both Bu₃SnH and (Me₃Si)₃SiH was investigated. The N,S-heterocyclic fused ring products may have potential medical value.