Synthesis of a photoactivatable (2S,3R)-sphingosylphosphorylcholine analogue

The receptor for the lipid mediator sphingosylphosphorylcholine (SPC) has not yet been identified. We describe here the synthesis of the first photoaffinity analogue of SPC. This probe, which contains a 14C-isotopic label in the choline methyl groups and a photoreactive benzophenone in the long-chain base, may be a useful tool in the identification of the G protein coupled receptors that have been postulated to interact directly and specifically with SPC and in the definition of the ligand-binding sites. The key steps in the synthesis are selective reduction of the triple bond in enyne 6 to install the 4E double bond, Suzuki coupling to incorporate the benzophenone photophore at the end of the sphingoid chain, and reduction of the 2-azidoethyl phosphate headgroup of 13 followed by N,N,N-trimethylation to introduce the radiolabel into the choline moiety. The synthesis was completed by the release of the amino group at C2 of the sphingoid base of SPC analogue 2.     

Catalyst-free preparation of 1,2,4,5-tetrasubstituted imidazoles from a novel unexpected domino reaction of 2-azido acrylates and nitrones

A highly efficient and convenient method for the synthesis of 1,2,4,5-tetrasubstituted imidazoles from readily accessible 2-azido acrylates and nitrones has been developed. This reaction proceeded under mild conditions without the assistance of any metal, acid, or base.     

A new synthesis of spiropyrrolidine-tetralones via an unexpected formal ring-contraction of 4-disubstituted piperidine to 3-disubstituted pyrrolidine

We have developed an efficient synthesis of novel racemic spiropyrrolidine-tetralones via an unexpected ring-contraction reaction of a 4-disubstituted piperidine to 3-disubstituted pyrrolidine. We suggest that intramolecular quaternization of the piperidine nitrogen of compound 7 occurs to form a bridged bicyclic quaternary ammonium salt intermediate 10. The ring opening of 10 with cyanide resulted in pyrrolidine 9. The synthesis of racemic spiropyrrolidine-tetralone 15 is described as well as the related spiropiperidine-indanone, 1b.     

Organocatalyzed Baylis–Hillman reaction: an enantioselective approach

A convenient protocol has been developed for the synthesis of Baylis–Hillman adducts in the presence of a base and an organocatalyst. We have designed and synthesized organocatalysts based on hydrogen bonding using a pyrrolidine ring as the backbone and applied them to Baylis–Hillman transformations. This method provides products in good to high yields (73–90%) and with excellent enantiomeric excesses (up to 96%) and reasonable reaction times.     

Diketopyrrolopyrrole Bis-Phosphonate Conjugate: A New Fluorescent Probe for In Vitro Bone Imaging

The synthesis of a conjugate molecule between an unusual red-fluorescent diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) unit and a bis-phosphonate (BP) precursor by a click-chemistry strategy to target bone tissue and monitor the interaction is reported. After thorough investigation, conjugation through a triazole unit between a γ-azido rather than a β-azido BP and an alkyne-functionalized DPP fluorophore group turned out to be the winning strategy. Visualization of the DPP-BP conjugate on osteoclasts and specific antiresorption activity were successfully demonstrated.     

Enantioselective nitrile anion cyclization to substituted pyrrolidines. A highly efficient synthesis of (3S,4R)-N-tert-butyl-4-arylpyrrolidine-3-carboxylic acid

[reaction: see text] A practical asymmetric synthesis of N-tert-butyl disubstituted pyrrolidines via a nitrile anion cyclization strategy is described. The five-step chromatography-free synthesis of (3S,4R)-1-tert-butyl-4-(2,4-difluorophenyl)pyrrolidine-3-carboxylic acid (2) from 2-chloro-1-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-ethanone achieved a 71% overall yield. The cyclization substrate was prepared via a catalytic CBS asymmetric reduction, t-butylamine displacement of the chlorohydrin, and a conjugate addition of the hindered secondary amine to acrylonitrile. The key nitrile anion 5-exo-tet cyclization concomitantly formed the pyrrolidine ring with clean inversion of the C-4 center to afford 1,3,4-trisubstituted chiral pyrrolidine in >95% yield and 94-99% ee. Diethyl chlorophosphate and lithium hexamethyldisilazide were shown to be the respective optimum activating group and base in this cyclization. The trans-cis mixture of the pyrrolidine nitrile undergoes a kinetically controlled epimerization/ saponification to afford the pure trans-pyrrolidine carboxylic acid target compound in >99.9% chemical and optical purity. This chemistry was also shown to be applicable to both electronically neutral and rich substituted phenyl substrates.     

High‐energy collision‐induced dissociation of [M+Na]+ ions desorbed by fast atom bombardment of ceramides isolated from the starfish Distolasterias nipon

Ten ceramides and four cerebrosides were extracted from the starfish Distolasterias nipon by solvent extraction, silica gel column chromatography and reversed‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography. Structural identification was conducted using tandem mass spectrometry of monosodiated ions desorbed by fast atom bombardment. The complete structures of four cerebrosides were determined by a previously reported method. The high‐energy collision‐induced dissociation (CID) spectral characteristics of ceramides with various structures depend on the number and positions of double bonds on both the N‐acyl and sphingoid chains, the presence of a hydroxyl group or a double bond at the C‐4 position of the sphingoid chain and the presence of an α‐hydroxy group on the N‐acyl chain. The high‐energy CID of the monosodiated ion, [M+Na]⁺, of each ceramide molecular species generated abundant ions, providing information on the composition of the fatty acyl chains and sphingoid long‐chain bases. Each homologous ion series along the fatty acyl group and aliphatic chain of the sphingoid base was used for locating the double‐bond positions of both chains and hydroxyl groups on the sphingoid base chain. The double‐bond positions were also confirmed by the m/z values of abundant allylic even‐ and odd‐electron ions, and the intensity ratio of the T ion peak relative to the O ion peak. This technique could determine the complete structures of ceramides and cerebrosides in an extract mixture and has great potential for determining other sphingolipids isolated from various biological sources. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A simple Schiff base as ‘naked eye’ and fluorescent ‘on–off’ sensor for detecting cyanide in mixed aqueous solution

A simple Schiff base sensor (L₁) derived from N-(1-naphthyl) ethylenediamine dihydrochloride was designed and synthesised by simple chemistry procedures. The sensor exhibited a visible colour change observed by both colorimetric and fluorimetric responses for cyanide ion in aqueous solution. The detection of cyanide was performed via the nucleophilic attack of cyanide anion on the imine group of the sensor with a 1?:?1 binding stoichiometry. Moreover, test strips based on the sensor were fabricated, which served as convenient and efficient CN^? test kits and the sensor L₁ is a good way to detect hydrogen cyanide in aqueous extracts of sprouting potatoes.     

Synthesis and reactivity of enantiomerically pure N-alkyl-2-alkenyl azetidinium salts

A synthesis of stereodefined enantiomerically pure 2-alkenyl azetidines is described using Wittig olefination as key step. The quaternary triflate ammonium salts of these heterocycles were prepared in a stereoselective way and treatment of these azetidinium salts with a base (KHMDS or PhLi) induced a regioselective Stevens rearrangement leading to a 3-alkenyl pyrrolidine. An unprecedented S_N2′ reaction involving phenyllithium as nucleophile and an ammonium as leaving group was observed in one case.     

Structural determination of cerebrosides isolated from Asterias amurensis starfish eggs using high-energy collision-induced dissociation of sodium-adducted molecules

Six cerebrosides were isolated from the eggs of the starfish Asterias amurensis using solvent extraction, silica gel column chromatography, and reversed‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography. This study demonstrated that the structures of cerebrosides could be completely characterized, based on their sodium‐adducted molecules, using fast atom bombardment (FAB) tandem mass spectrometry. The high‐energy collision‐induced dissociation of the sodium‐adducted molecule, [M + Na]⁺, of each cerebroside molecular species generated abundant ions, providing information on the compositions of the 2‐hydroxy fatty acids and long‐chain sphingoid bases, as well as the sugar moiety polar head group. Each homologous ion series along the fatty acid and aliphatic chain of the sphingoid base was useful for locating the double‐bond positions of both chains and the methyl branching position of the long‐chain base. The N‐fatty acyl portions were primarily long‐chain saturated or monoenoic acids (C16 to C24) with an α‐hydroxy group. The sphingoid long‐chain base portions were aliphatic chains (C18 or C22) with two or three degrees of unsaturation and with or without methyl branching. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Alcaloïdes stéroïdiques—CLXXVIII: synthèse d'azides tertiaires—VIII: Synthèse d'azido et d'amino-14β cardénolides

The use of hydrazoic acid in the presence of BF₃-etherate allows the synthesis of the potentially interesting 14β-amino cardenolides. The 17βH configuration allows a quantitative yield of the 14β-azido cordenolide, but by this method, the 17αH configuration does not. However, the synthesis of the 14β-azido cardenolide of 17αH configuration can be achieved by the elaboration of a 14β-azido 17αH-pregnane.     

固-液相转移催化合成 VI: 醛亚胺的1,3-偶极加成反应

本文报道了用K2CO3作碱的固液相催化条件下, 醛亚胺与某些偶极试剂的1,3-偶极加成反应, 这些反应在质子性醇溶剂与K2CO3组成的两相体系中进行更为方便, 可用于吡咯烷及 唑烷衍生物的合成.     

One-pot azidochlorination of glycals

A simple one-pot azidochlorination for the preparation of nitrogen-containing Koenigs-Knorr glycosyl donors proceeds upon reaction of protected glycals with sodium azide, ferric chloride, and hydrogen peroxide. Different mono- and disaccharide galactals and glucals are converted in a highly α-selective manner to the 2-azido glycosyl chlorides. Starting from disaccharide galactals, building blocks for the synthesis of the T-antigen are obtained in a straightforward manner. The simplicity of the reaction conditions allows for an efficient and scalable α-selective synthesis of 2-azido substituted glycosyl chlorides.     

Pyrrolidine and iodine catalyzed domino aldol-Michael-dehydrogenative synthesis of flavones

A one pot synthesis of flavones is established from 2′-hydroxyacetophenones and substituted aromatic aldehydes. The method uses domino aldol-Michael-oxidation reaction catalyzed by pyrrolidine as a base and iodine as an oxidant in dimethyl sulfoxide.     

Enzymatic and chiral HPLC resolution of α-azido acids and amides

For the first time, enzymatic resolution of α-azido acid amides has been successfully demonstrated with high yields and enantiomeric excess. In one case dynamic kinetic resolution was achieved leading to more than 50% yield of the enantiomerically pure azido acid. Chiral HPLC was also used to separate racemic α-azido acids and the separation process was automated. Two routes to enantiopure α-azido acid building blocks for solid-phase peptide synthesis have, therefore, been established.     

Asymmetric allylboration and ring closing alkene metathesis: a novel strategy for the synthesis of glycosphingolipids

A novel strategy for the synthesis of D,L-glucosylceramide 1, a member of the glycosphingolipid class of natural products is described. Reagent-controlled asymmetric Brown allylboration gave excellent stereochemical control in the construction of adjacent stereocenters in the sphingoid base portion of the molecule. The trans-configured double bond was obtained as a single geometrical isomer by use of silicon-tethered olefin metathesis employing the Schrock carbene [(CF3)2MeCO]2Mo(=CHCMe2Ph)(=NC6H3-2,6-i-Pr2++ +) and in situ PhLi-induced ring-opening of the intermediate 5,6-dihydro-2H-1,2-oxasiline followed by protodesilylation with TBAF in DMSO. The synthesis was completed by long chain amide formation and global deprotection.     

Comparative study of naphthalene-2,3-dicarboxaldehyde and o-phthalaldehyde fluorogenic reagents for chromatographic detection of sphingoid bases

Naphthalene-2,3-dialdehyde (NDA) was developed as a precolumn labeling reagent for the fluorescent determination in a HPLC system of bioactive sphingoid bases, including sphingosine, sphinganine, and C20-sphinganine. Cellular sphingoid bases generally exist in the range of 10 to approximately 100 pmol/10(6) cells in a wide variety of cell types and tissues. This study aimed to obtain stable fluorescent derivatives of sphingoid bases and to increase their detectability at low concentrations. Sphingoid bases were reacted with NDA in the presence of cyanide ion to readily make an intensely fluorescent structure, 1-cyano-2-alkyl-benz[f]isoindole (CBI) and were then eluted separately on a reversed-phase C18 column with a simple mobile phase of 90% acetonitrile. For evaluating the NDA method, we compared the fluorescent intensity, elution profile, stability, and detectability of NDA derivatives with those of corresponding o-phthalaldehyde (OPA) derivatives. By monitoring the fluorescent intensity at the excitation wavelength of 252 nm and emission wavelength of 483 nm, NDA derivatives were sensitively determined at concentrations below 1.0 pmol of sphingoid bases in 1 x 10(5) U937 cells and were more stable than OPA derivatives. Linear calibration plots were obtained in the range studied (0.5 to approximately 500 nM). The limit of detection for NDA derivatives of sphingoid bases was approximately 0.1 pmol (S/N=3). The method successfully measured the accumulation of sphingosine in U937 cells following N,N-dimethylsphingosine treatment, and of sphinganine following fumonisin B1 treatment.     

Stereoselective synthesis of polyhydroxylated quinolizidines from C-glycosides by one-pot double-conjugate addition

An effective one-pot synthesis of polyhydroxylated quinolizidines from 1-C-(2'-oxo-4'-pentenyl)-5-azido-C-glycofuranosides was developed. Reduction of the 5-azido group using triphenylphosphine followed by base treatment produced quinolizidines in good yield. The base-mediated ring-opening beta-elimination produced an acyclic alpha,beta-conjugated ketone as a Michael acceptor, which was followed by an intramolecular nitrogen conjugate addition to form an aza-C-glycopyranoside intermediate. Meanwhile, the beta,gamma-double bond of the aglycon migrated under the basic conditions to form another alpha,beta-conjugated ketone. The subsequent intramolecular conjugate addition by the azasugar nitrogen led to the formation of the quinolizidines in a highly stereoselective manner. The stereoselectivity of the first conjugate addition giving azasugar is affected by the stereochemistry of the monosaccharide substrate, whereas the stereoselectivity in the second conjugate addition was likely directed entirely by steric repulsion from the azasugar.     

Mechanistic comparison of aluminium based catalysts for asymmetric cyanohydrin synthesis

A kinetic analysis of the asymmetric addition of trimethylsilyl cyanide to benzaldehyde using three aluminium based catalysts has been carried out. All three catalysts displayed rate equations, which were first order in trimethylsilyl cyanide concentration and zero order in benzaldehyde concentration. The results are consistent with a common mechanism for effective asymmetric catalysis of cyanohydrin synthesis, involving combined activation of the aldehyde by a Lewis acid and activation of the trimethylsilyl cyanide by a Lewis base. The mechanistic analysis was also applied to a magnesium-based catalyst system to demonstrate its general applicability.     

A stereocontrolled, efficient synthetic route to bioactive sphingolipids: synthesis of phytosphingosine and phytoceramides from unsaturated ester precursors via cyclic sulfate intermediates

An efficient and highly enantioselective method for the preparation of D-ribo- and L-lyxo-phytosphingosines (1a,b, respectively) and phytoceramides (2a,b) has been developed. The key steps in the syntheses are as follows: (i) osmium-catalyzed asymmetric dihydroxylation of 4-O-protected (E)-alpha,beta-unsaturated ester 5 (generated by dihydroxylation of 1-hexadecene, followed by oxidation to the aldehyde and Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons olefination), (ii) conversion to cyclic sulfate intermediate 7, and (iii) regioselective alpha-azidation of 7. Reduction of 4-O-protected 2-azido ester 8 via alpha-azidolactone 9 afforded phytosphingosine 1a. Staudinger reduction of the azido group of 8, followed by in situ N-acylation in aqueous media and reduction of the ester functionality with NaBH(4)/LiBr, provided phytoceramide 2a. By using a similar approach, phytosphingosine 1b was synthesized. D-erythro-4, 5-Dihydrosphingosine 1c and D-erythro-4,5-dihydroceramide 2c were synthesized in high yield from 1-hexadecanol via cyclic sulfate intermediate 15. The desired configurations at C-2, C-3, and C-4 of the sphingoid chain can be accessed readily by the route described here.