Stereoselective Synthesis of (1Z,3E)-2-Ethoxycarbonyl-Substituted 1,3-Dienes via Stille Coupling of (E)-α-Stannyl-α,β-Unsaturated Esters with Alkenyl Halides

Palladium-catalyzed hydrostannylation of alkynyl esters in benzene at room temperature gives stereoselectively (E)-α-stannyl-α,β-unsaturated esters 1 in good yields. (E)-α-Stannyl-α,β-unsaturated esters 1 are difunctional group reagents that undergo Stille coupling reactions with alkenyl halides 2 in the presence of Pd(PPh₃)₄ and CuI co-catalyst to afford stereoselectively (1Z,3E)-2-ethoxycarbonyl-substituted 1,3-dienes 3 in good yields.     

One-Pot,Fluoride-Promoted Wittig Reaction

A one-pot, fluoride-promoted Wittig reaction was developed. The reactions of ethyl α-bromoacetate with aliphatic, aromatic, and heteroaromatic aldehydes in the presence of tri-n-butylphosphine and tetrabutylammonium fluoride produced α,β-unsaturated esters in good to excellent yields and E-stereoselectivity. Under the same conditions, reactions of ethyl α-bromopropionate, α-bromo acetonitrile, and α-bromoacetophenone with aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes in the presence of tri-n-butylphosphine and tetrabutylammonium fluoride produced the expected α,β-unsaturated derivatives in good E-stereoselectivity. The protocol was extended to semistabilized ylides and applied to the synthesis of some combretastatin analogs.     

SmI3-Catalyzed Addition of Amines to α,β-Unsaturated N-Acylbenzotriazoles

The addition of amines to α,β-unsaturated N-acylbenzotriazoles could be catalyzed by samarium triiodide (SmI₃) at ambient temperature. α,β-Unsaturated aliphatic N-acylbenzotriazoles afforded bis-addition products (β-amino amides), whereas N-cinnamoylbenzotriazoles gave acylated products (cinnamoylamides) exclusively.     

One-Pot Approach to the Conversion of Alcohols into α-Iodo-α,β-unsaturated Esters

(Carboethoxymethylene)triphenylphosphorane 1 can undergo the tandem reaction of iodination–oxidation–Wittig reaction with alcohol in the presence of N-iodosuccinimide (NIS) and manganese dioxide. The reaction constitutes a stereoselective one-pot procedure for the preparation of Z-configured α-iodo-α,β-unsaturated esters in good to excellent yield.     

Stereoselective synthesis of novel monocyclic trans-3-halogenated-4-pyrazolyl-β-lactams: Potential synthons and promising biologically active agents

Stereoselective synthesis of novel monocyclic trans-3-halogenated-4-pyrazolyl-β-lactams 5 is described. The reaction of ketene derived from α-bromo/chloroethanoic acids 4 using POCl₃ and Et₃N with pyrazolyl substituted imines 3a–d in refluxing toluene resulted exclusive formation of trans-β-lactams through [2?+?2] through cycloaddition reaction. The chemical structures of all the newly synthesized β-lactams were verified on the basis of spectroscopic techniques such as FTIR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and elemental analysis (CHN). The trans configuration of β-lactams 5 was assigned with respect to position of C3-H and C4-H. The novel β-lactams 5 are potential synthons for azetidines, aziridines, 3-unsubstituted azetidinones, 3-alkyl-halo-azetidinones, and promising biologically active agents.     

The Reaction of Electron-Deficient Cyclopropane Derivatives with Aromatic Amines

Abstract

N-Aryl-trans,trans-α-carboxyl-β-benzoyl-γ-aryl-γ-butyrolactams were synthesized in high yields with high stereoselectivity by the reaction of electron-deficient cyclopropane derivatives, cis-1-benzoyl-2-aryl-6,6-dimethyl-5,7-dioxo-spiro-[2 (a) Zhang , J. ; Blazecka , P. G. ; Davidson , J. G. First direct reductive amination of mucochloric acid: A simple and efficient method for preparing highly functionalized α,β-unsaturated γ-butyrolactams . Org. Lett. 2003 , 5 , 553 – 556 ; (b) Sarma, K. D.; Zhang, J.; Curran, T. T. Novel synthons from mucochloric acid: The first use of α,β-dichloro-γ-butenolides and γ-butyrolactams for direct vinylogous aldol addition. J. Org. Chem. 2007, 72, 3311–3318 . [Google Scholar] 5 (a) Chen , Y. L. ; Ding , W. Y. A simple approach to highly stereoselective synthesis of β γ-trans-γ-butyrolactones . Chem. J. Chin. Univ. 1998 , 19 , 1614 – 1616 ; (b) Chen, Y. L.; Ding, W. Y.; Cao, W. G.; Lu, C. Stereoselective synthesis of N-aryl-trans,trans-α-carboxyl-β-methoxycarbonyl-γ-aryl-γ-butyrolactones. Synth. Commun. 2002, 32, 1953–1960.  [Google Scholar]]-4,8-octadiones, with aromatic amines. The reaction mechanism was proposed.     

Selective Bromination of Dehydroacetic Acid with N-Bromosuccinimide

Bromination of dehydroacetic acid has been carried out with N-bromosuccinimide under various conditions. The reactions led to selective bromination, thereby offering efficient synthesis of 3β-bromodehydroacetic acid (3), 3β,5-dibromodehydroacetic acid (4), 3β,3β-dibromodehydroacetic acid (5), and 3β,3β,5-tribromodehydroacetic acid (6).     

Natural α-Amino Acid L-Lysine–Catalyzed Knoevenagel Condensations of α,β-Unsaturated Aldehydes and 1,3-Dicarbonyl Compounds

Knoevenagel condensations of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes and 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds were catalyzed by primary natural amino acid L-lysine. The reactions were carried out at room temperature in dimethylsulfoxide. It provides a facile entry to a wide variety of α,β,γ,δ-unsaturated dicarbonyl compounds.

Supplemental materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Synthetic Communications® to view the free supplemental file.

Nmp-based ionic liquids: Recyclable catalysts for both hetero-Michael addition and Knoevenagel condensation in water

A series of novel N-methyl piperidine (Nmp)-based ionic liquids with 1,2-propanediol group are synthesized and used as catalysts for both hetero-Michael addition of α,β-unsaturated amides and Knoevenagel condensation at room temperature in water; and all the examined substrates could be transformed into corresponding products in good to excellent yields. Meanwhile IL-catalyzed hetero-Michael addition of α,β-unsaturated amides in water has not been reported in the previous literatures. Additionally, the catalyst is recyclable for the two reactions. This finding provides a green catalyst for both hetero-Michael addition of α,β-unsaturated amides and Knoevenagel condensation in water.     

Facile synthesis of novel α-methylene-pyrazole-carboxylate substituted imines and trans-β-lactams: Versatile synthons for diverse heterocyclic molecules

A simple, facile, and high yielding stereoselective approach for the integration of α-methylene-pyrazole-carboxylates at the β-lactam nucleus is described. These monocyclic β-lactams have been synthesized by treatment of 2-phenoxy/benzylthio/phenylthio ethanoic acids or acetoxyacetyl chloride/phthalimidoacetyl chloride 5a–e with novel α-methylene-pyrazole-carboxylate imines 4a–c using Et₃N and POCl₃ in refluxing toluene. All of the newly synthesized α-methylene-pyrazole carboxylate imines 4a–c and their β-lactam derivatives 6a–h have been fully characterized by spectroscopic techniques such as FTIR, NMR (¹H, ¹³C, and ¹³C DEPT-135), 2D-NMR (COSY and HSQC), and elemental analyses (CHN). The cycloaddition reaction was found to be highly stereoselective leading to the exclusive formation of trans-β-lactams 6a–h and trans configuration was assigned with respect to coupling constant values of C3-H and C4-H. The novel β-lactams 6a–h bearing α-methylene-pyrazole-carboxylate ring system will serve as useful synthons for highly functionalized acids, acetohydrazides/pyrazolones, alcohols, pyrazole carboxamides, peptides, and promising biologically active agents.     

Synthesis of new α-hydroxyphosphonates and α-acetoxyphosphonates

A series of new α-hydroxyphosphonate (5–14) have been synthesized in high yields by reaction of β-chloro-α,β-unsaturated aldehydes (1–4) and trialkyl phosphite in the presence of chlorotrimethylsilane at room temperature under solvent-free conditions. In addition, compounds (5–14) were reacted with acetic anhydride in DBU to give the new α-acetoxyphosphonate derivatives (15–23). All these phosphonates (5–23) were obtained as mixtures of two (E and Z) isomers and fully characterized by multinuclear (¹H, ¹³C, and ³¹P) NMR, IR spectroscopy and HRMS.     

Direct access to α,α′-diarylated ketones through N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed 1,6-addition of aromatic aldehydes to para-quinone methides

N-Heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed 1,6-addition of aromatic aldehydes to para-quinone methides has been developed. This method could efficiently furnish α,α′-diarylated ketones with good to high yields, which contain various functional groups.     

Synthesis of Enantiomerically Enriched α-Bromonitriles from Amino Acids

Two methods were investigated for the preparation of six chiral α-bromonitriles with different optic purities. The nitrous deamination of amino acids gives α-bromoacids, which react with chlorosulfonyl isocyanate followed by triethylamine to afford α-bromonitriles with moderate enantiomeric excess. However, the dehydration of corresponding α-bromoamids using thionyl chloride gives α-bromonitriles with good enantiomeric excess up to 94%. The use of phosphoryl chloride instead of thionyl chloride results in more than 30% racemization as determined by high-performance liquid chromatograpic analysis.     

Iodobenzene-catalyzed synthesis of α,α′-dihydroxy ketones: In situ generation of [bis(trifluoroacetoxy)iodo]benzene

Exposure of ethynyl carbinols to oxone/(CF₃CO)₂O in the presence of a catalytic amount of iodobenzene afforded α,α′-dihydroxy ketones in good yield, which are common structural motifs in natural products and biologically active compounds. Compared with traditional methods, this method is more convenient and avoids using stoichiometric amounts of hypervalent iodine reagents.     

Efficient synthetic route toward biologically active γ-carboline derivatives

An efficient and short route was established for the synthesis of anti-bovine viral diarrhea virus agents, namely 4-methyl-γ-carboline (SK4M) 1, 3-methyl-γ-carboline (SK3M) 2, 5-methyl-γ-carboline (SK5M) 3, and a new γ-carboline derivative 4, using thermal electrocyclization reaction as a key step. The evaluation of cytotoxicity of compound 4 against human cervical cancer cell line HeLa and leukemic cell line HL-60 furnished CC₅₀ value of 19.5 and 18.8 µM respectively.     

K2S2O8-Mediated Difunctionalization of C≡C Bonds in Water: A Simple and Efficient Approach to α,α-Dihaloacetophenones from Phenylacetylenes and NaX

A novel K₂S₂O₈-mediated oxy-1,1-dihalogenation of alkynes with NaX in the presence of water has been developed, affording α,α-dihaloacetophenones in moderate to good yields. The advantages of this reaction are mild reaction conditions, operational simplicity, and use of pure water as reaction medium. A plausible reaction mechanism is proposed on the basis of mechanistic studies.     

Synthesis of γ-butyrolactone fused cyclooctene

The expeditious route for the synthesis of γ-butyrolactone fused cyclooctene starting from the γ-butyrolactone fused cyclopentane through bicyclo[4.2.1]nonan-9-one is reported. Retro-Dieckmann’s condensation of bicyclo[4.2.1]nonan-9-one in presence of sodium methoxide and methanol furnished γ-butyrolactone fused cyclooctene in good yield. Surprisingly, the stereochemistry of ring-junction of γ-butyrolactone fused cyclooctene is different from the γ-butyrolactone fused cyclopentane, and the position of new ester group, which were confirmed unambiguously by X-ray analysis.     

Efficient Aziridination of α,β-Unsaturated Ketones with O-(2,4-Dinitrophenyl)-hydroxylamine

The aziridination of α,β-unsaturated ketones with O-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)-hydroxylamine and tertiary amine was developed. trans-Aziridines were obtained exclusively in good yields. The reaction is proposed to occur via an aminimide intermediate.     

Aza-Michael Addition of Amines to α,β-Unsaturated Compounds Using Molecular Iodine as Catalyst

Aza-Michael adducts are obtained in very good yields by the conjugate addition of aliphatic amines to α,β-unsaturated compounds using molecular iodine as catalyst in dichloromethane at room temperature. Aromatic amines were found to be reactive under reflux in toluene.