Enantioselective fluorination mediated by cinchona alkaloid derivatives/Selectfluor combinations: reaction scope and structural information for N-fluorocinchona alkaloids.

Cinchona-alkaloid/Selectfluor combinations efficiently fluorinate a variety of carbonyl compounds in a highly enantioselective manner to furnish chiral alpha-fluorocarbonyl compounds. The DHQB/Selectfluor combination is effective for the enantioselective fluorination of indanones and tetralones 1 in up to 91% ee. The first enantioselective syntheses of chiral derivatizing reagents 3 was accomplished with high ee and in high chemical yields by the DHQDA/Selectfluor combination. 3-Fluorooxindoles 7 were prepared with ee up to 83% using the (DHQ)2AQN/Selectfluor or the (DHQD)2PYR/Selectfluor combination. Since the combinations are conveniently prepared in situ from readily available reagents, the present system represents a practical method for enantioselective fluorination. X-ray crystallography and 1H NMR analyses of the cinchona alkaloids/Selectfluor combination have established that the species that mediate this novel reaction are N-fluoroammonium cinchona alkaloid tetrafluoroborates, which adopt open conformations.     

Biomimetic catalytic enantioselective decarboxylative aldol reaction of β-ketoacids with trifluoromethyl ketones

We disclose an organocatalyzed enantioselective decarboxylative ketone aldol reaction of β-ketoacids with trifluoromethyl ketones in the presence of biscinchona alkaloid (DHQD)(2)AQN, affording chiral tertiary alcohols in up to 98% yield and 90% ee.     

Highly enantioselective organocatalytic sulfenylation of 3-aryloxindoles

An organocatalytic asymmetric sulfenylation of 3-aryloxindoles with N-(sulfanyl)succinimides has been developed by using commercially available (DHQD)(2)PHAL as catalyst. Various chiral 3-benzylthio-, alkylthio-, and arylthio-substituted oxindoles, containing 3,3-disubstituted quarternary carbon stereocenters, could be obtained in high enantioselectivities (85-97% ee). Furthermore, the opposite enantiomers of the sulfenylated products were readily accessible with equal excellent enantioselectivities (86-95% ee) by replacing the catalyst with (DHQ)(2)PHAL.     

Enantioselective fluorination mediated by N-fluoroammonium salts of cinchona alkaloids: first enantioselective synthesis of BMS-204352 (MaxiPost)

We have employed a cinchona alkaloid/Selectfluor-mediated enantioselective fluorination of the oxindole 2 to achieve the first enantioslective synthesis of BMS-204352 (MaxiPost, S-1), an effective opener of maxi-K channels. Fluorination occurred to produce S-1 with 84% ee using the bis-cinchona alkaloid (DHQ)(2)AQN. Recrystallization produced enantiomerically pure (>99% ee) product. Quinidine-mediated fluorination of 2 gave the (R)-antipode of 1 with 68% ee.     

An asymmetric synthesis of (+)-grandisol, a constituent of the aggregation pheromone of the cotton boll weevil, via a kinetic resolution

A novel approach to the asymmetric synthesis of (+)-grandisol, (1R, 2S)-isopropenyl-1-methylcyclobutaneethanol, involves the use of catalytic kinetic resolution of a primary allylic alcohol, [(1RS, 5SR)-5-methylbicyclo[3.2.0]hept-2-en-2-yl] methanol. The allylic alcohol is prepared in four steps from simple achiral materials involving the use of a modified Shapiro reaction. The resolved alcohol (95% ee) is then reduced in two steps to the corresponding methyl alkene, (1S,5R)-2,5-dimethylbicyclo[3.2.0]hept-2-ene. This alkene is converted to (+)-grandisol (95% ee), in three steps, by modified literature procedures.     

Asymmetric synthesis of both mirror images of 3'-fluorothalidomide by enantiodivergent fluorination using a single, cinchona alkaloid

Enantiomerically pure 3'-fluorothalidomide (2) was successfully synthesized by enantiodivergent electrophilic fluorination using a combination of cinchona alkaloids and N-fluorobenzenesulfonimide (NFSI) as the key reaction. Importantly, a single chiral molecule, dihydroquinine (DHQ), allowed access to the mirror image form of 3'-fluorothalidimide by the choice of additives. While the use of TMEDA gave fluorinated (S)-4, the precursor of 2, with 78% ee, Cu(acac)(2)/bipy, afforded the antipode, (R)-4, in 77% ee.     

Efficient preparation of highly optically active (S)-(-)-2,3-allenols and (R)-(+)-2,3-allenyl acetates by a clean novozym-435-catalyzed enzymatic separation of racemic 2,3-allenols

Novozym-435 has been found to be an effective biocatalyst for the kinetic resolution of a series of racemic 2,3-allenols, affording highly optically active (S)-(-)-2,3-allenols and (R)-(+)-2,3-allenyl acetates in high yields and with excellent ee values. The reaction of 3-(n-butyl)-3,4-pentadien-2-ol (1 a) was successfully performed on a 10 g scale to afford the corresponding (S)-(-)-2,3-allenol (1 a) and (R)-(+)-2,3-allenyl acetate (2 a) in synthetically useful amounts and with high ee values. The advantages of this reaction are the ready availability of the starting materials, high stereoselectivities for both (-)-2,3-allenols and (+)-2,3-allenyl acetates, the use of a relatively high substrate concentration, and a lower catalyst loading. The resulting (S)-(-)-2,3-allenol 1 a can be converted into the corresponding chiral 2,5-dihydrofuran and the vinylic epoxide.     

Enantioselective amination of alpha-phenyl-alpha-cyanoacetate catalyzed by chiral amines incorporating the alpha-phenylethyl auxiliary

Nineteen chiral amines and their derivatives were prepared and investigated as organocatalytic Lewis bases in the alpha-amination of ethyl alpha-phenyl-alpha-cyanoacetate. For comparison purposes, a few natural products were also examined as catalysts in this study. Among the results obtained, (R)-N-benzyl-N-(1-phenylethyl)-amine and (R,R)-N,N'-bis(1-phenylethyl)-propane-1,3-diamine as the catalysts afforded the amination products in excellent yields and with up to 84% ee. By contrast, under comparable conditions the two derivatives of natural products (DHQ)2PYR and (DHQD)2PYR provided the product of amination with lower than 10% enantiomeric excess.     

Dual Organocatalysis: Asymmetric Allylic–Allylic Alkylation of α,α‐Dicyanoalkenes and Morita–Baylis–Hillman Carbonates

The first highly enantioselective allylic–allylic alkylation of α,α‐dicyanoalkenes and Morita–Baylis–Hillman carbonates by dual catalysis of (DHQD)₂AQN and (S)‐BINOL has been investigated. Excellent stereoselectivities have been achieved for a broad spectrum of substrates (d.r. > 99:1, up to 99 % ee). The multifunctional allylic products could be efficiently converted to a range of complex chiral cyclic frameworks. EWG=electron‐withdrawing group, (DHQD)₂AQN=hydroquinidine (anthraquinone‐1,4‐diyl) diether, (S)‐BINOL =(S)‐(?)‐1,1′‐bi‐2‐naphthol.

     

Ruthenium porphyrin catalyzed intramolecular carbenoid C[bond]H insertion. Stereoselective synthesis of cis-disubstituted oxygen and nitrogen heterocycles

[reaction: see text] A ruthenium porphyrin-catalyzed stereoselective intramolecular carbenoid C[bond]H insertion is described. Using [Ru(II)(TTP)(CO)] as catalyst, aryl tosylhydrazones are converted to 2,3-dihydrobenzofurans, 2,3-dihydroindoles, and beta-lactams in good yields and remarkable cis selectivity (up to 99%). Enantioselective synthesis of 2,3-dihydrobenzofurans is also achieved with [Ru(II)(D(4)-Por*)(CO)] as catalyst, and up to 96% ee is attained.     

Chemoenzymatic synthesis of (+)-alpha-polypodatetraene and methyl (5R,10R,13R)-labda-8-en-15-oate

The reported enzymatic resolution products {acetate of (1S,4aS,8aS)-1,2,3,4,4a,5,6,7,8,8a-decahydro-5,5,8a-trimethyl-2-oxo-trans-naphthalene-1-methanol-2-ethylene acetal} (8aS)-5 (>99% ee)] and [(1R,4aR,8aR)-1,2,3,4,4a,5,6,7,8,8a-decahydro-5,5,8a-trimethyl-2-oxo-trans-naphthalene-1-methanol-2-ethylene acetal (8aR)-4 (98% ee) were converted to (+)-alpha-polypodatetraene (1) and methyl (5R,10R,13R)-labda-8-en-15-oate (2), respectively. For the synthesis of (5R,10R,13R)-2, chiral isoprene congener (3S)-26 corresponding to the right part of 2 was synthesized based on the lipase-assisted resolution of (+/-)-2-methyl-3- (p-methoxyphenyl)propanol (17).     

Ruthenium-Lewis acid catalyzed asymmetric Diels-Alder reactions between dienes and alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones

The complex [Ru(Cp)(R,R-BIPHOP-F)(acetone)][SbF(6)], (R,R)-1 a, was used as catalyst for asymmetric Diels-Alder reactions between dienes (cyclopentadiene, methylcyclopentadiene, isoprene, 2,3-dimethylbutadiene) and alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones (methyl vinyl ketone (MVK), ethyl vinyl ketone, divinyl ketone, alpha-bromovinyl methyl ketone and alpha-chlorovinyl methyl ketone). The cycloaddition products were obtained in yields of 50-90 % and with enantioselectivities up to 96 % ee. Ethyl vinyl ketone, divinyl ketone and the halogenated vinyl ketones worked best and their reactions with acyclic dienes consistently provided products with >90 % ee. alpha-Chlorovinyl methyl ketone performed better than alpha-bromovinyl methyl ketone. The reaction also provided a [4.3.1]bicyclic ring system in 95 % ee through an intramolecular cycloaddition reaction. Crystal structure determinations of [Ru(Cp)((S,S)-BIPHOP-F)(mvk)][SbF(6)], (S,S)-1 b, and [Ru(Cp)((R,R)-Me(4)BIPHOP-F)(acrolein)][SbF(6)], (R,R)-2 b, provided the basis for a rationalization of the asymmetric induction.     

Studies on the construction of abutasterone-type and 24-epi-abutasterone-type side chains employing asymmetric dihydroxylation of (E)-20(22),24-cholestadiene

The synthesis of abutasterone-type side chain, (20R,22R,24S)-20,22,24,25-tetrahydroxy-6β-methoxy-3α,5-cyclo-5α-cholestane 4, and 24-epi-abutasterone-type side chain, (20R,22R,24R)-20,22,24,25-tetrahydroxy-6β-methoxy-3α,5-cyclo-5α-cholestane 6, by means of Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation of (E)-20(22),24-cholestadiene 1 is described. Construction of abutasterone-type side chain 4 was carried out by selective mono-dihydroxylation of diene 1 with (DHQ)₂AQN, followed by dihydroxylation of the corresponding (24S)-hydroxy-20(22)-cholestene 2 with (DHQD)₂AQN. In contrast, bis-dihydroxylation of 1 with either (DHQD)₂PHAL or (DHQD)₂AQN preferentially occurs to produce 24-epi-abutasterone-type side chain 6.     

Enantioselective acylation of 2-hydroxymethyl-2,3-dihydrobenzofurans catalysed by lipase from Pseudomonas cepacia (Amano PS) and total stereoselective synthesis of (−)-(R)-MEM-protected arthrographol

Lipase Amano PS catalysed acylation of (±)-2-hydroxymethyl-2,3-dihydrobenzofurans using vinyl acetate as the acyl donor in n-hexane gave (−)-(R)-2-acetoxymethyl-2,3-dihydrobenzofurans and (+)-(S)-2-hydroxymethyl-2,3-dihydrobenzofurans in high enantiomeric excess. (−)-(R)-Acetate 18j is converted to (−)-(R)-MEM-protected arthrographol 22.     

Chiral discrimination of cryptochiral saturated quaternary and tertiary hydrocarbons by asymmetric autocatalysis

Chiral discrimination of saturated hydrocarbons has been very difficult to establish, or has not been possible at all. The first chiral discrimination of cryptochiral 5-ethyl-5-propylundecane 1, that is, (n-butyl)ethyl(n-hexyl)(n-propyl)methane, a chiral saturated quaternary hydrocarbon, which is known to exhibit practically no detectable value of optical rotation between 280 and 580 nm, has been accomplished by asymmetric autocatalysis of pyrimidyl alkanol. The absolute configuration of 1 has been determined. In the presence of (R)- or (S)-1, the reaction between pyrimidine-5-carbaldehyde and diisopropylzinc affords (S)- and (R)-pyrimidyl alkanol with 91-97% ee, respectively. Thus, asymmetric autocatalysis serves as a powerful tool for the chiral discrimination of saturated hydrocarbons.     

An Asymmetric Synthesis of L-694,458, a Human Leukocyte Elastase Inhibitor, via Novel Enzyme Resolution of beta-Lactam Esters

A convergent synthesis of [S-(R,S)]-2-[4-[(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)carbonyl]phenoxy]-3,3-diethyl-N-[1-[3,4-(methylenedioxy)phenyl]butyl]-4-oxo-1-azetidinecarboxamide (L-694,458, 1), a potent human leukocyte elastase inhibitor, was achieved via chiral synthesis of key intermediates: (S)-3,3-diethyl-4-[4'-[(N-methylpiperazin-1-yl)carbonylphenoxy]-2-azetidinone (2) and (R)-alpha-propylpiperonyl isocyanate (3). Synthesis of beta-lactam 2 was achieved by a novel enantioselective lipase hydrolysis of ester 5 to produce (S)-3,3-diethyl-4-(4'-carboxyphenoxy)-2-azetidinone (6) (60% yield, three cycles, 93% ee) with isolation, epimerization, and recycling of the undesired (R)-ester 5. Isocyanate 3 was prepared by chiral addition of Zn(n-Pr)(2) to piperonal (98% yield, 99.2% ee), azide displacement and reduction to (R)-alpha-propylpiperonylamine (11) (58% yield, 85% ee), crystallization as the D-pyroglutamic acid salt (92% yield, 98.2% ee), and isocyanate formation (98% yield) with phosgene.     

Enantioselective total synthesis of (-)-triptolide, (-)-triptonide, (+)-triptophenolide, and (+)-triptoquinonide

The first enantioselective total synthesis of (-)-triptolide (1), (-)-triptonide (2), (+)-triptophenolide (3), and (+)-triptoquinonide (4) was completed. The key step involves lanthanide triflate-catalyzed oxidative radical cyclization of (+)-8-phenylmenthyl ester 30 mediated by Mn(OAc)3, providing intermediate 31 with good chemical yield (77%) and excellent diastereoselectivity (dr 38:1). (+)-Triptophenolide methyl ether (5) was then prepared in > 99% enantiomeric excess (> 99% ee), and readily converted to natural products 1-4. In addition, transition state models were proposed to explain the opposite chiral induction observed in the oxidative radical cyclization reactions of chiral beta-keto esters 17 (without an alpha-substituent) and 17a (with an alpha-chloro substituent).     

A highly efficient asymmetric synthesis of optically active α,β-epoxyaldehydes from α,β-unsaturated acids

The bromolactones(3) prepared from α,β-unsaturated acids(1) were converted to optically active α,β-epoxyaldehydes(2(R),3(S)-6)(84–98% ee) by successive epoxide formation and reductive cleavage of the proline moiety. The overall process constitutes a highly efficient asymmetric synthesis of 2(R),3(S)-6 from 1.     

Concise syntheses of coronarin A, coronarin E, austrochaparol and pacovatinin A

Total syntheses of (+)-coronarin A (1), (+)-coronarin E (2), (+)-austrochaparol (3) and (+)-pacovatinin A (4) were achieved from the synthetic (+)-albicanyl acetate (6). Dess-Martin oxidation of (+)-albicanol (5) derived from the chemoenzymatic product (6) gave an aldehyde (7), which was subjected to Julia one-pot olefination using beta-furylmethyl-heteroaromatic sulfones (8 or 9 ) gave (+)-trans coronarin E (2) and (+)-cis coronarin E (12) with high cis-selectivity. The synthesis of (+)-coronarin A (1) from (+)-trans coronarin E (2) was achiev-ed, while (+)-cis coronarin E (12) was converted to the natural products (+)-(5S,9S,10S)-15,16-epoxy-8(17),13(16),14-labdatriene (13) and (+)-austrochaparol (3). By the asymmetric synthesis of (+)-3, the absolute structure of (+)-3 was determined to be 5S, 7R, 9R, 10S configurations. Homologation of (+)-albicanol (5) followed by allylic oxidation gave (7 alpha)-hydroxy nitrile (17), which was finally converted to the natural (+)-pacovatinin A (4) in 8 steps from (+)-albicanol (5).     

Synthesis of Optically Active Vasicinone Based on Intramolecular Aza-Wittig Reaction and Asymmetric Oxidation(1)

Both optical isomers of a quinazoline alkaloid, vasicinone, were synthesized by two different methods. The first method used (3S)-3-hydroxy-gamma-lactam as a chiral synthon, which was, after O-TBDMS protection, o-azidobenzoylated followed by treatment with tri-n-butylphosphine to afford (S)-(-)-vasicinone via the tandem Staudinger/intramolecualr aza-Wittig reaction. The second method utilized asymmetric oxygenation of deoxyvasicinone with (1S)-(+)- or (1R)-(-)-(10-camphorsulfonyl)oxaziridine (the Davis reagent), respectively. The aza-enolate anion of deoxyvasicinone was treated with (S)-(+)-reagent to afford (R)-(+)-vasicinone in 71% ee, while the reaction with (R)-(-)-reagent gave (S)-(-)-vasicinone in 62% ee. The optical purity was analyzed by HPLC on specially modified cellulose as a stationary phase. These results provided a facile method to prepare both optical isomers of vasicinone and confirmed the recently reversed stereochemistry of natural (-)-vasicinone.