Soluble and polymer-supported 2- and 3-benzylated furans for the preparation of α,β-ethylenic carbonyl compounds

Soluble and polymer-supported 2- and 3-benzylated furans were subjected to a sequence involving a Diels-Alder reaction with α,β-acetylenic carbonyl compounds, a Michael addition, and a subsequent retro-Diels-Alder reaction to yield olefinic compounds. On solid support, this traceless strategy is advantageous since pure compounds were released in the thermal cycloreversion step. The fur-2-ylated resin allowed a highly diastereoselective synthesis.     

Catalytic antibody route to the naturally occurring epothilones: total synthesis of epothilones A-F

Naturally occurring epothilones have been synthesized starting from enantiomerically pure aldol compounds 9-11, which were obtained by antibody catalysis. Aldolase antibody 38C2 catalyzed the resolution of (+/-)-9 by enantioselective retro-aldol reaction to afford 9 in 90% ee at 50 % conversion. Compounds 10 and 11 were obtained in more than 99% ee at 50% conversion by resolution of their racemic mixtures using newly developed aldolase antibodies 84G3, 85H6 or 93F3. Compounds 9, 10 and 11 were resolved in multigram quantities and then converted to the epothilones by metathesis processes, which were catalyzed by Grubbs' catalysts.     

The palladium-catalysed conjugate addition type reaction of arylmercury compounds with α,β-unsaturated ketones in a two-phase system

Pd-catalysed reaction of arylmercury compounds with α,β-enones in an acidic two-phase system provides a mild and selective way to β-aryl ketones. The present conjugate addition type reaction may accommodate a wide variety of functional groups. Thus, aryl units containing electron-donating and electron-withdrawing substituents such as -Me, -Cl, -CHO, -COMe, -COOMe, -COOH, -OH, -OMe, -NHCOMe and -NO₂ were successfully transferred to the β C atom of benzalacetone. A number of α,β-enones were also treated with 3-formylphenyl mercury chloride to give the corresponding β-(3-formylphenyl) derivatives. The main limitation seems to arise from steric hindrance in the starting α,β-enonic system. Substituents in the aryl moiety of the organomercury compounds were found to affect the transmetalation step in the direction expected for a rate determining σ-complex formation.     

Catalytic Enantioselective Retro-Aldol Reactions: Kinetic Resolution of β-Hydroxyketones with Aldolase Antibodies

High enantiomeric enrichment after 50% conversion : Racemates of aldols can be resolved by the title reaction [Eq.(1)] by use of the aldolase antibody 38C2 or 33F12; the ee values of the unconverted aldols are greater than 95% in most cases. Since the antibodies also catalyze the aldol reaction–that is, the reverse reaction–it is possible to prepare both enantiomers using the same antibody catalysts.     

A highly active ionic liquid catalyst for Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction

The Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction is an efficient carbon-carbon bond forming reaction for the preparation of α-methylene-β-hydroxycarbonyl compounds. A new and highly active di-naphthalene imidazolium salt has been synthesized. We have found that 1,3-bis[2-(naphthalene-2-yloxy)propyl]imidazolium bromid promoted the Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction of various aryl aldehyde compounds in the absence of solvents. Our studies show that the Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction by the influence of ionic liquid to give a high yield and short reaction time.     

Rh(Ⅱ) and Zn(Ⅱ) co-catalyzed multi-component reaction for the synthesis of vicinal diols

Oxonium ylide intermediates generated fromα-diazocarbonyl compounds and water were trapped by Zn(Ⅱ)-activatedα-dicarbonyl compounds.The reaction gaveα,β-dihydroxyl acid derivatives in moderate yield.     

AlCl3 as a powerful catalyst for the one-pot preparation of 1,1,3-triheteroaryl compounds

A general and efficient procedure for the synthesis of 1,1,3-triheteroaryl compounds in good to excellent yield at room temperature is developed. The reaction proceeds via mixed Michael and Friedel-Crafts reactions of α,β-enals or α,β-enones and indoles, 2-methylfuran or 2-methylthiophene in the presence of a catalytic amount of AlCl₃.     

Synthesis of new α or γ-functionalized hydroxymethylphosphinic acid derivatives

The syntheses of new γ-ethoxycarbonyl- and α-amino-alkyl hydroxymethylphosphinic acid derivatives are described. These compounds were conveniently prepared by Michael addition or Kabachnik-Fields reaction of an original precursor, ethyl benzyloxymethyl hydrogenophosphinate, respectively to α,β-unsaturated esters using a basic activation or to imines. Selective deprotection of the alcohol function was achieved by hydrogenolysis on Pd/C, whereas lithium bromide was used to selectively cleave the phosphinate ester group. Acidic hydrolysis readily gave the free hydroxymethylphosphinic acids.     

1-Methylimidazole 3-N-oxide as a new promoter for the Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction

The Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction of aldehydes with α,β-unsaturated ketones can be affected by the Lewis bases. We have found that 1-methylimidazole 3-N-oxide promoted the Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction of various activated aldehyde compounds in non-solvent system. This is a mild reaction condition and requires no special equipment to give the Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts.     

Unusual reversal of regioselectivity in antibody-mediated aldol additions with unsymmetrical methyl ketones

A catalytic regio- and enantioselective aldol reaction of various unsymmetrical methyl ketones with para-nitrobenzaldehyde has been developed using aldolase antibodies as the catalysts. It has been found that the sense and level of regioselectivity for the reactions catalysed by antibody 38C2 and 33F12 are highly dependent on the structure of both the donor and the acceptor but in contrast, antibodies 84G3 and 93F3 catalyse the exclusive formation of the linear regioisomer independent of the structure of the reactants examined. The level of enantiocontrol is very high for most reactions. Both linear aldol enantiomers could be accessed through aldol or retro-aldol reactions using the same antibody. Theoretical studies on regioisomeric α- and β-heteroatom substituted enamines derived from unsymmetrical ketones suggest that most of the linear aldol products formed in the presence of antibodies 84G3 and 93F3 must be formed from intermediate enamines which are not the thermodynamically most favourable.     

The preparation of 1,2,4-triazines from α,β-diketo-ester equivalents and their application in pyridine synthesis

The α-Chloro-α-acetoxy-β-keto-esters were prepared from β-keto-esters in good overall yields. These compounds reacted as α,β-diketo-ester equivalents with amidrazones yielding triazines, generally in good yields, or with an amidrazone and 2,5-norbornadiene in a one-pot aza Diels-Alder reaction to give the corresponding pyridines.     

Access to the noryohimban [6,5,6,5,6] ring system via an intramolecular furan Diels-Alder reaction

Polycyclic indolic compounds containing the [6,5,6,5,6] ring system were prepared via an intramolecular furan Diels-Alder reaction of α,β-unsaturated amides generated by the N-acylation of 1-(2-furyl)-β-tetrahydrocarbolines. This chemistry can provide access to D(14)-noryohimban derivatives by exploiting the functionality on the C,D,E ring system of the corresponding cycloadducts.     

Enantioselective conjugate addition of fluorobis(phenylsulfonyl)methane to α,β-unsaturated ketones catalyzed by chiral bifunctional organocatalysts

The catalytic enantioselective conjugate addition reaction of fluorobis(phenylsulfonyl)methane to α,β-unsaturated ketones promoted by chiral bifunctional organocatalysts is described. The treatment of fluorobis(phenylsulfonyl)methane to α,β-unsaturated ketones under mild reaction conditions afforded the corresponding Michael adducts with high enantioselectivity. The conjugate addition adducts are useful for the synthesis of chiral monofluoromethylated compounds.     

Antibody-catalyzed benzoin oxidation as a mechanistic probe for nucleophilic catalysis by an active site lysine

Aldolase antibody 24H6, which was obtained by reactive immunization against a 1,3-diketone hapten, is shown to catalyze additional reactions, including H/D exchange and oxidation reactions. Comparison of the H/D exchange reaction at the alpha-position of a wide range of aldehydes and ketones by 24H6 and by other aldolase antibodies, such as 38C2, pointed at the significantly larger size of the 24H6 active site. This property allowed for the catalysis of the oxidation of substituted benzoins to benzils by potassium ferricyanide. This reaction was used as a mechanistic probe to learn about the initial steps of the 24H6-catalyzed aldol condensation reaction. The Hammett correlation (rho=4.7) of log(k(cat)) versus the substituent constant, sigma, revealed that the reaction involves rapid formation of a Schiff base intermediate from the ketone and an active site lysine residue. The rate-limiting step in this oxidation reaction is the conversion of the Schiff base to an enamine intermediate. In addition, linear correlation (rho=3.13) was found between log(K(M)) and sigma, indicating that electronic rather than steric factors are dominant in the antibody-substrate binding phenomenon and confirming that the reversible formation of a Schiff base intermediate comprises part of the substrate-binding mechanism.     

Stereoselective Mannich-type reaction of chlorotitanium α-phenylseleno esters enolates with aromatic aldimines

The stereoselective Mannich-type reaction of α-phenylseleno chlorotitanium enolates with aromatic aldimines is described. The corresponding α-phenylseleno-β-amino esters were obtained in good yields and with moderate to good diastereoselectivity. A rationale for the predominant syn selectivity based on a chelated cyclic transition state is suggested. The obtained compounds are useful synthetic tools and direct precursors of new α-phenylseleno-β-lactams.     

An efficient benchtop system for multigram-scale kinetic resolutions using aldolase antibodies

The preparative scale kinetic resolution of racemic aldols 1-4 using aldolase antibodies 38C2 (Aldrich no. 47995-0) and 84G3 (Aldrich no. 52785-8) is described. These reactions use a biphasic aqueous/organic solvent system that allows the catalyst to be reused. Reaction scales range from miligrams to grams, with 0.0086 to 0.12 mol% of antibody binding sites. Because antibodies 38C2 and 84G3 have opposite enantioselectivities, both aldol product enantiomers are accessible by kinetic resolution.     

Synthesis of polyfunctionalized pyrroles bearing C-2 α-azido side-chains and displacement of the α-azido group by various nucleophiles

Tetrasubstituted pyrroles bearing C-2 α-azido side-chains were synthesized employing a new class of diazides, α,γ-diazido α,β-unsaturated esters, and 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds under simple thermal conditions. Further investigation of the synthetic utility of the obtained pyrroles reveals unexpected displacement of the α-azido group at the C-2 side-chain by a variety of nucleophiles. This two-step process exhibits a broad substrate scope, good functional group tolerance, simple operation, and high reaction efficiency, providing an easy access to polyfunctional pyrroles with novel substitution patterns.     

Highly efficient antibody-catalyzed deuteration of carbonyl compounds

Antibody 38C2 efficiently catalyzes deuterium-exchange reactions at the alpha position of a variety of ketones and aldehydes, including substrates that have a variety of sensitive functional groups. In addition to the regio- and chemoselectivity of these reactions, the catalytic rates (kcat) and rate-enhancement values (kcat/kun) are among the highest values ever observed with catalytic antibodies. Comparison of the substrate range of the catalytic antibody with highly evolved aldolase enzymes, such as rabbit-muscle aldolase, highlights the much broader practical scope of the antibody, which accepts a wide range of substrates. The hydrogen-exchange reaction was used for calibration and mapping of the antibody active site. Isotope-exchange experiments with cycloheptanone reveal that the formation of the Schiff base species (as concluded from the 16O/18O exchange rate at the carbonyl oxygen) is much faster than the formation of the enamine intermediate (as concluded from the H/D exchange rate), and both steps are faster than the antibody-catalyzed aldol addition reaction.     

Synthesis of α,β-dibromo ketones by photolysis of α-bromo ketones with N-bromosuccinimide: Photoinduced β-bromination of α-bromo ketones

Irradiation of α-bromopropiophenones in the presence of NBS results in the formation of α,β-dibromopropiophenones, which can be viewed as β-bromination of α-bromopropiophenones. The reaction is believed to go through a series of reactions; photoinduced C–Br bond cleavage, elimination of HBr to give α,β-unsaturated ketone intermediates, and addition of Br₂, which are formed by the reaction between HBr and NBS. From mechanistic studies of the reaction, we have also found a very convenient method for α-debromination of the α,β-dibromopropiophenones which is by simple irradiation of the dibromo ketones in acetone or 2-propanol without the use of any additives. Our results demonstrate that bromine can be added into or eliminated from the alpha, beta, or both positions to the carbonyl group by photochemical methods, which make synthetic options of bromine containing carbonyl compounds versatile.     

α-Alkyl(aryl)sulfenyl substituted β-ketophosphonates: synthesis, properties and reactivity

A new synthesis of the title compounds via acylation of α-lithio-α-phosphorylalkyl sulfides is described. Two additional approaches to these compounds, although less efficient, involve: (a) sulfenylation of O-silylated dialkyl β-ketophosphonates and (b) the Arbuzov reaction of triethyl phosphite with α-chloro-α-methylthiomethyl phenyl ketone. The keto-enol tautomerism of the title compounds and reactivity of the anions derived from them with electrophilic reagents were investigated. The P(O)-olefination products obtained from electron rich aromatic aldehydes were found to undergo the acid-catalyzed desulfenylation reaction affording α,β-unsaturated ketones.