The fate of the tryptophan stereocenter in the synthesis of 7,10,16,16a-tetrahydro-11H-quinazolino[2′,3′:3,4]pyrazino[1,2-b]β-carboline-5,8-diones

Condensation reactions of anthranilic acid with iminoethers 14–17 derived from tetracycles 9–13 to give the title hexacyclic compounds reflect a preferred trans-relationship for H(10)–H(16a) protons in C(7)-unsubstituted products and a cis-relatioship for H(7)–H(16a) protons in C(10)-unsubstituted analogs. This synthetic strategy is limited by the steric hindrance of the substituent at C(10). Theoretical calculations are in agreement with the experimental results. The regioselectivity in favor of the linear tetracyclic compound 11 with respect to 12 has also been confirmed.     

Synthesis of new calix[4]arenes containing nucleoside bases

A family of novel calix[4]arene derivatives containing nucleoside bases were designed and synthesized. Coupling reaction between para mono- or bis-amino calix[4]arenes 5, 6 or 7 and thymin-1-ylacetic acid in the presence of DCC afforded mono- or bis-thymine-substituted calix[4]arenes 8, 9 or 10 in over 70% yield. Owing to the low solubility of adenine-N⁹-ylacetic acid in DMF and DMSO and the weak nucleophilicity of aminocalix[4]arene derivatives, alternatively, the substitution reaction of bromoacetylated aminocalix[4]arenes derivatives 11, 12, 13 with adenine in the presence of sodium hydride was carried out to synthesize mono- or bis-adenine-substituted calix[4]arenes. Two kinds of isomers 15 and 16 or 17 and 18 were obtained due to the non-regiospecific alkylation of adenine, and their structures have been confirmed by ¹³C NMR and ¹H NMR spectra.     

An efficient stereoselective synthesis of six stereoisomers of 3, 4-diaminocyclohexane carboxamide as key intermediates for the synthesis of factor Xa inhibitors

An efficient stereoselective route for the preparation of six stereoisomers of tert-butyl ((1R, 2S, 5S)-2-amino-5-(dimethylcarbamoyl)cyclohexyl)carbamate 1 starting from simple 3-cyclohexene-1-carboxylic acid has been described. Stereochemistry of the title compounds was controlled at C2 center by Mitsunobu reaction and at C5 via a base-catalyzed epimerization. Only a limited usage of column chromatography has provided a direct and scalable route for the six stereoisomers.     

Studies on the Synthesis of Reidispongiolide A: Stereoselective Synthesis of the C(22)-C(36) Fragment

A highly stereoselective synthesis of the C(22)-C(36) fragment 2 of reidispongiolide A is described. This synthesis features the highly stereoselective mismatched double asymmetric crotylboration reaction of the aldehyde derived from 5 and the new chiral reagent (S)-(E)-7 that provides 12 with >15:1 dr. Subsequent coupling of the derived vinyl iodide 3 with aldehyde 16 provided allylic alcohol 17, that was elaborated by three steps into the targeted reidispongiolide fragment 2.     

Efficient stereocontrolled synthesis of (S)-Fmoc-β-nitroalanine via oxidation of oxime

Stereocontrolled synthesis of (S)-Fmoc-β-nitroalanine (20) was accomplished from (R)-Fmoc-Ser(^tBu)-OH (14) in a total of six steps via an oxime. The oxime (17) was obtained from (R)-Fmoc-Ser(^tBu)-H (16), which in turn was obtained by reduction of Weinreb amide (15). Oxidation of oxime was realized with peroxytrifluoroacetic acid at a neutral pH at 0 °C. After removal of the ^tBu protecting group with 90% TFA/H₂O, the hydroxyl group was oxidized with Jones reagent to afford (S)-Fmoc-β-nitroalanine (20) in overall good yield.     

A novel and practical synthetic route for the total synthesis of lycopene

A novel route for the total synthesis of lycopene 1 is described. The synthesis is based on: (i) a condensation between 4,4-dimethoxy-3-methylbutanal 4 and methylenebisphosphonic acid tetraethyl ester 5, leading to the C6-phosphonate 6, followed by (ii) a modified Wittig-Horner reaction between 6 and 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one 7 producing dimethoxy-3,5,9-triene 8, and (iii) another modified Wittig-Horner reaction between C15-phosphonate 2 and C10-triene dialdehyde 3 producing all-E-lycopene. The synthetic steps are easily operated and practical for the large-scale production.     

Asymmetric epoxidation of cis-alkenes with arabinose-derived ketones: enantioselective synthesis of the side chain of Taxol

The ee values of asymmetric epoxidation of cis-ethyl cinnamate 15 with arabinose-derived ketones as catalyst and Oxone^® as the terminal oxidant were found to increase inversely with the size of the catalyst acetal blocking group. Ketone catalyst 2, with the least bulky methoxy acetal group, displayed the best enantioselectivity and afforded ethyl (2R,3R)-3-phenylglycidate 16 in 68% ee. Epoxide 16 was readily converted into a protected side chain of Taxol^® in five steps with an overall yield of 89%. The enantioselectivity of the epoxidation of other cis-alkenes was moderate to poor.     

The first enantioselective synthesis of imino-deoxydigitoxose and protected imino-digitoxose by using l-threonine aldolase-catalyzed aldol condensation

The first enantioselective synthesis of protected imino-digitoxose (?)-16 was attained starting with a synthetic intermediate of polyoxin C prepared by the l-threonine aldolase-catalyzed aldol condensation of (2S,3S)-2,3-O-isopropyriden-4-penten-1-al 8 and glycine. The strategy took advantage of an intramolecular nucleophilic attack by a Cbz-protected amino group on the hemiacetal carbon, a side reaction in the synthesis of natural products, for the formation of the piperidine ring of the imino-sugar. Imino-deoxydigitoxose (+)-18 was also synthesized from (?)-16 by reduction and acid hydrolysis.     

An enantioselective total synthesis of pinnaic acid

An enantioselective and convergent total synthesis of marine natural product pinnaic acid has been achieved. Our general synthetic approach is featured with an asymmetric hydrogenation of racemic γ-keto ester 3, a diastereoselective methylation on the α-methylene of the (1R,5R)-lactone 4, and a diastereoselective Michael addition of the tertiary nitro cyclopentane. The central azaspiro[4.5]decane was constructed utilizing reductive cyclization of the δ-nitroketone followed by highly stereoselective reduction of the cyclic imine with NaBH₄. Ultimately, successive use of triethyl-2-phosphonopropionate and Heathcock's phosphorane 18 to elaborate C5 and C13 side chains completed the total synthesis of pinnaic acid.     

An improved synthesis of ethyl cis-5-iodo-trans-2-methylcyclohexanecarboxylate, a potent attractant for the Mediterranean fruit fly

Both racemic ethyl 5-iodo-2-methylcyclohexanecarboxylate (1), known as Mediterranean fruit fly attractant ceralure B₁, and its (−)-(1R,2R,5R) enantiomer 1a were conveniently synthesized from commercially available racemic trans-6-methyl-3-cyclohexenecarboxylic acid 2 or its (1R,6R) enantiomer 2a. Key steps included an asymmetric Diels-Alder reaction using a sultam auxiliary and cyclization of the unwanted trans-5-iodo-trans-2-methylcyclohexanecarboxylic acid (8) to the intermediate lactone 7 (or 8a to 7a). The new method may circumvent chromatographic separations and seems amenable to scale-up.     

Enantioselective total synthesis of the proposed structure of macrolide iriomoteolide-1b

An enantioselective total synthesis of the proposed structure of macrolide iriomoteolide-1b has been achieved by a convergent protocol, which was featured by an enantioselective organocatalytic transfer hydrogenation of enal, a Julia-Kocienski olefination to establish the C15-C16 E-olefin moiety, a Kulinkovich reaction associated with cyclopropyl-allyl rearrangement to produce allyl stannane and ytterbium triflate and carboxylic acid promoted allylation between allyl stannane and aldehyde with tertiary alcohol at the α-position. The construction of macrolide 2 was realized by the successful implementation of RCM utilizing 5 mol % Grubbs’s second generation catalyst at room temperature with E-isomer as a single product.     

A synthesis of 17-epi-calcidiol

The first synthetic approach to 17-epi-calcidiol 4 and congeners is presented. Key steps of the synthesis involve Pd-catalyzed reaction of the androst-16-ene derivative 6 with alkyl diazoacetates producing the respective cyclopropane derivatives 5, and lithium in liquid ammonia reduction of 5 leading to 17α-pregnane-20-carboxylic acid derivatives 9. The side chain was attached to ester 19 in a known manner.     

Novel thiosemicarbazone derivatives containing benzimidazole moiety: Green synthesis and anti-malarial activity

A series of (E)-2-[5-chloro-1-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)ethylidene] N-(substituted) hydrazine carbothioamide (7a–7t) and (E)-2-[1-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)ethylidene] N-(substituted) hydrazine carbothioamide (8a–8t) were prepared via the synthesis of 1-(substituted-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl) ethanol (3a–3b) which was synthesized by the condensation of substituted o-phenylenediamine (2a–2b) with dl-lactic acid (1) followed by oxidation with sodium hypochlorite in mild acidic condition to form the corresponding ketones 4a–4b. Final compounds were formed by condensation of 4a–4b with different thiosemicarbazides 6a–6t. A total of 40 compounds were synthesized and characterized by FT-IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, Mass spectral technique and elemental analysis, in addition they were evaluated for anti-malarial properties. Among the compounds tested 7o, 7p, 7q, 7r, 7s, 8e and 8h exhibited good antimalarial activity in vitro.     

Concise approach to the syntheses of (±)-gliocladin C and related diketopiperazine alkaloids

A unique approach to the diketopiperazine indole alkaloid (±)-gliocladin C was developed and applied to formal syntheses of the related alkaloids (±)-gliocladine C and (±)-T988C. The key features of the strategy include an unprecedented nucleophilic addition of a diketopiperazine to an isatin derivative followed by a Friedel-Crafts alkylation of the resultant tertiary alcohol with indole to establish the critical quaternary center. Subsequent reduction of the intermediate oxindole moiety and cyclization then delivered a pivotal hexahydropyrrolo[2,3-b]indole diketopiperazine intermediate that was readily converted into (±)-gliocladin C as well as racemic versions of key intermediates in the Overman syntheses of (+)-gliocladine C and (+)-T988C.     

Synthetic studies on macrolactin A by using a (diene)Fe(CO)3 complex

The stereoselective synthesis of the two segments 3 and 4 of macrolactin A 1 is described. Macrolactin A is a 24-membered polyene macrolide antibiotic, which is of interest due to a strong activity against B16-F10 murine tumor cell and HIV-1 virus. The key step of the synthesis is the 1,2-migration reaction of a (diene)Fe(CO)₃ complex with a introduction of the thiol group to construct the unstable (E,Z)-conjugated dienic moiety (C8-C11).     

Stille cross-coupling reaction of polyfluorovinylstannanes: Stereospecific synthesis of polyfluoro-alkenes and -α,β-unsaturated ketones

The palladium/copper (I) iodide cocatalyzed coupling reaction of (Z)-α-fluoro-β-trifluoromethylvinylstannanes 1 with aryl iodides 2 and acid chloride 4 has been explored affording substituted (E)-α-fluoro-β-trifluoromethylalkenes 3 and (E)-α-fluoro-β-trifluoromethyl-α,β-unsaturated ketones 5, respectively. The effect of cocatalyst, solvent as well as reaction temperature has been investigated in more detail. The geometric isomers were easily ascertained on the basis of their coupling constant () across the double bond and the retention of the configuration of the products for this conversion was found.     

Insight into hydrogen bonding of terephthalamides with amino acids: Synthesis,structural and spectroscopic investigations

Several bis-terephthalamides based on methyl esters of amino acids including glycine (1), β-alanine (2), γ-aminobutyric acid (3) and ε-aminocaproic acid (4), X(CH₂)_nHNOCC₆H₄CONH(CH₂)_nX (XCO₂CH_3,n = 1, 2, 3 and 5), have been synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and spectroscopic methods: FT-IR, polarized FT-IR, Raman, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR. The four structures assemble via classical NH?O hydrogen bonds between amide functionalities linking the molecules into chains parallel to the short axis. The analysis of polarized IR spectra of pure and deuterated compounds reveals that a weak interchain (“through-space”) exciton coupling involves two closely-spaced hydrogen bonds belonging to two different adjacent chains. The exciton coupling magnitude decreases with the addition of methylene groups to the terephthalamide system. Isotope effects in terephthalamides show that the distribution of protons and deuterons in the crystalline lattice depends on the strength of the exciton couplings involving hydrogen bonds.     

New acetylated flavone C-glycosides from Iris lactea

Chemical investigation of the aerial parts of Iris lactea afforded three new flavone C-glycosides including 4?-O-acetyl-embinin (1), 2?,4?-O-diacetyl-embinin (2) and 6″,4?-O-diacetyl-embinin (3) along with the known analogue embinin (4). Their structures were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic analysis as well as by HRESIMS data. The sugars were characterized following acid hydrolysis of the respective glycosides and TLC analysis compared to known standards. Duplicated signals can be observed in the NMR spectra, indicating the presence of rotamers caused by rotational hindrance around the glycosyl-flavone CC linkage. All isolated compounds were tested for their antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities but found to be inactive.     

Stereo-regulated synthesis of peptides containing a β-trifluoromethyl-β-amino acid

For the chemical conversions of a β-trifluoromethyl-β-amino acid ((S)-4,4,4-trifluoro-3-aminobutyric acid, 1), such as the N-terminus protection with benzyloxycarbonyl or tert-butoxycarbonyl group, the C-terminus protection with benzyl or tert-butyl group, and peptide elongation at the both termini, highly practical protocols were established. Through these conversions, the stereochemistry of 1 and/or its condensation counterpart was maintained. Because the protocols developed here are indispensable for the application of 1 in peptide engineering, they would expand the utility of 1 and its derivatives.     

First asymmetric syntheses of 6-substituted nipecotic acid derivatives

Various nipecotic acid derivatives are known to be potent GABA uptake inhibitors thus being useful in the treatment of a number of neurological and psychological disorders. In this paper, the first asymmetric syntheses of 6-substituted nipecotic acid derivatives are presented. The synthetic strategy was designed to provide access to a large variety of enantiomerically pure 6-substituted nipecotic acid derivatives. The synthesis starts from the chiral N-acyldihydropyridines 15 and 16 obtained via asymmetric electrophilic α-amidoalkylation reaction of a chiral N-acylpyridinium ion. These were utilized for the preparation of enantiomerically pure 6-(4,4-diphenylbutyl)nipecotic acids and 6-(4,4-diphenylbutenyl)nipecotic acids in a multistep synthesis, including the removal of the dimethylphenylsilyl blocking group from the dihydropyridine ring, the reduction of the dihydropyridine heterocycle, a Horner-Wittig reaction and the removal of the chiral auxiliary. The obtained target molecules, however, showed only negligible affinity to the GAT-1- and GAT-3 transport proteins.