Facile separation of chiral 1,3-dihydrobenzo[c]furan derivatives using a d-xylose moiety as a protecting group

1,2-O-Isopropylidene-α-d-xylofuranose has been used to protect one aldehyde group of o-phthalaldehyde. This chiral protecting group acts as a resolving agent and this leads to separable diastereoisomers when a new stereogenic centre is created by the conversion of the second aldehyde group to a benzyloxyhydroxyethyl chain. These separated diastereoisomers were cyclised to 1,3-dihydrobenzo[c]furans with retention of chiral integrity at the C3 site thus allowing further elaboration to enantiomerically pure nucleoside analogues.     

Application of 2,4,6-trioxo-pyrimidin-5-ylidene alditols in the synthesis of pyrano[2,3-d]pyrimidines containing a sugar moiety by hetero-Diels–Alder reactions and by conjugate Michael addition–cyclizations

A convenient and efficient procedure for the preparation of 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran derivatives containing a sugar moiety is described. The reaction sequence is: Knoevenagel condensation of unprotected sugars and CH acids, acetylation of C-glycosides and hetero-Diels–Alder reaction. O-Acetylated 1,3-dimethyl-2,4,6-trioxo-pyrimidin-5-ylidene derivatives were used as new heterodienes in the synthesis of fused uracils—pyrano[2,3-d]pyrimidines with a sugar moiety. Solvent-free hetero-Diels–Alder cycloadditions of O-acetylated pyrimidin-5-ylidene alditols with enol ethers and cyclic enol ether were investigated at room temperature. New, enantiomerically pure cis and trans diastereoisomers of pyrano[2,3-d]pyrimidines and cis–cis, trans–cis diastereoisomers of pyrano[3′,2′:5,6]pyrano[2,3-d]pyrimidines with alditol moiety were obtained. The same pyrimidin-5-ylidene alditols underwent conjugate Michael addition–cyclizations with malononitrile at room temperature to afford optically active diastereoisomers of pyrano[2,3-d]pyrimidine-6-carbonitriles with a sugar moiety.     

Enantioseparation of Novel Amino Analogs of Indole Phytoalexins on Macrocyclic Glycopeptide-Based Chiral Stationary Phase

Direct chiral separation of the enantiomers of spirobrassinin, 1-methoxyspirobrassinin and ten novel cis- and trans-diastereoisomers of 2-amino analogs of indole phytoalexin 1-methoxyspirobrassinol methyl ether on macrocyclic glycopeptide-based chiral stationary phase (CSP) with teicoplanin (Chirobiotic T) was studied. Normal phase eluents containing n-hexane with modifiers ethanol and 2-propanol were used. The effects of mobile phase composition, structure of the analytes and temperature were investigated. Chiral resolution on teicoplanin CSP was achieved only in the case of trans-diastereoisomers. The van??t Hoff plots were found to show linear behavior in all cases. It was found that studied normal phase enantioseparations were enthalpy driven. The elution order of the enantiomers was determined in some cases.     

Asymmetric synthesis of cis-2,4-disubstituted azetidin-3-ones from metal carbene chemistry

Several chiral cis-2,4-disubstituted azetidin-3-ones were prepared as single diastereoisomers from N-protected amino acids, employing a highly stereoselective copper carbenoid N–H insertion reaction of diazoketones. These azetidin-3-ones were then converted into fully substituted azetidines in a few steps in good to high yields.     

Metal carbene N-H insertion of chiral α,α-dialkyl α-diazoketones. A novel and concise method for the stereocontrolled synthesis of fully substituted azetidines

The syntheses of all cis substituted azetidines were accomplished in few steps from l-serine in modest to high yields. The key step was based on a rhodium or copper carbenoid N-H insertion of α,α^′-dialkyl-α-diazoketones to furnish cis-2,4-dialkyl-azetidin-3-ones as the only observable diastereoisomers.     

Asymmetric aminocarbonylation of iodoalkenes in the presence of α-phenylethylamine as an N-nucleophile

Iodoalkenes, such as 2-iodo-bornene, 17-iodoandrost-16-ene, 3-methoxy-17-iodoestra-1,3,5(10),16-ene, 3β-hydroxy-20-iodopregna-5,20-diene and 3β-hydroxy-12-iodo-5α,25R-spirost-11-ene were aminocarbonylated with enantiomerically pure and racemic α-phenylethylamine as the N-nucleophile in the presence of palladium(0) catalysts. Monodentate and bidentate (chiral and achiral) phosphines were used as ligands in the catalytic system. All diastereoisomers of the corresponding carboxamides were characterised as pure stereoisomers using both α-phenylethylamine and iodoalkene in enantiomerically pure form. The diastereoisomers were obtained in moderate to high yields in a chemoselective reaction, i.e., carboxamides due to single carbon monoxide insertion were formed exclusively, with no double CO insertion leading to 2-ketocarboxamides. Diastereoselectivities of the aminocarbonylation were investigated using the N-nucleophile in racemic form by the systematic variation of the catalyst.     

Combining microwave-assisted extraction and liquid chromatography–ion-trap mass spectrometry for the analysis of hexabromocyclododecane diastereoisomers in marine sediments

An efficient microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) procedure coupled with high performance liquid chromatography–electrospray-ion-trap mass spectrometry (HPLC–ESI-ITMS) has been evaluated to determine hexabromocyclododecane diastereoisomers (α-, β- and γ-HBCD) in marine sediments. The composition of the LC mobile phase (consisting of water, methanol and acetonitrile) and the parameters of electrospray ionization (ESI) were evaluated to obtain chromatographic baseline separation and high sensitivity for the detection of these diastereoisomers. The effects of various operating parameters on the quantitative extraction of the HBCDs through MAE were systematically investigated. The three diastereoisomers were then quantitated by HPLC–ITMS employing ESI operated in the negative ionization mode. The HBCDs were extracted from the sediments through MAE using 40 mL of acetone/n-hexane (1/3, v/v) at 90 °C for 12 min. The limits of quantitation (LOQ) ranged from 25 to 40 pg/g (dry weight) in 5 g of the sediment samples. The recoveries of the HBCDs in spiked sediment samples ranged from 68 to 91% (relative standard derivation: 2–11%). The extraction efficiency of the MAE technique was also compared with Soxhlet extraction and pressurized liquid extraction.     

Synthesis of new enantiopure trans-3,4-diaminocaranes from (+)-3-carene

A synthetic strategy to obtain new enantiopure trans-3,4-diaminocaranes derived from (+)-3-carene via a stereoselective methodology is described. The stereoselective preparation of 3,4-α-carene- or 3,4-β-carene-epoxide is followed by a ring opening by sodium azide to obtain the azido-alcohols. Subsequent cyclization affords the corresponding aziridine diastereoisomers, which are converted to azido amines by opening of the aziridine rings by sodium azide and then reduced to the final diamine diastereoisomers. The absolute configurations of the final diamines and of novel intermediates are established by ¹H NMR spectra correlated with conformational analysis supported by molecular modeling.     

Convergence of products from Povarov and von Miller reactions: approaches to helquinoline

Yttrium triflate or triflic acid catalysed Povarov reaction of methyl anthranilate with ethyl vinyl ether, both as aldehyde surrogate and as alkene, gave the desired 2-methyl-4-ethoxytetrahydroquinoline diastereoisomers as the major products along with four component coupling von Miller adducts. A proton NMR-study, using yttrium triflate as catalyst, revealed that the cis-diastereoisomers were the initial major products in both the Povarov and von Miller reactions but that these isomerised to the trans-diastereoisomers under the reaction conditions. Two distinct pathways for forming von Miller adducts were uncovered with the initial Povarov products being converted to von Miller adducts under the reaction conditions. Replacement of the 4-ethoxy with a 4-methoxy group under acidic conditions gave predominantly the trans-diastereoisomer, which was subsequently converted to a cis/trans mixture of the tetrahydroquinoline antibiotic helquinoline. It was also possible to convert the von Miller products to Povarov products under acidic conditions.     

Diastereoselective syntheses of 2-amino propargyl alcohols. Chiral building blocks for enantiopure amino γ-lactones and 5-hydroxy-piperidinone derivatives

α-Dibenzylamino aldehydes, derived from the corresponding natural α-amino acids, react with metal acetylides to yield anti-amino propargyl alcohols in good yield and diastereomeric excess. syn Amino alcohols are prepared from the anti diastereoisomers and all of them are elaborated in few steps to enantiopure amino lactones and hydroxy-piperidin-2-ones.     

Stereochemistry of the addition of dialkyl phosphites to (S)-N,N-dibenzylphenylglycinal

The addition of various dialkyl phosphite derivatives to (S)-N,N-dibenzylphenylglycinal 6 led to the preponderance of anti over syn diastereoisomers: from 75:25 when NEt₃ or Ti(OiPr)₄ were used to 51:49 for Li or Mg salts. In the NEt₃-catalysed reaction, partially racemised phosphonates were formed, while enantiomeric products were obtained after addition of lithium O,O-dimethylphosphonate to (S)-6 at −70°C. Because the syn-isomers were found to be resistant to O-benzoylation, mixtures of diastereoisomers were easily separated after esterification of the anti products. Hydrogenation of the syn-phosphonates in the presence of Boc₂O gave enantiomeric dialkyl N-Boc-2-amino-1-hydroxy-2-phenylethylphosphonates—phosphonate analogues of the docetaxel C-13 side chain.     

Synthesis of the heterocyclic core of martinelline and martinellic acid

A Povarov reaction, between an aromatic imine derived from cinnamaldehyde and a cyclic enamide, was employed to rapidly construct the tricyclic core of the alkaloids martinelline and martinellic acid. The cycloaddition was completely regioselective though the exo/endo selectivity was poor. The diastereoisomers were readily separated by flash chromatography and the relative stereochemistry of the exo-isomer confirmed by single crystal X-ray crystallography. This intermediate was converted to the central core of the aforementioned alkaloids in five additional synthetic operations.     

Synthese et configuration de l'alnincanone

Alnincanone 1, and its three diastereoisomers at C-20 and C-24, have been synthesized from dipterocarpol. The configuration of the four isomers has been defined by several independent methods; the naturally occurring alnincanone is 20S,24R.     

First stereocontrolled acetylation of a hydroxypropargylpiperidone by lipase CALB

Hydroxypropargylpiperidones rac-1–3 were efficiently obtained by a one-pot three-component coupling reaction; enantioenriched propargylpiperidones were then obtained by a kinetic resolution process using the lipase from Candida antarctica. Lipase CALB has been shown to efficiently catalyse the stereocontrolled acetylation of hydroxypropargylpiperidones rac-3 by promoting stereodiscrimination at the carbinolic centre. The enzymatic catalytic processes allow the separation of the (S,R)- and (S,S)-3 diastereoisomers into the corresponding acetates produced as a (R,S)- and (R,R)-6 diastereoisomeric pair. The CALB was able to discriminate the stereogenic centre of the secondary (R)-enantiomer of rac-3 according to the Kaslauzkas rule. The remote stereogenic centre was not discriminated by the lipase. The functionalised enantioenriched diastereoisomers obtained are important building blocks in organic synthesis.     

Radical cyclisation studies of β-nitroamines from the nitro-Mannich reaction

A range of novel β-nitroacetamides with an alkenyl- or alkynyl tether were synthesized using the deprotonative or conjugate addition nitro-Mannich reaction. They were subjected to radical denitration-cyclisation with a 10 equivalent excess of tributyltin hydride, catalytic AIBN in refluxing benzene to explore the structural and electronic requirements for efficient cyclisation. Cyclisations of the β-nitroacetamides were successful in most cases, undergoing 5-exo-trig cyclisation to give the desired cyclopentyl or indanyl structures. Radical 1,4-translocation of a phenyl group was observed in several cases. Diastereoselectivity was low, with 2 or 3 of 4 possible diastereoisomers observed in most cases. Further purification by crystallisation allowed the isolation of some as single diastereoisomers. It was found that higher yields were obtained by increasing the substitution or reducing the degrees of freedom of the tether between the nitro group and the radical acceptor.     

Synthesis of the four diastereoisomers of 3-thymine-1-(butoxycarbonyl)aminocyclopentane-1-carboxylic acid

Synthetic routes to all four diastereoisomers of 3-thymine-1-(^tbutoxycarbonyl)aminocyclopentane-1-carboxylic acid have been developed starting from the commercially available (S)-dimethyl malate. The key step in the synthesis involves dialkylation of N-(diphenylmethylene)glycine ethyl ester with 1,4-diiodo-2(S)-trityloxybutane.     

Synthesis of 2-substituted bamipine derivatives

2-Substituted derivatives of bamipine and its 1-phenyl analogue have been prepared in several steps from dihydropyridine-2(1H)-thiones. The configurations and the conformations of the formed diastereoisomers have been investigated by NMR spectroscopy. The antimycobacterial activities of the title compounds have been examined.     

A new paradigm in N-heterocyclic carbenoid ligands

We report a new class of very readily prepared chiral N-heterocyclic carbenoid ligand that also contains two different types of chirality: an asymmetric centre and an atropoisomeric unit, but contained in two separate N-substituents, such that both can easily be varied. In addition to its simplicity and flexibility, this approach has potential advantages over systems containing only atropoisomeric units, because the inclusion of an additional fixed asymmetric centre means that the atropoisomers are diastereoisomers and therefore chemically distinct entities. Complexation to a metal centre increases the barrier to rotation in the atropoisomeric unit so that the two diastereoisomers may be separable by simple methods such as standard chromatography. In addition, a novel cis-substituted palladium complex has been characterised by X-ray crystallography.     

Synthesis of diastereomeric 3-hydroxy-4-pyrrolidinyl derivatives of nucleobases

The work deals with the synthesis of hydroxypyrrolidine analogs of nucleosides. Starting from the optically pure l- or d-tartaric acid, we improved the synthesis of enantiomeric trans-3,4-dihydroxypyrrolidines and elaborated a procedure for the synthesis of all possible diastereoisomers of 3-hydroxy-4-pyrrolidinyl derivatives of both purine and pyrimidine nucleobases. The prepared compounds were tested for cytostatic and antiviral properties but no significant activity was found.     

Mild and efficient syntheses of diverse isoindolinones from ortho-phthaldehydic acid methylthiomethyl ester

A mild and efficient method for the synthesis of diverse isoindolinones from o-phthaldehydic acid methylthiomethyl ester and aliphatic/aromatic amines has been developed. A number of nucleophiles including a hydride ion were successfully added to the intermediate Schiff's base providing isoindolinones, with or without substitution at 3-position. Conditions have also been developed for amines with an integrated nucleophilic group to react in a diverse fashion either to give isoindolinones or tricyclic γ-lactams as single diastereoisomers in very good yield.