Total synthesis of maremycins A,B, C1/C2, D1, and D2

The total synthesis of maremycins A, B, C₁/C₂, D₁, and D₂ is achieved starting from the natural amino acids l-isoleucine and S-methyl-l-cysteine, in which the total synthesis of maremycins B, C₁/C₂, and D₂ is accomplished for the first time. The synthesis features a position-selective intramolecular bromination process for the synthesis of key chiral building block, a Pd-catalyzed indole synthesis for the preparation of (2S,3S)-β-methyltryptophan and hydroxylation of oxindoles by molecular oxygen. In addition, the protocol for conversion of maremycins A and B to maremycins C and D was improved.     

Novel C2-symmetric chiral O,N,N,O-tetradentate 2,2-bipyridyldiolpropane ligands: synthesis and application in asymmetric diethylzinc addition to aldehydes

First synthesis of C₂-symmetric chiral O,N,N,O-tetradentate 2,2-bipyridyldiolpropane ligands is described. The Mukaiyama–Michael reaction was applied as an important reaction for the synthesis of 2,2-bipyridylpropane 9. Among the ligands synthesized, ligand 11 exhibits excellent chiral induction (up to 97% ee) in diethylzinc addition to various aldehydes. The use of additional Lewis acid such as Ti(OⁱPr)₄ in diethylzinc addition reaction is not required for the present catalytic system.     

Synthesis and characterization of a new class of polyfluorinated alkanes: tetrakis(perfluoroalkyl)alkane

The synthesis and physico-chemical characterization of 1,1,2,2-tetrakis(perfluoroalkyl-methylene)ethane {[F(CF₂)_nCH₂]₂CH}₂ (n=6, TK6; n=8, TK8) are reported. The synthesis consists of four steps: (1) addition of allyl alcohol to a perfluoroalkyl iodide, F(CF₂)_nI (n=6,8) to give the corresponding iodo-adduct; (2) dehalogenation of the adduct by treatment with zinc in aqueous acetic acid, yielding 3-perfluoro-n-alkyl-1-propene; (3) addition of 3-perfluoro-n-alkyl-l-propene to perfluoroalkyl iodide, F(CF₂)_nI (n=6,8) to give 1,3-perfluoro-n-alkyl-2-iodo-propane; (4) coupling of 1,3-perfluoro-n-alkyl-2-iodo-propane by zinc in acetic anhydride giving the final products. TK6 and TK8 are characterized by very low surface tension values and exhibit very good properties as potential ski-waxes.     

Novel bis[(E)-1-(halomethyl)-2-chlorovinyl] chalcogenides as starting materials for the efficient synthesis of bis(chloromethylidene)-1,4-dichalcogenanes

An efficient synthesis of novel bis[(E)-1-(halomethyl)-2-chlorovinyl] sulfides and selenides via regio- and stereoselective electrophilic addition of SCl₂ and SeCl₂ to propargyl halides has been developed. The bis(2-chlorovinyl) chalcogenides prepared represent reagents for the synthesis of chalcogen-containing heterocycles and have been used for the synthesis of novel bis(E-chloromethylidene) derivatives of 1,4-dichalcogenanes with various combinations of sulfur and selenium atoms in the ring.     

Stereoselective allylation of α-hydroxy aldimines and its application to the formal synthesis of (−)-β-conhydrine

Stereoselective allylation of N-p-methoxyphenyl (PMP)-substituted α-hydroxy aldimines is described. Several Lewis acids (BF₃·OEt₂, SnCl₄, TiCl₄, ZnCl₂, and MgBr₂·OEt₂) were employed to mediate the allylation reactions. The addition of the allyl group generates a new stereocenter and affords the syn vicinal amino alcohol. Formal synthesis of (?)-β-conhydrine (1) was accomplished via syn-selective allyl addition to N-PMP-substituted α-hydroxy aldimine.     

One-pot synthesis of ortho-acylphenols by palladium-catalyzed phenol C–H addition to nitriles

The regioselective one-pot synthesis of ortho-acylphenols via the palladium-catalyzed addition of phenols to nitriles and subsequent hydrolysis is reported. The acylation reaction proceeded smoothly using the Pd(OAc)₂/DMSO system and TFA as the additive. This method also provides a direct strategy for the synthesis of a salicylketoxime scaffold.     

Organozinc-aided,HMPA-free,stoichiometric three-component coupling for the general synthesis of prostaglandins and stable prostacyclin analogs with biological significance

A three-component coupling procedure was developed to construct the entire prostaglandin (PG) skeleton under HMPA-free and stoichiometric conditions via a combination of dimethylzinc-aided conjugate addition of an ω-side-chain vinyllithium with (R)-4-hydroxy-2-cyclopentenone and the direct trapping of the resulting enolate with an α-side-chain propargyl triflate. Dimethylzinc effectively regulated both the conjugate addition and alkynylation reactions. Thus, the method afforded protected 5,6-didehydro-PGE₂, a common intermediate for the general synthesis of natural PGs and the stable artificial prostacyclin (PGI₂) analog isocarbacyclin in 88% yield. The utility of the method was further applied to the syntheses of novel intermediates, which are useful for the straightforward synthesis of 15R-TIC and 15-deoxy-TIC in 79% and 86% yield, respectively.     

Investigation for the cyclization efficiency of linear tetrapeptides: Synthesis of tentoxin B and dihydrotentoxin

Investigation of the cyclization efficiency of N-methyl linear tetrapeptides using a molecular modeling study and chemical synthesis is described. The linear peptide with two N-methyl groups, MeAla-Leu-MePhe-Gly, forms γ-turn like conformation with the amine at N-terminus and the carbonyl at C-terminus in closer proximity to give the desired cyclic tetrapeptide, dihydrotentoxin. In addition, synthesis of tentoxin B by the combination of Fmoc solid-phase peptide synthesis and cyclization in solution phase has been reported. An unusual amino acid, an L-N-methyl-β-hydroxyphenylalanine derivative, which was assembled on solid support, was prepared from ethyl cinnamate. Cyclic tetrapeptide formation and cleavage of benzyl ether were optimized with DIPCI/HOBt/DIPEA and Et₃SiH/Pd(OH)₂, respectively.     

Brønsted acidic ionic liquids catalyze the preparation of 2,3-dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-one derivatives

A simple and facile method for the green synthesis of 2,3-dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-one derivatives by direct three-component cyclo-condensation of isatoic anhydride, ammonium acetate (or primary amines), and arylaldehydes using different Brønsted acidic ionic liquids, for example 2-pyrrolidonium hydrogensulfate ([hnmp][HSO₄]), N-methyl-2-pyrrolidonium hydrogensulfate ([NMP][HSO₄]), and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidonium dihydrogenphosphate ([NMP][H₂PO₄]), as reusable catalysts under solvent-free conditions is described. In addition, reaction of anthranilamide and arylaldehydes for synthesis of 2,3-dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-one derivatives was investigated.     

Straightforward synthesis of enantiopure 2-aminomethyl and 2-hydroxymethyl pyrrolidines with complete stereocontrol

A practical synthesis of 2-aminomethyl- and 2-hydroxymethyl-3,4-dihydroxypyrrolidines via stereocontrolled addition of TMSCN and LiCH₂OMOM to chiral 3,4 dihydro-2H-pyrroline N-oxides is reported.     

Diastereoselective synthesis of novel 5-substituted morpholine-3-phosphonic acids: further exploitation of N-acyliminium intermediates

The first diastereoselective total synthesis of 5-substituted morpholine-3-phosphonic acids is reported. The principal feature of the synthesis is the introduction of a dimethyl phosphonate group into 5-substituted morpholin-3-ones. The procedure is based on the preparation of N-Boc-(S)-5-phenyl- and N-Boc-(S)-5-benzylmorpholin-3-one from l-phenylglycine and l-phenylalanine methyl esters, followed by the formation of the 3-methoxylated compounds and subsequent reaction with trimethyl phosphite in the presence of BF₃·OEt₂. Diastereoselectivity in the formation of cis-disubstituted products is in agreement with the nucleophilic addition to other methoxylated derivatives.     

One-pot synthesis of trifluoromethylated phthalans via intramolecular cyclization from 2-alkynylbenzaldehydes

An efficient tandem addition/cyclization procedure for the synthesis of trifluoromethylated phthalans under mild conditions was developed. This procedure involves tetrabutylammonium fluoride (TBAF)-promoted addition of Ruppert–Prakash reagent (TMSCF₃) to 2-alkynylbenzaldehyde to give 2-alkynylbenzylicalcohols, which would then undergo base-catalyzed selective 5-exo-dig cyclization to furnish the corresponding products.     

In situ DRIFTS study on the synthesis of N-alkylmorpholines

In situ diffuse reflectance Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy was used to perform mechanistic investigation on the synthesis of N-alkylmorpholines from diethylene glycol (DEG), alcohol and ammonia. The results showed that the synthesis of N-alkylmorpholines on a heterogeneous catalyst proceeded along the reaction path between DEG and alkylamine when choosing CuO–NiO/γ-Al₂O₃ as a suitable catalyst. In addition, the yield of methylmorpholine and ethylmorpholine was 86.4 and 76.6 %, respectively.     

Synthesis of meso-tetraphenyl porphyrins via condensation of dipyrromethanes with N-tosyl imines

A new synthetic route for the synthesis of 5,10,15,20-tetraphenyl porphyrins has been developed based on the reaction of 5-substituted dipyrromethanes with N-tosyl imines in the presence of a metal triflate catalyst. meso-Substituted tetraphenyl porphyrins were synthesized in a two-step process. The first step of the method is the metal triflate-catalyzed condensation of 5-substituted dipyrromethanes with N-tosyl imines to form a porphyrinogen intermediate and the second step is the oxidation of the porphyrinogen to porphyrin. The method was applied to the synthesis of trans-A₂B₂-tetraarylporphyrins and the products were obtained with only a trace amount of one scrambling product. The synthesis of two important building blocks for porphyrin synthesis, mono and di-sulfonamide alkylated 5-substituted dipyrromethanes, was achieved by the addition of 5-substituted dipyrromethane to N-tosyl imine. The application of mono and di-sulfonamide alkylated 5-substituted dipyrromethanes in ‘2+2’ porphyrin formation reactions is presented.     

Bifunctional thiophosphinamide catalyzed highly enantioselective Michael addition of acetone to (E)-2-azido β-nitrostyrenes and the subsequent reductive cyclization

We have proven that primary amine/thiophosphinamide incorporating (1R,2R)-1,2-diphenylethane-1,2-diamine is an efficient catalyst for the asymmetric Michael addition of acetone to (E)-2-azido β-nitrostyrenes. Under the optimal reaction conditions, the corresponding Michael addition products were obtained in excellent yields with almost perfect stereocontrol. Upon treatment with Et₃SiH/InCl₃, the Michael addition products could be successfully converted to the related 2-methyltetrahydroquinolines in acceptable yields with moderate to excellent diastereoselectivity and without appreciable loss in optical purity. This process provides a highly enantioselective pathway for the synthesis of biologically important 2-methyltetrahydroquinoline derivatives.     

Synthesis of 2-amino-1,3-diols incorporating the cyclobutane ring

The synthesis of free and protected 2-amino-1,3-diols with threoninol substructure that incorporate a conformational restriction defined by the cyclobutane ring is reported. The key step in the synthesis of these target compounds, namely cis- and trans-c₄-threoninols, is the addition of methylmagnesium bromide to a cyclobutanone derivative. The selectivity of the reaction is modulated by the solvent.     

Enantioselective synthesis of (2S,3′R,7′Z)-N-(3′-hydroxy-7′-tetradecenoyl)-homoserine lactone

A concise enantioselective total synthesis of (2S,3′R,7′Z)-N-(3′-hydroxy-7′-tetradecenoyl)-homoserine lactone is described. Key feature of this protocol is a catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation and a prophenol-zinc-catalyzed diazo addition to imine reaction as genesis of chirality. Moreover, flexibility is built in the synthesis to generate enantioenriched analogs using catalytic amount of enantioenriched C₂-symmetric ligands.     

FeCl3·6H2O catalyzed diastereoselective synthesis of (L)-menthyl 4-oxo-2-arylpiperidine-3-carboxylates

An efficient diastereoselective synthesis of substituted piperidines is accomplished by using catalytic amount of FeCl₃·6H₂O via intramolecular aza-Michael addition of carbamate on alkylidene β-keto (L)-menthyl esters in a very short time.     

Synthesis of phosphatase-resistant analogues of phytic acid (InsP6)

Phytic acid is enzymatically catabolized to numerous inositol polyphosphates and subsequently to myo-inositol and inorganic phosphate. These conversions are important in energy metabolism, metabolic regulation, and signal transduction pathways. A concise synthesis of phosphatase-resistant analogues of phytic acid (InsP₆) is described in which the P-1 phosphate has been replaced by phosphorothioate, phosphoroselenate, or methylphosphonate moieties. In addition, a new synthesis of P-1 tethered aminoalkyl InsP₆ and the corresponding affinity resin are described.