Silver(I) and mercury(II) complexes with N,N′-bis(acetylacetone)-1R,2R-diaminocyclohexane ligands exhibiting three different coordination modes

Treatment of AgNO₃ with one equiv. of N,N′-bis(acetylacetone)-1R,2R-diaminocyclohexane (L) afforded a mononuclear complex [Ag(η²-L)NO₃] (1) in which the central silver(I) atom adopts a distorted trigonal planar geometry by coordinating two carbon atoms of the methane moieties of the ligand and one oxygen atom of the NO₃^? group. Interaction of CF₃COOAg with one equiv. of L produced a one-dimensional coordination polymer [Ag₂(μ-L)(CF₃CO₂)₂]_n (2). Each silver(I) in 2 exhibits highly distorted square planar coordination geometry that connects one oxygen atom of L and one neighboring Ag atom with the Ag?Ag interactions. Reaction of HgCl₂ with one equiv. of L resulted in the formation of one-dimensional [{Hg(μ-Cl)Cl}₂(μ-η¹-L)]_n (3) with a C-coordinated dinuclear mercury(II) chloride moiety being linked by L.     

Enzymatic synthesis of tryptamine and its halogen derivatives selectively labeled with hydrogen isotopes

Nine isotopomers of tryptamine and its halogen derivatives, labeled with deuterium, tritium in side chain, i.e., [(1R)-²H]-, [(1R)-³H]-, 5-F-[(1R)-²H]-, 5-F-[(1R)-³H]-, 5-Br-[(1R)-²H]-, double labeled [(1R)-²H/³H]-, 5-F-[(1R)-²H/³H]-, and ring labeled [4-²H]-, and [5-²H]-tryptamine, were obtained by enzymatic decarboxylation of l-Trp and its appropriate derivatives in deuteriated or tritiated media, respectively. Intermediates: [5′-²H]-l-Trp used for further decarboxylation was synthesized by enzymatic coupling of [5-²H]-indole with S-methyl-l-cysteine, and [4′-²H]-l-Trp was obtained by isotope exchange ¹H/²H of the authentic l-Trp dissolved in heavy water induced by UV-irradiation. Doubly labeled [(1R)-²H/³H]- and 5-F-[(1R)-²H/³H]-tryptamine were obtain by decarboxylation of l-Trp or [5′-F]-l-Trp carried out in ²H³HO incubation medium.     

Intramolecular hydroamination/cyclization of aminoalkenes catalyzed by diamidobinaphthyl magnesium- and zinc-complexes

Reaction of 2 equiv of n-Bu₂Mg and Et₂Zn with the chiral l-proline-derived axial chiral tetraamines (S,S,S)-1 and (R,S,S)-1 gave the chiral bimetallic complexes [M₂{(S,S,S)-DABN(MeProline)₂}{R}₂] (M=Mg, R=n-Bu ((S,S,S)-2); M=Zn, R=Et ((S,S,S)-3)) and [M₂{(R,S,S)-DABN(MeProline)₂}{R}₂] (M=Mg, R=n-Bu ((R,S,S)-2)); M=Zn, R=Et ((R,S,S)-3)). The magnesium complexes showed moderate to high catalytic activity in the intramolecular hydroamination/cyclization of aminoalkenes, though enantiomeric excess was limited to 14% ee due to protolytic ligand exchange processes. The zinc complexes were less reactive and generally required higher reaction temperatures of 60-100 °C, but achieved slightly higher enantiomeric excess of up to 29% ee.     

Asymmetric allylation of N-benzoylhydrazones promoted by novel C2-symmetric bis-sulfoxide organocatalysts

Novel C₂-symmetric bis-sulfoxide/N-oxide (R,R)-5 was prepared in good yield according to the Andersen protocol with (S)-menthyl p-tolyl sulfinate (2 equiv) and the dilithium derivate of 2,6-dimethylpyridine N-oxide. Reduction of (R,R)-5 to pyridine/bis-sulfoxide (R,R)-6 was accomplished by means of Katritzky’s procedure (Fe⁰/AcOH). Both bis-sulfoxides (R,R)-5 and (R,R)-6 are efficient chiral organocatalysts in the asymmetric allylation of N-benzoyl hydrazones derived from both aldehydes and ketones.     

Ligand design for dual enantioselective control in Cu-catalyzed asymmetric conjugate addition of R2Zn to cyclic enone

A new chiral N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligand derived from a natural α-aminoester has been designed and synthesized. The coupling of N-methylbenzimidazole with an α-chloroacetamide derivative, which was prepared from chloroacetyl chloride and (S)-serine methyl ester, gave the corresponding ester/amide-functionalized azolium compound 20. The reaction of 2-cyclohexen-1-one (17) with Et₂Zn in the presence of catalytic amounts of Cu(OTf)₂ and 20 produced (R)-3-ethylcyclohexanone (18) as a major product. In contrast, the enantioselective conjugate addition (ECA) reaction catalyzed by Cu(OTf)₂ under the influence of a hydroxy-amide-functionalized azolium compound 15, which was derived from (S)-tert-leucinol, produced (S)-18 in preference to (R)-18. A series of azolium salts were synthesized from (S)-serine esters, and the reaction conditions for the ECA reaction were optimized to produce (R)-18 with 69% ee. The best results were obtained in the case of the reaction of 4,4-dimethyl-2-cyclohexen-1-one (34) with Et₂Zn catalyzed by Cu(OTf)₂ in combination with azolium compounds. When the reaction of 34 with Et₂Zn was carried out in the presence of catalytic amounts of Cu(OTf)₂ and 20, (S)-3-ethyl-4,4-dimethylcyclohexanone (35) was obtained with 97% ee, whereas the ECA reaction under the influence of hydroxy-amide-functionalized azolium 15 afforded (R)-35 with >99% ee. In this manner, the reversal of enantioselectivity was achieved by controlling the structure of chiral ligands.     

Enzymatic reactions for the preparation of homocalycotomine enantiomers

Homocalycotomine enantiomers (R)-4 and (S)-4 were prepared by the Candida antarctica lipase B (CAL-B)-catalysed asymmetric O-acylation of N-Boc-protected 2-(6,7-dimethoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolin-1-yl)ethanol (±)-1. The preliminary small-scale experiments were performed either in a continuous-flow system or as batch reactions, while the preparative-scale resolution was carried out in two steps with vinyl acetate as the acyl donor in the presence of Et₃N and Na₂SO₄ in toluene at 3 °C, as a batch reaction. Treatment of the resulting amino alcohol (S)-1 and amino ester (R)-3 (ee ?94%) with 18% HCl, and then with 5 M NaOH, furnished the desired (R)-4 and (S)-4 without a decrease in the enantiomeric excess (ee ?94%).     

Synthesis,photophysical properties and DFT studies of 2-(3-cyano-4-((2-(4,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-3-yl)hydrazono)methyl)-5,5-dimethylfuran-2(5H)-ylidene)malononitrile dye

The chromophore 2-(3-cyano-4-((2-(4,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-3-yl) hydrazono)methyl)-5,5-dimethylfuran-2(5H)-ylidene)malononitrile (PPHTCF) was synthesized through coupling of diazotized 3-amino-4,6-dimethyl-5-nitropyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine with 3-cyano-2-(dicyanomethylene)-4,5,5-trimethylfuran (TCF). The absorption solvatochromism behaviour of PPHTCF, in various solvents, presented ΔE_max = +5.40 where the positive sign suggested red shift occurrence, implying that the PPHTCF has more polar lowest excited state than its ground one. While, the PPHTCF fluorescence spectra afforded λ_em, in 575–633 nm range, and was more dependent on the solvent polarity than the absorption λ^max, despite both exhibited red shift by 58 and 42 nm, respectively. To discover the PPHTCF solvatochromism behaviour in term of “Stokes’ shift”, both of Lippert-Mataga and linear solvation-energy relationship (LSER) formulations have been utilized and the outcomes endorsed that the later was better than the former (R² = 0.9728). Finally, TD-DFT simulated absorption and emission spectra in EtOH revealed that λ^max has been resulted mainly from HOMO → LUMO; HOMO-5 → LUMO and HOMO-2 → LUMO transitions, respectively.     

Lipase-catalyzed kinetic and dynamic kinetic resolution of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-1-carboxylic acid

A dynamic kinetic resolution method for the preparation of enantiopure 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-1-carboxylic acid (R)-2 was developed involving the CAL-B-catalyzed enantioselective hydrolysis of the corresponding ethyl ester (±)-1 in toluene/acetonitrile (4:1) containing 1 equiv of added water and 0.25 equiv of dipropylamine. This method allowed the preparation of (R)-2 (ee = 96%) with 80% isolated yield. The kinetic resolution of (±)-1 in diisopropyl ether at 3 °C afforded both enantiomers with ee ⩾92%.     

High asymmetric induction using a diastereomeric mixture of axially dissymmetric ligands

We have reported that our new axially dissymmetric ligand with two chiral centers, (R_a)-2,2′-bis[(R)-1H-1-hydroxyperfluorooctyl]biphenyl ((R_a)-(R)₂-1c, or tentatively called as (R_a)-(R)₂-PFCAB-7), worked as a good asymmetric inducer for the reaction of benzaldehyde with diethylzinc. Now, a mixture of (R_a)-(R)₂- and (S_a)-(R)₂-PFCAB-7 even in 1:4 ratio (−60% de) was found to give nearly the same asymmetric induction as pure (R_a)-(R)₂-PFCAB-7 of the corresponding molar percents. This result suggests that both isomers do not form complex and that (R_a)-(R)₂-PFCAB-7 accelerates the reaction and induces high asymmetry, while (S_a)-(R)₂-1c does not accelerate the reaction significantly and does not induce asymmetry at all. This ligand of low ee, (R_a)-(R)₂-PFCAB-7 of 20% ee, did not show appreciable asymmetric amplification, suggesting no formation of heterochiral complex.     

Structurally simple chiral thioureas as chiral solvating agents in the enantiodiscrimination of α-hydroxy and α-amino carboxylic acids

C₂-Symmetrical chiral thioureas (S,S)-1 and (S,S)-2 were prepared in good yield by the reaction of 2 equiv of inexpensive (S)-1-phenylethylamine, or the corresponding naphthyl analog, with 1 equiv of thiophosgene in the presence of excess triethylamine. The presence of asymmetric elements in (S,S)-1 and (S,S)-2, and their capacity to act as receptors for anionic species via hydrogen bonding were exploited in the development of ¹H NMR spectroscopic enantiodiscrimination of chiral carboxylic acids. In particular, the diastereomeric complexes derived from thioureas (S,S)-1 and (S,S)-2 with ammonium salts of the chiral acids gave rise to well separated signals of the α-hydrogens and simple integration provides the corresponding enantiomeric ratios. Furthermore, it was observed that C_α-H in the (R) enantiomers of the chiral α-hydroxy and α-amino carboxylic acids studied in this work consistently appears downfield relative to the same signals in the (S) enantiomers.     

Diastereoselective schenck ene reaction of singlet oxygen with chiral allylic alcohols; access to enantiomerically enriched 1,2,4-trioxanes

A series of antimalarial chiral 1,2,4-trioxanes (1-8) were synthesised in high enantiomeric purities. Enantioselective addition of R₂Zn reagent to 3-methyl-2-butenal catalysed by (+)-MIB or (−)-MIB yielded both the enantiomers of the chiral allylic alcohols 9-11 (90-98% ee), which were subjected to diastereoselective photooxygenation in the presence of tetraphenylporphine (TPP) to obtain (R,R)-threo- or (S,S)-threo-β-hydroperoxy alcohols (12-14). Reaction of β-hydroperoxy alcohols (12-14) with different cyclic ketones produced optically active trioxanes 1-8.     

One enantiomeric fluorescent sensor pair to discriminate four stereoisomers of threonines

The BINOL-amino alcohol enantiomeric pair(S)-1 and(R)-1 are discovered to conduct both enantioselective and diastereoselective fluorescent discrimination of the four stereoisomers of threonine derivatives.This study utilizes different fluorescence responses of one sensor at two emission wavelengths toward the stereoisomeric substrates which expands the capability of the sensor in chiral recognition.In addition,the sensor pair also allows visual recognition of the N-protected L-allo-threonine and D-allo-threonine by enantioselective precipitation.     

Enantioselective synthesis of β-amino acids. Part 10: Preparation of novel α,α- and β,β-disubstituted β-amino acids from (S)-asparagine

Perhydropyrimidinone (S)-1 is alkylated with very high diastereoselectivity to give trans products (2S,5R)-3, (2S,5R)–4 and (2S,5R)-5. Dialkylation of (S)-1 also proceeds with complete stereoselectivity to afford adducts (2S,5R)-6, (2S,5S)-6, (2S,5R)-7 and (2S,5S)-7. Hydrolysis (6N HCl, 100°C) of monoalkylated derivative (2S,5R)-3 gives enantiopure α-substituted β-amino acid (R)-8. Hydrolysis of dialkylated adducts 6 and 7 affords enantiopure α,α-disubstituted β-amino acids (R)- or (S)-9 and (R)- or (S)-10. Related iminoester (2S,6S)-2 is alkylated with complete diastereoselectivity to give products (2S,6S)-11–13 whose hydrolysis under relatively mild conditions (2N CF₃CO₂H, CH₃OH, 100°C) affords enantiopure N-benzoylated β,β-disubstituted β-amino acid esters (S)-14–16, with intact double bonds in the olefinic substituents.     

Substrate engineering: Effects of different N-protecting groups in the CAL-B-catalysed asymmetric O-acylation of 1-hydroxymethyl-tetrahydro-β-carbolines

In the frame of substrate engineering, the steric effect of different N-protecting groups on the enantioselectivity and reaction rate of CAL-B-catalysed (S)-selective O-acylation of N-protected 1-hydroxymethyl-tetrahydro-β-carbolines was investigated. Excellent enantioselectivities (E?>?200) were observed when the acylation of N-Boc [(±)-1], N-Cbz [(±)-3], and N-Fmoc-protected [(±)-4] substrates was performed with the use of CAL-B and acetic anhydride in toluene at 60?°C. The resolution of N-acetyl-protected substrate (±)-2 showed excellent E (>200) after 30?min, but as the reaction progressed, E started decreasing after 2 days, because of N→O and O→N acyl migrations. Preparative resolutions of (±)-3 and (±)-4 resulted in unreacted amino alcohols (R)-3 and (R)-4 and esters (S)-7a and (S)-8a with good enantiomeric excesses (≥88%) and high yields (≥44%).     

Synthesis and characterization of aluminum and zinc complexes supported by pyrrole-based ligands and catalysis of the aluminum complexes toward the ring-opening polymerization of ?-caprolactone

Reaction of quinolin-8-amine with 1H-pyrrole-2-carbaldehyde or 5-tert-butyl-1H-pyrrole-2-carbaldehyde catalyzed by HCO₂H forms N-((1H-pyrrol-2-yl)methylene)quinolin-8-amine (≡ HL, 3a) or N-((5-tert-butyl-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)methylene)quinolin-8-amine (≡ HL′, 3b). Treatment of 3a and 3b respectively with AlMe₃ or AlEt₃ in toluene affords corresponding aluminum complexes LAlMe₂ (4a), L′AlMe₂ (4b) and LAlEt₂ (4c). Reaction of 3a and 3b with an equivalent of ZnEt₂ in toluene generates L₂Zn and L′₂Zn, respectively. A related compound N-((1H-pyrrol-2-yl)methylene)-2-(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)benzenamine (≡ HL″, 7) was prepared by reaction of 2-(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)benzenamine with 1H-pyrrole-2-carbaldehyde in the presence of HCO₂H. Reaction of 7 with AlMe₃ gives L″₂AlMe (8), and with ZnEt₂ yields L″₂Zn (9). All new compounds were characterized by NMR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The structures of complexes 4b, 5b and 8 were additionally characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. Complexes 4a-4c, and 8 were proved to be active catalysts for the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of ?-caprolactone (?-CL) in the presence of BnOH. The kinetic study of the polymerization reactions catalyzed by 4a and 8 was performed.     

Synthesis of rigid and C2-symmetric 18-crown-6 type macrocycles bearing diamide–diester groups: enantiomeric recognition for α-(1-naphthyl)ethylammonium perchlorate salts

A series of rigid and chiral C₂-symmetric 18-crown-6 type macrocycles (S,S)-4, (S,S)-5, (S,S)-6 and (R,R)-2 bearing diamide–ester groups were synthesized. The binding properties of these macrocycles were examined for α-(1-naphthyl)ethylammonium perchlorates salts by an ¹H NMR titration method. Taking into account the host employed, important differences were observed in the K_a values of (R)- and (S)-enantiomers of guests for macrocycles (S,S)-4 and (S,S)-6, K_S/K_R = 3.6, and K_S/K_R = 0.1 (K_R/K_S = 10.3) ΔΔG = 3.19 and ΔΔG = ?5.77 kJ mol^?1, respectively. The results indicated excellent enantioselectivity of macrocyclic (S,S)-6 towards the enantiomers of α-(1-naphthyl)ethylammonium perchlorate salts.     

A highly selective ratiometric fluorescent chemosensor for Zn2+ ion based on a polyimine macrocycle

A new ratiometric fluorescent chemosensor based on a polyimine macrocycle ligand 1 has been synthesized. The chemosensor can exhibit a pronounced fluorescence response and high selectivity to Zn²⁺ ion over other 15 metal ions, including Cd²⁺. Sensor 1 appears an emission peak at 370 nm. Upon the addition of Zn²⁺ ion, the typical emission peak for 1 at 370 nm is obviously quenched, but a new emission peak at around 470 nm appears and shows a large enhancement due to the formation of a 1:1 Zn²⁺-1 complex. In addition, there is a good linear relationship between the fluorescence ratio I_470nm/I_370nm and the concentration of Zn²⁺, which makes a ratiometric assay of Zn²⁺ ion possible.     

Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation as the key step in the enantioselective synthesis of spirocyclic σ1 receptor ligands

The enantioselective synthesis of fluorinated spirocyclic σ₁ ligands involved three key steps: (1) the Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation of 2-bromostyrene 5 provided enantiomerically pure diols (R)-6 and (S)-6 establishing the stereogenic center; (2) the intramolecular opening of the oxirane ring of (R)-11 and (S)-11, which occurred with excellent regioselectivity and complete inversion of configuration giving access to enantiomerically pure alcohols (S)-7a and (R)-7a; (3) the treatment of alcohols (S)-7b and (R)-7b with DAST, which led to the fluoromethyl derivatives (S)-1 and (R)-1 without racemization. X-ray crystal structure analysis of the tosylate (R)-13 confirmed the absolute configuration of the spirocyclic compounds as well as the enantioselectivity during the Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation of 5. The (S)-configured fluoromethyl derivative (S)-1 revealed a high σ₁ affinity (K_i = 1.8 nM), high eudismic ratio (factor 8) and high selectivity over the σ₂ subtype (667-fold).     

Advanced procedure for the enzymatic ring opening of unsaturated alicyclic β-lactams

Enantiopure β-amino acids 1a–4a and β-lactams 1b–4b were prepared simultaneously through the lipolase-catalysed enantioselective ring opening of unsaturated racemic β-lactams (±)-1-(±)-4. High enantioselectivities (E>200) were observed when the reactions were performed with 1 equiv of water in iPr₂O at 70 °C. The resolved (1R,2S)-amino acids (yield⩾45%) and (1S,5R)-, (1S,6R)- and (1S,8R)-lactams (yield⩾47%) could be easily separated. The ring opening of lactam enantiomers 1b–4b with 18% HCl afforded the corresponding β-amino acid hydrochlorides 1c·HCl–4c·HCl (ee >95%).     

Reactions of β-substituted amines-IV: Kinetics and stereochemistry of the thermal to (r) 3-chloro-1-ethylpiperidine,and the stereo-chemical course of their reactions with nucleophiles

The rate of the thermal rearrangement of (S) 2 chloromethyl-1-ethylpyrrolidine [(S)-1a] to (R)-3-chloro-1-ethylpiperidine [(R) 2a] has been examined at three temperatures in benzene by PMR and polarimetry. The rearrangement was shown to be completely stereospecific and to obey a simple first order rate law. The calculated E_a ΔH3 and ΔS3 were 22 ± 2 $\text{kcal}\text{mole}$ (25°), 21 ± 2.5 $\text{kcal}\text{mole}$ (25°) and - 10 ± 2 e.u. (0°K) respectively. The effect of solvents having differing dielectric constants was also studied. A transition state 9'a and an ion pair intermediate 3a are suggested for the rearrangement. The stereochemical course of the reactions of (S)-1a, (R)-2a and (S)-2a with hydroxide and methoxide ions have been shown to be 100% stereospecific with an uncertainty of about 1%. The absolute configurations of all optically active reactants and products [(S)- and (R)-4a, (S)-4b (R)- and (S)-5a, (R)-5b, (S,S')-6a, (S,R')-7a and (R,R')-8a] were established by chemical correlations with known compounds or by ORD and chemical inference. The ring opening of both the primary and secondary aziridinium ion positions of 1-azonia-1-ethylbicyclo [3.1.0]hexane [(S)-3a] by nucleophiles proceeds entirely by S_N2 processes. The conversion of (R)-1-ethyl-3-hydroxypiperidine [(R)-5a] to (S)-2a. HCl with thionyl chloride in chloroform proceeds by inversion with 4.8% racemization, whereas the thermal rearrangement of (S)-1a to (R)-2a occurs with complete retention of absolute configuration.