Microwave assisted synthesis of an unusual dinitro phytochemical

A novel dinitro secondary metabolite, 2-nitro-4-(2^′-nitroethenyl)phenol from a marine source, has been prepared via highly accelerated, microwave assisted, nitration reactions using mild reagents. ipso-Substitution of a carboxy group by a nitro group is discussed.     

Asymmetric synthesis of highly substituted beta-nitro alcohols and enantiomerically enriched 4,4,5-trisubstituted oxazolidinones

It is demonstrated that alpha,alpha-disubstituted-alpha-nitroketones are reduced to the corresponding trisubstituted nitro alcohols in good to excellent yield and enantiomeric excess by borane-dimethyl sulfide in the presence of a chiral oxazaborolidine catalyst. Reduction of the nitro alcohols to the corresponding amino alcohols and their subsequent conversion to enantiomerically enriched 4,4,5-trisubstituted oxazoldinones is also reported.     

Synthesis of carbazomycin B by radical arylation of benzene

Iodination of 2-methoxy-3,4-dimethyl-5-nitrophenol followed by acetylation yields (6-iodo-2-methoxy-3,4-dimethyl-5-nitrophenyl) acetate. Reduction with iron and acetic acid followed by reaction with methyl chloroformate then provides N-methoxycarbonyl-3-acetoxy-2-iodo-4-methoxy-5,6-dimethylaniline. Treatment of this substance in benzene at reflux with tributyltin hydride and a catalytic quantity of diphenyl diselenide leads to the formation of N-methoxycarbonyl-3-acetoxy-2-(2,5-cyclohexadienyl)-4-methoxy-5,6-dimethylaniline which on exposure to phenylselenenyl bromide affords a phenylselenenyl tetrahydrocarbazole. Oxidation deselenation and rearomatization are achieved by heating with tert-butylhydroperoxide finally affording carbazomycin B after saponification.     

Enantioselective alkene radical cations reactions

The reaction of enantiomerically enriched 2-methyl-2-nitro-3-(diphenylphosphatoxy)alkyl radicals with tributyltin hydride and AIBN in benzene at reflux results in the formation of alkene radical cation/anion pairs, which are trapped intramolecularly by amine nucleophiles, leading to pyrrolidine and piperidine systems with memory of stereochemistry. The scope and limitations of the system are explored with respect to nucleophile, leaving group, and substituents within the substrate backbone.     

Enantioselective cyclization of alkene radical cations

[reaction: see text] Enantiomerically enriched beta-(diphenylphosphatoxy)nitroalkanes undergo radical ionic fragmentation, induced by tributyltin hydride and AIBN in benzene at reflux, to give alkene radical cations in contact radical ion pairs. These contact ion pairs are trapped intramolecularly by amines to give pyrrolidines and piperidines with significant enantioselectivity ( approximately 60% ee), indicative of cyclization competing effectively with equilibration within the ion pairs. Use of an intramolecular N-propargylamine as a nucleophile provides an enantiomerically enriched pyrrolizidine skeleton via a tandem polar/radical crossover sequence.