Expedient syntheses of indolizidines (−)-167B and (−)-209D

Indolizidine alkaloids (−)-167B and (−)-209D were synthesized via an expedient route using hydroacylation and amination.     

Concise syntheses of substituted indolizidine alkaloids via cyclization based on α-sulfinyl carbanions: preparation of (±)-indolizidines 167B and 209D, their epimers, and (±)-tashiromine

(±)-Indolizidines 167B and 209D, their epimers and (±)-tashiromine have been successfully synthesized, starting from simple γ- or α-lactams. The strategy involves the cyclization of α-sulfinyl carbanion onto the carbonyl group of the lactam ring as the key step, leading to the indolizidines containing the phenylsulfinyl group, which are used as precursors for the preparation of the title compounds.     

Formal total synthesis of (−)-hamigeran B from a chemo-enzymatically prepared building block with quaternary chiral center

A formal total synthesis of (?)-hamigeran B was achieved in 17 steps from commercially available ethyl 2-oxocyclopentanecarboxylate. Carbonyl reductase-catalyzed asymmetric reduction and the subsequent chemical transformations furnished an enantiomerically pure synthetic intermediate, (R)-5-formyl-2-isopropyl-5-methylcyclopent-1-en-1-yl trifluoromethylsulfonate. Suzuki-Miyaura coupling with Gao's arylboronate [2-(2-formyl-3-methoxy-5-methylphenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolane], under PdCl₂(dppf)?CH₂Cl₂ catalysis, and the subsequent cyclization by way of intramolecular reductive SmI₂-mediated 1,2-diol formation provided a tricyclic skeleton with a tetrasubstituted double bond between C-1 and C-9b. Upon hydrogenation of this double bond, the proper stereochemistry of the remaining chiral centers was established. Exclusive addition of the hydrogen atom from the β-face occurred, owing to the shielding of the α-face with a bulky TBS protective group on the C-4 alcohol. The hydrogenation products were transformed into Clive's synthetic precursor for (?)-hamigeran B.     

Diastereoselective and enantioselective capture of chiral zinc enolate using nitroolefins: a rapid access to chiral γ-nitro carbonyl compounds

Highly diastereoselective and enantioselective catalytic capture of chiral zinc enolates using nitroolefins as electrophiles is described. The tandem products γ-nitro ketones were obtained in good yields with high diastereoselectivities and enantioselectivities. The γ-nitro ketones were readily hydrogenated to the optically enriched and diastereomerically pure chiral pyrrolidines with four contiguous stereocentres under mild conditions.     

New chiral 1,4-aminoalcohols derived from (+)-camphor and (−)-fenchone for the enantioselective addition of diethylzinc to aldehyde

Various optically active 1,4-aminoalcohols were synthesized from (+)-camphor and (−)-fenchone. The aminoalcohols 5 or 6-mediated enantioselective addition reactions of diethylzinc to benzaldehyde resulted in the formation of the optically active secondary alcohol in good yield. When the catalyst derived from (+)-camphor was used, the (S)-alcohol was obtained in high ee, while the (R)-alcohol was obtained in the reaction with the catalyst derived from (−)-fenchone.     

Efficient access to β- and γ-carbolines from a common starting material by sequential site-selective Pd-catalyzed C–C,C–N coupling reactions

Two efficient and practical approaches are reported for the synthesis of β- and γ-carboline derivatives from 3,4-dibromopyridine as a common starting material. The β-carbolines were prepared by site-selective Pd-catalyzed C–C coupling with o-bromophenylboronic acid and subsequent cyclization by double C–N coupling with amines. γ-Carbolines were prepared from the same starting material by C–N coupling with anilines and subsequent annulation by domino C–C/C–N coupling with o-bromophenylboronic acid.     

Enantioselective syntheses of α-phenylalkanamines via intermediate addition of Grignard reagents to chiral hydrazones derived from (R)-(−)-2-aminobutan-1-ol

The hydrazine (R)-(−)-28 was obtained in four steps from 2-aminobutan-1-ol (R)-(−)-11, and reacted with benzaldehyde to give the hydrazone (R)-(−)-29. Nucleophilic addition of various alkyl Grignard reagents to the latter yielded the corresponding trisubstituted hydrazines (R,R)-30a–g in 70–89% yields and having d.e.s=100% (¹H and ¹³C NMR). Catalytic hydrogenolysis of these hydrazines afforded the corresponding (R)-(+)-α-phenylalkanamines (R)-(+)-31a–g having e.e.s=90–92% (chiral GPC).     

A diastereo- and enantioselective Michael addition of chiral amide enolates to α, β-unsaturated esters a stereoelective synthesis of (+)-dehydroiridodiol and (−)-isodehydroiridodiol

(+)-Dehydroiridodiol and (−)-isodehydroiridodiol were synthesized stereoselectively using the diastereo- and enantioselective Michael addition of chiral amide enolates to α, β-unsaturated esters.     

Synthesis of pyrrolidines and piperidines from ω-azidoalkylboronic esters. Stereocontrolled access to chiral nonracemic 2-and 3-substituted derivatives

The conversion of ω-azidoalkylboronic esters 1 into the corresponding pyrrolidines or piperidines was achieved by oxidation with hydrogen peroxide followed by successive mesylation and catalytic hydrogénation. Homologation reactions were used as key steps of the syntheses of a chiral non-racemic 2-substituted pyrrolidine and a 3-substituted piperidine.     

Facile access to α,β-dehydroalanine and α,β-dehydroamino butyric acid derivatives from DL-serines and threonines

Not only α,β-dehydroamino acids are important constituents for a number of bioactive peptides in nature, but also they are important building blocks for a variety of synthetic amino acids in organic synthesis. Methods to prepare dehydroamino acids have been reported extensively in the literature; however, efficient and convenient protocols are still required. Here we have developed a convenient method to prepare dehydroalanine (ΔAla) and dehydroamino butyric acid (ΔAbu) derivatives derived from DL-serines and DL-threonines, respectively. 4-Toluenesulfonyl chloride (TsCl) and 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) were employed in this procedure, which carried out activation of hydroxyl group and β-elimination in one pot. Because it is convenient and easy to handle, this method will attract the attention of synthetic chemists.     

An efficient access to N-tert-butanesulfinyl aldimines in water: Application to one-pot synthesis of homoallylic amines, (+)-crispine A and (−)-coniine

An Efficient method for the syntheses of N-tert-butanesulfinyl aldimines in water was developed using Amberlyst-15 as catalyst. Subsequently, chiral homoallylic amines were synthesized in one pot from aldehydes by combining with In-promoted allylation in aqueous media. The total syntheses of (+)-Crispine A and (?)-Coniine were conducted to demonstrate the utility of this one-pot approach.     

Studies on the synthesis of chiral nonracemic 3,4-disubstituted azepanes,a formal synthesis of (+)- and (−)-balanol

Sugar lactones were converted to 3,4-disubstituted azepanes and caprolactam derivatives by selective deoxygenation, functionalization and reductive cyclization. The cyclization proved troublesome with 6-azidolactols but led to good results with the corresponding lactones. A formal synthesis of (+)- and (−)-balanol is reported.     

Convenient access to two enantiomeric oxirane synthons bearing a quaternary gem-dimethyl carbon center: Synthesis of 3S-(+) and 3R-(−)-2,2-dimethyl-3,4-oxo-1-butanol from R-(−)-pantolactone

Starting with the commercially available R(−)-Pantolactone and using three different pathways, the synthesis of two new and potentially useful enantiomeric hydroxy epoxide synthons possessing a quaternary gem-dimethyl carbon center is reported.     

Development of a common 3D pharmacophore for δ-opioid recognition from peptides and non-peptides using a novel computer program

A unified three-dimensional (3D) pharmacophore for recognition of the -opioid receptorby families of structurally diverse -opioid ligands, including peptides and non-peptides,has been determined. An additional structural feature required for -selectivity was alsocharacterized using a subset of these ligands that are highly selective for the -opioidreceptor. To obtain these pharmacophores, we have used a recently developed computerprogram that performs systematic and automated comparisons of molecules to determinewhether any common 3D relationships exist among candidate recognition moieties in high-affinity analogs. All the low-energy conformations of each ligand are included in thesecomparisons. The program developed should be applicable in general to molecular super-imposition problems in rational drug design and to develop both 3D recognition and activationpharmacophores for any receptor for which high- and low-affinity analogs and agonists andantagonists have been identified.     

Enantioselective LC–ESI–MS/MS method for quantitation of (−)-lumefantrine and (+)-lumefantrine in mice plasma and application to a pharmacokinetic study

We developed and validated a simple, sensitive, selective, and reliable LC–MS/MS–ESI method for the direct quantitation of lumefantrine (LFN) enantiomers [(−)-LFN and (+)-LFN] in mice plasma as per regulatory guideline. LFN enantiomers and carbamazepine (internal standard) were extracted from mice plasma using Strata X SPE (solid-phase extraction) cartridges. Good resolution between enantiomers was achieved on a Chiralpak IA-3 column using an isocratic mobile phase (0.1% of diethyl amine in methanol), which was delivered at a flow rate of 0.8 mL/min. Detection and quantitation were performed using multiple reaction monitoring mode following the transitions m/z 530.27 → 512.30 and 237.00 → 194.00 for LFN enantiomers and the internal standard, respectively, in the positive-ionization mode. The proposed method provided accurate and reproducible results over the linearity range of 2.39–895 ng/mL for each enantiomer. The intra- and inter-day precisions were in the range of 1.03–6.14 and 6.36–8.70 and 2.03–4.88 and 5.82–11.5 for (−)-LFN and (+)-LFN, respectively. Both (−)-LFN and (+)-LFN were found to be stable under different stability conditions. The method was successfully used to delineate stereoselective pharmacokinetics of LFN enantiomers in mice after an oral administration of rac-LFN (20 mg/kg). The pharmacokinetic results indicated that the disposition of LFN enantiomers was stereoselective in mice.     

Enantioselective organocatalytic Friedel-Crafts alkylation reaction of indoles with 5-hydroxyfuran-2(5H)-one: access to chiral γ-lactones and γ-lactams via a Ugi 4-center 3-component reaction

5-Hydroxyfuran-2(5H)-one 1, a readily available renewable resource, was used as an electrophile in the Friedel-Crafts alkylation of indoles catalyzed by a diphenylprolinol silyl ether. Moderate catalyst loading was achieved because of the high reactivity of 5-hydroxyfuran-2(5H)-one 1 in this process. Reduction of the Friedel-Crafts adduct (FC adduct) afforded indoyl lactones in high yield and enantioselectivity. Moreover, the FC adduct was used as a chiral synthon in a diversity-oriented synthesis, as illustrated by its successful engagement in a 4-center 3-component Ugi reaction (U-4C-3CR) to afford chiral five-membered lactams in high yield and enantioselectivity.     

The effect of terminal alkoxy chain on mesophase behaviour,optical property and structure of chiral liquid crystal compounds derived from (−)-menthol

Herein, we present the results of our extensive investigations on the synthesis and phase behaviour of nine novel (?)-menthol-based chiral liquid crystal compounds. They possess three phenyl rings and substituted with (?)-menthyl and varying length of n-alkoxy chains at one end. With the aim of exploring the fundamental relationships between molecular structural features and thermal properties, nine terminal n-alkoxy groups from ethoxy to n-octadecaneloxy group in even numbers have been used. A detailed characterisation of their properties was carried out. The characterisation results clearly illustrate that all the series compounds show the thermodynamically stable phases; the shorter chain homologues display only the BPI and N* phases, and the middle ones exhibit BPI, N* and S_A* phases while the longer chain members show the BPI, N* and S_C* phases. Besides, the BPI appeared in a narrow temperature range because of their thermodynamic disruption. Temperature range of the N* phase narrows when the length of the n-alkoxy tail increases. The reflection peak is shifted towards short wavelength region with increasing temperature due to the winding of the chiral nematic helix in the N* phase. Furthermore, their inherent reflection peak intensities of reflections were gradually weakened.     

Synthesis of functionalized chiral ammonium,imidazolium, and pyridinium-based ionic liquids derived from (−)-ephedrine using solvent-free microwave activation. Applications for the asymmetric Michael addition

An efficient procedure for the synthesis of functionalized chiral ammonium, imidazolium, and pyridinium-based ionic liquids derived from (1R, 2S)-ephedrine using solvent-free microwave activation has been described. Good yields were obtained in very short reaction time. These chiral ionic liquids were used as chiral reaction media for the asymmetric Michael addition, giving good yields and moderate enantioselectivities.     

Stereocontrolled approaches to (+)- and (−)-γ-trifluoromethyl-GABOB,a new hydroxymethylene (statine) dipeptide isostere

Two efficient approaches to both enantiomers of syn-γ-trifluoromethyl γ-amino β-hydroxy butyric acid (γ-Tfm-GABOB) (10), a new hydroxymethylene (statine) dipeptide isostere, are described. One exploits the recently disclosed `non-oxidative' Pummerer reaction, by means of which α-lithium alkyl sulfoxides are used as chiral α-hydroxyalkyl anion equivalents in the synthesis of β-amino alcohols. Trifluoropyruvaldehyde-N,S-ketal (R)-11, a novel stereochemically stable synthetic equivalent of α-amino trifluoropropanal, is used in the second approach.