Conjugate addition of lithium N-tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy-N-(α-methylbenzyl)amide: asymmetric synthesis of β-trisubstituted amino acids

Conjugate addition of the homochiral ammonia equivalent lithium N-tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy-N-(α-methylbenzyl)amide to a range of α,β-unsaturated esters gives the corresponding β-amino esters in moderate to good levels of diastereoselectivity. O-Desilylation and cyclisation furnishes homochiral isoxazolidin-5-ones in >99:1 dr after purification. Sequential alkylation of these templates proceeds to give the corresponding 3,4-anti-disubstituted and 3,4,4-trisubstituted derivatives as single diastereoisomers after purification. The first alkylation occurs with high levels of diastereoselectivity on the face of the enolate anti to the C(3)-substituent, whereas the facial selectivity of the second alkylation is governed by a chiral relay effect, which depends upon the relative steric bulk of both the C(3)- and C(4)-substituents. Subsequent hydrogenolysis promotes cleavage of both the N-α-methylbenzyl group and the N-O bond within the isoxazolidin-5-one ring in one pot to give the corresponding β^2,2,3-trisubstituted amino acids directly.     

Asymmetric synthesis of 4-amino-γ-butyrolactones via lithium amide conjugate addition

Upon treatment with homochiral lithium (R)-N-benzyl-N-(α-methylbenzyl)amide, γ-benzyloxy but-2-enoates undergo competitive conjugate addition and γ-deprotonation, while γ-tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy but-2-enoates undergo exclusive conjugate addition. Treatment of γ-benzyloxy or γ-tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy but-2-enamides with lithium (R)-N-benzyl-N-(α-methylbenzyl)amide furnishes exclusively the γ-benzyloxy- or γ-tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy-β-amino amide products of conjugate addition in high de. The γ-tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy-β-amino butanoate products of conjugate addition readily undergo O-desilylation and concomitant cyclisation to furnish 4-[N-benzyl-N-(α-methylbenzyl)amino]-γ-butyrolactone, which may be stereoselectively functionalised via deprotonation and alkylation to give the corresponding trans-3-alkyl-4-amino-γ-butyrolactones. Alternatively, stereoselective alkylation of γ-benzyloxy- or γ-tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy-β-amino butanoates and butanamides through enolate formation and alkylation following a tandem (via the (Z)-lithium enolate) or stepwise (via the (E)-lithium enolate) protocol gives a range of separable syn- and anti-α-alkyl-β-amino esters and amides. O-Silyl deprotection of the syn- and anti-α-alkyl-β-amino butanoates with TBAF and concomitant cyclisation provide trans-3-alkyl-4-amino-γ-butyrolactones, consistent with epimerisation to the thermodynamically favoured trans-lactone occurring upon deprotection.     

Trading N and O. Part 2: Exploiting aziridinium intermediates for the synthesis of β-hydroxy-α-amino acids

The β-hydroxy-α-amino acids (S,S)-allo-threonine, (S,S)-β-hydroxyleucine and a range of aryl substituted (S,S)-β-hydroxyphenylalanines were prepared from the corresponding enantiopure anti-α-hydroxy-β-amino esters via a rearrangement protocol, which proceeds via the intermediacy of the corresponding aziridinium ions. The starting anti-α-hydroxy-β-amino esters were prepared in >99:1 dr using our diastereoselective aminohydroxylation procedure, whereby conjugate addition of lithium (R)-N-benzyl-N-(α-methylbenzyl)amide to an α,β-unsaturated ester is followed by oxidation of the resultant enolate with (−)-camphorsulfonyloxaziridine. Subsequent activation of the hydroxyl group within the anti-α-hydroxy-β-amino esters promoted aziridinium ion formation [which proceeds with inversion of configuration at C(2)], and regioselective ring-opening of the intermediate aziridinium ions with H₂O [which proceeds with inversion of configuration at C(3)] gave the corresponding anti-β-hydroxy-α-amino esters as single diastereoisomers (>99:1 dr). Deprotection of these substrates via sequential hydrogenolysis and ester hydrolysis gave the corresponding β-hydroxy-α-amino acids in good yield and high diastereoisomeric and enantiomeric purity.     

A diastereodivergent strategy for the asymmetric syntheses of (−)-martinellic acid and (−)-4-epi-martinellic acid

Asymmetric syntheses of (−)-martinellic acid and (−)-4-epi-martinellic acid were achieved in 20 steps from commercially available starting materials using a diastereodivergent strategy. The conjugate addition of lithium (R)-N-allyl-N-(α-methyl-p-methoxybenzyl)amide to tert-butyl (E)-3-[2′-(N,N-diallylamino)-5′-bromophenyl]propenoate and alkylation of the resultant β-amino ester with methyl bromoacetate were used as the key steps to install the C(9b) and C(3a) stereogenic centres, respectively. Subsequent cyclisation to the corresponding pyrroloquinolin-2-one and reduction of the C(4)-carbonyl group was followed by two complementary procedures for olefination and concomitant intramolecular Michael addition, which gave both C(4)-epimers of this tricyclic molecular architecture in >99:1 dr. Subsequent elaboration of these templates provided access to (−)-martinellic acid and, for the first time, (−)-4-epi-martinellic acid.     

Trading N and O: asymmetric syntheses of β-hydroxy-α-amino acids via α-hydroxy-β-amino esters

Both diastereoisomers of 2-amino-3-hydroxybutanoic acid and 2-amino-3-hydroxy-3-phenylpropanoic acid have been prepared from enantiopure α-hydroxy-β-amino esters via the intermediacy of the corresponding cis- and trans-aziridines. Aminohydroxylation of two α,β-unsaturated esters produced enantiopure 2,3-anti-α-hydroxy-β-amino esters in >99:1 dr. Subsequent epimerisation at the C(2)-position via a sequential oxidation/diastereoselective reduction protocol gave the corresponding enantiopure 2,3-syn-α-hydroxy-β-amino esters in >99:1 dr. These syn- and anti-substrates were then converted into the corresponding N-Boc protected cis- and trans-aziridines, respectively, via a three step reaction sequence: (i) hydrogenolysis and in situ N-Boc protection; (ii) OH-activation; and (iii) aziridine formation. Subsequent regioselective ring-opening of the C(3)-methyl-aziridines with Cl₃CCO₂H proceeded with inversion of configuration to give the corresponding 2-amino-3-trichloroacetate esters, whereas the analogous reaction with the C(3)-phenyl-aziridines resulted in rearrangement to the corresponding oxazolidin-2-ones with retention of configuration. In each case, hydrolysis of the products from these ring-opening reactions produced the corresponding enantiopure β-hydroxy-α-amino acids as single diastereoisomers.     

Concise,efficient and highly selective asymmetric synthesis of (+)-(3S,4R)-cisapride

A concise asymmetric synthesis of the gastroprokinetic agent (+)-(3S,4R)-cisapride {(+)-(3S,4R)-N(1)-[3′-(4″-fluorophenoxy)propyl]-3-methoxy-4-(2″′-methoxy-4″′-amino-5″′-chlorobenzamido)piperidine} from commercially available starting materials has been developed. The key step of this synthesis employs the diastereoselective conjugate addition of lithium (R)-N-benzyl-N-(α-methylbenzyl)amide to tert-butyl 5-[N-3′-(4″-fluorophenoxy)propyl-N-allylamino]pent-2-enoate and in situ enolate oxidation with (?)-camphorsulfonyloxaziridine to set the (3S,4R)-configuration found within the piperidine ring of the product. This synthesis proceeds in 9 steps from commercially available 1-(4′-fluorophenoxy)-3-bromopropane with an overall yield of 19%.     

Synthesis of both enantiomers of baclofen using (R)- and (S)-N-phenylpantolactam as chiral auxiliaries

Esterification of racemic 4-nitro-3-(4-chlorophenyl)butanoic acid with (R)- or (S)-N-phenylpantolactam as the chiral auxiliary allowed us to obtain the (3R,3′R)- or (3S,3′S)-nitro esters with >98:2 dr after column chromatography. Hydrolysis of the resulting diastereopure nitro esters gave the corresponding enantiopure nitro acids, which were readily converted in high yields into either (R)- or (S)-baclofen hydrochloride.     

Asymmetric synthesis of d-fagomine and its diastereoisomers

A divergent strategy for the asymmetric syntheses of d-fagomine and three of its diastereoisomers has been developed. The diastereoselective conjugate addition of an enantiopure lithium amide to an α,β-unsaturated ester was used as the key step to install the correct configuration required for the C(5)-stereogenic centre within the targets. In situ enolate oxidation generated the corresponding anti-α-hydroxy-β-amino ester, which possessed the correct configuration required for the C(4)-stereogenic centre within both d-fagomine and d-3-epi-fagomine. Subsequent epimerisation of this key anti-α-hydroxy-β-amino ester upon oxidation and diastereoselective reduction gave the corresponding syn-α-hydroxy-β-amino ester, which possessed the correct configuration required for the C(4)-stereogenic centre within both d-4-epi-fagomine and d-5-epi-fagomine. Elaboration of both α-hydroxy-β-amino esters upon reduction to the corresponding aldehydes followed by aldol reaction generated the requisite C(3)-stereogenic centres within the target compounds, then cyclisation and deprotection gave the enantiopure iminosugars in good overall yields, as single diastereoisomers (>99:1 dr).     

Chemoenzymatic synthesis of (3R,4S)- and (3S,4R)-3-methoxy-4-methylaminopyrrolidine

An efficient and a convenient enantioselective synthesis of (3R,4S)-3-methoxy-4-methylaminopyrrolidine has been carried out by a lipase-mediated resolution protocol. This method describes the preparation of (±)-1-Cbz-cis-3-azido-4-hydroxypyrrolidine starting from commercially available diallylamine followed by ring-closing metathesis (RCM) via S_N2 displacement reactions. Pseudomonas cepacia lipase immobilized on diatomaceous earth (Amano PS-D) provides (3R,4S)-11 and (3S,4R)-12 in an excellent enantiomeric excess.     

Organocatalytic asymmetric Mannich-type reaction of N-sulfonylimines with isocyanoacetate leading to optically active 2-imidazoline-4-carboxylates

The first asymmetric Mannich-type reaction of methyl isocyanoacetate with N-sulfonylimines catalyzed by cinchona alkaloid derivatives yielded 2-imidazolines with high diastereoselectivities and good enantioselectivities (up to >99:1 dr and 70% ee). This reaction provided a convenient route to access various substituted 2-imidazoline-4-carboxylates and related α,β-diamino acids in high enantiomeric purities.     

Asymmetric synthesis of syn-aryl-(2S,3R)-2-chloro-3-hydroxy esters via an engineered ketoreductase-catalyzed dynamic reductive kinetic resolution

We report here a generic, green synthesis of 17 valuable syn-aryl-(2S,3R)-2–chloro-3–hydroxy esters(syn-(2S,3R)-1) in 73%-99% isolated yields along with 6.1:1–83:1 dr and 31%～>99% ee, through dynamic reductive kinetic resolution of racemic aryl α–chloro β-keto esters(2) catalyzed by an engineered ketoreductase which was obtained via ep PCR-based directed evolution. The hectogram scale synthesis of syn-(2S,3R)-1b at a substrate concentration of 120 g/L showcased the application potential of th...     

Asymmetric synthesis of β-fluoroaryl-β-amino acids

The conjugate addition of lithium (R)-N-benzyl-N-(α-methylbenzyl)amide to a range of β-fluoroaryl-α,β-unsaturated esters gave the corresponding β-amino esters with high diastereoselectivity and in good isolated yields. Sequential treatment of the resultant β-fluoroaryl-β-amino esters under optimised hydrogenolysis conditions, followed by ester hydrolysis with 2.0 M aq HCl, provided access to a range of β-fluoroaryl-β-amino acids in good yield.     

Asymmetric synthesis of (−)-(1R,7aS)-absouline

The most efficient and concise asymmetric synthesis of (?)-(1R,7aS)-absouline to date, which was accomplished in eight steps and 20% overall yield from commercially available starting materials, is described. The doubly diastereoselective conjugate addition of lithium (S)-N-benzyl-N-(α-methylbenzyl)-amide to an enantiopure α,β-unsaturated ester derived from l-proline was employed as the key step. Subsequent hydrogenolytic N-debenzylation and acid-promoted cyclisation of the resultant β-amino ester produced the 1-aminopyrrolizidin-3-one scaffold, then reduction with DIBAL-H was followed by DCC-mediated coupling with (E)-p-methoxycinnamic acid to complete the synthesis of (?)-(1R,7aS)-absouline.     

Polycyclic nitrogen compounds. Part iii. Synthesis of 3,3a-dihydrothiazolo[3,4-α]quinoxalin-4-ones

New tricyclic quinoxalinone skeletons with bridge-head nitrogen atoms and containing sulphur in a fully-reduced five-membered ring C were obtained. 3,3a-Dihydrothiazolo[3,4-α]quinoxalin-4-ones I-III were prepared by metal-acid reductive cyclisation of N-(nitrophenyl)- and N-(dinitrophenyl)thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acids IVa,b,c. Attempts to obtain the skeleton by selective hydrogen transfer reductive cyclisation of the corresponding esters Va,b,c were unsuccessful.     

Chemoenzymatic synthesis of (3S,4S)- and (3R,4R)-3-methoxy-4-methylaminopyrrolidine

Facile chemoenzymatic enantioselective synthesis of (3S,4S)-3-methoxy-4-methylaminopyrrolidine, a key intermediate for a new quinolone antitumor compound AG-7352 has been described. This methodology illustrates the preparation of 3-azido-1-benzyloxycarbonyl-4-hydroxypyrrolidine starting from diallylamine via 1-benzyloxycarbonyl-3-pyrroline obtained by ring-closing metathesis (RCM) employing Grubbs’ catalyst. Enzymatic transesterification employing PS-C lipase gave (3S,4S)-3-azido-1-benzyloxycarbonyl-4-hydroxypyrrolidine in >99% ee, which upon methylation of the hydroxyl group followed by sequential reactions gave the desired intermediates, (3S,4S)-1-tert-butoxycarbonyl-3-tert-butoxycarbonylamino-4-methoxypyrrolidine.     

Synthesis of chiral β-3-amino-2-hydroxyalkanoates and 3-alkyl-3-hydroxy-β-lactams by double asymmetric induction

Reactions of chiral (2S)-enolates of dioxolan-4-ones, derived from lactic, mandelic, and phenyllactic acids, with aliphatic (S_S)- and (S_R)-tert-butylsulfinyl aldimines afforded conformationally restrained C2-disubstituted N,O-orthogonally protected 3-amino-2-hydroxyalkanoates in the form of N-sulfinyl protected 1′-aminodioxolan-4-ones. The product distribution showed that there is significant kinetic selectivity, due to the presence of ‘matched’ and ‘mismatched’ components, between the (S)- or (R)-tert-butylsulfinyl aldimines and the (2S)-enolates of the 1,3-dioxolan-4-ones. Selective methoxide-induced removal of the acetal group of the N-sulfinyl-1′-aminodioxolanones yielded the corresponding N-sulfinyl protected methyl alkanoates. In addition, the selective acid-induced removal of the sulfinyl group of the N-sulfinyl-1′-aminodioxolanones provided the corresponding N-unprotected 1′-aminodioxolanones, whose base-induced cyclization afforded the corresponding β-lactams.     

Asymmetric synthesis of syn and anti methyl 2,3-diamino-3-phenylpropanoate derivatives from N-substituted imines and Schöllkopf's bislactim ether

The reaction between differently N-substituted benzaldimines and (2R)-Schöllkopf's bislactim ether was studied: the azaenolate addition to imines followed by hydrolysis of the resulting adducts gave syn-(2S,3R) and anti-(2S,3S)-methyl 2,3-diamino-3-phenylpropanoate derivatives in good yields. The configurations of the newly formed stereocenters of α,β-diamino acids were assigned on the basis of the ¹H NMR analysis and by comparison with known products. The diastereoisomeric ratios were explained taking into account the effect of the substituent present on the imine nitrogen on the transition state stability. This method represents a new approach for stereoselective synthesis of α,β-diamino acids.     

Asymmetric synthesis of (−)-(R)-sitagliptin

The asymmetric synthesis of (?)-(R)-sitagliptin was achieved in seven steps from commercially available starting materials using the highly diastereoselective conjugate additions of either lithium (R)-N-benzyl-N-(α-methylbenzyl)amide or lithium (R)-N-benzyl-N-(α-methyl-p-methoxybenzyl)amide to tert-butyl 4-(2′,4′,5′-trifluorophenyl)but-2-enoate to install the correct stereochemistry. Subsequent sequential acid-catalysed hydrolysis of the resultant β-amino esters, HOBt/EDC mediated coupling with the triazolopyrazine fragment, and hydrogenolysis gave (?)-(R)-sitagliptin in 43% and 42% overall yields, respectively.     

An efficient and stereoselective synthesis of (3S,4R)-(−)-trans-4-(4′-fluorophenyl)-3-hydroxymethyl-N-methylpiperidine

An asymmetric conjugate addition reaction between a chiral α,β-unsaturated amido ester and ethyl-N-methylmalonamide has been used as a key step in the synthesis of (3S,4R)-(−)-trans-4-(4′-fluorophenyl)-3-hydroxymethyl-N-methylpiperidine, a key intermediate for (−)-paroxetine.     

Asymmetric syntheses of the N-terminal α-hydroxy-β-amino acid components of microginins 612, 646 and 680

The asymmetric syntheses of the N-terminal α-hydroxy-β-amino acid components of microginins 612, 646 and 680 are reported. Conjugate addition of lithium (R)-N-benzyl-N-(α-methylbenzyl)amide to the requisite (E)-α,β-unsaturated ester followed by in situ enolate oxidation with (?)-(camphorsulfonyl)oxaziridne (CSO) gave the corresponding anti-α-hydroxy-β-amino esters. Sequential Swern oxidation followed by diastereoselective reduction gave the corresponding syn-α-hydroxy-β-amino esters. Subsequent N-debenzylation (i.e., hydrogenolysis for microginin 612, and NaBrO₃-mediated oxidative N-debenzylation for microginins 646 and 680) followed by acid catalysed ester hydrolysis gave the corresponding syn-α-hydroxy-β-amino acids, the N-terminal components of microginins 612, 646 and 680, in good yield. An analogous strategy for elaboration of the enantiopure anti-α-hydroxy-β-amino esters facilitated the asymmetric synthesis of the corresponding C(2)-epimeric α-hydroxy-β-amino acids.