Total synthesis of the 5-epimers of naturally occurring (−)-hyacinthacine A5 and unnatural (+)-hyacinthacine A4

(1R,2S,3R,5S,7aR)-1,2-Dihydroxy-3-hydroxymethyl-5-methylpyrrolizidine 10 [(+)-5-epihyacinthacine A₅] and (1R,2S,3R,5S,7aS)-1,2-dihydroxy-3-hydroxymethyl-5-methylpyrrolizidine 17 [ent-5-epihyacinthacine A₄] have been synthesized by either Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons (HWE) or Wittig methodology using aldehydes 6 and 13, prepared from (2R,3S,4R,5R)-3,4-dibenzyloxy-N-benzyloxycarbonyl-2′-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)pyrrolidine 5 (partially protected DALDP) and (2R,3S,4R,5S)-3,4-dibenzyloxy-N-benzyloxycarbonyl-2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)-2′-O-pivaloylpyrrolidine 12 (partially protected DGADP), respectively, and the appropriated ylide, followed by cyclization through an internal reductive amination process of the corresponding intermediate pyrrolidinic ketones 7 and 14 and subsequent deprotection.     

Polyhydroxylated pyrrolizidines. Part 8. Enantiospecific synthesis of looking-glass analogues of hyacinthacine A5 from DADP

(1R,2S,3S,5R,7aR)-1,2-Dihydroxy-3-hydroxymethyl-5-methylpyrrolizidine[(−)-3-epihyacinthacine A₅, 1a] and (1S,2R,3R,5S 7aS)-1,2-dihydroxy-3-hydroxymethylpyrrolizidine[(+)-3-epihyacinthacine A₅, 1b] have been synthesized either by Wittig's or Horner-Wadsworth-Emmond's (HWE's) methodology using aldehydes 4 and 9, both prepared from (2S,3S,4R,5R)-3,4-dibenzyloxy-2′-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)pyrrolidine (2, partially protected DADP), and the appropriate ylides, followed by cyclization through an internal reductive amination process of the resulting α,β-unsaturated ketones 5 and 10, respectively, and total deprotection.     

Polyhydroxylated pyrrolizidines. Part 4: Total asymmetric synthesis of unnatural hyacinthacines from a protected derivative of DGDP

(1R,2R,3S,5R,7aR)-1,2-Dihydroxy-3-hydroxymethyl-5-methylpyrrolizidine [(+)-3-epi-hyacinthacine A₃] 1 and (1R,2R,3S,7aR)-1,2-dihydroxy-3-hydroxymethylpyrrolizidine [(+)-3-epi-hyacinthacine A₂] 2 have been synthesized by Wittig's methodology using aldehyde 6, prepared from (2R,3R,4R,5S)-3,4-dibenzyloxy-N-benzyloxycarbonyl-2′-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl) pyrrolidine 3 (a partially protected DGDP), and the appropriated ylides, followed by cyclization through an internal reductive amination process of the resulting α,β-unsaturated ketone 7 and aldehyde 8, respectively, and total deprotection.     

Total synthesis of natural (+)-hyacinthacine A6 and non-natural (+)-7a-epi-hyacinthacine A1 and (+)-5,7a-diepi-hyacinthacine A6

Naturally occurring (1S,2R,3R,5R,7aR)-1,2-dihydroxy-3-hydroxymethyl-5-methylpyrrolizidine [(+)-hyacinthacine A₆, 2] together with unnatural (1S,2R,3R,7aS)-1,2-dihydroxy-3-hydroxymethylpyrrolizidine [(+)-7a-epi-hyacinthacine A₁, 3] and (1S,2R,3R,5S,7aS)-1,2-dihydroxy-3-hydroxymethyl-5-methylpyrrolizidine [(+)-5,7a-diepi-hyacinthacine A₆, 4] have been synthesized from a DALDP derivative [5, (2R,3S,4R,5R)-3,4-dibenzyloxy-2′-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)pyrrolidine], as the homochiral starting material. The synthetic process employed took advantages of Wittig methodology followed by internal lactamization, in the case of (+)-7a-epi-hyacinthacine A₁ (3), and reductive amination for (+)-hyacinthacine A₆ (2) and (+)-5,7a-diepi-hyacinthacine A₆ (4).     

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%).     

A contribution to the asymmetric synthesis of isoquinolines: Concise stereoselective approach to (3S,4S)-6,7-dimethoxy-4-hydroxy-3-phenyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline

A highly efficient stereoselective synthesis of (3S,4S)-6,7-dimethoxy-4-hydroxy-3-phenyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline 8 (e.e.=96%) starting from enantiomerically pure imine 3 is reported.     

Enantioselective synthesis of (1S,2S)-1,2-di-tert-butyl and (1R,2R)-1,2-di-(1-adamantyl)ethylenediamines

An enantioselective synthesis of sterically congested 1,2-di-tert-butyl and 1,2-di-(1-adamantyl)ethylenediamines has been developed. Thus, diastereomerically pure trans-1-apocamphanecarbonyl-4,5-dimethoxy-2-imidazolidinones 6 and 7 were successfully prepared by optical resolution of (±)-trans-4,5-dimethoxy-2-imidazolidinone using apocamphanecarbonyl chloride (MAC-Cl) followed by stereospecific and stepwise substitution of the dimethoxyl groups using tert-butyl or 1-adamantyl cuprates to provide (4S,5S)-4,5-di-tert-butyl and (4R,5R)-4,5-di-(1-adamantyl)-2-imidazolidinones 12 and 15, respectively. Furthermore, N-acetyl 4,5-di-tert-butyl and 4,5-di-(1-adamantyl)-2-imidazolidinones 16a,b were enantioselectively deacetylated using a catalytic oxazaborolidine system to provide enantiopure 1-p-tolylsulfonyl-4,5-di-tert-butyl-2-imidazolidinones 12 and 19 and 1-p-tolylsulfonyl-4,5-di-(1-adamantyl)-2-imidazolidinones 18 and 20, respectively. Finally, N-p-tolylsulfonyl-2-imidazolidinones 12 and 15 were treated with 30 equiv of Ba(OH)₂·8H₂O to achieve ring cleavage and to provide (1S,2S)-1,2-di-tert-butylethylenediamine 3 and (1R,2R)-1,2-di-(1-adamantyl)ethylenediamine 4.     

Synthesis and stereochemical studies of 1- and 2-phenyl-substituted 1,3-oxazino[4,3-a]isoquinoline derivatives

Starting from the 1′- or 2′-phenyl-substituted 1-(2′-hydroxyethyl)-6,7-dimethoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline diastereomers 3 and 6, 4-unsubstituted and 4-(p-nitrophenyl)- and 4-oxo-substituted 1-phenyl- and 2-phenyl-9,10-dimethoxy-2H,4H-1,6,7,11b-tetrahydro-1,3-oxazino[4,3-a]isoquinolines (7-12) were prepared. The relative configurations and the predominant conformations of the products were determined by NMR spectroscopy, by quantum chemical calculations and, for (2R^∗,4S^∗,11bR^∗)-9,10-dimethoxy-4-(p-nitrophenyl)-2-phenyl-2H,4H-1,6,7,11b-tetrahydro-1,3-oxazino[4,3-a]isoquinoline (11), by X-ray diffraction.     

Creation of quaternary stereocentres: synthesis of new polyhydroxylated indolizidines

(6R,7S,8aR)- and (6S,7R,8aR)-8a-tert-butyldimethylsilyloxymethyl-6,7-dihydroxy-indolizidin-3-ones 14 and 15 were synthesized from bicyclic silyloxypyrrole 2 by the selective formation of a quaternary stereogenic centre and a ring-closing metathesis as the main steps. They were converted into new polyhydroxyindolizidines 20 and 21 with high diastereoselectivity.     

Reactions of 2,3-dioxopyrrolo[2,1-<Emphasis Type="Italic">a</Emphasis>]isoquinolinecarboxylic acid esters and amides with nitrogen-centered nucleophiles

Reactions of ethyl 2,3-dioxopyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinoline-1-carboxylates with active nitrogen-centered nucleophiles (phenylhydrazine, hydroxylamine, and benzylamine) involve opening of the pyrrole ring with formation of 2-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolin-1-ylidene)-N′¹,N′⁴-diphenyl-3-(2-phenylhydrazono) succinohydrazide, 5-(6,7-dimethoxy-3,3-dimethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolin-1-ylidene)-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-1,2-oxazine-3,4,6-trione, and ethyl 4-benzylamino-2-(3,3-dimethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolin-1-ylidene)-3,4-dioxobutanoate, respectively. Cyclic amides derived from 5,5-dimethyl-2,3-dioxo-2,3,5,6-tetrahydropyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinoline-1-carboxylic acid react with benzylamine in a similar way. Reactions of the title compounds with weaker nucleophiles, such as semicarbazide and thiosemicarbazide, are not accompanied by opening of the pyrrole ring, and the products are the corresponding semicarbazones and thiosemicarbazones at the C²=O carbonyl group.     

Continuous-flow enzymatic resolution strategy for the acylation of amino alcohols with a remote stereogenic centre: synthesis of calycotomine enantiomers

Both enantiomers of calycotomine (R)-5 and (S)-5 were prepared through the CAL-B-catalysed asymmetric O-acylation of N-Boc-protected (6,7-dimethoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolin-1-yl)methanol [(±)-3)]. The optimum conditions for the enzymatic resolution were determined under continuous-flow conditions, while the preparative-scale resolution of (±)-3 was performed as a batch reaction with high enantioselectivity (E >200). The resulting amino alcohol (S)-3 and amino ester (R)-4, obtained with high enantiomeric excess (ee = 99%), were transformed into the desired calycotomine (S)-5 and (R)-5 (ee = 99%). A systematic study was carried out in a continuous-flow system on the O-acylation of tetrahydroisoquinoline amino alcohol homologues (±)-1 to (±)-3 containing a remote stereogenic centre.     

Asymmetric synthesis of β-amino acids through application of chiral sulfoxide

This paper describes asymmetric synthesis of β-aminophenylpropionic acid through application of a homochiral sulfoxide auxiliary. High kinetically controlled (3R,2S,R_S)-diastereoselectivity (−60°C) is achieved during addition of the lithium enolate of tert-butyl (+)-(R)-p-toluenesulfinylacetate to substituted N-(benzylidene)toluene-4-sulfonamides 2a–2d. The reductive cleavage of adduct 3a with sodium amalgam yielded tert-butyl 3-(toluene-4-sulfonamido)-3-phenylpropionate 5a, which was subjected to ester hydrolysis and subsequent detosylation with sodium in liquid ammonia to yield (S)-β-aminophenylpropionic acid in good yield and high 91% e.e.     

Synthesis of (−)-(1′S,4aS,8aR)- and (+)-(1′S,4aR,8aS)-4a-ethyl-1-(1′-phenylethyl)-octahydroquinolin-7-ones

A synthesis of the enamine (−)-(1′S)-5-ethyl-1-(1′-phenylethyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyridine 4 and its application in a synthesis of (−)-(1′S,4aS,8aR)- and (+)-(1′S,4aR,8aS)-4a-ethyl-1-(1′-phenylethyl)-octahydroquinolin-7-ones 5 and 6 is described. In addition, an X-ray study of 6 is reported. Finally, the preparation of (+)-(4aS,8aR)-4a-ethyl-octahydroquinolin-7-one 7 is described.     

Enantiomerically pure piperazines via NaBH4/I2 reduction of cyclic amides

Enantiomerically pure (3S,7R,8aS)-3-phenyloctahydropyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazine-7-ol, (3S,7R,8aS)-3-methyl octahydropyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazine-7-ol, (3S,7R,8aS)-3-isopropyloctahydropyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazine-7-ol and (3S,7R,8aS)-3-isobutyloctahydropyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazine-7-ol 16d were synthesized via preparation of the corresponding cyclic amides from enantiomerically pure l-proline and hydroxyproline derivatives followed by reduction using sodium borohydride-iodine.     

A convenient procedure for the synthesis of chiral 6,7-dihydroxy-1-phenylamino-dihydro-1H-pyrrolo[1,2-a]imidazole-2,5(3H,6H)-diones

The cyclocondensation reactions between l-α-amino acid phenylhydrazides and 2,3-O-isopropylidene-l-erythruronolactone in the presence of a catalytic amount of p-toluenesulfonic acid afforded diastereomerically pure (3S,6R,7R,7aS)-3-substituted-6,7-isopropylidenedioxy-1-phenylamino-dihydro-1H-pyrrolo[1,2-a]imidazole-2,5(3H,6H)-diones, which were converted by acidic hydrolysis with MeOH–HCl into their corresponding optically active (3S,6R,7R,7aS)-3-substituted-6,7-dihydroxy-1-phenylamino-dihydro-1H-pyrrolo[1,2-a]imidazole-2,5(3H,6H)-diones in good yields.     

Synthesis of enantiomerically pure diethyl (R)- and (S)-2-hydroxy-3-(1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)propylphosphonates

The synthesis and ee determination of diethyl 3-azido-2-hydroxypropylphosphonates from 2,3-epoxypropylphosphonates have been optimised. Enantiomerically enriched diethyl (R)- and (S)-2-hydroxy-3-(1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)propylphosphonates (R)-3a–j and (S)-3a–h as well as (S)-3j were synthesised from diethyl (R)- and (S)-2,3-epoxypropylphosphonates in a reaction sequence including azidolysis followed by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition with selected alkynes.     

Polyhydroxylated pyrrolidines, III. Synthesis of new protected 2,5-dideoxy-2,5-iminohexitols from d-fructose

The readily available 3-O-benzoyl-4-O-benzyl-1,2-O-isopropylidene-β-d-fructopyranose (6) was straightforwardly transformed into 5-azido-3-O-benzoyl-4-O-benzyl-5-deoxy-1,2-O-isopropylidene-β-d-fructopyranose (8), after treatment under modified Garegg's conditions followed by reaction of the resulting 3-O-benzoyl-4-O-benzyl-5-deoxy-5-iodo-1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-l-sorbopyranose (7) with lithium azide in DMF. O-debenzoylation at C(3) in 8, followed by oxidation and reduction caused the inversion of the configuration to afford the corresponding β-d-psicopyranose derivative 11 that was transformed into the related 3,4-di-O-benzyl derivative 12. Cleavage of the acetonide of 12 to give 13 followed by O-tert-butyldiphenylsilylation afforded a resolvable mixture of 14 and 15. Compound 14 was transformed into (2R,3R,4S,5R)- (17) and (2R,3R,4S,5S)-3,4-dibenzyloxy-2′,5′-di-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)pyrrolidine (18) either by a tandem Staudinger/intramolecular aza-Wittig process and reduction of the resulting intermediate Δ²-pyrroline (16), or only into 18 by a high stereoselective catalytic hydrogenation. When 15 was subjected to the same protocol, (2S,3S,4R,5R)- (21) and (2R,3S,4R,5R)-3,4-dibenzyloxy-2′-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)pyrrolidine (22) were obtained, respectively.     

Resolution of 1-arylalkylamines with 3-O-hydrogen phthalate glucofuranose derivatives: role of steric bulk in a family of resolving agents

The development of three new acidic resolving agents which are hydrogen phthalates of 1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-α-d-glucofuranose 1, 1,2:5,6-di-O-cyclohexylidene-α-d-glucofuranose 2 and 1,2-O-cyclohexylidene-5,6-O-diphenylmethylidene-α-d-glucofuranose 3 is shown for the resolution of 1-arylalkylamines 7a–k. The salts between 1, 2 and (RS)-1-arylalkylamines 7a–k selectively crystallize 1·(S) 7a–j and 2·(S) 7a–h salts, allowing us to recover the corresponding bases (S) 7a–j and (S) 7a–h, respectively, in good yield and enantiomeric excess (73–95% ee). Whereas, the salts between 3 and (RS)-1-arylalkylamines 7a–c,g–i,k selectively crystallize 3·(S)-7a–c,g–i salts to recover the corresponding bases (S)-7a–c,g–i in poor enantiomeric excess (4–35% ee). The difference between the resolving ability of 1 and 2 for 1-arylalkylamines 7a–h is very slight, but there is considerable difference compared to ortho-substituted 1-arylalkylamines 7i and 7j. The role of substituents on a family of resolving agents 1, 2 and 3 is also discussed to interpret their resolving ability.     

Stereocontrolled conversion of some optically active (4S,5R)-dihydroisoxazoles into acyclic 3-acetamido-1,2-diols

Optically active (4S,5R)-dihydroisoxazoles 5a-c (90-91% ee) have been prepared by reaction of the epoxyketones 4a-c with hydroxylamine. Reduction of compounds 5a and 5b using lithium aluminium hydride took place exclusively from the Re face to give (1R,2S,3S)-1,3-disubstituted-3-aminopropane-1,2-diols 6a and 6b. These amino-diols were characterised by N-acetylation and the stereochemical sense of the hydride reduction was confirmed by conversion of amides 7a and 7b into α-amino acid derivatives 10a and 10b.     

A general procedure for the asymmetric synthesis of 3-aryl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines

A general procedure for the asymmetric synthesis of 3-aryl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines with any desired substitution pattern at both aromatic rings is reported. The methodology relies on the deoxygenation of 3-aryl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolin-4-ols 1a–e, which can be easily prepared from chiral non-racemic arylglycines under ionic hydrogenation conditions The target heterocycles are obtained as almost enantiomerically pure compounds. Further experiments allow establishing that this transformation occurs via S_N1 mechanism in which a carbocationic intermediate species is firstly formed and afterwards it undergoes rapid reaction with a nucleophilic hydride carrier to afford the reduction product.