Preparation of all stereoisomers of 2-allyl-2-methyl-3-hydroxycyclopentanone by desymmetric processes based on a microbial oxidation and reduction system

All stereoisomers of 2-allyl-3-hydroxy-2-methylcyclopentanones 2-5 were prepared in high conversion and in an optically pure form by microbial reduction and oxidation. The reduction of symmetric diketone 1 by Geotrichum candidum NBRC 4597 under anaerobic conditions gave 2 in 83% yield (98% conversion), >99% de, and >99% ee, whereas the reduction of 1 by G. candidum NBRC 5767 under aerobic conditions gave 3 in 75% yield (99% conversion), >99% de, and >99% ee. Oxidation of meso-diol 6 by G. candidum NBRC 5767 under aerobic conditions afforded 4 in 83% yield (99% conversion) and >99% ee, while oxidation of meso-diol 7 by Mucor heimalis IAM 6095 in the presence of cyclohexanone as a co-oxidant afforded 5 in 68% yield (75% conversion) and >99% ee.     

Total synthesis of (−)-2-epi-lentiginosine by use of chiral 5-hydroxy-1,5-dihydropyrrol-2-one as a building block

We have developed a practical synthesis of the chiral lactam as a new chiral building block for alkaloid synthesis. Lipase-catalyzed kinetic resolution of hydroxylactam 8, followed by isolation-racemization of the chiral acetoxylactam 9 provided the optically pure hydroxylactam 8 in 96.0% yield with >99% ee after five cycles of kinetic resolution-racemization process. Chemical transformation of (S)-hydroxylactam 8 furnished chiral (−)-2-epi-lentiginosine (1) in 20% yield in 10 steps with no loss of enantiomeric excess.     

Convenient synthesis of antisepsis agent TAK-242 by novel optical resolution through diastereomeric N-acylated sulfonamide derivative

A convenient synthesis method of antisepsis agent TAK-242 ((R)-1) through diastereomeric resolution was developed. By condensation of racemate rac-1 with chiral acid (S)-O-acetylmanderic acid (6a), the desired diastereomer 5a was isolated with 98% de in 39% yield by simple crystallization. Deacylation of 5a with aq NaOH followed by recrystallization provided (R)-1 with 99% ee in 20% yield from rac-1.     

Enantioselective synthesis of axially chiral 1-(1-naphthyl)isoquinolines and 2-(1-naphthyl)pyridines through sulfoxide ligand coupling reactions

Racemic 1-(1′-isoquinolinyl)-2-naphthalenemethanol rac-12 was prepared through a ligand coupling reaction of racemic 1-(tert-butylsulfinyl)isoquinoline rac-7 with the 1-naphthyl Grignard reagent 10. Resolution of rac-12 was achieved through chromatographic separation of the Noe-lactol derivatives 14 and 15, providing (R)-(−)-12 of >99% ee and (S)-(+)-12 of 90% ee. The ligand coupling reaction of optically enriched sulfoxide (S)-(−)-7 (62% ee) with Grignard reagent 10 furnished rac-12, with the absence of stereoinduction resulting from competing rapid racemisation of the sulfoxide 7. Reaction of optically enriched (S)-(−)-7 with 2-methoxy-1-naphthylmagnesium bromide was also accompanied by racemisation of the sulfoxide 7, and furnished optically active (+)-1-(2′-methoxy-1′-naphthyl)isoquinoline (+)-3b in low enantiomeric purity (14% ee). The absolute configuration of (+)-3b was assigned as R using circular dichroism spectroscopy, correcting an earlier assignment based on the Bijvoet method, but in the absence of heavy atoms. Optically active 2-pyridyl sulfoxides were found not to undergo racemisation analogous to the 1-isoquinolinyl sulfoxide 7, with the ligand coupling reactions of (R)-(+)- and (S)-(−)-2-[(4′-methylphenyl)sulfinyl]-3-methylpyridines, (R)-(+)-17 and (S)-(−)-17, with 2-methoxy-1-naphthylmagnesium bromide providing (−)- and (+)-2-(2′-methoxy-1′-naphthyl)-3-methylpyridines, (−)-18 and (+)-18, in 53 and 60% ee, respectively. The free energy barriers to internal rotation in 3b and 18 have been determined, and the isoquinoline (R)-(−)-12 examined as a ligand in the enantioselectively catalysed addition of diethylzinc to benzaldehyde; (R)-(−)-12 was also converted to (R)-(−)-N,N-dimethyl-1-(1′-isoquinolinyl)-2-naphthalenemethanamine (R)-(−)-19, and this examined as a ligand in the enantioselective Pd-catalysed allylic substitution of 1,3-diphenylprop-2-enyl acetate with dimethyl malonate.     

Synthesis of stereopure acyclic 1,5-dimethylalkane chirons: building blocks of highly methyl-branched natural products

An efficient synthetic method towards stereopure acyclic 1,5-dimethylalkane building blocks from methyl (2R)-3-hydroxy-2-methylpropionate (R)-1 (>99% ee) and methyl (2S)-3-hydroxy-2-methylpropionate (S)-1 (>99% ee) through a series of chemical transformations, including Julia–Kocienski olefination and diimide reduction, is described. Through this strategy, two fragments of β-d-mannosyl phosphomycoketide (C₃₂-MPM) and four stereopure 1,5-dimethylalkane C₁₀ chirons are prepared. These C₃₂-MPM fragments and C₁₀ chirons have shown great potential application as building blocks for the synthesis of highly methyl-branched natural products containing chiral oligoisoprenoid-like chains.     

Synthesis and absolute configuration of (1S,8S)-as-hydrindacene-1,8-diol as determined by the circular dichroism exciton chirality method

2,3,6,7-Tetrahydro-as-indacene-1,8-dione 4 was prepared in 4 steps starting from 2-methyl-furan by modification of a literature procedure. Appliance of Noyori’s asymmetric transfer hydrogenation, resulted in (1S,8S)-1,2,3,6,7,8-hexahydro-as-indacene-1,8-diol 5 in high yield (81%) and excellent enantioselectivity (>99% ee) or (8S)-8-hydroxy-3,6,7,8-tetrahydro-2H-as-indacen-1-one 6 in moderate yield (58%) and equally high enantioselectivity (98.5% ee), depending on the conditions. The asymmetric reduction was expected to yield the (S)-alcohols using the (S,S)-Ts-DPEN ligand, which was confirmed by the appliance of the exciton chirality method on the corresponding bis(p-dimethylamino)benzoate 7.     

Asymmetric synthesis of the 6-cyanoindole derivatives as non-steroidal glucocorticoid receptor modulators using (+)- and (−)-tert-butyl 6-cyano-3-[3-ethoxy-1,1,1-trifluoro-2-hydroxy-3-oxopropan-2-yl]-1H-indole-1-carboxylate

We have successfully synthesized enantiomerically pure (+)- and (−)-tert-butyl 6-cyano-3-[3-ethoxy-1,1,1-trifluoro-2-hydroxy-3-oxopropan-2-yl]-1H-indole-1-carboxylate (+)-1 and (−)-1, which are key intermediates of non-steroidal glucocorticoid receptor modulators, by employing a cinchona alkaloid catalyzed addition of 6-cyanoindole to ethyl trifluoropyruvate. The optimized method can be applied to large-scale synthesis. Furthermore, using the key intermediates (+)-1 and (−)-1, enantiomerically pure glucocorticoid receptor modulators (+)-3 and (−)-3 can be synthesized (>99% ee for both compounds). The glucocorticoid receptor binding affinity was influenced by the stereogenic center at the trifluoromethyl alcohol moiety; compound (−)-3 showed a higher binding affinity compared to (+)-3.     

Pd(0) catalyzed three-five-component C-2-arylallylation of active methylene heterocycles: pyrazolones, oxazolones, isoxazolones and N,N′-dimethylbarbituric acid

A Pd(0) catalyzed three-five-component cascade involving an aryl iodide, allene and a heterocyclic pronucleophile is used to prepare 2-arylallyl derivatives (10-12 and 16-24) from 3-phenyl-5-isoxazolone (6) and 1-phenyl-3-methylpyrazolin-5-one (7) in moderate yield. Similar cascade allylation of masked amino acids 4-methyl-2-phenyl-4H-oxazol-5-one (8a), 4-benzyl-2-phenyl-4H-oxazol-5-one (8b) and 4-isopropyl-2-phenyl-4H-oxazol-5-one (8c) gave analogous products (25-37) in good yield. N,N-Dimethylbarbiturates (38-49) are similarly prepared from N,N-dimethylbarbituric acid (9) in excellent yield.     

Synthesis of N,N-di(arylmethylidene)arylmethanediamines by flash vacuum pyrolysis of arylmethylazides

Flash vacuum pyrolysis of arylmethylazides 7a-d gave 2,4-diazapentadienes 5a-d in high yield (76-92%). The thermal cyclization of 5a-d gave cis-imidazolines 1a-d, further heating or Swern oxidation of 1a-d gave dehydrogenated products, imidazoles 2a-d.     

New chiral ferrocenyl amidophosphine ligand for remarkable improvement of enantioselectivities in copper-catalyzed addition of diethylzinc to N-sulfonylimines

(S)-N-Ferrocenoyl-2-[(diphenylphosphino)methyl]-pyrrolidine 3 was conveniently prepared from commercially available l-proline and ferrocenecarboxylic acid. In the presence of a catalytic amount of chiral ligand 3 (4 mol %) and Cu(OTf)₂ (3 mol %), the asymmetric addition of diethylzinc to N-sulfonylimines was achieved in 57-99% yield with up to 88% ee.     

Bis-paracyclophane N-heterocyclic carbene-ruthenium catalyzed asymmetric ketone hydrosilylation

New chiral bis-paracyclophane N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands 1-3 have been explored for ruthenium catalyzed asymmetric hydrosilylation of ketones using diphenylsilane to give enantioenriched alcohols. These ligands provide for efficient asymmetric reduction in the presence of silver(I) triflate (1 mol %) at room temperature with high reactivity and selectivity. Acetophenone 4 was reduced with 1 mol % catalyst in 96% isolated yield, 97% ee. Following removal of the silyl ether, various alcohols 5 were obtained from aromatic ketones in high yield and selectivity.     

Asymmetric oxazaborolidine-catalyzed reduction of prochiral ketones with N-tert-butyl-N-trimethylsilylamine-borane

Employing N-tert-butyl-N-trimethylsilylamine-borane (1) as the borane source and 5-10% (R)-Me-CBS (2), the oxazaborolidine-catalyzed reduction of representative aryl and aliphatic ketones was carried out obtaining the corresponding alcohols (3) in 83-89% isolated yields and 69-98% ee.     

N-Arylmethyl-7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane derivatives: synthesis and reaction mechanisms

N-Arylmethyl-7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane (I) derivatives have been synthesized by deprotection of N-protected, N-(arylmethyl)cyclohex-3-enamines, bromination of the resulting secondary cyclohex-3-enamines, followed by base-promoted cyclization (route a), or by bromination of N-protected, N-(arylmethyl)cyclohex-3-enamines followed by deprotection and base-mediated cyclization (route b). In these protocols we have observed that the bromination of the key intermediates (12, 13, and 19) is stereoselective leading to major trans-3-cis-4-dibromides (14, 17, and 20), whose mild base-mediated heterocyclization (on compound 14), or the two-step acid hydrolysis plus base-promoted cyclization (on compounds 17 and 20), gave products 6 and 7 in good yield. A mechanistic investigation using DFT has been carried out to explain the results observed in this work.     

Alkaline hydrolysis of N-bromoiminothianthrene derivatives

5-(N-Bromo)iminothianthrene (2) and 5-(N-bromo)iminothianthrene 10-oxide (5) and 10,10-dioxide (8) were prepared and their alkaline hydrolyses were studied. The compound 2 and cis-5-(N-bromo)iminothianthrene 10-oxide (cis-5) afforded the corresponding sulfoximine exclusively. While, unexpectedly, both trans-5-(N-bromo)iminothianthrene 10-oxide (trans-5) and 8 afforded mainly de-brominated products, trans-5-iminothianthrene 10-oxide (trans-4) and 5-iminothianthrene 10,10-dioxide (7), respectively. In these cases, 5-iminothianthrene 5,10-dioxide (6) (Z- and E-mixture) and 5-iminothianthrene 5,10,10-trioxide (9) and further de-iminated products were also formed respectively as minor products. The stereochemical considerations on the S_N reactions are described in view of the steric effect and ‘flip-flap’ motion of the thianthrene framework.     

Asymmetric Friedel-Crafts alkylation of activated benzenes with methyl (E)-2-oxo-4-aryl-3-butenoates catalyzed by [Pybox/Sc(OTf)3]

The asymmetric Friedel-Crafts reaction between methyl (E)-2-oxo-4-aryl-3-butenoates (1a-c) and activated benzenes (2a-d) has been efficiently catalyzed by the Sc^III triflate complex of (4′S,5′S)-2,6-bis[4′-(triisopropylsilyl) oxymethyl-5′-phenyl-1′,3′-oxazolin-2′-yl]pyridine (pybox 3). The 4,4-diaryl-2-oxo-butyric acid methyl esters (4) are usually formed in good yields and the enantioselectivity is up to 99% ee. The sense of the stereoinduction can be rationalized with the same octahedral complex (10) between 1, pybox 3 and Sc triflate already proposed for other reactions involving pyruvates, and catalyzed by the same complex.     

Synthesis, characterization and Schlenk equilibrium studies of methylmagnesium compounds with O- and N-donor ligands - the unexpected behavior of [MgMeBr(pmdta)] (pmdta = N,N,N′,N″,N″-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine)

MgMe₂ (1) was found to react with 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (dabco) in tetrahydrofuran (thf) yielding a binuclear complex [{MgMe₂(thf)}₂(μ-dabco)] (2). Furthermore, from reactions of MgMeBr with diglyme (diethylene glycol dimethyl ether), NEt₃, and tmeda (N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine) in etheral solvents compounds MgMeBr(L), (L = diglyme (5); NEt₃ (6); tmeda (7)) were obtained as highly air- and moisture-sensitive white powders. From a thf solution of 7 crystals of [MgMeBr(thf)(tmeda)] (8) were obtained. Reactions of MgMeBr with pmdta (N,N,N′,N″,N″-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine) in thf resulted in formation of [MgMeBr(pmdta)] (9) in nearly quantitative yield. On the other hand, the same reaction in diethyl ether gave MgMeBr(pmdta) · MgBr₂(pmdta) (10) and [{MgMe₂(pmdta)}₇{MgMeBr(pmdta)}] (11) in 24% and 2% yield, respectively, as well as [MgMe₂(pmdta)] (12) as colorless needle-like crystals in about 26% yield. The synthesized methylmagnesium compounds were characterized by microanalysis and ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The coordination-induced shifts of the ¹H and ¹³C nuclei of the ligands are small; the largest ones were found in the tmeda and pmdta complexes. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses revealed in 2 a tetrahedral environment of the Mg atoms with a bridging dabco ligand and in 8 a trigonal-bipyramidal coordination of the Mg atom. The single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses of [MgMe₂(pmdta)] (12) and [MgBr₂(pmdta)] (13) showed them to be monomeric with five-coordinate Mg atoms. The square-pyramidal coordination polyhedra are built up of three N and two C atoms in 12 and three N and two Br atoms in 13. The apical positions are occupied by methyl and bromo ligands, respectively. Temperature-dependent ¹H NMR spectroscopic measurements (from 27 to −80 °C) of methylmagnesium bromide complexes MgMeBr(L) (L = thf (4); diglyme (5); NEt₃ (6); tmeda (7)) in thf-d₈ solutions indicated that the deeper the temperature the more the Schlenk equilibria are shifted to the dimethylmagnesium/dibromomagnesium species. Furthermore, at −80 °C the dimethylmagnesium compounds are predominant in the solutions of Grignard compounds 4-6 whereas in the case of the tmeda complex7 the equilibrium constant was roughly estimated to be 0.25. In contrast, [MgMeBr(pmdta)] (9) in thf-d₈ revealed no dismutation into [MgMe₂(pmdta)] (12) and [MgBr₂(pmdta)] (13) even up to −100 °C. In accordance with this unexpected behavior, 1:1 mixtures of 12 and 13 were found to react in thf at room temperature yielding quantitatively the corresponding Grignard compound 9. Moreover, the structures of [MgMeBr(pmdta)] (9c), [MgMe₂(pmdta)] (12c), and [MgBr₂(pmdta)] (13c) were calculated on the DFT level of theory. The calculated structures 12c and 13c are in a good agreement with the experimentally observed structures 12 and 13. The equilibrium constant of the Schlenk equilibrium (2 9c ? 12c + 13c) was calculated to be K_gas = 2.0 × 10⁻³ (298 K) in the gas phase. Considering the solvent effects of both thf and diethyl ether using a polarized continuum model (PCM) the corresponding equilibrium constants were calculated to be K_thf = 1.2 × 10⁻³ and K_ether = 3.2 × 10⁻³ (298 K), respectively.     

Synthesis of enantiopure β-amino alcohols via AKR/ARO of epoxides using recyclable macrocyclic Cr(III) salen complexes

A series of chiral macrocyclic Cr(III) salen complexes 1-8 were synthesized and characterized. These complexes were found to be highly active, regio-, diastereo-, and enantioselective catalysts in aminolytic kinetic resolution (AKR) of racemic trans-epoxides as well as asymmetric ring opening (ARO) of prochiral meso-epoxides with various anilines as nucleophiles at room temperature in 18-24 h. Excellent yields (>99% with respect to the nucleophile) with high enantioselectivity (ee, >99%) of chiral anti-β-amino alcohols was achieved with concomitant recovery of corresponding epoxides in high ee (up to >99%). The complex 1 also catalyzed the ARO of meso-epoxides to provide corresponding syn-β-amino alcohols in high yield (99%) and ee (up to 91%). Due to built-in basic sites in the catalyst, no external base (as an additive) was required to promote AKR and ARO reactions. The catalyst 1 was conveniently recycled several times with retention of its performance. The AKR of trans-stilbene oxide with aniline was successfully demonstrated at relatively higher scale (10 mmol) using the catalyst 1.     

Stereoselective synthesis of 2-methylenepyrrolizidines by tandem cyclization of N-propargylaminyl radicals

Tandem cyclization of N-propargylaminyl radicals, generated by N-chlorination of (E)-alk-4-enylamines 2a-d and 2f followed by treatment with tributyltin radical, afforded 2-methylenepyrrolizidines 3a-d and 3f in a highly stereoselective manner. A similar radical cyclization of (Z)-N-propargyl-1-methyl-5-phenylpent-4-enylamine (2e) gave pyrrolizidine 3b having the same stereochemistry as that obtained from the E isomer 2b.     

An efficient chemoenzymatic method to prepare optically active primary-tertiary trans-cycloalkane-1,2-diamines

Optically active trans-N-Boc-cyclopentane- and cyclohexane-1,2-diamines (7) were prepared by a chemoenzymatic method from the corresponding (±)-trans-N,N-diallylcycloalkane-1,2-diamine. These mono-carbamates 7 (ee=99%) were used as the starting materials in the syntheses of different vicinal primary-tertiary diamines. Thus, by means of a simple three-step sequence involving a reductive-amination of an aromatic aldehyde with 7, N-methylation and finally, cleavage of the Boc group, several trans-N-(arylmethyl)-N-methylcyclopentane- and cyclohexane-1,2-diamines were obtained in high yields.     

Ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of N-cycloalkyl-7-oxanorbornene dicarboximides by well-defined ruthenium initiators

Ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of exo-N-(1-adamantyl)-7-oxanorbornene-5,6-dicarboximide (AdONDI) (3a), exo-N-cyclohexyl-7-oxanorbornene-5,6-dicarboximide (ChONDI) (3b) and exo-N-phenyl-7-oxanorbornene-5,6-dicarboximide (PhONDI) (3c) using well-defined alkylidene ruthenium catalysts (PCy₃)₂(CI)₂RuCHPh (I) and (1,3-dimesityl-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene) (PCy₃)CI₂RuCHPh (II) was studied. The catalysts I and II gave polymers with around 70% and 50% trans vinylene content, respectively. The homopolymer of 3a had a T_g of 198 °C, while poly-3b showed a T_g of 122 °C. Copolymers of 3a, 3b and 3c with norbornene (NB) showed significant T_g increases over poly-NB.