Asymmetric aldol reactions using chiral CF3-Oxazolidines (Fox) as chiral auxiliary

The aldol reactions of amide enolates derived from a trifluoromethylated oxazolidine (Fox) chiral auxiliary occur in good yields with a moderate anti diastereoselectivity (Li and Na enolates) to a high syn diastereoselectivity (boron enolate). After removal, the Fox chiral auxiliary is very conveniently and efficiently recovered in basic conditions.     

α-Alkylierung von β-Hydroxycarbonsäuren über 1,3-Dioxan-4-on-Enolate

Highly Diastereoselective α-Alkylation of β-Hydroxycarboxylic Acids Through Lithium Enolates of 1,3-Dioxan-4-ones From serine, β-hydroxyisobutyric acid (‘Roche’ acid) and β-hydroxybutyric acid, the dioxanones 1–6 were prepared. The generation of the enolates of type I with LDA at ?75° and alkylation gave products with trans-configuration whereas protonation of the 5-methyl-substituted enolate allowed access to the cis-configurated β-hydroxybutyric-acid derivative 12 . Hydrolysis gave the free β-hydroxy acids of ‘syn’-and ‘anti’-configuration. Alkylation of the 6-unsubstituted dioxanones 1 and 3 yielded predominantly products resulting from attack in the cis-position of the t-Bu group. The ‘reactive’ conformation of the enolates involved is tentatively derived from the product configuration. The selectivity of the alkylation is also discussed in terms of the results of an ab-initio calculation on the enolates M–P.     

Elektrochemische Oxidation von (S)-Äpfelsäure-Derivaten: ein Weg zu enantiomerenreinen alkylierten Malonaldehydsäure-estern

Electrochemical Oxidation of (S)-Malic-Acid Derivatives: a Route to Enantiomerically Pure Alkylmalonaldehydic Esters The 3,3-dialkymalic-acid diesters, prepared by the previously described diastereoselective alkylations through dilithium alkoxide enolates, are saponified to the monoesters containing a free α-hydroxycarboxylic-acid moiety(Scheme 3). The monoesters are subjected to electrochemical oxidative decarboxylation in MeOH . If the intermediate monoacids are purified, the malonaldehydic esters (2-formy1-2-alkylcaroxylates) Obtained by this procedure are enantiomerically pure; they have the same structural features, i.e. two enantiotopic functionalized branches on the (persubstituted) stereogenic center, as the well known 3-hydroxy-2-methylpropanoic acid (‘Roche acid’) which was employed frequently as a starting material for the preparation of either enantiomer of various target molecules.     

Doppelt und dreifach funktionalisierte,enantiomerenreine C4-Synthesebausteine aus β-Hydroxybuttersäure, Äpfelsäure und Weinsäure

Enantiomerically Pure Synthetic Building Blocks with Four C-Atoms and Two or Three Functional Groups from β-Hydroxy-butanoic, Malic, and Tartaric Acid The pool of chiral, non-racemic electrophilic building blocks, which are available from simple natural products in both enantiomeric forms is enlarged by the epoxides 3, 5 , and 10 , by the tosylate 12a , and by the aldehydes 18 (cf. symbols A-D , 14 , and Scheme 1). Key steps of the conversions leading from hydroxyacids to the building blocks are: epoxide-opening by triethylborohydride ( 1 → 2a ) and tosylate reduction ( 12a → 12b ); the Mitsunobu inversion ( 2a → 4a ); the reduction of (R, R)-tartaric ester to (R)-malic ester by NBS (N-bromosuccinimide) opening of the benzaldehyde acetal 8 and tin hydride reduction ( 6c → 7c ); the enantiomer enrichment of optically active ethyl β-hydroxy-butanoate through the crystalline dinitrobenzoate 21b . Detailed procedures are given for large scale preparations of the key intermediates. The enantiomeric purities of the building blocks are secured by correlations.     

The Asymmetric Synthesis of Fused Cyclopentenone Ring Systems: A formal asymmetric total synthesis of (−)-isocomene

Optically active tricyclic oxazolidine lactams 10 have been prepared using two different routes (Scheme 1). They can be obtained by acid-mediated intramolecular cyclization of bicyclic lactams 13 via their acyliminium intermediates producing appended five-, six-, and seven-membered tricyclic systems. Alternatively, 10 can be prepared by cyclocondensation of chiral amino alcohols with cyclopentane-1,2-dicarboxylic acids 12 to give the imide which is reduced or alkylated to the amino alcohols and cyclized to a diastereoisomer mixture of 10 . Alkylation of 10 (R″ = H) via its enolate gives stereospecifically α-quaternary products 10 ( R ″ = alkyl). Degradation of the latter with MeLi or Red-Al® followed by mild acid hydrolysis and aldol cyclization produces the bicyclic ketones 14 and 15 as 1:1 mixtures, readily separated and isolated in > 99% ee. This sequence produced a known non-racemic intermediate 69 for the synthesis of (?)-isocomene.     

Conjugate Addition of Lithiated (S)‐4‐Isopropyl‐3‐ [(methylthio)methyl]‐5,5‐diphenyloxazolidin‐2‐one to Cinnamoyl Derivatives: Preparation of Enantiomerically Pure 1,4‐Diols

The Li derivative of (S)‐4‐isopropyl‐3‐[(methylthio)methyl]‐5,5‐diphenyloxazolidin‐2‐one (Li‐ 2 ; synthetically equivalent to a chiral formyl anion) adds to enones and enoates in a 1,4‐fashion. Best results are obtained with 1,3‐diarylpropenones (chalcones; Scheme 2), trityl enones, and 2,6‐di(tert‐butyl)‐4‐methoxyphenyl cinnamates (Scheme 3), with yields up to 80% and diastereoselectivities up to and above 99 : 1 of the products ( 5a – f and 8a , b , e ) containing three stereogenic centers! X‐Ray crystal‐structure analysis reveals that the C,C‐bond formation occurs preferentially with relative topicity ul (Re/Si; Fig. 2). The MeS group of the 1,4‐adducts can be replaced by RO groups in Hg²⁺‐assisted substitutions, with subsequent removal and facile recovery of the chiral auxiliary (Schemes 4–6). 4‐Hydroxycarbonyl derivatives (‘homoaldols') and mono‐, di‐, and trisubstituted 1,4‐diols are, thus, accessible in enantiomerically pure forms (cf. 15, 16 , and 18 – 20 ).     

Enantio- and Diastereoselective Aldol-Reaction of 2,6-Dimethylphenyl Propionate Using Titanium-Carbohydrate Complexes

Chloro(cyclopentadienyl)bis(1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-α-D -glucofuranos-3-O-yl)titanium ( 1 ) is used for the transmetallation of Li-enolates obtained from propionyl derivatives. While such Ti-enolates of ketones and hydrazones appear to be unreactive, the (E)enolate 13 of 2,6-dimethylphenyl propionate ( 11 ) adds to the re-side of aldehydes, affording various syn-aldols 14 with high dia- and enantioselectivity (92–97% ds, 91–97% ee, cf. Scheme 2 and Table 1). Racemic syn-aldols (±)- 14 are obtained analogously from the achiral bis(2-propyloxy)-Ti-enolate 15 (Scheme 2 and Table 2). In contrast to the unstable Li-enolate 10 , the Ti-enolates 13 and 15 isomerize at ?30°, presumably to the thermodynamically more stable (Z)-enolates (Scheme 4), While the diastereoselectivity of the achiral enolate 15 is lost upon this equilibration, the chiral (Z)-enolate 27 quite unexpectedly affords anti-aldols 12 of high optical purity (94–98% ec) and, in most cases, with acceptable-to-good diastereoselectivity (82–90% ds). Notable exceptions are branched unsaturated and aromatic aldehydes which form a greater proportion of synepimers of moderate optical purity (Scheme 5 and Table 3). Consistent with these findings, re-facial-and ami -selective aldol-addition is also exhibited by the (Z)-configurated Ti-enolate 22 of N-propionyl-oxazolidi-none 19 (Scheme 3).     

Stereoselective synthesis of syn-α-methyl-β-hydroxy esters

Boron enolates of an ethyl ketone structurally related to erythrulose react with achiral aldehydes in a highly stereoselective fashion to yield 1,2-syn/1,3-syn stereoisomers. Oxidative cleavage of the aldol adducts yields enantiopure O-formylated syn-α-methyl-β-hydroxy esters, easily cleaved to the corresponding hydroxyl-free compounds. The aforementioned ketone behaves therefore as a chiral propionate enolate equivalent.     

Enantioselective Preparation of β2‐Amino Acids with Aspartate,Glutamate, Asparagine,and Glutamine Side Chains

(S)‐β²‐Homoamino acids with the side chains of Asp, Glu, Asn, and Gln have been prepared and suitably protected (N‐Fmoc, CO₂^tBu, CONHTrt) for solid‐phase peptide syntheses. The key steps of the syntheses are: N‐acylation of 5,5‐diphenyl‐4‐isopropyl‐1,3‐oxazolidin‐2‐one (DIOZ) with succinic and glutaric anhydrides (Scheme 2), alkylation of the corresponding Li‐enolates with benzyl iodoacetate and Curtius degradation (Scheme 4), and removal of the chiral auxiliary (Scheme 5). In addition, numerous functional‐group manipulations (CO₂H?CO₂^tBu, CO₂Bn?CO₂H, CbzNH→FmocNH, CO₂H→CO₂NH₂→CONHTrt; Schemes 2, 4, 5, and 6) were necessary, in order to arrive at the four target structures. The configurational assignments were confirmed by X‐ray crystal‐structure determinations (Scheme 2 and Fig. 3). The enantiomeric purities of a β²hAsn and of a β²hGln derivative were determined by HPLC on a Chiralcel column to be 99.7 : 0.3 and >99 : 1, respectively (Fig. 4). Notably, it took up to twelve steps to prepare a suitably protected trifunctional product with a single stereogenic center (overall yield of 10% from DIOZ and succinic anhydride)!     

Diastereo- and enantioselective aldol reaction of granatanone (pseudopelletierine)

Granatanone (granatan-3-one, 9-methyl-9-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-3-one, pseudopelletierine or pseudopelletrierin) undergoes deprotonation with lithium amides giving a lithium enolate, which reacts with aldehydes diastereoselectively giving exclusively exo isomers and anti/syn selectivity up to 98:2. Granatanone can be enantioselectively lithiated by chiral lithium amides and the resulting non-racemic enolate can be reacted with aldehydes giving aldols with enantiomeric excess up to 93% (99% ee after recrystallization). The absolute and relative configuration of the aldol products was determined by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray analysis.Granatanone; aldol reaction; asymmetric synthesis; enantioselective deprotonation; chiral lithium amide.     

1,3-Dioxanone Derivatives from β-Hydroxy-carboxylic Acids and Pivalaldehyde. Versatile Building Blocks for Syntheses of Enantiomerically Pure Compounds. A Chiral Acetoacetic Acid Derivative Preliminary Communication

(R)-3-Hydroxybutyric acid (from the biopolymer PHB) and pivalaldehyde give the crystalline cis - or (R,R)-2-(tert-butyl)-6-methyl-1,3-dioxan-4-one ( 1a ), the enolate of which is stable at low temperature in THF solution and can be alkylated diastereoselectively ( →3, 4, 5 , and 7 ). Phenylselenation and subsequent elimination give an enantiomerically pure enol acetal 10 of aceto-acetic acid. Some reactions of 10 have been carried out, such as Michael addition (→ 11 ), alkylation on the CH₃ substituent (→ 13 ), hydrogenation of the C?C bond (→ 1a ) and photochemical cycloaddition (→ 16 ). The overall reactions are substitutions on the one stereogenic center of the starting β-hydroxy acid without racemization and without using a chiral auxiliary.     

Formation of Cyclic ‘ortho’-Anhydrides of Heptalene-1,2-dicarboxylic Acids

1-(Alkoixycarbonyl)heptalene-2-carboxylic acids as well as 2-(alkoxycarbonyl)heptalene-1-carboxylic acids react with the iminium salt formed from N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and oxalyl chloride, in the presence of an alcohol, to yield the corresponding cyclic ‘ortho’ -anhydrides (ψ-esters; cf. Schemes 2,3,6, and 8). When the alkoxy moiety of the acids and the alcohols is different, then diastereoisomeric ‘ortho’ -anhydrides are formed due to the non-planarity of the heptalene skeleton. The approach of the alcohol from the β-side is strongly favored (cf. Scheme 5 and Table 1). This effect can be attributed to the bent topology of the heptalene skeleton which sterically hinders the approach of the nucleophile from the α-side of the postulated intermediates, i.e. the charged O-alkylated anhydrides of type 19 (cf. Scheme 6). Whereas the ‘ortho’-anhydrides with four substituents in the ‘peri’ -positions of the heptalene skeleton are configurationally stable up to 100°, the ‘ortho’ -anhydrides with only three ‘peri’ -substituents slowly epimerize at 100° (cf. Scheme 7) due to the thermally induced inversion of the configuration of the heptalene skeleton.     

Experimental and theoretical studies on Mannich-type reactions of chiral non-racemic N-(benzyloxyethyl) nitrones

The nucleophilic addition of both silyl ketene acetals and lithium enolates derived from methyl acetate to chiral non-racemic N-(benzyloxyethyl)nitrones has been studied both experimentally and theoretically. Aromatic nitrones showed lower reactivity that aliphatic nitrones and the addition of the silyl ketene acetal led to lower selectivities than the addition of the corresponding lithium enolate. Whereas low selectivity was obtained for the addition of the silyl ketene acetal, only one diastereomer could be detected in all cases for the addition of lithium enolate to aliphatic nitrones. The synthetic utility of the two chiral auxiliaries employed lies in the preparation of enantiomeric compounds. DFT theoretical calculations confirmed the stepwise mechanism for the addition of silyl ketene acetals to nitrones and are in good agreement with the observed experimental results.     

Structure and Reactivity of Lithium Enolates. From Pinacolone to Selective C-Alkylations of Peptides. Difficulties and Opportunities Afforded by Complex Structures

The chemistry of lithium enolates is used to demonstrate that complex structures held together by noncovalent bonds (“supramolecules”) may dramatically influence the result of seemingly simple standard reactions of organic synthesis. Detailed structural data have been obtained by crystallographic investigations of numerous Li enolates and analogous derivatives. The most remarkable features of these structures are aggregation to give dimers, tetramers, and higher oligomers, complexation of the metal centers by solvent molecules and chelating ligands, and hydrogen-bond formation of weak acids such as secondary amines with the anionoid part of the enolates. The presence in nonpolar solvents of the same supramolecules has been established by NMR-spectroscopic, by osmometric, and by calorimetric measurements. The structures and the order of magnitude of the interactions have also been reproduced by ab-initio calculations. Most importantly, supramolecules may be product-forming species in synthetic reactions of Li enolates. A knowledge of the complex structures of Li enolates also improves our understanding of their reactivity. Thus, simple procedures have been developed to avoid complications caused by secondary amines, formed concomitantly with Li enolates by the common methods. Mixtures of achiral Li enolates and chiral Li amides can give rise to enantioselective reactions. Solubilization by LiX is observed, especially of multiply lithiated compounds. This effect is exploited for alkylations of N-methylglycine (sarcosine) CH₂ groups in open-chain oligopeptides. Thus, the cyclic undecapeptide cyclosporine, a potent immunosuppressant, is converted into a THF-soluble hexalithio derivative (without epimerization of stereogenic centers) and alkylated by a variety of electrophiles in the presence of either excess lithiumdiisopropyl amide or of up to 30 equivalents of lithium chloride. Depending on the nature of the LiX additive, a new stereogenic center of (R) or (S) configuration is created in the peptide chain by this process. A structure-activity correlation in the series of cyclosporine derivatives thus available is discussed.     

α-Alkylation of Amino Acids without Racemization. Preparation of Either (S)- or (R)-α-Methyldopa from (S)-Alanine

Enantiomerically pure cis- and trans-5-alkyl-1-benzoyl-2-(tert-butyl)-3-methylimidazolidin-4-ones ( 1, 2, 11, 15, 16 ) and trans-2-(tert-butyl)-3-methyl-5-phenylimidazolidin-4-one ( 20 ), readily available from (S)-alanine, (S)-valine, (S)-methionine, and (R)-phenylglycine are deprotonated to chiral enolates (cf. 3, 4, 12, 21 ). Diastereoselective alkylation of these enolates to 5,5-dialkyl- or 5-alkyl-5-arylimidazolidinones ( 5, 6, 9, 10, 13a-d, 17, 18, 22 ) and hydrolysis give α-alkyl-α-amino acids such as (R)- and (S)-α-methyldopa ( 7 and 8a , resp.), (S)-α-methylvaline ( 14 ), and (R)-α-methyl-methionine ( 19 ). The configuration of the products is proved by chemical correlation and by NOE ¹H-NMR measurements (see 23, 24 ). In the overall process, a simple, enantiomerically pure α-amino acid can be α-alkylated with retention or with inversion of configuration through pivaladehyde acetal derivatives. Since no chiral auxiliary is required, the process is coined ‘self-reproduction of a center of chirality’. The method is compared with other α-alkylations of amino acids occurring without racemization. The importance of enantiomerically pure, α-branched α-amino acids as synthetic intermediates and for the preparation of biologically active compounds is discussed.     

Stereoselektive Synthesen von (Z)-(10-Methoxy-4H-benzo[4,5]cyclohepta[1,2-b]thiophen-4-yliden)essigsäure

Stereoselective Syntheses of (Z)-(10-Methoxy-4H-benzo[4,5]cyclohepta[1,2-b]thiophen-4-ylidene)acetic Acid Two stereoselective syntheses for the antiinflammatory compound 1 ((Z)-isomer) are described. In the first approach (Strategy A, Scheme 1) the stereoselective synthesis of 1 was realized via the bicyclic compound 11 under thermodynamic conditions, followed by a thiophene annelation with retention of the double-bond geometry (Schemes 2–4). Optimized conditions were necessary to avoid (E/Z)-isomerization during annelation. In the second approach (Strategy B, Scheme 1), diastereoisomer 17b was obtained selectively from a mixture of the diastereoisomers 17b and 18b by combining thermodynamic epimerization and solubility differences (Scheme 5). Diastereoisomer 17b was converted into the tricyclic compound 23 using a novel thiophene annelation method which we described recently (Scheme 6). In a final step, a stereospecific ‘syn’-elimination transformed the sulfoxide 24 into the target compound 1 (Scheme 7). To avoid (E/Z)-isomerization, it was necessary to trap the sulfenic acid liberated during the reaction. The key reactions of both approaches are highly stereoselective (> 97:3).     

Tetramethylheptalenes and Their Tricarbonylchromium Complexes: Synthesis,Structures, and Thermal Rearrangements

The thermal 4 : 1 equilibrium mixture of 1,3,5,6- and 1,3,5,10-tetramethylheptalene ( 13a and 13b , resp.) has been prepared, starting from the thermal equilibrium mixture of dimethyl 6,8,10-trimethylheptalene-1,2- and -4,5-dicarboxylate ( 6a and 6b , resp.; cf. Scheme 5). These heptalenes undergo double-bond shifts (DBS) even at ambient temperature. Treatment of the mixture 13a / 13b 4 : 1 with [Cr(CO)₃(NH₃)₃] in boiling 1,2-dimethoxyethane resulted in the formation of all four possible mononuclear Cr(CO)₃ complexes 19a – 19d of 13a and 13b , as well as two binuclear Cr(CO)₃ complexes 20a and 20b , respectively, in a total yield of 87% (cf. Scheme 7). The mixture of complexes was separated by column chromatography, followed by preparative HPLC (cf. Fig. 2). The structures of all complexes were established by X-ray crystal-structure analyses (complex 19b and 20b ; cf. Figs. 6 – 8) and extensive ¹H-NMR measurements (cf. Table 3). In 20b , the two Cr(CO)₃ groups are linked in a `syn'-mode to the highly twisted heptalene π-skeleton. The correspondence of the <sup>1</sup>H-NMR data of 20a with that of 20b indicates that the two Cr(CO)<sub>3</sub> groups in 20a also have a `syn'-arrangement. The thermal behavior of the mononuclear complexes 19a – 19d has been studied at 85° in hexafluorobenzene (HFB). At this temperature, all four complexes undergo rearrangement to the same thermal equilibrium mixture (cf. Table 8). The rates for the thermal equilibration of each complex have been determined by ¹H-NMR measurements (cf. Figs. 9 – 12) and analyzed by seven different kinetic schemes (Chapt. 2). The equilibration rates are in agreement with two different haptotropic rearrangements that take place, namely intra- and inter-ring shifts of the Cr(CO)₃ group, whereby both rearrangements are accompanied by DBS of the heptalene π-skeleton (cf. Scheme 9). All individual kinetic steps possess similar ΔG^≠ values in the range of 29 – 31 kcal⋅mol⁻¹ (cf. Table 8). The occurrence of inter-ring haptotropic migrations of Cr(CO)₃ groups has already been established for anellated aromatic systems (cf. Scheme 10); however, it is the first time that these rearrangements have been unequivocally demonstrated for Cr(CO)₃ complexes of non-planar bicyclic [4n]annulenes, such as heptalenes. The mechanism of migration may be similar to that proposed for aromatic systems (cf. Schemes 10 and 11).     

Synthese des Flechtenmakrolids (+)-Aspicilin mit Photolactonisierung als Schlüsselreaktion

Synthesis of the Lichen Macrolide (+)-Aspicilin Using Photolactonization as a Key Reaction (+)-Aspicilin, obtained from a lichen source of the Black Forest, has been proven to have the absolute configuration depicted by formula la . It is easily built up from phenol ( 14a ), 1,9-nonanediol ( 13a ), and (?)-(S-) methyloxiarane ( 6 ) (cf. Scheme 2). The latter building block provides the first stereogenic center C(17). The heterocycle is produced by photolactonization, fairly early during the course of the synthesis. The second stereogenic center is generated diastereoselectively at C(6) in compound 8 , conveniently available from photolactone 9a or 9b / 9c . Its absolute configuration depends on the kind of reducing agent and is controlled by long-range conformational transmission of chiral information. To explore the cause of stereoselection, 2D-NMR spectroscopy, X-ray structural analysis, and/or computer-aided conformational search followed by energy minimization have been used extensively, revealing the importance of the local conformation of the lactone moiety. Compound 8 , on treatment with Yamamoto's reagent, affords pre-target compound 7a almost exclusively. The latter compound, on pyridine-accelerated dihydroxylation with OsO₄, gives preferentially (+)-Aspicilin.     

Electrophilic Cyanation of Boron Enolates: Efficient Access to Various β‐Ketonitrile Derivatives

The highly efficient electrophilic cyanation of boron enolates using readily available cyanating reagents, N‐cyano‐N‐phenyl‐p‐toluenesulfonamide (NCTS) and p‐toluenesulfonyl cyanide (TsCN), is reported. Various β‐ketonitriles were prepared by this new protocol, which has a remarkably broad substrate scope compared to existing methods. The present method also allowed efficient synthesis of β‐ketonitriles containing a quaternary α‐carbon center. In addition, a preliminary result with the use of a chiral boron enolate for the enantioselective cyanation reaction is described.     

Highly diastereoselective alkylation,acylation and aldol condensation of cis- and trans-(N-acyloyl)hexahydrobenzoxazolidin-2-ones

The potential of hexahydrobenzoxazolidinones 1a–d as chiral auxiliaries was explored. N-Acylation of 1a–d, 2a–d and 3a–d was followed by methylation and benzylation via the corresponding sodium enolates generated by treatment with NaHMDS. Diastereoselectivities of 98% or higher were observed. The absolute configuration of the newly created stereogenic center was established by chemical correlation with 2-benzyl-1-propanol. The stereochemical results are congruent with addition to the electrophile from the less hindered face of a (Z)-configured enolate, the sodium cation being coordinated by both carbonyl oxygens of the substrate. cis- and trans-N-Propionyl derivatives 2a–d were treated with Bu₂BOTf/Et₃N to give dialkylboron enolates 6a–d, which were then reacted with acetaldehyde and benzaldehyde. ¹H and ¹³C NMR analyses showed the formation of a single diastereomeric aldol addition product, whose relative configuration was ascertained as syn from the measurement of the ³J_{H(2′)/H(3′)} coupling constants, and whose absolute configuration was determined by X-ray crystallographic analysis. The results are rationalized in terms of a Zimmerman–Traxler transition state, with a (Z)-configured enolate where boron is coordinated to the aldehyde carbonyl rather than the oxazolidinone carbonyl. Substrate 2a was also reacted with acyl chlorides via the sodium enolate (NaHMDS). The effect of reaction conditions on O- versus C-acylation, as well as the influence of solvent and additives on diastereoselectivity, are discussed.