Synthesis of 3,3′-biisoxazoles from cyanogen N,N′-dioxide and trimethylsilyl enol ethers via the corresponding 5,5′-bis(trimethylsilyloxy)-3,3′-Δ2-biisoxazolines

Regioselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of Cyanogen N,N′-dioxide ( 2 ) to trimethylsilyl enol ethers 3a-d, 6 and 7 gave the corresponding 5,5′-bis(trimethylsilyloxy)-3,3′-Δ²-biisoxazolines which upon short heating with 10% hydrochloric acid afforded 3,3′-biisoxazoles 5a-d , 8 and 9. Only the intermediate 5,5′-bis(trimethylsilyloxy)-derivative 4a was isolated and studied. Reaction of 2 with vinyl methyl ketone ( 10 ) gave biisoxazoline 11 which by oxidation with γ-manganese dioxide gave biisoxazole 12.     

Improvement of a Stereoselective Biocatalytic Synthesis by Substrate and Enzyme Engineering: 2‐Hydroxy‐(4′‐oxocyclohexyl)acetonitrile as the Model

Even if biocatalysis is finding increasing application, it still has to gain widespread use in synthetic chemistry. Reasons for this are limitations that enzymes have with regard to substrate range, reaction scope, and insufficient selectivity with unnatural compounds. These shortcomings can be challenged by enzyme and/or substrate engineering, which are employed to alter substrate specificity and enhance the enzyme selectivity toward unnatural substrates. Herein, these two approaches are coupled to improve the hydroxynitrile lyase catalyzed synthesis of 2‐hydroxy‐(4′‐oxocyclohexyl)acetonitrile ( 4 ). The ketone functionality is masked as an enol ether, and the oxynitrilase of Hevea brasiliensis is engineered towards this masked substrate to give the product with a high optical purity and to drastically lower the amount of enzyme needed.     

Carotinoide mit 7-Oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptyl-Endgruppen. Teil I. Versuch einer Synthese von Cycloviolaxanthin (= (3S,5R,6R,3′S,5′R,6′R)-3,6:3′,6′-Diepoxy-5,6,5′,6′-tetrahydro-β,β-carotin-5,5′-diol)

Carotenoids with 7-Oxabicyclo[2,2.1]heptyl End Groups. Attempted Synthesis of Cycloviolaxanthin ( = (3S,5R,6S,3′S,5′R,6′R)-3,6:3′,6′- Diepoxy-5,6,5′,6′-tetrahydro-β,β-carotin-5,5′-diol) Starting from our recently described synthon (+)- 24 , the enantiomerically pure 3,6:4,5:3′,6′:4′,5′-tetraepoxy-4,5,4′,5′-tetrahydro-ε,ε-carotene ( 34 ) and its 15,15′-didehydro analogue 32 were synthesized in eleven and nine steps, respectively (Scheme 4). Chiroptical data show, in contrast to the parent ε,ε-carotene, a very weak interaction between the chiral centers at C(5), C(5′), C(6), C(6′), and the polyene system. Diisobutylaluminium hydride reduction of 32 lead rather than to the expected 15,15′-didehydro analogue 35 of Cycloviolaxanthin ( 8 ), to the polyenyne 36 (Scheme 5). We explain this reaction by an oxirane rearrangement leading to a cyclopropyl ether followed by a fragmentation to an aldehyd on the one side and an enol ether on the other (Scheme 6). This complex rearrangement includes a shift of the whole polyenyne chain from C(6), C(6′) to C(5), C(5′) of the original molecule.     

Enolethers. XXI. Synthesis of 5,5′-disubstituted 4,4′-bipyrimidines

1,6-Dialkoxy-3,4-diones 3 are easily accessible by acylation of enol ethers 1 with oxalyl chloride and subsequent elimination of hydrogen chloride using triethylamine. The open-chain 2,5-dimethyl derivative 3b is converted with amidines 4a-c and S-methylisothiourea (4d) , respectively, to give 2,2′-disubstituted 5,5′-dimethyl-4,4′-bipyrimidines 5a-d . The dihydrofuran and dihydropyran derivatives 3c and 3d , however, react with benzamidine (4c) in dimethylformamide only in the presence of calcium hydride as condensation agent yielding 5,5′-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)- and 5,5′-bis(3-hydroxypropyl)-2,2′-diphenyl-4,4′-bipyrimidine 6a and b.     

Reactions of 2,2′,5′,2′-terfuran

Formylation of 2,2′,5′,2′-terfuran ( 1 ) with N-methylformanilide and phosphorus oxychloride gave 5-formyl-2,2′,5′,2′-terfuran ( 2 ) and 5,5′-diformyl-2,2′5′,2′-terfuran ( 3 ). Reduction of 2 and 3 afforded 5-hydroxymethyl-2,2′,5′,2′-terfuran ( 4 ) and 5,5′ dihydroxymethyl-2,2′,5′,2′-terfuran ( 5 ), respectively. Terfuran 1 reacted with phenylmagnesium bromide to give 5-(phenylhydroxymethyl)-2,2′,5′,2′-terfuran ( 6 ), and was carbonated to 5-carboxy 2,2′,5′,2′-terfuran ( 7 ) and 5,5′-dicarboxy-2,2′,5′,2′-terfuran ( 8 ). Bromination of 1 with N-bromosuccinimide gave 5,5′-dibromo 2,2′,5′,2′-terfuran ( 9 ).     

Comparative study on polyimides from isomeric 3,3′‐, 3,4′‐, and 4,4′‐linked bis(thioether anhydride)s

Three isomeric bis(thioether anhydride) monomers, 4,4′‐bis(2,3‐dicarboxyphenylthio) diphenyl ketone dianhydride (3,3′‐PTPKDA), 4,4′‐bis(3,4‐dicarboxyphenylthio) diphenyl ketone dianhydride (4,4′‐PTPKDA), and 4‐(2,3‐dicarboxyphenylthio)‐4′‐(3,4‐dicarboxyphenylthio) diphenyl ketone dianhydride (3,4′‐PTPKDA), were prepared through multistep reactions. Their structures were determined via Fourier transform infrared, NMR, and elemental analysis. Three series of polyimides (PIs) were prepared from the obtained isomeric dianhydrides and aromatic diamines in N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (NMP) via the conventional two‐step method. The PIs showed excellent solubility in common organic solvents such as chloroform, N,N‐dimethylacetamide, and NMP. Their glass‐transition temperatures decreased according to the order of PIs on the basis of 3,3′‐PTPKDA, 3,4′‐PTPKDA, and 4,4′‐PTPKDA. The 5% weight loss temperatures (T_5%) of all PIs in nitrogen were observed at 504–519 °C. The rheological properties of isomeric PI resins based on 3,3′‐PTPKDA/4,4′‐oxydianiline/phthalic anhydride showed lower complex viscosity and better melt stability compared with the corresponding isomers from 4,4′‐ and 3,4′‐PTPKDA. In addition, the PI films based on three isomeric dianhydrides and 2,2′‐bis(trifluoromethyl)benzidine had a low moisture absorption of 0.27–0.35%. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Synthesis of detomidine and medetomidine metabolites: 1,2,3-trisubstituted arenes with 4′(5′)-imidazolylmethyl groups

Two synthetic strategies permitted the synthesis of various metabolites of detomidine ( 1 ) and medetomidine ( 4 ), potent α-2 adrenoceptor agonists that undergo rapid oxidative metabolism at the aromatic methyl group distal to the imidazole ring. In the detomidine series, the addition of a Grignard reagent prepared from 2-((3′,4′-dimethoxyphenyl)methoxy)methyl)-6-bromotoluene ( 13 ) to imidazole-4(5)-carboxaldehyde ( 7 ) provided 2-(((3′,4′-dimethoxyphenyl)methoxy)methyl)-6-(1′-hydroxy-1′-(5′-imidazolyl)methyl)tolulene ( 14 ). In a subsequent reduction, it was possible to differentiate between the secondary benzylic hydroxyl group and the primary benzylic hydroxyl group protected as a 3,4-dimethoxybenzyl ether. Removal of the protecting group provided 3-(hydroxymethyl)detomidine (3-HD)( 2 ) and an oxidation furnished 3-carboxydetomidine (3-CD)( 3 ). However, in the medetomidine series, a similar hydrogenolysis of 2-(((3′,4′-dimethoxyphenyl)methoxy)methyl)-6-(1′-hydroxy-1′-methyl-1′-(5′-imidazolyl)methyl)toluene ( 17 ) failed, and an alternate, longer route involving dehydration and reduction was necessary to secure 3-(hydroxymethyl)medetomidine (3-HM) ( 5 ) and following an oxidation, 3-carboxymedetomidine (3-CM) ( 6 ). Finally, an expeditious route to 3-CM ( 6 ) involved the addition of the Grignard reagent prepared from 2-(3-bromo-2-methylphenyl)-4,4-dimethyl-2-oxazoline ( 22 ) to 4-acetyl-1H-imidazole and the hydrogenolysis and hydrolysis of 2-(1-(4,4-dimethyl-2-oxazolyl))-6-(1′-oxo-1′-(5′-imidazolyl)methyl)toluene ( 23 ).     

Quantitative and in situ Detection of Oxidatively Generated DNA Damage 8,5′‐Cyclo‐2′‐Deoxyadenosine Using an Immunoassay with a Novel Monoclonal Antibody

Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) is a genetic disorder associated with defects in nucleotide excision repair, which eliminates a wide variety of helix‐distorting types of DNA damage including sunlight‐induced pyrimidine dimers. In addition to skin disease, approximately 30% of XP patients develop progressive neurological disease, which has been hypothesized to be associated with the accumulation of a particular type of oxidatively generated DNA damage called purine 8,5′‐cyclo‐2′‐deoxynucleosides (purine cyclonucleosides). However, there are no currently available methods to detect purine cyclonucleosides in DNA without the need for DNA hydrolysis. In this study, we generated a novel monoclonal antibody (CdA‐1) specific for purine cyclonucleosides in single‐stranded DNA that recognizes 8,5′‐cyclo‐2′‐deoxyadenosine (cyclo‐dA). An immunoassay using CdA‐1 revealed a linear dose response between known amounts of cyclo‐dA in oligonucleotides and the antibody binding to them. The quantitative immunoassay revealed that treatment with Fenton‐type reagents (CuCl₂/H₂O₂/ascorbate) efficiently produces cyclo‐dA in DNA in a dose‐dependent manner. Moreover, immunofluorescent analysis using CdA‐1 enabled the visualization of cyclo‐dA in human osteosarcoma cells, which had been transfected with oligonucleotides containing cyclo‐dA. Thus, the CdA‐1 antibody is a valuable tool for the detection and quantification of cyclo‐dA in DNA, and may be useful for characterizing the mechanism(s) underlying the development of XP neurological disease.     

Neue Synthese von Vinblastinderivaten; 20′-Deethyl-20′-deoxyvinblastin und 20′-Deethyl-20′-deoxy-C′-homovinblastin Vorläufige Mitteilung

A New Synthesis of the Vinblastine Derivatives 20′-Deethyl-20-deoxyvinblastine and 20′-Deethyl-20′-deoxy-C′-homovinblastine A new synthesis of vinblastine derivatives is described. In the key step, the chloroindolenine derivative 14 was reacted with vindoline ( 2 ) to give, after cyclization, stereospecifically 17/I and 20′-deethyl-20′-deoxyvinblastine ( 17/II ). In an analogous manner, the epimeric C′-homovinblastine derivatives 21/I-21/IV were synthesized.     

Synthesis of 1,2′,3,3′,5′,6′-hexahydro-3-phenylspiro[isobenzofuran-1,4′-thiopyrans] and 1,2′,3,3′,5′,6′-hexahydro-3-phenylspiro-[isobenzofuran-1,4′-pyrans]

The 1,2′,3,3′,5′,6′-hexahydro-3-phenylspiro[isobenzofuran-1,4′-thiopyran] ring system ( 2a ) has been prepared from o-bromobenzoic acid. The 1,2′,3,3′,5′,6′-hexahydro-3-phenylspiro[isobenzofuran-1,4′-pyran] ring system ( 3a ) has been prepared from 2-bromobenzhydrol methyl ether. Several 3-(dimethylaminoalkyl) derivatives of both 2a and 3a were prepared by lithiation followed by alkylation.     

Einfache Synthese von 6-[4-Methyl-3-cyclohexen-1-yl]-hept-5-en-2-on,einer Vorstufe für α-Bisabolen und dessen Isopropenyl-Isomers. Terpene und Terpen-Derivate, 10. Mitteilung

Simple Synthesis of 6-[4-Methyl-3-cyclohexen-1-yl]-5-hepten-2-on, a Precursor of α-Bisabolene and Its Isopropenyl Isomer The alcohol 14 reacts with vinyl resp isopropenyl ether by Claisen rearrangement to give the aldehyde 16/17 resp. the ketone 3/4. Contrary to other reports this separable (E/Z)-mixture also occurs as a result of the synthesis following the pathway 7 → 8/9 → 10/11 → 12/13 (see also [2]). The bisabolene isomers 5 resp. 6 are obtained by reaction of 3 resp. 4 with methylidene triphenyl phosphorane. A mixture of 1 and 5. however, is formed from 3 via the alcohol 18 and its acetate 19. Likewise 4 reacts via 20 and 21 to give a (2/6) -mixture.     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(arylene ether)s derived from 4,4′‐bishydroxybiphenyl and 4,4′‐bishydroxyterphenyl

A series of poly(arylene ether)s were successfully prepared by aromatic, nucleophilic substitution reactions with various perfluoroalkyl‐activated bisfluoromonomers with 4,4′‐bishydroxybiphenyl and 4,4′‐bishydroxyterphenyl. 4,4′‐Bishydroxyterphenyl was synthesized through the Grignard coupling reaction of magnesium salt of 4‐bromoanisole with dibromobenzene followed by demethylation with pyridine–hydrochloride. The products obtained by the displacement of fluorine atoms exhibited good inherent viscosity, up to 0.77 dL/g, and number‐average molecular weights up to 69,300. These poly(arylene ether)s showed very good thermal stability, up to 548 °C for 5% weight loss according to thermogravimetric analysis under synthetic air, and high glass‐transition temperatures, up to 259 °C according to differential scanning calorimetry, depending on the exact repeat unit structure. These polymers were soluble in a wide range of organic solvents, such as N‐methylpyrrolidone, dimethylformamide, tetrahydrofuran, toluene, and CHCl₃, and were insoluble in dimethyl sulfoxide and acetone. Thin films of these poly(arylene ether)s showed good transparency and exhibited tensile strengths up to 132 MPa, moduli up to 3.34 GPa, and elongations at break up to 84%, depending on their exact repeating unit structures. These values are comparable to those of high‐performance thermoplastic materials such as poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK) and Ultem poly(ether imide) (PEI). These poly(arylene ether)s exhibited low dielectric constants. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 55–69, 2002     

3′-Methylsulfinyl-3,4′-diquinolinyl sulfides

Reactions of 4-methoxy- or 1,4-dihydro-4-oxo-3′-methylthio-3,4′-diquinolinyl sulfides 1 and 7 with a nitrating mixture ran as the 3′-methylthio group 5-mono-oxidation followed by C₆- and C₈-nitration and led to the mixture composed of products 3, 4, 5 and 6 (in the case of substrate 1 ) or compounds 5 and 6 (for substrate 7 ). In the reaction with hydrochloric acid 4-methoxy-3′-methylsulfinyl-3,4′-diquinolinyl sulfides 3 and 4 could be hydrolysed to 3′-methylsulfinyl-4(1H)-quinolinones 5 or 6 respectively, the methylsulfinyl group remaining unaffected.     

Synthesis and characterization of phthalazinone‐based poly(aryl ether ketone) derived from 4,4′‐dichlorobenzophenone

As distinguished from the conventional preparation of poly(aryl ether ketone)s utilizing 4,4′‐difluorobenzophenone, a novel synthetic method of high molecular weight poly(phthalazinone ether ketone) derived from 4,4′‐dichlorobenzophenone was studied. Reaction conditions to get high molecular weight polymer were investigated in details. Experimentally, sulfolane was chosen as the reaction media and high molecular weight polymer could be obtained in 7–8 hr at 210°C. The cyclic oligomers in the polymer product reduced to below 3.0% when the concentration of the reactant is 1.6–1.7 g/ml. Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR), ¹H NMR, and elemental analysis were used to confirm the structure of the obtained polymer. The amorphous polymer showed reasonable solubility in selective solvent, such as chloroform and N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone, and tough, flexible, and transparent thin film can be readily prepared from their N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone solution. The obtained polymer showed high glass transition temperature (T_g) up to 261°C detected by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and the temperature of 5% weight loss under nitrogen higher than 500°C detected by thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), indicating its excellent thermal stability. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis of (5′S)‐5′‐C‐Alkyl‐2′‐deoxynucleosides

We describe the synthesis of (5′S)‐5′‐C‐butylthymidine ( 5a ), of the (5′S)‐5′‐C‐butyl‐ and the (5′S)‐5′‐C‐isopentyl derivatives 16a and 16b of 2′‐deoxy‐5‐methylcytidine, as well as of the corresponding cyanoethyl phosphoramidites 9a , b and 14a , b , respectively. Starting from thymidin‐5′‐al 1 , the alkyl chain at C(5′) is introduced via Wittig chemistry to selectively yield the (Z)‐olefin derivatives 3a and 3b (Scheme 2). The secondary OH function at C(5′) is then introduced by epoxidation followed by regioselective reduction of the epoxy derivatives 4a and 4b with diisobutylaluminium hydride. In the latter step, a kinetic resolution of the diastereoisomer mixture 4a and 4b occurs, yielding the alkylated nucleoside 2a and 2b , respectively, with (5′S)‐configuration in high diastereoisomer purity (de=94%). The corresponding 2′‐deoxy‐5‐methylcytidine derivatives are obtained from the protected 5′‐alkylated thymidine derivatives 7a and 7b via known base interconversion processes in excellent yields (Scheme 3). Application of the same strategy to the purine nucleoside 2′‐deoxyadenine to obtain 5′‐C‐butyl‐2′‐deoxyadenosine 25 proved to be difficult due to the sensitivity of the purine base to hydride‐based reducing agents (Scheme 4).     

Selective N3- and 5′-O-Alkylation of 2′,3′-O-isopropylideneuridine with methyl iodide

The 2′,3′-O-isopropylideneuridine ( 1 ) reacts with MeI in the presence of an excess of NaH in THF giving 2′,3′-O-isopropylidene-5′-O-methyluridine ( 2 ). Prolonged reaction time gives rise to 2′,3′-O-isopropylidene-3,5′-O-dimethyluridine ( 4 ). The use of an equimolar amount of base and alkylating agent results predominantly in methylation at N(3) (→ 3).     

Syntheses and Reactions of 1′,2′-Unsaturated 2′,3′-Seconucleoside Analogues

The 1′,2′-unsaturated 2′,3′-secoadenosine and 2′,3′-secouridine analogues were synthesized by the regioselective elimination of the corresponding 2′,3′-ditosylates, 2 and 18 , respectively, under basic conditions. The observed regioselectivity may be explained by the higher acidity and, hence, preferential elimination of the anomeric H–C(1′) in comparison to H? C(4′). The retained (tol-4-yl)sulfonyloxy group at C(3′) of 3 allowed the preparation of the 3′-azido, 3′-chloro, and 3′-hydroxy derivatives 5–7 by nucleophilic substitution. ZnBr₂ in dry CH₂Cl₂ was found to be successful in the removal (85%) of the trityl group without any cleavage of the acid-sensitive, ketene-derived N,O-ketal function. In the uridine series, base-promoted regioselective elimination (→ 19 ), nucleophilic displacement of the tosyl group by azide (→ 20 ), and debenzylation of the protected N(3)-imide function gave 1′,2′-unsaturated 5′-O-trityl-3′-azido-secouridine derivative 21 . The same compound was also obtained by the elimination performed on 2,2′-anhydro-3′-azido-3′-azido-3′-deoxy-5′-O-2′,3′-secouridine ( 22 ) that reacted with KO(t-Bu) under opening of the oxazole ring and double-bond formation at C(1′).     

Nucleotides. Part. XXXII. Synthesis of 2′–5′ Connected oligonucleotides. Prodrugs for antiviral and antitumoral nucleosides

The cytotoxically and antivirally active compounds bvU_d ( 1 ), flU_d ( 4 ), acyclovir ( 7 ), and A_a ( 12 ) have chemically been combined with the appropriately protected (2′–5′)diadenylate 20 by the phosphotriester approach to give the 2′–5′ oligonucleotide trimers 21 – 24 . The deprotection of the various blocking groups by chemical means afforded the 2′–5′ trimers 25 – 28 , which can be regarded as new type of a potential prodrug form delivering nucleotides to the targets inside cells. In an analogous series of reactions, 9-(3′-azido-3′-deoxy-β-D-xylofuranosyl)adenine was coupled with 7 to the 2′–5′ trimer 31 . The antiviral screening of the oligonucleotides 25–27 and 31 showed biological activities closely related to the parent nucleosides, possibly indicating their release by enzymatic cleavage of the oligomers.     

Michael-Addition von Thiocarbonsäureestern Anwendung bei der Synthese von (±)-Jasminketolacton

Michael addition of carbothioates. Application to the synthesis of (±)-jasmine ketolactone It is shown that the lithium enolate of S-t-butyl thioacetate adds to 2-cyclopentenone in the β-position and that fluoride ions catalyze the 1, 4-addition of the trimethylsilyl enol ether of S-t-butyl thioacetate ( 5 ) to 2-cyclopentenone ( 4 ) to give 6 . These novel versions of the Michael addition have been applied to a synthesis of jasmonoid compounds. Cleavage of the trimethylsilyl enol ether in 6 with tetrabutylammonium fluoride produced the corresponding ketone enolate which could be trapped in situ by alkylation with 1-bromo-5-(2′-tetrahydropyranoxy)-2-pentyne ( 7 ) to form 8 . Removal of the alcohol protecting group in 8 , followed by partial hydrogenation of the triple bond over Lindlar palladium and mercury ion promoted hydrolysis of the carbothioate moiety in 9 , led to 5′-hydroxy jasmonic acid ( 10 , Scheme 3). 10 was converted into the S-(2-pyridyl) carbothioate and cyclized in dilute benzene solution under the influence of silver ion to give (±)-jasmine ketolactone ( 1 , Scheme 4), a component of the essential oil of Jasminum grandiflorum, in 72% yield. Similarly, methyljasmonate ( 2 , Scheme 2) was obtained from 6 by the reaction with 1-bromo-2-pentyne and tetrabutylammonium fluoride followed by methanolysis and partial hydrogenation of the triple bond.     

Synthesis of methyl 1-hydroxy-6-oxo-2-cyclohexenecarboxylate, a component of salicortin and tremulacin, and the monomer of idesolide

We have developed a short and practical first synthesis of methyl 1-hydroxy-6-oxo-2-cyclohexenecarboxylate (2), which has been known as a component of salicortin and tremulacin since 1970. Birch reduction of the SEM ether of methyl salicylate followed by oxidation of the intermediate enolate with (-)-camphorsulfonyloxaziridine afforded the SEM enol ether of 2. Hydrolysis of the SEM enol ether afforded 2. We did not observe the dimerization of either racemic or optically enriched 2 to give idesolide (1).