Enantioselective Synthesis and Racemization of (−)-Sinoracutine

Sinoracutine is a recently isolated alkaloid with unusual stereochemical and biological properties. It features an unprecedented tetracyclic 6/6/5/5 skeleton that bears an N-methylpyrrolidine ring fused to a cyclopentenone. Interestingly, both enantiomers of sinoracutine have been independently isolated from the same plant, yet the molecule does not appear to occur as a racemate. Here, we present a short synthesis of (−)-sinoracutine that relies on a highly diastereoselective Pauson–Khand reaction and a Mandai–Claisen reaction to install the quaternary stereocenter. Our work establishes the absolute configuration of the levorotatory isomer and suggests that the optical purity of sinoracutine varies in nature due to its gradual racemization. Experimental evidence supports this proposal, and a plausible mechanism for the racemization is provided.     

Enantioselective syntheses of (+)- and (−)-brazilin

Two enantiomers of brazilin were prepared in 9 steps from 7-hydroxychroman-4-one using the AD-mix-α and AD-mix-β-directed enantioselective dihydroxylation of 3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-2H-chromen-7-ol as a key step.     

Chemo- and Enantioselective Oxidative α-Azidation of Carbonyl Compounds

We report high-performance I⁺/H₂O₂ catalysis for the oxidative or decarboxylative oxidative α-azidation of carbonyl compounds by using sodium azide under biphasic neutral phase-transfer conditions. To induce higher reactivity especially for the α-azidation of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds, we designed a structurally compact isoindoline-derived quaternary ammonium iodide catalyst bearing electron-withdrawing groups. The nonproductive decomposition pathways of I⁺/H₂O₂ catalysis could be suppressed by the use of a catalytic amount of a radical-trapping agent. This oxidative coupling tolerates a variety of functional groups and could be readily applied to the late-stage α-azidation of structurally diverse complex molecules. Moreover, we achieved the enantioselective α-azidation of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds as the first successful example of enantioselective intermolecular oxidative coupling with a chiral hypoiodite catalyst.     

Enantioselective synthesis of β-amino-diacids

An efficient route to orthogonally protected β-amino-diacids is described: chiral derivative 3 was shown to be a precursor of enantiopure substituted β-amino acids. The key step of the procedure is a diastereoselective reduction of β-enaminolactones 5 by NaBH₃CN in CH₂Cl₂. A study concerning the regio- and diastereoselectivity of alkylation of β-enaminolactone 3 is also presented.     

First Enantioselective Synthesis of Daphneticin

An enantioselective total synthesis of chiral daphneticin is reported firstly.     

Synthesis and Asymmetric Enantioselective Addition of Chiral Polybinaphthyl and Polybinaphthol I.igands

Four chiral polymers P-1, P-2, P-3 and P-4 were synthesized by the polymerization of （S）-2,2＇-dioctoxy-1,1＇- binaphthyl-6,6＇-boronic acid （S-M-3） with （S）-6,6＇-dibromo-1,1＇-binaphthol （S-M-1）, （R）-6,6＇-dibromo-1,1＇- binaphthol （R-M-1）, （S）-3,3＇-diiodo-1,1＇-binaphthol （S-M-2） and （R）-3,3＇-diiodo-1,1＇-binaphthol （R-M-2） under Pd-catalyzed Suzuki reaction, respectively. All four polymers can show good solubility in some common solvents due to the nonplanarity of the polymers in the main chain backbone and flexible alkyl groups in the side chain. The analysis results indicate that specific rotation and circular dichroism （CD） spectral signals of the alternative S-S chiral polymers P-1 and P-3 are larger than those of S-R chiral polymers P-2 and P-4, but their UV-Vis and fluorescence spectra are almost similar. The results of asymmetric enantioselectivity of four polymers for diethylzinc addition to benzaldehyde indicate that catalytically active center is （R） or （S）-1, 1＇-binaphthol moieties.     

Enantioselective Aldol Reaction of α-Ketoester and Cyclopentaone Catalyzed by L-Proline

A concise and enantioselective synthesis of (S)‐ethyl 2‐cyclopentyl‐2‐hydroxy‐2‐arylacetate, a key intermediate for the muscarinic receptor, is reported. The tertiary stereogenic center was constructed with good stereoselectivity through the L‐proline‐catalyzed direct asymmetric aldol reaction of ethyl arylglyoxylate and cyclopentanone. The carbonyl of the condensation product was reduced using a modified Clemmensen reaction which provided an easier workup and was more environmentally acceptable. The enantioselectivity of the aldol reactions was between 58.3%–93.2%, which means that the stereoselective is efficient in controlling configuration of reaction product.     

Enantioselective Synthesis of δ-Lactones with Lipase-Catalyzed Resolution and Mitsunobu Reaction

Both enantiomers of a series of δ-lactones (e.g., δ-decalactone, δ-dodelactone, and δ-hexadecalactone) were synthesized stereoselectively by Novozym 435–catalyzed resolution. Furthermore, only (S)-enantiomers of δ-lactones were synthesized with a combination of Novozym 435–catalyzed resolution and Mitsunobu reaction.     

Enantioselective synthesis of the quinolizidine alkaloids (+)-myrtine and (−)-epimyrtine

The enantioselective synthesis of (+)-myrtine 1 and (−)-epimyrtine 2 is described starting from (S)-2-(2-hydroxypropyl)allyltrimethylsilane 4 using an intramolecular allylsilane N-acyliminium ion cyclization.     

Enantioselective α-arylation of aldehydes via the productive merger of iodonium salts and organocatalysis

The enantioselective α-arylation of aldehydes has been accomplished using diaryliodonium salts and a combination of copper and organic catalysts. These mild catalytic conditions provide a new strategy for the enantioselective construction and retention of enolizable α-formyl benzylic stereocenters, a valuable synthon for the production of medicinal agents. As one example, this new asymmetric protocol has been applied to the rapid synthesis of (S)-ketoprofen, a commercially successful oral and topical analgesic.     

Synthesis of Chiral N-Ferrocenylmethylaminoalcohols and their Application in Enantioselective Addition of Diethylzinc to Aldehydes

Three chiral N-ferrocenylmethylaminoalcohols were synthesized from readily available natural L-valine, leucine and phenylanine, and used as chiral ligands in the enantioselective addition of diethylzinc to aldehydes.     

Enantioselective α-vinylation of aldehydes via the synergistic combination of copper and amine catalysis

The enantioselective α-vinylation of aldehydes using vinyl iodonium triflate salts has been accomplished via the synergistic combination of copper and chiral amine catalysis. These mild catalytic conditions provide a direct route for the enantioselective construction of enolizable α-formyl vinylic stereocenters without racemization or olefin transposition. These high-value coupling adducts are readily converted into a variety of useful olefin synthons.     

Enantioselective total synthesis of amphidinolide f

A common-intermediate approach is utilized in the total synthesis of amphidinolide?F to access both the C1-C8 and the C18-C25 portions of the macrolide. A silver-catalyzed rearrangement/cyclization was employed to construct the two tetrahydrofuran rings. A Felkin-controlled, dienyl lithium addition to an α-chiral aldehyde incorporated both the C9-C11 diene and the alcohol at C8. An umpolung sulfone alkylation/oxidative desulfurization sequence is employed to couple the two moieties.     

Synthesis and Enantioselective Discrimination of Chiral Fluorescence Receptors Bearing Amino Acid Units

Two chiral fluorescence receptors （1, 2） were synthesized, and their structures were characterized by IR, ^1H NMR, ^13C NMR, mass spectra and elemental analysis. The chiral recognition of receptors was studied by ^1H NMR and fluorescence spectra. The results demonstrate that receptors and dibenzoyl tartrate anion formed a 1 ： 1 complex. The receptor 1 exhibited a good enantioselective recognition ability toward the enantiomers of dibenzoyl tartrate anion.     

Enantioselective total synthesis and studies into the configurational stability of bismurrayaquinone a

Lost in rotation: The concise strategy of the first enantioselective total synthesis of bismurrayaquinone?A utilized traceless stereochemical exchange to form an enantioenriched biphenyl core that was elaborated in a bidirectional manner to the natural product. Observed racemization on an unsuccessful initial route prompted studies into the configurational stability of bismurrayaquinone?A and related biquinones.     

Enantioselective synthesis of tetrahydroprotoberberines and bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids from a deprotonated α-aminonitrile

Under controlled conditions, 6,7-dimethoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-1-carbonitrile can be quantitatively deprotonated in the α-position. Its alkylation directly furnishes 3,4-dihydroisoquinolines which can serve as starting materials for the preparation of various alkaloids. Here, the preparation of the benzylisoquinolines (+)-laudanidine, (+)-armepavine, and (+)-laudanosine as well as the tetrahydroprotoberberines (-)-corytenchine and (-)-tetrahydropseudoepiberberine using Noyori's asymmetric transfer hydrogenation are described. The dimeric alkaloids (+)-O-methylthalibrine and (+)-tetramethylmagnolamine were obtained from nonracemic precursors in Ullmann diaryl ether syntheses.     

Enantioselective synthesis of functionalized γ-butyrolactones

Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation and aminohydroxylation of (E)-dimethyl-2-alkylidene glutarates 2 were shown to afford enantio-enriched or enantiopure highly functionalized γ-butyrolactones 3 and 7.     

Enantioselective alkylation and protonation of prochiral enolates in the asymmetric synthesis of β-amino acids

Achiral 1-benzoyl-3-methylperhydropyrimidin-4-one (1) was deemed a useful, potential precursor for the enantioselective synthesis of α-substituted β-amino acids. Pyrimidinone 1 was prepared from inexpensive β-aminopropanoic acid in 62% overall yield. Prochiral enolate derivative 1 -Li was alkylated in good yield and moderate enantioselectivity in the presence of chiral amines (S)-8, (S,S)-9, (S,S)-10, or (−)-sparteine. The enantioselectivity of the alkylation process is highest in toluene as the solvent and in the presence of lithium bromide as additive. The racemic alkylated derivatives 2 and 3 were readily metallated with LDA to give prochiral enolates 2-Li and 3-Li, that were reprotonated with novel chiral phenolic acids (S)-11, (S,S)-12, (S)-13, and (S,S)-14 in moderate enantioselectivity in the case of 2-Li and good enantioselectivity in the case of 3-Li. The acid (6N HCl) hydrolysis of enantioenriched 2 and 3 proceeded in good yield and without racemization to afford α-alkyl-β-amino acids 4 and 5, respectively.     

Enantioselective and collective syntheses of xanthanolides involving a controllable dyotropic rearrangement of cis-β-lactones

Let's swap: a scalable, atom-economic, enantio-, and diastereoselective synthetic route to trisubstituted γ-butyrolactones based on a Wagner-Meerwein-type dyotropic rearrangement of cis-β-lactones is described. This methodology was applied in efficient and protecting-group-free formal syntheses and total syntheses of various xanthanolide natural products.     

Enantioselective synthesis of two key intermediates for leukotrienes A_4 and B_4

Leukotrienes, arachidonic acid derived metabolites of great biological signifi-cance, are present in tissue at extremely low concentrations, so that experimentalquaatities are only accessible by chemical synthesis. In various synthetic routes,[S,S-(E)]-3-(hydroxymethyl) oxiranebutanoic acid methyl ester (1) and (S)-5-(ben-zoyloxy)-6-oxohexanoic acid methyl ester (2) have been frequently used as the C_1-C_7 fragment of LTA_4 3 and the C_1-C_6 fragment of LTB_4 4, respectively. (Scheme1)