Spirocyclization strategy toward indole phytoalexins. The first synthesis of (±)-1-methoxyspirobrassinin, (±)-1-methoxyspirobrassinol, and (±)-1-methoxyspirobrassinol methyl ether

The first syntheses of cruciferous indole phytoalexins (±)-1-methoxyspirobrassinin, (±)-1-methoxyspirobrassinol, (±)-1-methoxyspirobrassinol methyl ether as well as a new syntheses of phytoalexins (±)-spirobrassinin and cyclobrassinin were achieved by dioxane dibromide (DDB)-mediated spirocyclization of brassinin and its 1-substituted derivatives.     

The chemistry of vicinal tricarbonyls : A synthesis of (±)-slaframine and (±)-6-epi-slaframine

A synthesis of (±)-slaframine and (±)-6-epi-slaframine is described. The approach makes use of the intramolecular alkylation of an N-substituted 3-hydroxypyrrole-2-carboxylate ester.     

Enzymatic kinetic resolution of 1-(3′-furyl)-3-buten-1-ol and 2-(2′-furyl)-propan-1-ol

The enzymatic kinetic resolution of the racemic alcohols 1-(3′-furyl)-3-buten-1-ol (±)-1 and 2-(2′-furyl)propan-1-ol (±)-2 was investigated by screening a range of lipases and esterases for enantioselective transacylation, as well as for enantioselective hydrolysis. For both alcohols, lipase-catalyzed hydrolysis of the derived racemic acetate gave the best results for accessing the desired (S)-enantiomers. In the case of the secondary alcohol (±)-1, ASL turned out to be the optimum enzyme, whereas PPL was found to be superior in the case of the primary alcohol (±)-2. Additionally, an alternative access to (S)-2 via Oppolzer's camphor sultam methodology is described.     

Determination of absolute configuration of a metabolite (−)-hydroxyhexamide from acetohexamide, syntheses of (−)- and (+)-hydroxyhexamides and (−)- and (+)-acetoxyhexamides

Enantioselective acetylation of (±)-4-(1-hydroxyethyl)benzenesulfonamide 6 with ‘Acylase I’ (No. A 2156) from Aspergillus melleus in the presence of vinyl acetate gave (R)-4-(1-acetoxyethyl)benzenesulfonamide 7 (98% ee) and (S)-6 (98% ee). Both (S)-6 and (R)-7 were individually converted to the (S)-hydroxyhexamide 2 (>99% ee) and (R)-hydroxyhexamide 2 (>99% ee), respectively. The absolute configuration of a metabolite (−)-hydroxyhexamide 2 from acetohexamide 1 was found to be S based on unequivocal chemical methods including X-ray analysis.     

Enzymatic production of (3S,4R)-(−)-4-(4′-fluorophenyl)-6-oxo-piperidin-3-carboxylic acid using a commercial preparation from Candida antarctica A: the role of a contaminant esterase

The enantioselective hydrolysis of (3RS,4RS)-trans-4-(4′-fluorophenyl)-6-oxo-piperidin-3-ethyl carboxylate (±)-2 was effected using a commercial preparation of lipase from C. antarctica A (CAL-A). We found that the hydrolytic activity of the lipase (immobilized on a number of very different supports) with this substrate was negligible. However, a contaminant esterase with Mw of 52 KDa from this commercial preparation exhibited much higher activity with (±)-2. This enzyme was purified and immobilized on PEI-coated support and the resulting enzyme preparation was highly enantioselective in the hydrolysis of (±)-2 (E >100), hydrolyzing only the (3S,4R)-(−)-3, which is a useful intermediate for the synthesis of pharmaceutically important (−)-paroxetine. Optimization of the reaction system was performed using a racemic mixture with a substrate concentration of 50 mM. This enzyme preparation was used in three reaction cycles and maintained its catalytic properties.     

A Stereoselective Total Synthesis of (±)-Maritimol, (±)-2-Deoxystemodinone, (±)-Stemodinone,and (±)-Stemodin

A simple and stereoselective total synthesis of (±)-maritimol ( 2d ) and its conversion into the other title compounds (±)-( 2a ), ((±)- 2b ), and ((±)- 2c ) is described. The unique bicyclo[3.2.1]octane moiety, constituting their C/D-ring system, is stereospecifically obtained by solvolytic rearrangement of the methanesulfonate 23 .     

Solvent extraction equilibria of the nickel-3-(2-furyl)-2-mercaptopropenoic acid complex as an ion-pair with the diphenylguanidinium ion

The extraction of nickel from aqueous media (0.1M NaClO₄) with 3-(2-furyl)-2-mercaptopropenoic acid (FMPA) in dichloroethane at 25° has been studied. The extraction is efficient only if a suitable counter-ion is present to form an ion-associate with the Ni—FMPA complex. The diphenylguanidinium ion has been found suitable as the counter-ion.     

Total Synthesis of (±)-3-Deoxy-7,8-dihydromorphine, (±)-4-Methoxy-N-methylmorphinan-6-one and 2,4-Dioxygenated (±)-Congeners

A total synthesis of racemic 3-deoxy-7,8-dihydromorphine ((±)- 2 ) and 4-me-thoxy-ALmethylmorphinan-6-one ((±)- 3 ) is described. The key intermediate was 2,4-dihydroxy-N-formylmorphinan-6-one (11) , obtained from 3,5-dibenzyloxy-phenylacetic acid (4) in 41.8% overall yield. Bromination of 11 , and treatment with aqueous N_aOH-solution afforded, after N-deblocking and reductive N-methylation with concomitant removal of the aromatic bounded Br-atom, the morphinanone 14. Elimination of the HO–C(2) group in 14 was accomplished by hydrogenolysis of its N-phenyltetrazolyl ether 15 , to give 3-deoxy-6,0-didehydro-7,8-dihydromorphine (16). Reduction of 16 with L-Selectride at low temperature provided (±)- 2 in high yield. The ether 15 directly afforded, under more vigorous reduction conditions, 4-hydroxy-N-methylmorphinan-6-one (17). and after O-methylation of 17 , the methyl ether (±)- 3 was obtained. A (1:l)-mixture of 4-hydroxy-2-methoxy-N-methylmor-phinan-6-one (28) and its 2-hydroxy-4-methoxy isomer 30 svere obtained by Grewe-cyclization of a mono-methoxylated aromatic precursor similar to that which afforded 11. The 2,4-dioxygenated N-methylmorphinan-6-ones 29 , 31 and 38 were also prepared and characterized.     

Ab initio MRD-CI study of GaAs, GaAs2(±), Ga2As2(±) and As4 clusters

Using pseudopotentials and double zeta basis sets with s, p diffuse functions and two sets of d functions, MRD-CI calculations were performed on As₂^(±), As₄⁽⁺⁾, GaAs⁻, GaAs₂^(±) and Ga₂As₂^(±). This study complements previous theoretical investigations on Ga^(±) to Ga₄^(±) and GaAs⁽⁺⁾. For As₄ tetrahedral symmetry was assumed, and Re of X¹A₁ determined as 4.73a₀. Vertical ionization potentials to several states of As₄⁺ were calculated. For GaAs₂, GaAs₂⁺ and GaAs₂⁻, ground and one low-lying state were geometry-optimized, both in C_2v (Ga-As-As), and linear symmetry (GaAsAs, C_∞h and AsGaAs, D_∞h). The lowest state of GaAs₂ is ²B₂ in C_2v. For Ga₂As₂, the lowest state and low-lying excited states were optimized in various geometries. The most stable state has rhombic structure (¹A_g in D_2h), but T-form and other forms (C_2v, C_∞v, D_∞h) are only 1–2 eV less stable. In D_2h symmetry, several low-lying excited states of Ga₂As₂ were studied. The ground states of Ga₂As₂⁺ and Ga₂As₂⁻ were found to be ²B_2u, and ²B_2g, respectively. Trends in ionization potentials (IP), electron affinities (EA), atomization energies and fragmentation energies for the molecules Ga_xAs_y and the pure compounds Ga_n and As_n up to 4 atoms, were studied. Ga_xAs_y clusters, with x + y even, have higher IP's than odd-numbered clusters. An experimentally observed alternation of EA, whereby an odd number of atoms have higher EA than their even neighbors, is confirmed. The mixed compounds Ga_xAs_y have atomization energies between those of Ga_n and As_n (x + y = n), usually closer to those of Ga_n. Fragmentation of Ga_xAs_y occurs such that As----As bonds are retained, and if possible, also Ga----As bonds, since the dissociation energy of As₂ is higher than that of GaAs, which in turn is higher than that of Ga₂. Calculated fragmentation energies agree qualitatively with experimental observations about the composition of 3-atomic and 4-atomic clusters Ga_xAs_y.     

Synthesis and molecular structure of the optically active organoaluminium dimer (S)-(—)-(S)-(—)- [(C6H5)CH(CH3)NHA1(CH3)2]2

Reaction of the optically active primary amine (S)-(—)--methylbenzylamine with trimethylaluminium in heptane affords the crystalline organoaluminium dimer (S)-(—)-(S)-(—)-[(C₆H₅)CH(CH₃)NHA1(CH₃)₂]₂. Isolated as large, colourless, extremely air-sensitive prismatic crystals, the title compound crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group P2₁2₁2₁ with unit cell parameters a = 8.406(3), b = 15.505(4), c = 17.547(5) Å, V = 2287 ų and p = 1.03 g cm⁻³ for Z = 4. Least-squares refinement based on 1477 observed reflections converged at R = 0.056, R_w = 0.058. Methane was eliminated during the course of the reaction due to cleavage of A1---C and N---H bonds resulting in an asymmetric A1₂N₂ fragment at the core of the organoaluminium dimer. The mean A1---C bond distance in the dimethylaluminium units is 1.930(8), while the mean A1---N bond distance is 1.950(5) Å. Specific rotation ([]_D²⁵ in CH₂C1₂)of the dimer is determined to be - 20.6°.     

A convenient stereoselective synthesis of (R)-(−)-denopamine and (R)-(−)-salmeterol

β-Adrenoreceptor agonists (R)-(−)-denopamine (R)-1 and (R)-(−)-salmeterol (R)-2 have been prepared in good overall yield and high enantioselectivity through a biotransformative pathway.     

A Short and Elegant Synthesis of (±)‐Streptopyrrolidine

A brief and efficient approach for the synthesis of (±)‐5‐benzyl‐4‐hydroxy‐2‐pyrrolidine ( 1 ) from phenylalanine racemate is described. The key step is the stereocontrolled reduction of the keto functionality of benzylated pyrrolidinone intermediate ( 6 ) via sodium borohydride in carboxylic acid medium furnishing both (R,R)‐ and (S,S)‐configured diastereomers. The natural (R,R) enantiomer ( 2 ), however, crystallized out from its racemic mixture. Structure of 2 was confirmed by NMR, IR, elemental analyzer, and single crystal X‐ray crystallographic techniques.     

Enzymatic resolution of (±)-cis-2-aminocyclopentanol and (±)-cis-2-aminocyclohexanol

(±)-cis-N-Benzyloxycarbonyl-2-aminocyclopentanol was efficiently resolved by O-acylation with Pseudomonas cepacia lipase, as was (±)-cis-N-benzyloxycarbonyl-2-aminocyclohexanol when Candida antarctica lipase was used.     

Structural and spectral studies of N-2-(pyridyl)-, N-2-(3-, 4-, 5-, and 6-picolyl)- and N-2-(4,6-lutidyl)-N′-2-thiomethoxyphenylthioureas

Structures of the following compounds have been obtained: N-(2-pyridyl)-N′-2-thiomethoxyphenylthiourea, PyTu2SMe, monoclinic, P2₁/c, a=11.905(3), b=4.7660(8), c=23,532(6) Å, β=95.993(8)°, V=1327.9(5) ų and Z=4; N-2-(3-picolyl)-N′-2-thiomethoxyphenyl-thiourea, 3PicTu2SeMe, monoclinic, C2/c, a=22.870(5), b=7.564(1), c=16.941(4) Å, β=98.300(6)°, V=2899.9(9) ų and Z=8; N-2-(4-picolyl)-N′-2-thiomethoxyphenylthiourea, 4PicTu2SMe, monoclinic P2₁/a, a=9.44(5), b=18.18(7), c=8.376(12) Å, β=91.62(5)°, V=1437(1) ų and Z=4; N-2-(5-picolyl)-N′-2-thiomethoxyphenylthiourea, 5PicTu2SMe, monoclinic, C2/c, a=21.807(2), b=7.5940(9), c=17.500(2) Å, β=93.267(6)°, V=2893.3(5) ų and Z=8; N-2-(6-picolyl)-N′-2-thiomethoxyphenylthiourea, 6PicTu2SMe, monoclinic, P2₁/c, a=8.499(4), b=7.819(2), c=22.291(8) Å, β=90.73(3)°, V=1481.2(9) ų and Z=4 and N-2-(4,6-lutidyl)-N′-2-thiomethoxyphenyl-thiourea, 4,6LutTu2SMe, monoclinic, P2₁/c, a=11.621(1), b=9.324(1), c=14.604(1) Å, β=96.378(4)°, V=1572.4(2) ų and Z=4. Comparisons with other N-2-pyridyl-N′-arylthioureas having substituents in the 2-position of the aryl ring are included.     

Spectrophotometric determination of cadmium with 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol and non-ionic surfactants Application to acetic acid extracts of ceramic enamels

The Cd-PAN system in the presence of non-ionic surfactants (polyoxyethylene nonylphenols), which dissolve the reagent and complex by formation of micelles, has been studied spectrophotometrically. The optimum conditions for Cd determination are pH 9 (Na₂B₄O₇-HClO₄), 2% of surfactant and measurement at 555 nm. The complex is Cd(PAN)₂ and its conditional formation constant is 3.5 × 10¹¹. The system obeys the Lambert-Beer law, with an error of 0.9% over the Cd concentration range 0.44–1.74 ppm; the molar absorptivity is 4.94 × 10⁴1·mole⁻¹.cm⁻¹ at 555 nm. The relative standard deviation is 0.7% and the limit of detection 0.009 μg/ml. The selectivity with respect to species important in the ceramic industry is adequate for application of the method to determination of Cd in acetic acid extracts of ceramic enamels.     

(S)-(+)-1-Methyl-2-(6,7,-dimethoxy-2,3-naphthalimido)ethyl trifluoromethanesulfonate as a fluorescence chiral derivatizing reagent for carboxylic acid enantiomers in high-performance liquid chromatography

A new triflate-type fluorescence chiral derivatizing reagent, (S)-(+)-1-methyl-2-(6,7-dimethoxy-2,3-naphthalimido)ethyl trifluoromethanesulfonate, [S-(+)-MDNE-OTf], has been developed for the determination of the enantiomers of carboxylic acids. By introducing the two methoxy groups on the naphthalimido ring moiety, the red shift in the fluorescence spectrum and a high resolution in reversed-mode separation of the diastereomers of chiral carboxylic acids have been achieved. The detection limits (S/N=3) with ultraviolet and fluorescence detection are 8 fmol (λ_max=283 nm) and 4 fmol (λ_ex=283 nm, λ_em=467 nm), respectively.     

Synthesen makrocyclischer Lactone durch Ringerweiterung Herstellung von (±)-Phoracantholid I, (±)-Dihydrorecifeiolid und (±)-15-Hexadecanolid

Syntheses of Macrocyclic Lactones by Ring Enlargement Reaction Reaction. Preparation of (±)-Phoracantholide I, (±)-Dihydrorecifeiolide and (±)-15-Hexadecanolide A general procedure for the synthesis of macrocyclic lactones is described. The Michael adducts of 2-nitrocycloalkanones and acrylaldehyde were regiospecifically methylated with CH₃Ti[OCH(CH₃)₂]₃ or (CH₃)₂Ti[OCH(CH₃)₂]₂ at the aldehyde carbonyl group. Treatment of the so-formed alkohols with tetrabutylammonium fluoride gave the lactones enlarged by four ring members. This method was used to synthesize the 10-membered (±)-phoracantolide I ( 11 ), the 12-membered (±)-dihydrorecifeiolide ( 17 ), and (±)-15-hexadecanolide ( 24 ) in 52%, 26.5%, and 58.7% respectively.     

Highly stereocontrolled synthesis of [3.3.3] propellane sesquiterpenes. ( ± )-Modhephene and (±)-epimodhephene

Stereospecific total synthesis of (±)-modhephene (2) and (±)-epimodhephene (3) are reported. Conjugate addition of 1-trimethylsilyl-1-butyn-4-yl cuprate (BF₃-etherate catalysis) to bicyclic ketone 6, fluoride ion-promoted deblocking of the terminal acetylene, and ene reaction, gave tricyclic enone 11. Sequential Wittig methylenation, regiocontrolled epoxidation, and Lewis acid catalyzed isomerization afforded ketone 14 whose double bond relocation and Wolff-Kishner reduction led exclusively to 2. In a still shorter route to 3, 3-butenyl cuprate addition to 6 was utilized to gain access to 7. Thermolysis of this intermediate, methylenation, and double bond isomerization were found to deliver pure 3 successfully.     

Total Synthesis of (±)-Hirsutene via Pd-Promoted Cycloalkenylation Reaction

Beginning with trans-2-methyl-4-cyclohexenecarboxylic acid (9), a total synthesis of linear triquinane sesquiterpene (±)-hirsutene (1) has been accomplished. An acid catalyzed intramolecular conjugate addition (7→6a) and a Pd²⁺-promoted highly stereocontrolled cyclization (5→4) were utilized for the key step of the sequence. Interestingly, some synthetic intermediates exhibited cytotoxicity.     

Total synthesis of (±)-marmin and related coumarin monoterpenes

(±)-Marmin (1a) and its cis isomer (1b) have been synthesized from 7-neranyloxycoumarin (10a) and 7-neryloxycoumarin (10b), respectively, by way of the corresponding terminal epoxides 2a and 2a. The geometrically and positionally specific route confirms the structure and, in particular, the irons double bond geometry of natural (+)-marmin and epoxide (+)-2a. The latter, upon reaction with stannic chloride in benzene gives rise to the naturally occurring cyclic monoterpene coumarin types 3 and 6 as well as the previously unknown double-bond isomer 13.