Synthesis of Enantiomerically Pure Bis‐Sulfinyl Substituted Phenylene Ethynylenes

The stereoselective and efficient monoaddition of transient [(1S,2R,4R)‐2‐hydroxy‐7,7‐dimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]hept‐1‐yl]methanesulfenic (=(1S)‐isoborneol‐10‐sulfenic) acid to isomeric diethynylbenzenes affords {1‐[(1S)‐isoborneol‐10‐sulfinyl]ethenyl}ethynylbenzenes. Their enantiomerically pure (R_S)‐epimers are involved in a Cu‐free Sonogashira coupling with 1,4‐diiodo‐2,5‐dimethoxybenzene to give C₂‐symmetric bis‐sulfinyl phenylene ethynylenes, stimulating prototypes of new sulfurated chiral architectures that can find application as chelating agents.     

Facile Synthesis of Diastereoisomerically and Optically Pure 2‐Substituted Hexahydro‐1H‐pyrrolizin‐3‐ones

We report a short synthetic route that provides optically active 2‐substituted hexahydro‐1H‐pyrrolizin‐3‐ones in four steps from commercially available Boc (tert‐but(oxy)carbonyl))‐protected proline. Diastereoisomers (−)‐ 11 and (−)‐ 12 were assembled from the proline‐derived aldehyde (−)‐ 8 and ylide 9 via a Wittig reaction and subsequent catalytic hydrogenation (Scheme 3). Cleavage of the Boc protecting group under acidic conditions, followed by intramolecular cyclization, afforded the desired hexahydro‐1H‐pyrrolizinones (−)‐ 1 and (+)‐ 13 . Applying the same protocol to ylide 19 afforded hexahydro‐1H‐pyrrolizinones (−)‐ 25 and (−)‐ 26 (Scheme 5). The absolute configuration of the target compounds was determined by a combination of NMR studies (Figs. 1 and 2) and X‐ray crystallographic analysis (Fig. 3).     

An Expeditious Access to Enantiomerically Pure cis‐Dialkyl‐Substituted γ‐ and δ‐Lactones

A facile general route to enantiomerically pure 3,4‐cis‐dialkyl‐substituted γ‐lactones and 4,5‐cis‐dialkyl‐substituted δ‐lactones by TiCl₄‐mediated Evans asymmetric aldolization as the key step is exemplified by synthesis of cis‐(3R,4R)‐3‐methyldecan‐4‐olide and (4R,5R)‐aerangis lactone.     

A Simple and Facile Synthesis of 4‐Phenylquinoline‐fused Pyrrolidin‐2‐ones

In the present investigation, a simple and facile synthesis of a series of 4‐phenylquinoline‐fused pyrrolidin‐2‐ones, namely, 9‐phenyl‐2‐substituted‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrrolo[3,4‐b]quinolin‐1‐ones is described, involving the tandem intermolecular C‐N bond formation reaction between readily available ethyl 2‐(chloromethyl)‐4‐phenylquinoline‐3‐carboxylate and various amines followed by in situ intramolecular C–N bond cyclization process in the presence of EtOH‐AcOH (v/v, 10:1) solvent system as the reaction medium.     

Dynamic Kinetic Resolution of Homoallylic Alcohols: Application to the Synthesis of Enantiomerically Pure 5,6‐Dihydropyran‐2‐ones and δ‐Lactones

Dynamic kinetic resolution of various homoallylic alcohols with the use of Candida antarctica lipase B and ruthenium catalyst 2 afforded homoallylic acetates in high yields and with high enantioselectivity. These enantiopure acetates were further transformed into homoallylic acrylates after hydrolysis of the ester function and subsequent DMAP‐catalyzed esterification with acryloyl chloride. After ring‐closing metathesis 5,6‐dihydropyran‐2‐ones were obtained in good yields. Selective hydrogenation of the carbon? carbon double bond afforded the corresponding δ‐lactones without loss of chiral information.     

Efficient and Facile Synthesis of Substituted Aminothiadiazolylhydrazonoindolin‐2‐ones

New series of substituted aminothiadiazolylhydrazonoindolin‐2‐ones were prepared in high yields (89–94%) via the cyclocondensation of thiocarbonohydrazides ( 1a , 1b , 1c , 1d ) with 3‐(dicyanomethylene)‐2‐indolone in (ethanol/piperidine) at room temperature. Explanations of these conversations involve the nucleophilic addition on the dicyanomethylene carbon atom. The structures were established by spectroscopic data and single crystal X‐ray crystallography.     

Synthesis of Enantiomerically Pure Substituted Cyclopentenes from (−)-Quinic Acid

The synthesis of a large variety of enantiomerically pure substituted reactive cyclopentenes 16, 23, 24 and 28 have been synthesized from the readily available (?)-quinic acid 1 . The straightforward strategy involves a high-yielding intramolecular aldolization-dehydration of acyclic 1,6-dialdehydes 13, 18, 19 and 27 obtained by oxidative cleavage of cyclohexanediols 5, 7, 11 and 12 , using either lead tetraacetate or triphenylbismuth carbonate. Neither sulfoxide formation nor racemization of the intermediate dialdehydes at the oxygenated chiral centre was observed. Transformation of the thioacetal 25 to the corresponding ketone 26 using phenylselenic anhydride is also described.     

Enzyme‐Mediated Syntheses of the Enantiomers of γ‐Irones

An enzymatic approach to the synthesis of all the possible stereoisomers of (E) and (Z), cis and trans‐γ‐irones in enantiomerically pure form from commercial Irone Alpha^® is described. A very efficient resolution of racemic trans‐γ‐irone, affording both the enantiomers in high ee and chemical purity, is also presented. Olfactory evaluation of (+)‐ and (−)‐ 3b and full configuration assignment of the irone isomers contained in samples of Italian iris oil are reported.     

Enantioselective Syntheses of Substituted γ‐Butyrolactones

The previously described chiral 2‐acyloxathianes 5 (Scheme I) are used in two different enantioselective syntheses of γ‐butyrolactones. In one synthesis, Grignard addition, cleavage and reduction to carbinols RR'C(OH)CH₂OH is followed by tosylation, malonate homologation, lactonization, and removal of the carbomethoxy group to give optically active γ‐lactones. A modification of this synthesis (Scheme I) leads to optically active α‐methylene‐γ‐lactones. In the second synthesis, reaction of a bromomagnesium enolate with ketones 5 leads to β‐hydroxyesters, which, by appropriate sequences of reduction and cleavage (Scheme II) are converted to optically active α‐ or β‐hydroxy‐γ‐lactones.     

A Facile Synthesis of Enantiomerically Pure (R)‐6‐Arylbinols

This work reported a convenient method for the preparation of enantiomerically pure 6‐aryl‐2,2′‐dihydroxy‐1,1′‐binaphthyl derivatives starting from the commercially available (R)‐2,2′‐hydroxy‐1,1′‐binaphthyl [(R)‐ 1 ] via bromination, hydrolysis and Suzuki cross coupling reaction. This novel synthetic method was characterized with high regioselectivity, simple operation, mild reaction conditions, and excellent yield (up to 73%). On the other hand, we synthesized the target unknown compounds, which were confirmed by IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, MS and elementary analysis.     

Copper(II)‐Catalyzed Tandem Synthesis of Substituted 3‐Methyleneisoindolin‐1‐ones

An efficient strategy for the synthesis of a variety of 3‐methyleneisoindolin‐1‐ones has been developed. The reaction proceeded from coupling of 2‐iodobenzamides (or 2‐bromobenzamides) and terminal alkynes via Cu(OAc)₂·H₂O/2,2′‐biimidazole catalyzed in DMF at 60°C and subsequent additive cyclization produced substituted 3‐methyleneisoindolin‐1‐ones in good to excellent yields.     

Synthesis and Bioassay of Novel Substituted Pyrano[2,3‐f]cinnoline‐2‐ones

A new series of 9‐substituted‐4,10‐dimethylpyrano[2,3‐f]cinnolin‐2‐ones ( 5a , 5b , 5c , 5d , 5e , 5f , 5g , 5h , 5i , 5j , 5k , 5l , 5m ) were synthesized via intramolecular cyclization of the respective acyl amidrazone derivatives ( 4a , 4b , 4c , 4d , 4e , 4f , 4g , 4h , 4i , 4j , 4k , 4l , 4m ), catalyzed by polyphosphoric acid. Compounds ( 4a , 4b , 4c , 4d , 4e , 4f , 4g , 4h , 4i , 4j , 4k , 4l , 4m ) were synthesized through direct interaction of coumarin‐7‐yl hydrazonoyl chloride ( 3 ) with the corresponding cyclic sec‐amines in the presence of triethylamine. The structures of the new compounds were confirmed by elemental analyses, NMR, and MS spectral data. The antitumor activity of compounds 5a , 5b , 5c , 5d , 5e , 5f , 5g , 5h , 5i , 5j , 5k , 5l , 5m was evaluated in vitro on breast cancer cell line (MCF‐7) by a cell viability assay utilizing the tetrazolium dye 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide. Among the compounds tested, compounds 5d , 5f , 5k , and 5h showed potential anti‐MCF‐7 activity and were able to reduce the viability after 72 h to less than 50%.