Enantioselective Allylation of (2E,4E)‐2,4‐Dimethylhexadienal: Synthesis of (5R,6S)‐(+)‐Pteroenone

Allylation, trans‐ and cis‐crotylation of (2E,4E)‐2,4‐dimethylhexadienal, a representative α,β,γ,δ‐unsaturated aldehyde, was carried out under different catalytic and stoichiometric conditions. The reactions catalyzed by organocatalysts TRIP‐PA and N,N′‐dioxides gave the best results with respect to yields, asymmetric induction, and catalyst load in comparison to other procedures. The developed methodology was applied in the enantioselective synthesis of (5R,6S)‐(+)‐pteroenone, a defensive metabolite (ichthyodeterrent) of the Antarctic pteropod Clione antarctica.     

Diastereoselective synthesis of (2R,4S,5S)‐(+)‐5‐(2,2‐dichloroacetamido)‐ 4‐(4‐nitrophenyl)‐2‐aryl‐1,3‐dioxanes

(2R,4S,5S)‐(+)‐5‐(2,2‐Dichloroacetamido)‐4‐(4‐nitrophenyl)‐2‐aryl‐1,3‐dioxanes 3–8 were synthesized with high diastereoselectivity and good yields. The structures of acetals were determined and the configurations were confirmed by 2D‐NMR (NOESY) and X‐ray crystallographic analysis.     

Process‐Scale Total Synthesis of Nature‐Identical (−)‐(S,S)‐7‐Hydroxycalamenal in High Enantiomeric Purity through Catalytic Enantioselective Hydrogenation

A process‐scale stereoselective synthesis of nature‐identical (−)‐(S,S)‐7‐hydroxycalamenal (=(−)‐(5S,8S)‐5,6,7,8‐tetrahydro‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐8‐(1‐methylethyl)naphthalene‐2‐carbaldehyde; (−)‐ 1a ) in 96% enantiomeric excess (ee) with the aid of chiral Ru complexes has been developed. The key step was the enantioselective hydrogenation of easily accessible 2‐(4‐methoxyphenyl)‐3‐methylbut‐2‐enoic acid ( 10 ) to (+)‐ 11 in a 86% ee (Scheme 5 and Table 1). A substantial increase in optical purity (96% ee) was achieved by induced crystallization of the intermediate (+)‐3,4‐dihydro‐4‐(1‐methylethyl)‐7‐methoxy‐2H‐naphthalen‐1‐one ((+)‐ 3 ). Computational conformation analysis carried out on the analog (−)‐ 9 rationalized the high diastereoselectivity achieved in the catalytic hydrogenation of the CC bond.     

(4S,5S)‐(+)‐4‐Hydro­xy­methyl‐2,5‐di­phenyl­oxazoline

The absolute configuration of the title compound, alter­natively called (+)‐(4,5‐di­hydro‐2,5‐di­phenyl­oxazol‐4‐yl)­methanol, C₁₆H₁₅NO₂, has been confirmed as 4S,5S. The hydroxy­methyl group and phenyl ring at the asymmetric C atoms exhibit β and α orientations, respectively. The exocyclic C—C bonds at the asymmetric C atoms are mutually anticlinal (?ac). The hydroxyl group and the N atom of the oxazoline ring are involved in an intermolecular hydrogen bond leading to chains of mol­ecules.     

Synthesis of (−)‐Pinellic Acid and Its (9R,12S,13S)‐Diastereoisomer

The total synthesis of (?)‐pinellic acid with (9S,12S,13S)‐configuration and its (9R,12S,13S)‐diastereoisomer was achieved in high overall yields from a common intermediate derived from (+)‐L ‐diethyl tartrate.     

Asymmetric Syntheses of New Polyhydroxylated Quinolizidines: Cross‐Aldol Reactions of 7‐Oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptan‐2‐one and 3a,4a,7a,7b‐Tetrahydro[1,3]dioxolo[4,5]furo[2,3‐d]isoxazole‐3‐carbaldehyde Derivatives

The cross‐aldolization of (−)‐(1S,4R,5R,6R)‐6‐endo‐chloro‐5‐exo‐(phenylseleno)‐7‐oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptan‐2‐one ((−)‐ 25 ) and of (+)‐(3aR,4aR,7aR,7bS)‐ ((+)‐ 26 ) and (−)‐(3aS,4aS,7aS,7bR)‐3a,4a,7a,7b‐tetrahydro‐6,6‐dimethyl[1,3]dioxolo[4,5]furo[2,3‐d]isoxazole‐3‐carbaldehyde ((−)‐ 26 ) was studied for the lithium enolate of (−)‐ 25 and for its trimethylsilyl ether (−)‐ 31 under Mukaiyama's conditions (Scheme 2). Protocols were found for highly diastereoselective condensation giving the four possible aldols (+)‐ 27 (`anti'), (+)‐ 28 (`syn'), 29 (`anti'), and (−)‐ 30 (`syn') resulting from the exclusive exo‐face reaction of the bicyclic lithium enolate of (−)‐ 25 and bicyclic silyl ether (−)‐ 31 . Steric factors can explain the selectivities observed. Aldols (+)‐ 27 , (+)‐ 28 , 29 , and (−)‐ 30 were converted stereoselectively to (+)‐1,4‐anhydro‐3‐{(S)‐[(tert‐butyl)dimethylsilyloxy][(3aR,4aR,7aR,7bS)‐3a,4a,7a,7b‐tetrahydro‐6,6‐dimethyl[1,3]dioxolo[4,5]‐furo[2,3‐d]isoxazol‐3‐yl]methyl}‐3‐deoxy‐2,6‐di‐O‐(methoxymethyl)‐α‐D ‐galactopyranose ((+)‐ 62 ), its epimer at the exocyclic position (+)‐ 70 , (−)‐1,4‐anhydro‐3‐{(S)‐[(tert‐butyl)dimethylsilyloxy][(3aS,4aS,7aS,7bR)‐3a,4a,7a,7b‐tetrahydro‐6,6‐dimethyl[1,3]dioxolo[4,5]furo[2,3‐d]isoxazol‐3‐yl]methyl}‐3‐deoxy‐2,6‐di‐O‐(methoxymethyl)‐α‐D ‐galactopyranose ((−)‐ 77 ), and its epimer at the exocyclic position (+)‐ 84 , respectively (Schemes 3 and 5). Compounds (+)‐ 62 , (−)‐ 77 , and (+)‐ 84 were transformed to (1R,2R,3S,7R,8S,9S,9aS)‐1,3,4,6,7,8,9,9a‐octahydro‐8‐[(1R,2R)‐1,2,3‐trihydroxypropyl]‐2H‐quinolizine‐1,2,3,7,9‐pentol ( 21 ), its (1S,2S,3R,7R,8S,9S,9aR) stereoisomer (−)‐ 22 , and to its (1S,2S,3R,7R,8S,9R,9aR) stereoisomer (+)‐ 23 , respectively (Schemes 6 and 7). The polyhydroxylated quinolizidines (−)‐ 22 and (+)‐ 23 adopt `trans‐azadecalin' structures with chair/chair conformations in which H−C(9a) occupies an axial position anti‐periplanar to the amine lone electron pair. Quinolizidines 21 , (−)‐ 22 , and (+)‐ 23 were tested for their inhibitory activities toward 25 commercially available glycohydrolases. Compound 21 is a weak inhibitor of β‐galactosidase from jack bean, of amyloglucosidase from Aspergillus niger, and of β‐glucosidase from Caldocellum saccharolyticum. Stereoisomers (−)‐ 22 and (+)‐ 23 are weak but more selective inhibitors of β‐galactosidase from jack bean.     

Practical synthesis of (S)‐7‐(2‐isopropylamino)ethylcamptothecin hydrochloride,potent topoisomerase I inhibitor

A practical semi‐synthetic method of (S)‐7‐(2‐isopropylamino)ethylcamptothecin hydrochloride has been developed. The Mannich reaction of (S)‐7‐methylcamptothecin with isopropylamine hydrochloride in dimethyl sulfoxide as a formaldehyde source gave the desired product in moderate yield.     

(S,S)‐Lactoyllactic acid and (S,S,S)‐lactoyllactoyllactic acid

The dimeric condensation product of lactic acid, namely (S,S)‐2‐[(2‐hydroxypropanoyl)oxy]propanoic acid, C₆H₁₀O₅, (I), crystallizes with two independent molecules in the asymmetric unit, which both have an essentially planar backbone. The trimeric condensation product, namely (S,S,S)‐3‐hydroxybut‐3‐en‐2‐yl 2‐[(2‐hydroxypropanoyl)oxy]propanoate, C₉H₁₄O₇, (II), has one molecule in the asymmetric unit and consists of two essentially planar parts, with the central C—O bond in a gauche conformation. Both molecules of the dimer are involved in intermolecular hydrogen bonds, forming chains with a C(8) graph set. These chains are connected by D(2) hydrogen bonds to form a two‐dimensional layer. The trimer forms hydrogen‐bonded C(10) and C₂²(6) chains, which together result in a two‐dimensional motif. The Hooft method [Hooft, Straver & Spek (2008). J. Appl. Cryst. 41 , 96–103] was successfully applied to the determination of the absolute structure of (I).     

Conformational change induced by hydration: trans‐dichloro­bis­[(1R,2R,3R,5S)‐(–)‐isopinocampheylamine]palladium(II) and trans‐dichloro­bis[(1S,2S,3S,5R)‐(+)‐isopinocampheylamine]palladium(II) hemihydrate

The title compounds, trans‐dichloro­bis[(1R,2R,3R,5S)‐(−)‐2,6,6‐trimethyl­bicyclo­[3.1.1]heptan‐3‐amine]palladium(II), [PdCl₂(C₁₀H₁₉N)₂], and trans‐dichloro­bis[(1S,2S,3S,5R)‐(+)‐2,6,6‐trimethyl­bicyclo­[3.1.1]heptan‐3‐amine]palladium(II) hemihydrate, [PdCl₂(C₁₀H₁₉N)₂]·0.5H₂O, present different arrangements of the amine ligands coordinated to Pd^II, viz. antiperiplanar in the former case and (−)anticlinal in the latter. The hemihydrate is an inclusion compound, with a Pd coordination complex and disordered water mol­ecules residing on crystallographic twofold axes. The crystal structure for the hemihydrate includes a short Pd⋯Pd separation of 3.4133 (13) Å.     

(1R,2R)‐2‐(4‐Methylenecyclohex‐2‐enyl)propyl (1R,4S)‐camphanate

Esterification of a single diastereomer of 2‐(4‐methylene­cyclohex‐2‐enyl)propanol, (II), with (1R,4S)‐(+)‐camphanic acid [(1R,4S)‐4,7,7‐trimethyl‐3‐oxo‐2‐oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane‐1‐carboxylic acid] leads to the crystalline title compound, C₂₀H₂₈O₄. The relative configuration of the camphanate was determined by X‐ray diffraction analysis. The outcome clarifies the relative and absolute stereochemistry of the naturally occurring bisabolane sesquiterpenes β‐turmerone and β‐sesquiphellandrene, since we have converted (II) into both natural products via a stereospecific route.     

Synthesis of (2S)‐2‐(Benzoylamino)‐3‐(heteroaryl)propyl Benzoates

(3E,5S)‐1‐Benzoyl‐5‐[(benzoyloxy)methyl]‐3‐[(dimethylamino)methylidene]pyrrolidin‐2‐one ( 9 ) was prepared in two steps from commercially available (S)‐5‐(hydroxymethyl)pyrrolidin‐2‐one ( 7 ) (Scheme 1). Compound 9 gave, in one step, upon treatment with various C,N‐ and C,O‐1,3‐dinucleophiles 10 – 18 , the corresponding 3‐(quinolizin‐3‐yl)‐ and 3‐(2‐oxo‐2H‐pyran‐3‐yl)‐substituted (2S)‐2‐(benzoylamino)propyl benzoates 19 – 27 (Schemes 1 and 2).     

Analogues of α‐Campholenal (= (1R)‐2,2,3‐Trimethylcyclopent‐3‐ene‐1‐acetaldehyde) as Building Blocks for (+)‐β‐Necrodol (= (1S,3S)‐2,2,3‐Trimethyl‐4‐methylenecyclopentanemethanol) and Sandalwood‐like Alcohols

To complete our panorama in structure–activity relationships (SARs) of sandalwood‐like alcohols derived from analogues of α‐campholenal (= (1R)‐2,2,3‐trimethylcyclopent‐3‐ene‐1‐acetaldehyde), we isomerized the epoxy‐isopropyl‐apopinene (?)‐ 2d to the corresponding unreported α‐campholenal analogue (+)‐ 4d (Scheme 1). Derived from the known 3‐demethyl‐α‐campholenal (+)‐ 4a , we prepared the saturated analogue (+)‐ 5a by hydrogenation, while the heterocyclic aldehyde (+)‐ 5b was obtained via a Bayer‐Villiger reaction from the known methyl ketone (+)‐ 6 . Oxidative hydroboration of the known α‐campholenal acetal (?)‐ 8b allowed, after subsequent oxidation of alcohol (+)‐ 9b to ketone (+)‐ 10 , and appropriate alkyl Grignard reaction, access to the 3,4‐disubstituted analogues (+)‐ 4f,g following dehydration and deprotection. (Scheme 2). Epoxidation of either (+)‐ 4b or its methyl ketone (+)‐ 4h , afforded stereoselectively the trans‐epoxy derivatives 11a,b , while the minor cis‐stereoisomer (+)‐ 12a was isolated by chromatography (trans/cis of the epoxy moiety relative to the C₂ or C₃ side chain). Alternatively, the corresponding trans‐epoxy alcohol or acetate 13a,b was obtained either by reduction/esterification from trans‐epoxy aldehyde (+)‐ 11a or by stereoselective epoxidation of the α‐campholenol (+)‐ 15a or of its acetate (?)‐ 15b , respectively. Their cis‐analogues were prepared starting from (+)‐ 12a . Either (+)‐ 4h or (?)‐ 11b , was submitted to a Bayer‐Villiger oxidation to afford acetate (?)‐ 16a . Since isomerizations of (?)‐ 16 lead preferentially to β‐campholene isomers, we followed a known procedure for the isomerization of (?)‐epoxyverbenone (?)‐ 2e to the norcampholenal analogue (+)‐ 19a . Reduction and subsequent protection afforded the silyl ether (?)‐ 19c , which was stereoselectively hydroborated under oxidative condition to afford the secondary alcohol (+)‐ 20c . Further oxidation and epimerization furnished the trans‐ketone (?)‐ 17a , a known intermediate of either (+)‐β‐necrodol (= (+)‐(1S,3S)‐2,2,3‐trimethyl‐4‐methylenecyclopentanemethanol; 17c ) or (+)‐(Z)‐lancifolol (= (1S,3R,4Z)‐2,2,3‐trimethyl‐4‐(4‐methylpent‐3‐enylidene)cyclopentanemethanol). Finally, hydrogenation of (+)‐ 4b gave the saturated cis‐aldehyde (+)‐ 21 , readily reduced to its corresponding alcohol (+)‐ 22a . Similarly, hydrogenation of β‐campholenol (= 2,3,3‐trimethylcyclopent‐1‐ene‐1‐ethanol) gave access via the cis‐alcohol rac‐ 23a , to the cis‐aldehyde rac‐ 24 .     

A Convenient Approach to the Enantiopure （1S, 2S, 4S, 5S ）- and（ 1R, 2S, 4R, 5 S ）-2,5-Bis （ phenylmethyl）-l, 4-diazabicyclo[ 2.2.2 ] -octane

Cyclodipepflde (3S, 6S )-bis (phenylmethyl) piperazlne-2,5-dione was prelmred in high yield by heating phenylalanine methyl ester in toluene under reflux. The reduction of this cydodipeptide with sodium NaBH4-BF3 in DIME gave the (2S ,SS)-bis(phenyl-methyl)plperazine, which, on heating with ethylene bromide and triethyiamine, afforded the title compounds. This methodwas proved to be generally applicable to the synthesis of C2-symmetric 2, 5-disubsiituted=l, 4-diazabicyclo [ 2.2.2 ] octanefrom the corresponding natural or unnatural amino acid esters.     

Synthesis of Murisolin, (15R, 16R, 19R, 20S)‐Murisolin A,and (15R, 16R, 19S, 20S)‐16,19‐cis‐Murisolin and Their Inhibitory Action with Bovine Heart Mitochondrial Complex I

The asymmetric total synthesis of murisolin, (15R, 16R, 19R, 20S)‐murisolin A, and (15R, 16R, 19S, 20S)‐16,19‐cis‐murisolin was performed by using an epoxy alcohol as a versatile chiral building block for synthesizing the stereoisomers of mono‐THF annonaceous acetogenins. The inhibitory activity of these murisolin compounds was examined with bovine heart mitochondrial complex I, and they showed almost the same activity.     

Practical Synthesis of (20S)‐10‐(3‐Aminopropyloxy)‐7‐ethylcamptothecin,a Water‐Soluble Analogue of Camptothecin

A robust, practical synthesis of (20S)‐10‐(3‐aminopropyloxy)‐7‐ethylcamptothecin (T‐2513, 5 ), which is a water‐soluble analogue of camptothecin, has been developed. The key step in this synthesis is a highly diastereoselective ethylation at the C20 position by using N‐arylsulfonyl‐(R)‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroisoquinoline‐3‐carboxylic acid ester as a chiral auxiliary, which affords the key intermediate ethyl‐(S)‐2‐acyloxy‐2‐(6‐cyano‐5‐oxo‐1,2,3,5‐tetrahydroindolizin‐7‐yl)butanoate ( 8 k ) in 93 % yield and 87 % de. Optically pure compound 8 k was obtained by a single recrystallization from acetone and its further elaboration through Friedlander condensation afforded compound 5 . This synthesis does not require any chromatographic purification steps and can provide compound 5 on a multi‐gram scale in 6.3 % overall yield (16 steps).     

Neutral Penta‐ and Hexacoordinate Silicon(IV) Complexes Containing Two Bidentate Ligands Derived from the α‐Amino Acids (S)‐Alanine, (S)‐Phenylalanine,and (S)‐tert‐Leucine

The neutral hexacoordinate silicon(IV) complex 6 (SiO₂N₄ skeleton) and the neutral pentacoordinate silicon(IV) complexes 7 – 11 (SiO₂N₂C skeletons) were synthesized from Si(NCO)₄ and RSi(NCO)₃ (R=Me, Ph), respectively. The compounds were structurally characterized by solid‐state NMR spectroscopy ( 6 – 11 ), solution NMR spectroscopy ( 6 and 10 ), and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction ( 8 and 11 were studied as the solvates 8? CH₃CN and 11? C₅H₁₂ ? 0.5 CH₃CN, respectively). The silicon(IV) complexes 6 (octahedral Si‐coordination polyhedron) and 7 – 11 (trigonal‐bipyramidal Si‐coordination polyhedra) each contain two bidentate ligands derived from an α‐amino acid: (S)‐alanine, (S)‐phenylalanine, or (S)‐tert‐leucine. The deprotonated amino acids act as monoanionic ( 6 ) or as mono‐ and dianionic ligands ( 7 – 11 ). The experimental investigations were complemented by computational studies of the stereoisomers of 6 and 7 .     

Synthesis of Methyl (20R,22E)‐ and (20S,22E)‐3‐Oxochola‐1,4,22‐ trien‐24‐oate

Methyl (22E)‐3‐oxochola‐1,4,22‐trien‐24‐oate ( 4 ; C₂₅H₃₄O₃) is a naturally occurring steroid with unknown configuration at C(20). Starting from the (20S)‐3‐oxo‐23,24‐dinorchol‐4‐en‐22‐al ( 1a ), we prepared both diastereoisomeric methyl esters 4a and 4b by a three‐step procedure (Scheme). In the case of 4b , the initial epimerization of aldehyde 1a was followed by completion of the sequence and then separation via fractional crystallization to afford pure (20R)‐methyl ester 4a and its (20S)‐diastereomer 4b . Only the analytical data of the (20S)‐compound 4b were in good agreement with those reported for the natural product.     

Carbocyclic 5′‐norcytidine (5′‐norcarbodine)

A preparation of (1′R,2′S,3′R,4′S)‐1‐(2′,3′,4′‐trihydroxycyclopent‐1′‐yl)‐lH‐cytosine (5′‐norcarbodine, 3 ) has formally been achieved in 2 steps from (+)‐(1R,4S)‐4‐hydroxy‐2‐cyclopenten‐1‐yl acetate ( 4 ) and cytosine. The L‐like enantiomer of 3 (that is, 6 ) is also reported using the enantiomer of 4 (that is, 7 ). In evalu ating 3 and 6 for antiviral potential against a number of viruses, compound 3 was found to have activity towards Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV).     

Highly Diastereoselective,Biogenetically Patterned Synthesis of (+)‐(1S,6R)‐Volvatellin (=(+)‐(4R,5S)‐5‐Hydroxy‐4‐(5‐methyl‐1‐methylenehex‐4‐en‐2‐ynyl)cyclohex‐1‐ene‐1‐carbaldehyde)

The synthesis of volvatellin ( 4a ), previously isolated from a herbivorous marine mollusk, was achieved with high diastereoselectivity from putative dietary oxytoxin‐1 ( 2 ). A biogenetically patterned carbonyl‐ene route was chosen, proceeding from 2 predominantly via the trans cyclization product 3 without the use of enzymes. This challenges the involvement of enzymes in the formation of 4a in nature. The optical purity and absolute configuration (1S,4S,6R), assigned to 3 from high‐field ¹H‐NMR examination of its Mosher (MTPA) esters 6 , was retained on its chemical conversion to (+)‐(1S,6R)‐configured 4a and is consistent with the (4S) configuration previously established for caulerpenyne ( 1 ).     

Stereoselective Total Synthesis of (3S,5S)‐1,7‐Bis(4‐hydroxyphenyl)heptane‐3,5‐diol, (3S,5S)‐Alpinikatin,and Its Diastereoisomers

Stereoselective synthesis of the diarylheptanoids, (3S,5S)‐1,7‐bis(4‐hydroxyphenyl)heptane‐3,5‐diol ( 1 ), (3S,5S)‐alpinikatin ( 3 ), and their diastereoisomers ( 2 and 4 , resp.), was achieved from readily available 4‐hydroxybenzaldehyde. The synthetic sequences involve Browns's allylation and Et₂Zn mediated diastereoselective alkynylation reaction as key steps.