Highly stereocontrolled reduction of α′-alkoxyenones to give either the threo or eryhtro allylic 1,2-diol. Assignment of the threo configuration to the C-15, C-16 diol of pumiliotoxin B.1

Model studies indicate that the allylic diol of pumiliotoxin B has the threo configuration, and that this functionality can be prepared with excellent stereocontrol by reduction of an α′-butyldiphenylsilyloxyenone.     

The structure of the side chain of the frog alkaloid pumiliotoxin B

The E configuration at the double bond and $\text{threo}$ relation for diol moiety of the pumiliotoxin B side chain were defined, respectively, through nuclear- Overhauser effects and comparison with model $\text{threo}$- and $\text{erythro}$- diol compounds.     

Relative and absolute stereochemistry of secondary/secondary diols: low-temperature 1H NMR of their bis-MPA esters

Comparison of the room- and low-temperature 1H NMR spectra of the bis-(R)- or bis-(S)-MPA ester derivative of an open chain sec,sec-1,2-diol allows the easy determination of its relative stereochemistry and in some cases absolute configuration. If the diol is anti, its absolute configuration can be directly deduced from the signs of DeltadeltaT1T2 for substituents R1/R2, but if the relative stereochemistry of the diol is syn, the assignment of its absolute configuration requires the preparation of two derivatives (both the bis-(R)- and bis-(S)-MPA esters), comparison of their room-temperature 1H NMR spectra, and calculation of the DeltadeltaRS signs for the methines Halpha(R1) and Halpha(R2) and R1/R2 protons. The reliability of these correlations is validated with 17 diols of known absolute configuration used as model compounds.     

Synthesis and absolute configurations of the cytotoxic polyacetylenes isolated from the callus of Panax ginseng

Panaxacol (1) and dihydropanaxacol (2), cytotoxic polyacetylenes isolated from the callus of Panax ginseng, were synthesized starting from D-(-)-diethyl tartrate. The absolute configuration of 1 was determined to be 9R, 10R and the absolute configuration at C-3 of 2 was tentatively assigned as 3S by the application of the R(+)-alpha-methoxy-alpha-(trifluoro methyl)phenylacetyl (MTPA) method.     

The prediction of the absolute stereochemistry of primary and secondary 1,2-diols by 1H NMR spectroscopy: principles and applications

The absolute configuration of 1,2-diols formed by a primary and a secondary (chiral) hydroxyl group can be deduced by comparison of the 1H NMR spectra of the corresponding (R)- and bis-(S)-MPA esters (MPA = methoxyphenylacetic acid). This method involves the use of the chemical shifts of substituents L1/L2 attached to the secondary (chiral) carbon, and of the hydrogen atom linked to the chiral center (C alpha-H) as diagnostic signals. Theoretical (AM1, HF, and B3 LYP calculations) and experimental data (dynamic and low-temperature NMR spectroscopy, studies on deuterated derivatives, constant coupling analysis, circular dichroism (CD) spectra, and NMR studies with a number of diols of known absolute configuration) prove that the signs of the delta delta(RS) obtained for those signals correlate with the absolute configuration of the diol. A graphical model for the reliable assignment of the absolute configuration of a 1,2-diol by comparison of the NMR spectra of its bis-(R)- and bis-(S)-MPA esters is presented.     

Determining the absolute stereochemistry of secondary/secondary diols by 1H NMR: basis and applications

[structures: see text] The absolute configuration of 1,2-, 1,3-, 1,4-, and 1,5-diols formed by two secondary (chiral) hydroxy groups can be deduced by comparison of the NMR spectra of the corresponding bis-(R)- and bis-(S)-MPA esters. The correlation between the NMR spectra of the bis-ester derivatives and the absolute stereochemistry of the diol involves the comparison of the chemical shifts of the signals for substituents R1/R2 and for the hydrogens attached to the two chiral centers [H(alpha)(R1) and H(alpha)(R2)] in the bis-(R)- and the bis-(S)-ester and is expressed as delta deltaRS. Theoretical calculations [energy minimization by semiempirical (AM1), ab initio (HF), DFT (B3LYP), and Onsager methods, and aromatic shielding effect calculations] and experimental data (NMR and CD spectroscopy) indicate that in these bis-MPA esters, the experimental delta deltaRS values are the result of the contribution of the shielding/deshielding effects produced by the two MPA units that combine according to the actual stereochemistry of the diol. The reliability of these correlations is demonstrated with a wide range of diols of known absolute configuration derivatized with MPA and 9-AMA as auxiliary reagents. A simple graphical model that allows the simultaneous assignment of the two asymmetric carbons of a 1,n-diol by comparison of the NMR spectra (delta deltaRS signs) of its bis-(R)- and bis-(S)-AMAA ester derivatives is presented.     

Absolute stereochemistry of the triol moiety of gymnoprenols: a reinvestigation

The absolute configurations of the C-2 and C-3 positions of gymnoprenol A (1), gymnoprenol B (2), and gymnopilin (3) have been revised from 2S,3R to 2R,3S.     

Relative Stabilities of Transition States Determine Diastereocontrol in Sulfur Ylide Additions onto Chiral N-Sulfinyl Imines

Additions of methylphenylsulfonium methylide onto chiral non-racemic N-sulfinyl imines (R'-SO-N=CH-R, R'=t-butyl, R=protected diol), followed by ring closure, yield terminal aziridines with high diastereoselectivity. Control reactions have established that both N- and C- iminyl substituents impact product preference, and when properly matched, one addition product is selected almost exclusively. Using solution-phase density functional computational methods, minima and transition state searches have been performed to reveal the structural origins of the diastereoselectivity. Our computational findings indicate that ring closure is fast and irreversible, and consequently, the relative energies of the transition states for the competing Re/Si addition steps determine the product diastereomeric ratios. Analysis of addition transition state structures reveals the causes of selectivity as arising from the N- and C- iminyl substituents, and we identify the S (R) configuration of the N-sulfinyl sulfur atom as the dominant director of Si (Re) addition. The control attributed to the sulfur configuration is tied to an important favorable internal interaction between the sulfinyl oxygen and the iminyl hydrogen. The protected diol acts as a secondary director, owing to steric/electrostatic interactions with the approaching ylide.     

The assignment of the absolute configuration of 1,2-diols by low-temperature NMR of a single MPA derivative

[reaction: see text] The absolute configuration of 1,2-primary/secondary diols can be easily assigned by low-temperature NMR of a bis-MPA ester derivative. The assignment requires the analysis of just the methylene protons, is not limited by the absence of signals from the R group of the diol, and requires a very small and recoverable sample.     

Stereochemical course of the enzymic amination of chloro- and bromo- fumaric acid by 3-methylaspartate ammonia-lyase

Enzymic amination of chloro- and bromo- fumaric acid using 3-methylaspartate ammonia-lyase in the presence of ammonia leads to the formation of 3-chloro- and 3-bromo-aspartic acid respectively; the absolute configuration of each product is (R) at C-2 and (S) at C-3.     

NMR spectroscopic analysis of neferine and isoliensinine

Neferine and isoliensinine are the two major compositions of the Chinese medicine lotus plumule. They have extensive cardiovascular activity, such as antiarrhythmic, antithrombic and antihypertensive. In order to confirm the structures reported in the literature by explicit 1H and 13C assignments, we used a series of NMR experiments including 1H, 1H-COSY, HSQC and HMBC. The absolute configuration of neferine (C-1 and C-1') was determined as R and S and that of isoliensinine (C-1 and C-1') was determined as R and R.     

Über die kristall- und molekülstruktur und die absolute konfiguration des (+)-14-epicorynolin-bromacetats

The crystal structure and absolute configuration of ( + )-14-epicorynoline bromoacetate have been elucidated by X-ray diffraction method. The title compound forms monoclinic needles of space group P2₁, with a = 10.056, b = 7.400, c = 13.959 Å, β = 94.09°, and two molecules in the unit cell. The structure was determined by the heavy-atom method and refined by the least-squares method to R =0.082 for 1195 reflections collected by counter diffractometer techniques. Using the anomalous dispersion effect of the bromine atom, the absolute configuration was also determined as 11S, 13R and 14S. The mode of B/C-ring connection is trans; the rings B and C form half-chair and twist-half-chair conformations, respectively. The dihedral angle between the A- and D-rings is 11°. The hydroxyl-group at C-ll is trans to the methyl-group at C-13. The methyl-group at N-5 has an axial orientation and a 1,3-diaxial relationship to the angular methyl-group at C-13, which causes an unusual short distance of 3.11 Å between these methyl-groups.     

Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of Pleiogenone A: An Antiproliferative Trihydroxyalkylcyclohexenone Isolated from Pleiogynium timorense

The first total synthesis of polyhydroxylated cyclohexenone 1 , isolated from Pleiogynium timorense and named pleiogenone A, is reported that also serves as a proof of structure and absolute configuration. Enzymatic dihydroxylation of benzoic acid with R. eutrophus B9 provided enantiomerically pure diene diol 6 . Elaboration of the carboxylate moiety to the alkyl side chain was followed by singlet oxygen cycloaddition to furnish an endoperoxide whose reduction with thiourea led to cyclitol 19 . Several protective operations were required before oxidation and the final extension of the side chain by a Wittig reaction. After final deprotection of the acetonide functionality the desired pleiogenone A ( 1 ) was obtained in 14 operations from benzoic acid.     

Practical method for the absolute configuration assignment of tert/tert 1,2-diols using their complexes with Mo2(OAc)4

We describe here an application of the practical, simple, and reliable approach for the determination of the absolute configuration of sterically demanding tert/tert vic-diols. According to this method, it is only necessary to mix dimolybdenum tetraacteate and a chiral diol in DMSO and record the CD spectra in the 250-650 nm spectral range. From the sign of the CD bands occurring at around 310, 350, and 400 nm, it is possible to establish the chirality of the diol unit expressed by the sign of the O-C-C-O torsion angle. Because the preferred conformation of the diol in the formed complex is known, we are able to determine the absolute configuration of the carbon atoms in the diol subunit even in flexible tert/tert vic-diols.     

Structure and absolute stereochemistry of 19-epi-(+)-echitoveniline : A new indole alkaloid of the leaves of Alstonia venenata r.br.

19-Epi-(+)-echitoveniline, a new indole alkaloid of the leaves ofAlstonia venenata R.Br., has been shown to possess the structure and absolute stereochemistry represented by 5b on the basis of spectral and chemical evidence. A mechanistic rationale for the dependence of the mode of LAH reduction of the δ-lactone 11 on its configuration at C-19 has been offered. The influence of the C-19 configuration on the chemical shift values of the C-16 carbomethoxy protons in the 19-aroyloxy-(+)-and (?)-vincadifformine alkaloids has been discussed.     

Conformational study of the cembranoid sarcophytol A, a potent anti-tumor-promoter

Conformational analysis of the marine cembranoid sarcophytol A (1a), a potent anti-tumor promoter, was carried out using a newly introduced molecular mechanic and molecular dynamic program Discover. Four minimum-energy conformations were derived, in accordance with a previous results of the epoxidation of 1a, which afforded 7R,8R/7S,8S- and 11R,12R/11S,12S-epoxide pairs. The most stable conformation was the one having C-19 and C-20 directed opposite to C-18, with respect to the average plane of the fourteen-membered ring. X-Ray crystallography of sarcophytol A alpha-methoxy-alpha-trifluoromethylphenylacetate (1c) was carried out simultaneously. This confirmed the 14S absolute configuration of 1a but the conformation of crystalline 1c did not correspond to any of the four minimum-energy conformers of 1a.     

Regioselective,intramolecular oxyselenation as a route to the tetrahydrofuran units of boromycin and aplasmomycin

A substance possessing the functionality and absolute configuration of the C(1′)-C(17′) half of boromycin has bean synthesized, employing an intra-molecular oxyselenation for construction of the tetrahydrofuran moiety from an olefinic diol.     

Diastereoselective reactions at enantiomerically pure, sterically congested cyclohexanes as an entry to wailupemycins A and B: total synthesis of (+)-wailupemycin B

Wailupemycin A (1) and B (2) are polyketide natural products with a highly substituted cyclohexanone core. Three different routes for the syntheses of these compounds were pursued, which commenced from either (R)-(-)-carvone (ent-5) or (S)-(+)-carvone (5). In the first approach it was attempted to construct the skeleton of wailupemycin A from triol 19 (nine steps from ent-5; 19 % yield) by a sequence of diastereoselective epoxidation, nucleophilic ring opening at C-13 and carbonyl addition at C-5. The synthetic plan failed at the stage of the carbonyl addition to aldehyde 27, which had been obtained in seven steps (18 % yield) from triol 19. The second route included an epoxide ring opening at C-13 and a carbonyl addition at C-7 as key steps. It could have led to either wailupemycin A or B depending on the diastereoselectivity of the addition step. Starting from allylic alcohol 30 (six steps from ent-5; 59 % yield) the cyclohexanone 28 was obtained in five steps (54 % yield). Unfortunately, the carbonyl addition failed also in this instance. In the eventually successful third attempt the skeleton of wailupemycin B was built from cyclohexanone 43 (eight steps from 5; 53 % yield) by highly diastereoselective carbonyl addition reactions at C-7 and C-12. The phenyl group at C-14 was introduced at a late stage of the synthetic sequence. Careful protecting group manipulation finally allowed for the total synthesis of (+)-wailupemycin B. The absolute and relative configuration of the natural product was unambiguously confirmed. The total yield of wailupemycin B amounted to 6 % over 23 steps starting from (S)-(+)-carvone (5).     

Synthesis of optically active forms of a-factor the inducer of streptomycin biosynthesis in inactive mutants of streptomyces griseus

The absolute configuration at C-3 of A-factor, 2-(6-methylheptanoyl)-3-hydroxymethyl - 4 - butanolide 1a, was determined to be S by synthesizing both enantiomers of it from paraconic acid. (3S)-A-factor was 2.5 times more active than the (3R)-isomer as the inducer of streptomycin biosynthesis in inactive mutants of Streptomyces griseus.     

Photochemistry synthesis. Part 2: Enantiomerically pure polyhydroxy-1,1,3-triarylpropan-2-ols

A new method to open the heterocyclic ring of flavan-3-ols via photolytic cleavage of the ether bond, with stereoselective trapping of the intermediates with phloroglucinol to obtain phloroglucinol grafted derivatives of flavan-3-ols, was developed. Photolysis of catechin and epicatechin, respectively, in the presence of phloroglucinol yielded the enantiomeric (1S,2S)- and (1R,2R)-1,3-di(2,4,6-trihydroxyphenyl)-1-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)propan-2-ols, respectively. The absolute configuration at C-1 and C-2 was determined by electronic circular dichroism (experimental and calculated) and these results confirmed that the trapping mechanism is controlled by the C-3 configuration of the flavan-3-ol.