Enantioselective synthesis of (S)- and (R)-α-methylserines: application to the synthesis of (S)- and (R)-N-Boc-N,O-isopropylidene-α-methylserinals

This report describes the synthesis of enantiomerically pure (S)- and (R)-α-methylserines on a multigram scale, starting from the Weinreb amide of 2-methyl-2-propenoic acid and using a stereodivergent synthetic route that involves a Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation reaction. As a synthetic application of these quaternary α-amino acids, they were used as starting materials in the synthesis of the well-known valuable homochiral (S)- and (R)-N-Boc-N,O-isopropylidene-α-methylserinal building blocks.     

Spectroscopy and stereochemistry of the optically active copper(II), cobalt(II) and nickel(II) complexes with Schiff bases N,N′-(1R,2R)-(−)-1,2-cyclohexylenebis(3-methylbenzylideneiminato) and N,N′-(1R,2R)-(−)-1,2-cyclohexylenebis(5-methylbenzylideneiminato)

Schiff bases obtained from N,N′-(1R,2R)-1,2-cyclohexanediamine and 2-hydroxy-3-methylbenzaldehyde, 2-hydroxy-5-methylbenzaldehyde, have been used as ligands for copper(II), cobalt(II) and nickel(II). The complexes were characterized with UV–Vis, circular dichroism (CD), infrared, diamagnetic and paramagnetic ¹H NMR spectroscopy. CD spectra revealed exciton coupled π→π* transitions. Assignments of LMCT and d–d transitions in CD spectra of Ni(II), Co(II) and Cu(II) complexes is proposed. CD data are characteristic for central ion tetrahedral distortion from the planarity and λ conformation of the cyclohexane ring. ¹H NMR of Ni(II) complexes exhibited significant coordination shifts of CHN and ring protons which are in the closest proximity to Ni(II). The ¹H NMR paramagnetic spectra of Co(II) complexes revealed the most upfield shifted resonance at −60 ppm assigned to CHN and −28 ppm to hydrogen atom at C(5′) of the phenyl ring. Results of spectral analyses suggest central ions in a distorted square-planar geometry with N₂O₂ chromofore group.     

A new approach to δ-lactones,related to the Prelog-Djerassi lactone.

The reductive rearrangement of 2-ethoxy-5-(2-alkenyl)-2H-tetrahydropyrane systems, in the presence of AlBu¹₃, was used as the key-step in the synthesis of Prelog-Djerassi related lactones.     

Asymmetric synthesis of (?)-(R)-massoia lactone, (R)-δ-decalactone, and (+)-(3R,5R)-3-hydroxydecano-5-lactone. Formal synthesis of verbalactone

A simple and efficient procedure for the asymmetric synthesis of (?)-(R)-massoia lactone, (R)-??-decalactone, and (+)-(3R,5R)-3-hydroxy-1,5-decanolide is described. Verbalactone was synthesized using Heck allylation at the key stage of construction of the carbon skeleton.