Asymmetric synthesis and Lewis acid mediated type II carbonyl ene cyclisations of (R)-2-isopropyl-5-methylhex-5-enal

The asymmetric synthesis of (R)-2-isopropyl-5-methylhex-5-enal in 98% ee is described. It was discovered that the key alkylation step employing an Evans chiral auxiliary and 3-methylbut-3-en-1-yl trifluoromethanesulphonate as the alkylating agent led to significant competing O-alkylation, a phenomenon not previously reported. Type II carbonyl ene cyclisation of the aldehyde with a range of Lewis acids led to either the (R,R)- or (R,S)-5-methylidenecyclohexanols without concurrent racemisation of the alpha stereogenic centre of the aldehyde. Conditions for effecting the easy racemisation of a model enantiomerically pure aldehyde, (S)-2-methylbutanal, were developed. In an effort to secure a dynamic kinetic resolution procedure, these conditions were applied to (R)-2-isopropyl-5-methylhex-5-enal. However, a competing and dominant Prins cyclisation occurred instead leading to a mixture of all possible cycloadducts, all of which were obtained in 98% ee. Any unreacted aldehyde was found to be enantiomerically pure.     

Synthesis of (−)-(5R,6S)-6-acetoxyhexadecan-5-olide by l-proline-catalyzed asymmetric aldol reactions

The natural mosquito attractant pheromone, (−)-(5R,6S)-6-acetoxyhexadecan-5-olide 1, was synthesized from readily available aldehyde 3 and cyclopentanone 4 using l-proline catalyzed asymmetric aldol reactions as the key step.     

Synthetic studies on statins. Part 1: a short and cyanide-free synthesis of atorvastatin calcium via an enantioselective aldol strategy

A short and cyanide-free enantioselective synthesis of atorvastatin calcium has been achieved starting from a commercially available highly substituted 1,4-diketone in an overall yield of 40%. The key step in this approach is the asymmetric aldol reaction of an aldehyde with diketene in the presence of Ti(O-i-Pr)₄–Schiff base complex to create the (5R)-stereochemistry of atorvastatin calcium.     

Stereoselective synthesis of methyl branched chiral deoxypropionate units: a new route for synthesis of insect pheromone (−)-lardolure and (2R,4R,6R,8R) 2,4,6,8-tetramethylundecanoic acid

(−)-Lardolure and (2R,4R,6R,8R)-2,4,6,8-tetramethylundecanoic acid have been synthesized via lipase catalyzed desymmetrization strategy to create two methyl chiral centers. Other key steps involved in the synthesis are Wittig reaction, Evan’s asymmetric alkylation, Grignard reaction, Pd-catalyzed isomerization of primary allylic alcohol to corresponding saturated aldehyde, and PhNO/proline catalyzed MacMillan α-hydroxylation.     

Efficient stereocontrolled synthesis of sphingadienine derivatives

Sphinga-4,8-dienines, principal long-chain bases of glycolipids in plants and fungi, were efficiently synthesized from l-serine. Hydrozirconation of pentadec-5-en-1-ynes followed by ZnBr₂-catalyzed addition to Garner's aldehyde afforded protected sphinga-4,8-dienines stereoselectively. The (2S,3R,4E,8E)-9-methyl-sphingadienine derivative was then coupled with 2(R)-acetoxypalmitic acid derivative prepared via asymmetric dihydroxylation to give a protected ceramide, which was converted into the corresponding glucocerebroside in two steps.     

Intramolecular reductive amination strategy to the synthesis of (R)-N-Boc-2-hydroxymethylmorpholine, N-(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)(R)-2-hydroxymethylmorpholine, and (R)-2-benzylmorpholine

A concise high yielding enantioselective synthesis of (R)-N-Boc-2-hydroxymethylmorpholine, N-(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)(R)-2-hydroxymethylmorpholine, and (R)-benzylmorpholine has been achieved by employing proline-catalyzed asymmetric α-aminooxylation of aldehyde and palladium-catalyzed intramolecular reductive amination of azido aldehyde as the key steps.     

Asymmetric synthesis of (−)-chicanine using a highly regioselective intramolecular Mitsunobu reaction and revision of its absolute configuration

First asymmetric synthesis of (−)-chicanine has been accomplished in 14 steps by employing the Evans asymmetric syn-selective aldol reaction, diastereoselective hydroboration and an regioselective, intramolecular Mitsunobu etherification. The absolute configuration of (+)- and (−)-chicanine has been revised to 2R,3S,4R,5R and 2S,3R,4S,5S, respectively, through CD analysis.     

Asymmetric syntheses of diarylheptanoid natural products (−)-centrolobine and (−)-de-O-methylcentrolobine via hetero-Diels-Alder reaction catalyzed by dirhodium(II) tetrakis[(R)-3-(benzene-fused-phthalimido)-2-piperidinonate]

Catalytic asymmetric syntheses of (−)-centrolobine and (−)-de-O-methylcentrolobine have been achieved, incorporating a hetero-Diels-Alder (HDA) reaction between 4-aryl-2-silyloxy-1,3-butadienes and phenylpropargyl aldehyde derivatives as a key step. The HDA reaction using dirhodium(II) tetrakis[(R)-3-(benzene-fused-phthalimido)-2-piperidinonate], Rh₂(R-BPTPI)₄, as a chiral Lewis acid catalyst provides exclusively cis-2,6-disubstituted tetrahydropyran-4-ones in up to 93% ee.     

Polyhydroxylated pyrrolizidines. Part 4: Total asymmetric synthesis of unnatural hyacinthacines from a protected derivative of DGDP

(1R,2R,3S,5R,7aR)-1,2-Dihydroxy-3-hydroxymethyl-5-methylpyrrolizidine [(+)-3-epi-hyacinthacine A₃] 1 and (1R,2R,3S,7aR)-1,2-dihydroxy-3-hydroxymethylpyrrolizidine [(+)-3-epi-hyacinthacine A₂] 2 have been synthesized by Wittig's methodology using aldehyde 6, prepared from (2R,3R,4R,5S)-3,4-dibenzyloxy-N-benzyloxycarbonyl-2′-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl) pyrrolidine 3 (a partially protected DGDP), and the appropriated ylides, followed by cyclization through an internal reductive amination process of the resulting α,β-unsaturated ketone 7 and aldehyde 8, respectively, and total deprotection.     

Tetrahydrobenzo[5]helicenediol derivatives as additives for efficient proline-catalyzed asymmetric List-Lerner-Barbas aldol reactions of bulky aldehyde substrates

Proline-catalyzed asymmetric List-Lerner-Barbas aldol reactions of bulky aldehyde substrates could be efficiently carried out with dibromo-substituted helical diols P-4a/M-4a as additives. In the case of 9-anthraldehyde, the aldol product was obtained in 83% yield and 99% ee. An edge-to-face π-π stacking between the anthracenyl group in TS(R) and the phenyl group of the additive might contribute to the increase of enantioselectivity.     

Solid supported Hayashi–Jørgensen catalyst as an efficient and recyclable organocatalyst for asymmetric Michael addition reactions

A comparison of three different catalytic systems for the efficient, asymmetric synthesis of N-({(3R,4R)-4-[(benzyloxy)methyl]pyrrolidin-3-yl}methyl)-N-(2-methylpropyl)benzenesulfonamide 1 (BZN) is described. The presented strategy is based on the organocatalytic Michael addition of aldehyde 2 to trans-nitroalkene 3, and subsequent reductive cyclization. High yields, enantio-, and diastereoselectivities were achieved in the Michael addition by application of a POSS- or Wang resin-supported Hayashi–Jørgensen catalyst.     

Palladium-catalyzed asymmetric Diels–Alder reactions with novel chiral imino-phosphine ligands

Palladium-catalyzed asymmetric Diels–Alder reactions have been achieved with considerably high enantioselectivity by using chiral imino-phosphine ligands derived from (1S,4R)-(+)-fenchone, (1R,2R,5R)-(+)-2-hydroxy-3-pinanone derivatives, (1S,5R)-(−)-menthone, (1R,4R)-(+)-camphor, and (1S)-(+)-ketopinic acid. A mechanism for the asymmetric induction is proposed on the basis of the stereochemical outcome of the reactions.     

Synthesis of an insecticidal tetrahydroisocoumarin, (3R,4S,4aR)-4,8-dihydroxy-3-methyl-3,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-2-benzopyran-1-one

The insecticidal tetrahydroisocoumarin, (3R,4S,4aR)-4,8-dihydroxy-3-methyl-3,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-2-benzopyran-1-one, was synthesized as a racemate and as an optically active form using one-pot esterification-Michael addition-aldol reaction of δ-hydroxy-α,β-unsaturated aldehyde and diketene as a key step.     

Absolute stereochemistries and total synthesis of (+)-arisugacins A and B, potent, orally bioactive and selective inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase

In the current studies, we used the Kakisawa-Kashman modification of the Mosher NMR method to determine the complete absolute stereochemistry of arisugacins. We also report the convergent total synthesis of (+)-arisugacins A and B by a sequence including (i) ruthenium complex-catalyzed asymmetric reduction of the cyclohexenone derivative; (ii) stereoselective construction of the arisugacin skeleton by a Knoevenagel-type reaction of an α,β-unsaturated aldehyde derivative with production of a 4-hydroxy-2-pyrone derivative as a key reaction; and (iii) stereoselective dihydroxylation to give the diol derivative, followed by deoxygenation. Accordingly, we defined the absolute structures of arisugacins A and B as 4a-(R),6a-(R),12a-(R), and 12b-(S). Finally, we characterized the bioactivities of the synthetic intermediates to understand the structure-activity relationships of the arisugacins.     

The stereoselective total synthesis of (+)-18-(6S,9R,10R)-bovidic acid

An expedient stereoselective total synthesis of 18-carbon (+)-(6S,9R,10R)-bovidic acid, isolated from the pelage and skin of a gaur B. frontalis is described using l-proline catalysed sequential α-aminoxylation and Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons olefination of aldehyde, cross metathesis and tandem Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation-S_N2 cyclization reaction as the key steps.     

Organocatalytic enantioselective formal synthesis of HRV 3C-protease inhibitor (1R,3S)-thysanone

A short and efficient organocatalytic enantioselective formal synthesis of HRV 3C-protease inhibitor (1R,3S)-thysanone is achieved in a nine-step with 98.7% enantiomeric excess, by employing l-proline-catalyzed asymmetric α-aminooxylation of aldehyde and Oxa-Pictet-Spengler cyclization as the key steps.     

Synthesis of nonracemic polysubstituted cyclohexanes through cascade reactions of (2R,3S)-2-Acetyl-3-aryl-4-nitrobutanoates, adducts of Ni(II)-catalyzed michael addition

Stereoselective synthesis of ethyl-4,6-diaryl-2-hydroxy-2-methyl-5-nitro-3-formylcyclohexanecarboxylates was described. The formation of the asymmetric site of the required configuration is achieved by an enantioselective Michael addition of ethyl acetoacetate to nitroalkenes in the presence of a chiral Ni(II) complex with (R,R)-N,N′-dibenzylcyclohexane-1,2-diamine. Further reaction of the products obtained with cinnamic aldehyde led to the formation of polysubstituted cyclohexanes.     

Efficient total synthesis of manzacidin B

The highly diastereoselective synthesis of the marine natural product, (?)-manzacidin B, is described. A novel copper-catalyzed aldol reaction of the α-methylserine-derived aldehyde with an isocyanoacetate possessing (1R)-camphorsultam as the chiral auxiliary proceeded in a highly diastereoselective manner to give the (4R,5R,6R)-adduct, which was converted into manzacidin B in a few steps.     

Enantioselective reduction of ketophosphonates using chiral acid adducts with sodium borohydride

A method for asymmetric reduction of α-and β-ketophosphonates using a chiral complex prepared from sodium borohydride and D-or L-tartaric acid is developed. Reduction of α-or β-ketophosphonates by these reagents led to formation of corresponding (S)-or (R)-hydroxyphosphonates. Reduction of chiral di(1R,2S,5R)-menthylketophosphonates by the chiral complex NaBH₄/(R,R)-tartaric acid due to the dual compliant asymmetric induction resulted in increased stereoselectivity of the reaction and led to formation of the hydroxyphosphonates with ee 90% or higher. On the other hand, reduction of di(1R,2S,5R)-methylketophosphonates by the chiral complex NaBH₄/(S,S)-tartaric acid proceeded as non-compliant dual asymmetric induction and resulted in decreased reaction stereoselectivity leading to formation of hydroxyphosphonates with ～45–60% ee. The developed methodology was applied to the synthesis of (R)-phosphocarnitine in multigram amounts.     

Asymmetric synthesis of (4S,5S)-2-oxo-4-phenyloxazolidine-5-carboxylic acid using a 1,2-addition of PhMgBr to an N-sulfinimine derived from (R)-glyceraldehyde acetonide and (S)-t-BSA

We report an asymmetric synthesis of (4S,5S)-2-oxo-4-phenyloxazolidine-5-carboxylic acid via stereoselective addition of phenylmagnesium bromide (PhMgBr) to an N-sulfinimine derived from (R)-glyceraldehyde acetonide. (S)- and (R)-Glyceraldehyde acetonides, important chiral synthons in synthetic organic chemistry, are prepared from the corresponding epichlorohydrin using an identical synthetic methodology.