Asymmetric syntheses of (+)-negamycin, (+)-3-epi-negamycin and sperabillin C via lithium amide conjugate addition

The chemo- and enantioselective reduction of ethyl 4-chloroacetoacetate and the diastereoselective conjugate addition of enantiopure lithium N-benzyl-N-(α-methylbenzyl)amide to an α,β-unsaturated ester have been used as the key steps in the total asymmetric syntheses of (+)-negamycin (in 13 steps and 24% overall yield), (+)-3-epi-negamycin (in 13 steps and 10% overall yield) and sperabillin C (in 17 steps and 13% overall yield) from commercially available starting materials.     

Asymmetric synthesis of Sedum alkaloids via lithium amide conjugate addition

Conjugate addition of lithium (R)-N-allyl-N-(α-methylbenzyl)amide or lithium (R)-N-but-3-enyl-N-(α-methylbenzyl)amide to an alkyl hexa-2,4-dienoate or alkyl hepta-2,6-dienoate, followed by ring-closing metathesis of the olefin functionalities within the resultant β-amino ester, generates a range of diastereoisomerically pure azacycles in good yield. These homochiral templates are readily transformed to a range of piperidine alkaloids of the Sedum family, and the corresponding five-, seven- and eight-membered ring homologues.     

Asymmetric syntheses of methyl N-Boc-2-deoxy-2-amino-l-erythroside,methyl N-Boc-2-deoxy-2-amino-d-threoside and methyl N-Boc-2,3-dideoxy-3-amino-l-arabinopyranoside

The asymmetric syntheses of methyl N-Boc-2-deoxy-2-amino-l-erythroside and methyl N-Boc-2-deoxy-2-amino-d-threoside have been achieved from sorbic acid, in six and eight steps, and in 35 and 13% overall yield, respectively. Diastereoselective aminohydroxylation of tert-butyl sorbate gives access to two diastereoisomeric α-hydroxy-β-amino-γ,δ-unsaturated esters. Reduction of the ester functionality and ozonolysis of the double bond gives the corresponding aldehyde, which exists exclusively in the ring-closed (furanose) form. An alternative synthesis of methyl N-Boc-2-deoxy-2-amino-l-erythroside was also developed, reliant on aminohydroxylation of an α,β-unsaturated ester bearing an acetal functionality at the γ-position, and this synthesis proceeded in five steps and 54% overall yield from acrolein diethyl acetal. This approach was extended to permit the synthesis of methyl N-Boc-2,3-dideoxy-3-amino-l-arabinopyranoside in six steps and 58% overall yield from ethyl 3,3-diethoxypropanote.     

Double asymmetric induction as a mechanistic probe: the doubly diastereoselective conjugate addition of enantiopure lithium amides to enantiopure α,β-unsaturated esters and enantiopure α,β-unsaturated hydroxamates

The doubly diastereoselective conjugate addition of the antipodes of lithium N-benzyl-N-(α-methylbenzyl)amide to a range of enantiopure α,β-unsaturated esters [derived from Corey’s 8-phenylmenthol chiral auxiliary] and enantiopure α,β-unsaturated hydroxamates [derived from our ‘chiral Weinreb amide’ auxiliary (S)-N-1-(1′-naphthyl)ethyl-O-tert-butylhydroxylamine] has been used as a mechanistic probe to determine the reactive conformations of these acceptors.     

Asymmetric syntheses of a GPR40 receptor agonist via diastereoselective and enantioselective conjugate alkynylation

Two asymmetric methods to synthesize a potent GPR40 receptor agonist are reported. Both synthetic routes utilize readily available, inexpensive starting materials and reagents. The first route relies on a highly diastereoselective conjugate alkynylation of an ephedrine-derived oxazepanedione acceptor. The second route features the enantioselective alkynylation of a Meldrum’s acid-derived acceptor mediated by a chiral zinc cinchonidine reagent.     

Asymmetric syntheses of the methyl glycosides of 2-deoxy-2-aminohexoses: d-allosamine, d-mannosamine, d-idosamine and d-talosamine

A range of the methyl glycosides of 2-deoxy-2-aminohexoses, comprising d-allosamine, d-mannosamine, d-idosamine and d-talosamine, were prepared from the corresponding d-aldopentoses via a seven step synthetic sequence. The doubly diastereoselective conjugate addition of the requisite antipode of lithium N-benzyl-N-(α-methylbenzyl)amide and in situ enolate oxidation with the requisite antipode of camphorsulfonyloxaziridine (CSO) was used as the key, stereodefining step. Sequential reduction of the resultant α-hydroxy-β-amino esters and oxidative cleavage of the C(1)–C(2) diol unit furnished the corresponding α-amino aldehydes. Subsequent N- and O-deprotection gave the target compounds (as mixtures of anomers) in good yield and high diastereoisomeric purity.     

Asymmetric synthesis of cyclic β-amino acids and cyclic amines via sequential diastereoselective conjugate addition and ring closing metathesis

Diastereoselective conjugate addition of lithium (S)-N-allyl-N-α-methylbenzylamide to a range of α,β-unsaturated esters followed by ring closing metathesis is used to afford efficiently a range of substituted cyclic β-amino esters in high d.e. Alternatively, conjugate addition to α,β-unsaturated Weinreb amides, functional group conversion and ring closing metathesis affords cyclic amines in high d.e. The further application of this methodology to the synthesis of a range of carbocyclic β-amino esters via conjugate addition, enolate alkylation and ring closing metathesis is also described. Application of this methodology affords, after deprotection, (S)-homoproline, (S)-homopipecolic acid, (S)-coniine and (1S,2S)-trans-pentacin.     

Asymmetric syntheses of (−)-isoretronecanol and (−)-trachelantamidine

Short and concise total asymmetric syntheses of (−)-isoretronecanol and (−)-trachelantamidine are reported. Oxidative cleavage of tert-butyl (S,S,S,Z)-7-[N-benzyl-N-(α-methylbenzyl)amino]cyclohept-3-ene-1-carboxylate, followed by hydrogenolysis promoted in situ cyclisation/reduction, which provided rapid access to the bicyclic core within (−)-isoretronecanol. Analogous treatment of the C(1)-epimer gave (−)-trachelantamidine. Overall, the syntheses of (−)-isoretronecanol and (−)-trachelantamidine were completed in eight and seven steps and 20 and 9.5% yield, respectively, from commercially available starting materials.     

Diastereoselective conjugate addition/cyclization/bromination: Access to four stereocenters in a single step

A stereoselective tandem conjugate addition reaction with a chiral amine-derived nucleophile is reported in which the enolate intermediate is quenched with 1,2-dibromotetrachloroethane as a mild brominating reagent. X-ray analysis of a subsequent derivative was used to prove the configuration at each of the four newly formed stereocenters. The resulting α-bromoester underwent selective transesterification catalyzed by mild base to allow selective manipulation of the two ester groups of the product.     

Highly diastereoselective conjugate additions of monoorganocopper reagents to chiral imides

Stereoselective conjugate additions to chiral N-enoyl amides employing various monoorganocuprate reagents, Li[RCuI], are described. The presence of TMSI in the addition of Li[RCuI] in THF provided the highest stereoselectivities. Reversed major diastereomeric ratios were obtained employing Li[RCuI] in ether or conventional copper-promoted Grignard reagents. The results presented support the favored anti-s-cis conformation of the substrates using Li[RCuI]/TMSI in THF, while the copper-promoted Grignard reagents or the Li[RCuI] reagents in ether favor the opposite syn-s-cis conformation. Influence of lithium ions on the stereoselective conjugate addition of the monoorganocuprate reagent, Li[BuCuI], has been investigated and two different mechanistic pathways are presented. The results show that iodotrimethylsilane (TMSI) is crucial for the asymmetric conjugate addition of the copper reagent, but only in THF or when 12-crown-4 is used. The reaction is thought not to involve any halosilane in any critical steps in the organocopper mechanisms conducted in ether. The (CuI)₄(SMe₂)₃ complex precursor plays an instrumental role for the conjugate addition using monoorganocopper reagents.     

Asymmetric synthesis of d-fagomine and its diastereoisomers

A divergent strategy for the asymmetric syntheses of d-fagomine and three of its diastereoisomers has been developed. The diastereoselective conjugate addition of an enantiopure lithium amide to an α,β-unsaturated ester was used as the key step to install the correct configuration required for the C(5)-stereogenic centre within the targets. In situ enolate oxidation generated the corresponding anti-α-hydroxy-β-amino ester, which possessed the correct configuration required for the C(4)-stereogenic centre within both d-fagomine and d-3-epi-fagomine. Subsequent epimerisation of this key anti-α-hydroxy-β-amino ester upon oxidation and diastereoselective reduction gave the corresponding syn-α-hydroxy-β-amino ester, which possessed the correct configuration required for the C(4)-stereogenic centre within both d-4-epi-fagomine and d-5-epi-fagomine. Elaboration of both α-hydroxy-β-amino esters upon reduction to the corresponding aldehydes followed by aldol reaction generated the requisite C(3)-stereogenic centres within the target compounds, then cyclisation and deprotection gave the enantiopure iminosugars in good overall yields, as single diastereoisomers (>99:1 dr).     

Structure tuning of lithium amide for asymmetric 1,4-addition to cinnamate and subsequent demasking

Systematic structure tuning of lithium amides derived from benzyl-N-TMS-, allyl-N-TBDMS-, and diisopropylamines lead to several candidates including anthracen-9-ylmethanamine which provided high performance in the enantioselective 1,4-addition (91% ee) and following hydrogenolysis with 10% Pd/C-H₂ in methanol to afford β-amino ester.     

A diastereodivergent strategy for the asymmetric syntheses of (−)-martinellic acid and (−)-4-epi-martinellic acid

Asymmetric syntheses of (−)-martinellic acid and (−)-4-epi-martinellic acid were achieved in 20 steps from commercially available starting materials using a diastereodivergent strategy. The conjugate addition of lithium (R)-N-allyl-N-(α-methyl-p-methoxybenzyl)amide to tert-butyl (E)-3-[2′-(N,N-diallylamino)-5′-bromophenyl]propenoate and alkylation of the resultant β-amino ester with methyl bromoacetate were used as the key steps to install the C(9b) and C(3a) stereogenic centres, respectively. Subsequent cyclisation to the corresponding pyrroloquinolin-2-one and reduction of the C(4)-carbonyl group was followed by two complementary procedures for olefination and concomitant intramolecular Michael addition, which gave both C(4)-epimers of this tricyclic molecular architecture in >99:1 dr. Subsequent elaboration of these templates provided access to (−)-martinellic acid and, for the first time, (−)-4-epi-martinellic acid.     

Asymmetric synthesis of β-substituted Baylis-Hillman products via lithium amide conjugate addition

A three-step protocol for the asymmetric synthesis of a range of β-substituted Baylis-Hillman products has been developed. This procedure involves the diastereoselective conjugate addition of lithium (R)-N-methyl-N-(α-methylbenzyl)amide to an α,β-unsaturated ester to generate an N-protected β-amino ester in high de. Subsequent asymmetric aldol reaction via deprotonation with LDA, transmetallation with B(OMe)₃ and addition of an aldehyde gives a range of syn-aldol products in moderate to high de. Purification of the syn-aldol products to homogeneity followed by tandem N-oxidation and Cope elimination gives the desired β-substituted Baylis-Hillman products in good yield and high de and ee.     

Asymmetric synthesis of 4-amino-γ-butyrolactones via lithium amide conjugate addition

Upon treatment with homochiral lithium (R)-N-benzyl-N-(α-methylbenzyl)amide, γ-benzyloxy but-2-enoates undergo competitive conjugate addition and γ-deprotonation, while γ-tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy but-2-enoates undergo exclusive conjugate addition. Treatment of γ-benzyloxy or γ-tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy but-2-enamides with lithium (R)-N-benzyl-N-(α-methylbenzyl)amide furnishes exclusively the γ-benzyloxy- or γ-tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy-β-amino amide products of conjugate addition in high de. The γ-tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy-β-amino butanoate products of conjugate addition readily undergo O-desilylation and concomitant cyclisation to furnish 4-[N-benzyl-N-(α-methylbenzyl)amino]-γ-butyrolactone, which may be stereoselectively functionalised via deprotonation and alkylation to give the corresponding trans-3-alkyl-4-amino-γ-butyrolactones. Alternatively, stereoselective alkylation of γ-benzyloxy- or γ-tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy-β-amino butanoates and butanamides through enolate formation and alkylation following a tandem (via the (Z)-lithium enolate) or stepwise (via the (E)-lithium enolate) protocol gives a range of separable syn- and anti-α-alkyl-β-amino esters and amides. O-Silyl deprotection of the syn- and anti-α-alkyl-β-amino butanoates with TBAF and concomitant cyclisation provide trans-3-alkyl-4-amino-γ-butyrolactones, consistent with epimerisation to the thermodynamically favoured trans-lactone occurring upon deprotection.     

Chiral amidophosphane-copper-catalyzed asymmetric conjugate addition of dialkylzinc reagents to nitroalkenes

The copper-amidophosphane-catalyzed asymmetric addition reaction of dialkylzinc reagents with β-aryl and β-alkylnitroalkenes afforded the corresponding nitroalkanes with moderate to good enantioselectivities (54-80% ee). The performance was highly dependent on the reaction procedure where the addition of nitroalkene to the mixture of copper-amidophosphane and dialkylzinc gave higher ee than the addition of dialkylzinc to a mixture of copper-amidophosphane and nitroalkene.     

Asymmetric synthesis of chiral tertiary borylated phosphonates by copper-catalyzed conjugate borylation

Enantioselective copper-catalyzed conjugate borylation of α,β-unsaturated phosphonates with bis(pinacolato)diboron affords chiral tertiary organoboronate esters with a vicinal phosphonate group in good yields and enantiomeric excess. Linear aliphatic, aromatic, and heteroaromatic substituents at the β-position can be accommodated, and oxidation of the borylated organophosphonate products leads to β-hydroxyphosphonates.     

Asymmetric total synthesis of sperabillins B and D via lithium amide conjugate addition

Diastereoselective conjugate addition of homochiral lithium (R)-N-allyl-N-alpha-methylbenzylamide to methyl (2E,5E)-hepatadienoate, followed by protecting group manipulation and subsequent iodocyclocarbamation allows a concise route to the core fragment, methyl (3R,5R,6R)-3,6-diamino-5-hydroxyheptanoate, of sperabillins B and D. Differentiation between the C-3 and C-6 primary amino groups of this core amino acid was readily achieved by treatment with acetone, giving the 5,6-isopropylidene and C-3-imine protected diamine, with subsequent regioselective acylation of the C-6-nitrogen facilitating the total synthesis of sperabillin D in 10.8% overall yield, and the first asymmetric synthesis of sperabillin B in 5.8% overall yield.     

A first high enantiocontrol of an asymmetric tertiary carbon center attached with a fluoroalkyl group via Rh(I)-catalyzed conjugate addition reaction

Treatment of fluoroalkylated electron-deficient olefins with various boronic acids in the presence of a catalytic amount of Rh(I) coordinated with (S)-BINAP in toluene/H₂O at the reflux temperature for 3 h gave the corresponding conjugate addition products with high enantioselectivity in high yields.     

Novel guanidinyl pyrrolidine salt-based bifunctional organocatalysts: application in asymmetric conjugate addition of malonates to enones

Novel guanidinyl pyrrolidine salts are useful bifunctional organocatalysts for the asymmetric addition of malonates to enones. These organocatalysts are effective under a wide range of reaction conditions and afford products in high yield and enantioselectivity.