Synthesis of jenamidines A1/A2

[reaction: see text] Addition of the enolate of tert-butyl acetate to cyanamide methyl ester 17 followed by treatment with LHMDS afforded vinylogous urea 19 in 27% yield. Vinylogous urea 19 was also obtained from 37 and tert-butyl cyanoacetate in 50% yield. Acylation of 19 with acid chloride 31d, followed by hydrolysis of the tert-butyl ester and decarboxylation with 9:1 CH2Cl2/TFA and very mild basic hydrolysis of the methoxyacetate ester, afforded jenamidines A1/A2 (3) in 45% yield. This first synthesis confirms our reassignment of the jenamidines A1/A2 structure.     

Chelate bis(imino)pyridine cobalt complexes: synthesis, reduction, and evidence for the generation of ethene polymerization catalysts by Li+ cation activation

Treatment of the bis(iminobenzyl)pyridine chelate Schiff-base ligand 8 (ligPh) with FeCl2 or CoCl2 yielded the corresponding (ligPh)MCl2 complexes 9 (Fe) and 10 (Co). The reaction of 10 with methyllithium or "butadiene-magnesium" resulted in reduction to give the corresponding (ligPh)Co(I)Cl product 11. Similarly, the bis(aryliminoethyl)pyridine ligand (ligMe) was reacted with CoCl2 to yield (ligMe)CoCl2 (12). Reduction to (ligMe)CoCl (13) was effected by treatment with "butadiene-magnesium". Complex 13 reacted with Li[B(C6F5)4] in toluene followed by treatment with pyridine to yield [(ligMe)Co+-pyridine] (15). The reaction of the Co(II) complexes 10 or 12 with ca. 3 molar equiv of methyllithium gave the cobalt(I) complexes 16 and 17, respectively. Treatment of the (ligMe)CoCH3 (17) with Li[B(C6F5)4] gave a low activity ethene polymerization catalyst. Likewise, complex 16 produced polyethylene (activity = 33 g(PE) mmol(cat)(-1) h(-1) bar(-1) at room temperature) upon treatment with a stoichiometric amount of Li[B(C6F5)4]. A third ligand (lig(OMe)) was synthesized featuring methoxy groups in the ligand backbone (22). Coordination to FeCl2 and CoCl2 yielded the desired compounds 23 and 24. Reaction with MeLi gave (ligOMe)CoMe (25/26). Treatment of 25/26 with excess B(C6F5)3 gave the eta6-arene cation complex 27, where one Co-N linkage was cleaved. Activation of 25/26 with Li[B(C6F5)4] again gave a catalytically active species.     

Synthesis of libraries of thiazole, oxazole and imidazole-based cyclic peptides from azole-based amino acids. A new synthetic approach to bistratamides and didmolamides

Treatment of a 1 : 1 mixture of the thiazole-based amino acids 8a and 8b with FDPP-i-Pr(2)NEt in CH(3)CN gave a mixture of the cyclic trimers 14, 15, 16 and 17 and the cyclic tetramers 19 and 23 in the ratio 2 : 7 : 5 : 8 : 1 : 1 and in a combined yield of 70%. Separate coupling reactions between the bisimidazole amino acid 45 and the thiazole/oxazole amino acids 43a and 42a in the presence of FDPP-i-Pr(2)NEt led to the bisimidazole based cyclic trimers 55 and 57 respectively (54-57%) and to the cyclic tetramer 56 (8-11%). Similar coupling reactions involving the bisthiazole and bisoxazole amino acids 49 and 47 with the imidazole/oxazole/thiazole amino acids 41a, 42a and 43a gave rise to the library of oxazole, thiazole and imidazole-based cyclic peptides 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64 and 65. A coupling reaction between the bisthiazole amino acid 49 and the oxazole amino acid 73 led to an efficient (36% overall) synthesis of bistratamide H (67) found in the ascidian Lissoclinum bistratum. Coupling reactions involving oxazolines with thiazole amino acids were less successful. Thus, a coupling reaction between the phenylalanine-based oxazoline amino acid 71a and either the thiazole amino acid 8a or the bisthiazole amino acid 74 gave only a 2% yield of the cyclic hexapeptide didmolamide A (4) found in the ascidian Didemnum molle. Didmolamide B (68) was obtained in 9% yield from a coupling reaction between 74 and the phenylalanine threonine amino acid 72, using either FDPP or DPPA.     

A novel synthesis of racemic and enantiomeric forms of prostaglandin B1 methyl ester

3-(Dimethoxyphosphorylmethyl)cyclopent-2-enone was converted into (+/-)-prostaglandin B1 methyl ester in two steps involving regioselective alkylation at C(2) with methyl 7-iodoheptanoate and subsequent Horner-Wittig reaction with dimer of 2-hydroxyheptanal (42% overall yield). The use of (R)- and (S)-2-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)heptanal for the Horner olefination reaction gave, after deprotection of the hydroxy group, the enantiopure forms of the title compound in 28% overall yield.     

An improved method for 14C-labelling of farnesylacetic acid and its geranyl ester

Farnesylacetic acid was efficiently labelled with 14C at the 5-position and gefarnate, a potent ulcer inhibitor, was prepared from it in radioactive form for use in metabolic studies. Condensation of [carbonyl-14C]acetyl chloride (5) with t-butyl 2-ethoxymagnesiomalonate (6) followed by acid-catalyzed deprotection and decarboxylation gave ethyl 3-oxo[3-14C]butanoate (8). Alkylation of the keto ester (8) with geranyl bromide (9) afforded the unsaturated keto ester (10), which was hydrolyzed and decarboxylated to give geranyl[2-14C]acetone (11). Grignard reaction of 11 with cyclopropylmagnesium bromide followed by treatment with hydrobromic acid yielded [4-14C]homofarnesyl bromide (13). Cyanation of 13 with potassium cyanide and subsequent hydrolysis gave [5-14C]farnesylacetic acid (1) in 6.1% yield from barium [14C]carbonate (3). Chlorination of 1 followed by esterification with geraniol afforded [5-14C]gefarnate (2) in 88% yield.     

Polycondensed heterocycles. IV. synthesis of 1,4-dioxo-2,3,3a,4-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzothiazine

A method for the synthesis of the title compound 3 consisted of an intramolecular cyclization in a stannic chloride catalyzed Friedel-Crafts reaction of N-(2-methylthiophenyl)-5-oxoproline chloride 10 , prepared by chlorination of the corresponding acid 9 obtained by hydrolysis of its ethyl ester 8 . Condensation of 2-methylthioaniline 4 with diethyl bromomalonate 5 afforded diethyl 2-methylthioanilinomalonate 6 which gave 8 either directly by reaction with ethyl acrylate or by alkylation with ethyl β-bromopropionate or ethyl acrylate and cyclization of resulting triethyl 2-(2-methylthio)anilino-2-carboxyglutarate 7 . This method was not convenient because of the poor yield of 3 (14%). On the other hand, cyclization of N-(2-mercaptophenyl)-5-oxoproline 14 with DCC and DMAP provided 3 in 45% yield. Oxidation with m-CPBA of the esters 11 and 8 , demethylation via the Pummerer rearrangement of the respective sulphoxides 12 and 17 with TFAA and oxidation with iodine of resulting N-(2-mercap-tophenyl)-5-oxoproline esters 13 and 18 gave the corresponding disulphides 16 and 19 . Hydrolysis of these latter compounds and reduction of the resulting bis[2-[2-(hydroxycarbonyl)-5-oxo-1-pyrrolidinyl]phenyl] disulphide 15 with sodium dithionite afforded the required 14 . Deprotection of t-butyl ester 13 with TFA at 55° to obtain 14 led to 3 in 42% yield. Finally the Pummerer rearrangement of N-(2-methylsulphinylphenyl)-5-oxo-proline 20 yielded the mixture of 14 and 15 .     

Diversity-oriented synthesis of functionalized pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidines with variation of the pyrimidine ring nitrogen substituents

Nine 2,4-dioxo-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidine-6-carboxylic acid benzyl esters 12 were synthesized in four steps from 4-oxo-N-(PhF)proline benzyl ester 7 by a general method in which elements of molecular diversity were readily added onto the pyrimidine nitrogens. Conversion of 4-oxoproline 7 into the corresponding aminopyrrole 8 using benzyl-, allyl-, and isopropylamine followed by treatment with phenyl, allyl, and ethyl isocyanate gave nine different ureas 9. 4-Ureido-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxylic acid benzyl esters 9 were then converted into the respective pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidines 12 using trichloroacetyl chloride in acetonitrile followed by treatment with Cs(2)CO(3). Crystallization from toluene gave the desired deazapurines in 37-55% overall yield from proline 7.     

Synthesis of hexacyclic parnafungin A and C models

A convergent, practical route to unstable hexacyclic parnafungin A and C models has been developed. Two iodoxanthones were prepared in four or five steps (33-50% overall yield). Suzuki-Miyaura coupling of the iodoxanthones with excess readily available 3-carbomethoxy-2-nitrophenyl pinacol boronate afforded the hindered highly functionalized 2-arylxanthones (53-58%) in the first key step. In the second key step, zinc reduction gave benzisoxazolinones that were treated with MsCl and then base to generate the unstable hexacyclic parnafungin A (13% overall yield for 8 steps) and C (8% overall yield for 9 steps) models. Analogously to the parnafungins, hexacyclic parnafungin C model decomposes to a phenanthridine with a half-life of 2 d in CDCl(3).     

Novel synthesis and reactions of 5,7-dialkyl-4,6-dioxo-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro- isothiazolo[3,4,-d]pyrimidine-3-carbonitriles and 6-methyl-4-oxo-4H-1-aza-5-oxa-2- thiaindene-3-carbonitrile

[reaction: see text] 5,7-Dialkyl-4,6-dioxo-4,5,6,7-tetrahydroisothiazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine-3-carbonitriles 4, prepared from 6-amino-1,3-dialkyluracils 3 and 4,5-dichloro-5H-1,2,3-dithiazolium chloride (Appel's salt) 1, are utilized for the preparation of new derivatives of 4 bearing amino, alkylthio, amido, thioamido, tetrazolyl, and carboximidic acid ethyl ester groups at position 3. Similarly, the reactions of 6-methyl-4-oxo-4H-1-aza-5-oxa-2-thiaindene-3-carbonitrile 8, prepared from 4-amino-6-methyl-2-pyrone 6 and 1, with alkyl- and arylamines in DMF at 50 degrees C and reflux afforded different isothiazole derivatives 11 and 17, respectively. On the other hand, treatment of 8 with 1,3-diaminopropane in THF at room temperature, followed by chromatography on silica gel, gave 3-(2-oxopropyl)-6,7,8-trihydro-4H-1-thia-2,5,9-triazacyclopentacyclononene-4,10-dione 12 in 59% yield.     

A stereoselective synthesis of 6,6,6-trifluoro-L-daunosamine and 6,6,6-trifluoro-L-acosamine

A short synthesis of 6,6,6-trifluoro-L-acosamine 15 and 6,6,6-trifluoro-L-daunosamine 19 has been accomplished. The pyranose ring system of these carbohydrate analogues was formed by a hetero-Diels-Alder reaction of vinylogous imide 11 and ethyl vinyl ether which gave adduct 12a in 40% yield. Hydroboration gave 13 and subsequent hydrogenolytic removal of the (R)-2-phenylethyl chiral auxiliary gave ethyl 6,6,6-trifluoro-L-acosaminide 14. Acid hydrolysis furnished target 15. Glycoside 13 was N-trifluoroacetylated to give 16, the structure was confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The C-4 stereochemistry of 16 was inverted by Swern oxidation of the 4-OH group, and subsequent borohydride reduction to give 17. Hydrogenolytic removal of the auxiliary gave ethyl-6,6,6-trifluoro-L-daunosaminide 18. Acid hydrolysis provided 19.     

Approaches to the synthesis of some tyrosine-derived marine sponge metabolites: synthesis of verongamine and purealidin N

The oxidation of tyrosine ethyl ester (7) with Na(2)WO(4)/H(2)O(2) in ethanol, dimethyldioxirane in acetone, or methyltrioxorhenium/H(2)O(2) in EtOH gave the corresponding tyrosine oxime (8) in high yield. Controlled bromination of the aromatic ring gave the monobromo oxime (9), the dibromo oxime (10), or the spiroisoxazoline (11) depending upon reaction conditions. Synthesis of the known metabolite verongamine (15) was achieved by oxidation of O-methyl bromotyrosine methyl ester and amidation of the resulting oxime ester (14) with histamine. The mono- and di-bromotyrosine oxime derivatives (9 and 10) were further transformed into the naturally occurring nitriles (16 and 17) by base hydrolysis of the ester and acid-catalyzed decarboxylation. Wadsworth-Emmons olefination of the dibromobenzaldehyde (20b) with phosphonate (18) gave the pyruvate silylenolether (21b). Deprotection and in situ oxime formation gave the oxime ester (23b). Attempted purification of the pyruvate ester resulted in a homoaldol condensation yielding butenolide (22). Amidation of the oxime ester (23b) with histamine, followed by deprotection of the MOM ether gave the first synthesis of purealidin N (28). Oxidative spirocyclization of the phenolic oxime ester (23d) with a polymer-bound iodosyl diacetate gave the spiroisoxazoline (24) and represents a formal synthesis of aerothionin (26a), homoaerothionin (26b), and aerophobin-1 (25).     

The preparation of 2,6-diaminopyrazine, 2,6-diazidopyrazine and some of their derivatives

A much improved synthesis of the heretofore difficultly obtainable 2,6-diaminopyrazine (4) was afforded by the low-pressure catalytic hydrogenation (palladium on carbon) of 2,6-diazido-pyrazine (2) ; reaction of 2,6-dichloropyrazine (1) and sodium azide gave 2 in 84% yield. The outcome of the reduction was found to be solvent dependent: 1,2-dimethoxyethane containing aqueous ammonia gave 4 in 83% yield; 1,2-dimethoxyethane alone gave 5-aminotetrazolo[1,5-a]-pyrazine (3) in 26% yield. Additional alternative syntheses of 3 and 4 are described. A number of acyl and azo derivatives of 4 were prepared. Reactions of 2 with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate and ethyl acetate (base catalyzed) leading to vic-triazole derivatives are also described.     

New convergent synthesis of 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and its analogues by Suzuki-Miyaura coupling between A-ring and C,D-ring parts

A new convergent method for the synthesis of 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) and its analogues has been developed that involves efficient preparation of the A-ring part 1a, (Z)-(3S,5R)-1-bromomethylene-3,5-bis(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-2-methylenecyclohexane, starting from epichlorohydrin (4) and its Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction with the C,D-ring part 12. Thus, (R)-4 was converted to (3S,5R)-5-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-8-(trimethylsilyl)-oct-1-en-7-yn-3-ol (3a) through a ten-step reaction sequence in 49% overall yield. Compound 3a thus obtained was treated with a Ti(O-i-Pr)(4)/2 i-PrMgCl reagent and then with NBS to afford (Z)-(1S,2S,5R)-2-bromomethyl-3-[bromo(trimethylsilyl)methylene]-5-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)cyclohexanol (10a) in 51% yield, from which 1a was obtained in 87% yield by sequential treatment with TBSCl/imidazole, DBU, and Cs(2)CO(3). The resulting A-ring intermediate 1a was reacted with alkenylboronate 12 in the presence of a PdCl(2)(dppf) catalyst to furnish 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) in 82% yield after protodesilylation. Similarly, all of the other three possible stereoisomers of A-ring parts 1b, 1c, and 1d were prepared, from which 1-epi-, 3-epi-, and 1,3-di-epi-1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) were synthesized by coupling with 12 in excellent yield, respectively. Starting from 1a and 1c, des-C,D-1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) analogues, retiferol 13 and its 3-epi derivative, were also prepared, respectively.     

Enantioselective total syntheses of (+)-arborescidine A, (-)-arborescidine B, and (-)-arborescidine C

Described are the first enantioselective total syntheses of (+)-arborescidine A ((+)-1), (-)-arborescidine B ((-)-2), and (-)-arborescidine C ((-)-3), via routes that proceeded in five steps and 50% overall yield, eight steps and 61% overall yield, and nine steps and 51% overall yield, respectively, from 6-bromotryptamine (7). The syntheses feature the use of the Noyori catalytic asymmetric hydrogen-transfer reaction to introduce chirality in dihydro-beta-carbolines 6 and 8. On the basis of an ample precedent from Noyori's work, the reduction produces dihydro-beta-carbolines, and ultimately the natural products, possessing the R absolute configuration. The synthetic arborescidines displayed optical rotations that were opposite in sign those of the natural products, thereby supporting the S configuration for natural arborescidines A (1) and B (2) and the (3S,17S) configuration for natural arborescidine C (3). Our results are in agreement with the initial stereochemical assignment by Pa?s and co-workers, and are counter to their recently revised assignment.     

Concise syntheses of cystothiazoles A, C, D, and melithiazol B

A convergent synthesis of cystothiazoles C 1 and D 3 was achieved based on Julia coupling between the functionalized aldehyde 5b, corresponding to left half of the final molecule, and aryl sulfone 6 or 7, bearing a bithiazole moiety, corresponding to right half. Methylation of 1 and 3 gave cystothiazole A 2 and melithiazol B 4, respectively. The overall yield (5 steps from (2R,3S)-3-methylpent-4-yne-1,2-diol 10; 57%) of 5b via the present route was improved in comparison to that of the previously reported functionalized aldehyde 5a (7 steps from 10; 13%). By applying the modified Julia coupling method, selectivity (6E/6Z=20 : 1-26 : 1) toward the (6E)-form of the coupled products (15 or 19) against the corresponding (6Z)-form was improved in comparison to the Wittig method (6E/6Z=4 : 1-6.9 : 1).     

Stereospecific substitution of enantiomerically pure 1-(2-pyridinyl)ethyl methanesulfonate with beta-dicarbony compounds

The alkylation of the sodium salt of the malonic acid diester with (R)-1-(2-pyridinyl)ethyl methanesulfonate (2) gave the dimethyl (R)-[1-(2-pyridinyl)ethyl]malonate (3a), stereospecifically. The alkylation reaction of methyl acetoacetate gave the methyl (2'S,2R/2S)-3-oxo-2-[1-(2-pyridinyl)ethyl]butanoate (3d) along with the methyl (S)-3-[1-(2-pyridinyl)ethoxy]-2-butenoate (4d). The acid hydrolysis and decarboxylation of 3d under acidic conditions gave (R)-4-(2-pyridinyl)pentan-2-one (6), and the alkylation of methyl (R)-[1-(2-pyridinyl)ethyl]acetoacetate with benzyl bromide gave a mixture of C-benzylated and O-benzylated products 7 and 8.     

Reactions of 26-iodopseudodiosgenin and 26-iodopseudodiosgenone with various nucleophiles and pharmacological activities of the products

26-Iodopseudodiosgenin (8) and 26-iodopseudodiosgenone (9) were reacted with various nucleophiles (KSCN, KOCN, NaCN, NaN(3) and various amines) to give pseudodiosgenin derivatives (4, 12, 16-20, 26) and pseudodiosgenone derivatives (5, 13, 21-25, 27), respectively. The reactions of 8 and 9 with KOCN gave the elimination products (10) and (11), respectively. The reaction of 9 with NaCN gave 5alpha,26- (14) and 5beta,26-dicyanocholestan-3-one (15). The reaction of 8 with NaN3 gave triazepine derivative (30), while that of 9 gave 26-azidopseudodiosgenone (31). Compound 31 was converted into triazepine derivative (32) by heating at 120 degrees C. The cytotoxicity of the pseudodiosgenins and pseudodiosgenones on P-gp-underexpressing HCT 116 cells and P-gp-overexpressing Hep G2 cells was examined by MTT assay. Pseudodiosgenins 2, 4, 12 and 30 showed strong cytotoxic activity (IC50 values: 2.6+/-0.3-6.7+/-1.4 microM), as did pseudodiosgenones 3, 5, 11, 13, 21-25 and 27 (IC50 values: 1.3+/-0.3-6.4+/-0.3 microM) toward HCT 116 cells. Pseudodiosgenins 12, 16 and 30 (IC50 values: 1.2+/-0.7-2.2+/-0.6 microM) and pseudodiosgenones 22, 23, 25 and 27 (IC50 values: 0.6+/-0.1-2.5+/-0.3 microM) were highly cytotoxic to Hep G2 cells. Compounds 3 and 27 showed efficient antibacterial activity (MIC: 15.6, 10.4 microg/ml) and (MIC: 7.8, 15.6 microg/ml) against Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus, respectively.     

Total synthesis of the epidermal growth factor inhibitor (-)-reveromycin B

The total synthesis of the epidermal growth factor inhibitor reveromycin B (2) in 25 linear steps from chiral methylene pyran 13 is described. The key steps involved an inverse electron demand hetero-Diels-Alder reaction between dienophile 13 and diene 12 to construct the 6,6-spiroketal 11 which upon oxidation with dimethyldioxirane and acid catalyzed rearrangement gave the 5,6-spiroketal aldehyde 9. Lithium acetylide addition followed by oxidation/reduction and protective group manipulation provided the reveromycin B spiroketal core 8 which was converted into the reveromycin A (1) derivative 6 in order to confirm the stereochemistry of the spiroketal segment. Introduction of the C1-C10 side chain began with sequential Wittig reactions to form the C8-C9 and C7-C6 bonds, and a tin mediated asymmetric aldol reaction installed the C4 and C5 stereocenters. The final key steps to the target molecule 2 involved a Stille coupling to introduce the C21-C22 bond, succinoylation, selective deprotection, oxidation, and Wittig condensation to form the final C2-C3 bond. Deprotection was effected by TBAF in DMF to afford reveromycin B (2) in 72% yield.     

Total synthesis of plakortide E and biomimetic synthesis of plakortone B

The total synthesis of plakortide E (1a) is reported. A novel palladium-catalyzed approach towards 1,2-dioxolanes as well as an alternative substrate-controlled route leading exclusively to cis-highly substituted 1,2-dioxolanes have been developed. A lipase-catalyzed kinetic resolution was employed to provide optically pure 1,2-dioxolane central cores. Coupling of the central cores and side chains was achieved by a modified Negishi reaction. All four isomeric structures of plakortide E methyl ester, namely, 26a-d were synthesized. One of the structures, 26d, was shown to be identical with the natural plakortide E methyl ester on the basis of (1)H, (13)C NMR spectra and specific rotation comparisons. With the plakortide E methyl ester (4S,6R,10R)-(-)-cis-26d and its other three isomers in hand, we successfully converted them into (3S,4S,6R,10R)-plakortone B (2a), and its isomers ent-2a, 2b and ent-2b via an intramolecular oxa-Michael addition/lactonization cascade reaction. Finally, saponification converted 1,2-dioxolane 26d into plakortide E (1a) whose absolute configuration (4S,6R,10R) was confirmed by comparison of spectral and physical data with those reported.     

Studies on isoindoline derivatives and related compounds. I Synthesis and reduction of 1,3-dicarboethoxymethyleneisoindoline

The reaction of iminoether III with benzyl cyanoacetate gave ethyl 1-(α-cyanocarbobenzyl-oxymethylene)isoindoline-3-acetate (V) in a 26% yield. Decarboxylation of ethyl 1-(α-cyanocarboxymethylene)isoindoline-3-acetate (VI), obtained by hydrogenolysis of V, gave a mixture of 1-carboethoxymethyleneisoindoline-3-acetonitrile (VII) as major component and 1-carboethoxymethylene-3-cyanomethyleneisoindoline (VIII) as minor component, which were reconvertible into each other. On the other hand, decarboxylation of VI was successfully carried out to give VII as a single product under a nitrogen atmosphere. Ethanolysis and autoxidation of VII gave crystalline diethyl 1,3-dicarboethoxymethyleneisoindoline (XIII). Catalytic hydrogenation of of XIII over platinum oxide gave diethyl isoindoline-cis-1,3-diacetate (XIV) in a yield of 92%. The uv spectra of these 1,3-disubstituted isoindoline derivatives are summarized in Table I.