New Triterpenes from the Heartwood of Melaleuca leucadendron L.

Fourteen chemical constituents were isolated from the CHCl₃ soluble portion of the heartwood of Melaleuca leucadendron L. These compounds include β-sitosterol (1) , β-sitostenone (2) , 6-hydroxy-4,6-dimethyl-3-hepten-2-one (3) , naphthalene (4) , squalene (5) , 2α3β-dihydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid (6) , 3β-hydroxylup-20(29)-en-27,28-dioic acid (7) , 2α,3β-dihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid (8) , 3β,23-dihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid (9) , 2α,3β,23-trihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid (10) , 3β-trans-p-coumaroyloxy-2α,23-dihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid (11) , and three novel oleanane derivatives 23-trans-p-coumaroyloxy-2α,3β-dihydroxyotean-12-en-28-oic acid (12), 3β-trans-caffeoyloxy-2α,23-dihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid (13) , and its isomer 3β-cis-caffeoyloxy-2α,23-dihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid (14) , The three novel compounds were characterized as the two and three O-methylated derivatives, respectively.     

Cob (I)alamin als Katalysator 4. Mitteilung. Reduktion von α,β-ungesättigten Nitrilen

Cob(I)alamin as Catalyst. 4. Communication. Reduction of α,β-Unsaturated Nitriles Using catalytic amounts of cob (I)alamin and an excess of metallic zinc as source of electrons 1-naphthonitril ( 5 ) has been reduced to (1-naphthyl)methylamin ( 6 ) and in small amounts to (1-naphthyl)methanol ( 7 ) and (1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-naphthyl)methanol ( 8 ) (5 ½ h, CH₃COOH/H₂O; s. Scheme 3). Starting from cyclododecylideneacetonitrile ( 15 ) similar conditions (68 h, CH₃COOH/H₂O) produced the amines 16–19 as well as the nitrogen free saturated aldehyde 20 , the corresponding allylic alcohol 21 and the saturated derivative 22 (s. Scheme 6). It is deduced that the first attack of cob (I)alamin on an α,β-unsaturated nitrile might occur on both the nitrile dipole as well as on the carbon atom in β-position. Cob (I)alamin in aqueous acetic acid saturates the isolated double bonds in allylic alcohols and amines. In a slow reaction the two different aromatic rings of (1-naphthyl)methanol ( 7 ) have been reduced giving the corresponding tetrahydronaphthalene derivatives 8 and 12 , and in one case the production of the octahydroderivative 14 has been observed in a low yield (s. Scheme 5).     

Synthesis of New Nucleosides by coupling of chloropurines with 2- and 3-deoxy derivatives of N-methyl-D-ribofuranuronamide

The synthesis of new deoxyribose nucleosides by coupling chloropurines with modified D -ribose derivatives is reported. The methyl 2-deoxy-N-methyl-3-O-(p-toluoyl)-α-D -ribofuranosiduronamide (α-D - 8 ) and the corresponding anomer β-D - 8 were synthesized starting from the commercially available 2-deoxy-D -ribose ( 1 ) (Scheme 1). Reaction of α-D - 8 with the silylated derivative of 2,6-dichloro-9H-purine ( 9 ) afforded regioselectively the N⁹-(2′-deoxyribonucleoside) 10 as anomeric mixture (Scheme 2), whereas β-D - 8 did not react. Glycosylation of 9 or of 6-chloro-9H-purine ( 17 ) with 1,2-di-O-acetyl-3-deoxy-N-methyl-β-D -ribofuranuronamide ( 13 ) yielded only the protected β-D -anomers 14 and 18 , respectively (Scheme 3). Subsequent deacetylation and dechlorination afforded the desired nucleosides β-D - 11 , β-D - 12,15 , and 16 . The 3′-deoxy-2-chloroadenosine derivative 15 showed the highest affinity and selectivity for adenotin binding site vs. A₁ and A_2A adenosine receptor subtypes.     

The Allyl Ester as Carboxy-Protecting Group in the Stereoselective Construction of Neuraminic-Acid Glycosides

The application of the allyl-ester moiety as protecting principle for the carboxy group of N-acetylneuraminic acid is described. Peracetylated allyl neuraminate 2 is synthesized by reacting the caesium salt of the acid 1 with allyl bromide. Treatment of 2 with HCl in AcCl or with HF/pyridine gives the corresponding 2-chloro or 2-fluoro derivatives 3 and 4 , respectively (Scheme 1). In the presence of Ag₂CO₃, the 2-chloro carbohydrate 3 reacts with di-O-isopropylidene-protected galactose 5 to give the 2–6 linked disaccharide with the α-D -anomer 6a predominating (α-D /β-D = 6:1; Scheme 2). Upon activation of the 2-fluoro derivative 4 with BF₃ · Et₂O, the β-D -anomer 6b is formed preferentially (α-D /β-D = 1:5). In further glycosylations of 4 with long-chain alcohols, the β-D -anomers are formed exclusively (see 10 and 11 ; Scheme 4). The allyl-ester moiety can be removed selectively and quantitatively from the neuraminyl derivatives and the neuraminyl disaccharides by Pd(0)-catalyzed allyl transfer to morpholine as the accepting nucleophile (see Scheme 5).     

Synthesis of heterocyclic compounds from 2-phenyl-1,2,3-triazole-4-formylhydrazine

2-Phenyl-1, 2, 3-triazole-4-formylhydrazine (2) was prepared by hydrazinolysis of the corresponding ester 1. Reaction of 2 with CS₂/KOH gave the oxadiazole derivatives (3) which via Mannich reaction with different dialkyl amines furnished 3-N, N-dialkyl derivatives (4a–c). Also, condensation of 2 with appropriate aromatic acid in POCI₃ yielded oxadiazole derivatives (5a–c), or with aldehydes and ketones afforded hydrazones (6a–c). Cyclization of (6a–c) with acetic anhydride gave the desired dihydroxadiazole derivatives (7a–c). On the other hand, reaction of dithiocarbazate (8) with hydrazine hydrate gave the corresponding triazole derivative (9) which on treatment with carboxylic acids in refluxing POCI₃ yielded s-triazole [3, 4–b]-1, 3, 4-thiadiazole derivatives (10a–b). The structures of all the above compounds were confirmed by means of IR, ¹H NMR, MS and elemental analysis.     

Transformations of isomeric naphthopyranones. The synthesis of substituted β-naphthyl-α,β-dehydro-α-amino acid derivatives

The opening of the pyranone ring in 2H-naphtho[1,2-b]pyran-2-one derivative (1) and 3H-naphtho[2,1-b]-pyran-3-one derivatives 8 and 20 with nucleophiles afforded 3-(naphthyl-1)- and 3-(naphthyl-2)propenoates (substituted β-naphthyl-α,β-dehydro-α-amino acid derivatives) 7, 13, 14, 15, 24 , and 35 .     

Stereoselective synthesis of 3-azido-2,3-dideoxy-D-ribose derivatives and its utilization for the synthesis of anti-HIV nucleosides

Detail account of the synthesis of 3′-azido nucleosides utilizing 3-azido-2,3-dideoxy-D-ribose derivative 7 as the key intermediate was described. The key intermediate 7 was synthesized from D-mannitol in 8 steps in a preparative scale. The Michael reaction of the azide group with α,β-unsaturated-γ-butyrolactone 4 was affected by the steric bulkiness of the substituent at the 5-O position. A bulky t-butyldiphenylsilyl substitution at 5-O gave almost exclusively the α-azido adduct 5b , while unsubstitution at 5-O produced 1:1 mixture of α-and β-adducts. The ratio of α to β anomers in the condensation between azido acetate 7a and pyrimidine bases for the preparation of AZT and AZDU was greatly influenced by the solvent and the Lewis acid catalyst used. In the synthesis of 12 (AZDU, CS-87), the combination of dichloroethane and trimethylsilyl triflate gave an optimal result, while in the case of 14 (AZT), various conditions gave similar ratio of α,β anomers. The azido intermediate 7b was also utilized for the synthesis of several 3′-azido purine-like nucleosides 16–27 . The glycosylation was also affected by the Lewis acid catalyst. Boron trifluoride etherate gave the desired N₁-glycosylated compounds in which the α-anomer was major, but other catalysts such as trimethylsilyl triflate or stannic chloride produced N₂-glycosylated compounds as the major products. The newly synthesized purine-like compounds have been tested against HIV, however, none of them showed any significant activity.     

Cationic polymerization of α,β-disubstituted olefins. VI. Steric structure of poly(methyl propenyl ether) obtained by cationic catalysts

The steric structure of poly(methyl propenyl ether) obtained by cationic polymerization was studied by NMR spectra. From the analysis of β-methyl and α-methoxyal spectra, it was found that the tacticities of the α-carbon were different from those of the β-carbon in all polymers obtained. In the crystalline polymers obtained from the trans isomer by homogeneous catalysts, BF₃·O(C₂H₅)₂ or Al(C₂H₅)Cl₂, and from the cis isomer by a heterogeneous catalyst, Al₂(SO₄)₃–H₂SO₄ complex, the structure of polymers was threo-di-isotactic. Though the configurations of all α-carbons were isotactic, a small amount of syndiotactic structure was observed in the β-carbon. On the other hand, in the amorphous polymer obtained from cis isomer by the homogeneous catalyst, the configuration of the α-carbon was isotactic, but that of the β-carbon was atactic. These facts suggest that the type of opening of a monomeric double bond is complicated, or that carbon–carbon double bond in an incoming monomer rotates in the transition state. From these experimental results, a probability treatment was proposed from the diad tacticity of α,β-disubstituted polymers. It shows that the tacticity is decided by a polymerization mechanism different from that proposed by Bovey.     

Umlagerung und Spaltung von α, β-Dioxopropionsäureestern in alkalischem Milieu. 28. Mitt. über Reduktone und Tricarbonylverbindungen [1]

The behaviour of α,β-dioxopropionic acid derivatives of the type R? CO? CO? COX (R = phenyl, p-substituted phenyls, CF₃, mesityl; X = OC₂H₅, NH₂) was investigated under benzilic acid rearrangement conditions. Nearly all compounds were cleaved by alkali to give the corresponding acids R? COOH and glyoxylic acid. Only the sterically hindered ethyl β-mesityl-α,β-dioxopropionate underwent rearrangement (after hydrolysis of the ester group); it was shown by ¹⁴C-labelling that the carboxylate group migrates to the β-carbonyl group.     

The synthesis of β-heteroarylamino-α,β-dehydro-α-amino acid derivatives via thiazolones

2-Alkoxy-4-heteroarylaminomethylene-5(4H)-thiazolones 4 were converted with various nucleophiles into β-heteroarylamino-α,β-dehydro-α-amino acid derivatives 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 , and 19 . Reduction of 4 with sodium borohydride in ethanol saturated with gaseous ammonia afforded the corresponding β-heteroaryl-amino substituted alanyl amides 20 . Thiazoledione derivative 7a was transformed with sodium methoxide in methanol into 1-(4,6-dimethylpyrimidinyl-2)-4-mercaptocarbonylimidazol-2(3H)-one ( 8a ).     

Furopyridines. XXVII. Reactions of 2-methyl and 2-cyano derivatives of furo[2,3-b]-, -[3,2-b]-, - [2,3-c]- and -[3,2-c]pyridine

Bromination of 2-methylfuropyridines 1a-d-Me gave the 3-bromo derivatives 2a-d , while the 2-cyano compounds 1a-d-CN resulted in the recovery of the starting compounds. Nitration of 1a-d-Me and 1a-d-CN did not yield the corresponding nitro derivative, except for 1-c-CN giving 3-nitro derivative 3c in 7% yield. N-Oxidation of 1a-d-Me and 1b-d-CN with m-chloroperbenzoic acid yielded the N-oxides 4a-d-Me and 4b-d-CN , whereas 1a-CN did not afford the N-oxide. Cyanation of N-oxides 4a-d-Me and 4b-d-CN with trimethylsilyl cyanide gave the corresponding α-cyanopyridine compounds 5a-d-Me and 5b-d-CN . Chlorination of 4a-d-Me and 4b-d-CN with phosphorus oxychloride also gave the α-chloropyridine compounds 6b-d-Me and 6b-d-CN , accompanying formation of γ-chloropyridine 6a-Me, 6′b-Me and 6′b-CN , β-chloropyridine 6′b-CN , and α'-chloropyridine derivatives 6′c-Me and 6′c-CN . Acetoxylation of 4a-d-Me and 4b-d-CN with acetic anhydride yielded α-acetoxypyridine compounds 7a-Me and 7b-CN , pyridone compounds 11d-Me, 11c-CN and 11d-CN , 3-acetoxy compounds 8, 9b, 9c , and 2-acetoxymethyl derivatives 10b and 10c.     

Synthesis of β-(N-1,2,3-Triazolyl)-Substituted α,β-Unsaturated α-Amino Acid Derivatives. A New Example of 1H- to 2H-1,2,3-Triazole Isomerisation

Synthesis of β-1H-1,2,3-triazol-l-yl and β-2H-1,2,3-Triazol-2-yl α,β-unsaturated α-amino acid derivatives is reported. 1H-1,2,3-Triazole 4 was found to isomerise to the corresponding 2H-1,2,3-triazole 7.     

Tailorable PC71BM Isomers: Using the Most Prevalent Electron Acceptor to Obtain High‐Performance Polymer Solar Cells

Despite being widely used as electron acceptor in polymer solar cells, commercially available PC₇₁BM (phenyl‐C₇₁‐butyric acid methyl ester) usually has a “random” composition of mixed regioisomers or stereoisomers. Here PC₇₁BM has been isolated into three typical isomers, α‐, β₁‐ and β₂‐PC₇₁BM, to establish the isomer‐dependent photovoltaic performance on changing the ternary composition of α‐, β₁‐ and β₂‐PC₇₁BM. Mixing the isomers in a ratio of α/β₁/β₂=8:1:1 resulted in the best power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 7.67 % for the polymer solar cells with PTB7:PC₇₁BM as photoactive layer (PTB7=poly[[4,8‐bis[(2‐ethylhexyl)oxy]benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b′]dithiophene‐2,6‐diyl][3‐fluoro‐2‐[(2‐ethylhexyl)carbonyl]thieno[3,4‐b]thiophenediyl]]). The three typical PC₇₁BM isomers, even though sharing similar LUMO energy levels and light absorption, render starkly different photovoltaic performances with average‐performing PCE of 1.28–7.44 % due to diverse self‐aggregation of individual or mixed PC₇₁BM isomers in the otherwise same polymer solar cells.     

Probing the Helical Secondary Structure of Short-Chain β-Peptides

Structural prerequisites for the stability of the 3₁ helix of β-peptides can be defined from inspection of models (Figs. 1 and 2): lateral non-H-substituents in 2- and 3-position on the 3-amino-acid residues of the helix are allowed, axial ones are forbidden. To be able to test this prediction, we synthesized a series of heptapeptide derivatives Boc-(β-HVal-β-HAla-β-HLeu-Xaa-β-HVal-β-HAla-β-HLeu)-OMe 13–22 (Xaa = α- or β-amino-acid residue) and a β-depsipeptide 25 with a central (S)-3-hydroxybutanoic-acid residue (Xaa = –OCH(Me)CH₂C(O)–) (Schemes 1 3). Detailed NMR analysis (DQF-COSY, HSQC, HMBC, ROESY, and TOCSY experiments) in methanol solution of the β-hexapeptide H(-β-HVal-β-HAla-β-HLeu)₂-OH ( 1 ) and of the β-heptapeptide H-β-HVal-β-HAla-β-HLeu-(S,S)-β-HAla(αMe)-β-HVal-β-HAla- β-HLeu-OH ( 22 ), with a central (2S,3S)-3-amino-2-methylbutanoic-acid residue, confirm the helical structure of such β-peptides (previously discovered in pyridine solution) (Fig.3 and Tables 1–5). The CD spectra of helical β-peptides, the residues of which were prepared by (retentive) Arndt-Eistert homologation of the (S)- or L -α-amino acids, show a trough at 215 nm. Thus, this characteristic pattern of the CD spectra was taken as an indicator for the presence of a helix in methanol solutions of compounds 13–22 and 25 (including partially and fully deprotected forms) (Figs.4–6). The results fully confirm predicted structural effects: incorporation of a single ‘wrong’ residue ((R)-β-HAla, β-HAib, (R,S)-β-HAla(α Me), or N-Me-β-HAla) in the central position of the β-heptapeptide derivatives A (see 17, 18, 20 , or 21 , resp.) causes the CD minimum to disappear. Also, the β-heptadepsipetide 25 (missing H-bond) and the β-heptapeptide analogs with a single α-amino-acid moiety in the middle ( 13 and 14 ) are not helical, according to this analysis. An interesting case is the heptapeptide 15 with the central achiral, unsubstituted 3-aminopropanoic-acid moiety: helical conformation appears to depend upon the presence or absence of terminal protection and upon the solvent (MeOH vs. MeOH/H₂O).     

Key tricyclic synthetic intermediates for the preparation of the sesquiterpenes α- and β-cedrene

A completely novel and direct route towards the synthesis of the natural sesquiterpenes α-cedrene and β-cedrene delivered the compounds (3β,3aβ,7β)-(±)-6,6-ethyl­ene­dioxy-3,8,8-tri­methyl-2,3,3a,4,5,6,7,8-octa­hydro-3a,7-methano­azulen-2-one, C₁₆H₂₂O₃, and (3β,3aβ,7β,8aα)-(±)-6,6-ethyl­ene­dioxy-3,8,8-tri­methyl-1,2,3,3a,4,5,6,7,8,8a-deca­hydro-3a,7-methano­azulen-2-one, C₁₆H₂₄O₃, at key stages of the preparative programme. Structural elucidation showed the latter compound to have added an H atom to the same face of the cyclo­pentenone ring as that occupied by the methyl substituent, and also allowed correct isomer identification for further reaction.     

4-Substituted-3-alkyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-1,3-benzoxazin-2-ones. IV (2-4). Keto-Enol tautomerism of β-keto ester derivatives. Reaction of β-dicarbonyl compounds with diamines

A series of α-[3-alkyl-3,4-dihydro-2-oxo-2H-1,3-benzoxazin-4-yl]-β-keto ester derivatives 1 (Table I) were synthesized by the condensation of 3-alkyl-3,4-dihydro-4-hydroxy-2H-1,3-benzoxazine-2-ones 3 (2) with β-keto esters 4 in the presence of traces of mineral acids under azeotropic conditions. Condensation of 1 with hydrazines 5 gave pyrazolone derivatives 2 (Table II). Condensation of β-diketone derivatives 6 with hydrazines 5 and with 1,2-benzenediamine ( 8 ) resulted in the formation of pyrazoles ( 7a-c ) and diazepine derivatives 12 (Table III) and 13 , respectively.     

Synthèse de deux nouveaux acides amines phénoliques comportant un cycle 1,2,4-oxadiazole

Synthesis of two phenolic amino acids containing the 1,2,4-oxadiazole ring The synthesis of α-amino-β [3-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-1,2,4, oxadiazol-5-yl]propionic acid (9) and its β-amino isomer (10) (see scheme 3) is reported. By condensation of p-benzyloxy-benzamide oxime and N-benzyloxycarbonyl asparagine the derivatives 4 and 5 (see scheme 1) are obtained leading after deprotection to 9 and 10 . The synthesis of N-carboxyanhydride of 4 (6) and its corresponding amino acid (7) and amide (8) is also described.     

Synthesis of Acyclic Aliphatic Amides with Contiguous Stereogenic Centers via Palladium-Catalyzed Enantio-, Chemo- and Diastereoselective Methylene C(sp3)−H arylation

The enantioselective desymmetrizing C−H activation of α-gem-dialkyl acyclic amides remains challenging because the availability of four chemically identical unbiased methylene C(sp³)−H bonds and increased rotational freedoms of the acyclic systems add tremendous difficulties for chemo- and stereocontrol. We have developed a method for the synthesis of acyclic aliphatic amides with α,β-contiguous stereogenic centers via Pd^II-catalyzed asymmetric arylation of unbiased methylene C(sp³)−H, in good yields and with high levels of enantio-, chemo- and diastereoselectivity (up to >99 % ee and >20:1 d.r.). Successive application of this method enables the sequential arylation of the gem-dialkyl groups with two different aryl iodides, giving a range of β-Ar¹-β′-Ar²-aliphatic acyclic amides containing three contiguous stereogenic centers with excellent diastereoselectivity.     

The synthesis and transformations of ethyl (Z)-2-[2,2-bis(ethoxycarbonyl)vinyl]amino-3-dimethylaminopropenoate,a new reagent in the synthesis of heterocyclic compounds

Ethyl (Z)-2-[2,2-bis(ethoxycarbonyl)vinyl]amino-3-dimethylaminopropenoate (5) , a new reagent in the synthesis of heteroaryl substituted β-amino- α,β- -dehydro—amino acid derivatives and some fused hetero-cyclic systems, was prepared from ethyl N-2,2-bis(ethoxycarbonyl)vinylglycinate (3) and N,N-dimethyl-formamide dimethyl acetal (4) . The substitution of the dimethylamino group in the compound 5 with heterocyclic amines produced ethyl 2-[2,2-bis(ethoxycarbonyl)vinyl]amino-3-heteroarylaminopropenoates 7a-f and, in some instances, [2,2-bis-(ethoxycarbonyl)vinyl]aminoazolo- or -azinopyrimidine derivatives 8g-k.