Catalytic enantioselective conjugate addition of indoles to simple α,β-unsaturated ketones

Chiral [Al(salen)Cl] complex (10 mol%) in the presence of 2,6-lutidine (10 mol%) was found to be effective in catalysing the enantioselective Friedel-Crafts-type conjugate addition of indoles (3) to (E)-arylcrotyl ketones (2), furnishing the corresponding β-indolyl ketones in excellent yield and high enantioselectivity (ee up to 89%).     

Synthesis and characterization of 3,5-lutidinyl chalcogen and -dichalcogen compounds: X-ray crystal structure of bis(3,5-dimethyl-2-pyridyl) diselenide and 2,6-bis(selenomethyl)-3,5-lutidine

The synthesis of 3,5-lutidinyl chalcogen and -dichalcogen compounds has been described by a method involving selective mono- and dilithiation of 3,5-lutidine (1) ring. The selective mono- and dilithiation of 1 has been achieved by reacting BF₃-complexed 3,5-lutidine (2) with 1 and 2 equiv of LTMP/LDA respectively. The subsequent insertion of elemental selenium followed by aerial oxidation or quenching with iodomethane leads to the formation of bis(3,5-dimethyl-2-pyridyl) diselenide (5) and 2,6-bis(selenomethyl)-3,5-lutidine (7) respectively. In addition, sequential incorporation of sulfur and selenium atom in the same lutidine ring has been reported for the first time. Single-crystal X-ray studies of (5), having a rare C-Se-Se-C torsion angle of 180°(4), and (7) have also been reported.     

Enantioselective alkylation and protonation of prochiral enolates in the asymmetric synthesis of β-amino acids

Achiral 1-benzoyl-3-methylperhydropyrimidin-4-one (1) was deemed a useful, potential precursor for the enantioselective synthesis of α-substituted β-amino acids. Pyrimidinone 1 was prepared from inexpensive β-aminopropanoic acid in 62% overall yield. Prochiral enolate derivative 1 -Li was alkylated in good yield and moderate enantioselectivity in the presence of chiral amines (S)-8, (S,S)-9, (S,S)-10, or (−)-sparteine. The enantioselectivity of the alkylation process is highest in toluene as the solvent and in the presence of lithium bromide as additive. The racemic alkylated derivatives 2 and 3 were readily metallated with LDA to give prochiral enolates 2-Li and 3-Li, that were reprotonated with novel chiral phenolic acids (S)-11, (S,S)-12, (S)-13, and (S,S)-14 in moderate enantioselectivity in the case of 2-Li and good enantioselectivity in the case of 3-Li. The acid (6N HCl) hydrolysis of enantioenriched 2 and 3 proceeded in good yield and without racemization to afford α-alkyl-β-amino acids 4 and 5, respectively.     

Synthesis of orthogonally protected d-olivoside, 1,3-di-O-acetyl-4-O-benzyl-2,6-dideoxy-d-arabinopyranose, as a C-glycosyl donor

1,3-Di-O-acetyl-4-O-benzyl-2,6-dideoxy-d-arabinopyranose (11) was synthesised from thiophenyl α-d-mannopyranoside (21) in an eight-step sequence. Tosylation of 21 and subsequent reaction with 2,2-dimethoxypropane gave tosylate 22, which upon treatment with lithium aluminium hydride furnished 6-deoxy glycoside 24 and by-product thiophenyl 6-deoxy-2-O-isopropyl-α-d-arabinopyranoside. The X-ray crystal structure of the latter was determined. Benzylation of the 4-hydroxyl group of 24 and subsequent protecting group manipulation gave d-rhamnosyl bromide 29, which on treatment with zinc-copper couple gave the orthogonally protected d-rhamnal 30. Triphenylphosphine hydrogen bromide catalysed addition of acetic acid to 30 furnished the target molecule 11. The scandium(III) triflate promoted reaction of 11 and 2-naphthol gave the corresponding C-glycoside 36 in 86% yield.     

Asymmetric Friedel-Crafts alkylation of activated benzenes with methyl (E)-2-oxo-4-aryl-3-butenoates catalyzed by [Pybox/Sc(OTf)3]

The asymmetric Friedel-Crafts reaction between methyl (E)-2-oxo-4-aryl-3-butenoates (1a-c) and activated benzenes (2a-d) has been efficiently catalyzed by the Sc^III triflate complex of (4′S,5′S)-2,6-bis[4′-(triisopropylsilyl) oxymethyl-5′-phenyl-1′,3′-oxazolin-2′-yl]pyridine (pybox 3). The 4,4-diaryl-2-oxo-butyric acid methyl esters (4) are usually formed in good yields and the enantioselectivity is up to 99% ee. The sense of the stereoinduction can be rationalized with the same octahedral complex (10) between 1, pybox 3 and Sc triflate already proposed for other reactions involving pyruvates, and catalyzed by the same complex.     

Origin of enantioselectivity with heterobidentate sulfide-tertiary amine (sp) ligands in palladium-catalyzed allylic substitution

A series of new chiral heterobidentate sulfide-tertiary amine (sp³) ligands 3a-c, 6 were readily prepared from cheap and easily available (R)-cysteine and l-(+)-methionine. A Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation of 1,3-diphenyl-2-propenyl acetate with dimethyl malonate was used as a model reaction to examine the catalytic efficiencies of these aziridine sulfide ligands, and ligand 3b afforded the enantioselectivity of up to 91% ee. The origin of enantioselectivity for heterobidentate sulfide-tertiary amine (sp³) ligands was first rationalized based on X-ray crystallographic data, and NMR spectroscopic data for relevant intermediate palladium allylic complexes. Our results demonstrated that the sulfur atom was a better π-allyl acceptor than the nitrogen atom for heterobidentate sulfide-tertiary amine (sp³) ligands, and the steric as well electronic properties of the palladium allylic complexes were crucial for the enantioselectivity.     

Enantioselective Diels-Alder reactions of α-fluorinated α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds : Part 5. Chemical consequences of fluorine substitution

α-Fluoro-α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds, compared with the corresponding non-fluorinated parent compounds, are less reactive in Diels-Alder reactions with normal 1,3-dienes. The cycloadducts of such dienophiles with 2,3-dimethylbutadiene (1) or o-quinodimethane (6) exhibit low stability whereas the corresponding cycloaddducts formed with cyclopentadiene (7) are stable compounds. While the cycloadditions of oct-1-en-3-one (2e) or benzyl acrylate (10b) with 7 are endo-selective, the corresponding reactions with 2-fluorooct-1-en-3-one (2a) or benzyl 2-fluoroacrylate (10a) are exo-selective. Applying Lewis acids as mediators, the reactions with non-fluorinated dienophiles become even more endo-selective, while the corresponding reactions with the fluorinated analogues become more exo-selective. Using enantiopure Lewis acidic metal complexes such as titanium TADDOLates, low enantioselectivity is observed in reactions of 7 with 2e or 10b. Moderate enantioselectivity (max. 43% enantiomeric excesses (ee)) is found in the corresponding cycloadditions of 7 with 2a, whereas 10a shows practically no enantioselectivity. The more efficient chiral induction in reactions with the fluorinated dienophile 2a might be caused by a chelate-like complexation of the carbonyl compound involving the fluorine substituent.     

Synthesis of tridentate 2,6-bis(imino)pyridyl aminechlorohydro ruthenium(II) complexes: The convenient use of amine hydrochlorides to generate metal-hydride

The reaction of low-valent ruthenium complexes with 2,6-bis(imino)pyridine ligand, [η²-N₃]Ru(η⁶-Ar) (1) or {[N₃]Ru}₂(μ-N₂) (2) with amine hydrochlorides generates six-coordinate chlorohydro ruthenium (II) complexes with amine ligands, [N₃]Ru(H)(Cl)(amine) (4). Either complex 1 or 2 activates amine hydrochlorides 3, and the amines coordinate to the ruthenium center to give complex 4. This is a convenient and useful synthetic approach to form ruthenium complexes with amine and hydride ligands using amine hydrochloride.     

Cation-anion interactions involving hydrogen bonds: Syntheses and crystal structures study of hexafluorotitanate(IV) salts with pyridine and methyl substituted pyridines

Fluorotitanates (LH)₂[TiF₆]·nH₂O (1: R = pyridine, n = 1, 2: R = 2-picoline, n = 2, 3: R = 2,6-lutidine, n = 0, 4: R = 2,4,6-collidine, n = 0) and (LH)[TiF₅(H₂O)] (3a: L = 2,6-lutidine) have been synthesized by the reaction of pyridine or corresponding methyl substituted pyridines and titanium dioxide dissolved in hydrofluoric acid. The crystal structures of ionic compounds 1, 2, 3, 3a and 4 have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The hydrogen bonding led to the formation of discrete (LH)₂[TiF₆] units (4), chains (1-3), and layers (3a). The additional π-π interactions present in 1, 2, and 4 results in chain structures of 1 and 4 and in a layer structure of 2. The [TiF₆]²⁻ and [TiF₅(H₂O)]⁻ anions were observed by ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy in aqueous solutions of 1, 2, 3, 3a and 4.     

Tris(4-hydroxy-3,5-diisopropylbenzyl)amine as a new bridging ligand for novel trinuclear titanium complexes

Tris(4-hydroxy-3,5-diisopropylbenzyl)amine (LH₃) was synthesized by the reaction of 2,6-diisopropylphenol and hexamethylenetetramine in the presence of p-toluenesulfonic acid or paraformaldehyde. Its solid state structure was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Its fully deprotonated specie, (4-O-3,5-i-Pr₂PhCH₂)₃N (L), was used to form novel trinuclear half-sandwich titanocene complexes, namely [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)TiCl₂]₃L (1) and [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Ti(OMe)₂]₃L (2), which were then tested for the syndiospecific polymerization of styrene in the presence of methylaluminoxane (MAO) cocatalyst. Their catalytic properties were directly compared with those of trichloro(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)titanium(IV) (3) and dichloro(2,6-diisopropylphenolato)(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)titanium(IV) (4). 1/MAO and 2/MAO systems showed higher activities towards styrene polymerization than the mononuclear catalytic systems 3/MAO and 4/MAO, giving syndiotactic polystyrene of high molecular weight.     

Tricyclic ligands on cyclam core and X-ray crystallographic structure of hexachloro-(1,11:4,8-bis(pyridine-2,6-diyl-bis(2-(N-(2-formidoylethylene)carbamoyl)ethylene))-1,8-diazonia-4,11-diazacyclotetradecane) - dimanganese(II) dimethanol dihydrate solvate

The synthesis of tricyclic compounds on functionalized cyclam core is described. The addition of four methyl acrylate molecules and consecutive condensation of this derivative with ethylenediamine resulted in formation of 1,4,8,11-tetrakis(2-(N-(2-aminoethyl)carbamoyl)ethyl)-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane (3). Compound 3 was the substrate for further condensation with dialdehydes: iso-phthaldialdehyde and 2,6-pyridinedicarbaldehyde, resulting in spontaneous macrocycle ring closure to give tricyclic derivatives: 1,11:4,8-bis(benzene-1,3-diyl-bis(2-(N-(2-formidoylethylene)carbamoyl)ethylene))-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane (4) in the reaction of 3 with iso-phthaldialdehyde and three isomers: 1,4:8,11-bis(pyridine-2,6-diyl-bis(2-(N-(2-formidoylethylene)carbamoyl)ethylene))-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane (5A), 1,11:4,8-bis(pyridine-2,6-diyl-bis(2-(N-(2-formidoylethylene)carbamoyl)ethylene))-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane (5B), and 1,8:4,11-bis(pyridine-2,6-diyl-bis(2-(N-(2-formidoylethylene)carbamoyl)ethylene))-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane (5C) when 2,6-pyridinedicarbaldehyde was used. The compounds 4, 5B, and 5C were identified crystallographically. The isolated 5A converted in solution into the mixture of 5B and 5C as monitored by the ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The tricycle 5 is able to accept two manganese(II) metal ions by reacting with manganese(II) dichloride with simultaneous diprotonation of 5. Structure of the resulting Mn₂(5BH₂)Cl₆·(CH₃OH)₂(H₂O)₂ was determined crystallographically.     

Vapor phase phototransposition of pyrazine deuterium labeling studies

2,5-Dideuteriopyrazine (1-2,5-d₂) and 2,6-dideuteriopyrazine (1-2,6-d₂) phototranspose in the vapor phase to mixtures of 4,6-dideuteriopyrimidine (2-4,6-d₂) and 2,5-dideuteriopyrimidine (2-2,5-d₂) or 4,5-dideuteropyrimidine (2-4,5-d₂) and 2,4-dideuteriopyrimidine (2-2,4-d₂), respectively. In each case, a trace quantity of a dideuteriopyridazine (7-d₂) photoproduct was also observed. These products are consistent with a diazaprefulvene mechanism involving, 2,6-bonding, one or two nitrogen migrations, and rearomatization.     

Synthesis and structural characterization of η-allyl(α-diimine)nickel(II) complexes bearing trimethylsilyl groups

A set of isomeric para- and meta-trimethylsilylphenyl ortho-substituted N,N-phenyl α-diimine ligands [(Ar-NC(Me)-(Me)CN-Ar) Ar=2,6-di(4-trimethylsilylphenyl)phenyl (16); Ar=2,6-di(3-trimethylsilylphenyl)phenyl (17)] have been synthesized through a two-step procedure. The palladium-catalysed cross-coupling reaction between 2,6-dibromophenylamine (7) and 4-trimethylsilylphenylboronic acid (8), 3-trimethylsilylphenylboronic acid (9) was used to prepare 4,4^′-bis(trimethylsilyl)-[1,1^′;3^′,1″]terphenyl-2^′-ylamine (10) and 3,3^′-bis(trimethylsilyl)-[1,1^′;3^′,1″]terphenyl-2^′-ylamine (11). The di-1-adamantylphosphine oxide Ad₂P(O)H (13) and di-tert-butyl-trimethylsilylanylmethylphosphine tert-Bu₂P-CH₂-SiMe₃ (14) were used for the first time as ligands for the Suzuki coupling. The condensation of 2,2,3,3-tetramethoxybutane (15) with anilines 10 and 11 afforded α-diimines 16 and 17. The reaction of π-allylnickel chloride dimer (18), α-diimines (16), (17) and sodium tetrakis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate (BAF) (19) or silver hexafluoroantimonate (20) led to two sets of isomeric complexes [η³-allyl(Ar-NC(Me)-(Me)CN-Ar)Ni]⁺ X⁻, [Ar=2,6-di(4-trimethylsilylphenyl)phenyl, X=BAF (3), X=SbF₆ (4); Ar=2,6-di(3-trimethylsilylphenyl)phenyl, X=BAF (5), X=SbF₆ (6)]. The steric repulsion of closely positioned trimethylsilyl groups in 4 caused the distortion of the nickel square planar coordination by 17.6° according to X-ray analysis.     

Synthesis,crystal structure and reactivity of a new pentacoordinated chiral dioxomolybdenum(VI) complex

The novel tridentate chiral ligand 2,6-bis{[(1R,2S,4R)-2-hydroxy-1,3,3-trimethyl-bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl]}pyridine (1) was readily prepared by reaction of 2,6-dilithiopyridine with (R)-(−)-fenchone. Reaction of 1 with [MoO₂(acac)₂] resulted in the formation of the new metal-oxo five-coordinated complex [MoO₂(ONO)] (2) [ONO = (1 – 2H)]. The reactivity of 2 has been studied and the derivatives [MoS₂(ONO)] (3) and [MoO(O₂)(ONO)] (4) were prepared. The compounds 1–4 have been characterised by ¹H and ¹³C{¹H} NMR, microanalysis and IR spectroscopy. Furthermore, the molecular structures of 1 and 2 have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The behaviour of 2 as catalyst in oxotransfer and in nucleophilic substitution of propargylic alcohols reactions has been tested.     

Chiral diaminophosphine ligands with stable C(aryl)N(amine) axial chirality derived from prolinol

New type chiral ligands 3, which have a chiral carbon center and stable C(aryl)-N(amine) axial chirality, were prepared from chiral prolinol-derived aminophosphine oxide 4. Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation of 1,3-diphenyl-2-propenyl acetate (6) with a dimethyl malonate-BSA-LiOAc system was successfully carried out in the presence of 3d resulting in a good yield with good enantioselectivity (up to 95% ee).     

Absolute configuration of gomadalactones A, B and C, the components of the contact sex pheromone of Anoplophora malasiaca

Absolute configuration of gomadalactones A (1), B (2) and C (3), the pheromone components of the white-spotted longicorn beetle (Anoplophora malasiaca) was assigned as (1S,4R,5S)-1, (1R,4R,5R)-2 and (1S,4R,5S,8S)-3 by comparing their published CD spectra with those of (1R,5R)-(+)-4,4,8-trimethyl-3-oxabicyclo[3.3.0]oct-7-ene-2,6-dione (4) and (1S,5R,8S)-(+)-4,4,8-trimethyl-3-oxabicyclo[3.3.0]octane-2,6-dione (5) prepared from (R)-(−)-carvone (6).     

Organocatalytic asymmetric Friedel–Crafts reaction of 1-naphthols with isatins: an enantioselective synthesis of 3-aryl-3-hydroxy-2-oxindoles

An organocatalytic enantioselective Friedel–Crafts reaction of 1-naphthols with isatins has been developed employing bifunctional thiourea–tertiary amine organocatalysts. A variety of isatin derivatives react well with 1-naphthols in the presence of Cinchona derived thiourea 1a to provide biologically important chiral 3-aryl-3-hydroxy-2-oxindoles (3a–zg) in good yield (70–84%) and moderate to good enantioselectivity (37–83%).     

Total synthesis of puerarin, an isoflavone C-glycoside

We completed the first total synthesis of puerarin (1), an isoflavone C-glycoside. The key intermediate, β-d-glucopyranosyl-2,6-dimethoxybenzene (9), was obtained by coupling of a lithiated aromatic reagent (3) with pyranolactone (2) in 56% yield. Condensation of (16) with p-methoxybenzaldehyde gave the chalcone (17). The protected chalcone (18) was cyclized to (19) in the presence of Tl(NO₃)₃. Demethylation of (19) was accomplished by refluxing with TMSI in CH₃CN to give puerarin (1).     

Corrigendum to “Enantioselective alkylation and protonation of prochiral enolates in the asymmetric synthesis of β-amino acids” [Tetrahedron 59 (2003) 4223]

This paper describes work that corrects the synthetic procedures reported in the title paper for the preparation of novel chiral phenolic acids (S)-11, (S)-13, (S,S)-12 and (S,S)-14. Unlike the results provided in the article being reexamined, protonation of prochiral enolates 2-Li and 3-Li with chiral Brønsted acids 11-14 proceeded with negligible enantioselectivity.     

Biomimetically inspired total synthesis of (12S)-12-hydroxymonocerin and (12R)-12-hydroxymonocerin

A concise asymmetric total synthesis of (12S)-12-hydroxymonocerin (1) and (12R)-12-hydroxymonocerin (2) were efficiently achieved from the known 4-bromo-2,6-dimethoxyphenol. The synthetic approach was inspired by our biomimetic synthesis of (+)-monocerin (3) and 7-O-demethylmonocerin (4). The cis-fused furobenzopyranones of 1 and 2 was efficiently constructed via an intramolecular nucleophilic trapping of a quinonemethide intermediate, which was obtained by benzylic oxidation of compound 10 using 2,3-Dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ).