Total synthesis of eurypamides, marine cyclic-isodityrosines from the Palauan sponge Microciona eurypa

Total synthesis of eurypamides A, B, and D, 1, 2, and 4, has been successfully accomplished. The Tl(NO₃)₃ (TTN) oxidation of the halogenated bisphenols, 14a, 14b, 24, and 43, effected regio-controlled cyclization to provide the corresponding diaryl ethers, 15a, 15b, 25, and 46. This investigation revealed a structural revision of eurypamide A as to possess (2″S,3″R,4″S)-configuration (47), along with the spectral data of pure 2 and 4, which were previously characterized in a mixture.     

The first synthesis and X-ray structures of polyfluorinated 1,2-, 2,3- and 2,4a-dihydro-1,3-diazafluorenes

Acetic acid-catalyzed condensation of 2-amino-3-(1-imino-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)-1,1,4,5,6,7-hexafluoroindene (1b) with acetone and cyclopentanone gives 5,6,7,8,9,9-hexafluoro-2,2-dimethyl-4-trifluoromethyl-2,3-dihydro-1,3-diazafluorene (2a) and 5,6,7,8,9,9-hexafluoro-4-trifluoromethyl-2,3-dihydro-1,3-diazafluorene-2-spiro-1′-cyclopentane (3a) together with small amounts of 5,6,7,8,9,9-hexafluoro-2,2-dimethyl-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-1,3-diazafluorene (2b) and 5,6,7,8,9,9-hexafluoro-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-1,3-diazafluorene-2-spiro-1′-cyclopentane (3b), respectively. When acted upon by (CH₃)₂SO₄ compounds 2, 3 were converted into corresponding fluorine-containing 1-methyl-1,2-dihydro-1,3-diazafluorenes 6, 7. 4a-Chloro-5,6,7,8,9,9-hexafluoro-2,2-dimethyl-4-trifluoromethyl-2,4a-dihydro-1,3-diazafluorene (8) has been synthesized by the interaction of compound 2 with SOCl₂. Solution of compound 2 as well as 8 in CF₃SO₃H-CD₂Cl₂ generated 5,6,7,8,9,9-hexafluoro-2,2-dimethyl-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1,3-diazafluorene-4-yl cation (2c). The structures of compounds 2, 3, 6-8 have been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction.     

A one-pot, two step synthesis of 2,2-disubstituted 1-nitroalkenes

The reactions of ketones 1a-o, nitromethane 2, and a stoichiometric amount of piperidine 3a or ethylenediamine 3b in the presence of mercaptan 6a in THF or CH₃CN solution give high yields of β-nitrosulfides 7a-o. The latter can be oxidized by 8a (m-CPBA or m-CPBA/AcOH) at 0°C, 8b (H₂O₂/AcOH), or 8c (H₂O₂) at room temperature, thus generating β-nitroalkylsulfoxides 9a-o, which then undergo elimination to produce medium to high yields of 2,2-disubstituted-1-nitroalkenes 5a-o, when refluxed in a solution of ClCH₂CH₂Cl (1,2-dichloroethane). After preparation from 1a-o, 2, 3, and 6a, 7a-o were oxidized with 8a, 8b, or 8c in a mixture of CH₃CN and ClCH₂CH₂Cl to generate β-nitrosulfoxides 9a-o, which then underwent elimination under refluxing under one-pot conditions. Compounds 14 and 15g were also prepared using 13, 2, 3b, and 6, in a similar manner.     

Formal total synthesis of aspergillide A

The formal total synthesis of aspergillide A 1 is described. The cross-metathesis of enone 6 with 6-hepten-2-ol derivative 5 provided E-olefin 15 corresponding to the C₄-C₁₄ backbone of 1. The CBS asymmetric reduction of 15 gave allyl alcohol 16, which was transformed into β-alkoxyacrylate 4 which had a formyl group. SmI₂-induced reductive cyclization of 4 gave a 2,6-syn-2,3-trans THP derivative 3 in good yield. After methoxymethylation of 3, the resulting compound 19 was submitted to desilylation and hydrolysis, to afford Fuwa’s key intermediate 2 for the total synthesis of 1.     

Microwave-assisted and conventional synthesis and stereogenic properties of monospirocyclotriphosphazene derivatives

The reactions of hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene, N₃P₃Cl₆, with N/O donor type N-alkyl or (aryl)-o-hydroxybenzylamines HO(C₆H₄)CH₂NHR(Ar), [R(Ar) = C(CH₃)₃ (1), Ph (2)] produce monospirocyclic tetrachlorocyclotriphosphazenes (1a and 2a). The geminal substituted cyclotriphosphazenes (1b, 1d, 2b and 2d) are obtained from the reactions of 1 equiv. of 1a and 2a with 2 equiv. of pyrrolidine or morpholine in THF, while the fully substituted phosphazenes (1c, 1e, 2c and 2e) are formed from the reactions of 1a and 2a with the excess pyrrolidine or morpholine in toluene, between 24 and 48 h. The microwave-assisted reactions of 1a and 2a with excess pyrrolidine or morpholine in toluene afford the fully substituted products with higher yields than those which were obtained by conventional methods. The structural investigations of the compounds have been verified by elemental analyses, ESI-MS, FTIR, ¹H, ¹³C, ³¹P NMR and HETCOR techniques. The crystal structure of 2a is determined by X-ray crystallography and the phosphazene ring is in the flattened boat form. Compounds 1b, 1d, 2b and 2d in which the spiro aryloxy moiety provides the one centre of chirality exist as racemates and the chirality has been confirmed by ³¹P NMR spectroscopy on addition of a chiral solvating agent (CSA), (S)-(+)-2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(9′-anthryl)ethanol.     

Highly stereoselective synthesis of novel trans-thiophenylene-silylene-vinylene-arylene molecular and macromolecular compounds

Novel stereoregular molecular compounds 8-13 containing thiophenylene-silylene-vinylene-phenylene units have been synthesised via highly effective silylative coupling of styrene and 1,4-divinylbenzene (7) with respective vinylsilylthiophenes (3, 4) and bis(vinylsilyl)thiophenes (5, 6) catalyzed by RuHClCO(PCy₃)₂. Respective copolymers (14, 15) were produced via silylative copolycondensation of 5 and 6 with 7. All products were isolated and characterised by NMR, MS, HRMS and two of them 10 and 11 by X-ray method. Catalytic study as well as stoichiometric reactions of Ru-H (1) with 2-(vinylsilyl)thiophene (3) and Ru-Si (16) with styrene confirmed the mechanism of the silylative coupling olefins with vinylsilicon compounds.     

A glycal approach towards an efficient and stereodivergent synthesis of polyhydroxypyrrolidines

A stereo-defined synthesis of two diastereomers of polyhydroxypyrrolidines from 3,4,6-tri-O-benzyl-d-glucal 4 involving a cleavage-recyclization strategy is reported. Hemiacetal 7 obtained from glucal 4, upon reduction with LiAlH₄ afforded diol 8. Selective acetylation of 8 to 11, followed by Mitsunobu cyclization yielded the diversely protected polyhydroxypyrrolidine 12. Oxidation of 11 and subsequent stereoselective reduction led to 20, the C-5 epimer of 11, which upon Mitsunobu cyclization gave polyhydroxypyrrolidine 21. Selective deprotection of the acetyl groups of 12 and 21 were carried out using Na₂CO₃ in MeOH. Polyhydroxypyrrolidines 12 and 21 upon heating with an excess of Mg in MeOH underwent simultaneous N-detosylation and deacetylation to afford amino alcohols 15 and 24, respectively, in quantitative yield. Catalytic hydrogenation of 15 and 24 provided quantitatively the polyhydroxypyrrolidines 2 and 3, respectively.     

A concise synthesis of polyhydroxydihydrochalcones and homoisoflavonoids

A general and single step synthesis of polyhydroxydihydrochalcones from the readily available phenols and dihydrocinnamic acids using BF₃·Et₂O is described. The method allows the synthesis of a wide range of compounds with multiple phenolic hydroxyls and other substituents. These dihydrochalcones are converted into homoisoflavonoids by DMF/PCl₅ and the methodology has been applied to the synthesis of naturally occurring phloretin and 5,7-dihydroxy-3-[(4-hydroxyphenyl)methyl]-4H-chromen-4-one. The antioxidant activity of dihydrochalcones and homoisoflavonoids was determined by superoxide free radical (NBT) and DPPH free radical scavenging methods. Polyhydroxydihydrochalcones 3c, 3f, 3g and homoisoflavonoids 4c, 4f, 4g displayed excellent antioxidant activity.     

The synthesis, spectroscopic properties and X-ray structure of Zn(II) complexes with amino derivatives of chromone

Three new Zn(II) complexes containing the ligands 5-amino-8-methyl-4H-chromen-4-one (1), 6- or 7-amino-2-phenyl-4H-chromen-4-one (2, 3) were prepared. The new synthesised compounds were characterised by IR, ¹H NMR and MS spectroscopy. The crystal structure of complex 4 was determined with the use X-ray diffraction. The Zn(II) centre of 4 is linked by two chlorido and two N-bound aminochromone ligands, 1, in a strongly distorted tetrahedral configuration with the dissymetric point group C₂. The protonation constants of the ligands 1, 2 and 3 corresponded to 3.68, 3.88 and 6.83, respectively. The stability constants of the Zn(II) complexes were calculated from the potentiometric titration data. The complexes were found to have the formulae ML and ML₂ for ligands 1 and 2, and ML for ligand 3. Fluorescence spectroscopic properties were also studied; the strongest fluorescence in solution was exhibited by complex 6.     

A general method for the synthesis of the most powerful naturally occurring Maillard flavors

The natural flavors 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline 1a, 2-propionyl-1-pyrroline 1b, 2-acetyl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyridine 1c, 2-acetyl-2-thiazoline 1d, 2-propionyl-2-thiazoline 1e, and the artificial flavor 2-acetyl-5,6-dihydro-4H-1,3-thiazine 1f have been prepared by catalytic SeO₂ oxidation of the corresponding cyclic imines 6a-c and sulfur cyclic imines 7a-c using TBHP as co-oxidant. The oxidation of the pyrrolines 1a and b is completely regioselective. Professional olfactory evaluation together with the odor threshold of the new flavor 1f is reported.     

A synthesis of a common intermediate to the lactone-pyrrolidinone ring systems in oxazolomycin A and neooxazolomycin

A 5-exo-dig radical cyclisation of the bromoamide 34 derived from the enantiopure α-ethynyl substituted amino alcohol 31 led to a 2:1 mixture of β-C3 and α-C3 methyl epimers of the pyrrolidinone 35a-36a in a combined yield of 73%. Treatment of the homoallylic alcohol 35b, derived from 35a, with OsO₄-TMEDA, gave a single diastereoisomer of the pyrrolidinone triol 37, resulting from selective dihydroxylation from the β-face, i.e. syn to the CH₂OH group of 35b. The pyrrolidinone triol 37 is a potential common precursor, cf. 9, to the spiro β-lactone pyrrolidinone 8 and the γ-lactone pyrrolidinone 10 ring systems in oxazolomycin A (1) and neooxazolomycin 2, respectively. Sequential protection of the 1,2-diol functionality in 37 as the acetonide 39, and the primary alcohol group in 39 as the SEM ether 41a, followed by methylation of the nitrogen centre in 41a, using NaH-MeI, then gave the selectively protected pyrrolidinone 42.     

Palladium complexes of N-aryl-2-pyridylamines

Palladium complexes of N-phenyl-2-pyridylamine (4) and dipyridylamine substrates (7, 11) have been studied. Due to the coordination ability of the pyridine-nitrogen atoms, the pyridyl substrates, 4, 7, 11 were subjected to Pd(OAc)₂ complexations and a number of N-aryl-2-pyridylamine Pd complexes (13-17) were isolated and characterised, in particular by NMR and ESI-MS. A new method for the preparation of the acetato-bridged six-membered ring palladacycle complex (13) of 4 is reported. The dipyridyl amines 7, 11 formed cis/trans bis-dentate acetato-bridged dimeric Pd₂Lig₂(OAc)₂ (14a,b/16a,b) and Pd₃Lig₂(OAc)₄ complexes (15a,b/17a,b). The N-aryl-2-pyridylamine substrates (4, 7, 11) were prepared by oxidative nucleophilic substitution, by 1,3-cycloaddition reaction or by Buchwald amination.     

Ferrocenoyl peptides with sulfur-containing side chains: synthesis, solid state and solution structures

The synthesis and full characterization of a number of amino acid and dipeptide derivatives with sulfur-containing side chains derived from ferrocene carboxylic acid and ferrocene-1,1′-dicarboxylic acid is presented. In particular, compounds Fc-CO-(Aaa)_n-OMe (4) and Fe[C₅H₄-CO-(Aaa)_n-OMe]₂ (3) with (Aaa)_n = Cys(Bzl) (a), Cys(Bzl)-Cys(Bzl) (b), Cys(p-OMe-Bzl) (c), Cys(p-OMe-Bzl)-Cys(p-OMe-Bzl) (d), Met (e), and Met-Met (f) were prepared. Also, the free acid derivatives Fe[C₅H₄-CO-Met-OH]₂ (6e) and Fc-CO-Met-OH (7e) were prepared and characterized. The solid state structures of 3a, 4b, and 4e were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Compound 3a shows a 1,3′ substitution pattern on the Cp rings in the solid state. Structures in solution were determined by NMR, IR and CD spectroscopy, with particular emphasis on the question of hydrogen bonding and helical chirality of the metallocene. As an example, the full assignment for the Cp signals in the disubstituted derivative 3a was achieved by simulation of the ¹H NMR signals from the cyclopentadienyl ring in combination with 2D-NOESY spectra. In solution, 3a has the known 1,2′ substitution pattern, which is stabilized by intramolecular hydrogen bonds.     

Efficient and selective synthesis of quinoline derivatives

The bromination reaction of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline (7) was investigated by NBS and molecular bromine. One-pot synthesis is described for synthetically valuable 4,6,8-tribromoquinoline (3) and 6,8-dibromo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline (6) on bromination of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline (7) in efficient yields (75 and 90%, respectively). 6-Bromo- (4) and 6,8-dibromo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolines (6) were converted to 6-bromo- (1) and 6,8-dibromo quinolines (2), respectively, by aromatization with DDQ in 83 and 77% yields, respectively. Several novel trisubstituted quinoline derivatives were efficiently prepared via lithium-halogen exchange reactions of tribromide 3. Treatment of 4,6,8-tribromoquinoline with BuLi followed by quenching with electrophiles [Si(CH₃)₃Cl, S₂(CH₃)₂, I₂] regioselectively proceeded at C-4 and C-8 sites and afforded corresponding 4,8-disubstituted-6-bromoquinolines. Similarly, lithiation of tribromide 3 followed by addition of water to the intermediate produced 6-bromoquinoline in 65% yield. Copper-induced nucleophilic substitution of tribromide 3 with NaOMe afforded 4,6,8-trimethoxyquinoline (17) in 60% yield.     

Quinoxaline-annelated Z-shaped quadruple-bridged orthocyclophanes: synthesis and crystal structures

A three-step synthesis of nineteen Z-shaped quadruple-bridged [6,6] and [6,4]orthocyclophanes comprising two quinoxaline-based sidewalls are described. The synthesis began from the bis-Diels−Alder adducts B1-B3 followed by ruthenium-promoted oxidation of dichloroetheno-bridges in the adducts to generate a bis-α-diketones, which were then condensed with various arene-1,2-diamines (9a-g) to construct sidewalls (phane parts) of Z-shaped quadruple-bridged orthocyclophanes D1-3, D2g, and D3g. Single-crystal structures of six orthocyclophanes (D1a, D2a, D2f, D3f, D2g-α, and D3g-α) were obtained and revealed that the C_Ar−H?π and π?π stacking interactions between N-containing arene rings are the major driving force for molecular assembly and crystal packing, in addition to the interactions involving the polar OCH₃ groups and the solvate molecules.     

Rhodium(III) and palladium(II) complexes of some P-heterocycles; synthesis and X-ray structures

Deoxygenation of the syn-3-phosphabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane 3-oxides bearing a 3-phenyl or a 3-(4-methylphenyl) substituent (1a,b) by trichlorosilane took place already at mild condition and resulted in the corresponding phosphines (2a,b) with retention of configuration at phosphorus, while in the case of 3-(2-methylphenyl)-3-phosphabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane (2c), the inversion of the phosphorus atom was observed in solution under ambient conditions that was evaluated by quantum chemical calculations. A further phosphine ligand (5) was obtained by the reduction of 4-dichloromethylene-1,4-dihydrophosphinine oxide (4). The phosphine ligands (2 and 5) were used in the preparation of Rh(III) complexes (3 and 6). A Pd(II) complex of type PdCl₂(5)₂ (7) was also prepared. The stereostructures of a series of Rh(III) complexes of 3-aryl-3-phosphabicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes (3b-syn, 3c-syn and 3c-anti) were elucidated by single crystal X-ray analysis confirming the relative position of the dichlorocyclopropane and the P-substituent.     

An efficient substituent dependent synthesis of congested pyridines and pyrimidines

An efficient and versatile synthesis of various congested pyridines 3a-h, 6a,b, 8a-n, 10a-g, and 16a,b, and (pyrimidin-4-yl)acetonitriles 13a-g has been delineated by base catalyzed ring transformation of suitably functionalized 2H-pyran-2-ones 1a-h, 5, 7, and 15 by formamidine acetate 2a, acetamidine hydrochloride 2b, S-methylisothiourea 9a, pyrazol-1-yl-carboxamidine 9b, and arylamidine hydrochloride 12 separately in the presence of powdered KOH in dry DMF.     

Influence of organic ligands on the stabilization of palladium nanoparticles

The synthesis of palladium nanoparticles is performed by hydrogenation of a precursor, Pd₂(dba)₃ (1) or [Pd(C₃H₅)Cl]₂ (2) in the presence of either a weakly coordinating ligand (hexadecylamine, HDA) or good ligands (polyphosphines). It is shown in the case of 1 that good ligands lead to stable spherical nanoparticles of small size (near 2 nm) whereas the protective effect of HDA depends on the amount of ligand added as a result of equilibria present at the surface of the particles as monitored by solution NMR spectroscopy. The decomposition of 2 being very fast, the particle growth cannot be controlled except in the case of the use of a large excess of HDA which leads to spongelike particles resulting from the agglomeration of initially obtained nanocrystallites.     

Palladium-catalyzed asymmetric synthesis of allylic alcohols from unsymmetrical and symmetrical racemic allylic carbonates featuring C-O-bond formation and dynamic kinetic resolution

Described is the asymmetric synthesis of the allylic alcohols 11 (85% ee), 15 (99% ee), 17 (93% ee), 19 (61% ee), and 21 (69% ee) through a Pd-catalyzed reaction of the unsymmetrical carbonates rac-10, rac-12, rac-14, rac-16, rac-18, and rac-20, respectively, with KHCO₃ and H₂O in the presence of bisphosphane 6. Similarly the allylic alcohols 23 (99% ee) and 25 (97% ee) have been obtained from the symmetrical carbonates rac-22 and rac-24, respectively. Reaction of the meso-biscarbonate 26 with H₂O and Pd(0)/6 afforded alcohol 27 (96% ee), which was converted to the PG building block 32. The unsaturated bisphosphane 33 showed in the synthesis of alcohols 36, 37, and 39 a similar high selectivity as 6. The formation of alcohols 11, 15, and 17 involves an efficient dynamic kinetic resolution.     

3-Amino- and 3-acylamido-2-phosphonopyridines: synthesis by Pd-catalyzed P-C coupling, structure and conversion to pyrido[b]-anellated PC-N heterocycles

Palladium catalyzed cross-coupling of 3-amino- and 3-acylamido-2-bromopyridines 1a-f with triethyl phosphite allowed the synthesis of 3-amino- and 3-acylamido pyridine-2-phosphonic acid diethyl esters 2a-f, whereas nickel catalysts, although providing access to related anilido-2-phosphonates, proved inactive. Reduction of the aminophosphonate 2a with LiAlH₄ afforded 3-amino-2-phosphinopyridine (3a), which was cyclocondensed with dimethylformamide dimethyl acetal (DMFA) via phosphaalkene intermediates 4a to the novel pyrido[b]-anellated 1,3-azaphosphole 5a. Reaction of amidophosphonates 2b-f with LiAlH₄ did not result in the expected reductive cyclization, as shown by closely related anilido-2-phosphonates, but led to product mixtures containing N-secondary 3-amino-2-phosphinopyridines 3b-f as the main or major component. The conversion of 3b,d,e with DMFA to 5b,d,e provides first examples of N-substituted pyrido[b]-anellated azaphospholes. Structures were confirmed by multinuclear NMR and X-ray crystallography (for 2c, 3b).