Palladium-catalyzed arylation of N,N-dialkylhydrazines and the subsequent conversion to anilines

Palladium-catalyzed aminations of different ArBr with N,N-dialkylhydrazines are described. The reaction proceeded in moderate to excellent yield (up to 90%) with good functional groups compatibilities as cyano, ester, ketone and Boc-amine groups are all well tolerated. Several hydrazines were proved to be good coupling partners and this process provided a general method for the isosteric replacement of benzyl amines with arylhydrazines. Moreover, a method for the N-N bond cleavage of arylhydrazines was discovered, and this two-step sequence could be employed as an alternative synthesis of aniline derivatives.     

(1R,2R)-DPEN-derived triazolium salts for enantioselective oxodiene Diels-Alder reactions

Enantioselective oxodiene Diels-Alder reactions catalyzed by (1R,2R)-DPEN-derived triazolium salts were realized successfully. With 0.5 mol % of (1R,2R)-DPEN-derived triazolium salt C and 150 mol % of Et₃N, the reactions of various α-chloroaldehydes (α-bromoaldehyde) with substituted enones led to 3,4-dihydropyridinones and their derivatives in good yields, diastereoselectivities, and enantioselectivities (up to 97% ee).     

Parallel iterative solution-phase synthesis of 5-amino-1-aryl-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridine-7-carboxylic acid amide derivatives

The parallel iterative solution-phase synthesis of 5-amino-1-aryl-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridine-7-carboxylic acid amide derivatives is described. The key intermediate 2,6-bis-aminopyridine-4-carboxylic acid methyl ester was synthesised in a two step procedure in 64% overall yield and elaborated to a variety of triazolopyridine-5-carboxylic acid methyl ester by selective pyridine-N-amination, condensation of the adduct with a wide selection of aldehydes and subsequent cyclisation and oxidation. The desired esters were obtained in yields up to 70%. The final transformation to the amide derivatives was accomplished by application of carefully optimised reaction conditions thus giving access to a library of total 500 triazolopyridine amide derivatives. Iterative synthetic cycles (12-48 library members each) allowing for maximal flexibility in chemistry and maximal efficiency in in vitro biological activity optimisation guided by molecular modelling efforts constitute a synergistic procedure for rapid lead optimisation.     

Phosphoramidite building blocks for efficient incorporation of 2′-O-aminoethoxy(and propoxy)methyl nucleosides into oligonucleotides

A simple and efficient method for the preparation of eight phosphoramidite building blocks for incorporation of 2′-O-(2-aminoethoxymethyl)ribonucleosides and 2′-O-(3-aminopropoxymethyl)ribonucleosides into synthetic oligonucleotides has been developed. The synthetic routes are maximally convergent and provide sufficient amounts of phosphoramidites for several solid-phase synthesis coupling reactions. Using acyclic derivatives 17a,b the overall yields of phosphoramidites 2 and 3 were increased up to 50% for pyrimidine nucleosides and up to 30% for purine derivatives with substantial decrease of total reaction steps. The 2′-O-substituent was found to be stable during oligonucleotide synthesis. The resulting oligonucleotides are of particular interest for post-synthetic functionalization and conjugation.     

Enantioselective aza-Diels-Alder reaction of Brassard’s diene with aldimines catalyzed by chiral N,N′-dioxide-Yb(OTf)3 complex

The chiral N,N′-dioxide-Yb(OTf)₃ complex-catalyzed enantioselective aza-Diels-Alder reaction of Brassard’s diene with aldimines has been developed, giving the corresponding α,β-unsaturated δ-lactam derivatives in moderate yields with good enantioselectivities (up to 81% ee and up to 99% ee by single recrystallization) under mild conditions. Isolation of the reaction intermediate indicates that this asymmetric aza-Diels-Alder reaction proceeds through a stepwise Mannich-type pathway.     

Stereoselective syntheses of 20-epi cholanic acid derivatives from 16-dehydropregnenolone acetate

A stereoselective total synthesis of naturally occurring 20-epi cholanic acid derivatives has been realized, starting from readily available 16-dehydropregnenolone acetate. The key step of these syntheses involves an ionic hydrogenation of a C-20,22-ketene dithioacetal and deoxygenation of steroidal C-20 tert-alcohols, to set up the unnatural C(20R) configuration with 100% stereoselectivity. The unnatural C-22 aldehydes with C(20R) stereocenters thus obtained were elaborated to 20-epi cholanic acid derivatives. Two derivatives of 20-epi cholanic acid were synthesized and their structures have been confirmed by single crystal X-ray analysis. Catalytic hydrogenation of 16-dehydropregnenolone acetate and 16-dehydropregnenolone in ethanol affords C-5,C-16 tetrahydro products. Crystal structure analysis of one of these products revealed C-5α and C-17α configurations of the hydrogen atoms.     

Asymmetric hydrogenation of alkenes with planar chiral 2-phosphino-1-aminoferrocene-iridium(I) complexes

The first highly enantioenriched and enantiopure planar chiral 2-phosphino-1-aminoferrocene ligands and their Ir(COD)BAr_F complexes are reported. The ligands display bidentate coordination behavior towards iridium, as indicated by trends in ³¹P and ¹H NMR spectra of the phosphine moieties and the α to nitrogen substituents of the amines. All of the new complexes showed good reactivity as catalysts in promoting asymmetric hydrogenation of several prochiral alkenes, with enantioselectivities up to 92%. Iridium complexes of dimethylaminoferrocene derivatives containing P-Ar groups [PPh₂ and P(o-tol)₂] gave the highest levels of asymmetric induction.     

Palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling of cyclopropylmethyl N-tosylhydrazones with aromatic bromides: an easy access to multisubstituted 1,3-butadienes

Direct synthesis of 1,1-disubstitued 1,3-butadienes has been efficiently realized from the cross-coupling of cyclopropylmethyl N-tosylhydrazones with aromatic bromides by means of PdCl₂(MeCN)₂ as catalyst. 1,1,4-Trisubstitued 1,3-butadiene derivatives were obtained in up to 70% yields through a one-pot procedure catalyzed by Pd(OAc)₂ in the presence of excessive amount of aromatic bromides. The present methodology provides an easy and efficient route to multisubstituted 1,3-butadienes.     

Asymmetric syntheses of diarylheptanoid natural products (−)-centrolobine and (−)-de-O-methylcentrolobine via hetero-Diels-Alder reaction catalyzed by dirhodium(II) tetrakis[(R)-3-(benzene-fused-phthalimido)-2-piperidinonate]

Catalytic asymmetric syntheses of (−)-centrolobine and (−)-de-O-methylcentrolobine have been achieved, incorporating a hetero-Diels-Alder (HDA) reaction between 4-aryl-2-silyloxy-1,3-butadienes and phenylpropargyl aldehyde derivatives as a key step. The HDA reaction using dirhodium(II) tetrakis[(R)-3-(benzene-fused-phthalimido)-2-piperidinonate], Rh₂(R-BPTPI)₄, as a chiral Lewis acid catalyst provides exclusively cis-2,6-disubstituted tetrahydropyran-4-ones in up to 93% ee.     

Synthesis and antibacterial activity of methylated N-(4-N,N-dimethylaminocinnamyl) chitosan chloride

The methylated chitosan containing different aromatic moieties were synthesized by two steps, the reductive amination and the methylation. The chemical structures of all methylated derivatives, methylated N-(4-N,N-dimethylaminocinnamyl) chitosan chloride (MDMCMCh), methylated N-(4-pyridylmethyl) chitosan chloride (MPyMeCh), and N,N,N-trimethyl chitosan chloride (TMChC) were characterized by ATR-FTIR and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The molecular weights of the methylated chitosan derivatives were determined by gel permeation chromatography. The results revealed that the molecular weights of chitosan and N-aryl chitosan derivatives could be reduced by the methylation process. The degree of N-substitution (DS) and the degree of quaternization (DQ) were calculated by ¹H NMR ranged from 50% to 76%, and 28% to 82%, respectively. The water solubility of the methylated chitosan derivatives decreased with increasing concentration and pH. The antibacterial studies of these methylated chitosan derivatives were carried out by using minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) methods against Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 (Gram-negative) and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538 (Gram-positive) bacteria. It was found that the MDMCMCh showed higher antibacterial activity than TMChC while MPyMeCh exhibited reduced antibacterial activity against both bacteria at the same DQ level. In comparison to each of the chemical structure, it was found that the antibacterial activity was not only dependent on the DQ but it was also dependent on the positively charged location and the molecular weight.     

Chemoselective synthesis of 3H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]quinolin-4(5H)-one derivatives from 3-phenacylideneoxindoles and substituted tosylmethyl isocyanide (TosMIC)

A simple and convenient synthetic approach to access of 3H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]quinolin-4(5H)-one derivatives by the reaction of (Z)-3-(2-oxo-2-ethylidene)indolin-2-one derivatives 1 with functionalized TosMICs under basic conditions has been reported. The desired products were obtained in good to excellent yields (82–94%). The easy accessibility of the starting materials, simple and mild reaction conditions, short reaction time, and good to excellent chemical yields make this methodology highly efficient.     

New one- and two-dimensional 4H-pyranylidene NLO-phores

Dipolar, V-shaped compounds derived from 4H-pyranylidene-linked acceptors have been synthesized, and their linear and nonlinear optical properties (displaying μβ values up to 3000 × 10⁻⁴⁸ esu) have been compared to those of analogous one-dimensional derivatives. The pyranylidene ring behaves strictly as a spacer, and not as a donor group.     

Efficient synthesis of 5′-O(N)-carbamyl and -polycarbamyl nucleosides

A simple and efficient method for the preparation of 5′-O(N)-carbamyl and 5′-O(N)-polycarbamyl nucleoside derivatives is reported. The method consisted of treatment of 2′,3′-O-protected purine (Ado, Ino) or pyrimidine nucleosides (Thd, Urd) with trichloroacetylisocyanate, followed by cleavage of the trichloroacetyl moiety by silica-gel promoted methanolysis during column chromatography. Iterative application of this method gave mono, di, and tricarbamyl derivatives in good to excellent yields (ave = 80%).     

Synthesis of (S)-2-amino-7-methoxytetralin and isoindolo[1,2-a]isoquinolinone derivatives from l-aspartic acid

This paper describes a new total synthesis for (S)-2-amino-7-methoxytetralin, (S)-7-MeO-AT, from l-aspartic acid in an overall yield of 10% over nine steps. The major loss was ascribed to a key intramolecular Friedel–Crafts cyclization step, which afforded up to 36% yield. Attempts to perform a Friedel–Crafts cyclization of an intermediate phthalimide protected amino alcohol 13 did not give the desired protected (S)-7-MeO-AT. On the other hand, two new isoindolo[1,2-a]isoquinolinone derivatives 14 and 15, were isolated in 21 and 11% yield, respectively. The yield of 15 was improved to 70%.     

Helicity of N,N′-diaryl-trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane derivatives. Implications for molecular helicity manipulations

Derivatives of trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane (DACH), useful as chiral ligands, scaffolds and building blocks, differ in their conformation. The conformation of N,N′-diaryl-DACH derivatives was studied by the semiempirical and DFT computational methods and by exciton-coupled circular dichroism. It was found that, contrary to M-helical N,N′-diimine, N,N′-diimide and N,N′-diamide derivatives, the aromatic residues in N,N′-diphenyl derivatives are oriented to form a P-helix for the (R,R)-DACH absolute configuration. The helicity of the bis-aryl system is modified in the case of 1-naphthyl or 2-naphthyl derivatives. Further switching of helicity has been demonstrated by either protonation or mono-N-acetylation of N,N′-diaryl DACH derivatives.     

2-(2-Phenyl-1H-phenanthro-[9,10-d]imidazole-1-yl)-acetic acid (PPIA) and its application for determination of amines by high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection and identification with mass spectroscopy/atmospheric pressure chemical ionization

A simple, sensitive, and mild method for the determination of amino compounds based on a condensation reaction with 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC·HCl) as the dehydrant with fluorescence detection has been developed. Amines were derivatized to their acidamides with labeling reagent 2-(2-phenyl-1H-phenanthro-[9,10-d]imidazole-1-yl)-acetic acid (PPIA). Studies on derivatization conditions indicated that the coupling reaction proceeded rapidly and smoothly in the presence of a base catalyst in acetonitrile to give the corresponding sensitively fluorescent derivatives with an excitation maximum at λ_ex 260 nm and an emission maximum at λ_em 380 nm. The labeled derivatives exhibited high stability and were enough to be efficiently analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Identification of derivatives was carried out by online post-column mass spectrometry (LC/APCI-MS/MS) and showed an intense protonated molecular ion corresponding m/z [MH]⁺ under APCI in positive-ion mode. At the same time, the fluorescence properties of derivatives in various solvents or at different temperature were investigated. The method, in conjunction with a gradient elution, offered a baseline resolution of the common amine derivatives on a reversed-phase Eclipse XDB-C₈ column. LC separation for the derivatized amines showed good reproducibility with acetonitrile-water as mobile phase. Detection limits calculated from 0.78 pmol injection, at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3, were 3.1-18.2 fmol. The mean intra- and inter-assay precision for all amine levels were <3.85% and 2.11%, respectively. Excellent linear responses were observed with coefficients of >0.9996. The established method for the determination of aliphatic amines from real wastewater and biological samples was satisfactory.     

Cu(II)-Self-assembling bipyridyl-glycoclusters and dendrimers bearing the Tn-antigen cancer marker: syntheses and lectin binding properties

Using the carbohydrate cancer marker, T_N-antigen (α-GalNAc-OR), covalently linked to a bipyridine core, square planar complexes were formed by self-assembly upon simple addition of Cu(II) sulfate. The required α-d-GalNAc-OR building block was constructed from 2-azidoethyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-α-d-glucopyranoside (GlcNAc) by epimerization at C-4 of a suitably protected derivative followed by conventional modifications to provide 2-aminoethyl 2-acetamido-3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-α-d-galactopyranoside. The 2-aminoethyl aglycone was further elongated into a key monomer having an aminocaproic acid spacer together with their corresponding dimers using a double N-alkylation strategy of their N-bromoacetyl derivatives using mono-Boc-1,4-diaminobutane, respectively. The building blocks containing the bipyridyl dimers, having either a short or a long spacer arm, together with the tetramer built from the short spacer derivative were prepared in a convergent manner using 2,2′-bipyridine-4,4′-dicarboxylic acid chloride and the aminated sugar derivatives, respectively. Copper(II)-nucleated GalNAc derivatives containing four and eight residues were obtained from an aqueous solution of the bipyridyl derivatives. The relative inhibitory potencies of these glycodendrimers were evaluated against monomeric allyl α-d-GalNAc using a solid-phase competition assay with asialoglycophorin and horseradish peroxidase-labeled lectin Vicia villosa. The di- and tetra-valent bipyridyl clusters showed up to 87-fold increased inhibitory properties (IC₅₀ 7.14, 1.82, 4.09 μM, respectively) when compared to the monomer (IC₅₀ 158.3 μM) while the Cu(II)-complexes showed up to a 259-fold increase potencies (IC₅₀ 0.61 μM) with the octamer showing the highest affinity. However, when expressed on a per-saccharide basis, the tetramer Cu(II) nucleated derivative, possessing the longest inter-sugar distances showed the highest affinity (IC₅₀ 0.63 μM).     

Application of novel enantiopure hydroxymethyl-substituted pyridine derivatives in asymmetric catalysis

The synthetic modification of enantiopure hydroxymethyl-substituted pyridine derivatives leading to novel chiral ligands is described. A set of these pyridine derivatives was examined as ligands in asymmetric transformations such as enantioselective alkylations or alkynylations of aldehydes, the asymmetric copper-catalyzed Henry reaction and the asymmetric allylation of benzaldehyde with allyl(trichloro)silane. This first screening revealed that several of the pyridine derivatives prepared are effective ligands affording high yields and good enantioselectivities. The asymmetric alkylation of aldehydes with diethylzinc provided yields of up to 93% with an enantiomeric excess of up to 88%. The asymmetric Henry reaction was also efficiently catalyzed by one of the prepared ligands affording (S)-2-nitro-1-phenylethanol in 68% yield and with 70% ee.     

pTSA-catalyzed condensation of xylenols and aldehydes under solvent-free conditions: One-pot synthesis of 9H-xanthene or bisphenol derivatives

A simple and efficient procedure for the synthesis of 9H-xanthene or bisphenol derivatives has been developed by one-pot condensation of xylenols with aromatic aldehydes in the presence of p-toluenesulfonic acid (pTSA) as a catalyst under solvent-free conditions at 100 °C. It is noteworthy that the condensation reaction of 3,5-xylenol with aldehydes produces 9H-xanthene derivatives, while the reaction with other xylenols leads to the corresponding bisphenol derivatives. Different types of aromatic aldehydes are used in the reaction and in every case the products were obtained in good to excellent yields. The structures of these compounds were established on the basis of IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and CHN data.     

A simple TiCl4 promoted arylation of orthoformate and benzyl ethers by N,N-dialkylarylamines

N,N-Dialkylarylamines react with trimethyl orthoformate and TiCl₄ under ambient conditions to give the corresponding formyl derivatives in 75-89% yields, whereas the corresponding arylated products are obtained from benzyl ethers and acetals in 42-78% yields.