Ring opening of 4',5'-epoxynucleosides: a novel stereoselective entry to 4'-C-branched nucleosides

Stereoselective synthesis of 4'-alpha-carbon-substituted nucleosides has been accomplished through epoxidation of 4',5'-unsaturated nucleosides with dimethyldioxirane (DMDO) and successive SnCl(4)-promoted ring opening of the resulting 4',5'-epoxynucleosides with organosilicon reagents. [reaction: see text]     

π+π Cycloaddition between electron deficient π-systems and photoreaction of β,γ-enones: a novel stereoselective entry into angular triquinanes

Cycloaddition of electron deficient partners such as cyclohexa-2,4-dienone and acrylates leading to an efficient synthesis of complex bicyclo[2.2.2]octenones having a β,γ-enone chromophore, and their transformation to angular triquinanes via photoreaction, is described.     

A stereoselective entry into functionalized 1,2-diamines by zinc-mediated homologation of alpha-aminoacids

A general, stereoselective synthesis of 4,5-disubstituted imidazolidines-2-ones from alpha-aminoacids has been developed: the key steps are a Blaise reaction of bromoacetate on alpha-aminonitriles and further reduction. Although reduction with sodium cyanoborohydride afforded a mixture of cis and trans isomers 6a-e with moderate to good stereoselectivity, reduction with sodium in liquid ammonia gave the trans isomers 8a-e with complete stereoselectivity. Acidic hydrolysis of the urea gave 4-amino-pyrrolidinones, which can be precursors to beta,gamma-diaminoacids or 3-aminopyrrolidines.     

A novel short convergent entry into himbacine derivatives

[reaction: see text]. The IMDA reaction of 9 leads with good stereoselectivity to exo-adduct 10b. The functionalized ABC-ring core in 10 is well suited for the convergent synthesis of analogues of himbacine, a naturally occurring M2 selective muscarine receptor antagonist, as illustrated with the further synthesis of the dehydro-derivative 5.     

Osmium catalyzed dihydroxylation of 1,2-dioxines: a new entry for stereoselective sugar synthesis

A series of 3,6-substituted 3,6-dihydro-1,2-dioxines were dihydroxylated with osmium tetroxide to furnish 1,2-dioxane-4,5-diols (peroxy diols) in yields ranging from 33% to 98% and with de values not less than 90%. The peroxy diols were then reduced to generate a stereospecific tetraol core with R,R,S,S or "allitol" stereochemistry. The peroxy diols and their acetonide derivatives were also ring-opened with Co(II) salen complexes to give novel hydroxy ketones in 77-100% yield, including the natural sugar psicose. Importantly, preliminary work on the catalytic asymmetric ring-opening of meso-peroxy diols using the Co(II) Jacobsens's catalyst indicates that asymmetric sugar synthesis from 1,2-dioxines is possible.     

Asymmetric N1 unit transfer to olefins with a chiral nitridomanganese complex: novel stereoselective pathways to aziridines or oxazolines

Chiral nitridomanganese complex 1 was found to be a highly potential N1 unit source for the asymmetric synthesis of aziridines and 2-oxazolines from olefins such as styrene and its derivatives. When sulfonyl chlorides were employed as activators of the complex in the presence of pyridine, pyridine N-oxide, and a silver salt, the reaction of olefins with complex 1 proceeded smoothly to afford the N-sulfonylated aziridines. The aziridination of styrene derivatives with complex 1 using 2-trimethylsilylethanesulfonyl chloride (SESCl) gave the N-SES-aziridines, which were easily converted into chiral N-unsubstituted aziridines. It was found that the reaction was applicable to the asymmetric synthesis of 2-oxazolines from olefins when acyl chlorides were employed as activators. Complex 1 provided an effective asymmetric environment for trans-disubstituted styrenes in the reaction (up to 92% ee). This is the first example of a direct asymmetric synthesis of 2-oxazolines from olefins. Additional experiments, conducted during the course of this investigation, suggest that the isomerization of the N-acylaziridine intermediate is involved in this reaction.     

Synthesis and stereoselective chemistry of a novel cyclopentadienyl sulphone

The synthesis of a novel cyclopentadienyl sulphone (3) has been achieved by two routes, one of which involves a previously unsuccessful alkylation of the sulphone carbanion (4), some preliminary chemistry of the new diene is also reported.     

Pyridine-dinucleotide models IV; stereoselective hydride transfer at a bridged pyridinium-ion

Two achiral bridged 1,4-dihydro-3,5-biscarboxamido pyridines are described. In one of these the bridging induces significant diastereotopy of the C-4 protons. This not only leads to magnetic anisochrony of these protons, but also allows for highly stereoselective (- 90%) substitution of one of them by deuterium via hydride exchange with a simple deuterated dihydropyridine.     

Microwave-assisted C-H bond activation: a rapid entry into functionalized heterocycles

[reaction: see text] Microwave irradiation strongly accelerates the rhodium-catalyzed intramolecular coupling of a benzimidazole C-H bond to pendant alkenes. The cyclic products were formed in moderate to excellent yields with reaction times less than 20 min. Additionally, the use of microwave irradiation allowed the reactions to be performed without any solvent purification and with minimal precautions to exclude air.     

A novel stereoselective one-pot conversion of alcohols into alkyl halides mediated by N,N'-diisopropylcarbodiimide

Alcohols can be converted in high yields to the corresponding alkyl halides in a one-pot procedure via the corresponding O-alkylisourea; very short reaction times are possible when microwave irradiation is used.     

Electrophile-induced ether transfer: stereoselective synthesis of 2,6-disubstituted-3,4-dihydropyrans

Stereoselective synthesis of trans-2,6-disubstituted-3,4-dihydropyrans has been achieved from a simple homoallylic alkoxyether via a three-step sequence: electrophile-induced ether transfer, cyclization, and functionalization, which is highlighted by a rare example of Ferrier rearrangement of allylic ether. This methodology was successfully implemented for the asymmetric synthesis of a C7-C17 fragment of swinholide A.     

Highly stereoselective synthesis of novel cyclobutane-fused azanucleosides

Stereoselective syntheses of several 3-azabicyclo[3.2.0]heptane nucleoside analogues have been efficiently completed starting from a homochiral a,b-unsaturated-g-lactam. The target compounds were prepared by condensation of a common bicyclic acetate intermediate with pyrimidine and purine bases under modified Vorbrüggen conditions. The anti-HIV activity of the newly synthesized azanucleosides has been evaluated.     

Efficient stereoselective synthesis of novel steroid-polyquinane hybrids

A synthesis of steroid-polyquinane hybrids, a new class of molecular entities, is described. [reaction: see text]