Optimized scale up of 3-pyrimidinylpyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridine via Suzuki coupling; a general method of accessing a range of 3-(hetero)arylpyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridines

We have developed an improved synthesis of 3-(hetero)aryl pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridines (such as 3-(2,5-dichloropyrimidin-4-yl)pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridine (8)) via an optimized synthesis and Suzuki coupling of 3-pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridine boronic ester 10. These conditions are applicable to both high throughput chemistry and large scale synthesis of these medicinally important compounds. The scope of this chemistry has been further extended to include the synthesis and coupling of a novel boronic ester, 3-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[5,1-b][1,3]oxazine (43).     

1,9-Bis(N,N-dimethylaminomethyl)dipyrromethanes in the synthesis of porphyrins bearing one or two meso substituents

A synthesis of 5,15-disubstituted zinc-porphyrins has been developed that employs condensation of a 1,9-bis(N,N-dimethylaminomethyl)dipyrromethane+a dipyrromethane in refluxing ethanol containing zinc acetate followed by oxidation with DDQ. The N,N-dimethylaminomethylation of the dipyrromethane was achieved via Eschenmoser's reagent (N,N-dimethylmethyleneammonium iodide) in CH₂Cl₂ at room temperature. The synthesis is compatible with diverse substituents (e.g., alkyl, aryl, ester, acetal) and enables rapid synthesis of trans-AB-, A₂-, and A-porphyrins. The synthesis of >40 zinc porphyrins has been surveyed; 13 zinc porphyrins were isolated in yields of 5-20% without detectable scrambling.     

Asymmetric synthesis of tert-butyl ((1R,4aR,8R,8aR)-1-hydroxyoctahydro-1H-isochromen-8-yl)carbamate

The asymmetric synthesis of methyl (E)-4-((1R,2S,3R)-3-amino-2-((E)-2-methoxycarbonyl-eten-1-yl)cyclohexyl)but-2-enoate 14 has been achieved from dimethyl (2E,7E)-nona-2,7-dienedioate 2. A key step is the asymmetric synthesis of 1-hydroxyoctahydro-1H-isochromene derivative 5 whose X-ray analysis corroborated the stereochemistry of the new stereocenters. The asymmetric synthesis of the isochromenyl acetate derivative 11 shows the potential of this methodology for fused cyclohexanic system heterocyclic synthesis.     

First total synthesis of glabramycin B and revision of its relative configuration

Structural revision of glabramycin B, which is an antibacterial 10-membered lactone isolated from a fermentation broth of Neosartorya glabra, was achieved by enantioselective synthesis of our proposed structure. The correct structure of glabramycin B was presumed on comparison with related compounds, and synthesis of it was succeeded via dianion alkylation, Shiina's lactonization and Stille cross-coupling. By this synthesis, we were able to correct the reported structural misassignment, and to confirm the relative configuration of glabramycin B to be 10S*,11S*,15R*,20S*.     

Exploiting morph-DAST mediated ring-expansion of substituted cyclic β-amino alcohols for the preparation of cyclic fluorinated amino acids. Synthesis of 5-fluoromethylproline and 5-fluoropipecolic acid

The synthesis of proline analogues bearing a fluorine-containing substituent at the fifth position of the pyrrolidine ring, racemic trans- and cis-5-fluoromethyl prolines, was performed. The key step of the synthesis is a transformation of the CH₂OH-group into the CH₂F-one using morpholinosulfur trifluoride. During the synthesis, an efficient procedure to prepare trans- and cis-5-fluoropipecolic acids was elaborated.     

A simple and efficient enantioselective route to 2,6-disubstituted piperidines: synthesis of (2R,6S)-isosolenopsin A and (2S,6R)-isosolenopsin

The enantioselective synthesis of 2,6-cis-disubstituted piperidine alkaloids, (2R,6S)-isosolenopsin A 2 and (2S,6R)-isosolenopsin 5 from fire ant venom is described. Starting from the dodecanal and decanal, the synthesis presents two key steps. The first step involves Keck allylation to afford the chiral homoallylalcohol with the required stereochemistry and the second key step consists of Grubbs olefin cross metathesis. The synthesis was achieved in five steps with 44% overall yield.     

A flexible organocatalytic enantioselective synthesis of heptadeca-1-ene-4,6-diyne-3S,8R,9S,10S-tetrol and its congeners

A unified enantioselective route is developed for the synthesis of heptadeca-1-ene-4,6-diyne-3S,8R,9S,10S-tetrol and its synthetic congeners. A proline-catalyzed aminoxylation, cross-metathesis, Wittig reaction, and catalytic dihydroxylation are key steps of this synthesis. This new approach is envisioned to facilitate the synthesis of every representative member of the family with skeletal and stereochemical variation.     

Stereoselective synthesis of 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-d-allitol and formal synthesis of (2S,3R,4S)-3,4-dihydroxyproline

A stereoselective synthesis of 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-d-allitol 1 and formal synthesis of (2S,3R,4S)-3,4-dihydroxyproline was achieved via the addition of vinylmagnesium bromide to the benzylimine derived from (R)-2,3-O-isopropylidene glyceraldehyde followed by N-allylation, ring-closing metathesis (RCM), and dihydroxylation.     

A convenient and new approach to the synthesis of ω-heterocyclic amino acids from carboxy lactams through ring-chain-transformation. Part 2: Synthesis of (2R)-/(2S)-2-aminomethyl-3-(1-aryl-/1,5-diaryl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-propionic acid

Making use of amide activation, a convenient and short path synthesis of optically pure ω-heterocyclic-β-amino acids has been achieved from (1R,3R)- and (1R,3S)-5-oxo-1-(1-phenyl-ethyl)-pyrrolidine-3-carboxylic acid methyl ester. The key step of the synthesis involves a regiospecific ring-chain-transformation of the enaminones when subjected to 1,2-binucleophilic attacks. The method is illustrated by the synthesis of (2R)-/(2S)-2-aminomethyl-3-(1-aryl-/1,5-diaryl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-propionic acid.     

Total synthesis of maremycins A,B, C1/C2, D1, and D2

The total synthesis of maremycins A, B, C₁/C₂, D₁, and D₂ is achieved starting from the natural amino acids l-isoleucine and S-methyl-l-cysteine, in which the total synthesis of maremycins B, C₁/C₂, and D₂ is accomplished for the first time. The synthesis features a position-selective intramolecular bromination process for the synthesis of key chiral building block, a Pd-catalyzed indole synthesis for the preparation of (2S,3S)-β-methyltryptophan and hydroxylation of oxindoles by molecular oxygen. In addition, the protocol for conversion of maremycins A and B to maremycins C and D was improved.     

A new, improved synthesis of the trisaccharide repeating unit of the O-antigen from Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris 8004

Recent studies have revealed that lipid-A and core fragments of the lipopolysaccharide from Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris 8004 (Xcc), a phytopathogenic Gram-negative bacterium, are able to elicit plant immunity with two independent mechanisms. To date, nothing is known about the effect of the O-antigen portion. Since its separation from the core region by selective chemical degradation is very difficult, the chemical synthesis of related oligosaccharides is strictly necessary. In this paper a new, improved synthesis of the O-antigen repeating unit is presented. The main improvements in the synthesis are: (1) a shorter, high-yielding preparation of an efficient glycosyl donor of the rare sugar 3-acetamido-3,6-dideoxy-d-galactopyranose (3-acetamido-d-fucose, d-Fucp3NAc); (2) a new protecting group pattern, which is demonstrated to open a path to the future synthesis of higher oligomers.     

An easy and versatile approach to the synthesis of chiral pheromone lactones via 4,4-dimethyl-2-oxazoline derivatives

As part of our ongoing investigation on the versatility of 4,4-dimethyl-2-oxazoline derivatives, we present a straightforward synthesis of chiral lactone pheromones from readily available starting materials. As an application, we describe the diastereoselective synthesis of cis and trans-2-methyl-5-hexanolide (1), a pheromone component of the carpenter bee Xylocopa hirutissima, and a formal synthesis of (4R,5Z)-5-tetradecen-4-olide (2), the sex pheromone of the Japanese beetle Popillia japonica.     

Chemical and microbiological syntheses of intermediates in gibberellin biosynthesis

A partial synthesis of kaurenoic acid 1 from the hydroxy acid 3 is described. The hydroxylation of the 2′-carboxyethyl ester of 1 by Gibberella fujikuroi has been utilized for the synthesis of 7β-hydroxykaurenoic acid 2. An alternative synthesis of 2 is provided by the microbiological conversion of 3 to the 7β-hydroxy derivative by Calonectria decora.     

A type 2 Ferrier rearrangement-based synthesis of d-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate

The synthesis of d-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP₃) from methyl α-d-glucopyranose, via a type 2 Ferrier rearrangement is reported. A key intermediate in this synthesis possesses orthogonal protecting groups at the 1-, 4- and 5-position, making it a versatile starting point for the synthesis of unnatural InsP₃ derivatives. Biological evaluation of the synthetic InsP₃ demonstrates that this compound evokes selective Ca²⁺ release via activation of InsP₃ receptors.     

Synthetic studies towards dendridine A: synthesis of hemi-dendridine A acetate by Fischer indolization

A short synthesis of hemi-dendridine A acetate has been accomplished. The synthesis is based on a modified Fischer indolization that represents a rare example of the single-step synthesis of a 7-oxytryptamine from an ortho-oxygenated phenylhydrazine. The synthetic route required developing an efficient synthesis of N-acetyl-2-pyrroline, the key coupling partner for the modified Fischer indolization. Some interesting chemistry associated with the abnormal Fischer indolization has been uncovered, whereby two molecules of the phenylhydrazine substrate combined along the abnormal reaction pathway, affording an unusual N-phenylindoleamine product.     

A chiron approach to (1R,2R,5S,7R)-2-hydroxy-exo-brevicomin, a component of the volatiles produced by the male mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae

A chiron approach to a synthesis of (1R,2R,5S,7R)-2-hydroxy-exo-brevicomin 1, a component of the volatiles obtained from male mountain pine beetles, Dendroctonus ponderosae has been achieved. Our synthesis started with commercially available d-mannitol and involved Wittig olefination, acid catalysed one-pot hydrogenation and internal acetalization as key steps.     

Rapid and convenient semi-automated microwave-assisted solid-phase synthesis of arylopeptoids

A facile and expedient route to the synthesis of arylopeptoid oligomers (N-alkylated aminomethyl benz-amides) using semi-automated microwave-assisted solid-phase synthesis is presented. The synthesis was optimized for the incorporation of side chains derived from sterically hindered or unreactive amines and both ortho- and para-substituted arylo-backbones. By utilizing this optimized protocol a complex nonameric arylopeptoid was synthesized in less than 11 h, featuring a novel alternating ortho-, meta-, and para-substituted backbone pattern and a variety of chemically diverse and challenging side chains.     

Stereoselective total synthesis of protected sulfamisterin and its analogues

The stereoselective synthesis of sulfamisterin I and its unnatural analogues II and V in their protected form was achieved through a common strategy. The Wittig reaction of aldehydes VIII and IX with the C₁₄ hydrophobic side-chain X served as the key C-C connecting transformation. Subsequent functional group inter-conversions in the coupling products XI and XX completed the total synthesis.     

Enantioselective synthesis of C2-symmetric hexols from β,δ-diketosulfoxides

An enantioselective synthesis of (1,2S,4S,8S,10S,11)-hexahydroxyundecane, a C₂-symmetric hexol precursor of the alkaloid (−)-lythranidine, is described. This convergent synthesis was based on the stereoselective reduction of two different β,δ-diketosulfoxides.     

Synthesis of methyl (5Z,8Z,10E,12E,14Z)-eicosapentaenoate

The first total synthesis of methyl (5Z,8Z,10E,12E,14Z)-eicosapentaenoate has been achieved in seven steps and in 16% overall yield. The synthesis confirmed the assigned structure of this polyunsaturated natural product.