Synthesis of 1′-fluorouracil nucleosides as potential antimetabolites

The first synthesis of 1′-fluoronucleosides, which has long been synthetic targets as the potential antimetabolites, was achieved. Electrophilic fluorination of the 1′-position occurred to form an anomeric mixture of 1′-fluorouridine derivatives, when the lithium enolate, prepared from 3′,5′-O-tetraisopropyldisiloxane-1,3-diyl (TIPDS)-protected 2′-ketouridine (10) and LiHMDS, was treated with an electrophilic fluorinating agent such as NFSI (13). Subsequent reduction of the 2′-keto-moiety of the resulting β-nucleoside gave the protected 1′-fluorouridine 16 and its arabino-type congener 17. Alternatively, nucleophilic fluorination was also successful. Thus, treatment of 2′,3′,5′-tri-O-acetyl-1′-phenylselenouridine (20) with DAST/NBS produced the 1′-fluorouridine triacetate (21) and its α-anomer 22.     

The novel transition metal free synthesis of 1,1′-biazulene

Reaction of 1-azulenyl methyl sulfoxide (1) under acidic conditions gave the 1,1′-biazulene derivative 3. Methylmercapt groups of 3 were readily converted to formyl groups by Vilsmeier reaction to afford 3,3′-diformyl-1,1′-biazulene (4), which reacted with pyrrole in the presence of acetic acid to give the parent 1,1′-biazulene (5). Reaction of 5 with pyridine in the presence of Tf₂O gave 3,3′-dihydropyridyl-1,1′-biazulene derivative 6. 3,3′-(4-Pyridyl)-1,1′-biazulene (7) was obtained by the reaction of 3 with KOH in EtOH at room temperature in good yield.     

Methylene-2-ethynylcyclopropanes: synthesis and biological activity of (Z)- and (E)-9-{[2-ethynyl-2-(hydroxymethyl)cyclopropylidene]methyl}adenine and -guanine

Synthesis of methylene-2-ethynylcyclopropane analogues of nucleosides 12a, 12b, 13a, and 13b is described. Ethyl methylenecyclopropane carboxylate 14 was hydroxymethylated to give alcohol 15, which was reduced to diol 16. Selective protection with tert-butyldimethylsilyl group gave derivative 17, which was oxidized to aldehyde 18. Wittig reaction with CBr₄ gave dibromoalkene 19. Elimination of both bromine atoms afforded methylene-2-ethynylcyclopropane 20. Bromoselenenylation using N-bromosuccinimide and diphenyldiselenide gave intermediate 21. Alkylation of adenine and 2-amino-6-chloropurine with 21 provided the Z,E-isomeric mixtures 22a and 22c. Oxidation afforded selenoxides 23a and 23c. Mild thermolysis furnished methylenecyclopropanes Z-24a, E-24a, and 24c. Deprotection and separation of Z,E-isomers gave adenine analogues 12a and 13a, and 2-amino-6-chloropurine intermediates 12c and 13c. Hydrolytic dechlorination of 12c and 13c afforded guanine analogues 12b and 13b. Adenine Z-isomer 12a inhibits replication of Epstein-Barr virus through its cytotoxicity. The E-isomer 13a is a substrate for adenosine deaminase.     

Nucleophilic substitution approach to 4′-substituted thymidines by employing 4′-benzenesulfonyl leaving group

Synthesis of 4′-substituted thymidines was investigated based on nucleophilic substitution using organosilicon and organoaluminum reagents. Two substrates having a benzenesulfonyl leaving group at the 4′-position were prepared for this purpose: 1-[4-benzenesulfonyl-3,5-bis-O-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-2-deoxy-α-l-threo-pentofuranosyl]thymine (8α) and the 4′-(benzenesulfonyl)thymidine derivative (8β). The reaction of 8α with organosilicon reagents (Me₃SiCH₂CHCH₂ and Me₃SiN₃) in combination with SnCl₄ gave preferentially the 4′-substituted β-d-isomer: the 4′-allyl (12β) and 4′-azido (15β) derivatives, respectively. The reaction of 8α with AlMe₃, however, gave the 4′-methyl-α-l-isomer (16α) as the major product, presumably through an ion pair mechanism. By employing the substrate 8β in this reaction, the 4′-methylthymidine derivative (16β) was obtained exclusively in high yield. The 4′-ethyl (20β) and 4′-cyano (24β) derivatives were also synthesized by reacting 8β with the respective organoaluminum reagent.     

Synthesis of 1-(5,6-dihydro-2H-thiopyran-2-yl)uracil by a Pummerer-type thioglycosylation reaction: the regioselectivity of allylic substitution

1-(5,6-Dihydro-2H-thiopyran-2-yl)uracil derivatives, a new 4′-thio-D4-nucleoside analogue, were synthesized by reacting 5,6-dihydro-2H-thiopyran sulfoxide and persilylated uracil in a Pummerer-type thioglycosylation reaction. The reaction of 5-alkyl substituted dihydrothiopyran sulfoxide 7 only gave 1-(dihydrothiopyran-2-yl)uracil 9. On the other hand, the reaction with a 5-siloxy substituted derivative of 7 resulted in a mixture of products with the uracil moiety at either the α- or the γ-position. The use of a prolonged reaction time resulted in the exclusive formation of the 4-substituted dihydrothiopyran derivative 10. The result suggests that an equilibrium is operative in the formation of the α- and γ-adducts and that the latter should be more thermodynamically stable than the former. This conclusion was also supported by theoretical calculations.     

On the relative stereochemistry of atomaric acid and related compounds

The stereochemistry at C-3 of the known compounds atomaric acid 2a, 5′a-desmethyl-5′-acetylatomaric acid 4a, and stypoquinonic acid 5a is revised to 2, 4, and 5 on the basis of a careful study of 2D NOESY experiments and also from comparison of their ¹H and ¹³C chemical shifts with those of the related metabolites 6 and 7 isolated from Stypopodium zonale. Compound 7 is a novel unusually functionalized 1-keto-5′a-desmethyl atomaric acid derivative whose structure and stereochemistry were determined by spectroscopic means.     

Synthesis of novel 4′-C-methyl-1′,3′-dioxolane pyrimidine nucleosides and evaluation of its anti-HIV-1 activity

The key glycosyl donor for the target molecule 12 was prepared by two-step sequences; (1) acetalization of tert-butyldimethylsilyloxyacetaldehyde with 3-bromopropanediol, (2) DBN-initiated β-elimination of the resulting 2-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)methyl-4-bromomethyl-1,3-dioxolane 11. Electrophilic glycosidation between 12 and silylated pyrimidine nucleobase proceeded efficiently to provide a mixture of β- and α-anomers of the respective glycosides 14 and 15. Tin radical-mediated reduction of the bromomethyl functional group of 14 and 15 gave protected 4′-C-methyl-dioxorane uracil- 16 and thymine nucleoside 17. The respective cytosine nucleoside 18 was synthesized from 16. De-silylation of 4′-methyl-1′,3′-dioxolane pyrimidine nucleosides 16–18 gave the target molecules. Evaluation of the anti-HIV-1 activity of the β- and α-anomers of the novel 4′-C-methyl-1′,3′-dioxolane nucleosides 22β,α–24β,α revealed that none of the nucleoside derivatives possess anti-viral activity against HIV-1 and show cytotoxicity against MT-4 cells at 100 μM.     

Unexpected conversion of a polycyclic thiophene to a macrocyclic anhydride

Oxygenation of 2,5,9,12-tetra(tert-butyl)diacenaphtho[1,2-b:1′,2′-d]-thiophene (1, C₄₀H₄₄S) by peracids gave the cyclic sulfonic ester 4 (2,7,10,13-tetra(tert-butyl)diacenaphtho[1,2-c:1′,2′-e]oxathiin 5,5-dioxide, C₄₀H₄₄O₃S) which, when heated in nitrobenzene, is converted into a complex, macrocyclic anhydride 3 (C₈₀H₈₈O₃), which is derived from two molecules of 4. Further investigation found a likely intermediate in this reaction, 4,4′,7,7′-tetra(tert-butyl)-1,1′-biacenaphthylenylidene-2,2′-dione (5, C₄₀H₄₄O₂), apparently formed from 4 by additional oxidation. Anhydride 3 plausibly arises by Diels-Alder reaction of 4 and 5 followed by several ring fragmentations. The structures of 3, 4, and 5 were unambiguously established by X-ray crystallography.     

Synthesis of 2,2′-bipyridyl derivatives using aza Diels-Alder methodology

Amidrazone 1 and the tricarbonyl derivatives 2a-c gave the triazines 3a-c, respectively, which reacted with 2,5-norbornadiene 4 in boiling ethanol yielding the corresponding novel 2,2′-bipyridines 5a-c in good yield. Triazine 6 gave the 2,2′-bipyridyl derivative 7 (65%) with compound 4 in 1,2-dichlorobenzene at 140°C.     

Novel diaminoaluminum halides and a diaminoaluminum hydride: 1,3,2-Diazaalumina-[3]ferrocenophanes

The dilithiated derivative 2 of 1,1′-bis(trimethylsilylamino)ferrocene (1) reacts with the pyridine adducts of the aluminum trihalides AlX₃ (X = Cl, Br, I) to give the respective 1,3,2-diazaalumina-[3]ferrocenophanes (4b, c, d) as pyridine adducts. The fluoride 4a could not be obtained in this way. The reaction of 1,1′-bis(trimethylsilylamino)ferrocene (1) with the dimethyl(ethyl)amine- or pyridine adduct of aluminium trihydride gave the 1,3,2-diazaalumina-[3]ferrocenophanes (5) and (6) as the amine and pyridine adducts, respectively. Treatment of 5 with trimethyltin fluoride afforded the adduct 7 with an Al–F function. Addition of pyridine converted 7 into the desired pyridine adduct of the fluoride (4a). The molecular structures of the pyridine adducts 4a, 4b, 4c and 6 were determined by X-ray analysis. The pyridine is in the trans-position relative to the N–Si bond vectors, and temperature dependent solution-state NMR spectra prove that prominent structural features are retained in solution.     

Polyhydroxylated pyrrolidines: synthesis from d-fructose of new tri-orthogonally protected 2,5-dideoxy-2,5-iminohexitols

The readily available 3-O-benzyl-1,2-O-isopropylidene-β-d-fructopyranose (2) was transformed into its 5-O- (3) and 4-O-benzoyl (4) derivative. Compound 4 was straightforwardly transformed into 5-azido-4-O-benzoyl-3-O-benzyl-5-deoxy-1,2-O-isopropylidene-β-d-fructopyranose (7) via the corresponding 5-deoxy-5-iodo-α-l-sorbopyranose derivative 6. Cleavage of the acetonide in 7 to give 8, followed by regioselective 1-O-silylation to 9 and subsequent catalytic hydrogenation gave a mixture of (2S,3R,4R,5R)- (10) and (2R,3R,4R,5R)-4-benzoyloxy-3-benzyloxy-2′-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)pyrrolidine (12) that was resolved after chemoselective N-protection as their Cbz derivatives 11 and 1a, respectively. Stereochemistry of 11 and 1a could be determined after total deprotection of 11 to the well known DGDP (13). Compound 2 was similarly transformed into the tri-orthogonally protected DGDP derivative 18.     

Synthesis of 4′-benzoyloxycordycepin from adenosine

With an aim to synthesize 4′-substituted cordycepins, the 4′-benzoyloxy precursor (9) was prepared from adenosine through an electrophilic addition (iodo-benzoyloxylation) to the 4′,5′-unsaturated derivative (5) and subsequent radical-mediated removal of the 3′-iodine atom of the resulting adducts (6). Usefulness of 9 was briefly verified by synthesizing the 4′-allyl (12) and 4′-cyano (13) analogues of cordycepin.     

New iminophosphorane-mediated synthesis of thieno[3′,2′:4,5]thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidin-4(3H)-ones and 5H-2,3-dithia-5,7-diaza-cyclopenta[c,d]indenes

Mono(iminophosphorane) 4 was selectively prepared from the reaction of 3,4-diaminothieno[2,3-b]thiophene 3 with excess triphenylphosphine, C₂Cl₆, and Et₃N due to intramolecular double hydrogen bond formation. Mono(iminophosphorane) 4 reacted with aromatic isocyanates to give stable carbodiimides 8, which were further treated with aliphatic secondary or primary amines to give 2-amino substituted thieno[3′,2′:4,5]thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidin-4(3H)-ones 10 or 12 in the presence of a catalytic amounts of EtO⁻Na⁺. However, in the presence of a catalytic amounts of potassium carbonate, the carbodiimides 8 were transformed into previously unreported 5H-2,3-dithia-5,7-diaza-cyclopenta[c,d]indenes 13 via direct cyclization in high yields. The reaction of carbodiimides 8 with phenols in the presence of a catalytic amounts of potassium carbonate gave a mixture of 2-aryloxy substituted thieno[3′,2′:4,5]thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidin-4(3H)-ones 14 and 13. X-ray structure analysis of 10m supported the structure and the proposed reactivity of amino group.     

Practical synthetic protocols of enantiopure 1,1-binaphthyl-2,2-dicarboxylic acid and 2,2-dicyano-1,1-binaphthyl starting from optically active dibromide precursor

Dilithiation of optically active 2,2^′-dibromo-1,1^′-binaphthyl 2 with t-BuLi followed by carboxylation of the resulting dilithio-intermediate 3 with CO₂ gave optically active 1,1^′-binaphthyl-2,2^′-dicarboxylic acid 1, which was further transformed to its dicyano derivative 4. Both of these transformations were carried out in a one-pot operation and the products were obtained in excellent yields with no observable racemization.     

Polyhydroxylated pyrrolidines. Part 4: Synthesis from d-fructose of protected 2,5-dideoxy-2,5-imino-d-galactitol derivatives

The readily available 3-O-benzoyl-4-O-benzyl-1,2-O-isopropylidene-5-O-methanesulfonyl-β-d-fructopyranose (5) was straightforwardly transformed into its d-psico epimer (8), after O-debenzoylation followed by oxidation and reduction, which caused the inversion of the configuration at C(3). Compound 8 was treated with lithium azide yielding 5-azido-4-O-benzyl-5-deoxy-1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-l-tagatopyranose (9) that was transformed into the related 3,4-di-O-benzyl derivative 10. Cleavage of the acetonide in 10 to give 11, followed by regioselective 1-O-pivaloylation to 12 and subsequent catalytic hydrogenation gave (2R,3S,4R,5S)-3,4-dibenzyloxy-2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)-2′-O-pivaloylpyrrolidine (13). Stereochemistry of 13 could be determined after O-deacylation to the symmetric pyrrolidine 14. Total deprotection of 14 gave 2,5-imino-2,5-dideoxy-d-galactitol (15, DGADP).     

Enantioselective synthesis of planar chiral azaferrocenes via chiral ligand-mediated ring- and lateral-lithiations

Lithiation of 1′,2′,3′,4′,5′-pentamethylazaferrocene (1) with sec-BuLi/(−)-sparteine (3) in Et₂O at −78°C followed by quenching with electrophiles gave the ring-substituted products 2 in 74-81% ee. On the other hand, lithiation of 1′,2,2′,3′,4′,5,5′-heptamethylazaferrocene (6) with sec-BuLi in the presence of S-valine-derived bis(oxazoline) 5 in Et₂O at −55°C and subsequent reaction with electrophiles afforded the laterally functionalized products 7 in excellent enantioselectivity (96-99% ee).     

Synthesis of variolin B

The total synthesis of variolin B from 4-methoxy-7-azaindole is described. The preparation of the protected amino derivative 10 and a coupling reaction of the iodo derivative 12 with 2-acetylamino-4-trimethylstannylpyrimidine are the key steps of the sequence. The use of N-tosyldichloromethanimine for the cyclisation step afforded a good entry to the 9-aminopyrido[3′,2′:4,5]pyrrolo[1,2-c]pyrimidine system. Variolin B was obtained from the triply protected tetracyclic compound 13 in two steps.     

Preparation and structures of 6- and 7-coordinate salen-type zirconium complexes and their catalytic properties for oligomerization of ethylene

A series of salen-type zirconium complexes of the general formula LZrCl₂ (L = N,N′-ethylenebis(salicylideneiminate), 3a; N,N′-ethylenebis(3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylideneiminate), 3b; N,N′-ethylenebis(5-methoxysalicylideneiminate), 3c; N,N′-ethylenebis(5-chlorosalicylideneiminate), 3d; N,N′-ethylenebis(5-nitrosalicylideneiminate), 3e; N,N′-o-phenylenebis(salicylideneiminate), 4a; N,N′-o-phenylenebis(3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylideneiminate), 4b; N,N′-o-phenylenebis(5-methoxysalicylideneiminate), 4c; N,N′-o-phenylenebis(5-chloro-salicylideneiminate), 4d) were prepared. The crystal structures of 6- and 7-coordinate zirconium complexes 4b and [4b · OCMe₂] were determined by X-ray crystallography, which reveals that a salen-type zirconium complex possesses a labile coordination site on the Zr center with a relatively stable framework and that the coordination and the dissociation of O-donor molecules occur readily at this site. The catalytic properties of 3(a-e) and 4(a-d) were studied for ethylene oligomerization in combination with Et₂AlCl as co-catalyst. Complex 3c featuring a methoxy-substituted salen ligand displayed higher activity than its analogous precursors having chloro and nitro groups as substituents. The catalytic reactions by 3(a-e) and 4(a-d) gave C₄-C₁₀ olefins and low-carbon linear α-olefins in good selectivity.     

5′-Noraristeromycin possessing a C-1′ cyclopentyl double bond: a new carbanucleoside structural prototype

Prior to this work only two examples of carbanucleosides possessing a C-1′/C-6′ double bond had been reported and they were minor derivatized side products arising during other targeted syntheses. To develop this structural feature into a new class of potential antiviral agents, the 5′-nor derivative of aristeromycin with such an olefinic structure (6) represents the first example. In this regard, treatment of (1′S,2′S,3′S,4′R,5′S)-6-chloro-9-(2′,3′-isopropylidenedioxy-6′-oxabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-4′-yl)purine (7) with sodium methoxide yielded 6 via an E′₂-like elimination pathway. A convenient way to the C-4′ epimer of 6 (that is, 17) also arose during these studies and is described. Antiviral analysis of 6 and 17 failed to produce any significant activity.     

Synthesis of (±)-4′-ethynyl-5′,5′-difluoro-2′,3′-dehydro-3′-deoxy- carbocyclic thymidine: a difluoromethylidene analogue of promising anti-HIV agent Ed4T

Synthesis of (±)-4′-ethynyl-5′,5′-difluoro-2′,3′-dehydro-3′-deoxy-carbocyclic-thymidine (8) was carried out. The difluoromethylylidene group of 8 was constructed by the electrophilic fluorination to the cyclopentenone 11 by using Selectfluor^®. Introduction of thymine base was investigated based on the Mitsunobu reaction by employing cyclopentenyl allyl alcohols variously substituted at the 4-position. It was found the 4-methoxycarbonyl derivative 14 gave the highest selectivity both in terms of regio- and stereochemistry.