Enantioselective Synthesis of (−)‐(R)‐Cordiachromene and (−)‐(R)‐Dictyochromenol Utilizing Intramolecular SNAr Reaction

A simple and efficient enantioselective synthesis of chromene, (?)‐(R)‐cordiachromene ( 1 ), and (?)‐(R)‐dictyochromenol ( 2 ) has been accomplished. This convergent synthesis utilizes intramolecular S_NAr reaction for the formation of chroman ring, and Seebach's method of ‘self‐reproduction of chirality’ should establish the (R)‐configuration of the C(2) side chain as key steps.     

Total Synthesis of (−)‐ and (+)‐Decarbamoyloxysaxitoxin and (+)‐Saxitoxin

Playing the sax : The enantioselective total syntheses of (?)‐ and (+)‐decarbamoyloxysaxitoxin (doSTX) and (+)‐saxitoxin (STX) are reported. A new methodology was developed for the synthesis of STXs, featuring discriminative reduction of the nitro group and N? O bond in nitroisoxazolidine.

     

Enantioselective Synthesis of (−)‐(19R)‐Ibogamin‐19‐ol

The first total synthesis of the natural product (?)‐(19R)‐ibogamin‐19‐ol ((?)‐ 1 ) is reported (biogenetic atom numbering). Starting with L ‐glutamic acid from the chiral pool and (2S)‐but‐3‐en‐2‐ol, the crucial aliphatic isoquinuclidine (= 2‐azabicyclo[2.2.2]octane) core containing the entire configurational information of the final target was prepared in 15 steps (overall yield: 15%). The two key steps involved a highly effective, self‐immolating chirality transfer in an Ireland–Claisen rearrangement and an intramolecular nitrone‐olefin 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition reaction (Scheme 3). Onto this aliphatic core was grafted the aromatic moiety in the form of N(1)‐protected 1H‐indole‐3‐acetic acid by application of the dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) method (Scheme 4). Four additional steps were required to adjust the substitution pattern at C(16) and to deprotect the indole subunit for the closure of the crucial 7‐membered ring present in the targeted alkaloid family (Schemes 4 and 5). The spectral and chiroptical properties of the final product (?)‐ 1 matched the ones reported for the naturally occurring alkaloid, which had been isolated from Tabernaemonatana quadrangularis in 1980. The overall yield of the entire synthesis involving a linear string of 20 steps amounted to 1.9% (average yield per step: 82%).     

Formal Synthesis of Natural 1,3‐Polyol/α‐Pyrone Diastereoisomers

A stereoselective formal synthesis of diastereoisomers of 1,3‐polyol/α‐pyrone antifungal natural products isolated from Ravensara anisata has been achieved involving epoxide opening and asymmetric allylation as key steps.     

Enantiospecific Synthesis of (R)‐3‐Amino‐4‐(2,4,5‐trifluorophenyl)butanoic Acid Using (S)‐Serine as a Chiral Pool

Starting from (S)‐serine, a new method was developed for the synthesis of the β‐amino acid part of sitagliptin in ten steps and with an overall yield of 30%. The crucial step of the synthesis was the ring opening of N‐ and O‐protected (R)‐aziridin‐2‐methanol with (2,4,5‐trifluorophenyl)magnesium bromide to give N‐ and O‐protected (R)‐2‐amino‐3‐(2,4,5‐trifluorophenyl)propan‐1‐ol.     

Asymmetric Synthesis of （ － ）－（2R ,3R, 6S ）－Irnigaine

Asymmetric synthesis of irnigaine was achieved starting from an enantiopure β-amino ester 5 using the condensation of amino al-cohol 2 with acetylacetone and the subsequent intramolecular cycllzation as the key steps.     

Synthesis and Characterization of New 3‐(3‐Hydroxyphenyl)‐4‐ alkyl‐3,4‐dihydrobenzo[e][1,3]oxazepine‐1,5‐dione Compounds

A series of 3‐(3‐hydroxyphenyl)‐4‐alkyl‐3,4‐dihydrobenzo[e][1,3]oxazepine‐1,5‐dione compounds with general formula C_nH_2n+1CNO(CO)₂C₆H₄(C₆H₄OH) in which n are even parity numbers from 2 to 18. The structure determinations on these compounds were performed by FT‐IR spectroscopy which indicated that the terminal alkyl chain attached to the oxazepine ring was fully extended. Conformational analysis in DMSO at ambient temperature was carried out for the first time via high resolution ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy.     

Enantiospecific Total Synthesis of (−)‐Bengamide E

Total synthesis of the polyhydroxy caprolactam amide natural product, bengamide E, is accomplished starting from tartaric acid. Key reactions in the synthesis include desymmetrization of the bis(dimethylamide) unit of tartaric acid, Zn(BH₄)₂‐mediated anti‐selective reduction, and a Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons olefination.     

Synthesis of (−)‐3‐Carene‐2,5‐dione via Allylic Oxidation of (+)‐3‐Carene

Activated carbon‐supported CuCl₂ (CuCl₂/AC) is a heterogeneous catalyst for the liquid‐phase selective allylic oxidation of (+)‐3‐carene with tert‐butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) and O₂ to produce (?)‐3‐carene‐2,5‐dione. The possible reaction mechanism and the effects of different factors on the allylic oxidation were investigated. The optimal conditions are as follows: reaction temperature, 45 °C; molar ratio of CuCl₂ to (+)‐3‐carene, 1%; volume ratio of (+)‐3‐carene to TBHP, 1:3; and reaction time, 12 h. Under the optimal conditions, the conversion of (+)‐3‐carene reached 100%, whereas the selectivity for (?)‐3‐carene‐2,5‐dione reached 78%. The CuCl₂/AC catalyst was characterized via X‐ray diffraction, and the chemical structure of the target compound was identified via infrared spectroscopy, proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and optical analysis.     

Synthesis of the Spermidine Alkaloids (−)‐(2R,3R)‐ and (−)‐(2R,3S)‐3‐Hydroxycelacinnine: Macrocyclization with Oxirane‐Ring Opening and Inversion via Cyclic Sulfamidates

The two epimers (?)‐ 1a and (?)‐ 1b of the macrocyclic lactam alkaloid 3‐hydroxycelacinnine with the (2R,3R) and (2R,3S) absolute configurations, respectively, were synthesized by an alternative route involving macrocyclization with the regio‐ and stereoselective oxirane‐ring opening by the terminal amino group (Schemes 2 and 6). Properly N‐protected chiral trans‐oxirane precursors provided (2R,3R)‐macrocycles after a one‐pot deprotection‐macrocyclization step under moderate dilution (0.005–0.01M ). The best yields (65–85%) were achieved with trifluoroacetyl protection. Macrocyclization of the corresponding cis‐oxiranes was unsuccessful for steric reasons. Inversion at OH? C(3) via nucleophilic displacement of the cyclic sulfamidate derivative with NaNO₂ led to (2R,3S)‐macrocycles. The synthesized (?)‐(2R,3S)‐3‐hydroxycelacinnine ((?)‐ 1b ) was identical to the natural alkaloid.     

Stereoselective Total Synthesis of (11β)‐11‐Methoxycurvularin

A simple and highly efficient stereoselective total synthesis of (11β)‐11‐methoxycurvularin ( 5 ), a polyketide natural product, was achieved. The synthesis commenced with a Cu‐mediated regioselective opening of (2S)‐2‐methyloxirane ( 6 ) and comprised a Keck asymmetric allylation and intramolecular Friedel–Crafts acylation as key steps (Scheme 2).     

Melamine Trisulfunic Acid: An Efficient and Recyclable Solid Acid Catalyst for the Synthesis of 4,4′‐(Arylmethylene)‐bis‐(1H‐pyrazol‐5‐ols)

Melamine trisulfunic acid is employed as a recyclable catalyst for the condensation reaction of aromatic aldehydes with 3‐methyl‐l‐phenyl‐2‐pyrazolin‐5‐one. This condensation reaction was performed in ethanol under refluxing conditions giving 4,4′‐(arylmethylene)‐bis‐(3‐methyl‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐5‐ols) in 80‐96% yields.     

A New and Convenient Synthesis of Amino‐phthalimide (1H‐Isoindole‐1,3(2H)‐dione) Derivatives and Their Photoluminescent Properties

A new and convenient synthesis for amino‐phthalimide (1H‐isoindole‐1,3(2H)‐dione) derivatives has been developed starting from an α,β‐unsaturated ketone. The ketones were reacted with amines to give aromatic amine products. This is the first time that substituted amine groups have been incorporated in aromatic rings. The mechanism of the product formation is rationalized by the 1,2‐addition of amines to ketones. All aromatic compounds exhibited high fluorescence properties at the blue‐green region.     

Studies on 4‐Thiazolidinones: Scope of the Reactions of 3‐Aryl‐2‐thioxo‐1,3‐thiazolidin‐4‐ones with Cyanide and Cyanate Ions

Treatment of 3‐aryl‐2‐thioxo‐1,3‐thiazolidin‐4‐ones 1 with CN^? and NCO^? effected the ring cleavage providing [(cyanocarbonothioyl)amino]benzenes 4 and arylisothiocyanates 5 , respectively. Similar treatment of 5‐(2‐aryl‐2‐oxoethyl) derivatives 2 afforded 2,4‐bis(2‐aryl‐2‐oxoethylidene)cyclobutane‐1,3‐diones 6 along with each of the preceding products. Treatment of the respective (E,Z)‐5‐(2‐aryl‐2‐oxoethylidene) analogues 3b and 3c with CN^? gave 4b and 4c and 2‐(arylcarbonyl)‐2‐methoxy‐4‐oxopentanedinitriles 7b and 7c , in addition to 3,6‐bis[2‐(4‐chlorophenyl)‐1‐methoxy‐2‐oxoethylidene]‐1,4‐dithiane‐2,5‐dione 8c , which has been generated from 3c . Reactions of 3c or 3d with NCO^? provided 5c or 5d , together with 8c or 8d as pure isomers. In the formation of the MeO products 7 and 8 , the solvent (MeOH) has participated. Structures of these products are based on microanalytical and spectroscopic data. Rationalizations for the above transformations are given.     

Efficient Synthesis of (−)‐(R)‐Muscone by Enantioselective Protonation

A new synthesis of (?)‐(R)‐muscone ((R)‐ 1 ) by means of enantioselective protonation of a bicyclic ketone enolate as the key step (see 6 →(S)‐ 4 in Scheme 2) is presented. The C₁₅ macrocyclic system is obtained by ozonolysis (Scheme 7).     

A Facile Solid‐Phase Synthesis of (+)‐(S)‐Clopidogrel

Enantiomerically pure (+)‐(S)‐clopidogrel was prepared by solid‐phase synthesis using the commercially available Wang resin. This method offers mild reaction conditions and provides the (+)‐(S)‐clopidogrel in overall 52% yield over six steps and with optical purity of 98.0% ee.     

(−)‐(3S)‐3‐(Tosylamino)butano‐4‐lactone,a Versatile Chiral Synthon for the Enantioselective Synthesis of Different Types of Polyamine Macrocycles: Determination of the Absolute Configuration of (−)‐(R)‐Budmunchiamine A

(−)‐(3S)‐3‐(Tosylamino)butano‐4‐lactone ( 1 ) and its derivative ethyl (−)‐(3S)‐4‐iodo‐3‐(tosylamino)butanoate ( 2 ) are presented as easily accessible chiral building blocks for the construction of a range of different macrolactam frameworks important for the synthesis of naturally occurring polyamine alkaloids as well as for establishing a substance library of such compounds, including S‐containing derivatives for biological tests. In addition to that, the absolute configuration of the spermine alkaloid (−)‐(R)‐budmunchiamine A ( 3 ) from Albizia amara was determined by total synthesis according to the new methodology.