Enantioselective synthesis of herbertane sesquiterpenes: synthesis of (−)-α-formylherbertenol

The synthesis of 4-hydroxy-3-[(1S)-1,2,2-trimethylcyclopentyl]benzaldehyde [(−)-α-formylherbertenol 1], a herbertane-type sesquiterpene isolated from the leafy liverwort Herberta adunca, from β-cyclogeraniol is described. The synthesis is based on the previously described preparation of an enantiopure 1,2,2-trimethylcyclopentane synthon from which the characteristic aromatic moiety of 1 is elaborated, using a Robinson annulation and a palladium-catalysed methoxycarbonylation of an aryl triflate as key synthetic steps. The synthesis of the natural sesquiterpene (−)-α-herbertenol, also a natural sequiterpene, using the same methodology is also described.     

Solvent-free synthesis of alumina supported cobalt catalysts for Fischer–Tropsch synthesis

A novel mechano-synthesis method has been elaborated in this work for the design of efficient cobaltbased Fischer–Tropsch catalysts. The process aims to reduce the total number of steps involved in the synthesis of solid catalysts and thus to avoid relevant toxic solutions generated during the catalyst preparation. The mechano-synthesis of the Co/Al_2O_3 catalyst was processed in a low-energy vibratory micro mill and high energy planetary ball mill. Porous spherical γ-aluminas(1860 μm and 71 μm mean particle diameter) were used in this work as host compounds. Co_3O_4(3 μm mean particle diameter) has provided guest particles for mechano-synthesis. The catalysts were characterized by textural(surface area, porosity and particle size) and structural analyses(X-ray diffraction, TPR, SEM-EDX and microprobe). The microprobe images show deposition of Co_3O_4 on the surface of the alumina and indicated no Co_3O_4 diffusion inside the alumina pores. SEM-EDX mapping illustrated that cobalt coating tended to occur on surface of rounded shape of cracked alumina fragments. After milling, the crystallite size of Co_3O_4 decreased to 15 nm from 30 to 50 nm. The TPR profiles indicated very low concentrations of inactive cobalt aluminate mixed compounds which are usually produced during the catalyst preparation by impregnation.In Fischer–Tropsch synthesis, the catalysts prepared using mechano-synthesis methods showed catalytic performance comparable to the catalysts prepared by impregnation.     

Selective synthesis of β-alkylpyrroles

β-Alkylpyrroles are key structural motifs found in many natural products and biologically active compounds as well as functional organic materials. For this reason, synthetic chemists continue to be interested in construction of the framework of β-alkylpyrroles. Due to sufficient aromaticity and π-excessive nature of pyrroles, a straightforward approach to β-alkylpyrroles should be electrophilic aromatic substitution (S(E)Ar) toward the pyrrole ring. However, since a primary nucleophilic site of pyrroles is an α-position, some "trick" is required to direct incoming alkyl electrophiles toward a β-position. This Concept article focuses on presenting previous efforts that have been devoted to the synthesis of β-alkylpyrroles, mainly through the S(E)Ar route.     

Chichibabin “isodesmopyridine” synthesis

2,3,5-Trisubstituted pyridine isodesmopyridine is one of the elastin crosslinking amino acid which was isolated from the acid hydrolysates of bovine ligamentum nuchae. Biosynthesis of isodesmopyridine is believed to undergo via Chichibabin pyridine synthesis starting from aldehydes and an ammonia. Herein, we report the first total synthesis of isodesmopyridine through Chichibabin pyridine synthesis from allysines with protecting groups and ammonium salts in the presence of 50?mol% Pr(OTf)₃ with the optimization of the reaction conditions.     

Solvent-free synthesis of zeolite catalysts

The most used method for preparation of zeolites is hydrothermal synthesis from silicate or aluminosilicate gels at temperatures in the range of 60–200°C.Excess water used in the industrial process results in several issues,including high autogeneous pressure,low efficiency,pollution,etc.To solve these problems,several strategies have been developed.This review describes the solvent-free synthesis of zeolites.The combination of solvent-free synthesis and organotemplate-free synthesis can open the pathway to a highly sustainable zeolite synthesis protocol in industry.     

One-pot synthesis of β-imidazolylpropionamides

New efficient one-pot methodology for the preparative synthesis of β-imidazolylpropionamides was elaborated. It is based on the addition of imidazole to the activated double bond of the intermediate acrylimidazolide in the reaction between diverse acrylic acids and different amines promoted by CDI. A set of structurally and functionally diverse β-imidazolylpropionamides was obtained in high preparative yields.     

Total synthesis of (−)-lentiginosine

A simple and practical synthesis of (−)-lentiginosine 2 with good overall yield has been achieved from the commercially available diethyl d-tartarate. The key steps are a highly stereoselective Grignard reaction on an aldehyde and a Staudinger reduction.     

The synthesis of perfluoroalkyl-substituted tetrakisphenylporphyrins

Perfluoroalkyl-substituted tetrakisphenylporphyrins were synthesized through the couplingreaction of perfluoroalkyl iodides(R_FI)with the corresponding bromophenylporphyrin under theCu-bronze catalysis.     

Stereoselective synthesis of (−)-cytoxazone

A novel stereoselective synthesis of (−)-cytoxazone 1 was achieved via addition of p-methoxyphenylmagnesium bromide to the benzylimine derived from (S)-2,3-O-isopropylidene glyceraldehyde followed by one-step regioselective cyclization of N-Boc amino diol 7.     

A novel synthesis of perfluoroalkylglycine

Perfluoroalkylglycine was obtained through perfluoroalkylation of 2-phenyl-5-etho-xyoxazole using RFI-Na2S2O4 reagent system, followed by acid hydrolysis of the intermediates, 2-phenyl-4-perfluoroalkyl-5-ethoxyoxazole and 2-phenyl-4-perfluoroalkyl-2-oxazolin-5-one.     

Total synthesis of (−)-vindoline

In this full paper, a stereocontrolled strategy for the total synthesis of (?)-vindoline is described. This synthetic route features: 1) rapid construction of the stereochemical center at C19 through a highly diastereoselective vinylogous Mannich addition; 2) tandem Heathcock/aza-Prins cyclization to install rings C and E in vindoline; 3) oxidative transformation of β-ketoester to enone; 4) stereoselective inversion of C4 stereochemistry with triphenylphosphine and carbon tetrabromide followed by Brønsted acid.     

N-Isocyanides—synthesis and reactions

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Enantioselective synthesis of β-amino-diacids

An efficient route to orthogonally protected β-amino-diacids is described: chiral derivative 3 was shown to be a precursor of enantiopure substituted β-amino acids. The key step of the procedure is a diastereoselective reduction of β-enaminolactones 5 by NaBH₃CN in CH₂Cl₂. A study concerning the regio- and diastereoselectivity of alkylation of β-enaminolactone 3 is also presented.     

Squaramide catalyzed α-chiral amine synthesis

Enantiomerically pure α-chiral amines, have been commonly utilized as resolving agents and chiral auxiliaries and are currently found in 40% of active pharmaceutical ingredients. Hence, development of highly stereoselective metal-free protocols regarding atom-economy and large-scale applications becomes a major issue. In this respect, chiral bifunctional H-bonding squaramides have been successfully applied for both amine synthesis and functionalization of amines in the last decade. This survey summarizes asymmetric synthesis of chiral amines by various carbon-carbon and carbon-nitrogen bond formation with squaramide catalysis as a particular focus of interest.     

Metal-free synthesis of amphiphilic functional polycarbonates

Amphiphilic block copolymers of poly(5-benzyloxy trimethylene carbonate)(PBTMC) and poly(ethylene glycol)(PEG) were synthesized through enzymatic polymerization using immobilized porcine pancreas lipase(IPPL).The obtained copolymers with different compositions were characterized by GPC and ~1H NMR.The copolymer composition was in agreement with the feed ratio. The molecular weight of the copolymers showed an increasing trend with the decrease of PEG contents.Micelles of the copolymers were formed by dialysis procedure,and characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM).     

A convenient synthesis of 6-demethoxycapillarisin

A convenient and effective method for the synthesis of 6-demethoxycapillarisin was described.The highlight was involved in asimple access to the key intermediate 2-ethylthio-5,7-dimethoxy-4H-chromen-4-one from the inexpensive 2,4,6-trihydroxyacetophenone,using AlCl3 as the demethylation reagent.     

Asymmetric synthesis of α-acetylenic epoxides

Chiral α-acetylenic oxiranes were easily synthesized from readily available propargylic esters by a four-step sequence involving the stereoselective reduction of α′-alkynyl β-keto sulfoxides with DIBAH (de 66–78%) and DIBAH/ZnBr₂ (de 78–88%), followed by further reduction of the resulting hydroxy sulfoxides into the corresponding sulfenyl derivatives and final epoxy ring closure via sulfonium salt.