Electronically Mediated Selectivity in Ring Opening of 1-Azirines. The 3-X Mode: Convenient Route to 3-Oxazolines

The mild base-promoted reaction of methyl 2-phenyl-1-azirine-3-acetate (1) with aldehydes and acetone provides a new and simple route to the 3-oxazolines 5, which are formed in good yields by the electrophilic trapping of an imino anion produced by C-N bond cleavage in the 1-azirine enolate intermediate 6. Chloranil oxidation of 5 containing an aromatic substituent at C-2 affords oxazoles 7, while reaction of 5 containing an aliphatic group at C-2 produces 5-methylene-3-oxazolines 8 and 5-spiro-2-oxazolines 9 in addition to 7.     

Stereoselective generation of vicinal stereogenic quaternary centers by photocycloaddition of 5-methoxy oxazoles to alpha-keto esters: synthesis of erythro beta-hydroxy dimethyl aspartates

The photocycloaddition of methyl pyruvate and methyl phenylglyoxylate, respectively, to 5-methoxy oxazoles bearing additional substituents at C-2 and C-4 leads to bicyclic oxetanes 2 and 3 with high to moderate (exo) diastereoselectivity that can be easily ring-opened to give bis-quaternary aspartic acid diester derivatives 4 and 5.     

Studies of oxazoles

Mercuration of oxazole derivatives is studied. As a result mono- and disubstituted mercury derivatives, hitherto not described in the literature, are obtained. The ability of the oxazole ring to undergo mercuration decreases in the order C-5>C-4 C-2. It is shown that phenyl-substituted oxazoles are mercurated solely, or mainly at least, at an unsubstituted carbon atom in the heterocyclic ring, actual phenyl substituents in the oxazoles remaining inert towards mercuration.     

The mass spectra of some alkyl and aryl oxazoles

The mass spectra of a variety of alkyl and aryl oxazoles have been determined and the spectra analyzed with the aid of deuterium labelling and high resolution mass spectrometry. In contrast to the corresponding benzenoid compounds, the mass spectra of isomeric alkyl oxazoles are distinctive and in this respect are akin to those of the corresponding pyridines. Further analogy to the pyridines is suggested by the unfavorable nature of a carbonium ion adjacent to the 2-position and this effect may be used to locate alkyl substituents attached to the oxazole nucleus. The loss of carbon monoxide from the molecular ions of 2,5-disubstituted oxazoles probably occurs with ring opening and migration of the C-5 substituent (e.g.Br) to the C-4 position.     

Copper-mediated regioselective allylation and propargylation of 2-(alkylthio)oxazoles

Copper-mediated regioselective allylation and propargylation of 2-(n-butylthio)oxazole at the C5-position provided 2,5-disubstituted oxazoles in moderate to good yields. Subsequent removal of the n-butylthio group with deactivated W2-Raney nickel gave 5-substituted oxazoles.     

Synthesis of Substituted 2‐Amino‐1,3‐oxazoles via Copper‐Catalyzed Oxidative Cyclization of Enamines and N,N‐Dialkyl Formamides

A facile synthesis of 2‐amino‐1,3‐oxazoles via Cu^I‐catalyzed oxidative cyclization of enamines and N ,N ‐dialkyl formamides has been developed. The reaction proceeds through an oxidative C−N bond formation, followed by an intramolecular C(sp²)−H bond functionalization/C−O cyclization in one pot. This protocol provides direct access to useful 2‐amino‐1,3‐oxazoles and features protecting‐group‐free nitrogen sources, readily available starting materials, a broad substrate scope and mild reaction conditions.     

Acylation of oxazoles by the copper-mediated reaction of oxazol-2-ylzinc chloride derivatives

C-2 acylation of oxazole derivatives is accomplished by reaction of oxazol-2-ylzinc chloride reagents with acid chlorides in the presence of cuprous iodide. O-acylated vinylisonitriles, which are the sole product from the corresponding reaction employing lithiooxazole, are not observed. The method accommodates substituted and unsubstituted oxazoles with a variety of acid chlorides.     

Synthesis of 1-hydroxy-substituted pyrazolo[3,4-c]- and pyrazolo[4, 3-c]quinolines and -isoquinolines from 4- and 5-aryl-substituted 1-benzyloxypyrazoles

1-Hydroxypyrazolo[3,4-c]quinoline (22), 1-hydroxypyrazolo[4, 3-c]quinoline (21), 1-hydroxypyrazolo[3,4-c]isoquinoline (20), and 1-hydroxypyrazolo[4,3-c]isoquinoline (19) were prepared from 1-benzyloxypyrazole (6), establishing the pyridine B-ring in the terminal step. The pyridine ring of pyrazoloquinolines 14 and 18 was formed via cyclization of a formyl group at C-4 or C-5 and an amino group of a 2-aminophenyl substituent at C-5 or C-4 in 1-benzyloxypyrazole. The pyridine ring of pyrazoloisoquinolines 5 and 9 was created via cyclization of a formyl group in a 2-formylphenyl substituent at C-4 or C-5 with an iminophosphorane group installed at C-5 or C-4 of 1-benzyloxypyrazole by lithiation followed by reaction with tosyl azide and then with tributylphoshine utilizing the Staudinger/aza-Wittig protocol. The 2-aminophenyl and the 2-formylphenyl substituent were introduced at C-5 or C-4 by regioselective metalation followed by transmetalation to the pyrazolylzinc halide and subsequent palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling with 2-iodoaniline or 2-bromobenzaldehyde. The order of reactions and use of protecting groups in the individual sequences have been optimized. The 1-benzyloxy-substituted pyrazoloquinolines and isoquinolines thus obtained were debenzylated by strong acid to the corresponding 1-hydroxy-substituted pyrazoloquinolines and isoquinolines 19-22.     

Synthetic route to 5-substituted uridines via a new type of desulfurizative stannylation

phenylthio group at the C-6 position of uridine serves as the protecting group during lithiation at the C-5 position with lithium 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidide. Reactions of the resulting C-5 lithiated species with various types of electrophiles furnish 5-substituted 6-phenylthiouridine derivatives. The phenylthio group in these products can be removed by a new type of desulfurizative stannylation with tributyltin hydride followed by protonolysis. The whole sequence constitutes a new route to 5-substituted uridines. Application of this method to 2'-deoxyuridine is also described.     

d-2-Deoxy-2-fluoro-chiro-inositol—a new member of the deoxy fluoro inositol family

An efficient synthetic route to d-2-deoxy-2-fluoro-chiro-inositol has been developed with inversions of the C-1 and C-5 configuration of l-quebrachitol. The key steps of the route are two consecutive one pot epimerization procedures which do not require time-consuming protecting groups chemistry.     

Synthesis of 5-acetyloxazoles and 1,2-diketones from β-alkoxy-β-ketoenamides and their subsequent transformations

Lithiated alkoxyallenes, nitriles, and carboxylic acids have been employed as precursors in a three-component reaction leading to highly substituted β-alkoxy-β-ketoenamides. Upon treatment with trifluoroacetic acid, these enamides could be easily cyclized to 5-acetyloxazole derivatives. The synthesis is very flexible with respect to the substitution pattern at C-2 and C-4 of the oxazole core. A mechanistic suggestion for the oxazole formation is presented on the basis of (18)O-labeled compounds and their mass spectrometric analysis. In several cases, 1,2-diketones are formed as side products or even as major components. The acetyl moiety at C-5 of the oxazole derivatives can efficiently be converted into alkenyl or alkynyl moieties, which allows a multitude of subsequent reactions. Condensation reactions of the acetyl group provided the expected oxime or hydrazone. By applying a Fischer reaction, the phenylhydrazone could be transferred into an indole, which emphasizes the potential of 5-acetyloxazoles for the preparation of highly substituted (poly)heterocyclic systems. The alkynyl group at C-2 is prone to addition reactions, providing an enamine with interesting photophysical properties. Sonogashira couplings were performed with 5-alkynyl-substituted oxazoles, furnishing the expected aryl-substituted products. This alkynyl unit was employed for the preparation of a new, star-shaped trisoxazole derivative. The ability of this multivalent compound to form self-assembled monolayers between the basal plane of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite and 1-phenyloctane was demonstrated by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). The star-shaped compound seems to prefer the C(3)-symmetric arrangement in this two-dimensional crystal. Two 1,2-diketones were smoothly converted into functionalized quinoxaline derivatives.     

Oxidation of Oxazolines and Thiazolines to Oxazoles and Thiazoles. Application of the Kharasch-Sosnovsky Reaction

Using a modification of the Kharasch-Sosnovsky reaction, the oxidation of oxazolines and thiazolines bearing a variety of 2-alkyl substituents (chiral and achiral) were smoothly oxidized to their corresponding oxazoles and thiazoles, respectively. The key feature involved in the successful implementation of this important oxidation was the use of a mixture of Cu(I) and Cu(II) salts to enhance the oxidation of the intermediate captodative radical, 24. The main limitation of this method was shown when the oxidation failed with oxazolines/thiazolines lacking the carboalkoxy group at C-4.     

Asymmetric total synthesis of sperabillins B and D via lithium amide conjugate addition

Diastereoselective conjugate addition of homochiral lithium (R)-N-allyl-N-alpha-methylbenzylamide to methyl (2E,5E)-hepatadienoate, followed by protecting group manipulation and subsequent iodocyclocarbamation allows a concise route to the core fragment, methyl (3R,5R,6R)-3,6-diamino-5-hydroxyheptanoate, of sperabillins B and D. Differentiation between the C-3 and C-6 primary amino groups of this core amino acid was readily achieved by treatment with acetone, giving the 5,6-isopropylidene and C-3-imine protected diamine, with subsequent regioselective acylation of the C-6-nitrogen facilitating the total synthesis of sperabillin D in 10.8% overall yield, and the first asymmetric synthesis of sperabillin B in 5.8% overall yield.     

An investigation of imidazole and oxazole syntheses using aryl-substituted TosMIC reagents

This article describes efficient and mild protocols for preparing polysubstituted imidazoles in a single pot from aryl-substituted tosylmethyl isocyanide (TosMIC) reagents and imines generated in situ. Traditional imine-forming reactions employing virtually any aldehyde and amine followed by addition of the TosMIC reagent delivers 1,4,5-trisubstituted imidazoles with predictable regiochemistry. Employing chiral amines and aldehydes, particularly those derived from alpha-amino acids, affords imidazoles with asymmetric centers appended to N-1 or C-5 with excellent retention of chiral purity. 1,4-Disubstituted imidazoles are also readily prepared by a simple variant of the above procedure. Selecting glyoxylic acid as the aldehyde component of this procedure leads to intermediates such as 48, which readily undergo decarboxylation and elimination of the tosyl moiety to deliver 1,4-disubstituted imidazoles in high yields. Alternatively, using NH(4)OH as the amine component in conjunction with a variety of aldehydes delivers 4, 5-disubstituted imidazoles in moderate to good yields in a single pot while avoiding the need for protecting groups. Finally, the facile preparation of mono- and disubstituted oxazoles from these TosMIC reagents and aldehydes is described.     

Reactions between Weinreb amides and 2-magnesiated oxazoles: a simple and efficient preparation of 2-acyl oxazoles

Treatment of oxazole or 5-aryl oxazoles with i-PrMgCl smoothly generates the corresponding 2-Grignard reagents, which react with Weinreb amides to provide exclusively 2-acyl oxazole products.     

Intra- and intermolecular thermal transformations of 2-acyl- and 2-alkoxycarbonyl-N-phthalimidoaziridines

Heating 2-acyl- and 2-alkoxycarbonyl-N-phthalimidoaziridines leads to substituted oxazoles in 45-65% yield. Only esters of oxazolecarboxylic acids are formed when the aziridine contains acyl and alkoxy groups. The thermolysis of the same aziridines in the presence of N-phenylmaleimide and the dimethyl ester of acetylenedicarboxylic acid gives both oxazoles and the products of 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition from aziridines with two substituents at the carbon atoms but only oxazoles from trisubstituted aziridines.     

Syntheses and photophysical properties of some 5(2)-aryl-2(5)-(4-pyridyl)oxazoles and related oxadiazoles and furans

A number of 5-aryl-2-(4-pyridyl)oxazoles, a 2-aryl-5-(4-pyridyl)oxazole, the related oxadiazole and furan, several 2-(4-pyridyl)cycloalkano[d]oxazoles, and many of their quaternary salts were prepared. No single standard synthesis was effective for preparation of more than a few of the 25 free bases described; methods often unique to a base were employed. Minor variations in structure sometimes produced large differences in absorption and emission wavelengths, as well as in the magnitude of the extinction coefficient. The salts are of interest as laser dyes, scintillation fluors, biological stains, and shifters for luminescent solar concentrators.     

Superarming the S-benzoxazolyl glycosyl donors by simple 2-O-benzoyl-3,4,6-tri-O-benzyl protection

The strategic placement of common protecting groups led to the discovery of a new method for "superarming" glycosyl donors. Conceptualized from our previous studies on the O-2/O-5 Cooperative Effect, it was determined that S-benzoxazolyl glycosyl donors possessing both a participating moiety at C-2 and an electronically armed lone pair at O-5, such as the superarmed glycosyl donor shown above, were exceptionally reactive.     

Anomalous metalation behavior in 1,3-oxazoles. Alkylation of 2-methyl-4-carboxyoxazoles via the cornforth intermediate

Metalation of the methyl group in the title compound is accomplished through the open chain Cornforth precursor. This technique is necessary due to the preferred metalation of the 5-H proton in oxazoles.     

Picolinyl group as an efficient alcohol protecting group: cleavage with Zn(OAc)2·2H2O under a neutral condition

As an efficient alcohol protecting group, picolinates (Pic), prepared from the corresponding alcohols using commercial picolinoyl chloride, are readily cleaved by Zn(OAc)₂ or Cu(OAc)₂, even in the presence of other common alcohol protecting groups. Moreover, the picolinyl group at C-2 position in carbohydrates can be selectively cleaved to give methyl 4,6-O-benzylidene-3-O-picolinyl-α-d-glucopyranoside and 3-O-picolinyl methyl-4,6-O-benzylidene-α-d-galactopyranoside in good yields.