Synthesis and dynamics of atropisomeric (S)-N-(α-phenylethyl)benzamides

The synthesis of atropisomeric 2-substituted benzamides 2a-e, 3a-e, and 4a-e, and characterization by X-ray structure analysis of 2d, 2e, 3c, 3e, 4c, and 4e are reported. Dynamic ¹H NMR spectroscopic studies of benzamides 2b-d, 3b-d, and 4b-d indicate that only two of the four possible rotamers are present in solution, with population ratios ranging between 1.5:1 and 4.1:1. The measured free energy of activation to interconversion of the rotamers ranged from 12.4 to 18.9 kcal mol⁻¹. Benzamides ArCON[(S)-phenethyl]₂ (2e, 3e, and 4e), exhibited atropisomer ratios between 1.7:1 and 1:1, and free energies of interconversion of the rotamers ranged from 11.5 to 17.6 kcal mol⁻¹. The highest rotation barriers were observed for the ortho-nitro derivatives 2a-e. Molecular calculations at the semiempirical level (PM3MM) gave free energies of activation for benzamides 2e and 3e of 23.6 and 12.4 kcal mol⁻¹, respectively, which are comparable to the experimental values.     

Synthesis, spectrophotometric pH titrations and DNA binding properties of a cyclometalated iridium(III) complex of tetrapyrido[3,2-a:2′,3′-c:3″,2″-h:2?,3?-j]phenazine

A new cyclometalated iridium(III) complex [Ir(ppy)₂(tpphz)]Cl {Hppy = 2-phenylpyridine and tpphz = tetrapyrido[3,2-a:2′,3′-c:3″,2″-h:2?,3?-j]phenazine} has been synthesized and characterized. The pH effects on UV-vis absorption spectra have been studied, and three ground-state acidity ionization constant values have been derived. The calf thymus (ct) DNA binding properties of the complex have also been investigated with UV-vis absorption spectrophotometric titrations, DNA competitive binding with ethidium bromide, DNA melting experiments, viscosity measurements, and density functional theory calculations. The complex was demonstrated to act as a DNA intercalator with a binding constant of (9.29 ± 1.26) × 10⁵ M⁻¹ more than one order of magnitude greater than that previously reported for DNA intercalator of [Ir(ppy)₂(dppz)]⁺.     

Stereoselective synthesis of 1-O-β-feruloyl and 1-O-β-sinapoyl glucopyranoses

1-O-β-Feruloyl and 1-O-β-sinapoyl glucopyranoses are two common substrates for serine carboxypeptidase-like acyltransferases and serve as acyl donors in the biosynthesis of numerous secondary metabolites. In addition, they are involved in plant cell wall cross-linking and are also ideal substrates for studying the kinetics of lignification involving hydroxycinnamates. We report the first chemical (and multi-gram scale) synthesis of 1-O-β-feruloyl and 1-O-β-sinapoyl glucopyranoses.     

Synthesis of cis- and trans-(±)-3-mercaptoproline and pipecolic acid derivatives via thio-Michael addition

The reactivity of 2,3-dehydroproline and 2,3-dehydropipecolic acid methyl ester derivatives with S-nucleophiles in the thio-Michael addition reaction has been explored. The addition of triphenylmethanethiol and subsequent trityl cleavage led to the corresponding cis- and trans-(±)-3-mercaptoproline and pipecolic acid derivatives in good yields.     

Host compounds (+)-(2R,3R)-1,1,4,4-tetraphenylbutane-1,2,3,4-tetraol (TETROL) and (2R,3R)-(−)-2,3-dimethoxy-1,1,4,4-tetraphenylbutane-1,4-diol (DMT) with guests o-, m- and p- toluidine: A comparative investigation

In this work, we have compared the host abilities of closely related compounds (+)-(2R,3R)-1,1,4,4-tetraphenylbutane-1,2,3,4-tetraol (TETROL) and (2R,3R)-(?)-2,3-dimethoxy-1,1,4,4-tetraphenylbutane-1,4-diol (DMT) when these were recrystallized from single and mixed toluidine guests. Significant differences in host behaviour and selectivities were revealed and these were explained by means of single crystal diffraction experiments. Thermal analyses were used to determine the relative complex stabilities, and these data correlated exactly with the host selectivity orders for both TETROL and DMT.     

Enantioselective synthesis of (2R,3R)- and (2S,3S)-β-hydroxyornithine

An efficient and short synthesis of (2R,3R)- and (2S,3S)-β-hydroxyornithine 1a-b is described using Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation and regioselective nucleophilic opening of a cyclic sulfite as the key steps.     

Synthesis of pelargonidin 3-O-6″-O-acetyl-β-d-glucopyranoside, an acylated anthocyanin, via the corresponding kaempferol glucoside

The first total synthesis of pelargonidin 3-O-6″-O-acetyl-β-d-glucopyranoside, an acylated anthocyanin of magenta-colored Verbena flowers, was successfully carried out. The key intermediate, protected kaemferol 3-O-glucoside, was constructed by the Baker-Venkataraman rearrangement from a glucosyloxyacetophenone followed by Zn-Hg reduction to the corresponding acylated anthocyanin.     

N- vs O-Coordination in cyclomanganation of 1,5-diaryl-3-(2-pyridyl)pentane-1,5-diones and 3-(2-pyridyl)chalcones; cyclomanganation at saturated carbon and the crystal structure of [1,5-diphenyl-κC-3-(2-pyridyl- κN)pentan-2-yl-κC-1,5-dione-κOκO]tetracarbonylmanganesetricarbonylmanganese

Reaction of 1,5-diphenyl-3-(2-pyridyl)pentane-1,5-dione (5a) with 2.5 moles of benzylpentacarbonylmanganese in petroleum spirit under reflux gives a small amount of the symmetric di-aryl-manganated product [1,5-diphenyl-κC²-3-(2-pyridyl)pentane-1,5-dione-κO¹κO⁵]bis-(tetracarbonylmanganese) (7a), but mostly [1,5-diphenyl-κC²-3-(2-pyridyl-κN)pentan-2-yl- κC²-1,5-dione-κO¹κO⁵]tetracarbonylmanganesetricarbonylmanganese (6a) which is manganated at only one aryl carbon [by Mn(CO)₄] but also [by Mn(CO)₃ with N and O coordination] at the methylene carbon adjacent to the Mn(CO)₄-coordinated ketone carbonyl. The latter is a rare example of direct cyclomanganation at a saturated carbon and the only known case adjacent to a carbonyl group; the X-ray crystal structure of 6a is reported. With 3 moles of benzylpentacarbonylmanganese the yield of 6a remains unchanged but some trimanganation product [1,5-diphenyl-κC^2′κC^2?-3-(2-pyridyl-κN)pentan-2-yl-κC²-1,5-dione-κO¹κO⁵]tris-(tetracarbonylmanganese) (8a) is formed, presumably from 7a. Routes to products are proposed and activating factors considered. 1,5-Di-(2-thienyl)-3-(2-pyridyl)pentane-1,5-dione (5b) and its 3-thienyl isomer (5c) similarly give 6a analogues [1,5-di-(2-thienyl-κC³)-3-(2-pyridyl-κN)pentan-2-yl-κC²-1,5-dione-κO¹κO⁵]tetracarbonylmanganesetricarbonylmanganese (6b) and [1,5-di-(3-thienyl-κC²)-3-(2-pyridyl-κN)pentan-2-yl-κC²-1,5-dione-κO¹κO⁵]tetracarbonylmanganesetricarbonylmanganese (6c).Also reported are the mono-cyclomanganation product [1-(2,6-dimethoxyphenyl)-3-(2-pyridyl-κN)prop-2-en-2-yl-κC²-1-one]tetracarbonylmanganese (16) and dicyclomanganation product [1-(2,5-dimethyl-3-thienyl-κC⁴)-3-(2-pyridyl-κN)prop-2-en-2-yl- κC²-1-one-κO ]bis-(tetracarbonylmanganese) (17) from reaction of the respective (E)-1-aryl-3-(2-pyridyl)prop-2-en-1-ones (3-(2-pyridyl)chalcones), the first reported examples of enone metallation at the α-carbon via N-coordination by a β-2-pyridyl group.     

Use of bis-(aminol) ethers derived from N-(S)-(−)-α-methylbenzylamine in reactions with resorcinarenes and double Mannich reactions

The synthesis of some chiral bis-(aminol)ethers are described. Reaction of a solution of the resorcin[4]arene derived from propanal with N,N-bis(methoxymethyl)-N-(S)-(−)-α-methylbenzylamine in toluene at 85 °C initially afforded a 1:1 mixture of two diastereoisomeric tetrakis(benzoxazines). Further, heating of this mixture under reflux in ethanol for 24 h afforded the crystalline (αS),(S)-diastereoisomer in 77% yield. N,N-bis(ethoxymethyl)-N-(S)-(−)-α-methylbenzylamine and N,N-bis(ethoxymethyl)-N-(R)-(+)-α-methylbenzylamine were reacted with β keto esters to afford a 1:1 mixture of the diastereoisomeric double Mannich adducts. Two of the double Mannich adducts were converted into tricyclic ABE analogues of the alkaloid methyllycaconitine 1.     

Oxidative ring opening of 3-hydroxyquinoline-2,4(1H,3H)-diones into N-(α-ketoacyl)anthranilic acids

N-(α-Ketoacyl)anthranilic acids were prepared by oxidative ring opening of 3-hydroxyquinoline-2,4(1H,3H)-diones by using paraperiodic acid (H₅IO₆) or sodium periodate (NaIO₄). The optimisation of the reaction conditions is described as well as the utilisation of N-(α-ketoacyl)anthranilic acids in the preparation of anthranilic acid hydrochlorides.     

Synthesis of 2′-O-α-d-ribofuranosyladenosine, monomeric unit of poly(ADP-ribose)

The first chemical synthesis of 2′-O-α-d-ribofuranosyladenosine, monomeric unit of poly(ADP-ribose), has been achieved starting from 3′,5′-O-bis protected 9-(2-O-α-d-arabinofuranosyl-β-d-ribofuranosyl)-adenine. Configurational inversion of 2′-hydroxyl group of arabinose moiety was performed by oxidation-reduction sequence.     

New asymmetrical per-substituted cyclodextrins (2-O-methyl-3-O-ethyl- and 2-O-ethyl-3-O-methyl-6-O-t-butyldimethylsilyl-β-derivatives) as chiral selectors for enantioselective gas chromatography in the flavour and fragrance field

Asymmetrically substituted 6^I-VII-O-t-butyldimethylsilyl(TBDMS)-3^I-VII-O-ethyl-2^I-VII-O-methyl-β-cyclodextrin (MeEt-CD) and 6^I-VII-O-TBDMS-2^I-VII-O-ethyl-3^I-VII-O-methyl-β-cyclodextrin (EtMe-CD) were synthesised to evaluate the role of the substitution pattern in positions 2 and 3 on the enantioselectivity, in particular in view of their application to routine analysis in fast enantioselective gas chromatography (Es-GC). The chromatographic properties and enantioselectivities of the new derivatives were tested by separating the enantiomers of a series of medium-to-high volatility racemates in the flavour and fragrance field, and compared to those of the corresponding symmetrically substituted 6^I-VII-O-TBDMS-2^I-VII,3^I-VII-O-methyl-β-CD (MeMe-CD) and 6^I-VII-O-TBDMS-2^I-VII,3^I-VII-O-ethyl-β-CD (EtEt-CD), and were then applied to analysis of real-world essential oil (e.o.) samples. A new synthetic process including the sonochemical approach to obtain synthetic reproducibility and significant yields of the per-substituted derivatives with acceptable reaction times was developed. The results show that asymmetrically substituted methyl/ethyl CDs compared to the methyl or ethyl symmetrical derivatives in general provide better enantioselectivity in terms of both enantiomer resolution and number of separated chiral compounds, and show how the substitution pattern in positions 2 and 3 of the CD ring can influence the separation. Moreover, these new CD derivatives with better enantioselectivity are also shown to be very useful in routine analysis for the exhaustive control of samples containing several chiral characterizing markers in a single run.     

Total synthesis of (6Z,9S)-3,4-trans-9-hydroxy-3-methyldodec-cis-6-en-4-olide and (6Z)-3,4-trans-9-oxo-3-methyldodec-cis-6-en-4-olide γ-butyrolactones

The first total synthesis of (6Z,9S)-3,4-trans-9-hydroxy-3-methyldodec-cis-6-en-4-olide and (6Z)-3,4-trans-9-oxo-3-methyldodec-cis-6-en-4-olide was achieved in a convergent pathway. The salient features of our synthesis include Ohira–Bestmann reaction, regioselective alkyne addition to terminal epoxide, TEMPO/BAIB mediated oxidative lactonization, and partial hydrogenation.     

A novel stereoselective synthesis of (−)-β-conhydrine from (R)-2,3-O-cyclohexylidine glyceraldehyde

A novel stereoselective synthesis of (−)-β-conhydrine is achieved. Stereoselective Grignard reaction of (R)-2,3-O-cyclohexylidine glyceraldehyde with ethyl magnesium bromide, chelation controlled stereoselective Grignard reaction of allyl imine derivative with allyl magnesium bromide, and ring-closing metathesis (RCM) of the diallyl product provides (−)-β-conhydrine in high yield.     

The first stereoselective total synthesis of (3S,4R)-dihydroxy-(6S)-undecyl-α-pyranone and total synthesis of (2S,3R,5S)-(−)-2,3-dihydroxytetradecan-5-olide

The first total synthesis of (3S,4R)-dihydroxy-(6S)-undecyl-α-pyranone 1 and total synthesis of (2S,3R,5S)-(−)-2,3-dihydroxytetradecan-5-olide 2 have been achieved in five steps in a highly stereoselective manner using Maruoka allylation, olefin cross-metathesis, and Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation as key steps.     

Total synthesis 2-epi-α-cedren-3-one via a cobalt-catalysed Pauson-Khand reaction

Herein we target the total synthesis of 2-epi-α-cedren-3-one, a natural compound isolated from the essential oil of Juniperus thurifera. Overall, our synthetic sequence presents an optimised and robust series of chemical transformations, with prominent features including a low temperature and highly (Z)-selective Wittig olefination reaction, which is vital for the establishment of the relative stereochemistry within the final natural product, and a microwave-assisted, catalytic, intramolecular Pauson-Khand cyclisation reaction, which is used to construct the intriguing tricyclic core of the target molecule. Our optimum cyclisation protocol utilises only 20?mol% of transition metal, and delivers the complex tricyclic structure in just 10?min. Further manipulations of the annulation product culminate in the first total synthesis of the described natural target.     

Total synthesis of two γ-butyrolactone containing compounds (Z,11S)-3,4-trans-11-hydroxy-3-methyldodec-cis-6-en-4-olide and (Z)-3,4-trans-11-oxo-3-methyldodec-cis-6-en-4-olide

The first total synthesis of (Z,11S)-3,4-trans-11-hydroxy-3-methyldodec-cis-6-en-4-olide and (Z)-3,4-trans-11-oxo-3-methyldodec-cis-6-en-4-olide was accomplished using Jacobsen hydrolytic kinetic resolution, Ohira–Bestmann reaction, regioselective alkyne addition to terminal carbon atom of epoxide, intramolecular TEMPO/BAIB mediated oxidative lactonization and partial hydrogenation as the key steps.     

Synthesis of β-chloro α-amino acids: (2S,3R)- and (2S,3S)-3-chloroleucine

The first syntheses of (2S,3R)- and (2S,3S)-3-chloroleucine (3-chloro-d-leucines 1 and 2) have been achieved from d-3-hydroxyleucine and allo-d-3-hydroxyleucine, respectively, through the formation of the corresponding N-Cbz β-lactones, followed by a ring opening promoted by lithium chloride and a debenzylation process.     

Highly stereoselective synthesis of trans-4-trifluoromethylsulfonyl-2,3-dihydrofurans from arsonium ylides and (E)-α-trifluoromethylsulfonyl-α,β-unsaturated ketones

The reactions of arsonium bromides with (E)-α-trifluoromethylsulfonyl-α,β-unsaturated ketones in the presence of Cs₂CO₃ or K₂CO₃ proceeded smoothly under refluxing condition in dichloromethane (DCM) to give the corresponding trifluoromethylated trans-2,3-dihydrofurans in good to excellent yields with high stereoselectivity.     

Synthesis of novel photolabile glycosides from methyl 4,6-O-(o-nitro)benzylidene-α-d-glycopyranosides

Novel photolabile sugar derivatives bearing a 4- or 6-O-(o-nitro)benzyl group have been prepared from the corresponding methyl 4,6-O-(o-nitro)benzylidene α-d-glycopyranosides. Regioselective cleavage with BF₃·Et₂O/Et₃SiH led to the methyl 6-O-(o-nitro)benzyl gluco- and manno-α-d-glycopyranosides 3 and 6. Inversion of configuration at 4-OH position of gluco and manno derivatives offered the otherwise inaccessible methyl 6-O-(o-nitro)benzyl galacto- and talo-α-d-glycopyranosides 4, 5, and 7. Careful reaction with PhBCl₂/Et₃SiH (3 equiv of reagents, 10 min at −78 °C) led to the desired methyl 4-O-(o-nitro)benzyl gluco- and manno-α-d-glycopyranosides 8 and 9 in very good yield. However, prolonged reaction with 6 equiv of PhBCl₂/Et₃SiH transformed the methyl 4,6-O-(o-nitro)benzylidene α-d-glucopyranoside 11 into the reduced d-glucitol derivative 15. Oxidative cleavage of 5,6-diol function of 15 gave the corresponding photolabile l-xylose 17. The photolabile glucosides 3 and 8 have been further transformed into the photolabile α-C-allyl d-glucopyranosides 20 and 22.