Preparation and Absolute Configuration of Some Iris Essential Oil Constituents of the 5-methylsafranic-acid series

The β-dienoate (+)-(5S)- 13a (86% ee; meaning of α and β as in α- and β-irone, resp.) was obtained from (?)-(5S)- 9a via acid-catalyzed dehydration of the diastereoisomer mixture of allylic tertiary alcohols (+)-(1S,5S)- 15 /(+)-(1R,5S)- 15 (Scheme 3). Prolonged treatment gave clean isomerization via a [1,5]-H shift to the α-isomer (?)-(R)- 16a with only slight racemization (76% ee; Scheme 4). In contrast, the SnCl₄-catalyzed stereospecific cyclization of (+)-(Z)- 6 to (?)-trans- 8a (Scheme 2), followed by a diastereoselective epoxidation to (+)- 11 gave, via acid-catalyzed dehydration of the intermediate allylic secondary alcohol (?)- 12 , the same ester (+)- 13a (Scheme 3), but with poor optical purity (13% ee), due to an initial rapid [1,2]-H shift. The absolute configuration of (?)- 16a–c was confirmed by chemical correlation with (?)-trans- 19 (Scheme 4). ¹³C-NMR Assignments and absolute configurations of the intermediate esters, acids, aldehydes, and alcohols are presented.     

Axially Dissymmetric Bis(triaryl)phosphines in the Biphenyl series: Synthesis of (6,6′-dimethylbiphenyl-2,2′-diyl)bis(diphenylphosphine) (‘BIPHEMP’) and analogues,and their use in Rh(I)-catalyzed asymmetric isomerizations of N,N-diethylnerylamine

The axially dissymmetric diphosphines (?)-(R)- and (+)-(S)-(6-6′-dimethylbiphenyl-2,2′-diyl)bis(diphenyl-phosphine) ((?)-(R)- 10 and (+)-(S)- 10 ; ‘BIPHEMP’) have been synthesized, starting from (R)- and (S)-6,6′-dimethylbiphenyl-2,2′-diamine ((R)- and(S)- 16 ), respectively, via Sandmeyer reaction, liathiation, and phosphinylation. Moreover, racemic 4,4′- dimethyl- and 4,4′-bis(dimethylamino)-substituted analogues 11 and 12 respectively, and the 6,6′-bridged analogues 1,11-bis(diphenylphosphino)-5,7-dihydrodibenz[c,e]oxepin (13) were synthesized and resolved into optically pure (R)- and(S)-enantiomers via complexation with di-μ-chlorob is {(R)-2-[1-(dimethylamino)ethyl]pheny-C? N}dipalladium(II) ((R)- 18 ). The molecular structures of the diphosphines (S)- 10 and (R)- 13 and of two derived cationic Rh(I) complexes,[Rh((S)- 10 )(nbd)]BF₄ and [Rh((R)- 13 )(nbd)]BF 4 were determined by x-ray analyses. Absolute configurations were established for (+)-(S)- 10 by X-ray analyses of both the free diphosphine and of the derived Rh(I) complex, and for (?)-(R)- 13 by X-ray analysis of the derived Rh(I) complex. Configurational assignments for the substituted BIPHEMP analogues 11 12 were achieved by means of ¹H-NMR comparisons. The BIPHEMP ligand 10 and analogues 11 , 12 and 13 are the first examples of optically active bis(triaylphosphines) containing the axially dissymmetric biphenyl moiety. All these new diphosphines proved to be excellent asymmetry-inducing ligands in Rh(I)-catalyzed isomerizations of N,N-diethylnerylamine affording citronellat enamine of 98-99% ee.     

Molecular Recognition of Pyranosides by a Family of Trimeric, 1,1′-Binaphthalene-Derived Cyclophane Receptors

The synthesis and carbohydrate-recognition properties of a new family of optically active cyclophane receptors, 1 – 3 , in which three 1,1′-binaphthalene-2,2′-diol spacers are interconnected by three buta-1,3-diynediyl linkers, are described. The macrocycles all contain highly preorganized cavities lined with six convergent OH groups for H-bonding and complementary in size and shape to monosaccharides. Compounds 1 – 3 differ by the functionality attached to the major groove of the 1,1′-binaphthalene-2,2′-diol spacers. The major grooves of the spacers in 2 are unsubstituted, whereas those in 1 bear benzyloxy (BnO) groups in the 7,7′-positions and those in 3 2-phenylethyl groups in the 6,6′-positions. The preparation of the more planar, D₃-symmetrical receptors (R,R,R)- 1 (Schemes 1 and 2), (S,S,S)- 1 (Scheme 4), (S,S,S)- 2 (Scheme 5), and (S,S,S)- 3 (Scheme 8) involved as key step the Glaser-Hay cyclotrimerization of the corresponding OH-protected 3,3′-diethynyl-1,1′-binaphthalene-2,2′-diol precursors, which yielded tetrameric and pentameric macrocycles in addition to the desired trimeric compounds. The synthesis of the less planar, C₂-symmetrical receptors (R,R,S)- 2 (Scheme 6) and (S,S,R)- 3 (Scheme 9) proceeded via two Glaser-Hay coupling steps. First, two monomeric precursors of identical configuration were oxidatively coupled to give a dimeric intermediate which was then subjected to macrocyclization with a third monomeric 1,1′-binaphthalene precursor of opposite configuration. The 3,3′-dialkynylation of the OH-protected 1,1′-binaphthalene-2,2′-diol precursors for the macrocyclizations was either performed by Stille (Scheme 1) or by Sonogashira (Schemes 4, 5, and 8) cross-coupling reactions. The flat D₃-symmetrical receptors (R,R,R)- 1 and (S,S,S)- 1 formed 1 : 1 cavity inclusion complexes with octyl 1-O-pyranosides in CDCl₃ (300 K) with moderate stability (ΔG⁰ ca. −3 kcal mol⁻¹) as well as moderate diastereo- (Δ(ΔG⁰) up to 0.7 kcal mol⁻¹) and enantioselectivity (Δ(ΔG⁰)=0.4 kcal mol⁻¹) (Table 1). Stoichiometric 1 : 1 complexation by (S,S,S)- 2 and (S,S,S)- 3 could not be investigated by ¹H-NMR binding titrations, due to very strong signal broadening. This broadening of the ¹H-NMR resonances is presumably indicative of higher-order associations, in which the planar macrocycles sandwich the carbohydrate guests. The less planar C₂-symmetrical receptor (S,S,R)- 3 formed stable 1 : 1 complexes with binding free enthalpies of up to ΔG⁰=−5.0 kcal mol⁻¹ (Table 2). With diastereoselectivities up to Δ(ΔG⁰)=1.3 kcal mol⁻¹ and enantioselectivities of Δ(ΔG⁰)=0.9 kcal mol⁻¹, (S,S,R)- 3 is among the most selective artificial carbohydrate receptors known.     

Naphthopyranquinone Antibiotics: Novel enantioselective syntheses of frenolicin B and some of its stereoisomers

Two new enantioselective syntheses of the naphthopyranquinone antibiotic frenolicin B ( 1 ), of its enantiomer 2 , and of its diastereoisomers 3 and 4 were accomplished using two different routes from optically active β-Hydroxy esters (R)- and (S)- 11 and 18. β-Hydroxy esters (R)- and (S)- 11 were prepared stereoselectively from optically active sulfenylacetates (S)- and (R)- 10 , respectively (Scheme 2, Method A). Alternatively, compound 18 was obtained in excellent yield by enantioselective hydrogenation of the corresponding β-keto ester 17 , using a chiral ruthenium-complex catalyst (Scheme 3, Method B). Subsequently, compounds (S)- 11 and 18 were transformed into frenolicin B (1). In analogy, Stereoisomers 2–4 were prepared from (S)- and (R)- 11 in good yields.     

Synthesis of the Enantiomerically Enriched Macrocyclic Lactones (+)-(S)- and (−)-(R)-Phoracantholide I and (+)-(S)-Tetradecan-13-olide

Synthesis of two naturally occurring macrocyclic lactones is described. (?)-(R)-Phoracantholide I ((?)- 1 ; Scheme 2) was synthesized by asymmetric and chemoselective reduction of the side-chain C?O group of (?)4-(1-nitro-2-oxocyclohexyl)butan-2-one ((?)- 6 ) with (R)-Alpine-Hydride (47% ee). It was shown that the formation of only one diastereoisomer of the hemiacetal 5 , by methylation with (i-PrO)₂TiMe₂ of ketoaldehyde (?)- 2 is thermodynamically controlled. (+)-(S)-Tetradecan-13-olide ((+)- 10 ) was obtained by reduction of diketone (±)- 11 with optically active borohydrides followed by denitration (Scheme 3).     

Photochemische Umsetzung von optisch aktiven 2-(1′-Methylallyl)anilinen mit Methanol

Photochemical Reaction of Optically Active 2-(1′-Methylallyl)anilines with Methanol It is shown that (?)-(S)-2-(1′-methylallyl)aniline ((?)-(S)- 4 ) on irradiation in methanol yields (?)-(2S, 3R)-2, 3-dimethylindoline ((?)-trans- 8 ), (?)-(1′R, 2′R)-2-(2′-methoxy-1′-methylpropyl)aniline ((?)-erythro- 9 ) as well as racemic (1′RS, 2′SR)-2-(2′-methoxy-1′-methylpropyl) aniline ((±)-threo- 9 ) in 27.1, 36.4 and 15.7% yield, respectively (see Scheme 3). By deamination and chemical correlation with (+)-(2R, 3R)-3-phenyl-2-butanol ((+)-erythro- 13 ; see Scheme 4) it was found that (?)-erythro- 9 has the same absolute configuration and optical purity as the starting material (?)-(S)- 4 . Comparable results are obtained when (?)-(S)-N-methyl-2-(1′-methylallyl)aniline ((?)-(S)- 7 ) is irradiated in methanol, i.e. the optically active indoline (+)-trans- 10 and the methanol addition product (?)-erythro- 11 along with its racemic threo-isomer are formed (cf. Scheme 3). These findings demonstrate that the methanol addition products arise from stereospecific, methanol-induced ring opening of intermediate, chiral trans, -(→(?)-erythro-compounds) and achiral cis-spiro [2.5]octa-4,6-dien-8-imines (→(±)-threo-compounds; see Schemes 1 and 2).     

Die diasteromeren Aurochrome: Synthese,Analytik und Chiroptische Eigenschaften

The Diastereomeric Aurochromes: Their Synthesis, Analysis and Chiroptical Properties (all-E)-Aurochrome (5,8:5′,8′-diepoxy-5,8,5′,8′-tetrahydro-β,β-carotene; 1 ) has two pairs of constitutionally identical chiral centres and, therefore, is expected to exist in four pairs of enantiomers and two meso-forms. Using starting materials with well-defined configuration, we performed the syntheses of the following pure aurochromes: (5R,8R,5′R,8′R)-aurochrome ( 2 ) and its racemate, Meso-(5R,8R,5′S,8′S)-aurochrome ( 3 ), (5 R,8 S,5′ R,8′ S)-aurochrome ( 4 ) and its racemate, meso-(5R,8S,5′S,8′R)-aurochrome ( 5 ), (5R,8R,5′R,8′S)-aurochrome ( 6 ) and its racemate. The (5RS,8RS,5′SR,8′RS)-aurochrome ( 7 ) was detected chromatographically, using a HPLC system that allows clean separation of the four racemic- (or optically active) and the two meso-aurochromes. The optically active autochromes 2 and 4 exhibit non-conservative CD spectra with strong Cotton effects of opposite but not mirror-like tracings. Solutions of aurochromes in CHCl₃, in the presence of HCl, undergo epimerization at C(8). Those epimers with CH₃ trans to C(9) slightly predominate under equilibrium conditions. Deprotonation of the phosphonate (±)- 14 with strong base causes isomerization at the terminal oxirane into a dihydrofuran. This reaction allowed convenient syntheses of the diastereoisomeric aurochromes (±)- 2, 3 , (±)- 4, 5 , (±)- 6 , and (±)- 7 and of (5RS, 8RS)- and (5RS, 8SR)-12′-apo-aurochrome-12′-als ( 21 and 22 , respectively).     

Enzyme-Mediated Preparation of the Single Enantiomers of the Olfactory Active Components of the Woody Odorant Timberol®

Enantiomerically pure (3S)- 3a and - 3b , the olfactory active forms of 1-(2,2,6-trimethylcyclohexyl)hexan- 3-ol, components of the commercial woody odorant Timberol ^®, are obtained by lipase-PS-mediated enantioselective acetylation of the allylic alcohols 6 and 7 and of the saturated alcohol 3 . These materials, as mixtures of diastereoisomers, provided (3R)-configured transformation products. However, whereas in the conversion of 6 and 7 there is no diastereoselection, 3 provided the acetate of (1′S,3R,6′R)- 3c much more rapidly than that of the diastereoisomer (1′R,3R,6′S)- 3d (Scheme 3). Inversion of the configuration at C(3) of the side chain of the olfactory inactive (3R)-materials obtained as acetates in the enzymic treatment of 6 , 7 , and 3 also provided, eventually, the desired olfactory active (3S)-products.     

Asymmetrische Micheal-Additionen. Praktisch vollständigdiastereo- und enantioselektive Alkylierungen des Enamins aus Cyclohexanon und Prolinylmethyläther.durch ω-Nitrostyrole zu u-2-(l′-Aryl-2′-nitroäthyl)cyclohexanonen

Asymmetric Michael-Additions Practically Completely Diastereo- and Enantloselective Alkylations of the Enamine from Cyclohexanone and Prolinyl Methyl Ether by ω-Nitrostyrenes to Give u2-(1′-Aryl-2′-nitroethyl)cyclohexanones When the enamine (S)-N-(1′cyclohexenyl)-2-methoxymethyl-pyrrolidine is added to 2-aryl-l-nitroethylenes, only one of the four possible enantiomerically pure diastereomers is formed. Hydrolysis of the crude primary products furnishes α-alkylated cyclohexanones of > 90% e. e. ( 3 , Scheme 3). Their (2S,1′R)-configuration was deduced by chemical correlation with l-cyclohexyl-l-phenyl-ethane and from an X-ray crystal structure analysis of (?)-(2R,3S,6′R1,l″S′)-3-methyl-N-[6′-(2″-nitro-l″-phenylethyl)-l′-cyclohexenyl]-2-phenylmorpholine ( lla , Scheme 5 and Fig. 2). - The relative topicity of reactant approach with the prolinol derivative (see II ) is specified as lkul-l,4. The steric course and the mechanism of the reaction are discussed.     

Totalsynthese von natülichem α-Tocopherol. 5. Mitteilung. Asymmetrische Alkylierung und asymmetrische Epoxidierung als Methoden zur Einführung der (R)-Konfiguration an C(2) des Chroman-Systems

Total Synthesis of Naturally Occurring α-Tocopherol. Asymmetric Alkylation and Asymmetric Epoxidation as Means to Introduce (R)-Configuration at C(2) of the Chroman Moiety Based on the reductive, stereospecific ring closure of (2R,4′R,8′R)-α-Tocophcrylquinone′ or corresponding analogues with a short, functionalized side chain ( B , Scheme 1) to 1 resp. the chroman system of 1 (C), two different approaches for the introduction of the required tertiary methyl-substituted alcohol structure in the side chain of the aromatic precursors ( A , Scheme 1) were developed. The first approach uses asymmetric alkylation in three different versions featuring (a) diastereoselective steering with chiral auxiliaries I-IV (Scheme 2) attached as esters to a-keto acids, (b) intermediate transfer of chirality in an ester enolate (from 18 , Scheme 4) derived from an optically active α-hydroxy acid, (c) enantioselective alkylation of phytenal ( 20 ) and subsequent ring closure with chirality transfer (Schemes 5–7). The second approach is based on the asymmetric epoxidation of β-metallylalcohol (Sharpless epoxidation), the corresponding epoxyalcohol being converted in situ to the (S)-or (R)-chlorodiol (S)-and (R)- 29 , respectively, for isolation (Schemes 8 and 9). Nucleophilic epoxide opening with a (3R 7R)-3,7,11-trimethyldodecyl (C₁₅**) and an ArCH2 unit in appropriate sequence is used to assemble the C-framework of the target molecule via corresponding epoxide intermediates from either chlorodiol. Combined with the use of the methoxymethyl-ether function for protection of the hydroquinone system, the epoxide approach provides a short route to 1 (Scheme 10).     

Asymmetric Phase-Transfer Catalysis by Quaternary Ammonium Ions Derived from Cinchona-Alkaloid Analogs Containing 1,1′-Binaphthalene Moieties

The synthesis and catalytic properties of a new type of enantioselective phase-transfer catalysts, incorporating both the quinuclidinemethanol fragment of Cinchona alkaloids and a 1,1′-binaphthalene moiety, are described. Catalyst (+)-(aS,3R,4S,8R,9S)- 4 with the quinuclidine fragment attached to C(7′) in the major groove of the 1,1′-binaphthalene residue was predicted by computer modeling to be an efficient enantioselective catalyst for the unsymmetric alkylation of 6,7-dichloro-5-methoxy-2-phenylindanone ( 1 ; Scheme 1, Fig. 1). Its synthesis involved the selective oxidative cross-coupling of two differently substituted naphthalen-2-ols to afford the asymmetrically substituted 1,1′-binaphthalene derivative (±)- 17 in high yield (Scheme 3). Chromatographic optical resolution via formation of diastereoisomeric camphorsulfonyl esters and functional-group manipulation gave access to the 7-bromo-1,1′-binaphthalene derivative (−)-(aS)- 11 (Scheme 4). Nucleophilic addition of lithiated (−)-(aS)- 11 to the quinuclidine Weinreb amide (+)-(3R,4S,8R)- 8 afforded the two ketones (aS,3R,4S,8R)- 27 and (aS,3R,4S,8S)- 28 as an inseparable mixture of diastereoisomers (Scheme 6). Stereoselective reduction of this mixture with DIBAL-H (diisobutylaluminum hydride; preferred formation of the C(8)−C(9) erythro-pair of diastereoisomers with 18% de) or with NaBH₄ (preferred formation of the threo-pair of diastereoisomers with 50% de) afforded the four separable diastereoisomers (+)-(aS,3R,4S,8S,9S)- 29 , (+)-(aS,3R,4S,8R,9R)- 30 , (−)-(aS,3R,4S,8S,9R)- 31 , and (+)-(aS,3R,4S,8R,9S)- 32 (Scheme 6). A detailed conformational analysis, combining ¹H-NMR spectroscopy and molecular-mechanics computations, revealed that the four diastereoisomers displayed distinctly different conformational preferences (Figs. 2 and 3). These novel Cinchona-alkaloid analogs were quaternized to give (+)-(aS,3R,4S,8R,9S)- 4 , (+)-(aS,3R,4S,8S,9S)- 5 , (+)-(aS,3R,4S,8R,9R)- 6 , and (−)-(aS,3R,4S,8S,9R)- 7 (Scheme 7) which were tested as phase-transfer agents in the asymmetric allylation of phenylindanone 1 . Without any optimization work, (+)-(aS,3R,4S,8R,9S)- 4 was found to catalyze the allylation of 1 yielding the predicted enantiomer (+)-(S)- 3b in 32% ee. The three diastereoisomeric catalysts (+)- 5 , (+)- 6 , and (−)- 7 gave access to lower enantioselectivities (6 to 22% ee's), which could be rationalized by computer modeling (Fig. 4).     

Enantioselective Addition of Chiral Organotitanium Derivatives to Aldehydes

Alkoxy- and aryloxy-organotitanium compounds 2–4 derived from (S)-2-methyl-1-butanol, (R)-2-butanol, (-)-menthol, quinine, cinchonine, and (S)-1.1′-binaphthol are added to aromatic aldehydes to give optically active alcohols 5–10 in enantioselectivities of up to 88% e. e., with nucleophilic transfer of methyl, phenyl, and 1-naphthyl groups. The Tables 1–3 list the effects of varying the reagents, the substrates, and the reaction conditions of the new asymmetric synthesis.     

Molecular Clefts Derived from 9,9′-spirobi[9H-fluorene] for enantioselective complexation of pyranosides and dicarboxylic acids

The molecular clefts (R)- and (S)- 3 , incorporating 9,9′-spirobi[9H-fluorene] as a spacer and two N-(5,7-dimethyl-1,8-naphthyridin-2-yl)carboxamide (CONH(naphthy)) units as H-bonding sites were prepared via the bis(succinimid-N-yl esters) of (R)-and (S)-9,9′-spirobi[9H-fluorene]-2,2′-dicarboxylic acid ( 5 ). Derivative 6 , with one CONH(naphthy) unit and one succinimid-N-yl ester residue allowed easy access to spirobifluorene clefts with two different H-bonding sites, as exemplified by the synthesis of 4 . Binding studies with (R)- and (S)- 3 and optically active dicarboxylic acids in CDCl₃ exhibited differences in free energy of the formed diastereoisomeric complexes (Δ(ΔGº)) between 0.5 and 1.6 kcal mol^?1 (T 300 K). Similar enantioselectivities were observed with the spirobifluorene clefts (R)- and (S)- 1 , bearing two N-(6-methylpyridin-2-yl)carboxamide (CONH(py)) H-bonding sites. The thermodynamic quantities ΔHº and ΔSº for the recognition processes with (R)- and (S)- 1 were determined by variable-temperature ¹H-NMR titrations and compared to those with (R)- and (S)- 2 , which have two CONH(py) moieties attached to the 6,6′-positions of a conformationally more flexible 1,1′-binaphthyl cleft. All association processes showed high enthalpic driving forces which are partially compensated by unfavorable changes in entropy. Pyranosides bind to the optically active clefts 1 and 3 in CDCl₃ with ?ΔGº = 3.0–4.3 kcal mol^?1. Diastereoisomeric selectivities up to 1.2 kcal mol^?1 and enantioselectivities up to 0.4 kcal mol^?1 were observed. Cleft 4 and N-(5,7-dimethyl-1,8-naphthyridin-2-yl)acetamide ( 25 ) complexed pyranosides 22–24 as effectively as 3 indicating that only one CONH(naphthy) site in 3 associates strongly with the sugar derivatives. Based on the X-ray crystal structure of 3 , a computer model for the complex between (S)- 3 and pyranoside 22 was constructed. Molecular-dynamics (MD) simulations showed that differential geometrical constraints are at the origin of the high enantioselectivity in the complexation of dicarboxylic acid (S)- 7 by (R)- and (S)- 1 and (R)- and (S)- 3 .     

Synthese und Chiralität von (5R, 6R)-5,6-Dihydro-β, ψ-carotin-5,6-diol, (5R, 6R, 6′R)-5,6-Dihydro-β, ε-carotin-5,6-diol, (5S, 6R)-5,6-Epoxy-5,6-dihydro-β, ψ-carotin und (5S, 6R, 6′R)-5,6-Epoxy-5,6-dihydro-β,ε-carotin

Synthesis and Chirality of (5R, 6R)-5,6-Dihydro-β, ψ-carotene-5,6-diol, (5R, 6R, 6′R)-5,6-Dihydro-β, ε-carotene-5,6-diol, (5S, 6R)-5,6-Epoxy-5,6-dihydro-β,ψ-carotene and (5S, 6R, 6′R)-5,6-Epoxy-5,6-dihydro-β,ε-carotene Wittig-condensation of optically active azafrinal ( 1 ) with the phosphoranes 3 and 6 derived from all-(E)-ψ-ionol ( 2 ) and (+)-(R)-α-ionol ( 5 ) leads to the crystalline and optically active carotenoid diols 4 and 7 , respectively. The latter behave much more like carotene hydrocarbons despite the presence of two hydroxylfunctions. Conversion to the optically active epoxides 8 and 9 , respectively, is smoothly achieved by reaction with the sulfurane reagent of Martin [3]. These syntheses establish the absolute configurations of the title compounds since that of azafrin is known [2].     

L-Phenylalanine Cyclohexylamide: A simple and convenient auxiliary for the synthesis of optically pure α,α-disubstituted (R)- and (S)-amino acids

This work describes L -phenylalanine cyclohexylamide ( 5c ) as a simple, cheap, and powerful chiral auxiliary for the synthesis of a series of optically pure α,α-disubstituted (R)- and (S)-amino acids of type 1 , such as (R)- and (S)-2-methyl-phenylalanine ( 1a ), (R)- and (S)-2-methyl-2-phenylglycine ( 1b ), and (R)- and (S)-2-methylvaline ( 1c ; Scheme 3). These amino acids were efficiently transformed into the suitably protected and activated amino acid building blocks (R)- and (S)- 12b and (R)- and (S)- 12c (Scheme 4) which are ready for incorporation into peptides by solution or solid-phase techniques. Based on the crystal structures of 6b, 6c , and 7a belonging to the diastereoisomeric peptides series 6 and 7 , the absolute configurations of each member of the series were determined. β-Turn geometries of type II′ and I were observed for 6b and 7a , respectively, whereas 6c crystallized in an extended conformation. The impacts of side-chain variation on conformation and crystal packing of these triamides are discussed.     

Technische Verfahren zur Synthese von Carotinoiden und verwandten Verbindungen aus 6-Oxo-isophoron. III. Ein neues Konzept für die Synthese der enantiomeren Astaxanthine

Technical Procedures for the Synthesis of Carotenoids and Related Compounds from 6-Oxo-isophorone. III. A New Concept for the Synthesis of the Enantiomeric Astaxanthins A new and efficient concept for the total synthesis of (3S, 3'S)- and (3R, 3'R)-astaxanthin ( 1a and 1c , resp.) in high overall yield and up to 99,2% enantiomeric purity is described. Key intermediates are the (S)- and (R)-acetals 10 and 17 , respectively (Scheme 2). These chiral building blocks were synthesized via three different routes: a) functionalization of the enantiomeric 3-hydroxy-6-oxo-isophorons⁴) 2 and 11 , respectively (Scheme 2); b) optical resolution of 3,4-dihydroxy-compound⁴) 19 (Scheme 3), and c) fermentative reductions of 6-oxo-isophorone derivatives (Schemes 4 and 5). - The absolute configurations of the two intermediates 12 and 13 (Scheme 2) have been confirmed by X-ray analysis. - The final steps leading to the enantiomeric astaxanthins are identical with those described for optically inactive astaxanthin [1].     

Synthesis of Optically Active P‐Chiral and Optically Inactive Oligophosphines

A series of optically active P‐chiral oligophosphines (S,R,R,S)‐ 2 , (S,R,S,S,R,S)‐ 3 , (S,R,S,R,R,S,R,S)‐ 4 , and (S,R,S,R,S,R,R,S,R,S,R,S)‐ 5 with four, six, eight, and 12 chiral phosphorus atoms, respectively, were successfully synthesized by a step‐by‐step oxidative‐coupling reaction from (S,S)‐ 1 . The corresponding optically inactive oligophosphines 1′ – 5′ were also prepared. Their properties were characterized by DSC, XRD, and optical‐rotation analyses. While optically active bisphosphine (S,S)‐ 1 and tetraphosphine (S,R,R,S)‐ 2 behaved as small molecules, octaphosphine (S,R,S,R,R,S,R,S)‐ 4 and dodecaphosphine (S,R,S,R,S,R,R,S,R,S,R,S)‐ 5 exhibited the features of a polymer. Furthermore, DSC and XRD analyses showed that hexaphosphine (S,R,S,S,R,S)‐ 3 is an intermediate between a small molecule and a polymer. Comparison of optically active oligophosphines 1 – 5 with the corresponding optically inactive oligophosphines 1′ – 5′ revealed that the optically active phosphines have higher crystallinity than the optically inactive counterparts. It is considered that the properties of oligophosphines depend on the enantiomeric purity as well as the oligomer chain length.     

Asymmetric reaction of diethylzinc with aldehydes catalyzed by l‐menthopyrazole derivatives

N‐Hydroxyalkyl‐1‐menthopyrazoles acted as a chiral catalyst for the diethylzinc ( 1 ) addition to aromatic aldehydes, and 1‐aryl‐1‐propanols were afforded enantioselectively. These reactions were carried out optimally in toluene at 40 °C in the presence of 30 mol% of (2′S)‐2‐(2‐phenyl‐2‐hydroxyethyl)‐3‐phenyl‐1‐men‐thopyrazole ((S)‐ 16d ) to afford optically active 1‐aryl‐1‐propanols up to 70% ee (S).     

Synthesis of All Four Stereoisomers of (E)-Vitamin KT (Phylloquinone), Analysis of Their Diastereoisomeric and Enantiomeric Purities and Determination of Their Biopotencies

All four stereoisomers of (E)-vitamin Kb i. e. (2¹E, ⁷R, 11¹R)-l (= 1a), (2¹E, 7¹ R, l1¹S)-1 (= 1b), (2¹E, 7¹ S, 11¹S) 1 ( = 1c), and (2¹E, 7¹S, 11¹R)-l ( = Id), have been synthesized in a state of high chemical and stereoisomeric purity. The synthesis of stereoisomers lb-d relied on the use of the optically active Cf¹* and C*¹⁰-building blocks (R)- or (S)-4-(benzyloxy)-3-methylbutanal ((R)- or (S)-2) and (R)- or (S)-citronellal ((R)- or (S)- 3 ) which had been secured by the Rh¹-catalyzed allylamine-to-enamine isomerization technology. For the synthesis of the natural (E)-vitamin-K1 stereoisomer 1a , a new route starting from natural phylol was developed, based on an O-alkylation/rearrangement procedure. A HPLC method was developed which separates with remarkable efficiency all four stereoisomers of (E)- as well as three out of the four stereoisomers of (Z)-vitamin K¹ on optically active poly(trityl methacrylate) as the chiral stationary phase supported on Nucleosil. By this method, the stereoisomeric content of the stereoisomers 1b-d synthesized was shown to be in the range of 96-98 %, while the natural isomer 1a was configurationally uniform. The biological activity of the four (E)-vitamin-K₁ stereoisomers was determined by means of the curative prothrombin time test with vitamin-K-depleted chicks. A high precision of the results was obtained with the recently introduced up-and-down organization of the test and the statistical evaluation according to an estimation procedure. With the natural (E)-vitamin-K₁ stereoisomer 1a as standard (set at 1. 0), activities of 0. 93, 1. 19, and 0. 99 were found for stereoisomers 1b, 1c , and 1d , respectively. Within the confidence limits, these activity ratios can be regarded as identical, A very similar efficacy was obtained by comparison of (E, all-rac )-vitamin K₁ ((2¹E, RS, 11′ RS)- 1 ; equimolar mixture of the four stereoisomers 1a-d) with the natural (E)-vitamin-K₁ stereoisomer 1a ). A synergistic effect was not detectable, as was the case with the eight α-tocopheryl-acetate stereoisomers.     

C45 und C50-Carotinoide. 6. Mitteilung. Synthese eines optisch aktiven cyclischen C20-Bausteins und von Decaprenoxanthin (= (2R, 6R, 2′R, 6′R)-2,2′-Bis(4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl)-ϵ, ϵ-carotin)

C₄₅- and C₅₀-Carotenoids: Synthesis of an Optically Active Cyclic C₂₀-Building Block and of Decaprenoxanthin ( = (2R, 6R, 2′R, 6′R)-2,2′-Bis(4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl)-?, ?-carotene) The synthesis of the optically active cyclic C₂₀-building block (R, R) -15 and of the optically active C₅₀-carotenoid (2R, 6R, 2′R, 6′R)-decaprenoxanthin ( 1 ) starting from (-)-β-pinene ((S)- 2 ) is reported.