The versatile conversion of acyclic amides to alpha-alkylated amines

A general and efficient method for the versatile functionalization of acyclic amide via N,O-acetal TMS ether, an excellent precursor for the N-acyliminium ion, has been developed.     

Synthesis of quaternary stereogenic centres via stereoselective intermolecular Friedel-Crafts reactions

Highly stereoselective Friedel-Crafts reactions have been performed using a chiral anthracene template to control the selectivity of the reaction. In the case of additions to fully substituted N-acyliminium ions, competitive elimination and condensation reactions were observed. Retro-Diels-Alder reaction of one of the reaction products led to a precursor that could be used for the construction of pyroglutamic acids bearing quaternary stereogenic centres.     

Asymmetric synthesis of (-)-adaline

[reaction: see text] An enantioselective total synthesis of (-)-adaline has been achieved starting from a chiral 6,6-disubstituted piperidone derivative previously prepared by diastereoselective allylation of a chiral tricyclic N-acyl-N,O-acetal. The key steps include lithium ion-activated SN2-type alkynylation of the tricyclic N,O-acetal leading to exclusive formation of the (6S)-ethynylpiperidine and ring-closing olefin metathesis of the (2R,6S)-cis-2,6-dialkenylpiperidine for constructing the bridged azabicyclononane.     

Diastereoselective tandem 6-exo carbolithiation intramolecular ring opening in (-)-8-aminomenthol-derived perhydrobenzoxazines. A new synthesis of enantiopure 4-substituted tetrahydro isoquinolines and 2-azabenzonorbornanes.

Aryllithiums prepared by bromine-lithium interchange in chiral 2-(o-bromophenyl)-substituted perhydro-1,3-benzoxazines participate in the intramolecular 6-exo carbolithiation reaction with unactivated double bonds attached to the nitrogen substituent of the heterocycle. When the reaction time is extended or no TMEDA is used, the cyclized lithium intermediates react intramolecularly with the N,O-acetal system leading to 2-azabenzonorbornane derivatives. The reactions are highly stereoselective and constitute a high-yielding synthesis of enantiopure 4-substituted tetrahydroisoquinolines or 7-substituted 2-azabenzonorbornanes.     

Total synthesis of khafrefungin using highly stereoselective vinylogous Mukaiyama aldol reaction

[structure: see text] A convergent total synthesis of khafrefungin was accomplished on the basis of (1) the highly stereoselective TiCl4-mediated vinylogous Mukaiyama aldol reaction using vinylketene silyl N,O-acetal and (2) syn-selective aldol reaction of enal 5a and ethyl ketone 6 followed by anti-dehydration under Mitsunobu conditions.     

Total synthesis of (+)-epiquinamide

The stereoselective total synthesis of the novel quinolizidine alkaloid (+)-epiquinamide is presented, starting from the amino acid l-allysine ethylene acetal. Key steps in the synthesis involved a highly diastereoselective N-acyliminium ion allylation and a ring-closing metathesis reaction to provide the bicyclic skeleton. [reaction: see text]     

Expedient synthesis of chiral homoallylamines via N,O-acetal TMS ethers and its application

A highly stereoselective and efficient method for the synthesis of optically active homoallylamines was developed. Key features of the method include (1) the utilization of naphthylethylamine as both an excellent chiral auxiliary and the amine source, (2) the 1,3-chiral induction of the N-acyliminium ion with high stereoselectivity and high yield, and (3) facile auxiliary removal under mild conditions to liberate N-Cbz-protected homoallylamines. In addition, the total synthesis of the proposed novel tripeptide containing a β-amino acid has been achieved by applying this method.     

Stereoselective synthesis of highly substituted gamma-lactams by the [3+2] annulation of alpha-siloxy allylic silanes with chlorosulfonyl isocyanate

[reaction: see text] A stereoselective synthesis of gamma-lactams by the [3+2] annulation of alpha-siloxy allylic silanes with N-chlorosulfonyl isocyanate (ClSO(2)NCO) was developed. The use of these allylic silanes allowed for further diastereoselective substitution of the resultant N,O-acetal to give highly substituted gamma-lactams. Oxidation of the silyl group afforded access to complex beta-hydroxy-gamma-lactams.     

Mechanistic studies on the catalytic asymmetric Mannich-type reaction with dihydroisoquinolines and development of oxidative Mannich-type reactions starting from tetrahydroisoquinolines

Detailed mechanistic studies on our recently reported asymmetric addition reactions of malonates to dihydroisoquinolines (DHIQs) catalyzed by chiral Pd(II) complexes were carried out. It was found that an N,O-acetal was generated in situ by the reaction of DHIQ with (Boc)2O, and cooperative action of the Pd(II) complex as an acid-base catalyst allowed the formation of a chiral Pd enolate and a reactive iminium ion via alpha-fragmentation. The iminium ion was also accessible via oxidation with DDQ as an oxidant, and a catalytic asymmetric oxidative Mannich-type reaction was achieved with tetrahydroisoquinolines (THIQs) as starting materials. This oxidation protocol was applicable to N-acryloyl-protected THIQs, allowing the efficient synthesis of optically active tetrahydrobenzo[a]quinolizidine derivatives via intramolecular Michael reaction.     

Concise total synthesis of (-)-myxalamide A

The MIDA touch: A concise and highly convergent protecting-group-free total synthesis of (-)-myxalamide?A involves a stereoselective vinylogous Mukaiyama aldol reaction of a vinylketene silyl N,O-acetal, together with a one-pot Stille/Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction using Burke's N-methyliminodiacetic acid (MIDA) boronate to connect left- and right-hand fragments of the molecule (see scheme).     

Mannich-type reactions in the gas-phase: the addition of enol silanes to cyclic N-acyliminium ions

The intrinsic gas-phase reactivity of cyclic N-acyliminium ions in Mannich-type reactions with the parent enol silane, vinyloxytrimethylsilane, has been investigated by double- and triple-stage pentaquadrupole mass spectrometric experiments. Remarkably distinct reactivities are observed for cyclic N-acyliminium ions bearing either endocyclic or exocyclic carbonyl groups. NH-Acyliminium ions with endocyclic carbonyl groups locked in s-trans forms participate in a novel tandem N-acyliminium ion reaction: the nascent adduct formed by simple addition is unstable and rearranges by intramolecular trimethylsilyl cation shift to the ring nitrogen, and an acetaldehyde enol molecule is eliminated. An NSi(CH(3))(3)-acyliminium ion is formed, and this intermediate ion reacts with a second molecule of vinyloxytrimethylsilane by simple addition to form a stable acyclic adduct. N-Acyl and N,N-diacyliminium ions with endocyclic carbonyl groups, for which the s-cis conformation is favored, react distinctively by mono polar [4(+) + 2] cycloaddition yielding stable, ressonance-stabilized cycloadducts. Product ions were isolated via mass-selection and structurally characterized by triple-stage mass spectrometric experiments. B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) calculations corroborate the proposed reaction mechanisms.     

Remote asymmetric induction with vinylketene silyl n,o-acetal

A highly regio- and diastereoselective TiCl4-mediated vinylogous Mukaiyama aldol reaction using the chiral vinylketene silyl N,O-acetal has been developed. The present vinylogous Mukaiyama aldol reaction provides a unique and effective means of controlling remote asymmetric induction. The methyl group at the alpha-position is important in achieving a high level of stereoselectivity. From a synthetic point of view, this methodology can provide a one-step construction of delta-hydroxy-alpha,gamma-dimethyl-alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl unit that is seen in many natural polyketide products.     

Radical addition to "cation pool". Reverse process of radical cation fragmentation

The reaction of an N-acyliminium ion with an alkyl iodide and hexabutyldistannane took place to give the alkylation product. A mechanism involving the addition of an alkyl radical to an N-acyliminium ion to produce the corresponding radical cation has been suggested.     

Carbene-Catalyzed Enantioselective Aromatic N-Nucleophilic Addition of Heteroarenes to Ketones

The aromatic nitrogen atoms of heteroarylaldehydes are activated by carbene catalysts to react with ketone electrophiles. Multi-functionalized cyclic N,O-acetal products are afforded in good to excellent yields and optical purities. Our reaction involves the formation of an unprecedented aza-fulvene-type acylazolium intermediate. A broad range of N-heteroaromatic aldehydes and electron-deficient ketone substrates works effectively in this transformation. Several of the chiral N,O-acetal products afforded through this protocol exhibit excellent antibacterial activities against Ralstonia solanacearum (Rs) and are valuable in the development of novel agrichemicals for plant protection.     

N,N-acetals as N-acyliminium ion precursors: synthesis and absolute stereochemistry of epiquinamide

A stereoselective synthesis of (+)-epiquinamide is presented in combination with determination of the absolute configuration of the natural product. Key steps in the sequence involved chemoenzymatic formation of an enantiomerically pure cyanohydrin, reductive cyclization to the corresponding cyclic N,N-acetal, and subsequent conversion into a suitable N-acyliminium ion precursor to enable construction of the second ring.     

A novel straightforward synthesis of enantiopure tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloids.

A novel, direct,and high-yielding stereoselective method for enantiopure 1-substituted tetrahydroisoquinolines (THIQ) is described. The successful approach, which creates the stereocenter during the formation of the THIQ nucleus is based on (i) formation of chiral 2,3-substituted perhydro-1,3-benzoxazines derived from (-)-8-aminomenthol, (ii) diastereoselective intramolecular ring opening of the N,O-acetal moiety by an arylmetal generated from the substituent at the nitrogen atom in the perhydrobenzoxazine ring, and (iii) removal of the chiral auxiliary appendage. The starting perhydrobenzoxazines are easily prepared from (-)-8-aminomenthol and two different aldehydes, and the intramolecular opening is stereospecific, leading to a single stereoisomer. The method allows the preparation of a wide variety of enantiopure 1-substituted THIQ, with different substituents at C-1, by changing the nature of the starting aldehydes.     

C−N Axial Chiral Hypervalent Iodine Reagents: Catalytic Stereoselective α-Oxytosylation of Ketones

A simple synthesis of a library of novel C−N axially chiral iodoarenes is achieved in a three-step synthesis from commercially available aniline derivatives. C−N axial chiral iodine reagents are rarely investigated in the hypervalent iodine arena. The potential of the novel chiral iodoarenes as organocatalysts for stereoselective oxidative transformations is assessed using the well explored, but challenging stereoselective α-oxytosylation of ketones. All investigated reagents catalyse the stereoselective oxidation of propiophenone to the corresponding chiral α-oxytosylated products with good stereochemical control. Using the optimised reaction conditions a wide range of products was obtained in generally good to excellent yields and with good enantioselectivities.     

Synthesis and metal complexes of chiral c(2)-symmetric diamino-bisoxazoline ligands

A synthetic route to tetradentate chiral N(4) ligands has been developed with the aim to study the potential of corresponding iron and manganese complexes as catalysts for enantioselective epoxidation. These ligands, which contain two oxazoline rings and two trialkylamino groups as coordinating units, are readily prepared in enantiomerically pure form by the reaction of chiral 2-chloromethyloxazolines with achiral N,N'-dimethylethane-1,2-diamine or chiral (R,R)-N,N'-dimethylcyclohexane-1,2-diamine. The ligands derived from N,N'-dimethylethane-1,2-diamine reacted with anhydrous metal halides MnCl(2) and FeCl(2) in a stereoselective manner to give octahedral mononuclear complexes that have the general formula Delta-[(L)MCl(2)]. In contrast, the ligands derived from N,N'-dimethylcyclohexane-1,2-diamine formed complexes with different coordination modes depending on the diastereomer employed: in one case the metal ion was found to be pentacoordinate, in the other case a hexacoordinated complex was observed. The structure of a series of Fe and Mn complexes was determined by X-ray analysis. The coordination chemistry of these ligands was further studied by X-ray and NMR analyses of the diamagnetic isostructural complexes [(L)ZnCl(2)]. Analogous ionic complexes, which were prepared by removing chloride with silver trifluoromethanesulfonate or hexafluoroantimonate, were tested as catalysts for the epoxidation of olefins.     

Solid-phase synthesis of pyrroloisoquinolines via the intramolecular N-acyliminium Pictet-Spengler reaction

In the present investigation, solid-phase routes toward 1,5,6,10b-tetrahydro-2H-pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolin-3-ones via the intramolecular N-acyliminium Pictet-Spengler reaction are established. Peptide aldehydes generated from their parent N-Boc 1,3-oxazines by acidic reaction conditions undergo intramolecular condensation reactions with the amide N of a solid-supported peptide backbone, thus forming a 1:1 epimeric mixture of a cyclic 5-hydroxylactam, which in turn is in equilibrium with the corresponding intermediate N-acyliminium ion. Provided appropriate acidic reaction conditions, a second ring may be appended via Pictet-Spengler cyclization from the aromatic ring of a neighboring phenylalanine derivative in the peptide sequence. The aromatic substitution pattern of the nucleophilic benzene ring of the phenylalanine derivative and the nature of the acidic reaction media are critically important for the course of the reaction, and both Lewis and Br?nsted acids may be employed to effect the cyclization process. This intramolecular reaction is under strict control of stereoselectivity, and only a single stereoisomer is detected in the crude products. A range of mono-, di-, and trisubstituted phenylalanines with diverse sets of electron-donating and electron-withdrawing substituents, pyrene, and naphthalenes have successfully been brought within the scope of the reaction, thus providing a unique scaffold for combinatorial library synthesis.     

Intrinsic gas-phase electrophilic reactivity of cyclic N-alkyl- and N-acyliminium ions

The intrinsic gas-phase reactivity of cyclic N-alkyl- and N-acyliminium ions toward addition of allyltrimethylsilane (ATMS) has been compared using MS(2) and MS(3) pentaquadrupole mass spectrometric experiments. An order of electrophilic reactivity has been derived and found to agree with orders of overall reactivity in solution. The prototype five-membered ring N-alkyliminium ion 1a and its N-CH(3) analogue 1b, as well as their six-membered ring analogues 1c and 1d, lack N-acyl activation and they are, accordingly, inert toward ATMS addition. The five- and six-membered ring N-acyliminium ions with N-COCH(3) exocycclic groups, 3a and 3b, respectively, are also not very reactive. The N-acyliminium ions 2a and 2c, with s-trans locked endocyclic N-carbonyl groups, are the most reactive followed closely by 3c and 3d with exocyclic (and unlocked) N-CO(2)CH(3) groups. The five-membered ring N-acyliminium ions are more reactive than their six-membered ring analogues, that is: 2a > 2c and 3c > 3d. In contrast with the high reactivity of 2a, its N-CH(3) analogue 2b is inert toward ATMS addition. For the first time, the transient intermediates of a Mannich-type condensation reaction were isolated-the beta-silyl cations formed by ATMS addition to N-acyliminium ions-and their intrinsic gas-phase behavior toward dissociation and reaction with a nucleophile investigated. When collisionally activated, the beta-silyl cations dissociate preferentially by Grob fragmentation, that is, by retro-addition. With pyridine, they react competitively and to variable extents by proton transfer and by trimethylsilylium ion abstraction-the final and key step postulated for alpha-amidoalkylation. Becke3LYP/6-311G(d,p) reaction energetics, charge densities on the electrophilic C-2 site, and AM1 LUMO energies have been used to rationalize the order of intrinsic gas-phase electrophilic reactivity of cyclic iminium and N-acyliminium ions.