De novo enantioselective syntheses of galacto-sugars and deoxy sugars via the iterative dihydroxylation of dienoate

An efficient route to various sugar lactones has been developed. Key to the overall transformation is the sequential osmium-catalyzed dihydroxylation of 2,4-dienoates. The simplest (one-step/racemic) example of this reaction occurs when the dihydroxylation is performed with aqueous NMO in MeOH. When the first dihydroxylation is performed using the AD-mix procedure, an enantioselective variant results. When a matched AD-mix procedure is used for the second dihydroxylation, an exceedingly diastereo- and enantioselective synthesis of galacto-1,4-lactone results. [Reaction: see text]     

De novo synthesis of 2-substituted syn-1,3-diols via an iterative asymmetric hydration strategy

The enantioselective syntheses of several protected 4-substituted syn-3,5-dihydroxy carboxylic esters have been achieved from the corresponding achiral (E,E)- or (E,Z)-1,3-dienoates. The route relies upon an enantio- and regioselective Sharpless dihydroxylation and a palladium-catalyzed reduction to form gamma-substituted delta-hydroxy-1-enoates. The resulting delta-hydroxy-1-enoates are subsequently converted into benzylidene-protected 4-substituted syn-3,5-dihydroxy carboxylic esters in one step. The benzylidene-protected 3,5-dihydroxy carboxylic esters are produced in good overall yields (20-54%) and high enantiomeric excess (73-97% ee).     

An electrophilic cleavage procedure for the asymmetric dihydroxylation: direct enantioselective synthesis of cyclic boronic esters from olefins

A variation within the osmium-catalysed asymmetric dihydroxylation (AD) of olefins is described that yields cyclic boronic esters from olefins in a straight-forward manner. This process represents the first real product alteration in asymmetric dihydroxylation, since all previous protocols lead to free diols exclusively. A protocol based on the Sharpless AD conditions (for enantioselective oxidation of prochiral olefins) was developed that gives cyclic boronic esters with excellent enantiomeric excesses (ee's). Some of the ee's are higher than those reported for conventional AD. The unprecedented role of phenyl boronic acid on the course of the AD reaction was investigated in detail. PhB(OH)2 does not interfere with the chiral ligand, leaving the enantioselective step of olefin oxidation intact. The main role of the boronic acids-apart from protecting the diol products against potential overoxidation-relies on removing the diol entity in an electrophilic cleavage, which is in contrast to the conventional hydrolytic cleavage of the AD protocols. Thus, a mechanistically new cleavage for enantioselective dihydroxylation reactions is introduced within the present work.     

De novo synthesis of pentoses via cyanohydrins as key intermediates

A de novo synthesis of pentoses is described starting from (Z)-2-buten-1,4-diol (1). The key step is the enzyme catalysed enantioselective HCN-addition to O-protected 4-hydroxybut-2-enal using the hydroxynitrile lyase from Hevea brasiliensis, followed by an asymmetric dihydroxylation. For the cyanohydrin reaction the influence of the configuration of the double bond and of the protecting group was investigated. The dihydroxylation step was found to be influenced by the protecting group on position 4.     

Straightforward synthesis of panaxytriol: an active component of Red Ginseng

A total synthesis of (3R,9R,10R)-panaxytriol (1) was accomplished enantioselectively (40% overall yield; 30% for the longest sequence). A key step was a Cadiot-Chodkiewicz cross-coupling reaction on two fragments containing, in the aggregate, three unprotected hydroxyl groups. One fragment was synthesized by a highly enantioselective reduction of an enynone. The other arose from a highly enantioselective dihydroxylation of an allylic alcohol.     

De novo synthesis of galacto-sugar δ-lactones via a catalytic osmium/palladium/osmium reaction sequence

A highly efficient route to various 1,5-galacto-sugar lactones from dienoates has been developed by using three catalytic reactions. These reactions include (i) an enantioselective osmium-catalyzed dihydroxylation, (ii) a regio- and diastereoselective palladium-catalyzed π-allyl alkylation with p-methoxyphenol for alcohol differentiation and protection, and (iii) a diastereoselective dihydroxylation that can be improved using matched enantioselective osmium-catalyzed dihydroxylation condition.     

Phosphine-catalyzed [4+2] Annulations of α-Aminonitriles with Allenoates: Synthesis of Functionalized Tetrahydropyridines

Phosphine-catalyzed [4+2] annulations of 2-(acetoxymethyl)buta-2,3-dienoates with α-aminonitriles have been developed, in which α-aminonitriles serve as C, N-bisnucleophilic reaction partners and 2-(acetoxymethyl)buta- 2,3-dienoates as "C4 synthons" respectively. A number of α-aminonitriles could be successfully applied to giving multifunctional desired products using PPh₃ as catalyst. This method provides a facile entry to access polysubstituted tetrahydropyridines bearing quaternary carbon centers. The possible reaction mechanism was also proposed.     

Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of a 1-deoxy-1,1-difluoro-D-xylulose

[reaction: see text] A new route, of potential strategic importance, to a difluorosugar analogue has been developed. Key steps included a Stille coupling and a highly regio- and enantioselective dihydroxylation of a highly substituted diene. Protecting groups were chosen to enhance the reactivity of the disubstituted allylic fragment in the AD reaction and allow deprotection under orthogonal conditions.     

A highly enantioselective synthesis of (−)- and (+)-juglomycin A through Dötz annulation and asymmetric dihydroxylation

A highly enantioselective synthesis of (−)- and (+)-juglomycin A, a quinone antibiotic is described. The synthesis is completed in eight steps, and 19% overall yield and in a high enantioselectivity of 99.5% [for (−)-juglomycin A] and 98.5% [for (+)-juglomycin A]. The synthetic strategy features an efficient combination of the Dötz annulation reaction and asymmetric dihydroxylation as the keys steps.     

An enantioselective synthesis of (+)-polyoxamic acid via phase-transfer catalytic conjugate addition and asymmetric dihydroxylation

A new enantioselective synthetic method of (+)-polyoxamic acid is reported. (+)-Polyoxamic acid could be obtained in 7 steps with 46% overall yield from diphenylmethyl-glycineimine tert-butyl ester via an enantioselective phase-transfer conjugate addition (99% yield, 96% ee) and an asymmetric dihydroxylation (98% yield, 94% de) as the key reactions.     

Enantioselective synthesis of 10-epi-anamarine via an iterative dihydroxylation sequence

[reaction: see text] The enantioselective syntheses of 10-epi-anamarine and 5,10-epi,epi-anamarine have been achieved in 13 to 14 steps. The route relies upon an enantio- and regioselective Sharpless dihydroxylation of either dienoates or trienoates to establish the C-8 to C-11 stereochemistry. A diastereoselective Leighton allylation established the desired C-5 stereochemistry. The route also relies upon a ring-closing metathesis to establish the alpha,beta-unsaturated lactones.     

De novo asymmetric synthesis of D- and L-swainsonine

[reaction: see text] The enantioselective syntheses of both enantiomers of the indolizidine natural product swainsonine have been achieved in 13 steps from furan. The indolizidine ring system is installed by a one-pot hydrogenolysis of both an azide and an O-Bn group along with an intramolecular reductive amination reaction. The asymmetry of swainsonine was introduced by Noyori reduction of an acylfuran. This route relies upon an Achmatowicz rearrangement, a diastereoselective palladium-catalyzed glycosylation, Luche reduction, and a dihydroxylation reaction.     

Enantioselective Total Synthesis of Secalonic Acid E

The first enantioselective synthesis of a secalonic acid containing a dimeric tetrahydroxanthenone skeleton is described, using a Wacker‐type cyclization of a methoxyphenolic compound to form a chiral chroman with a quaternary carbon stereogenic center with >99 % ee. Further steps are a Sharpless dihydroxylation and a Dieckmann condensation to give a tetrahydroxanthenone. A late‐stage one‐pot palladium‐catalyzed Suzuki‐dimerization reaction leads to the 2,2′‐biphenol linkage to complete the enantioselective total synthesis of secalonic acid E in 18 steps with 8 % overall yield.     

An enantioselective synthesis of cryptocarya diacetate

[reaction: see text]. The enantioselective synthesis of cryptocarya diacetate has been achieved in 10 steps from ethyl sorbate. The route relies upon an enantio- and regioselective Sharpless dihydroxylation and a palladium-catalyzed reduction to form a delta-hydroxy-1-enoate, which was subsequently converted into a benzylidene-protected 3,5-dihydroxy carboxylic ester. This ester was converted into cryptocarya diacetate in 14% overall yield via an allylation and methathesis ring closure reaction sequence.     

Enantioselective syntheses of colletodiol,colletol, and grahamimycin A

[reaction: see text] The enantioselective synthesis of colletodiol has been achieved in 11 steps from methyl 1,3,5-octatrienoate and 16 total steps from both ethyl sorbate and methyl 1,3,5-octatrienoate. The route relies upon an enantio- and regioselective Sharpless dihydroxylation and a palladium-catalyzed reduction to form a 5-hydroxy-1-enoate and an 7-hydroxy-1,3-dienoate. These esters were further functionalized, coupled, and macrolactonized to provide colletodiol after deprotection. Grahamimycin A and colletol were synthesized in one and two steps, respectively, from colletodiol.     

De novo asymmetric synthesis of anamarine and its analogues

[reaction: see text] The enantioselective synthesis of anamarine has been achieved in 21 steps. The route relies on enantio- and regioselective Sharpless dihydroxylation of dienoate ester and zinc borohydride reduction to establish the C-8-C-11 stereochemistry. A diastereoselective Leighton allylation established the desired C-5 stereochemistry. The route has also been used to prepare two diastereoisomers of anamarine in 14 steps.     

The enantioselective total synthesis of a beta-carboline alkaloid, (S)-(-)-dichotomine C

The first enantioselective synthesis of a beta-carboline alkaloid, dichotomine C, possessing antiallergic effects, was achieved by constructing a beta-carboline framework based on the microwave-assisted thermal electrocyclic reaction of a 1-azahexatriene system, followed by the Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation.     

Synthesis of (+/-)-secosyrin 1 and a formal synthesis of (-)-secosyrin 1

[reaction: see text] A short synthesis of (+/-)-secosyrin 1 is presented that starts from an electron-deficient furan; reductive alkylation under Birch conditions gives rapid access to the natural product skeleton. Two aspects of stereoselectivity are explored, the first being directed dihydroxylation of a homoallylic alcohol. Second, the facial selectivity obtained during reduction of a highly substituted cyclic ketone was examined. Finally, our synthesis was rendered enantioselective by the reduction of a furan bearing a chiral auxiliary.     

Enantioselective synthesis of (S)-dapoxetine

An efficient enantioselective synthesis leading directly to (+)-(S)-dapoxetine has been described for the first time using a Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation, Barton–McCombie deoxygention, and Mitsunobu reaction as the key steps.     

Asymmetric synthesis of both enantiomers of anti-4,4,4-trifluorothreonine and 2-amino-4,4,4-trifluorobutanoic acid

A short and efficient enantioselective synthesis of both enantiomers of anti-4,4,4-trifluorothreonine and 2-amino-4,4,4-trifluorobutanoic acid was successfully developed. Trifluoromethylation of benzyl-protected bromoalkene 4 provided key intermediate trifluoromethylated trans-disubstituted alkene 2 in good yield. The sequence then involved Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation, nucleophilic opening of cyclic sulfate with NaN(3), palladium-catalyzed selective hydrogenation, and oxidation.