New analogues of fosfomycin—synthesis of diethyl (1R,2R)- and (1S,2R)-1,2-epoxy-3-hydroxypropylphosphonates

The trans-configured fosfomycin analogue, diethyl (1R,2R)-1,2-epoxy-3-hydroxypropylphosphonate, was synthesised via the intramolecular Williamson reaction from 3-O-protected (trityl or TBDMS) or even unprotected diethyl (1S,2R)-2,3-dihydroxy-1-mesyloxypropylphosphonate, which was obtained from the known diethyl (1S,2R)-2,3-O-cyclohexylidene-1,2,3-trihydroxypropylphosphonate. On the other hand, the cis-analogue, diethyl (1S,2R)-1,2-epoxy-3-hydroxypropylphosphonate, could only be prepared from diethyl (1R,2R)-2-hydroxy-1-mesyloxy-3-trityloxypropylphoshonate.     

Kinetic resolution of 1,2-dihydroxy-3-ferrocenylpropane by sequential lipase-catalysed esterification

One-pot sequential esterification of 1,2-dihydroxy-3-ferrocenylpropane 1, catalysed by lipase from Pseudomonas cepacia, allowed kinetic resolution of the racemate, affording (−)-(R)-1-acetoxy-2-hydroxy-3-ferrocenyl-propane (−)-2, and (+)-(S)-1,2-diacetoxy-3-ferrocenylpropane (+)-3, in high chemical yield and enantiomeric excess.     

Solvent-induced chirality switching in the enantioseparation of regioisomeric hydroxyphenylpropionic acids via diastereomeric salt formation with (1R,2S)-2-amino-1,2-diphenylethanol

The enantioseparation of three hydroxyphenylpropionic acid isomers via diastereomeric salt formation with (1R,2S)-2-amino-1,2-diphenylethanol has been demonstrated. The racemates of all three acid isomers were successfully separated with high efficiency (0.56–0.84) after single crystallization. For 2-hydroxy-3-phenylpropionic acid 4, the configuration of the less-soluble salt was controlled by the crystallization solvent: the (R)-4 salt was crystallized from water, while 2-propanol afforded the (S)-4 salt. The chiral recognition mechanism of the three acids was discussed based on the crystal structures of the diastereomeric salts.     

An efficient approach to the synthesis of enantiomerically pure trans-1-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)cyclopropanephosphonic acids

The synthesis of (1R,2S)- and (1S,2R)-1-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)cyclopropanephosphonic acids was accomplished using different strategies. The (1R,2S)-stereoisomer could be efficiently obtained by the cyclopropanation of ethyl diethoxyphosphorylacetate with the cyclic sulfate derived from (S)-3-benzyloxy-1,2-propandiol as a key step. The (1S,2R)-stereoisomer was synthesized from a readily available (1S,5R)-3-oxabicyclo[3.1.0]hexan-2-on-1-phosphonate.     

Studies towards the synthesis of (1R,2S)- and (1S,2S)-1,2-epoxy-3-hydroxypropylphosphonates and (1S,2S)- and (1R,2S)-2,3-epoxy-1-hydroxypropylphosphonates

The trans-configured fosfomycin analogue, diethyl (1S,2S)-1,2-epoxy-3-hydroxypropylphosphonate, was synthesised by the intramolecular Williamson reaction of diethyl (1S,2R)-1,3-dihydroxy-2-mesyloxypropylphosphonate. The cis-analogue was obtained as O-ethyl or O,O-diethyl (1R,2S)-1,2-epoxy-3-hydroxypropylphosphonates, when (1R,2R)-1,3-dihydroxy-2-mesyloxypropylphosphonate or its 3-O-trityl derivative were used as starting materials, respectively. The intramolecular Williamson cyclisations of diethyl (1S,2R)- and (1R,2S)-1-benzyloxy-3-hydroxy-2-mesyloxypropylphosphonates led to diethyl (1S,2S)- and (1R,2S)-2,3-epoxy-1-benzyloxypropylphosphonates, respectively, with the concomitant formation of diethyl (E)-1-benzyloxy-3-hydroxyprop-1-en-1-phosphonate. From diethyl (1S,2S)- and (1R,2S)-2,3-epoxy-1-benzyloxypropylphosphonates, enantiomerically pure diethyl (1S,2S)- and (1R,2S)-1,2-dihydroxypropylphosphonates were obtained by catalytic hydrogenation, while diethyl (1S,2S)- and (1R,2S)-3-acetamido-1,2-dihydroxypropylphosphonates were produced after epoxide ring opening with dibenzylamine, acetylation and hydrogenolysis.     

Trichosporon cutaneum-promoted deracemization of (±)-2-hydroxindan-1-one: a mechanistic study

A mechanistic study of the deracemization of (±)-2-hydroxy-1-indanone mediated by the yeast Trichosporon cutaneum to afford pure (1S,2R)-1,2-indandiol is reported. The key aspect of the study was the use of pure (R)- and (S)-2-hydroxy-1-indanone enantiomers to ensure reliable conclusions. Experiments in the absence of yeast cells or using dead cells disclosed that the pure enantiomers were not racemized, which suggest that the whole dynamic kinetic resolution process is enzymatic in character. When living yeast cells were used the (R)-substrate was smoothly converted to (1S,2R)-1,2-indandiol, whilst the (S)-2-hydroxy-1-indanone was converted to the same diol through a more complex fashion, which requires a more lengthy oxidation–reduction pathway having the 1,2-indanedione as an achiral intermediate. An unexpected observation was that 1,2-indanone acts as a moderate inhibitor of the reductive enzymes acting in the conversion of (R)-2-hydroxy-1-indanone to (1S,2R)-1,2-indandiol.     

Asymmetric synthesis of all isomers of α-methyl-β-phenylserine

This report describes the synthesis of enantiomerically pure (2R,3R)-, (2R,3S)-, (2S,3S)- and (2S,3R)-2-amino-3-hydroxy-2-methyl-3-phenylpropanoic acids, four quaternary α-amino acids, using a stereodivergent synthetic route and starting from (S)- and (R)-N-Boc-N,O-isopropylidene-α-methylserinals. The key step involves the asymmetric Grignard additions to the above chiral aldehydes, in which high levels of asymmetric induction are observed.     

Chiral aziridine-2-carboxylates: versatile precursors for functionalized tetrahydroisoquinoline (THIQ) containing heterocycles

Preparation of functionalized 3,4-dihydroisoquinolines 17a–j from (S)-N-methoxy-N-methyl-1-[(R)-1-phenylethyl]aziridine-2-carboxamide 4 is an effective route for the synthesis of 3-(hydroxymethyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolin-4-ols. Stereoselective reduction of the cyclic imines 17a–j resulted in (1S,3S,4R)-4-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl-oxy)-3-[(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)methyl]-6,7-dimethoxy-1,2-disubstituted-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines and the desilylation of the TBS groups afforded (1S,3S,4R)-3-(hydroxymethyl)-6,7-dimethoxy-1,2-disubstituted-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolin-4-ols 19a–i in good yields. Also, an asymmetric synthesis of novel tetracyclic 3-(hydroxymethyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolin-4-ols 23 and 25 was successfully achieved via Pd-catalyzed N-arylation and C–C coupling reaction.     

Studies on the Michael addition of naphthoquinones to sugar nitro olefins: first synthesis of polyhydroxylated hexahydro-11H-benzo[a]carbazole-5,6-diones and hexahydro-11bH-benzo[b]carbazole-6,11-diones

A strategy for the synthesis of the novel (6bR,7R,8S,9S,10S,10aR)-8-(benzyloxy)-7,9,10-trihydroxy-6b,7,8,9,10,10a-hexahydro-11H-benzo[a]carbazole-5,6-dione is reported. The key steps were the Michael addition of 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone to 1-nitrocyclohexene or 3-O-benzyl-5,6-dideoxy-1,2-O-isopropylidene-6-nitro-α-d-xylo-hex-5-enefuranose and the diastereoselective intramolecular Henry reaction of 3-O-benzyl-5,6-dideoxy-5-C-(3′-hydroxy-1′,4′-naphthoquinon-2′-yl)-1,2-O-isopropylidene-6-nitro-α-d-glucofuranose to give the key (1S,2S,3S,4R,5R,6R)-3-(benzyloxy)-1,2,4-trihydroxy-5-(3′-hydroxy-1′,4′-naphthoquinon-2′-yl)-6-nitrocyclohexane. When 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone was replaced by (1,4-dimethoxynaphthalen-2-yl)lithium, the novel (1R,2S,3S,4R,4aS,11bS)-2-(benzyloxy)-1,3,4-trihydroxy-1,2,3,4,4a,5-hexahydro-11bH-benzo[b]carbazole-6,11-dione was obtained.     

Optically active α-hydroxy-α-(tetrahydroquinoxalin-3-on-2-yl)esters by ring transformation of (R,R)-diethyl oxirane-2,3-dicarboxylate

The reaction of (R,R)-diethyl oxirane-2,3-dicarboxylate 6 with o-phenylendiamines 7 and 1,8-diaminonaphthalene gave optically active (2R,2′S)-2-hydroxy-2-(3-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoxalin-2-yl)-acetates 8 or (2R,2′S)-2-hydroxy-2-(3-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphtho[1.8-ef][1.4]diazepin-2-yl)-acetate 9, respectively, in a regio and stereoselective manner. o-Phenylendiamines 7 with an electron-donating substituent gave other regioisomers to the electron-poor 7. Together with previous investigations in this field the present results demonstrate a dependence of the mode of the reaction of glycidates with o-phenylendiamines on the substituents at the glycidate.     

Asymmetric synthesis of conformationally constrained 4-hydroxyprolines and their applications to the formal synthesis of (+)-epibatidine

This report describes the synthesis of enantiomerically pure (1S,3S,4R)- and (1S,3R,4R)-3-hydroxy-7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-1-carboxylic acids, two new conformationally constrained 4-hydroxyprolines, using a straightforward synthetic route and starting from (−)-8-phenylmenthyl 2-acetamidoacrylate. The easy transformation of the pure (1S,3S,4R)-3-hydroxy-7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-1-carboxylic acid into (1R,4S)-N-Boc-7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-one constitutes a new formal synthesis of (+)-epibatidine.     

The substrate specificity of the heat-stable stereospecific amidase from Klebsiella oxytoca

The substrate specificity of the heat-stable stereospecific amidase from Klebsiella oxytoca was investigated. In addition to the original substrate, 3,3,3-trifluoro-2-hydroxy-2-methylpropanamide, the amidase accepted 2-hydroxy-2-(trifluoromethyl)-butanamide and 3,3,3-trifluoro-2-amino-2-methylpropanamide as substrates. Compounds with larger side chains and compounds where the hydroxyl group was substituted with a methoxy group, or in which the CF₃ group was substituted by CCl₃, were not accepted. The biotransformation is a new synthetic route to (R)-(+)-3,3,3-trifluoro-2-amino-2-methylpropanoic acid, and its related (S)-(−)-amide, and to (R)-(+)-2-hydroxy-2-(trifluoromethyl)-butanoic acid and its related (S)-(−)-amide.     

Stereoselective synthesis of 3-mono- and 1,3-disubstituted 4-phenyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines

(1S,2S)-(+)-Thiomicamine was transformed in high yield and with high diastereoselectivity into (3R,4R)-4-phenyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid and enantiomerically pure (3R,4R)-3-hydroxymethyl-4-phenyl- and (1R,3R,4R)-3-hydroxymethyl-1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives.     

Asymmetric indium-mediated Barbier-type allylation reactions with ketones to form homoallylic alcohol products

We report a general method for the enantioselective allylation of both aromatic and aliphatic ketones under indium-mediated Barbier-type conditions. Using 2 equiv of a commercially available amino alcohol, either (1S,2R)-(+)-2-amino-1,2-diphenylethanol ((+)-1) or (1R,2S)-(−)-2-amino-1,2-diphenylethanol ((−)-1) as the chiral auxiliary, good yields and enantioselectivities were achieved. To our knowledge, the enantioselectivities reported herein are the highest obtained for the indium-mediated allylations of ketones, specifically the homoallylic alcohol product obtained from the addition to α,α,α-trifluoroacetophenone provided 80% enantiomeric excess.     

Lipase-mediated kinetic resolution of cis-1,2-indandiol and the Ritter reaction of its mono-acetate

Lipase-mediated kinetic resolution of cis-1,2-indandiol 5 in the presence of lipase PS was examined. Enantiomerically enriched (1S,2R)-2-acetoxy-1-indanol 6a was obtained when cis-1,2-indandiol 5 was treated with one equivalent of vinyl acetate. Treatment of 5 with two equivalents of vinyl acetate furnished a mixture of (1R,2S)-2-acetoxy-1-indanol 6a and (1R,2S)-1-acetoxy-2-indanol 6b. A route to both enantiomers of 1 was also developed by using the enantiomerically enriched mono-acetate thus obtained.     

Synthesis of Ni(II) complexes with chiral derivatives of cyclohexane-1,2-diamine,bycyclo[2.2.2]octane-2,3-diamine,and 1,2-diphenylethane-1,2-diamine

Chiral ligands—derivatives of (1R,2R)-cyclohexane-1,2-diamine, (1R,2R)-diphenylethane-1,2-diamine, and (2S,3S)-bicyclo[2.2.2]octane-2,3-diamine—and octahedral Ni(II) complexes on their basis have been synthesized.     

Formation of chiral 21-helical columnar host system with phenylacetylene unit by using (1R,2S)-2-amino-1,2-diphenylethanol

A tunable supramolecular phenylacetylene host system with a chiral channel-like cavity is developed by using (1R,2S)-2-amino-1,2-diphenylethanol. This host system possesses a chiral 2₁-helical columnar structure; chiral cavities are constructed by the self-assembly of the 2₁-helical column, and guest molecules are included by varying the packing of this column.     

Efficient synthesis of 3,4- and 4,5-dihydroxy-2-amino-cyclohexanecarboxylic acid enantiomers

An efficient method for the synthesis of (1S,2R,4R,5S)- and (1R,2R,4R,5S)-2-amino-4,5-dihydroxycyclohexanecarboxylic acids (?)-6 and (?)-9 and (1R,2R,3S,4R)- and (1S,2R,3S,4R)-2-amino-3,4-dihydroxycyclohexanecarboxylic acids (?)-15 and (?)-18 was developed by using the OsO₄-catalyzed oxidation of Boc-protected (1S,2R)-2-aminocyclohex-4-enecarboxylic acid (+)-2 and (1R,2S)-2-aminocyclohex-3-enecarboxylic acid (+)-11. Good yields were obtained. The stereochemistry of the synthesized compounds was proven by NMR spectroscopy.     

Enantiopure trans-1-amino-2-(arylsulfanyl)cyclohexanes: novel chiral motifs for ligands and organocatalysts

In order to obtain the title compounds (1R,2R)-cyclohexane-1,2-diol was stereoselectively converted into cis-(1R,2S)-2-(arylsulfanyl)cyclohexanols and these products were submitted to the nucleophilic substitution via the Mitsunobu reaction (HN₃, DEAD). Reduction of the isolated azides gave the desired trans-(1S,2S)-1-amino-2-(arylsulfanyl)cyclohexanes. The (1S,2S)-1-amino-2-(2-aminophenylsulfanyl)cyclohexanes thus prepared were reacted with 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl isothiocyanate to furnish the respective bis-thiourea compounds. An application of a derivative of this type as an organocatalyst (20 mol %) in the Baylis–Hillman reaction gave the respective product in up to 93% ee.     

Solvent-induced dual chirality switching in the optical resolution of tropic acid via diastereomeric salt formation with (1R,2S)-2-amino-1,2-diphenylethanol

Solvent-induced chirality switching in the optical resolution of racemic tropic acid (TA) with (1R,2S)-2-amino-1,2-diphenylethanol has been demonstrated. Recrystallization of the diastereomeric salt mixture from i-PrOH or EtOH afforded the (S)-TA salt, while the (R)-TA salt was deposited from 1,4-dioxane and water-enriched alcohol solutions. Dual chirality switching was achieved by using two different types of solvents. The X-ray crystal structures of both diastereomeric salts showed that incorporation of the crystallization solvent played a crucial role in stabilizing each diastereomeric salt crystal. The mechanism of chirality switching has been discussed on the basis of the relative stability of the salt, as deduced from their structures.