A new chiral oxazoline derived from camphor and its conversion to (R)-2-methylalkanoic acids

(1S,5R,7R)-(−)-10,10-Dimethyl-3-ethyl-4-oxa-2-azatricyclo[5.2.1.0^1,5]dec-2-ene 2 was prepared in 95% yield from (1S)-1-amino-2-exo-hydroxyapocamphane 1. The chiral oxazoline could be alkylated (LDA/THF/−78°C/RX, RX=ethyl, n-propyl, n-butyl iodides or benzyl bromide) to 3 in 95% yield and >95% diastereoselectivity, and the products hydrolysed to (R)-2-methylalkanoic acids 4 (43–47% yield, 93–98% e.e.).     

A scalable synthesis of (R)-3-(2-aminopropyl)-7-benzyloxyindole via resolution

(±)-3-(2-Aminopropyl)-7-benzyloxyindole 1, assembled from 7-benzyloxyindole 3 in 59% overall yield, is resolved with O,O′-di-p-toluoyl l-(2R,3R)-tartaric acid 7 into (R)-1, a key intermediate of AJ-9677 2 (selective adrenaline β₃-agonist) in 99.5% e.e. and 36% overall yield. The unwanted enantiomer (S)-1 (61.9% e.e.; recovered in 57% yield from the crystallization filtrate) can be reused in another round of resolution after its enantiomeric purity is lowered to 3.7% by Raney Co treatment under a hydrogen atmosphere.     

Synthesis of the (1S,2S)- and (1R,2S)-stereoisomers of the respective E- and Z-isomers of ethyl 4-[(2-hydroxycyclohexyl)methyl]phenoxy-3-methyl-2-butenoate using yeast whole cell bioreduction of the parent ketones

Saccharomyces cerevisiae, strain DBM 2115, was successfully employed in the reduction of the separated Z- and E-isomers of ethyl 4-[(2-oxocyclohexyl)methyl]phenoxy-3-methyl-2-butenoates 1 and 2, in order to prepare the (1S,2S)- and (1R,2S)-enantiomers of the corresponding ethyl 4-[(2-hydroxycyclohexyl)methyl]phenoxy-3-methyl-2-butenoates 3–6. The products were obtained with the required absolute configuration: (1S,2S)-3 (ee = 98%; yield 48%), (1R,2S)-4 (ee = >99%; yield 45%), (1S,2S)-5 (ee = 98.5%; yield 47%), and (1R,2S)-6 (ee = >99%; chemical yield 44%).     

Structural control in palladium(II)-catalyzed enantioselective allylic alkylation by new chiral phosphine-phosphite and pyridine-phosphite ligands

The ligands 6-[(diphenylphosphanyl)methoxy]-4,8-di-tert-butyl-2,10-dimethoxy-5,7-dioxa-6-phosphadibenzo[a,c]cycloheptene, 1, (S)-4-[(diphenylphosphanyl)methoxy]-3,5-dioxa-4-phosphacyclohepta[2,1-a;3,4a′]dinaphthalene, (S)-2, and (S)-4-[(diphenylphosphanyl)methoxy]-2,6-bis-trimethylsilanyl-3,5-dioxa-4-phosphacyclohepta[2,1-a;3,4-a′]dinaphthalene, (S)-3, (S)-2-(3,5-dioxa-4-phosphacyclohepta[2,1-a;3,4-a′]dinaphthalen-4-yloxymethyl)pyridine, (S)-4, and (S)-2-(3,5-dioxa-4-phosphacyclohepta[2,1-a;3,4-a′]dinaphthalen-4-yloxy)pyridine, (S)-5, have been easily prepared.The cationic complexes [Pd(η³-C₃H₅)(L-L′)]CF₃SO₃ (L–L′=1–(S)-5) and [Pd(η³-PhCHCHCHPh)(L–L′)]CF₃SO₃ (L–L′=(S)-2–(S)-4) were synthesized by conventional methods starting from the complexes [Pd(η³-C₃H₅)Cl]₂ and [Pd(η³-PhCHCHCHPh)Cl]₂, respectively. The behavior in solution of all the π-allyl- and π-phenylallyl-(L–L′)palladium derivatives 6–14 was studied by ¹H, ³¹P{¹H}, ¹³C{¹H} NMR and 2D-NOESY spectroscopy. As concerns the ligands (S)-4 and (S)-5, a satisfactory analysis of the structures in solution was possible only for palladium–allyl complexes [Pd(η³-C₃H₅)((S)-4)]CF₃SO₃, 11, and [Pd(η³-C₃H₅)((S)-5)]CF₃SO₃, 12, since the corresponding species [Pd(η³-PhCHCHCHPh)((S)-4)]CF₃SO₃, 13, and [Pd(η³-PhCHCHCHPh)((S)-5)]CF₃SO₃, 14, revealed low stability in solution for a long time. The new ligands (S)-2–(S)-5 were tested in the palladium-catalyzed enantioselective substitution of (1,3-diphenyl-1,2-propenyl)acetate by dimethylmalonate. The precatalyst [Pd(η³-C₃H₅)((S)-2)]CF₃SO₃ afforded the allyl substituted product in good yield (95%) and acceptable enantioselectivities (71% e.e. in the S form). A similar result was achieved with the precatalyst [Pd(η³-C₃H₅)((S)-3)]CF₃SO₃. The nucleophilic attack of the malonate occurred preferentially at allylic carbon far from the binaphthalene moiety, namely trans to the phosphite group. When the complexes containing ligands (S)-4 and (S)-5 were used as precatalysts, the product was obtained as a racemic mixture in high yield. The number of the configurational isomers of the Pd-allyl intermediates present in solution in the allylic alkylation and the relative concentrations are considered a determining factor for the enantioselectivity of the process.     

A chiral 1,4-oxazin-2-one: asymmetric synthesis versus resolution,structure, conformation and VCD absolute configuration

1,4-Oxazin-2-one 3 is obtained from 2-pinanone in 4 steps and 78% overall yield. Enantiopure (e.e. >99%) (R)-(+)-3 and (S)-(−)-3 were obtained through chiral supercritical fluid chromatography (using a semi preparative Chiralpak AS column) with almost quantitative recovery of material. The structure and the boat-conformation of the lactone ring have been determined by NMR and the absolute configuration determined by VCD.     

Total syntheses of macrosphelides (+)-A, (−)-A and (+)-E

Total syntheses of (+)-macrosphelide A 1 (18.5% overall yield in 11 steps) and (+)-macrosphelide E 2 (23.9% overall yield in 11 steps) have been achieved via the chemoenzymatic reaction product (4R,5S)-4-benzyloxy-5-hydroxy-2(E)-hexenoate 4. The enantiomer (−)-A (1) (14.2% overall yield in 11 steps) of (+)-1 was also synthesized from the chemoenzymatic reaction product (4S,5R)-4-benzyloxy-5-hydroxy-2(E)-hexenoate 4.     

Synthesis of enantiopure 1,1′-(1-dimethylamino-propanediyl)ferrocene via a highly diastereoselective imine reduction

1,1′-(1-Oxo-propanediyl)ferrocene 4 reacts with (S)-(−)-1-(1-naphthylethyl)amine to give the corresponding syn imine exclusively which undergoes a highly diastereoselective reduction with sodium borohydride to give the diastereomerically pure (R,S)-(+)-amine 6. Conversion of 6 leads in three steps to the final product (R)-(+)-1,1′-(1-dimethylamino-propanediyl)ferrocene 2 in 53% overall yield (based on 4) and in >98% e.e. Use of (S)-(−)-1-phenylethylamine as the chiral auxiliary leads to an 84:16 mixture of syn and anti imines. After reduction and separation of the resulting diastereomers the major isomer (R,S)-(−)-10 can also be converted to the final product (R)-(+)-2 in 55% overall yield (based on 4) and in >98% e.e.     

Total,asymmetric synthesis of ethyl d-ido-4-heptulosuronate derivatives starting from diethyl 4-oxopimelate

Bromination of diethyl 4-oxopimelate, followed by double elimination of HBr and ketalization provided diethyl (E,E)-4,4-(ethylidenedioxy)hepta-2,5-dienedioate 4. Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation of 4 produced diethyl (2S,3S)-4,4-(ethylidenedioxy)-2,3-dihydroxyhept-5-enedioate (+)-5, with 78% e.e. The corresponding tetrol could not be obtained in one step. Silylation of (+)-5 and a second asymmetric dihydroxylation, followed by silylation led to 20% of meso-diester 9 and 60% of diethyl (2S,3S,5S,6S)-2,3,5,6-tetrakis[(t-butyl)dimethylsilyloxy]-4,4-(ethylidenedioxy)heptanedioate (−)-10. Reductive desymmetrization of (−)-10 with DIBAL-H furnished, after selective oxidation, ethyl (2S,3S,5S,6S)-2,3,5,6-tetrakis-[(t-butyl)dimethylsilyloxy]-4,4-(ethylidenedioxy)-7-oxoheptanoate (+)-13 which was then converted into ethyl 1,2,3,6-O-tetraacetyl-4,4-ethylidenedioxy-α- and β-d-ido-heptapyranuronate (−)-15α,β and into the corresponding 3-(α-d-pyranosyl)propene (−)-16.     

Silicon-carbon unsaturated compounds. 73. Photolysis of cis- and trans-1,2-dimethyl-1,2-diphenyl-1,2-disilacyclohexane in the presence of tert-butyl alcohol and acetone

Irradiation of cis-1,2-dimethyl-1,2-diphenyl-1,2-disilacyclohexane (1a) in the presence of tert-butyl alcohol in hexane with a low-pressure mercury lamp bearing a Vycor filter proceeded with high stereospecificity to give cis-2,3-benzo-1-tert-butoxy-1,4-dimethyl-4-phenyl-1,4-disilacyclooct-2-ene (2a), in 33% isolated yield, together with a 15% yield of 1-[(tert-butoxy)methylphenylsilyl]-4-(methylphenylsilyl)butane (3). The photolysis of trans-1,2-dimethyl-1,2-diphenyl-1,2-disilacyclohexane (1b) with tert-butyl alcohol under the same conditions gave stereospecifically trans-2,3-benzo-1-tert-butoxy-1,4-dimethyl-4-phenyl-1,4-disilacyclooct-2-ene (2b) in 41% isolated yield, along with a 12% yield of 3. Similar photolysis of 1a and 1b with tert-butyl alcohol-d₁ produced 2a and 2b, respectively, in addition to 1-[(tert-butoxy)(monodeuteriomethyl)(phenyl)silyl]-4-(methylphenylsilyl)butane. When 1a and 1b were photolyzed with acetone in a hexane solution, cis- and trans-2,3-benzo-1-isopropoxy-1,4-dimethyl-4-phenyl-1,4-disilacyclooct-2-ene (4a and 4b) were obtained in 25% and 23% isolated yield. In both photolyses, 1-(hydroxymethylphenylsilyl)-4-(methylphenylsilyl)butane (5) was also isolated in 4% and 5% yield, respectively. The photolysis of 1a with acetone-d₆ under the same conditions gave 4a-d₆ and 5-d₁ in 18% and 4% yields.     

Microbial bioreductions of γ- and δ-ketoacids and their esters

A series of yeasts were used in the bioreductions of aliphatic and aromatic γ- and δ-ketoacids and esters to investigate the preparation of enantiomerically pure γ- and δ-lactones through the intermediacy of their corresponding γ- and δ-hydroxyacids and esters. Bioreduction of ethyl 4-oxononanoate 2a with Pichia etchellsii afforded the γ-nonanolide (+)-5a with 99% e.e., while Pichia minuta proved to be the best choice for the bioreduction of ethyl 2-oxocyclohexylacetate 2e, which afforded cis-(−)-5e and trans-(−)-5e with 98 and 99% e.e., respectively. Reduction of 3-(2-oxocyclohexyl)propionic acid 3e with Pichia glucozyma gave predominantly the corresponding δ-lactone trans-(−)-6e with 94% e.e., whose absolute configuration was determined by means of CD spectroscopy.     

Asymmetric synthesis of β-amino acids through application of chiral sulfoxide

This paper describes asymmetric synthesis of β-aminophenylpropionic acid through application of a homochiral sulfoxide auxiliary. High kinetically controlled (3R,2S,R_S)-diastereoselectivity (−60°C) is achieved during addition of the lithium enolate of tert-butyl (+)-(R)-p-toluenesulfinylacetate to substituted N-(benzylidene)toluene-4-sulfonamides 2a–2d. The reductive cleavage of adduct 3a with sodium amalgam yielded tert-butyl 3-(toluene-4-sulfonamido)-3-phenylpropionate 5a, which was subjected to ester hydrolysis and subsequent detosylation with sodium in liquid ammonia to yield (S)-β-aminophenylpropionic acid in good yield and high 91% e.e.     

Stereoselective construction of the 1,1,1-trifluoroisopropyl moiety by asymmetric hydrogenation of 2-(trifluoromethyl)allylic alcohols and its application to the synthesis of a trifluoromethylated amino diol

The asymmetric hydrogenation of a series of 2-(trifluoromethyl)allylic alcohols 1a-g catalyzed by a BINAP-Ru(II) diacetate complex gave the corresponding products 2a-g in high yield (>90% yield) and high diastereoselectivity (>95% de). The asymmetric hydrogenation of 2-(trifluoromethyl)allylic alcohols provided an efficient stereoselective method to construct the 1,1,1-trifluoroisopropyl moiety. Based on the asymmetric hydrogenation of the 2-(trifluoromethyl)allylic alcohol 5a prepared by the reaction of (R)-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane-4-carboxaldehyde with 3,3,3-trifluoroisopropenyllithium, (2R,3S,4R)-4-trifluoromethyl-1-aminopentane-2,3-diol 9 was synthesized in 36% overall yield over five steps.     

Bone collagen cross-links: an efficient one-pot synthesis of (+)-pyridinoline and (+)-dexoypyridinoline

A one-pot reaction of (2S,5R)-(−)-tert-butyl-[(2-tert-butoxycarbonyl)amino]-5-hydroxy-6-aminohexanoate 2b or (S)-(−)-tert-butyl-[(2-tert-butoxycarbonyl)amino]-6-aminohexanoate 2c with (S)-(−)-tert-butyl-6-bromo-[bis-(2-tert-butoxycarbonyl)amino]-5-oxohexanoate 5 in the presence of K₂CO₃ in MeCN–MeOH followed by hydrolysis gave bone collagen cross-links, (+)-Pyd 1b or (+)-Dpd 1c, in 42–48% yield, respectively.     

Synthesis of 4-aryl-substituted β-lactam enantiomers by enzyme-catalyzed kinetic resolution

Enantiopure 4-phenyl- and 4-(p-tolyl)-2-azetidinones 3a, 3b, 4a and 4b (with e.e.s of ≥96%) were prepared through lipase-catalyzed asymmetric butyrylation of the primary OH group of N-hydroxymethylated β-lactams (±)-5 and (±)-6 at the (R)-stereogenic centre or by lipase-catalyzed asymmetric debutyrylation of O-butyryloxymethyl-2-azetidinones (±)-7 and (±)-8 at the (R)-stereogenic centre. The ring-opening of lactams 5a, 5b, 6b and 8a with HCl/EtOH afforded the corresponding β-amino ester enantiomers 9a, 9b, 10a and 10b with e.e.s of ≥92%.     

Reactions of dispiro[2.0.2.2]oct-7-ene. Electrophilic and free radical additions

Dispiro[2.0.2.2]oct-7-ene 1 was synthesized by debrominatioa of cis- and trans-7,8-dibromodispiro[2.0.2.2]octane 3a with LAH and by dechlorination of cis- and trans-7,8-dichlorodispiro[2.0.2.2]octane 3b with magnesium. Stepwise electrophilic additions to 1 of HBr, HI, Br₂ and Cl₂ were studied. The major products (and yields) from these reactions were: 7-bromodispiro[2.0.2.2]octane 2a (43%), 4-iodo-4,5-ethanospiro[2,3]hexane 4b (ca. 50%); trans-3a (40%); and cis-3b (20%). Free-radical addition of hydrogen bromide to 1 gave an 80% yield of 7-bromodispiro[2.0.2.2]octane 2a. At ?10°, hydroboration-oxidation of 1 was found to give mainly 7-hydroxydispiro[2.0.2.2]octane 2a in ca. 90% yield; at 25°, near equal amounts of 2c and 4-(2-hydroxyethyl) spiro[2.3]hex-4-ene 14 were obtained.     

Asymmetric synthesis of isoquinuclidines by Diels–Alder reaction of 1,2-dihydropyridine utilizing a chiral Lewis acid catalyst

The chiral isoquinuclidine derivative, 2-azabicyclo[2.2.2]octane ring system, endo-(7R)-3 was obtained in good yield with excellent diastereoselectivity (up to 92% de) by Diels–Alder reaction of 1-(phenoxycarbonyl)-1,2-dihydropyridine 1 with N-acryloyl-(4S)-4-benzyloxazolidin-2-one (4S)-2 using titanium-(2R,3R)-TADDOLate 4 as a chiral Lewis acid catalyst in toluene at 0 °C. On the other hand, endo-(7S)-3 was obtained in good yield with excellent diastereoselectivity (up to 97% de) by Diels–Alder reaction of 1 with (4R)-2 using Cu(OTf)₂/(4S,4′S)-bis(oxazoline) catalyst 8 as a chiral Lewis acid catalyst in dichloromethane at 0 °C. In these reactions, the choice of solvent and the combination of titanium-(2R,3R)-TADDOLate 4 {or Cu(II)/(4S,4′S)-bis(oxazoline) 8} and dienophile (4S)-2 {or (4R)-2} are very important. The stereochemistry of endo-(7R)-3 has been established to be (1R,4S,7R) and the reaction mechanism is proposed.     

Alternative synthesis of cystothiazole A

Palladium-catalyzed methoxycarbonylation of (−)-(2R,3S)-1-tert-butyldimethylsiloxy-3-methyl-2-methoxypenta-4-yne 9 derived from (2R,3S)-epoxy butanoate 5 gave the acetylenic ester 10, which was treated with MeOH in the presence of Bu₃P to afford selectively (Z)-β-methoxy acrylate congener 11 in 86% yield. Treatment of (Z)-11 with 99.8% enrichment of CDCl₃ followed by consecutive desilylation and oxidation afforded the left-half aldehyde (+)-2. The overall yield (10 steps from 5; 23%) of (+)-2 via the present route was improved in comparison to that (10 steps from 5; 10%) of the previously reported route. By applying the modified Julia's coupling method, selectivity (E/Z=14:1) of the (E)-form (cystothiazole A 1) against the (Z)-form was improved in comparison to the Wittig method (E/Z=4:1 to 6.9:1).     

Base dependent purported synthesis of congested 2-aminobenzylamines and tetrahydro-2-oxoquinazolines from 2-pyranones

An expeditious and concise synthesis of highly congested 2-amino-3-aminomethyl-5-methylsulfanyl/-sec-aminobiphenyl-4-carbonitrile 4 and 1-tert-butoxycarbonyl-6-sec-amino-8-aryl-5-cyano-2-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinazoline 5 has been delineated through base catalyzed ring transformation of 6-aryl-4-methylsulfanyl/-sec-amino-2H-pyran-2-one-3-carbonitrile 1 with 1,3-bis(tert-butoxycarbonylamino)-2-propanone 2, followed by TFA catalyzed hydrolysis of the intermediate [3-tert-butoxycarbonylaminomethyl-4-cyano-5-methylsulfanyl/-sec-aminobiphenyl-2-yl]carbamic acid tert-butyl ester 3 in moderate yield. The mechanism of formation of 5 has been established through isolation and transformation of the intermediate 3 to the 1-tert-butoxycarbonyl-6-sec-amino-8-aryl-5-cyano-2-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinazoline.     

Synthetic anthracyclinones-XXVII anthracyclinones by intramolecular marschalk reaction : Synthesis of the feudomycinones and rhodomycinones

1,4,5-Trihydroxy-9,10-anthraquinone is transformed regioselectively to the α-hydroxy dichlorides 18-21, which are cyclized to yield predominantely the naturally configurated 9,10-trans-diols 1,3,26, and 27 (80 to 96% d.e.). The monotrifluoroacetates 38-40 derived from the trans-diols are hydroxylated via bromination at C-7 to yield almost exclusively the 7,9-cis-9,10-trans-triols α₁-rhodomycinone (4), feudomycinone D (7), and 4-0-methyl-β-rhodomycinone (42). The feudomycinones A (5) and C (6) are obtained with less chemo- and stereoselectivity by hydroxylation of the l0 Deoxycompounds 33 and 34.     

Synthesis of sulfur containing analogues of the soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitor 8-bromo-4H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[3,4-c][1,4]benzoxazin-1-one NS2028

Sulfur analogues of the soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) inhibitor NS2028 1a are synthesized. Treating 8-bromo-2H-benzo[b][1,4]oxazin-3(4H)-one oxime (6) with 1,1′-thiocarbonyldiimidazole (1.1 equiv) gave the carbamothioate 8-bromo-4H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[3,4-c][1,4]benzoxazine-1-thione (3a) in 83% yield. Alternatively reacting NS2028 1a with P₂S₅ (0.5 equiv) affords the carbamothioate 3a in 80% yield. Similar treatment of 8-aryl substituted NS2028 analogues 1b-d with P₂S₅ gave the carbamothioates 3b-d in 64-91% yields. Although quite stable, the carbamothioates 3a-d could be thermally isomerized in the presence of Cu (10 mol %) to afford the thiocarbamates 4a-d in high yields. Interestingly, in the case of carbamothioate 3a Pd and In metals also facilitated the isomerization. Furthermore, treatment of the thiocarbamates 4a-d with P₂S₅ (0.5 equiv) affords the carbamodithioates 5a-d in 72-89% yields. All new compounds are fully characterized including single crystal X-ray data for carbamothioate 3a and thiocarbamate 4a. Finally, a mechanism is proposed for the carbamothioate to thiocarbamate isomerization.