Enantioselective synthesis of HIV protease inhibitor amprenavir via Co-catalyzed HKR of 2-(1-azido-2-phenylethyl)oxirane

A short and efficient enantioselective synthesis of the HIV protease inhibitor amprenavir 1 (99% ee) as well as a formal synthesis of saquinavir 3 have been achieved in high enantiomeric purity starting from commercially available materials. Our strategy mainly comprises a Co-catalyzed two-stereocentred hydrolytic kinetic resolution (HKR) of racemic 2-(1-azido-2-phenylethyl)oxirane as the chirality inducing step. Also presented is a concise synthesis of (S)-3-hydroxytetrahydrofuran 4, the key structural feature, in high enantiomeric purity (98% ee).     

Synthesis of TAK-218 using (R)-2-methylglycidyl tosylate as a chiral building block

We performed an asymmetric synthesis of (S)-2,3-dihydro-2,4,6,7-tetramethyl-2-[(4-phenyl-1-piperidinyl)methyl]-5-benzofuranamine dihydrochloride (TAK-218, 1), a compound used for the treatment of traumatic and ischemic central nervous system injuries. Oxirane 6, which was synthesized from (R)-2-methylglycidyl tosylate, was treated with aqueous trifluoroacetic acid to afford benzofuranmethanol 7 with inversion of stereochemistry at the stereogenic center. Compound 7 was converted into 1 with high enantiomeric excess in four steps.     

Enantiocatalytic activity of substituted 5-benzyl-2-(pyridine-2-yl)imidazolidine-4-one ligands

Currently, asymmetric synthesis represents one of the main streams of organic synthesis. Although an extensive research has been carried out in this area, the synthesis of chiral compounds with the required enantiomeric purity is still a challenging issue. Herein, we focus on the preparation of new enantioselective catalysts based on pyridine-imidazolidinones. The substituted 5-benzyl-2-(pyridine-2-yl)imidazolidine-4-ones 5–8 were prepared by condensation of chiral amino acid amides (α-methylDOPA and α-methylphenylalanine) with 2-acetylpyridine and pyridine-2-carbaldehyde. The individual isomers of the described ligands 5–8 were separated chromatographically. The copper(II) complexes of these chiral ligands were studied as enantioselective catalysts for the asymmetric Henry reaction of substituted aldehydes with nitromethane or nitroethane. The ligands containing a methyl group at the 2-position of the imidazolidinone ring 6a and 8a exhibit a high degree of enantioselectivity (up to 91% ee). The nitroaldols derived from nitroethane (2-nitropropan-1-ols) were obtained with a comparable enantiomeric purity to derivatives of 2-nitroethanol. This group of ligands represents a new and promising class of enantioselective catalysts, which deserve further attention.     

Synthesis,characterization and anticancer evaluation of 2-(naphthalen-1-ylmethyl/naphthalen-2-yloxymethyl)-1-[5-(substituted phenyl)-[1,3,4]oxadiazol-2-ylmethyl]-1H-benzimidazole

In the present study o-phenylenediamine and naphtene-1-acetic acid/2-naphthoxyacetic acid were used as a starting material through a series of steps and 2-(naphthalen-1-ylmethyl/Naphthalen-2-yloxymethyl)-1H-benzimidazol-1-yl]acetohydrazide 5a, 5b were obtained. In the first series 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives have been synthesized from Schiff base of the corresponding hydrazide i.e. 2-[2-(naphthalen-1-ylmethyl)-1H-benzimidazol-1-yl]acetohydrazide 5a by using Chloramin-T. In the second series 1,3,4-oxadiazole has been synthesized from 2-{2-[(naphthalen-2-yloxy)methyl]-1Hbenzimidazol-1-yl}acetohydrazide 5b by using phosphorous oxychloride and aromatic acid. These compounds were evaluated by IR, NMR, Mass spectrometry, elemental analysis and finally in vitro anticancer evaluation was carried out by NCI 60 Cell screen at a single high dose (10–5 M) on various panel/cell lines. One compound 7c was found to be the most active on breast cancer cell line and compounds 4b and 7d were moderately active.     

Univocal syntheses of 2- and 3-hydroxymethyl-2,3-dihydro[1,4]dioxino[2,3-b]pyridine enantiomers

The enantiomers of 2- and 3-hydroxymethyl substituted 2,3-dihydro[1,4]dioxino[2,3-b]pyridine 1 and 2, important chiral building blocks for the preparation of several biologically active compounds, were synthesized. (S)- and (R)-1 were obtained from either one or both the enantiomers of benzylglycerol, while (S)- and (R)-2 were obtained from (R)- and (S)-isopropylideneglycerol, respectively. The novel efficient synthetic strategies, which do not follow routes already reported for the corresponding racemates, ensure very high regioselectivity and maintenance of the enantiomeric purity of the starting materials. The enantiomeric composition of the title compounds was determined by chiral HPLC or NMR. The key intermediate in the synthesis of non-racemic 1, namely 1-benzyl-2-mesyl-3-tritylglycerol, is a new high melting chiral C₃ synthon, worth considering for its stability, versatility, easy isolation by simple crystallization and, potential of configuration inversion through a simple one-pot reaction sequence.     

Preparation of a chiral synthon for an HBV inhibitor: enzymatic asymmetric hydrolysis of (1α,2β,3α)-2-(benzyloxymethyl)cyclopent-4-ene-1,3-diol diacetate and enzymatic asymmetric acetylation of (1α,2β,3α)-2-(benzyloxymethyl)cyclopent-4-ene-1,3-diol

Enantioselective asymmetric hydrolysis of (1α,2β,3α)-2-(benzyloxymethyl)-cyclopent-4-ene-1,3-diol diacetate 1 to the corresponding (+)-monoacetate 2 was carried out using lipase PS-30 from Pseudomonas cepacia or pancreatin. A reaction yield of 85 M % with an enantiomeric excess (ee) of 98% was obtained. Using pancreatin, a reaction yield of 75 M % with an ee of 98.5% was obtained. Asymmetric acetylation of (1α,2β,3α)-2-(benzyloxymethyl)-cyclopent-4-ene-1,3-diol 3 to the corresponding (−)-monoacetate 4 was carried out using lipase PS-30 with isopropenyl acetate as the acylating agent. A reaction yield of 80 M % with an ee of 98% was obtained for (−)-monoacetate 4.     

New synthesis of all the four stereoisomers of indolizidine 209D and their affinity for nicotinic acetylcholine receptor

Both enantiomers of a 2-(4-pentenyl)pyrrolidine derivative 4 (65–90% ee), prepared via the asymmetric dihydroxylation (AD) of terminal olefin 2, underwent a second AD to provide all of the four stereoisomers of indolizidine 209D 1 with enantiomeric enhancement (92–98% ee). The affinity of 1 for nicotinic acetylcholine receptor was evaluated.     

Baker's yeast-induced asymmetric reduction of α-ketosulfides: synthesis of optically active 1-(benzothiazol-2-ylsulfanyl)-2-alkanols, 2-alkanols,and thiiranes

1-(Benzothiazol-2-ylsulfanyl)-2-alkanols 3 were prepared in very high enantiomeric excess by baker's yeast-induced asymmetric reduction of 1-(benzothiazol-2-ylsulfanyl)-2-alkanones 1. Conversion of 3 into optically active simple 2-alkanols 4 and thiiranes 2 by reductive desulfurization and base treatment, respectively, is also described. The absolute configuration of the new compounds synthesized has been established by chemical correlation and specific rotation comparison.     

Steroid Total Synthesis,Part II; (−)-17β-Hydroxy-des-A-androst-9-en-5-one

Based on the results obtained in the racemic series (part I), (—)-17β-hydroxy-des-A-androst-9-en-5-one has been synthesized, starting with (S)-(—)-5-heptanolide. The key step, viz. the condensation of (S)-(—)-7-hydroxy-1-nonen-3-one (or its amine adduct) with 2-methyl-cyclopentane-1, 3-dione involves an asymmetric induction. Model experiments with (R)-(+)-5-decanolide leading to the enantiomeric homolog of the BCD-tricyclic compound are also described.     

Boron trifluoride etherate-assisted ring opening of ethylene oxide by a chiral organolithium: enantioselective synthesis of (R)-N-Boc-2-(2-hydroxyethyl)pyrrolidine

A practical synthesis of (R)-N-Boc-2-(2-hydroxyethyl)pyrrolidine in high enantiomeric purity is described. The synthesis involves BF₃·Et₂O-assisted ring opening of ethylene oxide by a homochiral carbanion (R)-3, which is derived from sparteine-mediated asymmetric deprotonative lithiation of 1-Boc-pyrrolidine.     

Asymmetric synthesis of 2-alkyl-3-thiazoline carboxylates: stereochemistry of the MnO2-mediated oxidation of cis- and trans-2-alkyl-thiazolidine-(4R)-carboxylates

The asymmetric synthesis of a series of 3-thiazoline carboxylates, 2, was effected by MnO₂ oxidation of the corresponding cis/trans thiazolidines, 1. The stereochemistry of the oxidation reaction was studied using NMR and chiral GC analyses. Compounds 2 were obtained with enantiomeric excesses (e.e.s) in the range of 40–100%.     

Bifunctional probe for Cu2+/Al3+ based on a diarylethene with a 4, 5-[bis-(5-ethylacetate-yl)-2-thienyl]-1H-imidazole unit

A new asymmetric perfluordiarylethene (1O) was synthesized using 4, 5-[bis-(5-ethylacetate-yl)-2-thienyl]-1H-imidazole as a functional group. 1O exhibited favorable reversible cyclization and cycloreversion reactions upon alternating irradiation with UV and visible light. Both of its open- and closed-ring isomers were found to be highly selective towards Cu²⁺ with significant absorption and color changes, which could be used as a ‘naked-eye’ colorimetric sensor for Cu²⁺ detection. Upon exposure to acid, its fluorescence dramatically enhanced by 14-fold with a color change from dark to bright cyan due to the formation of the protonated compound. Moreover, 1O showed obvious fluorescence “turn-on” signal response towards Al³⁺, and the detection limit for Al³⁺ was determined to be 4.8 × 10^?9 mol L^?1. Based on the fluorescence signals of 1O, a combinational stimuli logic circuit were designed by using the fluorescence intensity as the output signal with the inputs of lights, Al³⁺ and EDTA. Finally, 1O could be used as a biological probe for detecting intracellular Al³⁺ in a physiological environmental.     

Preparation,molecular and crystal structures of 3-(1-amino-2,2,2-trifluoroethylidene)-1,1,4,5,6,7-hexafluoroindan-2-one, 2-amino-1,1,4,5,6,7-hexafluoro-3-trifluoroacetylindene,and their complexes with dioxane and pyridine

3-(1-Amino-2,2,2-trifluoroethylidene)-1,1,4,5,6,7-hexafluoroindan-2-one (2) is synthesized by the interaction between 3-(1-amino-2,2,2-trifluoroethylidene)-2-imino-1,1,4,5,6,7-hexafluoroindan (1) and isopropylnitrite, and 2-amino-1,1,4,5,6,7-hexafluoro-3-trifluoroacetylindene (3) is prepared by hydrolysis. Single crystals are grown, and the molecular and crystal structure of enaminoketones obtained, the complex of compound 2 with 1,4-dioxane, and the complex of compound 3 with pyridine is studied. DFT calculations have been performed to find the complex formation energies of compounds 2 and 3 with dioxane and pyridine in the gas phase.     

Asymmetric reduction of prochiral ketones using in situ generated oxazaborolidine derived from (1S,2S,3R,4R)-3-amino-7,7-dimethoxynorbornan-2-ol. An efficient synthesis of enantiopure (R)-tomoxetine

Catalytic asymmetric reduction of prochiral ketones was examined in the presence of chiral oxazaborolidine catalyst 2 prepared in situ from (1S,2S,3R,4R)-3-amino-7,7-dimethoxynorbornan-2-ol (1). The optically active secondary alcohols were generally obtained in moderate to high enantiomeric excesses (ee 43-95%) and good yields (75-94%), except for ketones bearing electron-withdrawing groups. The methodology was applied to the synthesis of enantiopure (R)-tomoxetine, a potent anti-depressant drug.     

N-Pyrrolidine-2-ylmethyl)-2-hydroxy-3-aminopinanes as novel organocatalysts for asymmetric conjugate additions of ketones to α-nitroalkenes

Novel stereoisomeric natural pinane-derived bifunctional catalysts 3a–d bearing a pyrrolidine unit have been synthesized and examined in the asymmetric conjugate additions of carbonyl compounds to α-nitroalkenes. Six-membered cyclic ketones react with β-nitrostyrene derivatives in the presence of (1R,2R,3R,5R)-2-hydroxy-3-((S)-pyrrolidin-2-ylmethylamino) pinane 3b (10 mol %) with high conversion to afford with diastereoselectivity (dr (syn/anti) up to 97/3), the corresponding Michael adducts with enantiomeric purities of up to 88% ee.     

Enantioselective synthesis of (+)-5,6-exo-(isopropylidendioxy)-2-phenylsulfonyl-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene

The title compound (+)-1 has been synthesized in four steps from furan and dienophile (+)-3 via an asymmetric Diels–Alder reaction.     

Synthesis,spectral characterization and biological evaluation of novel 1-(2-(4,5-dimethyl-2-phenyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)ethyl)piperazine derivatives

A simple, highly useful synthesis of 1-(2-(4,5-dimethyl-2-phenyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)ethyl)piperazine derivatives is achieved by a four component cyclo condensation of diacetyl, aromatic aldehyde, 2-(piperazin-1-yl)ethanamine and ammonium acetate using SO₄²⁻/Y₂O₃ as a catalyst in ethanol. The synthesized compounds were characterized by IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR and mass spectral studies. All the synthesized compounds were screened for their in vitro antimicrobial studies. Among the newly synthesized compounds 5d, 5e, 5h and 5m showed excellent antibacterial and antifungal activities when compared to the standard drugs.     

On the mechanism of the Leuckart reaction. Enantiospecific preparation of (1R,2R)- and (1S,2S)-N-(3,3-dimethyl-2-formylamino-1-norbornyl)acetamide

The Leuckart reaction of 2-norbornanone and (1R)-N-(3,3-dimethyl-2-oxo-1-norbornyl)acetamide ent-1b furnishes the expected N-(2-norbornyl)formamides 11 and ent-10 in good yield. Surprisingly, under the same reaction conditions, the (1R)-N-(7,7-dimethyl-2-oxo-1-norbornyl)acetamide 1a gives only 10, the enantiomeric form of the product obtained from ent-1b. An explanation of these results is given and a reaction mechanism, based on an unprecedented intramolecular transamidation, is proposed.     

Synthesis and properties of 2-(2-pyridyl)-1-azaazulene

The title azaazulene 3 was synthesized either by reaction of tropone with N-{(2-pyridyl)acetyl}pyridinium iodide in the presence of ammonium acetate or by palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling between 2-halo-1-azaazulene and 2-substituted pyridine. The compound shows relatively stronger basicity compared with 2,2′-bipyridyl. While 3 showed no emission from the S₁ state but from the S₂ state like azulene does, the protonated species of 3 exhibited emission from the S₁ state. Cationic metal-dependent absorption and emission relating to complexation were also studied.     

Design,synthesis and evaluation of 2-(4-(substituted benzoyl)-1,4-diazepan-1-yl)-N-phenylacetamide derivatives as a new class of falcipain-2 inhibitors

The cysteine protease, falcipain-2 is an important drug target in human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. A new series of 2-(4-(substituted benzoyl)-1,4-diazepan-1-yl)-N-phenylacetamide derivatives 5(a–t) were designed as per pharmacophoric requirements of falcipain-2 inhibitors using ligand-based approach. The target compounds were synthesized from the key intermediate, 2-(1,4-Diazepan-1-yl)-N-phenylacetamide, by coupling it with appropriate carboxylic acids using carbodiimide chemistry. Structural features of target compounds were characterized by spectral data (¹H NMR, and mass) and elemental analyses. The purity of the final compounds was confirmed by HPLC. The compounds were tested for their in vitro falcipain-2 inhibitor activity on recombinant falcipain-2 enzyme. Five compounds 5b, 5g, 5h, 5j, 5k showed good inhibitory activity (>60%), against falcipain-2 at 10 μM concentration, and fifteen compounds showed weak to moderate inhibitor activity. Compound 5g, the most potent compound from this series showed 72% inhibition at 10 μM concentrations.