Pd-catalyzed asymmetric synthesis of allylic tert-butyl sulfones and sulfides: Kinetic resolution of the allylic substrate by a chiral Pd-complex

The acyclic and cyclic allylic tert-butyl sulfones 3, ent-3, 11a, 11b and 15a–c of 89–98% ee were synthesized in 40–92% yield by a Pd-catalyzed reaction of the respective allylic acetates and carbonates rac-1a, rac-1b, rac-10a, rac-10b and rac-14a–c with LiO₂St-Bu in the presence of the chiral ligands 2a, ent-2b and 12. Formation of the n-butyl sulfones 13a and 13b of 95% ee was observed. Reactions of rac-1a and 1b/ent-1b with LiO₂St-Bu in the presence of 2a and ent-2b, respectively, in THF under heterogeneous conditions were accompanied by a kinetic resolution of the allylic substrates. The faster reacting allylic substrate and the preferentially formed sulfone had the same absolute configuration. The allylic tert-butyl sulfide 17 of 92% ee was obtained in 63% yield by the Pd-catalyzed reaction of rac-1b with Me₃SiSt-Bu in the presence of ent-2b.     

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.     

Functionalized enamines—XXII : Annelation of enamines of polycyclic α,β-unsaturated ketones; a facile partial synthesis of furano- indolo- and benzsteroids. Total synthesis of 3-oxa-A-norsteroid

Reaction of dienamine 4a with substituted phenacyl bromides gave steroidal[3,4-b] furans 5a–g. The same principle reaction was utilized for the total synthesis of (±) 2 - (p - chlorophenyl) - 3 - oxa - A - nor - estra - 1,5(10), 9(11) - triene - 17 - acetate 12a. Treatment of 4a, b with benzenediazonium salts, in DMF, followed by a Fischer-indole cyclization yielded steroidal[6, 7-b] indoles 8a–k. Dienamine 4b could be annelated to benz[4, 5, 6] steroids 9a and 9b by reaction with methyl vinyl ketone and crotonaldehyde, respectively.     

Chiral Diels–Alder reaction between cyclopentadiene and nitroso derivatives: thermal isomerisation/racemisation of the adducts

Cyclopentadiene nitroso adducts 1a and ent-1a were synthesised in good yields and good enantiomeric excess from chiral chloro-nitroso derivatives 4 and 5 in the d-mannose and d-ribose series, respectively. The thermal racemisation of these adducts occurred below room temperature. Some other chiral Diels–Alder nitroso adducts were prepared in the d-mandelic, l-prolinol and d-O-methylprolinol series and their thermal isomerisation was specified according to the N-substitution. A simple synthesis of the chiral amido-cyclopentenol (+)-2b, an important precursor for biological interesting compounds, is presented from ent-1a.     

Total synthesis of the 5-epimers of naturally occurring (−)-hyacinthacine A5 and unnatural (+)-hyacinthacine A4

(1R,2S,3R,5S,7aR)-1,2-Dihydroxy-3-hydroxymethyl-5-methylpyrrolizidine 10 [(+)-5-epihyacinthacine A₅] and (1R,2S,3R,5S,7aS)-1,2-dihydroxy-3-hydroxymethyl-5-methylpyrrolizidine 17 [ent-5-epihyacinthacine A₄] have been synthesized by either Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons (HWE) or Wittig methodology using aldehydes 6 and 13, prepared from (2R,3S,4R,5R)-3,4-dibenzyloxy-N-benzyloxycarbonyl-2′-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)pyrrolidine 5 (partially protected DALDP) and (2R,3S,4R,5S)-3,4-dibenzyloxy-N-benzyloxycarbonyl-2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)-2′-O-pivaloylpyrrolidine 12 (partially protected DGADP), respectively, and the appropriated ylide, followed by cyclization through an internal reductive amination process of the corresponding intermediate pyrrolidinic ketones 7 and 14 and subsequent deprotection.     

(S)-(−)-α-Methylbenzylamine as an efficient chiral auxiliary in enantiodivergent synthesis of both enantiomers of N-acetylcalycotomine

(S)-(−)-α-Methylbenzylamine 2 was used as a chiral auxiliary in the enantiodivergent synthesis of simple isoquinoline alkaloids. The prochiral imine moiety in compound 4 was reduced with different reagents, giving diastereomeric amines 5a or 5b, which subsequently were transformed to either (S)-(−)-N-acetylcalycotomine 6 or (R)-(+)-N-acetylcalycotomine ent-6 in good enantiomeric excess. ¹⁹F NMR of its Mosher's acid ester was used to establish the purities of final compounds.     

Constrained cycloalkyl analogues of glutamic acid: stereocontrolled synthesis of (+)-2-aminobicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylic acid (LY354740) and its 6-phosphonic acid analogue

A new stereocontrolled synthesis of (+)-2-aminobicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2.6-dicarboxylic acid (LY354740) 1, a potent and selective 2mGluR agonist, has been accomplished in four steps with an overall yield of 27% starting from the enantiopure (+)-(R)-2-(p-tolylsulfinyl)cyclopent-2-enone 3. The key steps include asymmetric cyclopropanation of 3 with (dimethylsulfuranylidene)acetate (EDSA) and removal of the chiral p-tolylsulfinyl auxiliary from the cycloadduct ent-4c upon treatment with iso-propylmagnesium chloride. The stereoselective hydantoin formation from the bicyclic ketone 6 formed (Bucherer–Bergs reaction) and subsequent hydrolysis completed the synthesis of 1. The same reaction sequence has been applied in the first synthesis of enantiopure (+)-2-amino-6-phosphonobicyclo[3.0.1]hexane-2-carboxylic acid 2, a structural 6-phosphono analogue of 1. The starting bicyclic ketophosphonates 9–11 have been obtained by asymmetric cyclopropanation of (?)-(S)-3 with phosphoryl sulfonium ylides, producing only two endo-isomers. The major endo-isomer (+)-11a containing the 6-diisopropoxyphosphoryl group has been converted in three steps into (+)-endo-2 in 46% overall yield.     

Stereoselective synthesis of 3-amino-4,5-dihydroxyaldehydes—a novel preparation of N-acetyl-l-daunosamine

A general route for the stereoselective synthesis of 3-amino-4,5-dihydroxyaldehydes, with almost any desired configuration at the three stereogenic centers, is described by applying a combination of enzymatic and chemical steps. l-Daunosamine 1, for example, the glycosidic fragment of many important anthracycline antibiotics has been prepared by this route starting from O-allyl-l-lactaldehyde (S)-6a. (R)-Hydroxynitrile lyase (HNL) catalyzed addition of HCN to (S)-6a yields the 2,3-dihydroxynitrile (2S,3S)-7a with high stereoselectivity (91% de) in 75% yield. The addition of allyl Grignard to the O-protected 2,3-dihydroxynitrile (2S,3S)-9a and subsequent hydrogenation of the imino intermediate leads to 4-amino-2,3-dihydroxy-1-heptene (4S,5S,6S)-12a, which after ozonization and deprotection gives N-acetylated l-daunosamine 14a in a total yield of 15% referring to (S)-6a. The general applicability of this chemoenzymatic multistep procedure is demonstrated in the stereoselective synthesis of the unnatural aminodeoxy sugar (2S,3S,4S)-14b, starting from isovaleraldehyde 3.     

Studies directed towards the stereoselective total synthesis of ilexlactone via a tandem ring-closing enyne metathesis protocol

Studies directed towards the stereoselective total synthesis of ilexlactone resulted in the synthesis of bicyclic systems 1a, 1b and ent-1a through tandem ring-closing enyne metathesis using Grubbs’ catalyst. The structures of synthetic 1a, 1b and ent-1a revealed that the proposed structure for ilexlactone is incorrect.     

An enantioselective synthesis of (R)-4-piperidinylglycine

An efficient process for the synthesis of (R)-N-t-Boc-4-piperidinylglycine 8a, an unnatural amino acid, via enantioselective rhodium-catalyzed hydrogenation of the Cbz-enamide 5a is described. Subsequent deprotection of 8a affords unprotected (R)-4-piperidinylglycine 9 in good yield.     

Synthesis of 12-epi-ent-polyalthenol an antitumour indole sesquiterpene alkaloid

The synthesis of 12-epi-ent-polyalthenol, 10, and its epimer at C-19, 11, from ent-halimic acid as starting material has been carried out. The structure of the natural product polyalthenol 1 is confirmed in this way. The synthesized indole sesquiterpenes 10 and 11 and their acetylderivatives 32 and 33 inhibited cellular proliferation of a number of human leukaemic and solid tumour cell lines.     

Asymmetric Michael addition using N-cinnamoyl- and N-crotonyl-trans-hexahydrobenzoxazolidin-2-ones

Preparation of N-cinnamoyl- and N-crotonyl-oxazolidin-2-ones 2 and 3 or ent-2 and ent-3 from (4S,5S)- and (4R,5R)-trans-hexahydrobenzoxazolidin-2-ones 1 or ent-1 are reported. Stereoselective copper promoted conjugated additions of Grignard reagents to chiral N-enoyl amides 2 and 3 or ent-2 and ent-3 in the presence of Zn(II) salts afforded the 1,4-addition products 4-11 and the corresponding enantiomers.     

A stereoselective total synthesis of the HCl salts of mycestericins F,G and ent-F

The total synthesis of the HCl salts of two natural sphingolipid-related amino acid derivatives, mycestericins F 4 and G 5 together with unnatural ent-4·HCl, starting from the four crucial scaffolds 6, 8, 9, 11 and utilizing the Wittig reaction to build the C₂₀ backbone, has been achieved. The selection of selective functional group interconversions accompanied with suitable protection–deprotection protocols in the coupling products 20 and 34 gave the desired structures.     

Preparation of (1R,8S)- and (1S,8R)-9-azabicyclo[6.2.0]dec-4-en-10-one: potential starting compounds for the synthesis of anatoxin-a

9-Azabicyclo[6.2.0]dec-4-en-10-one (±)-2, obtained from cyclooctadiene by addition of chlorosulfonyl isocyanate, was N-hydroxymethylated to (±)-3 and then resolved by lipase-catalysed asymmetric acylation of the primary OH group at the (S)-stereogenic centre. High enantioselectivity (E=94) was observed when lipase PS and vinyl butyrate were used in di-iso-propyl ether at −15°C, resulting in the enantiomerically enriched ester 3a and alcohol 3b (e.e. ≥92%). Treatment of 3a and 3b with NH₄OH/MeOH afforded the corresponding β-lactams (1R,8S)-2a and (1S,8R)-2b (e.e. ≥93%), potential starting compounds in anatoxin-a synthesis. The ring opening of lactams (±)-2, (±)-7, 3a and 3b, followed by reduction, resulted in racemic 4–6 and 8 and enantiomeric 4a, 4b, 5a and 5b eight-membered cyclic β-amino acid derivatives.     

Synthesis and biological activity evaluation of dolastatin 10 analogues with N-terminal modifications

We have described the synthesis of the two complex units (2R,3R,4S)-dolaproine (Dap) and (3R,4S,5S)-dolaisoleuine (Dil) of dolastatin 10 from natural amino acids. The stereoselective syntheses of N-Boc-Dap (4a) and N-Boc-(2S)-iso-Dap (4b) were performed by employing crotylation of N-Boc-l-prolinal as a key step. Barbier-type allylation of N-Boc-l-isoleucinal provided a mild and convenient approach for the synthesis of N-Boc-Dil (5a) and N-Boc-(3S)-iso-Dil (5b). Ten dolastatin 10 analogues have been designed and synthesized with N-terminal modifications based on the known compound monomethylauristatin F (MMAF, 3). In comparison with MMAF (3), four of the compounds showed enhanced potency against HCT 116 human colon cancer cells in vitro.     

Quinolizidines—IV: Total syntheses of (±)-ankorine and (±)-11-methoxyprotoemetinol

The first total synthesis of ankorine (4), an Alangium lamarckii alkaloid, has been accomplished in the form of a recemic modification by means of an initial condensation of 2-benzyloxy-3,4-dimethoxyphenacyl bromide with the lactim ether 6, derived from ethyl (±)-trans-5-ethyl-2-oxo-4-piperidineacetate (5), and succeeding steps proceeding through the intemediates 7a, 8a, 9a, 10a (X=Cl), 11a, and 12a. A parallel synthetic route starting with 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenacyl bromide and 6 gave (±)-11-methoxyprotoemetinol (12c) via the intermediates 7c, 8c, 9c, 10c (X =I,ClO₄), and 11c. The trimethyl ether 12c did not match the O-Me derivative (type 12e) of natural ankorine. Thus, the formula 4 defines the structure and relative stereochemistry of ankorine.     

Synthesis,characterization and biological evaluation of purine nucleoside analogues

We present a convenient route for the synthesis of C6-amino-C5′-N-cyclopropyl carboxamido-C2-alkynylated purine nucleoside analogues 11a–g via Sonogashira coupling reaction. The nine step synthesis is easy to perform, employing commercially available reagents. Compound 9 is used as key intermediate for the synthesis of analogues 11a–g. Synthetic intermediates and final products are appropriately characterized by IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and Mass. The modified nucleoside analogues 11a–g is evaluated for in vitro anticancer activity against MDA-MB-231 and Caco-2 cell lines. Screening data reveals that compounds 11b and 11e displayed potent IC₅₀ value of 7.9, 6.8 µg/mL respectively against MDA-MB-231 and of 7.5, 8.3 µg/mL respectively against Caco-2 than the standard drug doxorubicin, thus establishing the potential anti-cancer properties of these newer derivatives.     

Asymmetric hydrolysis,esterfication catalyzed by esterases from porcine pancreas in the synthesis of both enantiomers of cyclopentanoid building blocks

The asymmetric synthesis of the cyclopentanoid building blocks 5 and ent-5 from the easily accessible meso-diacetates 4 and meso-diols 7, respectively by crude PPL and a carboxyl esterase from crude PPL is described. Enzymatic esterfication of 8 by crude PPL gave the cyclohexanoid monoacetate 9, whereas by hydrolysis of 10 the cyclobutenoid monoacetate 11 was obtained.     

Highly diastereoselective approach to novel phenylindolizidinols via benzothieno analogues of tylophorine based on reductive desulfurization of benzo[b]thiophene

Chiral tetra- and hexahydro[1]benzothieno[2,3-f]indolizines 3–5, 9, and 11 were synthesized easily from benzo[b]thiophene-2-carboxaldehyde (1) and (S)-glutamic acid (2) in good overall yields and both high enantio- and diastereomeric purities. Applying a diastereoselective reductive desulfurization of benzo[b]thiophene followed by lactam reduction, epimeric alcohols 4a and 4b were readily converted into (7R or S,8aS)-phenylindolizidinols 6a,c. During these studies, the reduction of benzothienoindolizines 3–5, 9, 11, and 12, was investigated and the results obtained are also discussed.     

Traceless chirality transfer from a norbornene β-amino acid to pyrimido[2,1-a]isoindole enantiomers

The synthesis of two enantiomeric pairs of pyrimidoisoindoles 9a, 9b and 10a, 10b is reported. During a domino ring-closure reaction, followed by cycloreversion, the chirality of diendo-(?)-(1R,2S,3R,4S)-3-aminobicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-2-carboxamide [(?)-1] was successfully transfered to heterocycles (+)-9a, (+)-10a, (?)-9b, (?)-10b and (?)-10c.