A convenient and new approach to the synthesis of ω-heterocyclic amino acids from carboxy lactams through ring-chain-transformation. Part 2: Synthesis of (2R)-/(2S)-2-aminomethyl-3-(1-aryl-/1,5-diaryl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-propionic acid

Making use of amide activation, a convenient and short path synthesis of optically pure ω-heterocyclic-β-amino acids has been achieved from (1R,3R)- and (1R,3S)-5-oxo-1-(1-phenyl-ethyl)-pyrrolidine-3-carboxylic acid methyl ester. The key step of the synthesis involves a regiospecific ring-chain-transformation of the enaminones when subjected to 1,2-binucleophilic attacks. The method is illustrated by the synthesis of (2R)-/(2S)-2-aminomethyl-3-(1-aryl-/1,5-diaryl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-propionic acid.     

Stereoselective synthesis of 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-d-allitol and formal synthesis of (2S,3R,4S)-3,4-dihydroxyproline

A stereoselective synthesis of 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-d-allitol 1 and formal synthesis of (2S,3R,4S)-3,4-dihydroxyproline was achieved via the addition of vinylmagnesium bromide to the benzylimine derived from (R)-2,3-O-isopropylidene glyceraldehyde followed by N-allylation, ring-closing metathesis (RCM), and dihydroxylation.     

Radical mediated stereoselective synthesis of (4R,8R)-4,8-dimethyldecanal, an aggregation pheromone of Tribolium flour beetles

(4R,8R)-4,8-Dimethyldecanal, a common aggregation pheromone of Tribolium flour beetles, has been synthesized from (R)-2,3-O-isopropylideneglyceraldehyde in 11 steps and 7% overall yield. The key step in the synthesis is the highly diastereoselective chelation-controlled radical reaction of ethyl (4S,5R)-4-benzyloxy-5,6-(isopropylidenedioxy)-2-methylenehexanoate with ethyl (R)-5-iodo-3-methylpentanoate performed in the presence of 7 equiv of MgBr₂·OEt₂.     

Enantioselective, chemoenzymatic synthesis, and absolute configuration of the antioxidant (−)-gloeosporiol

The natural antioxidant (−)-gloeosporiol, isolated as a peracetylated derivative from a culture of the fungus Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, has been enantioselectively prepared from 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde by means of a chemoenzymatic synthesis. The key intermediate was obtained by resolution with a lipase from Pseudomonas cepacia. Its stereochemistry, initially assigned as R, according to the Kazlaukas empirical rule for secondary alcohols, was independently confirmed by NMR and chirooptic methods. This, in turn, allowed the assignment of compound (−)-1 as (−)-(2S,3R,4R)-2-(3′,4′dihydroxyphenyl)tetrahydrofuran-3,4-diol.     

Stereoselective synthesis of tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloids: (−)-trolline, (+)-crispin A, (+)-oleracein E

Tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloids, (S)-(−)-trolline, (R)-(+)-crispin A, and (R)-(+)-oleracein E, have been synthesized stereoselectively from the both enantiomers of common intermediate (S)-4 and (R)-4. The key step in the synthesis include a stereoselective Bi(OTf)₃-catalyzed intramolecular 1,3-chirality transfer reaction of chiral non-racemic amino allylic alcohols (S)-6 and (R)-6 to construct both enantiomers of (E)-1-propenyl tetrahydroisoquinoline 4.     

Asymmetric synthesis of 3,4-dihydroxyglutamic acids via enantioselective reduction of cyclic meso-imide

Stereoselective synthesis of (3S,4S)- and (3R,4R)-series of 3,4-dihydroxyglutamic acids was investigated. The key reaction in this synthesis is asymmetric reduction of meso-imide derived from meso-tartaric acid. Lewis acid-promoted cyanation of the obtained optically active lactam via the acyliminium intermediate followed by standard deprotection procedure afforded the desired 3,4-dihydroxyglutamic acids.     

Synthesis and odor of optically active trans-2,2,6-trimethylcyclohexyl methyl ketones and their related compounds

The synthesis characterized by cationic olefin cyclizations accomplished using ketone enol esters and odor of novel (1R,6S)- and (1S,6R)-2,2,6-trimethylcyclohexyl methyl ketones (5) are described. The stereoselective syntheses of (E)-(1R,6S)- and (E)-(1S,6R)-1-(2,2,6-trimethylcyclohexyl)-2-buten-1-one (6) and (1R,6S)-ethyl 2,2,6-trimethylcyclohexylcarboxylate (7), useful raw materials for flavor and fragrance, starting from the (1R,6S)- and (1S,6R)-5 are also described.     

First stereoselective total synthesis of (6R)-6-[(4R,6R)-4,6-dihydroxy-10-phenyldec-1-enyl]-5,6-dihydro-2H-pyran-2-one

A stereoselective total synthesis of (6R)-6-[(4R,6R)-4,6-dihydroxy-10-phenyldec-1-enyl]-5,6-dihydro-2H-pyran-2-one is reported. The strategy utilizes an iterative Jacobsen hydrolytic kinetic resolution, ring opening with a chiral propargylic synthon and a preferential (Z)-Wittig olefination reaction and lactonization as the key steps.     

Absolute configuration of gomadalactones A, B and C, the components of the contact sex pheromone of Anoplophora malasiaca

Absolute configuration of gomadalactones A (1), B (2) and C (3), the pheromone components of the white-spotted longicorn beetle (Anoplophora malasiaca) was assigned as (1S,4R,5S)-1, (1R,4R,5R)-2 and (1S,4R,5S,8S)-3 by comparing their published CD spectra with those of (1R,5R)-(+)-4,4,8-trimethyl-3-oxabicyclo[3.3.0]oct-7-ene-2,6-dione (4) and (1S,5R,8S)-(+)-4,4,8-trimethyl-3-oxabicyclo[3.3.0]octane-2,6-dione (5) prepared from (R)-(−)-carvone (6).     

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.     

An efficient and stereodivergent synthesis of threo- and erythro-β-methylphenylalanine. Resolution of each racemic pair by semipreparative HPLC

threo and erythro diastereoisomers of the constrained amino acid (βMe)Phe can be obtained separately on a multigram scale through a three-step synthesis from the corresponding Z and E isomers of 2-phenyl-4(α-phenylethylidene)-5(4H)-oxazolone. The 5(4H)-oxazolones are readily available from acetophenone and hippuric acid. The four enantiomerically pure isomers of β-methylphenylalanine, (2R,3R)-(βMe)Phe, (2S,3S)-(βMe)Phe, (2R,3S)-(βMe)Phe and (2S,3R)-(βMe)Phe, have been prepared by HPLC resolution of the racemic precursors methyl threo (or erythro)-2-benzamide-3-phenylbutanoates.     

Pheromone synthesis. Part 243: Synthesis and biological evaluation of (3R,13R,1′S)-1′-ethyl-2′-methylpropyl 3,13-dimethylpentadecanoate, the major component of the sex pheromone of Paulownia bagworm, Clania variegata, and its stereoisomers

All of the four stereoisomers of (1′S)-1′-ethyl-2′-methylpropyl 3,13-dimethylpentadecanoate, the major component of the female sex pheromone of Clania variegata, were synthesized by employing olefin cross metathesis as the key reaction and starting from (R)- or (S)-2-methyl-1-butanol, (R)- or (S)-citronellal, and (S)-2-methyl-3-pentanol. Their bioassay revealed the (3R,13R,1′S)-isomer as the bioactive one, whose more efficient synthesis was achieved in two different ways by employing Wittig reaction as the key step.     

Biotransformation of (+)-(1R,2S)-fenchol by the larvae of common cutworm (Spodoptera litura)

Biotransformation of (+)-(1R,2S)-fenchol by the larvae of Spodoptera litura was carried out. Substrate was converted to three new terpenoids, (+)-(1R,2S)-10-hydroxyfenchol, (+)-(1R,2R,3S)-8-hydroxyfenchol and (−)-(1S,2S,6S)-6-exo-hydroxyfenchol, and one known terpenoid, (−)-(1R,2R,3R)-9-hydroxyfenchol. These structures were established by NMR, IR, specific rotation and mass spectral studies.     

Determination of the absolute structure of albaconol

The concise synthesis of (8aR)-(−)-albaconol (1) from (8aR)-albicanol (2) obtained from the lipase-assisted asymmetric acetylation of rac-2, was achieved in 45% overall yield (eight steps). By comparison of the sign of specific rotation of between synthetic (8aR)-(−)-albaconol (1) and natural (+)-albaconol (1), the absolute structure of natural (+)-1 was determined to be 1R,2R,4aS,8aS configuration.     

Isolation, characterisation and synthesis of an insecticidal tetramethyltetrahydrochromenedione-spiro-bicyclo[3.1.1]cycloheptane from two species of Myrtaceae

A new moderately insecticidal compound, named ficifolidione, has been isolated from the hexane extract of the aerial parts of two species of Myrtaceae, Eucalyptus ficifolia and Kunzea ericoides. Its structure, (1′R,2′R,4R)-4-isobutyl- 6,6,8,8-tetramethyl-2,3,4,8-tetrahydrochromene-5,7-dione-2-spiro-2′-6,6-dimethyl-bicyclo[3.1.1]heptane (1), was confirmed by synthesis from syncarpic acid, isovaleraldehyde and (1S)-β-pinene.     

Aza variant of intramolecular nucleophile-catalyzed aldol lactonization (NCAL): formal synthesis of (3S,4R) and (3R,4S) 4-(hydroxymethyl)pyrrolidin-3-ol

Aza variant of intramolecular catalytic, asymmetric nucleophile-catalyzed, aldol lactonization (NCAL) reaction has been explored to synthesize β-lactone fused nitrogen heterocycles as aza sugars’ precursors by employing achiral amino acids. The utility of these bicyclic β-lactones is presented by the formal synthesis of aza sugars, (3S,4R) and (3R,4S) 4-(hydroxymethyl)pyrrolidin-3-ol.     

Lipase-mediated kinetic resolution of (RS)-1-bromo-3-[4-(2-methoxy-ethyl)-phenoxy]-propan-2-ol to (R)-1-bromo-3-(4-(2-methoxyethyl) phenoxy) propan-2-yl acetate

A novel biocatalytic method for the enantioselective synthesis of (R)-bromo-3-[4-(2-methoxy-ethyl) phenoxy]-2-propanol [(R)-BMEPP], a precursor for the synthesis of (S)-metoprolol, an anti hypertensive drug is described. We have developed kinetic resolution of rac-BMEPP by transesterification using Candida rugosa lipase and vinyl acetate as the acyl donor affording the product with excellent conversion (49%) and ee (>99%). Various reaction parameters (source of enzyme, reaction media, and concentration of substrate and acylating agent) for the enzymatic kinetic resolution have been reported.     

Biomimetically inspired total synthesis of (12S)-12-hydroxymonocerin and (12R)-12-hydroxymonocerin

A concise asymmetric total synthesis of (12S)-12-hydroxymonocerin (1) and (12R)-12-hydroxymonocerin (2) were efficiently achieved from the known 4-bromo-2,6-dimethoxyphenol. The synthetic approach was inspired by our biomimetic synthesis of (+)-monocerin (3) and 7-O-demethylmonocerin (4). The cis-fused furobenzopyranones of 1 and 2 was efficiently constructed via an intramolecular nucleophilic trapping of a quinonemethide intermediate, which was obtained by benzylic oxidation of compound 10 using 2,3-Dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ).     

First synthesis and absolute configuration of a β-farnesene-trimethoxystyrene conjugate isolated from Pachypodanthium confine

(E)-1-[3′-(4″,8″-Dimethylnona-3″,7″-dienyl)cyclohex-3′-enyl]-2,4,5-trimethoxybenzene (1), a β-farnesene-trimethoxystyrene conjugate, was isolated from Pachypodanthium confine. Its first synthesis was accomplished, and absolute configuration was determined to be R.     

Polyhydroxylated pyrrolizidines. Part 6: A new and concise stereoselective synthesis of (+)-casuarine and its 6,7-diepi isomer, from DMDP

A new synthesis for (+)-casuarine (1) and its 6,7-diepi isomer (15) in a stereocontrolled manner, is reported herein. An appropriately protected polyhydroxylated pyrrolidine, such as (2R,3R,4R,5R)-3,4-dibenzyloxy-2′-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)pyrrolidine (3, protected DMDP), easily available from d-fructose, was chosen as the chiral starting material. Compounds 1 and 15 were obtained from 3, in seven steps, in a 23.2 and 20.5% overall yields, respectively.