Diastereoselective Synthesis of Highly Functionalized Proline Derivatives

An efficient way to access highly functionalized proline derivatives was developed based on a Cu(I)-catalyzed reaction between CF₃-substituted allenynes and tosylazide, which involved a cascade of [3 + 2]-cycloaddition/ketenimine and a rearrangement/Alder-ene cyclization to afford the new proline framework with a high diastereoselectivity.     

Synthesis of Functionalized α‐Vinyl Aldehydes from Enaminones

An efficient Rh^II‐catalyzed synthesis of functionalized α‐vinyl aldehydes with high E/Z stereoselectivity was developed. The reaction mediates the cyclopropanation of enaminones with vinyl carbenoids that are generated from cyclopropenes in situ to give the aminocyclopropane intermediates. Selective C?C bond cleavage of the cyclopropane intermediates leads to formation of α‐vinyl aldehyde derivatives with high E/Z selectivity. This method proceeds at room temperature under very mild reaction conditions and works with a broad substrate scope.     

d5-Reactions of Doubly Deprotonated γ,δ-Unsaturated Carbonyl Derivatives with Electrophiles. A Novel Approach to the Synthesis of Tetrahydrofuran and Tetrahydropyran Derivatives

The dienone-dianion derivatives 1 react with all types of electrophiles tested (alkyl halide, silyl chloride, ester, ketone, aldehyde, epoxide) to give β, γ-unsaturated carbonyl compounds of type A (see Formulae 2 – 6 , 13 , 14 and Tables 1–5). The α- and β-hydroxyalkylation products obtained from 1a – 1d can be converted to tetra-hydrofuran and tetrahydropyran derivatives 7 and 16 , respectively (Tables 1 and 2), those from the sulfur analogues 1e and 1f to ketene thioacetals 9 and to dienone derivatives 10 and 12. The t-butyl and α-hydroxy-ketones are cleaved to give nitriles, amides, carboxylic acids and esters (Formulae 16 - 25 ). The reagents 1 allow to synthesize products with distant functional groups in one step (cf. 1,8-diketones 14 and Formulae 26 – 30 ); they correspond to the d⁵-synthons 31 – 33 ; in Table 6, they are compared with other d⁵-reagents.     

Sulfonyl Azoles in the Synthesis of 3‐Functionalized Azole Derivatives

Sulfonyl indoles, as well as related azolyl derivatives, have been recently introduced in synthesis as stable precursors of reactive indolenine intermediates. This personal account reports on the discovery of sulfonyl azoles and their practical utilization in many synthetic processes for the preparation of functionalized 3‐substituted indoles, indazoles, and pyrroles. The indolenine intermediates obtained by treatment of sulfonyl azoles with Brønsted bases or Lewis acids can be considered as vinylogous imino derivatives that can be made to react with different nucleophilic reagents. These include organometallic reagents, reducing agents, stabilized carbanions, and heteronucleophiles. The controlled and mild conditions for the generation of indolenines from sulfonyl azoles make these substrates particularly useful in asymmetric synthesis, exploiting organo‐ or metal‐catalyzed processes. Although less exploited, sulfonyl indoles can also be involved in photochemical processes for the preparation of polycyclic derivatives.

     

Rapid Synthesis of α,β-Didehydroaspartic-Acid Derivatives Carrying a β-Substituent

A convenient preparation of N-(alkoxycarbonyl)-2,3-didehydroaspartic acid anhydrides 4 with substitution at the 3-position is reported. The key step is a cobalt-mediated acylation of an acetylene moiety, producing the highly functionalized didehydroamine acid derivative in good yield. Unnatural didehydroaspartates are readily accessible.     

A Study on the Diastereoselective Synthesis of α‐Fluorinated β3‐Amino Acids by α‐Fluorination

The treatment of a β³‐amino acid methyl ester with 2.2 equiv. of lithium diisopropylamide (LDA), followed by reaction with 5 equiv. of N‐fluorobenzenesulfonimide (NFSI) at ?78° for 2.5 h and then 2 h at 0°, gives syn‐fluorination with high diastereoisomeric excess (de). The de and yield in these reactions are somewhat influenced by both the size of the amino acid side chain and the nature of the amine protecting group. In particular, fluorination of N‐Boc‐protected β³‐homophenylalanine, β³‐homoleucine, β³‐homovaline, and β³‐homoalanine methyl esters, 5 and 9 – 11 , respectively, all proceeded with high de (>86% of the syn‐isomer). However, fluorination of N‐Boc‐protected β³‐homophenylglycine methyl ester ( 16 ) occurred with a significantly reduced de. The use of a Cbz or Bz amine‐protecting group (see 3 and 15 ) did not improve the de of fluorination. However, an N‐Ac protecting group (see 17 ) gave a reduced de of 26%. Thus, a large N‐protecting group should be employed in order to maximize selectivity for the syn‐isomer in these fluorination reactions.     

Diastereoselective Nucleophilic Ring‐Opening Reactions of 2,6‐Diazasemibullvalenes for the Synthesis of Diverse Functionalized Δ1‐Bipyrroline Derivatives

Nucleophilic ring‐opening reactions of 2,6‐diazasemibullvalenes (NSBVs) were investigated. Different types of nucleophile (alcohols, phenols, thiols, carboxylic acids, water, enols, amines, indoles, metal‐halide salts, sodium azide, organozinc compounds, lithium alkynethiolate, and sulfoxonium ylides) were used to afford diverse functionalized Δ¹‐bipyrroline derivatives in good yields with high regio‐ and diastereoselectivity. Most of the reactions featured milder conditions and higher reactivity relative to those for common aziridine derivatives, probably because of the rigid ring system and substitution patterns of NSBVs.     

New Types of Reactivity of α,β‐Unsaturated N,N‐Dimethylhydrazones: Chemodivergent Diastereoselective Synthesis of Functionalized Tetrahydroquinolines and Hexahydropyrrolo[3,2‐b]indoles

The indium trichloride‐catalyzed reaction between aromatic imines and α,β‐unsaturated N,N‐dimethylhydrazones in acetonitrile afforded 1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroquinolines bearing a hydrazone function at C4 through a one‐pot diastereoselective domino process that involves the formation of two C? C bonds and the controlled generation of two stereocenters, one of which is quaternary. This reaction constitutes the first example of an α,β‐unsaturated dimethylhydrazone that behaves as a dienophile in a hetero Diels–Alder reaction. The related reaction between anilines, aromatic aldehydes, and methacrolein dimethylhydrazone in CHCl₃ with BF₃?Et₂O as catalyst afforded polysubstituted 1,2,3,3a,4,8b‐hexahydropyrrolo[3,2‐b]indoles as major products through a fully diastereoselective ABB′C four‐component domino process that generates two cycles, three stereocenters, two C? C bonds, and two C? N bonds in a single operation.     

Preparation of β2‐Homotryptophan Derivatives for β‐Peptide Synthesis

In view of the prominent role of the 1H‐indol‐3‐yl side chain of tryptophan in peptides and proteins, it is important to have the appropriately protected homologs H‐β² HTrp OH and H‐β³ HTrp OH (Fig.) available for incorporation in β‐peptides. The β²‐HTrp building block is especially important, because β²‐amino acid residues cause β‐peptide chains to fold to the unusual 12/10 helix or to a hairpin turn. The preparation of Fmoc and Z β²‐HTrp(Boc) OH by Curtius degradation (Scheme 1) of a succinic acid derivative is described (Schemes 2–4). To this end, the (S)‐4‐isopropyl‐3‐[(N‐Boc‐indol‐3‐yl)propionyl]‐1,3‐oxazolidin‐2‐one enolate is alkylated with Br CH₂CO₂Bn (Scheme 3). Subsequent hydrogenolysis, Curtius degradation, and removal of the Evans auxiliary group gives the desired derivatives of (R)‐H β²‐HTrp OH (Scheme 4). Since the (R)‐form of the auxiliary is also available, access to (S)‐β²‐HTrp‐containing β‐peptides is provided as well.     

Diastereoselective Synthesis of Pentasubstituted γ‐Butyrolactones from Silyl Glyoxylates and Ketones through a Double Reformatsky Reaction

Three contiguous stereocenters can be established with remarkable diastereoselectivity in a double Reformatsky sequence. Densely functionalized γ‐butyrolactones were assembled rapidly by this approach, in which a ketone is used as the terminal electrophile (see scheme). Secondary transformations of the lactone products enhance their synthetic utility. R¹=Me, H; R²=alkyl, aryl, CF₃; Bn=benzyl, TBS=tert‐butyldimethylsilyl.

     

An Efficient and Facile Synthesis of Functionalized Indole‐3‐yl Pyrazole Derivatives Starting from 3‐Cyanoacetylindole

The versatile hitherto reported 3‐(1H‐indol‐3‐yl)‐1H‐pyrazol‐5‐amine ( 4 ) was synthesized by the reaction of 3‐cyanoacetylindole ( 3 ) with hydrazine hydrate in refluxing ethanol and used as a key intermediate for the synthesis of novel pyrazolo[1,5‐a ]pyrimidines via its reactions with appropriate 1,3‐biselectrophilic reagents or through three‐component condensations with triethyl orthoformate and compounds possessing an activated methylene group. Besides, the applicability and synthetic potency of ( 4 ) to attain polyfunctionally substituted imidazo[1,2‐b ]pyrazole, pyrazolo[1,5‐a ][1,3]diazepine and pyrazolo[1,5‐c ][1,3,5]thiadiazine derivatives of an expected pharmaceutical interest have been investigated. The mechanistic aspects for the formation of the newly synthesized compounds are discussed.     

Synthesis of β‐Substituted γ‐Aminobutyric Acid Derivatives through Enantioselective Photoredox Catalysis

β‐Substituted chiral γ‐aminobutyric acids feature important biological activities and are valuable intermediates for the synthesis of pharmaceuticals. Herein, an efficient catalytic enantioselective approach for the synthesis of β‐substituted γ‐aminobutyric acid derivatives through visible‐light‐induced photocatalyst‐free asymmetric radical conjugate additions is reported. Various β‐substituted γ‐aminobutyric acid analogues, including previously inaccessible derivatives containing fluorinated quaternary stereocenters, were obtained in good yields (42–89 %) and with excellent enantioselectivity (90–97 % ee). Synthetically valuable applications were demonstrated by providing straightforward synthetic access to the pharmaceuticals or related bioactive compounds (S)‐pregabalin, (R)‐baclofen, (R)‐rolipram, and (S)‐nebracetam.     

An Enantio‐ and Diastereoselective Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of α‐Fluoro β‐Hydroxy Carboxylic Esters

The trans‐o‐hydroxybenzylidene pyruvate aldolase‐catalysed reactions between fluoropyruvate and many (hetero)aromatic aldehydes yield aldol adducts without subsequent dehydration. Treatment of the reaction products with hydrogen peroxide yields the corresponding syn‐configured α‐fluoro β‐hydroxy carboxylic acids which have >98 % ee. The overall chemoenzymatic approach, in which fluoropyruvate serves as a fluoroacetate equivalent, may be exploited in the synthesis of polar building blocks and fragments with potential value in drug discovery.