Synthesis of novel α,α′,β-trisubstituted β-lactones

A concise and efficient synthesis of α,α′,β-trisubstituted β-lactones is presented. These novel lactones are easily obtained in five steps and will be dedicated to anionic ring opening polymerization.     

Synthesis of 1α and 1β-acylamino and alkylamino-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexahydro-2,6-methano-3-benzazocines and related compounds

The synthesis of series of 1α and 1β-alkylamino-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexahydro-2,6-methano-3-benzazocines from the corresponding acylamino intermediates is described. Cyclization of the 1β-chloromethylamido derivative 20 to the novel bridged benzomorphan 21 occurred whereas the corresponding 1β-chloromethylamido derivative 19 failed to cyclize for steric reasons. In addition several related 1α-acylamidomethyl- and 1β-alkyl-aminomethyl benzomorphans are reported.     

Deoxy-nitrosugars. 17th communication. Synthesis of ketose-derived nucleosides from 1-deoxy-1-nitroribose

A new approach to ketose-derived nucteosides is described. It is based upon a chain elongation of 1-deoxy-1-nitroaldoses, followed by activation of the nitro group as a leaving group, and introduction of a pyrimidine or purine base. Thus, the nitroaldose 7 was prepared from 3 by pivaloylation (→ 4 ), synthesis of the anomeric nitrones 5/6 , and ozonolysis of 6 (Scheme 1). Partial hydrolysis of 4 yielded 8/9 , which were characterized as the acetates 10/11 and transformed into the nitrones 12/13 . Ozonolysis of 12/13 gave 14/15 , which were acetylated to 16/17 . Henry reaction of 7 lead to 19 and 20 , which were acetylated to 21 and 22 (Scheme 2). Michael addition of 7 to acrylonitrile and to methyl propynoate yielded the anomers 23/24 and 25/26 , respectively. Similar reactions of 16/17 were prevented by a facile β-elimination. Therefore, the nitrodiol 15 was transformed into the orthoesters 27 and then, by Henry reaction, partial hydrolysis, and acetylation, into 28 and 29 (Scheme 2). The structure of 19 was established by X-ray analysis. It was the major product of the kinetically controlled Henry reaction of 7 . Similarly, the β-D-configurated nitroaldoses 23 and 25 were the major products of the Michael addition. This indicates a preferred ‘endo’-attack on the nitronate anion derived from 7 . AMI calculations for this anion indicate a strong pyramidalization at C(1), in agreement with an ‘endo’-attack. Nucleosidation of 21 by 31 afforded 32 and 33 . Yields depended strongly upon the nature and the amount of the promoter and reached 77% for 33 , which was transformed into 34 , 35 , and the known ‘psicouridine’ ( 36 ; Scheme 3). To probe the mechanism, the trityl-protected 30 was nucleosidated yielding 37 , or 37 and 38 , depending upon the amount of FeCl₃. Nucleosidation of the nitroacetate 28 was more difficult, required SnCl₂ as a promoter, and yielded 39 and 40 . The β-D-anomer 40 was transformed into 36 . Nucleosidation of 23 (SnCl₄) yielded the anomers 41 and 42 , which were transformed into 43 and 44 , and hence into 45 and 46 (Scheme 4). Similarly, nucleosidation of 25 yielded 47 and 48 , which were deprotected to 49 and 50 , respectively. The nucleoside 49 was saponified to 51 . Nucleosidation of 21 by 52 (SnCl₂) afforded the adenine nucleosides 53 and 54 (Scheme 5). The adenine nucleoside 53 was deprotected (→ 55 → 56 ) to ‘psicofuranine’ (1), which was also obtained from 58 , formed along with 57 by nucleosidation of 28 . The structure and particularly the conformation of the nitroaldoses, nitroketoses, and nucleosides are examined.     

Synthesis of α-hydroxy-β-lactams

A convenient synthesis of α-hydroxy-β-lactams has been devised that involves the annelation of an inline with benzyloxyacetyl chloride and triethylamine and subsequent hydrogenolysis in the presence of palladium on carbon. In most cases a cis-β-lactam was obtained. A thioimidate can also be used as the imino component in the annelation reaction but the hydrogenolysis step fails. The annelation of the appropriate thiazoline to a 6-epi-penicillin derivative occurred much more readily with benzyloxyacetyl chloride than with azidoacetyl chloride.     

Synthesis of α,β-unsaturated oxathiolanes

The formation of α,β-unsaturated oxathiolanes 2 from α,β-unsaturated carbonyl derivatives was achieved selectively and in high yields using the heterogeneous catalyst APSG·HCl.     

β-lithiations of carboxamides. Synthesis of β-substituted-α,β-unsaturated amides

N-Methyl-2-methyl-3-(benzotriazol-l-yl)propanamide, on treatment with butyllithium forms a dianion which on treatment with alkyl and benzyl halides, aldehydes and ketones affords monosubstituted products; with ethyl p-toluate, a lactam is formed. The alkylated derivatives eliminate benzotriazole in the presence of base to afford trisubstituted α,β-unsaturated amides.     

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.     

Synthesis of α,β-unsaturated ketone from α-iodo ketone using photoirradiation

Irradiation of α-iodo ketone in hexane under a nitrogen atmosphere with a high-pressure mercury lamp (λ>300nm) at room temperature afforded the corresponding α,β-unsaturated ketones in good yield. This reaction affords a new, clean and convenient synthetic method for the α,β-unsaturated ketone.     

Synthesis of β3‐Peptides and Mixed α/β3‐Peptides by Thioligation

Five β‐peptide thioesters ( 1 – 5 , containing 3, 4, 10 residues) were prepared by manual solid‐phase synthesis and purified by reverse‐phase preparative HPLC. A β‐undecapeptide ( 6 ) and an α‐undecapeptide ( 7 ) with N‐terminal β³‐HCys and Cys residues were prepared by manual and machine synthesis, respectively. Coupling of the thioesters with the cysteine derivatives in the presence of PhSH (Scheme and Fig. 1) in aqueous solution occurred smoothly and quantitatively. Pentadeca‐ and heneicosapeptides ( 8 – 10 ) were isolated, after preparative RP‐HPLC purification, in yields of up to 60%. Thus, the so‐called native chemical ligation works well with β‐peptides, producing larger β³‐ and α/β³‐mixed peptides. Compounds 1 – 10 were characterized by high‐resolution mass spectrometry (HR‐MS) and by CD spectroscopy, including temperature and concentration dependence. β‐Peptide 9 with 21 residues shows an intense negative Cotton effect near 210 nm but no zero‐crossing above 190 nm, (Figs. 2–4), which is characteristic of β‐peptidic 3₁₄‐helical structures. Comparison of the CD spectra of the mixed α/β‐pentadecapeptide ( 10 ) and a helical α‐peptide (Fig. 5) indicate the presence of an α‐peptidic 3.6₁₃ helix.     

Synthesis of α-2′-deoxynucleosides

α-Thymidine (4) was synthesized from thymidine (1) in 3 steps in 36% overall yield without using chro-matography and with the possibility of increasing the yield to 85% by reusing the remaining α,β-mixture. 1-(2-Deoxy-3,5-di-O-p-toluoyl-α-D-erythro-pentofuranosyl)thymine (3) was further converted to 1-(2-deoxy-α-D-erythro-pentofuranosyl)-5-methylcytosine (5) .     

The Synthesis of β,γ- and α,β-Unsaturated Aldehydes via Polyene Epoxides

A substitute for the Darzens glycidic ester synthesis for converting unsaturated ketones or aldehydes into the homologated β,γ- or α,β-unsaturated aldehydes employing sulfur ylides is described. The carbonyl group is converted into the unsaturated oxirane which is then rearranged to the new aldehyde. High yields of isomerically pure aldehydes are available by this method and the process is of practical importance in the conversion of β-ionone into the β-C₁₄-aldehyde, a key intermediate in the Isler synthesis of vitamin A. The efficient preparation of α- and β-cyclocitral by the novel process is also described.