Efficient and highly diastereoselective preparation of a myrtenal derived bis-sulfoxide and its preliminary evaluation as chiral acyl donor

Treatment of disulfide 7 with NaIO₄ in EtOH at rt gave monosulfoxide 8 (95%), while at 50 °C it gave trans-bis-sulfoxide 6a (84%, >99% de). In contrast, treatment of 7 with MCPBA gave bis-sulfone 9 (95%). The anion of 6a reacted with benzaldehyde affording carbinol 10 (76%, >99% de). The absolute configuration of 8, 6a, and 10 was established by single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses.     

Preparation of all stereoisomers of 2-allyl-2-methyl-3-hydroxycyclopentanone by desymmetric processes based on a microbial oxidation and reduction system

All stereoisomers of 2-allyl-3-hydroxy-2-methylcyclopentanones 2-5 were prepared in high conversion and in an optically pure form by microbial reduction and oxidation. The reduction of symmetric diketone 1 by Geotrichum candidum NBRC 4597 under anaerobic conditions gave 2 in 83% yield (98% conversion), >99% de, and >99% ee, whereas the reduction of 1 by G. candidum NBRC 5767 under aerobic conditions gave 3 in 75% yield (99% conversion), >99% de, and >99% ee. Oxidation of meso-diol 6 by G. candidum NBRC 5767 under aerobic conditions afforded 4 in 83% yield (99% conversion) and >99% ee, while oxidation of meso-diol 7 by Mucor heimalis IAM 6095 in the presence of cyclohexanone as a co-oxidant afforded 5 in 68% yield (75% conversion) and >99% ee.     

Polystyrene-immobilized pyrrolidine as a highly stereoselective and recyclable organocatalyst for asymmetric Michael addition of cyclohexanone to nitroolefins

Polystyrene-immobilized pyrrolidine 4 has been developed as a highly efficient, reusable, and stereoselective organocatalyst for the asymmetric Michael addition of cyclohexanone to nitroolefins. In the presence of trifluoroacetic acid, 4 catalyzed the reaction of cyclohexanone to a variety of nitroolefins with high yields (up to >99%) and excellent diastereoselectivities (up to >99:1 dr), and enantioselectivities (up to >99% ee). Furthermore, 4 could be recovered and recycled by a simple filtration of the reaction solution and used for more than 10 consecutive trials without significant loss of its catalytic activity.     

Synthesis of enantiopure β-amino alcohols via AKR/ARO of epoxides using recyclable macrocyclic Cr(III) salen complexes

A series of chiral macrocyclic Cr(III) salen complexes 1-8 were synthesized and characterized. These complexes were found to be highly active, regio-, diastereo-, and enantioselective catalysts in aminolytic kinetic resolution (AKR) of racemic trans-epoxides as well as asymmetric ring opening (ARO) of prochiral meso-epoxides with various anilines as nucleophiles at room temperature in 18-24 h. Excellent yields (>99% with respect to the nucleophile) with high enantioselectivity (ee, >99%) of chiral anti-β-amino alcohols was achieved with concomitant recovery of corresponding epoxides in high ee (up to >99%). The complex 1 also catalyzed the ARO of meso-epoxides to provide corresponding syn-β-amino alcohols in high yield (99%) and ee (up to 91%). Due to built-in basic sites in the catalyst, no external base (as an additive) was required to promote AKR and ARO reactions. The catalyst 1 was conveniently recycled several times with retention of its performance. The AKR of trans-stilbene oxide with aniline was successfully demonstrated at relatively higher scale (10 mmol) using the catalyst 1.     

Pyrrolidine-pyridine base catalysts for the enantioselective Michael addition of ketones to chalcones

A series of pyrrolidine-pyridine base organocatalysts have been developed and 3a found to be a highly effective catalyst for the asymmetric Michael addition reactions of ketones to chalcones. The reaction generated the corresponding products 1, 5-diketones in excellent diastereoselectivities (up to >99:1 dr) and enantioselectivities (up to 100% ee).     

Thermal hydrosilylation of olefin with hydrosilane. Preparative and mechanistic aspects

The reaction of trichlorosilane (1a) at 250 °C with cycloalkenes, such as cyclopentene (2a), cyclohexene (2b), cycloheptene (2c), and cyclooctene (2d), gave cycloalkyltrichlorosilanes [C_nH_2n−1SiCl₃: n = 5 (3a), 6 (3b), 7 (3c), 8 (3d)] within 6 h in excellent yields (97-98%), but the similar reactions using methyldichlorosilane (1b) instead of 1a required a longer reaction time of 40 h and afforded cycloalkyl(methyl)dichlorosilanes [C_nH_2n−1SiMeCl₂: n = 5 (3e), 6 (3f), 7 (3g), 8 (3h)] in 88-92% yields with 4-8% recovery of reactant 2. In large (2, 0.29 mol)-scale preparations, the reactions of 2a and 2b with 1a (0.58 mol) under the same condition gave 3a and 3b in 95% and 94% isolated yields, respectively. The relative reactivity of four hydrosilanes [HSiCl_3−mMe_m: m = 0-3] in the reaction with 2a indicates that as the number of chlorine-substituent(s) on the silicon increases the rate of the reaction decreases in the following order: n = 3 > 2 > 1 ? 0. In the reaction with 1a, the relative reactivity of four cycloalkenes (ring size = 5-8) decreases in the following order: 2d > 2a > 2c > 2b. Meanwhile linear alkenes like 1-hexene undergo two reactions of self-isomerization and hydrosilylation with hydrosilane to give a mixture of the three isomers (1-, 2-, and 3-silylated hexanes). In this reaction, the reactivity of the terminal 1-hexene is higher than the internal 2- and 3-hexene. The redistribution of hydrosilane 1 and the polymerization of olefin 2 occurred rarely under the thermal reaction condition.     

New S,O-acetals from (1R)-(−)-myrtenal as chiral auxiliaries in nucleophilic additions

Treatment of hydroxythiol 4 with α,α-diethoxyacetophenone at room temperature yielded a mixture of epimeric S,O-acetals 6 and 7 (1:4, 92% yield), which were efficiently separated by flash chromatography. The OTBS derivatives 8 and 9 were treated with several Grignard reagents to afford carbinols 10 and 13 respectively (85-99% yield, >95% dr). After successive hydrolysis and reduction of 10 and 13 it is possible to obtain either enantiomer of diols 16 in high optical purity (>95% er).     

Synthesis of acyclic nucleoside analogues based on 1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-7-ones by one-step Vorbrüggen glycosylation

New acyclovir analogues were obtained by reaction of 1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-7-ones 4a–i with (2-acetoxyethoxy)methyl acetate 5 in the presence of trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate (TMSOTf) as catalyst (Vorbrüggen procedure). Coupling between compounds 4a–f and 5 led to a mixture of N3- and N4-isomers 6 and 7, respectively. On the contrary, the reaction of compounds 4g–i with 5 proceeded selectively with formation of N3-isomers only. It was found that the ratio of 6a–f and 7a–f depends on the presence or the absence of N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)acetamide (BSA). Glycosylated products 6a–f and 7a–f underwent reversible isomerization under TMSOTf treatment. The ratio of glycosylated products of the coupling reaction between 4 and 5 was thermodynamically controlled. A similar reaction occurred if ZnCl₂ was chosen as a catalyst, although lower yields of the acyclic analogues of nucleosides were observed. The glycosylation of other purines (adenine and guanine) can be achieved via the non-BSA modification of the Vorbrüggen procedure.     

On the lithiation of oxazolinylaziridines

Lithiated N-sulfonyloxazolinylaziridines 6a and 7a, generated by deprotonation of the corresponding aziridines 6 and 7 with sec-BuLi/TMEDA at −98°C in THF, were found to be chemically and configurationally stable to be stereospecifically captured by electrophiles, while warming up to rt resulted in the formation of oxazolinylazirine 15. In contrast, lithiation of N-phenyloxazolinylaziridines 8 and 9 led to oxazolinylenamine 18. Tricyclic aziridines 10 and 11 resulted from an intramolecular addition of the aziridinyllithium 6a to the phenyl ring of the benzenesulfonyl group.     

Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of α-(trifluoromethyl)benzylamine via cinchonidine derived base-catalyzed biomimetic 1,3-proton shift reaction

Here we describe catalytic asymmetric synthesis of α-(trifluoromethyl)benzylamine (1) via biomimetic transamination using chiral base. Imine 4 was isomerized to Schiff base 5 using 50 mol.% of cinchonidine derivatives as a catalyst in chloroform, methanol or acetonitrile. In the case of cinchonidine 6 as a catalyst, the reaction conducted in chloroform allowed for 79% conversion of the starting imine 4 in 52 days. The product imine 5 was obtained of (R) absolute configuration in 35% ee as individual compound without any byproducts. The catalyst 6 can be recovered (>95%) by adding n-hexane to the reaction mixture followed by a simple filtration.     

Platinum-catalyzed double silylations of alkynes with bis(dichlorosilyl)methanes

Bis(dichlorosilyl)methanes 1 undergo the two kind reactions of a double hydrosilylation and a dehydrogenative double silylation with alkynes 2 such as acetylene and activated phenyl-substituted acetylenes in the presence of Speier’s catalyst to give 1,1,3,3-tetrachloro-1,3-disilacyclopentanes 3 and 1,1,3,3-tetrachloro-1,3-disilacyclopent-4-enes 4 as cyclic products, respectively, depending upon the molecular structures of both bis(dichlorosilyl)methanes (1) and alkynes (2). Simple bis(dichlorosilyl)methane (1a) reacted with alkynes [R¹-CC-R²: R¹ = H, R² = H (2a), Ph (2b); R¹ = R² = Ph (2c)] at 80 °C to afford 1,1,3,3-tetrachloro-1,3-disilacyclopentanes 3 as the double hydrosilylation products in fair to good yields (33-84%). Among these reactions, the reaction with 2c gave a trans-4,5-diphenyl-1,1,3,3-tetrachloro-1,3-disilacyclopentane 3ac in the highest yield (84%). When a variety of bis(dichlorosilyl)(silyl)methanes [(Me_nCl_3 − nSi)CH(SiHCl₂)₂: n = 0 (1b), 1 (1c), 2 (1d), 3 (1e)] were applied in the reaction with alkyne (2c) under the same reaction conditions. The double hydrosilylation products, 2-silyl-1,1,3,3-tetrachloro-1,3-disilacyclopentanes (3), were obtained in fair to excellent yields (38-98%). The yields of compound 3 deceased as follows: n = 1 > 2 > 3 > 0. The reaction of alkynes (2a-c) with 1c under the same conditions gave one of two type products of 1,1,3,3-tetrachloro-1,3-disilacyclopentanes 3 and 1,1,3,3-tetrachloro-1,3-disilacyclopent-4-enes (4): simple alkyne 2a and terminal 2b gave the latter products 4ca and 4cb in 91% and 57% yields, respectively, while internal alkyne 2c afforded the former cyclic products 3cc with trans form between two phenyl groups at the 3- and 4-carbon atoms in 98% yield, respectively. Among platinum compounds such as Speier’s catalyst, PtCl₂(PEt₃)₂, Pt(PPh₃)₂(C₂H₄), Pt(PPh₃)₄, Pt[ViMeSiO]₄, and Pt/C, Speier’s catalyst was the best catalyst for such silylation reactions.     

Cyclization of N,N-diethylgeranylamine N-oxide in one-pot operation: preparation of cyclic terpenoid-aroma chemicals

Acid promoted cyclization of the geranylamine N-oxide (E)-4 followed by base-catalyzed intramolecular aldol condensation afforded 1-acetyl-4,4-dimethyl-1-cyclohexene (7) in one-pot operation. Reduction of 7, which possess strong fruity odor, followed by lipase-catalyzed kinetic resolution furnished the acetate (R)-26 (>49.9% yield, >99% ee) and the recovered alcohol (S)-25 (>49.9% yield, >99% ee, herbal odor).     

A flow chemistry route to 2-phenyl-3-(1H-pyrrol-2-yl)propan-1-amines

The Knoevenagel condensation of pyrrole-2-carboxaldehyde (1) with a range of substituted benzyl nitriles (2a-e) afforded rapid access to a family of α,β-unsaturated nitriles (3a-e) in good yields (67-78%). Flow hydrogenation (ThalesNano H-cube™) at 60 °C, 50 bar H₂ pressure, 1.0 mL/min through a 10% Pd-C catalyst selectively, and quantitatively, hydrogenated the olefin double bond (4a-e). Use of a Raney Nickel catalyst at 70 °C, 70 bar H₂ pressure and flow rates of 0.5-1.0 mL/min afforded quantitative conversion into the corresponding saturated amines with the reduction of both the olefin and nitrile bonds (5a-e). The versatility of this approach was further exemplified by reaction of 5a and 5c with norcantharidin to afford acid amide norcantharidin analogues 7 and 8 as novel protein phosphatase 1 and 2A inhibitors.     

Efficient synthesis of fluorobenzyloxoimidazolidinone derivatives: precursors for the radiosynthesis of [F]fluorophenylamino acids

This paper describes an efficient synthesis of fluorobenzyloxoimidazolidinone derivatives. The title compounds 1a, 1b and 1c could be prepared with high diasteromeric purity (>99%) and overall yields of 19%, 48% and 41% in a ten or six-step synthetic procedure, respectively. These compounds are used as precursors for isotopic ¹⁸F-labelling.     

Nanostructured ruthenium on γ-Al2O3 catalysts for the efficient hydrogenation of aromatic compounds

Free and trioctylamine (TOA)-stabilized ruthenium nanoparticles have been prepared by decomposition of the metal precursor Ru(η⁶-cycloocta-1,3,5-triene)(η⁴-cycloocta-1,5-diene) under mild conditions (room temperature, hydrogen atmospheric pressure). The nanoparticles have been deposited on γ-Al₂O₃ supports having different surface area. The resulting systems are active in the hydrogenation of methyl benzoate to methyl cyclohexanoate with a reaction rate decreasing in the order Ru(TOA)/γ-Al₂ O₃ (high surface area, catalyst D) > Ru(TOA)/γ-Al₂O₃ (catalyst C) > Ru/γ-Al₂O₃ (high surface area, catalyst B) > Ru/γ-Al₂O₃ (catalyst A). Catalysts A-D are long lived and can be reused without loss of activity; they are considerably more active than a commercial ruthenium on γ-Al₂O₃ sample. High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy analyses of such systems show that the nanoparticles are homogeneously dispersed on the support and that the size distribution decreases in the order catalyst A, 2.9 nm > catalyst B, 2.8 nm > catalyst C, 2.4 nm > catalyst D, 2.3 nm. Based on the easy hydrogenation of the aromatic ring to the cyclohexane derivative, an efficient synthesis of 4-carbomethoxyformylcyclohexane, important starting material in the preparation of pharmaceutical products, from the largely available methyl 4-formylbenzoate, has been set up in the presence of catalyst D.     

Asymmetric synthesis of the 6-cyanoindole derivatives as non-steroidal glucocorticoid receptor modulators using (+)- and (−)-tert-butyl 6-cyano-3-[3-ethoxy-1,1,1-trifluoro-2-hydroxy-3-oxopropan-2-yl]-1H-indole-1-carboxylate

We have successfully synthesized enantiomerically pure (+)- and (−)-tert-butyl 6-cyano-3-[3-ethoxy-1,1,1-trifluoro-2-hydroxy-3-oxopropan-2-yl]-1H-indole-1-carboxylate (+)-1 and (−)-1, which are key intermediates of non-steroidal glucocorticoid receptor modulators, by employing a cinchona alkaloid catalyzed addition of 6-cyanoindole to ethyl trifluoropyruvate. The optimized method can be applied to large-scale synthesis. Furthermore, using the key intermediates (+)-1 and (−)-1, enantiomerically pure glucocorticoid receptor modulators (+)-3 and (−)-3 can be synthesized (>99% ee for both compounds). The glucocorticoid receptor binding affinity was influenced by the stereogenic center at the trifluoromethyl alcohol moiety; compound (−)-3 showed a higher binding affinity compared to (+)-3.     

Inherently chiral calix[4]arene-based bifunctional organocatalysts for enantioselective aldol reactions

Two optical pure m-dimethylamino substituted inherently chiral calix[4]arene derivatives 8a and 8b bearing an l-prolinamido group have been synthesized by two routes, and structurally studied by the usual spectroscopic methods and X-ray crystallographic analysis. It was found that both of 8a and 8b could be utilized as bifunctional organocatalysts to efficiently promote the aldol reactions between aromatic aldehydes and ketones in the presence of acetic acid. Especially, with 8a as the catalyst, the reaction between 4-nitrobenzaldehyde and cyclopentanone at −20 °C gave the anti-aldol product up to 94% ee, while the anti-aldol product in up to 94:6 dr and 79% ee was obtained when 4-cyanobenzaldehyde was used as the aldol donor. Moreover, it was also demonstrated that the inherently chiral calixarene skeleton with (cS)-conformation in 8a was identified as the matched configuration of the stereogenic elements, and the inherently chiral moiety might play an important role in helping to stereocontrol the reaction.     

Synthesis of a novel farnesyl transferase inhibitor, ABT-100; selective preparation of a stereogenic tertiary carbinol

A stereoselective synthesis of ABT-100 1, a novel farnesyl transferase inhibitor, is described. The key step involves a stereoselective addition of the heterocyclic zinc reagent 10 to chiral α-keto ester 9 in >10:1 diastereoselectivity using menthol as the chiral auxiliary. Crystallization of the product as the dimeric zinc complex facilitates isolation of product in >99:1 dr. The biaryl linkage is formed by the use of a Suzuki coupling employing only 0.06 mol% of the catalyst. Coupling of the two fragments is accomplished using a S_NAr reaction between diol 5 and arylfluoride 4. The overall yield for the five step sequence is 37% on kilogram scale.     

4-Trifluoromethanesulfonamidyl prolinol tert-butyldiphenylsilyl ether as a highly efficient bifunctional organocatalyst for Michael addition of ketones and aldehydes to nitroolefins

4-Trifluoromethanesulfonamidyl prolinol tert-butyldiphenylsilyl ether bifunctional organocatalyst 3a is a highly efficient catalyst for the asymmetric Michael addition reactions of ketones and aldehydes to nitrostyrenes, leading to syn-selective adducts with excellent yields (>99%), high diastereoselectivities (up to 99:1 dr) and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee). Control experiments suggested that the trans-configuration relationship between the bulky group (-CH₂OTBDPS) and the sulfonamido group at the 4-position of the pyrrolidine ring was important to achieve high yield and stereoselectivity.     

Conversion of novel palladacycles into oxopyrrolo[3,4-b]quinolines

The quinolinylcyclopalladated complexes 3a–b were synthesised in good yields (81% and 77%) by the insertion reaction of the prepared dinuclear palladium complexes [Pd(C,N-2-C₉H₄N-CHO-3-R-6)Cl(PPh₃)]₂ [(R = H (2a), R = OMe (2b)] with isonitrile XyNC (Xy = 2,6-Me₂C₆H₃). The cyclopalladated complexes 3a–b were also obtained in low yields (39% and 33.5%) via a one pot oxidative addition reaction of quinoline chloride 1a–b with isonitrile XyNC:Pd(dba)₂ (4:1). The reactions of 3a–b with Tl(TfO) (TfO = triflate, CF₃SO₃) in the presence of H₂O or EtOH causes depalladation reactions of the complexes to provide the corresponding organic compounds 4a–b, 5a–b and 6a–b in yields (41%, 27% and 18–19%). The products were characterized by satisfactory elemental analyses and spectral studies (IR, ¹H, ¹³C and ³¹P NMR). The crystal structures of 2a, 3a and 3b were determined by X-ray diffraction studies.