New functional chiral P-based ligands and application in ruthenium-catalyzed enantioselective transfer hydrogenation of ketones

Metal-catalyzed asymmetric transfer hydrogenation is a powerful and practical method for the reduction of ketones to produce the corresponding secondary alcohols, which are valuable building blocks in the pharmaceutical, perfume, and agrochemical industries. Hence, a series of novel chiral β-amino alcohols were synthesized by chiral amines with regioselective ring opening of (S)-propylene oxide or reaction with (S)-(+)-2-hydroxypropyl p-toluenesulfonate by a straightforward method. The chiral ruthenium catalytic systems generated from [Ru(arene)(μ-Cl)Cl]₂ complexes and chiral phosphinite ligands based on amino alcohol derivatives were employed in asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of ketones to give the corresponding optically active alcohols; (2S)-1-{[(2S)-2-[(diphenylphosphanyl)oxy]propyl][(1R)-1-phenylethyl]amino}propan-2-yldiphenylphosphinitobis[dichol-oro(η⁶-benzene)ruthenium(II)] acts an excellent catalyst in the reduction of α-naphthyl methyl ketone, giving the corresponding alcohol with up to 99% ee. The substituents on the backbone of the ligands were found to have a remarkable effect on both the conversion and enantioselectivity of the catalysts. Furthermore, this transfer hydrogenation is characterized by low reversibility under these conditions.     

Two new flavone C-glycosides from Trollius ledebourii

Two new flavone C-glycosides, trollisin A (1) and trollisin B (2), along with seven known flavonoids, isoswertisin (3), isoswertiajaponin (4), orientin (5), 2″-O-β-L-galactopyranosylvitexin (6), 2″-O-β-L-galactopyranosylorientin (7), neodiosmin (8) and acacetin-7-O-neohesperidoside (9) were isolated from the flowers of Trollius ledebourii REICHB. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated based on spectral analysis, including MS, 1D- and 2D-NMR experimentation.     

Synthesis of a novel sterically hindered chiral cyclic phosphoric acid derived from l-tartaric acid and application to the asymmetric catalytic Biginelli reaction

A novel sterically hindered chiral cyclic phosphoric acid derived from l-tartaric acid was designed and synthesized based on highly regioselective cyclosulfitation of chiral 1,1,4,4-tetraphenylbutanetetraol. The asymmetric Biginelli reaction catalyzed by this newly synthesized chiral phosphoric acid was examined, and enantioselectivities up to 99% ee was obtained.     

The synthesis of chiral tridentate ligands from l-proline and their application in the copper(II)-catalyzed enantioselective Henry reaction

A series of chiral tridentate ligands derived from readily available enantiopure l-proline were designed and synthesized. The ligands together with Cu(OAc)₂ were successfully used in asymmetric Henry reactions. Various structurally divergent aldehydes and nitromethane were converted into versatile β-nitro alcohols in MeOH at room temperature with very good yields (up to 85%) and enantioselectivities (up to 86%).     

A New Furobenzopyranone from Anaphalis lactea

A new furobenzopyranone, named anaphalisol, was isolated from the whole plant of Anaphalis lactea. Its structure was elucidated by spectroscopic methods including 2D NMR techniques.     

New C19-diterpenoid alkaloids from the parent roots of Aconitum carmichaelii

Aconitum carmichaelii is a widely used traditional Chinese medicine and important source of clinical drugs. The parent roots of A. carmichaelii were investigated resulting in the isolation and identification of five new C₁₉-diterpenoid alkaloids; 14α-benzoyloxy-N-ethyl-15α-hydroxy-1α,6α,8β,16β,18-pentamethoxyaconitane formate (1), 14α-benzoyloxy-8β-butoxy-N-ethyl-13β,15α-dihydroxy-1α,6α,16β,18-tetramethoxyaconitane formate (2), 14α-benzoyloxy-8β-butoxy-N-ethyl-3α,13β,15α-trihydroxy-1α,6α,16β,18-tetramethoxylaconitane (3), 14α-benzoyloxy-8β-butoxy-3α,13β,15α-trihydroxy-1α,6α,16β,18-tetramethoxyl-N-methylaconitane (4) and 8β,14α-dibenzoyloxy-N-ethyl-13β,15α-dihydroxy-1α,6α,16β,18-tetramethoxyaconitane (5).     

Organocatalytic oxidative synthesis of C2-functionalized benzoxazoles,naphthoxazoles, benzothiazoles and benzimidazoles

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Enantioselective N-heterocyclic carbene catalyzed formal [3+2] cycloaddition using α-aroyloxyaldehydes and oxaziridines

An enantioselective N-heterocyclic carbene catalysed formal [3+2] cycloaddition has been developed for the synthesis of oxazolindin-4-one products. The reaction of oxaziridines and α-aroyloxyaldehydes under N-heterocyclic carbene catalysis provides the formal cycloaddition products with excellent control of the diastereo- and enantioselectivity (12 examples, up to >95:5 dr, >99:1 er). A matched-mismatched effect between the enantiomer of the catalyst and oxaziridine was identified, and preliminary mechanistic studies have allowed the proposal of a model to explain these observations.     

Stereoselective sulfoxidation catalyzed by achiral Schiff base complexes in the presence of serum albumin in aqueous media

Four coordination complexes ML derived from an achiral Schiff base ligand (H₂L?=?2,2′-[(1,2-ethanediyl)bis(nitrilopropylidyne)]bisphenol) have been synthesized and characterized. A method is described for the enantioselective oxidation of a series of aryl alkyl sulfides using the coordination complexes in the presence of serum albumins (SAs) in an aqueous medium at ambient temperature. The mixture of metal complexes with serum albumins is useful for inducing asymmetric catalysis. The complex, albumin source and substrate influence stereoselective sulfoxidation. At optimal pH with the appropriate oxidant, some of ML/SA systems are identified as very efficient catalysts, giving the corresponding sulfoxides in excellent chemical yield (up to 100%) and good enantioselectivity (up to 94% ee) in certain cases. UV–visible spectroscopic data provide evidence that stronger binding between the complex and serum albumin lead to higher enantioselectivity.     

Differentiating alkyne reactivity in the post-Ugi transformations: Access to polycyclic indole-fused frameworks

The Ugi adducts prepared from propiolic acids, propargylamines, indole-2-carbaldehydes, and isocyanides were utilized to assemble polycyclic indole-fused frameworks via two consecutive carbocyclizations involving triple bonds. First, the peptidyl position of Ugi adduct underwent potassium carbonate-mediated cyclization onto the triple bond derived from propiolic acid. Then, the position 3 of indole core engaged into gold-catalyzed cyclization onto the propargylamine-originated alkyne, completing the construction of polycyclic core.     

Stereocontrolled self-assembly of luminescent lanthanide helicates and their enantiodifferentiation using Δ-TRISPHAT as the NMR resolving agent

Self-assembled supramolecular lanthanide constructs have great potential in luminescent bioprobes/sensors. Stereoselectivity on the lanthanide assemblies is needed to facilitate chiroptical probes and sensors. Herein we report the stereocontrolled synthesis of M₂L₃-type (M = metal ion, L = organic ligand) lanthanide triple-helicates using a chiral-induction strategy, where the periphery point-chirality [(R,R) or (S,S)] of the organic ligands was transferred into the metal centered chirality (ΔΔ or ΛΛ), thus leading to the formation of topological chiral (P or M) helicates. Moreover, commercially available Δ-TRISPHAT proved to be an effective NMR chiral resolving agent to differentiate between the two enantiomers of the helicate.     

Cyclometallated 1,2,3-triazol-5-ylidene iridium(III) complexes: synthesis,structure, and photoluminescence properties

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Interplay between test sets and statistical procedures in ranking DFT methods: The case of electron density studies

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A convergent approach towards the synthesis of the 2-alkyl-substituted tetrahydroquinoline alkaloid (−)-cuspareine

A convergent approach towards the synthesis of the 2-alkyl-substituted tetrahydroquinoline alkaloid (?)-cuspareine via enantiospecific construction of the (R)-benzyl 2-formyl-3,4-dihydroquinoline-1(2H)-carboxylate. We have achieved an efficient enantiospecific synthesis of (?)-cuspareine starting from known key starting materials. The reactions employed for individual transformations are simple and high yielding, and the strategy could potentially be easily extended.     

Short syntheses of (−)-clavaminol A and deacetyl (+)-clavaminol H

Concise stereoselective syntheses of (?)-clavaminol A and deacetyl (+)-clavaminol H have been achieved from simple starting materials. Highlights of the synthesis for (?)-clavaminol A include a highly diastereoselective chelation-controlled hydride reduction of an amino ketone to give the anti amino alcohol directly, and NaBH₄-mediated dehalogenation. The main synthetic approach for deacetyl (+)-clavaminol H features a highly diastereoselective chelation-controlled hydride reduction of the amino ketone to construct the anti amino alcohol and a palladium catalyzed hydrogenation reaction at the final step.     

Enzyme mediated kinetic resolution of δ-hydroxy-α,β-unsaturated esters as a route to optically active δ-lactones

A novel synthetic route to optically active saturated and unsaturated δ-lactones based on enzymatic kinetic resolution and ring-closing metathesis reactions has been proposed. The influence of temperature, co-solvent, organic additives and the substrate structure on the catalytic behavior of selected hydrolases was studied. The substantial impact of the organic co-solvent and surfactant type on the enzymatic activity and enantioselectivity was observed providing enantiomerically pure δ-hydroxy-α,β-unsaturated esters. The established protocol combining enzymatic kinetic resolution with ring closing metathesis was successfully applied in the synthesis of the enantiomerically pure (6R)-phenyl-5,6-dihydro-2H-pyran-2-one which plays crucial role in the synthesis of the number of bioactive compounds.     

Synthesis of threo- and erythro-configured trihydroxy open chain lipophilic ketones as possible anti-mycobacterial agents

A series of threo- and erythro-configured open-chain trihydroxy ketones was synthesized starting from l- and d-ascorbic acid respectively as the starting material, through the use of Grignard reactions for the requisite CC bond formations. The lipophilic ketones were screened against Mycobacteriumtuberculosis for anti-proliferative activity. The lipophilic ketones with tetradecyl alkyl side chains were found to be moderately active against cell proliferation.     

A roadway of exploring polymer science,a lifetime of nurturing polymer scientists

正This special column is dedicated to Professor Shou-Kuan Fu on the occasion of his 80thbirthday.Prof. Shou-Kuan Fu, born in July, 1940 in Jiangsu Province. He obtained his B.S. in Chemistry from Department of Chemistry,Fudan University in 1962, then, he graduated from graduate school of Fudan University in 1966, under the supervision of Prof. TongYin Yu, a distinguished pioneer of polymer science in China and the founder of Department of Macromolecular Science at Fudan University.