Efficient stereocontrolled synthesis of (S)-Fmoc-β-nitroalanine via oxidation of oxime

Stereocontrolled synthesis of (S)-Fmoc-β-nitroalanine (20) was accomplished from (R)-Fmoc-Ser(^tBu)-OH (14) in a total of six steps via an oxime. The oxime (17) was obtained from (R)-Fmoc-Ser(^tBu)-H (16), which in turn was obtained by reduction of Weinreb amide (15). Oxidation of oxime was realized with peroxytrifluoroacetic acid at a neutral pH at 0 °C. After removal of the ^tBu protecting group with 90% TFA/H₂O, the hydroxyl group was oxidized with Jones reagent to afford (S)-Fmoc-β-nitroalanine (20) in overall good yield.     

TiCl4 mediated Michael addition reactions of α-cyanoketene-S,S-acetals with enones

Titanium tetrachloride promoted Michael addition reactions of α-cyanoketene-S,S-acetals 1 with enones 2 have been developed. The polyfunctionalized 2-[1,3]dithiolan-2-ylidene-3-substituted-5-oxo-5-substituted-pentanenitriles 3 were obtained in good to high yields and the corresponding mechanism was also described.     

Facile and clean synthesis of α-alkenoyl ketene-(S,S)-acetals via the aldol condensation reactions in water

The aldol condensation reactions of α,α-diacetyl ketene-(S,S)-acetals, 1a and 1b, with aromatic aldehydes 2 in the presence of NaOH in water have been investigated. At room temperature, the base-mediated condensations proceed smoothly to afford the corresponding mono-condensed products, α-alkenoyl ketene-(S,S)-acetals 3, in high yields. At reflux temperature, the reactions produce high yields of symmetric double condensed α,α-dialkenoyl ketene-(S,S)-acetals 4 when 2 equiv of aldehyde are employed. Moreover, compounds 3 can condense with a different aldehyde to give unsymmetric double condensed α,α-dialkenoyl ketene-(S,S)-acetals 5.     

Efficient synthesis of racemic β-aminophosphonates via aza-Michael reaction in water

Water as a solvent significantly accelerates the addition of various amines to diethyl vinylphosphonate to yield β-aminophosphonates without any catalyst compared to known procedures for such aza-Michael reactions. The products are obtained in quantitative yields and high purity over short reaction times. Using a reactant ratio (vinylphosphonate/amine) of 2:1 resulted in double phosphorylation of primary amines.     

A facile and efficient synthesis of fully substituted pyridin-2(1H)-ones from α-oxoketene-S,S-acetals

A facile and efficient synthesis of fully substituted pyridin-2(1H)-ones has been developed by the reaction of readily available α-oxoketene-S,S-acetals with malononitrile in the presence of sodium methoxide in methanol under reflux.     

Promiscuous Candida antarctica lipase B-catalyzed synthesis of β-amino esters via aza-Michael addition of amines to acrylates

An efficient protocol for the regioselective aza-Michael addition of amines with acrylates using CaL B as a biocatalyst at 60 °C has been developed. The reaction is applicable to a wide variety of primary and secondary amines with different acrylates to synthesize the corresponding β-amino esters with good yields. An alternative route for the synthesis of higher β-amino esters through the additional transesterification step is also studied and was found effective.     

Asymmetric synthesis of α,β-substituted γ-amino acids via conjugate addition

The first conjugate addition reaction of organocuprates to N-enoyl oxazolidinone where a N-protected γ-nitrogen atom and an α-methyl group are present into α, β-unsaturated system is described. This reaction gave anti-products in moderate yields and high diastereomeric ratios. The anti-products have two contiguous stereogenic centers, one formed by the conjugate addition reaction and the other by a diastereoselective protonation reaction. The removal of chiral oxazolidinone moiety and N-deprotection of amino group furnished chiral α, β-disubstituted γ-amino acids.     

Gallium trichloride-catalyzed conjugate addition of indole and pyrrole to α,β-unsaturated ketones in aqueous media

Michael addition of indole and pyrrole to a variety ofα,β-unsaturated ketones was efficiently promoted by a catalytic amount of GaCl_3 in aqueous media to afford the corresponding products in good to excellent yields.     

Efficient synthesis of 4-vinyl α,β-unsaturated γ-lactams by ring-closing enyne metathesis reactions

The ring-closing enyne metathesis reaction of alkyl 2-substituted-2-(N-alkynyl acrylamido)esters using the first-generation Grubbs’ catalyst afforded five-membered lactams bearing a 1,3-diene moiety in high isolated yields. In the reaction process, the presence of ethylene gas is essential.     

Enantioselective synthesis of (2R,3R)- and (2S,3S)-β-hydroxyornithine

An efficient and short synthesis of (2R,3R)- and (2S,3S)-β-hydroxyornithine 1a-b is described using Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation and regioselective nucleophilic opening of a cyclic sulfite as the key steps.     

Silica gel accelerated aza-Michael addition of amines to α,β-unsaturated amides

A novel method to synthesize β-amino amide has been developed via conjugated addition of amine to bulky α,β-unsaturated amides promoted by silica gel. The silica gel worked efficiently to accelerate the reaction and afforded the related adduct in good to excellent yield.     

Amino-acid-mediated epoxidation of α,β-unsaturated ketones by hydrogen peroxide in aqueous media

Amino acids, such as arginine and lysine, can be used as an efficient catalyst in the epoxidation of α,β-unsaturated ketones with aqueous hydrogen peroxide. Up to >99% conversion was obtained in the reaction toward 11 α,β-unsaturated ketones.     

A facile enantioselective synthesis of (S)-N-(5-chlorothiophene-2-sulfonyl)-β,β-diethylalaninol via proline-catalyzed asymmetric α-aminooxylation and α-amination of aldehyde

A high-yielding enantioselective synthesis of the bioactive (S)-N-(5-chlorothiophene-2-sulfonyl)-β,β-diethylalaninol (1), a Notch-1-sparing γ-secretase inhibitor metabolite (with EC₅₀ = 28 nM) effective in reduction of Aβ production in vivo, has been realized starting from readily available 3-pentanone. The key steps of the synthesis are proline-catalyzed α-aminooxylation and α-amination of aldehyde; the latter contributing an overall yield of 45.2% and 98% ee.     

One pot synthesis of α,α-bis(N-arylamido) lactams via iodide-catalyzed rearrangement of β,β-bis(N-arylamido) cyclic ketene-N,O-acetals

Five and six-membered cyclic ketene-N,O-acetals, generated in situ from 2,3-dimethyl-2-oxazolinium iodide or 2,3-dimethyl-2-oxazinium iodide and triethylamine, reacted with aryl isocyanates in refluxing THF producing α,α-bis(N-arylamido) lactams via the iodide-catalyzed rearrangement of β,β-bis(N-arylamido) cyclic ketene-N,O-acetal intermediates. The cyclic ketene-N,O-acetal generated in situ from 2,3,4,4-tetramethyl-2-oxazolinium iodide reacted with isocyanates to give β,β-bis(N-arylamido) cyclic ketene-N,O-acetals, which do not readily rearrange. The two methyls at C-4 hindered the nucleophilic attack of iodide on C-5, which is required for rearrangement.     

Cationic Pd(II)/bipyridine-catalyzed conjugate addition of arylboronic acids to α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids in aqueous media

An in-situ generated cationic Pd(II)/bipyridine-catalyzed conjugate addition of arylboronic acids to α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids in water was developed and optimized. For most substrates, nearly quantitative yields were given, and the products can be purified by simple washing without column chromatography. The reaction can be scaled up to 1.0?g easily with excellent yields. Also the loading of catalyst can be lowered to 1.0?mol% with modest yields, and the reaction provided a mild and easy way to synthesize β-disubstituted carboxylic acids.     

A novel synthesis of allyl and benzyl selenides via Sm/SbCl_3 system in aqueous media

Allyl and benzyl selenides were synthesized via reactions of allyl and benzyl bromides and diselenides promoted by Sm/Sb-Cl3 system in aqueous media in moderate to good yields.     

Facile synthesis of (Z)- and (E)-3-allylidene-β-lactams via thermal β-elimination of trans-3-allyl-3-sulfinyl-β-lactams

A competent synthetic route for the synthesis of novel (Z)- and (E)-3-allylidene-β-lactams is described. The strategy involves oxidation of trans-3-allyl-3-phenylthio-β-lactams 1 using sodium metaperiodate (NaIO₄) to diastereomeric trans-3-allyl-3-phenylsulfinyl-β-lactams 2 and 3, which further undergo thermal β-elimination in refluxing carbon tetrachloride to furnish (Z)- and (E)-3-allylidene-β-lactams 5 and 6 in good to excellent yields. The molecular structure of 3b has been established with the help of single crystal X-ray analysis.     

An eco-friendly procedure for the efficient synthesis of dialkyl α-aminophosphonates in aqueous media

A new, convenient and high yielding procedure for the preparation of diethyl α-aminophosphonates in water by one-pot reaction of aldehydes, amines, tri/dialkyl phosphites in the presence of a low catalytic amount of [Cu(3,4-tmtppa)](MeSO₄)₄ (0.16 mol%) as a highly stable and re-usable catalyst is described.     

A simple efficient sequential one-pot intermolecular aza-Michael addition and intramolecular Buchwald–Hartwig α-arylation of amines: synthesis of functionalized tetrahydroisoquinolines

An efficient one-pot sequential intermolecular aza-Michael addition and Pd-catalyzed intramolecular Buchwald–Hartwig α-arylation of secondary amines have been investigated, for the synthesis of tetrahydroisoquinolines. This method is simple and furnished products in very good yield and also successfully applied for the synthesis of novel aza-spirotricylcic ethers.