Asymmetric Total Synthesis of (11R, 12S, 13S, 9Z, 15Z)-9, 12, 13-Trihydroxyoctadeca-9, 15-dienoic Acid,a self-defensive agent against rice-blast disease

The Diels-Alder adduct of furan and 1-cyanovinyl (1′R)-camphanate was converted into methyl [(tert-butyl)-dimethylsilyl 5-deoxy-2, 3-O-isopropylidene-β-L -ribo-hexofuranosid] uronate ((+)- 4 ). Reduction with diisobutyl-aluminium hydride gave the corresponding aldehyde which was condensed with the ylide derived from triphenyl-(propyl)phosphonium bromide to give (1R, 2S, 3S, 4S)-1-[(tert-butyl)dimethylsilyloxy]tetrahedro-2, 3-(isopropyl-idenedioxy)-4-[(Z)-pent-2′ -enyl]furan ((+)- 7 ). Removal of the silyl protective group gave a mixture of the corresponding furanose that underwent Wittig reaction with the ylide derived from [8-(methoxycarbonyl)-octyl]triphenylphosphonium bromide to yield methyl (11R, 12S, 13S, 9Z, 15Z)-13-hydroxy-11, 12-(isopropylidene-dioxy)octadeca-9, 15-dienoate ((?)- 9 ). Acidic hydrolysis, then saponification afforded (11R, 12S, 13S, 9Z, 15Z)-11, 12, 13-trihydroxyoctadeca-9, 15-dienoic acid ( 1 ).     

Chemo- and Stereoselective Coordination of 5,6-Dimethylidene-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene by d8- and d6-Metal Carbonyls. Diels-Alder reactivity of Dienes Perturbed by Remote Olefin Complexation

The endocyclic double bond C(2), C(3) in 5,6-dimethylidene-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]-hept-2-ene ( 1 ) can he coordinated selectively on its exo-face before complexation of the exocyclic s-cis-butadiene moiety. Irradiation of Ru₃(CO)₁₂ or Os₃(CO)₁₂ in the presence of 1 gave tetracarbonyl [(1R,2R, 3S,4S)-2,3-η-(5,6-dimethylidene-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]-hept-2-ene)]ruthenium ( 6 ) or -osmium ( 8 ). Similarly, irradiation of Cr(CO)₆ or W(CO)₆ in the presence of 1 gave pentacarbonyl[(1R, 2R, 3S,4S)-2,3-η-(5,6-dimethylidene-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene)]chromium (10) or -tungsten (11) . Irradiation of complexes 6 and 11 in the presence of 1 led to further CO substitution giving bed-tricarbonyl-ae-bis[(1R,2R,3S,4S)-2,3-η-(5,6-dimethylidene-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene)]ruthenium ( 7 ) and trans-tetracarbonyl[(1R,2R,3S,4S)-2,3-η-(5,6-dimethylidene-7-oxabicyclo-[2.2.1]hept-2-ene)]tungsten (12) , respectively. The diosmacyclobutane derivative cis-m?-[(1R,3R,3S,4S)-(5,6-dimethylidene-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hepta-2,3-diyl)]bis(tetracarbonyl-osmium) (Os-Os) (9) wa also obtained. The Diels-Alder reactivity of the exocyclic s-cis-butadiene moiety in complexs 7 and 8 was found to be significantly higher than that of the free triene 1 .     

cis-Disubstituted Cyclopropanes via Asymmetric Catalytic Cyclopropenation: Synthesis of Cyclopropyl-dehydroamino Acids and of Dictyopterene C′

The cyclopropenation of diethoxypropyne ( 1 ) with methyl diazoacetate in the presence of [Rh₂{(2S)-mepy}₄] (mepy=methyl 5-oxopyrrolidine-2-carboxylate) proceeds with >95% ee. The resulting cyclopropenecarboxylate 2 underwent stereoselective hydrogenation to the cis-cyclopropane 3 . Hydrolysis of the acetal function of 3 liberated the formyl cyclopropenecarboxylate 4 , which was transformed by Wittig reaction with the phosphonate 5 to afford dehydroamino acid 6 as a mixture of (Z)- and (E)-isomers in various proportions. The (Z)-isomer 6a was hydrolyzed, and the structure and the absolute configuration of the (Z)-dicarboxylic acid 7a were established by X-ray crystallography. The cis-divinylcyclopropane 11 (ee>95%), in turn, was synthesized from 4 via Wittig reaction to afford 8 , which was transformed to the aldehyde 10 and subjected to a second Wittig reaction. Thermolysis of 11 afforded (+)-dictyopterene C′ ( 12 ) in quantitative yield.     

Coralloidolide A and Coralloidolide B,the First Cembranoids from a Mediterranean Organism,the Alcyonacean Alcyonium coralloides

The alcyonacean Alcyonium ( = Parerythropodium) coralloides (PALLAS 1766) is the first Mediterranean organism shown to contain cembranoids. These are of unusual type like coralloidolide A ( = (?)-(1R*, 2R*, 3R*, 12S*, 5Z, 7Z, 9Z)-1, 2:7, 10-diepoxy-12-isopropenyl-5, 9-dimethylcyclotetradeca-5, 7, 9-triene-1, 3-carbolactone; (?)-6) and coralloidolide B ( =(?)-(1R*,2S*,3R*,7S*,10S*,12S*,5Z,8Z,)-2, 7:7, 10-diepoxy-1, 10-dihydroxy-12-isopropenyl-5, 9-dimethylcyclotetradeca-5,8-diene-1,3-carbolactone; (?)-8). Structural assignments are mainly based on 1D- and 2D-NMR data and on chemical transformations.     

Stereospecific syntheses of all four stereoisomers of 4-fluoroglutamic acid

(+)- -threo-4-Fluoroglutamic acid [(+)-(2S, 4S)-fluoroglutamic acid] has been synthesizedstarting with the natural (−)-4-trans-hydroxy- -proline. Its acetylation at nitrogen followedby esterification with diazomethane afforded methyl 1-acetyl-trans-4-hydroxy- -prolinatewhich was converted to methyl 1-acetyl-cis-4-fluoro- -prolinate by means of diethylaminosulfurtrifluoride (DAST) or 2-chloro-1,1,2-trifluorotriethylamine. The mixture wasoxidized by ruthenium tetroxide to methyl 1-acetyl-cis-4-fluoro- -pyrrolidin-5-one-2-carboxylate,whose acid hydrolysis yielded the title compound. A similar sequence of reactionsconverted cis-4-hydroxy- -proline to (−)- -erythro-4-fluoroglutamic acid [(−)(2R, 4S)-fluoroglutamic acid]. (−)- -threo-4-Fluoroglutamic acid [(−)-(2R, 4R)-floroglutamicacid] was prepared analogously from trans-4-hydroxy- -proline, obtained from its diastereomerby inversion of configuration at carbon 4 of the pyrrolidine ring using thediethyl azodicarboxylate-triphenylphosphine procedure. cis-4-Hydroxy- -proline, necessaryfor the synthesis of (+)- -erythro-4-fluoroglutamic acid [(+)-(2S, 4R)-fluoroglutamicacid], was prepared from trans-4-hydroxy- -proline by benzyloxycarbonylation at thenitrogen, oxidation of the 1-benzyloxycarbonyl-trans-4-hydroxy- -proline to 1-benzyloxy-carbonyl-4-oxo- -proline, its reduction to 1-benzyloxycarbonyl-cis-4-hydroxy- -proline anddeprotection of the latter at the nitrogen. (−)-cis-4-Fluoro- -proline and (+)-trans-4-fluoro- -proline were isolated after the hydrolysis of incompletely oxidized methyl 1-acetyl-cis-4-fluoro- -prolinate and methyl 1-acetyl-trans-4-fluoro- -prolinate, respectively.     

(all-E)-12′-Apozeaxanthinol,Persicaxanthine und Persicachrome

( all-E)-12′-Apozeanthinol, Persicaxanthine, and Persicachromes Reexamination of the so-called ‘persicaxanthins’ and ‘persicachromes’, the fluorescent and polar C₂₅-apocarotenols from the flesh of cling peaches, led to the identification of the following components: (3R)-12′-apo-β-carotene-3,12′-diol ( 3 ), (3S,5R,8R, all-E)- and (3S,5R,8S,all-E)-5,8-epoxy-5,8-dihydro-12′-apo-β-carotene-3,12′-diols (4 and 5, resp.), (3S,5R,6S,all-E)-5,6-epoxy-5,6-dihydro-l2′-apo-β-carotene-3,12′-diol =persicaxanthin; ( 6 ), (3S,5R,6S,9Z,13′Z)-5,6-dihydro-12′apo-β-carotene-3,12′-diol ( 7 ; probable structure), (3S,5R,6S,15Z)-5,6-epoxy-5,6-dihydro-12′-apo-β-carotene-3,12′-diol ( 8 ), and (3S,5R,6S,13Z)-5,6-epoxy-5,6-dihydro-12′-apo-β-carotene-3,12′-diol ( 9 ). The (Z)-isomers 7 – 9 are very labile and, after HPLC separation, isomerized predominantly to the (all-E)-isomer 6 .     

3,6-Thioanhydro sugar derivatives. An enantiospecific synthesis of (2R,3R,4S)-3-benzyloxy-4-hydroxy-2-[(R)-1-benzyloxy-4-hydroxybutyl]thiolane as the key intermediate for thioswainsonine

Methyl 2-O-benzyl-3,6-thioanhydro-α-D-mannopyranoside ( 9 ) was obtained in eight steps from the commercially available methyl α-D-glucopyranoside. Compound 9 was transformed into (2R,3R,4S)-3-benzyloxy-4-hydroxy-2-[(R)-1-benzyloxy-4-hydroxybutyl]thiolane ( 14 ) by acid hydrolysis of its 2,4-di-O-benzyl derivative 10 followed by reaction of the not isolated 2,4-di-O-benzyl-3,6-thioanhydro-D-mannose ( 11 ) with ethoxycarbonylmethylenetriphenylphosphorane to give an = 1:1 E/Z mixture of the corresponding α,β-unsaturated ester ( 12 ). Finally, catalytic hydrogenation of 12 to ethyl (R)-4-benzyloxy-4-[(2′R)3′R,4′S)-3′-benzyloxy-4′-hydroxythiolan-2′-yl]butanoate ( 13 ) and subsequent reduction with lithium aluminum hydride gave the title compound 14 .     

Isomerization of Methyl (9Z)-12-Oxooctadec-9-enoate

Methyl (9Z)-12-oxooctadec-9-enoate isomerizes stereoselectively in 86% yield into methyl (10E)-12-octadec-10-enoate in the presence of a complex H₂O₂-BF₃-Et₂O.     

Reactivity of 5,10:8,14-Disecosteroids: An unusual rearrangement of cyclodecene-1,4-dione systems to five-membered-ring spiro-γ-lactones

Upon heating in AcOH, the stereoisomeric (Z)- and (R)-6,9-dioxocyclodex-3-enyl derivatives, 5 and 6 , respectively, obtained by HgO/I₂ oxidation of 5-hydroxy-8-oxo-8,14-seco-5α-androstane-3β,17β-diyl diacetate ( 3 ), undergo an unusual intramolecular rearrangement to give the corresponding unsaturated (5R,9R)- and (5R,9S)-spiro-lactones 7 and 8 , respectively. Hydroxylation of the C?C bond in 7 and 8 , and subsequent glycol cleavage of the resulting diols 9 and 10 afforded the epimeric spiro-lactones (5R,9S)- 11 and (5R,9R)- 14 , respectively, and in both cases, the ring-D-containing fragments 12 and 13 .     

1,3‐Oxathiolanes from the Reaction of Aromatic and Enolized Thioketones with Monosubstituted Oxiranes

The reactions of 4,4′‐dimethoxythiobenzophenone ( 1 ) with (S)‐2‐methyloxirane ((S)‐ 2 ) and (R)‐2‐phenyloxirane ((R)‐ 6 ) in the presence of a Lewis acid such as BF₃?Et₂O, ZnCl₂, or SiO₂ in dry CH₂Cl₂ led to the corresponding 1 : 1 adducts, i.e., 1,3‐oxathiolanes (S)‐ 3 with Me at C(5), and (S)‐ 7 and (R)‐ 8 with Ph at C(4) and C(5), respectively. A 1 : 2 adduct, 1,3,6‐dioxathiocane (4S,8S)‐ 4 and 1,3‐dioxolane (S)‐ 9 , respectively, were formed as minor products (Schemes 3 and 5, Tables 1 and 2). Treatment of the 1 : 1 adduct (S)‐ 3 with (S)‐ 2 and BF₃?Et₂O gave the 1 : 2 adduct (4S,8S)‐ 4 (Scheme 4). In the case of the enolized thioketone 1,3‐diphenylprop‐1‐ene‐2‐thiol ( 10 ) with (S)‐ 2 and (R)‐ 6 in the presence of SiO₂, the enesulfanyl alcohols (1′Z,2S)‐ 11 and (1′E,2S)‐ 11 , and (1′Z,2S)‐ 13 , (1′E,2S)‐ 13 , (1′Z,1R)‐ 15 , and (1′E,1R)‐ 15 , respectively, as well as a 1,3‐oxathiolane (S)‐ 14 were formed (Schemes 6 and 8). In the presence of HCl, the enesulfanyl alcohols (1′Z,2S)‐ 11 , (1′Z,2S)‐ 13 , (1′E,2S)‐ 13 , (1′Z,1R)‐ 15 , and (1′E,1R)‐ 15 cyclize to give the corresponding 1,3‐oxathiolanes (S)‐ 12 , (S)‐ 14 , and (R)‐ 16 , respectively (Schemes 7, 9, and 10). The structures of (1′E,2S)‐ 11 , (S)‐ 12 , and (S)‐ 14 were confirmed by X‐ray crystallography (Figs. 1–3). These results show that 1,3‐oxathiolanes can be prepared directly via the Lewis acid‐catalyzed reactions of oxiranes with non‐enolizable thioketones, and also in two steps with enolized thioketones. The nucleophilic attack of the thiocarbonyl or enesulfanyl S‐atom at the Lewis acid‐complexed oxirane ring proceeds with high regio‐ and stereoselectivity via an S_n 2‐type mechanism.     

One‐Pot,Asymmetric and Diastereoselective Four‐Component Synthesis of Polyfunctional (Z)‐Alkenyl Methyl Sulfones with Three Stereogenic Centers

The reaction of 1‐(trimethylsilyloxy)cyclopentene ( 9 ) with (±)‐1,3,5‐triisopropyl‐2‐(1‐(RS)‐{[(1E)‐2‐methylpenta‐1,3‐dienyl]oxy}ethyl)benzene ((±)‐ 4a ) in SO₂/CH₂Cl₂ containing (CF₃SO₂)₂NH, followed by treatment with Bu₄NF and MeI gave a 3.0 : 1 mixture of (±)‐(2RS)‐2{(1RS,2Z,4SR)‐2‐methyl‐4‐(methylsulfonyl)‐1‐[(RS)‐1‐(2,4,6‐triisopropylphenyl)ethoxy]pent‐2‐en‐1‐yl}cyclopentanone ((±)‐ 10 ) and (±)‐(2RS)‐2‐{(1RS,2Z)‐2‐methyl‐4‐[(SR)‐methylsulfonyl]‐1‐[(SR)‐1‐(2,4,6‐triisopropylphenyl)ethoxy]pent‐2‐en‐1‐yl}cyclopentanone ((±)‐ 11 ). Similarly, enantiomerically pure dienyl ether (−)‐(1S)‐ 4a reacted with 1‐(trimethylsilyloxy)cyclohexene ( 12 ) to give a 14.1 : 1 mixture of (−)‐(2S)‐2‐{(1S,2Z,4R)‐2‐methyl‐4‐(methylsulfonyl)‐1‐[(S)‐1‐(2,4,6‐triisopropylphenyl)ethoxy]pent‐2‐enyl}cyclohexanone ((−)‐ 13a ) and its diastereoisomer 14a with (1S,2R,4R) or (1R,2S,4S) configuration. Structures of (±)‐ 10 , (±)‐ 11 , and (−)‐ 13a were established by single‐crystal X‐ray crystallography. Poor diastereoselectivities were observed with the (E,E)‐2‐methylpenta‐1,3‐diene‐1‐ylethers (+)‐ 4b and (−)‐ 4c bearing ( 1 S )‐1‐phenylethyl and (1S)‐1‐(pentafluorophenyl)ethyl groups instead of the Greene's auxiliary ((1S)‐(2,4,6‐triisopropylphenyl)ethyl group). The results demonstrate that high α/β‐syn and asymmetric induction (due to the chiral auxiliary) can be obtained in the four‐component syntheses of the β‐alkoxy ketones. The method generates enantiomerically pure polyfunctional methyl sulfones bearing three chiral centers on C‐atoms and one (Z)‐alkene moiety.     

New Nonhydrolyzable Mimetics of Sialyl Lewis X and Their Binding Affinity to P‐Selectin

Wittig olefination of (2S,3R,5S,6R)‐5‐(acetyloxy)‐tetrahydro‐6‐[(methoxymethoxy)methyl]‐3‐(phenylthio)‐ 2H‐pyran‐2‐acetaldehyde ((+)‐ 10 ) with {2‐[(2S,3R,4R,5R,6S)‐tetrahydro‐3,4,5‐tris(methoxymethoxy)‐6‐methyl‐ 2H‐pyran‐2‐yl]ethyl}triphenylphosphonium iodide ((?)‐ 11 ) gave a (Z)‐alkene derivative (+)‐ 12 that was converted into (αR,2R,3S,4R,5R,6S)‐tetrahydro‐α,3‐dihydroxy‐2‐(hydroxymethyl)‐5‐(phenylthio)‐6‐{(2Z)‐4‐[(2S,3S,4R,5S,6S)‐tetrahydro‐3,4,5‐trihydroxy‐6‐methyl‐2H‐pyran‐2‐yl]but‐2‐enyl}2H‐pyran‐4‐acetic acid ( 8 ), (αR,2R,3S,4R,6S)‐tetrahydro‐α,3‐dihydroxy‐2‐(hydroxymethyl)‐6‐{4‐[(2S,3S,4R,5S,6S)‐tetrahydro‐3,4,5‐trihydroxy‐6‐methyl‐2H‐pyran‐2‐yl]butyl}‐2H‐pyran‐4‐acetic acid ( 9 ), and simpler analogues without the hydroxyacetic side chain such as (2S,3S,4R,5S,6S)‐tetrahydro‐6‐methyl‐2‐{(2Z)‐4‐[(2S,3R,5S,6R)‐tetrahydro‐5‐hydroxy‐6‐(hydroxymethyl)‐3‐(phenylthio)‐2H‐pyran‐2‐yl]but‐2‐enyl}‐2H‐pyran‐3,4,5‐triol ( 30 ), (2S,3S,4R,5S,6S)‐tetrahydro‐6‐methyl‐2‐{[(2S,5S,6R)‐tetrahydro‐5‐hydroxy‐6‐(hydroxymethyl)‐2H‐pyran‐2‐yl]butyl}‐2H‐pyran‐3,4,5‐ triol ((?)‐ 41 ) and (2S,3S,4R,5S,6S)‐tetrahydro‐6‐methyl‐2‐{(2Z/E))‐4‐[(2R,5S,6R)‐tetrahydro‐5‐hydroxy‐6‐(hydroxymethyl)‐2H‐pyran‐2‐yl]but‐2‐enyl}‐2H‐pyran‐3,4,5‐triol ( 43 ). The key intermediates (+)‐ 10 and (?)‐ 11 were derived from isolevoglucosenone and from L ‐fucose, respectively. The following IC₅₀ values were measured in a ELISA test for the affinities of sialyl Lewis x tetrasaccharide, 8, 9, 30 , (?)‐ 41 , and 43 toward P‐selectin: 0.7, 2.5–2.8, 7.3–8.0, 5.3–5.9, 5.0–5.2, and 3.4–4.1 mM , respectively.     

Absolute Konfiguration von Antheraxanthin, «cis-Antheraxantliirt» und der diastereomeren Mutatoxanthine

Absolute Configuration of Antheraxanthin, ‘cis-Aritheraxanthin’ and of the Stereoisomeric Mutatdxanthins The assignement of structure 2 to antheraxanthin (all-E)-(3 S, 5 R, 6 S, 3′ R)-5,6-epoxy-5,6-dihydro-β,β-carotene-3,3′-diol and of 1 to ‘cis-antheraxanthin’ (9Z)-(3 S, 5 R, 6 S, 3′ R)-5,6-epoxy-5,6-dihydro-β,β-carotene-3,3′-diol is based on chemical correlation with (3 R, 3′ R)-zeaxanthin and extensive ¹H-NMR. measurements at 400 MHz. ‘Semisynthetic antheraxanthin’ ( = ‘antheraxanthin B’) has structure 6 . For the first time the so-called ‘mutatoxanthin’, a known rearrangement product of either 1 or 2 , has been separated into pure and crystalline C(8)-epimers (epimer A of m.p. 213° and epimer B of m.p. 159°). Their structures were assigned by spectroscopical and chiroptical correlations with flavoxanthin and chrysanthemaxanthin. Epimer A is (3 S, 5 R, 8 S, 3′ R)-5,8-epoxy-5,8-dihydro-β,β-carotene-3,3′-diol ( 4 ; = (8 S)mutatoxanthin) and epimer B is (3 S, 5 R, 8 R, 3′ R)-5,8-epoxy-5,8-dihydro-β,β-carotene-3,3′-diol ( 3 ; = (8 R)-mutatoxanthin). The carotenoids 1 – 4 have a widespread occurrence in plants. We also describe their separation by HPLC. techniques. CD. spectra measured at room temperature and at ? 180° are presented for 1 – 4 and 6 . Antheraxanthin ( 2 ) and (9Z)-antheraxanthin ( 1 ) exhibit a typical conservative CD. The CD. Spectra also allow an easy differentiation of 6 from its epimer 2 . The isomeric (9Z)-antheraxanthin ( 1 ) shows the expected inversion of the CD. curve in the UV. range. The CD. spectra of the epimeric mutatoxanthins 3 and 4 (β end group) are dissimilar to those of flavoxanthin/chrysanthemaxanthin (ε end group). They allow an easy differentiation of the C (8)-epimers.     

Das Carotinoidspektrum der Hagebutten von Rosa pomifera: Nachweis von (5Z)-Neurosporin; Synthese von (3R, 15Z)-Rubixanthin

Carotenoids from Hips of Rosa pomifera: Discovery of (5Z)-Neurosporene; Synthesis of (3R, 15Z)-Rubixanthin Extensive chromatographic separations of the mixture of carotenoids from ripe hips of R. pomifera have led to the identification of 43 individual compounds, namely (Scheme 2): (15 Z)-phytoene (1) , (15 Z)-phytofluene (2) , all-(E)-phytofluene (2a) , ξ-carotene (3) , two mono-(Z)-ξ-carotenes ( 3a and 3b ), (6 R)-?, ψ-carotene (4) , a mono-(Z)-?, ψ-carotene (4a) , β, ψ-carotene (5) , a mono-(Z)-β, ψ-carotene (5a) , neurosporene (6) , (5 Z)-neurosporene (6a) , a mono-(Z)-neurosporene (6b) , lycopene (7) , five (Z)-lycopenes (7a–7e) , β, β-carotene (8) , two mono-(Z)-β, β-carotenes (probably (9 Z)-β, β-carotene (8a) and (13 Z)-β, β-carotene (8b) ), β-cryptoxanthin (9) , three (Z)-β-cryptoxanthins (9a–9c) , rubixanthin (10) , (5′ Z)-rubixanthin (=gazaniaxanthin; 10a ), (9′ Z)-rubixanthin (10b) , (13′ Z)- and (13 Z)-rubixanthin (10c and 10d , resp.), (5′ Z, 13′ Z)- or (5′ Z, 13 Z)-rubixanthin (10e) , lutein (11) , zeaxanthin (12) , (13 Z)-zeaxanthin (12b) , a mono-(Z)-zeaxanthin (probably (9 Z)-zeaxanthin (12a) ), (8 R)-mutatoxanthin (13) , (8 S)-mutatoxanthin (14) , neoxanthin (15) , (8′ R)-neochrome (16) , (8′ S)-neochrome (17) , a tetrahydroxycarotenoid (18?) , a tetrahydroxy-epoxy-carotenoid (19?) , and a trihydroxycarotenoid of unknown structure. Rubixanthin (10) and (5′ Z)-rubixanthin (10a) can easily be distinguished by HPLC. separation and CD. spectra at low temperature. The synthesis of (3 R, 15 Z)-rubixanthin (29) is described. The isolation of (5 Z)-neurosporene (6a) supports the hypothesis that the ?-end group arises by enzymatic cyclization of precursors having a (5 Z)- or (5′ Z)-configuration.     

Polynuclear Iron and Rhodium Complexes of 7-Oxa[2.2.1]hericene (2,3,5,6-tetramethylidenebicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-7-one)

μ-Carbonyl(Rh? Rh)di(η⁵-indenyl)[(2R,3S)-C,2,3,C-η-(2,3,4,5-tetramethylidenebicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-7-one)]]-dirhodium(I)(Rh? Rh) (7) and cis-μ-[(2R,3S,5R,6S))-C,2,3,C-η:C,5,6,C-η-(2,3,5,6-tetramethylidenebicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-7-one)]bis[μ-carbonyldi(η⁵-indenyl)dirhodium(I)(Rh? Rh)] ( 8 ) have been prepared. Complex 7 reacts with Fe₂(CO)₉ in hexane/MeOH and gives cis-μ-[(2R,3S,5R,6S] ( 9 ), trans-μ-[(2R,3S,5S,6R)-C,2,3,C-η: C,5,6, C-η-(2,3,5,6-tetramethylidenebicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-7-one)-μ-carbonyldi(η⁵-indenyl)dirhodium(I)(Rh? Rh)-(tricarbonyliron) ( 10 ), and, μ-carbonyl(Rh? Rh)[(2R,3S)-C,2,3,C-η-(2,3-dimethyl-5,6-dimethylidenebicyclo-[2.2.1]hept-2-en-7-one)]di(η⁵-indenyl)dirhodium(I)(Rh? Rh) ( 11 ). Treatment of 7-oxa[2.2.1]hericene ( 4 ) with Fe₂(CO)₉ or (cyclooctene)₂Fe(CO)₃ gave a 1:2 mixture of cis-μ-[(2R,3S,5R,6S)-] ( 12 ) and trans-μ-[(2R,3S,5S,6R)-C,2,3,C-η:C,5,6,C-η-(2,3,5,6-tetramethylidenebicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-7-one)]bis(tricarbonyliron)( 13 ).     

Chiral cyclohexene block from <Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>-(−)-carvone

The oxidation with SeO₂ of a methyl group linked to an sp²-hybridized carbon in the product of the intramolecular iodoetherification of cis-carveol afforded (1R,5R,7S)-7-iodomethyl-7-methyl-6-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]-oct-3-en-4-carbaldehyde and [(1R,5R,7S)-7-iodomethyl-7-methyl-6-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-3-en-4-yl]methanol that were oxidized to methyl (1R,5R,7S)-7-iodomethyl-7-methyl-6-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-3-en-4-carboxylate. The latter by the Zn-promoted opening of the γ-oxide ring was converted into the target chiral block, methyl (4R,6R)-6-hydroxy-4-(prop-1-en-2-yl)cyclohex-1-encarboxylate.     

Cob(I)alamin als Katalysator, 5. Mitteilung [1]. Enantioselektive Reduktion α,β-ungesättigter Carbonylderivate

Cob(I)alamin as Catalyst. 5. Communication [1]. Enantioselective Reduction of α,β-Unsaturated Carbonyl Derivatives The cob(I)alamin-catalyzed reduction of an α,β-unsaturated ethyl ester in aqueous acetic acid produced the (S)-configurated saturated derivative 2 with an enantiomeric excess of 21%. The starting material 1 is not reduced at pH = 7.0 in the presence of catalytic amounts of cob(I)alamin (see Scheme 2). It is shown that the attack of cob(I)alamin and not of cob(II)alamin, also present in Zn/CH₃COOH/H₂O, accounts for the enantioselective reduction observed. All the (Z)-configurated starting materials 1 , 3 , 5 , 7 , 9 and 11 have been transformed to the corresponding (S)-configurated saturated derivatives 2 , 4 , 6 , 8 , 10 and 12 , respectively. The highest enantiomeric excess revealed to be present in the saturated product 12 (32,7%, S) derived from the (Z)-configurated methyl ketone 11 (see Scheme 3 and Table 1). The reduction of the (E)-configurated starting materials led mainly to racemic products. A saturated product having the (R)-configuration with a rather weak enantiomeric excess (5.9%) has been obtained starting from the (E)-configurated methyl ketone 23 (see Scheme 5 and Table 2). The allylic alcohols 16 and 24 have been reduced to the saturated racemic derivative 17 .     

Enantioselective Hydrogenation over Chiral Cobalt Complexes with (+)-(1S,2S,5R)-Neomenthyldiphenylphosphine and (-)-(R,R)-2,2-Dimethyl-4,5-bis(diphenylphosphinomethyl)-1,3-dioxolane

The optical yield in enantioselective hydrogenation of methyl -acetamidocinnamate over mono- and diphosphine cobalt(II) complexes CoX₂L₂ [where X = Cl or CF₃SO₃, L = (+)-(1S,2S,5R)-neomenthyl-diphenylphosphine or L2' = (-)-(R,R)-2,2-dimethyl-4,5-bis(diphenylphosphinomethyl)-1,3-dioxolane], which are generated in situ, in the presence of sodium tetrahydridoborate increases with rise in the phosphine-to-metal ratio and hydrogen pressure. The maximal optical yields of (+)-(S)-N-acetylphenylalanine methyl ester attain 40% (CoX₂L₂) and 42% (CoX₂L₂').     

Verecynarmin A,a Novel Briarane Diterpenoid Isolated from Both the Mediterranean Nudibranch Molluse Armina maculata and its Prey,the Pennatulacean Octocoral Veretillum cynomorium

The briarane diterpenoid verecynarmin A (=(?)).(8R,9S,11R,12aR,4Z,6Z)-11,12-epoxy-8,8a,9,10,12,12a,13-octahydro-1,5,8a,12-tetramethylbenzo[4,5]cyclodeca[1,2-b]furan-9-yl acetate; ((?)-1) is shown to be contained in both the Mediterranean nudibranch mollusc Armina maculata(RAFINESQUE ) and its prey, the pennatulacean octocoral Veretillum cynomorium(PALLAS ). The structure is mainly solved by 1D-NMR, 2D-NMR, and NOE studies of (?)-1. However, the relative configurations at the epoxide and angular methyl centres, as well as the preferred conformation, are established by shift-reagent and NOE studies of diol(?)-4 obtained by epoxide-ring opening of (?)-1 with LiA1H₄. The absolute configuration is established via deacetylation of (?)01 followed by Horeau's esterification.     

Synthese von enantiomerenreinen Violaxanthinen und verwandten Verbindungen

Syntheses of Enantiomerically Pure Violaxanthins and Related Compounds The epoxides 16 and ent- 16 , prepared by Sharpless-Katsuki oxidation of 15 in excellent yield and very high enantiomeric purity, were used as synthons for the preparation of (+)-(S)-didehydrovomifoliol (45) , (+)-(6S, 7E, 9E)-abscisic ester 46 , (+)-(6S, 7E, 9Z)-abscsic ester 47 , (?)-(3S, 7E, 9E)-xanthoxin (49) , (?)-(3R, 7E, 9E)-xanthoxin (50) , (3S, 5R, 6S, 3′S,5′R, 6′S, all-E)-violaxanthin (1) (3R, 5R,6S,3′R,5′R,6′S, all-E)-violaxanthin (55) and their (9Z) (see 53 , 57 ), (13Z) (see 54 , 58 ), and (15Z) (see 60 ) isomers. The novel violadione ( 61 ) was prepared from 1 by oxidation with DMSO/Ac₂O. By base treatment, 61 was converted into violadienedione (62) , a potential precursor of carotenoids with phenolic end groups.