Weinreb amide based synthetic equivalents for convenient access to 4-aryl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines

New synthetic equivalents, N-methoxy-N-methyl-N′-phenylsulfonyl glycinamide and N-methoxy-N-methyl-N′-benzyl-N′-tert-butyloxy carbonyl glycinamide based on WA functionality were developed for the convenient synthesis of 4-aryl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline framework. Two simple reactions, N-benzylation and addition of arylmagnesium halide on the WA functionality of the former afforded the key intermediate for convenient synthesis of N-phenylsulfonyl protected 4-aryl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline, through reduction and acid promoted cyclization. With the latter, the addition of arylmagnesium halide on the WA functionality followed by the same protocol afforded the direct synthesis of 4-aryl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines in good yields. The acid promoted cyclization step enabled concomitant removal of N-Boc protection.     

A convenient scalable one-pot conversion of esters and Weinreb amides to terminal alkynes

Esters and amides undergo reduction to the corresponding aldehydes using DIBAL-H followed by same pot conversion to terminal alkynes utilizing the Bestmann-Ohira reagent in good to excellent yields. Additionally chiral nonracemic substrates undergo this transformation with complete preservation of stereochemical integrity.     

High-yielding synthesis of Weinreb amides via homogeneous catalytic carbonylation of iodoalkenes and iodoarenes

Iodoarenes (iodobenzene and 2-iodothiophene) and iodoalkenes (1-iodocyclohexene, 1-iodo-4-tert-butylcyclohexene, 1-iodo-2-methylcyclohexene and 1-iodo-1-(1-naphthyl)ethene) were used as substrates in palladium-catalysed aminocarbonylation with N,O-dimethylhydroxylamine. The corresponding Weinreb amides were prepared in high isolated yields (up to 87%) when forcing conditions (40-60 bar of CO, 50 °C) were used. The aminocarbonylation provides the Weinreb amides as pure products in a chemoselective reaction. No formation of ketocarboxamides, due to double CO insertion, except for 2-iodothiophene, was observed even at 60 bar of CO pressure.     

A practical one-pot process for α-amino aryl ketone synthesis

An efficient, convenient, high-yielding synthesis of α-amino aryl ketones is described, involving the one-pot deprotonation-transmetallation-arylation of a Weinreb amide while retaining chirality of the original amide.     

Microwave-assisted cleavage of Weinreb amide for carboxylate protection in the synthesis of a (R)-3-hydroxyalkanoic acid

A versatile route for the modular synthesis of (R)-3-hydroxyalkanoic acids, constituents of the naturally biodegradable poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate) polymers, and its application to the synthesis of (R)-3-hydroxydecanoic acid is described. Key steps include a microwave-assisted catalytic transfer hydrogenation and a facile microwave-assisted hydrolysis of an N-methoxy-N-methyl (Weinreb) amide, which enhances the practicality of this protecting group for carboxylic acids.     

Modular amino acid amide chiral ligands for enantioselective addition of diethylzinc to aromatic aldehydes

Enantioselective addition of diethylzinc to a series of aromatic aldehydes was developed using a modular amino acid amide chiral ligand (2S)‐3‐phenyl‐N‐((R)‐1‐phenyl‐ethyl)‐2‐(tosylamino)propanamide without using titanium complex. The catalytic system employing 10 mol% of 1g was found to promote the addition of diethylzinc (ZnEt₂) to a wide range of aromatic aldehydes with electron‐donating and electron‐withdrawing substituents, giving up to 82% ee of the corresponding secondary alcohol under mild conditions. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Structure tuning of lithium amide for asymmetric 1,4-addition to cinnamate and subsequent demasking

Systematic structure tuning of lithium amides derived from benzyl-N-TMS-, allyl-N-TBDMS-, and diisopropylamines lead to several candidates including anthracen-9-ylmethanamine which provided high performance in the enantioselective 1,4-addition (91% ee) and following hydrogenolysis with 10% Pd/C-H₂ in methanol to afford β-amino ester.     

Sequencing cross-metathesis and non-metathesis reactions to rapidly access building blocks for synthesis

The olefin cross-metathesis reaction has been sequenced with four common organic transformations in a one- or two-pot manner to rapidly access useful building blocks. Those reactions are: (1) phosphorus-based olefination (e.g., Wittig and Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons); (2) hydride reduction; (3) Evans propionate aldol reaction; (4) Brown allyl- and Roush crotyl-boration. The products of these reactions include stereodefined 2,4-dienoates, trans allylic alcohols, syn-propionate aldols, and chiral non-racemic homoallylic alcohols, respectively. Many of these intermediates have been carried further to natural products, demonstrating the utility of the methodology.     

A sequential reaction process to assemble polysubstituted indolizidines, quinolizidines and quinolizidine analogues

The ω-iodo-α,β-alkynoates and their ketone, sulfone or phosphonate analogues react with δ-chloropropylamines in MeCN assisted with K₂CO₃ to undergo a sequential S_N2/Michael addition/S_N2/S_N2 reaction process, giving polysubstituted indolizidines or quinolizidines in good to excellent yields. This sequential reaction process is also compatible with three other substituted α,β-alkynoates, affording quinolizidine analogues in moderate to good yields.     

Intramolecular cyclization and disilylation of 1,1-dicyano-2,2-diarylethenes promoted by samarium/TMSCl in DMF: a new approach to the syntheses of polysubstituted indenes

Promoted by samarium metal in DMF and in the presence of TMSCl, 1,1-diaryl-2,2-dicyanoethylenes undergo an unexpected kind of reductive cyclization, thus affording a new approach to the construction of indene core. Simultaneously, disilylation occurred at the amino moiety resulting from the reduction of the cyano group.     

A novel and concise synthetic access to chiral 2-substituted-4-piperidone

A novel and concise synthetic access to enantiopure chiral 2-aryl/alkyl substituted 4-piperidone has been demonstrated.This new route features two key steps:the highly diastereoselective conjugate addition of homochiral lithium amides to trans-β-substituted-α,β-unsaturated methyl esters guaranteed the enantiopurity at 2 position(de19:1)and the intramolecular attacking of carbanions to methyl esters led to the formation of the piperidone ring.A wide range of substrates,including chiral2-aryl and 2-alkyl-4-piperidones,were successfully synthesized with modest to high yield.Moreover,some non-chiral3-substituted-4-piperidones were also synthesized with enhanced ring-formation yield,implicating the versatility of this method in construction of various piperidine rings.     

Enantioselective total synthesis of (−)-epoxyquinols A and B. Novel, convenient access to chiral epoxyquinone building blocks through enzymatic desymmetrization

Following our recent total synthesis of the biologically potent natural products epoxyquinols A and B in racemic form, we have now accomplished the total synthesis of the (−)-epoxyquinols A and B, anti-podes of the angiogenesis inhibiting natural products, through a protocol that involves enzymatic desymmetrization of a versatile epoxyquinone derivative, readily available from the Diels-Alder adduct of cyclopentadiene and p-benzoquinone.     

N-t-butanesulfinyl amide: An optimised and versatile access from readily available starting materials

We report the synthesis of t-butanesulfinylphthalimide and its complete regioselective ring opening by a range of nucleophiles. Further treatment of the obtained N-t-butanesulfinyl amides under basic conditions has been shown to give t-butanesulfinamide. Although the involvement of chiral nucleophiles in this process did not allow the isolation of enantiomerically pure t-butanesulfinamide, we have accessed in a rapid and efficient fashion the original compounds bearing two H-bond sites and two chiral centers that shall potentially exhibit some organocatalytic activity by comparison with known structurally related compounds.     

Facile access to some chiral building blocks. Synthesis of verbalactone and exophilin A

d-Glucono-1,5-lactone, an inexpensive carbohydrate, was elaborated into chiral building blocks readily applicable in synthesis via practical routes without involving any expensive reagents or tedious operations. Application of such chiral building blocks in total synthesis is then exemplified through construction of verbalactone and exophilin A. The latter compound has not been synthesized to date.     

New poly(ester amide ether amide)s from a novel flexible diamine and different diacid chlorides using TMSCl for in situ silylation

A novel flexible diamine with built-in ester, amide and ether groups named terephthalic acid bis(4-{2-[2-(2-amino ethoxy)ethoxy]ethyl carbamoyl}phenyl) ester (TABE), was synthesized via two steps. Nucleophilic reaction of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid with terephthaloyl chloride in the presence of NaOH yielded terephthaloyl bis (4-oxybenzoic) acid (TOBA). The diamine (TABE) was prepared via two direct and indirect methods. In the indirect method TOBA was converted to related diacid chloride and reacted with 1,8-diamino-3,6-dioxaoctane (DADO). Direct method was achieved through the reaction of TOBA with DADO via Yamazaki method. TOBA and TABE were fully characterized and TABE was used to prepare new poly(ester amide ether amide)s through polycondensation with different diacid chlorides in the presence of trimethylchlorosilane (TMSCl). The polymers were characterized using conventional methods and their physical properties including inherent viscosity, thermal behavior, thermal stability, crystallinity, and solubility were studied. The polymers showed good thermal stability and improved solubility.     

A new access to substituted tetraethyl N-Boc 2-aminoethylidene-1,1-bisphosphonates and phosphonyl-substituted aza-Morita-Baylis-Hillman-type adducts

A general one-pot synthesis of substituted 2-aminoethylidene-1,1-bisphosphonates has been developed. The protocol involves base-induced addition of sodium tetraethyl methylenebisphosphonate to N-Boc imines generated in situ from N-Boc-α-amidoalkyl-p-tolylsulfones by the action of sodium hydride. The direct and efficient conversion of the title compounds into aza-Morita-Baylis-Hillman-type adducts has been also elaborated.     

Modular synthesis of bis(monoacylglycero)phosphate for convenient access to analogues bearing hydrocarbon and perdeuterated acyl chains of varying length

Bis(monoacylglycero)phosphate is an important phospholipid that controls the structure of late endosomes as well as biological activities that occur there. The study of this lipid is complicated by the fact that acyl migrations are known to generate different regioisomers. Herein, we describe a modular synthesis of 3,3′-BMP derivatives that allows for the incorporation of a range of different acyl chains at a late stage. This approach was exploited to produce eight BMP analogues bearing normal saturated and perdeuterated acyl chains of varying length.     

Sodium dithionite initiated addition of CF2Br2, CF3I and (CF3)2CFI to allylaromatics: Synthesis and the reactivity of 4-aryl-1,1-difluorodienes and 4-aryl-1,1-bis(trifluoromethyl)dienes

Sodium dithionite initiated addition of CF₂Br₂, CF₃I and (CF₃)₂CFI to the terminal double bond of allylbenzenes and of (CF₃)₂CFI to allylpyridines in a MeCN/H₂O system were investigated. The reactions of CF₂Br₂ with allylbenzenes gave comparable amounts of adducts, 1-(2,4-dibromo-4,4-difluorobutyl)benzenes, debrominated products,1-(4-bromo-4,4-difluorobutyl)benzenes, and dimeric compounds in total yields 40-66%. Treatment of the adducts with DBU resulted in double dehydrohalogenation affording 4-aryl-1,1-difluorobutadienes which undergo Diels-Alder condensation with nitrogen dienophiles to give N-heterocycles with difluoromethylene group in the ring. The reactions of CF₃I and (CF₃)₂CFI with allylbenzenes gave the respective adducts, (4,4,4-trifluoro-2-iodobutyl)benzenes and 1-(4,5,5,5-tetrafluoro-4-(trifluoromethyl)-2-iodopentyl)benzenes as the main products. Dehydrohalogenation of these adducts resulted, respectively, in (4,4,4-trifluoro-but-1-enyl)benzenes and 4-aryl-1,1-bis(trifluoromethyl)butadienes in high yields. (CF₃)₂CFI reacted rapidly with allylpyridines to give mixtures from which, after treatment with DBU, 4-pyridyl-1,1-bis(trifluoromethyl)butadienes were isolated in a ca. 60% yield.     

Efficient synthetic access to cationic dendrons and their application for ZnO nanoparticles surface functionalization: new building blocks for dye-sensitized solar cells

A new concept for the efficient synthesis of cationic dendrons, 4-tert-butyl-1-(3-(3,4-dihydroxybenzamido)benzyl)pyridinium bromide (17), 1,1'-(5-(3,4-dihydroxybenzamido)-1,3-phenylene)bis(methylene)bis(4-tert-butylpyridinium) bromide (18), N1,N7-bis(3-(4-tert-butyl-pyridium-methyl)phenyl)-4-(3-(3-(4-tert-butyl-pyridinium-methyl)phenyl-amino)-3-oxopropyl)-4-(3,4-dihydroxybenzamido)heptanediamide tribromide (19), and N1,N7-bis(3,5-bis(4-tert-butyl-pyridium-methyl)phenyl)-4-(3-(3,5-bis(4-tert-butyl-pyridinium-methyl)phenylamino)-3-oxopropyl)-4-(3,4-dihydroxybenzamido)heptanediamide hexabromide (20), and their facile binding to zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures is introduced. Dendrons containing highly reactive benzylic bromides reacted readily with 4-tert-butyl-pyridine and resulted in cationic dendrons. Furthermore, these permanently positively charged dendrons were equipped with a catechol anchor group. This enabled ZnO surface functionalization by simple immersion. The adsorption of 17, 18, 19, and 20 on the colloidal nanoparticles was monitored by Langmuir isotherms. The highest obtained experimental loadings correspond to 99.5%, 98.6%, 99.1%, and 42.5% of the particle surface for 17, 18, 19, and 20, respectively. These results indicate insufficient adsorption of the largest molecule 20 leading to reduced colloidal stability of the nanoparticles, while an enhanced stability after grafting with 17, 18, and 19 was observed. Mesoporous films suitable for the use as electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) were prepared. Subsequently, the films were functionalized with 18, 19, or 20 and sensitized with zinc-5,15-bis-[2',6'-bis-{2',2'-bis-(carboxy)-ethyl}-methyl-4'-tert-butyl-pheny]-10,20-bis-(4'-tert-butylphenyl)porphyrin-octasodium-salt. UV-vis absorption spectra confirmed that 18, 19, and 20 are suitable for the stable electrostatic attachment of the dye. Current-voltage characteristics of complete cells demonstrated that increasing positive functionalization of the ZnO surface leads to decreased open circuit voltages (V(oc)). All V(oc) values were around 0.4 V with a maximum for the 18 functionalized ZnO film of 0.45 V. The maximum cell efficiency obtained (0.31%) is rather high, considering the narrow spectral absorption of the dye and the rather thin ZnO films used. Finally, incident photon to current efficiency (IPCE) measurements confirmed photoinduced electron injection from the dye. These features are important assets for applications in particle technology and even facilitated advanced devices like a supramolecular DSSC complete with a subsequent layer of negatively charged porphyrins.     

Diastereoselective syntheses of 2-amino propargyl alcohols. Chiral building blocks for enantiopure amino γ-lactones and 5-hydroxy-piperidinone derivatives

α-Dibenzylamino aldehydes, derived from the corresponding natural α-amino acids, react with metal acetylides to yield anti-amino propargyl alcohols in good yield and diastereomeric excess. syn Amino alcohols are prepared from the anti diastereoisomers and all of them are elaborated in few steps to enantiopure amino lactones and hydroxy-piperidin-2-ones.