BF3-induced cyclobutane-opening of verbenone and its deconjugate homolog. Efficient preparation of o-mentha-1,8-dien-3-one and o-menth-1-en-3-one in optically active forms

Starting with (+)-verbenone, readily obtainable from (+)-nopinone, enantioselective preparation of (S)-(+)-4-isopropenyl-, (S)-(−)-4-isopropyl- and (R)-(+)-4-(1-acetoxy-1-methylethyl)-3-methyl-2-cyclohexen-1-ones was accomplished with little loss of stereochemical integrity via BF₃-induced cyclobutane-opening of (+)-4-(methylene)nopinone. As we have developed an efficient chemical transformation of (+)-nopinone into (−)-verbenone, the present syntheses of the above cyclohexenones are formal syntheses of their enantiomers from (+)-nopinone.     

A novel synthetic method for optically active terpenes by the ring-opening reaction of (R)-(+)-β-methyl-β-propiolactone

Optically active terpene such as (R)-(+)-citronellol, (R)-(+)-pulegone or (S)-ar-turmerone is prepared in high enantiomeric excess from an intermediate, (R)-(+)-citronellic acid or (S)-(+)-3-p-tolylbutyric acid, which is easily prepared by the Sn2 type of ring opening reaction of (R)-(+)-β-methyl-β-propiolactone with homoprenylmagnesium bromide in the presence of a copper(I) salt or di-p-tolylcuprate.     

Synthesis and absolute configuration of the enantiomers α-aminoethylcymantrene and some of its derivatives

Resolution of α-aminoethylcymantrene (I) to its enantiomers has been effected for the first time by means of (+)-d-tartaric acid. The molecular structure and absolute configuration of (+)-(R)-α-(N-acetylamino)ethylcymantrene prepared from ()-I have been established by an X-ray analysis. On the basis of chemical and chiroptical correlation methods the R-configuration of the chiral centre is also assigned to ()-I, (+)-α-(N,N-dimethylamino)ethylcymantrene, (+)-II, and (+)-α-(N,N,N-trimethylammonium)ethylcymantrene iodide, (+)-III. ORD and CD curves of the prepared optically active compounds have been studied     

Solvent dependency though not solvate formation in the derivative–derivative resolution of N-formylphenylalanine

The efficiency of the resolution of N-formylphenylalanine was remarkably improved using (S)-(+)-2-benzylaminobutanol resolving agent in acetone. The efficiency of the resolution strongly depended on the quality of the solvent. Nevertheless, solvate formation did not occur during the process. The nature of the solvent-dependence was studied. The solid-melt binary phase diagram of the diastereomeric salts formed during the resolution by (S)-(+)-2-benzylaminobutanol was measured and discussed. It was recognized that the (S)-(+)-benzylaminobutanol (S)-(+)-N-formylphenylalanine salt exists in two polymorphic modifications.The effect of structurally related chiral and achiral auxiliary reagents in the above resolution was also studied. Thus, (S)-(+)-2-benzylaminobutanol was applied together with an (R)-(+)-1-phenylethylamine auxiliary resolving agent and benzylamine was used as a half-equivalent achiral basic reagent in a Pope–Peachey type resolution of N-formylphenylalanine by (S)-(+)-2-benzylaminobutanol. The results are compared to those obtained by the structurally related (R)-(+)-1-phenylethylamine chiral auxiliary.     

A short enantioselective synthesis of (+)-eleutherin, (+)-allo-eleutherin and a formal synthesis of (+)-nocardione B

A short enantioselective synthesis of (+)-eleutherin, (+)-allo-eleutherin and the formal synthesis of (+)-nocardione B is described. The synthesis is completed in six steps in overall yields of 8% for eleutherin and 14% for allo-eleutherin. The synthetic strategy features an efficient combination of the Dötz annulation reaction with a chiral alkyne and an oxa-Pictet Spengler reaction as the keys steps in the stereodivergent synthesis of (+)-eleutherin and (+)-allo-eleutherin. The synthesis of (S)-(+)-2-(2′-hydroxypropyl)-5-methoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone entails the formal synthesis of (+)-nocardione B.     

Alcaloides bisbenzylisoquinoleiques biphenyliques de guatteria guianensis

A complete study of the bisbenzylisoquinolines with an ether and a biphenyl bridge isolated from Guatteria guianensis enable us to establish rules to correlate spectral data and absolute configuration in this type of dimer. Six new dimers have been isolated, (+)-2'-norfuniferine 1, (+)-2'-nortiliageine 3, (+)-guattamine 5, (+)-2'-norguattaguianine 6, (+)-2,2'-bisnorguattaguianine 8, and (+)-guattaminone 9.     

Synthesis of (S)-(+)-enantiomers of food-relevant (n-5)-monoenoic and saturated anteiso-fatty acids by a Wittig reaction

We developed an enantioselective synthesis for the food-relevant anteiso-fatty acids a15:0, a16:0, and a17:0. Different (carboxyalkyl)triphenylphosphonium bromide salts were coupled with (S)-3-methylpentanal in a Wittig reaction. Mixtures of the obtained cis-/trans-isomers were separated by Ag⁺-HPLC to give the novel cis-isomers of (S)-(+)-a15:1n-5, (S)-(+)-a16:1n-5, and (S)-(+)-a17:1n-5. Hydrogenation of the monoenoic products led to (S)-(+)-a15:0, (S)-(+)-a16:0, and (S)-(+)-a17:0, which are essential for the assessment of the bioactivity of tests with standards of anteiso-fatty acids.     

An asymmetric synthesis of (+)-monomorine I

The synthesis of (+)-monomorine I, an indolizidine alkaloid isolated from Monomorium pharaonis, has been achieved. The 2,6-cis-piperidine ring moiety of (+)-monomorine I was constructed using diastereoselective aminopalladation. Chain elongation via cross-metathesis using Hoveyda-Grubbs 2nd catalyst followed by deprotection of the Cbz group and cyclic reductive hydroamination afforded (+)-monomorine I.     

Copper mediated scalemic organolithium reagents in alkaloid syntheses

Scalemic 2-pyrrolidinylcuprates generated via asymmetric deprotonation of N-Boc-pyrrolidine followed by treatment with THF soluble CuCN·2LiCl react with ω-functionalized vinyl halides to afford 2-alkenyl-N-Boc-pyrrolidines. N-Boc deprotection and cyclization via intramolecular N-alkylation generates the pyrrolizidine or indolizidine skeletons. Subsequent functional group manipulation affords enantioenriched (+)-heliotridane, (+)-isoretronecanol, a formal synthesis of (+)-laburnine, (+)-(R)-2,3,5,7a-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolizine, (R)-1,2,3,5,6,8a-hexahydroindolizine, (+)-ent-δ-coniceine, (+)-tashiromine and (+)-5-epitashiromine.     

Asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-curcutetraol and (+)-sydonol

The asymmetric total syntheses of (+)-curcutetraol and (+)-sydonol, phenolic bisabolane-type sesquiterpenoids having chiral tertiary alcohol moiety in the o-position of a phenol, were achieved in high enantiomeric excesses (99% ee). The chiral tertiary benzylic alcohol moiety of these compounds was constructed by an asymmetric synthesis using an easily available chiral aminal, (−)-(2R,5S)-2-methoxycarbonyl-3-phenyl-1,3-diazabicyclo[3.3.0]octane. The absolute configurations of both (+)-curcutetraol and (+)-sydonol have been assumed to be S-configuration based on the stereochemical course of the well established asymmetric synthesis used in the syntheses.     

First enantioselective synthesis and determination of the absolute configuration of natural (+)-dehydro-β-monocyclonerolidol

The enantioselective synthesis and determination of the absolute configuration of (+)-dehydro-β-monocyclonerolidol, a natural product isolated from the liverwort P. subobtusa, has been achieved starting from (+)-karahana lactone as an enantiopure building block. Furthermore, the methodology applied provided a new approach towards the known (+)-γ-cyclohomocitral, a key intermediate in the sequence, and natural (+)-pallescensone.     

Formal synthesis of（＋）-tashiromine and study toward the total synthesis of（＋）-stemoamide

An effcient formal synthesis of（＋）-tashiromine was achieved by employing an intermolecular asymmetric Mannich-type reaction as the key step.Concurrently,a novel approach toward the total synthesis of（＋）-stemoamide through dyotropic rearrangement of 3,4-cis-b-lactone was also explored.     

Raman optical activity of tartaric acid and related molecules

The Raman optical activity spectra of (2R, 3R) (+)- and (2S,3S) (?)-tartaric acid, (2R, 3R) (+)-dimethyl tartrate, (2R,3R) (?)-2,3-butanediol and (2S, 3S) (+)-dibenzoyl tartaric acid are presented. A large couplet at about 500cm^?1 in the first three molecules, which probably originates in deformations of a chiral structural unit, might serve as an indicator of conformation and absolute configuration.     

Synthesis of the dopamine D2/D3 receptor agonist (+)-PHNO via supercritical fluid chromatography: preliminary PET imaging study with [3-C]-(+)PHNO

Carbon-11 labeled (+)-4-[1-¹¹C]propyl-3,4,4a,5,6,10b-hexahydro-2H-naphtho[1,2-b][1,4]oxazin-9-ol ([1-¹¹C]-(+)-PHNO) is a dopamine D₃-preferring agonist radiopharmaceutical used for medical imaging by positron emission tomography (PET). We report the synthesis of (+)-PHNO using supercritical fluid chromatography for enantiomeric resolution of its norpropyl derivative, HNO, followed by propylation. (+)-HNO was used to prepare the radiolabeling precursor, (+)-trans-4-acetyl-9-triisopropylsilyloxy-2,3,4a,5,6,10b-hexahydro-4H-naphth[1,2b][1,4]oxazine, in 12 steps. Modifications to the labeling procedure were made to ensure consistent preparation of [3-¹¹C]-(+)-PHNO via [¹¹C]CH₃I. A preliminary PET imaging study was carried out with this tracer in an attempt to image dopamine receptors in brown adipose tissue (brown fat) in vivo.     

First total synthesis of heterocurvistone

The sesquiterpene ketone (±)-heterocurvistone was synthesized in eight steps and 12% overall yield from known methyl R-(+)-3-(4-methyl-3-cyclohexen-1-yl)-3-butenoate, readily available from R-(+)-limonene. The key synthetic step is an oxymercuration-induced cyclization.     

Stereospecific synthesis and hydrolysis of optically active diaryl(acylamino)(acyloxy)spiro-λ4-sulfanes and related cyclic diaryl(acylamino)sulfonium salts

The stereospecific synthesis of diaryl(acylamino)(acyloxy)spiro-λ⁴-sulfanes (S)-(+)-2, (R)-(+)-5, (S)-(+)-8, and their conversion into related diaryl(acylamino)sulfonium tetrafluoroborates (R)-(+)-3, (S)-(+)-6, (R)-(+)-9, respectively, is described. The enantiomers of spiro-λ⁴-sulfanes (S)-(+)-2, (R)-(+)-5 and (S)-(+)-8 were prepared by dehydration of the corresponding optically active sulfoxide–carboxylic acids (R)-(+)-1, (R)-(−)-4 and (S)-(+)-7, respectively, which were obtained from the racemic forms by diastereoisomeric salt separation with homochiral organic bases. The stereomechanism of the hydrolysis reaction of spiro-λ⁴-sulfanes and sulfonium tetrafluoroborates that depends on pH, the nature of the axial heteroatom, the size of the spiro rings and carboxyl neighbouring group participation is also discussed.     

Formal enantioselective synthesis of (+)-vincamine. The first enantioselective route to (+)-3,14-epivincamine and its enantiomer

A formal synthesis of (+)-vincamine (1) from (S)-(+)-2-ethyl-2-(2-methoxycarbonylethyl) cyclopentanone (6a) is described. This intermediate had previously been obtained by our research group in 90% ee through d'Angelo's deracemizing alkylation of the chiral imine 7, easily prepared from (R)-(+)-α-methylbenzylamine and 2-ethyl cyclopentanone with methyl acrylate. A potencial advanced intermediate for the synthesis of (+)-4, an epimer of (+)-1 at positions C-3 and C-14, has also been prepared from 6a.     

A short synthesis of the anti-leukemic sesquiterpene (+)-caparratriene employing aqueous Wittig chemistry

An efficient, stereoselective method for the synthesis of (+)-caparratriene based on an aqueous Wittig reaction has been developed. A functionalized triethylallyl ylide reacted under various conditions with (+)-citronellal to deliver (+)-caparratriene in only three steps with excellent overall yield. The Wittig reaction proceeded with exclusive (4E)-selectivity and an interesting cationic effect was uncovered with good stereoselectivity at the isomerizable allylic position being observed in the presence of lithium salts.     

An efficient synthesis of pregaliellalactone and desoxygaliellalactone

A short and efficient total synthesis of rac-desoxygaliellalactone and (+)-desoxygaliellalactone, via the biosynthetic intermediate pregaliellalactone, is described. The synthesis was achieved in only three steps, for (+)-desoxygaliellalactone including an enantioselective alkyl propiolate addition to 4-pentenal, a palladium catalysed alkylative lactonisation and an intramolecular Diels–Alder cycloaddition.     

Further studies on enantioselective synthesis of (+)-anatoxin-a using enyne metathesis: unexpected inversion of chirality via a skeletal rearrangement of 9-azabicyclo[4.2.1]nonene derivative

The formal total synthesis of (+)-anatoxin-a was accomplished using enyne metathesis as a key step. It is very interesting that (+)-anatoxin-a was synthesized from (S)-pyroglutamic acid via an unusual inversion of chirality, which is rationalized in terms of a skeletal rearrangement of 9-azabicyclo[4.2.1]nonene derivative at the stage of oxymercuration of the diene.