Efficient synthesis of (-)-gamma-lycorane alkaloid by two Bu3SnH-mediated radical cyclisations

An asymmetric induction using (S)-1-arylethylamine-based chiral auxiliary and two Bu(3)SnH-mediated radical cyclisations have been developed for a total synthesis of (-)-gamma-lycorane (1). The first cyclisation proceeded in 5-endo-trig manner with moderate diastereoselectivtiy to give (3aR,7aR)-octahydroindol-2-one 6b as the major product using alpha-iodo-N-(6-oxocyclohexen-1-yl)-N-[(S)-1-phenylethyl] acetamide (5b). In the second cyclisation, the radical precursor 8 was used as substrate to construct the optically active lycorane skeleton 15 which was reduced using LiAlH4 into (-)-gamma-lycorane (1).     

Studies on ketene and its derivatives. CXI . Photoreaction of diketene with 2(1H)-quinolone derivatives

Photoreaction of diketene with 4-methyl-2(1H)-quinolone and 1,4-dimethyl-2(1H)-quinolone gave 2R*,2aR*,SbR*- and 2R*,2aS*8bS*-8b-methyl-3-oxo-1,2,2a,3,4,8b-hexahydrocyclobuta[c]quinoline-2-spiro-2′-(oxetan)-4′-one ( 6a and 6b ), and their 4-methyl derivatives 7a and 7b , respectively. Thermolysis of compounds 6 and 7 afforded 2aR*,8bS*-8b-methyl-2-methylene-3-oxo-1,2,2a,3,4,8b-hexahydrocyclobuta[c]quinoline ( 8 ) and its 4-methyl derivatives 9 , respectively. Similarly, photolysis of diketene and 4-acetoxy-2(1H)-quinolone gave 1R*,2aS*,8bS*- and 1R*,2aR*,8bR*-8b-acetoxy-3-oxo-1,2,2a,3,4,8b-hexahydrocyclobuta[c]-quinoline ( 11a and 11b ). Alcoholysis of compounds 11a and 11b with hydrogen chloride in methanol gave 1-hydroxy-1-(methoxycarbonyl)methylcyclobuta[c]quinoline derivative 12 and 13 which were transformed to 4-acetyl-3-methyl-2(1H)-quinolone ( 15 ) by further alcoholysis. Photoreaction of diketene with 2(1H)-quinolone derivatives gave the corresponding cyclobuta[c]quinoline spirooxetanone derivatives 18 and 23 , which, by thermolysis, were transformed to 2-methylenecyclobuta[c]quinoline 23 and 25 , respectively.     

Chemoenzymatic synthesis of (+)-totarol, (+)-podototarin, (+)-sempervirol, and (+)-jolkinolides E and D

The enzymatic resolution products [(1R,4aR,8aR)-1,2,3,4,4a,5,6,7,8,8a-decahydro-5,5,8a-trimethyl-2-oxo-trans-naphthalene-1-methanol-2-ethylene acetal (8aR)-7 (98% ee) and {acetate of (1S,4aS,8aS)-1,2,3,4,4a,5,6,7,8,8a-decahydro-5,5,8a-trimethyl-2-oxo-trans-naphthalene-1-methanol-2-ethylene acetal} (8aS)-9 (>99% ee)] obtained by the lipase-catalyzed enantioselective acetylation of (±)-7 in the presence of vinyl acetate as an acyl donor were converted to the ,β-unsaturated ketones (8aR)-6 and (8aS)-6, respectively. Concise syntheses of (+)-totarol 1, (+)-podototarin 2 and (+)-sempervirol 3 were achieved based on Michael reactions between (8aS)-6 and the appropriate β-keto ester followed by aldol condensation. The first chiral syntheses of (+)-jolkinolides E 4 and D 5 were achieved from (5R,10R,12R)-12-hydroxypodocarpa-8(14)-en-13-one 15 derived from (8aR)-6.     

Enantioselective Norrish-Yang cyclization reactions of N-(omega-oxo-omega-phenylalkyl)-substituted imidazolidinones in solution and in the solid state

The four N-(omega-oxo-omega-phenyl-alkyl)-substituted imidazolidinones 5-8 were prepared from N-acetylimidazolidinone (4). Upon irradiation, these substrates underwent Norrish-Yang cyclization to the racemic products rac-9-rac-12 (51-75%). The reactions of the N-2-oxoethylimidazolidinones 5 and 6 were conducted in tBuOH, and yielded 1:1 mixtures of exo/endo diastereoisomers rac-9a/rac-9b and rac-10a/rac-10b, accompanied by Norrish type II cleavage products. The reactions of the N-3-oxopropylimidazolidinones 7 and 8 were performed in toluene. The exo diastereoisomers rac-11a and rac-12a were the major diastereoisomers (d.r. approximately equal to 4:1). In the presence of the chiral compounds 1-3, the photocyclization of substrate 8 proceeded with significant enantiomeric excess (5-60% ee). The more sophisticated complexing agents 3 and ent-3 provided better enantiofacial differentiation (up to 60% ee) than the lactams 1 and 2 (up to 26% ee). Low temperatures and an excess of the complexing agent helped to increase the enantioselectivity. The absolute configuration of the major exo product 12a obtained from compound 8 in the presence of complexing agent 3 was unambiguously established by single-crystal X-ray crystallography of its chiral N-methoxyphenylacetyl derivative 15a. In a similar fashion, the absolute configurations of the endo products 12b and ent-12b were established. The N-2-oxoethylimidazolidinone 5, which crystallized in a chiral space group, was irradiated in the solid state. At low levels of conversion, the product 9a/ent-9a was formed with high enantiomeric excess (78% ee). The enantioselectivity deteriorated at higher levels of conversion.     

On the reactions between ethyl benzoylacetate and anisidines

4-Hydroxy-7-methoxy-3-[(m-methoxyphenylimino)-phenylmethyl]-2-quinolone ( 6 ) was a by-product of the condensation of ethyl benzoylacetate and m-anisidine; no corresponding products were obtained from p- and o-anisidine. From o-anisidine, 2-phenyl-8-methoxy-4-quinolone ( 1c ) was isolated and characterized; the same reaction also gave 2-phenyl-4-o-anisidyl-1-8-methoxy-quinoline ( 11 ) and the Schiff base ( 14 ) as by-products; the crotonamide (15) also isolated, is a possible intermediate of the cyclization. The direct condensation of anisidines with ethyl benzoylacetate in diphenyl ether and the transformations of some intermediates were studied.     

Condensation of laterally lithiated o-methyl and o-ethyl benzamides with imines mediated by (-)-sparteine. Enantioselective synthesis of tetrahydroisoquinolin-1-ones

The first asymmetric synthesis of tetrahydroisoquinolin-1-ones using a (-)-sparteine-mediated lateral metalation-imine addition sequence to furnish 3-phenyl tetrahydroisoquinolinones 3a with enantioselectivities up to 81% ee is described (Scheme 4). For amide 7b, imine addition products 10 and 11 have been obtained with high diastereoselectivities (91-97% de) and enantioselectivities (91-98% ee) (Scheme 8).     

A novel synthesis of (±)‐harmacine and (±)1,2,3,4,6,7,12,12b‐octahydroindole[2,3‐a]quinolizine

A three‐step synthesis of (±)‐harmacine is described from the readily available 4,4‐diethoxybutan‐1‐amine via an acid‐mediated acyl iminium ion cyclisation. The synthesis of the homologous (±)1,2,3,4,6,7,12,12b‐octahydroindole[2,3‐a]quinolizine from 5,5‐diethoxypentan‐1‐amine is also described. Although similar, the two systems required very different cyclisation conditions.     

Synthesis of potentially photoactivatable coumarin derivatives via a 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition

A copper (1)‐catalyzed 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition reaction was used to prepare a series of mono and disubstituted 1,2,3‐triazolyl‐coumarins using a 1,3‐cycloaddition (“Click Chemistry”). Starting coumarins were synthesized using classical or modified Pechmann's reaction. The propargyl group was introduced as either propargylether or as a propargylamide. Azides were prepared in a three steps procedure. Cycloaddition products, containing a coumarin and a photoactivatable moiety, were obtained in good yields.     

Ring-opening reactions of oxabicyclic alkene compounds: enantioselective hydride and ethyl additions catalyzed by group 4 metals

Titanium and zirconium catalysts selectively catalyze either the ethyl or hydride addition to [2.2.1] 4, 5-bis(methoxymethyl)-7-oxabicycloheptene (6); the ring-opened products formed depend on catalyst, temperature, alkylaluminum reagent, and the concentration of alkylaluminum. Bis(neoisomenthylindenyl)zirconium dichloride catalyzes the ethyl addition ring-opening of 6 to produce (1R,2S,3S,6R)-2, 3-bis(methoxymethyl)-6-ethylcyclohex-4-enol (7) in 96% ee. Zirconium catalysts catalyze the ring-opening of [3.2.1] 2, 4-dimethyl-3-(benzyloxy)-8-oxabicyclo-6-octene (7) when ethylmagnesium bromide is used as a reagent. Both hydride and ethyl addition products are obtained at all conditions studied. Bis(neoisomenthylindenyl)zirconium dichloride catalyzes the ethyl addition ring-opening of 7 to produce (1S,2R,3S,4S,7S)-2, 4-dimethyl-3-(benzyloxy)-7-ethyl-5-cyclohexen-1-ol (8) in 48% ee.     

Enantioselective [6pi]-photocyclization reaction of an acrylanilide mediated by a chiral host. Interplay between enantioselective ring closure and enantioselective protonation

The [6pi]-photocyclization of the anilides 1a and 5 was studied in the absence and in the presence of the enantiomerically pure chiral lactam 4. The relative configuration of the products was unambiguously established by single-crystal X-ray crystallography and by NMR spectroscopy. A significant enantiomeric excess was observed upon reaction of compound 1a to its photocyclization products at -55 degrees C employing lactam 4 as a chiral complexing agent in toluene as the solvent (66% yield). The trans product ent-3a was obtained in 57% ee, and the minor diastereoisomer (trans/cis = 73/27), cis product ent-2a, was obtained in 30% ee. DFT calculations were conducted modeling the complexation of intermediates 8 and ent-8 to host 4. In agreement with steric arguments concerning the conrotatory ring closure of 1a, the formation of ent-8 is favored leading to the more stable complex 4.ent-8 as compared to 4.8. Whereas the enantioselectivity in the photocyclization to trans compound ent-3a increased upon reduction in the reaction temperature, the enantiomeric excess in the formation of cis compound ent-2a went through a maximum at -15 degrees C (45% ee) and decreased at lower temperatures. Deuteration experiments conducted with the pentadeuterated analogue of 1a, d(5)-1a, revealed that the protonation of the intermediates 8 and ent-8 is influenced by chiral amide 4. In the formation of ent-3a/3a, both the enantioselective ring closure and the enantioselective protonation by amide 4 favor the observed (6aS,10aS)-configuration of the major enantiomer ent-3a. In the formation of ent-2a/2a, the enantioselective ring closure (and the subsequent diastereoselective protonation) favors the (6aR,10aS)-configuration that is found in compound 2a. Contrary to that, the enantioselective protonation by amide 4 shows a preference for ent-2a with the (6aS,10aR)-configuration.     

Synthesis and transformation of novel cyclic β-amino acid derivatives from (+)-3-carene

The regio- and stereoselective addition of chlorosulfonyl isocyanate to (+)-3-carene 1 resulted in β-lactam 2, which was converted to N-Boc-β-amino acid 4, β-amino ester 7, and carboxamide derivatives 18 and 20 via N-Boc activation and mild ring opening. The corresponding β-amino ester 7 was transformed to 2-thioxopyrimidin-4-one 11 and 2,4-pyrimidinedione 13. LAH reduction of 5 and 7 resulted in amino alcohols 6 and 8. The reaction of 8 with phenyl isothiocyanate, followed by cyclisation, furnished 1,3-oxazine 15.     

Heterocyclensynthesen mit o-chlorbenzoyl-acetonitril

Reaction of o-chlorbenzoyl acetonitrile(1) with carbon disulfide occured in the presence of sodium hydride and following alkylation to give the 1-thiochromones 4 and 6. A mechanism for the cyclisation is discussed. As openchain product the dithioester 5 is isolated. The compounds 6 are suitable substances for the synthesis of thieno[2,3-b]1 - thiochromones 7.1 reacts with phenyl isothiocyanate/sodium hydride to the ketene S.N-acetal 8a. Under similar conditions the thiazolidine 19 is obtained. Cyclisation of 8a in a basic medium forms the 4(1H)-quinolone 11a, 8a and 8c lead to the 3-amino - 9-phenyl - 4,9 - dihydro-thieno[2.3-b)quinoline - 4 - ones (17); 8d to the thiazolidone 18.10 with hydrazine and yellow mercury oxide gives the 3(5)-aminopyrazole 15 while 8a with hydrazine forms 15 and the 4-cyanopyrazole 12.     

Absolute structures of some naturally occurring isopropenyldihydrobenzofurans,remirol, remiridiol,angenomalin, and isoangenomalin

The absolute structures of some naturally occurring chiral 2-isopropenyl-2,3-dihydrobenzofurans, (+)-remirol (1a), (+)-remiridiol (1b), (+)-angenomalin (2), and (+)-isoangenomalin (3), were studied by respective chiral synthesis. Kinetic resolutions of racemic 2-isopropenyl-2,3-dihydrobenzofurans, 2-isopropenyl-4,6-dimethoxy-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran (4), 4-hydroxy-2-isopropenyl-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran-5-carbaldehyde (8), and 2-isopropenyl-6-(MOM)oxy-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran-5-carbaldehyde (11c), by Sharpless dihydroxylation using (DHQ)(2)AQN or (DHQD)(2)AQN gave the corresponding chiral 2-isopropenyl-2,3-dihydrobenzofurans. Chiral (S)-(+)-4 (99% ee, using (DHQD)(2)AQN) was converted to natural remirol (S)-(+)-1a and then to natural remiridiol (S)-(+)-1b. (S)-(+)-8 (97% ee, using (DHQD)(2)AQN) was converted to natural angenomalin (S)-(+)-2. (R)-(-)-11c (>99% ee, using (DHQ)(2)AQN), was converted to natural isoangenomalin (R)-(+)-3. Thus, the absolute structures of natural remirol (+)-1a and remiridiol (+)-1b and angenomalin (+)-2 were determined to be S, and the structure of natural isoangenomalin (+)-3 was R.     

Ruthenium-Lewis acid catalyzed asymmetric Diels-Alder reactions between dienes and alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones

The complex [Ru(Cp)(R,R-BIPHOP-F)(acetone)][SbF(6)], (R,R)-1 a, was used as catalyst for asymmetric Diels-Alder reactions between dienes (cyclopentadiene, methylcyclopentadiene, isoprene, 2,3-dimethylbutadiene) and alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones (methyl vinyl ketone (MVK), ethyl vinyl ketone, divinyl ketone, alpha-bromovinyl methyl ketone and alpha-chlorovinyl methyl ketone). The cycloaddition products were obtained in yields of 50-90 % and with enantioselectivities up to 96 % ee. Ethyl vinyl ketone, divinyl ketone and the halogenated vinyl ketones worked best and their reactions with acyclic dienes consistently provided products with >90 % ee. alpha-Chlorovinyl methyl ketone performed better than alpha-bromovinyl methyl ketone. The reaction also provided a [4.3.1]bicyclic ring system in 95 % ee through an intramolecular cycloaddition reaction. Crystal structure determinations of [Ru(Cp)((S,S)-BIPHOP-F)(mvk)][SbF(6)], (S,S)-1 b, and [Ru(Cp)((R,R)-Me(4)BIPHOP-F)(acrolein)][SbF(6)], (R,R)-2 b, provided the basis for a rationalization of the asymmetric induction.     

Enantioselective intramolecular [2 + 2]-photocycloaddition reactions of 4-substituted quinolones catalyzed by a chiral sensitizer with a hydrogen-bonding motif

Six 2-quinolones, which bear a terminal alkene linked by a three- or four-membered tether to carbon atom C4 of the quinolone, were synthesized and subjected to an intramolecular [2 + 2]-photocycloaddition. The reaction delivered the respective products in high yields (78-99%) and with good regioselectivity in favor of the straight isomer. If conducted in the presence of a chiral hydrogen-bonding template (2.5 equiv) at low temperature in toluene as the solvent, the reaction proceeded enantioselectively (83-94% ee). An organocatalytic reaction was achieved when employing a chiral hydrogen-bonding template with an attached sensitizing unit (benzophenone or xanthone). The xanthone-based organocatalyst proved to be superior as compared to the respective benzophenone. Closer inspection revealed that the reaction of 4-(pent-4-enyloxy)quinolone leading to a six-membered ring, annelated to the cyclobutane, was less enantioselective (up to 41% ee with 30 mol % catalyst) than the reaction of 4-(but-3-enyloxy)quinolone leading to a five-membered ring (90% ee with 5 mol % and 94% ee with 20 mol % catalyst). Photophysical data (emission spectra, laser flash photolysis experiments) proved that the latter photocycloaddition was significantly faster, supporting the idea that the dissociation of the substrate from the catalyst prior to the photocycloaddition is responsible for the decreased enantioselectivity. Under optimized conditions, employing 10 mol % of the xanthone-based organocatalyst at -25 °C in trifluorotoluene as the solvent, three of the other four substrates gave the intramolecular [2 + 2]-photocycloaddition products with high enantioselectivities (72-87% ee). In all catalyzed reactions, the yields based on conversion were moderate to good (40-93%).     

Benzolactams. 4. Reaction of 3',4'- or 4',5'-dialkoxy-substituted 1-(2'-Bromobenzyl)-2-ethoxycarbonyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines with alkyllithium. 1,2 and 1,4 additions of alkyllithium to benzolactams

Treatment of 1-(2'-bromo-3',4'-dialkoxybenzyl)-1,2,3, 4-tetrahydroisoquinoline carbamates, 1a,c, with excess alkyllithium gave 8-oxoberbines, 2a,c, which were successively attacked in situ with another molecule of alkyllithium to give 1,2 and/or 1,4 addition products. A primary alkyllithium, such as MeLi or BuLi, gave a 1,2 addition product, 8-methyleneberbine 9a or 8-butylideneberbine 3a. t-BuLi preferred 1,4 addition, followed by elimination of the alkoxy group, to give 9-tert-butyl-8-oxoberbine 6a or 7c. s-BuLi gave a mixture of 1,2 and 1,4 addition products, 1-[2'-(2' '-methylbutyryl)benzyl]-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline 4a and 9-s-butyl-8-oxoberbine 5a. Similar treatments of carbamate 1b having no alkoxy group at its 3' position gave 1,2 addition products, 8-butylideneberbine 3b, 1-[2'-(2' '-methylbutyryl)benzyl]-1,2,3, 4-tetrahydroisoquinoline 4b, and 1-(2'-pivaloylbenzyl)-1,2,3, 4-tetrahydroisoquinoline 6b, in all cases. Reactions of 1a with s-BuMgCl and isoPrMgCl also gave the 1,4 adduct, 5a, and its 9-isoPr analogue, 12a. Treatment of 9a with excess NaBH(4) in AcOH gave (+/-)-coralydine (10b).     

Catalytic and highly enantioselective Friedel-Crafts alkylation of aromatic ethers with trifluoropyruvate under solvent-free conditions

[Structure: see text] Highly enantioselective Friedel-Crafts alkylation of simple and aromatic ethers (4a-l) with 3,3,3-trifluoropyruvate (3) was accomplished by using chiral (4R,5S)-DiPh-BOX(1b)-Cu(OTf)2 complex (1 mol %) as a catalyst under solvent-free conditions. Excellent yields and enantioselectivities (90-93% ee, after recrystallization up to 99% ee) of the Friedel-Crafts alkylation products were obtained.     

Computational assessment of the electronic structure of 1-azacyclohexa-2,3,5-triene (3 delta 2-1H-pyridine) and its benzo derivative (3 delta 2-1H-quinoline) as well as generation and interception of 1-methyl-3 delta 2-1H-quinoline

Treatment of a solution of 3-bromo-1-methyl-1,2-dihydroquinoline (9) and [18]crown-6 in furan or styrene with KOtBu followed by hydrolysis afforded a mixture of 1-methyl-1,2-dihydroquinoline (10) and 1-methyl-2-quinolone (11). If the reaction was performed in [D(8)]THF and the mixture was immediately analysed by NMR spectroscopy, 2-tert-butoxy-1-methyl-1,2-dihydroquinoline (17) was shown to be the precursor of 10 and 11. The structure of 17 is evidence for the title cycloallene 7, which arises from 9 by beta elimination of hydrogen bromide and is trapped by KOtBu to give 17 so fast that cycloadditions of 7 with furan or styrene cannot compete. Since this reactivity is unusual compared to the large majority of the known six-membered cyclic allenes, we performed quantum-chemical calculations on 8, which is the parent compound of 7, and the corresponding isopyridine 6 to assess the electronic nature of these species. The ground state of 6 was no longer an allene (6 a) but the zwitterion 6 b. In the case of 8, the allene structure 8 a is more stable than the zwitterionic form 8 b by only approximately 1 kcal mol(-1). These results suggest a high reactivity of 6 and 8 towards nucleophiles and explains the behaviour of 7. In addition to the ground states, the low-lying excited states of 6 and 8 were considered, which are represented by the diradicals 6 c and 8 c and, as singlets, lie above 6 b and 8 a by 19.1-24.8 and 14.4-17.7 kcal mol(-1), respectively.     

Enantioselective trans dihydroxylation of nonactivated C-C double bonds of aliphatic heterocycles with Sphingomonas sp. HXN-200

The bacterial strain Sphingomonas sp. HXN-200 was used to catalyze the trans dihydroxylation ofN-substituted 1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridines 1 and 3-pyrrolines 4 giving the corresponding 3,4-dihydroxypiperidines 3 and 3,4-dihydroxypyrrolidines 6, respectively, with high enantioselectivity and high activity. The trans dihydroxylation was sequentially catalyzed by a monooxygenase and an epoxide hydrolase in the strain with epoxide as intermediate. While both epoxidation and hydrolysis steps contributed to the overall enantioselectivity in trans dihydroxylation of 1, the enantioselectivity in trans dihydroxylation of the symmetric substrate 4 was generated only in the hydrolysis of meso-epoxide 5. The absolute configuration for the bioproducts (+)-3 and (+)-6 was established as (3R,4R) by chemical correlations. Preparative trans dihydroxylation of 1a and 4b with frozen/thawed cells of Sphingomonas sp. HXN-200 afforded the corresponding (+)-(3R,4R)-3,4-dihydroxypiperidine 3a and (+)-(3R,4R)-3,4-dihydroxy pyrrolidine 6b in 96% ee both and in 60% and 80% yield, respectively. These results represent first examples of enantioselective trans dihydroxylation with nonterpene substrates and with bacterial catalyst, thus significantly extending this methodology in practical synthesis of valuable and useful trans diols. Enantioselective hydrolysis of racemic epoxide 2a with Sphingomonas sp. HXN-200 gave 34% of (-)-2a in >99% ee, which is a versatile chiral building block. Further hydrolysis of (-)-2a with the same strain afforded (-)-(3S,4S)-3a in 96% ee and 92% yield. Thus, both enantiomers of 3a can be prepared by biotransformation with Sphingomonas sp. HXN-200.     

Selective synthesis of either enantiomer of alpha-amino acids by switching the regiochemistry of the tricyclic iminolactones prepared from a single chiral source

Preparation of l-alpha-amino acids was easily accomplished simply by exchanging the position of the lactone group of our recently reported chiral template 1 from C2 to C3. The new chiral template 7 was prepared in 54% overall yield over five steps from (1R)-(+)-camphor. Alkylation of iminolactone 7 afforded the alpha-monosubstituted products in good yields and excellent diastereoselectivities (>98%). Hydrolysis of the alkylated iminolactones furnished the desired l-alpha-amino acids in good yields and ee with nearly quantitative recovery of chiral auxiliary 4.