Stereoselective electrogeneration of (E)-4-alkoxy-2-phenyl-5-chloro-2-oxazolines by cathodic reduction of N-(1-alkoxy-2,2,2-trichloroethyl)benzamides

The first method for the synthesis of the title compounds has been established. Quantitative reactions of benzamides with chloral hydrate provided chloralbenzamides which were efficiently converted to N-(1,2,2,2-tetrachloroethyl)amides by treatment with phosphorus pentachloride. These compounds reacted selectively with alcohols under mild conditions to give N-(1-alkoxy-2,2,2-trichloroethyl)benzamides in high yields which were stereoselectively transformed to (E)-4-alkoxy-2-aryl-5-chloro-2-oxazolines in fair to good yields by electrochemical reduction under constant cathodic potential in an aprotic medium.     

Synthesis of (±)-2R,4R,5S-2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-(2,3,4-trimethoxyphenyl)cyclohexanone and (±)-2R,4S,5R-2-methoxy-5-nitro-4-(2,3,4-trimethoxyphenyl)cyclohexanone as colchicine mimetics

Colchicine mimetic (±)-4S,5R-4-nitro-5-(2,3,4-trimethoxyphenyl)cyclohexene (1) was epoxidized to afford a mixture of epoxides. The epoxides were separately converted in two steps, with high stereoselectivity, to two regioisomeric α-methoxyketones. One regioisomer, (±)-2R,4S,5R-2-methoxy-5-nitro-4-(2,3,4-trimethoxyphenyl)cyclohexanone (17), proved to be about 12-fold more potent than synthetic precursor 1 against HCT-116 tumor cells while the other regioisomer, (±)-2R,4R,5S-2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-(2,3,4-trimethoxyphenyl)cyclohexanone (16), and the synthetic intermediates tested showed no improvement in potency.     

Stereoselective synthesis of (1R,2S)- and (1S,2R)-1-amino-cis-3-azabicyclo[4.4.0]decan-2,4-dione hydrochlorides: bicyclic glutamic acid derivatives

Asymmetric synthesis of (1R,2S)- and (1S,2R)-1-amino-cis-3-azabicyclo[4.4.0]decan-2,4-diones has been achieved. The underlying second generation asymmetric synthesis proceeds via a Strecker reaction with commercially available (R)-1-phenylethylamine (1-PEA) as chiral auxiliary, TMSCN as cyanide source and racemic ethyl 2-(2-oxocyclohex-1-yl)ethanoate. A ring closure addition-elimination reaction between an amide nitrogen and the ester functionality leads to the 1-amino-3-azabicyclo[4.4.0]decan-2,4-diones. The absolute configurations of the title compounds have been assigned based on detailed NMR-spectroscopic analysis and X-ray data.     

Concise and practical synthesis of (2S,3R,4R,5R) and (2S,3R,4R,5S)-1,6-dideoxy-1,6-iminosugars

The syntheses of (2S,3R,4R,5R) and (2S,3R,4R,5S)-1,6-dideoxy-1,6 iminosugars 1a and 1b, respectively, from d-glucose are described. The key transformations in this reaction sequence include regio-selective epoxide ring opening with N-benzylamine followed by intramolecular reductive amination of amino-aldehyde.     

Intramolecular reductive amination strategy to the synthesis of (R)-N-Boc-2-hydroxymethylmorpholine, N-(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)(R)-2-hydroxymethylmorpholine, and (R)-2-benzylmorpholine

A concise high yielding enantioselective synthesis of (R)-N-Boc-2-hydroxymethylmorpholine, N-(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)(R)-2-hydroxymethylmorpholine, and (R)-benzylmorpholine has been achieved by employing proline-catalyzed asymmetric α-aminooxylation of aldehyde and palladium-catalyzed intramolecular reductive amination of azido aldehyde as the key steps.     

An efficient stereoselective synthesis of (2S,4S,5R)-(−)- and (2R,4R,5S)-(+)-bulgecinine

A short synthetic route to (−)-and (+)-bulgecinine, the amino acid moiety of the bulgecins was achieved from the readily available nonchiral pool starting material cis-2-butene-1,4-diol in which a Claisen orthoester rearrangement and a Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation were used as the key steps.     

Stereoselective synthesis of (2R,3R) and (2R,3S)-3-hydroxyleucines

A stereoselective synthesis of (2R,3R) and (2R,3S)-3-hydroxyleucine is disclosed. The key step of the reaction sequence involves, stereo- and regioselective bromohydration of 7, using a brominating agent derived in situ from N-bromosuccinimide and 2,6-lutidine, via intramolecular sulfinyl group participation.     

Synthesis of (4R,15R,16R,21S)- and (4R,15S,16S,21S)-rollicosin

A convergent synthesis of (4R,15R,16R,21S)-rollicosin (1) and (4R,15S,16S,21S)-rollicosin (2) was accomplished. Hydroxy lactone 6a and/or 6b were synthesized from 4-pentyn-1-ol, and α,β-unsaturated lactone 7 was synthesized from γ-lactone 8 and 5-hexen-1-ol. Inhibitory activity of these compounds was examined with bovine heart mitochondrial complex I.     

Synthesis of N,N′-disubstituted cyclic 1,2-diamines derived from (1R,2R)-1,2-diaminocyclohexane

The synthesis of N,N′-unsymmetrically tetrasubstituted cyclic 1,2-diamines derived from (1R,2R)-diaminocyclohexane is reported. We comment on the structural nature of these cyclic 1,2-diamines and discuss their characteristic features.     

Synthesis and derivatisation of N,N′-trisubstituted 1,2-diamines derived from (1R,2R)-1,2-diaminocyclohexane

The synthesis of N,N′-trisubstituted 1,2-diamines can be achieved by simple reduction of an aminal derived from (1R,2R)-diaminocyclohexane. We comment on the scope and limitation of this reduction and discuss its application towards the synthesis of unsymmetrical N,N′-tetrasubstituted 1,2-diamines.     

Efficient synthesis of (R)- and (S)-3-octanol, (R)-2-dodecanol, (R)-2-methyl-4-heptanol and (R)-2-methyl-4-octanol: the pheromones of Myrmica scabrinodis, Crematogaster castanea, C. liengmei, C. auberti and Metamasius hemipterus

A simple and efficient synthesis of optically active insect pheromones, such as (R)- and (S)-3-octanol, (R)-2-dodecanol, (R)-2-methyl-4-heptanol and (R)-2-methyl-4-octanol starting from non-racemic β-hydroxy sulfides has been established.     

Synthesis and stereochemistry of ceramide B, (2S,3R,4E,6R)-N-(30-hydroxytriacontanoyl)-6-hydroxy-4-sphingenine, a new ceramide in human epidermis

(2S,3R,4E,6R)-N-(30-Hydroxytriacontanoyl)-6-hydroxy-4-sphingenine (1) and its (6S)-isomer (1′) were synthesized by starting from pentadecan-15-olide, the enantiomers of 1-pentadecyn-3-ol, and (S)-Garner's aldehyde. Comparison of the ¹H NMR spectra of the tetraacetyl derivatives of 1 and 1′ with that of ceramide B, a new protein-bound ceramide in human stratum corneum, revealed it to be (2S,3R,4E,6R)-1.     

Asymmetric reduction of prochiral ketones using in situ generated oxazaborolidine derived from (1S,2S,3R,4R)-3-amino-7,7-dimethoxynorbornan-2-ol. An efficient synthesis of enantiopure (R)-tomoxetine

Catalytic asymmetric reduction of prochiral ketones was examined in the presence of chiral oxazaborolidine catalyst 2 prepared in situ from (1S,2S,3R,4R)-3-amino-7,7-dimethoxynorbornan-2-ol (1). The optically active secondary alcohols were generally obtained in moderate to high enantiomeric excesses (ee 43-95%) and good yields (75-94%), except for ketones bearing electron-withdrawing groups. The methodology was applied to the synthesis of enantiopure (R)-tomoxetine, a potent anti-depressant drug.     

Practical, efficient, stereoselective, formal synthesis of (2R,3R,4R)-3-hydroxy-4-methylproline

A highly efficient and stereoselective synthesis of (2R,3R,4R)-HMP is disclosed employing the sulfinyl group as an internal nucleophile to functionalize an olefin in the key step of the reaction sequence. The proline ring is elaborated by a (4C+N) cyclization.     

Asymmetric [4+2] cycloadditions employing 1,3-dienes derived from (R)-4-t-butyldimethyl-silyloxy-2-cyclohexen-1-one

1,3-Dienes derived from (R)-4-t-butyldimethylsilyloxy-2-cyclohexen-1-one react with activated dienophiles to form predominately (or sometimes exclusively) syn/endo products. These controlled [4+2] cycloadditions increase the asymmetric complexity from one asymmetric center in the starting material to five asymmetric centers in the products in a single step, and provide a powerful approach for the asymmetric synthesis of compounds containing the bicyclo[2.2.2]octanone carbon skeleton.     

A tethered aminohydroxylation route to l-arabino-[2R,3S,4R] and l-xylo-[2R,3S,4S]-C18-phytosphingosines

A concise and highly efficient synthesis of l-arabino-[2R,3S,4R] and l-xylo-[2R,3S,4S]-C₁₈-phytosphingosines has been achieved. The synthetic strategy features the Sharpless kinetic resolution and tethered aminohydroxylation as the key steps.     

Chemoenzymatic synthesis of (3S,4S)- and (3R,4R)-3-methoxy-4-methylaminopyrrolidine

Facile chemoenzymatic enantioselective synthesis of (3S,4S)-3-methoxy-4-methylaminopyrrolidine, a key intermediate for a new quinolone antitumor compound AG-7352 has been described. This methodology illustrates the preparation of 3-azido-1-benzyloxycarbonyl-4-hydroxypyrrolidine starting from diallylamine via 1-benzyloxycarbonyl-3-pyrroline obtained by ring-closing metathesis (RCM) employing Grubbs’ catalyst. Enzymatic transesterification employing PS-C lipase gave (3S,4S)-3-azido-1-benzyloxycarbonyl-4-hydroxypyrrolidine in >99% ee, which upon methylation of the hydroxyl group followed by sequential reactions gave the desired intermediates, (3S,4S)-1-tert-butoxycarbonyl-3-tert-butoxycarbonylamino-4-methoxypyrrolidine.     

Chiral synthesis of (R)-( -)-mellein and (3R,4aS)-( + )-ramulosin

By employing an intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction as the key-step, (R)-(—)-mellein 1a (a metabolite of Aspergittus melleus) and (3R,4aS)-( +)-ramulosin 2 (a metabolite of Pestalotia ramulosa) were synthesised from ethyl (R)-3-hydroxybutanoate 3a.     

Synthesis of 2-oxazolines and related N-containing heterocycles using [Et2NSF2]BF4 as a cyclodehydration agent

The preparation of 2-oxazolines and related N-containing heterocycles from the corresponding hydroxyamides using XtalFluor-E ([Et₂NSF₂]BF₄) as a cyclodehydration agent is described. A wide range of heterocycles are obtained under mild conditions in good to excellent yields.     

Formal syntheses of (−)- and (+)-aphanorphine from (2S,4R)-4-hydroxyproline

We describe the efficient formal syntheses of both natural (−)-aphanorphine and unnatural (+)-aphanorphine from the same commercially available amino acid, (2S,4R)-4-hydroxyproline. The tricyclic framework was constructed by intramolecular Friedel-Crafts reaction. (1R,4S)-1-Methyl-8-methoxy-3-(4-toluenesulfonyl)-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1,4-methano-3-benzazepine (8) was synthesized in six steps from sulfonamide 3; (−)-aphanorphine methyl ether 24 was obtained in seven steps from lactone 10. Intramolecular etherification of 18 proceeded with excellent stereoselectivity in the presence of BF₃·OEt₂, which has paved an efficient synthetic route to a series of medicinally attractive heterocycles.