Indium-mediated reaction of nitroethane and aldehydes: characterization of the nucleophilic organoindium species

A novel method for the preparation of 2-nitroalkan-1-ols by an indium-promoted reaction of bromonitromethane and 2-bromonitropropane with a variety of aldehydes was recently reported. Extension of the procedure to 1-bromo-1-nitroethane, which gives rise to a new chiral centre, was considered. On the basis of the diastereoselectivity of the nitroalkanols formed and NMR studies on the reaction mixtures, a mechanistic proposal for the indium-promoted reaction of bromonitroalkanes and aldehydes is discussed. The proposed mechanism allows the prediction of the stereochemical outcome of the present reaction.     

Efficient addition reaction of bromonitromethane to aldehydes catalyzed by NaI: a new route to 1-bromo-1-nitroalkan-2-ols under very mild conditions

[Structure: see text] A catalytic NaI-mediated novel synthesis of 1-bromo-1-nitroalkan-2-ols was carried out by reaction of bromonitromethane with a variety of aldehydes, under very mild conditions. When the reaction was performed with chiral N,N-dibenzyl alaninal, the corresponding enantiopure (1S,2S,3S)-3-dibenzylamino-1-bromo-1-nitrobutan-2-ol was obtained with good stereoselectivity. The structure of this enantiopure bromohydrin was established by X-ray analysis.     

A catalytic highly enantioselective direct synthesis of 2-bromo-2-nitroalkan-1-ols through a Henry reaction

Highly enantiomerically enriched 2-bromo-2-nitroalkan-1-ols are prepared by direct condensation of aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes with bromonitromethane in the presence of a catalytic amount of copper(ii) acetate and a C(1)-symmetric camphor-derived amino pyridine ligand.     

A convenient samarium-promoted synthesis of aliphatic (E)-nitroalkenes under mild conditions

A samarium-promoted synthesis of (E)-nitroalkenes from 1-bromo-1-nitroalkan-2-ols in high yields and with total selectivity is reported. This reaction together with the easy and efficient preparation of the 1-bromo-1-nitroalkan-2-ols constitutes a simple and advantageous alternative toward nitroalkenes with total E-stereoselectivity. A mechanism is proposed to explain the E-stereoselectivity of the beta-elimination reaction.     

Stereoselective NaN3-catalyzed halonitroaldol-type reaction of azetidine-2,3-diones in aqueous media

Azetidine-2,3-diones (alpha-oxo-beta-lactams) and bromonitromethane undergo coupling in aqueous media in the presence of catalytic amounts of sodium azide. The stereoselectivity of the process was generally good, proceeding with reasonable anti : syn ratios under substrate control. On this basis, a simple and fast protocol for the synthesis of the potentially bioactive 3-substituted 3-hydroxy-beta-lactam moiety has been developed. Besides, 2-azetidinone-tethered 1-halo-1-nitroalkan-2-ols are quite useful building blocks; for example, reactions of the above nitrobromohydrins provided spiranic and fused bicyclic-beta-lactams.     

Ring opening of nonactivated 2-(1-aminoalkyl) aziridines: unusual regio- and stereoselective C-2 and C-3 cleavage

We have studied the ring opening of nonactivated amino aziridines 1 by water under acidic conditions. Depending on the acid used, amino aziridines are cleaved at C-3 or C-2 with high regioselectivity, and total stereoselectivity, affording chiral 2,3-diaminoalkan-1-ols 3 or 1,3-diaminoalkan-2-ols 4 in high yield.     

Highly substituted tetrahydropyrones from hetero-Diels-Alder reactions of 2-alkenals with stereochemical induction from chiral dienes

[reaction: see text] A new method for the stereoselective synthesis of libraries of 2,3,5-trisubstituted tetrahydro-gamma-pyrones and the corresponding tetrahydropyran-4-ols is reported. Dienes with a chiral moiety at position 5 were synthesized starting from (triphenylphosphoranylidene)acetone. In hetero-Diels-Alder (HDA) reactions, especially with alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes, they induce diastereomeric ratios from 4:1 to 14:1. Through selective epimerization and reduction, further building blocks are available. These constitute ideal starting points for their use in the total synthesis of complex polyketide macrocycles, especially with the vinyl group available for metathetic coupling.     

Asymmetric methallylboration of prochiral aldehydes with methallyldiisopinocampheylborane·synthesis of 2-methyl-1-alken-4-ols in ≥ 90% enantiomeric purities

Methallyldiisopinocampheylborane, on condensation with aldehydes, provides 2-methyl-1-alken-4-ols in ≥ 90% enantiomeric purities.     

Donor-Acceptor Cyclopropanes: Activation Enabled by a Single,Vinylogous Acceptor

A novel class of highly activated donor-acceptor cyclopropanes bearing only a single, vinylogous acceptor is presented. These strained moieties readily undergo cycloadditions with aldehydes, ketones, thioketones, nitriles, naphth-2-ols and various other substrates to yield the corresponding carbo- and heterocycles. Diastereocontrol can be achieved through the choice of catalyst (Brønsted or Lewis acid). The formation of tetrahydrofurans was shown to be highly enantiospecific when chiral cyclopropanes are employed. A series of mechanistic and kinetic experiments was conducted to elucidate a plausible catalytic cycle and to rationalize the stereochemical outcome.     

Donor-Acceptor Cyclopropanes: Activation Enabled by a Single,Vinylogous Acceptor

A novel class of highly activated donor-acceptor cyclopropanes bearing only a single, vinylogous acceptor is presented. These strained moieties readily undergo cycloadditions with aldehydes, ketones, thioketones, nitriles, naphth-2-ols and various other substrates to yield the corresponding carbo- and heterocycles. Diastereocontrol can be achieved through the choice of catalyst (Brønsted or Lewis acid). The formation of tetrahydrofurans was shown to be highly enantiospecific when chiral cyclopropanes are employed. A series of mechanistic and kinetic experiments was conducted to elucidate a plausible catalytic cycle and to rationalize the stereochemical outcome.     

Synthesis of (Z)-vinylsilanes with high diastereoselectivity by using samarium diiodide

beta-Elimination of O-acetyl 1-chloro-1-trimethylsilylalkan-2-ols 1 was achieved by using samarium diiodide as a metaling reagent and afforded the corresponding (Z)-vinylsilanes with high stereoselectivity. The starting compounds 1 were easily prepared by treatment of different aldehydes with (chlorolithiomethyl)trimethylsilane and further acetylation.     

Palladium-catalyzed 1,3-diol fragmentation: synthesis of omega-dienyl aldehydes

2-(1'-Hydroxy-2'-propenyl)cycloalkan-1-ols undergo dehydrative C1-C2 bond cleavage and provide omega-dienyl aldehydes under the catalysis of Pd(0) and 9-phenyl-9-BBN.     

Efficient and flexible synthesis of chiral gamma- and delta-lactones

An efficient and highly flexible synthesis for chiral gamma- and delta-lactones with high enantiomeric purity is described (>99% ee and 57-87% overall yield). The protocol involves alkylation of chiral 1,2-oxiranes with terminally unsaturated Grignard reagents. Subsequent oxidative degradation (OsO(4)-Oxone) of the terminal double bond from chiral alk-1-en-5-ols and alk-1-en-6-ols affords 4- or 5-hydroxy acids and gamma- and delta-lactones after acidic workup. The flexibility and efficiency of the protocol is illustrated by the synthesis of several alkanolides and alkenolides, hydroxy fatty acids and dihydroisocoumarins.     

Enantiocatalytic activity of substituted 5-benzyl-2-(pyridine-2-yl)imidazolidine-4-one ligands

Currently, asymmetric synthesis represents one of the main streams of organic synthesis. Although an extensive research has been carried out in this area, the synthesis of chiral compounds with the required enantiomeric purity is still a challenging issue. Herein, we focus on the preparation of new enantioselective catalysts based on pyridine-imidazolidinones. The substituted 5-benzyl-2-(pyridine-2-yl)imidazolidine-4-ones 5–8 were prepared by condensation of chiral amino acid amides (α-methylDOPA and α-methylphenylalanine) with 2-acetylpyridine and pyridine-2-carbaldehyde. The individual isomers of the described ligands 5–8 were separated chromatographically. The copper(II) complexes of these chiral ligands were studied as enantioselective catalysts for the asymmetric Henry reaction of substituted aldehydes with nitromethane or nitroethane. The ligands containing a methyl group at the 2-position of the imidazolidinone ring 6a and 8a exhibit a high degree of enantioselectivity (up to 91% ee). The nitroaldols derived from nitroethane (2-nitropropan-1-ols) were obtained with a comparable enantiomeric purity to derivatives of 2-nitroethanol. This group of ligands represents a new and promising class of enantioselective catalysts, which deserve further attention.     

Regio- and diastereocontrol in carbonyl allylation by 1-halobut-2-enes with Tin(II) halides

Regio- and diastereoselective carbonyl allylations of 1-halobut-2-enes with tin(II) halides are described. Tin(II) bromide in a dichloromethane-water biphasic system is an effective reagent for unusual alpha-regioselective carbonyl allylation of 1-bromobut-2-ene to produce 1-substituted pent-3-en-1-ols. The addition of tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBABr) to the biphasic system produces 1-substituted 2-methylbut-3-en-1-ols via usual gamma-addition which is opposite to the alpha-addition without TBABr. The gamma-addition to aromatic aldehydes exhibits anti-diastereoselectivity, while that to aliphatic aldehydes is not diastereoselective. The allylation of benzaldehyde by 1-chlorobut-2-ene in 1,3-dimethylimidazolidin-2-one (DMI) does not occur with tin(II) chloride or bromide but does proceed with tin(II) iodide and exhibits gamma-syn selectivity which is unusual for a Barbier-type carbonyl allylation. In the carbonyl allylation by 1-chlorobut-2-ene with any tin(II) halide, the addition of tetrabutylammonium iodide (TBAI) accelerates the reaction and enhances gamma-syn selectivity. The use of tin(II) iodide and TBAI produces 2-methyl-1-phenylbut-3-en-1-ol with high yield and high syn-diastereoselectivity. The syn-diastereoselective carbonyl allylation of 1-chlorobut-2-ene using tin(II) iodide, a catalytic amount of TBAI, and NaI in DMI-H(2)O is applied to various aldehydes.     

Convenient Asymmetric Syntheses of anti-beta-Amino Alcohols

Condensation of allylborane reagents 9 and 12 with aldehydes gave anti-3-[(diphenylmethylene)amino]-1-alken-4-ols 10 and 13 with high relative and absolute stereocontrol. Subsequent deprotection gave the corresponding free anti-3-amino-1-alken-4-ols 11 and 14. Alternatively, reaction of imines 13a, 13f, and 13g with trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride and acidic methanol gave, via rearrangement, double inversion, and hydrolysis, the isomeric anti-4-amino-1-alken-3-ols 22, 38a, and 38b in good yield. The stereochemistry of the rearrangement products has been established by a single crystal X-ray study of compound 37 and by chemical correlation.     

Asymmetric Synthesis of Chiral Flavan-3-Ols

Flavan-3-ols are a series of natural products widely present in plants and show versatile biological activities. The structures of such compounds are characterized by owing two adjacent chiral centers and three rings. Their interesting structures and promising biological activities have driven increasing research developments toward the preparation of enantioenriched flavan-3-ols. This review summarizes the recent approaches for the asymmetric synthesis of chiral flavan-3-ols from two strategies in the construction of chiral centers. The key steps in the synthetic protocol involve Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation, Shi asymmetric epoxidation and Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation.     

1,4-Asymmetric Induction in the Chromium(II)- and Indium-Mediated Coupling of Allyl Bromides to Aldehydes

A series of allyl bromides bearing an ethereal stereogenic substituent at C-2 were synthesized from methyl acrylate. These were coupled with a range of aldehydes under chromium(II) chloride-mediated conditions to afford syn-4-alkoxyalkan-1-ols in good yield and diastereoselectivity. The effect of altering the nature of the ethereal group and alkyl substituent upon the diastereoselectivity of the reaction was also investigated. The relative stereochemistry was proved by X-ray structure analysis. The work was extended to replace the chromium(II) chloride with indium metal, and this also afforded syn-4-alkoxyalkan-1-ols in good yield and diastereoselectivity.     

Concerning the 1,5-stereocontrol in tin(iv) chloride promoted reactions of 4- and 5-alkoxyalk-2-enylstannanes: trapping intermediate allyltin trichlorides using phenyllithium

Transmetallation of the 5-benzyloxy-4-methylpent-2-en-1-yl(tributyl)- and -(triphenyl)stannanes 1 and 8 using tin(iv) chloride generates an allyltin trichloride that reacts with aldehydes to give (Z)-1,5-anti-6-benzyloxy-5-methylhex-3-en-1-ols 2. The allyltin trichloride believed to be the key intermediate in these reactions has been trapped by phenyllithium to give anti-5-benzyloxy-4-methylpent-1-en-3-yl(triphenyl)stannane 9. Transmetallation of this anti-5-benzyloxy-4-methylpent-1-en-3-yl(triphenyl)stannane 9 generated an allyltin trichloride that reacted with aldehydes to give the (Z)-1,5-syn-6-benzyloxy-5-methylhex-3-en-1-ols 23 and was trapped by phenyllithium to give syn-5-benzyloxy-4-methylpent-1-en-3-yl(triphenyl)stannane 24. Similar stereoselectivity was observed for tin(iv) chloride promoted reactions of this syn-5-benzyloxy-4-methylpent-1-en-3-yl(triphenyl)stannane 24 with aldehydes and with phenyllithium. The allyltin trichlorides generated by transmetallation of 4-hydroxy- and 4-benzyloxy-pent-2-enyl(triphenyl)stannanes 34 and 35 were similarly trapped by phenyllithium to give 4-hydroxy- and 4-benzyloxy-pent-1-en-3-ylstannanes 36 and 37 whose configurations were established by correlation with known compounds. This work confirmed the configurations of the intermediate allyltin trichlorides involved in tin(iv) chloride promoted reactions of 4- and 5-alkoxypent-2-enylstannanes with aldehydes and showed that the high levels of remote stereocontrol were due mainly to kinetically controlled transmetallation. A fuller mechanistic scheme is proposed for the reactions in the 5-benzyloxy-4-methylpent-2-enylstannane series together with relevant (119)Sn NMR data.     

(S)-O-acetyllactyl chloride – a versatile chiral auxiliary in stereodifferentiation of enantiomeric flavor components

The stereodifferentiation of chiral secondary alcohols, 4(5)-alkyl-substituted γ (δ)-lactones via corresponding 1, 4(1, 5)-diols, chiral 1, 3-diols, and 1-thioalkan-3-ols was carried out by diastereomeric derivatization with (S)-O-acetyllactyl chloride as a chiral auxiliary. This procedure is a convenient and reliable method for screening the enantiomeric composition of these naturally occurring flavor volatiles.