Synthesis of (E)- and (Z)-α,β-difluorourocanic acid

Horner-Emmons fluoroolefination of an aryl aldehyde followed by introduction of a second fluorine via “FBr” addition provides an original approach to the preparation of 1-alkyl-2-aryl-1,2-difluoroethenes. The utility of this procedure is demonstrated by the preparation of (E and Z)-α,β-difluorourocanic acid.     

Enantioselective synthesis of (2R,3R)- and (2S,3S)-β-hydroxyornithine

An efficient and short synthesis of (2R,3R)- and (2S,3S)-β-hydroxyornithine 1a-b is described using Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation and regioselective nucleophilic opening of a cyclic sulfite as the key steps.     

The first asymmetric total synthesis of (R)-tuberolactone, (S)-jasmine lactone and (R)-δ-decalactone

A general synthetic approach has been developed for the first asymmetric total synthesis of tuberolactone 1, jasmine lactone 2 and δ-decalactone 3. The key step is the selective hydrogenation of triple and endocyclic double bonds in the key intermediate 4.     

Synthesis of β-chloro α-amino acids: (2S,3R)- and (2S,3S)-3-chloroleucine

The first syntheses of (2S,3R)- and (2S,3S)-3-chloroleucine (3-chloro-d-leucines 1 and 2) have been achieved from d-3-hydroxyleucine and allo-d-3-hydroxyleucine, respectively, through the formation of the corresponding N-Cbz β-lactones, followed by a ring opening promoted by lithium chloride and a debenzylation process.     

SmI2-induced cyclization of optically active (E)- and (Z)-β-alkoxyvinyl sulfoxides with aldehydes

SmI₂-induced reaction of (E)-β-alkoxyvinyl (R)- and (S)-sulfoxides with aldehydes effected a highly stereoselective intramolecular cyclization to give 2,6-anti-2,3-cis- and 2,6-syn-2,3-trans-tetrahydropyran-3-ols, respectively. The reaction of (Z)-(R)-isomer gave 2,6-syn-2,3-cis-tetrahydropyran-3-ol and a ring-opened product, and that of (Z)-(S)-isomer yielded many products.     

Improved synthesis of (R)-7-hydroxycarvone from (S)-α-pinene

A three-step synthesis of (R)-7-hydroxycarvone (1), which is anticipated to be a valuable building block for the versatile preparation of natural products, is described. Optimization of the reaction conditions for photooxygenation and migration of (S)-α-pinene 2, tetrapropylammonium perruthenate (TPAP) oxidation of the generated alcohol, and a subsequent ring-opening reaction in the presence of Cu(OTf)₂ led to the synthesis of 1 with good reproducibility. The desired product 1 was thus obtained in 46% yield over three steps.     

The first stereoselective total synthesis of (3S,4R)-dihydroxy-(6S)-undecyl-α-pyranone and total synthesis of (2S,3R,5S)-(−)-2,3-dihydroxytetradecan-5-olide

The first total synthesis of (3S,4R)-dihydroxy-(6S)-undecyl-α-pyranone 1 and total synthesis of (2S,3R,5S)-(−)-2,3-dihydroxytetradecan-5-olide 2 have been achieved in five steps in a highly stereoselective manner using Maruoka allylation, olefin cross-metathesis, and Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation as key steps.     

Reagent-controlled diastereoselective synthesis of (2S,3R)- and (2R,3R)-2,3-diaminobutanoic acid derivatives using proline-catalyzed α-hydrazination reaction

(2S,3R)- and (2R,3R)-2,3-Diaminobutanoic acid (Dab) derivatives were efficiently synthesized from Cbz-(R)-alanine using the proline-catalyzed diastereoselective α-hydrazination reaction and the SmI₂-promoted reductive cleavage of the N-N bond as the key steps.     

Concise access to enantiopure (S)- and (R)-α-trifluoromethyl pyroglutamic acids from ethyl trifluoropyruvate-based chiral CF3-oxazolidines (Fox)

A straightforward synthesis of enantiopure (S)- and (R)-α-Tfm-pyroglutamic acid is reported. The strategy is based on the use of a chiral CF₃-hydroxymorpholinone intermediate conveniently obtained from ethyl trifluoropyruvate-based chiral CF₃-oxazolidines (Fox). The key step is an oxidative cyclization followed by a reductive cleavage of the (R)-phenylglycinol chiral auxiliary.     

Host compounds (+)-(2R,3R)-1,1,4,4-tetraphenylbutane-1,2,3,4-tetraol (TETROL) and (2R,3R)-(−)-2,3-dimethoxy-1,1,4,4-tetraphenylbutane-1,4-diol (DMT) with guests o-, m- and p- toluidine: A comparative investigation

In this work, we have compared the host abilities of closely related compounds (+)-(2R,3R)-1,1,4,4-tetraphenylbutane-1,2,3,4-tetraol (TETROL) and (2R,3R)-(?)-2,3-dimethoxy-1,1,4,4-tetraphenylbutane-1,4-diol (DMT) when these were recrystallized from single and mixed toluidine guests. Significant differences in host behaviour and selectivities were revealed and these were explained by means of single crystal diffraction experiments. Thermal analyses were used to determine the relative complex stabilities, and these data correlated exactly with the host selectivity orders for both TETROL and DMT.     

Concise synthesis of enantiopure (S)- and (R)-α-trifluoromethyl aspartic acid and α-trifluoromethyl serine from chiral trifluoromethyl oxazolidines (Fox) via a Strecker-type reaction

A concise synthesis of enantiopure (S)- and (R)-α-Tfm-aspartic acid and α-Tfm-serine is reported. The key step involves a Strecker-type reaction on chiral CF₃-oxazolidines (Fox) derived from ethyl 4,4,4-trifluoroacetoacetate (ETFAA) or ethyl trifluoropyruvate.     

Orthoamides by selective borohydride reduction of N,N′,N″-triacyl- and N,N′,N″-tri(alkoxycarbonyl)-guanidines

N,N′,N″-Triacylguanidines and N,N′,N″-tri(alkoxycarbonyl)guanidines were prepared and reduced with borohydride salts in a mixture of tetrahydrofuran and acetic acid to give triacyl and tri(alkoxycarbonyl) orthoamides in yields of 40–85%. However, similar reduction of N,N′,N″-tri(t-butoxycarbonyl)guanidine did not give orthoamide but the aminal di(t-butyl) methylenedicarbamate.     

Conformationally restricted analogues of both (S)-β-homoserine and (S)-aspartic acid from chiral 3-acylamino pyrrolidin-2-ones

Starting from chiral 3,4-trans-disubstituted pyrrolidin-2-ones 11a and 11b, obtained from a Baylis-Hillman adduct, conformationally restricted analogues of both (S)-β-homoserine, 17, and (S)-aspartic acid, 21, were synthesized, respectively, and these compounds are suitable either for introduction in peptidomimetics or for synthesis of novel β-foldamers.     

π-Extended conjugate phenylacetylenes. Synthesis of 4-[(E) and (Z)-2-(4-ethenylphenyl)ethenyl]pyridine. Dimerization, quaternation and formation of charge-transfer complexes

The conjugate (E)- and (Z)-(4′-pyridylethenyl)-4-phenylethyne (E-4 and Z-4) has been satisfactorily prepared by two different routes: (a) by dehydrohalogenation of 4′-pyridylethenyl-4-phenyl-β-chloroethene; (b) by the Wittig reaction between p-(iodobenzyl)(triphenyl)phosphine ylide and 4-pyridinecarboxaldehyde, E/Z isomer separation, and cross-coupling with 2-methyl-but-3-yn-2-ol followed the propanone elimination. The Glaser oxidative dimerization of (Z)-4 yields (Z,Z)-1,4-di[(4′-pyridylethenyl)-4-phenyl]-buta-1,3-diyne in good yield, (Z,Z)-5. (E,E)-5 was obtained by phase transfer oxidative dimerisation of (E)-4 in presence of their N-methyl salt (E)-10. Mono- and di-N-methylated salts of conjugate (E,E)-5 and (Z,Z)-5, were obtained by quaternation with iodomethane. The (Z,Z)-5 di-N-methylated salt forms charge-transfer complexes with TCNE, TCNQ and TMPD.     

Aerobic copper-catalyzed synthesis of (E)-alkenyl sulfones and (E)-β-halo-alkenyl sulfones via addition of sodium sulfinates to alkynes

Copper-catalyzed sulfonylation of alkynes using sodium sulfinates in air produced regio- and stereoselectively (E)-alkenyl sulfones. When a CuCl catalyst was employed, the hydrosulfonylation proceeded syn-selectively, and (E)-alkenyl sulfones were synthesized in excellent yields. In contrast, the reaction using CuI catalyst produced (E)-β-haloalkenyl sulfones anti-selectively in the presence of potassium halides. Furthermore, the (E)-β-bromoalkenyl sulfones are possible to convert into various alkenyl sulfones by Suzuki–Miyaura coupling.     

Stereoselective synthesis of (22Z)-25-hydroxyvitamin D2 and (22Z)-1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D2

Two new vitamin D₂ analogues, (22Z)-25-(OH)-D₂ and (22Z)-1α,25-(OH)₂-D₂, were serendipitously synthesized from vitamin D₂ and using the Julia-Kocienski olefination.     

Synthesis and dynamics of atropisomeric (S)-N-(α-phenylethyl)benzamides

The synthesis of atropisomeric 2-substituted benzamides 2a-e, 3a-e, and 4a-e, and characterization by X-ray structure analysis of 2d, 2e, 3c, 3e, 4c, and 4e are reported. Dynamic ¹H NMR spectroscopic studies of benzamides 2b-d, 3b-d, and 4b-d indicate that only two of the four possible rotamers are present in solution, with population ratios ranging between 1.5:1 and 4.1:1. The measured free energy of activation to interconversion of the rotamers ranged from 12.4 to 18.9 kcal mol⁻¹. Benzamides ArCON[(S)-phenethyl]₂ (2e, 3e, and 4e), exhibited atropisomer ratios between 1.7:1 and 1:1, and free energies of interconversion of the rotamers ranged from 11.5 to 17.6 kcal mol⁻¹. The highest rotation barriers were observed for the ortho-nitro derivatives 2a-e. Molecular calculations at the semiempirical level (PM3MM) gave free energies of activation for benzamides 2e and 3e of 23.6 and 12.4 kcal mol⁻¹, respectively, which are comparable to the experimental values.     

Facile synthesis of (Z)- and (E)-3-allylidene-β-lactams via thermal β-elimination of trans-3-allyl-3-sulfinyl-β-lactams

A competent synthetic route for the synthesis of novel (Z)- and (E)-3-allylidene-β-lactams is described. The strategy involves oxidation of trans-3-allyl-3-phenylthio-β-lactams 1 using sodium metaperiodate (NaIO₄) to diastereomeric trans-3-allyl-3-phenylsulfinyl-β-lactams 2 and 3, which further undergo thermal β-elimination in refluxing carbon tetrachloride to furnish (Z)- and (E)-3-allylidene-β-lactams 5 and 6 in good to excellent yields. The molecular structure of 3b has been established with the help of single crystal X-ray analysis.     

The resolution of trans-2,2-dichloro-3-methylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid via crystallization of its salts with (+)- and (−)-α-phenylethylamine, and the transformation of the resulting enantiomers into (R)- and (S)-dimethyl 2-methylsuccinates

The resolution of trans-2,2-dichloro-3-methylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid trans-1 was achieved by crystallization of its salts with (+)- and (−)-α-phenylethylamine. The chiral acids were converted into methyl esters 9, which upon reaction with sodium methoxide in methanol underwent a three-carbon ring cleavage, leading to the corresponding mono-orthoester derivatives 10. Acidic hydrolysis then gave the known (R)- and (S)-dimethyl 2-methylsuccinates 12.     

Synthesis of cis- and trans-(±)-3-mercaptoproline and pipecolic acid derivatives via thio-Michael addition

The reactivity of 2,3-dehydroproline and 2,3-dehydropipecolic acid methyl ester derivatives with S-nucleophiles in the thio-Michael addition reaction has been explored. The addition of triphenylmethanethiol and subsequent trityl cleavage led to the corresponding cis- and trans-(±)-3-mercaptoproline and pipecolic acid derivatives in good yields.