Asymmetric synthesis of tert-butyl ((1R,4aR,8R,8aR)-1-hydroxyoctahydro-1H-isochromen-8-yl)carbamate

The asymmetric synthesis of methyl (E)-4-((1R,2S,3R)-3-amino-2-((E)-2-methoxycarbonyl-eten-1-yl)cyclohexyl)but-2-enoate 14 has been achieved from dimethyl (2E,7E)-nona-2,7-dienedioate 2. A key step is the asymmetric synthesis of 1-hydroxyoctahydro-1H-isochromene derivative 5 whose X-ray analysis corroborated the stereochemistry of the new stereocenters. The asymmetric synthesis of the isochromenyl acetate derivative 11 shows the potential of this methodology for fused cyclohexanic system heterocyclic synthesis.     

Nickel-catalyzed multi-component connection reaction of isoprene, aldimines (lactamines), and diphenylzinc

Ni(acac)₂ catalyzes the four-component connection reaction of diphenylzinc, isoprene, aromatic aldehydes, and aromatic amines in this order and provides stereochemically homogeneous (E)-1-arylamino-1-aryl-3-methyl-5-phenyl-3-pentenes (1) in excellent yields. Aliphatic aldehydes react similarly and give (E)-1-arylamino-1-alkyl-3-methyl-5-phenyl-3-pentenes (1) in slightly reduced yields. When the alkyl groups are bulky, in addition to 1 are formed (E)-1-arylamino-1-alkyl-4-methyl-5-phenyl-3-pentenes (1′) as the minor products. Lactamines prepared in situ from five- and six-membered lactols and aromatic amines are more reactive than alkyl aldehyde aldimines and furnish (E)-4-arylamino-6-methyl-8-phenyl-6-octen-1-ols (4) and (E)-5-arylamino-7-methyl-9- phenyl-7-nonen-1-ols (5), respectively, in good yields with excellent E-stereoselectivity.     

Facile preparation of methyl 5-aryl-4-hydroxyhex-2(E)-enoate,chiral synthon of bisabolane-type sesquiterpenes,based on lipase-catalyzed kinetic resolution and rearrangement of an aryl group

The lipase-catalyzed enantioselective acetylation of racemic methyl (4S¹,5S¹)-4-aryl-5-hydroxyhex-2(E)-enoates 1a–h was performed and efficient resolutions were achieved (E >400) by using CAL-B. After brosylation of the obtained optically active 1a–h, solvolysis of brosylates 13a–h afforded the corresponding methyl (4S¹,5S¹)-5-aryl-4-hydroxyhex-2(E)-enoates 3a–h (26–94% yield). The yields of 3a and 3c on the solvolysis of the corresponding 13 were 92% and 40%, respectively, while solvolysis of the corresponding tosylate was reported at 70% and 17%, respectively. This procedure is a facile and practical route to the synthesis of bioactive and optically active bisabolane-type sesquiterpenes.     

Total synthesis of (+)-piericidin A1 and (−)-piericidin B1

The convergent syntheses of (+)-piericidin A₁ 1 and (?)-piericidin B₁ 2 have been achieved based on classical Julia-Lythgoe olefination between 4-hydroxy-5,6-dimethoxy-3-methyl-2-[5-oxo-3-methyl-pent-(2E)-enyl]-pyridine 3 corresponding to the left half of the final molecule, and chiral phenyl sulfones, (4R,5R)-2,4,6-trimethyl-5-methoxy-1-phenylsulfonyl-octa-(2E,6E)-diene 20 and (4R,5R)-5-tert-butyldimethylsiloxy-2,4,6-trimethyl-1-phenylsulfonyl-octa-(2E,6E)-diene 33, corresponding to the right halves. The construction of the two stereogenic centers in the right half of piericidins was achieved based on lipase-catalyzed hydrolysis of methyl (2,3)-anti-3-acetoxy-2,4-dimethyl-hex-(4E)-enoate (±)-22.     

Novel thiosemicarbazone derivatives containing benzimidazole moiety: Green synthesis and anti-malarial activity

A series of (E)-2-[5-chloro-1-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)ethylidene] N-(substituted) hydrazine carbothioamide (7a–7t) and (E)-2-[1-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)ethylidene] N-(substituted) hydrazine carbothioamide (8a–8t) were prepared via the synthesis of 1-(substituted-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl) ethanol (3a–3b) which was synthesized by the condensation of substituted o-phenylenediamine (2a–2b) with dl-lactic acid (1) followed by oxidation with sodium hypochlorite in mild acidic condition to form the corresponding ketones 4a–4b. Final compounds were formed by condensation of 4a–4b with different thiosemicarbazides 6a–6t. A total of 40 compounds were synthesized and characterized by FT-IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, Mass spectral technique and elemental analysis, in addition they were evaluated for anti-malarial properties. Among the compounds tested 7o, 7p, 7q, 7r, 7s, 8e and 8h exhibited good antimalarial activity in vitro.     

Pheromone synthesis. Part 249: Syntheses of methyl (R,E)-2,4,5-tetradecatrienoate and methyl (2E,4Z)-2,4-decadienoate,the pheromone components of the male dried bean beetle,Acanthoscelides obtectus (Say)

The enantiomers of methyl (E)-2,4,5-tetradecatrienoate (1), a component of the male pheromone of Acanthoscelides obtectus, were synthesized from the enantiomers of 1-undecyn-3-ol (6), which were obtained via asymmetric acetylation of (±)-1-trimethylsilyl-1-undecyn-3-ol (4) with vinyl acetate as catalyzed by lipase PS (Amano). The ortho ester Claisen rearrangement of 6 with triethyl orthoacetate was the key-step to generate the chiral allenic system. A new synthesis of (±)-1 was also executed starting from (±)-6. Three different syntheses of methyl (2E,4Z)-2,4-decadienoate (2), another component of the male pheromone of A. obtectus, were achieved by means of either palladium-catalyzed Heck reaction or a Claisen and an Al₂O₃ catalyzed thermal rearrangements.     

Derivatives of furyl(diethoxyphosphoryl)acetic aldehyde in Wittig reaction

Reactions of furyl(diethoxyphosphoryl)acetic aldehyde containing ester or cyano group in the furan ring with ethoxycarbonylmethylenetriphenylphosphorane has been shown to afford alkyl E-4-(furyl)-4-(diethoxyphosphoryl)but-3(2)-enoates. When treated with potassium tert-butoxide the mixture of alkyl E-4-(3-ethoxycarbonylfur-2-yl)-4-(diethoxyphosphoryl)but-2-enoate and -but-3-enoate gives a potassium salt of CHacid. Its acidifying results in a mixture of starting compounds with a larger amount of -but-3-enoate. Under analogous conditions the mixture of alkyl E-4-(2-ethoxycarbonylfur-3-yl)-4-(diethoxyphosphoryl)but-2-enoate and -but-3-enoate undergoes cyclization to a phosphorylated derivative of alkyl 7-hydroxybenzofuran-6-carboxylate. The cyclization of the mixture of alkyl E-4-(4-ethoxycarbonylfur-3-yl)-4-(diethoxyphosphoryl)but-2-enoate and -but-3-enoate gives analogous derivative of isobenzofuran.     

Resolution of racemic 3-aryloxy-1-nitrooxypropan-2-ols by lipase-catalyzed enantioselective acetylation

Both (R)- and (S)-enantiomers of 3-aryloxy-1-nitrooxypropan-2-ols (R)-(−)-1, (S)-(+)-2 were prepared in high enantiomeric excess by lipase from Pseudomonas cepacia (Amano PS) or Pseudomonas fluorescens (Amano AK)-catalyzed acetylation of racemic alcohols 1a–g with vinyl acetate in n-hexane at 4 or 22°C. The enantioselectivity of this transformation was dependent on the substitution pattern of the aryl ring with E-values ranging from 31 to 111.     

A novel building block for the synthesis of isofagomin analogues

The de novo synthesis of the novel potent building blocks phenyl (R)-3-acetoxymethyl-3,6-dihydro-2H-pyridine-1-carboxylate (−)-7 and phenyl (S)-3-butyryl-oxymethyl-3,6-dihydro-2H-pyridine-1-carboxylate (+)-8 starting from commercially available methyl-1-benzyl-4-oxo-3-piperidinecarboxylate is described. The key steps are the enantioselective esterification of the racemic alcohol 6 and the enantioselective hydrolysis of the racemic acetate 5, respectively, using lipase P from Pseudomonas caepacia.     

Lipase mediated resolution of 1,3-butanediol derivatives: chiral building blocks for pheromone enantiosynthesis. Part 3

(R,S)-1,3-Butanediol 5 was kinetically resolved by enzymatic acetylation with vinyl acetate under the presence of Chirazyme™ L-2, c–f, yielding (S)-1-O-acetyl-1,3-hydroxybutane 6 and (R)-1,3-di-O-acetyl-1,3-butanediol 7 with enantiomeric excesses of 91% (E=67.3). Compounds 6 and 7 were easily transformed into the corresponding (S)-3-O-(2-methoxyethoxymethyl)-3-hydroxybutanal 10 and (R)-3-benzyloxybutanal 19, through a protection–deprotection and functional group interchange methodology. Subsequent reaction of 10 and 19 with 3-(methoxycarbonylpropionylmethylene)triphenylphosphorane afforded methyl (E,S)-8-O-(2-methoxyethoxymethyl)-4-oxo-5-nonenoate 12 and (E,R)-8-benzyloxy-4-oxo-5-nonenoate 20. The alkenes 19 and 20 were then catalytically hydrogenated to the corresponding saturated esters 13 and 21. Treatment of 13 and 21 with 1,2-ethanedithiol/F₃B·OEt₂ afforded dithioketals 14 and 22, which were respectively reduced to (S)-1,8-dihydroxy-4-nonanone ethylidenedithioketal 15 and (R)-8-O-benzyl-1,8-dihydroxy-4-nonanone ethylidenedithioketal 23. Finally, deprotection of 15 by catalytic hydrogenation under acidic conditions gave the expected (5S,7S)-(−)-7-methyl-1,6-dioxaspiro[4.5]decane 1. The (5R,7R)-(+)-1 enantiomer was analogously prepared from 23. Both compounds were formed by this procedure with an e.e. of 91%.     

A general strategy for the formal synthesis of (−)-trans-kumausyne and total synthesis of (5R)-Hagen’s gland lactones from diacetone-d-glucose

A general strategy for the formal synthesis of (−)-trans-kumausyne 1 via the bicyclic lactone (3aR,5R,6aR)-4 and total synthesis of (5R)-Hagen’s gland lactones 2 and 3 via bicyclic lactone (3aR,5S,6aR)-5 starting from diacetone-d-glucose 6 is described. Syntheses of 4 and 5 were achieved by Wittig olefination–lactonization–Michael addition of the corresponding lactols 16 and 17, respectively.     

Methyl (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Z</Emphasis>)-3-bromo-3-(4-methylbenzenesulfonyl)prop-2-enoate: Synthesis and reactions with dimethyl malonate and methyl acetoacetate

Bromination–dehydrobromination of methyl (E)-3-(4-methylbenzenesulfonyl)prop-2-enoate gave methyl (Z)-3-bromo-3-(4-methylbenzenesulfonyl)prop-2-enoate whose structure was determined by X-ray analysis. Methyl (Z)-3-bromo-3-(4-methylbenzenesulfonyl)prop-2-enoate behaved as a synthetic equivalent of methyl 3-(4-methylbenzenesulfonyl)prop-2-ynoate in reactions with dimethyl malonate and methyl acetoacetate, which afforded the corresponding Michael adducts, trimethyl 3-(4-methylbenzenesulfonyl)prop-1-ene-1,1,2-tricarboxylate and dimethyl (Z)-2-acetyl-3-(4-methylbenzenesulfonyl)but-2-enedioate, respectively, via nucleophilic attack on the β-position with respect to the sulfonyl group.     

Effect of the β-substituent with respect to the azido group on the reactivity of methyl (2E)-3-[5-(azidomethyl)-2,2-diethyl-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl]-2-methylprop-2-enoate

Unlike methyl (2E)-3-[5-(azidomethyl)-2,2-diethyl-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl]-2—methylprop-2-enoate which is stable on storage, its acyclic derivative, methyl (2E,4S,5S)-6-azido-5-hydroxy-2-methyl-4-(pent-3-yloxy) hex-2-enoate at 20°C undergoes unusual decomposition with formation of exo-methylidenepyrrolidine. Analogous transformation was also observed in the epoxide ring opening in methyl (2E)-2-methyl-4-[(S)-oxiran-2-yl]-4-(pent-3-yloxy)but-2-enoate and in the substitution reaction of ethyl 5,6-bis(methanesulfonyloxy)-2-methyl-4-(pent-3-yloxy)hex-2-enoate with azide ion. Opening of the oxirane ring in the former by the action of azide ion was accompanied by formation of oxazetidine derivative as a minor product. The major intramolecular cyclization products, 4-hydroxy- and 4-mehtanesulfonyloxypyrrolidines were converted into stable pyrrole derivatives via elimination of the leaving groups. The hydrogenation of methyl and ethyl (2E)-3-[5-(azidomethyl)-2,2-diethyl-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl]-2-methylprop-2-enoates over palladium catalyst afforded the expected reduction products.     

Preparation of 2-alkenylperhydro-1,3-benzoxazines and application for 2-isoxazolines synthesis

Various 2-substituted-N-benzyl-4,4,7-trimethyl-trans-octahydro-1,3-benzoxazines 2 were prepared from the condensation of (?)-8-benzylaminomenthol 1 derived from (+)-pulegone, with acrolein, crotonaldehyde, cinnamaldehyde, 2(E)-N,N-diisopropyl-4-oxobut-2-enamide, ethyl (2E)-4-oxobut-2-enoate, and 2-furaldehyde in 71–96% yield. The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition with aceto- and benzonitrile oxide gave the corresponding 2-isoxazoline cycloadducts. The origin of the stereoselectivity (4′S, 5′S-cycloadducts up to 64% de) arises from the cycloaddition of the dipole to the top of the Re,Re-alkene face of dipolarophile 2.     

Synthesis of methyl (E)-2-[(3S,4S)-4-hydroxy-3-(pent-3-yloxy)-pyrrolidin-2-ylidene]propanoate and its unusual recyclization

Methyl (2E,4S,5S)-5-hydroxy-6-mesyloxy-2-methyl-4-(pent-3-yloxy)hex-2-enoate was synthesized from l-tartaric acid. Attempted substitution of the mesyloxy group by the reaction with NaN₃ directly led to methyl (E)-2-[(3S,4S)-4-hydroxy-3-(pent-3-yloxy)pyrrolidin-2-ylidene]propanoate. The latter on treatment with CF₃COOH and then NaOH gave methyl (2E)-2-methyl-4-[(S)-oxiran-2-yl]-4-(pent-3-yloxy)but-2-enoate.     

Formal synthesis of (−)-anisomycin based on stereoselective nucleophilic substitution along with 1,2-aryl migration

The stereoselective conversion of (4R)-5-hydroxy-4-(4′-methoxyphenyl)-2(E)-pentenoate 4 into the (4S)-4-hydroxy-5-(4′-methoxyphenyl)-2(E)-pentenoate 5 using the AgNO₃/MS 4 Å/MeNO₂ system was accomplished along with complete inversion at the C₄-position, and the synthesis of the intermediate (4S)-7 for the chiral synthesis of (−)-anisomycin 6 from (4S)-7 based on osmium tetroxide-catalyzed stereoselective hydroxylation was achieved.     

Alkoxy substituted (E,E)-3,6-bis(styryl)pyridazine—a photosensitive mesogen for liquid crystals

(E,E)-3,6-Bis(styryl)pyridazines (3a-t) bearing 2, 4 or 6 alkoxy chains were prepared by applying the Siegrist reaction of 3,6-dimethylpyridazine (13) and the corresponding azomethines 10a-t. The transversal dipole moment of these calamitic compounds effects an extremely high tendency for self-organization in thermotropic LC phases (N, S_A, S_B, S_C, S_E, S_I/F, and Cub). The conjugated core structure represents moreover a chromophore with a high photosensitivity for (E,E)?(E,Z) isomerization reactions: this property makes the compounds interesting for optical imaging and switching techniques.     

Total synthesis of (+)-myxothiazols A and Z

The first synthesis of (+)-myxothiazol A 1 was achieved based on a modified Julia olefination between (3,5R)-dimethoxy-(4R)-methyl-6-oxo-(2E)-hexenamide 3, corresponding to the left side of the final molecule, and 4-(2″-benzothiazolyl)sulfonylmethyl-2′-[(1′″R),6′″-dimethylhepta-(2′″E),(4′″E)-dienyl]-2,4′-bithiazole 6, corresponding to the right side. The synthesis of (+)-myxothiazol Z 2 was also achieved based on modified Julia olefination between (3,5R)-dimethoxy-(4R)-methyl-6-oxo-(2E)-hexenoate 4, corresponding to left side of the final molecule, and (S)-sulfone 6.     

Natural product synthesis from (8aR)- and (8aS)-bicyclofarnesols: synthesis of (+)-wiedendiol A, (+)-norsesterterpene diene ester and (−)-subersic acid

Both enantiomers (8aR)-7 and (8aS)-7 of bicyclofarnesol were synthesized from 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)-5 (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)-6 (>99% ee), respectively. The formal synthesis of (+)-wiedendiol 1 was achieved via a coupling reaction of an ate complex derived from 1,2,4-trimethoxybenzene with allyl bromide (8aS)-8 derived from (8aS)-7. The total synthesis of (+)-norsesterterpene diene ester 2 was achieved, based on the synthesis of (13E,10S)-α,β-unsaturated aldehyde 12, derived from (8aS)-7, followed by the selective construction of the (3E,5E)-diene moiety including a C(2)-stereogenic centre in (+)-2. The total synthesis of (−)-subersic acid 3 was carried out based on a Stille coupling between allyl trifluoroacetate congener 25c, derived from (8aR)-7, corresponding to the diterpene part, and aryl stannane congener 26 in the presence of Pd catalyst and CuI as an additive.     

First stereoselective synthesis of serinol-derived malyngamides and their 1′-epi-isomers

A stereoselective synthesis of 1a {N-[(1R)-2-hydroxy-1-methoxy-methyl ethyl]-(4E,7S)-7-methoxy-4-eicosenamide} has been accomplished in 10 steps from 1-tetradecanol for the first time in 28% overall yield. The key steps involved the coupling reaction of a chiral alkyne with a protected bromide in the presence of t-BuLi, as well as the amidation reaction of (4E,7S)-7-methoxyeicos-4-enoic acid with (R)-methoxyamino alcohol. Acetylation of 1a finished the preparation of 1b {N-[(1S)-2-acetyloxy-1-methoxy-methyl ethyl]-(4E,7S)-7-methoxy-4-eicosenamide}. Their 1′-epi-isomers have also been synthesized with a similar strategy.