Synthesis of 3‐Aminotropones from N‐Boc‐Protected Furan‐2‐amine (=tert‐Butyl Furan‐2‐ylcarbamate; Boc=(tert‐Butoxy)carbonyl) by Cycloaddition Reactions and Subsequent Rearrangement

The 3‐aminotropones (=3‐aminocyclohepta‐2,4,6‐trien‐1‐ones) 4 were prepared in two steps by i) a [4+3] cycloaddition reaction between a conveniently substituted α,α′‐dihalo ketone 1 and a furan‐2‐amine derivative 2 functionalized at C(2) by a protected amino group (→ 3 ), and ii) a base‐induced molecular rearrangement of the cycloadduct 3 via cleavage of the O‐bridge. A mechanism for the formation of 3‐aminotropones is proposed on the basis of the initial deprotonation of the [(tert‐butoxy)carbonyl]amino (BocNH) group of 3 , followed by O‐bridge opening, an acid–base equilibrium, and finally an alkoxyaluminate elimination to afford the conjugated stable troponoid system (Scheme 7).     

Aminated PCL‐based copolymers by chemical modification of poly(α‐iodo‐ε‐caprolactone‐co‐ε‐caprolactone)

A novel method is proposed to access to new poly(α‐amino‐ε‐caprolactone‐co‐ε‐caprolactone) using poly(α‐iodo‐ε‐caprolactone‐co‐ε‐caprolactone) as polymeric substrate. First, ring‐opening (co)polymerizations of α‐iodo‐ε‐caprolactone (αIεCL) with ε‐caprolactone (εCL) are performed using tin 2‐ethylhexanoate (Sn(Oct)₂) as catalyst. (Co)polymers are fully characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, FTIR, SEC, DSC, and TGA. Then, these iodinated polyesters are used as polymeric substrates to access to poly(α‐amino‐ε‐caprolactone‐co‐ε‐caprolactone) by two different strategies. The first one is the reaction of poly(αIεCL‐co‐εCL) with ammonia, the second one is the reduction of poly(αN₃εCL‐co‐εCL) by hydrogenolysis. This poly(α‐amino‐ε‐caprolactone‐co‐ε‐caprolactone) (F_αNH2εCL < 0.1) opens the way to new cationic and water‐soluble PCL‐based degradable polyesters. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 6104–6115, 2009     

Synthesis and Characterization of New 7‐Substituted 6,14‐Ethenomorphinane Derivatives: N‐{5‐[(5α,7α)‐4,5‐Epoxy‐3,6‐dimethoxy‐17‐methyl‐6,14‐ethenomorphinan‐7‐yl]‐1,3,4‐oxadiazol‐2‐yl}arenamines

In this study, (5α,7α)‐4,5‐epoxy‐3,6‐dimethoxy‐17‐methyl‐6,14‐ethenomorphinan‐7‐carboxylic acid hydrazide ( 5 ) was synthesized by the condensation of methyl (5α,7α)‐4,5‐epoxy‐3,6‐dimethoxy‐17‐methyl‐6,14‐ethenomorphinan‐7‐carboxylate ( 4 ) with NH₂NH₂⋅H₂O. The (5α,7α)‐4,5‐epoxy‐3,6‐dimethoxy‐17‐methyl‐6,14‐ethenomorphinan‐7‐carboxylic acid 2‐[(arylamino)carbonyl]hydrazides 6a – 6q were prepared by the reaction of 5 with corresponding substituted aryl isocyanates, and the N‐{5‐[(5α,7α)‐4,5‐epoxy‐3,6‐dimethoxy‐17‐methyl‐6,14‐ethenomorphinan‐7‐yl]‐1,3,4‐oxadiazol‐2‐yl}arenamines 7a – 7q were obtained via the cyclization reaction of 6a – 6q in the presence of POCl₃. The synthesized compounds have a rigid morphine structure, including the 6,14‐endo‐etheno bridge and the 5‐(arylamino)‐1,3,4‐oxadiazol‐2‐yl residue at C(7) adopting the (S)‐configuration (7α). The structures of the compounds were confirmed by high‐resolution mass spectrometry (HR‐MS) and various spectroscopic methods such as FT‐IR, ¹H‐NMR, ¹³C‐NMR, APT, and 2D‐NMR (HETCOR, COSY, INADEQUATE).     

7‐Iodo‐5‐aza‐7‐deazaguanine: Syntheses of Anomeric D‐ and L‐Configured 2‐Deoxyribonucleosides

Iodination of N²‐isobutyryl‐5‐aza‐7‐deazaguanine ( 7 ) with N‐iodosuccinimide (NIS) gave 7‐iodo‐N²‐isobutyryl‐5‐aza‐7‐deazaguanine ( 8 ) in a regioselective reaction (Scheme 1). Nucleobase‐anion glycosylation of 8 with 2‐deoxy‐3,5‐di‐O‐toluoyl‐α‐D ‐ or α‐L ‐erythro‐pentofuranosyl chloride furnished anomeric mixtures of D ‐ and L ‐nucleosides. The anomeric D ‐nucleosides were separated by crystallization to give the α‐D ‐anomer and β‐D ‐anomer with excellent optical purity. Deprotection gave the 7‐iodo‐5‐aza‐7‐deazaguanine 2′‐deoxyribonucleosides 3 (β‐D ; ≥99% de) and 4 (α‐D ; ≥99% de). The reaction sequence performed with the D ‐series was also applied to L ‐nucleosides to furnish compounds 5 (β‐L ; ≥99% de) and 6 (α‐L ; ≥95% de).     

The Stereoselective Total Synthesis of (6S)‐5,6‐Dihydro‐6‐[(2R)‐2‐hydroxy‐6‐phenylhexyl]‐2H‐pyran‐2‐one via Prins Cyclization

The stereoselective total synthesis of an antiproliferative and antifungal α‐pyrone natural product (6S)‐5,6‐dihydro‐6‐[(2R)‐2‐hydroxy‐6‐phenylhexyl]‐2H‐pyran‐2‐one is described. The key steps involved are the Prins cyclization, Mitsunobu reaction, and ring‐closing metathesis reaction.     

Copper(I)‐Catalyzed Asymmetric [3+2]‐Cycloaddition of α‐Substituted Iminoesters with α‐Trifluoromethyl α,β‐Unsaturated Esters

Reported herein is an example of highly regio‐, diastereo‐ and enantioselective Cu(I)‐catalyzed intermolecular [3+2] cycloaddition reaction of α‐substituted iminoesters with α‐trifluoromethyl α,β‐unsaturated esters. This novel strategy provided a facile access to pyrrolidines with two skipped (aza)quaternary stereocenters including a CF₃ all‐carbon quaternary stereocenter. A broad substrate scope was observed and high yields (up to 94%) with excellent diastereoselectivity (up to >20 : 1 d.r.) and enantioselectivity (up to 98% ee) were obtained.     

Synthesis of Halogenated α,β‐Unsaturated γ‐Butyrolactone Derivatives by Triphenylphosphine‐Catalyzed Cyclization of α‐Halogeno Ketones with Dialkyl Acetylenedicarboxylates (=Dialkyl But‐2‐ynedioates)

A Ph₃P‐catalyzed cyclization of α‐halogeno ketones 2 with dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates (=dialkyl but‐2‐ynedioates) 3 produced halogenated α,β‐unsaturated γ‐butyrolactone derivatives 4 in good yields (Scheme 1, Table). The presence of electron‐withdrawing groups such as halogen atoms at the α‐position of the ketones was necessary in this reaction. Cyclization of α‐chloro ketones resulted in higher yields than that of the corresponding α‐bromo ketones. Dihalogeno ketones similarly afforded the expected γ‐butyrolactone derivatives in high yields.     

α‐ZrP/Uracil/Cu2+ nanoparticles as an efficient catalyst in the Morita‐Baylis‐Hillman reaction

A facile synthesis of uracil‐Cu²⁺ nanoparticles immobilized on alpha‐zirconium hydrogen phosphate (α‐ZrP), abbreviated as α‐ZrP/Uracil/Cu²⁺, was presented. This compound was synthesized by the thermal method and used as a reusable catalyst for the Morita‐Baylis‐Hillman reaction without any additives. First, (3‐ iodopropyl) trimethoxysilane as a linker is reacted with α‐ZrP support to give the α‐ZrP/IPTMOS. Addition of uracil and then the addition of copper (II) acetate to α‐ZrP/IPTMOS results in the production of selected catalyst. The Morita‐Baylis‐Hillman reaction catalyzed by α‐ZrP/Uracil/Cu^{2 +} demonstrated high product yield, short reaction time and a straightforward work‐up. The catalyst with enough outside surface was easily recovered using centrifugation and reused five times without a significant reduction in its activity.     

Synthesis of Derivatives of the Optically Active β‐Amino Acids from (+)‐Car‐2‐ene

The reaction of (+)‐car‐2‐ene ( 4 ) with chlorosulfonyl isocyanate (=sulfuryl chloride isocyanate; ClSO₂NCO) led to the tricyclic lactams 6 and 8 corresponding to the initial formation both of the tertiary carbenium and α‐cyclopropylcarbenium ions (Scheme 2). A number of optically active derivatives of β‐amino acids which are promising compounds for further use in asymmetric synthesis were synthesized from the lactams (see 16, 17 , and 19 – 21 in Scheme 3).     

Synthesis of Dialkyl 2‐(Alkylamino)‐4,9‐dihydro‐9‐oxocyclohepta[b]pyran‐3,4‐dicarboxylates

Dialkyl 2‐(alkylamino)‐4,9‐dihydro‐9‐oxocyclohepta[b]pyran‐3,4‐dicarboxylates are prepared in a one‐pot three‐component reaction of alkyl isocyanide, dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylate, and α‐tropolone (=2‐hydroxycyclohepta‐2,4,6‐trienone). The reaction proceeds smoothly at room temperature and under neutral conditions to afford tropolone derivatives in high yield.     

An Unexpected (3→2)‐Hydride Shift in Phyllocladane (=13β‐Kaurane) Diterpenoids and in Related Trimethyl‐Substituted Bi‐ and Tricyclic Compounds

The conversion of 2α,3α‐dioxy‐substituted phyllocladane derivatives into the corresponding 3‐ketone proceeds in an unexpected manner: Depending on the reaction conditions, the corresponding 3β‐hydroxy‐substituted compound is formed almost quantitatively, or the desired ketone can be isolated directly (see preceding paper). The reaction mechanism is now disclosed to be a stereospecific C(3)→C(2)‐hydride shift by investigating the reactions of the synthesized (±)‐trans‐decalin‐type (trans‐1,5,5‐trimethylbicyclo[4.4.0]decanes) and (±)‐podocarpane‐type (trans‐1,2,3,4,4a,9,10,10a‐octahydro‐1,1,4a‐trimethylphenanthrenes) model compounds 25 and 35 and of their D‐labeled isomers 25′ and 35′ (Scheme 6). The latter afforded the corresponding 3β‐hydroxy (2β‐D)‐derivatives 38 and 39 as well as the (2β‐D)‐3‐ketones of the general type 5b′ (e.g., 36′ ), thus evidencing a suprafacial (C3)→C(2)‐deuteride shift. This reaction mechanism seems to be a general feature of such 3α,4α‐dioxy‐substituted 1,5,5‐trimethylbicyclo[4.4.0]decane congeners.     

Synthesis of 1,3‐Dihydro‐3‐oxo‐2‐benzofuran‐1‐carboxylates via Intramolecular Cyclization of 2‐[2‐(Dimethoxymethyl)phenyl]‐ 2‐hydroxyalkanoates Followed by Oxidation

A novel and efficient method for the preparation of 1,3‐dihydro‐3‐oxo‐2‐benzofuran‐1‐carboxylates 4 under mild conditions has been developed. Thus, the reaction of [2‐(dimethoxymethyl)phenyl]lithiums, generated easily from 1‐bromo‐2‐(dimethoxymethyl)benzenes 1 , with α‐keto esters gives the corresponding 2‐[2‐(dimethoxymethyl)phenyl]‐2‐hydroxyalkanoates 2 . The TsOH‐catalyzed cyclization of these hydroxy acetals is followed by the oxidation of the resulting cyclic acetals 3 with PCC to give the desired products in satisfactory yields. The reaction of [2‐(dimethoxymethyl)‐4,5‐dimethoxyphenyl]lithium with (MeOC?O)₂, followed by treatment with NaBH₄ or organolithiums, affords 2‐[2‐(dimethoxymethyl)‐4,5‐dimethoxyphenyl]‐2‐hydroxyalkanoates 6 , which can similarly be transformed into the corresponding 1,3‐dihydro‐3‐oxo‐2‐benzofuran‐1‐carboxylates 7 in reasonable yields.     

One‐Pot Synthesis of 4‐(Alkylamino)‐1‐(arylsulfonyl)‐3‐benzoyl‐1,5‐ dihydro‐5‐hydroxy‐5‐phenyl‐2H‐pyrrol‐2‐ones via a Multicomponent Reaction

An effective route to novel 4‐(alkylamino)‐1‐(arylsulfonyl)‐3‐benzoyl‐1,5‐dihydro‐5‐hydroxy‐5‐phenyl‐2H‐pyrrol‐2‐ones 10 is described (Scheme 2). This involves the reaction of an enamine, derived from the addition of a primary amine 5 to 1,4‐diphenylbut‐2‐yne‐1,4‐dione, with an arenesulfonyl isocyanate 7 . Some of these pyrrolones 10 exhibit a dynamic NMR behavior in solution because of restricted rotation around the C? N bond resulting from conjugation of the side‐chain N‐atom with the adjacent α,β‐unsaturated ketone group, and two rotamers are in equilibrium with each other in solution ( 10 ? 11 ; Scheme 3). The structures of the highly functionalized compounds 10 were corroborated spectroscopically (IR, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR, and EI‐MS), by elemental analyses, and, in the case of 10a , by X‐ray crystallography. A plausible mechanism for the reaction is proposed (Scheme 4).     

Highly efficient AgNO3‐catalyzed approach to 2‐(benzo[d]azol‐2‐yl)phenols from salicylaldehydes with 2‐aminothiophenol, 2‐aminophenol and benzene‐1,2‐diamine

A new, convenient and efficient AgNO₃‐catalyzed strategy for the preparation of 2‐(benzo[d]azol‐2‐yl)phenol derivatives in good to excellent yields (63–98%) is described. The reaction proceeds via condensation/intramolecular nucleophilic addition/oxidation process between substituted salicylaldehydes and 2‐aminothiophenol, 2‐aminophenol or benzene‐1,2‐diamine under mild reaction conditions. Notably, this reaction utilizes cheap AgNO₃ as a readily available and low‐cost benign oxidant at low catalyst loadings with excellent functional group tolerance.     

Synthesis of Substituted α‐(Hydroxymethyl)‐β‐iodoacrylates via MgI2‐Promoted Stereoselective Aldol Coupling

The efficient and highly stereoselective syntheses of a variety of (Z)‐configured, substituted α‐(hydroxymethyl) ‐ β‐iodo‐acrylates from prop‐2‐ynoate and various aldehydes was achieved. The synthetic protocol involves a simple one‐pot coupling reaction under mild conditions, promoted by MgI₂, which serves both as a Lewis acid and iodine source for a Baylis? Hillman‐type reaction. All adducts were generated in good‐to‐excellent yields, the (Z)‐isomers being formed in high selectivity (>98%). The conversion of methyl prop‐2‐ynoate into an active ‘β‐iodo allenolate’ intermediate, which then nucleophilically attacks an aldehyde, is proposed as a plausible reaction mechanism.     

Asymmetric Synthesis of α‐Substituted N‐Methylsulfonamides

A novel amine auxiliary for the asymmetric synthesis of α‐substituted N‐methylsulfonamides is described. The reaction of 4‐([1,1′‐biphenyl]‐4‐yl)‐2,2‐dimethyl‐1,3‐dioxan‐5‐amine ( 16 ) with various aliphatic sulfonyl chlorides afforded the corresponding sulfonamides, which were lithiated and subsequently reacted with electrophiles to give the corresponding products in high yields and good‐to‐excellent asymmetric inductions (de 83–95%). Racemization‐free cleavage of the auxiliary led to the α‐alkylated N‐methylsulfonamides in acceptable yields and high enantiomer purities (ee 91 to ≥98).     

Hydrolysis Reaction of N-Phosphoryl-α-, β- and γ-amino Acids Studied by HPLC

The hydrolysis reactions of N-（O,O＇diisopropyl）phosphoryl-L-α-alanine （DIPP-L-α-Ala）, N-（O,O＇diisopropyl）- phosphoryl-D-α-alanine （DIPP-D-α-Ala）, N-（O,O＇-diisopropyl）phosphoryl-β-alanine （DIPP-β-Ala） and N-（O,O＇-diisopropyl）phosphoryl-γ-amino butyric acid （DIPP-γ-Aba）, were studied by HPLC and their hydrolysis reaction kinetic equations were obtained. Under acid conditions, the reaction rate of DIPP-L-α-Ala was close to that of DIPP-D-α-Ala and the same rule was true between DIPP-β-Ala and DIPP-γ-Aba. Meantime, the reaction rate of DIPP-L/D-α-Ala was as 10 times as that of DIPP-β-Ala or DIPP-γ-Aba. Under basic conditions, the hydrolysis reactions of DIPP-β-Ala and DIPP-γ-Aba almost did not take place and the reaction rate of DIPP-L/D-α-Ala was about 1/10 of that under acid conditions. Moreover, theoretical calculation further illuminated the differences of the hydrolysis rate from the view of energy. The results would provide some helpful clues to why nature chose a-amino acids but not other kinds of analogs as protein backbones.     

Cobalt‐Catalyzed Formal [4+2] Cycloaddition of α,α′‐Dichloro‐ortho‐Xylenes with Alkynes

A formal [4+2] cycloaddition of α,α′‐dichloro‐ortho‐xylenes with various alkynes has been developed using a low‐valent cobalt catalyst. The transformation has a wide substrate scope and high functional‐group tolerance and led to 1,4‐dihydronaphthalenes. The formed cycloadducts were easily aromatized with MnO₂ under air. A mechanistic investigation suggests that the transformation proceeds through a benzyl cobaltation of alkyne, not the classical Diels–Alder reaction of ortho‐quinodimethanes. This methodology provides a straightforward and streamlined access to linearly expanded π‐conjugated aromatics.     

Synthesis of (4Z)‐4‐(Arylmethylidene)‐5‐ethoxy‐1,3‐oxazolidine‐2‐thiones by the Reaction of Ethyl (2Z)‐3‐Aryl‐2‐isothiocyanatoprop‐2‐enoates with Organolithium Compounds

A convenient one‐pot method for the preparation of (4Z)‐4‐(arylmethylidene)‐5‐ethoxy‐1,3‐oxazolidine‐2‐thiones 2 and 3 from ethyl (2Z)‐3‐aryl‐2‐isothiocyanatoprop‐2‐enoates 1 , which can be easily prepared from ethyl 2‐azidoacetate and aromatic aldehydes, has been developed. Thus, these α‐isothiocyanato α,β‐unsaturated esters were treated with organolithium compounds, including lithium enolates of acetates, to provide 5‐substituted (4Z)‐4‐(arylmethylidene)‐5‐ethoxy‐1,3‐oxazolidine‐2‐thiones, 2 , and 2‐[(4Z)‐(4‐arylmethylidene)‐5‐ethoxy‐2‐thioxo‐1,3‐oxazolidin‐5‐yl]acetates, 3 .     

Efficient Synthesis of 3‐Phenylnaphtho[2,3‐b]furan‐4,9‐diones in Water and Their Fluorimetric Study in Solutions

A simple and efficient protocol has been developed for the synthesis of 3‐phenylnaphtho[2,3‐b]furan‐4,9‐diones by domino reaction of α‐bromonitroalkenes to 2‐hydroxynaphthalene‐1,4‐dione. With the optimal reaction conditions [NaOAc (120 mol%), water, 70°C, 7 h], the scope of the domino reaction was explored and the green approach provided the desired products in moderate to good yields at elevated temperature under aqueous‐mediated conditions. A mechanistic rationalization for this reaction is also provided. The absorption characteristics of the compounds were examined by UV‐Vis spectra and fluorescence spectroscopy. All compounds were fluorescent in solution emitting at blue light (432–433 nm), green light (512–536 nm), or yellow light (591 nm).