A straightforward synthesis of both enantiomers of allo-norcoronamic acids and allo-coronamic acids,by asymmetric Strecker reaction from alkylcyclopropanone acetals

Methylcyclopropanone hemiacetal (2S)-3a underwent the asymmetric Strecker reaction induced by a chiral amine to provide a useful synthesis of enantiomerically pure (1R,2S)-(+)-allo-norcoronamic acid 1 in good yield and high enantiomeric excess. From racemic alkyl hemiacetal (±)-3, the same methodology also constituted a useful way to prepare both (+)-1 and (−)-1 and (+)-allo-coronamic acid 2 and its antipode (−)-2 with good yield and high enantiomeric excess.     

2-Methoxy-2-(1-naphthyl)propionic acid,a powerful chiral auxiliary for enantioresolution of alcohols and determination of their absolute configurations by the 1H NMR anisotropy method

Racemic 2-methoxy-2-(1-naphthyl)propionic acid (1, MαNP acid) was enantioresolved as its esters derived from various chiral alcohols. For example, a diastereomeric mixture of esters prepared from (±)-1 and (1R,3R,4S)-(−)-menthol was easily separated by HPLC on silica gel yielding esters (−)-2a and (−)-2b, the separation factor α=1.83 being unusually large. The ¹H NMR chemical shift differences, Δδ=δ(R)–δ(S), between diastereomers 2a and 2b, are much larger than those of conventional chiral auxiliaries, e.g. Mosher’s MTPA and Trost’s MPA acids. This acid 1 is therefore very powerful for determining the absolute configuration of chiral alcohols by the ¹H NMR anisotropy method. Solvolysis of the separated esters yielded enantiopure acids (S)-(+)-1 and (R)-(−)-1, which are useful for enantioresolution of racemic alcohols.     

Synthesis of versatile chiral intermediates by enantioselective conjugate addition of alkenyl Grignard reagents to enamides deriving from (R)-(−)- or (S)-(+)-2-aminobutan-1-ol

Conjugate addition of but-3-enylmagnesium bromide to the chiral crotonamide (R)-(+)- and (S)-(−)-3, followed by hydrolysis and oxidation, afforded enantiopure (R)-(+)- and (S)-(−)-3-methyladipic acids 8, respectively. Conjugate addition of vinylmagnesium chloride to the chiral crotonamide and cinnamamides (R)-(+)-3–5, followed by hydrolysis, gave the alkenoic acids (S)-12–14, respectively. Iodolactonization of the latter led to the 5-iodomethyllactones (+)-15–17, which were reduced by means of n-Bu₃SnH into the trans-disubstituted 5-methyllactones (+)-19–21, respectively. Treatment of the iodomethyllactone (+)-16 with LiMe₂Cu or n-Bu₂CuLi furnished the trans-5-alkyl-4-phenyllactones (−)-22 or (+)-23.     

Study on enantiomerically pure 2-substituted N,N-dialkyl-1-naphthamides: resolution,absolute stereochemistry,and application to desymmetrization of cyclic meso anhydrides

The axially chiral 2-substituted N,N-diisopropyl-1-naphthamides 1 and 2 were resolved by HPLC over a chiral stationary phase to provide enantiomerically pure atropisomers. The absolute stereochemistry of (−)-syn-1 was determined by X-ray crystallographic analysis of the corresponding (1S)-camphanic acid ester derivative. Desymmetrization of cyclic meso anhydrides 5a and 5b using (−)-syn-1 gave a single diastereomer in good yield.     

Enzymes in organic chemistry. Part 10: Chemo-enzymatic synthesis of l-phosphaserine and l-phosphaisoserine and enantioseparation of amino-hydroxyethylphosphonic acids by non-aqueous capillary electrophoresis with quinine carbamate as chiral ion pair agent

Diisopropyl 2-azido-1-acetoxyethylphosphonate (±)-7 was hydrolysed with high enantioselectivity by lipase SP 524 to give α-hydroxyphosphonate (S)-(−)-6 and ester (R)-(−)-7, which was saponified to give (R)-(+)-6. The two α-hydroxyphosphonates (R)- and (S)-6 were transformed into l-phosphaisoserine and l-phosphaserine, respectively. Their enantiomeric excesses were determined to be 97% by HPLC on an chiral stationary phase. A mixture of all four stereoisomeric amino-hydroxyethylphosphonic acids can be separated by non-aqueous capillary electrophoresis with quinine carbamate as the chiral ion pair agent applying the partial filling technique.     

Enantioselective synthesis of epimeric cis-3-carboxycyclopentylglycines

Two epimeric chiral cyclopentylglycines (−)-16 and (+)-17, functionalised with a carboxy group cis to the amino acid group, were prepared starting from chiral 2-amino-3-oxo-norbornanecarboxylic acid derivative exo-9 by combining two classical reactions such as the Diels–Alder and retro-Claisen reactions. Compounds 16 and 17 are non-proteinogenic amino acids of biological interest containing conformational constraints in which the skeletons of both 2-aminoadipic acid and 2-aminopimelic acid are included.     

Synthesis of (S)-(−)- and (R)-(+)-O-methylbharatamine using a diastereoselective Pomeranz–Fritsch–Bobbitt methodology

Laterally lithiated (S)-(−)- and (R)-(+)-o-toluamides 6 with a chiral auxiliary derived from (S)- and (R)-phenylalaninol, respectively, were used as the building blocks and chirality inductors in the asymmetric modification of the Pomeranz–Fritsch–Bobbitt synthesis of isoquinoline alkaloids. Their addition to imine 2 proceeded with partial cyclization, giving isoquinolones (+)-7 and (−)-7 along with acyclic products, (−)-8 and (+)-8, respectively. LAH-reduction of (+)-7 and (−)-7, followed by cyclization, afforded both enantiomers of the alkaloid, (S)-(−)- and (R)-(+)-O-methylbharatamine 5, in 32% and 40% overall yield and with 88% and 73% ees, respectively.     

Nitrile biotransformations for the practical synthesis of highly enantiopure azido carboxylic acids and amides, ‘click’ to functionalized chiral triazoles and chiral β-amino acids

Under very mild conditions, biotransformations of racemic azido nitriles using Rhodococcus erythropolis AJ270, a nitrile hydratase/amidase-containing microbial whole-cell catalyst, afforded highly enantiopure, (R)-α-arylmethyl- and (+)-α-cyclohexylmethyl-β-azidopropanoic acids and their (S)- and (−)-carboxamide derivatives in excellent yields. The resulting functionalized chiral organoazides were converted in a straightforward fashion to a pair of antipodes of α-benzyl-β-amino acids (R)-13 and (S)-13. Azido carboxamide (S)-11a and azido carboxylic acid (R)-12a underwent ‘click’ reactions with diethyl acetylenedicarboxylate and phenylacetylene to produce functionalized chiral triazoles 14 and 15, respectively. The easy preparation of the starting nitrile substrates, highly efficient and enantioselective biotransformation reactions, and versatile utility of the resulting functionalized azido carboxylic acids and amide derivatives, render this method very attractive and practical in organic synthesis.     

Resolution of 7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-one via cyclic aminals

High yielding resolution of racemic 7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-one (±)-1 (`7-oxanorbornenone') via aminal formation with (R,R)-1,2-diphenylethylenediamine 2 is reported. Acidic hydrolysis furnishes the enantiomeric ketones (+)-1 and (−)-1 (≥95% ee). The chiral diamine is efficiently recovered.     

Total synthesis of (−)-jaspine B and its 4-epi-analogue from d-xylose

The total synthesis of the HCl salts of (−)-jaspine B ent-1 and its 4-epi-congener ent-4 was accomplished starting from the common template 13 derived from d-xylose. The cornerstone of our synthesis was [3,3]-heterosigmatropic rearrangements, which effectively provided scaffolds with a chiral amino group. A subsequent Wittig olefination installed a C₁₄ alkyl side chain and acid-mediated ring-closing reaction established the tetrahydrofuran core.     

Influence of Lewis acids on the [4+2] cycloaddition of (2R,2′R)-N,N′-fumaroylbis[fenchane-8,2-sultam] to cyclopentadiene and cyclohexadiene

Compared to the analogous bornane-10,2-sultam derived dienophile (−)-1b, the reversed topology observed during the [4+2] cycloaddition of cyclopentadiene or cyclohexadiene to the (−)-1a–TiCl₄ chelate can be rationalised on the basis of IR studies of their complexes with different Lewis acids. According to X-ray analyses, the origin of this differentiation resides in the loss of masked C₂ symmetry, due to the pseudoequatorial ‘down’ orientation of the SO(1) bond in (−)-1a,c as compared to the pseudoequatorial ‘up’ direction adopted by the SO(2) bond in (−)-1b,d, associated with the steric influence of the apical Ti–Cl atoms. Dependent on the strength of the Lewis acid, the much higher constraint of the SO₂/CO syn-s-cis conformer diminishes the chelating properties of this type of fenchane-8,2-sultam derived dienophiles (−)-1a and 1c.     

Microbial reduction of 2-(6-m-methoxyphenyl-3-oxohexyl)-2,4-dimethylcyclopenta-1,3-dione with Schizosaccharomyces pombe (NRRL Y-164)

A mixture of cis- and trans-2-(6-m-methoxyphenyl-3-oxohexyl)-2,4-dimethylcyclopenta-1,3-dione (±)-10 was synthesized and incubated with Schizosaccharomyces pombe (NRRL Y-164) to give (+)-11, (+)-12, (−)-13, and (−)-14 in 19, 13, 22, and 16% yields, respectively. Chromic acid oxidation of these microbiologically reduced products gave (−)-10a, (+)-10b, (+)-10a, and (−)-10b, respectively.     

Approaches to (R)- and (S)-1′-(1-aminoethyl)ferrocene-1-carboxylic acid derivatives

Lipase-catalyzed esterification of (±)-methyl 1′-(1-hydroxyethyl)ferrocene-1-carboxylate 4 afforded its (R)-acetate (−)-5 (ee = 99%) and (S)-(+)-4 (ee = 90%). Stereoretentive azidation/amination/acetylation of (R)-(−)-5 gave (R)-(+)-methyl 1′-(1-acetamidoethyl)ferrocene-1-carboxylate (R)-3 (ee = 98%). In a similar manner (S)-(+)-4 was converted into (S)-(−)-3 (ee = 84%). Both enantiomers of 3 were obtained in high chemical yields without a loss of enantiomeric purity. The title compounds can be coupled with natural amino acids and peptides on both C- and N-termini.     

Preparation and resolution of 2,2′-dimercapto-6,6′-dimethoxy-1,1′-biphenyl: a C2-symmetric sulfur building block

The preparation of the title dimercaptan 1 starting from 2,2′-dihydroxy-6,6′-dimethoxy-1,1′-biphenyl 2 is described. Resolution of dimercaptan 1 was performed using (−)-(1R,2S,5R)-menthyl chloroformate as a chiral resolving agent. The procedure affords dimercaptan (+)-1 and (−)-1 in 98% ee and 93% ee, respectively. A new and direct intermolecular Ullmann coupling resulting in an improved preparation of diol 2 is also reported.     

Bone collagen cross-links: an efficient one-pot synthesis of (+)-pyridinoline and (+)-dexoypyridinoline

A one-pot reaction of (2S,5R)-(−)-tert-butyl-[(2-tert-butoxycarbonyl)amino]-5-hydroxy-6-aminohexanoate 2b or (S)-(−)-tert-butyl-[(2-tert-butoxycarbonyl)amino]-6-aminohexanoate 2c with (S)-(−)-tert-butyl-6-bromo-[bis-(2-tert-butoxycarbonyl)amino]-5-oxohexanoate 5 in the presence of K₂CO₃ in MeCN–MeOH followed by hydrolysis gave bone collagen cross-links, (+)-Pyd 1b or (+)-Dpd 1c, in 42–48% yield, respectively.     

Enantioselective syntheses of α-phenylalkanamines via intermediate addition of Grignard reagents to chiral hydrazones derived from (R)-(−)-2-aminobutan-1-ol

The hydrazine (R)-(−)-28 was obtained in four steps from 2-aminobutan-1-ol (R)-(−)-11, and reacted with benzaldehyde to give the hydrazone (R)-(−)-29. Nucleophilic addition of various alkyl Grignard reagents to the latter yielded the corresponding trisubstituted hydrazines (R,R)-30a–g in 70–89% yields and having d.e.s=100% (¹H and ¹³C NMR). Catalytic hydrogenolysis of these hydrazines afforded the corresponding (R)-(+)-α-phenylalkanamines (R)-(+)-31a–g having e.e.s=90–92% (chiral GPC).     

A practical and efficient preparation of (−)-(4aS,5R)-4,4a,5,6,7,8-hexahydro-4a,5-dimethyl-2(3H)-naphthalenone: a key intermediate in the synthesis of (−)-dehydrofukinone

A novel diastereoselective route to octalone (−)-1 has been developed. The key step involves an asymmetric Michael addition of the corresponding chiral secondary enamines derived from (S)-(−)-1-phenylethylamine and (3R)-2,3-dimethylcyclohexanone to methyl vinyl ketone. This enone was successfully transformed into the eremophilane-type sesquiterpenoid (−)-dehydrofukinone.     

A chiral 1,4-oxazin-2-one: asymmetric synthesis versus resolution,structure, conformation and VCD absolute configuration

1,4-Oxazin-2-one 3 is obtained from 2-pinanone in 4 steps and 78% overall yield. Enantiopure (e.e. >99%) (R)-(+)-3 and (S)-(−)-3 were obtained through chiral supercritical fluid chromatography (using a semi preparative Chiralpak AS column) with almost quantitative recovery of material. The structure and the boat-conformation of the lactone ring have been determined by NMR and the absolute configuration determined by VCD.     

Diastereoselective atom transfer radical cyclization reactions of unsaturated α-bromo oxazolidinone imides catalyzed by Lewis acids

A new Lewis acid-catalyzed atom transfer radical cyclization reaction of unsaturated α-bromo oxazolidinone imides is reported. In the presence of Lewis acids such as Mg(ClO₄)₂ and Yb(OTf)₃, a series of trans cyclic products was obtained in high yield (up to 87%) between 0°C and room temperature. The loading of strong Lewis acids, such as Yb(OTf)₃, can be reduced to 0.1 equiv. without significantly compromising the yield. Excellent diastereoselectivity could be achieved by using 1,2-stereocontrol or a chiral oxazolidinone auxiliary. For substrates 1e and 1f bearing a β-methyl substituent and the chiral auxiliary, (S)-(−)-4-benzyl-5,5-dimethyl-2-oxazolidinone, respectively, the diastereomeric ratio of the products was greater than 50:1.     

Determination of absolute configuration using vibrational circular dichroism spectroscopy: the chiral sulfoxide 1-thiochroman S-oxide

We have determined the absolute configuration of the chiral sulfoxide 1-thiochroman S-oxide 1 using vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectroscopy. The VCD spectrum of a CCl₄ solution of 1 was analyzed using density functional theory (DFT), which predicts three stable conformations of 1, separated by <1 kcal/mol. The VCD spectrum predicted using the DFT/GIAO methodology for the equilibrium mixture of the three conformations of (S)-1 is in excellent agreement with the experimental spectrum of (+)-1. The absolute configuration of 1 is therefore (R)-(−)/(S)-(+). (+)-1 and (−)-1 of high enantiomeric excess (e.e.) were synthesized in high yields via asymmetric oxidation of 1-thiochroman 2 using Ti(iso-PrO)₄/(R,R)-1,2-diphenylethane-1,2-diol/H₂O/tert-butyl hydroperoxide and Ti(iso-PrO)₄/l-diethyl tartrate/H₂O/cumene hydroperoxide, respectively.