Factors influencing stereoselectivity in the photoreduction of some cyclohexanones

Photoreduction of cyclohexanones not α substituted, generally leads to diastereoisomeric cyclohexanols when the hydrogen-donor is an alcohol or an hydrocarbon. In ethers photoadducts are also isolated.The stereoselectivity of photoreduction depends on experimental conditions. In 2-propanol in particular, it varies with the cyclohexanone/2-propanol molar ratio, with the incident light intensity and with addition of radical scavengers (phenyl disulfide, 1-hexene).The present results can be interpreted at the radical step. They are discussed according to two assumptions of a strictly planar or pyramidal radical centre.     

Enzyme-mediated oxidative dimerization reactions of cyano-resveratrol analogues

The synthesis and oxidative coupling reactions of two cyano-resveratrol analogues were studied. An 8-5-coupled dihydrobenzofuran-type dimer and an 8-8-coupled diastereoisomeric indane mixture were prepared. The cyano groups of the resveratrol analogues had almost no influence on the regio- or stereoselectivity of the coupling reactions of the two precursors.     

Solvent-controlled stereoselective formation of a cyclic ether in the lewis acid-mediated allylation of an alpha-chloroacetoxy acyclic ether. Very high stereoselectivity in CH3CN vs low stereoselectivity in CH2Cl2

The MgBr2.OEt2-mediated intramolecular allylation of a 4:1 diastereoisomeric mixture of the alpha-chloroacetoxyl ether 1a bearing the A-G/JK ring system of brevetoxin B in CH2Cl2 gave a 1:1 diastereoisomeric mixture of the trans- and cis-cyclization products 4a and 5a having the A-G/I-K ring system, while that in CH3CN afforded the trans-isomer 4a nearly as the single product. To help clarify a reason for this marked solvent effect in the cyclization of the brevetoxin B precursor, DFT computations for the starting materials, intermediates, transition states, and products were carried out. The cyclization would proceed through a carbocation intermediate 3a having sp2 flat structure (SN1 type mechanism) in CH2Cl2, in which the activation energies leading to both diastereoisomers are approximately identical, while in CH3CN alkylnitrilium salts 6a would be formed through the coordination of CH3CN to the carbocation leading to an sp3-type intermediate in which sever steric hindrance takes place in the transition state leading to the undesired diastereoisomer. The scope of this novel solvent-controlled stereoselectivity was tested for simple compounds. In small model compounds the marked solvent dependence was absent, but the model bearing two consecutive cyclic ether rings 1b exhibited a remarkable solvent effect similar to that observed in the brevetoxin B system.     

The umbrella motion of core-excited CH3 and CD3 methyl radicals

An accurate experimental and theoretical study of the lowest core excitation of CH(3) and CD(3) methyl radicals is presented. The complex vibrational structure of the lowest band of the x-ray absorption spectrum (XAS) is due to the large variation of the molecular geometry, which is planar in the ground state and pyramidal in the core-excited state. The XAS spectra of the two radicals were recorded at high resolution and assigned by theoretical simulations of the spectra, taking into account the coupling of symmetrical stretching and symmetrical bending (umbrellalike) deformations of the radicals. An excellent agreement between experimental and theoretical spectral profiles allowed us to accurately characterize the vibrational structure of the electronic transition. The similarities, as well as the differences, of the peculiar vibrational progression observed for the two radicals are explained by the strong anharmonicity along the umbrella coordinate and by the isotopic variation, leading to a different probing of the double-well potential energy surface of the core excited state during the nuclear motion.     

Homochiral oligopeptides via a lattice-controlled polymerisation in racemic crystals of valine N-carboxyanhydride suspended in aqueous solutions

As part of our program on the biochirogenesis of homochiral peptides, we report the formation of racemic parallel (p) beta sheets composed of alternating R and S chains of up to 14-15 repeat units of the same handedness through the polymerisation of (R,S)-valine N-carboxyanhydride (NCA) crystals suspended in aqueous solutions of a primary amine as the initiator. The occurrence of such a lattice-controlled reaction accompanied by a reduction in volume implies the operation of a mechanism that differs from that of the common solid-state polymerisation in vinyl systems. The topotacticity of the reaction is explained through the operation of a multistep nonlinear process comprising lattice control coupled with an asymmetric induction in the formation of homochiral short peptides followed by their self-assembly into racemic p beta sheets, which operate as efficient templates in the ensuing process of enantioselective chain elongation at the polymer/crystal interface. The composition of the diastereoisomeric libraries of oligopeptides was determined by MALDI-TOF and MALDI-TOF-TOF MS analyses of the products obtained from monomers enantioselectively labelled with deuterium. The structure of the p beta sheets could be determined by initiating the polymerisation reaction with water-soluble esters of enantiopure alpha-amino acids or short peptides. The same reaction performed with the monomer crystals suspended in hexane yielded a complex mixture of diastereoisomeric oligopeptides, thus highlighting the indispensable role played by water in controlling the stereoselectivity of the reaction. By contrast, polymerisation of (R,S)-leucine NCA crystals, with a different packing arrangement that presumably does not endorse the formation of periodic peptide templates, yielded, both in aqueous and hexane suspensions, libraries of peptides dominated by heterochiral diastereoisomers.     

Recent advances in the functionalization of allenes via radical process

This review is focused on the recent advances in the functionalization of allenes via radical process. Different radical partners including carbon radicals and heteroatom radicals are discussed in the reactions of allenes. Generally, the radical formed in situ would attack the allene at the central carbon leading to allyl radical intermediate. However, the formation of alkenyl radical intermediate from allene could be observed as well in some cases with high regioselectivity and stereoselectivity.     

Reprint of: Recent advances in the functionalization of allenes via radical process

This review is focused on the recent advances in the functionalization of allenes via radical process. Different radical partners including carbon radicals and heteroatom radicals are discussed in the reactions of allenes. Generally, the radical formed in situ would attack the allene at the central carbon leading to allyl radical intermediate. However, the formation of alkenyl radical intermediate from allene could be observed as well in some cases with high regioselectivity and stereoselectivity.     

Diastereoisomerism of thiol complexes of arsenic acids and pseudoasymmetry of arsenic: a 1H and 13C NMR study

Diastereoisomeric complexes of methylphenylarsinic acid and (L)-glutathione could be partially separated by HPLC, but the separated compounds rapidly racemized, presumably by pyramidal inversion at the arsenic atom. Hydrolysis of the diastereoisomeric complexes yielded methylphenylarsinous acid as a pair of enantiomers revealed by a 1H NMR study with an asymmetric lanthanide shift reagent. Methylphenylarsinous acid was also synthesized as an enantiomeric pair, shown by an asymmetric shift reagent experiment, by the hydrolysis of iodomethylphenylarsine. 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy were used to demonstrate that complexing of phenylarsonic acid with (R,S)-3-mercapto-1,2-propanediol and with (R,S)-1-mercapto-2-propanol yielded, in each case, a pair of enantiomers, PhAs[(R)-ligand)]2, PhAs[(S)-ligand)]2, in which the homomorphic ligands were diastereotopic, and a pair of diastereoisomers, PhAs[(R)-ligand][(S)-ligand], which differed from each other in the configuration about the pseudoasymmetric arsenic atom.     

Comparison of Stereoselectivity of Intramolecular Cyclization of Aldehydes Tethered with Conjugated Esters Induced by O-Stannyl and O-Samarium Ketyls to Form the Tetrahydrofuran Ring Systems

Several (E)- and (Z)-ω-formyl-5-oxa-2-substituted-α,β-unsaturated esters ( 6Za-6Zc; 6Ea-6Ec; 6Eb′-6Ec′; 6Zb′-6Zc′ ) were prepared in high yields. They were subjected to cyclization of their intramolecular ketyl radicals induced by either samarium(II) iodide or tributyltin hydride. These two reagents gave distinct stereoselectivities. More bicylic lactone than monocyclic hydroxy-ester was formed when tributyltin hydride was used, but the opposite stereoselectivity was obtained when samarium(II) iodide was used. The effect of double-bond configuration, heteroatom and substituent on stereoselectivity is described.     

Stereocontrolled synthesis of linear 22R-homoallylic sterols via a triflic acid-catalyzed 2-oxonia Cope rearrangement

[reaction: see text] Poor stereoselectivity caused by the involvement of side reaction pathways was observed in the In(OTf)(3)-catalyzed allyl-transfer reaction (R = electron-withdrawing group). Subsequently, it was found that the employment of triflic acid (TFA) as catalyst could successfully suppress the side reaction pathways and, hence, achieve high stereoselectivity.     

Stereoselective synthesis of 2-dienyl-substituted piperidines using an eta4-dienetricarbonyliron complex as the stereocontrolling element in a double reductive amination cascade

In the presence of NaBH(OAc)(3), a 1,5-keto-aldehyde, contained within a side-chain of an eta(4)-dienetricarbonyliron complex, undergoes a double reductive amination sequence with a series of primary amines, to provide the corresponding piperidine products in good to excellent yield. The dienetricarbonyliron complex functions as a powerful chiral auxiliary in this cascade process, exerting complete control over the stereoselectivity of the reaction, with the formation of a single diastereoisomeric product. The sense of stereoinduction has been confirmed by X-ray crystallography. Removal of the tricarbonyliron moiety can be effected with CuCl(2) to afford the corresponding 2-dienyl-substituted piperidine in excellent yield. Attempted extension of this cyclisation strategy to the corresponding azepane ring system using a 1,6-keto-aldehyde as the cyclisation precursor was unsuccessful; in this case, the reaction stopped after a single reductive amination on the aldehyde to provide an acyclic keto-amine product.     

Enantioselective Recognition of Aspartic Acids by Chiral Ligand Exchange Potentiometry

Enantioselective resolution is realized by combining potentiometry with ligand exchange (CE) in a new method called chiral ligand exchange potentiometry (CLEP). A chiral selector, N‐carbobenzoxy‐L ‐aspartic acid (N‐CBZ‐L‐Asp), preferentially recognizes D ‐aspartic acid (D‐Asp) and undergoes ligand exchange with the enantiomeric labile coordination complexes of [Cu(II)(D‐Asp)₂] or [Cu(II)(L‐Asp)₂] to form a diastereoisomeric complex [(D‐Asp)Cu(II)(N‐CBZ‐L‐Asp)] (a) or [(L‐Asp)Cu(II)(N‐CBZ‐L‐Asp)] (b). Considerable stereoselectivity occurs in the formation of these diastereoisomeric complexes, and their net charges were ?2 (a) and 0 (b), respectively, resulting in different Nernst factor (electrode slope), thus enabling chiral D‐Asp to be distinguished by potentiometry without any pre‐ or postseparation processes.     

Influence of non-covalent interactions on the thermodynamic stereoselectivity of the protonation of some dipeptides

ΔG⁰, ΔH⁰ and ΔS⁰ protonation values of some pairs of diastereoisomeric dipeptides have been determined by potentiometry and calorimetry in aqueous solution at 25°C and I = 0.1 mol dm⁻³ (KNO₃). On the basis of the results obtained it has been possible to assess the role played by two different non-covalent interactions, namely the electrostatic interaction and the solvophobic interaction, on the thermodynamic stereoselectivity in the proton complex formation, shown by the systems investigated.     

Stereoselective quaternization of alpha-amino phenylacetonitriles mediated by a remote sulfinyl group

Enantiomerically pure alpha-substituted alpha-amino phenylacetonitriles have been readily prepared from 2-p-tolylsulfinylbenzaldimines following a two-step sequence: a moderately stereoselective hydrocyanation of the imines and a completely stereoselective quaternization of the resulting diastereoisomeric mixture of alpha-amino phenylacetonitriles with different alkylating or acylating reagents in the presence of KHMDS. Theoretical calculations support a stereoselectivity control exerted by the remote sulfinyl group, as long as it is responsible for the conformational preferences of the benzyllithium intermediates, which suffer the attack of the electrophiles to the less hindered diastereotopic face.     

Stereoselective synthesis of N-phenylsulfonyl substituted spiro-β-lactams

A stereoselective synthesis of N-phenylsulfonyl substituted spiro-β-lactams obtained from the N-(phenylmethylene)benzenesulfonamide and the ketene valence tautomer of the bicyclic mesoionic compounds derived from 4-hydroxy substituted N-acyl-l-prolines in the presence of acetic anhydride as the dehydrating agent is presented. The reaction of (2S,4R)-4-acetyloxy or benzoyloxy-N-acyl-proline with the above imine afforded a mixture of two diastereoisomeric spiro-β-lactams with complete stereoselectivity for the spiro carbon.     

A computational study of the Diels-Alder reaction of ethyl-S-lactyl acrylate and cyclopentadiene. Origins of stereoselectivity

The eight diastereoisomeric transition structures of the Diels-Alder addition of ethyl-S-lactyl acrylate and cyclopentadiene have been investigated in the gas phase and in solution by HF, MP2, and density functional theory (B3LYP and B3PW91) methods with the 6-31G(d,p) basis set. At all levels of theory used, the s-cis transition structures are more stable than the s-trans ones. The contribution of the s-trans transition structures increases in solution and, although still small, has to be taken in consideration for correct prediction of stereoselectivity. Diastereofacial selectivity is interpreted in terms of electrostatic (weak hydrogen bonding) C=O...H(C) interactions between the carbonyl group(s) of the dienophile and cyclopentadiene in the energetically favored transition structures. Endo/exo reaction selectivity is attributed to positive orbital interactions between the diene and the acrylate carbonyl oxygen in the endo s-cis transition structures. Ab initio methods reproduce well the experimentally observed trends in both endo/exo and diastereofacial selectivity. Density functional calculations in the gas phase correctly reproduce the observed trends in diastereofacial selectivity but single-point MP2 calculations are necessary to reproduce the experimental trend in endo/exo selectivity.     

Synthesis and conformational analysis of some oxisuran metabolites and their o-methylderivatives

The synthesis is given of oxisuran (methylsulphinyl methyl-2-pyridyl ketone) and its metabolites and derivatives, whose structures are 2-Py-CO-CH₂-SO_xCH₃ ( X=0,1,2) and 2-Py-CHOR-CH₂-SO_nCH₃(R=H, Me; n=0,1,2). From the results obtained in the reaction of oxisuran with different reducing agents, a new stereochemical pathway is suggested to explain the stereoselectivity observed in the reduction of β-keto-sulphoxides with DIBAL. The conformational analysis of hydroxy and methoxyderivatives is discussed in relation with that previously reported for 2-thioderivatives of 1-phenylethanol and their O-methylderivatives. The configurational assignment of diastereoisomeric sulphoxides is made on the basis of their different conformational behaviour, confirming the assignment deduced from the stereoselectivity observed in the reduction of oxisuran.     

Stereoselective Formation of Ternary Copper(II) Complexes of (S)-Amino-acid Amides and (R)- or (S)-Histidine and (R)- or (S)-Tyrosine in Aqueous Solution

Formation constants of ternary complexes of Cu^II with (S)-amino-acid amides ((S)-phenylalaninamide, (S)-prolinamide, and (S)-tryptophanamide) and (R)- or (S)-histidine and (R)- or (S)-tyrosine were determined potentiometrically in aqueous solution. Significant stereoselectivity was presented by all three amides towards histidine, the diastereoisomeric complexes with ‘heterochiral’ ligands being more stable than those with ‘homochiral’ ligands (see Table 3). The stereoselectivity observed with (S)-phenylalaninamide and (S)-tryptophanamide may be explained on the basis of hydrophobic stacking interactions between 1H-imidazole and the aromatic side chain, favoured by the terdentate behaviour of histidine (see Fig.2), whereas repulsive effects seem to be prevalent with (S)-prolinamide. Only (S)-prolinamide and (S)-phenylalaninamide show appreciable stereoselectivity with tyrosine, which is bidentate, probably on account of repulsive interactions. The present results on the stability of ternary complexes in solution allow to draw some conclusions on the mechanism of chiral discrimination performed by Cu^II complexes of (S)-amino-acid amides added to the mobile phase in HPLC (reversed phase).     

Mechanism of Optical Resolutions via Diastereoisomeric Salt Formation. Part 7 Role of the solvents in the optical resolution of α-phenylethylamine by 2R,3R-tartaric acid

The optical resolution of α-phenylethylamine (1) by 2R,3R-tartaric acid (2) was studied in different solvents, the precipitated salts were subjected to thermoanalytical measurements and X-ray powder diffraction. The most efficient resolution can be accomplished by using methanol, the precipitate, an unsolvated salt containing the S-(-)-1⋅2R,3R-(+)-2 salt in abundance, is not a simple mixture of the diastereoisomeric salt pair, but a new modification. In water, ethanol and acetonitrile a reversed, but less effective resolution can be accomplished by precipitation of a hydrate which contains the R-(+)-1 in abundance. The precipitates from water and ethanol also proved to be new modifications. Only the precipitate from acetonitrile is the mixture of the diastereoisomeric salt pair, which can be expected in fractional crystallization of an eutectic forming diastereoisomeric salt pair. The number of different modifications found by changing the solvent in case of this particular salt pair seems surprisingly high, but may occur for other diastereoisomeric salt pairs, too. The existing but not investigated polymorphism can be the explanation for the sometimes very poor reproducibility of the preparative resolutions. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.