New chiral phosphine-phosphonites derived from (2R,3R)-dimethyl tartrate, (S)-binaphthol and (1R,2S)-ephedrine

The reaction of 2-lithiophenyldiphenylphosphine with phosphorus trichloride afforded the new unsymmetric phosphine, dichloro(2-diphenylphosphinophenyl)phosphine (4). Condensation of 4 with (a) (2R,3R)-dimethyl tartrate or (b) (S)-binaphthol in the presence of triethylamine gave new chiral phosphine-phosphonite ligands, (2R,3R)-[2-(2′-(diphenylphosphino)phenyl)-4,5-bis(carbomethoxy)-1,3,2-dioxaphospholane] ((2R,3R)-5) and (S)-[2-(diphenylphosphino)benzene][1,1′-binaphthalen-2,2′-diyl]phosphonite] ((S)-6). The analogous reaction of 4 with (1R,2S)-ephedrine using N-methylmorpholine as the base, gave [2-(2′-(diphenylphosphino)phenyl)-3,4-dimethyl-5-phenyl-1,3,2-oxazaphospholidine] (7) as a 95:5 mixture of diastereoisomers.     

Enantioselective addition of dialkylzinc to aldehydes catalyzed by (S)-2-(N,N-disubstituted aminomethyl)indoline

Chiral di- or triamines, (S)-2-(N,N-disubstituted aminomethyl)indoline 1a–d, derived from (S)-indoline-2-carboxylic acid were efficient chiral catalysts for the enantioselective addition of dialkylzincs to aldehydes. The best results were obtained by employing 15 mol% of (S)-2-(4-methylpiperazin-1-ylmethyl)indoline 1c, and chiral secondary alcohols were obtained in up to 97% ee.     

Stereoselective synthesis of conformationally constrained (2S,3S)-3-hydroxyornithine

A convenient and efficient route is described for the highly stereoselective synthesis of δ-amino protected and conformationally restricted (2S,3S)-3-hydroxyornithine through the N-benzylnitrone adduct to the α,β-unsaturated bicyclic lactam 2 derived from (S)-pyroglutaminol.     

Stereospecific synthesis of differentially protected (2S,4S)-2,4-diaminoglutaric acid suitable for incorporation into peptides

The first synthesis of differentially protected (2S,4S)-2,4-diaminoglutaric acids 2 and 3 suitable for incorporation into peptides has been accomplished in a completely stereospecific manner in seven steps (overall yield 25–28%) from tert-butyl (2S,4S)-4-azido-N-tert-butoxycarbonylprolinate 5.     

Synthesis of (2R,4S,5S)-5-acetamido-4-hydroxy-pipecolinic acid as a potential inhibitor of sialidases

(2R,4S,5S)-5-Acetamido-4-hydroxy-pipecolinic acid (2), a weak inhibitor of sialidases, was synthesized from N-BOC-D-glucosamine.     

Stereospecific synthesis and absolute configuration of the (2S,3S,4S)-isomer of 2-methyl-2-(carboxycyclopropyl)glycine (MCCG)

The conformationally restricted metabotropic glutamate receptor antagonist (2S,3S,4S)-2-methyl-2-(carboxycyclopropyl)glycine 1 (MCCG) has been synthesized in a stereoselective manner (>99% ee) with the (2S,3S,4S) absolute configuration of this molecule being confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis. Subsequent physico–chemical studies were undertaken and the data are at odds with those of the commercially available product.     

Stereospecific ligands and their complexes. IV: Synthesis,characterization and cytotoxicity of novel platinum(IV) complexes with ethylenediamine-N,N′-di-S,S-2-propanoate and halogenido ligands: Crystal structure of s-cis-[Pt(S,S-eddp)Cl2]·4H2O and uns-cis-[Pt(S,S-eddp)Br2]

The syntheses of two novel platinum(IV) complexes of formula [PtX₂(S,S-eddp)]·nH₂O (S,S-eddp = ethylenediamine-N,N′-di-S,S-2-propanoate ion, X = chlorido (1) or bromido (2), n = 4, 0) are reported. The complexes have been obtained by direct reaction of corresponding potassium hexahalogenidoplatinate(IV) with neutralized ethylenediamine-N,N′-di-S,S-2-propanoic acid (H₂-S,S-eddp). The complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, infrared, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The spectroscopically predicted geometrical configurations of the obtained complexes were confirmed by X-ray analyses of the crystal structures of the s-cis-[Pt(S,S-eddp)Cl₂]·4H₂O and uns-cis-[Pt(S,S-eddp)Br₂]. These complexes displayed significantly lower in vitro cytotoxicity in comparison to cisplatin.     

Introduction of cis-vicinal amino alcohol functionality into the cyclohexane ring employing (1S,2S)-2-amino-1,2-diphenylethanol: synthesis of enantiopure aminocyclohexitols

Pd(0)-catalyzed allylic amination of 3-bromocyclohexene with (1S,2S)-2-amino-1,2-diphenylethanol and subsequent intramolecular oxyselenenylation of the resulting allylic amine 6 followed by oxidation–elimination afforded the valuable cis-fused bicyclic olefin 10. Oxyselenenylation of cyclohexene with (1S,2S)-N-(benzyloxycarbonyl)-2-amino-1,2-diphenylethanol and subsequent oxidation–elimination gave the allylic ether 18. Intramolecular aminoselenenylation of 18 followed by oxidation–elimination provided the cis-fused bicyclic olefin 21, which is the regioisomer of 10. Further stereoselective transformation of 10 afforded enantiopure aminocyclohexitols.     

Preparation of dimethyl (R)- and (S)-2-(2-aminophenyl)-2-hydroxyethylphosphonate from anthranilic acid

An efficient synthesis of both enantiomers of dimethyl δ-amino-β-hydroxyethylphosphonate 6 has been achieved starting from anthranilic acid, through the resolution of dimethyl (±)-2-(2-N,N-dibenzylaminophenyl)-2-hydroxyethylphosphonate 9 with (S)-O-methylmandelic acid. The absolute configuration of the enantiomers 9 was assigned by the Dale and Mosher approach using the extended Newman projections and molecular mechanics.     

Synthesis of the nonproteinogenic amino acid (2S,3S,4S)-3-hydroxy-4-methylproline,a constituent of echinocandins

An enantioselective synthesis of the unusual 3,4-disubstituted proline 2, a constituent of antifungal echinocandins, has been achieved through 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of N-methylnitrone to the α,β-unsaturated lactam 4 derived from (S)-pyroglutaminol.     

A highly efficient stereocontrolled synthesis of (S)-2′,6′-dimethyltyrosine [(S)-DMT]

A new, practical and very convenient stereocontrolled synthesis of (S)-2′,6′-dimethyltyrosine [(S)-Dmt] 4 was accomplished in a good yield, starting from the chiral synthon 1,4-N,N-[(S)-phenylethyl]-piperazine-2,5-dione 1. The procedure, which is an extension of our original strategy and occurs with a high level of stereoselectivity (>98%), is simple and inexpensive allowing us to prepare the unnatural α-aminoacid (S)-Dmt also on a multi-gram scale.     

Chemoenzymatic synthesis of (3R,4S)- and (3S,4R)-3-methoxy-4-methylaminopyrrolidine

An efficient and a convenient enantioselective synthesis of (3R,4S)-3-methoxy-4-methylaminopyrrolidine has been carried out by a lipase-mediated resolution protocol. This method describes the preparation of (±)-1-Cbz-cis-3-azido-4-hydroxypyrrolidine starting from commercially available diallylamine followed by ring-closing metathesis (RCM) via S_N2 displacement reactions. Pseudomonas cepacia lipase immobilized on diatomaceous earth (Amano PS-D) provides (3R,4S)-11 and (3S,4R)-12 in an excellent enantiomeric excess.     

Enantiospecific synthesis of the sugar amino acid (2S,5S)-5-(aminomethyl)-tetrahydrofuran-2-carboxylic acid

An enantiospecific synthesis of the tetrahydrofuran amino acid (2S,5S)-5-(aminomethyl)-tetrahydrofuran-2-carboxylic acid 1 is reported. The sugar enone 2-(S)-octyl 6-O-acetyl-3,4-dideoxy-α-d-glycero-hex-3-enopyranosid-2-ulose 2a, derived from galactose, was employed as a chiral precursor. The enone 2a was converted by chemical manipulation of the functional groups into the 6-azido-2-O-tosyl-3,4,6-trideoxy-d-erythro-hexono-1,5-lactone 9 as key intermediate. Methanolysis of 9 induced the opening of the lactone and the attack of the hydroxyl group at C-5 to C-2 with the displacement of the tosylate. This reaction led to the formation of the tetrahydrofuran ring of methyl (2S,5S)-5-(azidomethyl)-tetrahydrofuran-2-carboxylate 10, which was readily converted into 1. The overall yield of the sequence was 35%, and all the intermediates and the final product have been fully characterized. In addition, the preferential conformations in solution of lactone 9 and target molecule 1 have been established.     

Coordination properties of the multifunctional S,N,S zwitterionic ligand EtNHC(S)Ph2PNPPh2C(S)NEt

The reaction of trialkylphoshanes and amino-phosphanes with isothiocyanates yields adducts containing the zwitterionic thioamidyl-phosphonium P⁺C(S)N^? functional group. Ligands containing this group were not previously studied, probably due to their instability towards dissociation, in the presence of metal species able to coordinate the P atom. The ligand EtNHC(S)Ph₂PNPPh₂C(S)NEt (HEtSNS) was obtained by reaction of Ph₂PNHPPh₂ with ethylisothiocyanate and proved to be very versatile: it can be protonated giving cation H₂EtSNS⁺ and deprotonated forming the dianion–cation EtSNS^?. HEtSNS and its derivatives behave as ligands showing five possible coordination fashions, S,N,S tridentate and S,S-bidentate (with a bite-angle varying from 180° to 90°), S-monodentate, S,S bridging and N,N,N interaction. Here we describe the coordination chemistry of HEtSNS, in particular towards Rh, Cu, Ag and Au, and some properties of its complexes which are still the only examples containing the P⁺C(S)N^? zwitterionic group.     

Enzymatic desymmetrization of 2-amino-2-methyl-1,3-propanediol: asymmetric synthesis of (S)-N-Boc-N,O-isopropylidene-α-methylserinal and (4R)-methyl-4-[2-(thiophen-2-yl)ethyl]oxazolidin-2-one

We report herein, the novel enzymatic desymmetrization of 2-tert-butoxycarbonylamino-2-methyl-1,3-propanediol 1. This method makes it possible to prepare (S)-N-Boc-N,O-isopropylidene-α-methylserinal 3, which is a chiral building block for the synthesis of a variety of α-substituted alanine derivatives. Moreover, optically active (4R)-methyl-4-[2-(thiophen-2-yl)ethyl]oxazolidin-2-one 4, one of the key intermediates in the synthesis of a novel immunosuppressant, has been prepared by this methodology.     

Synthesis of chiral 1,5-disubstituted pyrrolidinones via electrophile-induced cyclization of 2-(3-butenyl)oxazolines derived from (1R,2S)- and (1S,2R)-norephedrine

Starting from (1R,2S)- and (1S,2R)-norephedrine, enantiomers of the corresponding 2-(3-butenyl)oxazolines were prepared in a two-step process. The cyclization of the intermediate alkenylamides with phenylselenyl bromide afforded cyclic imidates instead of the expected pyrrolidinones. The electrophile-induced cyclizations of 2-alkenyloxazolines with bromine or iodine produced diastereomeric mixtures of chiral 1,5-disubstituted pyrrolidinones. The ring closure of the all-cis (1R,2S,5R)-diastereomer 7 with NaH resulted in the tetrahydropyrrolo[2,1-b]oxazol-5-one derivative 18, which was alternatively prepared by the cyclocondensation of (1R,2S)-norephedrine with levulinic acid.     

Dielectrically controlled resolution (DCR) of 3-aminopiperidine via diastereomeric salt formation with N-tosyl-(S)-phenylalanine

A useful key intermediate for the dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor, 3-aminopiperidine 1, was successfully resolved with an enantiomerically pure resolving agent, N-tosyl-(S)-phenylalanine 2, to give both stereoisomers (R)-1 and (S)-1 as a less-soluble diastereomeric salt with (S)-2, via a dielectrically controlled resolution (DCR) phenomenon.     

Synthesis of the (1S,2S)- and (1R,2S)-stereoisomers of the respective E- and Z-isomers of ethyl 4-[(2-hydroxycyclohexyl)methyl]phenoxy-3-methyl-2-butenoate using yeast whole cell bioreduction of the parent ketones

Saccharomyces cerevisiae, strain DBM 2115, was successfully employed in the reduction of the separated Z- and E-isomers of ethyl 4-[(2-oxocyclohexyl)methyl]phenoxy-3-methyl-2-butenoates 1 and 2, in order to prepare the (1S,2S)- and (1R,2S)-enantiomers of the corresponding ethyl 4-[(2-hydroxycyclohexyl)methyl]phenoxy-3-methyl-2-butenoates 3–6. The products were obtained with the required absolute configuration: (1S,2S)-3 (ee = 98%; yield 48%), (1R,2S)-4 (ee = >99%; yield 45%), (1S,2S)-5 (ee = 98.5%; yield 47%), and (1R,2S)-6 (ee = >99%; chemical yield 44%).     

Novel asymmetric total syntheses of (R)-(−)-pyridindolol, (R)-(−)-pyridindolol K1, and (R)-(−)-pyridindolol K2 via a mild one-pot aromatization of N-tosyl-tetrahydro-β-carboline with (S)-2,3-O-isopropylidene-l-glyceraldehyde as the source of chirality

Novel total syntheses of (R)-(?)-pyridindolol 1, (R)-(?)-pyridindolol K1 2, and (R)-(?)-pyridindolol K2 3 are described. By using l-tryptophan methyl ester and (S)-2,3-O-isopropylidene-l-glyceraldehyde as the starting materials, (R)-(?)-pyridindolol 1, (R)-(?)-pyridindolol K1 2, and (R)-(?)-pyridindolol K2 3 were synthesized in 5–7 steps in 66%, 41%, and 55% overall yields, respectively. The characteristic step of the total syntheses is a mild one-pot aromatization of N-tosyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carboline (N-Ts-THBC), which was obtained via Pictet–Spengler reaction of l-tryptophan methyl ester with (S)-2,3-O-isopropylidene-l-glyceraldehyde, and subsequent N-tosylation.     

Total synthesis of (4R,5S,6E,14S)- and (4R,5S,6E,14R)-cystothiazoles F

Total synthesis of (4R,5S,6E,14S)- and (4R,5S,6E,14R)-cystothiazoles F 3 was achieved from the chiral bithiazole-type primary alcohols [(S)- and (R)-4-ethoxycarbonyl-2′-(1-hydroxymethylethyl)-2,4′-bithiazoles 8], which were obtained based on the enzymatic resolution of racemic alcohol 8 and its acetate 9. From a direct comparison by means of chiral HPLC between natural cystothiazole F 3 and synthetic compounds [(4R,5S,6E,14S)- and (4R,5S,6E,14R)-cystothiazoles 3], natural cystothiazole F 3 was found to be a 33:67 diastereomeric mixture [(4R,5S,6E,14S)-3:(4R,5S,6E,14R)-3 = 33:67].