Collagen cross-links: a convenient synthesis of tert-butyl-(2S)-2-[(tert-butoxycarbonyl)amino]-4-(2-oxiranyl)butanoate

An efficient synthesis of tert-butyl-(2S)-2-[(tert-butoxycarbonyl)amino]-4-(2-oxiranyl) butanoate (5), the key intermediate for preparation of collagen cross-links (+)-pyridinoline (Pyd, 1) and (+)-deoxypyridinoline (Dpd, 2) was described from (4S)-5-(tert-butoxy)-4-[(tert-butoxycarbonyl)amino]-5-oxopentanoic acid (6) in six steps. Also, an improved synthesis of iodide (2S)-(−)-4b was presented.     

Efficient synthesis of benzyl 2-(S)-[(tert-butoxycarbonyl)amino]-ω-iodoalkanoates

The efficient synthesis of four benzyl 2-(S)-[(tert-butoxycarbonyl)amino]-ω-iodoalkanoates {benzyl 2-(S)-[(tert-butoxycarbonyl)amino]-3-iodopropanoate, benzyl 2-(S)-[(tert-butoxycarbonyl)amino]-4-iodobutanoate, benzyl 2-(S)-[(tert-butoxycarbonyl)amino]-5-iodopentanoate, benzyl 2-(S)-[(tert-butoxycarbonyl)amino]-6-iodohexanoate} from natural or protected l-amino acids is described.     

Total,asymmetric synthesis of ethyl d-ido-4-heptulosuronate derivatives starting from diethyl 4-oxopimelate

Bromination of diethyl 4-oxopimelate, followed by double elimination of HBr and ketalization provided diethyl (E,E)-4,4-(ethylidenedioxy)hepta-2,5-dienedioate 4. Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation of 4 produced diethyl (2S,3S)-4,4-(ethylidenedioxy)-2,3-dihydroxyhept-5-enedioate (+)-5, with 78% e.e. The corresponding tetrol could not be obtained in one step. Silylation of (+)-5 and a second asymmetric dihydroxylation, followed by silylation led to 20% of meso-diester 9 and 60% of diethyl (2S,3S,5S,6S)-2,3,5,6-tetrakis[(t-butyl)dimethylsilyloxy]-4,4-(ethylidenedioxy)heptanedioate (−)-10. Reductive desymmetrization of (−)-10 with DIBAL-H furnished, after selective oxidation, ethyl (2S,3S,5S,6S)-2,3,5,6-tetrakis-[(t-butyl)dimethylsilyloxy]-4,4-(ethylidenedioxy)-7-oxoheptanoate (+)-13 which was then converted into ethyl 1,2,3,6-O-tetraacetyl-4,4-ethylidenedioxy-α- and β-d-ido-heptapyranuronate (−)-15α,β and into the corresponding 3-(α-d-pyranosyl)propene (−)-16.     

Short syntheses of (S)-pipecolic acid, (R)-coniine,and (S)-δ-coniceine using biocatalytically-generated chiral building blocks

The kinetic resolutions of both (±)-N-(benzyloxycarbonyl-2-(hydroxymethyl)piperidine [(±)-5] and (±)-N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-(hydroxymethyl)piperidine [(±)-6] catalyzed by the enzyme acylase I from Aspergillus species (AA-I) afforded the chiral building blocks (S)-5 and (S)-6, respectively; which were used for the syntheses of the title natural products and derivatives of (S)-pipecolic acid. The syntheses were short (2–4 steps) and proceeded with satisfactory overall yield.     

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.     

Improved synthetic methods of CP-060S,a novel cardioprotective drug

Two synthetic methods of CP-060S, (−)-2-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-[3-[N-methyl-N-[2-[3,4-(methylenedioxy)phenoxy]ethyl]amino]propyl]-1,3-thiazolidin-4-one (−)-1, have been developed. The first method involved preparative HPLC resolution of bromo-intermediate 4. The second one involved resolution of 1 by crystallization of the corresponding diastereomeric salt.     

Synthesis of glutamic acid and glutamine peptides possessing a trifluoromethyl ketone group as SARS-CoV 3CL protease inhibitors

Trifluoromethyl-β-amino alcohol 11 [(4S)-tert-butyl 4-amino-6,6,6-trifluoro-5-hydroxyhexanoate] was synthesized in five steps starting from Cbz-l-Glu-OH 5 where the key step involved the introduction of the trifluoromethyl (CF₃) group to oxazolidinone 7, resulting in the formation of silyl ether 8 [(4S,5S)-benzyl 4-(2-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)ethyl)-5-(trifluoromethyl)-5-(trimethylsilyloxy)oxazolidine-3-carboxylate]. Compound 11 was then converted into four tri- and tetra-glutamic acid and glutamine peptides (1-4) possessing a CF₃-ketone group that exhibited inhibitory activity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus protease (SARS-CoV 3CL^pro).     

A concise synthesis of (+)-cassiol

A synthesis of the anti-ulcerogenic compound (+)-cassiol 1b with 43% overall yield has been achieved. This short and efficient synthesis features the one-pot Julia olefination reaction of lactol (S)-2 with sulfone 3b through the key intermediate (−)-4b.     

An approach to an asymmetric synthesis of stemofoline

A stereoselective Mannich reaction between an (S)-tert-butylsulfinimine and methyl (S)-4-benzyloxy-3-methylbutanoate followed by treatment with acid and N-protection was used to prepare methyl (2R,3S)-2-[(S)-2-benzyloxy-1-methylethyl]-3-tert-butoxycarbonylamino-6-methylenedecanoate. This was taken through to methyl (4R,5S)-4-[(S)-2-benzyloxy-1-methylethyl]-5-tert-butoxycarbonylamino-3,8-dioxododecanoate which on treatment with trifluoroacetic acid cyclised stereoselectively to give (1R,2S,4R,5S)-4-[(S)-2-benzyloxy-1-methylethyl]-1-butyl-2-methoxycarbonyl-8-tert-butoxycarbonyl-3-oxo-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane, a potential precursor of stemofoline. Reduction and N-deprotection of this ketone gave (1R,2S,3R,4R,5S)-4-[(S)-2-benzyloxy-1-methylethyl]-1-butyl-2-methoxycarbonyl-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-3-ol the structure of which was confirmed by X-ray diffraction.     

Structural studies and NMDA activity of an enantiopure dihydroisoxazole derivative

The enantiopure 5-(2-amino-2-carboxyethyl)-4,5-dihydroisoxazole-3-carboxylic acid (−)-1b and its racemic tert-butoxycarbonylamino (Boc) precursor (±)-11 were structurally characterized by the single crystal X-ray diffraction technique. The geometrical features and the intermolecular interaction of the pure (3S,5S)-aminoacid are compared with the racemic derivative. This analysis has shown a different conformation of the dihydroisoxazole ring: (±)-11 adopts an envelope shape, while in (−)-1b it is almost planar. The intermolecular assembly is characterized by hydrogen bonds of an NH⋯O type in (±)-11 with the formation of polymeric chains, whereas in (−)-1b the hydrogen bonds determine a three dimensional network. The tight intermolecular interactions of (−)-1b could be responsible for the short distances between ionizable groups, which are important as pharmacophoric parameters for NMDA activity.     

Syntheses of pyridin-4-ylium chirons: applications in a synthesis of (+)-coniine

The compounds (3R,5S)-(+)-5-methyl-3-phenyl-2,3,5,6,7,8-hexahydro-oxazolo[3,2-a]pyridin-4-ylium iodide 4 and (3R,5S)-(+)-5-n-propyl-3-phenyl-2,3,5,6,7,8-hexahydro-oxazolo[3,2-a]pyridin-4-ylium iodide 5 were synthesized in two steps starting from the bicyclic thiolactam trans (3R,2aS)-(−)-5-thio-3-phenyl-2,3,6,7,8,2a-hexahydro-oxazolo[3,2-a]pyridine 1. In addition, starting from 5 an enantiospecific synthesis of (+)-coniine 7 was achieved.     

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.     

(S)-(−)-α-Methylbenzylamine as an efficient chiral auxiliary in enantiodivergent synthesis of both enantiomers of N-acetylcalycotomine

(S)-(−)-α-Methylbenzylamine 2 was used as a chiral auxiliary in the enantiodivergent synthesis of simple isoquinoline alkaloids. The prochiral imine moiety in compound 4 was reduced with different reagents, giving diastereomeric amines 5a or 5b, which subsequently were transformed to either (S)-(−)-N-acetylcalycotomine 6 or (R)-(+)-N-acetylcalycotomine ent-6 in good enantiomeric excess. ¹⁹F NMR of its Mosher's acid ester was used to establish the purities of final compounds.     

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.     

Total synthesis of natural (+)-hyacinthacine A6 and non-natural (+)-7a-epi-hyacinthacine A1 and (+)-5,7a-diepi-hyacinthacine A6

Naturally occurring (1S,2R,3R,5R,7aR)-1,2-dihydroxy-3-hydroxymethyl-5-methylpyrrolizidine [(+)-hyacinthacine A₆, 2] together with unnatural (1S,2R,3R,7aS)-1,2-dihydroxy-3-hydroxymethylpyrrolizidine [(+)-7a-epi-hyacinthacine A₁, 3] and (1S,2R,3R,5S,7aS)-1,2-dihydroxy-3-hydroxymethyl-5-methylpyrrolizidine [(+)-5,7a-diepi-hyacinthacine A₆, 4] have been synthesized from a DALDP derivative [5, (2R,3S,4R,5R)-3,4-dibenzyloxy-2′-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)pyrrolidine], as the homochiral starting material. The synthetic process employed took advantages of Wittig methodology followed by internal lactamization, in the case of (+)-7a-epi-hyacinthacine A₁ (3), and reductive amination for (+)-hyacinthacine A₆ (2) and (+)-5,7a-diepi-hyacinthacine A₆ (4).     

Synthesis and chemical transformations of tert-butyl-4-vinyl-3,6-dihydro-2H-pyridine-1-carboxylate

Reaction of tert-butyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydro-4-[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl]pyridine-1-carboxylate with tributylvinyltin in the presence of Pd(PPh₃)₄-LiCl afforded tert-butyl-4-vinyl-3,6-dihydro-2H-pyridine-1-carboxylate. The latter reacted with maleic anhydride to form tert-butyl-(3aS,9bR)-1,3-dioxo-4,6,7,9,9a,9b-hexahydro-3aH-furo[3,4-h]isoquinoline-8-carboxylate as the Diels-Alder endo-adduct. Reactions of this adduct with electrophilic and nucleophilic reagents, as well as the reduction and oxidation of its functional groups was performed.     

Steric effects on forming different by-products in the formylation reaction of 2,4-dialkylphenol (dialkyl = t-Bu/t-Bu, t-Bu/Me and Me/Me) proved by their structural and spectral characterizations

In the formylation reaction of 2,4-dialkylphenol (2,4-di-tert-butylphenol, 2-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol and 2,4-dimethylphenol) in the presence of hexamethylenetetramine, steric effects of alkyl groups play important roles in forming different types of by-products, namely 2,4-di-tert-butyl-6-[(6,8-di-tert-butyl-2H-1,3-benzoxazin-3(4H)-yl)methyl]phenol (1), 2-tert-butyl-4-methyl-6-[(6-tert-butyl-8-methyl-2H-1,3-benzoxazin-3(4H)-yl)methyl]phenol (2) and tris(2-hydroxy-3,5-dimethylbenzyl)amine hydrochlorate (3). These three compounds are fully characterized and single-crystal structures of 1 and 3 are further elucidated.     

Synthesis of piperidine derivatives fused to a tetrahydrofuran ring

Intramolecular nucleophilic opening of the oxirane ring in tert-butyl 6-(2-hydroxyethyl)-7-oxa-3-azabicyclo[4.1.0]heptane-3-carboxylate by the action of excess potassium hydroxide in 75% aqueous dimethyl sulfoxide at 110–120°C gave tert-butyl (3aR,7aS)-3a-hydroxyhexahydrofuro[2,3-c]pyridine-6(2H)-carboxylate whose treatment with POCl₃ resulted in elimination of water molecule and tert-butoxycarbonyl group with formation of 2,3,4,5,6,7-hexahydrofuro[2,3-c]pyridine hydrochloride. The latter reacted with electrophiles (acetic anhydride, methanesulfonyl chloride, and benzaldehyde in combination with sodium triacetoxyhydridoborate) in the presence of triethylamine, yielding the corresponding N-substituted 2,3,4,5,6,7-hexahydrofuro[ 2,3-c]pyridine derivatives.     

Traceless chirality transfer from a norbornene β-amino acid to pyrimido[2,1-a]isoindole enantiomers

The synthesis of two enantiomeric pairs of pyrimidoisoindoles 9a, 9b and 10a, 10b is reported. During a domino ring-closure reaction, followed by cycloreversion, the chirality of diendo-(?)-(1R,2S,3R,4S)-3-aminobicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-2-carboxamide [(?)-1] was successfully transfered to heterocycles (+)-9a, (+)-10a, (?)-9b, (?)-10b and (?)-10c.     

Temporary thio-derivatization in the synthesis of (+)-4-acetylbromoxone

A stereocontrolled synthesis of the marine natural products (+)-bromoxone (1) and (+)-4-acetylbromoxone (2) is reported. The sequence features the enzymatic kinetic resolution of 4-hydroxycyclohexenone (6) via its S-benzyl adduct. Thereafter, a base-mediated elimination-silylation generated an optically active (−)-4S-4-tert-butyldimethylsilyoxycyclohexenone (5), which then underwent diastereoselective epoxidation. Saegusa-Ito oxidation enabled formation of the corresponding α,β-unsaturated ketone 13. Bromination-elimination and subsequent removal of the silicon protecting group afforded (+)-bromoxone (1) which was converted into (+)-(4S,5R,6R)-4-acetoxy-2-bromo-5,6-epoxycyclohex-2-enone (2) [(+)-4-acetylbromoxone]. Using a luciferase gene reporter assay ED₅₀ for NFκB inhibition of 9 μM was determined.