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.     

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.     

Tri- and tetrasubstituted α-fluorocyclohexanones with enantiomeric excesses in the range of 97–100%

The α-fluorinated trisubstituted ketones (2S,5R)-(−)-7-Ia, (2R,5R)-(+)-7-IIe, (2S,5R)-(−)-8-Ia and (2R,5R)-(+)-8-IIe were synthesised from (+)-dihydrocarvone (99% (R)-configuration at C-5) and fully characterised. α-Fluorinated tetrasubstituted ketones (−)-9-Ia, (+)-9-Ia, (+)-9-IIa and (+)-10-Ia having e.e.s of ≥97% were synthesised as racemates from 3-methyl cyclohexenone then resolved into the pure enantiomers using chiral HPLC and fully characterised.     

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.     

Synthesis of enantiopure 1,1′-(1-dimethylamino-propanediyl)ferrocene via a highly diastereoselective imine reduction

1,1′-(1-Oxo-propanediyl)ferrocene 4 reacts with (S)-(−)-1-(1-naphthylethyl)amine to give the corresponding syn imine exclusively which undergoes a highly diastereoselective reduction with sodium borohydride to give the diastereomerically pure (R,S)-(+)-amine 6. Conversion of 6 leads in three steps to the final product (R)-(+)-1,1′-(1-dimethylamino-propanediyl)ferrocene 2 in 53% overall yield (based on 4) and in >98% e.e. Use of (S)-(−)-1-phenylethylamine as the chiral auxiliary leads to an 84:16 mixture of syn and anti imines. After reduction and separation of the resulting diastereomers the major isomer (R,S)-(−)-10 can also be converted to the final product (R)-(+)-2 in 55% overall yield (based on 4) and in >98% e.e.     

Enantioselective synthesis of β-amino acids. Part 9: Preparation of enantiopure α,α-disubstituted β-amino acids from 1-benzoyl-2(S)-tert-butyl-3-methylperhydropyrimidin-4-one,

Double alkylation of enantiopure N,N-acetal pyrimidinone (S)-1, a masked chiral derivative of β-alanine prepared from (S)-asparagine, proceeds with high stereoselectivity to give C(5) disubstituted adducts (2S,5R)-6, (2S,5S)-6, (2S,5R)-7, and (2S,5S)-7. Acid hydrolysis of these derivatives affords enantiopure α,α-dialkylated β-amino acids (R)-8, (S)-8, (R)-9, and (S)-9 in very good yields.     

Enantiomerically pure chiral phenazino-crown ethers: synthesis,preliminary circular dichroism spectroscopic studies and complexes with the enantiomers of 1-arethyl ammonium salts

Enantiomerically pure chiral crown ethers containing the phenazine unit [(R,R)-2–(S,S)-8] were prepared by two types of cyclization reactions. Ligands (R,R)-2, (R,R)-3, (S,S)-4, (R,R)-5, (R,R)-6 and (R,R)-7 were prepared from phenazine-1,9-diol 9 and the appropriate ditosylates (S,S)-10–(S,S)-15 in weak basic conditions with complete inversion of configuration. Ligands (S,S)-2, (S,S)-7 and (S,S)-8, however, were prepared from 1,9-dichlorophenazine 19 and the appropriate diols (S,S)-16–(S,S)-18 in strong basic conditions with retention of configuration. Enantiomeric recognition of most of the chiral ligands with α-(1-naphthyl)ethylammonium perchlorate (NEA) and α-phenylethylammonium perchlorate (PEA) has been studied by CD spectroscopy.     

(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.     

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.     

Facile synthesis of enantiomerically pure tert-butyl(methyl)phenylsilanes

A method for the preparation of both enantiomers of tert-butyl(methyl)phenylsilane 2 is presented. Racemic tert-butyl(methyl)phenylsilyl chloride 3 was allowed to react with (R)-(−)-2-amino-1-butanol 4 to give hydrochloride 5. Diastereomer separation via treatment of the respective free amine 6 with 0.5 mol equivalent of HCl in hexane-2-propanol yielded crystalline diastereomerically pure hydrochloride (R)Si-5. The corresponding free amine (R)Si-6 was reduced with LiAlH₄ to give (S)-2. The mother liquors obtained after separation of (R)Si-5 on treatment with oxalic acid provided a crystalline salt that eventually afforded (R)-2. The optical purity of (S)-2 (98% ee) was documented by its reaction (hydrosilylation) with propargylic alcohol derivative 10 and HPLC analysis of product 11 using a chiral column.     

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).     

δ-Lactone formation from δ-hydroxy-trans-α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids accompanied by trans-cis isomerization: synthesis of (−)-tetra-O-acetylosmundalin

(±)-(4,5-anti)-4-Benzyloxy-5-hydroxy-(2E)-hexenoic acid 6 was subjected to δ-lactonization in the presence of 2,4,6-trichlorobenzoyl chloride and pyridine to give the α,β-unsaturated-δ-lactone congener (±)-7 (87% yield) accompanied by trans-cis isomerization. This δ-lactonization procedure was applied to the chiral synthesis of (+)-(4S,5R)-7 or (−)-(4R,5S)-7 from the chiral starting material (+)-(4S,5R)-6 or (−)-(4R,5S)-6. Deprotection of the benzyl group in (+)-(4S,5R)-7 or (−)-(4R,5S)-7 by the AlCl₃/m-xylene system gave the natural osmundalactone (+)-(4S,5R)-5 or (−)-(4R,5S)-5 in good yield, respectively. Condensation of (−)-(4R,5S)-5 and tetraacetyl-β-d-glucosyltrichloroimidate 22 in the presence of BF₃·Et₂O afforded the condensation product (−)-8 (97% yield), which was identical to tetra-O-acetylosmundalin (−)-8 derived from natural osmundalin 9.     

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.     

Convenient access to both enantiomers of new azido- and aminoinositols via a chemoenzymatic route

1,2-diacetylconduritol E, (±)-1, through complementary use of Mucor miehei (Lipozyme^® IM) and Candida cylindracea lipases, affords (1S)-1,2-diacetylconduritol E, (+)-1, (1R)-1,2-diacetylconduritol E, (−)-1, (1S)-1,2,4-triacetylconduritol E, (+)-2, (1R)-1,2,4-triacetylconduritol E, (−)-2, with high enantiomeric excesses and chemical yields. Following two different methods, diester (+)-1 has been transformed into azidoinositol (−)-4 to give 1L-4-amino-4-deoxy-chiro-inositol, whereas triester (−)-2 furnished the azidoinositol (+)-13, easily converted into 1L-4-amino-4-deoxy-myo-inositol.     

Synthesis of chiral norbornane derivatives as γ-amino alcohol catalysts: the effect of the functional group positions on the chirality transfer

Starting from (1S,4R) chiral ketone (+)-6, we developed a synthetic route to the synthesis of new chiral γ-amino alcohols (+)- and (−)-syn-2-amino-7-hydroxy norbornane derivatives with excellent yields and enantiomeric excesses (up to 99%). These compounds were tested as chiral catalysts in the enantioselective addition of diethylzinc to benzaldehyde presenting moderate results. The results obtained, compared with others previously reported, showed that the relative disposition of the amino and hydroxyl groups on C(2) and C(7) positions, play an important role in the catalytic activity.     

Are the absolute configurations of 2-(1-hydroxyethyl)-chromen-4-one and its 6-bromo derivative determined by X-ray crystallography correct? A vibrational circular dichroism study of their acetate derivatives

The vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectra of the acetate derivative, 3, of 2-(1-hydroxyethyl)-chromen-4-one, 1, and the acetate derivative, 4, of 6-bromo-2-(1-hydroxyethyl)-chromen-4-one, 2, in the CO stretching region are reported. Density functional theory (DFT) predictions of the VCD spectra of the CO stretching modes of (R)-3 and (R)-4 are in excellent agreement with the experimental spectra for (+)-3 and (+)-4, demonstrating that the absolute configurations of both molecules are (R)-(+)/(S)-(−). Since acetylation of (+)-1 and (+)-2 yields (+)-3 and (+)-4, this in turn leads to (R)-(+)/(S)-(−) for both 1 and 2. The absolute configurations of (−)-1 and (−)-2 were previously determined using X-ray crystallography to be R and S, respectively. Our results lead to the conclusion that the previously reported absolute configuration of 1 is incorrect.This work is the first to apply the ‘conformational rigidification via chemical derivatisation’ methodology to the determination of absolute configuration using VCD spectroscopy and illustrates its utility in determining the absolute configurations of chiral alcohols and, by extension, other classes of chiral molecules containing flexible functional groups.     

Enantioselective synthesis of β-amino acids. Part 10: Preparation of novel α,α- and β,β-disubstituted β-amino acids from (S)-asparagine

Perhydropyrimidinone (S)-1 is alkylated with very high diastereoselectivity to give trans products (2S,5R)-3, (2S,5R)–4 and (2S,5R)-5. Dialkylation of (S)-1 also proceeds with complete stereoselectivity to afford adducts (2S,5R)-6, (2S,5S)-6, (2S,5R)-7 and (2S,5S)-7. Hydrolysis (6N HCl, 100°C) of monoalkylated derivative (2S,5R)-3 gives enantiopure α-substituted β-amino acid (R)-8. Hydrolysis of dialkylated adducts 6 and 7 affords enantiopure α,α-disubstituted β-amino acids (R)- or (S)-9 and (R)- or (S)-10. Related iminoester (2S,6S)-2 is alkylated with complete diastereoselectivity to give products (2S,6S)-11–13 whose hydrolysis under relatively mild conditions (2N CF₃CO₂H, CH₃OH, 100°C) affords enantiopure N-benzoylated β,β-disubstituted β-amino acid esters (S)-14–16, with intact double bonds in the olefinic substituents.     

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.     

Enzymatic resolution of (±)-conduritol-B,a key intermediate for the synthesis of glycosidase inhibitors

Lipases from porcine pancreas, Candida cylindracea and Mucor miehei (adsorbed on support, Lipozyme^® IM) catalysed in t-butylmethylether the alcoholysis of rac-conduritol-B peracetate, (±)-1, by n-butanol to give enantiopure (2S,3S)-diacetoxy-(1R,4R)-dihydroxycyclohex-5-ene, (−)-3, and (1S,2R,3R,4S)-tetraacetoxy-cyclohex-5-ene, (+)-1. The enantioforms (+)- and (−)-conduritol-B, obtained after chemical hydrolysis of (−)-3 and (+)-1, respectively, may be employed to prepare both the enantiomers of conduritol-B epoxide and cyclophellitol, powerful inhibitors of glycosidases.     

Stereoselective synthesis of α-substituted serines from protected erythrulose oximes

The additions of organolithium reagents to the CN bond of several chiral oxime ethers derived from erythrulose afforded protected amino polyols with high diastereoselectivity. Four of the latter compounds have been converted into the α,α-disubstituted α-amino acids (R)-2-(−)-methylserine, (S)-2-(+)-methylserine, (R)-(+)-2-phenylserine and (R)-(−)-2-n-butylserine.