Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of Leukotriene B4

Leukotriene B₄ 1 was prepared from two chiral synthons 8 and 14. The chiral secondary alcohols of 8 and 14 were constructed by BINOL/Ti(OiPr)₄ catalyzed enantioselective alkynylzinc addition to aldehydes.     

A class of α-amino acids-derived multifunctional amidophosphane precatalysts: application to the highly enantio- and diastereoselective silver(I)-catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction

A class of multifunctional amidophosphanes derived from chiral α-amino acids have been developed with two amide bonds, a tertiary amine and a phosphine. In combination with Ag(I) salts, these amidophosphanes have been demonstrated as highly efficient multifunctional catalysts in the asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides as well as the three-component reaction of the α-iminoesters in situ generated. Under optimal conditions, highly functionalized endo-8 pyrrolidines were obtained with good to excellent yields (up to 99% yield) and enantioselectivities (up to 98% ee).     

Synthesis of the enantiomers of (3Z,9Z)-cis-6,7-epoxy-3,9-octadecadiene,one of the major components of the sex pheromone of Ectropis oblique Prout

Both enantiomers of (3Z,9Z)-cis-6,7-epoxy-3,9-octadecadiene, one of which is the major component of the sex pheromone of Ectropis oblique Prout, were synthesized in 23% overall yield for the (?)-(6S,7R)-enantiomer and 18% yield for the (+)-(6R,7S)-isomer. This protocol uses a sequential regioselective ring-opening strategy and provides a convenient and reliable access to other structurally related insect sex pheromones. Preliminary biological studies revealed that (?)-(6S,7R)-2a was roughly as active as the natural pheromone, while racemic (±)-2 was less bioactive and (+)-2b was much less bioactive.     

Synthesis,crystal structure,and absolute configuration of the enantiomers of chiral drug xibenolol hydrochloride

Based on the features of its crystallization, racemic 3-(2,3-dimethylphenoxy)propane-1,2-diol 2, the synthetic precursor of the chiral drug xibenolol 1, was resolved into pure enantiomers by the direct method of entrainment. The enantiomers of diol 2 through a Mitsunobu reaction were converted into the nonracemic 1,2-epoxy-3-(2,3-dimethylphenoxy)propanes (S)- and (R)-3, and then into the xibenolol enantiomers. Single crystals of (+)- and (?)-1·HCl were studied by X-ray diffraction. On the basis of the Flack parameter, the absolute (R)- and (S)-configurations were assigned to these compounds and to the other intermediate chiral substances.     

Dual chiral silver catalyst in the synthetic approach to the core of hepatitis C virus inhibitor GSK 625433 using enantioselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides and electrophilic alkenes

The asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of an imino ester 5 with tert-butyl acrylate is catalyzed by a dual chiral silver(I) complex formed from a chiral phosphoramidite 14 and the chiral silver(I) binolphosphate (R)-17. This reaction is selected to achieve the synthesis of enantiomerically enriched key structures to access the third generation of GSK HCV inhibitors. The scope of this dual chiral catalytic system is analyzed by employing different imino esters and dipolarophiles, and also compared with the same cycloaddition reactions performed with the chiral phosphoramidite 14·AgClO₄ complex.     

Solvent-induced chirality switching in the enantioseparation of regioisomeric hydroxyphenylpropionic acids via diastereomeric salt formation with (1R,2S)-2-amino-1,2-diphenylethanol

The enantioseparation of three hydroxyphenylpropionic acid isomers via diastereomeric salt formation with (1R,2S)-2-amino-1,2-diphenylethanol has been demonstrated. The racemates of all three acid isomers were successfully separated with high efficiency (0.56–0.84) after single crystallization. For 2-hydroxy-3-phenylpropionic acid 4, the configuration of the less-soluble salt was controlled by the crystallization solvent: the (R)-4 salt was crystallized from water, while 2-propanol afforded the (S)-4 salt. The chiral recognition mechanism of the three acids was discussed based on the crystal structures of the diastereomeric salts.     

Asymmetric synthesis of novel 1,4-aminoalcohol ligands with norbornene and norbornane backbone: use in the asymmetric diethylzinc addition to benzaldehyde

The asymmetric synthesis of cis-1,4-aminoalcohols with norbornene and norbornane backbone was performed starting with (2S,3R)-(−)-cis-hemiester 1 (98% ee). Chemoselective amination with HMPTA followed by Grignard reactions and subsequent LAH reductions afforded compounds 5a–d. cis-Hemiester 1 was also transformed into chiral ligands 7a–f and 9a–d with the DCC coupling method followed by LAH reduction using acyclic, heterocyclic amines and various aniline derivatives and p-toluenesulfonamide, respectively. The chiral ligands were subjected to asymmetric diethylzinc addition to examine their effectiveness as chiral catalysts. Among these, arylamine and tosyl substituted chiral ligands 9a–d exhibited the highest selectivities (up to 97% ee).     

Manganese catalyzed asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of ketones

The asymmetric transfer hydrogenation (ATH) of a wide range of ketones catalyzed by manganese complex as well as chiral P_xN_y-type ligand under mild conditions was investigated. Using 2-propanol as hydrogen source, various ketones could be enantioselectively hydrogenated by combining cheap, readily available [MnBr(CO)₅] with chiral, 22-membered macrocyclic ligand (R,R,R',R')-CyP₂N₄ (L5) with 2 mol% of catalyst loading, affording highly valuable chiral alcohols with up to 95% ee.     

Absolute configuration assignment of caffeic acid ester derivatives from Tithonia diversifolia by vibrational circular dichroism: the pitfalls of deuteration

Recently, it was observed that infrared (IR) and vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) calculations including deuterated hydroxyl groups in phenolic and saccharide moieties improved significantly the agreement with experimental data obtained in methanol-d₄. In the present study, the relative and absolute configurations of three methanol-soluble caffeic acid ester derivatives 1–3, isolated from Tithonia diversifolia, were established by a combined use of experimental and calculated ¹³C NMR chemical shifts, as well as electronic circular dichroism (ECD) and VCD spectroscopies. Interestingly, the attempt to reproduce the deuteration pattern arising from possible isotopic exchange in methanol-d₄ solution led to nearly mirror image calculated VCD spectra for 1 when compared to the non-deuterated molecule with the same absolute configuration. This latter fact can potentially lead to absolute configuration misassignments. A closer inspection of the vibrational chiroptical properties of 1 revealed that the deuteration status of the tertiary hydroxyl group at C-2 is critical for the correct reproduction of experimental VCD data in protic solvents. Therefore, in the case of stereochemical analysis of polar chiral natural product molecules, a combination of VCD and ECD is recommended.     

Resolution,absolute configuration and antifilarial activity of coumarinyl amino alcohols

The resolution of racemic coumarinyl amino alcohols 5–10 was achieved by using the inexpensive and readily accessible chiral resolving agent N-carbethoxy-l-proline (S)-11. Direct esterification of rac-5–10 with (S)-11 furnished diastereomeric esters, which were easily separated by column chromatography. The obtained diastereomers yielded the desired enantiopure coumarinyl amino alcohols (S)-(+)-5–10 and (R)-(?)-5–10 in good yields with high enantiomeric excess on saponification. The absolute configurations were determined by X-ray crystal analysis and/or by comparison of the specific rotations. Furthermore, in in vitro antifilarial motility inhibition assays, enantiopure coumarins (S)-(+)-9, (R)-(?)-9 and (S)-(+)-10, (R)-(?)-10 were found to be less efficient in affecting the viability of macrofilariae of Brugia malayi than their racemic forms 9 and 10, respectively, indicating the synergistic effect of the enantiomers in evoking antifilarial action.     

Tartaric acid-derived chiral phosphite-type P,N-ligands: behavioural features in Pd-catalyzed asymmetric transformations

A practical synthesis of new phosphoramidite, phosphite and diamidophosphite P,N-ligands derived from (R,R)-tartaric acid was carried out. A study of these chiral inducers showed them to provide up to 93% ee in the Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylations of (E)-1,3-diphenylallyl acetate, up to 84% ee in the Pd-catalyzed asymmetric alkylation of cinnamyl acetate with ethyl 2-oxocyclohexane-1-carboxylate and up to 63% ee in the Pd-catalyzed desymmetrization of N,N′-ditosyl-meso-cyclopent-4-ene-1,3-diol biscarbamate. The effects of the structural modules, such as the nature of the phosphorus-containing ring or exocyclic substituent as well as of the nature of palladium source on the catalytic activity and enantioselectivity were investigated.     

Chiral ligands for asymmetric synthesis: enantioselective addition of diethylzinc to aromatic aldehydes catalyzed by chiral N-α-pyridylmethyl amino alcohols

A series of chiral ligands 2a–d were conveniently prepared from β-amino alcohols through a two-step sequence and applied to catalysis of enantioselective addition of diethylzinc to benzaldehyde. Among them ligand 2c was found to show the best asymmetric induction for the reaction and catalyze the addition to various aromatic aldehydes to provide (R)-secondary alcohols in up to 98.3% ee.     

Efficient 1H NMR chiral discrimination of sulfoxides caused by the dynamic nature of (R,R)-3′,3″-biBINOL

A chiral BINOL dimer, (R,R)-3′,3″-BiBINOL, which possesses both rigid (atropos) and dynamic (tropos) axial chiralities, was found to work as an effective NMR chiral solvating reagent for the determination of the enantiomeric purities of various chiral sulfoxides. The unique chiral discrimination mechanism was also revealed by using DFT calculations and X-ray crystallographic analysis.     

Efficient lipase-catalysed route for the kinetic resolution of salsolidine and its ß-carboline analogue

Racemic 1-methyl-6,7-dimethoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline 1 and 1-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-ß-carboline 3 were resolved through lipase-catalysed asymmetric acylation on the secondary amino group. High enantioselectivities (E?>200) were observed when the acylation of racemic 1 was performed with phenyl allyl carbonate in the presence of Candida rugosa lipase in toluene at 40?°C or with Candida antarctica lipase B in tert-butyl methyl ether at 50?°C. Excellent enantioselectivity (E?>200) characterised the CAL-B-catalysed acylation of racemic 3 with phenyl allyl carbonate in the presence of triethylamine in tert-butyl methyl ether at 50?°C. The product (R)-carbamates (ee?>97%) were hydrolysed into the corresponding (R)-enantiomers of the free amines 1 and 3 (ee?=?99%) with the use of Pd₂(dba)₃·CHCl₃ catalyst.     

Enantioselective diethylzinc addition to aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes using (3R,5R)-dihydroxypiperidine derivatives catalyst

A series of chiral (3R,5R)-dihydroxypiperidine derivatives 3a-f were conveniently prepared from trans-4-hydroxy-l-proline and applied to the catalytic enantioselective addition of diethylzinc to benzaldehyde and heptanal. Among them, 3d was found to show the best asymmetric induction in promoting the addition of Et₂Zn to various aldehydes, providing (R)-secondary alcohols in up to 98% ee.     

Asymmetric synthesis of tert-butyl ((1R,4aR,8R,8aR)-1-hydroxyoctahydro-1H-isochromen-8-yl)carbamate

The asymmetric synthesis of methyl (E)-4-((1R,2S,3R)-3-amino-2-((E)-2-methoxycarbonyl-eten-1-yl)cyclohexyl)but-2-enoate 14 has been achieved from dimethyl (2E,7E)-nona-2,7-dienedioate 2. A key step is the asymmetric synthesis of 1-hydroxyoctahydro-1H-isochromene derivative 5 whose X-ray analysis corroborated the stereochemistry of the new stereocenters. The asymmetric synthesis of the isochromenyl acetate derivative 11 shows the potential of this methodology for fused cyclohexanic system heterocyclic synthesis.     

Catalytic asymmetric syntheses of (−)-oudemanisin A and its diastereomer

The first asymmetric catalytic synthesis of (?)-oudemanisin A 1a and its diastereomer 1b has been achieved. The key steps of our strategy involved the asymmetric alkynylation of an unsaturated aliphatic aldehyde catalyzed by Trost’s ProPhenol ligand, chemoselective oxidation of the olefinic diol, base-induced ring opening of the lactone, and acylation–alkylation of the ester.     

Perhydro-1,3-benzoxazines derived from (−)-8-aminomenthol as ligands for the catalytic enantioselective addition of diethylzinc to aldehydes

The catalytic potency of a series of perhydro-1,3-benzoxazines prepared from (?)-8-aminomenthol was examined in the enantioselective addition of diethylzinc to aldehydes. When (2R,3S,3aS,4aR,6R,8aS)-2-isopropyl-6,9,9-trimethyl-3-phenyldecahydro-4aH-pyrrolo[2,1-b][1,3]benzoxazin-3-ol 7b was used as a chiral ligand, 1-substituted propanols with an (R)-configuration were obtained in high yields and enantiomeric excesses up to >99%. The catalyst can be recovered and used without any loss in its activity.     

Efficient bimetallic titanium catalyst for carbonyl-ene reaction

A new family of achiral 3,3′,5,5′-tetrasubstituted-2,2′,6,6′-tetrahydroxy biphenyl ligand 4 was developed. The axial chirality of the ligand could be induced by the chelation of 2,2′,6,6′-tetrahydroxy groups with (R)-BINOL-Ti(OⁱPr)₂ to form an axially chiral bimetallic titanium catalyst 9. Compared with (R)-BINOL-Ti(OⁱPr)₂ catalyst, this novel catalyst 9 exhibited excellent activity and enantioselectivity for the carbonyl-ene reaction of methylstyrene and ethyl glyoxylate. 3,3′,5,5′-Tetrasubstituted groups showed a remarkable effect on both enantioselectivity and yield. With 9d prepared from 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethyl-2,2′,6,6′-tetrahydroxy biphenyl 4d as the catalyst, the best result, up to 97.6% ee and 99% yield, was obtained. Additionally, the bimetallic catalyst 9 also showed better catalytic capability than the corresponding monometallic catalyst.     

Synthesis of a water-soluble cationic chiral diamine ligand bearing a diguanidinium and application in asymmetric transfer hydrogenation

A novel water-soluble cationic N-monosulfonated chiral diamine ligand diguanidinium 1c was easily prepared from (R,R)-DPEN and its rhodium complex and was successfully applied in the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of prochiral ketones and imines in water by using sodium formate and formic acid as co-hydrogen donors. Various substrates were reduced with high yields and good to excellent enantioselectivities (up to >99% ee).