Nucleophilic additions to N-glycosylnitrones part IV Asymmetric synthesis of N-hydroxy-α-aminophosphonic and α-aminophosphonic acids

The addition of phosphite anions and of tris(trimethylsilyl) phosphite (P(OSiMe₃)₃) to N-glycosyl-C-arylnitrones was examined. While these nitrones proved inert towards the phosphite anions, they reacted with P(OSiMe₃)₃ under catalysis by Lewis acids. Thus, P(OSiMe₃)₃ reacted with the crystalline (Z)-N-glycosylnitrones 2 and 8 to give the optically active N-hydroxy-α-aminophosphonic acids 4 and 10 , respectively, and hence the α-aminophosphonic acids 5 and 11 in yields up to 92% and with an enantiomeric excess (e.e.) up to 97% (Scheme 1). The absolute configuration of the phosphonates depend upon the nature and – in one case – upon the quantity of the catalyst (Figure). Upon catalysis by HCIO₄ or Zn(OTF)₂, p(OSiMe₃)₃ added to 2 to give, in both cases, the (+)-(R)-phenylphosphaglycine 5 (optical purity 79–84 and 90–93%, resp.). The optical purity (o.p.) was hardly influenced by the amount of these catalysts (0.02-;1 equiv.). However, catalysis by ZnCl₂ gave, with trace quantities of the catalyst, (–)-(S)- 5 (o.p. 79%), while an equimolar amount of ZnCl₂ yielded (+)-(R)- 5 (o.p. 82%). The HClO₄-catalyzed addition of P(OSiMe₃)₃ to the nitrone 14 (Scheme 2) led to (+)-(R)-N-hydroxyphosphavaline 15 (78%) and hence to (–)-(R)-phosphavaline 16 (71% from 14 e.e. 95%). Under conditions leading from the nitrones 2 , 8 , 14 , and 20 (Schemes 1 and 2) predominantly to (R)-α-aminophosphonic acids, the addition of P(OSiMe₃)₃ to nitrone 18 , possessing a benzyloxy substituent as an additional potential ligand for the catalyst, gave (S)-phosphaserine 19 . The addition of P(OSiMe₃)₃ to the nitrone 20 , catalyzed by Zn(OTf)₂, led to (+)-(R)-N-hydroxyphosphamehionine 21 (71%, e.e. 77%) and hence to (–)-(R)-phosphamethionine 22 (77% from 20 , e.e. 79%). Catalysis by trace quantities of ZnCl₂ gave (+)-(S)- 22 (85%, e.e. 61%). The enantiomerically pure aminophosphonic acids 5 , 11 , and 16 were obtained by recrystalliztion. The e.e. of the N-hydroxyaminosphosphonic acids 10 , 15 , and 21 and the aminophosphonic acids 5 , 11 , 16 , and 22 were determined by the HPLC analysis of the dimethyl N-naphthoyl-α-aminophosphonats 7 , 13 , 17 , and 23 , on a chiral stationary phase.     

EFFICIENT RESOLUTION OF (±)-1-(9-ANTHRYL)ETHYLAMINE

ABSTRACT

Conditions for efficient resolution of (±)-1-(9-anthryl)ethylamine ((±)-1) by fractional crystallization of its salts with (S)-(+)-mandelic acid (2) are reported. When crystallization was performed by fast addition of chloroform solution of an equivalent of (±)-1 to the hot chloroform solution of (+)-2, crystals of mandelate of (+)-1-(9-anthryl)ethylamine ((R,S)-3) are collected in 56% yield. (R)-(+)-1 (98.6% e.e.) is isolated by extraction from bicarbonate solution of mandelate salt. Ulterior collection of four crops afforded (R,S)-3 with 71.5% cumulative yield and >98% e.e. of (+)-1 in a any single crop. With only 0.5 equivalents of (+)-2 crystallization afforded (R,S)-3 in 47.4% yield and (+)-1 with 98.1% e.e.     

Nucleophilic Additions to N-Glycosylnitrones. Asymmetric Synthesis of α-Aminophosphonic Acids

The hypothesis which explains the diastereoselectivity of the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of the N-glycosylnitrones 1 – 3 leading to the 5,5-disubstituted isoxazolidines 4 – 6 on the basis of a kinetic anomeric effect predicts that nucleophiles should add to N-glycosylnitrones with a high degree of diastereoselectivity. To test this prediction, the nucleophilic addition of lithium and potassium dialkylphosphites to the crystalline (Z)-nitrone 11 , prepared from oxime 9 and (benzyloxy)acetaldehyde has been examined. The addition of lithium phosphites gave the N-glycosyl-N-hydroxyaminophosphonates 12 – 16 (d. e. 78–92%) in high yields (Scheme 4). The addition of potassium phosphites showed a much lower diastereoselectivity. Glycoside cleavage, hydrogenolysis, and dealkylation of 12 – 16 gave (+)-(S)-phosphoserine (+)- 19 (34–45% from 9 ). Its absolute configuration was confirmed by an X-ray analysis of the N-(3,3,3-trifluoro-2-methoxy-2-phenylpropionyl) derivative 24 . Similarly, the crystalline nitrone 25 gave the N-glycosyl-N-hydroxyaminophosphonate 26 , which was transformed into (+)-(S)-phosphovaline (+)- 31 (42% from 9 ). The diastereoselectivity of the nucleophilic addition and the enantiomeric purity of (+)- 31 were determined by the analysis of the derivative 30 (d.e. 92%) and 32 (d.e. 93%), respectively. The addition of lithium diethyl phosphite to the nitrone 33 , prepared in situ, gave the N-glycosyl-N-hydroxyaminophosphonate 34 , (41%; d.e. 91%), which was transformed in (+)-(S)-phosphoalanine (+)- 37 (21% from 9 ).     

Enantioselektive Reaktionen an porphinoiden Nickelkomplexen

Enantioselective Reactions on Porphine Type Nickel Complexes The thermodynamically controlled addition of alcohols to (+)-(1R)-[1-methyl-8H-HDP]nickelperchlorate ( 1 ; e.e. 92%) yields exclusively the corresponding cis-1,11-disubstituted porphinoids. Chemical transformation of functional groups in the alkoxy side-chain of the chiral addition product followed by acid catalyzed elimination yields the derived alcohols and 1 . By this procedure, the following enantioselective transformations were studied: methylation of meso-2,3-butandiol ( 5 ) to (+)-(2R,3S)-3-methoxy-2-butanol ( 8a ; e.e. 87%), diimide reduction of 2-ethylallyl alcohol ( 9 ) to (+)-(2R)-2-methyl-1-butanol ( 12a ; e.e. 15%), and hydride reduction of 4-hydroxy-2-butanone ( 13 ) to (+)-(3S)-1,3-butandiol ( 16a ; e.e. 20%). Addition of 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propandiol ( 17 ) to 4 , followed by esterification of the free hydroxy group with trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride and solvolysis of the sulfonate 19 yielded a bridged complex with unrearranged alkyl chain for which structure 20 is proposed.     

Chiral Enol Oxazolines and Thiazolines as Auxiliary Ligands for the Asymmetric Synthesis of Ruthenium‐Polypyridyl Complexes

Various ligands, such as (Z)‐1‐phenyl‐2‐[(4S)‐4‐phenyl‐4,5‐dihydro‐1,3‐oxazol‐2‐yl]ethen‐1‐ol ((S)‐ 1a ) and (Z)‐1‐phenyl‐2‐[(4S)‐4‐phenyl‐4,5‐dihydro‐1,3‐thiazol‐2‐yl]ethen‐1‐ol ((S)‐ 1c ), were investigated as auxiliaries for the asymmetric synthesis of chiral ruthenium(II) complexes. The reaction of these chiral auxiliary ligands with [RuCl₂(dmso)₄], 2,2′‐bipyridine (bpy, 2.2 equiv), and triethylamine (10 equiv) in DMF/PhCl (1:8) at 140 °C for several hours diastereoselectively provided the complexes Λ‐[Ru(bpy)₂{(S)‐ 1a ? H}] (Λ‐(S)‐ 2a , 52 % yield, 56:1 d.r.) and Λ‐[Ru(bpy)₂{(S)‐ 1c ? H}] (Λ‐(S)‐ 2c , 48 % yield, >100:1 d.r.) in a single step after purification. Both Λ‐(S)‐ 2a and Λ‐(S)‐ 2c could be converted into Λ‐[Ru(bpy)₃](PF₆)₂ by replacing the bidentate enolato ligands with bpy, under retention of configuration, induced by either NH₄PF₆ as a weak acid (from Λ‐(S)‐ 2a : 73 % yield, 22:1 e.r.; from Λ‐(S)‐ 2c : 77 % yield, 22:1 e.r.), TFA as a strong acid (from Λ‐(S)‐ 2a : 72 % yield, 52:1 e.r.; from Λ‐(S)‐ 2c : 85 % yield, 25:1 e.r.), methylation with Meerwein′s salt (from Λ‐(S)‐ 2a : 59 % yield, 46:1 e.r.; from Λ‐(S)‐ 2c : 86 % yield, 37:1 e.r.), ozonolysis (from Λ‐(S)‐ 2a : 56 % yield, 22:1 e.r.; from Λ‐(S)‐ 2c : 43 % yield, 6.3:1 e.r.), or oxidation with a peroxy acid (from Λ‐(S)‐ 2a : 72 % yield, 45:1 e.r.; from Λ‐(S)‐ 2c : 79 % yield, 8.5:1 e.r.). This study shows that, except for the reaction with NH₄PF₆, oxazoline‐enolato complex Λ‐(S)‐ 2a provides Λ‐[Ru(bpy)₃](PF₆)₂ with higher enantioselectivities than analogous thiazoline‐enolato complex Λ‐(S)‐ 2c , which might be due to the higher coordinative stability of the thiazoline‐enolato complex, thus requiring more prolonged reaction times. Thus, this study provides attractive new avenues for the asymmetric synthesis of non‐racemic ruthenium(II)‐polypyridyl complexes without the need for using a strong acid or a strong methylating reagent, as has been the case in all previously reported auxiliary methods from our group.     

Enantiopure aryl-[1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-pyridinyl] methanols and their use for heterogeneous hydrogenation of ethyl pyruvate

Both enantiomers of two new chiral modifiers (naphthyl- and anthryl-[1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-pyridinyl] methanols, 4H and 5H) are obtained for the first time from inexpensive d-mannitol in 10 easy steps. Until now erythro-4H is the only synthetic chiral modifier available under both enantiomeric forms, which provide enantioselectivities almost as high as those obtained with natural cinchonidine, for which only one enantiomer is available. It is shown that the anthryl group may be less efficient than the naphthyl (the e.e.% drops from 75% with erythro-4H to 46% with erythro-5H) and that N-methyl substitution (trisubstituted nitrogen as in cinchonidine) leads also to a drop in the e.e.% (from 75% with 4H to 39% with 4Me).     

Synthesis of Chiral 12-Phenyl(2H)dodecanoic Acids: Useful metabolic probes for the biosynthesis of 1-alkenes from fatty acids

The synthesis of chiral 12-phenyi(²H)dodecanoic acids as metabolic probes for the evaluation of the stereo-chemical course of the biosynthesis of 1-alkerses from fatty acids in plants and insects is described. The diastereoisomeric (2R, 3R)- or (2S, 3S)-12-phenyl(2,3?²H₂)dodecanoic acids 11 are obtained in high chemical and optical yield (>97% e.e.) from the readily available (E)-12-phenyl(2,3-²H₂)dodec-2-enoic acid ( 10 ) or (E)-12-phenyldodec-2-enoic acid ( 10a ) by microbial reduction with wet packed cells of Clostridium tyrobutyricum in either ²H₂O or H₂O buffer. (2R)- and (2S)-12-phenyl(2?²H)dodecanoic acids 9 (>97% e.e.) are accessible from the allylic alcohol 6 via Sharpless epoxidation with (+)-L- or (?)-D-diethyl tartrate, Synthetic routes to the (E)- and (Z)-11-phenyl(1?²H) undec-1-enes 16 and 16a as reference compounds are also included.     

Effect of water on the enzymatic synthesis of vinyl sugar ester in hydrophilic organic solvent

The transesterification of divinyl adipate with glucose in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) catalyzed by alkaline protease from Streptomyces sp. and Bacillus subtilis at various water contents were examined. The enzymatic reaction by the Bacillus protease was carried out effectively in the presence of more than 2% of water, and a maximum reaction rate was observed at a water content of 20%. On the other hand, the reaction by the Streptomyces protease proceeded more effectively without the addition of water than in the presence of water. These results suggest that optimum water content is different, depending on the kind of enzyme protein used.

The effect of water on the enzymatic synthesis of vinyl glucose ester catalyzed by protease from Bacillus subtilis (B) in DMF. The reaction conditions are outlined in the Experimental Part .     

Synthesis and Fungicidal Activity of (E)‐5‐[1‐(2‐Oxo‐1‐oxaspiro[4,5]dec/non‐3‐en‐3‐yl)ethylidene]‐2‐aminoimidazolin‐4‐one Derivatives

The novel fungicidal agents, (E )‐5‐[1‐(2‐oxo‐1‐oxaspiro[4,5]dec/non‐3‐en‐3‐yl)ethylidene]‐2‐aminoimidazolin‐ 4‐one derivatives, were designed and synthesized in moderate to excellent yields in four steps using α ‐hydroxyketone and diketene as raw materials and characterized by HR‐ESI‐MS , ¹H NMR and X‐ray diffraction. The preliminary bioassay showed that some of these compounds, such as 5e , 6a , 6e , and 7 h exhibit 87.8%, 91.3%, 89.9% and 87.8% inhibition rates against Sclerotinia scleotiorum , 3b , 3c , 4c and 7 h exhibit 96.4%, 92.5%, 90.3% and 76.9% inhibition rates against Phytophthora capsici at the concentration of 50 µg/mL , respectively. These compounds exhibited significant fungicidal activities against S. scleotiorum and P. capsici with EC₅₀ values of 2.56–11.60 µg/mL , and compounds 6e and 7 h exhibited weak inhibition against the spore germination of S. scleotiorum , while the spore germination of P. capsici was strongly inhibited by compound 7 h solution. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM ) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM ) observation indicated that compound 7 h had a significant impact on the structure and function of the hyphal cell wall of P. capsici mycelium.     

Enantiomeric Purities of (R)- and (S)-Camphors from the Chiral Pool and High Enantiomeric Purities in General

The commercially available camphor enantiomers are extensively used in several important areas of chemical research, and it seems that they are often considered to be enantiomerically pure (the meaning of the term is discussed); there are certainly no enantiomeric purities (e.p.) on record. By standard GLC on a modified cyclodextrin column, we have now found five commercial (R)-camphors to have the same high but imperfect e.p., (99.62 ± 0.02)% (R), a sixth a slightly higher e.p., (99.76 ± 0.06) % (R), and three (S)-camphors to have different and lower e.p. Nailing down these e.p. is useful by itself and puts into focus the sensitivity of present day GLC, and how little is know about high e.p. in general.     

STEREOSELECTIVITY ON ELECTRON TRANSFER REACTIONS(I); REACTION OF THE Λ-[Co(EDDS)]− AND RAC-[Co(DIAMINE)3]2+ COMPLEXES (DIAMINE = EN,CHXN)

Abstract

The absolute configuration of an optically active Λ-[Co(EDDS)]^? (EDDS = ethylene-diaminedisuccinate) complex was determined as Λ by the regional rule and spectroscopic data. The stereoselective ionic association between Λ-[Co(EDDS)]^? and rac-[Co(en)₃]³⁺ occurs preferentially between Λ-[Co(EDDS)]^? and δ-[Co(en)₃]³⁺. The stereoselective electron transfer reaction between Λ-[Co(EDDS)]^? and rac-[Co(en)₃]²⁺ has been investigated in aqueous solution, DMF and DMSO. Their enantiomeric excesses (e.e.) observed are 14%, 26% and 40% of δ-[Co(en)₃]³⁺, respectively. The electron transfer reaction between Λ-[Co(EDDS)]^? and conformationally restricted [Co(chxn)₃]²⁺ has been examined in aqueous and DMSO solution. In aqueous solution, there are four isomers in the product which were determined as lel₃, lel₂ob, lelob₂ , and ob₃ of δ-[Co(chxn)₃]³⁺ with optical purities of 22%, 25%, 11% and 10% e.e. respectively. In DMSO, the reaction produces lel₃ -δ-and lel₂ob-δ-[Co(chxn)₃]³⁺ with optical purities of 100% and 75% e.e. respectively.     

The Enantioselective Synthesis of β-Amino Acids,their α-hydroxy derivatives,and the N-terminal components of bestatin and microginin

L -Aspartic acid by tosylation, anhydride formation, and reduction with NaBH₄ was converted into (3S)-3-(tosylamino)butan-4-olide ( 8 ; Scheme 1). Tretment of 8 with ethanolic trimethylsilyl iodide gave the N-protected deoxy-iodo-β-homoserine ethyl ester 9 . The latter, on successive nucleophilic displacement with lithium dialkyl-cuprates ( → 10a–e ), alkaline hydrolysis ( → 11a–e ), and reductive removal of the tosyl group, produced the corresponding 4-substituted (3R)-3-aminobutanoic acids 12a–e (ee > 99%). Electrophilic hydroxylation of 8 ( → 19 ; Scheme 3), subsequent iodo-esterification ( → 21 ; Scheme 4), and nucleophilic alkylation and phenylation afforded, after saponification and deprotection, a series of 4-substituted (2S, 3R)-3-amino-2-hydroxybutanoic acids 24 including the N-terminal acids 24e ( = 3 ) and 24f ( = 4 ) of bestatin and microginin (de > 95%), respectively.     

Evaluation of gas chromatographic methods for the determination of <Emphasis Type="Italic">trans</Emphasis> fat

Consumption of trans fat has been associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease. For nutrition labeling purposes, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) defines trans fat as the sum of all the fatty acids with at least one nonconjugated double bond in the trans configuration. The FDA regulation states that label declarations of trans fat are not required for products that contain less than 0.5 g of trans fat per serving if no claims are made about fat, fatty acids or cholesterol. While attenuated total reflection Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FT-IR) provides reproducible measurements for samples containing more than 5% trans fat, methods based on gas chromatography (GC) are needed to measure lower trans fat levels. Trans fat quantitation by GC has recently been updated by considering more fatty acids, focusing more attention on fatty acids present in low amounts, and by using 100-m high-polarity capillary columns for optimal separation. The consistently high interlaboratory relative standard deviations (RSD, e.g., 21% at 1% trans fatty acids (TFA), 60% at 0.17% TFA), and intralaboratory RSD values (e.g., 10% at 1% TFA, 16% at 0.17% TFA) for trans fat at 1% or less of total fat reported in the collaborative study data for American Oil Chemists Society Official Method Ce 1h-05 suggest the need to carefully define the parameters associated with GC analysis of fatty acids.     

Synthesis of 3-amino-5H-1,2,3-triazino[5,4-b]indol-4-one. New compounds with blood platelet antiaggregation activity

Starting with 3-aminoindole-2-carbohydrazide 1 a series of arylidene hydrazones 2 was obtained with good yields (79–85%). Upon treating 2 with nitrous acid a series of 3-arylidineamino-5H-1,2,3-triazino[5,4-b]indol-4-ones 3 was obtained (80–86%). The reaction of 4-methoxybenzylidene derivative 3e with hydrazine hydrate, in ethanol, gave 3-amino-5H-1,2,3-triazino[5,4-b]indol-4-one 4 (64%). However, by treating 3e in boiling hydrate, 3-aminoindole-2-carbaldehyde azine 5 was obtained (44%). By boiling 1 in N,N-dimethylformamide, 3-amino-5H-pyrimido[5,4-b]indol-4-one, 6 was obtained (52%).     

Asymmetric Hydrolytic Kinetic Resolution with Recyclable Macrocyclic CoIII–Salen Complexes: A Practical Strategy in the Preparation of (R)‐Mexiletine and (S)‐Propranolol

A chiral cobalt(III) complex ( 1 e ) was synthesized by the interaction of cobalt(II) acetate and ferrocenium hexafluorophosphate with a chiral dinuclear macrocyclic salen ligand that was derived from 1R,2R‐(?)‐1,2‐diaminocyclohexane with trigol bis‐aldehyde. A variety of epoxides and glycidyl ethers were suitable substrates for the reaction with water in the presence of chiral macrocyclic salen complex 1 e at room temperature to afford chiral epoxides and diols by hydrolytic kinetic resolution (HKR). Excellent yields (47 % with respect to the epoxides, 53 % with respect to the diols) and high enantioselectivity (ee>99 % for the epoxides, up to 96 % for the diols) were achieved in 2.5–16 h. The Co^III macrocyclic salen complex ( 1 e ) maintained its performance on a multigram scale and was expediently recycled a number of times. We further extended our study of chiral epoxides that were synthesized by using HKR to the synthesis of chiral drug molecules (R)‐mexiletine and (S)‐propranolol.     

Dihydroxyacetone Phosphate Aldolase Catalyzed Synthesis of Structurally Diverse Polyhydroxylated Pyrrolidine Derivatives and Evaluation of their Glycosidase Inhibitory Properties

The chemoenzymatic synthesis of a collection of pyrrolidine‐type iminosugars generated by the aldol addition of dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP) to C‐α‐substituted N‐Cbz‐2‐aminoaldehydes derivatives, catalyzed by DHAP aldolases is reported. L ‐Fuculose‐1‐phosphate aldolase (FucA) and L ‐rhamnulose‐1‐phosphate aldolase (RhuA) from E. coli were used as biocatalysts to generate configurational diversity on the iminosugars. Alkyl linear substitutions at C‐α were well tolerated by FucA catalyst (i.e., 40–70 % conversions to aldol adduct), whereas no product was observed with C‐α‐alkyl branched substitutions, except for dimethyl and benzyl substitutions (20 %). RhuA was the most versatile biocatalyst: C‐α‐alkyl linear groups gave the highest conversions to aldol adducts (60–99 %), while the C‐α‐alkyl branched ones gave moderate to good conversions (50–80 %), with the exception of dimethyl and benzyl substituents (20 %). FucA was the most stereoselective biocatalyst (90–100 % anti (3R,4R) adduct). RhuA was highly stereoselective with (S)‐N‐Cbz‐2‐aminoaldehydes (90–100 % syn (i.e., 3R,4S) adduct), whereas those with R configuration gave mixtures of anti/syn adducts. For iPr and iBu substituents, RhuA furnished the anti adduct (i.e., FucA stereochemistry) with high stereoselectivity. Molecular models of aldol products with iPr and iBu substituents and as complexes with the RhuA active site suggest that the anti adducts could be kinetically preferred, while the syn adducts would be the equilibrium products. The polyhydroxylated pyrrolidines generated were tested as inhibitors against seven glycosidases. Among them, good inhibitors of α‐L ‐fucosidase (IC₅₀=1–20 μM ), moderate of α‐L ‐rhamnosidase (IC₅₀=7–150 μM ), and weak of α‐D ‐mannosidase (IC₅₀=80–400 μM ) were identified. The apparent inhibition constant values (K_i) were calculated for the most relevant inhibitors and computational docking studies were performed to understand both their binding capacity and the mode of interaction with the glycosidases.     

Studies on the identification and syntheses of insect pheromones: XX. Synthesis of (7R, 8S)-(+)-sex pheromone of gypsy moth through the kinetic resolution of (±) allylic alcohol by Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation

The chiral epoxy alcohol 3 was synthesized in 92% e.e through the kinetic resolution of (±)-l-tridecen-3-ol 2 by Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation. 3 was then transformed to (7R, 8S)-1a, the sex pheromone of gypsy moth, in an overall yield of 60% in 5 steps.     

Asymmetric addition of methyl nitroacetate to crotonaldehyde catalyzed by chiral amines

The asymmetric Michael addition of methyl nitroacetate to crotonaldehyde catalyzed by chiral amines was carried out. The maximum chemical yield of diastereomeric products amounted to 95 %. The best asymmetric induction (42 % e.e.) was achieved in the case of catalysis by (S)-prolinol. The diastereomeric mixture was converted to a mixture of stereoisomeric 3-methyl-2-methoxycarbonylpyrrolidines. Absolute configurations of (2S,3S)-and (2R,3S)-isomers formed in excess were determined using GLC by comparison with authentic samples of racemic and optically pure forms of 3-methylproline.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 1591–1595, September, 1993.     

Synthesis of(+)-(2S, 6S)-trans-α-Irone and of(-)-(2S, 6S)-trans-γ-Irone

A 3:1 mixture of (+)-(2S, 6S)-trans-α-irone ((+)-1) and (?)-(2S, 6S)-trans-γ-irone (?)-2) has been synthesized with ca. 70% e. e. by the ene reaction of (?)-(S)-3 and but-3-yn-2-one.     

Thermal and Ru-catalyzed Reactions of Styryl-Substituted Azulenes with Dimethyl Acetylenedicarboxylate

The thermal reaction of 1-[(E)-styrl]azulenes with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (ADM) in decalin at 190–200° does not lead to the formation fo the corresponding heptalene-1,2-dicarboxylates (Scheme 2). Main products are the corresponding azulene-1,2-dicarboxylates (see 4 and 9 ), accompanied by the benzanellated azulenes trans- 10a and trans- 11 , respectively. The latter compounds are formed by a Diels-Alder reaction of the starting azulenes and ADM, followed by an ene reaction with ADM (cf. Scheme 3). The [RuH₂(PPh₃)₄]-catalyzed reaction of 4,6,8-trimethyl-1-[(E)-4-R-styryl]azulenes (R=H, MeO, Cl; Scheme 4) with ADM in MeCN at 110° yields again the azulene-1,2-dicarboxylates as main products. However, in this case, the corresponding heptalene-1,2-dicarboxylates are also formed in small amounts (3–5%; Scheme 4). The benzanellated azulenes trans- 10a and trans- 10b are also found in small amounts (2–3%) in the reaction mixture. ADM Addition products at C(3) of the azulene ring as well as at C(2) of the styryl moiety are also observed in minor amounts (1–3%). Similar results are obtained in the [RuH₂(PPh₃)₄]-catalyzed reaction of 3-[(E)-styryl]guaiazulene ((E)- 8 ; Scheme 5) with ADM in MeCN. However, in this case, no heptalene formation is observed, and the amount of the ADM-addition products at C(2) of the styryl group is remarkably increased (29%). That the substitutent pattern at the seven-membered ring of (E)- 8 is not responsible for the failure of heptalene formation is demonstrated by the Ru-catalyzed reaction of 7-isopropyl-4-methyl-1-[(E)-styryl]azulene ((E)- 23 ; Scheme 11) with ADM in MeCN, yielding the corresponding heptalene-1,2-dicarboxylate (E)- 26 (10%). Again, the main product is the corresponding azulene-1,2-dicarboxylate 25 (20%). Reaction of 4,6,8-trimethyl-2-[(E)-styryl]azulene ((E)- 27 ; Scheme 12) and ADM yields the heptalene-dicarboxylates (E)- 30A / B , purely thermally in decalin (28%) as well as Ru-catalyzed in MeCN (40%). Whereas only small amounts of the azulene-1,2-dicarboxylate 8 (1 and 5%, respectively) are formed, the corresponding benzanellated azulene trans- 29 ist found to be the second main product (21 and 10%, respectively) under both reaction conditions. The thermal reaction yields also the benzanellated azulene 28 which is not found in the catalyzed variant of the reaction. Heptalene-1,2-dicarboxylates are also formed from 4-[(E)-styryl]azulenes (e.g. (E)- 33 and (E)- 34 ; Scheme 14) and ADM at 180–190° in decalin and at 110° in MeCN by [RuH₂(PPh₃)₄] catalysis. The yields (30%) are much better in the catalyzed reaction. The formation of by-products (e.g. 39–41 ; Scheme 14) in small amounts (0.5–5%) in the Ru-catalyzed reactions allows to understand better the reactivity of zwitterions (e.g. 42 ) and their triyclic follow-up products (e.g. 43 ) built from azulenes and ADM (cf. Scheme 15).