Stereospecific synthesis of trans-1,3-disubstituted-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro β-carbolines

The stereospecific synthesis of $\text{trans}$-1,3-disubstituted-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro β-carbolines has been accomplished in good yield by a two step sequence which involves Pictet-Spengler condensation of N_b-benzyltryptophan methyl ester with aldehydes, followed by removal of the 2-benzyl moiety from the corresponding tetrahydro β-carboline via catalytic hydrogenation.     

New tetracyclic compounds containing the β-carboline moiety

Oxidation of 1-methyl-3-methoxycarbonyl-β-carboline with selenium dioxide gave 1-formyl-3-methoxycarbonyl-β-carboline II . Compound II reacted with acetic or propionic anhydride to give easily the 2-methoxycarbonyl-6H-indolo[3,2,1-d,e][1,5]naphthyridin-6-ones III ; reaction of II with some primary amines led to the formation of the Schiff bases IV , which were reduced to the 1-aminomethyl-3-methoxycarbonyl-β-carbolines V with sodium borohydride. Cyclization of V with aqueous formaldehyde led to the pyrimido[3,4,5-lm]pyrido[3,4-b]indoles VI . Analogously, cyclization with formaldehyde, acetone or 1,1′-carbonyldiimidazole of the 3-aminomethyl- 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carbolines VIII , obtained by reaction of 3-methoxycarbonyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carboline VII with amines followed by lithium aluminium hydride reduction of the resulting amides, gave the imidazo[1′,5′-1,6]pyrido[3,4-b]indoles IX and X . Dieckmann cyclization of 3-methoxycarbonyl-2-[(3-ethoxycarbonyl)-1-propyl]-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carboline XI led to a 1:1 mixture of the β-ketoesters XII and XIII , which underwent deethoxycarbonylation to 5,6,8,9,10,11,11a,12-octahydroindolo[3,2-b]quinolizin-11-one XIV . Finally, the polyphosphoric acid (or esters) catalyzed cyclization of the N-acyl derivatives XVI of 3-hydrazinocarbonyl-β-carboline XV led smoothly to the 3-(1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)-β-carbolines XVII .     

4-Substituted-3-alkyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-1,3-benzoxazin-2-ones. IV (2-4). Keto-Enol tautomerism of β-keto ester derivatives. Reaction of β-dicarbonyl compounds with diamines

A series of α-[3-alkyl-3,4-dihydro-2-oxo-2H-1,3-benzoxazin-4-yl]-β-keto ester derivatives 1 (Table I) were synthesized by the condensation of 3-alkyl-3,4-dihydro-4-hydroxy-2H-1,3-benzoxazine-2-ones 3 (2) with β-keto esters 4 in the presence of traces of mineral acids under azeotropic conditions. Condensation of 1 with hydrazines 5 gave pyrazolone derivatives 2 (Table II). Condensation of β-diketone derivatives 6 with hydrazines 5 and with 1,2-benzenediamine ( 8 ) resulted in the formation of pyrazoles ( 7a-c ) and diazepine derivatives 12 (Table III) and 13 , respectively.     

Thermische Lactonisierung von Estern γ-Brom-α, β-ungesättigter Carbonsäuren zu Δα-Butenoliden. Direkte γ-Bromierung von α, β-ungesättigten Säuren

By heating with iron powder at 120–150° some γ-bromo-α, β-unsaturated carboxylic methyl esters, and, less smothly, the corresponding acids, were lactonized to Δ^7alpha;-butenolides with elimination of methyl bromide. The following conversions have thus been made: methyl γ-bromocrotonate ( 1c ) and the corresponding acid ( 1d ) to Δ^α-butenolide ( 8a ), methyl γ-bromotiglate ( 3c ) and the corresponding acid ( 3d ) to α-methyl-Δ^α-butenolide ( 8b ), a mixture of methyl trans- and cis-γ-bromosenecioate ( 7c and 7e ) and a mixture of the corresponding acids ( 7d and 7f ) to β-methyl-Δ^α-butenolide ( 8c ). The procedure did not work with methyl trans-γ-bromo-Δ^α-pentenoate ( 5c ) nor with its acid ( 5d ). Most of the γ-bromo-α, β-unsaturated carboxylic esters ( 1c, 7c, 7e and 5c ) are available by direct N-bromosuccinimide bromination of the α, β-unsaturated esters 1a, 7a and 5a ; methyl γ-bromotiglate ( 3c ) is obtained from both methyl tiglate ( 3a ) and methyl angelate ( 4a ), but has to be separated from a structural isomer. The γ-bromo-α, β-unsaturated esters are shown by NMR. to have the indicated configurations which are independent of the configuration of the α, β-unsaturated esters used; the bromination always leads to the more stable configuration, usually the one with the bromine-carrying carbon anti to the carboxylic ester group; an exception is methyl γ-bromo-senecioate, for which the two isomers (cis, 7e , and trans, 7d ) have about the same stability. The N-bromosuccinimide bromination of the α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids 1b , 3b , 4b , 5b and 7b is shown to give results entirely analogous to those with the corresponding esters. In this way γ-bromocrotonic acid ( 1 d ), γ-bromotiglic acid ( 3 d ), trans- and cis-γ-bromosenecioic acid ( 7d and 7f ) as well as trans-γ-bromo-Δ^α-pentenoic acid ( 5d ) have been prepared. Iron powder seems to catalyze the lactonization by facilitating both the elimination of methyl bromide (or, less smoothly, hydrogen bromide) and the rotation about the double bond. α-Methyl-Δ^α-butenolide ( 8b ) was converted to 1-benzyl-( 9a ), 1-cyclohexyl-( 9b ), and 1-(4′-picoly1)-3-methyl-Δ^α-pyrrolin-2-one ( 9 c ) by heating at 180° with benzylamine, cyclohexylamine, and 4-picolylamine. The butenolide 8b showed cytostatic and even cytocidal activity; in preliminary tests, no carcinogenicity was observed. Both 8b and 9c exhibited little toxicity.     

A direct synthesis of β-carbolines via a three-step one-pot domino approach with a bifunctional Pd/C/K-10 catalyst

A rapid, microwave-assisted synthesis of β-carbolines via a successive condensation/cyclization/dehydrogenation approach is described. This methodology involves the coupling of various tryptamines with aromatic aldehydes/glyoxals. The product imine undergoes a Pictet-Spengler cyclization followed by a final dehydrogenation to yield β-carbolines in a three-step domino reaction. The use of the bifunctional catalyst Pd/C/K-10 combined with microwave irradiation enabled the synthesis of β-carbolines in short reaction times and in good to excellent yields.     

Study on synthesis of fluotochloroalkyl β-diketones

Several fluorochloroalkyl β-diketones were synthesized from Claisen condensation of ethyl difluorochloroacetate with methyl ketone in the presence of sodium ethoxide. The fluorinated methyl ketones, which were used as one of the reactants in the Claisen condensation were synthesized by the following methods, namely: the addition of methyl Grignard reagent to ethyl difluorochloroacetate; the addition of bis(m-chlorotetrafluorophenyl) cadmium to acetyl chloride and the hydrolytic decomposition of β-keto ester.     

A Stereoselective Synthesis of (±)-cis-γ-Irone

(±)-cis-γ-Irone( 1 ), a main constitutent of natural iris oil, has been stereoselectively synthesized from methyl (2E)-3 -[(2,2,4-trimethyl-3-cyclohexen-1-yl)methoxy]-2-propenoate (3) (6 steps, overall yield 14%). The cis-configuration as the exocyclic position of the double bond of 1 were secured by the thermal ene reaction of the β-(alkenyloxy)acrylate 3 yielding the 3-oxabicyclo [3,3,1] nonane derivative 5 .     

Short synthesis of tryptophane and β-carboline derivatives by reaction of indoles with N-(diphenylmethylene)-α,β-didehydroamino acid esters

The ethylaluminum dichloride catalyzed Michael-type addition of indoles 1a-h to the N-(diphenylmethylene)-α,β-didehydroamino acid esters 2a-c allows a new synthesis of β-methyltryptophanes 41,m and a new route for 1,1-diphenyl-3-carbalkoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carbolines 5a-m.     

Synthesis of 1-(β-D-ribofuranosyl)indol-3-acetic acid

By condensation of ethyl indolin-3-acetate ( 4 ) and 2,3,5-tri-O-benzoylribofuranosyl-1-acetate ( 5 ), ethyl 1-(2,3,5-tri-O-benzoyl-β-D-ribofuranosyl)indolin-3-acetate ( 6 ) was obtained in good yield. The indoline nucleoside 6 was aromatized to ethyl 1-(2,3,5-tri-O-benzoyl-β-D-ribofuranosyl)indol-3-acetate ( 7 ) with DDQ. The treatment of the indole nucleoside with barium hydroxide and methanol gave the methyl ester 8 , which was further treated in water to give the desired 1-(β-D-ribofuranosyl)indol-3-acetic acid ( 9 ).     

Synthèse de l'évernine

Synthesis of Evernin Two syntheses of the depside evernin 6 are described. Condensation of methyl acetoacetate and methyl crotonate followed by aromatization and reduction with Raney-Ni led to methyl orsellinate (3) . The condensation of everninic acid (4) , obtained by partial methylation of 3 and saponification of the methyl ester, with methyl 2, 4-dihydroxy-3, 6-dimethylbenzoate (methyl β-orcin carboxylate) (5) in presence of cyclohexylcarbodiimide gave evernin ( 6 ). In a second syntheis methyl dihydroorsellinate (1) was regiospecifically converted into its 4-methyl enol ether and aromatized via the benzene selenenyl derivative to yield methyl evernate (7) . Benzylation followed by saponification gave the free acid 8 . Methyl β-orcin carboxylate (5) was synthesized in an analogous way from methyl 3,6-dimethyl-2,4-dioxocyclohexanecarboxylate. Condensation of 8 with the methyl ester 5 by treatment with trifluoroacetic anhydride in toluene yielded 9 , which could be converted into evernin ( 6 ) by hydrogenolysis of the benzyl ether.     

β-Carbolines as agonistic or antagonistic benzodiazepine receptor ligands. 1. Synthesis of some 5-, 6- and 7-amino derivatives of 3-methoxycarbonyl-β-carboline (β-CCM) and of 3-ethoxycarbonyl-β-carboline (β-CCE)

Condensation of diethyl formylamino- or diethyl acetylaminomalonate with 4-, 5- or 6-nitrogramine 1 afforded the diethyl formylamino- or the diethyl acetylamino[(nitroindol)-3-ylmethyl]malonates 2 ; reduction of the nitro group followed by N-formylation or acetylation of the resulting amino compounds 3 , led to the 4-, 5-and 6-acylamino derivatives 4 . Cyclization of 4 in the presence of polyphosphoric esters gave the 3,3-bis(ethoxycarbonyl)-3,4-dihydro-β-carbolines 5 , which underwent lithium chloride/water catalyzed monodeethoxycarbonylation to the corresponding 5-, 6- and 7-acylamino-3-ethoxycarbonyl-β-carbolines 6 , whose acidic hydrolysis led finally to the 5-, 6- and 7-amino-3-ethoxycarbonyl-β-carbolines 9 . The 6-amino compounds 9b-e were obtained also by direct nitration of 3-methoxycarbonyl-β-carboline 7a and of 3-ethoxycarbonyl-β-carboline 7c , followed by the nitro group reduction of the resulting nitro carbolines 8 . Preliminary studies of the binding to rabbit brain benzodiazepine receptor sites indicate compounds 9b and 9c to inhibit the ³H-diazepam binding at 10^?8 M concentrations.     

The synthesis of β-heteroarylamino-α,β-dehydro-α-amino acid and β-heteroarylamino-α-amino acid derivatives

From heteroarylaminomethyleneoxazolones 4 , obtained from N-heteroarylformamidines 2 and 2-phenyl-5-oxo-4,5-dihydro-1,3-oxazole ( 3 ), the following β-heteroarylamino-α,β-dehydro-α-amino acid derivatives were prepared: methyl 8 and ethyl esters 9 , amides 10 and 11 , hydrazides 12 , and azides 15 . By catalytic hydrogenation the compounds 4 were converted into β-heteroarylamino substituted amides 18 and β-heteroarylamino-α-amino acids 20 .     

A Study on the Diastereoselective Synthesis of α‐Fluorinated β3‐Amino Acids by α‐Fluorination

The treatment of a β³‐amino acid methyl ester with 2.2 equiv. of lithium diisopropylamide (LDA), followed by reaction with 5 equiv. of N‐fluorobenzenesulfonimide (NFSI) at ?78° for 2.5 h and then 2 h at 0°, gives syn‐fluorination with high diastereoisomeric excess (de). The de and yield in these reactions are somewhat influenced by both the size of the amino acid side chain and the nature of the amine protecting group. In particular, fluorination of N‐Boc‐protected β³‐homophenylalanine, β³‐homoleucine, β³‐homovaline, and β³‐homoalanine methyl esters, 5 and 9 – 11 , respectively, all proceeded with high de (>86% of the syn‐isomer). However, fluorination of N‐Boc‐protected β³‐homophenylglycine methyl ester ( 16 ) occurred with a significantly reduced de. The use of a Cbz or Bz amine‐protecting group (see 3 and 15 ) did not improve the de of fluorination. However, an N‐Ac protecting group (see 17 ) gave a reduced de of 26%. Thus, a large N‐protecting group should be employed in order to maximize selectivity for the syn‐isomer in these fluorination reactions.     

Chemical synthesis of poly‐γ‐glutamic acid by polycondensation of γ‐glutamic acid dimer: Synthesis and reaction of poly‐γ‐glutamic acid methyl ester

α‐Methyl glutamic acid (L ‐L )‐, (L ‐D )‐, (D ‐L )‐, and (D ‐D )‐γ‐dimers were synthesized from L ‐ and D ‐glutamic acids, and the obtained dimers were subjected to polycondensation with 1‐(3‐dimethylaminopropyl)‐3‐ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride and 1‐hydroxybenzotriazole hydrate as condensation reagents. Poly‐γ‐glutamic acid (γ‐PGA) methyl ester with the number‐average molecular weights of 5000∼20,000 were obtained by polycondensation in N,N‐dimethylformamide in 44∼91% yields. The polycondensation of (L ‐L )‐ and (D ‐D )‐dimers afforded the polymers with much larger |[α]_D | compared with the corresponding dimers. The polymer could be transformed into γ‐PGA by alkaline hydrolysis or transesterification into α‐benzyl ester followed by hydrogenation. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 732–741, 2001     

Amine-induced rearrangements of 2-bromo-1-(1H-indol-3-yl)-2-methyl-1-propanones: A new route to α-substituted indole-3-acetamides, β-substituted tryptamines, α-substituted indole-3-acetic acids and indole β-aminoketones

The reaction of 2-bromo-1-(1H-indol-3-yl)-2-methyl-1-propanone ( 1 ) and 2-bromo-1-(1-methyl-1H-indol-3-yl)-2-methyl-1-propanone ( 2 ) with primary amines proceeds in good yields to produce rearranged amides by a proposed pseudo-Favorskii mechanism. These amides in turn can either be reduced to produce β-substituted tryptamines or hydrolyzed to produce substituted indole-3-acetic acids. When the reaction is carried out using bulky primary or secondary amines, β-aminoketones are produced by elimination of hydrogen bromide followed by Michael addition. When hindered secondary amines or tertiary amines are used, elimination to the α,β-unsaturated ketones occurs.     

Synthesis and reaction of β‐hydroxyaspartic acid‐based polymethacrylate

O‐Methacryloyl‐N‐(tert‐butoxycarbonyl)‐β‐hydroxyaspartic acid dimethyl ester was synthesized by methyl esterification of β‐hydroxyaspartic acid, followed by protection of the amino group with the tert‐butoxycarbonyl group and then the reaction of the hydroxyl group with methacryloyl chloride. The monomer efficiently underwent radical polymerization to afford the corresponding polymer with a number‐average molecular weight of 42,000 in good yields. The alkaline hydrolysis of the polymer occurred not only at the methyl ester but also at the ester moiety between the main and side chains of the polymer. The methyl ester‐free polymer gradually released β‐hydroxyaspartic acid moiety in a phosphate buffer solution with pH = 7.3 and 7.8. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 2782–2788, 2002     

A convenient route to α-amido-β-lactams

Dedicated to Professor John C. Sheehan on the occasion of his sixty-fifth birthday. A method for the synthesis of α-amido-β-lactams without the intermediacy of an α-amino-β-lactam is described. The appropriate β-keto ester is used for preparing a vinylamino β-lactam via a “Dane salt” by a previously reported method. Oxidation with ruthenium tetroxide and periodic acid of this product leads directly to the desired “V”, or “G” or analogous α-amido side chain.     

Stereoselective Synthesis and Retentive Trapping of α‐Chiral Secondary Alkyllithiums Leading to Stereodefined α,β‐Dimethyl Carboxylic Esters

The treatment of α‐chiral secondary alkyl iodides with tBuLi at ?100 °C leads to the corresponding secondary alkyllithiums with high retention of configuration. Subsequent quenching with various electrophiles such as Bu₂S₂, DMF, MeOB(OR)₂, or Et₂CO provides the desired products with retention of configuration. Furthermore, a transmetalation with CuBr?P(OEt)₃ also allows retentive trapping with acid chlorides and ethylene oxide. The quenching of the resulting alkyllithiums with ClCO₂Et furnishes stereoselectively syn‐ and anti‐ethyl‐2,3‐dimethyl ester carboxylates (d.r.>94 %). Related esters bearing three adjacent stereo‐controlled centers (stereotriads) have also been prepared. This method has been applied to the synthesis of the ant pheromone (±)‐lasiol in 26 % overall yield (four steps) with d.r.=97:3 starting from commercially available cis‐2,3‐epoxybutane.     

Isomer differentiation via collision‐induced dissociation: The case of protonated α‐, β2‐ and β3‐phenylalanines and their derivatives

A combination of electrospray ionisation (ESI), multistage and high‐resolution mass spectrometry experiments is used to examine the gas‐phase fragmentation reactions of the three isomeric phenylalanine derivatives, α‐phenylalanine, β²‐phenylalanine and β³‐phenylalanine. Under collision‐induced dissociation (CID) conditions, each of the protonated phenylalanine isomers fragmented differently, allowing for differentiation. For example, protonated β³‐phenylalanine fragments almost exclusively via the loss of NH₃, only β²‐phenylalanine via the loss of H₂O, while α‐ and β²‐phenylalanine fragment mainly via the combined losses of H₂O + CO. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed to examine the competition between NH₃ loss and the combined losses of H₂O and CO for each of the protonated phenylalanine isomers. Three potential NH₃ loss pathways were studied: (i) an aryl‐assisted neighbouring group; (ii) 1,2 hydride migration; and (iii) neighbouring group participation by the carboxyl group. Finally, we have shown that isomer differentiation is also possible when CID is performed on the protonated methyl ester and methyl amide derivatives of α‐, β²‐ and β³‐phenylalanines. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Use of the Pictet-Spengler reaction for the synthesis of 1,4-disubstituted-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carbolines and 1,4-disubstituted-β-carbolines: formation of γ-carbolines

Microwave-assisted conjugate addition of indole on nitro-olefins furnished nitro compounds, which were reduced to tryptamines. Further, by using Pictet-Spengler condensation, new 1,4-disubstituted-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carbolines were synthesized in diastereoselective manner. Dehydrogenation of the tetrahydro-β-carbolines produced new 1,4-disubstituted-β-carbolines. As a new observation, in some of the cases, Pictet-Spengler condensation and dehydrogenation gave two products, namely 1,4-disubstituted-β-carbolines and 1,4-disubstituted-γ-carbolines. A mechanism is proposed for this observation.