Stereoselective Total Synthesis of Hetisine‐type C20‐Diterpenoid Alkaloids: Spirasine IV and XI

The first total synthesis of the architecturally complex hetisine‐type heptacyclic C₂₀‐diterpenoid alkaloids (±)‐spirasine IV and XI is reported. The A/F/G/C tetracyclic skeleton with the challenging N?C6 and C14?C20 linkages was efficiently constructed by an intramolecular azomethine‐ylide‐based 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition with unusual regioselectivity. SmI₂‐mediated free‐radical addition to the arene moiety without prior dearomatization and a stereoselective intramolecular aldol reaction further enabled rapid access to the hetisine core, providing a bicyclo[2.2.2]octane ring with a new oxygen substitution pattern.     

Synthesis of (2′S)‐2′‐Deoxy‐2′‐C‐methylpurine Nucleosides and Their Phosphoramidites

We describe the stereoselective synthesis of (2′S)‐2′‐deoxy‐2′‐C‐methyladenosine ( 12 ) and (2′S)‐2′‐deoxy‐2′‐C‐methylinosine ( 14 ) as well as their corresponding cyanoethyl phosphoramidites 16 and 19 from 6‐O‐(2,6‐dichlorophenyl)inosine as starting material. The methyl group at the 2′‐position was introduced via a Wittig reaction (→ 3 , Scheme 1) followed by a stereoselective oxidation with OsO₄ (→ 4 , Scheme 2). The primary‐alcohol moiety of 4 was tosylated (→ 5 ) and regioselectively reduced with NaBH₄ (→ 6 ). Subsequent reduction of the 2′‐alcohol moiety with Bu₃SnH yielded stereoselectively the corresponding (2′S)‐2′‐deoxy‐2′‐C‐methylnucleoside (→ 8a ).     

Carbamoyl Radical‐Mediated Synthesis and Semipinacol Rearrangement of β‐Lactam Diols

In an approach to the biologically important 6‐azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane ring system, the scope of the tandem 4‐exo‐trig carbamoyl radical cyclization—dithiocarbamate group transfer reaction to ring‐fused β‐lactams is evaluated. β‐Lactams fused to five‐, six‐, and seven‐membered rings are prepared in good to excellent yield, and with moderate to complete control at the newly formed dithiocarbamate stereocentre. No cyclization is observed with an additional methyl substituent on the terminus of the double bond. Elimination of the dithiocarbamate group gives α,β‐ or β,γ‐unsaturated lactams depending on both the methodology employed (base‐mediated or thermal) and the nature of the carbocycle fused to the β‐lactam. Fused β‐lactam diols, obtained from catalytic OsO₄‐mediated dihydroxylation of α,β‐unsaturated β‐lactams, undergo semipinacol rearrangement via the corresponding cyclic sulfite or phosphorane to give keto‐bridged bicyclic amides by exclusive N‐acyl group migration. A monocyclic β‐lactam diol undergoes Appel reaction at a primary alcohol in preference to semipinacol rearrangement. Preliminary investigations into the chemo‐ and stereoselective manipulation of the two carbonyl groups present in a representative 7,8‐dioxo‐6‐azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane rearrangement product are also reported.     

4,5,9,10‐Tetrahydro‐4‐methyl‐2‐phenyl‐9,10‐epoxy‐3H,10aH‐cyclobuta[a]benzo[2,3,4‐de]isoquinoline‐3,5‐dione

In the title compound, C₂₁H₁₅NO₃, which is one of the photoreaction products of N‐methyl‐1,8‐naphthalene­dicar­box­imide with phenyl­acetyl­ene, the cyclo­butene and epoxy rings are trans to each other across the cyclo­hexene ring of the tetralin moiety. The dihedral angle between the mean planes of the cyclo­butene and cyclo­hexene rings is 112.80 (2)°, while the latter makes a dihedral angle of 103.70 (9)° with the epoxy ring. The crystal structure is stabilized by C—H⋯O intermolecular interactions.     

Efficient asymmetric addition of diethylzinc to aldehydes using C2‐novel chiral pyridine β‐amino alcohols as chiral ligands

A series of novel C₂‐symmetric chiral pyridine β‐amino alcohol ligands have been synthesized from 2,6‐pyridine dicarboxaldehyde, m‐phthalaldehyde and chiral β‐amino alcohols through a two‐step reaction. All their structures were characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and IR. Their enantioselective induction behaviors were examined under different conditions such as the structure of the ligands, reaction temperature, solvent, reaction time and catalytic amount. The results show that the corresponding chiral secondary alcohols can be obtained with high yields and moderate to good enantiomeric excess. The best result, up to 89% ee, was obtained when the ligand 3c (2S,2′R)‐2,2′‐((pyridine‐2,6‐diylbis(methylene))bisazanediyl))bis(4‐methyl‐1,1‐diphenylpentan‐1‐ol) was used in toluene at room temperature. The ligand 3g (2S,2′R)‐2,2′‐((1,3‐phenylenebis(methylene))bis(azanediyl))bis(4‐methyl‐1,1‐diphenylpentan‐1‐ol) was prepared in which the pyridine ring was replaced by the benzene ring compared to 3c in order to illustrate the unique role of the N atom in the pyridine ring in the inductive reaction. The results indicate that the coordination of the N atom of the pyridine ring is essential in the asymmetric induction reaction. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Chiral Ammonium Betaine‐Catalyzed Highly Stereoselective Aza‐Henry Reaction of α‐Aryl Nitromethanes with Aromatic N‐Boc Imines

A highly stereoselective aza‐Henry reaction of α‐aryl nitromethanes with aromatic N‐Boc imines was established by using C₁‐symmetric chiral ammonium betaine as a bifunctional organic base catalyst. Various substituted aryl groups for both imines and nitromethanes were tolerated in the reaction, and a series of precursors for the synthesis of unsymmetrical anti‐1,2‐diaryl ethylenediamines was provided.     

Construction of A/E/F ring systems of C19-diterpenoid alkaloids with both C-1 and C-6 oxygen functions

An tricyclic AEF fragment of C₁₉-diterpenoid alkaloid bearing an angular methyl group and the oxygen function groups at C-1 and C-6 was successfully synthesized. The synthesis features a stereoselective intramolecular Diels–Alder reaction and a highly efficient intramolecular Mannich reaction as well as efficient functional groups transformations.     

Semisynthesis and absolute configuration of a novel rearranged 19,20‐δ‐lactone (9βH)‐pimarane diterpene

Annonalide (3β,20‐epoxy‐3α,16‐dihydroxy‐15‐oxo‐7‐pimaren‐19,6β‐olide, C₂₀H₂₆O₆, 1 ) is the major (9βH)‐pimarane diterpene isolated from tubers of Cassimirella ampla, and it exhibits cytotoxic properties upon interaction with ctDNA. We have prepared new derivatives of 1 by modification of the (9βH)‐pimarane backbone and report here the semisynthesis and absolute configuration of a novel rearranged 19,20‐δ‐lactone (9βH)‐pimarane. Our approach was the reduction of the carbonyl groups of 1 with sodium borohydride, at positions C15 (no stereoselectivity) and C3 (stereoselective reduction), followed by rearrangement of the 6,19‐γ‐lactone ring into the six‐membered 19,20‐δ‐lactone ring in 4a (3β,6β,16‐trihydroxy‐7‐pimaren‐19,20β‐olide monohydrate, C₂₀H₃₀O₆·H₂O). The absolute structure of the new compound, 4a , was determined unambiguously with a Flack parameter x of −0.01 (11), supporting the stereochemistry assignment of 1 redetermined here. Besides the changes in the pattern of covalent bonds caused by reduction and lactone rearrangement, the conformation of one of the three fused cyclohexane rings is profoundly different in 4a , adopting a chair conformation instead of the boat shape found in 1 . Furthermore, the intramolecular hydrogen bond present in 1 is lost in new compound 4a , due to hydrogen bonding between the 3‐OH group and the solvent water molecule.     

Nucleophile‐Dependent Regio‐ and Stereoselective Ring Opening of 1‐Azoniabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane Tosylate

1‐[(1R)‐(1‐Phenylethyl)]‐1‐azoniabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane tosylate was generated as a stable bicyclic aziridinium salt from the corresponding 2‐(3‐hydroxypropyl)aziridine upon reaction with p‐toluenesulfonyl anhydride. This bicyclic aziridinium ion was then treated with various nucleophiles including halides, azide, acetate, and cyanide in CH₃CN to afford either piperidines or pyrrolidines through regio‐ and stereoselective ring opening, mediated by the characteristics of the applied nucleophile. On the basis of DFT calculations, ring‐opening reactions under thermodynamic control yield piperidines, whereas reactions under kinetic control can yield both piperidines and pyrrolidines depending on the activation energies for both pathways.     

Living radical graft polymerization of methyl methacrylate to polyethylene film with typical and reverse atom transfer radical polymerization

Nickel‐mediated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and iron‐mediated reverse ATRP were applied to the living radical graft polymerization of methyl methacrylate onto solid high‐density polyethylene (HDPE) films modified with 2,2,2‐tribromoethanol and benzophenone, respectively. The number‐average molecular weight (M_n) of the free poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) produced simultaneously during grafting grew with the monomer conversion. The weight‐average molecular weight/number‐average molecular weight ratio (M_w/M_n) was small (<1.4), indicating a controlled polymerization. The grafting ratio showed a linear relation with M_n of the free PMMA for both reaction systems. With the same characteristics assumed for both free and graft PMMA, the grafting was controlled, and the increase in grafting ratio was ascribed to the growing chain length of the graft PMMA. In fact, M_n and M_w/M_n of the grafted PMMA chains cleaved from the polyethylene substrate were only slightly larger than those of the free PMMA chains, and this was confirmed in the system of nickel‐mediated ATRP. An appropriate period of UV preirradiation controlled the amount of initiation groups introduced to the HDPE film modified with benzophenone. The grafting ratio increased linearly with the preirradiation time. The graft polymerizations for both reaction systems proceeded in a controlled fashion. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 3350–3359, 2002     

Stereoselective Synthesis and Physicochemical Properties of Liquid‐Crystal Compounds Possessing a trans‐2,5‐Disubstituted Tetrahydropyran Ring with Negative Dielectric Anisotropy

Three stereoselective syntheses and the physicochemical properties of trans,trans‐5‐(4‐ethoxy‐2,3‐difluorophenyl)‐2‐(4‐propylcyclohexyl)tetrahydropyran, which is an important liquid‐crystal compound with a large negative dielectric anisotropy (Δε=?7.3), are described. The key step in the construction of the trans‐2,5‐disubstituted tetrahydropyran ring in the first approach involved a benzylic cation mediated intramolecular olefin cyclization of a 2‐allyloxy‐1‐arylethanol derivative. The second method included the Et₂Zn‐induced 1,2‐aryl shift of a bromohydrin obtained from a hetero‐Diels–Alder reaction, followed by stereoselective bromination. The third approach utilized the hetero‐Diels–Alder reaction of trans‐4‐propylcyclohexanecarboxaldehyde and a 2‐aryl‐3‐(trimethylsilyl)oxy‐1,3‐butadiene, followed by stereoselective protonation. From results obtained by using a quantum chemical calculation method, the reason why the target compound shows a large negative Δε value is discussed.     

The influence of sulfur substituents on the molecular geometry and packing of thio derivatives of N‐methylphenobarbital

The room‐temperature crystal structures of four new thio derivatives of N‐methylphenobarbital [systematic name: 5‐ethyl‐1‐methyl‐5‐phenylpyrimidine‐2,4,6(1H,3H,5H)‐trione], C₁₃H₁₄N₂O₃, are compared with the structure of the parent compound. The sulfur substituents in N‐methyl‐2‐thiophenobarbital [5‐ethyl‐1‐methyl‐5‐phenyl‐2‐thioxo‐1,2‐dihydropyrimidine‐4,6(3H,5H)‐dione], C₁₃H₁₄N₂O₂S, N‐methyl‐4‐thiophenobarbital [5‐ethyl‐1‐methyl‐5‐phenyl‐4‐thioxo‐3,4‐dihydropyrimidine‐2,6(1H,5H)‐dione], C₁₃H₁₄N₂O₂S, and N‐methyl‐2,4,6‐trithiophenobarbital [5‐ethyl‐1‐methyl‐5‐phenylpyrimidine‐2,4,6(1H,3H,5H)‐trithione], C₁₃H₁₄N₂S₃, preserve the heterocyclic ring puckering observed for N‐methylphenobarbital (a half‐chair conformation), whereas in N‐methyl‐2,4‐dithiophenobarbital [5‐ethyl‐1‐methyl‐5‐phenyl‐2,4‐dithioxo‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydropyrimidine‐6(5H)‐one], C₁₃H₁₄N₂OS₂, significant flattening of the ring was detected. The number and positions of the sulfur substituents influence the packing and hydrogen‐bonding patterns of the derivatives. In the cases of the 2‐thio, 4‐thio and 2,4,6‐trithio derivatives, there is a preference for the formation of a ring motif of the R₂²(8) type, which is also a characteristic of N‐methylphenobarbital, whereas a C(6) chain forms in the 2,4‐dithio derivative. The preferences for hydrogen‐bond formation, which follow the sequence of acceptor position 4 > 2 > 6, confirm the differences in the nucleophilic properties of the C atoms of the heterocyclic ring and are consistent with the course of N‐methylphenobarbital thionation reactions.     

Asymmetric Total Synthesis of (+)‐Bermudenynol,a C15 Laurencia Metabolite with a Vinyl Chloride Containing Oxocene Skeleton,through Intramolecular Amide Enolate Alkylation

A substrate‐controlled asymmetric total synthesis of (+)‐bermudenynol, a compact and synthetically challenging C₁₅ Laurencia metabolite that contains several halogen atoms, is reported. The oxocene core, which contains a vinyl chloride, was constructed by an efficient and highly stereoselective intramolecular amide enolate alkylation (IAEA). This result showcases the broad utility of the IAEA methodology as a useful alternative for cases in which the ring‐closing metathesis is inefficient.     

Asymmetric Total Synthesis of (+)‐Bermudenynol,a C15 Laurencia Metabolite with a Vinyl Chloride Containing Oxocene Skeleton,through Intramolecular Amide Enolate Alkylation

A substrate‐controlled asymmetric total synthesis of (+)‐bermudenynol, a compact and synthetically challenging C₁₅ Laurencia metabolite that contains several halogen atoms, is reported. The oxocene core, which contains a vinyl chloride, was constructed by an efficient and highly stereoselective intramolecular amide enolate alkylation (IAEA). This result showcases the broad utility of the IAEA methodology as a useful alternative for cases in which the ring‐closing metathesis is inefficient.     

Synthesis of an ansa-Zirconocene via a Novel S4-Symmetric Spirobis(silastannaindacene) Compound

A stereoselective reaction of Sn(NMe ₂ ) ₄ with the silyl-bridged bis(cyclopentadienyl) derivative 1 generates the novel spiro compound 2 , in which two C₂-symmetric six-membered rings of opposite configuration are joined at a tin center: One ring is R,R-, and the other S,S-configured. Subsequent reaction with two equivalents of ZrCl₄ affords, by stereoselective Sn/Zr exchange, exclusively the C₂-symmetric isomer of the ansa-zirconocene rac- 3 .     

Synthesis and Biological Activity of 7,8,9‐Trideoxy‐ and 7R DesTHP‐Peloruside A

The stereoselective syntheses of 7,8,9‐trideoxypeloruside A ( 4 ) and a monocyclic peloruside A analogue lacking the entire tetrahydropyran moiety ( 3 ) are described. The syntheses proceeded through the PMB‐ether of an ω‐hydroxy β‐keto aldehyde as a common intermediate which was elaborated into a pair of diastereomeric 1,3‐syn and ‐anti diols by stereoselective Duthaler–Hafner allylations and subsequent 1,3‐syn or anti reduction. One of these isomers was further converted into a tetrahydropyran derivative in a high‐yielding Prins reaction, to provide the precursor for bicyclic analogue 4 . Downstream steps for both syntheses included the substrate‐controlled addition of a vinyl lithium intermediate to an aldehyde, thus connecting the peloruside side chain to C15 (C13) of the macrocyclic core structure in a fully stereoselective fashion. In the case of monocyclic 3 macrocyclization was based on ring‐closing olefin metathesis (RCM), while bicyclic 4 was cyclized through Yamaguchi‐type macrolactonization. The macrolactonization step was surprisingly difficult and was accompanied by extensive cyclic dimer formation. Peloruside A analogues 3 and 4 inhibited the proliferation of human cancer cell lines in vitro with micromolar and sub‐micromolar IC₅₀ values, respectively. The higher potency of 4 highlights the importance of the bicyclic core structure of peloruside A for nM biological activity.     

Selective bromination of dihydroquinopimaric acid

The reaction of dihydroquinopimaric acid methyl ester with bromine was found to be chemo- and stereoselective. Regardless of the solvent (acetic acid, methanol, dioxane), bromination of the title compound with an equimolar amount of bromine occurs as electrophilic addition at the double C¹⁹=C²⁰ bond with formation of 14α-hydroxy- or 14α-methoxy-19R-bromo derivatives. The reaction with excess bromine (3 equiv) leads to the formation of 16S-bromo derivatives. The bromination process is accompanied by formation of epoxy bridge between the C¹⁴ and C²⁰ atoms. X-Ray analysis revealed two polymorphic modifications of (16S,19R)-16,19-dibromo-14β,20-epoxydihydroquinopimaric acid methyl ester.     

2‐(2‐Naphthyloxy)acetate derivatives. I. A new class of antiamnesic agents

The title compounds 1‐(2‐naphthyloxymethylcarbonyl)piperidine, C₁₇H₁₉NO₂, (I), and 3‐methyl‐1‐(2‐naphthyl­oxy­methyl­carbonyl)­piperidine, C₁₈H₂₁NO₂, (II), are potential antiamnesics. In (II), the methyl‐substituted piperidine ring is disordered over two conformations. The piperidine ring has a chair conformation in both compounds. In (I), the mol­ecules are linked by weak intermolecular C—H⃛O interactions to give networks represented by C(4), C(6) and (18) graph‐set motifs, while in (II), weak intermolecular C—H⃛O interactions generate (5), C(4) and C(7) graph‐set motifs. The dihedral angle between the naphthalene moiety and the piperidine ring is 33.83 (7)° in (I), while it is 31.78 (11) and 19.38 (19)° for the major and minor conformations, respectively, in (II).     

Gas‐phase fragmentation of protonated C60‐pyrimidine derivatives

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (ESI/MS/MS) and multiple stage mass spectrometry (MSⁿ, n > 2) were used in the positive ion mode, with two different types of mass spectrometers, a quadrupole time‐of‐flight and an ion trap, to characterize two sets of different types of C₆₀‐aminopyrimidine exohedral derivatives. In one set, the pyrimidine moiety bears an amino acid methyl ester residue, and in the other the pyrimidine ring is part of a nucleoside‐type moiety, the latter existing as two separated diastereoisomers. We have found that retro‐cycloaddition processes occur for the closed shell protonated species formed by electrospraying C₆₀ derivatives synthesized by Diels–Alder reactions, whereas for the C₆₀ derivatives synthesized via 1,3‐dipolar cycloadditions, these processes did not occur. Formation of diagnostic ions allowed the differentiation between the two groups of fullerene derivatives, and between the diastereoisomers of C₆₀ derivatives with a nucleoside‐type moiety. In general, the fragmentation processes are strongly dependent on the protonation sites and on the structure of the exohedral moieties. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

New approaches for the synthesis of hindered C60‐containing polyphosphazenes via functionalized intermediates

Two new approaches were developed to synthesize C₆₀‐containing polyphosphazenes. Accordingly, two new reactive macromolecular intermediates ( P4 and P8 ) were obtained from poly(dichlorophosphazene) by the direct nucleophilic substitution reaction. In one approach, a predesigned amimo end–functionalized polyphosphazene ( P4 ) was prepared and then reacted with C₆₀ molecules in chlorobenzene to yield C₆₀‐containing polyphosphazene; in the other approach, a polyphosphazene containing 4‐methyl phenoxy groups as side chains was first prepared, and then part of the 4‐methyl groups were converted to azidomethyl groups (in P8 ), which reacted with C₆₀ to yield C₆₀‐containing polyphosphazene. The polymers were characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, IR, and UV–visible spectra and by gel permeation chromatography. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 2877–2885, 2004