Inokosterone, an insect metamorphosing substance from Achyranthes fauriei : Absolute configuration and synthesis

Inokosterone, a phytoecdysone isolated from Achyranthes fauriei (Amaranthaceae), has been partially acetylated to give the 2,26-diacetate (4) which has been converted into methyl 5 - acetoxy - 4 - methylpentanoate (7), showing no apparent []_D, and 2β - acetoxy - 3β,14 - dihydroxy - 5β - pregn - 7 - ene - 6,20 - dione (8). Chemical and physiochemical studies have shown the configurations at C-20 and C-22 to be R. Inokosterone has thus been concluded to be a mixture of C-25 epimers of (20R,22R) - 2β,3β,14,20,22,26 - hexahydroxy - 5β - cholest - 7 - en - 6 - one (1). After the synthesis of the model compound, a C-25 epimeric mixture of (20R,22R) - 3β,20,22,26 - tetrahydroxy - 5 - cholestane (23), inokosterone has been synthesized via (20R) - 2β,3β,14,20 - tetrahydroxy - 20 - formyl - 5β - pregn - 7 - en - 6 - one (25) by Grignard reaction with 4 - (tetrahydrofuran - 2 - yloxy) - 3 - methylbutynylmagnesium bromide (15) followed by hydrogenation and hydrolysis. The use of an NMR shift reagent with the inokosterone acetates (9, 29) and the optical activity measurement of - methylglutaric acid (3) derived from inokosterone have established that inokosterone is a 1:2 mixture of the C-25 R and S epimers.     

Asymmetric synthesis of 4-substituted prolines as conformationally constrained amino acid analogues

Treatment of readily available chiral building block 1 with (2R)-2,3-O-isopropylideneglyceraldehyde (5) provides a new route for asymmetric synthesis of 2,4-disubstituted pyrrolidines. Several proline-amino acid chimeras: proline-leucine, proline-lysine, proline-arginine and proline-glutamic acid, are synthesized in highly diastereomerically pure forms.     

Chiral rare earth organophosphates as homogeneous Lewis acid catalysts for the highly enantioselective hetero-Diels–Alder reactions

Various trivalent rare earth-chiral phosphate complexes [(R)-1-RE, (R)-3-RE, and (R)-4-Ce] were prepared and evaluated as a Lewis acid catalyst for the asymmetric hetero-Diels–Alder reaction of aldehydes with the Danishefsky's diene. Some of them effectively promoted the reaction at room temperature in the presence or absence of achiral additives under homogeneous conditions to afford the corresponding cycloadducts with high ee's (up to 99% ee). During these reactions, remarkably high asymmetric amplifications (positive nonlinear effects) were observed as the first example in the metal ion–chiral ligand 1:3 catalytic system. A scandium catalyst bearing the H₈-BNP ligand, (R)-3-Sc, could be recovered after the reaction and successfully reused for the next round of reactions. In addition, the hetero-Diels–Alder reaction of -keto esters was effectively catalyzed by the ytterbium complex, (R)-1-Yb, without any additives thus producing the asymmetric quaternary carbon in excellent enantioselectivities (up to >99% ee).     

Enantioselective synthesis of both enantiomers of the neuroexcitant 2-amino-3-(3-hydroxy-5-tert-butylisoxazol-4-yl) propanoic acid (ATPA)

The preparation of both enantiomers of 2-amino-3-(3-hydroxy-5-tert-butylisoxazol-4-yl) propanoic acid (ATPA), 1, an analogue of the neuroexcitant 2-amino-3-(3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-yl) propanoic acid (AMPA) is described. The enantiomerically pure glycine derivative tert-butoxycarbonyl-2-(tert-butyl)-3-methyl-4-oxo-1-imidazolidinecarboxylate (BOC-BMI) was coupled with 4-bromomethyl-2-methoxymethyl-5-tert-butylisoxazolin-3-one 6 to give the intermediates (2R,5R)-8 and (2S,5S)-8. These alkylated products were hydrolyzed under mild conditions to give enantiopure (R)-1 and (S)-1 with e.e.'s in excess of 99% in 33% overall yield.     

Preparation of both enantiomers of malic and citramalic acid and other hydroxysuccinic acid derivatives by stereospecific hydrations of cis or trans 2-butene-1,4-dioic acids with resting cells of Clostridium formicoaceticum

(R)-Malic, (S)-malic, (R)citramalic, (S)-citramalic, (2R,3S)-2-hydroxy-3-methyl-succinic and (2R,3S)-2,3-dimethyl-2-hydroxysuccinic acid were prepared on scales up to 25 mmol by stereospecific addition of water to different 2-butene-1,4-dioic acid derivatives catalyzed by resting cells of Clostridium formicoaceticum (Scheme 1). The (3R)-monodeuterio (R)- and (S)-malic acid as well as (R)- and (S)-citramalic acid were prepared using freeze-dried cells in ²H₂O-buffer. The stereochemical purity of the products was in most cases ≥ 99%.     

Synthesis of (+)-carpamic acid from (+)-alanine

(+)-Carpamic acid [(2′R,5′S,6′S)-8-(5′-hydroxy-6′-methylpiperidin-2′-yl)octanoic acid, 1] was synthesized from (S)-alanine, employing intramolecular and reductive amination of acyclic amino ketone 8 as the key step to generate the piperidine ring.     

Synthesis of four enantiomerically pure 4-(4-carbamoyl-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)-2,3-dihydroxy-1-methoxybutylphosphonic acids

CuCl-catalysed cycloaddition of methyl propiolate to O,O-diisopropyl (1S,2R,3S)- and (1R,2R,3S)-, or O,O-dibenzyl (1S,2R,3S)-, (1R,2R,3S)-, (1S,2R,3R)- and (1R,2R,3R)-4-azido-1,2,3-trihydroxy-2,3-O-isopropylidenebutylphosphonates followed by methylation of HO–C-1, ammonolysis of methoxycarbonyl groups and hydrolysis of isopropylidene acetals led to diisopropyl (1S,2R,3S)- and (1R,2R,3S)-4-(4-carbamoyl-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)-2,3-dihydroxy-1-methoxybutylphosphonates or, after hydrogenolytic removal of benzyl groups, to (1S,2R,3S)-, (1R,2R,3S)-, (1S,2R,3R)- and (1R,2R,3R)-4-(4-carbamoyl-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)-2,3-dihydroxy-1-methoxybutylphosphonic acids.     

Synthesis and application of new chiral bidentate phosphine, 2,7-di-tert-butyl-9,9-dimethyl-4,5-bis(methylphenylphosphino)xanthene

New optically active bidentate phosphines, (S,S)- and (R,R)-2,7-di-tert-butyl-9,9-dimethyl-4,5-bis(methylphenylphosphino)xanthenes ((S,S)-1 and (R,R)-1), were prepared through resolution of the corresponding phosphine oxides using (R,R)-(−)-dibenzoyl-tartaric acid and a preliminary experiment on asymmetric synthesis using an allyl substrate proved the utility of the new bidentate phosphines.     

Two new megastigmane O-glucopyranosides from the leaves of Broussonetia papyrifera

Two new megastigmane O-glucopyranosides,named (2R,3R,5R,6S,9R)-3-hydroxy-5,6-epoxy-β-ionol-2-O-β-D-glucopyrano- side(1) and (2R,3R,5R,6S,9R)-3-hydroxyl-5,6-epoxy-acety-β-ionol-2-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(2) together with six known mega- stigmanes,were isolated from the leaves of Broussonetia papyrifera (Linn.) Vent.Their structures were established by chemical methods and spectroscopic techniques including 2D NMR.     

Synthesis of 1,1′-methylenedi[(1R,1′R,3R,3′R,5R,5′R)-8-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-6-en-3-ol] and derivatives: precursors of long-chain polyketides

Racemic 1,1′-methylene[(1RS,1′RS,3RS,3′RS,5RS,5′RS)-8-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-6-en-3-ol] ((±)-6) derived from 2,2′-methylenedifuran has been resolved kinetically with Candida cyclindracea lipase-catalysed transesterification giving 1,1′-methylenedi[(1R,1′R,3R,3′R,5R,5′R)-8-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-6-en-3-ol] (−)-6 (30% yield, 98% ee) and 1,1′-methylenedi[(1S,1′S,3S,3′S,5S,5′S)-8-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-6-en-3-yl] diacetate (+)-8, (40% yield, 98% ee). These compounds have been converted into 1,1′-methylenedi[(4S,4′S,6S,6′S)- and (4R,4′R,6R,6′R)-cyclohept-1-en-4,6-diyl] derivatives.     

A totally stereocontrolled route to N-methyl-γ-amino-β-hydroxy acids: Asymmetric synthesis of the amino acid component of hapalosin

A new approach to the synthesis of N-methyl-γ-amino-β-hydroxy acids, compounds that are essential components of several depsipeptides exhibiting highly interesting therapeutic profiles, is presented. Relevant steps in the synthetic sequence involve the totally stereoselective preparation of a protected aminoalkyl epoxide from a highly enantiopure 2,3-epoxy alcohol, efficient N-methylation and three-step conversion to the desired N-methyl amino acid. The method is exemplified by the enantioselective synthesis of (3R,4S)-4-(N-methylamino)-3-hydroxy-5-phenylpentanoic acid in two differently protected forms.     

Crystallographic and ab initio theoretical studies of (2R,3R)-1-methyl-5-oxo-2-phenyltetrahydro-1H-pyrrole-3-carboxylic acid. The comparison of chiral (I) and racemic (II) structure

Crystal and molecular structures of (2R,3R)-1-methyl-5-oxo-2-phenyltetrahydro-1H-pyrrole-3-carboxylic acid (I) and (2R^*,3R^*)-1-methyl-5-oxo-2-phenyltetrahydro-1H-pyrrole-3-carboxylic acid (II) are presented. The alternative packings were studied using ab initio quantum-chemical methods. Energies of hydrogen bonds for real and model cases are discussed. Infinite chains of molecules instead of carboxylic acid dimers were observed.     

Synthesis and purity assessment of tetra- and pentaacyl lipid A of Chlamydia containing (R)-3-hydroxyicosanoic acid

Based on structural data of lipid A from Chlamydia trachomatis strains, chemically pure tetra- and pentaacyl 1,4′-bisphosphoryl as well as the related 4′-monophosphoryl derivatives of lipid A were synthesized. (R)-3-Hydroxyicosanoic acid as a chiral constituent was prepared via Noyori-reduction of methyl-3-oxoicosanoic acid. Synthetic intermediates were O-acylated with myristoic acid residues at positions 3 and 3′ and N-acylated with (R)-3-hydroxyicosanoic acid at both glucosamine units. Efficient purification methods for highly hydrophobic long-chain tri-, tetra- and pentaacyl progenitors of lipid A have been developed. Purity and homogeneity of the synthetic target compounds were confirmed by NMR and MS-data as well as a sensitive immunostaining approach. The tetra- and pentaacyl species serve as biomedical probes to investigate the endotoxic potential of chlamydial lipid A and to clarify its role in Chlamydia associated infections.     

Asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of ferrocenyl ketones: a new simple route to chiral ferrocenyl alcohols

The asymmetric transfer hydrogenation (ATH) of ferrocenyl ketones, such as FcC(O)CH₂Y [Fc = ferrocenyl, Y = H (1a), CH₃ (1b), Cl (1c) or N₃ (1d)] has been carried out using the Noyori/Ikariya catalysts [(−)-(1R,2S)-ephedrine] or N-tosyl-(1R,2R)-diphenylethylenediamine [(R,R)-TsDPEN] as chiral ligands combined with [RuCl₂(η⁶-benzene)]₂ and 2-PrOH or HCO₂H–Et₃N as the hydrogen sources, respectively. The best results were achieved with the [(R,R)-TsDPEN–Ru^IIHCO₂H–Et₃N] catalytic system, which produced the ferrocenylalcohols (R)-2a, (R)-2c, and (R)-2d in good yields and excellent enantiomeric excesses (>98% ee).     

Preliminary studies on the synthesis of rancinamycins from nitrosugars: first total synthesis of (3S,4S,5S,6R)-5-benzyloxy-6-hydroxy-3,4-(isopropylidendioxy)-cyclohex-1-enecarbaldehyde

The first total synthesis of (3S,4S,5S,6R)-5-benzyloxy-6-hydroxy-3,4-(isopropylidendioxy)-cyclohex-1-enecarbaldehyde from d-glucose is described. The key steps of this synthesis are the stereoselective Michael addition of 2-lithio-1,3-dithiane to 3-O-benzyl-5,6-dideoxy-1,2-O-isopropylidene-6-nitro--d-xilo-hex-5-enofuranose followed by the enantioselective two-step transformation of 3-O-benzyl-5,6-dideoxy-5-C-(1,3-dithian-2-yl)-6-nitro-β-l-idofuranose into (1S,2S,3S,4S,5S,6R)-5-benzyloxy-6-hydroxy-3,4-(isopropylidendioxy)-2-nitro-cyclohexanecarbaldehyde propylene dithioacetal, which was finally converted into the target compound.     

Asymmetric aziridination by reaction of chiral N-sulfinylimines with sulfur ylides: Stereoselectivity improvement by use of tert-butylsulfinyl group as chiral auxiliary

Chiral tert-butylsulfinyl group has been shown to be the chiral auxiliary of choice for the asymmetric aziridination of N-sulfinyliminas. Moreover, the sense of the asymmetric induction can be tuned in two ways: the chirality at the tert-butylsulfinyl Sulfur, or the nature of the methylene transfer reagent used. Thus, both aziridines 10(S_s,S) and 10(R_s,R), epimeric at C-2, were obtained in enantiomerically pure form by a single crystallisation (75% yield).     

Diastereoselective synthesis of a resolved secondary arsine complex: asymmetric synthesis of (R-(−)589-ethylmethylphenylarsine

The reaction of [R-(R,R)]-(+)₅₈₉-[(η⁵-C₅H₅){1,2-C₆H₄(PMePh)₂}Fe(NCMe)]PF₆ with (±)-AsHMePh in boiling methanol yields crystalline [R-[(R)-(R,R)]-(+)_{589)-[(η⁵-C5H5){1,2-C6H4(PMePh)2}Fe(AsHMePH)}PF₆, optically pure, in ca. 90% yield, in a typical second-order asymmetric transformation. This complex contains the first resolved secondary arsine. Deprotonation of the secondary arsine complex with KOBu^t at −65°C gives the diastereomerically pure tertiary arsenido-iron complex [R-[(R),(R,R)]]-[((η⁵-C₅H₅){1,2-C₆H₄(PMePh)₂}FeAsMePh] · thf, from which optically pure [R-[(S),(R,R)]]-(+)₅₈₉-[(η⁵-C₅H₅){1,2-C₆H₄(PMePh)₂}Fe(AsEtMePh)PF₆ is obtained by reaction with iodoethane. Cyanide displaces (R)-(−)₅₈₉-ethylmethylphenylarsine from the iron complex, thereby effecting the asymmetric synthesis of a tertiary arsine, chiral at arsenic, from (±)-methylphenylarsine and an optically active transition metal auxiliary.     

Stereoselective synthesis of (1R,2S)-2-amino-1,3-diols from (R)-cyanohydrins

Vinyl substituted (1R,2S)-amino alcohols 5 were obtained by addition of vinyl magnesium bromide to the corresponding cyanohydrin O-trimethylsilyl ethers (R)-2. The O- and N-protected vinyl amino alcohols 6 were ozonized at −78°C in methanol yielding (1R,2S)-2-amino-1,3-diols7 in high enantiomeric and diastereomeric excesses. For purification, compounds 7 in some cases were acetylated to give the derivatives (1R,2S)-8. Racemic 6a was converted by oxidative ozonolysis at −78°C in methanolic NaOH solution to the corresponding methyl N-acetyl-β-hydroxy propanoate 9a. The configuration of (1R,2S)-8a was confirmed by x-ray crystallographic analysis.     

(R)-Oxynitrilase catalyzed synthesis of (R)-ketone cyanohydrins

(R)-Oxynitrilase from almonds (Prunus amygdalus) catalyzes the enantioselective addition of HCN to ethyl alkyl ketones 1 in diisopropyl ether yielding (R)-ethyl alkyl ketone cyanohydrins (R)-2, which are hydrolyzed under acid catalysis to give the -hydroxy acids (R)-3. This (R)-oxynitrilase also catalyzes the enantioselective addition in aqueous citrate buffer (50 mM, pH 4.0), as demonstrated for the preparation of (R)-methyl alkyl ketone cyanohydrins (R)-5 which are obtained in high enantiomeric excesses comparable to those in diisopropyl ether as solvent.     

Chemoenzymatic synthesis of (+)-totarol, (+)-podototarin, (+)-sempervirol, and (+)-jolkinolides E and D

The enzymatic resolution products [(1R,4aR,8aR)-1,2,3,4,4a,5,6,7,8,8a-decahydro-5,5,8a-trimethyl-2-oxo-trans-naphthalene-1-methanol-2-ethylene acetal (8aR)-7 (98% ee) and {acetate of (1S,4aS,8aS)-1,2,3,4,4a,5,6,7,8,8a-decahydro-5,5,8a-trimethyl-2-oxo-trans-naphthalene-1-methanol-2-ethylene acetal} (8aS)-9 (>99% ee)] obtained by the lipase-catalyzed enantioselective acetylation of (±)-7 in the presence of vinyl acetate as an acyl donor were converted to the ,β-unsaturated ketones (8aR)-6 and (8aS)-6, respectively. Concise syntheses of (+)-totarol 1, (+)-podototarin 2 and (+)-sempervirol 3 were achieved based on Michael reactions between (8aS)-6 and the appropriate β-keto ester followed by aldol condensation. The first chiral syntheses of (+)-jolkinolides E 4 and D 5 were achieved from (5R,10R,12R)-12-hydroxypodocarpa-8(14)-en-13-one 15 derived from (8aR)-6.