New Singlet Oxygen Donors Based on Naphthalenes: Synthesis,Physical Chemical Data,and Improved Stability

Singlet oxygen donors are of current interest for medical applications, but suffer from a short half‐life leading to low singlet oxygen yields and problems with storage. We have synthesized more than 25 new singlet oxygen donors based on differently substituted naphthalenes in only a few steps. The influence of functional groups on the reaction rate of the photooxygenations, thermolysis, half‐life, and singlet oxygen yield has been thoroughly studied. We determined various thermodynamic data and compared them with density functional calculations. Interestingly, remarkable stabilities of functional groups during the photooxygenations and stabilizing effects for some endoperoxides during the thermolysis have been found. Furthermore, we give evidence for a partly concerted and partly stepwise thermolysis mechanism leading to singlet and triplet oxygen, respectively. Our results might be interesting for “dark oxygenations” and future applications in medicine.     

Enantiopure Sulfinyl Aniline as a Removable and Recyclable Chiral Auxiliary for Asymmetric C(sp3)−H Bond Activation

An original and recyclable chiral bidentate aniline‐sulfoxide‐based directing group has been developed. This auxiliary allows challenging stereoselective Pd‐catalyzed direct functionalization of small cycloalkanes through C–aryl and C–alkyl bond formation. Although moderate diastereoselectivities are observed, both optically pure enantiomers of the highly functionalized products can be obtained separately by simple silica gel chromatography and cleavage of the chiral auxiliary. This strategy was further applied to the preparation of enantiomerically pure 1,2,3‐trisubstituted cyclopropane carboxylic acid derivatives, with three stereogenic centers and bearing both alkyl and aromatic substituents. These molecular scaffolds are not yet reported in the literature. The synthetic utility of this approach is validated by the chiral auxiliary being readily cleaved and recovered posteriori to the C?H activation step, without deterioration of its optical purity. Finally, an unprecedented palladacycle intermediate generated through C?H activation of the cyclopropane moiety has been isolated and fully characterized. Initial DFT calculations shed additional light on the reactivity of this original intermediate.     

Synthesis of 1,3-aminonaphthols by diastereoselective Betti-type aminoalkylation of dihydroxy naphthalenes; diastereoselectivity,absolute configuration,and application

Dihydroxy naphthalenes have been applied in Betti-type solventless condensation between aldehydes and (S)-phenylethylamine as a chiral auxiliary. A series of chiral 1,3-aminonaphthols has been synthesized and isolated in diastereoisomerically pure form. The absolute configurations of the aminonaphthols synthesized have been determined by means of advanced NMR experiments and confirmed by X-ray crystallography. The new chiral aminonaphthols have been tested as pre-catalysts for the addition of diethyl zinc and alkynyl-Zn-reagents to aldehydes with enantioselectivities of up to 98% ee.     

Pd‐Catalyzed Allylic Substitution with Enantiomerically Pure Catalysts and Chiral Non‐Racemic Substrates: A New Approach to Catalyst‐Based Regiocontrol,Preliminary Communication

Chiral, enantiomerically pure Pd‐catalysts were used to control the regioselectivity of nucleophilic attack in allylic substitutions with optically active 1,3‐disubstituted allyl acetates (Schemes 4 – 6). In contrast to reactions with achiral catalysts, where the regioselectivity is determined by the steric and electronic effects of the allylic substituents, chiral catalysts allow selective preparation of either one of the two regioisomeric products, depending on which enantiomer of the catalyst is employed. It is not necessary to start from an enantiomerically pure substrate, because the major and minor enantiomers are converted to different regioisomers (not to enantiomeric products; see Scheme 3), resulting in products of very high ee, even when the starting material is only of moderate enantiomer purity.     

First asymmetric nucleophilic displacement reactions on chiral α-substituted aldehyde hydrazones

The first asymmetric nucleophilic substitution reaction on racemic α-substituted aldehydes using enantiomerically pure hydrazines as chiral auxiliaries is presented. The diastereoselectivity of the process is achieved by a dynamic kinetic resolution via the 1:1 epimeric mixture of the substrate hydrazones. The a²-reactivity (Umpolung) of the α-substituted hydrazones is accomplished by complexation with Lewis acids. Several carbon-, sulfur- and oxygen-nucleophiles were shown to readily undergo substitution of the α-leaving group under these conditions, affording the substitution products with good to excellent chemical yields and with low to moderate diastereoselectivities. Two methods for the cleavage of the chiral auxiliary are described.     

Temperature‐Controlled Bidirectional Enantioselectivity in a Dynamic Catalyst for Asymmetric Hydrogenation

Asymmetric catalysis using enantiomerically pure catalysts is one of the most widely used methods for the preparation of enantiomerically pure compounds. The separate synthesis of both enantiomerically pure compounds requires tedious and time‐consuming preparation of both enantiomerically pure catalysts or chiral separation of the racemic products. Here, we report a stereochemically flexible diastereomeric rhodium(I) catalyst for asymmetric hydrogenations of prochiral (Z)‐α‐acetamidocinnamates and α‐substituted acrylates, which changes its enantioselectivity depending on the temperature to produce each enantiomerically pure compound in high yield with constant high enantioselectivity over time. The same axially chiral rhodium(I) catalyst produces (R)‐phenylalanine derivatives in enantiomeric ratios of up to 87:13 (R/S) at low temperature and up to 3:97 (R/S) of the corresponding S enantiomers after re‐equilibration of the same catalyst at elevated temperature.     

Sulfoxide‐Based Enantioselective Nazarov Cyclization: Divergent Syntheses of (+)‐Isopaucifloral F, (+)‐Quadrangularin A,and (+)‐Pallidol

The synthesis of enantiomerically pure 3‐aryl substituted indanones is developed using an enantioselective sulfoxide‐based Knoevenagel condensation/Nazarov cyclization procedure. After the reductive desulfonation of the methyl para‐tolyl sulfoxide‐containing chiral auxiliary under mild conditions, selected enantiomerically pure indanone is used for the divergent total syntheses of three resveratrol natural products (+)‐isopaucifloral F, (+)‐quadrangularin A, and (+)‐pallidol.     

Asymmetric synthesis of 1,3-thiazolidine-derived spiro-β-lactams via a Staudinger reaction between chiral ketenes and imines

Enantiomerically pure 1,3-thiazolidine-derived spiro-β-lactams were stereoselectively synthesised by means of a Staudinger ketene–imine reaction starting from optically active N-Boc-1,3-thiazolidine-2-carboxylic acid derivatives and imines. The reactions were stereoselective and afforded spiro-β-lactams with a relative trans-configuration. The absolute configuration of the new stereocentres was assigned on the basis of the well-accepted mechanism and confirmed by means of the X-ray crystal structure analysis. The spiro-β-lactams were transformed into enantiomerically pure chiral monocyclic β-lactams by opening the thiazolidine ring and recovering the chiral auxiliary.     

Application of the addition of triorganozincates to N-(tert-butanesulfinyl)imines to the enantioselective synthesis of α-amino acids

Highly enantiomerically enriched N-protected α-amino acids can be easily prepared from optically pure N-(tert-butanesulfinyl)imines by a four-step sequence involving: diastereoselective addition of a triorganozincate to the imine, removal of the sulfinyl group, benzoylation of the nitrogen atom of the obtained primary amine and oxidation of one of the substituents on the carbon atom α to the nitrogen. Using the same configuration in the sulfinyl chiral auxiliary, amino acids with the (R) or the (S) configuration can be prepared by choosing the proper combination of imine and organozincate. α,α-Disubstituted α-amino esters with high optical purity can also be prepared by the diastereoselective addition of trialkylzincates to α-imino esters.     

An enantioselective synthesis of (S)- and (R)-curcuphenol

The enantioselective synthesis of the phenolic sesquiterenses (S)- and (R)-curcuphenol is reported. The key step in this synthesis is the asymmetric conjugate addition using a readily available enantiomerically pure sulfoxide as the chiral auxiliary.     

Synthesis of chiral 1-(imidazol-2-yl)alkanamines using neomenthanethiol as a chiral auxiliary

Diastereomeric N-(imidazol-2-ylmethylidene)neomenthane-3-sulfinamides were obtained from enantiomerically pure neomenthanethiol in three steps. The compounds obtained added Grignard reagents at the C=N bond. After separation of diastereomers, an acid resolution gave enantiomerically pure primary 1-(imidazol-2-yl)alkanamines. In this scheme, the neomenthane fragment played the role of a chiral auxiliary.     

Synthesis of a new fluorinated oxazolidinone and its reactivity as a chiral auxiliary in Aldol reactions

A new enantiomerically pure fluorinated oxazolidinone has been prepared from a fluorinated imidoyl chloride and an optically pure sulfoxide. The diastereoselective reduction of the β-iminosulfoxide thus formed followed by elimination of the sulfoxide and cyclization of the created aminoalcohol furnishes the desired product. The fluorinated oxazolidinone was subsequently used as a chiral auxiliary in Aldol reactions. We also found that the selective formation of the syn-Evans and syn-non-Evans diastereoisomer can be controlled by adjusting the Lewis acid/base ratio.     

Asymmetric synthesis of α- and β-amino acids by diastereoselective addition of triorganozincates to N-(tert-butanesulfinyl)imines

The diastereoselective addition of triorganozincates to (R)-N-(tert-butanesulfinyl)imines has been used as a key step to achieve the synthesis of highly enantiomerically enriched N-protected α- and β-amino acids. Desulfinylation of the addition products followed by benzoylation of the nitrogen atom of the obtained primary amines and oxidation of one of the substituents on the carbon atom connected to the nitrogen complete the sequence. Using the same configuration in the sulfinyl chiral auxiliary, α-amino acids with the (R) or the (S) configuration can be prepared by choosing the proper combination of imine and organozincate. α,α-Disubstituted α-amino esters with high enantiomeric purity can also be prepared when α-imino esters are the starting substrates.     

Synthesis of alpha-substituted beta-amino acids using pseudoephedrine as a chiral auxiliary

[reaction: see text] beta-Amino acids are becoming increasingly attractive as intermediates in the synthesis of a variety of molecular structures. However, few methods are available for the synthesis of alpha-substituted beta-amino acids that are both readily scalable and highly stereoselective. Herein we report a new method for synthesizing alpha-substituted beta-amino acids that satisfies both of these requirements using enantiomerically pure pseudoephedrine as a chiral auxiliary.     

First asymmetric syntheses of 6-substituted nipecotic acid derivatives

Various nipecotic acid derivatives are known to be potent GABA uptake inhibitors thus being useful in the treatment of a number of neurological and psychological disorders. In this paper, the first asymmetric syntheses of 6-substituted nipecotic acid derivatives are presented. The synthetic strategy was designed to provide access to a large variety of enantiomerically pure 6-substituted nipecotic acid derivatives. The synthesis starts from the chiral N-acyldihydropyridines 15 and 16 obtained via asymmetric electrophilic α-amidoalkylation reaction of a chiral N-acylpyridinium ion. These were utilized for the preparation of enantiomerically pure 6-(4,4-diphenylbutyl)nipecotic acids and 6-(4,4-diphenylbutenyl)nipecotic acids in a multistep synthesis, including the removal of the dimethylphenylsilyl blocking group from the dihydropyridine ring, the reduction of the dihydropyridine heterocycle, a Horner-Wittig reaction and the removal of the chiral auxiliary. The obtained target molecules, however, showed only negligible affinity to the GAT-1- and GAT-3 transport proteins.     

Diastereoselective Michael addition of (S)-mandelic acid enolate to 2-arylidene-1,3-diketones: enantioselective diversity-oriented synthesis of densely substituted pyrazoles

A diversity-oriented approach to enantiomerically pure densely substituted pyrazoles, α-aryl-α-pyrazolylatrolactic acid and α-aryl-α-pyrazolylacetophenones has been developed. The approach utilises the conjugated addition of the lithium enolate of the (2S,5S)-cis-1,3-dioxolan-4-one derived from optically active (S)-mandelic acid and pivalaldehyde to several 2-arylidene-1,3-diketones, which proceeds readily to give the corresponding Michael adducts in good yields and diastereoselectivities. The cyclocondensation of the 1,3-diketone moieties present in Michael adducts with several hydrazines leads to enantiomerically pure densely substituted pyrazoles. Subsequent basic hydrolysis of the dioxolanone moiety present in these products leads to enantiomerically pure α-aryl-α-pyrazolylatrolactic acids. Finally, oxidative decarboxylation of these using oxygen, pivalaldehyde and the Co(III)-Me₂opba complex as catalyst gives α-aryl-α-pyrazolylacetophenones. In this approach four points of diversity are introduced, one of them is the configuration of the (S)-mandelic acid, which acts as an umpoled chiral equivalent of the benzoyl anion.     

Conformationally controlled (entropy effects), stereoselective vibrational quenching of singlet oxygen in the oxidative cleavage of oxazolidinone-functionalized enecarbamates through solvent and temperature variations

On photooxygenation (methylene blue as sensitizer) of E/Z enecarbamates, equipped with the oxazolidinone chiral auxiliary, the oxidative cleavage of the alkenyl functionality releases the enantiomerically enriched methyldesoxybenzoin (MDB) product. The extent (% ee) as well as the sense (R vs S) of the stereoselectivity in the MDB formation depends on the choice of the alkene configuration; the efficacy of stereocontrol may be tuned by appropriate solvent and temperature conditions. Highlighted is the finding that the formation of the preferred MDB enantiomer (R or S) depends for the E isomer on the chosen solvent and temperature, but not for the corresponding Z isomer. The activation parameters for the various solvents disclose that differential entropy effects (ΔΔS^‡) dominate the conformationally more flexible E diastereomers. As mechanistic rationale for this unprecedented conformationally imposed stereochemical behavior, we propose the competitive action of stereoselective vibrational quenching of the attacking singlet oxygen by the enecarbamate versus sterically controlled stereoselective oxidative cleavage of its double bond.     

Reactions of α-imino ketones derived from arylglyoxals with (trifluoromethyl)trimethylsilane; a new route to β-amino-α-trifluoromethyl alcohols

The reactions of α-imino ketones, derived from arylglyoxals, with (trifluoromethyl)trimethylsilane (CF₃SiMe₃) in DME solution, in the presence of catalytic amount of CsF, at room temperature, yield O-silylated β-imino alcohols in the chemoselective manner. Subsequent reduction of these products with NaBH₄ in ethanolic solution leads to the corresponding β-(N-alkyl)amino-α-trifluoromethyl alcohols in good to excellent yields. Trifluoromethylation of enantiomerically pure α-imino ketones (with Ar = Ph or p-MeOC₆H₄), bearing as a chiral auxiliary the PhCH(Me) group attached to the nitrogen atom, yields mixtures of diastereomeric products in the ratio of ca. 3:2.     

A practical preparation of enantiomerically pure (R)- and (S)-2-bromohexadecanoic acids

The efficient preparation of enantiomerically pure (R)- and (S)-2-bromohexadecanoic acids with e.e.>95% through resolution with the use of a recoverable chiral auxiliary is described. The procedure involves three reactions: Steglich esterification, DIBAL reduction, and Sharpless oxidation. The assessment of the enantiomeric purity is based on NMR analysis by using (1R,2R)-(+)-diphenylethane-1,2-diamine as a chiral solvating agent.     

Enantioselective synthesis of (S)-N,N-diethyl-2-formyl-2-(methoxymethoxy)butyramide,a key intermediate for 20(S)-camptothecin analogues,via asymmetric bromolactonization

A new enantioselective synthetic method for enantiomerically pure (S)-N,N-diethyl-2-formyl-2-(methoxymethoxy)butyramide 5, a versatile key intermediate has been developed employing asymmetric bromolactonization using (S)-proline as the chiral auxiliary.