The Knight route to cyclopiazonic acid: enantioselective synthesis of a key intermediate

The indole alkaloid α-cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) is one of the few known inhibitors of sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca²⁺-ATPase (SERCA) besides thapsigargin and artemisinin. Inhibitors of SERCA hold promise as novel anticancer and antimalarial drugs. Since its structure elucidation three racemic syntheses of α-cyclopiazonic acid have been published. We report now the first enantioselective and high yielding synthesis of a key-intermediate of the Knight synthesis, currently the most efficient route to CPA. Our synthesis is based on a diastereoselective 1,4-cuprate addition followed by an enolate azidation of an indolylacrylic acid modified with the Evans auxiliary.     

Highly enantioselective synthesis of terutroban key intermediate via asymmetric hydrogenation

A chiral (R) key intermediate of the biologically active form of terutroban has been prepared by asymmetric hydrogenation. The catalysts are based on very easily accessible ruthenium complexes modified by chiral phosphorous ligands. The use of the chiral catASium^®T ligands family allowed us to realize this transformation efficiently in terms of yield and enantioselectivity (ee up to 92%) with high substrate/catalyst ratios.     

An efficient synthesis of 3,5‐dimethoxyhomophthalic acid,a key intermediate for synthesis of natural isocoumarins

3,5‐Dimethoxyhomophthalic acid was prepared efficiently in three steps, from 3,5‐dimethoxybenzyl bromide via rhodium‐catalyzed direct carbonylation to 3,5‐dimethoxyphenylacetic acid followed by successive o‐formylation and oxidation. Isocoumarins related to agrimonolide and achlisocoumarin 1 were prepared in single step by condensation of the homophthalic acid with appropriate acid chlorides.     

Structure determination of a key intermediate of the enantioselective Pd complex catalyzed allylic substitution reaction

The structure of a catalytic intermediate with important implications for the interpretation of the stereochemical outcome of the palladium complex catalyzed allylic substitution with phosphino-oxazoline (PHOX) ligands is determined by liquid state NMR. The complex displays a novel structure that is highly distorted compared with other palladium eta2-olefin complexes known so far. The structure has been determined from nuclear overhauser data (NOE), scalar coupling constants, and long range projection angle restraints derived from dipole dipole cross-correlated relaxation of multiple quantum coherence. The latter restraints have been implemented into a distance geometry protocol. The projection angle restraints yield a higher precision in the determination of the relative orientation of the two molecular moieties and are essential to provide an exact structural definition of the olefinic part of the catalytic intermediate with respect to the ligand.     

Toward the synthesis of thiadiazole-based therapeutic agents: synthesis,spectroscopic study,X-ray analysis,and cross-coupling reactions of the key intermediate 3,5-diiodo-1,2,4-thiadiazole

Research on Chemical Intermediates - The 1,2,4-thiadiazole moiety is an important component of several biologically active compounds, and varying substituents on this aromatic ring is one of the...     

A short and efficient enantioselective route to a key intermediate for the total synthesis of forskolin

A simple route for the enantioselective synthesis of key intermediates (11 and 12) for the total synthesis of forskolin has been developed starting from acid 6 and (S)-alcohol 5. The latter is prepared by enantioselective catalytic CBS reduction of dienone 3, and is converted by an intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction to tricyclic lactone 9.     

Highly enantioselective hydrogenation of 3,5-diketo esters: a formal synthesis of tetrahydrolipstatin

Compound 4, obtained via a sequence of two consecutive alkylations of methyl 3,5-dioxohexanoate (5), was transformed into the enantiomerically pure lactone (3S,4S,6R)-2 being the precursor of tetrahydrolipstatin (1). The reaction sequence involves asymmetric catalytic hydrogenation of 4 as a crucial step.     

A general and efficient route to enantioselective synthesis of pumiliotoxin A alkaloids via a common key intermediate

A general and efficient formal synthesis of pumiliotoxins and allopumiliotoxins has been achieved via a common key intermediate 3a. Our route featured a novel one-pot substitution-ring-opening sequence and an efficient Claisen-type condensation. This method is also applicable to quinolizidine derivative 2b.     

Total synthesis of (±) zoapatanol: a stereospecific synthesis of a key intermediate

The development of a stereospecific synthesis of a key intermediate in the synthesis of (±)-zoapatanol from the Weiland-Miescher ketone is described.     

Enantioselective synthesis of a potential key intermediate for the total synthesis of fumagillin

Key intermediate, 7, of a projected total synthesis of the anti-angiogenesis compound Fumagillin 1 and the semi-synthetic analogue TNP-470 2, has been prepared in enantiomerically pure form by employing an early nucleophilic addition ring closure [NARC] sequence to construct the cyclohexene backbone.     

Facile synthesis of a key intermediate for the synthesis of prostanes and isoprostanes

An unconventional ring opening of β-sultines followed by an elimination step was achieved, leading to the formation of an important synthon for various prostanes and isoprostanes.     

Highly enantioselective mukaiyama aldol reaction of alpha,alpha-dichloro ketene silyl acetal: an efficient synthesis of a key intermediate for diltiazem

An efficient synthesis of methyl (2R,3S)-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)glycidate (-)-2, a key intermediate for diltiazem (1), has been developed on the basis of the highly enantioselective Mukaiyama aldol reaction of p-anisaldehyde (4a) with alpha,alpha-dichloro ketene silyl acetal 5. Thus, the reaction using a stoichiometric amount of chiral oxazaborolidinone catalyst 12a proceeded to excellent yield (83%) and high enantioselectivity (96% ee), together with the chiral ligand 13a in nearly quantitative recovery. The reaction using a substoichiometric amount of 12e (20 mol %) also proceeded to excellent yield (88%), with somewhat lower enantioselectivity (77% ee). The aldol product 3a thus obtained was easily converted to (-)-2 in excellent yield (80%) and high optical purity (>99% ee). The highly enantioselective Mukaiyama aldol reaction with 5 catalyzed by 12a proved to be applicable to various aldehydes. An efficient preparation of 5 from inexpensive starting materials was also described.     

Synthesis of a key intermediate for the total synthesis of pseudopteroxazole

A facile synthesis of a key intermediate for the total synthesis of anti-mycobacterial compound pseudopteroxazole is described employing an intramolecular Diels-Alder cyclization and an iodine-mediated oxidative aromatization step.     

New one step synthesis of 3,5‐disubstituted 1,2,4‐oxadiazoles

Disubstituted 1,2,4‐oxadiazoles have been synthesized in good yields and good purity in one pot procedure by reaction of aromatic nitriles, hydroxylamine hydrochloride and sodium carbonate in ethylene glycol under heating at 195°C. The structures of different 1,2,4‐oxadiazoles obtained were confirmed by ¹H, ¹³C NMR and mass spectroscopy.     

Enantioselective route to a key intermediate in the total synthesis of forskolin

An enantioselective route for the total synthesis of forskolin, a potent activator of adenylate cyclase, has been developed which is based on reduction of dienone 3 to the (S)-alcohol 4 and conversion in two steps to tricyclic lactone 9, obtained in optically pure form simply by recrystallization.