Concise syntheses of racemic and enantiopure deoxydysibetaine

Racemic deoxydysibetaine was efficiently obtained in few steps from methyl pyroglutamate. The 2S enantiomer was synthesized from (S)-pyroglutaminol as chiral starting material, through the key intermediate (S)-2-hydroxymethylglutamic acid recently prepared with complete stereoselectivity in our laboratory.     

Terahertz spectroscopy of enantiopure and racemic polycrystalline valine

Experimental and computational THz (or far-infrared) spectra of polycrystalline valine samples are reported. The experimental spectra have been measured using THz time-domain spectroscopy. Spectra of the pure enantiomers, both D and L, as well as the dl racemate have been taken at room temperature and low temperature (78 K). The spectra of the pure D and L enantiomers are essentially identical, and they are markedly different from the DL racemate. In addition, a temperature-dependent study of L-valine was undertaken in which the absorption maxima were found to red shift as a function of increasing temperature. The vibrational absorption spectra (frequencies and intensities) were calculated using the harmonic approximation with the Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof (PBE) functional, localized atomic orbital basis sets, and periodic boundary conditions. The calculated and experimental spectra are in good qualitative agreement. A general method of quantifying the degree to which a calculated mode is intermolecular versus intramolecular is demonstrated, with the intermolecular motions further separated into translational versus rotational/librational motion. This allows straightforward comparison of spectra calculated using different basis sets or other constraints.     

Convenient route to enantiopure fmoc-protected morpholine-3-carboxylic acid

Enantiopure Fmoc-protected morpholine-3-carboxylic acid was synthesized from dimethoxyacetaldehyde and serine methyl ester through a short and practical synthetic route. The preparation consisted of a five-step process based on reductive amination, intramolecular acetalization, and concomitant elimination of the anomeric methoxy substituent, followed by hydrogenation of the double bond and final acidic ester hydrolysis. The optical purity of both enantiomers of the title amino acid was demonstrated by HPLC analysis of the corresponding amide derivatives obtained from coupling with chiral (S)-(-)-1-phenylethylamine. Moreover, the synthesis of a model tripeptide showed full compatibility of the title Fmoc-amino acid with solid-phase peptide synthesis, thus allowing the application of Fmoc-morpholine-3-carboxylic acid in peptidomimetic chemistry on the solid phase.     

Supramolecular helical stacking of metallomesogens derived from enantiopure and racemic polycatenar oxazolines

The present report undertakes a challenge of general interest in supramolecular chemistry: the achievement of helical organizations with controlled structure. To achieve this target we considered the possibility of inducing supramolecular chirality using molecules that were designed to organize into columnar mesophases. The use of oxazoline-derived ligands and metal coordination served as tools to prepare molecules with a phasmidic-like structure, which show columnar organization in the liquid crystalline state. To ensure the formation of chiral mesophases, these complexes bear stereogenic centers in the rigid coordination environment of the metal. X-ray and circular dichroism experiments have revealed that chirality transfer does indeed take place from the chiral molecule to the columnar liquid crystal organization. This chiral columnar organization appears as a helix consisting of stacks of molecules that rotate with respect to one another along the column while maintaining their mean planes parallel to each other. In fact, it has been concluded that packing of these polycatenar molecules must be more efficient upon rotation of a molecule with respect to the adjacent one along the column. Furthermore, the same type of helical supraorganization has been found to be present in the mesophase of the racemic mixture and the mixture of diastereomers prepared from the racemic ligand. In this case, segregation of the optical isomers is proposed to occur to give rise to both types of helix (right-handed and left-handed).     

Direct catalytic synthesis of enantiopure 5-substituted oxazolidinones from racemic terminal epoxides

A venerable scaffold for asymmetric synthesis and drug development, chiral 5-substituted oxazolidinones are obtained in almost enantiomerically pure form (up to 99.9% ee) starting from racemic terminal epoxides. The salient features of this process include the very simple and convenient experimental protocol and the employment of a readily accessible catalyst and inexpensive, easily handled starting materials. An enantioconvergent approach for the total conversion of racemic epoxide into a single stereoisomeric oxazolidinone is also described.     

Studies on pyrrolidones. Convenient syntheses of methyl,methyl N-methyl- and methyl N-methoxymethylpyroglutamate

Facile methods to prepare methyl pyroglutamate ( 2 ), methyl N-methylpyroglutamate ( 1 ) and methyl N-methoxymethylpyroglutamate ( 7 ) in one-step from pyroglutamic acid are described.     

Synthesis and palladium-catalyzed coupling reactions of enantiopure p-bromophenyl methyl sulfoximine

[reaction: see text] The asymmetric synthesis and chemical modification of p-bromophenyl methyl sulfoximine (2) is described. Starting from p-bromophenyl menthyl sulfinate (5), enantiopure 2 can be obtained in a short reaction sequence involving a well-established substitution reaction followed by stereospecific imination with O-mesitylenesulfonylhydroxylamine (MSH). Palladium-catalyzed Buchwald/Hartwig, Suzuki, and Stille coupling reactions allow a broad variation of the sulfoximine aryl group, which is otherwise difficult to achieve. The incorporation of a p-morpholino-substituted derivative into a pseudotripeptide demonstrates the applicability of the novel sulfoximine derivatives.     

Convenient preparations of azo-dye labeled amino acids and amines

N-(4-Arylazobenzoyl)-1H-benzotriazoles 3 react with amino acids 4 and amines 6 to give azo-dye labeled amino acids (5a-m) and amines (7a-n) in high yields (74-100%) with retention of chirality.     

High kinetic resolution in the addition of a racemic allenylzinc onto enantiopure N-tert-butanesulfinimines: concise synthesis of enantiopure trans-2-ethynylaziridines

Enantiopure trans-ethynyl N-tert-butanesulfinylaziridines (R(S))-6 were prepared in good to excellent yields by the condensation of the racemic allenylzinc species 1 derived from 3-chloro-1-trimethylsilylpropyne onto the corresponding enantiopure N-tert-butanesulfinimines (R(S))-5. The absolute stereochemistry of enantiopure N-tert-butanesulfinylaziridines (R(S))-6 was shown to be (R(S),2R,3R) and results from a chelate-type transition state in which the zinc atom of allenylzinc 1 is coordinated by both the nitogen and the oxygen atoms of the imine. Further removal of the N-tert-butanesulfinyl auxiliary of alkyl 3-substituted and 3,3-disubstituted ethynyl N-tert-butanesulfinylaziridines (R(S))-6 could be achieved by treatment with HCl in MeOH affording the corresponding deprotected aziridines (2R,3R)-9 and (2R)-9 respectively as enantiomerically pure compounds.     

Convenient preparations of 2,4-methanopyrrolidine and 5-carboxy-2,4-methanopyrrolidines

An efficient four-step synthesis of N-BOC-5-syn- and 5-anti-carboxymethanopyrrolidines (12 and 13) and the conversion of 12 to N-BOC-methanopyrrolidine (2) are described.     

Influence of HMPA on the stereochemical outcome of the addition of a racemic allenylzinc onto enantiopure N-tert-butanesulfinimines: stereoselective access to enantiopure cis-ethynylaziridines

In the presence of 60 equivalents of HMPA, the condensation of the racemic allenylzinc derived from 1-chloro-3-trimethylsilylpropyne onto enantiopure non-alpha-branched N-tert-butanesulfinimines was proven to give access to the corresponding cis-ethynylaziridines as the major products. The good cis selectivity observed presumably resulted from a high kinetic resolution with the allenylzinc being partially configurationally labile with respect to the time scale defined by the rate of the reaction. Both single crystal X-ray analysis and semiempirical calculations conducted at the MM2 and AM1 levels of theory proved that the reaction certainly occurred through a preferred synclinal transition state in a supra- or antarafacial S(E)2' process. In all cases, chromatographic purification over silica gel allowed the cis-ethynyl-N-tert-butanesulfinylaziridines to be obtained as diastereo- and enantiomerically pure compounds (dr >98:2 and ee >99%).     

Unexpected solids from enantiopure cationic palladium complexes and racemic anions: A structural study of chiral non-discrimination

Enantiomerically pure cationic complexes were obtained via cyclopalladation of primary amines and subsequent addition of a chelating ethylendiamine ligand. No diastereomeric resolution was observed upon combining these cations with racemic mandelate or hydratropate anions, but four less popular products, namely three double salts and a solid solution, were obtained and structurally characterized. For one of the double salts, the alternative ionic compounds based on different stereoisomers of the same residues were synthesized independently: The conventional racemic solid and both diastereomeric salts formed by enantiopure cations and anions were studied by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Lattice energy calculations confirm that the diastereomeric salts differ significantly; formation of the partially racemic double salt, however, is energetically favourable and precludes resolution.     

Convenient temporary methyl imidate protection of N-acetylglucosamine and glycosylation at O-4

This paper expands on the scope and utility of the temporary conversion of N-acetyl groups to alkyl imidates when attempting to glycosylate at O-4 of N-acetylglucosamine acceptors. The optimized synthesis of alkyl imidate protected glucosamine acceptors at position 4 and carrying various protecting groups at O-3 is described. These imidates were prepared immediately prior to glycosylation by treating the 4-OH acceptors with 0.5 M MeOTf to obtain the corresponding methyl imidates still carrying a free 4-OH group. When preparing these imidates in diethyl ether as the reaction solvent, we observed the unexpected formation of ethyl imidates in addition to the desired methyl imidates. While the 3-O-allyl acceptors were too unstable to be useful in glycosylation reactions, the 3-O-acylated methyl and ethyl imidates of glucosamine were shown to behave well during the glycosylation of the 4-OH with a variety of reaction conditions and various glycosyl donors. Glycosylation of these acceptors was successfully carried out with perbenzylated beta-thioethyl rhamnopyranoside under MeOTf promotion, while activation of this donor under NIS/TMSOTf or NIS/TfOH proved less successful. In contrast, activation of the less reactive perbenzylated alpha-thioethyl and peracetylated beta-thioethyl rhamnopyranosides with NIS/TfOH led to successful glycosylations of the 4-OH. Activation of a peracetylated rhamnosyl trichloroacetimidate by TMSOTf at low temperature also gave a high yield of glycosylation. We also report one-pot glycosylation reactions via alkyl imidate protected acceptor intermediates. In all cases the alkyl imidate products were readily converted to their corresponding N-acetyl derivatives under mild conditions.     

Commercialization of the hydrolytic kinetic resolution of racemic epoxides: toward the economical large-scale production of enantiopure epichlorohydrin

The hydrolytic kinetic resolution of racemic terminal epoxides utilizing chiral (salen)Co(III) catalysts provides practical access to enantiopure epoxides and diols. However, general issues surrounding catalyst activation combined with the specific problem of racemization of epichlorohydrin served to make the large-scale production of (R)- or (S)-epichlorohydrin difficult and uneconomical. A process for the large-scale production and isolation of active (salen)Co(III)OAc catalyst and a method of catalyst reduction after reaction using ascorbic acid have been developed to overcome these issues.     

Convenient route to enantiopure substituted butyrolactones: application in a formal synthesis of both enantiomers of enterolactone

A simple route for the synthesis of enantiopure substituted γ-butyrolactones involving a highly diastereoselective alkylation of an enantiomerically pure substituted latent succinate ester is described. This route provides entry into both enantiomers of 3,4-disubstituted butyrolactones from a single enantiomer, 2,3-di-O-cyclohexylidine-R-(+)-glyceraldehyde. The synthetic potential of this methodology has been demonstrated by a formal synthesis of both enantiomers of enterolactone.     

Supramolecular architecture consisting of an enantiopure amine and an achiral carboxylic acid: application to the enantioseparation of racemic alcohols

Three-dimensionally dissymmetric cavities are created from an enantiopure amine and an achiral carboxylic acid, which can incorporate the third components to realize the formation of closely packed crystals. The combination demonstrates enantioselective inclusion for 20 kinds of racemic alcohols. The inclusion phenomenon occurs not only during crystallization but also in the solid state.     

Kinetic resolution of racemic alcohols using thioamide modified 1-methyl-histidine methyl ester

The low-molecular-weight and easily prepared N-thiobenzoyl 1-methyl-histidine methyl ester 3k was utilized to efficiently catalyze the kinetic resolution of racemic secondary alcohols. Comparison of the conformations of amide catalyst 3c and thioamide catalyst 3k was made to understand the origin of the improvement of the enantioselectivity by thioamide modification.     

A novel synthesis of racemic and enantiomeric forms of prostaglandin B1 methyl ester

3-(Dimethoxyphosphorylmethyl)cyclopent-2-enone was converted into (+/-)-prostaglandin B1 methyl ester in two steps involving regioselective alkylation at C(2) with methyl 7-iodoheptanoate and subsequent Horner-Wittig reaction with dimer of 2-hydroxyheptanal (42% overall yield). The use of (R)- and (S)-2-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)heptanal for the Horner olefination reaction gave, after deprotection of the hydroxy group, the enantiopure forms of the title compound in 28% overall yield.