Homologation and alkylation of boronic esters and boranes by 1,2‐metallate rearrangement of boron ate complexes

Organoboranes and boronic esters readily undergo nucleophilic addition, and if the nucleophile also bears an α‐leaving group, 1,2‐metallate rearrangement of the ate complex results. Through such a process a carbon chain can be extended, usually with high stereocontrol and this is the focus of this review. A chiral boronic ester (substrate control) can be used for stereocontrolled homologations with (dichloromethyl)lithium in the presence of ZnCl₂. Subsequent alkylation by an organometallic reagent also occurs with high levels of stereocontrol. Chiral lithiated carbanions (reagent control) can also be used for the reaction sequence with achiral boronic esters and boranes. Aryl‐stabilized sulfur ylide derived chiral carbanions can be homologated with a range of boranes including vinyl boranes in good yield and high diastereo‐ and enantioselectivity. Lithiated alkyl chlorides react with boronic esters, again with high stereocontrol, but both sets of reactions are limited in scope. Chiral lithiated carbamates show the greatest substrate scope and react with both boronic esters and boranes with excellent enantioselectivity. Furthermore, iterative homologation with chiral lithiated carbamates allows carbon chains to be “grown” with control over relative and absolute stereochemistry. The factors responsible for stereocontrol are discussed. © 2009 The Japan Chemical Journal Forum and Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Chem Rec 9: 24–39; 2009: Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ) DOI 10.1002/tcr.20168     

Characterization of a titanium(IV)–porphyrin complex as a highly sensitive and selective reagent for the determination of hydrogen peroxide: a computational chemistry approach and a critical review

The Ti–TPyP reagent, i.e. an acidic aqueous solution of the oxo[5,10,15,20-tetra(4-pyridyl)porphyrinato] titanium(IV) complex, TiO(tpyp), was developed as a highly sensitive and selective spectrophotometric reagent for determination of traces of hydrogen peroxide. Using this reagent, determination of hydrogen peroxide was performed by flow-injection analysis with a detection limit of 0.5 pmol per test. The method was actually applied to determination of several constituents of foods, human blood, and urine mediated by appropriate oxidase enzymes. The reaction specificity of the TiO(tpyp) complex for hydrogen peroxide was clarified from the viewpoint of the reaction mechanisms and molecular orbitals based on ab initio calculations. The results provided a well-grounded argument for determination of hydrogen peroxide using the Ti–TPyP reagent experimentally. This review deals with characterization of the high sensitivity and reaction specificity of the Ti–TPyP reagent for determination of hydrogen peroxide, to prove its reliability in analytical applications. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Ketones from Nickel‐Catalyzed Decarboxylative,Non‐Symmetric Cross‐Electrophile Coupling of Carboxylic Acid Esters

Synthesis of the C?C bonds of ketones relies upon one high‐availability reagent (carboxylic acids) and one low‐availability reagent (organometallic reagents or alkyl iodides). We demonstrate here a ketone synthesis that couples two different carboxylic acid esters, N‐hydroxyphthalimide esters and S‐2‐pyridyl thioesters, to form aryl alkyl and dialkyl ketones in high yields. The keys to this approach are the use of a nickel catalyst with an electron‐poor bipyridine or terpyridine ligand, a THF/DMA mixed solvent system, and ZnCl₂ to enhance the reactivity of the NHP ester. The resulting reaction can be used to form ketones that have previously been difficult to access, such as hindered tertiary/tertiary ketones with strained rings and ketones with α‐heteroatoms. The conditions can be employed in the coupling of complex fragments, including a 20‐mer peptide fragment analog of Exendin(9–39) on solid support.     

Ketones from Nickel‐Catalyzed Decarboxylative,Non‐Symmetric Cross‐Electrophile Coupling of Carboxylic Acid Esters

Synthesis of the C?C bonds of ketones relies upon one high‐availability reagent (carboxylic acids) and one low‐availability reagent (organometallic reagents or alkyl iodides). We demonstrate here a ketone synthesis that couples two different carboxylic acid esters, N‐hydroxyphthalimide esters and S‐2‐pyridyl thioesters, to form aryl alkyl and dialkyl ketones in high yields. The keys to this approach are the use of a nickel catalyst with an electron‐poor bipyridine or terpyridine ligand, a THF/DMA mixed solvent system, and ZnCl₂ to enhance the reactivity of the NHP ester. The resulting reaction can be used to form ketones that have previously been difficult to access, such as hindered tertiary/tertiary ketones with strained rings and ketones with α‐heteroatoms. The conditions can be employed in the coupling of complex fragments, including a 20‐mer peptide fragment analog of Exendin(9–39) on solid support.     

Convenient Method for the Preparation of Carboxylic Esters Using (Chloromethylene)dimethylammonium Chloride

(Chloromethylene)dimethylammonium chloride (Vilsmeier reagent) works as an efficient condensation reagent in the formation of carboxylic esters from carboxylic acids and alcohols under mild conditions in a one-pot procedure. Secondary alcohols are converted successively into the corresponding esters in moderate to high yields with inversion of configurations.     

The first asymmetric esterification of free carboxylic acids with racemic alcohols using benzoic anhydrides and tetramisole derivatives: an application to the kinetic resolution of secondary benzylic alcohols

A variety of optically active carboxylic esters are produced by the kinetic resolution of racemic secondary benzylic alcohols using free carboxylic acids with benzoic anhydride and tetramisole derivatives. 4-Methoxybenzoic anhydride (PMBA) is the best reagent to use in producing the corresponding esters in high ee when the reaction is catalyzed by (+)-benzotetramisole (BTM); by contrast, when non-substituted benzoic anhydride is used as a coupling reagent, the resulting optically active alcohols are obtained with high selectivities. This protocol directly produces chiral carboxylic esters from free carboxylic acids and racemic secondary alcohols by utilizing the trans-acylation process to generate mixed anhydrides from acid components and benzoic anhydride derivatives under the influence of chiral catalysts.     

Efficient and convenient nonaqueous workup procedure for the preparation of arylboronic esters

An efficient one-pot synthetic protocol for the synthesis of arylboronic esters has been established. The concentrated addition mixture of trimethylborate with aryl Grignard reagents was treated with low molecular weight diols (ethylene glycol, 1,3-propandiol) and toluene, the corresponding arylboronic esters were isolated in a convenient way with high yields. The diols not only serve as water replacement for the workup step, but also as well as the reagent for the preparation of arylboronic esters.     

Substitution nucleophile vinylique par le reactif de reformatsky catalysee par des complexes du nickel et du palladium zerovalents. Synthese d'esters β,γ-ethyleniques

Zerovalent complexes of palladium and nickel catalyse vinylic nucleophilic substitution by the Reformatsky reagent giving β,γ-ethylenic esters. Formation of a σ-vinylpalladium complex is the rate-determining step of the reaction.     

Reaction specificity of a titanium(IV)-porphyrin complex to hydrogen peroxide in view of an Ab initio study.

A Ti-TPyP reagent, i.e. an acidic aqueous solution of oxo[5,10,15,20-tetra(4-pyridyl)porphyrinato]titanium(IV) complex, TiO(tpyp), was previously developed as a highly sensitive and specific reagent for determining hydrogen peroxide. In the present work, the reaction specificity of the TiO(tpyp) complex to hydrogen peroxide was clarified based on ab initio calculations. The results provide a well-grounded argument for determining hydrogen peroxide using the Ti-TPyP reagent experimentally.     

An improved method for the protection of carboxylic acids as 1,1-dimethylallyl esters

1,1-Dimethylallyl (DMA) esters of various N-protected amino acids have been synthesized using prenyldimethylsulfonium tetrafluroborate, a reagent that can be readily made and stored, in conjunction with catalytic CuBr. These reactions were complete within several hours and afforded DMA esters in high yields. As has been previously shown in our group, DMA esters represent a palladium-labile proctecting group for carboxylic acids that resists nucleophilic attack as a tert-butyl ester would.     

Reaction of mixed carboxylic anhydrides with grignard reagents : Application to the preparation of keto esters; scope and limitations

The low-temperature Grignard reaction of mixed carboxylic anhydrides derived from acid chlorides and o-anisic acid to the general synthesis of keto esters is demonstrated for compounds 1–6, although, some limitations on substrate and Grignard reagent species are also encountered; attempts in the oxa series 2 are unsuccessful, and reaction with ω-phenylpropyl Grignard species for 1 and 4 shows a drastic decrease in yields of the keto esters for m-methoxy analogues. Anomalous behaviour may be associated with an alternative type of specific metal-coordination complex which includes the ether oxygen atom properly situated in the substrate or the reagent     

Preparation of peptides and active esters by a hydrolysis-dehydration reaction with phosphonites,and the application of the reaction to polymer synthesis

Dehydration reactions accompanied by hydrolysis of the condensation reagent itself, generalized as “hydrolysis-dehydration,” are seen in the formation of amides and esters using phosphites. The proposed concept was shown to be applicable also to the reactions with other phosphorus compounds, such as phosphinites, phosphonites and phosphonates. Aryl esters of these phosphorus compounds were effective for producing amides and esters, whereas alkyl esters were ineffective. Several peptides and active esters of amino acids were prepared using diphenyl phosphonites in the presence of tertiary amines and extended to the preparation of polypeptides and polyamides. Linear polypeptides and high molecular weight polyamides were obtained by means of diphenyl ethylphosphonite in N-methylpyrrolidone containing pyridine.     

N-triazinylammonium tetrafluoroborates. A new generation of efficient coupling reagents useful for peptide synthesis

A new generation of triazine-based coupling reagents (TBCRs), designed according to the concept of "superactive esters", was obtained by treatment of 4-(4,6-dimethoxy-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)-4-methylmorpholinium (DMTMM) chloride with lithium or silver tetrafluoroborate. The structure of 4-(4,6-dimethoxy-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)-4-methylmorpholinium tetrafluoroborate was confirmed by X-ray diffraction. Activation of carboxylic acids by using this reagent proceeds via triazine "superactive ester". The coupling reagent was successfully used for the synthesis of Z-, Boc-, and Fmoc-protected dipeptides derived from natural and unnatural sterically hindered amino acids and for fragment condensation, in 80-100% yield and with high enantiomeric purity. The manual SPPS of the ACP(65-74) peptide fragment (H-Val-Gln-Ala-Ala-Ile-Asp-Tyr-Ile-Asn-Gly-OH) proceeded significantly faster than with TBTU or HATU, as well as the automated SPPS of the same fragment gave a purer product than by using TBTU or PyBOP. The reagent was also demonstrated to be efficient in on-resin head-to-tail cyclization of constrained cyclopeptides, in SPPS synthesis of Aib peptides, and in the synthesis of esters from appropriate acids, alcohols, and phenols. The high efficiency and versatility of this new generation of TBCRs confirm, for the first time, the usefulness of the concept of "superactive esters" in rational design of the structure of coupling reagents.     

Method for the rapid synthesis of highly functionalized 2-hydroxy-1-naphthoates. Syntheses of the naphthoic acid components of neocarzinostatin chromophore and N1999A2

We describe a four-step sequence for the synthesis of complex 2-hydroxy-1-naphthoic acids involving Z-selective olefination of benzaldehyde derivatives with a novel dioxolenone-containing phenyl phosphonate reagent, followed by dioxolenone cleavage with alkaline trifluoroethanol and oxidative cyclization (Mn(OAc)(3)) of the resultant trifluoroethyl beta-keto esters. [reaction: see text]     

Sodium Borohydride–Mediated Transesterification

In the presence of sodium borohydride, esters react with alcohols with formation of the corresponding esters. The reaction is sensitive to the solvent, structure of the ester, and is often concurrent with reduction. Thioesters containing an ester group can be selectively cleaved by the reagent. Both esters and thioesters attached to solid support are resistant toward sodium borohydride. The in situ prepared sodium tetraalkoxyborate is introduced as an efficient reagent and catalyst for transesterification.     

Microwave-accelerated solvent-free synthesis of thioketones, thiolactones, thioamides, thionoesters, and thioflavonoids

[reactions: see text] An expeditious, solvent-free, and high yield conversion of ketones, flavones, isoflavones, lactones, amides, and esters to the corresponding thio analogues is described utilizing Lawesson's reagent in a process that circumvents the use of dry solvents and excess of the reagent.     

Kinetic Resolution of Racemic Secondary Benzylic Alcohols by the Enantioselective Esterification Using Pyridine‐3‐carboxylic Anhydride (3‐PCA) with Chiral Acyl‐Transfer Catalysts

Pyridine‐3‐carboxylic anhydride (3‐PCA) was found to function as an efficient coupling reagent for the preparation of carboxylic esters from various carboxylic acids with alcohols under mild conditions by a simple experimental procedure. This novel condensation reagent 3‐PCA was applicable not only for the synthesis of achiral carboxylic esters catalyzed by 4‐(dimethylamino)pyridine (DMAP) but also for the production of chiral carboxylic esters by the combination of chiral nucleophilic catalyst, such as tetramisole (=2,3,5,6‐tetrahydro‐6‐phenylimidazo[2,1‐b][1,3]thiazole) derivatives. An efficient kinetic resolution of racemic benzylic alcohols with achiral carboxylic acids was achieved by using 3‐PCA in the presence of (R)‐benzotetramisole ((R)‐BTM), and a variety of optically active carboxylic esters were produced with high enantiomeric excesses by this new chiral induction system without using a tertiary amine.     

Chemical ionization mass spectra of amino acids and derivatives. Occurrence and fragmentation of ion-molecule reaction products

The Chemical ionization mass spectra of free amino acids, their amides, methyl esters and Na-acetyl derivatgives, using methane as reagent gas, are presented, The occurrence and fragmentation of ion-molecules reaction products are discussed. A preference for a head to tail, configuration of the association complex [2M + 1]⁺ is postulated to esplain promienent fragmentation pathways of this complex. Interesting fragmentation pathways have been found with onithine, arginine and citrulline.     

A tandem Finkelstein-rearrangement-elimination reaction: a straightforward synthetic route to allyl esters

Allyl esters can be obtained by a Finkelstein-rearrangement-elimination reaction of 2-chloro-1-(chloromethyl)ethyl esters induced by NaI. Sodium iodide can be used below equivalence using a reductive agent as sodium thiosulfate. High yields are obtained with most of the diverse esters studied. The method described avoids the use of allyl alcohol as a reagent. 2-Chloro-1-(chloromethyl)ethyl esters are prepared from glycerol, the main by-product of biodiesel industry. The effectiveness of iodine as reagent to hydrolyze allyl esters is also confirmed.     

Methyl 4-toluenesulfonyloxymethylphosphonate, a new and versatile reagent for the convenient synthesis of phosphonate-containing compounds

A straightforward procedure leading to the new phosphonylating reagent, methyl 4-toluenesulfonyloxymethylphosphonate, requiring no chromatographic purification is described. This stable reagent works with the same efficiency as dimethyl and other dialkyl esters for the introduction of an O-phosphonomethyl moiety while, in contrast to dimethyl ester, it does not cause any unwanted methylation of sensitive functionalities. Its utility for the alkylation of protected nucleosides in high yield is exemplified.