Asymmetric synthesis of trifluoromethylated propargylamines via 1,2-additions of trifluoromethylacetylide to N-tert-butanesulfinyl imines

An efficient method for the asymmetric synthesis of the trifluoromethylated propargylamines was described. Addition of lithium trifluoromethylacetylide, in situ prepared from lithium diisopropylamide and the 2-bromo-3,3,3-trifluoropropene, to various N-tert-butanesulfinyl imines provided a range of trifluoromethylated propargyl sulfinamides. Besides high yields and excellent diastereoselectivities, the additions featured that the diastereoselectivities could be reversed when polar or nonpolar solvent was used. Acidic cleavage of the tert-butanesulfinyl groups delivered highly optically pure trifluoromethylated propargylamines.     

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.     

A simple route to enantiopure bis-lactones: synthesis of both enantiomers of epi-nor-canadensolide, nor-canadensolide, and canadensolide

A simple strategy has been developed for the synthesis of both enantiomers of nor-canadensolide, epi-nor-canadensolide, and an intermediate to canadensolide. An orthoester Claisen rearrangement of an appropriately constructed allyl alcohol derivative prepared from R-(+)-2,3-di-O-cyclohexylidine glyceraldehyde followed by epoxidation of the resulting unsaturated esters produced hydroxy-lactones, which on oxidation gave keto-lactones. Stereoselective reduction of the keto-carbonyl using either a chelation controlled or a non-chelation controlled process led to the natural or the epi-series, respectively. The interplay of the electronic effect between the polar groups and the steric effect of the β-substituent during reduction of the keto-lactones turned out to be the key factors in deciding the stereochemical outcome. Regeneration of the aldehyde functionality latent in the ketal moiety of the hydroxy-lactones provided the lactols, which on oxidation gave the bis-lactones.     

Ni/NHC-catalyzed cross-coupling of methyl sulfinates and amines for direct access to sulfinamides

It was reported to develop a simple and convenient method for the Ni/NHC-catalyzed cross-coupling of methyl sulfinates and amines without an acid/base to afford secondary or tertiary sulfinamides in moderate to good yields. The method can provide the desired products with broad substrate scope, good chemoselectivity and good functional group compatibility. The presented approach may enrich the Ni/NHC catalyst system and promote the applications of methyl sulfinates in the organic sulfur chemistry.     

Asymmetric synthesis of dihydroquinazolinones via directed ortho metalation and addition to tert-butanesulfinyl imines

An asymmetric route to dihydroquinazolinones via the addition of ortho metalated substrates to tert-butanesulfinyl imines is reported. The scope of the nucleophile and electrophile components and the absolute stereochemical outcome are presented.     

Convenient route to enantiopure aryl cyclopentanes via Diels-Alder reaction of asymmetric dienes. Total synthesis of (+)-herbertene and (+)-cuparene

A general route for the synthesis of highly substituted aryl cyclopentanes has been developed involving Diels-Alder reaction of asymmetric dienes prepared from (+)-camphoric acid followed by aromatization of the resulting cyclohexene derivatives. Employing this protocol enantiospecific synthesis of (+)-herbertene and (+)-cuparene has been accomplished.     

Multiblock copolymer synthesis via controlled radical polymerization in aqueous dispersions. Part 1: Synthesis of S-tert-alkyl-N,N-alkoxycarbonylalkyldithiocarbamates

In a novel two- or three-step synthetic route, S-(1,4-phenylenebis(propane-2,2-diyl)) bis(N-methyldithiocarbamate) is reacted at low temperature with various alkyl chloroformates to form various S-tert-alkyl-N,N-alkoxycarbonylmethyl-dithiocarbamate RAFT agents. Also an alternative and novel synthetic route towards S-(1,4-phenylenebis(propane-2,2-diyl)) bis(N-methyldithiocarbamate), is proposed.     

Efficient stereodivergent synthesis of 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-iminohexitols from an (S)-glyceraldimine

A stereodivergent synthesis of 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-d-mannitol I and d-allitol III from an (S)-glyceraldimine, which is easily prepared from d-mannitol, has been achieved with overall yields of 62% and 49%, respectively. The synthesis is based on the addition of vinylmagnesium bromide to N-benzylimine 1, derived from readily available (R)-2,3-O-isopropylideneglyceraldehyde, followed by N-allylation or N-acryloylation, ring-closing metathesis and asymmetric dihydroxylation.     

Novel route to carboxylic acids via the DCME reaction

Brown's DCME reaction was successfully performed employing B-alkyl-9-oxa-10-borabicyclo[3.3.2]decanes (1) to provide carboxylic acids (2) in good to excellent yields with complete retention of configuration.     

Synthesis of 4-unsubstituted 2H-1,2,3-benzothiadiazine 1,1-dioxides via ortho lithiation of protected benzaldehyde derivatives

Variously substituted 2-phenyl-1,3-dioxolanes and 2-(2-bromophenyl)-1,3-dioxolanes, prepared from the corresponding benzaldehydes, were lithiated ortho to the acetal group. Reaction of the lithio derivatives with sulfur dioxide led to the lithium sulfinate salts, which gave, upon oxidative chlorination with sulfuryl chloride, the corresponding benzenesulfonyl chlorides. Then, depending on the aromatic substitution pattern of the molecule, several protocols were elaborated for the functional group transformations leading to the target compounds. Ring closure was performed with hydrazine hydrate or acetylhydrazine, in the latter case with one-pot removal of the acetyl group. The 4-unsubstituted 2H-1,2,3-benzothiadiazine 1,1-dioxides thus obtained are potential drug candidates based on their structural similarity to biologically active phthalazinones.     

A stereoselective approach to 6-alkylated piperidinone & 2-piperidine via three-component vinylogous Mannich reactions (VMR) and a concise synthesis of (S)-anabasine

A three-component diastereoselective vinylogous Mannich-type reaction (VMR) with the silyl ketene acetal (1) was developed. Adducts from the reactions provided valuable intermediates for construction of a variety of chiral 6-alkylated piperidinone and 2-piperidine compounds. The strategy was applied in a concise synthesis (S)-anabasine.     

Asymmetric synthesis of (R)- and (S)-2-trifluoromethylepinephrine

An asymmetric synthesis of (R)- and (S)-2-trifluoromethylepinephrine (1R and 1S) is presented. Trifluoromethylation involves nucleophilic aromatic substitution of halobenzene 4 most likely via a copper mediated CF₃ anion equivalent generated in situ. The asymmetric step involves conversion of 3,4-dimethoxy-2-trifluoromethylbenzaldehyde (5) to silyl cyanohydrin (6R and 6S) using a chiral salen catalyst in the presence of titanium. 1R and 1S are potential alternatives to currently used vasoconstrictors in local anesthetic formulations.     

A new route to thiopyran S,S-dioxide derivatives via an overall ring-enlargement protocol from 3-nitrothiophene

(1E,3Z)-1-Aryl-4-methanesulfonyl-2-nitro-1,3-butadienes (8), derived from the initial ring-opening of 3-nitrothiophene (5), have been found to undergo a facile base-induced cyclization leading to thiopyran S,S-dioxides (9), thus furnishing a further example of effective ring-enlargement from 5- to 6-membered sulfur heterocycles. Compounds 9 are obtained as single racemic mixtures in satisfactory yields; they still contain a nitrovinylic moiety, which can be exploited for further modifications targeted to new derivatives endowed with either synthetic or pharmacological potentialities e.g., in the field of L-type Ca²⁺-channel blockers.     

Intramolecular addition of carbon radicals to aldehydes: synthesis of enantiopure tetrahydrofuran-3-ols

A simple and efficient substrate-controlled asymmetric synthesis of enantiopure tetrahydrofuran-3-ols by a 5-exo-trig radical cyclization is described. This cyclization occurs when a δ-carbon radical adds intramolecularly to the carbonyl group of an aldehyde. The δ-carbon radicals can be efficiently produced from the tin hydride mediated deselenenylation of 5-phenylseleno-3-oxapentanals, which were easily prepared starting from commercially available enantiopure epoxides or chlorohydrins.     

Expedient route to CDE ring system of schintrilactones through tandem ROM-RCM of a norbornene derivative

A concise synthesis of a highly functionalized tricyclic ring system representing the CDE core of nortriterpenoid schintrilactones A and B is described using a tandem ROM-RCM of a norbornene derivative.     

An efficient access to 3,6-disubstituted 1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridines via a one-pot double SNAr reaction and pyrazole formation

A general and efficient synthetic method for the synthesis of biologically important series of 3,6-disubstituted-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridines was discovered. 2,6-Difluoropyridine was deprotonated using 1.1 equiv of n-BuLi in THF at <−60 °C, followed by quenching with a variety of Weinreb amides to generate 2,6-Difluoro-3-ketopyridines in high yields. A mild tandem reaction sequence of selective nucleophilic substitution of the 6-fluoride with a variety of nucleophiles, followed by hydrazine substitution of the 2-fluoride and pyrazole formation in a one-pot fashion afforded a series of 3,6-disubstituted-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridines in moderate to good yields.     

Total synthesis and absolute stereochemistry of (9R,10S)-epoxyheptadecan-4,6-diyn-3-one, a diacylglycerol acyltransferase inhibitor from Panax ginseng

Asymmetric synthesis of four possible stereoisomers of (9,10)-epoxyheptadecan-4,6-diyn-3-one was accomplished, and the absolute configuration of the naturally occurring (9R,10S)-epoxyheptadecan-4,6-diyn-3-one (1) was elucidated.     

Cyclopropanation of enantiopure metal alkenyl carbenes with 2-methoxyfuran: a practical route to carboxycyclopropylglycine precursors

We have examined the reactivity of enantiopure alkenyl Fischer carbene complexes 1, readily available from the chiral pool, with 2-methoxyfuran 4. In this reaction, polyfunctionalised cyclopropylcarbenes 5 are obtained under very mild conditions and with high selectivity, the major stereoisomer being isolated in an enantiopure form. The reaction involves the conjugate nucleophilic addition of 2-methoxyfuran 4 to the carbene complexes 1 followed by ring closure of the resulting zwitterionic intermediate species. The oxidation of the carbene 5 a results in the formation of the enantiopure cyclopropane diester 6. Further elaboration of the cyclopropane 6 allows for an efficient enantioselective access to alcohols or diols 7-9 as well as to cyclopropanecarbaldehydes 10-12. The protocol described herein provides a very simple entry to interesting enantiopure precursors of carboxycyclopropylglycine derivatives from readily available starting materials. In order to test this potential as carboxycyclopropylglycine precursors, the aminocyanation of the cyclopropanecarbaldehyde 10 was undertaken and the alpha-aminocyano derivative 13 was isolated as a single diastereosiomer.     

New stabilising groups for lateral lithiation of ortho-cresol derivatives and a new route to 2-substituted chromans

2-(2-Methoxyethoxy)-toluene and 2-(2-dimethylaminoethoxy)-toluene have been lithiated using sec-BuLi under a variety of conditions and the laterally lithiated species trapped with electrophiles, including but-1-ene oxide, leading to a new synthesis of 2-ethylchroman.     

A general asymmetric route to enantio-enriched isoflavanes via an organocatalytic annulation of o-quinone methides and aldehydes

Reported herein is a general approach to optically active isoflavanes based on a chiral amine-catalyzed [4?+?2] asymmetric annulation of o-quinone methides and aldehydes. A number of naturally occurring isoflavanes, including equol, sativan, isosativan, vestitol and medicarpin, as well as isoflavane analogues were readily prepared with good to excellent enantioselectivities.