Diastereoselective allylation of N-glyoxyloyl-(2R)-bornane-10,2-sultam and (1R)-8-phenylmenthyl glyoxylate: synthesis of (2S,4S)-2-hydroxy-4-hydroxymethyl-4-butanolide

The diastereoselective addition of allylsilanes and allylstannanes to N-glyoxyloyl-(2R)-bornane-10,2-sultam 1 and (1R)-8-phenylmenthyl glyoxylate 7 in the presence of Lewis acids has been studied. We obtained diastereoselectivities up to 84% and 94% for the allylation of 2 and 7, respectively. The application of the allylation products of 1 or 2 in the synthesis of 4-butanolides, for example (2S,4S)-2-hydroxy-4-hydroxymethyl-4-butanolide 13 is presented.     

Stereoselective synthesis of (1R,2S)-2-amino-1,3-diols from (R)-cyanohydrins

Vinyl substituted (1R,2S)-amino alcohols 5 were obtained by addition of vinyl magnesium bromide to the corresponding cyanohydrin O-trimethylsilyl ethers (R)-2. The O- and N-protected vinyl amino alcohols 6 were ozonized at −78°C in methanol yielding (1R,2S)-2-amino-1,3-diols7 in high enantiomeric and diastereomeric excesses. For purification, compounds 7 in some cases were acetylated to give the derivatives (1R,2S)-8. Racemic 6a was converted by oxidative ozonolysis at −78°C in methanolic NaOH solution to the corresponding methyl N-acetyl-β-hydroxy propanoate 9a. The configuration of (1R,2S)-8a was confirmed by x-ray crystallographic analysis.     

Chemoenzymatic synthesis of (R)- and (S)-1-heteroarylethanols

A chemoenzymatic methodology for the synthesis of highly enantiomerically enriched (S)- and (R)-1-heteroarylethanols by enantioselective bioreduction with baker’s yeast of the corresponding 1-heteroarylethanones followed by three racemization free chemical steps including a Mitsunobu reaction was developed.     

Stereoselective total synthesis of (+)-(6R,2′S)-cryptocaryalactone and (−)-(6S,2′S)-epi cryptocaryalactone

The total synthesis of (+)-(6R,2′S)-cryptocaryalactone and (−)-(6S,2′S)-epi cryptocaryalactone is reported based on stereoselective reduction of δ-hydroxy β-keto ester to install 1,3-polyol system, cis Wittig olefination, and lactonization as the key steps. The synthesis of (−)-(6S,2′S)-epi cryptocaryalactone is also reported using syn-benzylidene acetal formation and a preferential Z-Wittig olefination reaction and lactonization as the key steps.     

Studies on the synthesis of biphenylneolignans. Part 1: Enantioselective synthesis of (S,S)- and (R,R)-2,2′-dimethoxy-4-(3-hydroxy-1-propenyl)-4′-(1,2,3-trihydroxypropyl)diphenyl ether

Two erythro-isomers of 2,2′-dimethoxy-4-(3-hydroxy-1-propenyl)-4′-(1,2,3-trihydroxypropyl)diphenyl ether, (7′S, 8′S)-9 and (7′R, 8′R)-9, were synthesized in seven steps, in which an improved method for the synthesis of the key intermediate 3 was developed. The absolute configuration of the target molecules was also confirmed.     

The stereochemistry of the dichlorocobalt(III) complexes with (2S,5S,9S)- and (2S,5R,9S)-trimethyltriethylenetetraamines

Dichlorocobalt(III) complexes of (2S,5S,9S)-trimethyltriethylenetetraamine (L₁) and (2S,5R,9S)-trimethyltriethylenetetraamine (L₂) have been prepared. Both L₁ and L₂ coordinate to the cobalt(III) ion to give three isomers: Λ-cis-α, Δ-cis-β, trans isomers for L₁ and Δ-cis-α, Δ-cis-β, trans isomers for L₂. Each of the trans-dichloro complexes of the two ligands have been isomerized stereospecifically to the cis-α-dichloro complex in methanol, and each of the cis-α-dichloro complexes stereospecifically to the trans-diaqua complex in water. Both the geometrical and optical inversions took place at the same time in the observed stereospecific isomerizations.     

(R)-4-menthen-3-one in the synthesis of (3S)-methylundecand (2S)-methyldec-1-ylbromides, key synthons for (S,S,S)-diprionylacetate

New capabilities for the synthetic use of (R)-4-menthen-3-one were demonstrated using as examples (3S)-methylundec- and (2S)-methyldec-1-ylbromides, key synthons for (S,S,S)-diprionylacetate (sex pheromone of pine sawflies of genera Diprion and Neodiprion).     

Synthesis of (2R,3S,4S)-4-aryl-3-hydroxyprolinols

Synthesis of (2R,3S,4S)-4-aryl-3-hydroxyprolinols has been established starting from 2-benzyloxymethylpyrrolidin-2-one framework, which is derived from commercially available trans-(2S,4R)-4-hydroxyproline. The single diastereomer having a trans–cis relative configuration with C₂ and C₃ and C₃ and C₄ is constructed in two one-pot functional group transformations of Grignard addition/dehydration and epoxidation/isomerization as the key steps in moderate yield.     

Asymmetric Synthesis of （R）- and （S）-Moprolol

A simple and effective procedure for the enantioselective synthesis of （R）- and （S）-moprolol was described. The key step was the asymmetric synthesis of enantiopure （R）- and （S）-guaifenesin, which were synthesized from enantioenriched （R）-3-chloro-l,2-propanediol and （S）-epichlorohydrin via kinetics of hydrolysis resolution of racemic epichlorohydrin by chiral Salen-Co^Ⅲ complex. The e.e. values of both the optical compounds were above 98%, and the chemical structures of the target compounds were confirmed by ^1H NMR, ^13C NMR, IR, and MS.     

First synthesis of enantiomerically pure (1S,2S)- and (1R,2R)-1,2-diaminocyclobutanecarboxylic acid–ornithine derivative–, from racemic 2-aminocyclobutanone

An easy and efficient one-pot reaction from readily available 2-(N-Cbz) aminocyclobutanone selectively gave, by means of an asymmetric Strecker synthesis in the presence of a chiral benzylic amine, the thermodynamic 1,2-diamino nitriles. Basic hydrolysis, cleavage of the benzylic group and acidic hydrolysis of the resulting trans-1,2-diaminocyclobutanecarbonitrile gave, in a four-step sequence from the ketone, (1S,2S)- or (1R,2R)-1,2-diaminocyclobutanecarboxylic acid, ornithine derivatives. The absolute configuration has been established by X-ray analysis of the corresponding trans-diamino amide.     

Design, synthesis, structure and properties of an α-helix cap template derived from N-[(2S)-2-chloropropionyl]-(2S)-Pro-(2R)-Ala-(2S,4S)-4-thioPro-OMe which initiates α-helical structures

A strategy based upon removing the requirement for all of the carbonyl dipoles to align at the same time in the transition state leading to the cyclisation of N-[(2S)-2-chloropropionyl]-(2S)-Pro-(2R)-Ala-(2S,4S)-4-thioPro-OMe to a Zimm-Bragg type α-helix peptide intitator template was successful. Each amide bond of the 12-membered macrocyclic template existed in the trans-rotomeric form. Derivatives of the template were prepared by extending the C-terminus and these were characterised by NMR spectroscopy and restrained simulated annealing. In deuterochloroform solution at low temperature, separate sets of NMR signals were observed for two rapidly interconverting helical conformational isomers of the thioether macrocycle which possessed an appended trialkylammonium ion. A similar time-averaged conformation was also observed in aqueous solution. At −80 °C in d₂-dichloromethane the rate of conformational exchange was slowed sufficiently to obtain resonance assignments and NOE data separately for each isomer. In the minor isomer (40%), the four carbonyl oxygen hydrogen-bond acceptors of the template are aligned in an α-helical conformation and in the major conformer the Pro² carbonyl dipole was anti-aligned with the other three dipoles. Thus, the conformers differ in the orientation of one carbonyl group. Molecular modelling calculations showed that the minor isomer was stabilised by coulombic interactions between the trialkylammonium salt and the carbonyl group dipole moments.     

Enantioselective syntheses of (R)-3-phenyl GABA, (R)-baclofen and 4-arylpyrrolidin-2-ones

Enantioselective synthesis of (R)-4-amino-3-phenylbutyric acid and (R)-baclofen has been achieved through a diastereoselective conjugate addition of cyanide to enantiomericaly pure 2-(2-arylethenyl)oxazolines, followed by chemoselective reduction into cyclic amidines.     

Enantioselective inclusion of (R)-phenylglycyl-(R)-phenylglycine with benzyl methyl sulfoxides

A crystalline dipeptide, (R)-phenylglycyl-(R)-phenylglycine (RR-1), recognized p-halobenzyl methyl sulfoxides with high R-enantioselectivity (86–99% ee) to form inclusion compounds. The single-crystal X-ray analyses showed that RR-1 molecules are arranged in parallel and zigzags via hydrogen bonding to construct a pleated sheet. The guest molecules that form hydrogen bond with ⁺NH₃ of RR-1 are accommodated in the channel cavity between the layers. In contrast to the inclusion crystals of parent benzyl methyl sulfoxide, in which a rectangular cavity is formed, the cavity including p-halobenzyl methyl sulfoxides becomes rhomboidal. We also examine the guest exchange in these inclusion compounds and it was found that the guest exchanges occur when the host structure changes.     

(3S,4R,5R)-3-(2-Hydroxyethyl)piperidine-3,4,5-triol as an isofagomine analogue: synthesis and glycosidase inhibition study

The synthesis of (3S,4R,5R)-3-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperidine-3,4,5-triol 10 has been described from d-glucose. The base promoted cyclization for the construction of the piperdine framework is the key step of the synthesis.     

Asymmetric synthesis of a sex pheromone (3S,5R,6S)-3,5-dimethyl-6-isopropyl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyran-2-one

An Oppolzer anti-aldol approach for the synthesis of the sex pheromone (3S,5R,6S)-3,5-dimethyl-6-isopropyl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyran-2-one is reported.     

Asymmetric synthesis of (R,S)- and (R,R)-4-hydroxy-5-(α-substituted)-hydroxymethyl[2.2]paracyclophane and derivatives by stereoselective addition to (R)-4-hydroxy-5-formyl[2.2]paracyclophane and derivatives

Highly diastereoselective nucleophilic addition reactions of organometallic reagents to formyl[2.2]paracyclophane derivatives which were ortho-substituted by hydroxy-, alkoxy- and trimethylsilyloxy-groups are reported. The absolute configuration of the newly formed secondary alcohols is assigned on the basis of the X-ray diffraction study as well as chemical correlation. The magnitude of the asymmetric induction and even the sense of chirality of the forming asymmetric carbon atoms of the alcohols depended on the nature of the ortho-substituents.