Synthetic access to optically active isoflavans by using allylic substitution

A general approach to the (S)- and (R)-isoflavans was invented, and efficiency of the method was demonstrated by the synthesis of (S)-equol ((S)-3), (R)-sativan ((R)-4), and (R)-vestitol ((R)-5). The key step is the allylic substitution of (S)-6a (Ar¹=2,4-(MeO)₂C₆H₃) and (R)-6b (Ar¹=2,4-(BnO)₂C₆H₃) with copper reagents derived from CuBr·Me₂S and Ar²-MgBr (7a, Ar²=4-MeOC₆H₄; 7b, 2,4-(MeO)₂C₆H₃; 7c, 2-MOMO-4-MeOC₆H₃), furnishing anti S_N2′ products (R)-8a and (S)-8b,c with 93-97% chirality transfer in 60-75% yields. The olefinic part of the products was oxidatively cleaved and the Me and Bn groups on the Ar¹ moieties was then removed. Finally, phenol bromide 9a and phenol alcohols 9b,c underwent cyclization with K₂CO₃ and the Mitsunobu reagent to afford (S)-3 and (R)-4 and -5, respectively.     

3-Amino- and 3-acylamido-2-phosphonopyridines: synthesis by Pd-catalyzed P-C coupling, structure and conversion to pyrido[b]-anellated PC-N heterocycles

Palladium catalyzed cross-coupling of 3-amino- and 3-acylamido-2-bromopyridines 1a-f with triethyl phosphite allowed the synthesis of 3-amino- and 3-acylamido pyridine-2-phosphonic acid diethyl esters 2a-f, whereas nickel catalysts, although providing access to related anilido-2-phosphonates, proved inactive. Reduction of the aminophosphonate 2a with LiAlH₄ afforded 3-amino-2-phosphinopyridine (3a), which was cyclocondensed with dimethylformamide dimethyl acetal (DMFA) via phosphaalkene intermediates 4a to the novel pyrido[b]-anellated 1,3-azaphosphole 5a. Reaction of amidophosphonates 2b-f with LiAlH₄ did not result in the expected reductive cyclization, as shown by closely related anilido-2-phosphonates, but led to product mixtures containing N-secondary 3-amino-2-phosphinopyridines 3b-f as the main or major component. The conversion of 3b,d,e with DMFA to 5b,d,e provides first examples of N-substituted pyrido[b]-anellated azaphospholes. Structures were confirmed by multinuclear NMR and X-ray crystallography (for 2c, 3b).     

Synthesis of a new class of azathia crown macrocycles containing two 1,2,4-triazole or two 1,3,4-thiadiazole rings as subunits

A series of new 1,2/1,3-bis[o-(N-methylidenamino-5-aryl-3-thiol-4H-1,2,4-triazole-4-yl)phenoxy]alkane derivatives 3a-d and bis[o-(N-methylidenamino-2-thiol-1,3,4-thiadiazole-5-yl)phenoxy]alkanes 6a-c were prepared by condensation of 4-amino-5-(aroyl)-4H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiols 2a-b or 2-amino-5-mercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole with bis-aldehydes 1a-c. Further reaction of compounds 3a-d and 6a-c with dibromoalkanes afforded the new macrocycles 5a-f and 8a-d. The cyclization does not require high dilution techniques and provides the expected azathia macrocycles in good yields, ranging from 55% to 68%.     

Syntheses, spectroscopic and structural characterizations and metal ion binding properties of Schiff bases derived from 4′-aminobenzo-15-crown-5

A series of benzyloxybenzaldehyde derivatives (1-4) were synthesized by the reactions of 4-(bromomethyl)benzonitrile with 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde (vanillin), 2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde (o-vanillin), 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde and 2-hydroxy-5-methoxybenzaldehyde. Condensation reactions among the new benzyloxybenzaldehyde derivatives (1-4) with 4′-aminobenzo-15-crown-5 yielded the new Schiff base compounds (5-8). Sodium complexes (5a-8a) and potassium complexes (5b-8b) were prepared with NaClO₄ and KI, respectively. All of these synthesized compounds were characterized on the basis of FT-IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR, mass spectrometry and elemental analyses data. The solid state structures of compounds 8 and 5a were determined by X-ray crystallography. The extraction abilities of compounds 5-8 were also evaluated in CH₂Cl₂ by using several main group and transition metal picrates, such as Na⁺, K⁺, Pb²⁺, Cr³⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺.     

Stereocontrolled conversion of some optically active (4S,5R)-dihydroisoxazoles into acyclic 3-acetamido-1,2-diols

Optically active (4S,5R)-dihydroisoxazoles 5a-c (90-91% ee) have been prepared by reaction of the epoxyketones 4a-c with hydroxylamine. Reduction of compounds 5a and 5b using lithium aluminium hydride took place exclusively from the Re face to give (1R,2S,3S)-1,3-disubstituted-3-aminopropane-1,2-diols 6a and 6b. These amino-diols were characterised by N-acetylation and the stereochemical sense of the hydride reduction was confirmed by conversion of amides 7a and 7b into α-amino acid derivatives 10a and 10b.     

Some novel observations on the reaction of 2-hydrazino-3-methylquinoxaline with trifluoromethyl-β-diketones

The reaction of 2-hydrazino-3-methylquinoxaline 1 with trifluoromethyl-β-diketones 2 not only yields the expected 5-trifluoromethyl-5-hydroxy-Δ²-pyrazolines 3a-3f and/or 3-trifluoromethylpyrazoles 4c-4f but also the unexpected products 1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalines 5a-5f and/or 3(5)-trifluoromethyl-1H-pyrazoles 6c-6f. Furthermore, the acid-catalyzed dehydration of 5-hydroxypyrazolines 3a-3b resulted in the formation of unexpected 5a-5b along with the expected corresponding pyrazoles 7a-7b. These unprecedented observations provide evidence for the existence of equilibrium between the hydroxypyrazoline 3 and its open chain tautomer, ketoimine 9 in the mechanistic path leading to the formation of pyrazoles 7 and triazoles 5.     

Synthesis, characterization and anticancer activity of new chiral Pd(II)-complexes derived from unsymmetrical α-diimine ligands

A set of new diastereopure unsymmetrical α-diimine ligands 2a-d derived from methylglyoxal and optically pure primary amines 1a-d afforded the new chiral Pd(II)-complexes (S,S)-3a, (S,S)-3b, (S,S)-3c, and (1S, 2S, 3S, 5R)-3d. All compounds have been characterized by IR, ¹H, and ¹³C NMR spectroscopies along with MS-FAB⁺ spectrometry. The crystal and molecular structure for the complexes 3a, 3b and 3d have been fully confirmed by single-crystal X-ray studies. Likewise, complexes 3a-d have also been screened for their in vitro cytotoxicity against different classes of cancer: leukemia (K-562 CML), colon cancer (HCT-15), human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7), central nervous system (U-251 Glio) and prostate cancer (PC-3) cell lines.     

Synthesis of substituted (S)-2-aminotetralins via ring-opening of aziridines prepared from l-aspartic acid β-tert-butyl ester

This paper describes the total synthesis of the hydrochloride salts of (2S)-2-amino-7-methoxytetralin (21-HCl) and (2S)-2-amino-6-fluoro-7-methoxytetralin (ST1214), from a common enantiomerically pure aziridine 4b, which was available from l-aspartic acid β-tert-butyl ester. The synthesis of 21-HCl and ST1214 proceeded in nine steps and 5 and 6% overall yields, respectively. Key steps are the regioselective ring-opening of 4b with ArMgBr/CuBr·SMe₂ and the intramolecular Friedel-Crafts cyclisation providing α-tetralone. Substituted naphthalenes were formed as side products in the latter reaction.     

Synthesis of nicotinonitrile derivatives as a new class of NLO materials

4,6-Diaryl-2-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)-nicotinonitriles 2a-k and 3-amino-2,4-dicyano-5-aryl-biphenyls 3a-c were synthesized from 1,3-diaryl-prop-2-en-1-ones 1a-k and malononitrile by a convenient one-pot method. Likewise, the reaction of aromatic aldehydes with malononitrile afforded 6-amino-4-aryl-2-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)-pyridine-3,5-dicarbonitriles 6a-f. The reaction of mesityl oxide with malononitrile gave 5-amino-7-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)-2,4,4-trimethyl-1,4-dihydro-1,6-naphthyridine-8-carbonitrile 8. The NLO studies of the pyridinedinitrile derivatives 6a, b, f showed a high value while that of nicotinonitrile 2b was weak.     

Synthesis of arylated highly congested indans using a domino sequence

A novel and efficient regioselective synthesis of various arylated highly congested 7-aryl-5-methylsulfanylindan-4-carbonitriles (3a-f), methyl 7-aryl-5-methylsulfanylindan-4-carboxylates (10a-e) and 7-aryl-5-methylsulfanylindan-4-carboxylic acids (11a-e) through base-catalyzed reaction of 6-aryl-4-methylsulfanyl-2-oxo-2H-pyran-3-carbonitriles (1a-f) and methyl 6-aryl-4-methylsulfanyl-2-oxo-2H-pyran-3-carboxylates (9a-e) by cyclopentanone (2) has been delineated. The synthetic potential of 2-pyranone was explored further to generate molecular diversity using 6-aryl-4-sec-amino-2-oxo-2H-pyran-3-carbonitriles (7a-h), 5,6-diaryl-4-methylsulfanyl-2-oxo-2H-pyran-3-carbonitriles (5a,b) and methyl 5,6-diaryl-4-methylsulfanyl-2-oxo-2H-pyran-3-carboxylates (12a,b) as precursors for the ring transformation by cyclopentanone to assess the effects of substituents on the course of the reaction to obtain highly congested indans, 6,7-diaryl-5-methylsulfanylindan-4-carbonitriles (6a,b), 7-aryl-5-(piperidin-1-yl)indan-4-carbonitriles (8a-h) and methyl 6,7-diaryl-5-methylsulfanylindan-4-carboxylates (13a,b).     

Formation of chiral tertiary homoallylic alcohols via Evans aldol reaction or enzymatic resolution and their influence on the Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation

Enantioenriched tertiary homoallylic alcohol derivatives (S)-2c and (S)-2a were obtained via Evans aldol methodology and enzymatic resolution of racemic tertiary acetate 2e, respectively. In order to study asymmetric 1,3-induction of the stereogenic center present in 2, congener (R)-2a as well as its O-protected derivatives (R)-2b-d were submitted to Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation to yield the diastereomeric 1,2,4-triol derivatives (2R,4R)- and (2S,4R)-3a-d, revealing that neither the substrate nor the Sharpless catalyst exert any stereocontrol. Similar observations were made for the less bulky alkynyl-substituted derivative 12b. However, by using a directed dihydroxylation, the anti product (2R,4R)-3a was favored.     

The cooperative effect of a hydroxyl and carboxyl group on the catalytic ability of novel β-homoproline derivatives on direct asymmetric aldol reactions

Novel β-homoproline derivatives, 2-hydroxy-2-(pyrrolidin-2-yl)acetic acids (R,S)- and (S,S)-1a-d, were synthesized. All of the prepared compounds were used as organocatalysts in the direct asymmetric aldol reaction of 4-nitrobenzaldehyde with several ketones. Among these catalysts, (R)-2-hydroxy-2-((S)-pyrrolidin-2-yl)acetic acid (R,S)-1a showed good catalytic ability in the formation of aldol product 13 (up to 69% ee, 95% yield), which was similar to the results catalyzed by l-proline (71% ee, 96% yield). Relatively low yields and low enantioselectivities were observed in aldol reactions catalyzed by (S,S)-1a, for example, 13 was obtained in 55% yield and 13% ee. The aldol reaction catalyzed by the methyl-protected carboxylic acid 1b and esters 1c,d produced much lower chemical yields and enantioselectivities during the formation of 13. The cooperative effect of the (R)-configured hydroxyl group and the carboxyl group was found to play an important role in inducing enantioselectivity in the aldol reaction. Relatively high diastereoselectivities (anti:syn = 85:15) and enantioselectivity (anti, 83% ee) were observed in the aldol reactions of 4-nitrobenzaldehyde with cyclohexanone, which was catalyzed by (R,S)-1a.     

Synthesis of sulfur containing analogues of the soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitor 8-bromo-4H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[3,4-c][1,4]benzoxazin-1-one NS2028

Sulfur analogues of the soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) inhibitor NS2028 1a are synthesized. Treating 8-bromo-2H-benzo[b][1,4]oxazin-3(4H)-one oxime (6) with 1,1′-thiocarbonyldiimidazole (1.1 equiv) gave the carbamothioate 8-bromo-4H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[3,4-c][1,4]benzoxazine-1-thione (3a) in 83% yield. Alternatively reacting NS2028 1a with P₂S₅ (0.5 equiv) affords the carbamothioate 3a in 80% yield. Similar treatment of 8-aryl substituted NS2028 analogues 1b-d with P₂S₅ gave the carbamothioates 3b-d in 64-91% yields. Although quite stable, the carbamothioates 3a-d could be thermally isomerized in the presence of Cu (10 mol %) to afford the thiocarbamates 4a-d in high yields. Interestingly, in the case of carbamothioate 3a Pd and In metals also facilitated the isomerization. Furthermore, treatment of the thiocarbamates 4a-d with P₂S₅ (0.5 equiv) affords the carbamodithioates 5a-d in 72-89% yields. All new compounds are fully characterized including single crystal X-ray data for carbamothioate 3a and thiocarbamate 4a. Finally, a mechanism is proposed for the carbamothioate to thiocarbamate isomerization.     

Synthesis and evaluation of new chiral diols based on the dicyclopentadiene skeleton

The resolution by Lipase PS of rac-5 (from reduction of ketone 6, obtained from dicyclopentadiene with a new environment-friendly synthesis) gives (2S)-5, which was further reduced to the endo(2R)-1a alcohol. The endo(2S)-1b alcohol was obtained from camphor with a multistep synthesis. Pinacol couplings of 3a,b, carried out with Mg/Hg or Corey's general procedure respectively, afforded with high diastereoselectivity the C₂ symmetry diols (2R,2′R)-2a and (2S,2′S)-2b, with endo oriented OH functions. The enantiogenic power of the endo alcohol (2R)-1a and (2S)-1b and of the diols (2R,2′R)-2a and (2S,2′S)-2b was tested towards the LiAlH₄ reduction of acetophenone. The C₂ symmetry appears to play a fundamental role.     

Highly efficient synthesis of phenanthroquinolizidine alkaloids via Parham-type cycliacylation

A concise and efficient route involving Parham-type cycliacylation as the key step has been used to synthesize phenanthroquinolizidine alkaloids 1a-c and 2a-c. Among the products, 1b-(S), 1b-(R), 2a-(14aS,15S), 2a-(14aR,15R), and 2b were synthesized for the first time.     

A novel strategy for the expeditious synthesis of aryl-tethered highly congested 2-hydroxybenzyl alcohols from 2-pyranones

An efficient and simple synthesis of highly congested 2-benzyloxy-3-benzyloxymethyl-5-sec-aminobiphenyl-4-carbonitriles 3a-e has been delineated through base catalyzed ring transformation of 6-aryl-4-sec-amino-2H-pyran-2-one-3-carbonitriles 1 by 1,3-bisbenzyloxypropan-2-one 2. Debenzylation of both the O-benzyl groups of 3a-e with boron trichloride provided the corresponding diols, 2-hydroxy-3-hydroxymethyl -5-sec-aminobiphenyl-4-carbonitriles 4a-e in very good yields.     

Regioselective synthesis of novel 4-aryl-2-ethylthio-7-methyl pyrazolo[1,5-a]-[1,3,5]-triazines

Pyrazolo[1,5-a]-[1,3,5]-triazines 6a-d were obtained by an efficient one-step reaction from S,S-diethyl aroyliminodithiocarbonates 4a-d and 5-amino-3-methylpyrazole 5 or by an alternative two-step reaction from 5 and aroyl isothiocyanates 8a-d to give initially the thiourea derivatives 9a-d, which after S-ethylation and cyclization afforded compounds 6a-d. The intermediate 7a isolated from reaction between 4a and 5 permitted us to establish the orientation.     

Synthesis of fluorine containing glycolurils and oxazolines from oxides of internal perfluoroolefins

The reaction of oxides of internal perfluoroolefins 1-3 with urea gave two kinds of novel fluorine containing N-heterocyclic compounds depending on the solvent nature: 1,5-bis(perfluoroalkyl)tetraazabicyclo[3.3.0]octane-3,7-diones 4a-c and 2-amino-5-fluoro-4,5-bis(perfluoroalkyl)-4,5-dihydrooxazol-4-ols 7a-d. Use of polar dimethylsulfoxide, N,N-dimethylacetamide and acetonitrile afforded glycolurils 4a-c in moderate yields. In dioxane, unexpected cyclization occurred resulting in oxazolines 7a-d in high yields. A similar reaction of oxiranes 2, 3 with urea in aqueous dioxane gave mixtures of 4,5-dihydroxy-4,5-bis(perfluoroalkyl)imidazolidine-2-ones 9b, c, glycolurils 4b, c and oxazolines 7b-d. The molecular structure of trans-isomers of oxazoline 7b and imidazolidine 9b has been established by X-ray crystallography.     

Synthesis, crystal structure and non-linear optical properties of boronates derivatives of salicylideniminophenols

The condensation in one step of a series of salicylaldehydes and 2-amino-5-nitrophenol with 1-naphthylboronic acid, 2-naphthylboronic acid, and o-tolylboronic acid to give the corresponding boronates 1a-3a, 1b-3b and 1c-3d, is reported. The X-ray crystal structures of 1a, 2b and 3b allowed determining the α- and β-angle between the stilbene skeleton and the aryl or naphthylboronic fragments; these values are indicative of different conformations for the aryl moieties around the (B-C) boron-carbon bond which could potentially modulate the electronic properties on the boron stilbene compounds. All compounds were characterized by ¹H, ¹¹B and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, UV, IR and mass spectrometry. Second- and third-order non-linear optical characterizations were also performed by EFISH and THG Maker Fringe techniques, respectively. Compounds 3a-3d containing an -N(Et)₂ donor group gave the best NLO response in second- and third-order.     

Synthesis of enantiomerically pure Sb-chirogenic organoantimony compounds and their crystal structures

Sb-chirogenic organoantimony compounds (±)-5a-c bearing heteroatom moieties such as 4,4-dimethyl-2-oxazolinyl, methoxymethyl, and diphenylphosphanyl substituents on the o-position of an aryl group have been prepared by nucleophilic displacement of the ethynyl moiety on (1-naphthyl)(phenylethynyl)(p-tolyl)stibane (3) with aryllithium reagents (2a-c). The optical resolution of the racemic (±)-5a,b was attained via separation of a diastereomeric mixture of their palladium complexes (S)-7 formed from the reactions of (±)-5a,b with di-μ-chlorobis[(S)-dimethyl(1-ethyl-α-naphthyl)aminato-C²,N]dipalladium(II) (6). The enantiomerically pure Sb-chirogenic stibanes isolated here were optically stable, and no racemization on the chiral antimony center was observed even when they were allowed to stand at room temperature for over 72 h in chloroform. The structure of 5a,b including the absolute configuration was determined by single crystal X-ray analyses of (+)-5aB and antimony-palladium complex (7bB), respectively. The analyses also revealed the presence of intramolecular interaction between the antimony and sp²-nitrogen atoms in the molecule Sb(S)-(+)-5aB.