Synthesis of 5-aminothiazoles as building blocks for library synthesis

A convenient route to 4-phenyl-5-aminothiazoles is described, which offers control over substitution at the 2-position. 2-N-Acylglycinamides were dithionated and a subsequent TFAA-mediated cyclisation step was followed by removal of the 5-N-trifluoroacetyl group providing the free amines. Though applicable generally the method was found to be most effective when introducing aromatic substituents at the 2-position, whereupon moderate overall yields of the 5-amino compounds were obtained.     

Synthesis of porphyrazines bearing thioalkylthiol tethers: useful building blocks for supramolecular chemistry

A simple and substantially inexpensive method is proposed for the synthesis of a porphyrazine macrocycle symmetrically functionalized with eight bromoalkylthio pendants and its conversion in the S-acetyl protected thiol-hexylthio-substituted analog.     

Synthesis of fused thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidinones: N-aryl-2-chloroacetamides as doubly electrophilic building blocks

2-Chloro-N-phenylacetamide and N-(benzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)-2-chloroacetamide are doubly electrophilic building blocks for the formation of ring annulated thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidinone products. This synthetic route involves formation of the title compound in acceptable product yields by the elimination of the by-product, aniline/2-aminobenzothiazole. Analytical and spectral studies, as well as single crystal X-ray data on the representative compound 6c confirmed the structure of all the reaction products.     

Synthesis of new N-aryl oxindoles as intermediates for pharmacologically active compounds

Various new N-aryl oxindoles were synthesized as intermediates for the preparation of pharmacologically active 2-(N-arylamino)-phenylacetic acids. Two novel approaches were explored for the construction of diarylamine and N-aryl oxindole core structures, in addition to Buchwald-arylamination and Smiles rearrangement. Condensation of anilines with 2-oxo-cyclohexylidene-acetic acid derivatives and subsequent dehydrogenation is a new and viable method for the preparation of N-aryl oxindoles.     

Trifluoromethyl- and difluoromethyl-β-lactams as useful building blocks for the synthesis of fluorinated amino acids, dipeptides, and fluoro-taxoids

Enantiopure 1-acyl-3-hydroxyl-4-CF₂H-azetidin-2-ones and 1-acyl-3-hydroxy-4-CF₃-azetidin-2-ones serve as versatile intermediates for the syntheses of CF₂- and CF₃-containing α-hydroxy-β-amino acids, dipeptides, and taxoid anticancer agents. Both enantiomers of 3-hydroxy-4-CF₂H-β-lactams can be obtained in high yields through the diethylaminosulfur trifluoride (DAST) reaction of the corresponding enantiopure 4-formyl-β-lactam that is prepared through [2+2] cycloaddition of acetoxyketene to a 3-methyl-2-butenaldimine, followed by enzymatic optical resolution and ozonolysis. (+)-3-Hydroxy-4-CF₃-β-lactams and (−)-3-hydroxy-4-CF₃-β-lactams can also be readily obtained in enantiopure form through [2+2] cycloaddition of a CF₃-imine with a ketene, followed by enzymatic optical resolution. Practical processes for the preparations of these enantiopure 3-hydroxy-4-R_f-β-lactams as well as their synthetic applications are described.     

Extended peptoids: a new class of oligomers based on aromatic building blocks

Peptoids (N-substituted polyglycines) represent a class of bioinspired oligomers that have unique physical and structural properties. Here, we report the construction of ‘extended peptoids’ based on aromatic building blocks, in which the N-alkylaminoacetyl group of the peptoid backbone has been replaced by an N-alkylaminomethylbenzoyl spacer. Both meta- and para-bromomethylbenzoic acids were synthesized, providing access to a new class of peptoids. Further, inclusion of hydrophilic side chains confers water solubility to these compounds, showing that, like simple peptoids, extended peptoids add an extra dimension to synthetic poly-amide oligomers with potential application in a variety of biological contexts.     

A new approach for the synthesis of N-sulfonyl hydantoins

Two methods are described for the synthesis of a new series of hydantoins using the same reagents. The best process is based on the addition of N-aryloxy(alkoxy)sulfonyl isocyanates to an equimolar mixture of bromoamides and triethylamine dissolved in anhydrous acetone. This reaction is violent and provides the urea salts in situ which are transformed into the corresponding substituted hydantoins.     

Novel Cinchona alkaloid derived ammonium salts as catalysts for the asymmetric synthesis of beta-hydroxy alpha-amino acids via aldol reactions

Using the cinchonidine-derived phase-transfer catalyst developed by Park and Jew as a lead structure, we have prepared novel chiral ammonium salts and investigated their efficacy for the preparation of β-hydroxy α-amino acids via asymmetric aldol reactions. The modifications were performed at C3 of the cinchonidine nucleus and include dimers as well as catalysts possessing electron-deficient alkyne and alkene moieties. Some of the new catalysts yielded improvements relative to the Park-Jew catalyst in the aldol reaction.     

Synthesis and antifungal activities of N-glycosylated derivatives of Tunicyclin D,an antifungal octacyclopeptide

A series of glycosylated derivatives of Tunicyclin D were synthesized through a highly efficient and versatile synthetic method. The method is based on solid-phase peptide synthesis using 2-chlorotrityl resin as the solid-phase support and glycosyl amino acids as building blocks. Biological studies of the synthetic Tunicyclin D derivatives showed monosaccharide-containing compounds exhibit improved or similar antifungal activities, whereas the compounds carrying disaccharide glycans, showed much weaker antifungal activities.     

Synthesis of enantiopure azetidines: a route to new β-amino alcohols

β-Amino alcohols possessing an E vinylsilane moiety were cyclized in the presence of N-bromosuccinimide to afford diastereoisomerically pure polyfunctional azetidines. These azetidines were then transformed into enantiopure β-amino alcohols with a Z vinylic bromide moiety.     

Synthesis of new iminocoumarins and their transformations into N-chloro and hydrazono compounds

The Knoevenagel reaction between 2-hydroxybenzaldehydes and active methylene compounds (malononitrile and ethyl cyanoacetate) produces iminocoumarins and/or coumarins. In order to study the reactivity of the prepared iminocoumarins, chlorination and reaction with N-nucleophiles were studied.     

A practical approach to the fused β-carboline system. Asymmetric synthesis of indolo[2,3-a]indolizidinones via a diastereoselective intramolecular α-amidoalkylation reaction

Fused β-carboline systems, as indolo[2,3-a]indolizidinones, indolo[2,3-a]quinolizidinones, their 2-oxa analogues, and benzo[a]indolo[2,3-a]indolizidinones are prepared efficiently via an RLi addition-N-acyliminium ion cyclisation sequence on readily available imides. In an enantioselective variant of these α-amidoalkylation reactions, the addition of MeLi to a chiral non-racemic imide derived from tryptophan yielded an oxo amide, which was cyclised diastereoselectively upon treatment with BF₃·OEt₂, to afford 5,11b-trans-indoloindolizidinone in moderate yield and high ee (99%).     

Asymmetric synthesis of fluorine-containing amines, amino alcohols, α- and β-amino acids mediated by chiral sulfinyl group

This review article provides a critical overview of several different synthetic approaches developed for asymmetric preparation of fluorine-containing amines, amino alcohols, α- and β-amino acids. The common feature of these methods is the application of sulfinyl group as a chiral auxiliary to control the stereochemical outcome of the reactions under study. In particular, the following general methods are critically discussed: diastereoselective methylene transfer from diazomethane to the carbonyl of β-keto-γ-fluoroalkyl sulfoxides as a general approach for preparation of various α-fluoroalkyl α-sulfinylalkyl oxiranes. The resulting compounds were used as true chiral synthons for their further elaboration via oxidative or reductive desulfurization, to numerous fluorine-containing and biologically relevant amino- and hydroxy-containing derivatives. Another general approaches discussed here are asymmetric additions to CN double bond. One of them is addition of chiral sulfoxide stabilized carbon nucleophiles to fluorine-containing imines, leading to convenient preparation of alpha-fluoroalkyl derivatives of alpha amino acids and amines. Another approach is asymmetric Reformatsky reaction between N-sulfinyl imines and ethyl bromodifluoroacetate allowing operationally convenient preparation of α,α-difluoro-β-amino acids in enantiomerically pure form. Finally, structurally similar but mechanistically different addition reactions of diethyl difluoromethylphosphonate to N-sulfinyl imines, as a general approach to asymmetric synthesis of α,α-difluoro-β-aminophosphonates and phosphonic acids, are discussed. Effect of fluorine on the mechanism and stereochemical outcome of these reactions is discussed in detail and compared, where it is possible, with that of the analogous reactions of fluorine-free substrates.     

Microwave-assisted synthesis of N-glycolylneuraminic acid derivatives

A rapid, efficient and scalable synthesis of biologically-relevant N-glycolylneuraminic acid derivatives from the natural N-acetyl (Neu5Ac) precursors has been developed. Microwave irradiation provides accelerated de-N-acetylation compared to more traditional methods, with optimised NaOH-promoted de-N-acetylation in only 15 min. The prepared amines were readily re-N-acylated to afford the corresponding N-glycolyl (Neu5Gc) analogues.     

Synthesis of Prolinal Dithioacetals as Catalysts for the Highly Stereoselective Michael Addition of Ketones and Aldehydes to beta-Nitrostyrenes

Catalytic highly enantioselective (up to >99% ee) and diastereoselective (up to 99% de) direct Michael addition of ketones and aldehydes to β-nitrostyrenes have been achieved with readily accessible and highly tunable prolinal dithioacetal catalysts.     

N,N′-Diisopropyl- and N,N′-dicyclohexylthiourea cadmium(II) complexes as precursors for the synthesis of CdS nanoparticles

Crystals of the cadmium(II) complexes of N,N-diisopropylthiourea and N,N-dicyclohexylthiourea were obtained and their X-ray single crystal structures determined. These complexes are air-stable, easy to prepare and inexpensive and decompose cleanly to give good quality crystalline CdS. The nanoparticles of CdS thus obtained showed quantum confinement effects in their optical spectra, with close to band-edge emission in luminescence experiments. The broad diffraction patterns observed are typical of nanodimensional particles. The variation of concentration of precursor-to-HDA ratio change the isolated materials from spheres to rod-shaped. TEM images showed agglomerates of needle-like plate of particles.     

Sequencing cross-metathesis and non-metathesis reactions to rapidly access building blocks for synthesis

The olefin cross-metathesis reaction has been sequenced with four common organic transformations in a one- or two-pot manner to rapidly access useful building blocks. Those reactions are: (1) phosphorus-based olefination (e.g., Wittig and Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons); (2) hydride reduction; (3) Evans propionate aldol reaction; (4) Brown allyl- and Roush crotyl-boration. The products of these reactions include stereodefined 2,4-dienoates, trans allylic alcohols, syn-propionate aldols, and chiral non-racemic homoallylic alcohols, respectively. Many of these intermediates have been carried further to natural products, demonstrating the utility of the methodology.     

Practical application of new catalytic methods: a concise synthesis of a potent PDE IV inhibitor

An efficient synthesis of a potent PDE IV inhibitor 1 is described. The synthesis is highlighted by two practical and efficient catalytic reactions: a highly selective catalytic palladium mediated carbonylation of the pyridine side chain and an efficient palladium-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura coupling of a chloropyridine-N-oxide.     

Synthesis of N-phthalimido β-aminoethanesulfonyl chlorides: the use of thionyl chloride for a simple and efficient synthesis of new peptidosulfonamide building blocks

N-Phthalimido β-aminoethanesulfonyl chlorides, new building blocks for the synthesis of peptidosulfonamide peptidomimetics, were prepared in a straightforward manner from amino acids. In the crucial synthetic step, sulfonic acids or their sodium salts were converted into the corresponding sulfonyl chlorides using an excess of refluxing thionyl chloride or thionyl chloride/DMF. This simple and effective chlorinating method is also applicable to β-aminoethane sulfonic acids and their sodium salts with other N-protecting groups.     

An advantageous synthesis of new indazolone and pyrazolone derivatives

The synthesis of new indazolone and pyrazolone derivatives starting from methyl anthranilate type substrates is presented. This general approach constitutes a novel and advantageous alternative for the synthesis of the target heterocycles, which implies the use of the environmentally friendly oxidizer PIFA. The synthetic design includes the oxidation of N-arylamides by the hypervalent iodine reagent to the corresponding N-acylnitrenium ions, which can be intramolecularly trapped by an amine moiety to furnish the title compounds by formation of a new N-N single bond.