A simple one-pot 2-step N-1-alkylation of indoles with α-iminoketones toward the expeditious 3-step synthesis of N-1-quinoxaline-indoles

A straightforward procedure for the preparation of N-quinoxaline-indoles is presented. A base-catalyzed one-pot addition of indoles to a preformed α-iminoketone proceeds on the N-1 indole and the subsequent adduct undergoes an acid-mediated deprotection of an internal amino nucleophile, intramolecular cyclization, and final oxidation generating N-1-quinoxaline-indoles in good yield.     

Synthesis of novel glycolipids derived from glycopyranosyl azides and N-(β-glycopyranosyl)azidoacetamides

A general and expedient method based on a click reaction has been developed for the synthesis of novel glycolipids. The Cu(I) catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition of several fully acetylated β- as well as α-d-glycopyranosyl azides, including the 1,6-diazide derived from d-glucose, with long chain alkyl propargyl ethers gave the respective 1,4-substituted 1,2,3-triazole derivatives in good yields. Treatment of fully acetylated N-(β-glycopyranosyl)azidoacetamides under similar conditions with alkyl propargyl ethers afforded the 1,2,3-triazolylacetamido derivatives in fairly good yields. Zemplen de-O-acetylation of all the fully acetylated derivatives furnished the free glycolipids in quantitative yields.     

Versatile synthesis of 4-spiro-β-lactam-3-carbonitriles via the intramolecular nucleophilic cyclization of N-(p-hydroxyphenyl)cyanoacetamides

A series of 4-spiro-cyclohexadienonyl-β-lactam-3-carbonitriles, 2,7-dioxo-1-azaspiro[3.5]nona-5,8-diene-3-carbonitriles, was synthesized in satisfactory to excellent yields via the intramolecular nucleophilic cyclization of N-(p-hydroxyphenyl)cyanoacetamides with iodobenzene diacetate (IBD) as oxidant and potassium hydroxide as base. Acetic 4-spiro-cyclohexadienonyl-β-lactam-3-carbimidic anhydrides were obtained when organic base triethylamine was applied instead of potassium hydroxide. The mechanisms of the intramolecular nucleophilic cyclization and formation of acetic β-lactam-3-carbimidic anhydrides were proposed. The cyclization is a sequence of nucleophilic ipso addition and oxidative dearomatization. The formation of acetic carbimidic anhydrides is an acid-catalyzed acetate addition to the nitriles.     

Facile rearrangement of N-(α-aminoacyl)cytidines to N-(4-cytidinyl)amino acid amides

Under near neutral and mildly basic conditions, primary N⁴-(α-aminoacyl)cytidines (4a-g) undergo a facile rearrangement to form N-(4-cytidinyl)amino acid amides (5a-g). Secondary aminoacyl derivatives rearrange with other competing pathways. Tertiary aminoacyl derivatives do not rearrange.     

Application of the addition of triorganozincates to N-(tert-butanesulfinyl)imines to the enantioselective synthesis of α-amino acids

Highly enantiomerically enriched N-protected α-amino acids can be easily prepared from optically pure N-(tert-butanesulfinyl)imines by a four-step sequence involving: diastereoselective addition of a triorganozincate to the imine, removal of the sulfinyl group, benzoylation of the nitrogen atom of the obtained primary amine and oxidation of one of the substituents on the carbon atom α to the nitrogen. Using the same configuration in the sulfinyl chiral auxiliary, amino acids with the (R) or the (S) configuration can be prepared by choosing the proper combination of imine and organozincate. α,α-Disubstituted α-amino esters with high optical purity can also be prepared by the diastereoselective addition of trialkylzincates to α-imino esters.     

Asymmetric synthesis of erythro-β-hydroxyasparagine

erythro-Hydroxyasparagine (eHyAsn, 1) occurs in a number of naturally occurring peptides and proteins. Previous syntheses have relied on enzyme-catalyzed reactions to produce relevant, optically active intermediates. We report herein a completely chemical synthesis that intercepts Boger’s synthesis of the diastereomer (tHyAsn, 4), utilizing a Sharpless asymmetric aminohydroxylation reaction to introduce the two stereocenters. Boc-HyAsn(OTBS)-OH (10) was coupled effectively with phenylalanine methyl ester using EDC/HOBt.     

A short and efficient synthesis of (±) O-methylperezone based on a novel oxidative degradation approach

A short synthesis of (±) O-methylperezone based on a novel oxidative degradation approach (ODA) has been achieved. Distinguished features are: the direct metalation of a phenolic benzylamine and its oxidative degradation to the corresponding 1,4-benzoquinone by the action of Fremy's salt.     

Stereoselective multigram-scale synthesis of cis- and trans-β-phenylproline derivatives

Efficient routes for the gram-scale preparation of the proline analogues that bear a phenyl substituent attached to the pyrrolidine β carbon (cis- and trans-β-phenylproline) have been developed. The cis derivative was synthesized from N-Boc-β-alanine in six steps and 78% overall yield. The generation of a vinyl triflate with full regiochemical control together with a high-yielding cross-coupling reaction and a completely stereoselective hydrogenation are at the basis of the high efficiency of the procedure. Epimerization of the cis β-phenylproline derivative with lithium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide provided access to the trans isomer.     

Stereoselective tribromomethylation of N-(tert-butanesulfinyl)imines with bromoform: practical synthesis of α-tribromomethyl amines

The unprecedented nucleophilic tribromomethylation of N-(tert-butanesulfinyl)imines with bromoform has been shown to be a highly stereoselective and practical method for the synthesis of enantiomerically pure α-tribromomethyl amines. THF has proven to be the best solvent in this addition reaction. By changing the reaction solvent from THF to DMF, 2,2-dibromoaziridines can also be synthesized directly from bromoform and N-(tert-butanesulfinyl)imines under similar reaction conditions.     

Temperature-dependent molecular-recognizable membranes based on poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) and β-cyclodextrin

A novel temperature-dependent molecular-recognizable membrane, poly(N-isopropylacylamide-co-glycidyl methacrylate/cyclodextrin)-grafted-polyethylene terephthalate (P(NIPAM-co-GMA/CD)-g-PET) membrane, is prepared by the combination of plasma-induced pore-filling grafting polymerization and chemical reaction. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images show that the surfaces and cross-sections of the prepared membranes are uniformly grafted by polymeric layer. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) results show that CDs are successfully induced onto the P(NIPAM-co-GMA) grafted chains through reaction with epoxy groups. When the environmental temperature increases from 25 °C to 45 °C, the contact angle of prepared P(NIPAM-co-GMA/CD)-g-PET membrane increases from 65° to 76.9°; whereas, that of substrate membrane decreases from 84.8° to 77.1°. During the dynamic adsorption experiments, the guest 8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonic acid ammonium salt (ANS) molecules are adsorbed onto the P(NIPAM-co-GMA/CD)-g-PET membrane at lower temperature (25 °C) and desorbed from it at higher temperature (40 °C) with good repeatability. This phenomenon of adsorption at low temperature and desorption at high temperature of the P(NIPAM-co-GMA/CD)-g-PET membrane is attributable to both the “swollen–shrunken” configuration change of P(NIPAM-co-GMA) grafted chains and the molecular recognition of CD toward ANS. The P(NIPAM-co-GMA/CD)-g-PET membrane show both good thermo-responsibility and temperature-dependent molecular-recognizable characteristics toward guest molecules, which is highly potential to be applied in temperature-controlled affinity separations.     

Stereoselective synthesis of 1-O-β-feruloyl and 1-O-β-sinapoyl glucopyranoses

1-O-β-Feruloyl and 1-O-β-sinapoyl glucopyranoses are two common substrates for serine carboxypeptidase-like acyltransferases and serve as acyl donors in the biosynthesis of numerous secondary metabolites. In addition, they are involved in plant cell wall cross-linking and are also ideal substrates for studying the kinetics of lignification involving hydroxycinnamates. We report the first chemical (and multi-gram scale) synthesis of 1-O-β-feruloyl and 1-O-β-sinapoyl glucopyranoses.     

Biodegradable and thermoresponsive micelles of triblock copolymers based on 2-(N,N-dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate and ε-caprolactone for controlled drug delivery

Amphiphilic triblock copolymers, poly(2-(N,N-dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate)_x-block-poly(caprolactone)-block-poly(2-(N,N-dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate)_x, PDMAEMA_Co, were synthesized. Polymerization and structural features of the polymers were analyzed by different physicochemical techniques (GPC, ¹H NMR and FTIR). Formation of hydrophobic domains as cores of the micelles was studied by ¹H NMR and further confirmed by fluorescence. Dynamic light scattering measurements showed a monodispersed size distribution only for the copolymer with the lowest degree of polymerization, while increasing the length of PDMAEMA blocks leads to a bimodal size distribution. The micelles showed reversible dispersion/aggregation in response to temperature cycles through an outer polymer shell lower critical solution temperature (LCST) for PDMAEMA at temperatures between 54 and 87 °C. The triblock copolymer micelles were loaded with the sparingly water-soluble anticancer drug, chlorambucil, by a dialysis procedure. The drug release profile monitored by fluorescence showed that the release of chlorambucil from PDMAEMA nanoparticles is controlled by a combined degradation-diffusion mechanism.     

One-pot synthesis of (Z)-β-sulfonyl enoates from ethyl propiolate

β-Sulfonyl enoates may be synthesized through a one-pot two-step sequence from ethyl propiolate with good to excellent selectivity for the Z isomer. Trialkylamines catalyze thioconjugate additions of aryl thiols, and alkoxides catalyze the addition of aliphatic thiols. Addition of meta-chloroperbenzoic acid (mCPBA) and LiClO₄ to the reaction mixture provides rapid access to the sulfonyl enoates. Yields of the pure Z isomer range from 51-90%.     

A novel one-pot synthesis of α-keto-1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives based on isocyanide-Nef reaction

Various α-keto-1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives were synthesized through a sequential intermolecular dehydrochlorination/intramolecular aza-Wittig reaction of carboxylic acids and imidoyl chloride intermediates, which were generated by isocyanide-Nef reaction of acyl chlorides and (N-isocyanimine) triphenylphosphorane (1) in CH₂Cl₂ at room temperature.     

Synthesis of novel α-CF3-trifluoroalanine derivatives containing N-(diethoxyphosphoryl)difluoroacetyl group

An efficient synthesis of biologically interesting α-CF₃-trifluoroalanine derivatives bearing N-(diethoxyphosphoryl)difluoroacetyl moiety in good yields has been elaborated. The key substrate, α-TFM-imino ester, prepared from methyl trifluoropyruvate and (diethoxyphosphoryl)difluoroacetamide, followed by dehydration, was subjected to regiospecific reactions with various nucleophiles, including organometallic, π-donor compounds and sodium borohydride. These novel products may find a viable application in the modification of peptides or serve as potential drug candidates.     

N-(α-Amidoalkyl)benzotriazole-mediated synthesis of β′-amido β-diketones: a general synthetic protocol for N-[β-(3,5-di and 1,3,5-trisubstituted pyrazol-4-yl)alkyl] amides

Various β′-amido-β-diketones were first synthesized with N-(α-amidoalkyl)benzotriazole-mediated amidoalkylation of 1,3-diketones in moderate yields. These intermediates undergo rapid condensation with hydrazines to give the corresponding N-[β-(3,5-di and 1,3,5-trisubstituted pyrazol-4-yl)alkyl]amides.     

Conjugate addition of lithium N-tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy-N-(α-methylbenzyl)amide: asymmetric synthesis of β-trisubstituted amino acids

Conjugate addition of the homochiral ammonia equivalent lithium N-tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy-N-(α-methylbenzyl)amide to a range of α,β-unsaturated esters gives the corresponding β-amino esters in moderate to good levels of diastereoselectivity. O-Desilylation and cyclisation furnishes homochiral isoxazolidin-5-ones in >99:1 dr after purification. Sequential alkylation of these templates proceeds to give the corresponding 3,4-anti-disubstituted and 3,4,4-trisubstituted derivatives as single diastereoisomers after purification. The first alkylation occurs with high levels of diastereoselectivity on the face of the enolate anti to the C(3)-substituent, whereas the facial selectivity of the second alkylation is governed by a chiral relay effect, which depends upon the relative steric bulk of both the C(3)- and C(4)-substituents. Subsequent hydrogenolysis promotes cleavage of both the N-α-methylbenzyl group and the N-O bond within the isoxazolidin-5-one ring in one pot to give the corresponding β^2,2,3-trisubstituted amino acids directly.     

Nucleophilic replacement of p-(1-chloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)phenols: novel synthesis of β-trifluoromethyl-tyrosine

Three para-(1-chloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)phenols 2a-c were prepared by selective α-chlorination of the corresponding alcohols 1a-c. Substitution of 2a by active methylene compound 4 proceeds smoothly in the presence of an appropriate base at room temperature, giving substituted products 5-9 in good yields. On the basis of this finding, both the important β-trifluoromethyl-tyrosine 15 and its derivatives have been successfully synthesized.