Self-disproportionation of enantiomers of heterocyclic compounds having a tertiary trifluoromethyl alcohol center on chromatography with a non-chiral system

Self-disproportionation of enantiomers of heterocycles having a tertiary trifluoromethyl alcohol center on an achiral silica-gel stationary phase is discussed. During the chromatographic separation of an enantiomerically enriched mixture of 1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenethyl)-3-hydroxy-3-(trifluoromethyl)-6,7-dihydro-1H-indole-2,4(3H,5H)-dione (1) by eluting with ether on a non-chiral regular silica-gel significant enantiomeric enrichment was observed. Separation of non-racemic samples of 1 with enantiomeric excess values of 10-54% was carefully investigated: enantiomerically pure 1 with 99.9% ee was obtained by the use of 1 with at least 40% ee. A remarkable enantiomeric enrichment in the faster eluting fractions was also observed for compound 1 with only 30% ee to transform into 80% ee. Other enantiomeric mixtures of heterocyclic molecules containing a trifluoromethyl alcohol moiety at their quaternary carbon center were also examined from an SDE view point.     

Polymer-supported l-prolinol-based catalysts for the enantioselective addition of dialkylzinc reagents to N-(diphenylphosphinyl)imines

l-Prolinol-based ligands anchored to Merrifield or Wang-type resins have been shown to form efficient catalysts for the enantioselective addition of dialkylzinc reagents to N-(diphenylphosphinyl)imines. The enantioselectivity achieved with the polymeric catalyst (ee up to 88%) is slightly lower than the one obtained with the homogeneous ligand N-benzyl-l-prolinol, but the polymer-supported ligand presents the advantage of its recyclability: it can be recovered and used in up to six consecutive catalytic cycles with only a slight decrease in the enantiomeric excess. The phosphinamides obtained as addition products can be transformed into the corresponding enantiomerically enriched α-branched primary amines under mild acidic conditions.     

Application of the retroaldol reaction to asymmetric synthesis: a new concept in organic syntheses

Aldol 5b, easily obtained from dihydrocarvone 6b, reacts with organolithium and Grignard reagents leading to enantiomerically enriched alcohols 8 (ee up to 35%). Thus, aldol 5b is a synthetic equivalent of benzaldehyde with a masked prochiral face.     

Enantioselective Michael addition of malonates to aromatic nitroalkenes catalyzed by monosaccharide-based chiral crown ethers

The asymmetric Michael addition of diethyl malonate and α-substituted diethyl malonates to aromatic nitroalkenes was carried out under mild reaction conditions in a solid–liquid phase transfer reaction in the presence of α-d-glucopyranoside- and α-d-mannopyranoside-based crown ethers as the catalysts. The use of d-glucose-based lariat ether 1 gave the best results. The substituents of the β-nitrostyrene and the diethyl malonate had a significant impact on the chemical yields and enantioselectivity. The addition of diethyl-2-acetamidomalonate to aromatic nitroalkenes afforded the corresponding Michael adducts in moderate to high enantiomeric excess (ee up to 99%). The reaction of diethyl-2-methylmalonate with 2-nitro-β-nitrostyrene gave the adduct with 93% enantiomeric excess in the presence of crown catalyst 1.     

Palladium-catalyzed asymmetric allylic nucleophilic substitution reactions using chiral tert-butanesulfinylphosphine ligands

The asymmetric allylic alkylation of racemic 1,3-diphenyl-2-propenyl acetate 3 with dimethyl malonate proceeded smoothly in the presence of lithium acetate, BSA (N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)acetamide), [Pd(η³-C₃H₅)Cl]₂, and chiral tert-butanesulfinylphosphine ligand 2c to give the allylic alkylation product in good yield and high enantiomeric excess (up to 93% ee), while the enantioselectivities of allylic amination of 3 with various amines were moderate (up to 76% ee).     

A new enzymatic strategy for the preparation of (2R,3S)-3-phenylisoserine: a key intermediate for the Taxol side chain

Burkholderia cepacia lipase PS-IM catalysed the hydrolysis of racemic ethyl 3-amino-3-phenyl-2-hydroxypropionate with excellent enantioselectivity (E >200), when the reaction was performed with added H₂O as a nucleophile, in iPr₂O, at 50 °C. The hydrolysis of the less reactive enantiomeric ethyl 3-amino-3-phenyl-2-hydroxypropionate with 18% HCl afforded the corresponding enantiomerically pure (2R,3S)-3-amino-3-phenyl-2-hydroxypropionic acid hydrochloride, a key intermediate for the Taxol side chain.     

Minor Enantiomer Recycling: Application to Enantioselective Syntheses of Beta Blockers

Continuous recycling of the minor product enantiomer obtained from the acetylcyanation of prochiral aldehydes provided access to highly enantiomerically enriched products. Cyanohydrin derivatives, which under normal conditions are obtained with modest or poor enantiomeric ratios, were formed with high enantiomeric purity by using a reinforcing combination of a chiral Lewis acid catalyst and a biocatalyst. The primarily obtained products were transformed into β‐adrenergic antagonists (S)‐propanolol, (R)‐dichloroisoproterenol, and (R)‐pronethalol by means of a two‐step procedure.     

Self-disproportionation of enantiomers of 3,3,3-trifluorolactic acid amides via sublimation

Preparation of racemic and enantiomerically enriched N-phenyl- and N-benzyl-3,3,3-trifluorolactic acid amides has been developed. These compounds were found to have substantial magnitude of the self-disproportionation of enantiomers (SDE) via sublimation. For example, when N-phenyl-3,3,3-trifluorolactic acid amide of 87% ee was sublimed (12 h) from a Petri dish at 80 °C open to the atmosphere, the enantiomeric excess of the remainder increased to 96% ee. On the other hand, when a sample of the same compound of 67% ee was subjected to SDE via sublimation under the same conditions, the enantiomeric excess has decreased to 18% ee. These preliminary results as well as excellent chemical and physico-chemical characteristics of these amide derivatives render them as readily available and very promising substrates for systematic study of SDE via sublimation.     

Catalytic and stoichiometric approaches to the desymmetrisation of centrosymmetric piperazines by enantioselective acylation: a total synthesis of dragmacidin A

The enantioselective desymmetrisation of centrosymmetric piperazines was investigated using both catalytic and stoichiometric asymmetric acylation approaches. The catalytic approach involved the desymmetrisation of 2,5-trans-dimethylpiperazine under the control of chiral DMAP analogues. With one equivalent of piperazine, relative to the acylating agent, low yields of products were obtained in up to 70% ee. It was shown that an inevitable 'proof reading' effect was occurring which increased the enantiomeric excess of the desymmetrised product through its kinetic resolution. The desymmetrisation of centrosymmetric piperazines with chiral acylating agents [(1R,2R)-N-formyl-1,2-bis(pentafluoro-benzenesulfonamido)cyclohexane and (1R,2R)-N-acetyl-1,2-bis(trifluoromethanesulfonamido)-cyclohexane] was also studied. The yield and enantioselectivity of the process was highly dependent on the solvent used and the substitution of the piperazine. However, in some cases, good yields of enantiomerically enriched products could be obtained (up to 87% based on the limiting chiral reagent) in good enantiomeric excesses (up to 84% ee). The approach was exploited in the total synthesis of Dragmacidin A.     

Stereoselective synthesis of γ-lactone fused cyclopentanoids

The stereoselective synthesis of γ-lactone fused cyclopentanoids applying chemoenzymatic methods is described. rac-2-Hydroxymethyl-1,4,5,6-tetrachloro-7,7-dimethoxybicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene and rac-2-hydroxymethyl-1,4,5,6,7,7-hexachlorobicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene were successfully resolved by Candida rugosa lipase (CRL), to afford enantiomerically enriched products with an ee of 94 and 97%, respectively. The enantiomerically enriched acetates were then subjected to ruthenium and/or cerium catalyzed oxidation to afford α-diketones and subsequent alkaline H₂O₂ mediated oxidative cleavage reaction of α-diketones, followed by CH₂N₂ esterification, gave enantiomerically enriched γ-lactone fused cyclopentanoids with known absolute configurations.     

Highly enantioselective introduction of bis(alkoxycarbonyl)methyl group into the 2-position of piperidine skeleton

Copper ion catalyzed carbon–carbon bond forming reaction of N-acyliminium ions with diaryl malonates was achieved with high enantioselectivity. The key intermediates in the method were 2-methoxy-3,4-didehydropiperidines, which were easily prepared through electrochemical oxidation of 1-(p-methoxybenzoyl)piperidine in methanol followed by the conversion of the oxidation product to didehydropiperidine derivative, which was subjected to a chiral Cu(II) catalyzed coupling reaction with diaryl malonates affording diaryl 2-piperidylmalonates. The maximum % ee (ee, enantiomeric excess) was 97% when di-p-chlorophenyl malonate was used as a nucleophile.     

Chiral fluoroacetic acid: synthesis of (R)- and (S)-[2H1]-fluoroacetate in high enantiopurity

A two-step synthesis of (R)- and (S)-[²H₁]-fluoroacetate (sodium salts) in high enantioselectivity is reported. The synthesis is the development of a previous one in which the enantioselectivity has been increased from ～38% ee to >95% ee. The improvement in enantioselectivity applied Bio’s methodology, which involved a deoxyfluorination reaction with DAST on either enantiomer of [²H₁]-benzyl alcohol, adding TMS-morpholine to the reaction. The additive promotes an S_N2 inversion process, and suppresses a competing non-stereospecific S_N1 reaction course, and as a result significantly improves the stereointegrity of the C–F bond formation. The intermediate [²H₁]-benzyl alcohols, [²H₁]-benzyl fluorides and the product [²H₁]-fluoroacetates as their hexyl esters were separately assayed for their stereochemical integrity, using the Courtieu method. This method involved measuring their ²H NMR spectra in a chiral matrix of poly-γ-benzyl l-glutamate. The chiral assay demonstrated that there was no significant loss in stereointegrity during the deoxyfluorination reaction and showed that the enantiomers of [²H₁]-fluoroacetate were generated with high enantiomeric purity (95% ee).     

Self-disproportionation of enantiomers of α-trifluoromethyl lactic acid amides via sublimation

Preparation of racemic and enantiomerically enriched α-trifluoromethyl lactic acid amide [NHPh, NH(4-Cl-C₆H₅), NHBn, NHt-Bu] derivatives have been developed. Ph, 4-Cl-C₆H₅, and tert-Bu derivatives were found to have substantial magnitude of the self-disproportionation of enantiomers (SDE) via sublimation. For example, when the optically enriched Ph, 4-Cl-C₆H₅, and tert-Bu amide derivatives were subjected to sublimation under kinetic conditions (Petri dish in open air), the enantiomeric excess of the remainder has noticeably increased. On the other hand, the SDE of Bn amide derivative by sublimation resulted in almost no change in the optical purity of the remainder. These preliminary results on the SDE of the compounds under study, as well as their excellent chemical and physico-chemical characteristics, render these amide derivatives as readily available and very promising substrates for systematic study of SDE via sublimation.     

Synthesis,characterization, and organocatalytic application of chiral ionic liquids derived from (S,R)-noscapine

(S,R)-Noscapine, a phthalideisoquinoline alkaloid has been used as precursor for the synthesis of chiral ionic liquids (CILs). Noscapine based CILs have been synthesized from reaction between (S,R)-noscapine and methyl iodide in acetonitrile at room temperature. The synthesized CILs have been characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, EI-MS, and polarimetry techniques. These CILs have been used as organocatalysts in the enantioselective reduction of prochiral ketones to produce optically active secondary alcohols. The optically active secondary alcohols have been obtained with excellent yields and low to moderate enantiomeric excess (ee); also the complete enantiomeric excess (100% ee) has been achieved in some cases.     

A new dinuclear chiral salen complexes for asymmetric ring opening and closing reactions: Synthesis of valuable chiral intermediates

A new dinuclear chiral Co(salen) complexes bearing group 13 metals have been synthesized and characterized. The easily prepared complexes exhibited very high catalytic reactivity and enantioselectivity for the asymmetric ring opening of epoxides with H₂O, chloride ions and carboxylic acids and consequently provide enantiomerically enriched terminal epoxides (>99% ee). It also catalyzes the asymmetric cyclization of ring opened product, to prepare optically pure terminal epoxides in one step. The homogeneous dinuclear chiral Co(salen) have been covalently immobilized on MCM-41. The potential benefits of heterogenization include facilitation of catalyst separation and recyclability requiring very simple techniques. The system described is very efficient.     

Microbial enantioselective ester hydrolysis for the preparation of optically active 4,1-benzoxazepine-3-acetic acid derivatives as squalene synthase inhibitors

Microbial enantioselective ester hydrolysis for the preparation of optically active (3R,5S)-(-)-5-phenyl-4,1-benzoxazepine-3-acetic acid derivatives as potent squalene synthase inhibitors was investigated. Pseudomonas diminuta and Pseudomonas taetrolens hydrolyzed the racemic ethyl ester of the 5-(2-chlorophenyl) analogue to yield the (-)-carboxylic acid with excellent enantiomeric excess (>99% ee). We found that the (-)-enantiomer was an active inhibitor. Bulkiness of the ester moiety did not affect the enantioselectivity but did affect reactivity. The racemic ethyl ester of the 5-(2-methoxyphenyl) analogue, 5-(2,3-dimethoxyphenyl) analogue and 5-(2,4-dimethoxyphenyl) analogue were also hydrolyzed with Pseudomonas taetrolens to afford enantiomerically pure (-)-carboxylic acids in large scale. As another route to (3R,5S)-(-)-7-chloro-5-(2,3-dimethoxyphenyl)-1-neopentyl-2-oxo-1,2,3,5-tetrahydro-4,1-benzoxazepine-3-acetic acid [(-)-1c], the earlier intermediate (-)-2-amino-5-chloro-alpha-(2,3-dimethoxyphenyl)benzyl alcohol [(-)-12] was successfully obtained by asymmetric hydrolysis of (+/-)-5-chloro-alpha-(2,3-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-pivaloylaminobenzyl acetate with Pseudomonas sp. S-13 with >99% ee in kilogram scale followed by alkaline treatment. The product (-)-12 was converted to (-)-1c without racemization.     

On the applicability of the Jones active site model of pig liver esterase to S-chiral and prochiral sulfinyl substrates

A series of racemic methyl sulfinylacetates was hydrolyzed in the presence of pig liver esterase (PLE) under kinetic resolution conditions to give the corresponding S-chiral sulfinylacetic acids and recovered esters in moderate enantiomeric purity. The Jones active site model was found to be suitable for explaining the enantioselectivity of the above reaction and for the PLE-mediated desymmetrization of prochiral sulfinyldicarboxylates.     

An efficient enzyme-catalyzed kinetic resolution: large-scale preparation of an enantiomerically pure indole-ethyl ester derivative,a key component for the synthesis of a prostaglandin D2 receptor antagonist,an anti-allergic rhinitis drug candidate

Three racemic esters including indole-ethyl ester 1 as well as its related derivatives 3 and 4 in Scheme 1, all synthetic intermediates for the preparation of chiral compound 5, were used as substrates to evaluate the catalytic potentials of a panel of commercial enzymes for asymmetric hydrolysis. After an extensive evaluation of the conversion rates (C), enantiomeric excesses (ee) and enantioselectivity determination (E), lipase from Pseudomonas fluorescens was identified. This lipase catalyzed the asymmetric hydrolysis of racemic indole-ethyl ester 1 affording the desired enantiomerically pure intermediate 1 with 97% ee and an E value of 425. Indole-ethyl ester 1, with the following attributes: being early in the synthetic scheme, showing resistance to racemization in the later chemical reactions as well as the possibility of the recycling of the unwanted enantiomer, was therefore selected for optimization and establishment of an enzyme-catalyzed reaction for the industrial-scale synthesis of the compound 5, a drug candidate for the treatment of allergic rhinitis.     

Asymmetric syntheses via metalated chiral hydrazones : Overall enantioselective α-alkylation of acyclic ketones

A general method is described, which allows the overall enantioselective α-alkylation of acyclic ketones in good overall yields (44–86%,, 4 steps) and enantioselectivities ranging routinely from > 94% ee up to virtually complete asymmetric induction (99.5% ee). The acyclic ketones are transformed to their corresponding “SAMP-hydrazones” (S)-2 by reaction with the enantiomerically pure hydrazine (S)-l-amino-2-methoxymethyl-pyrrolidine [SAMP, (S)-1], readily available from (S)-proline. Metalation to form chiral azaenolates (S)-3 of E_ccZcn-configuration and then alkylation to product hydrazones 4 followed by hydrazone cleavage via acidic hydrolysis of methiodides 9 in a two phase system or ozonolysis, leads to α-substituted, enantiomerically enriched, acyclic ketones 5. In special cases, where a phenyl group is directly attached to the newly generated center of chirality (5n,o,p), only low enantiomeric excesses are observed. 17 Examples, including first applications in natural product synthesis (cf 5abe and h) are summarized     

Biphasic Enantioselective Fluorescent Recognition of Amino Acids by a Fluorophilic Probe

A fluorophilic fluorescent probe based on a perfluoroalkyl-substituted bis(binaphthyl) compound was designed and synthesized. It displayed a highly enantioselective fluorescence response toward structurally diverse amino acids in a biphasic fluorous/aqueous system with enantiomeric fluorescent enhancement ratio (ef; ΔI_D/ΔI_L) values up to 45.2 (histidine). It can be used to determine the enantiomeric compositions of amino acids and also allows the amino acid enantiomers to be visually discriminated. NMR and mass-spectroscopic investigations provided insights into the observed high enantioselectivity. This biphasic fluorescent recognition was used to determine the enantiomeric composition of the crude phenylalanine products generated by an enzyme-catalyzed asymmetric hydrolysis under various reaction conditions. The fluorous-phase-based fluorescence measurement under the biphasic conditions was able to minimize the interference of other reaction components and thus has potential in asymmetric reaction screening.