Synthesis of tricyclic isoindoles and thiazolo[3,2-c][1,3]benzoxazines

The thermolysis of (3R,9bS)-5-oxo-2,3,5,9b-tetrahydrothiazolo[2,3-a]isoindole-3-carboxylic acids in Ac₂O led to novel 3-methylene-2,5-dioxo-3H,9bH-oxazolo[2,3-a]isoindoles and chiral (9bS)-5-oxo-2,3,5,9b-tetrahydrothiazolo[2,3-a]isoindoles were obtained on FVP. Starting from l-cysteine methyl ester (3R,10bR)-5-oxo-2,3-dihydro-10bH-[1.3]thiazolo[3,2-c][1,3]benzoxazines were obtained as single stereoisomers. The thermolysis of (3R,10bR)-5-oxo-2,3-dihydro-10bH-[1.3]thiazolo[3,2-c][1,3]benzoxazine-3-carboxylic acid in Ac₂O gave 5-acetyl-2-phenyl-2,3-dihydrothiazole. The structures of methyl (3R,9bS)-5-oxo-2,3,5,9b-tetrahydrothiazolo[2,3-a]isoindole-3-carboxylate 1a and methyl (2R,4R)-N-chlorocarbonyl-2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)thiazolidine-4-carboxylate 9 were determined by X-ray crystallography.     

Functionalized enamines—XXII : Annelation of enamines of polycyclic α,β-unsaturated ketones; a facile partial synthesis of furano- indolo- and benzsteroids. Total synthesis of 3-oxa-A-norsteroid

Reaction of dienamine 4a with substituted phenacyl bromides gave steroidal[3,4-b] furans 5a–g. The same principle reaction was utilized for the total synthesis of (±) 2 - (p - chlorophenyl) - 3 - oxa - A - nor - estra - 1,5(10), 9(11) - triene - 17 - acetate 12a. Treatment of 4a, b with benzenediazonium salts, in DMF, followed by a Fischer-indole cyclization yielded steroidal[6, 7-b] indoles 8a–k. Dienamine 4b could be annelated to benz[4, 5, 6] steroids 9a and 9b by reaction with methyl vinyl ketone and crotonaldehyde, respectively.     

Synthesis and reductive desulfurization of chiral non-racemic benzothienoindolizines. An efficient approach to a novel bioactive tylophorine alkaloid analogue and 6-phenylindolizidine

Enantiopure di- and tetrahydro[1]benzothieno[3,2-f]indolizines 3,4,9 and the benzothieno analogue 5 of the bioactive alkaloid tylophorine 10 were synthesized easily from the readily available benzo[b]thiophene-3-carboxaldehyde 1 and (S)-glutamic acid 2 in good overall yields. Applying a diastereoselective reductive desulfurization of benzo[b]thiophene 3,4 and 5 were readily converted into the enantiopure alcohols 11a–d, alcohols 11c,d and the target 6(R)-phenyl-8a(R)-indolizidine 6 (7 steps, 14%). During these reduction studies, the results obtained including the stereoinduction of the reaction are also discussed.     

Asymmetric catalysis. Part 153: Metal-catalysed enantioselective α-ketol rearrangement

Promoted by catalytic amounts of Ni complexes tertiary α-hydroxyketones 1a, 3a–5a undergo rearrangement, forming chiral isomers 1b, 3b–5b. The best enantioselection was obtained with the model system 1-benzoylcyclopentanol 4a/2-hydroxy-2-phenylcyclohexanone 4b. In a ligand screening 2-[4-(S)-tert-butyloxazolin-2-yl]pyridine gave the highest enantiomeric excess of 46% (S)-4b. The analogous isomerisation reactions of α-hydroxyimines 6a, 7a forming chiral α-aminoketones 6b, 7b were established.     

Preparation of (1R,8S)- and (1S,8R)-9-azabicyclo[6.2.0]dec-4-en-10-one: potential starting compounds for the synthesis of anatoxin-a

9-Azabicyclo[6.2.0]dec-4-en-10-one (±)-2, obtained from cyclooctadiene by addition of chlorosulfonyl isocyanate, was N-hydroxymethylated to (±)-3 and then resolved by lipase-catalysed asymmetric acylation of the primary OH group at the (S)-stereogenic centre. High enantioselectivity (E=94) was observed when lipase PS and vinyl butyrate were used in di-iso-propyl ether at −15°C, resulting in the enantiomerically enriched ester 3a and alcohol 3b (e.e. ≥92%). Treatment of 3a and 3b with NH₄OH/MeOH afforded the corresponding β-lactams (1R,8S)-2a and (1S,8R)-2b (e.e. ≥93%), potential starting compounds in anatoxin-a synthesis. The ring opening of lactams (±)-2, (±)-7, 3a and 3b, followed by reduction, resulted in racemic 4–6 and 8 and enantiomeric 4a, 4b, 5a and 5b eight-membered cyclic β-amino acid derivatives.     

Reactions of β-substituted amines-IV: Kinetics and stereochemistry of the thermal to (r) 3-chloro-1-ethylpiperidine,and the stereo-chemical course of their reactions with nucleophiles

The rate of the thermal rearrangement of (S) 2 chloromethyl-1-ethylpyrrolidine [(S)-1a] to (R)-3-chloro-1-ethylpiperidine [(R) 2a] has been examined at three temperatures in benzene by PMR and polarimetry. The rearrangement was shown to be completely stereospecific and to obey a simple first order rate law. The calculated E_a ΔH3 and ΔS3 were 22 ± 2 $\text{kcal}\text{mole}$ (25°), 21 ± 2.5 $\text{kcal}\text{mole}$ (25°) and - 10 ± 2 e.u. (0°K) respectively. The effect of solvents having differing dielectric constants was also studied. A transition state 9'a and an ion pair intermediate 3a are suggested for the rearrangement. The stereochemical course of the reactions of (S)-1a, (R)-2a and (S)-2a with hydroxide and methoxide ions have been shown to be 100% stereospecific with an uncertainty of about 1%. The absolute configurations of all optically active reactants and products [(S)- and (R)-4a, (S)-4b (R)- and (S)-5a, (R)-5b, (S,S')-6a, (S,R')-7a and (R,R')-8a] were established by chemical correlations with known compounds or by ORD and chemical inference. The ring opening of both the primary and secondary aziridinium ion positions of 1-azonia-1-ethylbicyclo [3.1.0]hexane [(S)-3a] by nucleophiles proceeds entirely by S_N2 processes. The conversion of (R)-1-ethyl-3-hydroxypiperidine [(R)-5a] to (S)-2a. HCl with thionyl chloride in chloroform proceeds by inversion with 4.8% racemization, whereas the thermal rearrangement of (S)-1a to (R)-2a occurs with complete retention of absolute configuration.     

New pentacyclic ring systems: intramolecular cyclization of o,o′-disubstituted bibenzothiazoles

Efficient methods for the preparation of isomeric o,o′-diaminobibenzothiazoles (8a and 11a) and o,o′-diamino-2,2′-dimethylbibenzothiazoles (8b and 11b), potentially valuable building blocks for construction of hitherto unknown dithiazolo annulated pentacyclic heterocycles, have been developed. The dithiazolo annulated benzo[c]cinnolines 9a, 9b, and 12a were prepared from the corresponding diamines by oxidation with PhI(OAc)₂ in good yield. The dithiazolo annulated carbazoles 13 and 14 were efficiently prepared from the corresponding diamines by thermal cyclization in H₃PO₄. The unusual course of reduction and product formation of o,o′-dinitrosubstituted bibenzothiazoles 6a and 6b with SnCl₂ under acidic conditions was rationalized by DFT quantum-mechanical calculations. It was suggested that cyclic products are formed from dinitroso derivatives and open-shell species immediately following on a reduction path.     

Complementary kinetic and thermodynamic resolution of a chiral biaryl axis

The condensation of 2′-formylbiphenyl-2-carboxylic acid 4 with (S)-valinol proceeds under kinetic control to give a major product, (4bR,7S,aS)-6,7-dihydro-7-isopropyldibenz[c,e]oxazolo[3,2-a]azepin-9(4bH)-one 6a (84%), in which the biaryl axis has the (S)-configuration. Heating 6a at 140°C with a catalytic amount of acid gives rise to an equilibrium dominated by the diastereoisomeric (4bS,7S)-lactam 6b (6a:6b ratio 27:73), in which the biaryl unit has the (R)-configuration. The structures of both lactams were established by X-ray crystallography; no other diastereoisomers were obtained.     

Synthesis of 5-substituted-3-[(2′S,3′S)-3′-hydroxy-2′-hydroxymethyltetrahydrofuran-3′-yl]-1,2,4-oxadiazoles and their epimers

5-Phenyl-3-[(2′R,3′S)-3′-hydroxy-2′-dimethoxymethyltetrahydrofuran-3′-yl]-1,2,4-oxadiazole 10a and its epimer 11a, 5-methyl-3-[(2′R,3′S)-3′-hydroxy-2′-dimethoxymethyltetrahydrofuran-3′-yl]-1,2,4-oxadiazole 10b and its epimer 11b were synthesized from cyanohydrin benzoates 8a, 9a and cyanohydrin acetates 8b, 9b, respectively, by treatment with hydroxylamine in methanol via intramolecular transacylation and subsequent cyclization of the corresponding amidoximes. Hydrolysis and reduction of the dimethoxymethyl groups in the above compounds gave the desired compounds 12a, 13a, 12b and 13b.     

On the mechanism and diastereoselectivity of 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran formation from sulfinylbenzoquinones and 2-trimethylsilyloxyfuran

A mechanistic study of the reactions between 2-trimethylsilyloxyfuran 1 and (SS)-2-(arylsulfinyl)-1,4-benzoquinones 2a and 2b, giving rise to the diastereoselective formation of [3aS,8bS,SS]-3a,8b-dihydro-7-hydroxy-8-(arylsulfinyl)furo[3,2-b]benzofuran-2(3H)-ones 3a and 3b, is reported. The detection and ¹H NMR characterization of several precursors of 3a and 3b accounts for a Michael-type initial reaction which dictates the final diastereoselection of the process. A significant improvement of the stereoselectivity (up to 96% de) in the formation of the tert-butylsulfinyl substituted derivative 3c was achieved by using 2-(tert-butylsulfinyl)-1,4-benzoquinone 2c as the starting quinone.     

Synthesis of novel tricyclic isoindole derivatives

Novel 3-methylene-2,5-dioxo-3H,9bH-oxazolo[2,3-a]isoindoles were prepared from the thermolysis of (3R,9bS)-5-oxo-2,3,5,9b-tetrahydrothiazolo[2,3-a]isoindole-3-carboxylic acids in acetic anhydride. The structure of 3-methylene-2,5-dioxo-3H,9bH-oxazolo[2,3-a]isoindole 6a was determined by X-ray crystallography.     

Diastereoselective synthesis of new polyhydroxylated indolizidines from (l)-glutamic acid

A diastereoselective synthesis of two new swainsonine's analogues 1a and 1b with the piperidine ring fused to a phenyl nucleus at C6-C7, namely (1R, 2S, 10R, 10aR)-(+)-1,2,10-trihydroxy-1,2,3,5,10,10a-hexahydrobenzo[f] indolizine (1a) and (1S, 2R, 10R, 10aR)-(+)-1,2,10-trihydroxy-1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 10a-hexahydrobenzo[f] indolizine (1b), is described. Throughout this work, the effectiveness of the tricyclic indolizidine dione 5, readily available in three steps from the cheap l-glutamic acid, as an attractive platform for chemo- and stereodivergent transformations is illustrated. The key steps involved totally diastereoselective ketone reduction of compound 5 and catalytic cis-dihydroxylation of the unsaturated amide 10. The synthetic strategy also allowed for the diastereoselective synthesis of benzoanalogues of the 1,8a-di-epi-lentiginosine 3a ((1R, 2S, 10aR)-(+)-1,2-dihydroxy-1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 10a-hexahydrobenzo[f]indolizine) and 2,8a-di-epi-lentiginosine 3b ((1S, 2R, 10aR)-(+)-1,2-dihydroxy-1,2,3,5,10,10a-hexahydrobenzo[f]indolizine).     

Stereoselective production of (S)-1-aralkyl- and 1-arylethanols by freshly harvested and lyophilized yeast cells

Substituted (S)-1-phenyl- 2a–h and (S)-1-benzyl-propan-2-ols 4a and b, and (S)-1-phenylethanol 6 were produced from prochiral ketones 1a–h, 3a,b and 5 by reductions with freshly harvested Zygosaccharomyces rouxii and Debaryomyces hansenii cells. The bioreductions were also performed by lyophilized cells. Comparison of the secondary alcohols from the bioreductions 2b–e,g,h and 4a and authentic (S)-alcohols (S)-2b–e,g,h and (S)-4a synthesized from enantiopure (S)-methyloxirane 7 proved the absolute configuration of the products.     

Traceless chirality transfer from a norbornene β-amino acid to pyrimido[2,1-a]isoindole enantiomers

The synthesis of two enantiomeric pairs of pyrimidoisoindoles 9a, 9b and 10a, 10b is reported. During a domino ring-closure reaction, followed by cycloreversion, the chirality of diendo-(?)-(1R,2S,3R,4S)-3-aminobicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-2-carboxamide [(?)-1] was successfully transfered to heterocycles (+)-9a, (+)-10a, (?)-9b, (?)-10b and (?)-10c.     

Facile synthesis of regio-isomeric naphthofurans and benzodifurans

Naphtho[1,2-b]furans 1a-f, naphtho[2,1-b]furans 2a-f, benzo[1,2-b:5,4-b′]difurans 3a-b, benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]difurans 4a-b, and benzo[1,2-b:4,3-b′]difurans 5a-b were synthesized by base-catalyzed cyclization reaction of the corresponding o-alkoxybenzoylarene derivatives. The o-alkoxybenzoylarenes were obtained from the etherification reaction of the o-hydroxybenzoylarenes, which were prepared either by the reaction of methoxyarenes with benzoyl chloride in the presence of aluminum chloride or by photo-Fries rearrangement of aryl benzoates.     

Masked constrained cysteines: diastereoselective and enantioselective synthesis of 1-amino-2-mercaptocyclopropanecarboxylic acid derivatives

A diastereoselective and enantioselective synthesis of (Z)-1-benzoylamino-2-tritylsulfanylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid derivatives 8a,b and 9a,b was achieved starting from (−)- or (+)-menthyl 2-benzoylamino-3-tritylsulfanylacrylates 3a,b. Compounds 3 were reacted with diazomethane giving the corresponding pyrazolines 4a,b and 5a,b. These compounds, on melting, were transformed, under steric control, into the cyclopropaneamino acid derivatives (R,R)-8a,b and (S,S)-9a,b. The synthesis of a large class of chiral 2-S-alkyl-1-aminocyclopropanecarboxylic acid derivatives is possible after removing the trityl protecting group and subsequent alkylation reactions.     

Stereoselective intramolecular cycloadditions of homochiral N-alkenoyl aryl azides

Starting from the commercially available (S)-1-phenylethylamine and l-alanine benzylester, we synthesised the homochiral N-alkenoyl aryl azides 2a–2d. The intramolecular cycloaddition of unsubstituted 2a and 2b gave enantiopure 3,3a-dihydro-1,2,3-triazolo[1,5-a][1,4]benzodiazepine-4(6H)-ones 3a, 3b, 4a and 4b, while phenyl-substituted 2c and 2d gave enantiopure 1,1a-dihydro-2H-azirino[2,1-c][1,4]benzodiazepine-4(6H)-ones 5c, 5d, 6c and 6d.     

Micelles catalyzed one pot regio- and chemoselective synthesis of benzo[a]phenazines and naphtho[2,3-d]imidazoles ‘in H2O’

An efficient, novel, and concise one pot regio- and chemoselective synthesis of benzo[a]phenazines (4) and naphtho[2,3-d]imidazoles (8) has been accomplished in excellent yields by nucleophilic substitution reaction of 2,3-dichloro-1,4-naphthoquinone (1) with o-phenylenediamine (2) and benzamidines (7) respectively ‘in H₂O’ using base and micelles (SDS) as catalyst. Analog reaction of 2,3-dichloro-1,4-naphthoquinone (1) with 2-aminobenzenethiol (9) under identical conditions led to formation of a mixture of benzo[b]phenothiazine (10), benzo[a]phenothiazine (11), and benzo[a]-1,4-benzothiazino-3,2-phenothiazine (12) in 17%, 23%, and 57% yields, respectively.     

Polyhydroxylated pyrrolizidines. Part 8. Enantiospecific synthesis of looking-glass analogues of hyacinthacine A5 from DADP

(1R,2S,3S,5R,7aR)-1,2-Dihydroxy-3-hydroxymethyl-5-methylpyrrolizidine[(−)-3-epihyacinthacine A₅, 1a] and (1S,2R,3R,5S 7aS)-1,2-dihydroxy-3-hydroxymethylpyrrolizidine[(+)-3-epihyacinthacine A₅, 1b] have been synthesized either by Wittig's or Horner-Wadsworth-Emmond's (HWE's) methodology using aldehydes 4 and 9, both prepared from (2S,3S,4R,5R)-3,4-dibenzyloxy-2′-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)pyrrolidine (2, partially protected DADP), and the appropriate ylides, followed by cyclization through an internal reductive amination process of the resulting α,β-unsaturated ketones 5 and 10, respectively, and total deprotection.     

Trichloro- and methyldichlorogermyl monochelates and dibromo- and dichlorogermyl bischelates derived from N,N-disubstituted amides of 2-hydroxycarboxylic acids

The reactions of GeCl₄, GeBr₄, and MeGeCl₃ with O-trimethylsilyl derivatives of N,N-disubstituted amides of 2-hydroxycarboxylic acids afforded pentacoordinate and hexacoordinate neutral (O,O)-mono- and (O,O)-bischelates. The reactions of glycolic acid derivatives with GeX₄ produced bischelates X₂Ge[OCH₂C(O)NR²R³]₂ 7a,c,d (X = Cl, R² = R³ = Me (a), (CH₂)₅ (c), (CH₂CH₂)₂O (d)) and 8a (X = Br). By contrast, the reactions of lactic and mandelic acid derivatives with GeCl₄ and MeGeCl₃ gave monochelates Cl₃Ge[OCH(R¹)C(O)NR²R³] (S)-9a–c (R¹ = Me) and Cl₂MeGe[OCH(R¹)C(O)NR²R³] 10a (R¹ = H), (S)-11a,b (R¹ = Me), and (S)-12a (R¹ = Ph) (R²R³ = (CH₂)₄ (b)), respectively. According to the X-ray diffraction data, the Ge atom in bischelates 7c,d and 8a has a coordination number 6, and its coordination polyhedron can be described as a slightly distorted octahedron. In monochelates (S)-9a-c, 10a, (S)-11a,b, and (S)-12a, the Ge atom has a coordination number 5, and its coordination polyhedron can be described as a trigonal bipyramid with two halogen atoms or one halogen atom and one ethereal oxygen atom in equatorial positions and the halogen atom and the amide oxygen atom in the axial positions. The bonds in the axial positions are somewhat longer than the corresponding bonds in tetracoordinate Ge compounds.