Asymmetric skeletal rearrangement of symmetrically alpha,alpha-disubstituted alpha-amino aldehydes: a new entry to optically active alpha-hydroxy ketones

A unique asymmetric skeletal rearrangement of symmetrically alpha,alpha-disubstituted alpha-amino aldehydes has been accomplished for the first time using a chiral organoaluminum Lewis acid 1. For instance, treatment of (S)-2,2'-bis(trifluoromethanesulfonylamino)-1,1'-binaphthyl with Me3Al (1.0 equiv) in toluene at room temperature for 15 min and at 110 degrees C for an additional 15 min produced (S)-1, and a subsequent reaction with alpha -amino aldehyde 2a (R = CH2Ph) at -78 degrees C for 4 h and at -40 degrees C for 12 h resulted in the smooth rearrangement to the zwitterionic iminium intermediate A, which furnished the alpha-hydroxy ketone 3a (R = CH2Ph) in 93% isolated yield with 95% ee (S) after acidic hydrolysis. This result, together with other representative examples, clearly demonstrates the effectiveness of the present method for the hitherto difficult asymmetric synthesis of acyloins. Furthermore, we found that the treatment of the in situ generated A with DIBAH afforded the corresponding anti amino alcohol exclusively without loss of enantiomeric excess. Our approach casts light on the previously unexplored yet potential utility of alpha-amino aldehydes as synthetic building blocks and also provides a new entry to optically active alpha-hydroxy ketones and 1,2-amino alcohols.     

Organocatalytic asymmetric Neber reaction for the synthesis of 2H-azirine carboxylic esters

The first enantioselective Neber reaction of β-ketoxime sulfonates catalyzed by a bifunctional thiourea has been developed. The reaction proceeds stereoselectively with 5 mol % of the catalyst to give the 2H-azirine carboxylic esters in good yields with up to 93% ee. In addition, the resulting azirines can be successfully employed in the stereoselective synthesis of di- and trisubstituted aziridines.     

Asymmetric phase-transfer catalyzed glycolate alkylation, investigation of the scope, and application to the synthesis of (-)-ragaglitazar

[Reaction: see text]. Asymmetric glycolate alkylation using a protected acetophenone surrogate under solid-liquid phase-transfer conditions is a new approach to the synthesis of 2-hydroxy esters and acids. Diphenylmethyloxy-2,5-dimethoxyacetophenone 1 with a trifluorobenzyl cinchonidinium bromide catalyst 9 (10 mol %) and cesium hydroxide provided S-alkylation products 2 at -35 degrees C in high yield (80-99%) and with excellent enantioselectivities using a wide range of electrophiles (80-90% ee). Alkylated products were elaborated to useful alpha-hydroxy intermediates 3 using bis-TMS peroxide Baeyer-Villiger conditions and selective transesterification reactions. The ester products have been enantioenriched by simple recrystallization from ether to give a single isomer (99% ee). A tight ion-pair model is proposed for the observed S-stereoinduction that includes van der Waals contacts between the extended enolate and the isoquinoline of the catalyst. To demonstrate the utility of the new methodology, the anti-diabetes drug (-)-ragaglitazar 24 was synthesized in six steps from a key 2-alkoxy-3-p-phenoxypropionic acid 26 that was made using PTC glycolate alkylation.     

Bis(((S)-binaphthoxy)(isopropoxy)titanium) oxide as a mu-oxo-type chiral Lewis acid: application to catalytic asymmetric allylation of aldehydes

A new, chiral bis-Ti(IV) oxide of type 1 was successfully designed and can be utilized for strong activation of aldehyde carbonyls, thereby allowing a new catalytic enantioselective allylation of aldehydes with allyltributyltin. The chiral bis-Ti(IV) catalyst (S,S)-1 can be readily prepared either by treatment of bis(triisopropoxy)titanium oxide with (S)-binaphthol or by reaction of ((S)-binaphthoxy)isopropoxytitanium chloride with silver(I) oxide. Reaction of hydrocinnamaldehyde with allyltributyltin (1.1 equiv) under the influence of in situ generated chiral bis-Ti(IV) oxide (S,S)-1 (10 mol %) in CH2Cl2 at 0 degrees C for 4 h afforded 1-phenyl-5-hexen-3-ol in 84% yield with 99% ee. The present asymmetric allylation using nonracemic bis-Ti(IV) oxide 1 with partially resolved (S)-binaphthol exhibits a positive nonlinear effect in correlating the enantiopurity of allylation product with the ee of (S)-binaphthol. This asymmetric approach provides a very useful way for obtaining high reactivity and selectivity by the simple introduction of the M-O-M unit in the design of chiral Lewis acid catalysts.     

New catalysts for the base-promoted isomerization of epoxides to allylic alcohols. Broadened scope and near-perfect asymmetric induction

Optically active (1S,3R,4R)-3-[N-(trans-2,5-dialkyl)pyrrolidinyl]methyl-2-azabicyclo-[2.2.1]heptanes were evaluated as catalysts for the enantioselective beta-elimination of meso-epoxides. The (2R,5R)-dimethylpyrrolidinyl-substituted catalyst 4 exhibited exceptionally high enantioselectivity and reactivity, and several substrates were rearranged with enantioselectivities of 98-99% ee. In addition, the use of 4 allowed the first successful, true catalytic rearrangement of the difficult substrates cyclopentene oxide (81%, 96% ee) and (Z)-4-octene oxide (80%, 91% ee).     

Stereoselective construction of a beta-isopropenyl alcohol moiety at the C(2) and (3) of kallolide A and pinnatin a using a [2,3] Wittig rearrangement of cyclic furfuryl ethers

A stereocontrolled synthesis of anti- and syn-beta-isopropenyl alcohol moieties at the C(2)-C(3) positions of kallolide A and pinnatin A was accomplished employing the [2,3] Wittig rearrangement of (E)-and (Z)-cyclic furfuryl ethers 8. Enantioselective Wittig rearrangement of (E)- and (Z)-furfuryl ethers 8 using butyllithium and a chiral bis(oxazoline) was also examined to provide (2R,3R)-homoallylic alcohol anti-9 in up to 61% ee and (2R,3S)-syn-9 in up to 93% ee, respectively.     

Synthesis of 10,11-dihydroleukotriene B(4) metabolites via a nickel-catalyzed coupling reaction of cis-bromides and trans-alkenyl borates

Synthesis of 10,11-dihydro-, 10,11,14,15-tetrahydro-, and 10, 11-dihydro-12-oxoleukotriene B(4) compounds (2, 4, 5) was accomplished stereoselectively by using the nickel-catalyzed coupling reaction illustrated in Scheme 1. The C(1)-C(7) fragments, TBS ether 10a for 2 and 4 and ethyoxyethyl (EE) ether 10b for 5, were prepared in enantiomerically pure forms (>99% ee) by a modified literature procedure (ref 11a). On the other hand, boronate esters 11a and 11b, which correspond to the C(8)-C(20) parts of 2 and 4, respectively, were synthesized from (R)-epichlorohydrin (18) of 99% ee. Briefly, 18 was converted into acetylenes 24 and 32 through epoxide ring-opening with LiC triple bond CC(5)H(11)/BF(3).OEt(2) or C(7)H(15)MgBr/CuCN. Hydroboration of these acetylenes with (+)-(Ipc)(2)BH followed by reaction with MeCHO afforded the corresponding diethyl boronates, which upon ligand exchange with Me(2)C(CH(2)OH)(2) furnished boronate esters 11a and 11b in 75% and 77% yields, respectively. In a similar manner, racemic boronate ester rac-11a, an intermediate for synthesis of 5, was prepared from racemic epichlorohydrin. For synthesis of 2, borate 25 was generated from 11a (1.5 equiv) and MeLi (1.6 equiv). Without isolation, 25 was submitted to reaction with 10a (1 equiv) in the presence of a Ni(0) species at room temperature overnight to afford 26, which upon treatment with TBAF furnished 2 in 64% yield from 10a. Similarly, 11b and 10a furnished 4 in good yield. To synthesize 5, rac-11a and EE ether 10b were joined by the coupling reaction to produce 39, which was transformed into 40 by desilylation with TBAF. After hydrolysis of 40, oxidation with PDC followed by deprotection of the EE group furnished 5 in 36% yield from 40. In addition, 2 was converted into amide 3 in 92% yield.     

Metal-induced coordination inversion and carbon-nitrogen bond rearrangement. Structurally characterized phenyl isocyanate inserted into aluminum methyl compounds and O- and N-bound aluminum compounds

[C(4)H(3)N(CH(2)NMe(2))-2]AlMe(2) (1) is prepared in 88% yield by the reaction of substituted pyrrole [C(4)H(4)N(CH(2)NMe(2))-2] with 1 equiv of AlMe(3) in methylene chloride. Reaction of compound 1 with 1 equiv of phenyl isocyanate in toluene generates a seven-membered cycloaluminum compound [C(4)H(3)N[CH(2)NPh(CONMe(2))]-2] AlMe(2) (2). The phenyl isocyanate was inserted into the aluminum and dimethylamino nitrogen bond and induced an unusual rearrangement which results in C-N bond breaking and formation. A control experiment shows that the reaction of substituted pyrrole [C(4)H(4)N(CH(2)NMe(2))-2] with 1 equiv of phenyl isocyanate in diethyl ether yields a pyrrolyl attached urea derivative [C(4)H(3)N(CH(2)NMe(2))-2-[C(=O)NHPh]-1] (3). The demethanation reaction of AlMe(3) with 1 equiv of 3 in methylene chloride at 0 degrees C afforded O-bounded and N-bounded aluminum dimethyl compounds [C(4)H(3)N(CH(2)NMe(2))-2-[C(=O)NPh]-1]AlMe(2) (4a) and [C(4)H(3)N(CH(2)NMe(2))-2-[CO(=NPh)]-1]AlMe(2) (4b) in a total 78% yield after recrystallization. Both 4a and 4b are observed in (1)H NMR spectra; however, the relative ratio of 4a and 4b depends on the solvent used. Two equivalents of AlMe(3) was reacted with 3 in methylene chloride to yield a dinuclear aluminum compound AlMe(3)[C(4)H(3)N(CH(2)NMe(2))-2-[C(=O)NPh]-1] AlMe(2) (5). Reaction of 5 with another equivalent of ligand 3 results in the re-formation of compounds 4a and 4b.     

Fragmentierung von α-Aminoketoximen. IV. Teil Der Einfluss sterischer. Faktoren Fragmentierungsreaktion, 17. Mitteilung

(N-Methyl-2-piperidyl)phenyl ketoxime acetate( 10b ) and (N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)-phenyl ketoxime acetate ( 13b ) undergo quantitative fragmentation in 80% ethanol to yield benzonitrile and the cyclic imonium salts 11 and 14 . Their reaction rates are approx. 10⁷ and 10⁸, respectively, as high as those calculated for the homomorphous compounds, viz. 2-methylcyclohexylphenyl ketoxime acetate ( 12b ) and 2-methylcyclopentylphenyl ketoxime acetate ( 15b ), which undergo quantitative Beckmann rearrangement. Synchronous fragmentation therefore provides a very large driving force for ionisation, even when the stereo-electronically suitable conformation is not the prevalent one, as with 10b .     

Hydrovinylation of norbornene. Ligand-dependent selectivity and asymmetric variations

[reaction: see text] Norbornene undergoes Ni-catalyzed (1-2 mol% allylnickel bromide/phosphine/NaBARF or AgSbF(6), 1 bar ethylene, -50 degrees C) hydrovinylation (>97% yield), giving either a 1:1 or a 2:1 (norbornene/ethylene) adduct depending on the size of the phosphine. Use of binaphthol-derived phosphoramidite ligand results in up to 80% ee for the 1:1 adduct. The course of the reaction is highly dependent on the ligand (size and configuration of the appendages) and the counteranion present.     

Lipase-catalyzed kinetic and dynamic kinetic resolution of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-1-carboxylic acid

A dynamic kinetic resolution method for the preparation of enantiopure 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-1-carboxylic acid (R)-2 was developed involving the CAL-B-catalyzed enantioselective hydrolysis of the corresponding ethyl ester (±)-1 in toluene/acetonitrile (4:1) containing 1 equiv of added water and 0.25 equiv of dipropylamine. This method allowed the preparation of (R)-2 (ee = 96%) with 80% isolated yield. The kinetic resolution of (±)-1 in diisopropyl ether at 3 °C afforded both enantiomers with ee ⩾92%.     

Novel and enantioselective syntheses of (R)- and (S)-3-hydroxy-4-(2,4,5-trifluorophenyl)butanoic acid: a synthon for sitagliptin and its derivatives

A new synthetic strategy for (R)- and (S)-3-hydroxy-4-(2,4,5-trifluorophenyl)butanoic acid, a building block in the preparation of sitagliptin and its derivatives, was developed. Pd(OAc)₂ catalyzed coupling of 2,4,5-trifluoro-1-iodobenzene with allyl alcohol gave 3-(2,4,5-trifluorophenyl)propanal in a yield of 95%. l-Proline catalyzed reaction of the 3-phenylpropanal (in only 1.2 molar equiv) with nitrosobenzene followed by reduction with NaBH₄ and Pd/C catalyzed hydrogenation gave (R)-3-(2,4,5-trifluorophenyl)propane-1,2-diol with >99% ee and 65% yield. Selective tosylation of primary hydroxyl group of the 1,2-propandiol unit followed by cyanide displacement afforded (R)-3-hydroxy-4-(2,4,5-trifluorophenyl)butanenitrile (80%). The nitrile was converted to the title β-hydroxy acid under basic hydrolysis in a yield of 90%. Thus, (R)-3-hydroxy-4-(2,4,5-trifluorophenyl)butanoic acid was prepared enantioselectively from the starting material in four steps and 45% overall yield. The reaction sequence was repeated with d-proline as the catalyst to give (S)-3-hydroxy-4-(2,4,5-trifluorophenyl)butanoic acid in 45% overall yield and >99% enantiomeric excess.     

Highly enantioselective conjugate addition of nitroalkanes to alkylidenemalonates using efficient phase-transfer catalysis of N-spiro chiral ammonium bromides

Highly enantioselective conjugate addition of nitroalkanes to alkylidenemalonates has been accomplished for the first time by the utilization of efficient phase-transfer catalysis of N-spiro C2-symmetric chiral quaternary ammonium bromide 1. For instance, simple mixing of nitropropane (2, R1 = Et), diisopropyl benzylidienemalonate (3, R2 = Ph), Cs2CO3 (1 equiv), and (S,S)-1 (1 mol %) in toluene at 0 degrees C for 2.5 h gave rise to the desired conjugate addition product 4 (R1 = Et, R2 = Ph) quantitatively (anti/syn = 86:14) with 97% ee (anti isomer). The applicability of this procedure has been demonstrated with other representative alkylidenemalonates and nitroalkanes. Since 4 can be readily transformed into the corresponding gamma-amino acid hydrochloride 5 without loss of diastereo- and enantioselectivity, the present method provides a new and practical access to various optically active gamma-amino acid derivatives.     

Photochemical and Acid-Catalyzed Rearrangements of 4-Carbomethoxy-4-methyl-3-(trimethylsilyl)-2,5-cyclohexadien-1-one

The synthesis of 4-carbomethoxy-4-methyl-3-(trimethylsilyl)-2,5-cyclohexadien-1-one (1) in 60% overall yield from benzaldehyde is described. Irradiation (366 nm) of 1 in benzene solution gave products of type A photorearrangement; e.g., diastereomers of the 4-(trimethylsilyl)- and 5-(trimethylsilyl)bicyclo[3.1.0]hex-3-en-2-ones 8 and 9. Bicyclohexenones 9a and 9b could not be isolated, but underwent acid-catalyzed protiodesilylative rearrangements on attempted chromatography (silica gel) to give a 1:1 mixture of (E)- and (Z)-4-(carbomethoxymethylmethylene)cyclopent-2-en-1-ones 12 and 13. Irradiation (366 nm) of either 12 or 13 resulted in photoisomerization to a photostationary state that was also a 1:1 mixture. Irradiation of 8a or 8b gave equivalent mixtures of phenols 14 and 15 by way of the type B oxyallyl zwitterion 17. The available experimental evidence suggests that both 9a and 9b undergo regiospecific photorearrangement to phenol 16 with no trace of 3-methyl-4-carbomethoxyphenol (19), the product of ipso substitution of the Me(3)Si group at C(4). Phenol 15 was isolated in 65% yield from the photoreaction of 1 in benzene with 20 equiv of CF(3)CO(2)H. The acid-catalyzed rearrangement of 1 to 3-carbomethoxy-4-methylphenol (21) occurs in 91% yield by way of CO(2)Me group rearrangement to C(3) to give the Me(3)Si-stabilized carbocation 23.     

Convenient synthesis of alkylhydrazides by the cobalt-catalyzed hydrohydrazination reaction of olefins and azodicarboxylates

Treatment of olefins 2 with 1.5 equiv of di-tert-butyl azodicarboxylate (3), 1 equiv of PhSiH3, and 1.5-5 mol % of the simple Co(III) catalyst 1 in ethanol at 23 degrees C affords the Markovnikov hydrazide product for a broad range of olefins in 62-94% yield.     

An improved method for 14C-labelling of farnesylacetic acid and its geranyl ester

Farnesylacetic acid was efficiently labelled with 14C at the 5-position and gefarnate, a potent ulcer inhibitor, was prepared from it in radioactive form for use in metabolic studies. Condensation of [carbonyl-14C]acetyl chloride (5) with t-butyl 2-ethoxymagnesiomalonate (6) followed by acid-catalyzed deprotection and decarboxylation gave ethyl 3-oxo[3-14C]butanoate (8). Alkylation of the keto ester (8) with geranyl bromide (9) afforded the unsaturated keto ester (10), which was hydrolyzed and decarboxylated to give geranyl[2-14C]acetone (11). Grignard reaction of 11 with cyclopropylmagnesium bromide followed by treatment with hydrobromic acid yielded [4-14C]homofarnesyl bromide (13). Cyanation of 13 with potassium cyanide and subsequent hydrolysis gave [5-14C]farnesylacetic acid (1) in 6.1% yield from barium [14C]carbonate (3). Chlorination of 1 followed by esterification with geraniol afforded [5-14C]gefarnate (2) in 88% yield.     

Asymmetric alkylation of tert-butyl glycinate Schiff base with chiral quaternary ammonium salt under micellar conditions

[reaction: see text] The asymmetric alkylation of the tert-butyl glycinate-benzophenone Schiff base 1 with various arylmethyl bromides catalyzed by O-allyl-N-(9-anthracenylmethyl)cinchonidinium bromide (2) proceeded smoothly under micellar conditions (5 equiv of 1 M KOH and 0.4 equiv of Triton X-100) to give the alkylated products in good yields and with good enantioselectivity (72-85% ee), depending on the electrophiles.     

Edge-directed dynamic covalent synthesis of a chiral nanocube

The dynamic multicomponent syntheses of nanometer-sized chiral molecular cubes 1a and 1b from 8 tritopic 90 degree corner units and 12 linear spacers using an edge-directed approach is described. Thus, the TFA-catalyzed reaction of 8 equiv C3-trihexadecyloxy-triformylcyclotribenzylene 2 as corner unit with 12 equiv of 1,4-phenylenediamine 3a or benzidine 3b as spacers yields nanocubes 1a and 1b, respectively in close to quantitative yield. The same reactions carried out with enantiomerically pure (P)-2 (>99% ee) gave the homochiral cubes (all-P)-1a and (all-P)-1b. Force field calculations predict an edge length of 17 A and 21 A for 1a and 1b, which is consistent with their dimensions estimated from DOSY experiments. Furthermore, the asymmetric synthesis of (P)-2 through a dynamic thermodynamic resolution is described. This approach is based on the TFA-catalyzed reaction of racemic 2 with (R,R)-1,2-diaminocyclohexane (R)-5, which leads to a chiral cryptophane (>90% yield) that is built-up from two (P)-2 linked together with three diamines (R)-5. Hydrolysis of this cryptophane provides (P)-2 with >99% ee.     

Photo-Arbuzov rearrangements of 1-arylethyl phosphites: stereochemical studies and the question of radical-pair intermediates.

The direct UV irradiation of the 1-arylethyl phosphites 7, 8, and 9 was carried out in acetonitrile, benzene, and cyclohexane, as was the triphenylene-sensitized reaction of 9. Dimethyl 1-phenylethyl phosphite, 7, gives the photo-Arbuzov rearrangement product, dimethyl 1-phenylethylphosphonate (10), in 67% average yield and minor amounts (2%) of 2,3-diphenylbutane (11a) in quantum yields of 0.32 and 0.02, respectively. The photorearrangement of optically active, predominantly (R)-1-phenylethyl phosphite 7 (R/S = 97/3; 94% ee), at 35-40 degrees C proceeds with a high degree of stereospecificity at the stereogenic migratory carbon to give predominantly (R)-10 (R/S = 86/14, 72 +/- 2% ee). Use of the nitroxide radical trap TEMPO affords phosphonate 10, presumably all cage product, from predominantly (R)-7 (R/S = 97/3; 94% ee) in 64% yield (80% ee, R/S = 90/10). By contrast, the 1-(4-acetylphenyl)-ethyl phosphite, predominantly (S)-8 (S/R = 98/2, 96% ee), on direct irradiation gives the corresponding phosphonate (12) in only 20% yield along with dimer 11b in 40% accountability yield. Phosphonate 12 is nearly racemic (R/S = 52/48). Direct irradiation of predominantly (R)-9 (R/S = 98/2, 96% ee), a 1-(1-naphthyl)ethyl phosphite, results in a product distribution similar to that from predominantly (R)-7, but with a somewhat higher degree of retention of configuration in the product phosphonate 13 (R/S = 93/7, 86 +/- 3 ee). By contrast, the triplet triphenylene-sensitized photorearrangement of largely (R)-9 (R/S = 98/2, 96% ee) leads to product distributions similar to those from direct irradiation of predominantly (S)-8 and is accompanied by almost total loss of stereochemistry in its product phosphonate, 13 (R/S = 51/49). The partial loss of stereochemistry on direct irradiation of 7 and 9 provides evidence for radical pair formation. Furthermore, these stereochemical results are diagnostic of the multiplicity of the initial radical pair formed. Values for kcomb/krot for the proximate free radical pairs from 7 and 9, derived experimentally, are severalfold larger than those for the proximate singlet pair from Ph2C=C=N-CHPhMe, corrected to 35 degrees C. The possibility that kcomb is increased for the pairs from 7 and 9 is proposed.     

Intramolecular behaviors of anthryldicarbenic systems: dibenzo[b,f]pentalene and 1H,5H-dicyclobuta[de,kl]anthracene

9,10-Bis[methoxy(trimethylsilyl)methyl]anthracenes (24), synthesized from 9,10-dilithioanthracene (26) and bromomethoxytrimethylsilylmethane (27, 2 equiv), decompose (550-650 degrees C/10(-3) mmHg) carbenically to dibenzo[b,f]pentalene (28, > 48%). 9,10-Anthryldicarbenes 39 or their equivalents convert to pentalene 28 rather than di-peri-cyclobutanthracenes 30 and 31, benzobiphenylene 32, or extended rearrangement products 33-38. Formation of 28 from 24 raises questions with respect to the behavior of 1,3,4,6-cycloheptatetraenyl-1-carbenes 49, 2,4,5,7-cyclooctatetraenylidene 51, 2,5,7-cyclooctatriene-1,4-diylidene 52, 1,2,4,5,7-cyclooctapentaene 53, and bicyclo[4.1.0]heptatrienyl-1-carbenes 54 and to carbon-skeleton and hydrogen rearrangements of anthryldicarbenes 39 and/or their equivalents at various temperatures. 1,5-Bis[methoxy(trimethylsilyl)methyl]anthracenes (25), prepared from 1,5-diiodoanthracene (63) and methoxytrimethylsilylmethylzinc bromide (57, 2 equiv) as catalyzed by PdCl(2)(PPh(3))(2), yield the di-peri-carbenic reaction product 1H,5H-dicyclobuta[de,kl]anthracene (30, > 40%) on pyrolysis at 550-650 degrees C/10(-3) mmHg. Proof of structure and various aspects of the mechanisms of formation of 30 are discussed.