An asymmetric synthesis of (+)-grandisol, a constituent of the aggregation pheromone of the cotton boll weevil, via a kinetic resolution

A novel approach to the asymmetric synthesis of (+)-grandisol, (1R, 2S)-isopropenyl-1-methylcyclobutaneethanol, involves the use of catalytic kinetic resolution of a primary allylic alcohol, [(1RS, 5SR)-5-methylbicyclo[3.2.0]hept-2-en-2-yl] methanol. The allylic alcohol is prepared in four steps from simple achiral materials involving the use of a modified Shapiro reaction. The resolved alcohol (95% ee) is then reduced in two steps to the corresponding methyl alkene, (1S,5R)-2,5-dimethylbicyclo[3.2.0]hept-2-ene. This alkene is converted to (+)-grandisol (95% ee), in three steps, by modified literature procedures.     

Syntheses of optically active tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[1,2-a]imidazol-2-ones and hexahydroimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-2(3H)-ones

The reactions of (2S)-2-amino-2-substituted-N-(4-nitrophenyl)acetamides 16a-c, succindialdehyde (13), and benzotriazole afforded enantiopure (3S,5R,7aR)-5-(1H-1,2,3-benzotriazol-1-yl)-3-substituted-1-(4-nitrophenyl)tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[1,2-a]imidazol-2-ones 17a-c, which were converted by sodium borohydride into (3S,7aR)-3-substituted-1-(4-nitrophenyl)tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[1,2-a]imidazol-2-ones 18a-c. Chiral (2S)-2-amino-2-substituted-N-(4-methylphenyl)acetamides 12a-d, easily prepared in two steps from N-Boc-alpha-amino acids 10a-d, similarly reacted with glutaraldehyde (20) and benzotriazole to generate 5-benzotriazolyl-3-substituted-hexahydroimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-2(3H)-ones 21a-d, which were converted by sodium borohydride directly into optically active 3-substituted-hexahydroimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-2(3H)-ones 22a-d.     

Two separate and distinct syntheses of stereospecifically deuteriated samples of (2S)-proline

Two distinct syntheses of samples of the amino acid L-proline which are stereospecifically deuteriated on the beta-carbon atom are reported. In the first of these, the labelled diazoketones 6, prepared by a chemico-enzymatic synthesis, have been photolysed in alkaline conditions to give the corresponding labelled methyl pyroglutamates 10 via hydrolysis and intramolecular trapping of the resultant ketene intermediates 9. These were then converted into (2S,3S)-[3-(2)H1]- and (2S,3R)-[2,3-(2)H2]-proline, 1a and 1b respectively. The second synthesis provides (2S)-[3,3-(2)H2]-, (2S,3S)- and (2S,3R)-[3-(2)H1]-proline, 1d, 1a and 1c respectively, and has as its key step the highly stereoselective hydrolysis of the silylenol ethers 14 and 14a respectively in which deuteriation or protonation occurs from the re-face of the enol ether.     

The practical synthesis of (2S)-7-methoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-2-naphthylamine via optical resolution of 2-(3-methoxybenzyl)succinic acid

We describe the practical synthetic route for (2S)-7-methoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-2-naphthylamine 1(2S)-2-amino-7-methoxytetraline; (S)-AMT]. (2R)-2-(3-Methoxybenzyl)succinic acid [(R)-1] was obtained by the optical resolution of 2-(3-methoxybenzyl)succinic acid (1) as the salt of (1R,2S)-2-(benzylamino)cyclohexylmethanol (7), and (R)-1 was converted to the optically active (2S)-7-methoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-2-naphthoic acid [(S)-2] by the intramolecular Friedel-Crafts reaction followed by catalytic hydrogenation. (S)-AMT was obtained from the acid (S)-2 by Hofmann rearrangement without racemization.     

Synthesis of the side chain of a novel carbapenem via iodine-mediated oxidative cyclization of (1R)-N-(1-aryl-3-butenyl)acetamide

A (2R,4S)-trans-disubstituted pyrrolidine ring system was constructed by employing iodine-mediated oxidative cyclization of (1R)-N-[1-(4-bromophenyl)-3-butenyl]acetamide 3 as a key step. The resulting diastereomeric mixture of (2R)-2-aryl-4-acetoxypyrrolidine 4 was stereoselectively converted to the side-chain of a novel ultrabroad-spectrum carbapenem 1, via (2R,4R)-2-aryl-4-hydroxypyrrolidine 7.     

Synthesis of optically active NC-1800, a therapeutic agent for urinary disturbance.

A new synthetic method for chiral oxazolidinone derivatives, therapeutic agents for treating urinary disturbance, is described. The condensed compound obtained from chiral 1-amino-3-phenyl-2-propanol and 1-phenyl-3-morpholino-1-propanone was reduced with Me4NBH(OAc)3 to give the intermediate, 1-(3-morpholino-1-phenylpropyl)amino-3-phenyl-2-propanol (MAPP) in 34% diastereomeric excess (d.e.). MAPP was converted to an urethane and purified by recrystallization of its methanesulfonate, to afford a single isomer, (2R)-1-[N-[(1S)-3-morpholino-1-phenylpropyl]-N -ethoxycarbonyl]amino-3-phenyl-2-propanol methanesulfonate (4-A. methanesulfonate).     

Synthesis of Enantiomerically Pure Bis(hydroxymethyl)-Branched Cyclohexenyl and Cyclohexyl Purines as Potential Inhibitors of HIV

The synthesis of the enantiomerically pure bis(hydroxymethyl)-branched cyclohexenyl and cyclohexyl purines is described. Racemic trans-4,5-bis(methoxycarbonyl)cyclohexene [(+/-)-6] was reduced with lithium aluminum hydride to give the racemic diol (+/-)-7. Resolution of (+/-)-7 via a transesterification process using lipase from Pseudomonas sp. (SAM-II) gave both diols in enantiomerically pure form. The enantiomerically pure diol (S,S)-7was benzoylated and epoxidized to give the epoxide 9. Treatment of the epoxide 9 with trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate and 1,5-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-5-ene followed by dilute hydrochloric acid gave (1R,4S,5R)-4,5-bis[(benzoyloxy)methyl]-1-hydroxycyclohex-2-ene (10). Acetylation of 10 gave (1R,4S,5R)-1-acetoxy-4,5-bis[(benzoyloxy)methyl]cyclohex-2-ene (11). (1R,4S,5R)-1-Acetoxy-4,5-bis[(benzoyloxy)methyl]cyclohex-2-ene (11) was converted to the adenine derivative 12 and guanine derivative 13 via palladium(0)-catalyzed coupling with adenine and 2-amino-6-chloropurine, respectively. Hydrogenation of 12 and 13 gave the correspondning saturated adenine derivative 14 and guanine derivative 15. (1R,4S,5R)-4,5-Bis[(benzoyloxy)methyl]-1-hydroxycyclohex-2-ene (10) was converted to the adenine derivative 16 and guanine derivative 17 via coupling with 6-chloropurine and 2-amino-6-chloropurine, respectively, using a modified Mitsunobu procedure. Hydrogenation of 16 and 17 gave the corresponding saturated adenine derivative 18 and guanine derivative 19. Compounds 12-19 were evaluated for activity against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), but were found to be inactive. Further biological testings are underway.     

Structural redox control in a 7Fe ferredoxin isolated from Desulfovibrio alaskensis

The redox behaviour of a ferredoxin (Fd) from Desulfovibrio alaskensis was characterized by electrochemistry. The protein was isolated and purified, and showed to be a tetramer containing one [3Fe-4S] and one [4Fe-4S] centre. This ferredoxin has high homology with FdI from Desulfovibrio vulgaris Miyazaki and Hildenborough and FdIII from Desulfovibrio africanus. From differential pulse voltammetry the following signals were identified: [3Fe-4S](+1/0) (E(0')=-158±5mV); [4Fe-4S](+2/+1) (E(0')=-474±5mV) and [3Fe-4S](0/-2) (E(0')=-660±5mV). The effect of pH on these signals showed that the reduced [3Fe-4S](0) cluster has a pK'(red)(')=5.1±0.1, the [4Fe-4S](+2/+1) centre is pH independent, and the [3Fe-4S](0/-2) reduction is accompanied by the binding of two protons. The ability of the [3Fe-4S](0) cluster to be converted into a new [4Fe-4S] cluster was proven. The redox potential of the original [4Fe-4S] centre showed to be dependent on the formation of the new [4Fe-4S] centre, which results in a positive shift (ca. 70mV) of the redox potential of the original centre. Being most [Fe-S] proteins involved in electron transport processes, the electrochemical characterization of their clusters is essential to understand their biological function. Complementary EPR studies were performed.     

Chiral Cyclopentane-Based Mimics of D-myo-Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate from D-Glucose

Two routes from D-glucose to chiral, ring-contracted analogs of the second messenger D-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate are described. Methyl alpha-D-glucopyranoside was converted by an improved procedure into methyl 4,6-O-(p-methoxybenzylidene)-alpha-D-glucopyranoside (6) and thence into methyl 2-O-benzyl-3,4-bis-O-(p-methoxybenzyl)-alpha-D-gluco-hexodialdopyranoside (1,5) (14) in four steps. In the first ring-contraction method 14 was converted into methyl 2-O-benzyl-6,7-dideoxy-3,4-bis-O-(p-methoxybenzyl)-alpha-D-gluco-hept-6-enopyranoside (1,5) (15), which on sequential treatment with Cp(2)Zr(n-Bu)(2) followed by BF(3).Et(2)O afforded a mixture of (1R,2S,3S,4R,5S)-3-(benzyloxy)-4-hydroxy-1,2-bis[(p-methoxybenzyl)oxy]-5-vinylcyclopentane (16) and its 4S,5R diastereoisomer 17. Removal of the p-methoxybenzyl groups of 16 and subsequent phosphorylation and deprotection afforded the first target compound, (1R,2R,3S,4R,5S)-3-hydroxy-1,2,4-tris(phosphonooxy)-5-vinylcyclopentane (3). In the second route, intermediate 14 was subjected to SmI(2)-mediated ring contraction to give (1R,2S,3S,4R,5S)-3-(benzyloxy)-4-hydroxy-5-(hydroxymethyl)-1,2-bis[(p-methoxybenzyl)oxy]cyclopentane (20). Benzylation of 20 provided (1R,2S,3S,4R,5S)-3-(benzyloxy)-6-[(benzyloxy)methyl]-4-hydroxy-1,2-bis[(p-methoxybenzyl)oxy]cyclopentane (22) and (1R,2S,3S,4R,5S)-3,4-bis(benzyloxy)-5-(hydroxymethyl)-1,2-bis[(p-methoxybenzyl)oxy]cyclopentane (21), which were elaborated to the target trisphosphates (1R,2R,3S,4R,5S)-3-hydroxy-5-(hydroxymethyl)-1,2,4-tris(phosphonooxy)cyclopentane (4) and (1R,2S,3R,4R,5S)-1,2-dihydroxy-3,4-bis(phosphonooxy)-5-[(phosphonooxy)methyl]cyclopentane (5), respectively. Both 3 and 4 mobilized intracellular Ca(2+), but 4 was only a few fold less potent than D-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, demonstrating that effective mimics can be designed that do not bear a six-membered ring.     

Concise formal synthesis of (-)-peduncularine via ring-closing metathesis

[reaction: see text] A synthesis of the 6-aza[3.2.1]bicyclooctene (-)-2 has been completed by a short sequence of reactions that required only six operations from (S)-malic acid and featured a novel ring-closing metathesis to form the bridged bicyclic ring. Because 2 was previously converted into (-)-peduncularine (1), its preparation constitutes a formal enantioselective synthesis of 1.     

Reduction of inner sulfonium salts, thioethers, and sulfones derived from closo-[B12H12]2- by lithium in methylamine: a new route to mercaptododecaborates

Anions [Me2SB12H11]- (2) and [MeSB12H11]2- (3) can be reduced by excess lithium in methylamine at -15 degrees C to yield [HSB12H11]2- (1) after workup. Such behavior toward this reducing system is similar to that of alkyl aryl sulfides. The sulfone [MeSO2B12H11]2- (12) also yields 1 as a major boron product upon reduction, while alkyl aryl sulfones produce the corresponding arenes under the same conditions. Similarly, isomers of (Me2S)2B12H10 (4-6) are reduced by lithium in methylamine yielding dithiols [(HS)2B12H10]2- (7-9). The tetrabutylammonium salts of 1 and 7-9 are obtained in 80-90% yields and characterized by multinuclear NMR and mass spectrometry, the latter three compounds being isolated and characterized for the first time. The reduction reaction provides access to dithiols 7-9 for biological evaluation and use in synthesis. Thus, 2 and 4-6 can be easily converted to [R2SB12H11]- and (R2S)2B12H10 in a two-step reduction-alkylation procedure. 1,2-(Bn2S)2B12H10 (13) obtained by alkylation of the reduction product of 4 by benzyl chloride was characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Crystal data for 1,2-(Bn2S)2B12H10.CD3CN: C2/c (No. 15), a = 13.666(1) A, b = 16.978(1) A, c = 14.667(1) A, beta = 91.08(1) degrees, Z = 4.     

L-cysteine, a versatile source of sulfenic acids. Synthesis of enantiopure alliin analogues

[reaction: see text] l-Cysteine is a stimulating starting product for the generation of transient sulfenic acids, such as 4, 6, 9, and 15, which add to suitable acceptors, allowing formation of sulfoxides showing a biologically active residue. These sulfoxides are easily isolated in enantiomerically pure form. For instance, N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-l-cysteine methyl ester (1a) furnished in few steps sulfenic acid 9a, which was readily converted into (R,S(S))-(2-tert-butoxycarbonylamino-2-methoxycarbonyl-ethylsulfinyl)ethene (22), the methyl ester of Boc-protected nor-alliin. Moreover, the addition of 9a to 2-methyl-1-buten-3-yne has led to a sulfur epimeric and separable mixture of (R)-2-(2-tert-butoxycarbonylamino-2-methoxycarbonyl-ethylsulfinyl)-3-methyl-buta-1,3-dienes 10a and 11a, still possessing a "masked" sulfenic acid function, producible from their cysteine moieties once the dienes have been converted into the desired derivatives.     

Stereoselective synthesis of c3-c12 dihydropyran portion of antitumor laulimalide using copper-catalyzed oxonium ylide formation-[2,3] shift

Copper-catalyzed oxonium ylide formation-[2,3] shift of (5S,7R)-5-allyloxy-1-diazo-8-(p-methoxybenzyloxy)-7-methyl-2-octanone (3) proceeded in tetrahydrofuran-dichloromethane (4 : 1) under reflux with an excellent stereoselectivity (97 : 3) to give (2R,6S)-2-allyl-6-[(2R)-3-(p-methoxybenzyloxy)-2-methylpropyl]-3-dihydropyranone (2) as a major isomer in 82% yield. The resultant pyranone (2) was converted to the key intermediate (1) of the Mulzer's laulimalide synthesis and its derivatives (14, 15).     

Asymmetric synthesis of [2,3-(13)C(2),(15)N]-4-benzyloxy-5,6-diphenyl-2,3,5,6-tetrahydro-4H-oxazine-2-one via lipase TL-mediated kinetic resolution of benzoin: general procedure for the synthesis of [2,3-(13)C(2),(15)N]-L-alanine.

Lipase TL-mediated kinetic resolution of benzoin proceeded to give the corresponding optically pure (R)-benzoin (R)-1. On the other hand, (S)-benzoin O-acetate (S)-7 could be hydrolyzed without epimerization to give (S)-benzoin (S)-1 under alkaline conditions. Furthermore, both enantiomers of benzoin (1) were converted to [(15)N]-(1R,2S)- and (1S,2R)- 2-amino-1,2-diphenylethanol (3a and 3b), respectively, according to the procedure reported previously. [2,3-(13)C(2),(15)N]-(5S,6R)-4-benzyloxy-5,6-diphenyl-2,3,5,6-tetrahydro-4H-oxazine-2-one (10) was synthesized from ethyl [1,2-(13)C(2)]bromoacetate and (1R,2S)-2-amino-1,2-diphenylethanol (3b) in three steps. Finally, [2,3-(13)C(2),(15)N]-L-alanine (12) was prepared via alkylation of the lactone 10 and hydrogenation of the alkylated product 11.     

Four-coordinate,planar RuII. A triplet state as a response to a 14-valence electron configuration

The ligand (tBu2PCH2SiMe2)2N1- (PNP) in [PNP]RuCl leads to an intermediate spin ground state, S = 1, which has been characterized by NMR and X-ray diffraction as having a planar structure. This spin state is attributed in part to N --> Ru pi donation. DFT calculations confirm that the singlet state lies higher in energy and is nonplanar. The molecule is converted to a diamagnetic product by addition of 2 mol of PhCN. The half-filled orbitals of the S = 1 state are suggested to be the reason agostic interactions do not compensate for the 14-valence electron count.     

Proton-induced cis-trans conversion of a platinum(II) center coordinated by L-cysteinatocobalt(III) metalloligands

Treatment of LambdaL-[Co(L-cys-N,S)(en)2]+ (l-H2cys = L-cysteine) with [PtCl4]2- in water, followed by the addition of acid, gave an S-bridged CoIII2PtII trinuclear complex ([1]4+), which was reversibly converted to its deprotonated complex ([2]2+) in an aqueous solution. While [1]4+ formed only a trans isomer, [2]2+ existed as a mixture of trans and cis isomers. The selective formation of a cis isomer was achieved by treatment of [1]4+ or [2]2+ with phthalic acid in water, which afforded a unique CoIII4PtII2 hexanuclear complex ([3]4+). Complex [3]4+ was reverted back to [1]4+ by treatment with aqueous HCl, accompanied by the complete cis-to-trans conversion.     

Practical Synthesis of (+)-Alloisoleucine

Subsequent treatment of N-crotoyl-(1S,2R)-bornane-10,2-sultam with EtMgCl, recrystallization of the product and saponification, afforded R-(-)-3-methylpenthanoic acid which was used for acylation of (1R,2S)-bornane-10,2-sultam. The product was converted into N-[(2S,3R)-2-amino-3-methylpentanoyl]-(1R,2S)-bornane-10,2-sultam by hydroxyamination with 1-chloro-1-nitrosocyclohexane, followed by reduction of the hydroxylamine grouping. Saponification of the sultam imide provided (+)-alloisoleucine.     

Synthesis of enantiopure 7-[3-azidopyl]indolizidin-2-one amino acid. A constrained mimic of the peptide backbone geometry and heteroatomic side-chain functionality of the ala-lys dipeptide

Enantiopure N-(BOC)amino-7-[3-azidopropyl]indolizidin-2-one acid 1 has been synthesized by displacement of the methanesulfonate of its 7-hydroxypropyl counterpart 11 with sodium azide and subsequent ester hydrolysis. N-(BOC)Amino-7-[3-hydroxypropyl]indolizidin-2-one ester 11 was obtained from a sequence commencing with the alkylation of (2S,8S)-di-tert-butyl 5-oxo-2,8-di-[N-(PhF)amino]azelate 5 (PhF = 9-(9-phenylfluorenyl)). Stereoselective allylation of 5, regioselective olefin hydroboration, selective primary alcohol protection as a silyl ether, and oxidation of the secondary alcohol gave (2S,4R,8S)-di-tert-butyl 4-[3-tert-butyldimethylsiloxypropyl]-5-oxo-2,8-di-[N-(PhF)amino]azelate 9 as a pure diastereomer in 33% overall yield. Linear ketone 9 was then converted into the indolizidinone heterocycle by a route featuring reductive amination, lactam cyclization, and isolation by way of a silyl ether which provided the (6S,7R)-isomer of 11.     

Aggregation of [70]fullerene in presence of acetonitrile: a chemical kinetic experiment

[70]fullerene solutions in carbon tetrachloride and o-xylene exhibit a noteworthy spectral variation with time when acetonitrile is added. This has been ascribed to self-aggregation of [70]fullerene caused by the repulsion between polar acetonitrile and hydrophobic [70]fullerene, and the aggregation numbers have been determined from a kinetic scheme and also from a scanning electron microscopic study. The numbers thus obtained follow a cuboctahedral stacking pattern proposed recently and also agree with the magic formula n=55+3m (m=1 to 14) proposed by Branz et al. for [60]fullerene clusters [Phys. Rev. B. 66, 094107 (2002)].     

Effect of temperature on the diffusion mechanism of xylene isomers in a FAU zeolite: a molecular dynamics study

The diffusion of o-, m-, and p-xylene in a FAU zeolite at 300-900 K was investigated using molecular dynamics simulations. Calculated self-diffusion coefficients of xylene isomers showed that the mobility of p-xylene was the fastest, m-xylene the second fastest, and o-xylene the slowest in the FAU zeolite at the same temperature. The diffusion activation energy of o-xylene, m-xylene and p-xylene was, respectively, determined to be 9.04, 7.45 and 6.44 kJ mol(-1) within the temperature range of 400 to 900 K, while to be 14.12, 13.59 and 15.47 kJ mol(-1) within the temperature range of 300 to 400 K. Xylene density profiles and orientational analysis suggested that this can be attributed to the xylene molecules that diffuse in the FAU zeolite by two different mechanisms at high and low temperatures. The behavior of motion for xylene in the FAU zeolite exhibits a "fluid-like" mode at high temperatures and exhibits a "jump-like" mode at low temperatures.