3-Formylcyclopent-3-enyl- and 3-carboxycyclopentylglycine derivatives: a new stereocontrolled approach via retro-aldol or retro-Claisen reactions

A new synthetic approach to diastereomeric cyclopent-3-enylglycines 19/20, functionalized on the ring with a formyl group, and to cyclopentylglycine, substituted with a carboxy group (compounds 21/22), was devised by applying retro-aldol and retro-Claisen reactions, respectively, to diastereomeric 2-amino-3-ethoxycarbonyloxynorbornene-2-carboxylic acid derivatives 5, 6 and to diastereomeric 2-amino-3-oxo-norbornane-2-carboxylic acid derivatives 17, 18. The goal of controlling the cis stereochemistry of the cyclopentyl substituents was reached using compounds 17, 18. A partial control of the stereochemistry of the amino acidic carbon was achieved starting from 17 and using sodium hydrogen carbonate in acetone/DMF. From exo-17, the acid 22 was obtained as the major diastereomer.     

Generation and Rearrangement of N,O‐Dialkenylhydroxylamines for the Synthesis of 2‐Aminotetrahydrofurans

A new diastereoselective route to 2‐aminotetrahydrofurans has been developed from N,O‐dialkenylhydroxylamines. These intermediates undergo a spontaneous C?C bond‐forming [3,3]‐sigmatropic rearrangement followed by a C?O bond‐forming cyclization. A copper‐catalyzed N‐alkenylation of an N‐Boc‐hydroxylamine with alkenyl iodides, and a base‐promoted addition of the resulting N‐hydroxyenamines to an electron‐deficient allene, provide modular access to these novel rearrangement precursors. The scope of this de novo synthesis of simple nucleoside analogues has been explored to reveal trends in diastereoselectivity and reactivity. In addition, a base‐promoted ring‐opening and Mannich reaction has been discovered to covert 2‐aminotetrahydrofurans to cyclopentyl β‐aminoacid derivatives or cyclopentenones.     

Synthesis of dispirocyclopentyl-3,3′-bisoxindoles via base promoted cyclization reaction of 3-phenacylideneoxindoles with nitromethane

A special kind of dispirocyclopentyl-3,3′-bisoxindoles, in which the two oxindole units exist at 1,2-positions of the newly formed cyclopentyl ring, were conveniently prepared in 49–86% yields by cyclization reaction of nitromethane with two molecules of 3-phenacylideneoxindoles in refluxing ethanol in the presence of DBU as base. The reaction has the advantages of readily available starting materials, operational simplicity, good yields, and high diastereoselectivity.     

Synthesis of N2-arylaminopyrimidine-5-carbonitrile derivatives via SNAr amination reaction

An efficient and high-yielding synthesis of N~2-arylaminopyrimidine-5-carbonitrile derivatives starting from arylamines and 2-methylthio-pyrimidine-5-carbonitriIe derivatives has been developed in the presence of cesium carbonate as basic reagent.This new protocol showed high chemical tolerance for a range of functional groups,and only the methylthio substituent on C2 of the pyrimidine ring was replaced with arylamine derivatives under the reaction conditions.     

Methylx derivatives of tetrahydrobenzo- and benzofurocoumarins,a new class of potential photoreagents toward dna

A number of new tetracyclic furocoumarin derivatives with a linear structure or with various angular arrangements, were synthetized. The new compounds are characterized for having an additional cyclohexene or phenyl ring condensed at the 4′,5′ double bond of the furan ring of the furocoumarin nucleus. The syntheses were performed starting from the appropriate hydroxycoumarins on which the tetrahydrobenzofuran or benzofuran moiety was built. Methyl groups have been introduced into positions which look most promising for enhancement of the photoreactivity of the compounds toward DNA.     

Dynamic mechanical properties of poly-α-olefins containing ring structures in side chains

Dynamic loss modulus curves have been determined over a temperature range beginning at liquid nitrogen temperature for poly-α-olefin polymers containing various ring structures, i.e., phenyl, cyclohexyl, cyclopentyl, and naphthyl, in the side chain. Glass transition and appropriate secondary relaxation temperatures were observed for each polymer. Separation of each pendant ring structure from the main backbone chain by successive additions of methylene units results in lower glass-transition temperatures. Comparison of polymers with similar side chains and different ring structures shows that the respective glass-transition temperatures decrease in the order naphthyl > cyclohexyl > phenyl > cyclopentyl. Secondary relaxation peaks were obtained at about ?150°C for polymers containing the cyclohexyl and cyclopentyl rings. A similar peak was observed for the polymer possessing a phenyl ring separated from the main chain backbone by two methylene units. The comparable polymer containing the naphthyl ring structure exhibited a broad secondary relaxation peak centered at ?20°C. The polymers possessing cyclohexyl rings separated from the main chain backbone by one or two methylene units had an additional low temperature peak at ?80°C. The molecular mechanism associated with this relaxation may be related to intramolecular transformations of the cyclohexyl ring between its “chair–chair” conformations.     

A new synthesis of the linearly fused [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-b]isoquinoline ring. Observation of an unexpected Dimroth rearrangement

A new and general synthesis of the linearly fused [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-b]isoquinoline ring system starting from 2,3-diaminoisoquinolinium salts has been elaborated. Starting compounds bearing an alkyl group in position 4 easily reacted with aldehydes to yield the cyclized products. In the case of a lack of electron donating group in position 4 (e.g., unsubstituted or 4-cyano substituted diamino derivatives) a Dimroth rearrangement took place under the same reaction conditions to yield 3-isoquinolylhydrazones. The mechanism of this unexpected transformation has been verified by isotope labelling experiments. Clarification of the reaction mechanism allowed finding proper reaction conditions to eliminate the rearrangement route, and thus, to perfect successful ring closure to the fused triazoles.     

Chemical variation of natural product-like scaffolds: design and synthesis of spiroketal derivatives

The design and synthesis of spiroketal structures and their chemical modification, leading to a collection of new small molecules for biological evaluation as orally-bioavailable lead compounds is described. Both [6,5]- and [6,6]-membered ring spiroketal units have been prepared in a stereochemically-varying fashion starting from commercially available (R)- or (S)-glycidol, in ten, eleven and twelve linear steps, in overall yields of 45, 40 and 20%, respectively. Further elaboration according to Lipinski's guidelines has given a collection of structurally-diverse, new spiroketal derivatives in high yields and with high purity.     

Michael Addition Initiated Carbocyclization Sequences with Nitroolefins for the Stereoselective Synthesis of Functionalized Heterocyclic and Carbocyclic Systems

The synthesis of various heterocycles and carbocycles (tetrahydrofurans, pyrrolidines, cyclopentanes) has been achieved by using new and efficient ionic addition/cyclization sequences. Nitroolefins play an important role in the Michael addition induced ring‐closing reactions (MIRC) reported in the present article, with various substituted alcohols, amines, Grignard reactants, or malonate derivatives acting as the nucleophile partner. The optimized cascade reactions were high yielding in most cases and highly stereoselective, creating up to three stereogenic centers starting from achiral substrates.     

Surprising obtention of an enantiopure eight-membered cyclic ether from camphor

A highly-functionalized eight-membered cyclic ether, with an additional interesting trans-fusion to a cyclobutane ring, is enantiospecifically obtained in high yield from a camphor-derived di(spiroepoxide)-substituted 1-norbornyl triflate, via a regio- and stereocontrolled domino process. The described process could constitute a novel model procedure for the preparation of eight-membered cyclic ethers from α,α′-bis(spiroepoxide) cyclopentyl derivatives.     

Concise formal synthesis of (-)-7-deoxyloganin via N-heterocyclic carbene catalysed rearrangement of α,β-unsaturated enol esters

NHC catalysed rearrangement of α,β-unsaturated enol esters derived from formyl acetates and cyclopentyl annulated α,β-unsaturated acids provides the cyclopentapyranone core of (-)-7-deoxyloganin (1) with diastereo- and chemoselectivity in 6 steps starting from (-)-citronellal. The elaboration to the natural product has been investigated using two new approaches. The most successful intercepts our previous work on (-)-7-deoxyloganin (1) allowing completion of a formal total synthesis in 10-steps.     

New routes to beta-cycloalkylalanine derivatives using serine-derived organozinc reagents

Two distinct routes to beta-cycloalkylalanine derivatives have been developed. The first route employs the reaction of the iodoalanine-derived zinc-copper reagent 2 with cycloalk-1-en-3-yl phosphates, and the second uses the palladium-catalysed coupling of the iodoalanine-derived zinc reagent 1 with cycloalkenyl triflates; in each case, catalytic hydrogenation of the unsaturated product leads to the protected beta-cycloalkylalanine. The latter route allows access to a range of cycloalkyl derivatives, with ring sizes of 5-8. beta-(1-Methyl-1-cyclohexyl)alanine may be prepared using reaction of the zinc-copper reagent 2 with 3-methyl-2-cyclohexenyl chloride, followed by hydrogenation. The corresponding cyclopentyl derivative may be prepared by reaction of the same zinc-copper reagent 2 with diethyl geranylphosphate, followed by ring-closing metathesis and hydrogenation.     

Synthesis of ubiquinone and menaquinone analogues by oxidative demethylation of alkenylhydroquinone ethers with argentic oxide or ceric ammonium nitrat

It was found that alkenylhydroquinone ethers demethylated with argentic oxide or ceric ammonium nitrate in the presence of 2,4,6-pyridinetricarboxylic acid as a catalyst and afforded ubiquinone-2, menaquinone-2 and their analogs in yields of 53 to 89%. The new approach to the synthesis of starting alkenylhydroquinone ethers as well as 2,4,6-pyridinetricarboxylic acid and its derivatives has been reported.     

Synthesis of novel 1,2-functionally-substituted 6,7-dimethoxy-4-spirocyclo-pentanetetrahydroisoquinolines

1-[(3,4-Dimethoxyphenyl)cyclopentyl]methylamine has been used in the synthesis of 6,7-dimethoxy-4-spirocyclopentane-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-1-carboxylic acid N-methylamide which is employed in the preparation of novel derivatives with substituents in positions 1,2,6, and 7.     

4'- and 1'-methyl-substituted 5'-norcarbanucleosides

5'-norcarbocyclic nucleosides have been found to possess a variety of meaningful biological properties. Derivatives of these compounds possessing substituents at the hydroxyl and heterocyclic ring bearing carbon atoms have not been described. As entries into these compounds, the 4'- and 1'-methyl derivatives of 5'-noraristeromycin (2 and 3) have been prepared from a common cyclopentyl precursor 8. The synthetic methods developed are adaptable to 5'-norcarbanucleosides possessing a variety of heterocyclic bases and in the l-like configuration. In turn, the products from such syntheses will lend themselves to a number of structural and biochemical investigations relevant to carbanucleosides in general. Compounds 2 and 3 lack antiviral properties and were not cytotoxic.     

Synthesis and study of chiral NADH models in the thieno[2,3-b]pyridine series

Thieno[2,3-b]pyridine derivatives, functionalized on the thiophene ring have been synthesized in two different ways: electrophilic substitution of thieno[2,3-b]pyridine derivatives or construction of a pyridine ring starting from disubstituted thiophene compounds. The products obtained were used in the synthesis of chiral NADH models.     

Deletion of the oxetane ring in docetaxel analogues: synthesis and biological evaluation

Two new docetaxel analogues have been prepared starting from 10-deacetylbaccatin III. Both derivatives lack the oxetane D-ring but possess the 4alpha-acetoxy group, which is important for biological activity. The influence of a more or less constrained C-ring was evaluated by adding, or not adding, a double bond in this ring. Both compounds were found to be equally less active than docetaxel in biological assays. [reaction: see text]     

Total synthesis of 7-ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin (SN38) and its application to the development of C18-functionalized camptothecin derivatives

A new chemical synthesis of SN38, the active metabolite of the camptothecin prodrug irinotecan, has been achieved in 12 steps from simple, commercially available starting materials. A mild and efficient FeCl₃‐catalyzed Friedländer condensation was successfully applied to construct the AB ring system. Functionalization of the C ring was accomplished by a vinylogous Mukaiyama reaction of an in situ generated N‐acyliminium intermediate with a silyl enol ether. An intramolecular oxa Diels–Alder reaction efficiently constructed the D and E rings in one step. Successive asymmetric dihydroxylation and I₂‐based hemiacetal oxidation furnished the stereochemistry of SN38 with high enantiopurity. Utilizing the ABC‐ring intermediate and a functionalized silyl enol ether permitted the synthesis of a number of new C18‐functionalized SN38 derivatives. Several of the novel SN38 derivatives that bore a C10 methoxy group were found to exhibit comparable or more potent inhibitory activity against the proliferation of cancer cells relative to SN38.     

Mutual isomerization of cyclopentyl and 1-Penten-5-y1 radicals

Unimolecular reactions of mutual isomerization of cyclopentyl and 1-penten-5-yl radicals have been investigated by chemical activation. The radicals were generated by adding energized hydrogen atoms (E_H about 23 kcal mol⁻¹) to the double bond of either cyclopentane or 1,4-pentadiene. Based on the extensive steady-state RRKM calculations employing the experimental data from this work as well as from the literature, the threshold energies for the cyclopentyl ring opening and closure are 32 ± 0.3 and 16.2 ± 0.3 kcal mol⁻¹, respectively. The entropy of activation for the ring opening is close to zero.     

Syntheses of furo[3,4-c]coumarins and related furyl coumarin derivatives via intramolecular Wittig reactions

A new and general strategy for highly functional furo[3,4-c]coumarins and related furyl coumarin derivatives has been developed, which is based on an extraordinarily facile intramolecular Wittig reaction, starting from α,β-unsaturated ketones, tributylphosphine, and acyl chlorides. The phosphorus ylides were proposed to be the key intermediates for constructing the crucial furan ring, leading to a wide variety of substituted furyl coumarins in one step.