Practical synthesis of (E)- and (Z)-2-silyl-3-penten-1-ols with high enantiopurity

Practical methods for the synthesis of the optically active (E)- and (Z)-2-silyl-3-pentene-1-ols are described. The optically pure (E)-allylsilane was synthesized from commercially available (R)-3-butyn-2-ol in five steps involving hydrozirconation followed by alkylation of the resulting alkenylmetal with BnOCH₂Cl. On the other hand, both enantiomers of the corresponding (Z)-allylsilane were prepared from commercially available dimethylphenylvinylsilane through epoxidation, the regioselective epoxide-opening reaction with 1-propynylmagnesium bromide, and the subsequent optical resolution using a lipase.     

Stereoselective synthesis of (+)-(1R,2S,5S,7R)-2-hydroxy-exo-brevicomin

A stereoselective approach for the synthesis of (+)-(1R,2S,5S,7R)-2-hydroxy-exo-brevicomin from l-ascorbic acid has been described. The key steps are highly stereoselective nucleophilic addition reaction on aldehyde 8 and also a single pot transformation of 15 to (+)-(1R,2S,5S,7R)-2-hydroxy-exo-brevicomin. The later tandem reaction which involves the hydrogenation of double bond, debenzylation, MOM deprotection and bicyclic ketal formation was carried under Pd/C, H₂ followed by acid treatment.     

Enantioselective synthesis of (1S,2S)-1,2-di-tert-butyl and (1R,2R)-1,2-di-(1-adamantyl)ethylenediamines

An enantioselective synthesis of sterically congested 1,2-di-tert-butyl and 1,2-di-(1-adamantyl)ethylenediamines has been developed. Thus, diastereomerically pure trans-1-apocamphanecarbonyl-4,5-dimethoxy-2-imidazolidinones 6 and 7 were successfully prepared by optical resolution of (±)-trans-4,5-dimethoxy-2-imidazolidinone using apocamphanecarbonyl chloride (MAC-Cl) followed by stereospecific and stepwise substitution of the dimethoxyl groups using tert-butyl or 1-adamantyl cuprates to provide (4S,5S)-4,5-di-tert-butyl and (4R,5R)-4,5-di-(1-adamantyl)-2-imidazolidinones 12 and 15, respectively. Furthermore, N-acetyl 4,5-di-tert-butyl and 4,5-di-(1-adamantyl)-2-imidazolidinones 16a,b were enantioselectively deacetylated using a catalytic oxazaborolidine system to provide enantiopure 1-p-tolylsulfonyl-4,5-di-tert-butyl-2-imidazolidinones 12 and 19 and 1-p-tolylsulfonyl-4,5-di-(1-adamantyl)-2-imidazolidinones 18 and 20, respectively. Finally, N-p-tolylsulfonyl-2-imidazolidinones 12 and 15 were treated with 30 equiv of Ba(OH)₂·8H₂O to achieve ring cleavage and to provide (1S,2S)-1,2-di-tert-butylethylenediamine 3 and (1R,2R)-1,2-di-(1-adamantyl)ethylenediamine 4.     

Synthesis and structural characterization of a dichloro zinc complex of N,N′-bis-(2,6-dichloro-benzyl)-(R,R)-1,2-diaminocyclohexane: Application to ring opening polymerization of rac-lactide

A novel dichloro zinc complex (L¹)ZnCl₂, where L¹ is N,N′-bis-(2,6-dichloro-benzyl)-(R,R)-1,2-diaminocyclohexane, has been synthesized and characterized. The dimethyl derivatives, generated in situ from the well characterized dichloro zinc complexes (L¹)ZnCl₂ and (L²)ZnCl₂, where L² is N,N′-bis-(benzyl)-(R,R)-1,2-diaminocyclohexane, were employed as initiators for the ring opening polymerization (ROP) of rac-lactide (rac-LA). The complexes were found to be highly efficient initiators yielding the polylactide (PLA) with a narrow molecular weight distribution. The catalytic activity and heterotactic selectivity of the Zn(II) complexes were affected by the substituents on the phenyl groups of benzyl moieties in (R,R)-1,2-diaminocyclohexane. The dimethyl derivative of (L²)ZnCl₂ produced highly stereocontrolled PLA with P_r = 0.75 at −25 °C.     

Formal syntheses of (−)- and (+)-aphanorphine from (2S,4R)-4-hydroxyproline

We describe the efficient formal syntheses of both natural (−)-aphanorphine and unnatural (+)-aphanorphine from the same commercially available amino acid, (2S,4R)-4-hydroxyproline. The tricyclic framework was constructed by intramolecular Friedel-Crafts reaction. (1R,4S)-1-Methyl-8-methoxy-3-(4-toluenesulfonyl)-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1,4-methano-3-benzazepine (8) was synthesized in six steps from sulfonamide 3; (−)-aphanorphine methyl ether 24 was obtained in seven steps from lactone 10. Intramolecular etherification of 18 proceeded with excellent stereoselectivity in the presence of BF₃·OEt₂, which has paved an efficient synthetic route to a series of medicinally attractive heterocycles.     

Diastereodivergent additions of aluminum and magnesium reagents to [(S)S]-3,6-dimethoxy-2-(p-tolylsulfinyl)-benzaldehyde

Enantiomerically pure [(S)S]-3,6-dimethoxy-2-(p-tolylsulfinyl)-benzaldehyde, prepared in two steps from commercially available 2,5-dimethoxybenzyl alcohol, reacted with organomagnesium and organoaluminum derivatives in a highly diastereodivergent way giving rise respectively to the (S) or (R) alkyl aryl or diaryl carbinols in excellent chemical and optical yields. Enantiopure (S) and (R)-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl methyl carbinols were obtained through a two-steps sequence comprising nucleophilic addition of MeMgBr or AlMe₃ and desulfinylation with n-BuLi.     

Asymmetric synthesis of (R)- and (S)-2-trifluoromethylepinephrine

An asymmetric synthesis of (R)- and (S)-2-trifluoromethylepinephrine (1R and 1S) is presented. Trifluoromethylation involves nucleophilic aromatic substitution of halobenzene 4 most likely via a copper mediated CF₃ anion equivalent generated in situ. The asymmetric step involves conversion of 3,4-dimethoxy-2-trifluoromethylbenzaldehyde (5) to silyl cyanohydrin (6R and 6S) using a chiral salen catalyst in the presence of titanium. 1R and 1S are potential alternatives to currently used vasoconstrictors in local anesthetic formulations.     

Synthesis of (S)-, (R)-, and (rac)-2-amino-3,3-bis(4-fluorophenyl)propanoic acids and an evaluation of the DPP IV inhibitory activity of Denagliptin diastereomers

The non-proteinogenic amino acid (2S)-2-amino-3,3-bis(4-fluorophenyl)propanoic acid [(S)-1] is a key intermediate required for the synthesis of Denagliptin (2a). Denagliptin is a dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV) inhibitor that is being developed for the treatment of type-2 diabetes mellitus. A diastereoselective, cost-efficient synthetic procedure for (S)-1 was developed by alkylating a Ni(II) glycine equivalent derived from (S)-2-[(N-benzylprolyl) amino] benzophenone [(S)-BPB]. The alkylated product was then decomposed to isolate the target amino acid (S)-1 (ee >99%) and ligand (S)-BPB, which can be reused in subsequent reactions. The enantiomer (R)-1 and racemate (rac)-1 were synthesized from their corresponding Ni(II) glycine equivalents. Denagliptin diastereomers (2), derived from the key intermediates (S)-1, (R)-1, and (rac)-1 were synthesized, and their dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitory activities were investigated. These findings are important in the design and synthesis of DPP IV inhibitors.     

Stereoselective synthesis of (R)-(+)-1-methoxyspirobrassinin, (2R,3R)-(−)-1-methoxyspirobrassinol methyl ether and their enantiomers or diastereoisomers

Stereoselective synthesis of cruciferous indole phytoalexin (R)-(+)-1-methoxyspirobrassinin and its unnatural (S)-(−)-enantiomer was achieved by spirocyclization of 1-methoxybrassinin in the presence of (+)- and (−)-menthol and subsequent oxidation of the obtained menthyl ethers. Methanolysis of menthyl ethers in the presence of TFA afforded (2R,3R)-(−)-1-methoxyspirobrassinol methyl ether as well its unnatural (2S,3S)-, (2R,3S)-, and (2S,3R)-isomers.     

DNA-, RNA- and self-pairing properties of a pyrrolidinyl peptide nucleic acid with a (2′R,4′S)-prolyl-(1S,2S)-2-aminocyclopentanecarboxylic acid backbone

A new pyrrolidinyl peptide nucleic acid (PNA) comprising of an alternate sequence of 4′-nucleobase-modified proline with (2′R,4′S) configuration and a (1S,2S)-2-aminocyclopentanecarboxylic acid [(2′R,4′S)-acpcPNA] backbone was synthesized and its DNA-, RNA- and self-pairing properties studied. T_m and CD studies suggested that the (2′R,4′S)-acpcPNA forms antiparallel hybrids to DNA and RNA with high sequence and direction specificity. The stability of these hybrids is comparable to those of the (2′R,4′R)-acpcPNA hybrids previously reported by our group. On the other hand, experiments with a self-complementary sequence indicated that the new (2′R,4′S)-acpcPNA forms a more stable antiparallel self-hybrid than (2′R,4′R)-acpcPNA.     

Synthesis of trimethyl (2S,3R)- and (2R,3R)-[2-H1]-homocitrates and the corresponding dimethyl ester lactones—towards elucidating the stereochemistry of the reaction catalysed by homocitrate synthase and by the Nif-V protein

Trimethyl (2S,3R)- and (2R,3R)-[2-²H₁]-homocitrates, 10b and 10c respectively, and dimethyl (2S,3R)- and (2R,3R)-[2-²H₁]-homocitric lactones, 11b and 11c respectively, have been synthesised from shikimic acid and [2-²H]-shikimic acid by a route which defines the stereochemistry of the two chiral centres in each compound. The NMR spectra of these products will enable the stereochemistry of the biological reaction catalysed by homocitrate synthase and by the protein from the nifV gene to be elucidated.     

Synthesis and characterization of fluorous (S)- and (R)-1-phenylethylamines that effect heat facilitated resolution of (±)-2-(8-carboxy-1-naphthylsulfinyl)benzoic acid via diastereomeric salt formation and study of their circular dichroism

Perfluoroalkyl- or nonafluoro-tert-butoxy-alkyl-substituted enantiopure amines having the structure PhCHCH₃(NR¹R²) [R¹ = H, CH₃; R² = (CH₂)₃C₈F₁₇, (CH₂)₂OC(CF₃)₃; R¹ = R² = (CH₂)₃C₈F₁₇, (CH₂)₂OC(CF₃)₃] are obtained in high yields, when (S)-(−)-1-phenylethylamine is reacted with readily accessible alkylating reagents or fluorous 2° amines (R¹ = H; R² = (CH₂)₃C₈F₁₇, (CH₂)₂OC(CF₃)₃) are methylated in a Leuckart-Wallach reaction. The solubility patterns of these novel chiral amines and their hydrochlorides are qualitatively described for a broad spectrum of solvents and the fluorous partition coefficients of the free bases are determined by GC. A novel method for the resolution of enantiomers is disclosed here, which involves the use a half-equivalent of the selected resolving agent in solvent water that displays low solubility for the crystalline diastereomeric salt(s) formed even at temperatures near to its boiling point. Compound (S)-(−)-PhCHCH₃[NH(CH₂)₃C₈F₁₇] is found to satisfy all the latter conditions and successfully used for the heat facilitated resolution of the title racemic acid. The circular dichroism (CD) spectra of six novel fluorous (S)-(−)-1-phenylethylamine derivatives are measured in ethanol, trifluoroethanol and hexafluoropropan-2-ol and discussed in detail.     

Biotransformation of (+)-(1R,2S)-fenchol by the larvae of common cutworm (Spodoptera litura)

Biotransformation of (+)-(1R,2S)-fenchol by the larvae of Spodoptera litura was carried out. Substrate was converted to three new terpenoids, (+)-(1R,2S)-10-hydroxyfenchol, (+)-(1R,2R,3S)-8-hydroxyfenchol and (−)-(1S,2S,6S)-6-exo-hydroxyfenchol, and one known terpenoid, (−)-(1R,2R,3R)-9-hydroxyfenchol. These structures were established by NMR, IR, specific rotation and mass spectral studies.     

Synthetic studies on homophymine A: stereoselective synthesis of (2R,3R,4R,6R)-3-hydroxy-2,4,6-trimethyloctanoic acid

An efficient and highly stereocontrolled synthesis of (2R,3R,4R,6R)-3-hydroxy-2,4,6-trimethyloctanoic acid, the β-hydroxy acid unit that acylates the N-terminus of homophymine A, has been devised starting from iodoethane and (S,S)-pseudoephedrine propionamide in 9 steps and 36% average overall yield. Comparison of the ¹H and ¹³C NMR and optical rotation data of the resulting β-hydroxy acid with the natural fragment unambiguously verifies the configurational assignment as (2R,3R,4R,6R).     

Operationally convenient asymmetric synthesis of (S)- and (R)-3-amino-4,4,4-trifluorobutanoic acid: Part II. Enantioselective biomimetic transamination of 4,4,4-trifluoro-3-oxo-N-[(R)-1-phenylethyl]butanamide

An asymmetric synthesis of (S)- and (R)-3-amino-4,4,4-trifluorobutanoic acid via DBU-catalyzed asymmetric 1,3-proton shift transfer reaction of (Z)-3-[(R)-1-phenylethylamino]-4,4,4-trifluoro-N-[(R)-1-phenylethyl]but-2-enamide has been developed. The intermediate Schiff base (S,R′)-9 was found to be relatively configurationally stable under the highly basic reaction conditions allowing preparation of the target amino acid in high chemical yield and enantioselectivity. This method was demonstrated to be practical for large (>25 g) scale synthesis of the target β-amino acid.     

Efficient synthesis of (R)- and (S)-3-octanol, (R)-2-dodecanol, (R)-2-methyl-4-heptanol and (R)-2-methyl-4-octanol: the pheromones of Myrmica scabrinodis, Crematogaster castanea, C. liengmei, C. auberti and Metamasius hemipterus

A simple and efficient synthesis of optically active insect pheromones, such as (R)- and (S)-3-octanol, (R)-2-dodecanol, (R)-2-methyl-4-heptanol and (R)-2-methyl-4-octanol starting from non-racemic β-hydroxy sulfides has been established.     

Synthesis of enantiopure (R)-2-(4-methoxy-3-(3-methoxypropoxy)-benzyl)-3-methylbutanoic acid—a key intermediate for the preparation of Aliskiren

The enantioselective hydrogenation of (E)-2-(4-methoxy-3-(3-methoxypropoxy)-benzylidene)-3-methylbutanoic acid (1) to (R)-2-(4-methoxy-3-(3-methoxypropoxy)-benzyl)-3-methylbutanoic acid (2)—a key intermediate in the synthesis of the pharmacologically important renin inhibitor Aliskiren—is described. The stereochemistry of the catalytic transformation has been studied using a number of homogeneous chiral Rh(I) and Ru(II) complexes bearing ferrocene-based phosphine ligands. The highest enantioselectivity for the homogeneous hydrogenation of 1 (up to 95% ee) was achieved with a [Rh(NBD)₂]BF₄ pre-catalyst (substrate/catalyst ratio 100:1, 10 bar H₂, 40 °C, in MeOH). To bring the enantioselectivity to perfection an effective method for the isolation of the enantiopure carboxylic acid is suggested likewise.     

The enolate anions of chlorophylls a and b as ambident nucleophiles in oxidations with (−)- or (+)-(10-camphorsulfonyl)oxaziridine. Synthesis of 13(S/R)-hydroxychlorophylls a and b

The enolate anions of chlorophylls (Chl) are ambident nucleophiles that are of considerable organic chemical interest in relation to the theory of electron delocalization (aromaticity) and charge-transfer in large conjugated π-systems, as well as for their chemical reactivity. Under deaerated conditions, the (−)- and (+)-enantiomers of (10-camphorsulfonyl)oxaziridine (CSOAI) are effective oxidants for the enolate anions of Chl a and Chl b, when 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) serves as a base. In this study, the use of these sterically hindered reagents to hydroxylate Chl a and Chl b is described for the first time. The total yield of 13²(S/R)-HO-Chl a was 71 and 90% for the oxidations of Chl a with (−)-CSOAI and (+)-CSOAI, respectively. Chl b, however, behaved clearly differently from Chl a. The total yield of 13²(S/R)-HO-Chl b was 40% in the oxidation with (−)-CSOAI and 60% in the reaction with (+)-CSOAI. A competing side-reaction, which resulted in the 15²-methyl, 17³-phytyl ester of Mg-15¹(S/R)-unstable rhodin, was found to lower the yields of the desired main products. The formation of the side-products was largely avoided and the yield of 13²(S/R)-HO-Chl b was improved by increasing the volume of hexane and using phosphate buffer in the first step of the work-up. With (−)-CSOAI, a 94% diastereomeric excess (de) was achieved for 13²(R)-HO-Chl a, whereas the de for 13²(R)-HO-Chl b was 66%. With (+)-CSOAI, the de was 10% for 13²(R)-HO-Chl a and 8% for 13²(R)-HO-Chl b. The results were interpreted in terms of a nucleophilic reaction mechanism, kinetically controlled by steric hindrance, originating on the one hand in the 17-propionate phytyl ester side-chain, protruding over the isocyclic ring E of the Chl enolate ion, and on the other hand in the bulky camphorsulfonyl unit of CSOAI. Possible reasons for the different results from the Chl b oxidations as compared with those of the Chl a oxidations are discussed. Comparison of the differences in the NMR δ_C-values between 13²(S)- and 13²(R)-HO-Chl a as well as those between 13²(S)- and 13²(R)-HO-Chl b, indicated that the change of stereochemical configuration at C-13² induces only slight differences in the δ_C-values. Of special interest are the δ_C-values of C-13², which are at ca. 91 ppm for the a- and b-series diastereomers. This carbon is deshielded by ca. 25 ppm relative to the C-13² of 13²(R)-Chl a (δ_C=65.5). Owing to this, ¹³C NMR spectroscopy is a good method to distinguish the 13²-hydroxylated chlorophylls from the intact, naturally occurring chlorophylls.     

Synthesis and analytical properties of (S)-(+)-2-methoxy-2-(9-phenanthryl)propionic acid

2-Methoxy-2-(9-phenanthryl)propionic acid was synthesized as a novel chiral resolving agent. The absolute configuration of (+)-2-methoxy-2-(9-phenanthryl)propionic acid was determined to be S by using X-ray structural analysis of the (1R,2S,5R)-menthyl ester. In the crystal, the methoxyl and carbonyl groups of the ester are in a syn-periplanar position. The syn-periplanar conformations of (1R,2S,5R)-menthyl esters were also observed by the NMR analyses in CDCl₃. The utility of (S)-(+)-2-methoxy-2-(9-phenanthryl)propionic acid was exemplified by the resolution of (±)-3-octanol.     

Ru-catalyzed enantioselective preparation of methyl (R)-o-chloromandelate and its application in the synthesis of (S)-Clopidogrel

The preparation of methyl (R)-o-chloromandelate via Ru-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation and transfer hydrogenation was investigated. With Ru-(R,R)-2,4,6-triisopropyl C₆H₂SO₂-DPEN as the catalyst and HCOOH-Et₃N azeotrope as the hydrogen donor, up to 92% ee was obtained in an optional condition. The synthesis of (S)-Clopidogrel was also studied.