Highly diastereoselective chemoenzymatic synthesis of (2′R)- and (2′S)-2′-deoxy[2′-H]guanosines

In an effort to develop an efficient synthetic method of highly diastereoselective (2′R)- and (2′S)-2′-deoxy[2′-²H]guanosines, chemoenzymatic conversion was investigated. The synthesis of (2′R > 98% de)-2′-deoxy[2′-²H]guanosine was achieved by biological transdeoxyribosylation using (2′R > 98% de)-2′-deoxy[2′-²H]uridine, 2,6-diaminopurine, and Enterobacter aerogenes AJ-11125, followed by treatment with adenosine deaminase. (2′S > 98% de)-2′-Deoxy[2′-²H]guanosine was synthesized from (2′S > 98% de)-2′-deoxy[2′-²H]uridine and 2,6-diaminopurine using thymidine phosphorylase and purine nucleoside phosphorylase instead of E. aerogenes AJ-11125.     

Synthesis of cyclic bis(3′-5′)diguanylic acid (c-di-GMP) analogs

This paper reports the synthesis of cyclic bis(3′-5′)diguanylic acid (c-di-GMP) analogs, including the monophosphorothioic acid of c-di-GMP (c-GpGps), cyclic bis(3′-5′)guanylic/adenylic acid (c-GpAp), and cyclic bis(3′-5′)guanylic/inosinic acid (c-GpIp). These compounds are expected to be important, both in elucidating the mechanism of bioactive c-di-GMP and in designing and creating new bioactive c-di-GMP-related artificial derivatives.     

Diastereoselective synthesis of 1-alkyl-2,4,6-trioxoperhydropyrimidine-5-spiro-3′-(1′,2′,3′,4′-tetrahydroquinolines)

Knoevenagel products formed by the condensation of N-monoalkyl barbituric acids with o-tert-amino benzaldehydes undergo tert-amino effect reactions (T-reactions) yielding 1-alkyl-2,4,6-trioxoperhydropyrimidine-5-spiro-3′-(1′,2′,3′,4′-tetrahydroquinoline) derivatives as a mixture of (S^∗,S^∗)- and (S^∗,R^∗)-diastereomers. Mostly, the major diastereomer has the S^∗,S^∗-configuration. According to X-ray diffraction data in the solid form and NOE data in solution, diastereoselectivity of the T-reactions can be associated with the structure of the Knoevenagel products whose conformation is fixed by the strong intramolecular C-H?π interaction.     

Synthesis of the constrained glutamate analogues (2S,1′R,2′R)- and (2S,1′S,2′S)-2-(2′-carboxycyclobutyl)glycines L-CBG-II and L-CBG-I by enzymatic transamination

Optically pure trans-cyclobutane analogues of glutamic acid are prepared by highly selective enzymatic transamination of a single racemic trans-cyclobutane α-ketoglutaric acid derivative 5, which is synthesized in five steps from maleic anhydride. (2S,1′R,2′R)- and (2S,1′S,2′S)-2-(2′-carboxycyclobutyl)glycines L-CBG-II and L-CBG-I are obtained using aspartate aminotransferase (AAT) and branched chain aminotransferase (BCAT), respectively.     

New and efficient synthesis of 5′-amino-5′-(S)-methyl-2′,5′-dideoxynucleosides

A short, efficient synthesis of 5′-amino-5′-(S)-methyl-2′,5′-dideoxynucleosides 1 has been developed through the diastereoselective addition of methylmagnesium bromide or methyllithium to an intermediate tert-butylsulfinimide.     

Stereoselective synthesis of (1′S,3R,4R)-4-acetoxy-3-(2′-fluoro-1′-trimethylsilyloxyethyl)-2-azetidinone

A stereoselective synthesis of (1′S,3R,4R)-4-acetoxy-3-(2′-fluoro-1′-trimethylsilyloxyethyl)-2-azetidinone as a new fluorine-containing intermediate towards β-lactams, is described. The synthetic key step relies upon the dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) of ethyl 2-benzamidomethyl-4-fluoro-3-oxo-butanoate via asymmetric transfer hydrogenation catalyzed by [Ru(η⁶-arene)(S,S)-R₂NSO₂DPEN].     

Synthesis and optical properties of a poly(2′,5′-dioctyloxy-4,4′,4″- terphenylenevinylene) with high content of (Z) vinylene units

Poly(2′,5′-dioctyloxy-4,4′,4″-terphenylenevinylene) with (E) configuration of the vinylene double bonds was prepared by Suzuki-Miyaura polymerization of (E)-4,4′-dibromostilbene and 2,5-dioctyloxy-1,4-benzenediboronic acid. Attempts to extend this simple procedure to the synthesis of the polymer with (Z) configuration, starting from (Z)-4,4′-dibromostilbene, were unsuccessful. However, the use of (Z)-4,4′-diiodostilbene and a careful choice of Pd catalyst and experimental conditions, lead to a material with a >95/<5 (Z)/(E) ratio of vinylene units. The investigation of optical properties of both the (E) and (Z) polymers evidenced that (Z) linkages act as defects which reduce the effective conjugation length in the polymer backbone.     

New active ruthenium(II) complexes based N3,N3′-bis(diphenylphosphino)-2,2′-bipyridine-3,3′-diamine and P,P′-diphenylphosphinous acid-P,P′-[2,2′-bipyridine]-3,3′-diyl ester ligands for transfer hydrogenation of aromatic ketones by propan-2-ol

The dimeric starting material [Ru(η⁶-p-cymene)(μ-Cl)Cl]₂ reacts with N3,N3′-bis(diphenylphosphino)-2,2′-bipyridine-3,3′-diamine, 1 and P,P′-diphenylphosphinous acid-P,P′-[2,2′-bipyridine]-3,3′-diyl ester, 2 ligands to afford bridged dinuclear complexes [C₁₀H₆N₂{NHPPh₂-Ru(η⁶-p-cymene)Cl₂}₂], 3 and [C₁₀H₆N₂{OPPh₂-Ru(η⁶-p-cymene)Cl₂}₂], 4 in quantitative yields. These bis(aminophosphine) and bis(phosphinite) based Ru(II) complexes serve as active catalyst precursors for the transfer hydrogenation of acetophenone derivatives in 2-propanol and especially 4 acts as a good catalyst, giving the corresponding alcohols in 99% yield in 20 min (TOF ? 280 h⁻¹).     

Enantioselective alkynylation to aldimines catalyzed by chiral 2,2′-di(2-aminoaryloxy)-1,1′-binaphthyl-copper(I) complexes

The enantioselective alkynylation of aldimines with terminal acetylenes catalyzed by chiral Cu(I) complexes with (R)-2,2′-di(2-aminoaryloxy)-1,1′-binaphthyl ligands (7) was examined. Chiral C₂-symmetric N,N-ligands 7, which have primary aniline moieties, were readily prepared from inexpensive (R)-1,1′-binaphthol (BINOL) as a chiral source. In particular, the reaction of N-benzylidenebenzeneamine 1a with phenylacetylene 2a proceeded smoothly in the presence of 5 mol % of (CuOTf)₂·C₆H₅CH₃ and 10 mol % of (R)-7d at room temperature for 24 h, and the corresponding propargylamine 3a was obtained with up to 82% ee.     

Different recognitions of (E)- and (Z)-1,1′-binaphthyl ketoximes using lipase-catalyzed reactions

Lipase-catalyzed hydrolysis of (E)-2-[α-(acetoxyimino)benzyl]-1,1′-binaphthyl [(±)-1a] and (Z)-2-[α-(acetoxyimino)benzyl]-1,1′-binaphthyl [(±)-1b] yielded optically active (E)-2-[α-(hydroxyimino)benzyl]-1,1′-binaphthyl [(S)-2a] and (Z)-2-[α-(hydroxyimino)benzyl]-1,1′-binaphthyl [(R)-2b], respectively, with high enantiomeric excess. Selectivity for the opposite enantiomer of the axial binaphthyl skeleton was shown by (Z)-isomer 1b against (E)-isomer 1a.     

Metalloporphyrins as chemical shift reagents: the unambiguous NMR characterization of the cis- and trans-isomers of meso-(bis)-4′-pyridyl-(bis)-4′-carboxymethylphenylporphyrins

The condensation of pyrrole with 4-pyridylcarboxyaldehyde and methyl 4-formyl benzoate under Adler-Longo conditions yielded the series of meso-(4′-pyridyl)/(4′-carboxymethylphenyl)porphyrins as a mixture. Careful column chromatography afforded each isomer in pure form. In this paper we focus on the two bis-substituted isomeric meso-porphyrins, 5,10-bis(4′-pyridyl)-15,20-bis(4′-carboxymethylphenyl)porphyrin and 5,15-bis(4′-pyridyl)-10,20-bis(4′-carboxymethylphenyl)porphyrin, respectively, 4′-cis and 4′-transDPyDMeP. The assignment of the geometry of the two isomers was performed by ¹H NMR spectroscopy on the trinuclear adducts [(4′-cisDPyDMeP){Ru(TPP)(CO)}₂] and [(4′-transDPyDMeP){Ru(TPP)(CO)}₂], obtained by selective coordination of [Ru(TPP)(CO)(EtOH)] (TPP=tetraphenylporphyrin) to the peripheral nitrogen atoms. The axially bound ruthenium porphyrins act as chemical shift reagents on the central porphyrin, allowing a clear distinction of the pyrrole proton resonances and consequent unambiguous assignment of the geometry of each isomer based upon symmetry considerations.     

Efficient and practical asymmetric synthesis of isopropyl (R)-3-(3′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl)-2-hydroxypropanoate and its enantiomer

The highly enantioselective synthesis of (R)-isopropyl 3-(3′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl)-2-hydroxypropanoate and its enantiomer has been achieved starting from 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde. The stereogenic centers were established through asymmetric dihydroxylation of (E)-isopropyl 3,4-bis(benzyloxy) cinnamate. A convenient manipulation in selective catalytic hydrogenation and deprotection was also accomplished in HCl-ⁱPrOH employing 10% Pd/C catalyst.     

Enantioselective synthesis of (2S,3′R,7′Z)-N-(3′-hydroxy-7′-tetradecenoyl)-homoserine lactone

A concise enantioselective total synthesis of (2S,3′R,7′Z)-N-(3′-hydroxy-7′-tetradecenoyl)-homoserine lactone is described. Key feature of this protocol is a catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation and a prophenol-zinc-catalyzed diazo addition to imine reaction as genesis of chirality. Moreover, flexibility is built in the synthesis to generate enantioenriched analogs using catalytic amount of enantioenriched C₂-symmetric ligands.     

Vibrational spectra and structure of the photochromic 2-(2′,4′-dinitrobenzyl)pyridine

The molecular structure of the pale yellow crystals of 2-(2′,4′-dinitrobenzyl)pyridine (CH₂ form) and its photo induced ‘enamine’ NH tautomer (dark blue crystals) have been studied by means of vibrational spectra and ab initio calculations. The Raman spectrum of the photo-sensitive CH₂ form was registered by NIR FT-Raman spectroscopy by means of the Nd:YAG laser as an excitation source. Ab initio calculations have been performed for the CH₂ and NH tautomers at the Hartree-Fock level using a 6-21G** basis set. The theoretical geometrical parameters for the isolated 2-(2′,4′-dinitrobenzyl)pyridine molecule (CH₂ form) are close to the literature X-ray diffraction data. According to the theory the dihedral angle between the benzene and pyridine ring planes in the NH photo induced tautomer is about 46°, the ortho-nitro group is twisted about 25° towards the benzene ring plane, whereas the para-nitro group is coplanar to the benzene ring. The assignment of the fundamental vibration frequencies of both 2-(2′,4′-dinitrobenzyl)pyridine tautomers CH₂ and NH have been performed on the basis of Raman and infrared spectra and ab initio force field calculations. The computed frequencies are in coincidence with the registered ones; the mean deviations are between 23.7 and 28.5 cm⁻¹.     

Synthesis of (3′R,5′S)-3′-hydroxycotinine using 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of a nitrone

To synthesize (3′R,5′S)-3′-hydroxycotinine [(+)-1], the main metabolite of nicotine (2), cycloaddition of C-(3-pyridyl)nitrones 3a, 3c, and 15 with (2R)- and (2S)-N-(acryloyl)bornane-10,2-sultam [(2R)- and (2S)-8] was examined. Among them, l-gulose-derived nitrone 15 underwent stereoselective cycloaddition with (2S)-8 to afford cycloadduct 16, which was elaborated to (+)-1.     

Chemical synthesis and structural elucidation of a new serotonin metabolite: (4R)-2-[(5′-hydroxy-1′H-indol-3′-yl)methyl]thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid

A new serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) metabolite, (4R)-2-[(5′-hydroxy-1′H-indol-3′-yl)methyl]thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid (5′-HITCA), was synthesized in 30% overall yield. The key step involved oxidation of protected 5-hydroxytryptophol using IBX followed by spontaneous cyclization with l-cysteine. The stereochemistry of condensation product thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid was studied using NMR spectroscopy techniques.     

Preparation of (1R,1′R)-1,1′-(anthracene-9,10-diyl)bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethanamine): a chiral diamine with low basicity

A new chiral diamine with low basicity was synthesized in enantiopure form. (1R,1′R)-1,1′-(Anthracene-9,10-diyl)bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethanamine) was obtained by means of several stereochemically controlled reactions. The structures of the title compound and several intermediates were studied.     

Synthesis and separation of the atropisomers of 2-(5-benzo[b]fluorenyl)-2′-hydroxy-1,1′-binaphthyl and related compounds

Several syn and anti atropisomers of 2-(5-benzo[b]fluorenyl)-2′-hydroxy-1,1′-binaphthyl and related compounds were synthesized from 1,1′-binaphthyl-2,2′-diol (BINOL). It was possible to separate the syn and anti atropisomers by silica gel column chromatography. The syn atropisomers are potential hetero-bidentate ligands for complex formation with metals. By starting from enantiomerically pure (R)-(+)-BINOL and (S)-(−)-BINOL, four optically active syn atropisomers and two anti atropisomers with high enantiomeric purity were obtained. The structures of two syn atropisomers and one anti atropisomer were established by X-ray structure analyses.     

Cascade assembly of N,N′-dialkylbarbituric acids and aldehydes: a simple and efficient one-pot approach to the substituted 1,5-dihydro-2H,2′H-spiro(furo[2,3-d]pyrimidine-6,5′-pyrimidine)-2,2′,4,4′,6′(1′H,3H,3′H)-pentone framework

Cascade assembly of N,N′-dialkylbarbituric acids and aldehydes in the presence of bromine leads to the selective and efficient formation of substituted 1,5-dihydro-2H,2′H-spiro(furo[2,3-d]pyrimidine-6,5′-pyrimidine)-2,2′,4,4′,6′-(1′H,3H,3′H)-pentones in 70-88% yields via a complex cascade process. Spirobarbiturates containing the furo[2,3-d]pyrimidine framework are a class of compounds with interesting pharmacological and physiological activity.     

Application and details of photoinduced oxidative cyclization of 5-(4′,9′-methanocycloundeca-2′,4′,6′,8′,10′-pentaenylidene)pyrimidine-2,4,6(1,3,5H)-triones and related compounds

As novel methodology for synthesizing the furan ring, a photoinduced oxidative cyclization of 5-(4′,9′-methanocycloundeca-2′,4′,6′,8′,10′-pentaenylidene)pyrimidine-2,4,6(1,3,5H)-triones (7a-c) and related compounds 9a-c was accomplished to give 5,10-methanocycloundeca[4,5]furo[2,3-d]pyrimidine-2,4(1,3H)-dionylium tetrafluoroborates (8a-c⁺·BF₄⁻) and related compounds 2a-c⁺·BF₄⁻, respectively. In the photoinduced oxidative cyclization, the molecular oxygen in air is used as oxidant and the reaction proceeds under mild conditions to give desired products without byproducts, and thus, it is interesting from the viewpoint of the green chemistry. On the reactions of the mono-substituted derivatives 7d,e and 9e,f, the selectivity of the photoinduced cyclizations were reversed as compared with those of the DDQ-promoted oxidative cyclizations. By the NMR monitoring of the reactions of 7a and deuterated compound 7a-D₂ under degassed conditions, the details of the reaction pathway were clarified and rationalized on the basis of the MO calculation by the 6-31G^∗ basis set of the MP2 levels as well.