Stereoselective aldol additions of titanium enolates of N-acetyl-4-isopropyl-thiazolidinethione

The addition of chlorotitanium enolates of N-acetyl isopropyl thiazolidine-2-thione to aldehydes was investigated. The stereoselectivity of the aldol products was controlled by the number of equivalents of base added. The syn aldol product was obtained preferentially when 2 equiv of Lewis acid and 1 equiv of base were employed. The anti aldol product was obtained preferentially when 1 equiv of Lewis acid and 2 equiv of base were employed for unsaturated aldehydes. Unexpected results were found with hindered aldehydes when 2 equiv of base were employed.     

l-Prolinamide derivatives as efficient organocatalysts for aldol reactions on water

A series of l-prolinamide derivatives have been evaluated as potential organocatalysts for aldol reactions. To synthesize these catalysts, a novel and simple route has been developed using proline N-carboxyanhydride (proline-NCA). A new catalyst with a trifluoromethyl-sulfonamide group has been found exhibiting excellent diastereoselectivity (anti/syn: 97/3) and enantioselectivity (99% ee) with 10 mol % loading and being easily recyclable in water.     

Platinum(II) complex-catalyzed enantioselective aldol reaction with ketene silyl acetals in DMF at room temperature

[{(R)-binap}Pt(μ-OH)]₂2X is a weak Lewis acid, which can catalyze the enantioselective aldol reaction of aldehydes with ketene silyl acetals in DMF at room temperature. The platinum(II) complex-catalyzed the enantioselective aldol reaction of aldehydes with 1-methoxy-2-methyl-(1-trimethylsilyloxy)propene gave the corresponding aldols in high yields with enantioselectivity up to 92%. With 5 mol % loading of the complexes, the enantioselective aldol reaction of aldehydes with 1-benzyloxy-1-(trimethylsilyloxy)propene smoothly proceeded in DMF containing 10% HMPA as to predominantly give anti-propionates with enantioselectivity up to 89%, irrespective of the silyl nucleophile geometry.     

Highly diastereo- and enantioselective direct aldol reactions promoted by water-compatible organocatalysts bearing a pyrrolidinyl-camphor structural scaffold

Efficient synthetic routes have been developed for the synthesis of a series of pyrrolidinyl-camphor containing organocatalysts (1-10). Structural modifications were made by varying the stereo- and electronic properties of the camphor scaffold and the aromatic substituents. These readily tunable and amphiphilic organocatalysts were evaluated for the direct asymmetric aldol reaction of various aromatic aldehydes and cyclohexanone either in organic solvents or in the presence of water. The aldol reaction proceeded smoothly with excellent chemical yields (up to 99%), enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee), and anti-diastereoselectivities (up to 99:1) with a catalytical amount of the bifunctional organocatalysts (20 mol %) under optimal reaction conditions. Mechanistic transition models are proposed and the stereochemical bias of the asymmetric aldol reaction is presented.     

Quantitative study of stereospecific binding of monoclonal antibody to anti-benzo(a)pyrene diol epoxide-N-dG adducts by capillary electrophoresis immunoassay

The stereospecific binding of monoclonal antibody (mAb) 8E11 to anti-benzo(a)pyrene diol epoxide (BPDE)-dG adducts in single nucleoside, long oligonucleotide, and genomic DNA were quantitatively evaluated using noncompetitive and competitive capillary electrophoresis (CE) immunoassays. Two single-stranded TMR-BPDE-90mers containing a single anti-BPDE-dG adduct with defined stereochemistry and a fluorescent label at 5′-end were used as fluorescent probes for competitive CE immunoassay. To quantitatively evaluate the binding affinity through competitive CE immunoassays, a series of equations were derived according to the binding stoichiometry. The binding of mAb 8E11 to trans-(+)-anti-BPDE-dG displays strongest affinity (K_b: 3.57 × 10⁸ M⁻¹) among all four investigated anti-BPDE-dG mononucleoside adducts, and the cis-(−)-anti-BPDE-dG displays lowest affinity (K_b: 1.14 ×10⁷ M⁻¹). The binding of monoclonal antibody (mAb) 8E11 to BPDE-dG adducts in long DNA (90mer) preferentially forms the complex with a stoichiometry of 1:1, and that mAb 8E11 displays a slightly higher affinity with trans-(+)-anti-BPDE-90mers (K_b: 6.36 ± 0.54 × 10⁸ M⁻¹) than trans-(−)-anti-BPDE-90mers (K_b: 4.52 ± 0.52 × 10⁸ M⁻¹). The mAb 8E11 also displays high affinity with BPDE-dG adducts in genomic DNA (K_b: 3.74 × 10⁸ M⁻¹), indicating its promising applications for sensitive immuno-detection of BPDE-DNA adducts in genomic DNA.     

Efficient one-pot ring-opening/aldol reactions using (cyclopropyl)methylstannanes

(Cyclopropyl)methylstannanes, substituted with an electron-withdrawing group, have been found to be effective homoallylating reagents of aldehydes and ketones. The reaction proceeds by Lewis-acid catalyzed ring opening, followed by an aldol condensation of the resulting enolate, providing homoallylation products in excellent yields. The diastereoselectivity of the process was found to be highly dependent upon the temperature and the solvent, the reaction giving mainly anti adducts at −78 °C and syn compounds at 0 °C.     

The cooperative effect of a hydroxyl and carboxyl group on the catalytic ability of novel β-homoproline derivatives on direct asymmetric aldol reactions

Novel β-homoproline derivatives, 2-hydroxy-2-(pyrrolidin-2-yl)acetic acids (R,S)- and (S,S)-1a-d, were synthesized. All of the prepared compounds were used as organocatalysts in the direct asymmetric aldol reaction of 4-nitrobenzaldehyde with several ketones. Among these catalysts, (R)-2-hydroxy-2-((S)-pyrrolidin-2-yl)acetic acid (R,S)-1a showed good catalytic ability in the formation of aldol product 13 (up to 69% ee, 95% yield), which was similar to the results catalyzed by l-proline (71% ee, 96% yield). Relatively low yields and low enantioselectivities were observed in aldol reactions catalyzed by (S,S)-1a, for example, 13 was obtained in 55% yield and 13% ee. The aldol reaction catalyzed by the methyl-protected carboxylic acid 1b and esters 1c,d produced much lower chemical yields and enantioselectivities during the formation of 13. The cooperative effect of the (R)-configured hydroxyl group and the carboxyl group was found to play an important role in inducing enantioselectivity in the aldol reaction. Relatively high diastereoselectivities (anti:syn = 85:15) and enantioselectivity (anti, 83% ee) were observed in the aldol reactions of 4-nitrobenzaldehyde with cyclohexanone, which was catalyzed by (R,S)-1a.     

Chiral 1,2-diaminocyclohexane as organocatalyst for enantioselective aldol reaction

A simple and commercially available chiral 1,2-diaminocyclohexane as catalyst, hexanedioic acid as co-catalyst could efficiently catalyze the asymmetric aldol reaction in MeOH-H₂O. Cyclic ketones as aldol substrates gave the anti-β-hydroxyketone products with moderate to good yields, diastereoselectivity and enantioselectivity (up to 78% yield, >20:1 anti/syn, 94% ee). Hydroxyacetone as aldol substrate afforded the syn-α, β-dihydroxyketones as major products in up to 85% yield with good enantioselectivity (up to >20:1 syn/anti, 93% ee).     

Inherently chiral calix[4]arene-based bifunctional organocatalysts for enantioselective aldol reactions

Two optical pure m-dimethylamino substituted inherently chiral calix[4]arene derivatives 8a and 8b bearing an l-prolinamido group have been synthesized by two routes, and structurally studied by the usual spectroscopic methods and X-ray crystallographic analysis. It was found that both of 8a and 8b could be utilized as bifunctional organocatalysts to efficiently promote the aldol reactions between aromatic aldehydes and ketones in the presence of acetic acid. Especially, with 8a as the catalyst, the reaction between 4-nitrobenzaldehyde and cyclopentanone at −20 °C gave the anti-aldol product up to 94% ee, while the anti-aldol product in up to 94:6 dr and 79% ee was obtained when 4-cyanobenzaldehyde was used as the aldol donor. Moreover, it was also demonstrated that the inherently chiral calixarene skeleton with (cS)-conformation in 8a was identified as the matched configuration of the stereogenic elements, and the inherently chiral moiety might play an important role in helping to stereocontrol the reaction.     

Conformational isomerism of 1,2-bis(imidazol-1′-yl)ethane in five-coordination polymers: Influence of metal ions and m-isophthalate ligands bearing different substituents

Four novel coordination polymers, {[Zn(gauche-bime)(bdc)] · 0.5H₂O}_n (1), {[Zn(anti-bime)(HO-bdc)] · 2.5H₂O}_n (2), [Cu(gauche-bime)_0.5(anti-bime)_0.5(O₂N-bdc)]_n (4) and [Ni₂(gauche-bime)(anti-bime)(O₂N-bdc)₂(H₂O)₂]_n (5) were successfully prepared by the solvothermal reactions of 1,2-bis(imidazol-1′-yl)ethane (bime), m-isophthalic acid (H₂bdc) or its two derivatives (HO-H₂bdc = 5-hydroxyisophthalic acid, O₂N-H₂bdc = 5-nitroisophthalic acid) with different metal ions. Interestingly, bime in the four complexes exhibit different conformations owing to the synergetic influence of coexistent neutral (–H), electron-donating (–OH) or electron-withdrawing (–NO₂) groups of the dicarboxylate ligands and different metal ions. In 1 and 2, only one conformation of bime (gauche in 1 and anti in 2) is displayed, while the mixed conformations of bime (gauche:anti = 1:1) are observed in 4 and 5. At the same time, one previously reported compound {[Zn(anti-bime)(O₂N-bdc)] · H₂O}_n (3) as a comparable substance in the research system was also mentioned, in which the anti-conformation of bime was observed.     

Organo-catalyzed highly diastereo- and enantio-selective direct aldol reactions in water

The asymmetric direct aldol reactions of a wide scope of aromatic aldehydes, with unmodified ketones in the presence of 1 mol % of organocatalyst prepared from (2R,3R)-diethyl 2-amino-3-hydroxysuccinate and trans-4-hydroxy-l-proline, were performed in water, affording aldol products in high yields with excellent diastereoselectivities of up to >99:1 and enantioselectivities of up to 98%.     

Spontaneous and diastereoselective aldol reactions of cyclic β-amino ketones in the presence of water

Direct aldol reactions of 4-methyl-1-piperidone, tropinone and granatanone (pseudopelletierine) take place spontaneously in the presence of water without any catalyst or additional reagents. The anti/syn-diastereoselectivity of the aqueous aldol reaction depends on the amount of water used. The syn-selectivity of the reaction is probably due to the thermodynamic control. Excellent atom economy and low E factors together with anti-selectivity as high as 98:2 for the tropinone aldol were obtained.     

Highly stereoselective direct aldol reactions catalyzed by (S)-NOBIN-l-prolinamide

(S)-NOBIN-l-prolinamide was employed as organocatalyst in the direct aldol reactions of different ketones and aromatic aldehydes using dioxane as solvent and in the presence of water as additive. Acetone led to the aldol products in up to 93% ee, while cyclic ketones furnished the anti-aldols in moderate to high yield, excellent diastereoselectivity (up to >99/<1 anti/syn ratio) and high ee (up to 95%).     

A novel thermal rearrangement of allenic imidothioates. Formation of iminocyclobutenes

Allenic imidothioates, H₂CCC(Ph)C(SMe)NR (R = Me, t-Bu, Ph) have been obtained in good yields by reaction of 1,3-dilithiated 1-(2-propynyl)benzene with isothiocyanates and successive addition of t-butyl alcohol and methyl iodide. Heating the imidothioates at ∼120 °C gave an iminocyclobutene as the only isolated product (if R = t-Bu), a ∼4:6 mixture of a 2,3-dihydropyridine and an iminocyclobutene (if R = Me) or a 3:1 mixture of a quinoline and an iminocyclobutene (if R = Ph).     

Dynamic mechanical and thermal behavior of liquid-crystalline polybutadiene-diols with mesogenic groups in side chains

Liquid-crystalline polybutadiene-diols (LCPBDs) with the comb-like architecture were synthesized by reaction of a LC thiol with the double bonds of telechelic HO-terminated polybutadiene (PBD). LCPBDs with various initial molar ratios of thiol to double bonds of PBD, R₀, in the range from 0.15 to 1, were prepared by the radical reaction at temperature 60 °C for 48 h. The experimentally obtained degree of modification, R_e, after the reaction and purification, was determined from elemental analysis - from the amount of sulphur bounded in LCPBDs, GPC and from ¹H NMR spectra. The physical properties were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic mechanical spectroscopy. With increasing R_e ratio the glass transition temperature of LCPBDs, T_g, increases from ∼ − 45 °C (neat PBD) to ∼20 °C (R_e ∼ 0.5). LC transition starts at R_e ∼ 0.27 (the transition temperature T_m ∼ 27 °C). With increasing R_e temperature T_m increases and for R_e ∼ 0.5 reaches the value T_m ∼ 74 °C; at the same time also the change in enthalpy at LC transition increases. The LC transition could be detected also by the dynamic mechanical spectroscopy; especially shape and position of mechanical functions on frequency and free volume parameters strongly depend on degree of modification.     

Structure and magnetic properties of a copper(II) compound with syn–anti carboxylato- and linear Cu–Cl–Cu chloro-bridges

The copper(II) polymer Cu(2-qic)Cl (2-qic = quinoline-2-carboxylate) was synthesized and then characterized by X-ray crystal structure determination, spectroscopic and magnetic studies. The crystal structure consists of copper(II) ions with two different chromophores: four-coordinated in a square-planar geometry and five-coordinated in an environment between square-pyramidal and trigonal-bipyramidal. The copper ions are bridged sequentially through the carboxylate groups in a syn–anti conformation, forming an infinite one-dimensional zigzag chain with two alternating non-equivalent copper(II) chromophores. The chloride atom acts as a single chloro-bridge link to adjacent chains, forming a ribbon type structure (1D). The variable-temperature (1.8–300 K) magnetic susceptibility data of the complex were interpreted with the dimer law using the molecular field approximation. The results obtained indicate a very weak ferromagnetic (J₂ = 0.37 cm⁻¹) interchain interaction through the syn–anti carboxylate bridge. A relatively strong antiferromagnetic interaction, transmitted through the chloro-bridge with an exchange coupling of J₁ = −57.0 cm⁻¹, dominates the magnetic properties of this complex. The magnitude and the nature of the exchange coupling are explained on the basis of the structural results.     

First enantioselective synthesis of (−)-talaumidin, a neurotrophic diaryltetrahydrofuran-type lignan

The first enantioselective total synthesis of a neurotrophic (−)-talaumidin (1) is described in 16 steps from 4-benzyloxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde in ca. 10.7% overall yield, and thus has established the absolute configurations of the four stereogenic centers C-2 ∼ C-5 of 1. The synthesis features the construction of the two successive chiral centers C-2 and C-3 by Evans asymmetric anti-aldol protocol as well as of the two chiral centers C-4 and C-5 in a highly stereocontrolled fashion by hydroboration/oxidation and epimerization, followed by Friedel-Crafts arylation.     

Conformational fluxionality in a palladium(II) complex of flexible click chelator 4-phenyl-1-(2-picolyl)-1,2,3-triazole: A dynamic NMR and DFT study

An experimental and theoretical DFT study was carried out on the solution behavior in [D₇]DMF for bis-chelate complex [Pd(L)₂](BF₄)₂·2CH₃CN (L = 4-phenyl-1-(2-picolyl)-1,2,3-triazole). In structure of [Pd(L)₂]²⁺, the central square-planar palladium(II) cation is trans-chelated by two L substrates, each through the pyridine and the triazole N2 nitrogen atoms, forming two six-membered metallacycles. These can adopt boat-like conformations anti-trans-[Pd(L)₂]²⁺ and syn-trans-[Pd(L)₂]²⁺ in which the picolyl methylene carbons are anti or syn, respectively, relative to the palladium coordination plane. In solution, the boat-to-boat inversion at both metallacycles takes place. The conformers are in a dynamic equilibrium, which was monitored by variable-temperature (VT) ¹H NMR spectroscopy in the temperature range of 223-353 K. The equilibrium lies on the side of the anti-trans-[Pd(L)₂]²⁺ conformer and the corresponding reaction enthalpy and entropy is estimated to be 0.6 ± 0.5 kcal mol⁻¹ and 0.8 ± 1 cal mol⁻¹ K⁻¹, respectively. From the full-line-shape analysis of resonances in the VT ¹H NMR spectra, the activation enthalpy and activation entropy was determined to be 13.0 ± 0.4 kcal mol⁻¹ and 2.7 ± 1.6 cal mol⁻¹ K⁻¹, respectively. The activation entropy close to zero suggests a nondissociative mechanism for the isomerisation. DFT investigation revealed that the isomerisation proceeds through a one step mechanism with a barrier of 11.40 kcal mol⁻¹. The structures of the syn and anti conformers as well as that of the transition state were characterized. Energy decomposition analysis was carried out in order to explore the origins of the stability difference between the syn and anti isomers.     

Highly efficient and solvent-free direct aldol reaction catalyzed by glucosamine-derived prolinamide

The catalytic activity of novel sugar-based prolinamides in the aldol reaction between ketones and aryl aldehydes has been examined. The prolinamide 1c was found to be an efficient organocatalyst for the asymmetric aldol reaction under solvent-free conditions. A variety of ketones and aldehydes were used as substrates and the corresponding aldol products were obtained in excellent chemical yields with high levels of anti diastereoselectivity (up to 99:1) and enantioselectivity (up to >99%).     

Aldol reactions of 2-thioxotetrahydropyrimidin-4(1H)-ones: stereoregulations from endo- and exocyclic chiral centres

The steric regulations imparted by the substituent at N1 in lithium mediated asymmetric aldol reactions of conformationally restricted 3-aryl-1-((S)-1-phenylethyl)-2-thioxotetrahydropyrimidin-4(1H)-ones governed the formation of anti aldol adducts, by a kinetic reaction pathway. The preferential formation of the anti aldol diastereomers was also assisted by the steric effects of the electrophile through diastereofacial selection while the electronic effects of the aryl group at N3 remained subtle. Incorporation of an endocyclic methyl group at C6 witnessed the diastereoselective formation of an anti aldol adduct by regulation of π-facial selectivity. The absolute configurations of the aldol adducts were determined by computational calculations and NMR experiments, and confirmed by single crystal X-ray analysis.