Microbiological transformations—XII: Microbiological reduction of racemic 1-(2',2',3'-trimethyl-cyclopent-3'-en-1'-yl)propan-2-one and 1-(2',2',3'-trimethyl-cyclopent-3'-en-1'-yl)butan-2-one by rhodotorula mucilaginosa

The microbiological reduction of (±)-l-(2',2',3'-trimethylcyclopent-3'-en-l'-yl)-propan-2-one (4) and (±)-1-(2',2',3'-trimethylcyclopent-3'-en-l'-yl)-butan-2-one (5) by Rhodotorula mucilaginosa was investigated. Both enantiomers of 4 are reduced stereospecifically to corresponding alcohols; (+)-(2S, l'R)-(2',2',3'-trimethylcyclopent-3'-en-l'-yl)-propan-2-ol (6) and (-)-(2S,l'S)-(2',2',3'-trimethylcyclopent-3'-en-l'-yl)-propan-2-ol (7). p ]The substrate selectivity in the reduction of 5 was observed: R enantiomer of 5 yields stereospecifically (+)-(2S,1'R)-(2',2',3'-trimethylcyclopent-3'-en-l'-yl)-butan-2-ol (8) while S(-)5 remains unchanged.     

Enantiomerically pure piperazines via NaBH4/I2 reduction of cyclic amides

Enantiomerically pure (3S,7R,8aS)-3-phenyloctahydropyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazine-7-ol, (3S,7R,8aS)-3-methyl octahydropyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazine-7-ol, (3S,7R,8aS)-3-isopropyloctahydropyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazine-7-ol and (3S,7R,8aS)-3-isobutyloctahydropyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazine-7-ol 16d were synthesized via preparation of the corresponding cyclic amides from enantiomerically pure l-proline and hydroxyproline derivatives followed by reduction using sodium borohydride-iodine.     

Determination of the absolute configuration of the male aggregation pheromone, 2-methyl-6-(4′-methylenebicyclo[3.1.0]hexyl)hept-2-en-1-ol, of the stink bug Erysarcoris lewisi (Distant) as 2Z,6R,1′S,5′S by its synthesis

Lipase-catalyzed asymmetric acetylation of a mixture of (6R,1′S,4′S,5′R)- and (6R,1′R,4′R,5′S)-7′-norsesquisabinen-4′-ol (3) afforded a separable mixture of the recovered former and the acetate of the latter. The recovered alcohol was oxidized to (6R,1′S,5′R)-sesquisabina ketone (2), whose absolute configuration could be assigned by its CD comparison with (1R,5S)-sabina ketone (4). Conversion of (6R,1′S,5′R)-sesquisabina ketone (2) to the bioactive pheromone revealed the stereostructure of the male aggregation pheromone of the stink bug Erysarcoris lewisi (Distant) to be (2Z,6R,1′S,5′S)-2-methyl-6-(4′-methylenebicyclo[3.1.0]hexyl)hept-2-en-1-ol (sesquisabinen-1-ol, 1).     

Stereoselective synthesis of (R)- and (S)-Ipsdienols, pheromone components of bark beetles of the Ips family

(R)- and (S)-Ipsdienols, components of pheromones of bark beetles of the Ips family, were synthesized with high enantiomeric purity (>98%) from 8-chloro-2-methyl-6-methylideneoct-2-en-4-ol prepared from ethyl 3-chloropropionate via cyclopropanation according to Kulinkovich. 8-Chloro-2-methyl-6-methylideneoct-2-en-4-ol was converted into the corresponding hydrogen phthalate whose stereoisomeric salts with (R)- and (S)-1-phenylethanamines were separated by crystallization, and subsequent hydrolysis of the latter and dehydrohalogenation with potassium tert-butoxide gave targeted (R)- and (S)-ipsdienols.     

Synthesis of (−)- and (+)-8-fluoro-galanthamine

The synthesis of racemic 8-fluorogalanthamine and its separation into (−)- and (+)-8-fluorogalanthamine (= (4aS,6R,8aS)- and (4aR,6S,8aR)-1-fluoro-4a,5,9,10,11,12-hexahydro-3-methoxy-11-methyl-6H-benzofuro[3a,3,2-ef][2]benzazepin-6-ol) is described.     

Synthesis of all the four stereoisomers of (1′S)-1-ethyl-2-methylpropyl 3,13-dimethylpentadecanoate, the major component of the sex pheromone of Paulownia bagworm, Clania variegata

All the four stereoisomers of (1′S)-1-ethyl-2-methylpropyl 3,13-dimethylpentadecanoate, the major component of the sex pheromone of Clania variegata, were synthesized by starting from (R)- or (S)-2-methylbutan-1-ol, (R)- or (S)-citronellal, and (S)-2-methylpentan-3-ol. Olefin cross metathesis was employed as the key reaction.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of N-thia-carba-thymidine as an antiherpetic agent

As a continuation of our project aimed at the search for new antiviral agents, the synthesis and biological evaluation of N-thia-carba-thymidine ((1R,2S,4S,5S)-5-methyl-1-{6-thia-4-hydroxy-5-[(hydroxy)-methyl]bicyclo[3.1.0]hex-2-yl}-1,3-dihydropyrimidine-2,4-dione; compound 8) was carried out employing the carbocyclic enantioenriched intermediate (1R,4S)-4-phenylmethoxy-3-[(phenylmethoxy)methyl]cyclopent-2-en-1-ol, which in turn was prepared from (3R,4S) phenylmethoxy-3-[(phenylmethoxy)methyl]-cyclopent-1-ene. The title compound resulted to be a very potent antiherpetic agent exhibiting a similar potency to acyclovir as shown. The synthetic approach to obtain this carbanucleoside required a novel strategy to introduce a thiirane group fused to a functionalized five-membered ring.     

Total syntheses of cross-conjugated carotenals

Total syntheses of the cross-conjugated carotenals renierapurpurin-20-al (χ,χ-caroten-20-al, 2), (2R,2' R)-tetradesoxybacterioruberin-20- al ((2R,2'R)-2,2'- bis-(3-methylbutyl)-3,4,3',4'-tetrahydro-ψ,ψ -caroten-20-al, 3) and (2R,6R,2'R, 6' R)-2,2'dimethyl-decapreno -?,? -caroten -25-al (4) from the common intermediate 8,8'-diapo-20-acetoxycarotene 8,8' dial (5) are described. The cross conjugated 20-(2,3 4-trimethylbenzal)renierapurpurin (16) has also been synthesized     

Reactions of β-substituted amines-IV: Kinetics and stereochemistry of the thermal to (r) 3-chloro-1-ethylpiperidine,and the stereo-chemical course of their reactions with nucleophiles

The rate of the thermal rearrangement of (S) 2 chloromethyl-1-ethylpyrrolidine [(S)-1a] to (R)-3-chloro-1-ethylpiperidine [(R) 2a] has been examined at three temperatures in benzene by PMR and polarimetry. The rearrangement was shown to be completely stereospecific and to obey a simple first order rate law. The calculated E_a ΔH3 and ΔS3 were 22 ± 2 $\text{kcal}\text{mole}$ (25°), 21 ± 2.5 $\text{kcal}\text{mole}$ (25°) and - 10 ± 2 e.u. (0°K) respectively. The effect of solvents having differing dielectric constants was also studied. A transition state 9'a and an ion pair intermediate 3a are suggested for the rearrangement. The stereochemical course of the reactions of (S)-1a, (R)-2a and (S)-2a with hydroxide and methoxide ions have been shown to be 100% stereospecific with an uncertainty of about 1%. The absolute configurations of all optically active reactants and products [(S)- and (R)-4a, (S)-4b (R)- and (S)-5a, (R)-5b, (S,S')-6a, (S,R')-7a and (R,R')-8a] were established by chemical correlations with known compounds or by ORD and chemical inference. The ring opening of both the primary and secondary aziridinium ion positions of 1-azonia-1-ethylbicyclo [3.1.0]hexane [(S)-3a] by nucleophiles proceeds entirely by S_N2 processes. The conversion of (R)-1-ethyl-3-hydroxypiperidine [(R)-5a] to (S)-2a. HCl with thionyl chloride in chloroform proceeds by inversion with 4.8% racemization, whereas the thermal rearrangement of (S)-1a to (R)-2a occurs with complete retention of absolute configuration.     

Transformations of peroxide ozonolysis products of (1R,3R)-p-menth-4-en-3-ol in the presence of pyridine

Ozonolysis of (1R,3R)-p-menth-4-en-3-ol in methylene chloride or methanol in the presence of pyridine afforded a mixture of equimolar amounts of epimeric 1-[(2R,4S,6S)- and 1-[(2S,4S,6S)-6-hydroxy-4-methyltetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yl]-2-methylpropan-1-ones. A probable reaction mechanism is discussed.     

Synthesis of the natural enantiomers of ascochlorin,ascofuranone and ascofuranol

Three fungal metabolites with a common structural feature as prenylated phenols were synthesized in their naturally occurring and optically active forms: ascochlorin [(2'$\text{E}$,4'$\text{E}$,1'$\text{R}$,2'$\text{R}$,6'$\text{R}$)-(-)-5-chloro-2,4-dihydroxy-6-methyl-3-[5'-(1',2',6'-trimethyl-3'-oxo-cyclohexyl)-3'-methyl-2', 4'-pentadienyl] benzaldehyde], ascofuranone [(2'$\text{E}$,6'$\text{E}$,1'$\text{S}$)-(-)-5-chloro-2, 4-dihydroxy-6-methyl-3-[7'-(3',3'-dimethyl-4'-oxo-2'-oxacyclopentyl)-3',7'-dimethyl -2', 6'-heptadienyl] benzaldehyde] and ascofuranol [(2'$\text{E}$,6'$\text{E}$,1'$\text{S}$,4'$\text{S}$)-(-)-5-chloro-2,4-dihydroxy-6-methyl-3-[7'-(3', 3'-dimethyl-4'-hydroxy-2'-oxacyclopentyl)-3', 7'-dimethyl-2',6'-hepta-dienyl]benzaldehyde ]. (+)-Ascofuranone and (+)-ascofuranol were also synthesized. By the present synthesis the absolute configuration of the natural (-)-ascofuranol was established as (1'$\text{S}$,4'$\text{S}$).     

Synthesis of chiral α-substituted N-[((2S)-2-hydroxy-2-phenyl)-ethyl]-2-phenylglycine derivatives by diastereocontrolled alkylation of (6 R)-2,3,5,6-tetrahydro-3,6-diaryl-N-[(2′R)-(2′-methyl)phenyl-methyl]-4H-1,4-oxazin-2-ones

The synthesis of α-substituted N-[((2S)-2-hydroxy-2-phenyl)-ethyl]-2-phenylglycine derivatives is reported. The key step of the sequence is the highly diastereoselective alkylation of (6R)-2,3,5,6-tetrahydro-3,6-diaryl-N-[(2′R)-(2′-methyl)phenylmethyl]-4H-1,4-oxazin-2-ones after deprotonation with t-BuOK. Opening of the resulting oxazinone with ethanolic KOH, followed by hydrogenolysis of the corresponding N-[(2R)-(2-methyl)phenylmethyl] compound to furnish the expected 2-phenylglycine derivative, is also described.     

Synthesis of both syn and anti diastereoisomers of Boc-dolaproine from (S)-proline through DKR using ruthenium-catalyzed hydrogenation: a dramatic role of N-protecting groups

The natural (2R,3R)-Boc-dolaproine and its unnatural (2S,3S) diastereoisomer were synthesized involving as key transformation the Ru(II)-promoted hydrogenation of the β-keto-α-methyl ester derived from (S)-N-Boc-proline. Interestingly, the asymmetric hydrogenation of this β-keto ester N-protected as an amine hydrochloride salt, provided the corresponding anti (2S,3R)- and (2R,3S)-β-hydroxy-α-methyl esters with significant level of selectivities through dynamic kinetic resolution.     

Determination of the absolute configuration of an unexpectedly stable N-silylated isomer isolated en route to the trinem antibiotic GV129606

The unexpected (3S,4R)-3-[(R)-1-(hydroxy)ethyl]-4-[(2′R,6′S)-1′-oxo-2′-(N-benzyloxy-N-methyl)aminocyclohexen-6′-yl]-1-(t-butyl-dimethylsilyl)azetidin-2-one was one of the main reaction products of the Lewis acid catalysed condensation of (3S,4R)-3-[(R)-1-(t-butyl-dimethylsilyloxy)ethyl]-4-acetoxyazetidin-2-one with 1-trimethylsilyloxy-6-(N-benzyloxycarbonyl-N-methylamino)cyclohexene. Its absolute configuration was established by NMR experiments on the corresponding, conformationally rigid, acetonide derivative.     

Chiral imines and amines based on 2-hydroxypinan-3-one

The new chiral derivatives of benzylamine and 2α-hydroxypinan-3-one (1R,2R,5R)-3-[(1S)-α-methylbenzylamino]-2,6,6-trimethylbicyclo[3.1.1]heptan-2-ol (2), (1S,2S,3S,5S)-3-(benzylamino)-2,6,6-trimethylbicyclo[3.1.1]heptan-2-ol (3), and (1R,2R,3R,5R)-3-[(1S)-α-methylbenzylamino]-2,6,6-trimethylbicyclo[3.1.1]heptan-2-ol (4) were synthesized and characterized. It was shown that reduction of the benzylimines by sodium triacetoxyborohydride formed stereoselectively 3β-substituted pinanamines.     

Synthesis and stereochemistry of ceramide B, (2S,3R,4E,6R)-N-(30-hydroxytriacontanoyl)-6-hydroxy-4-sphingenine, a new ceramide in human epidermis

(2S,3R,4E,6R)-N-(30-Hydroxytriacontanoyl)-6-hydroxy-4-sphingenine (1) and its (6S)-isomer (1′) were synthesized by starting from pentadecan-15-olide, the enantiomers of 1-pentadecyn-3-ol, and (S)-Garner's aldehyde. Comparison of the ¹H NMR spectra of the tetraacetyl derivatives of 1 and 1′ with that of ceramide B, a new protein-bound ceramide in human stratum corneum, revealed it to be (2S,3R,4E,6R)-1.     

Synthesis of chiral oligopeptides by means of catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation of dehydropeptides

Asymmetric hydrogenations of Ac-ΔTyr(Ac)-(S)-Ala-Gly-OMe (6), Ac-ΔTyr(Ac)-(R)-AlaGly-(S)-Phe-OMe (7), Ac-ΔPhe-NH-CH(R) CH₂-OCH₂Ph (10), HCO-ΔPhe-(S)-Leu-OMe (16), X-AA-ΔPhe-AA'-OMe (5: X ^tBOC, CBZ, CF₃CO; AA, AA' = α-amino acid), and ^tBOC-AA-ΔPhe-AA'-NH-Y (21: Y=H, NH-AA'-ΔPhe-AA-^tBOC, NHPh), catalyzed by cationic Rh complexes, [L*Rh(NBD)]⁺ClO₄ (L* = chiral diphosphine), were performed to give the corresponding chiral oligopeptides with high stereoselectivities. It was found that the nature of the N-protecting group of dehydrotripeptides (5) exerted a significant influence on the asymmetric induction as well as catalyst efficiency. The chiral centers in AA' and AA' amino acid residues in 5 were also found to have some influence on the catalytic asymmetric induction. Possible mechanism which can accommodate these effects are discussed. Asymmetric reduction of RCOCO-AA-OMe (13) via hydrosilylation was carried out to give chiral depsipeptide units. The asymmetric hydrogenation of dehydropeptides was successfully applied to the synthesis of enkephalin analogs, Ac-(R)Tyr-(R) -Ala-Gly-(S)-Phe-(S)-Leu-OMe (23) and Ac-(S)Tyr-(R) -Ala-Gly-(S)-Phe-(S)- Leu-OMe (29)     

Stereoselective synthesis of β-substituted-l-threonines from enantiopure 5-acetyl-2-isoxazolines

Enantiomerically pure, 3-methyl- or 3-ethoxycarbonyl-substituted (5S)- and (5R)-5-acetyl-2-isoxazolines were obtained from the corresponding racemic mixtures by means of an enzymatic reduction with baker’s yeast, followed by the separation of the enantiopure syn- and anti-alcohols and oxidation of the alcohol group. The reaction between these ketones and (2R)-Schöllkopf’s bislactim ether azaenolate was studied: using (5S)- and (5R)-3-methyl derivatives, two diastereoisomeric adducts were obtained in good yield and stereoselectivity, whereas reaction with the (5S)- and (5R)-3-ethoxycarbonyl derivatives led to a complex mixture of products. Subsequent controlled hydrolysis of the pyrazine ring led to β-(3-methyl-4,5-dihydro-isoxazol-5-yl)-l-threonines methyl ester together with the corresponding (R)-valine dipeptides.     

Chemoenzymatic synthesis of (2R,6R,10R)-6,10,14-trimethylpentadecan-2-ol, sex pheromone of rice moth (Corcyra cephalonica), and of its (2S,6R,10R)-diastereomer

Based on the catalyzed by lipase Amano PS kinetic separation of the two-component mixture of diastereomers of (2RS,6R,10R)-6,10,14-trimethylpentadecan-2-ol in the acylation with the succinic anhydride we obtained the (2R,6R,10R)-6,10,14-trimethylpentadecan-2-ol, the sex pheromone of rice moth (Corcyra cephalonica) and its (2S,6R,10R)-diastereomer.     

Synthesis of optically active β′-hydroxy-β-enaminoketones via enzymatic resolution of carbinols derived from 3,5-disubstituted isoxazoles

The preparation of several enantiomerically pure β′-hydroxy-β-enaminoketones from the corresponding isoxazolic carbinols, which have been obtained by enzymatic kinetic resolution of the racemic β-hydroxyisoxazoles catalyzed by lipases, is described. The enzymatic transesterification of racemic (±)-5-(2-hydroxypropyl)-3-methylisoxazole 3a, and racemic (±)-5-(2-hydroxy-2-p-tolylethyl)-3-methylisoxazole 3d, has been studied with respect to the influence of experimental variables such as the used enzyme, the acylating agent or the solvent on the enantioselectivity of the reaction. After the reductive cleavage of the isoxazolic ring of the enantiopure carbinols, (R)- and (S)-2-amino-4-oxo-2-hepten-6-ol, (R)- and (S)-5, and (R)-2-amino-6-p-tolyl-4-oxo-2-hexen-6-ol, (R)-7 with an enantiomeric excess >98% were obtained.