Orthoamides by selective borohydride reduction of N,N′,N″-triacyl- and N,N′,N″-tri(alkoxycarbonyl)-guanidines

N,N′,N″-Triacylguanidines and N,N′,N″-tri(alkoxycarbonyl)guanidines were prepared and reduced with borohydride salts in a mixture of tetrahydrofuran and acetic acid to give triacyl and tri(alkoxycarbonyl) orthoamides in yields of 40–85%. However, similar reduction of N,N′,N″-tri(t-butoxycarbonyl)guanidine did not give orthoamide but the aminal di(t-butyl) methylenedicarbamate.     

Enantioselective synthesis of (2R,3R)- and (2S,3S)-β-hydroxyornithine

An efficient and short synthesis of (2R,3R)- and (2S,3S)-β-hydroxyornithine 1a-b is described using Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation and regioselective nucleophilic opening of a cyclic sulfite as the key steps.     

Synthesis of (3R,4S,5S,9S)-3,5,9-trihydroxy-4-methylundecanoic acid δ-lactone

Radical-mediated opening of a chiral trisubstituted epoxy alcohol using cp₂TiCl furnished the ‘2-methyl-1,3-diol’ moiety with the desired stereochemistry, which led to a total synthesis of (3R,4S,5S,9S)-3,5,9-trihydroxy-4-methylundecanoic acid δ-lactone 1.     

Concise synthesis of two pentasaccharides corresponding to the α-chain oligosaccharides of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Neisseria meningitidis

Two pentasaccharides containing a common tetrasaccharide (lacto-N-neotetraose) core, and d-galactosamine and N-acetyl neuraminic acid in the non-reducing ends, respectively, corresponding to the lipooligosaccharides of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Neisseria meningitidis were synthesized in a very concise manner from a common trisaccharide derivative using minimum number of steps. Thioglycosides and glycosyl trichloroacetimidate have been used as glycosyl donors for glycosylations and yields were excellent in every step.     

Synthesis of dipyrrolo[2,3-a:1′,2′,3′-fg]acridin-12(1H)-ones

Acylation reactions of 4,6-dimethoxyindoles with glyoxyloyl chlorides were achieved by the use of graphite powder in 1,2-dichloroethane at reflux. The products were monoketones as a result of decarbonylation, rather than the expected 1,2-diketones. Treatment of these monoketones with base led to their cyclisation and elimination of methanol to afford the novel dipyrrolo[2.3-a:1′,2′,3′-fg]acridin-12(1H)-ones.     

The first stereoselective total synthesis of (3S,4R)-dihydroxy-(6S)-undecyl-α-pyranone and total synthesis of (2S,3R,5S)-(−)-2,3-dihydroxytetradecan-5-olide

The first total synthesis of (3S,4R)-dihydroxy-(6S)-undecyl-α-pyranone 1 and total synthesis of (2S,3R,5S)-(−)-2,3-dihydroxytetradecan-5-olide 2 have been achieved in five steps in a highly stereoselective manner using Maruoka allylation, olefin cross-metathesis, and Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation as key steps.     

Synthesis of β-chloro α-amino acids: (2S,3R)- and (2S,3S)-3-chloroleucine

The first syntheses of (2S,3R)- and (2S,3S)-3-chloroleucine (3-chloro-d-leucines 1 and 2) have been achieved from d-3-hydroxyleucine and allo-d-3-hydroxyleucine, respectively, through the formation of the corresponding N-Cbz β-lactones, followed by a ring opening promoted by lithium chloride and a debenzylation process.     

High-Pressure Synthesis and Crystal Structures of β-MNX (M=Zr, Hf; X=Br, I)

The single crystals of four kinds of metal nitride halides, β-MNX (M=Zr, Hf; X=Br, I), were prepared in Pt (or Au) capsules by the reaction of MN or α-MNX powders with NH₄X as fluxes under a high pressure of 3-5 GPa at 1000-1100°C. Their crystal structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. All four compounds crystallize in a rhombohedral space group R-3m, Z=6 with a=3.6403(6) Å, c=29.270(5) Å for β-ZrNBr, a=3.718(2) Å, c=31.381(9) Å for β-ZrNI, a=3.610(1) Å, c=29.294(6) Å for β-HfNBr, and a=3.689(1) Å, c=31.329(6) Å for β-HfNI. β-ZrNBr is isotypic with SmSI and the others are isotypic with YOF. Both structure variants are composed of structural slabs [X-M-N-N-M-X] (M=Zr, Hf; X=Br, I) stacked together by X…X van der Waals forces, but the ways of the layer stacking sequence are different: X_AM_cN_BN_CM_bX_A∣X_CM_bN_AN_BM_aX_C∣X_BM_aN_CN_AM_cX_B∣ in the SmSI-type and X_AM_bN_CN_BM_cX_A∣X_CM_aN_BN_AM_bX_C∣X_BM_cN_AN_CM_aX_B∣ in the YOF-type polymorphs.     

Structure-property relationships of benzo[2,1-b:3,4-b’]bis[1]benzothiophenes for organic field effect transistors

A series of novel benzo[2,1-b:3,4-b’]bis[1]-benzothiophene (BBBT) derivatives with different side-chains were synthesized and characterized. And their mobility properties were evaluated based on their active layers in OFETs devices. By means of simple thermal annealing, the devices based on BBBT-4 and BBBT-6 exhibited typical p-type FETs behavior with average hole mobilities of 0.28 and 0.124?cm² V^?1?s^?1, respectively. Furthermore, the structure-property relationships of these semiconductors were also investigated by XRD and AFM.     

Synthesis of (E)- and (Z)-α,β-difluorourocanic acid

Horner-Emmons fluoroolefination of an aryl aldehyde followed by introduction of a second fluorine via “FBr” addition provides an original approach to the preparation of 1-alkyl-2-aryl-1,2-difluoroethenes. The utility of this procedure is demonstrated by the preparation of (E and Z)-α,β-difluorourocanic acid.     

Improved synthesis of (R)-7-hydroxycarvone from (S)-α-pinene

A three-step synthesis of (R)-7-hydroxycarvone (1), which is anticipated to be a valuable building block for the versatile preparation of natural products, is described. Optimization of the reaction conditions for photooxygenation and migration of (S)-α-pinene 2, tetrapropylammonium perruthenate (TPAP) oxidation of the generated alcohol, and a subsequent ring-opening reaction in the presence of Cu(OTf)₂ led to the synthesis of 1 with good reproducibility. The desired product 1 was thus obtained in 46% yield over three steps.     

The first asymmetric total synthesis of (R)-tuberolactone, (S)-jasmine lactone and (R)-δ-decalactone

A general synthetic approach has been developed for the first asymmetric total synthesis of tuberolactone 1, jasmine lactone 2 and δ-decalactone 3. The key step is the selective hydrogenation of triple and endocyclic double bonds in the key intermediate 4.     

A straightforward route to enantiopure α-substituted derivatives of (2S,3aS,7aS)-octahydroindole-2-carboxylic acid

High yielding and remarkably selective alkylations of a suitably protected derivative of (2S,3aS,7aS)-octahydroindole-2-carboxylic acid are described. The fused bicyclic structure of this proline analogue greatly influences the stereochemical outcome of direct alkylation reactions taking place at the α-carbon and provides access to α-substituted analogues with retention of the configuration. The overall procedure allows the preparation of enantiopure α-substituted derivatives of this Oic isomer, suitably protected for their incorporation into peptides, in a straightforward manner.     

Improved synthesis of (S)-7-amino-5H,7H-dibenzo[b,d]azepin-6-one, a building block for γ-secretase inhibitors

An improved synthesis of (S)-7-amino-5H,7H-dibenzo[b,d]azepin-6-one (1), involving a selective crystallization of epimeric menthylcarbamates for the resolution step followed by simultaneous cleavage of the carbamate and the lactam protecting group is described. Epimerization conditions of the undesired epimer have also been determined.     

Trading N and O. Part 4: Asymmetric synthesis of syn-β-substituted-α-amino acids

A total of nine enantiopure syn-β-substituted-α-amino acids have been synthesised, comprising both syn-β-hydroxy-α-amino acids and syn-β-fluoro-α-amino acids. The key step in the synthetic strategy towards these syn-β-substituted-α-amino acids involves a stereospecific rearrangement, which proceeds via the intermediacy of the corresponding aziridinium ions. The requisite enantiopure syn-α-hydroxy-β-amino esters were prepared via asymmetric aminohydroxylation of the corresponding α,β-unsaturated esters followed by epimerisation of the resultant anti-α-hydroxy-β-amino esters at the C(2)-position. Subsequent activation of the α-hydroxy moiety as a leaving group followed by displacement by the β-amino substituent gave the corresponding aziridinium species. Regioselective in situ ring-opening of the aziridinium intermediates with either water or fluoride gave the corresponding syn-β-hydroxy-α-amino ester or syn-β-fluoro-α-amino ester, respectively, and N-deprotection and ester hydrolysis afforded the target syn-β-substituted-α-amino acids as single diastereoisomers in good overall yield.     

Novel synthesis of (d,l)-cis-chrysanthemic acid involving α,α′-dibromination of 2,2,5,5-tetramethylcyclohexane-1,3-dione: application to the enantioselective synthesis of (1R)-cis-chrysanthemic acid

cis-Chrysanthemic acid has been prepared in a few steps from dimethyldimedone via dibromination at alpha positions of each carbonyl carbons. The trans-dibromide which is almost exclusively formed has been isomerized to its cis-stereoisomer by highly chemoselective tandem H/K-K/H exchanges involving potassium bases at low temperature (<−40 °C). Carbocyclization of the potassium enolate intermediate takes place at around −30 °C and provide the bicyclo[3.1.0]-hexane skeleton. Lithiated bases behave differently and mainly lead to Br/M rather than to H/M exchange. We have been unsuccessful in using state of the art enantioselective metallation reactions to achieve the enantioselective synthesis of (1R)-cis-chrysanthemic acid using the disclosed strategy. This therefore still remains challenge.     

Reagent-controlled diastereoselective synthesis of (2S,3R)- and (2R,3R)-2,3-diaminobutanoic acid derivatives using proline-catalyzed α-hydrazination reaction

(2S,3R)- and (2R,3R)-2,3-Diaminobutanoic acid (Dab) derivatives were efficiently synthesized from Cbz-(R)-alanine using the proline-catalyzed diastereoselective α-hydrazination reaction and the SmI₂-promoted reductive cleavage of the N-N bond as the key steps.     

The first synthesis of cis-N,N′-dialkylisoindigo derivatives from 3-indolyl-2-oxindoles with DDQ

cis-N,N′-Dialkylisoindigo derivatives were synthesized for the first time by the reaction of 3-indolyl-2-oxindoles with DDQ in aqueous 1,4-dioxane. cis-Isoindigo derivatives were completely isomerized to the corresponding trans-isomers by heating the solution in short time.     

Synthesis of 2,3-disubstituted benzofurans and indoles by π-Lewis acidic transition metal-catalyzed cyclization of ortho-alkynylphenyl O,O- and N,O-acetals

The PtCl₂-catalyzed cyclization reaction of ortho-alkynylphenyl acetals 1 in the presence of COD (1,5-cyclooctadiene) produces 3-(α-alkoxyalkyl)benzofurans 2 in good to high yields. For example, the reaction of acetaldehyde ethyl 2-(1-octynyl)phenyl acetal (1a), acetaldehyde ethyl 2-(cyclohexylethynyl)phenyl acetal (1c), and acetaldehyde ethyl 2-(phenylethynyl)phenyl acetal (1f) in the presence of 2 mol % of platinum(II) chloride and 8 mol % of 1,5-cycloocatadiene in toluene at 30 °C gave the corresponding 2,3-disubstituted benzofurans 2a, 2c, and 2f in 91, 94, and 88% yields, respectively. Moreover, the reaction of N-methoxymethyl-2-alkynylanilines 3 was catalyzed by PdBr₂, affording the corresponding 2,3-disubstituted indoles 4 in moderate yields. For example, the reaction of N-methoxymethyl-2-(1-pentynyl)-N-tosylaniline (3a) and N-methoxymethyl-2-(phenylethynyl)-N-tosylaniline (3b) in the presence of 10 mol % of PdBr₂ in toluene at 80 °C gave 3-methoxymethyl-2-propyl-1-tosylindole (4a) and 3-methoxymethyl-2-phenyl-1-tosylindole (4b) in 33 and 33% yields, respectively.     

Stereoselective synthesis of 1,2-cis galactosides: synthesis of a glycolipid containing Galα1-6Gal component from Zygomycetes species

An α-selective galactosylation was demonstrated under various conditions. Among these α-galactoside approaches, high α-selectivity was achieved by the virtue of 4,6-O-di-tert-butylsilylene (DTBS) group. Yield was further improved by the influence of a 2-O-benzylated donor compared to 2-O-benzoylated donor. This method was then applied to the first highly stereoselective synthesis of a newly found trisaccharide glycosphingolipid in Zygomycetes species.