Alkylation Reactions at the Benzo Moiety of 2,4‐Dimethoxy‐3‐(phenylsulfonyl)benzo[a]heptalenes – Model Compounds of Colchicinoids

Alkylation reactions of 3‐(X‐sulfonyl)benzo[a]heptalene‐2,4‐diols (X=Ph, morpholin‐4‐yl) and their dimethyl ethers were studied. The diols form with K₂CO₃/MeI in aqueous media the 1‐methylated benzoheptalenes, but in yields not surpassing 20% (Table 1). On the other hand, 2,4‐dimethoxybenzo[a]heptalenes can easily be lithiated at C(3) with BuLi and then treated with alkyl iodides to give the 3‐alkylated forms in good yield (Table 2). Surprising is the reaction with two equiv. or more of t‐BuLi since the alkylation at C(4) is accompanied by the reductive elimination of the X‐sulfonyl group at C(3) (Table 3). Most exciting is also the course of 2,4‐dimethoxy‐3‐(phenylsulfonyl)benzo[a]heptalenes in the presence of an excess of MeLi. After the expected exchange of MeO against Me at C(4) (Scheme 6), rearrangement takes place under formation of 4‐benzyl‐2‐methoxybenzo[a]heptalenes and concomitant loss of the sulfonyl group at C(3) (Table 4). In the case of X=morpholin‐4‐yl, rearrangement cannot occur. However, the intermediate benzyl anions of Type E (Scheme 8) react easily with O₂ of the air to build up corresponding benzo[a]heptalene‐4‐methanols (Table 6).     

Synthesis of trans‐4‐hydroxy‐L‐proline‐based telechelic prepolymers and poly(ester‐urethane)

The synthesis of hydroxyproline‐based telechelic prepolymers by the condensation polymerization of trans‐4‐hydroxy‐N‐benzyloxycarbonyl‐L ‐proline methyl ester was investigated. All the polymerizations were carried out in the melt with stannous octoate as the catalyst and with different diols. The products were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry, proton nuclear magnetic resonance, infrared spectrophotometry, and inherent viscosity (η_inh). According to the analytic results, the η_inh value of the prepolymers depended on the kind and amount of diols that were added. With an increase in the 1,6‐hexanediol feed from 2 to 10 mol %, there was a decrease in η_inh from 0.78 to 0.41 along with a decrease in the glass‐transition temperature (T_g ) from 63 to 42 °C. When 2 mol % of different kinds of diols were used, η_inh ranged from 0.78 to 0.21, and T_g varied from 70 to 43 °C. These new prepolymers could be linked to poly(ester‐urethane) by the chain extender 1,6‐hexamethylene diisocyanate. The poly(ester‐urethane) was amorphous, and the T_g was 76 °C. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 2449–2455, 2000     

Formation of 2‐(Phenylsulfonyl)resorcinols (=2‐(Phenylsulfonyl)benzene‐1,3‐diols) from Symmetrically Substituted Maleic Anhydrides (=Furan‐2,5‐diones)

Treatment of symmetrically substituted maleic anhydrides (=furan‐2,5‐diones) 6 with lithium (phenylsulfonyl)methanide, followed by methylation of the adduct with MeI/K₂CO₃ in acetone, give the corresponding 4,5‐disubstituted 2‐methyl‐2‐(phenylsulfonyl)cyclopent‐4‐ene‐1,3‐diones 8 (Scheme 3). Reaction of the latter with lithium (phenylsulfonyl)methanide in THF (?78°) and then with 4 mol‐equiv. BuLi (?5° to r.t.) leads to 5,6‐disubstituted 4‐methyl‐2‐(phenylsulfonyl)benzene‐1,3‐diols 9 (Scheme 4).     

Highly Regioselective C(3) Opening of an Aromatic 2,3‐Epoxy Alcohol with Sodium Phenoxides or Thiophenoxides (=Benzenethiolates) Supported by β‐Cyclodextrin in Water

A simple and mild procedure was developed for the first time for the C(3)‐selective ring opening of an aromatic 2,3‐epoxy alcohol, i.e., of trans‐3‐phenyloxirane‐2‐methanol ( 1 ), with sodium phenoxides or thiophenoxides (=benzenethiolates) 2 supported by β‐cyclodextrin in H₂O at 50° to afford the corresponding 3‐(aryloxy)‐ or 3‐(arylthio)propane1,2‐diols 3 in excellent yields (Scheme, Table).     

Synthesis and Antimicrobial Activity of Racemic 1,5‐Diols: 2‐(1,3‐Diaryl‐3‐hydroxypropyl)cyclohexan‐1‐ol Derivatives

A series of novel racemic 2‐(1,3‐diaryl‐3‐hydroxypropyl)cyclohexan‐1‐ol derivatives were synthesized from 1,5‐diketones. All the synthesized compounds were characterized by spectroscopic methods. The antibacterial activities of obtained chiral 1,5‐diols were investigated against four Gram‐positive and three Gram‐negative bacteria by determining of minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) in vitro. Compounds 3b , 3c , and 3d were found to be active against Enterococcus faecalis and Escherichia coli. In addition, compound 3j were found to be moderately active against all tested bacterial strains.     

1H NMR spectra of alkane‐1,3‐diols in benzene: GIAO/DFT shift calculations

The proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra of propane‐1,3‐diol, 2‐methylpropane‐1,3‐diol, 2,2‐dimethylpropane‐1,3‐diol, butane‐1,3‐diol, 3‐methylbutane‐1,3‐diol, pentane‐2,4‐diols (dl and meso), 2‐methylpentane‐2,4‐diol and cyclohexane‐1,3‐diols (cis and trans) in benzene have been analysed. The conformer distribution and the NMR shifts of these diols have been computed on the basis of density functional theory, the solvent being included by means of the integral equation formalism phase continuum model (IEFPCM) implemented in Gaussian 09. Relative Gibbs energies of all conformers are calculated at the Perdew, Burke and Ernzerhof (PBE)0/6‐311 + G(d,p) level, and NMR shifts by the gauge‐including atomic orbital method with the PBE0/6‐311 + G(d,p) geometry and the cc‐pVTZ basis set. Vicinal coupling constants for 1,2‐ and 1,3‐diols are rationalised in terms of relative conformer populations and geometries. The NMR shifts of hydrogen‐bonded protons in individual conformers of alkane‐1,n‐diols show a very rough correlation with the OH?OH distances. The computed overall NMR shifts for CH protons in 1,2‐ and 1,3‐diols are systematically high but correlate very well with the experimental values, with a gradient of 1.07 ± 0.01. Some values for nonequivalent methylene protons in 1,3‐diols are reversed, calculation giving enhanced values for the proton anti to the C? OH bonds. Errors in the NMR shifts computed for the OH protons of nonsymmetrical diols appear to be related to relative populations of conformers where one or other of the OH groups is the donor. Some results based on the second‐order Møller–Plesset approach, the Becke three‐parameter Lee‐Yang‐Parr method and on the IEFPCM solvation model implemented in Gaussian 03 are included. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fate of the Oxygen Atoms in the Diol‐Dehydratase‐Catalyzed Dehydration of meso‐Butane‐2,3‐diol

¹⁸O‐Substituted propane‐1,2‐diols and meso‐butane‐1,2‐diols were synthesized and fed to growing cells of Lactobacillus brevis. Propan‐1‐ol and butan‐2‐ol, prepared from such diols through diol‐dehydratase‐catalyzed dehydration followed by intracellular reduction, were analyzed for their ¹⁸O‐content. For each propane‐1,2‐diol enantiomer, partial retention or complete loss of the isotope appeared to be related to the mode of substrate binding. Specific retention of the O‐atom linked to the (R)‐configured C‐atom of meso‐butane‐1,2‐diol indicates that the diol dehydratase handles this substrate like (R)‐propane‐1,2‐diol.     

Facile Preparation of Chiral 1, 3‐Diols via Stereoselective Transfer Hydrogenation of 1, 3‐Diones

Asymmetric reduction of 1, 3‐diones catalyzed by (S, S)‐TsD‐PEN‐Ru(II) complex in a mixture of formic add‐triethylamine proceeded with a substrate/catalyst molar ratio of 100 to give (S, S)‐l,3‐diols with excellent diastereomeric (98.6% de) and enantiomeric purities ( > 99% ee). Other C₂‐symmetric diols were also obtained in almost quantitative yields with high diastereomeric (80.0%‐84.2% de) and enantiomeric purities ( > 99% ee).     

1H NMR spectra of butane‐1,4‐diol and other 1,4‐diols: DFT calculation of shifts and coupling constants

The proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra of butane‐1,4‐diol, pentane‐1,4‐diol, (S,S)‐hexane‐2,5‐diol, 2,5‐dimethylhexane‐2,5‐diol and cyclohexane‐1,4‐diols (cis and trans) in benzene and some other solvents have been analysed. The conformer distribution and the NMR shifts of these diols in benzene have been computed on the basis of the density functional theory, the solvent being included by means of the integral‐equation‐formalism polarizable continuum model implemented in Gaussian 09. Relative Gibbs energies of all conformers are calculated at the Perdew, Burke and Ernzerhof (PBE)0/6‐311+G(d,p) level and NMR shifts by the gauge‐including atomic orbital method with the PBE0/6‐311+G(d,p) geometry and the cc‐pVTZ basis set. Vicinal three‐bond coupling constants for the acyclic diols are calculated from the relative conformer populations, the geometries and generalized Karplus equations developed by Altona's group; these correlate well with the experimental values. The solvent dependence of coupling constants for butane‐1,4‐diol is attributed to conformational change. Coupling constants for the rigid cyclohexane‐1,4‐diols do not change with solvent and are readily explained in terms of their geometries. The NMR shifts of hydrogen‐bonded protons in individual conformers of alkane‐1,n‐diols show a very rough correlation with the OH···OH distances. The computed overall NMR shifts for CH protons in 1,2‐diols, 1,3‐diols and 1,4‐diols are systematically high but correlate very well with the experimental values, with a gradient of 1.07 ± 0.01; those for OH protons correlate less well. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On the Formation of 2‐Sulfonylbenzo[a]heptalene‐1,3‐diols as Precursors for the Synthesis of Colchicinoids

The benzo[a]heptalene formation from 4‐[(R‐sulfonyl)acetyl]heptalene‐5‐carboxylates 15 and 5‐[(R‐sulfonyl)acetyl]heptalene‐4‐carboxylates 16 (R=Ph or morpholino) in the presence of R′SO₂CH₂Li and BuLi has been investigated (Scheme 6). Only the sulfonyl moiety linked to the C?O group at C(4) of the heptalene skeleton is found at C(3) of the formed benzo[a]heptalene‐2,4‐diols 3 in accordance with the general mechanism of their formation (Scheme 3). Intermediates that might rearrange to corresponding 2‐sulfonylbenzo[a]heptalene‐1,3‐diols lose HO^? under the reaction conditions to yield the corresponding cyclopenta[d]heptalenones of type 11 (Schemes 6 and 7). However, the presence of an additional Me group at C(α) of the lithioalkyl sulfones suppresses the loss of HO^?, and 4‐methyl‐2‐sulfonylbenzo[a]heptalene‐1,3‐diols of type 4c have been isolated and characterized for the first time (Schemes 8 and 10). A number of X‐ray crystal‐structure analyses of starting materials and of the new benzo[a]heptalenes have been performed. Finally, benzo[a]heptalene 4c has been transformed into its 1,2,3‐trimethoxy derivative 23 , a benzo[a]heptalene with the colchicinoid substitution pattern at ring A (Scheme 11).     

Chemie freier cyclischer vicinaler Tricarbonyl‐Verbindungen (‘1,2,3‐Trione') Teil 2. Redox‐Reaktionen von 1,2,3‐Trionen mit En‐1,2‐diolen (‘Reduktonen'), 2‐Alkoxy‐en‐1‐olen,En‐1,2‐diaminen und verwandten Spezies

Chemistry of Free Cyclic Vicinal Tricarbonyl Compounds (‘1,2,3‐Triones'). Part 2. Redox Reactions of 1,2,3‐Triones with Ene‐1,2‐diols (‘Reductones'), 2‐Alkoxy‐en‐1‐ols, Ene‐1,2‐diamines, and Related Species . Midstanding carbonyl groups of cyclic 1,2,3‐triones 4 possess outstanding electrophilic (electron‐pair accepting) as well as oxidizing (one‐electron accepting) properties. Their reactions with selected electron‐rich CC bonds as efficient nucleophiles (A_N reactions) and as efficient reducing agents (SET (single electron transfer) reactions) are studied. In a few cases, short‐lived charge‐transfer colors could be observed. Particularly, free didehydro‐5,6‐O‐isopropyliden‐L ‐ascorbic acid ( 4g ), its O,C‐adduct 8g to 5,6‐O‐isopropylidene‐L ‐ascorbic acid ( 1g ), and – via an independent pathway – the ostensible C,C‐dimer 10a of mono‐dehydrodimedone reductone were prepared. Intermediate radical anions 4 ^.− can be considered to be ideal representatives of dicapto‐dative radicals. Novel large‐scale syntheses of 3,4‐dihydroxyfuran‐2(5H)‐one ( 1e ) and of its vicinal trione 4e are presented.     

Double Catalytic Kinetic Resolution (DoCKR) of Acyclic anti‐1,3‐Diols: The Additive Horeau Amplification

The concept of a synergistic double catalytic kinetic resolution (DoCKR) as described in this article was successfully applied to racemic acyclic anti ‐1,3‐diols, a common motif in natural products. This process takes advantage of an additive Horeau amplification involving two successive enantioselective organocatalytic acylation reactions, and leads to diesters and recovered diols with high enantiopurities. It was first developed with C ₂‐symmetrical diols and then further extended to non‐C ₂‐symmetrical anti diols to prepare useful chiral building blocks. The protocol is highly practical as it only requires 1 mol % of a commercially available organocatalyst and leads to easily separable products. This procedure was applied to the shortest reported total synthesis of (+)‐cryptocaryalactone, a natural product with anti‐germinative activity.     

Synthesis and Thermal Properties of Biodegradable Poly(ester‐urethane)s Based on Chemo‐Synthetic Poly[(R,S)‐3‐hydroxybutyrate]

A series of telechelic oligo[(R,S)‐3‐hydroxybutyrate]‐diols (PHB‐diols) was synthesized from ethyl (R,S)‐3‐hydroxybutyrate (ethyl (HB)) and four different aliphatic diols, namely, 1,4‐butanediol, 1,6‐hexanediol, 1,8‐octanediol and 1,10‐decanediol by transesterification and condensation in bulk. The structures of the synthesized oligomers were confirmed by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and MALDI‐TOF mass spectroscopy. The use of 1,4‐butanediol results in an oligoester with hydroxyl functionality of approximately 2. In the case of the higher aliphatic diols, the number average functionalities were found to be lower than 2. These differences were ascribed to side reactions which occur during polymerization, yielding unreactive end groups. Other novel families of biodegradable poly(ester‐urethane)s were synthesized either from PHB‐diol alone, or PHB‐diol mixed with poly(ε‐caprolactone)‐diol (PCL‐diol), poly(butylene adipate)‐diol (PBA‐diol) or poly(diethylene glycol adipate)‐diol (PDEGA‐diol). In each case, 1,6‐hexamethylene diisocyanate was used as a nontoxic connecting agent. The homopolymers prepared from PCL‐diol, PBA‐diol and PDEGA‐diol were also synthesized for the sake of comparison. All the prepared copolymers possess high molecular weight with glass transition temperature (T_g) values varying from –54 to –23°C. Some of the prepared copoly(ester‐urethane)s are partially crystalline with melting temperatures (T_m's) varying from 37 to 56°C.     

A Novel and Efficient Synthesis of 3‐[(4,5‐Dihydro‐1H‐pyrrol‐3‐yl)carbonyl]‐2H‐chromen‐2‐ones (=3‐[(4,5‐Dihydro‐1H‐pyrrol‐3‐yl)carbonyl]‐2H‐1‐benzopyran‐2‐ones)

An efficient one‐pot synthesis of 3‐[(4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrrol‐3‐yl)carbonyl]‐2H‐chromen‐2‐one (=3‐[(4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrrol‐3yl)carbonyl]‐2H‐1‐benzopyran‐2‐one) derivatives 4 by a four‐component reaction of a salicylaldehyde 1 , 4‐hydroxy‐6‐methyl‐2H‐pyran‐2‐one, a benzylamine 2 , and a diaroylacetylene (=1,4‐diarylbut‐2‐yne‐1,4‐dione) 3 in EtOH is reported. This new protocol has the advantages of high yields (Table), and convenient operation. The structures of these coumarin (=2H‐1‐benzopyran‐2‐one) derivatives, which are important compounds in organic chemistry, were confirmed spectroscopically (IR, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR, and EI‐MS) and by elemental analyses. A plausible mechanism for this reaction is proposed (Scheme 2).     

One‐Pot Synthesis of 4‐(Alkylamino)‐1‐(arylsulfonyl)‐3‐benzoyl‐1,5‐ dihydro‐5‐hydroxy‐5‐phenyl‐2H‐pyrrol‐2‐ones via a Multicomponent Reaction

An effective route to novel 4‐(alkylamino)‐1‐(arylsulfonyl)‐3‐benzoyl‐1,5‐dihydro‐5‐hydroxy‐5‐phenyl‐2H‐pyrrol‐2‐ones 10 is described (Scheme 2). This involves the reaction of an enamine, derived from the addition of a primary amine 5 to 1,4‐diphenylbut‐2‐yne‐1,4‐dione, with an arenesulfonyl isocyanate 7 . Some of these pyrrolones 10 exhibit a dynamic NMR behavior in solution because of restricted rotation around the C? N bond resulting from conjugation of the side‐chain N‐atom with the adjacent α,β‐unsaturated ketone group, and two rotamers are in equilibrium with each other in solution ( 10 ? 11 ; Scheme 3). The structures of the highly functionalized compounds 10 were corroborated spectroscopically (IR, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR, and EI‐MS), by elemental analyses, and, in the case of 10a , by X‐ray crystallography. A plausible mechanism for the reaction is proposed (Scheme 4).     

A Convenient Synthesis of 2,3‐Dihydro‐3‐methylidene‐1H‐isoindol‐1‐ones by Reaction of 2‐Formylbenzo­nitriles with Dimethyloxosulfonium Methylide

A facile method for the synthesis of 2,3‐dihydro‐3‐methylidene‐1H‐isoindol‐1‐one and its derivatives carrying substituent(s) at C(5) and/or C(6) has been developed. The reaction of 2‐formylbenzonitrile ( 1a ) with dimethyloxosulfonium methylide, generated by the treatment of trimethylsulfoxonium iodide with NaH in DMSO/THF at 0°, resulted in the formation of 2,3‐dihydro‐3‐methylidene‐1H‐isoindol‐1‐one ( 2a ) in 77% yield. Similarly, six 2‐formylbenzonitriles carrying substituent(s) at C(4) and/or C(5), i.e., 1b – 1g , also gave the corresponding expected products 2b – 2g in comparable yields.     

DPPH (= 2,2‐Diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl = 2,2‐Diphenyl‐1‐(2,4,6‐trinitrophenyl)hydrazyl) Radical‐Scavenging Reaction of Protocatechuic Acid Esters (= 3,4‐Dihydroxybenzoates) in Alcohols: Formation of Bis‐alcohol Adduct

Protocatechuic acid esters (= 3,4‐dihydroxybenzoates) scavenge ca. 5 equiv. of radical in alcoholic solvents, whereas they consume only 2 equiv. of radical in nonalcoholic solvents. While the high radical‐scavenging activity of protocatechuic acid esters in alcoholic solvents as compared to that in nonalcoholic solvents is due to a nucleophilic addition of an alcohol molecule at C(2) of an intermediate o‐quinone structure, thus regenerating a catechol (= benzene‐1,2‐diol) structure, it is still unclear why protocatechuic acid esters scavenge more than 4 equiv. of radical (C(2) refers to the protocatechuic acid numbering). Therefore, to elucidate the oxidation mechanism beyond the formation of the C(2) alcohol adduct, 3,4‐dihydroxy‐2‐methoxybenzoic acid methyl ester ( 4 ), the C(2) MeOH adduct, which is an oxidation product of methyl protocatechuate ( 1 ) in MeOH, was oxidized by the DPPH radical (= 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl) or o‐chloranil (= 3,4,5,6‐tetrachlorocyclohexa‐3,5‐diene‐1,2‐dione) in CD₃OD/(D₆)acetone 3 : 1). The oxidation mixtures were directly analyzed by NMR. Oxidation with both the DPPH radical and o‐chloranil produced a C(2),C(6) bis‐methanol adduct ( 7 ), which could scavenge additional 2 equiv. of radical. Calculations of LUMO electron densities of o‐quinones corroborated the regioselective nucleophilic addition of alcohol molecules with o‐quinones. Our results strongly suggest that the regeneration of a catechol structure via a nucleophilic addition of an alcohol molecule with a o‐quinone is a key reaction for the high radical‐scavenging activity of protocatechuic acid esters in alcoholic solvents.     

Conjugate Addition of Lithiated (S)‐4‐Isopropyl‐3‐ [(methylthio)methyl]‐5,5‐diphenyloxazolidin‐2‐one to Cinnamoyl Derivatives: Preparation of Enantiomerically Pure 1,4‐Diols

The Li derivative of (S)‐4‐isopropyl‐3‐[(methylthio)methyl]‐5,5‐diphenyloxazolidin‐2‐one (Li‐ 2 ; synthetically equivalent to a chiral formyl anion) adds to enones and enoates in a 1,4‐fashion. Best results are obtained with 1,3‐diarylpropenones (chalcones; Scheme 2), trityl enones, and 2,6‐di(tert‐butyl)‐4‐methoxyphenyl cinnamates (Scheme 3), with yields up to 80% and diastereoselectivities up to and above 99 : 1 of the products ( 5a – f and 8a , b , e ) containing three stereogenic centers! X‐Ray crystal‐structure analysis reveals that the C,C‐bond formation occurs preferentially with relative topicity ul (Re/Si; Fig. 2). The MeS group of the 1,4‐adducts can be replaced by RO groups in Hg²⁺‐assisted substitutions, with subsequent removal and facile recovery of the chiral auxiliary (Schemes 4–6). 4‐Hydroxycarbonyl derivatives (‘homoaldols') and mono‐, di‐, and trisubstituted 1,4‐diols are, thus, accessible in enantiomerically pure forms (cf. 15, 16 , and 18 – 20 ).     

Lipase‐Catalyzed Dynamic Kinetic Resolution of C1‐ and C2‐Symmetric Racemic Axially Chiral 2,2′‐Dihydroxy‐1,1′‐biaryls

We have discovered that the racemization of configurationally stable, axially chiral 2,2′‐dihydroxy‐1,1′‐biaryls proceeds with a catalytic amount of a cyclopentadienylruthenium(II) complex at 35–50 °C. Combining this racemization procedure with lipase‐catalyzed kinetic resolution led to the first lipase/metal‐integrated dynamic kinetic resolution of racemic axially chiral biaryl compounds. The method was applied to the synthesis of various enantio‐enriched C₁‐ and C₂‐symmetric biaryl diols in yields of up to 98 % and enantiomeric excesses of up to 98 %, which paves the way for new developments in the field of asymmetric synthesis.     

Ring Opening of 2‐(Benzylamino)‐2H‐1,4‐benzoxazin‐3(4H)‐ones and 2‐Bromo‐2H‐1,4‐benzoxazin‐3(4H)‐ones

Substituted 2‐(benzylamino)‐2H‐1,4‐benzoxazin‐3(4H)‐ones are unstable under alkaline and acidic conditions, undergoing opening of the benzoxazinone ring. 2‐Bromo‐2H‐1,4‐benzoxazin‐3(4H)‐ones show similar degradation under alkaline conditions, while replacement of Br at C(2) to give 2‐hydroxy‐2H‐1,4‐benzoxazin‐3(4H)‐ones was observed only under mild alkaline conditions. Mechanisms of ring opening and degradation to 2‐aminophenol derivatives are proposed.