Efficient synthesis of (Z)- and (E)-methyl 2-(methoxyimino)-2-phenylacetate

Direct oximation of 2-oxo-2-phenylacetate (3) gave the (Z)-methyl 2-(methoxyimino)-2-phenylacetate (1) in 71% yield, while the E oxime 2 was prepared from 3 in 65% yield via oxime isomerization of 2-(methoxyimino)-2-phenylacetic acid (5). Computational studies suggest that the isomerization of 5 is thermodynamically driven, while the direct oximation of ketoester 3 is kinetically controlled.     

Asymmetric synthesis of (R)- and (S)-2-trifluoromethylepinephrine

An asymmetric synthesis of (R)- and (S)-2-trifluoromethylepinephrine (1R and 1S) is presented. Trifluoromethylation involves nucleophilic aromatic substitution of halobenzene 4 most likely via a copper mediated CF₃ anion equivalent generated in situ. The asymmetric step involves conversion of 3,4-dimethoxy-2-trifluoromethylbenzaldehyde (5) to silyl cyanohydrin (6R and 6S) using a chiral salen catalyst in the presence of titanium. 1R and 1S are potential alternatives to currently used vasoconstrictors in local anesthetic formulations.     

Enantioselective synthesis of (1S,2S)-1,2-di-tert-butyl and (1R,2R)-1,2-di-(1-adamantyl)ethylenediamines

An enantioselective synthesis of sterically congested 1,2-di-tert-butyl and 1,2-di-(1-adamantyl)ethylenediamines has been developed. Thus, diastereomerically pure trans-1-apocamphanecarbonyl-4,5-dimethoxy-2-imidazolidinones 6 and 7 were successfully prepared by optical resolution of (±)-trans-4,5-dimethoxy-2-imidazolidinone using apocamphanecarbonyl chloride (MAC-Cl) followed by stereospecific and stepwise substitution of the dimethoxyl groups using tert-butyl or 1-adamantyl cuprates to provide (4S,5S)-4,5-di-tert-butyl and (4R,5R)-4,5-di-(1-adamantyl)-2-imidazolidinones 12 and 15, respectively. Furthermore, N-acetyl 4,5-di-tert-butyl and 4,5-di-(1-adamantyl)-2-imidazolidinones 16a,b were enantioselectively deacetylated using a catalytic oxazaborolidine system to provide enantiopure 1-p-tolylsulfonyl-4,5-di-tert-butyl-2-imidazolidinones 12 and 19 and 1-p-tolylsulfonyl-4,5-di-(1-adamantyl)-2-imidazolidinones 18 and 20, respectively. Finally, N-p-tolylsulfonyl-2-imidazolidinones 12 and 15 were treated with 30 equiv of Ba(OH)₂·8H₂O to achieve ring cleavage and to provide (1S,2S)-1,2-di-tert-butylethylenediamine 3 and (1R,2R)-1,2-di-(1-adamantyl)ethylenediamine 4.     

A facile synthesis of (Z)-5-(substituted)-2-(methylthio)thiazol-4(5H)-one using microwave irradiation and conventional method

A new effective approach to the synthesis of some new (Z)-5-(substituted)-2-thioxothiazolidin-4-one 3a–l and (Z)-5-(substituted)-2-(methylthio)thiazol-4(5H)-one 5a–l is reported under microwave irradiation as well as conventional conditions.     

Diastereoselective route to (2R,5S)- and (2S,5S)-2-methyl-1,6-dioxaspiro[4.5]decane, a pheromone component of the wasp Paravespula vulgaris

A diastereoselective approach to (2R,5S)- and (2S,5S)-2-methyl-1,6-dioxaspiro[4.5]decane 1 and 1a is described. The route starts with an alkylation reaction among the cyclopentanone N,N-dimethylhydrazone 6 and the chiral iodides (R)-3 or (S)-3, derived from the enantiomers of ethyl β-hydroxybutyrate, controlling the estereocenter at C-2 of the molecules. The alkylated products 7 and 7a were easily transformed into the 1,8-O-TBS-1,8-dihydroxy-5-nonanones 9 and 9a in four steps, and a subsequent stereoselective spiroketalization, in acidic media, afforded a Z:E mixture (1:2) of compounds 1 and 1a.     

Biomimetically inspired total synthesis of (12S)-12-hydroxymonocerin and (12R)-12-hydroxymonocerin

A concise asymmetric total synthesis of (12S)-12-hydroxymonocerin (1) and (12R)-12-hydroxymonocerin (2) were efficiently achieved from the known 4-bromo-2,6-dimethoxyphenol. The synthetic approach was inspired by our biomimetic synthesis of (+)-monocerin (3) and 7-O-demethylmonocerin (4). The cis-fused furobenzopyranones of 1 and 2 was efficiently constructed via an intramolecular nucleophilic trapping of a quinonemethide intermediate, which was obtained by benzylic oxidation of compound 10 using 2,3-Dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ).     

Synthesis of (4R,8R)- and (4S,8R)-4,8-dimethyldecanal: the common aggregation pheromone of flour beetles

The synthesis of (4R,8R)- and (4S,8R)-4,8-dimethyldecanal 1 and 1a has been achieved connecting the chiral building block (R)-2-methyl-1-bromobutane 4 with (R)- and (S)-citronellol derivatives. The key intermediate 4 was obtained optically pure in five steps from methyl (S)-3-hydroxy-2-methylpropionate 2.     

Synthesis of (S)-, (R)-, and (rac)-2-amino-3,3-bis(4-fluorophenyl)propanoic acids and an evaluation of the DPP IV inhibitory activity of Denagliptin diastereomers

The non-proteinogenic amino acid (2S)-2-amino-3,3-bis(4-fluorophenyl)propanoic acid [(S)-1] is a key intermediate required for the synthesis of Denagliptin (2a). Denagliptin is a dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV) inhibitor that is being developed for the treatment of type-2 diabetes mellitus. A diastereoselective, cost-efficient synthetic procedure for (S)-1 was developed by alkylating a Ni(II) glycine equivalent derived from (S)-2-[(N-benzylprolyl) amino] benzophenone [(S)-BPB]. The alkylated product was then decomposed to isolate the target amino acid (S)-1 (ee >99%) and ligand (S)-BPB, which can be reused in subsequent reactions. The enantiomer (R)-1 and racemate (rac)-1 were synthesized from their corresponding Ni(II) glycine equivalents. Denagliptin diastereomers (2), derived from the key intermediates (S)-1, (R)-1, and (rac)-1 were synthesized, and their dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitory activities were investigated. These findings are important in the design and synthesis of DPP IV inhibitors.     

Novel synthesis of 2,4-bis(2-pyridyl)-5-(pyridyl)imidazoles and formation of N-(3-(pyridyl)imidazo[1,5-a]pyridine)picolinamidines: nitrogen-rich ligands

Heating a neat 1:2 mixture of 2-picolylamine and 2-cyanopyridine followed by treatment of the resultant red gummy substance with aqueous KOH resulted in the isolation of 2,4,5-tris(2-pyridyl)imidazole (1a) as the major product and N-(3-(2-pyridyl)imidazo[1,5-a]pyridine)picolinamidine (2a) in small amounts. Similarly, by using 3-picolylamine, 2,4,-bis(2-pyridyl)-5-(3-pyridyl)imidazole (1b) and N-(3-(3-pyridyl)imidazo[1,5-a]pyridine)picolinamidine (2b) were isolated, and by using 4-picolylamine, 2,4,-bis(2-pyridyl)-5-(4-pyridyl)imidazole (1c) and N-(3-(4-pyridyl)imidazo[1,5-a]pyridine)picolinamidine (2c) were isolated. The plausible mechanism of the formation of 1a-c and 2a-c is delineated.     

2(H)-1,4-Oxazin-2-ones as ambident azadienes

3,5-Dichloro-6-phenyl-2(H)-1,4-oxazin-2-one 3, 5-chloro-3,6-dimethyl-2(H)-1,4-oxazin-2-one 4, 5-chloro-6-methyl-3-phenyl-2(H)-1,4-oxazin-2-one 5 and 5-chloro-3,6-diphenyl-2(H)-1,4-oxazin-2-one 7, are ambident azadienes reacting efficiently and selectively with both electron rich and electron poor dienophiles.     

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.     

Highly efficient, multigram and enantiopure synthesis of (S)-2-(2,4′-bithiazol-2-yl)pyrrolidine

(S)-2-(4-Bromo-2,4′-bithiazole)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)pyrrolidine ((S)-1) was obtained as a single enantiomer and in high yield by means of a two-step modified Hantzsch thiazole synthesis reaction when bromoketone 3 and thioamide (S)-4 were used. Further conversion of (S)-1 into trimethyltin derivative (S)-2 broadens the scope for further cross-coupling reactions.     

Efficient synthesis of new 1-alkyl(aryl)-5-(3,3,3-trihalo-2-oxopropylidene)-1H-pyrrol-2(5H)-ones

The synthesis of 1-alkyl(aryl)-5-(3,3,3-trihalo-2-oxopropylidene)-1H-pyrrol-2(5H)-ones 5, 6a-d from 1-alkyl(aryl)-4-bromo-5-(3,3,3-trihalo-2-oxopropylidene)-1H-pyrrolidin-2-ones 3, 4a-d is reported. The 1-alkyl(aryl)-4-bromo-5-(3,3,3-trihalo-2-oxopropylidene)-1H-pyrrolidin-2-ones 3, 4a-d were obtained from regiospecific bromination of 1-alkyl(aryl)-5-(3,3,3-trihalo-2-oxopropylidene)-1H-pyrrolidin-2-ones 1, 2a-d with molecular bromine. The NMR and X-ray diffraction data showed that 1-alkyl(aryl)-5-(3,3,3-trihalo-2-oxopropylidene)-1H-pyrrolidin-2-ones were brominated at 4-position in the pyrrolidin-2-one ring.     

Reactions of (1R,2S)-1,2-di(2-furyl)-1,2-di(3-guaiazulenyl)ethane and (1R,2S)-1,2-di(3-guaiazulenyl)-1,2-di(2-thienyl)ethane with tetracyanoethylene (TCNE) in benzene: comparative studies on the products and their spectroscopic properties

Reactions of the title meso forms, (1R,2S)-1,2-di(2-furyl)-1,2-di(3-guaiazulenyl)ethane (1) and (1R,2S)-1,2-di(3-guaiazulenyl)-1,2-di(2-thienyl)ethane (2), with a two molar amount of TCNE in benzene at 25 °C for 5 h (for 1) and 48 h (for 2) under oxygen give new compounds, 2,2,3,3-tetracyano-4-(2-furyl)-8-isopropyl-6-methyl-1,4-dihydrocyclohepta[c,d]azulene (3) and 2,2,3,3-tetracyano-8-isopropyl-6-methyl-4-(2-thienyl)-1,4-dihydrocyclohepta[c,d]azulene (4), respectively, in 74 and 21% isolated yields. Comparative studies on the above reactions as well as the spectroscopic properties of the unique products 3 and 4, possessing interesting molecular structures, are reported and, further, a plausible reaction pathway for the formation of these products is described.     

Stereoselective synthesis of 5-[(1S)-N-Boc-amino-(2S)-(3-fluorophenyl)ethyl]-dihydrofuran-2-one

A short, efficient, and highly diastereoselective synthesis of 5-[(1S)-N-Boc-amino-(2S)-(3-fluorophenyl)ethyl]-dihydrofuran-2-one (1) is described. Use of phthalic anhydride as thiolate scavenger effectively preserves the chiral integrity of the α-aminoketone 4 product obtained from the reaction of organozincate 3 with thioester 2.     

An efficient synthesis of (E)-(2-arylpyrazino[1,2-a]pyrimidine-4-ylidene)acetonitriles and cyanomethyl appended pyrimidines

A series of (E)-(2-arylpyrazino[1,2-a]pyrimidine-4-ylidene)acetonitriles 5a-j and aryl/heteroaryl tethered pyrimidin-4-yl acetonitriles 6a-e has been synthesized in excellent yields through base catalyzed ring transformation of suitably functionalized 2H-pyran-2-ones 3 using 2-aminopyrazine 4a and arylamidinium salts 4b, separately.     

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.     

Application of the Cosford cross-coupling protocol for the stereoselective synthesis of (R)-(+)-goniothalamin, (R)-(+)-kavain and (S)-(+)-7,8-dihydrokavain

An efficient and versatile synthetic method has been developed and utilized for the stereoselective synthesis of (R)-(+)-goniothalamin 1, (R)-(+)-kavain 2 and (S)-(+)-7,8-dihydrokavain 3. Application of the Cosford protocol and direct conversion of aldehydes to β-keto-esters are the key steps in our approach.     

Application of chiral tetrahydropentalene ligands in rhodium-catalyzed 1,4-addition of (E)-2-phenylethenyl- and (Z)-propenylboronic acids to enones

Chiral tetrahydropentalenes (3aR,6aR)-1 have been prepared and used as ligands in the Rh-catalyzed 1,4-addition of 1-alkenylboronic acids to cyclic enones 5. It has been discovered that the stereochemistry of the reaction was controlled by the steric properties of the aryl groups in 1 rather than their electronic nature. In the vinylation with (E)-2-phenylethenylboronic acid 5, ligands (3aR,6aR)-1 provided enantioselectivity up to 87% ee and gave high yields of ethenylketones 6 in the presence of 1 (6.6 mol %). The configuration of all ketone products obtained with (3aR,6aR)-1 is (S). Rh-catalyzed reaction of cyclopentenone 4a and (Z)-propenylboronic acid 7 in the presence of ligands (3aR,6aR)-1 yielded at 50 °C an inseparable mixture of (Z)- and (E)-ketones 8 with (Z)-8 as the major product and both in only moderate enantiomeric excess.     

Endo and exo cyclometallated iron carbonyl complexes derived from N-(N′-methyl-2-pyrrolylmethylidene)-2-thienylmethylamine

The reaction of N-(N′-methyl-2-pyrrolylmethylidene)-2-thienylmethylamine (1) with Fe₂(CO)₉ in refluxing toluene gives endo cyclometallated iron carbonyl complexes 2 and 5, exo cyclometallated iron carbonyl complex 3, and unexpected iron carbonyl complex 4. Complexes 2, 3, and 5 are geometric isomers. Complex 5 differs from complex 2 in the switch of the original substituent from α to β position of the pyrrolyl ring, and the pyrrolyl ring bridges to the diiron centers in μ-(3,2-η¹:η²) coordination mode in stead of μ-(2,3-η¹:η²). In complex 4, the pyrrolyl moiety of the original ligand 1 has been displaced by a thienyl group, which comes from the same ligand. Single crystals of 2, 3, and 5 were subjected to the X-ray diffraction analysis. The major product 2 undergoes: (i) thermolysis to recover the original ligand 1; (ii) reduction to form a hydrogenation product, 6, of the original ligand; (iii) substitution to form a monophosphine-substituted complex 7; (iv) chemical as well as electrochemical oxidation to produce a carbonylation product, γ-butyrolactam 8.