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.     

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).     

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.     

Synthetic studies aimed at the elucidation of the stereostructure of the aggregation pheromone, 2-methyl-6-(4′-methylenebicyclo[3.1.0]hexyl)hept-2-en-1-ol,produced by the male stink bug Erysarcoris lewisi

The male-produced aggregation pheromone of the stink bug Erysarcoris lewisi Distant was shown to be one of the two diastereomers of (2Z,6R)-2-methyl-6-(4′-methylenebicyclo[3.1.0]hexyl)hept-2-en-1-ol by synthesizing and bioassaying (2E,6R)-, (2E,6S)-, (2Z,6R)-, and (2Z,6S)-isomers. These were synthesized from the enantiomers of citronellal by employing an intramolecular α-ketocarbene addition to a double bond and the E-selective or Z-selective olefination of a formyl group as the key steps. A reliable method was developed for the preparation of ethyl 2-(di-o-tolylphosphono)propanoate, Ando’s reagent for Z-selective olefination.     

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.     

Synthesis of (1S,4R)-4-isopropyl-1-methyl-2-cyclohexen-1-ol,the aggregation pheromone of the ambrosia beetle Platypus quercivorus,its racemate, (1R,4R)- and (1S,4S)-isomers

(S)-Perillyl alcohol was converted to (R)-cryptone (91.5–93% ee) in six steps, which was then treated with methyllithium to give (1S,4R)-4-isopropyl-1-methyl-2-cyclohexen-1-ol, the aggregation pheromone of the ambrosia beetle Platypus quercivorus. The racemic pheromone was also prepared by methylation of (±)-cryptone. Both (1R,4R)- and (1S,4S)-isomers (98% ee) of the pheromone were synthesized from the enantiomers of dihydrolimonene oxide.     

Separation of secondary alcohols via enzymatic kinetic resolution using fatty esters as reusable acylating agents

A two consecutive step procedure for the resolution-separation of secondary alcohols employing ethyl tetradecanoate in the presence of lipase allowed the enzymatic kinetic resolution of two target molecules, 1-phenylethanol and 6-methylhept-5-en-2-ol. (S)-1-Phenylethanol was isolated in a yield of 47% with an ee of 94% and (R)-1-phenylethanol in a yield of 51% with an ee of 95%. (S)-6-Methylhept-5-en-2-ol was isolated in a yield 47% and an ee of 87% and (R)-6-methylhept-5-en-2-ol in a yield 49% and an ee of 90%.     

Stereoselective synthesis of cyclohexa-2,4-dien-1-ones and cyclohex-2-en-1-ones from phenols

A convenient synthetic method for the synthesis of substituted cyclohex-2-en-1-ones by the direct alkylation of phenols has been developed. Furthermore, enantiomerically enriched 2,6-dimethyl-6-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-cyclohexa-2,4-dienone was prepared by the deprotonation of 2,6-dimethylphenol with a sparteine–lithium complex followed by alkylation with 1-chloro-3-methylbut-2-ene. 2,6-Dimethyl-6-(3-methyl-but-2-enyl)-cyclohex-2-enone was prepared from the corresponding cyclohexa-2,4-dien-1-one by selective hydrogenation of the 4,5-double bond. The method was extended to 2-methyl-naphthalen-1-ol and 1-methyl-naphthalen-2-ol resulting in 2-(R)-methyl-2-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-2H-naphthalen-1-one and 1-(S)-methyl-1-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-1H-naphthalen-2-one, respectively.     

Efficient preparation of enantiomerically pure (E)-4-(tributylstannanyl)but-3-en-2-ol via lipase-mediated resolution

The practical preparation of enantiomerically pure (E)-4-(tributylstannanyl)but-3-en-2-ol 1 from 3-butyn-2-ol 2 is reported. A modified Guibé's Pd-catalyzed hydrostannation of 2 provided the racemic γ-hydroxy vinylstannane 1 in a good yield. The enzymatic esterification of 1, with an inexpensive lipozyme, afforded (R)-3 and (S)-1 with very high enantiomeric excesses and chemical yields. This procedure is suitable for the multigram scale preparation of the potential chiral building blocks, (R)-1 and (S)-1.     

Kinetic resolution of racemic secondary aliphatic allylic alcohols in lipase-catalyzed transesterification

Different lipases were screened as biocatalysts in the kinetic resolution process of (±)-hept-1-en-3-ol 1, (±)-5-methylhex-1-en-3-ol 2, (±)-6-methylhept-2-en-4-ol 3, (±)-6,6-dimethylhept-2-en-4-ol 4, and 1-phenylbut-3-en-2-ol 5 by enantioselective transesterification. The acylation of (±)-1 and (±)-2 catalyzed by Novozym 435 (Candida antarctica) was very effective and proceeded with good enantioselectivity. After 4–8 h of reactions the esters formed and the alcohols, which remained were obtained with high enantiomeric excess with 97–100% ee and 91–100% ee, respectively. The lipase Amano PS (Burkholderia cepacia) was the best catalyst in the asymmetric transesterification of (±)-5 affording the (R)-alcohol with 90–95% ee and the (S)-ester with 98–100% ee. Low enantioselectivities were observed in the cases of lipase-catalyzed acylation of (±)-3 and (±)-4.     

Stereospecific Synthesis of (−)-β-Turmerone and (−)-Bisacurol

The structure of (+)-β-turmerone ((+)- 1a ), a constituent of the rhizomes of Curcuma longa Linn. , and Curcuma xanthorriza, is established as (1′R,6S)-2-methyl-6-(4′-methylenecyclohex-2′-en-1′-yl)hept-2-en-4-one by synthesis of its enantiomer (−)- 1a , and of the corresponding (1′S,6S)-diastereoisomer (+)- 1b as well. In a stereospecific seventeen-step procedure, the monoterpene diols 2a and 2b of well-established configuration are converted into the target compounds (−)- 1a and (+)- 1b , respectively. Moreover, (−)-bisacurol (−)- 3a (II), the enantiomer of another bisabolane sesquiterpene derived from Curcuma xanthorriza, is obtained as a single stereoisomer and shown to be (1′S,6R)-2-methyl-6-(4′-methylenecyclohex-2′-en-1′-yl)hept-2-en-4-ol, the relative configuration at the remaining OH-substituted chiral center C(4) still being unknown.     

A new strategy in enantioselective intramolecular hetero Diels-Alder reaction: catalytic double asymmetric induction during the tandem transetherification-intramolecular hetero Diels-Alder reaction of methyl (E)-4-methoxy-2-oxo-3-butenoate with rac-6-methyl-5-hepten-2-ol

An efficient catalytic double asymmetric induction during the tandem transetherification-intramolecular hetero Diels-Alder reaction has been developed. The enantioselective tandem reaction of methyl (E)-4-methoxy-2-oxo-3-butenoate with rac-6-methyl-5-hepten-2-ol has been achieved to provide methyl (2R,4aS,8aR)-3,4,4a,8a-tetrahydro-2,5,5-trimethyl-2H,5H-pyrano[4,3-b]-pyran-7-carboxylate in good yield with effective kinetic resolution (up to 95% selectivity), high diastereoselectivity (up to 92% de), and high enantioselectivity (up to 97% ee) in the presence of (S,S)-tert-Bu-bis(oxazoline)-Cu(SbF₆)₂ and 5 Å molecular sieves.     

Chiral cyclohexene block from <Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>-(−)-carvone

The oxidation with SeO₂ of a methyl group linked to an sp²-hybridized carbon in the product of the intramolecular iodoetherification of cis-carveol afforded (1R,5R,7S)-7-iodomethyl-7-methyl-6-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]-oct-3-en-4-carbaldehyde and [(1R,5R,7S)-7-iodomethyl-7-methyl-6-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-3-en-4-yl]methanol that were oxidized to methyl (1R,5R,7S)-7-iodomethyl-7-methyl-6-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-3-en-4-carboxylate. The latter by the Zn-promoted opening of the γ-oxide ring was converted into the target chiral block, methyl (4R,6R)-6-hydroxy-4-(prop-1-en-2-yl)cyclohex-1-encarboxylate.     

Stereoselective synthesis of new (+)-1-{(1R,3R,6S)-4,7,7-trimethylbicyclo[4.1.0]hept-4-en-3-yl}ethan-1-one derivatives

A procedure was developed for the stereoselective synthesis of aminated derivatives of (+)-1-{(1R,3R,6S)-4,7,7-trimethylbicyclo[4.1.0]hept-4-en-3-yl}ethan-1-one. The configuration of the side-chain chiral center in (+)-1-{(1R,3R,6S)-4,7,7-trimethylbicyclo[4.1.0]hept-4-en-3-yl}ethan-1-ol was determined by X-ray analysis. Diketene and Meldrum’s acid were proposed as initial compounds for the synthesis of, respectively, 3-oxobutanoic and malonic acid esters having a 1-ethyl-4,7,7-trimethylbicyclo[4.1.0]hept-4-ene fragment.     

Enantioselective synthesis of (3R,4E)-19-methylicos-4-en-1-yn-3-ol,a bioactive metabolite of the marine sponge Cribrochalina vasculum

The first stereoselective synthesis of (3R,4E)-19-methylicos-4-en-1-yn-3-ol, an immunosuppressive and antitumoral metabolite isolated from the Caribbean sponge Cribrochalina vasculum, has been achieved and its stereostructure has been confirmed. The key step of the synthesis involves a borane-mediated reduction of the parent (E)-19-methyl-1-trimethylsilylicos-4-en-1-yn-3-one in the presence of a chiral oxazaborolidine.     

Chemoenzymatic routes to cyclopentenols: the role of protecting groups on stereo- and enantioselectivity

Enantiopure (R)-4-triisopropylsilyloxycyclopent-2-en-1-one was obtained through short sequences including either the enzymatic resolution of racemic cis-4-triisopropylsilyloxycyclopent-2-en-1-ol or the enzymatic desymmetrization of cis-cyclopent-2-en-1,3-diol. Alternatively, the enantiopure (S)-4-triisopropylsilyloxycyclopent-2-en-1-one was very efficiently obtained from diacetate of cis-cyclopent-2-en-1,3-diol using enzymatic desymmetrization with CAL-B. In these sequences, TIPS proved to be the best protecting group.     

Synthesis of optically active forms of seudenol,the pheromone of douglas fir beetle

(R)-(+)-Seudenol (3-methylcyclohex-2-en-1-ol) and its antipode were synthesized from optically active forms of 3-iodocyclohex-2-en-1-ol by treatment with Me₂CuLi. Their absolute configurations were determined by converting (+)-3-iodocyclohex-2-en-1-ol to the known (R)-(+)-cyclohex-2-en-1-ol.     

Self-cyclization of (E)-2-(trimethylsilylmethyl)pentadienol derivative. Synthesis of bicyclo[4.3.0]nonane ring systems

Utility and limitation of the title reaction was studied. When (E)-3-(4-t-butyl- and 4-phenylcyclohex-1-en-1-yl)-2-(trimethylsilylmethyl)prop-2-en-1-ols were treated with Ms₂O or MsCl, 3-t-butyl- and 3-phenyl-8-methylbicyclo[4.3.0]nona-1(6),7-dienes were obtained, respectively. The corresponding (Z)-isomer afforded a complex mixture, among which an elimination product was detected. (E)-4-(4-t-Butylcyclohexylidene)-2-(trimethylsilylmethyl)but-2-en-1-ol afforded only elimination product.     

Efficient synthesis of the cyclopentanone fragrances (Z)-3-(2-oxopropyl)-2-(pent-2-en-1-yl)cyclopentanone and Magnolione

This paper describes the selective syntheses of two cis-isomer-enriched cyclopentanone fragrances: (Z)-3-(2-oxopropyl)-2-(pent-2-en-1-yl)cyclopentanone (four steps, 62% overall yield, 67% cis) and Magnolione^® (five steps, 60% overall yield, 55% cis). In addition, the asymmetric synthesis of (3aR,7aS)-5-methyl-2,3,3a,4,7,7a-hexahydro-1H-inden-1-one as well as (3a′R,7a′S)-5′-methyl-2′,3′,3a′,4′,7′,7a′-hexahydrospiro[[1,3]dioxolane-2,1′-indene] has been realized by an efficient kinetic resolution, which enables the selective synthesis of the 2S,3R-isomer-enriched 3 and 4.     

Synthesis of (4R,15R,16R,21S)- and (4R,15S,16S,21S)-rollicosin

A convergent synthesis of (4R,15R,16R,21S)-rollicosin (1) and (4R,15S,16S,21S)-rollicosin (2) was accomplished. Hydroxy lactone 6a and/or 6b were synthesized from 4-pentyn-1-ol, and α,β-unsaturated lactone 7 was synthesized from γ-lactone 8 and 5-hexen-1-ol. Inhibitory activity of these compounds was examined with bovine heart mitochondrial complex I.