Synthetic studies on bafilomycin A1: stereoselective synthesis of the enantiopure C1-C11 fragment

The synthesis of the enantiopure C₁-C₁₁ fragment of bafilomycin A₁ has been achieved with a 4% overall yield over 18 steps from (R)-(+)-citronellol. Key steps involve Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation, Miyashita reaction of a γ,δ-epoxymethacrylate with trimethylaluminum in the presence of water, bis-OTMS selective Swern oxidations, Corey-Fuchs alkyne formation, Negishi's carbometalation, and stereoselective formation of the C₂-C₃ trisubstituted bond of the conjugated diene by a Wittig-type olefination of the α,β-unsaturated C₃-C₁₁ aldehyde with the ylide derived from the readily available phosphonium salt [Cl⁻, Ph₃P⁺CH(OMe)COOMe].     

A Baylis-Hillman approach to the synthesis of C1-C11 fragment of caribenolide I

Stereoselective synthesis of C₁-C₁₁ fragment of caribenolide I, a potent antitumour macrolide isolated from a marine dinoflagellate Amphidinium sp. is described. The key steps rely on asymmetric aldol reactions, to control the absolute configurations of C₂, C₃ and C₁₀ stereogenic centres.     

Synthetic studies on bafilomycin A1: stereoselective synthesis of the C12-C17 fragment and its coupling with the C1-C11 subunit

Stereoselective addition of (E)-1-lithio-2-tributylstannylethylene on a chiral cyclic di-t-butylsilyleneketal C₁₄-C₁₇ aldehyde afforded the required Felkin-Anh adduct for the synthesis of the C₁₂-C₁₇ fragment of bafilomycin A₁, the configuration of which was assigned unambiguously. After appropriate coupling with the enantiopure C₁-C₁₁ fragment, the C₁₂-C₁₇ subunit obtained here can be used for the study of the 16-membered macrolide formation either by an acyl activation or an intramolecular Stille reaction. Intermolecular esterification of the 15-OH with an acyl activation of the carboxylic acid of the C₁-C₁₁ fragment, in modified Yamaguchi's conditions, affords here an intermediate for examining an intramolecular Stille coupling.     

Synthesis of novel oxazaborolidines B-C6F5 and their effectiveness as asymmetric catalysts

Novel oxazaborolidines B-C₆F₅ were synthesized by modified protocol from C₆F₅B(OMe)₂ (in place of usual C₆F₅B(OH)₂) and the corresponding amino alcohols, aiming to know the π-π stacking and electron-withdrawing effects of C₆F₅ group in asymmetric reduction of ketones. Although the results were not simply explained by the expected effects, significant difference was observed in the enantioselectivity between the catalysts with B-C₆H₅ and B-C₆F₅.     

SYNTHETIC STUDIES OF ANTITUMOR MACROLIDE LAULIMALIDE: ENANTIOSELECTIVE SYNTHESIS OF THE C3-C14 SEGMENT BY A CATALYTIC HETERO DIELS-ALDER STRATEGY

The C₃-C₁₄ segment of the novel antitumor agent laulimalide has been constructed enantioselectively by utilizing a catalytic asymmetric hetero Diels-Alder reaction of benzyloxyacetaldehyde and Danishefsky's diene followed by Ferrier rearrangement and asymmetric conjugate reaction as the key steps. © 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.     

Synthetic studies of the HIV-1 protease inhibitive didemnaketals: stereocontrolled synthesis of an ester side chain

The stereocontrolled synthesis of the C₁-C₈ portion, the ester side chain of the HIV-1 protease inhibitive didemnaketals from the ascidian Didemnum sp., has been carried out through 15 steps starting from (S)-carvone as the chiral template. This approach involved the diastereoselective construction of three conjoint chiral centers by intramolecular chiral inducement, and generation of allylic alcohol intermediate through a key Grob fragmentation reaction.     

Synthesis and characterization of carbene derivatives of Th@C3v(8)-C82 and U@C2v(9)-C82: exceptional chemical properties induced by strong actinide–carbon cage interaction

Chemical functionalization of endohedral metallofullerenes (EMFs) is essential for the application of these novel carbon materials. Actinide EMFs, a new EMF family member, have presented unique molecular and electronic structures but their chemical properties remain unexplored. Here, for the first time, we report the chemical functionalization of actinide EMFs, in which the photochemical reaction of Th@C_3v(8)-C₈₂ and U@C_2v(9)-C₈₂ with 2-adamantane-2,3′-[3H]-diazirine (AdN₂, 1) was systematically investigated. The combined HPLC and MALDI-TOF analyses show that carbene addition by photochemical reaction afforded three isomers of Th@C_3v(8)-C₈₂Ad and four isomers of U@C_2v(9)-C₈₂Ad (Ad = adamantylidene), presenting notably higher reactivity than their lanthanide analogs. Among these novel EMF derivatives, Th@C_3v(8)-C₈₂Ad(I, II, III) and U@C_2v(9)-C₈₂Ad(I, II, III) were successfully isolated and were characterized by UV-vis-NIR spectroscopy. In particular, the molecular structures of first actinide fullerene derivatives, Th@C_3v(8)-C₈₂Ad(I) and U@C_2v(9)-C₈₂Ad(I), were unambiguously determined by single crystal X-ray crystallography, both of which show a [6,6]-open cage structure. In addition, isomerization of Th@C_3v(8)-C₈₂Ad(II), Th@C_3v(8)-C₈₂Ad(III), U@C_2v(9)-C₈₂Ad(II) and U@C_2v(9)-C₈₂Ad(III) was observed at room temperature. Computational studies suggest that the attached carbon atoms on the cages of both Th@C_3v(8)-C₈₂Ad(I) and U@C_2v(9)-C₈₂Ad(I) have the largest negative charges, thus facilitating the electrophilic attack. Furthermore, it reveals that, compared to their lanthanide analogs, Th@C_3v(8)-C₈₂ and U@C_2v(9)-C₈₂ have much closer metal–cage distance, increased metal-to-cage charge transfer, and strong metal–cage interactions stemming from the significant contribution of extended Th-5f and U-5f orbitals to the occupied molecular orbitals, all of which give rise to their unusual high reactivity. This study provides first insights into the exceptional chemical properties of actinide endohedral fullerenes, which pave ways for the future functionalization and application of these novel EMF compounds.

Photochemical reaction of Th@C_3v(8)-C₈₂ and U@C_2v(9)-C₈₂ with 2-adamantane-2,3′-[3H]-diazirine (AdN₂, 1) afforded three isomers of Th@C_3v(8)-C₈₂Ad and four isomers of U@C_2v(9)-C₈₂Ad (Ad = adamantylidene), respectively.     

Stereoselective synthesis of the C(1)-C(13) segment of dolabelide B

The efficient construction of the C₁-C₁₃ segment of dolabelide B is described. A key element of the synthesis entails BITIP catalyzed asymmetric methallylation to establish the C₇ stereocenter, which was then used to direct the stereoselective installation of the C₉ and C₁₁ centers through Evans reduction and 1,5-anti aldol condensation, respectively.     

Reaction of C60 with KMnF4 : Isolation and characterization of a new isomer of C60F8 and re-evaluation of the structures of C60F7(CF3) and the known isomer of C60F8

The volatile fluorofullerene products of high-temperature reactions of C₆₀ with the ternary manganese(III, IV) fluorides KMnF₄, KMnF₅, A₂MnF₆ (A⁺ = Li⁺, K⁺, Cs⁺), and K₃MnF₆ were monitored as a function of reaction temperature, reaction time, and stoichiometric ratio by in situ Knudsen-cell mass spectrometry. When combined with fluorofullerene product ratios from larger-scale (bulk) screening reactions with the same reagents, an optimized set of conditions was found that yielded the greatest amount of C₆₀F₈ (KMnF₄/C₆₀ mol ratio 28-30, 470 °C, 4-5 h). Two isomers of C₆₀F₈ were purified by HPLC, one of which has not been previously reported. Quantum chemical calculations at the DFT level combined with 1D and 2D ¹⁹F NMR, FTIR, and FT-Raman spectroscopy indicate that the C₆₀F₈ isomer previously reported to be 1,2,3,8,9,12,15,16-C₆₀F₈ is actually 1,2,3,6,9,12,15,18-C₆₀F₈, making it the first high-temperature fluorofullerene with non-contiguous fluorine atoms. The new isomer, which was found to be 1,2,7,8,9,12,13,14-C₆₀F₈, is predicted to be 5.5 kJ mol⁻¹ more stable than 1,2,3,6,9,12,15,18-C₆₀F₈ at the DFT level. In addition, new DFT calculations and spectroscopic data indicate that the compound previously isolated from the high-temperature reaction of C₆₀ and K₂PtF₆ and reported to be 16-CF₃-1,2,3,8,9,12,15-C₆₀F₇ is actually 18-CF₃-1,2,3,6,8,12,15-C₆₀F₇.     

Synthesis of the methylene bis-tetrahydropyran motif of (−)-exiguolide

A chiral-pool approach for the construction of methylene bis-tetrahydropyran subunit, C₁-C₁₆ fragment, of (−)-exiguolide is described. The synthesis was efficiently accomplished starting from l-glutamic acid and l-aspartic acid involving oxa-Michael reaction and an aldol-driven-reductive etherification as key steps for the formation of tetrahydropyran ring.     

Studies towards the total synthesis of contignasterol

The (17R,20S,22S,24S) C₂₀-C₂₉ segment of contignasterol has been stereoselectively prepared in 8 steps and 40% overall yield from (S)-carvone. Synthetic studies towards contignasterol's C/D ring functionalization/isomerization are also reported.     

Molecular structures of phosphorus compounds: Part IX. Gas-phase structure of 2,2-dimethylpropylidynephosphine, (CH3)3C-CP

The geometric structure of 2,2-dimethylpropylidynephosphine, (CH₃)₃C-CP, in the gas phase has been determined by joint analysis of electron diffraction and microwave spectroscopy data. The following parameters (r_av values) were obtained: PC₁ = 1.536(2), C₁-C₂ = 1.473(4),C₂-C₃ (methyl) = 1.543(2), C₃-H = 1.080(3) Å, ∠C₁-C₂-C₃ = 109.0(2) and ∠H-C₃H = 108.8(5)°. Error limits are 2σ values.     

A short approach to the bicyclo[4.3.0]nonane fragment of stawamycin

The bicyclo[4.3.0]nonane (C₁₁-C₂₁) fragment of stawamycin has been prepared by a sequence involving 11 steps (10% overall yield) from methyl (R)-(−)-3-hydroxy-2-methylpropionate. Key steps are a Pd-catalysed Stille coupling reaction between a vinyl iodide and a vinyl stannane followed by an intramolecular Diels-Alder cycloaddition reaction to give the desired adduct as the major isomer in 21% overall yield.     

Enzymatic formation of unnatural novel polyketide scaffolds by plant-specific type III polyketide synthase

The catalytic potential of octaketide synthase (OKS), a plant-specific type III polyketide synthase (PKS) from Aloe arborescens, was investigated by phenylacetyl-CoA and benzoyl-CoA as starter substrates. As a result, a novel C₁₆ pentaketide coumarin was produced from phenylacetyl-CoA, whereas benzoyl-CoA was not a good substrate of OKS. Remarkably, a structure-guided OKS N222G mutant dramatically extended the product chain length to yield four novel polyketides including C₂₂ aromatic octaketides from the C₆-C₂ phenylacetyl starter, as well as a novel C₁₉ heptaketide benzophenone from the C₆-C₁ benzoyl starter.     

The oxirane ring openings of the dianhydro sugar with high regioselectivity and its use in preparation of two chiral segments of 6-deoxyerythronolide B

The oxirane ring of the dianhydro sugar 2 obtained from levoglucosan (1,6-anhydro-β-D-glucose) is opened regioselectively with organometallic carbon nucleophiles and its application to an asymmetric synthesis of the C₁–C₅ segment 9 together with the C₉-C₁₅ unit 18 of 6-deoxyerythronolide B 1 is described.     

The stereospecificity at the iron center of the decarbonylation of an ironacetyl complex

The dinuclear complex [(h⁵-1-CH₃-3-C₆H₅C₅H₃)Fe(CO)₂]₂ was synthesized by reaction of Fe₂(CO)9 with 1-methyl-3-phenylcyclopentadiene; it was converted to (h⁵-1-CH₃-3-C₆H₅C₅H₃)Fe(CO)₂CH₃ by reduction with sodium amalgam and addition of CH₃l, and thence to (h⁵-1-CH₃-3-C₆H₅C₅H₃)Fe(CO)[P(C₆H₅)₃] (COCH₃) (I) by reaction with P(C₆H₅)₃. The acetyl I was separated into two diastereomerically related pairs of enantiomers. Ia and Ib, by a combination of column chromatography on alumina and crystallization from benzene/pentane. The photochemical decarbonylation of Ia and Ib in benzene or THF solution was examined by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. This reaction proceeds with high stereospecificity (>84% retention or inversion) at the iron center to yield (h⁵-1-CH₃-3-C₆H₈C₅H₃)Fe(CO)[P(C₆H₅)₃]CH₃(II), enriched in the diastereomerically related pairs of enantiomers, IIa and IIb, respectively. Since IIa and IIb epimerize under the photolytic conditions of decarbonylation, the actual stereospecificity of the conversion of I to II is higher than 84%, and likely 100%. This is supported by the data from kinetic studies of the decarbonylation of I and the epimerization of II, carried out under identical photolytic conditions. The implications of the foregoing results to the mechanism of the decarbonylation are considered. Also described herein is the synthesis of other complexes with two asymmetric centers of the general formula (h⁵-cyclopentadienyl)Fe(CO)(L)(COR) and (h⁵-cyclopentadienyl)Fe(CO)(L)R that contain either an unsymmetrically substituted h⁵-cyclopentadienyl ring or a chiral tertiary phosphine.     

The structure of 1,3-dichloropropyne as determined by gas electron diffraction and comparison with microwave data

The structure of 1,3-dichloropropyne has been studied by gas electron diffraction. The resulting parameters r_a have been converted into r_α^o distances. A geometrical structure has been fitted to these internuclear distances. Thus the following parameters (r_α^o) have been determined: r(C₁-Cl₁) = 1.629 (10) A, r(C₁C₂) = 1.201 (13) Å, r(C₃-Cl₂) = 1.791 (6) A, ∠(C₂-C₃-Cl₂) = 111.1° (1.0°), ∠(H-C₃-H) = 98.8° (3.1°), ∠(C₂-C₃-H) = 108.7° (3.2°). ∠(Cl₁-C₁C₂) = 176.6° (1.1°), ∠(C₁C₂-C₃) = 182.7° (1.4°). Inconsistencies have been detected between our results and the rotational constants reported by Günther and Zeil. Discussion of the problem including rotational constants of the first excited vibrational state leads to the conclusion that the observed discrepancies are due to temperature effects.     

Studies in macrolide synthesis: A concise asymmetric synthesis of a macrolide intermediate for the erythronolides.

The enantiomerically-pure 14-membered ring macrolide 1 is prepared in 14 steps from the racemic aldehyde 4, Z=SPh. The C₂-C₄ and C₈-C₁₀ stereorelationships in 1 are controlled in a single step by an Evans aldol condensation with (±)-4. Macrolactonisation, 23 → 1, takes place in high yield (91%).     

Molecular structure of hexafluorobicyclo [2.2.0]hexa-2,5-diene (hexafluoro-dewar-benzene) in the vapour phase

Hexafluoro-Dewar-benzene has been studied by the electron-diffraction method. A model with C_2v symmetry gives excellent agreement between experimental and theoretical data. The structural parameters with error limits are (cf. Fig. 1): r(C₁-C₄)= 1.598 ±0.017 Å, r(C₁-C₂) = 1.505 ±0.005 Å, r(C₂-C₃) = 1.366 ± 0.015 Å, r(C₁-F₁) = 1.328±0.015 Å, r(C₂-F₂) = 1.319±0.007 Å, ∠F₁C₁C₄ = 118.7±0.7°, ∠F₂C₂C₃ = 133.6±0.7°, τ= 121.8±2.0°, and δ = -7.5±2.0°. Molecular orbital calculations by the CNDO/2 method gave τ = 119.8° and δ = ?4.2°.     

The solid state structure of arene-mercury(II) complexes from magic-angle spinning carbon-13 NMR and the solution carbon-13 NMR of some complexes of mercury(II) with arenes having bulky aliphatic substituents

The cross-polarization magic angle spinning ¹³C NMR spectra of Hg(SbF₆)₂ - 2 Arene (Arene = C₆HMe₅, 1,2,4,5-C₆H₂Me₄, 1,2,3,4-C₆H₂Me₄, or C₆H₆) have been measured. The spectra of the complexes of C₆HMe₅ and 1,2,4,5-C₆H₂Me₄ are consistent with static η¹-bonding of the mercury to the arene at an unsubstituted carbon atom, while the spectra of the 1,2,3,4-C₆H₂Me₄ and C₆H₆ complexes show the arene to have time-averaged C_s or C₂, and C₆ symmetry respectively, at the temperature of measurement (300 K).The reduced temperature ¹³C NMR spectra of Hg(Arene)_n²⁺ (n = 1 or 2; Arene = 1,3,5-C₆H₃R₃ (R = Me, i-Pr, or t-Bu)) in SO₂ solution are also reported and affirm that in these intramolecularly mobile species the mercury bonds in an η¹-manner, with unsubstituted aryl carbon atoms being the strongly preferred point of mercury attachment. This site preference is further demonstrated by the solution ¹³C NMR spectra of Hg(Arene)_n²⁺ (Arene = 1,2,3,4-C₆H₂-Me₄, n = 1 or 2; Arene = 1,4-C₆H₄R₂, R = Me or t-Bu, n = 1). The spectra of the 1,4-C₆H₄R₂ complexes and Hg(p-C₆H₄-t-BuMe)²⁺ provide clear evidence for steric influence of the binding site.Like Hg(C₆Me₆)₂²⁺, but unlike most of the complexes of substituted benzenes which have been studied, Hg(1,3,5-C₆H₃-i-Pr₃)₂²⁺ exchanges only slowly with excess free ligand.