Spirane-bridged ansa η-cyclopentadienyl-η-fluorenyl-zirconocene precatalysts

Synthesis of rigid ansa-zirconocene precatalyst systems with a C₂-bridge embedded in a spirane scaffold is described. Fulvenes were key intermediates in regio- and stereoselective preparation of the appropriate spirane ligands. Substitution in the cyclopentadienyl group in the ligand was effected by fulvene methodology. The zirconocenes were active precatalysts for the polymerisation of propene when activated with MAO. The structure of the parent zirconocene dichloride has been verified by X-ray crystal analysis.     

Syntheses of methylene-bridged ansa-zirconocene complexes and copolymerization studies of ethylene and norbornene

Methylene-bridged ansa-metallocene complexes bearing substituents on the cyclopentadienyl (Cp) and fluorenyl (Flu) moieties, namely methylene[9-(2,7-di-tert-butyl)fluorenyl(2-(1,3-dimethylcyclopentadienyl))]zirconium dichloride (1a) and its analogue, methylene[(9-(2,7-di-tert-butyl)fluorenyl(2-(1-methyl-3-phenyl)cyclopentadienyl))]zirconium dichloride (2a), have been prepared from (2,7-di-tert-butyl)-9-prop-2-ynyl-9H-fluorene (2). This procedure includes the use of 3-bromo-1-propyne which affords the methylene bridging unit by way of an intermolecular Pauson-Khand reaction in which norbornadiene and a pendant alkyne cyclize to form a ring that later becomes a substituted cyclopentadienyl group. Ethylene-norbornene (E-N) copolymerization was then carried out using these new complexes (1a and 1b) in the presence of methylaluminoxane (MAO) as a cocatalyst; these activities can be compared to that of isopropylene[9-fluorenyl-cyclopentadienyl]zirconium dichloride (3a). The activity of catalyst 1a was comparable to that of 3a but much higher than that of 2a. In addition, 1a shows higher norbornene insertion performance, and gives an E-N copolymer with a higher glass transition temperature (T_g) than 2a under identical conditions; both 1a and 2a give a lower T_g polymer than 3a does.     

Stereoselective preparation of spirane bridged, sandwiched bisarenes

Preparation of α-oxo derivatives of spiro[4.4]nonane, spiro[4.5]decane and spiro[5.5]undecane derivatives is described. An efficient method for spiroannulation by Rh(I)-catalysed intramolecular hydroacylation provides α,α′-difunctionalised spiro[4.5]decanes. The α,α′-dioxo groups have been converted into vinyl triflates for arylation by Pd-catalysed cross-coupling reactions under Stille, Negishi or Suzuki conditions depending on relative reactivities. Stereoselective saturation of the conjugated aryl olefinic bonds by catalytic hydrogenation over Pd-carbon provides methodology for stereoselective preparation of α-aryl- and α,α′-cis,cis-diaryl spiranes, the latter with a sandwich like structure. Single crystal X-ray analyses have been used in the structural assignments.     

Control of symmetry in active cationic ansa-zirconocene species: catalyst preparation, characterization and ethylene-norbornene copolymerization

New bis-hydrocarbyl complexes of methylene bridged ansa-metallocenes [H₂C(C₅Me₂H₂)₂]ZrR₂ {R = Me (1), CH₂Ph (2), CH₂SiMe₃ (3), Ph (4)} have been prepared. They form catalytically active intermediates with borane or borate depending on solvent and Zr-R group. Specifically, [H₂C(Me₂C₅H₂)₂]Zr(CH₂Ph)₂ (2) produced an ion pair upon treatment with B(C₆F₅)₃ whereas [H₂C(Me₂C₅H₂)₂]Zr(CH₂SiMe₃)₂ (3) produced a zwitterionic species, identified by ¹H, ¹³C, and ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy. Copolymerization of ethylene and norbornene for the metallocene dichloride/MAO and bis-hydrocarbyl complex/borate systems was compared.     

The effect that 6-tert-butoxyhexyl functionalization has on ethylene polymerization in ansa-zirconocene dichlorides

Ethylene polymerization studies have been carried out with novel precatalysts of the type: [(η⁵-C₁₃H₈)-X(t-BuOC₆H₁₂)Me-(η⁵-C₅H₄)]ZrCl₂ [X=C [1a], Si [2a]], [(η⁵-C₁₃H₈)-XMe₂-(η⁵-(t-BuOC₆H₁₂C₅H₃))] ZrCl₂ [X=C [3a], Si [4a]] in the presence of excess methylalumoxane (MAO) to compare their catalytic activity and to delineate the effect of the 6-t-butoxyhexyl functionality on ethylene polymerization. The precatalysts [1a] and [2a] with the bridge functionality showed higher activity in ethylene polymerization than the corresponding complexes [3a] and [4a] which have it on the Cp ring moiety. On the other hand the silyl bridged complexes [2a] and [4a] produced a higher molecular weight polyethylene than the carbon-bridged one, regardless of the location of functional group.     

Stereoselective total synthesis of almorexant

A highly stereoselective synthesis of almorexant has been achieved using (R)-tert-butanesulfinamide as a chiral source. The chiral tetrahydroisoquinoline core was constructed through allylation of chiral N-sulfinyl imine followed by ring closure of the secondary amide with a tethered halide. The chiral α-phenyl amide was introduced by means of S_N2 substitution of (S)-methyl 2-phenyl-2-(tosyloxy)acetate with chiral tetrahydroisoquinoline.     

Chiral 2-C-methylene glycosides and carbohydrate-derived pyrano[2,3-b][1]benzopyrans: synthesis via InCl3 catalyzed stereoselective Ferrier rearrangement of 2-C-acetoxymethyl glycal derivatives

2-C-Acetoxymethyl glycal derivatives react with aliphatic alcohols in the presence of InCl₃ (30 mol %) to furnish the corresponding 2-C-methylene glycosides in excellent yields and with exclusive α-selectivity except for the methyl 2-C-methylene glycosides, which are formed in ∼2:1 anomeric ratio in favour of the α-anomer. The reaction of 2-C-acetoxyglycals with phenols, however, produces the corresponding chiral carbohydrate-derived pyranobenzopyran derivatives via initial Ferrier rearrangement followed by tandem cyclization in excellent yields and moderate to high stereoselectivities in favour of the corresponding 10a-R-pyrano[2,3-b][1]benzopyran derivatives.     

Conceptually new chiral tertiary C2 symmetric diamines in asymmetric synthesis

New chiral diamines were prepared, based on the cyclohexane diamine core. The two different substituents on each nitrogen allow this heteroatom to become a stereogenic center upon chelation with a metal, such as lithium. The enantioselective addition of MeLi to imines, with ee's up to 68%, illustrates the validity of this concept.     

Stereoselective synthesis of novel C-azanucleoside analogues by microwave-assisted nucleophilic addition of sugar-derived cyclic nitrones

A series of C-azanucleoside analogues were synthesized by microwave-assisted nucleophilic addition of electron-rich hetero-aromatics to sugar-derived cyclic nitrones, and followed by reduction and deprotection. The nucleophilic addition afforded the 2′,3′-trans isomer as the dominant by the favorite exo attack and showed high stereoselectivity in polar solvent.     

A parallel synthesis approach towards a family of C-nucleosides

A synthetic route was devised for a sugar based α-chloroketone, which was subsequently used to generate a family of C-nucleosides via parallel synthetic methodology.     

Stereoselective synthesis of (E)-α-aryltellurenylvinylsilanes via hydromagnesiation reaction of alkynylsilanes

(E)-α-Aryltellurenylvinylsilanes have been synthesized stereoselectively via the hydromagnesiation of alkynylsilanes, followed by the reaction with aryltellurenyl iodides. (E)-α-Aryltellurenylvinylsilanes can undergo the cross coupling reaction with Grignard reagents in the presence of Ni(PPh₃)₂Cl₂ catalyst to afford (Z)-1,2-disubstituted vinylsilanes in good yields.     

New C2-symmetry diols accumulating one stereogenic axis and two stereogenic centers

Herein we report a protocol for the enantioselective synthesis of the three stereoisomers of 1,1′-(1,1′-binaphthalene-2,2′-diyl)bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethanol) and their characterization. These compounds, that combine axial and central chirality, might present interesting properties for enantiorecognition. Different reduction processes were applied to racemic and enantiopure 1,1′-(1,1′-binaphthalene-2,2′-diyl)bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethanone) allowing the isolation of the corresponding ketols, 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-[2′-(2,2,2-trifluoro-1-hydroxyethyl)-1,1′-binaphthalen-2-yl]ethanone, and the named diols.     

A novel and efficient synthesis of chiral C2-symmetric 1,4-diamines

A novel and efficient method for synthesis of (R,R)- and (S,S)-C₂-symmetric 1,4-diamines was established. The key steps are a combination of Pinacol Coupling and Corey-Winter olefination.     

C2-Symmetric bis-thioglycosides as new ligands for palladium-catalyzed allylic substitutions

A new divergent design for the synthesis of optically pure bis-thioglycoside type I is reported. In only two steps a common chiral intermediate with up to eight free alcohols: two primary and six secondary is obtained. From this common intermediate a large number of ligands can be synthesized. A positional scanning like strategy has permitted the rapid discovery of an efficient catalyst for the palladium-catalyzed asymmetric allylation of malonate. Dynamic NMR spectroscopy of a Pd(II) complex has shown that there is an efficient stereochemical control of the sulfur configuration upon coordination to the palladium.     

The synthesis and characterisation of novel o-substituted benzyldi-t-butylphosphine-boranes

The novel compounds o-(chloromethyl)benzyldi-t-butylphosphine-borane and o-(methoxymethyl)benzyldi-t-butylphosphine-borane have been synthesised in 54% and 51% yields, respectively, and have been fully characterised. An improved method for the synthesis of α-chloro-α′-methoxy-o-xylene is also reported.     

Development of novel LpxC inhibitors: chiral-pool synthesis of C-triazolyl glycosides

The Zn²⁺-dependent deacetylase LpxC plays an important role in the biosynthesis of the cell wall of Gram-negative bacteria and therefore represents an interesting target for the development of novel antibiotics. In a 10-step, chiral pool synthesis starting from d-mannose (3), a series of C-aryl furanosidic hydroxamic acids bearing a 1,4-disubstituted triazole ring in α-configuration at the furanose moiety was stereoselectively synthesized and tested for inhibitory activity against LpxC. The key step of the synthesis comprises a Cu(I) catalyzed Huisgen cycloaddition of terminal alkyne 10 with various azides to introduce diversity to the potential LpxC inhibitors. The X-ray crystal structure of the click product 11e proves the stereochemistry at the anomeric center and the substitution pattern of the triazole ring. The synthesized compounds did not inhibit LpxC.     

Stereoselective formal synthesis of aspergillide A

The stereoselective formal synthesis of aspergillide A (1), a cytotoxic 14-membered macrolide, is disclosed. The key intermediate, a trisubstituted tetrahydropyran core is prepared by SmI₂-induced intramolecular reductive cyclization as well as by using sequential α-aminooxylation, Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons olefination, and followed by Oxa-Michael cyclization. Other notable transformations in the synthesis include the use of Jacobsen’s hydrolytic kinetic resolution, esterification, ring-closing metathesis (RCM), and cross-metathesis (CM) reactions.     

Stereoselective total synthesis of (±)-7-deoxy-trans-dihydronarciclasine, a potent antineoplastic phenanthridone alkaloid

A short and efficient stereoselective total synthesis of (±)-7-deoxy-trans-dihydronarciclasine, a highly potent antineoplastic agent and constituent of the Amaryllidaceae alkaloids, is described. Starting from a known arylcyclohexylamine-type precursor 6, the C-ring with the required stereochemistry is constructed using a chemo- and stereoselective enone reduction (NaBH₄/CaCl₂ system) and a Mitsunobu reaction. For the B-ring closure, the Banwell modification of the Bischler-Napieralski reaction was applied.     

Facile and efficient synthesis of C2-symmetrical 1,3,5-triazine polycarboxylate ligands under microwave irradiation

A rapid and efficient method for preparation of C₂-symmetrical 1,3,5-triazine polycarboxylate ligands was developed. The reactions included either selective mono- or di-substitution of 2,4,6-trichloro-1,3,5-triazine with various nucleophiles containing carboxyl group(s), followed by nucleophilic displacement of the remained chloride(s) in aqueous media under microwave irradiation. Novel C₂-symmetrical tripodal ligands were afforded in good yields and purities under short reaction time with simple work-up, which are potentially useful as structural directing units in metal-organic frameworks.