Copolymerization of 2-Hydroxy.(2,3-epoxypropoxy)benzophenone with Phthalanhydride Catalyzed by Tertiary Amine

The copolymerization of an epoxide, 2-hydroxy-4-(2,3-epoxy-propoxy)benzophenone, with cyclic anhydride catalyzed by tertiary amine in different solvents was studied. The copolymerization curves are sigmoidal in character with an induction period. In the region following the induction period, the loss in epoxide or anhydride may be correlated with the kinetic equation of the first order reaction provided the monomers are present in equimolar ratio or anhydride is in excess with respect to epoxide. The rate constant found experimentally after the induction period depends on the first power of the concentrations of amine, epoxide, and anhydride. The activation energy of copolymerization in o-xylene is 58.2 kJ/mole (13.9 kcal/mole) and log A = 3.6. The rate of copolymerization depends on polarity of the solvent and increases with dielectric constant. A reaction scheme has been proposed for the copolymerization of epoxides with cyclic anhydrides catalyzed by tertiary amines which involves the formation of a catalytic center of ionic character by isomerization of epoxide into a derivative of allyl alcohol and its subsequent interaction with tertiary amine and anhydride in equilibrium reactions, In this way, an active center of the carboxylic anion type is formed which reacts with epoxide to give alkoxide anion. This alkoxide anion reacts with anhydride to yield carboxylic anion. By interchange of these reactions, an alternating copolymer-polyester arises. The termination involves the decay of the active center into tertiary amine and carboxylic or hydroxylic endgroups. The kinetic solution of this scheme is in agreement with the experimental results of kinetic measurements and the rate of copolymerization is governed by the equation: -d[epoxide] /dt = k_p [amine] ₀ [epoxide]₀ [anhydride]₀ [epoxide].     

Synthesis of (-)-dysiherbaine

[reaction: see text] The first synthesis of (-)-dysiherbaine has been accomplished using intramolecular SN2 substitutions of a carbamate anion on an epoxide and an alkoxide on a secondary mesylate to efficiently construct the bicyclic skeleton stereospecifically from xylose. A general sequence has been developed to introduce an allyl group and convert it to the alanine side chain that should be useful for the construction of dysiherbaine analogues.     

Primary Anion–π Catalysis of Epoxide‐Opening Ether Cyclization into Rings of Different Sizes: Access to New Reactivity

The concept of anion–π catalysis focuses on the stabilization of anionic transition states on aromatic π surfaces. Recently, we demonstrated the occurrence of epoxide‐opening ether cyclizations on aromatic π surfaces. Although the reaction proceeded through unconventional mechanisms, the obtained products are the same as those from conventional Brønsted acid catalysis, and in agreement with the Baldwin selectivity rules. Different mechanisms, however, should ultimately lead to new products, a promise anion–π catalysis has been reluctant to live up to. Herein, we report non‐trivial reactions that work with anion–π catalysis, but not with Brønsted acids, under comparable conditions. Namely, we show that the anion–π templated autocatalysis and epoxide opening with alcoholate–π interactions can provide access to unconventional ring chemistry. For smaller rings, anion–π catalysis affords anti‐Baldwin oxolanes, 2‐oxabicyclo[3.3.0]octanes, and the expansion of Baldwin oxetanes by methyl migration. For larger rings, anion–π templated autocatalysis is thought to alleviate the entropic penalty of folding to enable disfavored anti‐Baldwin cyclizations into oxepanes and oxocanes.     

Expedited approach to the vitamin D trans-hydrindane building block from the Hajos dione. Comparative study on various methods for the selective deoxygenation of one of the hydroxy groups in a diol

1 alpha,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 (calcitriol, 1) is a bioregulator important for the treatment of various human metabolic diseases and biomedical research. Herein, we report an efficient diastereoselective approach to the key trans-hydrindane building block for calcitriol synthesis (2a) starting from the readily accessible optically active tetrahydroindenedione derivative (Hajos dione, 3). It was found that epoxide ring opening in a related hydroxy epoxide (7) with sodium cyanoborohydride-BF3 x Et2O occurs by hydride anion addition at the ring juncture position to produce a vicinal diol with the trans-hydrindane ring system (6a). Four methods for selective deoxygenation of the sterically less shielded hydroxy group in diol 6a were examined with an approach based on a cyclic sulfate of the diol as the most efficient and operationally convenient method.     

Diastereodivergent Hydroxyfluorination of Cyclic and Acyclic Allylic Amines: Synthesis of 4-Deoxy-4-fluorophytosphingosines

A diastereodivergent hydroxyfluorination protocol enabling the direct conversion of some conformationally biased allylic amines to the corresponding diastereoisomeric amino fluorohydrins has been developed. Sequential treatment of a conformationally biased allylic amine with 2 equiv of HBF(4)·OEt(2) followed by m-CPBA promotes epoxidation of the olefin on the face proximal to the amino group under hydrogen-bonded direction from the in situ formed ammonium ion. Regioselective and stereospecific epoxide ring-opening by transfer of fluoride from a BF(4)(-) ion (an S(N)2-type process at the carbon atom distal to the ammonium moiety) then occurs in situ to give the corresponding amino fluorohydrin. Alternatively, an analogous reaction using 20 equiv of HBF(4)·OEt(2) results in preferential epoxidation of the opposite face of the olefin, which is followed by regioselective and stereospecific epoxide ring-opening by transfer of fluoride from a BF(4)(-) ion (an S(N)2-type process at the carbon atom distal to the ammonium moiety). The synthetic utility of this methodology is demonstrated via its application to a synthesis of 4-deoxy-4-fluoro-l-xylo-phytosphingosine and 4-deoxy-4-fluoro-l-lyxo-phytosphingosine, each in five steps from Garner's aldehyde.     

An approach to eriolanin. Synthesis of α-methylene lactones of trans-1,3-dihydroxycyclohexanes

A new synthesis of α-methylene lactones is discussed which incorporates an intramolecular epoxide opening with a vinyl anion.     

Total synthesis of pumiliotoxins 209F and 251D via late-stage, nickel-catalyzed epoxide-alkyne reductive cyclization

Pumiliotoxins 209F and 251D were synthesized using highly selective nickel-catalyzed epoxide-alkyne reductive cyclizations as the final step. The exocyclic (Z)-alkene found in the majority of the pumiliotoxins was formed stereospecifically and regioselectively, without the use of a directing group on the alkyne, and the epoxide underwent ring opening exclusively at the less hindered carbon to provide the requisite tertiary alcohol. The epoxides were prepared using diastereoselective addition of a sulfoxonium anion to a proline-derived methyl ketone.     

Tandem base-promoted ring-opening/Brook rearrangement/allylic alkylation of O-silyl cyanohydrins of beta-silyl-alpha,beta-epoxyaldehyde: scope and mechanism

Metalated O-silyl cyanohydrins of beta-silyl-alpha,beta-epoxyaldehyde have been found to serve as functionalized homoenolate equivalents by a tandem sequence involving base-promoted ring opening of the epoxide, Brook rearrangement, and alkylation of the resulting allylic anion. On the basis of mechanistic studies involving competitive experiments using the diastereomeric cyanohydrins, we propose a reaction pathway involving a silicate intermediate 36 formed by a concerted process via an anti-opening of the epoxide followed by the formation of an O-Si bond.     

Primary Anion–π Catalysis of Epoxide-Opening Ether Cyclization into Rings of Different Sizes: Access to New Reactivity

The concept of anion–π catalysis focuses on the stabilization of anionic transition states on aromatic π surfaces. Recently, we demonstrated the occurrence of epoxide-opening ether cyclizations on aromatic π surfaces. Although the reaction proceeded through unconventional mechanisms, the obtained products are the same as those from conventional Brønsted acid catalysis, and in agreement with the Baldwin selectivity rules. Different mechanisms, however, should ultimately lead to new products, a promise anion–π catalysis has been reluctant to live up to. Herein, we report non-trivial reactions that work with anion–π catalysis, but not with Brønsted acids, under comparable conditions. Namely, we show that the anion–π templated autocatalysis and epoxide opening with alcoholate–π interactions can provide access to unconventional ring chemistry. For smaller rings, anion–π catalysis affords anti-Baldwin oxolanes, 2-oxabicyclo[3.3.0]octanes, and the expansion of Baldwin oxetanes by methyl migration. For larger rings, anion–π templated autocatalysis is thought to alleviate the entropic penalty of folding to enable disfavored anti-Baldwin cyclizations into oxepanes and oxocanes.     

Synthesis of tedanolide and 13-deoxytedanolide. Assembly of a common C(1)-C(11) subtarget

[formula: see text] In this Letter we describe a synthetic strategy and an efficient assembly of a common C(1)-C(11) subtarget, (-)-3, for (+)-tedanolide (1) and (+)-13-deoxytedanolide (2), architecturally complex marine macrolides displaying potent antitumor activity. Key elements of the synthesis include two iterations of the Evans aldol protocol to construct the C(1)-C(6) moiety and a stereocontrolled vinyl anion addition to generate the C(8,9) trisubstituted olefin incorporating stereogenicity at C(7). Alkylation with a model epoxide demonstrates that (-)-3 is a competent dithiane for further elaboration of the macrolide skeleton.     

Chromium(III) octaethylporphyrinato tetracarbonylcobaltate: a highly active, selective, and versatile catalyst for epoxide carbonylation

The development of a highly active and selective porphyrin-based epoxide carbonylation catalyst, [(OEP)Cr(THF)2][Co(CO)4] (1; OEP = octaethylporphyrinato; THF = tetrahydrofuran), is detailed. Complex 1 is a separated ion pair composed of a tetracarbonylcobaltate anion and an octahedral chromium porphyrin complex axially ligated by two THF ligands. Regarding the carbonylation of epoxides to beta-lactones, catalyst 1 exhibits excellent turnover numbers (up to 10,000) and turnover frequencies (up to 1670 h(-1)), with regioselective carbonyl insertion occurring between the oxygen and the sterically less hindered carbon of the epoxide substrate. Complex 1 is highly tolerant of nonprotic functional groups, carbonylating an array of aliphatic and cycloaliphatic epoxides, as well as epoxides with pendant ethers, esters, and amides. With careful control of reaction conditions in the carbonylation of glycidyl esters, the exclusive production of either the beta- or gamma-lactone isomer was achieved. Through analysis of reaction stereochemistry, a mechanism for the formation of gamma-lactone products was proposed. Overall, a broad array of synthetically useful lactones has been synthesized in a rapid and selective fashion by catalytic carbonylation using [(OEP)Cr(THF)2][Co(CO)4].     

Asymmetric [2,3]-Wittig rearrangement induced by a chiral carbanion whose chirality was transferred from an epoxide

[reaction: see text] The enantioselective [2,3]-Wittig rearrangement of 1-allyloxy-1-(naphthalen-2-yl)-4-siloxy-2,4-pentadienyl anion, derived from optically enriched 4,5-epoxy-1-(naphthalen-2-yl)-5-silyl-2-pentenyl allyl ether via a base-induced ring opening of the epoxide followed by Brook rearrangement, has been studied. The chirality of the epoxide was transferred to the alcohols in up to 97% ee, depending on the solvent used. The best result was obtained in 1,4-dioxane at a temperature above room temperature.     

Stereoselective synthesis of pachastrissamine (jaspine B)

A stereoselective synthesis in enantiopure form of the natural anhydrophytosphingosine pachastrissamine (jaspine B), a metabolite isolated from sponges, is described. The chiral epoxide (R)-glycidol was the starting material. Key steps of this synthesis are a Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation, an intramolecular stereospecific epoxide opening mediated by a trichloroacetimidate group, and the formation of a tetrahydrofuran ring via intramolecular nucleophilic displacement.     

H2TPP organocatalysis in mild and highly regioselective ring opening of epoxides to halo alcohols by means of halogen elements

We found that elemental iodine and bromine are converted to trihalide nucleophiles (triiodine and tribromide anion, respectively) in the presence of catalytic amounts of meso-tetraphenylporphyrins (H2TPP). Therefore a highly regioselective method for the synthesis of beta-haloalcohols through direct ring opening of epoxides with elemental iodine and bromine in the presence of H2TPPs as new catalysts is described. At room temperature a series of epoxide derivatives were converted into the corresponding halohydrins resulting from an attack of trihalide species anion atoms at the less substituted carbon atom. This method occurs under neutral and mild conditions with high yields in various aprotic solvents, even when sensitive functional groups are present.     

The reactivity, as electrogenerated bases, of chiral and achiral phenazine radical-anions, including application in asymmetric deprotonation

Radical-anions, electrochemically generated in aprotic solvent from C(2) symmetric homochiral phenazine derivatives, act as chiral electrogenerated bases (EGBs) in the desymmetrisation by selective deprotonation of a prochiral epoxide (3,4-epoxy-2,3,4,5-tetrahydrothiophene-1,1-dioxide); the anion produced is trapped by mesitoic anhydride. The phenazines may be recovered in high yield by air oxidation. Enantiomeric excesses are modest (8-34%) but this is to our knowledge the first demonstration of such stereoselective electrochemically-initiated deprotonation. The reactivity of phenazine radical-anions as EGBs has also been explored by measurements of the rates of proton transfer; the prochiral epoxide was found to have a kinetic acidity similar to that of the methyltriphenylphosphonium cation.     

Hydrogen bonding incis-2,3-epoxycyclooctanol

Hydrogen bonding and the electron-withdrawing or electron-donating characteristics of substituent groups that are neighboring to epoxide groups can affect the reactivity of the epoxide ring. The crystal structure ofcis-2,3-epoxycyclooctanol has been determined as a saturated eight-membered ring compound in which a hydroxyl group is attached to the C(1) atom that is adjacent to a 2,3-fused epoxy ring. The findings are that the longer epoxide C-O bond (and hence the one expected to be more readily broken) is the one farther from the hydroxyl group [1.462(1) å versus 1.447(1) å] and that the optimal hydrogen bonding is to an adjacent molecule radier than within the molecule. The shortest C-C bond is that of the epoxide group; the bond adjacent to it (on the side farther from the hydroxyl group) is the next shortest.     

The Synthesis and Reactions of Yomogi Alcohol. Conversion of the artemisyl skeleton to the santolinyl skeleton by a 1,2-shift of a vinyl group. Synthesis of santolinatriene

The synthesis of yomogi alcohol (2, 5, 5-trimethylhepta-3,6-dien-2-ol, 2 ) is described, and experiments directed towards its allylic rearrangement to artemisia alcohol detervatives have been carried out. Acidic reagents open the ring of yomogi alcohol epoxide ( 16 ) at with participation of the 6,7-double-bond, a shift of the vinyl group results to yield a compound with the santolinyl skeleton. The same reagents are without effect when this double bond reduced. Action of butyllithium of the benzaldehyde acetal ( 41 ) of 2, 5-dimethyl-4-vinyl-2, dihydroxy-hex-5-ene ( 28 ), obtained by acid-catalyzed ring opening of yomogi alcohol epoxide in the presence of benzaldehyde, leads to santolinatriene ( 42 ). This vinyl shift is not observed in the case of O-acetyl yomogi alcohol epoxide ( 46 ), from white a compound believed to be an oxetan 48 (R ? COCH₃) is formed with concomitent shift of the acetate group. Further unusual reactions of the oxetan are described, and some observation about the epoxidation of sterically hindered allyl alcohols and their acetates are made.     

The interaction of the nitrate anion with cytochrome c peroxidase: a 15N-NMR study

The interaction of the nitrate anion with cytochrome c peroxidase has been demonstrated by using 15N-NMR spectroscopy. The results indicate that the nitrate anion binds to the protein in a specific binding site and are consistent with the hypothesis of an interaction of this small anion in the active cavity of the enzyme, possibly in the proximity of the distal histidine and the distal arginine.     

Stereoselective acyclic ketone reduction: Synthesis of the synthons having three consecutive chiral centers

Four possible diastereomers of a functionalized 1,3-dimethyl-2-hydroxy unit were synthesized based on the stereoselective reduction of various acyclic ketones (i.e. reduction of β-keto ester, β-hydroxy ketone, α-hydroxy ketone, and α-silyloxy ketone) and the regioselective ring opening of epoxide by 1,3-dithiane anion.     

Mild,fast, and stereoselective epoxide opening by ketone enolate anions. Application to synthesis of the norlignan curculigine

We report here that (1) enolate anions of five- to seven-membered cycloalkanones nucleophilically open cyclopentene and cyclohexene oxides in 57-76% yields and with 4-8:1 diastereoselectivity; (2) enolate anions formed regiospecifically via kinetic deprotonation of 2-cyclohexenone and 2-cycloheptenone open cyclohexene oxide in 60-62% yields and with 32-95:1 diastereoselectivity; and (3) an aryl methyl ketone enolate anion opens a monosubstituted epoxide as the key step in a short synthesis of the gamma-hydroxyketone (GHK) aglycon of the natural product curculigine.