Catalytic Enantioselective Chlorination and Bromination of β‐Keto Esters

The Ti(TADDOLato) complexes dichloro[(4R,5R)‐2,2‐dimethyl‐α,α,α′,α′‐tetraphenyl‐1,3‐dioxolane‐4,5‐dimethanolato(2−)‐O,O′]titanium ((R)‐ 1a ) and dichloro[(4R,5R)‐2,2‐dimethyl‐α,α,α′,α′‐tetra(naphthalen‐1‐yl)‐1,3‐dioxolane‐4,5‐dimethanolato(2−)‐O,O′]titanium ((R)‐ 1b ) are efficient catalysts for the electrophilic enantioselective chlorination and bromination of β‐keto esters with N‐chlorosuccinimide (NCS) and N‐bromosuccinimide (NBS), respectively. With 5 mol‐% of catalyst at room temperature an enantioselectivity of up to 88% ee could be obtained for the chlorination reaction. Under comparable conditions, bromination reactions are slower and less stereoselective.     

Relative Electrophilic Fluorinating Power as Assayed by Competitive Catalytic Halogenation Reactions

Catalytic fluorination/chlorination competition experiments of β‐keto ester 5 were used to assess the relative fluorinating activity of various electrophilic N? F reagents (containing an N? F bond). Thus, in the halogenation reactions catalyzed by the [Ti(TADDOLato)] complex 1 (=bis(acetonitrile)dichloro[(4R,5R)‐2,2‐dimethyl‐α,α,α′,α′‐tetra(naphthalen‐1‐yl)‐1,3‐dioxolane‐4,5‐dimethanolato(2?)‐κO,κO′]titanium), the activity range of a series of commercially available reagents spans more than two orders of magnitude. Selectfluor^TM (=1‐(chloromethyl)‐4‐fluoro‐1,4‐diazoniabicyclo[2.2.2]octane bis(tetrafluoroborate); 9 ; also called F‐TEDA; TEDA=triethylenediamine) reacts more than 100 times faster than 1‐fluoropyridinium tetrafluoroborate.     

Titanium Lewis Acids for Asymmetric Catalysis: Synthesis and Structural Characterization of Dichloro[diolato(2−)‐κO,κO′]bis(solvent)titanium ([TiCl2(diolato)(solvent)2]) Complexes

The complexes [TiCl₂{(R,R)‐TADDOLato}(DME)]⋅MeCN ( 3 ), and [TiCl₂{(R,R)‐1‐Nph‐TADDOLato}(MeCN)₂]⋅CH₂Cl₂ ( 4b ) (DME=1,2‐dimethoxyethane; (R,R)‐TADDOLato=(4R,5R)‐2,2‐dimethyl‐α,α,α′,α′‐tetraphenyl‐1,3‐dioxolane‐4,5‐dimethanolato(2−)‐κO,κO′; (R,R)‐1‐Nph‐TADDOLato=(4R,5R)‐2,2‐dimethyl‐α,α,α′,α′‐tetra(naphthalen‐1‐yl)‐1,3‐dioxolane‐4,5‐dimethanolato(2−)‐κO,κO′) were prepared and isolated in high yield as stable crystalline materials (Scheme 1). They constitute ideally suited and easy‐to‐handle catalyst precursors for a large number of Ti‐catalyzed asymmetric reactions, for which they have been previously generated in situ. The X‐ray crystal structures of 3 and 4b show a distorted octahedral geometry around Ti with the chloro ligands in mutual trans positions (Figs. 5 and 6). The new chiral diols α‐(1S,3R)‐3‐hydroxy‐2,2,3‐trimethylcyclopentyl]‐α‐phenylbenzenemethanol ( 13a ), derived from camphoric acid ( 5 ), and (M)‐6,6′‐dimethyl‐α,α,α′,α′‐tetraphenyl[1,1′‐biphenyl]‐2,2′‐dimethanol ( 15 ) were prepared (Schemes 3 and 4). These new ligands are able to form mononuclear complexes with the Ti^IVCl₂ fragment. The corresponding complex 14 derived from 13a was characterized by X‐ray as a mixed THF/MeCN adduct.     

Asymmetric Synthesis and Configurational Stability of C2‐Symmetric Hexacoordinated Phosphate Anions (TARPHATs) with Predetermined Chirality from Tartrate Esters

C₂‐Symmetric TARPHAT anions 5 made of a central P^V atom, one tartrato (=dialkyl 2,3‐di(hydroxy‐κO)butanedioato(2−)), and two tetrachloropyrocatecholato (=3,4,5,6‐tetrachlorobenzene‐1,2‐diolato(2−)‐κO,κO′) ligands can be easily prepared in decent to high yields (50–86%) as their dimethylammonium salt by using a one‐pot process and simple commercially available starting materials. The presence of the chiral tartrato ligands (usually (2R,3R)) leads to the formation of diastereoisomeric anions ((Δ,2R,3R)/(Λ,2R,3R)). Decent to good control by the chiral ligands – under equilibration conditions – over the Λ or Δ configuration of the adducts was observed (d.r. 84 : 16 in CHCl₃ for the di(tert‐butyl) tartrate derivative), the selectivity depending on the nature of the ester chains as well as on the solvent.     

Stereoselective Reduction of `Capsanthol‐3′‐ones' (=3,6′‐Dihydroxy‐β,κ‐caroten‐3′‐ones) by Complex Hydrides

The (3R,5′R,6′R)‐ and (3R,5′R,6′S)‐capsanthol‐3′‐one (=3,6′‐dihydroxy‐β,κ‐caroten‐3′‐one; 4 and 5 , resp.) were reduced by different complex metal hydrides containing organic ligands. The ratio of the thus obtained diastereoisomeric (3′S)‐capsanthols 2 and 3 or (3′R)‐capsanthols 6 and 7 , respectively, was investigated. Four complex hydrides showed remarkable stereoselectivity and produced the (3′R,6′S)‐capsanthol ( 6 ) in 80 – 100% (see Table 1). The starting materials and the products were characterized by UV/VIS, CD, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR, and mass spectra.     

Synthesis,Structure, and Polymerization Activity of a Titanium Complex with a Chelating [(Hydroxy‐κO)amino‐κN]phenolato(2−)‐κO Ligand

A novel titanium complex with a chelating nitroxide ligand, dichloro‐2‐{[(hydroxy‐κO)phenylamino‐κN)phenylmethyl}phenolato(2?)‐2κO}(tetrahydrofuran)titanium ( 1 ), was synthesized and characterized by NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and single‐crystal X‐ray crystallography. In the presence of methylaluminoxane (MAO), 1 displayed moderate activity for the polymerization of propylene.     

A Case Study on the Resolution of the 1‐i‐Butyl‐3‐methyl‐3‐phospholene 1‐Oxide via Diastereomeric Complex Formation Using TADDOL Derivatives and via Diastereomeric Coordination Complexes Formed from the Calcium Salts of O,O′‐Diaroyl‐(2R,3R)‐tartaric Acids

The resolution of 1‐i‐butyl‐3‐methyl‐3‐phospholene 1‐oxide was studied applying TADDOL [(−)‐(4R,5R)‐4,5‐bis(diphenylhydroxymethyl)‐2,2‐dimethyldioxolane], spiro‐TADDOL [(−)‐(2R,3R)‐α,α,α′,α′‐tetraphenyl‐1,4‐dioxaspiro[4.5]decan‐2,3‐dimethanol], or the acidic and neutral Ca²⁺ salts of (−)‐O,O′‐dibenzoyl‐ and (−)‐O,O′‐di‐p‐toluoyl‐(2R,3R)‐tartaric acid as the resolving agent. The absolute configuration of the P‐asymmetric center was determined by circular dichroism spectroscopy and related quantum chemical calculations. In one instance, the single crystal of the diastereomeric complex incorporating i‐butyl‐3‐phospholene oxide and spiro‐TADDOL was subjected to X‐ray analysis, which suggested a feasible hypothesis for the efficiency of the resolution process under discussion that may be an example for the “solvent‐inhibited” resolution.     

Two centrosymmetric dinuclear phenanthroline–copper(II) complexes with 3,5‐dichloro‐2‐hydroxybenzoic acid and 5‐chloro‐2‐hydroxybenzoic acid

The title compounds, bis(μ‐3,5‐dichloro‐2‐oxidobenzoato)‐κ³O¹,O²:O²;κ³O²:O¹,O²‐bis[(3,5‐dichloro‐2‐hydroxybenzoic acid‐κO¹)(1,10‐phenanthroline‐κ²N,N′)copper(II)], [Cu₂(C₇H₂Cl₂O₃)₂(C₇H₄Cl₂O₃)₂(C₁₂H₈N₂)₂], (I), and bis(μ‐5‐chloro‐2‐oxidobenzoato)‐κ³O¹,O²:O¹;κ³O¹:O¹,O²‐bis[(5‐chloro‐2‐hydroxybenzoic acid‐κO¹)(1,10‐phenanthroline‐κ²N,N′)copper(II)] ethanol monosolvate, [Cu₂(C₇H₃ClO₃)₂(C₇H₅ClO₃)₂(C₁₂H₈N₂)₂]·C₂H₆O, (II), contain centrosymmetric dinuclear complex molecules in which Cu²⁺ cations are surrounded by a chelating 1,10‐phenanthroline ligand, a chelating 3,5‐dichloro‐2‐oxidobenzoate or 5‐chloro‐2‐oxidobenzoate anionic ligand and a monodentate 3,5‐dichloro‐2‐hydroxybenzoic acid or 5‐chloro‐2‐hydroxybenzoic acid ligand. The chelating benzoate ligand also bridges to the other Cu²⁺ ion in the molecule, but the O atom involved in the bridge is different in the two complexes, being the phenolate O atom in (I) and a carboxylate O atom in (II). The bridge completes a 4+1+1 axially elongated tetragonal–bipyramidal arrangement about each Cu²⁺ cation. The complex molecules of both compounds are linked into one‐dimensional supramolecular chains through O—H...O hydrogen bonds.     

Chloro(η6‐p‐cymene)(phosphoramidite)ruthenium(II), a 16‐Electron Fragment Stabilized by an η2‐Aryl–Metal Interaction,and Its Use in Asymmetric Cyclopropanation

Chloride abstraction from the half‐sandwich complexes [RuCl₂(η⁶‐p‐cymene)(P*‐κP)] ( 2a : P* = (S_a,R,R)‐ 1a = (1S_a)‐[1,1′‐binaphthalene]‐2,2′‐diyl bis[(1R)‐1‐phenylethyl)]phosphoramidite; 2b : P* = (S_a,R,R)‐ 1b = (1S_a)‐[1,1′‐binaphthalene]‐2,2′‐diyl bis[(1R)‐(1‐(1‐naphthalen‐1‐yl)ethyl]phosphoramidite) with (Et₃O)[PF₆] or Tl[PF₆] gives the cationic, 18‐electron complexes dichloro(η⁶‐p‐cymene){(1S_a)‐[1,1′‐binaphthalene]‐2,2′‐diyl {(1R)‐1‐[(1,2‐η)‐phenyl]ethyl}[(1R)‐1‐phenylethyl]phosphoramidite‐κP}ruthenium(II) hexafluorophosphate ( 3a ) and [Ru(S)]‐dichloro(η⁶‐p‐cymene){(1S_a)‐[1,1′‐binaphthalene]‐2,2′‐diyl {(1R)‐1‐[(1,2‐η)‐naphthalen‐1‐yl]ethyl}[(1R)‐1‐(naphthalen‐1‐yl)ethyl]phosphoramidite‐κP)ruthenium(II) hexafluorophosphate ( 3b ), which feature the η²‐coordination of one aryl substituent of the phosphoramidite ligand, as indicated by ¹H‐, ¹³C‐, and ³¹P‐NMR spectroscopy and confirmed by an X‐ray study of 3b . Additionally, the dissociation of p‐cymene from 2a and 3a gives dichloro{(1S_a)‐[1,1′‐binaphthalene]‐2,2′‐diyl [(1R)‐(1‐(η⁶‐phenyl)ethyl][(1R)‐1‐phenylethyl]phosphoramidite‐κP)ruthenium(II) ( 4a ) and di‐μ‐chlorobis{(1S_a)‐[1,1′‐binaphthalene]‐2,2′‐diyl [(1R)‐1‐(η⁶‐phenyl)ethyl][(1R)‐1‐phenylethyl]phosphoramidite‐κP}diruthenium(II) bis(hexafluorophosphate) ( 5a ), respectively, in which one phenyl group of the N‐substituents is η⁶‐coordinated to the Ru‐center. Complexes 3a and 3b catalyze the asymmetric cyclopropanation of α‐methylstyrene with ethyl diazoacetate with up to 86 and 87% ee for the cis‐ and the trans‐isomers, respectively.     

Synthesis,Cytotoxicity and Antibacterial Studies of Novel Symmetrically and Nonsymmetrically 4‐(Methoxycarbonyl)benzyl‐Substituted N‐Heterocyclic Carbene–Silver Acetate Complexes

From the reaction of 1H‐imidazole ( 1a ), 4,5‐dichloro‐1H‐imidazole ( 1b ), 1H‐benzimidazole ( 1c ), 1‐methyl‐1H‐imidazole ( 1d ), and 1‐methyl‐1H‐benzimidazole ( 1f ) with methyl 4‐(bromomethyl)benzoate ( 2 ), symmetrically and nonsymmetrically 4‐(methoxycarbonyl)benzyl‐substituted N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) precursors, 3a – 3f , were synthesized. These NHC precursors were then reacted with silver(I) acetate (AgOAc) to yield the NHC–silver acetate complexes (acetato‐κO){1,3‐bis[4‐(methoxycarbonyl)benzyl]imidazol‐2‐ylidene}silver ( 4a ), (acetato‐κO){4,5‐dichloro‐1,3‐bis[4‐(methoxycarbonyl)benzyl]‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐imidazol‐2‐yl}silver ( 4b ), (acetato‐κO){1,3‐bis[4‐(methoxycarbonyl)benzyl]‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐benzimidazol‐2‐yl}silver ( 4c ), (acetato‐κO){1‐[4‐(methoxycarbonyl)benzyl]‐3‐methyl‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐imidazol‐2‐yl}silver ( 4d ), (acetato‐κO){4,5‐dichloro‐1‐[4‐(methoxycarbonyl)benzyl]‐3‐methyl‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐imidazol‐2‐yl}silver ( 4e ), and (acetato‐κO){1‐[4‐(methoxycarbonyl)benzyl]‐3‐methyl‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐benzimidazol‐2‐yl}silver ( 4f ), respectively. The three NHC–AgOAc complexes 4a, 4c , and 4d were characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. All compounds studied in this work were preliminarily screened for their antimicrobial activities in vitro against Gram‐positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, and Gram‐negative bacteria Escherichia coli using the qualitative disk‐diffusion method. All NHC–AgOAc complexes exhibited weak‐to‐medium antibacterial activity with areas of clearance ranging from 4 to 7 mm at the highest amount used, while the NHC precursors showed significantly lower activity. In addition, NHC–AgOAc complexes 4a and 4b , and 4d – 4f exhibited in preliminary cytotoxicity tests on the human renal‐cancer cell line Caki‐1 medium‐to‐high cytotoxicities with IC₅₀ values ranging from 3.3±0.4 to 68.3±1 μM .     

X‐Ray Structure Study of an Unusual 13,14,15,16‐Tetranorlabdane Derivative Obtained in the Synthesis of (7α)‐7,8‐Dihydroxy‐14,15‐dinorlabdane‐11,13‐dione

The unconventional (5S,7R,8S,9R,10S)‐configurated (?)‐7‐(acetyloxy)‐12,12‐dichloro‐8‐hydroxy‐13,14,15,16‐tetranorlabdan‐11‐one ( 2 ) was synthesized via the HCl‐promoted hydrolysis of (7α)‐7,8‐(isopropylidenedioxy)‐14,15‐dinorlabdan‐11,13‐dione ( 5 ). Possible mechanistic pathways of the reaction are considered. Crystal and molecular structures of the isolated compound 2 were determined by single‐crystal X‐ray structure analysis.     

Hydrolysis products of diorganotin dihalides. I. Bis[1,3‐dihydroxo‐1,1,3,3‐tetrakis(2‐methyl‐2‐phenylpropyl)­distannoxane]

In the solid state, the title compound, di‐μ‐hydroxo‐1:2κ²O;‐3:4κ²O‐dihydroxo‐1κO,4κO‐octakis(2‐methyl‐2‐phenyl­propyl)‐1κ²C,2κ²C,3κ²C,4κ²C‐di‐μ₃‐oxo‐1:2:3κ³O;2:3:4κ³O‐tetratin(IV), [Sn₄O₂(OH)₄(C₁₀H₁₃)₈], forms centrosymmetric dimeric [(Neophyl₂SnOH)(Neophyl₂SnOH)O]₂ mol­ecules (Neophyl = 2‐methyl‐2‐phenylpropyl), with an almost planar Sn–O framework that adopts a ladder‐type structure consisting of three four‐membered rings. The hydroxyl groups are shielded by the organic groups, which prevent them from further condensation and from the formation of hydrogen bonds.     

Analogues of α‐Campholenal (= (1R)‐2,2,3‐Trimethylcyclopent‐3‐ene‐1‐acetaldehyde) as Building Blocks for (+)‐β‐Necrodol (= (1S,3S)‐2,2,3‐Trimethyl‐4‐methylenecyclopentanemethanol) and Sandalwood‐like Alcohols

To complete our panorama in structure–activity relationships (SARs) of sandalwood‐like alcohols derived from analogues of α‐campholenal (= (1R)‐2,2,3‐trimethylcyclopent‐3‐ene‐1‐acetaldehyde), we isomerized the epoxy‐isopropyl‐apopinene (?)‐ 2d to the corresponding unreported α‐campholenal analogue (+)‐ 4d (Scheme 1). Derived from the known 3‐demethyl‐α‐campholenal (+)‐ 4a , we prepared the saturated analogue (+)‐ 5a by hydrogenation, while the heterocyclic aldehyde (+)‐ 5b was obtained via a Bayer‐Villiger reaction from the known methyl ketone (+)‐ 6 . Oxidative hydroboration of the known α‐campholenal acetal (?)‐ 8b allowed, after subsequent oxidation of alcohol (+)‐ 9b to ketone (+)‐ 10 , and appropriate alkyl Grignard reaction, access to the 3,4‐disubstituted analogues (+)‐ 4f,g following dehydration and deprotection. (Scheme 2). Epoxidation of either (+)‐ 4b or its methyl ketone (+)‐ 4h , afforded stereoselectively the trans‐epoxy derivatives 11a,b , while the minor cis‐stereoisomer (+)‐ 12a was isolated by chromatography (trans/cis of the epoxy moiety relative to the C₂ or C₃ side chain). Alternatively, the corresponding trans‐epoxy alcohol or acetate 13a,b was obtained either by reduction/esterification from trans‐epoxy aldehyde (+)‐ 11a or by stereoselective epoxidation of the α‐campholenol (+)‐ 15a or of its acetate (?)‐ 15b , respectively. Their cis‐analogues were prepared starting from (+)‐ 12a . Either (+)‐ 4h or (?)‐ 11b , was submitted to a Bayer‐Villiger oxidation to afford acetate (?)‐ 16a . Since isomerizations of (?)‐ 16 lead preferentially to β‐campholene isomers, we followed a known procedure for the isomerization of (?)‐epoxyverbenone (?)‐ 2e to the norcampholenal analogue (+)‐ 19a . Reduction and subsequent protection afforded the silyl ether (?)‐ 19c , which was stereoselectively hydroborated under oxidative condition to afford the secondary alcohol (+)‐ 20c . Further oxidation and epimerization furnished the trans‐ketone (?)‐ 17a , a known intermediate of either (+)‐β‐necrodol (= (+)‐(1S,3S)‐2,2,3‐trimethyl‐4‐methylenecyclopentanemethanol; 17c ) or (+)‐(Z)‐lancifolol (= (1S,3R,4Z)‐2,2,3‐trimethyl‐4‐(4‐methylpent‐3‐enylidene)cyclopentanemethanol). Finally, hydrogenation of (+)‐ 4b gave the saturated cis‐aldehyde (+)‐ 21 , readily reduced to its corresponding alcohol (+)‐ 22a . Similarly, hydrogenation of β‐campholenol (= 2,3,3‐trimethylcyclopent‐1‐ene‐1‐ethanol) gave access via the cis‐alcohol rac‐ 23a , to the cis‐aldehyde rac‐ 24 .     

Bis­(di‐μ‐acetato‐aqua{2‐[N‐ethyl‐N‐(2‐hydroxy‐4‐methyl­benzyl)­amino­methyl]‐1‐methyl­benz­imid­az­ole}­nickel)­nickel(II) tetra­hy­drate

The previously unknown title compound, tetra‐μ‐ace­tato‐1:2κ²O;1:2κ²O:O′;­2:3κ²O;­2:3κ²O:O′‐di­aqua‐1κO,3κO‐bis­(μ‐2‐{[N‐ethyl‐N‐(2‐hy­droxy‐5‐methylbenzyl)­am­ino]­methyl}‐1‐methyl‐1H‐benz­imid­az­ole)‐1κ³N³,N,O:2κO;3κ³N³,N,O:2κO‐tri­nickel(II) tetra­hy­drate, [Ni₃(C₁₈H₂₂N₃O)₂(C₂H₃O₂)₄(H₂O)₂]·­4H₂O, (I), is a centrosymmetric linear trinuclear nickel(II) complex, where the Ni atoms are in an octahedral coordination and the ligand heteroatoms act so as to model amino acid residues.     

Two (+)‐α,4‐dimethyl‐2‐oxocyclo­hexaneacetic acids: hydrogen bonding in a terpenoid γ‐keto acid and in a diastereomeric lactol

The (+)‐(αS,1S,4R)‐diastereomer of the title structure, C₁₀H₁₆O₃, aggregates in the solid as non‐symmetric dimers with disorder in both carboxyl groups [O·O = 2.710 (5) and 2.638 (5) Å]. The two mol­ecules constituting the asymmetric unit pair around a pseudo‐twofold rotational axis and differ only slightly in their distances and angles, but one methyl group displays rotational disorder absent in the other mol­ecule. Five inter­molecular C—H·O close contacts exist, involving both ketone groups. The (+)‐(αR,1R,4R)‐diastereomer exists in the crystal in its closed‐ring lactol form, (3R,3aR,6R,7aR)‐2,3,3a,4,5,6,7,7a‐octa­hydro‐7a‐hydroxy‐3,6‐dimethyl­benzo[b]furan‐2‐one, C₁₀H₁₆O₃, and aggregates as hydrogen‐bonded catemers that extend from the hydroxyl group of one mol­ecule to the carbonyl group of a neighbor screw‐related along b [O·O = 2.830 (3) Å and O—H·O = 169°]. One close inter­molecular C—H·O contact exists involving the carbonyl group.     

Bis[μ3‐cis‐N‐(2‐aminopropyl)‐N′‐(2‐carboxylatophenyl)oxamidato(3–)]bis(2,2′‐bipyridine)dichloridotetracopper(II) dihydrate

The title complex, bis[μ₃‐cis‐N‐(2‐aminopropyl)‐N′‐(2‐carboxylatophenyl)oxamidato(3−)]‐1:2:4κ⁷N,N′,N′′,O:O′,O′′:O′′′;2:3:4κ⁷O′′′:N,N′,N′′,O:O′,O′′‐bis(2,2′‐bipyridine)‐2κ²N,N′;4κ²N,N′‐dichlorido‐1κCl,3κCl‐tetracopper(II) dihydrate, [Cu₄(C₁₂H₁₂N₃O₄)₂Cl₂(C₁₀H₈N₂)₂]·2H₂O, consists of a neutral cyclic tetracopper(II) system having an embedded centre of inversion and two solvent water molecules. The coordination of each Cu^II atom is square‐pyramidal. The separations of Cu^II atoms bridged by cis‐N‐(2‐aminopropyl)‐N′‐(2‐carboxylatophenyl)oxamidate(3−) and carboxyl groups are 5.2096 (4) and 5.1961 (5) Å, respectively. A three‐dimensional supramolecular structure involving hydrogen bonding and aromatic stacking is observed.     

Highly Enantioselective Protonation of the 3,4‐Dihydro‐2‐ methylnaphthalen‐1(2H)‐one Li‐Enolate by TADDOLs

A series of nine TADDOLs (=α,α,α′,α′‐tetraaryl‐1,3‐dioxolane‐4,5‐dimethanols) 1a – 1i , have been tested as proton sources for the enantioselective protonation of the Li‐enolate of 2‐methyl‐1‐tetralone (=3,4‐dihydro‐2‐methylnaphthalen‐1(2H)‐one). The enolate was generated directly from the ketone (with LiN(i‐Pr)₂ (LDA)/MeLi) or from the enol acetate (with 2 MeLi) or from the silyl enol ether (with MeLi) in CH₂Cl₂ or Et₂O as the solvent (Scheme). The Li‐enolate (associated with LiBr/LDA, or LiBr alone) was combined with 1.5 – 3.0 equiv. of the TADDOL at −78° by addition of the latter or by inverse addition. 2‐Methyl‐1‐tetralone of (S)‐configuration is formed (≤80% yield) with up to 99.5% selectivity if and only if (R,R)‐TADDOLs ( 1d , e , g ) with naphthalen‐1‐yl groups on the diarylmethanol unit are employed (Table). The reactions were carried out on the 0.1‐ to 1.0‐mM scale. The selectivity is subject to non‐linear effects (NLE) when an enantiomerically enriched TADDOL 1d is used (Fig. 1). The performance of TADDOLs bearing naphthalen‐1‐yl groups is discussed in terms of their peculiar structures (Fig. 2).     

Designed Beta‐Turn Mimic Based on the Allylic‐Strain Concept: Evaluation of Structural and Biological Features by Incorporation into a Cyclic RGD Peptide (Cyclo(‐L‐arginylglycyl‐L‐α‐aspartyl‐))

The (3R,5S,6E,8S,10R)‐11‐amino‐3,5,8,10‐tetramethylundec‐6‐enoic acid (ATUA; 1 ), which was designed as a βII′‐turn mimic according to the concepts of allylic strain and 2,4‐dimethylpentane units, was incorporated into a cyclic RGD peptide. The three‐dimensional structure of cyclo(‐RGD‐ATUA‐) (=cyclo(‐Arg‐Gly‐Asp‐ATUA‐)) 4 in H₂O was determined by NMR techniques, distance geometry calculations and molecular‐dynamics simulations. The RGD sequence of 4 shows high conformational flexibility but some preference for an extended conformation. The structural features of the RGD sequence of 4 were compared with the RGD moiety of cyclo(‐RGDfV‐) (=cyclo(‐Arg‐Gly‐Asp‐D ‐Phe‐Val‐)). In contrast to cyclo(‐RGDfV‐), which is a highly active αvβ3 antagonist and selective against αIIbβ3, cyclo(‐RGD‐ATUA‐) shows a lower activity and selectivity. The structure of the ATUA residue in the cyclic peptide resembles a βII′‐turn‐like conformation. Its middle part, adjacent to the C?C bond, strongly prefers the designed and desired structure.     

Synthesis and α‐Mannosidase Inhibitory Evaluation of (2R,3R,4S)‐ and (2S,3R,4S)‐2‐(Aminomethyl)pyrrolidine‐3,4‐diol Derivatives

The synthesis of 46 derivatives of (2R,3R,4S)‐2‐(aminomethyl)pyrrolidine‐3,4‐diol is reported (Scheme 1 and Fig. 3), and their inhibitory activities toward α‐mannosidases from jack bean (B) and almonds (A) are evaluated (Table). The most‐potent inhibitors are (2R,3R,4S)‐2‐{[([1,1′‐biphenyl]‐4‐ylmethyl)amino]methyl}pyrrolidine‐3,4‐diol ( 3fs ; IC₅₀(B)=5 μM , K_i=2.5 μM ) and (2R,3R,4S)‐2‐{[(1R)‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐inden‐1‐ylamino]methyl}pyrrolidine‐3,4‐diol ( 3fu ; IC₅₀(B)=17 μM , K_i=2.3 μM ). (2S,3R,4S)‐2‐(Aminomethyl)pyrrolidine‐3,4‐diol ( 6 , R?H) and the three 2‐(N‐alkylamino)methyl derivatives 6fh, 6fs , and 6f are prepared (Scheme 2) and found to inhibit also α‐mannosidases from jack bean and almonds (Table). The best inhibitor of these series is (2S,3R,4S)‐2‐{[(2‐thienylmethyl)amino]methyl}pyrrolidine‐3,4‐diol ( 6o ; IC₅₀(B)=105 μM , K_i=40 μM ). As expected (see Fig. 4), diamines 3 with the configuration of α‐D ‐mannosides are better inhibitors of α‐mannosidases than their stereoisomers 6 with the configuration of β‐D ‐mannosides. The results show that an aromatic ring (benzyl, [1,1′‐biphenyl]‐4‐yl, 2‐thienyl) is essential for good inhibitory activity. If the C‐chain that separates the aromatic system from the 2‐(aminomethyl) substituent is longer than a methano group, the inhibitory activity decreases significantly (see Fig. 7). This study shows also that α‐mannosidases from jack bean and from almonds do not recognize substrate mimics that are bulky around the O‐glycosidic bond of the corresponding α‐D ‐mannopyranosides. These observations should be very useful in the design of better α‐mannosidase inhibitors.     

A heterotrimetallic Cu–Co–Zn complex with the 2,2′‐iminodiethanol ligand

The crystal structure of the title compound, triacetato‐1κO;3κ⁴O,O′‐(2,2′‐imino­diethanol)‐1κ³O,N,O′‐bis­(μ‐2,2′‐iminodi­ethanol­ato)‐1κ²O:2κ⁶O,N,O′:3κ²O′‐cobalt(III)copper(II)zinc(II), [CoCuZn(C₄H₉NO₂)₂(C₂H₃O₂)₃(C₄H₁₁NO₂)], shows a mol­ecule with a triangular three‐metal core. The metal sites were refined with full occupancies, but the possibility that the Zn and Cu positions are actually mixed Cu/Zn sites cannot be excluded. The inter­metallic Cu⋯Co and Co⋯Zn distances are 2.924 (3) and 2.906 (3) Å, respectively. The neutral mol­ecules are held together by N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds involving amine groups from the 2,2′‐iminodiethanol ligands and acetate groups to build two‐dimensional layers.