Direct observation of aziridinium ions in a 2-(N,N-dibenzylamino)- to 1-(N,N-dibenzylamino)phosphonate rearrangement

Aziridinium mesylates stable in the reaction medium for several hours to over a week were observed in a rearrangement of dimethyl (1R,2S)-2-(N,N-dibenzylamino)-1-mesyloxyethylphosphonates substituted at C2 with Bn, i-Pr and t-Bu to the respective 1-(N,N-dibenzylamino)-2-mesyloxyethylphosphonates. Rates of formation of these aziridinium mesylates and rates of their reactions with poorly nucleophilic mesylate anion were governed by steric and electronic factors. The conformation of (2S,3S)-1,1-dibenzyl-2-(tert-butyl)-3-(dimethoxyphosphoryl)aziridinium mesylate in solution was established based on ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopic studies including a NOESY experiment.     

Determination of the absolute configuration of an unexpectedly stable N-silylated isomer isolated en route to the trinem antibiotic GV129606

The unexpected (3S,4R)-3-[(R)-1-(hydroxy)ethyl]-4-[(2′R,6′S)-1′-oxo-2′-(N-benzyloxy-N-methyl)aminocyclohexen-6′-yl]-1-(t-butyl-dimethylsilyl)azetidin-2-one was one of the main reaction products of the Lewis acid catalysed condensation of (3S,4R)-3-[(R)-1-(t-butyl-dimethylsilyloxy)ethyl]-4-acetoxyazetidin-2-one with 1-trimethylsilyloxy-6-(N-benzyloxycarbonyl-N-methylamino)cyclohexene. Its absolute configuration was established by NMR experiments on the corresponding, conformationally rigid, acetonide derivative.     

Asymmetric synthesis of anti-diastereoisomers of β-heterocycle substituted (S)-α-aminobutyric acids

A new efficient method for the asymmetric synthesis of β-heterocycle substituted (2S,3S)-α-aminobutyric acids through the diastereoselective addition of 5-thioxo-4-allyl-1,2,4-triazoles, containing various substituents at the 3-position, to the CC double bond of (E)- and (Z)-dehydroaminobutyric acid in the Ni^II complexes of their Schiff base with chiral auxiliaries (S)-N-(2-benzoylphenyl)-1-benzylpyrrolidine-2-carboxamide [(S)-BPB], (S)-N-(2-benzoylphenyl)-1-(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)pyrrolidine-2-carboxamide [(S)-3,4-DCBPB], (S)-N-(2-benzoylphenyl)-1-(3,4-dimethylbenzyl)pyrrolidine-2-carboxamide [(S)-3,4-DMBPB], and (S)-N-(2-benzoylphenyl)-1-(2-chlorobenzyl)pyrrolidine-2-carboxamide [(S)-2-CBPB] has been elaborated upon. The nucleophilic addition proceeds with high diastereoselectivity with a preferential formation of (S,S,S)-diastereoisomers. After decomposition of a mixture of diastereomeric complexes, optically active β-heterocycle substituted (2S,3S)-α-aminobutyric acids with high diastereomeric purity (de >98%) were isolated.     

Practical and highly stereoselective method for the preparation of several chiral arylsulfinamides and arylsulfinates based on the spontaneous crystallization of diastereomerically pure N-benzyl-N-(1-phenylethyl)-arylsulfinamides

A novel and simple process for the preparation of enantiomerically pure (S_S)-benzenesulfinamide (S_S)-3a, (S_S)-p-toluenesulfinamide (S_S)-3b, (S_S)-p-chloro-benzenesulfinamide (S_S)-3c and (S_S)-p-fluorobenzenesulfinamide (S_S)-3d has been developed. The treatment of arylsulfinyl chlorides with (R)-N-benzyl-1-phenylethanamine in the presence of excess triethylamine gave diastereomeric mixtures of N-benzyl-N-(1-phenylethyl)-arylsulfinamides 1, which underwent spontaneous crystallization to furnish diastereomerically pure (R,S_S)-N-benzyl-N-(1-phenylethyl)-arylsulfinamides (R,S_S)-1a-1d in 28%, 29%, 27% and 31% yields, respectively. The diastereomerically pure compounds (R,S_S)-1 were then converted into four enantiopure (R_S)-methyl arylsulfinates (R_S)-2, and finally into four enantiopure (S_S)-arylsulfinamides (S_S)-3 in good yields.     

Concise,efficient and highly selective asymmetric synthesis of (+)-(3S,4R)-cisapride

A concise asymmetric synthesis of the gastroprokinetic agent (+)-(3S,4R)-cisapride {(+)-(3S,4R)-N(1)-[3′-(4″-fluorophenoxy)propyl]-3-methoxy-4-(2″′-methoxy-4″′-amino-5″′-chlorobenzamido)piperidine} from commercially available starting materials has been developed. The key step of this synthesis employs the diastereoselective conjugate addition of lithium (R)-N-benzyl-N-(α-methylbenzyl)amide to tert-butyl 5-[N-3′-(4″-fluorophenoxy)propyl-N-allylamino]pent-2-enoate and in situ enolate oxidation with (?)-camphorsulfonyloxaziridine to set the (3S,4R)-configuration found within the piperidine ring of the product. This synthesis proceeds in 9 steps from commercially available 1-(4′-fluorophenoxy)-3-bromopropane with an overall yield of 19%.     

Synthesis of some new tertiary amines and their application as co-catalysts in combination with l-proline in enantioselective Baylis-Hillman reaction between o-nitrobenzaldehyde and methyl vinyl ketone

A chiral benzodiazepine derivative 1 was synthesized starting from o-nitrobenzoyl chloride and methyl l-prolinate hydrochloride. Diastereomeric (1R,2R,1′S)-(+)-2-[N-methyl-N-(α-phenylethyl)amino]cyclohexanol 3a and (1S,2S,1′S)-(+)-2-[N-methyl-N-(α-phenylethyl)amino]cyclohexanol 3b were synthesized starting from (S)-α-phenylethylamine and cyclohexene oxide via ring-opening, diastereomer separation and N-methylation. (S,S)-octahydrodipyrrolo[1,2-a:1′,2′-d]pyrazin 5 was synthesized from methyl l-prolinate. Chiral tertiary amines 1, 3a, 3b and 5 almost cannot catalyze the Baylis-Hillman reaction between o-nitrobenzaldehyde and methyl vinyl ketone (MVK). However, they functioned as efficient catalysts for this reaction in the presence of l-proline. The corresponding adducts were obtained in good yields with enantioselectivity of 83% ee, 81% ee, 51% ee and 66% ee, respectively.     

The influence of substituents (R) at the C carbon on bonding properties of thiosemicarbazones {RC(H)N-NH–C(S)–NH2} in palladium(II) complexes

Reactions of the trans-PdCl₂(PPh₃)₂ precursor with furan-2-carbaldehyde thiosemicarbazone (Hftsc) and thiophene-2-carbaldehyde thiosemicarbazone (Httsc), in 1:1 molar ratios in the presence of Et₃N base, removed one Cl and one PPh₃ group from the Pd^II center, and yielded the complexes [Pd(η²-N³,S-ftsc)(PPh₃)Cl] (1) and [Pd(η²-N³,S-ttsc)(PPh₃)Cl] (2), respectively. However, when a 1:2 molar ratio (M:L) was used, both Cl and PPh₃ ligands were removed, yielding the complexes trans-[Pd(η²-N³,S-ftsc)₂] (3) and trans-[Pd(η²-N³,S-ttsc)₂] (4). Complexes 1–4 have been characterized with the help of analytical data, spectroscopic techniques (IR, ¹H and ³¹P NMR) and single crystal X-ray crystallography. The thiosemicarbazone ligands behave as uninegative N³,S-chelating ligands in complexes 1–4. In contrast, pyrrole-2-carbaldehyde thiosemicarbazone (H₂ptsc) and salicylaldehyde thiosemicarbazone (H₂stsc) invariably formed the complexes [Pd(η³-N⁴,N³,S-ptsc)(PPh₃)] (5) and [Pd(η³–O, N³,S-stsc)(PPh₃)] (6), respectively, and the ligands acted as binegative tridentate donors (N⁴, N³, S, 5; O, N³, S, 6).     

A new strategy for the synthesis of hydroxylated pyrrolizidinic alkaloids by highly stereoselective indium-mediated allylation of pyrrolidinic aldehydes

Indium-mediated allylation of N-Cbz-l-prolinal 3, under Grignard conditions, was carried out with high yield and stereoselectivity (de = 90%) to afford intermediate (2S,1′R)-N-benzyloxycarbonyl-2-(1′-hydroxybut-3′-en-1′-yl)pyrrolidine 4, which was transformed in two steps into (1R,3R,7aS)-1-hydroxy-3-hydroxymethylpyrrolizidine 9. Commercial Cbz-l-proline was a source of functionalization and chirality.     

Synthesis of both syn and anti diastereoisomers of Boc-dolaproine from (S)-proline through DKR using ruthenium-catalyzed hydrogenation: a dramatic role of N-protecting groups

The natural (2R,3R)-Boc-dolaproine and its unnatural (2S,3S) diastereoisomer were synthesized involving as key transformation the Ru(II)-promoted hydrogenation of the β-keto-α-methyl ester derived from (S)-N-Boc-proline. Interestingly, the asymmetric hydrogenation of this β-keto ester N-protected as an amine hydrochloride salt, provided the corresponding anti (2S,3R)- and (2R,3S)-β-hydroxy-α-methyl esters with significant level of selectivities through dynamic kinetic resolution.     

The stereocontrolled synthesis of polyfunctional organosulfur compounds via chiral azetidinium salts and epoxyamines

The stereocontrolled synthesis of functionalized organosulfur compounds of a general formula: Bn₂NCH(CH₃)CH(OH)CH₂SX [where: X = SO₃Na or SP(S)(OR)₂] was achieved by a regioselective opening of enantiomerically >98% pure (2S,3R)- and (2S,3S)-N,N-dibenzyl-2-hydroxy-3-methylazetidinium bromides and/or (1R)-[1′(S)-dibenzylamino)ethyl]oxiranes with thiosulfate and dithiophosphate anions. The attack of both nucleophiles was directed exclusively at the less substituted carbon atom of the heterocyclic ring.     

A mild and efficient cyanosilylation of ketones catalyzed by a Lewis acid-Lewis base bifunctional catalyst

A new family of bifunctional catalysts (N-oxides-Ti(OⁱPr)₄ (2:1)) containing a Lewis acid and a Lewis base was developed and applied to the catalytic cyanosilylation of ketones. Utilizing rac((1R,2S) and (1S,2R))-1-(2′-pyridylmethyl)-2-diphenylhydroxymethylpyrrolidine N-oxide-titanium (2:1) complex and N-benzyl-diethanolamine N-oxide-titanium (2:1) complex as catalysts, the cyanosilylation products were obtained in 42-97% yield. Based on experimental phenomena and kinetic studies, a catalytic cycle was proposed to explain the remarkable activities of these catalysts. Investigations indicated that rac((1R,2S) and (1S,2R))-1-(2′-pyridylmethyl)-2-diphenylhydroxymethylpyrrolidine N-oxide-titanium (2:1) complex and N-benzyl-diethanolamine N-oxide-titanium (2:1) complex should promote the reaction via a dual activation of the ketone by the titanium and TMSCN by the N-oxide.     

Stereoselective synthesis,solution structure and metal complexes of (1S,2S)-2-amino-1-hydroxyalkylphosphonic acids

The highly stereoselective synthesis of (1S,2S)-2-amino-1-hydroxyalkylphosphonic acids was achieved by addition of dimethyl phosphite to N-protected aminoaldehydes. Relative configuration and solution conformations of (1S,2S)-2-amino-1-hydroxy-alkylphosphonic acids (in D₂O) and their dimethyl esters (in CDCl₃ and CD₃OD) were established by means of NMR basing on the dependence between observed values of coupling constants (³J_HH, ³J_PC, ³J_HP) and corresponding dihedral angles. Potentiometric and spectroscopic methods were used for the evaluation of the structure of the complexes of (1S,2S)-2-amino-1-hydroxy-alkylphosphonic acids with Zn(II) and Cu(II) ions in aqueous solutions.     

Asymmetric hydrogenation of (E)-α,β-bis(N-acylamino)acrylates catalyzed by a rhodium complex with trans-chelating chiral diphosphine ligand

The asymmetric hydrogenation of (E)-α,β-bis(N-acylamino)acrylates was promoted by a rhodium complex bearing a trans-chelating chiral diphosphine ligand (R,R)-(S,S)-PrTRAP, providing the corresponding optically active (2S,3R)-2,3-bis(N-acylamino)carboxylates with 79–82% ee. The 2,3-bis(N-acylamino)carboxylates isolated were readily hydrolyzed under acid to afford (2S,3R)-2,3-diaminocarboxylic acids in 95% yield without epimerization.     

Synthesis and crystal structures of the first C2-symmetric bis-aldimine NCN-pincer complexes of platinum and palladium

(S,S)-2,6-bis[(N-α-methylbenzyl)imino]phenylpalladium bromide was synthesised by oxidative addition of palladium(0) to (S,S)-1-bromo-2,6-bis[(N-α-methylbenzyl)imino]benzene. In contrast, (S,S)-2,6-bis[(N-α-methylbenzyl)imino]phenylplatinum chloride was synthesised by direct C-H activation from the reaction of potassium tetrachloroplatinate with (S,S)-1,3-bis[(N-α-methylbenzyl)imino]benzene. The X-ray crystal structures of both pincer complexes were obtained. Treatment of both complexes with silver hexafluoroanimonate gave effective but not stereoselective catalysts for a Michael reaction between methyl vinyl ketone and methyl 2-cyanopropanoate.     

Stereoselective radical cyclizations of N-(2-halobenzoyl)-cyclic ketene-N,X(X=O, S)-acetals

2-Alkyloxazolines and 2-alkylthiazolines react with 2-halobenzoyl chlorides to form N-(2-halobenzoyl)-cyclic ketene-N,O-acetals and N-(2-halobenzoyl)-cyclic ketene-N,S-acetals in excellent yields, respectively. These ketene acetals readily undergo stereocontrolled aryl radical cyclizations to afford the central six-membered rings of substituted-2,3,10,10α-tetrahydrooxazolo[3,2-b]isoquinolin-5-ones and their 2,3,10,10α-tetrahydrothiazolo[3,2-b]isoquinolin-5-one analogs. The tertiary N,O- and N,S-radicals formed upon aryl radical reaction at the ketene-N,X(X=O, S)-acetal double bond appear to have reasonable stability. The stereoselectivity in hydrogen abstractions by these intermediate radicals from both Bu₃SnH and (Me₃Si)₃SiH was investigated. The N,S-heterocyclic fused ring products may have potential medical value.     

Electroreductive five- and six-membered cyclization of aromatic β- and γ-imino esters derived from (S)-aspartic acid and (S)-glutamic acid

The electroreduction of aromatic β-dimethylcarbamoyl-β-imino esters, prepared from (S)-aspartic acid, in the presence of chlorotrimethylsilane gave five-membered cyclized products, 1-benzoyl-4-hydroxy-5-aryl-N,N-dimethylpyrrolidine-2-carboxamides and 5-(dimethylcarbamoyl)-2-aryl-1H-pyrrol-3-yl benzoates, depending on the post-treatment after the electroreduction. The electroreduction of aromatic γ-dialkylcarbamoyl-γ-imino and γ-methoxylmethyl-γ-imino esters, prepared from (S)-glutamic acid, and following transformation gave six-membered cyclized products, 1-benzoyl-5-hydroxy-N,N-dialkyl-6-phenylpiperidine-2-carboxamides and 3-hydroxy-6-(methoxymethyl)-2-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)(phenyl)methanones, respectively.     

Unexpected course of rearrangement of substituted S-(1(3H)-isobenzofuranone-3-yl)isothiuronium bromides

Three series of S-(1(3H)-isobenzofuranone-3-yl)isothiuronium bromides differing in substitution at the isothiuronium moiety (none, one or two methyl groups) and at the benzene ring were prepared and characterized. These salts were then treated with various bases (acetate, triethylamine, Na₂CO₃) to give either 1-hydroxy-3-oxo-1,3-dihydro-2H-isoindol-2-carbothioamides or the product of S to N isobenzofuranone-3-yl migration, i.e., 1,3-dimethyl-1-(3-oxo-1,3-dihydro-2-benzofuran-1-yl)thioureas. If ammonia was used in reaction with N,N′-dimethyl isothiuronium salts then 3-hydroxy-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-1-ones were formed together with 1,3-dimethyl-1-(3-oxo-1,3-dihydro-2-benzofuran-1-yl)thioureas in parallel reaction with the yields increasing with ammonia concentration. The formation of isoindolones takes place in two steps with an aldehyde intermediate, which can be trapped with N,N-dimethylhydrazine.     

Stereoselective synthesis of azasugars by electrochemical oxidation

A new method using electrochemical oxidation has been exploited for the stereoselective synthesis of 2,3,6-trihydroxylated 5S-piperidine derivatives. The electrochemical method was successively used for the conversion of N-protected piperidines to N-protected 1-methoxypiperidines and for the conversion of 1-methoxy-2,3-didehydropiperidine derivatives to 1,2,3-triacetoxypiperidine derivatives. The method provided a new synthetic route to 2S,3S,6-triacetoxy-5S-methylpiperidine and 2R,3R,6-triacetoxy-5S-methylpiperidine.     

A facile,one-pot synthesis of Ephedra-based aziridines

A series of enantiomerically and diastereomerically enriched N-sulfonylaziridines have been prepared by a single-pot process from (1R,2S)- and (1S,2R)-norephedrine and (1S,2S)-pseudonorephedrine. The cyclization process involved N-sulfonylation of the Ephedra alkaloid followed by O-sulfonylation with methanesulfonyl chloride. The bis(sulfonyl)Ephedra derivatives were treated with either hydrazine or sodium hydroxide to afford the N-sulfonylaziridines.     

First enantioselective synthesis of the novel antiinfective TAN-1057A via its aminomethyl-substituted dihydropyrimidinone heterocycle

Enantiomerically pure N²-Z-N²-MeAsnOH [(S)-14], prepared in 8 steps (23% overall yield) from asparaginic acid, was first subjected to a Hofmann degradation with PhI(OCOCF₃)₂ yielding (S)-N²-Z-N²-methyl-2,3-diaminopropanoic acid [N²-Z-N²-Me-L-A₂pr, (S)-15], and this in turn was protected to give N²-Z-N³-Boc-N²-Me-L-A₂pr [(S)-17]. Condensation of (S)-17 with HNC(SMe)NHCONH₂ followed by removal of the tert-butoxycarbonyl protecting group, cyclization and hydrogenolytic removal of the Z-group gave the heterocycle of TAN-1057A [(S)-1] with an e.e. of 87 in 36% yield [from (S)-14]. Coupling of (S)-1 with (S)-tris-Z-β-homoarginine (20a) in the presence of O-(7-azabenzotriazol-1-yl)-N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate (HATU) and iPr₂NEt in N,N-dimethylacetamide followed by hydrogenolysis afforded the most active A-diastereomer of the natural antibiotic TAN-1057 in 52% yield (from (S)-1 and 20a). Similarly, starting from (S)-1, a single diastereomer of the potent, less toxic TAN-1057A analogue 22b with a β-lysine side chain has been prepared. All described synthetic steps do not require column chromatography for purification of the products.