A stereoselective entry into functionalized 1,2-diamines by zinc-mediated homologation of alpha-aminoacids

A general, stereoselective synthesis of 4,5-disubstituted imidazolidines-2-ones from alpha-aminoacids has been developed: the key steps are a Blaise reaction of bromoacetate on alpha-aminonitriles and further reduction. Although reduction with sodium cyanoborohydride afforded a mixture of cis and trans isomers 6a-e with moderate to good stereoselectivity, reduction with sodium in liquid ammonia gave the trans isomers 8a-e with complete stereoselectivity. Acidic hydrolysis of the urea gave 4-amino-pyrrolidinones, which can be precursors to beta,gamma-diaminoacids or 3-aminopyrrolidines.     

Routes to bicyclo [X.3.0] ring systems: stereoselective syntheses of cis and trans-8-methylhydrindans

Conjugate additions to 3-alkyl-2-methyl-1-acetylcyclopentenes via diethyl aluminum cyanide and via lithium divinylcuprate lead with good or essentially complete stereoselectivity, respectively, to cis 2-cyano-3-alkyl- and trans 2-vinyl-3-alkyl-1-acetyl-2methylcyclopentanes. The latter may be useful precursors of trans [X, 3, 0] bicyclic systems such as trans hydrindanes.     

Ethyl (benzothiazol-2-ylsulfonyl)acetate: a new reagent for the stereoselective synthesis of alpha,beta-unsaturated esters from aldehydes

The title reagent engaged in the modified Julia olefination with aldehydes under mild reaction conditions (DBU, CH(2)Cl(2), rt or -78 degrees C) to yield alpha,beta-unsaturated esters; aryl aldehydes and aliphatic aldehydes possessing significant chain branching elements gave trans alkene products with high stereoselectivity (E : Z up to >98 : 2), while straight chain aliphatic aldehydes gave cis products preferentially (Z : E up to 92 : 8).     

Intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions of ester linked 1,3,9-decatrienes: cis/trans selectivity in thermal and Lewis acid promoted reactions of ethylene-tethered and benzo-tethered systems

High cis (i.e., endo) diastereoselectivities are witnessed in heat-promoted intramolecular Diels-Alder (IMDA) reactions of ethylene-tethered hexadienyl acrylates. The cis stereoselectivity is improved by promotion with Et2AlCl. The first examples of Et2AlCl catalyzed intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions of ester-activated dienophiles are reported. In contrast, the corresponding benzo-tethered hexadienyl acrylates undergo moderately trans (i.e., exo) selective IMDA reactions. Very high trans stereoselection is obtained upon promotion with ATPH. The outcomes of these reactions are essentially insensitive to dienophile (C10) geometry and substitution. DFT (B3LYP/6-31+G(d)) computed cis/trans product distributions-based on Boltzmann transition structure populations-are in good agreement with the experimental results. These computational investigations provide useful insights into the origins of stereoselection in these systems. The stereoselectivity exhibited by the ethylene-tethered hexadienyl acrylates is ascribed to stabilizing secondary orbital interactions at play in the cis-transition structures (TSs). In the benzo-tethered series, this effect is overridden by stabilizing pi-conjugative interactions, between the benzo moiety and the 1,3-diene component, which are stronger in trans TSs, compared to the cis TSs. The computed TS geometries generally exhibit advanced peripheral bond forming asynchronicity, with the tether carbonyl group in conjugation with the dienophile. Such TS features significantly weaken the stereodirecting influence of terminal dienophile substituents.     

Highly stereoselective radical carbonylations of gem-dihalocyclopropane derivatives with CO

A couple of radical carbonylations of gem-dihalocyclopropanes 1 using CO and Bu3SnH (formylation) or Bu3Sn(CH2CH=CH2) (allylacylation) successfully proceeded to give trans and cis adducts (2 and 3) with good to excellent stereoselectivity (trans/cis = >99/1-75/25 or 17/83-1/99). The formylation of 2,3-cis-disubstituted 1,1-dihalocyclopropanes enhanced trans selectivity (trans/cis = >99/1-95/5), whereas both 2,3-cis-disubstituted and 2-monosubstituted 1,1-dihalocyclopropanes underwent allylacylation with nearly complete trans selectivity (trans/cis = >99/1). Inherently less reactive gem-dichloro- and bromochlorocyclopropanes than gem-dibromocyclopropanes served as favorable substrates. [reaction: see text].     

Stereoselectivity of the cyclooctene ring-opening polymerization

The stereoselectivity of the cyclooctene ring-opening polymerization in the presence of the tungsten hexachloride–tetraisobutylalumoxane (TBAO) catalyst system has been studied. The reaction conditions have been established in which the polymer chain isomerization is reduced to a minimum. Under these conditions the stereoselectivity is determined by an individual act of the monomer molecule insertion. The dependence of stereoselectivity on monomer concentration, number of active sites, and temperature has been investigated. The results obtained suggest that the cyclooctene polymerization is selective in favor of the geometrical configuration of the starting cycloolefin (the “retention” effect) by analogy with the previously reported metathesis of acyclic olefins. Considerations which support the idea that cis and trans units are reproduced by the same type of active sites are discussed. The experimental evidence indicates that in this case the stereoselectivity is determined by the difference in kinetics of two reaction paths of the monomer molecule insertion that lead to the formation of cis and trans units.     

Synthesis of enantiopure trans-3,4-disubstituted piperidines. An enantiodivergent synthesis of (+)- and (-)-paroxetine

Reaction of (R)-phenylglycinol with methyl 5-oxopentanoate gave either bicyclic lactam cis-1 (the kinetic product) or its isomer trans-1 (under equilibrating conditions) as the major products, which were converted to the corresponding (cis or trans) unsaturated lactams 4 and 5. On treatment with lithium alkyl (or aryl) cyanocuprates, these chiral building blocks undergo conjugate addition to give enantiopure trans-3,4-substituted 2-piperidone derivatives in high yield and stereoselectivity. The synthetic potential of this transformation is illustrated by the synthesis of (+)-femoxetine and the two enantiomers of the known antidepressant paroxetine.     

Entropy-controlled diastereoselectivity in the photocyclization of rigid derivatives of o-allylaniline

Two rigid derivatives of o-allylaniline, namely 8-allyl-2-phenyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline (1b) and 7-(trans-2-cinnamyl)-2-methylindoline (1c), have been chosen as suitable systems to study the potential stereoselectivity of the photocyclization process. Photolysis of 1b leads to a mixture of diastereomeric lilolidines 4 (trans/cis), while 1cproduces a mixture of 4 (trans/cis) and the tetrahydropyrrolo[3,2,1-hi]indole derivatives 5 (trans/cis). To disclose whether the diastereoselectivity could be entropy dependent, photolysis of 1b and 1c has been performed at several temperatures. In both cases, linear relationships have been observed when ln(k(t)/k(c)) (the relative reaction rate constants calculated from the diastereomeric excess) is plotted against the reciprocal temperatures. However, significant entropy-controlled diastereoselectivity has only been found for the photocyclization of 1c to 4. The fluorescence spectra of 1b,c show formation of intramolecular charge-transfer exciplexes, which is in agreement with the proposed excited-state electron-transfer mechanism for photocyclization.     

A micellar alignment effect in the photodimerizations of N-ω-carboxyalkyl-2-pyridones and their 4-alkyl derivatives in micelle or reversed micelle

The photoreaction of N-ω-carboxyalkyl-2-pyridones at 7.2–22.4mM concentrations in micellar and reversed micellar systems gave the ratio of cis to trans dimer increasing with decreasing length of the alkyl chain and in their 4-alkyl derivatives, only cis dimer was obtained.     

Origin of the relative stereoselectivity of the beta-lactam formation in the Staudinger reaction

The relative (cis, trans) stereoselectivity of the beta-lactam formation is one of the critical issues in the Staudinger reaction. Although many attempts have been made to explain and to predict the stereochemical outcomes, the origin of the stereoselectivity remains obscure. We are proposing a model that explains the relative stereoselectivity based on a kinetic analysis of the cis/trans ratios of reaction products. The results were derived from detailed Hammett analyses. Cyclic imines were employed to investigate the electronic effect of the ketene substituents, and it was found that the stereoselectivity could not be simply attributed to the torquoelectronic model. Based on our results, the origin of the relative stereoselectivity can be described as follows: (1) the stereoselectivity is generated as a result of the competition between the direct ring closure and the isomerization of the imine moiety in the zwitterionic intermediate; (2) the ring closure step is most likely an intramolecular nucleophilic addition of the enolate to the imine moiety, which is obviously affected by the electronic effect of the ketene and imine substituents; (3) electron-donating ketene substituents and electron-withdrawing imine substituents accelerate the direct ring closure, leading to a preference for cis-beta-lactam formation, while electron-withdrawing ketene substituents and electron-donating imine substituents slow the direct ring closure, leading to a preference for trans-beta-lactam formation; and (4) the electronic effect of the substituents on the isomerization is a minor factor in influencing the stereoselectivity.     

Addition of lithiated 5-hydroxymethyl-1,3-dithiane to benzaldehyde: HMPA-controlled trans stereoselectivity

Addition of 5-substituted dithianyl anions to carbonyl compounds normally produces trans adducts. The presence of a nucleophilic hydroxymethyl group in position 5 dramatically decreases the trans stereoselectivity of the reaction in THF. The trans/cis ratio shows a bell curve dependence on HMPA, fitted to a quantitative model involving a series of equilibrated ion pairs, of which an intermediate contact ion pair possessing three (effective) HMPA molecules yields the trans adduct with much higher stereoselectivity. [structure: see text]     

Stereoselective preparation of β,γ-methano-GABA derivatives

The Kulinkovich-de Meijere reaction between an unsaturated Grignard reagent and a chiral amide takes place with a high trans stereoselectivity and provides a convenient access to non-racemic trans cyclopropylamines. These compounds are transformed in four steps into the corresponding N-protected β,γ-methano-GABA derivatives, which are obtained for the first time in enantiomerically pure form. The corresponding transformations of the cis cyclopropylamine adducts are also described.     

Mn(III)-based oxidative free-radical cyclizations of substituted allyl alpha-methyl-beta-ketoesters: syntheses,DFT calculations,and mechanistic studies

The cyclizations of the substituted allyl alpha-methyl-beta-ketoester radicals 11, 14, and 18 were studied by the DFT method at the UB3LYP/6-31G level; the results show that the cis cyclization is easier than the corresponding trans cyclization, but the generated cis radicals are not necessarily more stable than the corresponding generated trans radicals after the cyclizations. The free-radical cyclizations of 11, 14, and 18 in the presence of Mn(OAc)(3) in acetic acid or acetonitrile are all reversible and operate under thermodynamic control, and stereoselectivity of the cyclizations depends on relative stability of the cyclization-generated radicals. Therefore, the oxidative free-radical cyclization of allyl alpha-methyl-beta-ketoester 5a with Mn(OAc)(3) gives a cis product as a major product, while the same oxidative free-radical cyclizations of substituted allyl alpha-methyl-beta-ketoesters 5b and 5c with Mn(OAc)(3) produce trans products as major products.     

A new regio- and stereoselective synthesis of β-enamino ketones with 3-ethoxycyclobutanones and substituted amines

A new method toward regio- and stereoselective synthesis of β-enamino ketones is described. Through Lewis acid-catalyzed reactions between 3-ethoxycyclobutanones and substituted amines, a variety of cis and trans β-enamino ketone derivatives were prepared with complete regio- and stereoselectivity at room temperature.     

Ligand-controlled, complementary stereoselectivity in the platinum-catalyzed intramolecular silaboration of alkenes

An intramolecular silaboration of borylsilanyl homoallyl ethers was achieved using a platinum catalyst, giving 1-oxa-2-silacyclopentanes in high yields. The stereoselectivity of the reactions of sec-homoallyl ethers strongly depended on the phosphorus ligand of the platinum catalysts used. The platinum complex bearing the PCyPh2 ligand was found to be the most trans-selective catalyst (trans/cis = 81:19-92:8), whereas a highly cis-selective cyclization was achieved using a platinum catalyst having tris(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl)phosphite ligand (trans/cis = 8:92-6:94). The synthetic utility of the intramolecular silaboration was demonstrated by the complementary synthesis of a pair of diastereomers of 6-methylheptane-1,3,5-triol.     

Synthesis, stereochemistry, and reactions of 2,5-diphenylsilacyclopentenes

1,1-Disubstituted derivatives of 2,5-diphenylsilacyclopent-3-enes, namely those having the 1,1-diphenyl, 1,1-dimethyl, 1-alkoxy-1-methyl and 1,1-dialkoxy, were prepared by a one-pot reaction of (1E, 3E)-1,4-diphenyl-1,3-butadiene and dichlorosilanes in the presence of magnesium. Each silacyclopentene was formed as a mixture of one trans and two cis isomers. 1-Ethoxy-1-methyl-2,5-diphenylsilacyclopent-3-ene and 1,1-diethoxy-2,5-diphenylsilacyclopent-3-ene were reacted with optically active alcohols to furnish the corresponding diastereomers. The absolute configuration of one of these diastereomers was determined by X-ray structure analysis. The mixture of cis and trans diastereomers was lithiated by lithium diisopropylamide (LDA) to obtain the trans forms selectively, with the stereoselectivity being determined by NOE experiments.     

Hydroxy-directed diastereoselective installation of a methyl group on indalone models and spiroketal potential precursors for the bafilomycin A(1) C15-C25 subunit

Current efforts devoted to the synthesis of Bafilomycin A(1) led us to investigate a synthetic route through a spiroketal intermediate for the construction of the C15-C25 subunit. Preliminary studies for the diastereoselective installation of the methyl-16 cis with respect to the vicinal OH-15 group through radical opening of either siloxafuran intermediate 7 or cyclopropyl compounds 9 and 13 have been carried out using model compounds derived from commercial Indalone 6. In each case the expected "cis" diastereoisomer was obtained in good to excellent yield. Application of these results to Bafilomycin A(1) synthon led to the opposite "trans" stereoselectivity when alpha-carboxy- or alpha-keto-substituted spiroketals 4 or 19 were used. However, the expected potential intermediate has been obtained from the alpha-hydroxymethyl cyclopropanated synthon 21. A Barton-Motherwell xanthate radical deoxygenation-cylopropane opening methodology, followed by a hydroboration-oxidation of the exovinylic intermediate, delivered the expected product 22cis in high yield and excellent stereoselectivity.     

Semiempirical calculations on the mechanism of stereoselective NaBH4 reduction of 2-methoxycarbonyl-2-allyl-cyclopentanone

The stereoselective mechanism of reduction of 2-methoxycarbonyl-2-allyl-cyclopentanone with BH₄⁻ was investigated with the AM1 method in the gas phase. Geometries of reactants, transition states, and products were obtained for the reactions conducting to both trans and cis alkoxides. The results suggest that the stereoselectivity is of steric origin. The effect of a chelating Zn²⁺ ion on the reaction stereoselectivity was analyzed.     

Oligometallic template strategy for ring-closing olefin metathesis: highly cis- and trans-selective synthesis of a 32-membered macrocyclic tetraoxime

An oligometallic template effect was observed on the cis/trans selectivity of a 32-membered macrocyclic tetraoxime in ring-closing olefin metathesis of an acyclic diallyl derivative H4L; the metathesis of heterotrinuclear complex LZn2M (M=Ca2+, La3+) afforded the cis isomer, whereas uncomplexed H4L gave the trans isomer.     

A new convergent and stereoselective synthesis of 2,5-disubstituted N-acylpyrrolidines

A new synthesis of 2,5-disubstituted N-acylpyrrolidines through an S_N2′ reaction promoted by the nitrogen anion of a secondary amide onto an allylic bromide is reported. A moderate stereoselectivity, in favour of the trans heterocycle, was observed during the cyclization of a chiral precursor, while a good stereoselectivity, this time in favour of the cis one, was obtained when the second stereocentre was introduced after the cyclization step to give the same product.