Asymmetric synthesis of acyclic 1,3-amino alcohols by reduction of N-sulfinyl beta-amino ketones. Formal synthesis of (-)-pinidinol and (+)- epipinidinol

Stereoselective reduction of acyclic N-sulfinyl beta-amino ketones with (LiEt(3)BH) and Li(t-BuO)(3)AlH, respectively, gave anti- and syn-1,3-amino alcohols with excellent selectivity. A formal asymmetric synthesis of the hydroxy piperidine alkaloids (-)-pinidinol and (+)-epipinidinol from a common N-sulfinyl beta-amino ketone ketal precursor was developed. The pinidinol piperidine ring was formed via a novel acid-catalyzed cascade reaction of a N-sulfinylamino silyl protected alcohol ketal.     

Asymmetric synthesis of syn- and anti-1,3-amino alcohols

The first application of metalloenamines derived from N-sulfinyl imines is reported for the highly diastereoselective addition to aldehydes. Reduction of the beta-hydroxy-N-sulfinyl imine products with catecholborane and LiBHEt3 provides syn- and anti-1,3-amino alcohol derivatives, respectively, with very high diastereomeric ratios.     

Asymmetric synthesis of anti-α-substituted β-amino ketones from sulfinimines

Previously unknown, enantiopure, β-amino ketones were prepared in modest yield by addition of lithium reagents to N-sulfinyl anti-α-substituted β-amino Weinreb amides. Grignard reagents failed to add to these Weinreb amides in contrast to the syn-α-substituted isomers which did. The anti-α-substituted β-amino Weinreb amides were prepared by addition of LiN(OMe)Me to the corresponding N-sulfinyl anti-α-substituted β-amino esters because α-alkylation of N-sulfinyl β-amino Weinreb amide enolates resulted in poor diastereoselectivities.     

Catalytic 1,3-difunctionalisation of organic backbones through a highly stereoselective, one-pot, boron conjugate-addition/reduction/oxidation process

A simple one-pot, three-step synthetic route to chiral 1,3-amino alcohols and 1,3-diols has been established. Considering the overall stereocontrol of the synthetic protocol, the first and key step is an enantioselective β-boration of α,β-unsaturated imines and ketones, respectively. The enantioselectivity provided by the Cu(I) catalyst modified with Josiphos- and Mandyphos-type ligands has been examined. The oxidative substitution of the boryl unit with a hydroxyl group proceeds with complete retention of configuration at the C(β)-atom. In parallel, the stoichiometric reduction of the imino or carbonyl group provides a second stereogenic centre. Depending on the nature of the reducing reagent, exceptionally high diastereoselectivity is achieved, especially for syn-1,3-amino alcohols and 1,3-diols.     

Synthesis and applications of masked oxo-sulfinamides in asymmetric synthesis

This short perspective reports on the synthesis and applications of a class of chiral amino carbonyl compounds, masked oxo-sulfinamides where the amine is protected with an N-sulfinyl moiety and the carbonyl group is protected as the ketal or 1,3-dithiane. These polyfunctionalized chiral building blocks are prepared by addition of organometallic reagents to masked oxo-sulfinimines (N-sulfinyl imines) or the addition of oxo-organometallic reagents and lithio-1,3-dithianes to sulfinimines. Because unmasking of the amino and carbonyl groups results in cyclic imines, these chiral building blocks are particularly useful for the asymmetric synthesis of functionalized nitrogen heterocycles, including prolines, pipecolic acids, pyrrolidines, homotropinones, tropinones, and tropane alkaloids such as cocaine and C-1 cocaine analogues.     

Highly stereoselective benzylation of N-sulfinylketimines

The benzylation of N-sulfinyl ketimines with 2-(p-tolylsulfinyl)ethylbenzene and LDA afford t-alkylamines in good yields. The configuration at each one of the new chiral centers simultaneously created in this reaction is controlled by the configuration of the sulfinyl groups at the nucleophile and electrophile, respectively. Thus, the reactions of the (S)-sulfoxide 6 with the N-(S)-sulfinylketimines 3 only yield the anti diastereoisomers 18, whereas the syn diastereoisomers 19 are exclusively formed in reactions of (S)-6 with N-(R)-sulfinylketimines 3. After a two-step desulfinylation process ((i) TFA, (ii) Ra-Ni), this reaction provides a procedure for synthesizing any epimer of alpha,alpha-dibranched beta-alkylarylamines in optically pure form by choosing the configuration of the starting materials. A similar behavior is observed for carbanions derived from the O-protected 2-(p-tolylsulfinyl) benzyl alcohol 7 thus allowing the synthesis of the optically pure anti- and syn-1,2-amino alcohols containing a chiral quaternary carbon adjacent to the nitrogen.     

Regio- and stereospecific syntheses of syn- and anti-1,2-imidazolylpropylamines from the reaction of 1,1'-carbonyldiimidazole with syn- and anti-1,2-amino alcohols

The regio- and stereospecific conversion of syn- and anti-1,2-amino alcohols to their respective syn- and anti-1,2-imidazolylpropylamines via treatment with 1,1'-carbonyldiimidazole is described. The rationale behind the regio- and stereospecific nature as well as the generality of the reaction is discussed.     

Concise asymmetric synthesis of (+)-CP-99,994 and (+)-L-733,060 via efficient construction of homochiral syn-1,2-diamines and syn-1,2-amino alcohols

An efficient asymmetric synthesis of human NK-1 SP receptor antagonists (+)-CP-99,994 and (+)-L-733,060 was achieved starting from a common chiral intermediate (5). Our route featured the SmI2-induced reductive coupling of N-tert-butanesulfinyl imine (7) with aldehyde (6) as the key step as well as pivotal transformations of the anti-1,2-amino alcohol thus obtained to homochiral syn-1,2-amino alcohol and syn-1,2-diamine for the asymmetric synthesis of 2,3-disubstituted piperidines.     

Stereoselective synthesis of 1,2-disubstituted beta-amino alcohols by nucleophilic addition to N-tert-butanesulfinyl alpha-alkoxyaldimines

N-tert-Butanesulfinyl alpha-alkoxyaldimines are readily prepared from protected (S)-lactals without epimerization at the alpha-stereocenter. Addition of ethyl and phenyl Grignard reagents, as well as the titanium enolate of methyl acetate, to the N-tert-butanesulfinyl aldimines provides 1,2-disubstituted beta-amino alcohols in good yields (73-98%) and with high diastereoselectivities. Either syn- or anti-amino alcohol products can be obtained by the appropriate choice of alcohol protecting groups and/or reaction conditions. Finally, deprotection of the addition products provides straightforward access to either syn- or anti-1,2-amino alcohols.     

Iterative Cr-mediated catalytic asymmetric allylation to synthesize syn/syn- and anti/anti-1,3,5-triols

Iterative use of Cr-mediated catalytic asymmetric allylation could give a simple access to 1,3-polyols. Using syn/syn- and anti/anti-1,3,5-triols as representative examples, the feasibility of this approach is studied, thereby demonstrating that (1) the pre-existing TMS-protected alcohol at the beta-position does not give a significant effect on the Cr-mediated catalytic asymmetric allylation and (2) this synthetic route furnishes the expected syn/syn- and anti/anti-1,3,5-triols at the useful level of asymmetric induction and yield.     

Diastereomer-differentiating hydrolysis of 1,3-diol-acetonides: a simplified procedure for the separation of syn- and anti-1,3-diols

[reaction: see text] A new method to facilitate the separation of diastereomeric syn- and anti-1,3-diols is described. The method relies on the different hydrolysis rates of the corresponding diastereomeric acetonides. Treatment of a dichloromethane solution of syn- and anti-1,3-diol-acetonide with a catalytic amount of diluted aqueous hydrochloric acid leads to the selective cleavage of the anti diastereomer. The resulting anti-1,3-diol can be easily separated from the unchanged syn-1,3-diol-acetonide.     

2-ethynylaziridines as chiral carbon nucleophiles: stereoselective synthesis of 1,3-amino alcohols with three stereocenters via allenylindium reagents bearing a protected amino group

Allenylindium reagents bearing a protected amino group were effectively prepared from N-protected 3-alkyl-2-ethynylaziridines by treatment with InI in the presence of Pd(PPh(3))(4) and H(2)O. Stereoselective addition of the allenylindium to aliphatic or aromatic aldehydes affords 1,3-amino alcohols bearing three contiguous chiral centers: while 2,3-trans-2-ethynylaziridines yield syn,syn-2-ethynyl-1,3-amino alcohols predominantly, 2,3-cis-aziridines give anti,syn isomers selectively. Synthesis of highly substituted ethynylazetidines is also described.     

Asymmetric synthesis of alpha-amino 1,3-dithioketals from sulfinimines (N-sulfinyl imines). Synthesis of (2S,3R)-(-)-3-hydroxy-3-methylproline

[reaction: see text] N-Sulfinyl alpha-amino 1,3-dithioketals are prepared in high de and good yield by treating sulfinimines with lithio-1,3-dithianes. Selective removal of the N-sulfinyl or the thioketal groups affords stable alpha-amino 1,3-dithioketals and N-sulfinyl alpha-amino ketones, respectively. This new sulfinimine-derived chiral building block is employed in the asymmetric synthesis of polyoxypeptin amino acid (2S,3R)-(-)-3-hydroxy-3-methylproline.     

Synthesis of Enantiopure syn-beta-Amino Alcohols. A Simple Case of Chelation-Controlled Additions of Diethylzinc to alpha-(Dibenzylamino) Aldehydes

Enantiomerically pure syn-2-amino alcohols 6 are prepared by addition of diethylzinc to chiral alpha-(dibenzylamino) aldehydes 4. The addition is highly stereoselective, leading to syn-2-(dibenzylamino) alcohols 5 with excellent diastereomeric excesses (76-98%). Debenzylation of 5 by hydrogenolysis on Pearlman's catalyst yields quantitatively the amino alcohols 6.     

Preparation of stereodefined homoallylic amines from the reductive cross-coupling of allylic alcohols with imines

Regio-, diastereo-, and enantioselective coupling reactions between imines and allylic alcohols have been developed. These coupling reactions deliver complex homoallylic amine products through a convergent C-C bond forming process that does not proceed through intermediate allylic organometallic reagents. In general, convergent coupling, by exposure of an allylic alkoxide to a preformed Ti-imine complex, occurs with allylic transposition in a predictable and stereocontrolled manner. While simple diastereoselection in these reactions is high, delivering anti-products with ≥20:1 selectivity, the organometallic transformation described is compatible with a diverse range of functionality and substrates (including aliphatic and aromatic imines, allylic silanes, trisubstituted alkenes, vinyl- and aryl halides, trifluoromethyl groups, thioethers, and aromatic heterocycles). Alkene geometry of the products is a complex function of the allylic alcohol structure and is consistent with a mechanistic proposal based on syn-carbometalation followed by syn-elimination by way of a boat-like transition state geometry. Single asymmetric coupling reactions provide a means to translate the stereochemical information of the allylic alcohol to the homoallylic amine or to control diastereoselection in the coupling reactions of achiral allylic alcohols with chiral imines. Double asymmetric coupling reactions are also described that afford a unique means to control stereoselection in these complex convergent coupling processes. Finally, empirical models are proposed that are consistent with the observed stereochemical course of these coupling reactions en route to chiral homoallylic amines possessing di- or trisubstituted alkenes and anti- or syn- relative stereochemistry at the allylic and homoallylic positions.     

Stereodivergency in catalytic asymmetric conjugate addition reactions of glycine (ket)imines

Stereodivergent catalytic asymmetric conjugate reactions of glycine (ket)imines with nitroalkenes have been achieved using various chiral catalyst systems derived from a multidentate amino alcohol (1). The stepwise nature of the [3 + 2] cycloaddition reactions of N-metalated azomethine ylides has also been demonstrated by highly enantio- and diastereoselective syntheses of exo-5 and endo-8 from the respective syn-4 and anti-7 conjugate addition products in a one-pot tandem fashion.     

Additions of enantiopure alpha-sulfinyl carbanions to (S)-N-sulfinimines: asymmetric synthesis of beta-amino sulfoxides and beta-alphamino alcohols

The addition of the lithium anions derived from (R)- and (S)-methyl and -ethyl p-tolyl sulfoxides to (S)-N-benzylidene-p-toluenesulfinamide provides an easy access route to enantiomerically pure beta-(N-sulfinyl)amino sulfoxides. Stereoselectivity can be achieved when the configurations at the sulfur atoms of the two reagents are opposite (matched pair), thus resulting in only one diastereoisomer, even for the case in which two new chiral centers are created. The N-sulfinyl group primarily controls the configuration of the carbon bonded to the nitrogen, whereas the configuration of the alpha-sulfinyl carbanion seems to be responsible for the level of asymmetric induction, as well as for the configuration of the new stereogenic C-SO carbon in the reactions with ethyl p-tolyl sulfoxides. An efficient method for transforming the obtained beta-(N-sulfinyl)amino sulfoxides into optically pure beta-amino alcohols, based on the stereoselective non-oxidative Pummerer reaction, is also reported.     

Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of both syn- and anti-3,5-dihydroxy esters: application to 1,3-polyol/alpha-pyrone natural product synthesis

[reaction: see text] We describe a catalytic asymmetric synthesis of both syn- and anti-3,5-dihydroxy esters. The method relies upon catalytic asymmetric epoxidation of alpha,beta-unsaturated imidazolides and amides, using lanthanide-BINOL complexes, and diastereoselective reduction of ketones. The method was applied to the enantioselective syntheses of 1,3-polyol/alpha-pyrone natural products 9a, 9b, and strictifolione (10). The absolute stereochemistry of 9a and 9b was also determined.     

Enantioselective organocatalytic conjugate addition of amines to α,β-unsaturated aldehydes: one-pot asymmetric synthesis of β-amino acids and 1,3-diamines

Organocatalytic asymmetric amine conjugate additions to α,β-unsaturated aldehydes catalyzed by protected diarylprolinols are presented. The reactions proceed with high enantioselectivity and result in Cbz or Boc protected β-amino aldehydes, γ-amino alcohols, β-amino acids and 1,3-diamines with typically 82-99% ee.     

Gem-difluorinated homoallyl alcohols, beta-hydroxy ketones, and syn- and anti-1,3-diols via gamma,gamma-difluoroallylboronates

Gamma,gamma-difluoroallylboronates have been prepared from trifluoroethanol and utilized for the allylboration of a variety of aldehydes to provide gem-difluorinated homoallylic alcohols. Alpha-chiral aldehydes were allylborated in 4:1-13:1 diastereoselectivity favoring the anti-isomer. A representative series of difluorinated hydroxyl enol ethers were converted to the corresponding alpha,alpha-difluoro-beta-hydroxy ketones. Diastereoselective reduction of one of these to either syn- and anti-1,3-diol was also studied.