Concise asymmetric synthesis of (-)-sparteine

A six-step asymmetric synthesis of natural (-)-sparteine from ethyl 7-iodohept-2-enoate is reported, involving a connective Michael addition of an amino ester-derived enolate to an alpha,beta-unsaturated amino ester.     

Enantioselective synthesis of cocaine C-1 analogues using sulfinimines (N-sulfinyl imines)

The first examples of cocaine analogues having substituents (methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, n-pentyl, and phenyl) at the C-1 position of the cocaine tropane skeleton were prepared by heating sulfinimine-derived α,β-unsaturated pyrrolidine nitrones. In the presence of the Lewis acid Al(O(t)Bu)(3) the nitrones undergo an intramolecular [3 + 2] cycloaddition to give tricyclic isoxazolidines that were transformed in three steps to the cocaine analogues. In the absence of the Lewis acid, lactams were formed resulting from rearrangement of the nitrone to an oxaziridine. A novel Pd- and base-promoted rearrangement of methanesulfonate salts of isoxazolidine to bridge bicyclic[4.2.1]isoxazolidines was discovered.     

Enantioselective nitroaldol (Henry) reaction using copper(II) complexes of (-)-sparteine

The dichloro[(-)-sparteine-N,N']copper(II) complex provides Henry adducts with high enantioselectivities (73-97% ee) in Henry reaction between nitromethane and various aldehydes.     

Asymmetric synthesis of 6-alkyl- and 6-arylpiperidin-2-ones. Enantioselective synthesis of (S)-(+)-coniine

A variety of diolefinic hydrazides (1) have been assembled in a highly diastereoselective manner by addition of allyllithium to chiral SAMP hydrazones followed by N-acylation with acryloyl chloride. Substrates 1 undergo ring-closing metathesis to give the cyclic enehydrazides (5) which can be easily converted into virtually enantiopure 6-alkyl- or 6-arylpiperidin-2-ones (7). The versatility of this hydrazone addition-RCM protocol has been further exemplified by the conversion of the unsaturated heterocycle 5b into the piperidine alkaloid (S)-(+)-coniine.     

Enantioselective synthesis of imidazolines with quaternary stereocenters by organocatalytic reaction of N-(heteroarenesulfonyl)imines with isocyanoacetates

An organocatalytic enantioselective Mannich-type reaction of isocyanoacetate with N-sulfonylimines catalyzed by chiral thioureas derived from quinine yielded 2-imidazolines with high diastereo- and enantioselectivities (up to >99:1 dr. and 96% ee). This reaction provided a convenient route to access various imidazolines and related α,β-diamino acids having a quaternary carbon center in high enantiomeric purities.     

Enantioselective addition of organolithium reagents to imines mediated by C2-symmetric bis(aziridine) ligands

The C₂-symmetric bis(aziridine) ligands 1–5 have been screened in the enantioselective addition of organolithium reagents to imines. Ligand 1 (used in stoichiometric amounts) was found to be superior in terms of chemical yield and enantioselectivity, the best result being 90% yield and 89% e.e. in the addition of vinyllithium to imine 6a. Use of ligand 1 in substoichiometric amounts gave poorer yield and lower enantioselectivity. The enantioselectivity of the reaction was investigated as a function of substrate, reagent, stoichiometry and temperature, but no firm mechanistic conclusions could be drawn. Preliminary results with deuterium-labelled methyllithium indicate complexation/exchange processes involving ligand, reagent and substrate.     

Enantioselective synthesis of (-)-pentalenene

A short, enantioselective synthesis of (-)-pentalenene is described. Catalytic enantioselective cyclopropenation with (R,R)-Rh2(OAc)(DPTI)3 was used to set the absolute stereochemistry, and an intramolecular Pauson-Khand reaction of the resulting cyclopropenyne was used to establish the quaternary center.     

Enantioselective synthesis of (-)-paeonilide

The first enantioselective synthesis of (-)-paeonilide is reported. Starting from inexpensive furan-3-carboxylic acid the targeted monoterpene was obtained in 12 steps via an asymmetric cyclopropanation-lactonization cascade and a stereoselective side chain insertion at an acetal-like position.     

Asymmetric deprotonation-substitution of N-Pop-benzylamines using [RLi/(-)-sparteine]. Enantioselective sequential reactions and synthesis of N-heterocycles

Pop-directed asymmetric deprotonation of benzylic amines using [n-BuLi/(-)-sparteine] provides an efficient method for the synthesis of chiral NC alpha and NC alpha,alpha' derivatives with total selectivity with respect to competing allylic and ortho lithiation. The method described herein offers a straightforward route of accessing chiral N-Pop-protected nitrogen heterocycles.     

Enantioselective synthesis of (-)-codeine and (-)-morphine

A new synthetic strategy for the synthesis of the opiate and amaryllidaceae alkaloids emerges employing a Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation to set the stereochemistry. The pivotal tricyclic intermediate is available in six steps from 2-bromovanillin and the monoester of methyl 6-hydroxycyclohexene-1-carboxylate, the latter available from glutaraldehyde and the Emmons-Wadsworth-Horner phosphate reagent. This intermediate requires only two steps to convert to (-)-galanthamine. Using a Heck vinylation, we found that the fourth ring of codeine/morphine is formed. The final ring formation involves a novel visible light-promoted hydroamination. Thus, six steps are required to convert the pivotal tricyclic intermediate into codeine, which has been demethylated in high yield to morphine.     

Enantioselective lithiation of O-alkyl and O-alk-2-enyl Carbamates in the presence of (-)-sparteine and (-)-alpha-isosparteine. A theoretical study

Quantum chemical DFT calculations at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level have been used to study the enantioselective lithiation/deprotonation of O-alkyl and O-alk-2-enyl carbamates in the presence of (-)-sparteine and (-)-alpha-isosparteine. Complete geometry optimization of the precomplexes consisting of the carbamate, the chiral ligand, and the base (iPrLi), for the transition states of the proton-transfer reaction, and for the resulting lithio carbamates have been performed in order to quantify activation barriers and reaction energies. For the lithiodeprotonation of ethyl carbamate 12 in the presence of (-)-sparteine (5) the preferred abstraction of the pro-S proton (by 2.75 kcal/mol) gives the (S)-lithio derivate (S)-14, which is in good agreement with experimental observations. (-)-alpha-Isosparteine (6) is predicted to be significantly less selective favoring the abstraction of the pro-R proton by 1.2 kcal/mol. The O-alkenyl carbamate 17 as an example of an allylic carbamate is more easily lithiated than 12. As for 12 (-)-sparteine (5) favors the abstraction of the pro-S proton, although with smaller preference (0.7 kcal/mol). Structural parameters are discussed to rationalize the theoretical results.     

Enantioselective synthesis of (-)-basiliskamide A

Basiliskamide A is an antifungal polyketide natural product isolated by Andersen and co-workers from a Bacillus laterosporus isolate, PNG-276. A nine-step enantioselective synthesis of (-)-basiliskamide A is reported, starting from commercially available β-hydroxy ester 7. The synthesis features a highly diastereoselective mismatched double asymmetric δ-stannylallylboration reaction of aldehyde 5 with the bifunctional allylborane reagent 4.     

Enantioselective total synthesis of (-)-dactylolide

[reaction: see text] The enantioselective total synthesis of (-)-dactylolide is reported. The absolute stereochemistry of the tetrahydropyran was established by catalytic asymmetric Jacobsen hetero-Diels-Alder reaction. The remote C19 stereocenter was introduced by a sequence of chelation-controlled Grignard addition and Ireland-Claisen rearrangement.     

Enantioselective synthesis of (-)-cis-clavicipitic acid

An enantioselective synthetic method for (-)-cis-clavicipitic acid (1) was reported. 1 was obtained in 10 steps (99% ee and 20% overall yield) from 1H-indole-3-carboxylic acid methyl ester (9) via asymmetric phase-transfer catalytic alkylation and diastereoselective Pd(II)-catalyzed intramolecular aminocyclization as key steps.     

Enantioselective total synthesis of (-)-laurenditerpenol

A highly convergent total synthesis of (-)-laurenditerpenol has been accomplished through an organolithium to aldehyde nucleophilic addition. Preparation of the prerequisite key intermediates in optically pure form was based on an improved, short, and efficient synthesis of "wine lactone" from (S)-limonene and Corey's catalytic enantioselective Diels-Alder reaction of 2,5-dimethyl furan with diethyl fumarate.     

Enantioselective synthesis of (-)-roccellaric acid

[reaction in text] A new strategy for the synthesis of anti-4,5-disubstituted gamma-butyrolactones starting from inexpensive furan-2-carboxylic methyl ester was developed. By applying this methodology, the enantioselective synthesis of (-)-roccellaric acid ((-)-17) was accomplished using a copper(I)-catalyzed asymmetric cyclopropanation, a tin(IV)-catalyzed retroaldol/lactonization sequence of cyclopropanols, and a ruthenium-catalyzed intermolecular metathesis reaction as key steps.     

Enantioselective synthesis of ring-C aromatic steroids by asymmetric Michael-type alkylation of chiral imines.

Optically active phenanthrones 7 and 12 were prepared, using the asymmetric process involving Michael-type alkylation of chiral imines. Compound 12 was then transformed into the ring-C aromatic steroid 16.