Oxidative Fragmentations of the 5α‐ and 5β‐Hydroxy‐B‐norcholestan‐ 3β‐yl Acetates

Oxidations of 5α‐hydroxy‐B‐norcholestan‐3β‐yl acetate ( 8 ) with Pb(OAc)₄ under thermal or photolytic conditions or in the presence of iodine afforded only complex mixtures of compounds. However, the HgO/I₂ version of the hypoiodite reaction gave as the primary products the stereoisomeric (Z)‐ and (E)‐1(10)‐unsaturated 5,10‐seco B‐nor‐derivatives 10 and 11 , and the stereoisomeric (5R,10R)‐ and (5S,10S)‐acetals 14 and 15 (Scheme 4). Further reaction of these compounds under conditions of their formation afforded, in addition, the A‐nor 1,5‐cyclization products 13 and 16 (from 10 ) and 12 (from 11 ) (see also Scheme 6) and the 6‐iodo‐5,6‐secolactones 17 and 19 (from 14 and 15 , resp.) and 4‐iodo‐4,5‐secolactone 18 (from 15 ) (see also Scheme 7). Oxidations of 5β‐hydroxy‐B‐norcholestan‐3β‐yl acetate ( 9 ) with both hypoiodite‐forming reagents (Pb(OAc)₄/I₂ and HgO/I₂) proceeded similarly to the HgO/I₂ reaction of the corresponding 5α‐hydroxy analogue 8 . Photolytic Pb(OAc)₄ oxidation of 9 afforded, in addition to the (Z)‐ and (E)‐5,10‐seco 1(10)‐unsaturated ketones 10 and 11 , their isomeric 5,10‐seco 10(19)‐unsaturated ketone 22 , the acetal 5‐acetate 21 , and 5β,19‐epoxy derivative 23 (Scheme 9). Exceptionally, in the thermal Pb(OAc)₄ oxidation of 9 , the 5,10‐seco ketones 10, 11 , and 22 were not formed, the only reaction being the stereoselective formation of the 5,10‐ethers with the β‐oriented epoxy bridge, i.e. the (10R)‐enol ether 20 and (5S,10R)‐acetal 5‐acetate 21 (Scheme 8). Possible mechanistic interpretations of the above transformations are discussed.     

μ3‐η2:η2:η2‐Coordination of Primary Silane on a Triruthenium Plane

A μ₃‐η²:η²:η²‐silane complex, [(Cp*Ru)₃(μ₃‐η²:η²:η²‐H₃SitBu)(μ‐H)₃] ( 2 a ; Cp*=η⁵‐C₅Me₅), was synthesized from the reaction of [{Cp*Ru(μ‐H)}₃(μ₃‐H)₂] ( 1 ) with tBuSiH₃. Complex 2 a is the first example of a silane ligand adopting a μ₃‐η²:η²:η² coordination mode. This unprecedented coordination mode was established by NMR and IR spectroscopy as well as X‐ray diffraction analysis and supported by a density functional study. Variable‐temperature NMR analysis implied that 2 a equilibrates with a tautomeric μ₃‐silyl complex ( 3 a ). Although 3 a was not isolated, the corresponding μ₃‐silyl complex, [(Cp*Ru)₃(μ₃‐η²:η²‐H₂SiPh)(H)(μ‐H)₃] ( 3 b ), was obtained from the reaction of 1 with PhSiH₃. Treatment of 2 a with PhSiH₃ resulted in a silane exchange reaction, leading to the formation of 3 b accompanied by the elimination of tBuSiH₃. This result indicates that the μ₃‐silane complex can be regarded as an “arrested” intermediate for the oxidative addition/reductive elimination of a primary silane to a trinuclear site.     

Microwave‐Assisted Synthesis of β‐Lactams and Cyclo‐β‐dipeptides

Different cyclo‐β‐dipeptides were prepared from corresponding N‐substituted β‐alanine derivatives under mild conditions using PhPOCl₂ as activating agent in benzene and Et₃N as base. To evaluate β³‐substituent influence, the amino acids 7 – 26 were synthesized, and a β‐lactam formation reaction was carried out instead of cyclo‐β‐dipeptide formation. The crystal structures of three derivatives of cyclo‐β‐peptides and one β‐lactam are presented.     

Nucleo‐β‐Amino Acids: Synthesis and Oligomerization to β‐Homoalanyl‐PNA

The synthesis of thyminyl‐, uracilyl‐, cytosinyl‐, and guaninyl‐β³‐amino acids and the oligomerization of the cytosinyl‐ and guaninyl‐β³‐amino acids to β‐homoalanyl‐PNA are presented. The pyrimidinyl nucleobases were connected to the γ‐position of β‐homoalanine by Mitsunobu reaction with a β‐homoserine derivative or by nucleophilic substitution of methanesulfonates. For the preparation of the guaninyl‐β³‐amino acid, a β‐lactam route was established that might be of interest also for the synthesis of other β³‐amino acid derivatives. The cytosinyl and guaninyl building blocks were oligomerized to hexamers. They form quite stable self‐pairing complexes in H₂O as indicated by temperature dependent UV and CD spectroscopy.     

Synthesis of 1‐Methyl‐3‐aryl‐substituted Titanocene and Zirconocene Dichlorides and Crystal Structure of Bis[η5‐1‐methyl‐3‐(α, α‐dimethylbenzyl) cyclopentadienyl] titanium Dichloride

The syntheses of a series of l‐methyl‐3‐aryl‐substituted titanocene and zirconocene dichlorides are reported. These complexes are synthesized by the reaction of 2‐ and 3‐methyl‐6, 6‐dimethylfulvenes (1:4) with aryllithium, followed by the reaction with TiCl₄·2THF, ZrCl₄ and (CpTiCl₂)₂O respectively, to give complexes 1–5. The complex [η⁵‐1‐methyl‐3‐(α, α‐dimethylbenzyl) cyclopentadienyl] titanium dichloride has been studied by X‐ray diffraction. The red crystal of this complex is monoclinic, space group P2_t/C with unit cell parameters: a =6.973(6) × 10^?1 nm, b =36.91(2) × 10^?1 nm, c = 10.063(4) × 10^?1 nm, α=β= γ = 93.35(5)°, V = 2584(5) × 10^?3 nm³ and Z = 4. Refinement for 1004 observed reflections gives the final R of 0.088. There are four independent molecules per unit cell.     

AgF‐Mediated Fluorinative Cross‐Coupling of Two Olefins: Facile Access to α‐CF3 Alkenes and β‐CF3 Ketones

A AgF‐mediated fluorination with a concomitant cross‐coupling between a gem‐difluoroolefin and a non‐fluorinated olefin is reported. This highly efficient method provides facile access to both α‐CF₃ alkenes and β‐CF₃ ketones, which otherwise remain challenging to be directly prepared. The application of this method is further demonstrated by the synthesis of bioactive isoxazoline derivatives. This approach represents a conceptually novel route to trifluoromethylated compounds that combines the in situ generation of the CF₃ moiety and a C? H functionalization in a single reaction system.     

Synthesis of Halogenated α,β‐Unsaturated γ‐Butyrolactone Derivatives by Triphenylphosphine‐Catalyzed Cyclization of α‐Halogeno Ketones with Dialkyl Acetylenedicarboxylates (=Dialkyl But‐2‐ynedioates)

A Ph₃P‐catalyzed cyclization of α‐halogeno ketones 2 with dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates (=dialkyl but‐2‐ynedioates) 3 produced halogenated α,β‐unsaturated γ‐butyrolactone derivatives 4 in good yields (Scheme 1, Table). The presence of electron‐withdrawing groups such as halogen atoms at the α‐position of the ketones was necessary in this reaction. Cyclization of α‐chloro ketones resulted in higher yields than that of the corresponding α‐bromo ketones. Dihalogeno ketones similarly afforded the expected γ‐butyrolactone derivatives in high yields.     

Copper(I)‐Catalyzed Asymmetric [3+2]‐Cycloaddition of α‐Substituted Iminoesters with α‐Trifluoromethyl α,β‐Unsaturated Esters

Reported herein is an example of highly regio‐, diastereo‐ and enantioselective Cu(I)‐catalyzed intermolecular [3+2] cycloaddition reaction of α‐substituted iminoesters with α‐trifluoromethyl α,β‐unsaturated esters. This novel strategy provided a facile access to pyrrolidines with two skipped (aza)quaternary stereocenters including a CF₃ all‐carbon quaternary stereocenter. A broad substrate scope was observed and high yields (up to 94%) with excellent diastereoselectivity (up to >20 : 1 d.r.) and enantioselectivity (up to 98% ee) were obtained.     

Four oxoindole‐linked α‐alkoxy‐β‐amino acid derivatives

Four structures of oxoindolyl α‐hydroxy‐β‐amino acid derivatives, namely, methyl 2‐{3‐[(tert‐butoxycarbonyl)amino]‐1‐methyl‐2‐oxoindolin‐3‐yl}‐2‐methoxy‐2‐phenylacetate, C₂₄H₂₈N₂O₆, (I), methyl 2‐{3‐[(tert‐butoxycarbonyl)amino]‐1‐methyl‐2‐oxoindolin‐3‐yl}‐2‐ethoxy‐2‐phenylacetate, C₂₅H₃₀N₂O₆, (II), methyl 2‐{3‐[(tert‐butoxycarbonyl)amino]‐1‐methyl‐2‐oxoindolin‐3‐yl}‐2‐[(4‐methoxybenzyl)oxy]‐2‐phenylacetate, C₃₁H₃₄N₂O₇, (III), and methyl 2‐[(anthracen‐9‐yl)methoxy]‐2‐{3‐[(tert‐butoxycarbonyl)amino]‐1‐methyl‐2‐oxoindolin‐3‐yl}‐2‐phenylacetate, C₃₈H₃₆N₂O₆, (IV), have been determined. The diastereoselectivity of the chemical reaction involving α‐diazoesters and isatin imines in the presence of benzyl alcohol is confirmed through the relative configuration of the two stereogenic centres. In esters (I) and (III), the amide group adopts an anti conformation, whereas the conformation is syn in esters (II) and (IV). Nevertheless, the amide group forms intramolecular N—H...O hydrogen bonds with the ester and ether O atoms in all four structures. The ether‐linked substituents are in the extended conformation in all four structures. Ester (II) is dominated by intermolecular N—H...O hydrogen‐bond interactions. In contrast, the remaining three structures are sustained by C—H...O hydrogen‐bond interactions.     

From α‐carbamoyl‐α‐cyano­oxiranes to 3‐halogenopyruv­amides

The crystal structures of the first stable α‐diol from the α‐halogenopyruv­amide series, 3‐chloro‐2,2‐di­hydroxy‐3‐phenyl­propan­amide, C₉H₁₀­ClNO₃, and three products [3‐(4‐chloro­phenyl)‐2‐cyano‐2,3‐epoxy­propan­amide, C₁₀H₇­ClN₂O₂, 3‐bromo‐2‐cyano‐2‐hydroxy‐3‐p‐tolyl­propan­amide, C₁₁H₁₁Br­N₂O₂, 3‐bromo‐2‐oxo‐3‐p‐tolyl­propan­amide, C₁₀H₁₀­BrNO₂] obtained during the systematic synthesis of α‐halogenopyruv­amides are reported. The crystal structures are dominated by hydrogen bonds involving an amide group. The stability of the geminal diol could be ascribed to hydrogen bonds which involve both hydroxyl groups.     

6β‐Azido‐7α‐hydroxy‐17‐oxo‐5α‐androstan‐3β‐yl acetate

In the title compound, C₂₁H₃₁N₃O₄, a potential inhibitor of aromatase, all rings are fused trans. Rings A, B and C have chair conformations which are slightly flattened. Ring D has a 14α‐envelope conformation. The steroid nucleus has a small twist, as shown by the C19—C10⋯C13—C18 torsion angle of 6.6 (2)°. Ab initio calculations of the equilibrium geometry of the mol­ecule reproduce this small twist, which appears to be due to the steric effect of the 6β‐azide substituent rather than to packing effects.     

17‐Oxo‐5α‐androstane‐3α,4β‐diyl diacetate and 17‐oxo‐5β‐androstane‐3α,4β‐diyl diacetate

The title compounds, both C₂₃H₃₄O₅, are the 5α and 5β configurations of two diacetate epimers. The 5β‐diacetate crystallizes in an hexagonal structure, unusual for steroid molecules. The unit cell has an accessible solvent volume of 358 ų, responsible for clathrate behaviour. The 5β‐epimer also features some shorter than average bond lengths in the 3α,4β‐acetoxy groups. The conformations of the molecules of both epimers are compared with those obtained through abinitio quantum chemistry calculations. Cohesion of the crystals can be attributed to van der Waals and weak molecular C—H⋯O interactions.     

Reactions of α,β‐Unsaturated Thioamides with Diazo Compounds

Several reactions of the α,β‐unsaturated thioamide 8 with diazo compounds 1a – 1d were investigated. The reactions with CH₂N₂ ( 1a ), diazocyclohexane ( 1b ), and phenyldiazomethane ( 1c ) proceeded via a 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition of the diazo dipole at the C?C bond to give the corresponding 4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrazole‐3‐carbothioamides 12a – 12c , i.e., the regioisomer which arose from the bond formation between the N‐terminus of the diazo compound and the C(α)‐atom of 8 . In the reaction of 1a with 8 , the initially formed cycloadduct, the 4,5‐dihydro‐3H‐pyrazole‐3‐carbothioamide 11a , was obtained after a short reaction time. In the case of 1c , two tautomers 12c and 12c ′ were formed, which, by derivatization with 2‐chlorobenzoyl chloride 14 , led to the crystalline products 15 and 15 ′. Their structures were established by X‐ray crystallography. From the reaction of 8 and ethyl diazoacetate ( 1d ), the opposite regioisomer 13 was formed. The monosubstituted thioamide 16 reacted with 1a to give the unstable 4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrazole‐3‐carbothioamide 17 .     

Co‐crystals of 3‐deoxy‐3‐fluoro‐α‐d‐glucopyranose and 3‐deoxy‐3‐fluoro‐β‐d‐glucopyranose

3‐Deoxy‐3‐fluoro‐d ‐glucopyranose crystallizes from acetone to give a unit cell containing two crystallographically independent molecules. One of these molecules (at site A) is structurally homogeneous and corresponds to 3‐deoxy‐3‐fluoro‐β‐d ‐glucopyranose, C₆H₁₁FO₅, (I). The second molecule (at site B) is structurally heterogeneous and corresponds to a mixture of (I) and 3‐deoxy‐3‐fluoro‐α‐d ‐glucopyranose, (II); treatment of the diffraction data using partial‐occupancy oxygen at the anomeric center gave a high‐quality packing model with an occupancy ratio of 0.84:0.16 for (II):(I) at site B. The mixture of α‐ and β‐anomers at site B appears to be accommodated in the lattice because hydrogen‐bonding partners are present to hydrogen bond to the anomeric OH group in either an axial or equatorial orientation. Cremer–Pople analysis of (I) and (II) shows the pyranosyl ring of (II) to be slightly more distorted than that of (I) [θ_(I) = 3.85 (15)° and θ_(II) = 6.35 (16)°], but the general direction of distortion is similar in both structures [ϕ_(I) = 67 (2)° (B_C1,C4) and ϕ_(II) = 26.0 (15)° (^C3TB_C1); B = boat conformation and TB = twist‐boat conformation]. The exocyclic hydroxymethyl (–CH₂OH) conformation is gg (gauche–gauche) (H5 anti to O6) in both (I) and (II). Structural comparisons of (I) and (II) to related unsubstituted, deoxy and fluorine‐substituted monosaccharides show that the gluco ring can assume a wide range of distorted chair structures in the crystalline state depending on ring substitution patterns.     

A 1,3,2‐ox­aza­borolidine dimer derived from (S)‐α,α‐di­phenyl­prolinol

The reaction of (S)‐α,α‐di­phenyl­prolinol with an excess of borane–tetra­hydro­furan complex yields a stable crystalline material with the composition C₃₄H₃₈B₂N₂O₂, which features a borane adduct of a spiro­cyclic structure with two ox­aza­borolidine rings joined by a central tetrahedral B atom. This dimeric ox­aza­borolidine complex, viz. 3,3,3′,3′‐tetra­phenyl‐1,1′‐spiro­bi(3a,4,5,6‐tetra­hydro‐3H‐pyrrolo­[1,2‐c][1,3,2]­ox­azaborole)–7‐borane, is the dominant product under various reaction conditions; its crystal structure is consistent with ¹¹B, ¹H and ¹³C NMR and IR analyses.     

Efficient Synthesis of α‐Benzylidene‐γ‐methyl‐γ‐butyrolactones

A concise synthesis of α‐benzylidene‐γ‐methyl‐γ‐butyrolactones 5a – g from substituted benzaldehydes is described. Compounds 1a – g on reaction with phosphorane 2 , provide the pentenoates 3a – g , which can be hydrolyzed to the acids 4a – g . The latter are cyclized to the corresponding butyrolactones 5a – g in excellent yields. The pentenoates 3a – g , on acid catalyzed cyclization, also provide 5a – g in very high yields.     

Arborescent polypeptides from γ‐benzyl l‐glutamic acid

The synthesis of arborescent polymers with poly(γ‐benzyl L‐glutamate) (PBG) side chains was achieved through successive grafting reactions. The linear PBG building blocks were produced by the ring‐opening polymerization of γ‐benzyl L‐glutamic acid N‐carboxyanhydride initiated with n‐hexylamine. The polymerization conditions were optimized to minimize the loss of amino chain termini in the reaction. Acidolysis of a fraction of the benzyl groups on a linear PBG substrate and coupling with linear PBG using a carbodiimide/hydroxybenzotriazole promoter system yielded a comb‐branched or generation zero (G0) arborescent PBG. Further partial deprotection and grafting cycles led to arborescent PBG of generations G1 to G3. The solvent used in the coupling reaction had a dramatic influence on the yield of graft polymers of generations G1 and above, dimethylsulfoxide being preferable to N,N‐dimethylformamide. This grafting onto scheme yielded well‐defined (M_w/M_n ≤ 1.06), high molecular weight arborescent PBG in a few reaction cycles, with number‐average molecular weights and branching functionalities reaching over 10⁶ and 290, respectively, for the G3 polymer. α‐Helix to coiled conformation transitions were observed from N,N‐dimethylformamide to dimethyl sulfoxide solutions, even for the highly branched polymers. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013 , 51, 5270–5279     

7‐Oxanorbornane and Norbornane Mimics of a Distorted β‐D‐Mannopyranoside: Synthesis and Evaluation as β‐Mannosidase Inhibitors

The racemic 7‐oxanorbornanyl and norbornanyl aminoalcohols 3, 4, 42, 45 , and 46 were synthesized and tested as snail β‐mannosidase inhibitors. The amino tetraol 3 was obtained from the known sulfonyl acrylate 9 and furan 10 . Esterification provided 11 that underwent an intramolecular Diels–Alder reaction to the 7‐oxanorbornene 12 . Reduction of 12 to 13 , desulfonylation, isopropylidenation, and cis‐dihydroxylation gave 16 . A second isopropylidenation to 17 , followed by debenzylation and a Mitsunobu–Gabriel reaction provided 19 that was deprotected via 20 to 3 . Diels–Alder cycloaddition of furfuryl acetate and maleic anhydride to 21 , followed by alcoholysis of the anhydride, cis‐dihydroxylation, isopropylidenation, and Barton decarboxylation gave the ester 25 . Deacetylation to 26 and a Mitsunobu–Gabriel reaction led to 27 that was transformed into the N‐Boc analogue 29 , reduced to the alcohol 30 , and deprotected to 4 . The 1‐aminonorbornane 5 was obtained from Thiele's Acid 31 . Diels–Alder cycloaddition of the cyclopentadiene obtained by thermolysis of the diester 32 , methanolysis of the resulting anhydride 33 , dihydroxylation, isopropylidenation, Barton decarboxylation, and Curtius degradation led to the benzyl carbamate 39 that was reduced to the alcohol 40 , transformed into the N‐Boc carbamate 41 , and deprotected to 5 . The alcohol 40 was also transformed into the benzylamine 42 , aniline 45 , and hydroxylamine 46 . Snail β‐mannosidase was hardly inhibited by 3, 4, 42, 45 , and 46 . Only the amino triol 5 proved a stronger inhibitor. The inhibition by 5 depends on the pH value (at pH 3.5: K_i = 1900 μM ; at pH 4.5: K_i = 340 μm; at pH 5.5: K_i = 110 μm). The results illustrate the strong dependence of the inhibition by bicyclic mimics upon the precise geometry and orientation of the amino group as determined by the scaffold. It is in keeping with the hypothesis that the reactive conformation imposed by snail β‐mannosidase is close to a ^1,4B/¹S₃.     

Chemoselectivity Control in the Asymmetric Hydrogenation of γ‐ and δ‐Keto Esters into Hydroxy Esters or Diols

The asymmetric hydrogenation of aromatic γ‐ and δ‐keto esters into optically active hydroxy esters or diols under the catalysis of a novel DIPSkewphos/3‐AMIQ–Ru^II complex was studied. Under the optimized conditions (8 atm H₂ , Ru complex/t‐C₄H₉OK=1:3.5, 25 °C) the γ‐ and δ‐hydroxy esters (including γ‐lactones) were obtained quantitatively with 97–99 % ee. When the reaction was conducted under somewhat harsh conditions (20 atm H₂ , [t‐C₄H₉OK]=50 mm , 40 °C), the 1,4‐ and 1,5‐diols were obtained predominantly with 95–99 % ee. The reactivity of the ester group was notably dependent on the length of the carbon spacer between the two carbonyl moieties of the substrate. The reaction of β‐ and ?‐keto esters selectively afforded the hydroxy esters regardless of the reaction conditions. This catalyst system was applied to the enantioselective and regioselective (for one of the two ester groups) hydrogenation of a γ‐?‐diketo diester into a trihydroxy ester.     

γ‐Alumina: a single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction study

The structure of γ‐alumina (Al_21+1/3□_2+2/3O₃₂) crystals obtained as a product of a corrosion reaction between β‐sialon and steel was refined in the space group Fdm. The oxygen sublattice is fully occupied. The refined occupancy parameters are 0.83 (3), 0.818 (13), 0.066 (14) and 0.044 (18) for Al ions in 8a, 16d, 16c and 48f positions, respectively. The Al ions are distributed over octa­hedral and tetra­hedral sites in a 63:37 ratio, with 6% of all Al ions occupying non‐spinel positions.