Selective α-Bromination of β-Keto Esters in Reusable PEG-400 under Mild and Catalyst-free Conditions

An efficient bromination protocol for the synthesis of α-bromo-β-keto esters has been developed. In PEG-400 （poly（ethylene glycol-400））, a variety of β-keto esters were treated with NBS （N-bromosuccinimide） at room temperature to selectively afford the corresponding α-monobromination products in excellent yields. It is noteworthy that the reaction was conducted under mild, environmentally benign and catalyst-free conditions.     

Microwave‐Assisted Convenient Synthesis of α,β‐Unsaturated Esters and Ketones via Aldol‐Adduct Elimination

Various fluorinated 3‐oxo ester/1,3‐diketones were reacted with carbonyl compounds, in presence of piperidine and under microwave irradiation, to afford (E)‐α,β‐unsaturated esters and ketones in good yields. The systematic study reveals that the reaction proceeded through the formation of aldol adduct. The method provides a new and simple way for C,C bond formations.     

Synthesis of Enantiomerically Pure Isoxazolidine Monomers for the Preparation of β3‐Oligopeptides by Iterative α‐Keto Acid?Hydroxylamine (KAHA) Ligations

A versatile method for the synthesis of enantiomerically pure isoxazolidine monomers for the synthesis of β³‐oligopeptides via α‐keto acid? hydroxylamine (KAHA) ligation is presented. This one‐pot synthetic method utilizes in situ generated nitrones bearing gulose‐derived chiral auxiliaries for the asymmetric 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition with methyl 2‐methoxyacrylate. The resulting enantiomerically pure isoxazolidine monomers bearing diverse side chains (proteinogenic and non‐proteinogenic) can be synthesized in either configuration (like‐ and unlike‐configured). The scalable and enantioselective synthesis of the isoxazolidine monomers enables the use of the synthesis of β³‐oligopeptides via iterative α‐keto acid? hydroxylamine (KAHA) ligation.     

Stereoselective Cycloaddition of N-Acyliminium Ions with α,β-Unsaturated Ketones and Esters

The [4+2] reactions of N‐acyliminium ions, produced from 2‐aryl‐3‐hydroxy‐2,3‐dihydroisoindol‐1‐ones or 5‐hydroxy‐1‐phenyl‐2,5‐dihydro/2,3,4,5‐tetrahydropyrrol‐2‐ones in the presence of BF₃OEt₂, with α,β‐unsaturated ketones or esters were examined, and the dependence of these reactions on the substituents at double bonds was clarified. For β‐aryl substituted α,β‐unsaturated ketones and esters such as 4‐aryl‐3‐buten‐2‐ones, chalcones and methyl cinnamate, the [4+2] reactions could proceed smoothly at room temperature to afford 6‐acyl‐5,6,6a,11‐tetrahydroisoindolo[2,1‐a]quinolin‐11‐ones and 4‐acyl‐1,3a,4,5‐tetrahydropyrrolo[1,2‐a]quinolin‐ 1‐ones or 4‐acyl‐1,2,3,3a,4,5‐hexahydropyrrolo[1,2‐a]quinolin‐1‐ones in moderate to high yields; while for simple α,β‐unsaturated ketones and esters such as methyl crotonate and ethyl 3‐methylbut‐2‐enoate, except mesityloxide, the [4+2] reactions were difficult to proceed. The cycloaddition reactions were highly stereoselective, and only one stereoisomer was produced in each reaction.     

A Novel Method for the Asymmetric Synthesis of α,β‐Diamino Acids by a Glucose‐Mediated Stereoselective Strecker Reaction

A novel method for the asymmetric synthesis of α,β‐diamino acids by using the 2,3,4,6‐tetra‐O‐pivaloyl‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl group (Piv₄Glc) as chiral auxiliary was developed (Table and Scheme). The reaction was promoted by CuBr?Me₂S as Lewis acid, and high yields and good diastereoselectivities were achieved.     

Clionasterol Glucoside and Acylated Clionasterol Glucosides from Oplismenus burmannii

A new clionasterol glucoside, clionasterol‐[(1'→3α)‐O‐β‐D]‐glucopyranoside ( 1 ), a new acylated clionasterol glucoside, clionasterol‐[6'‐O‐acyl‐(1'→3β)‐O‐b‐D]‐glucopyranoside ( 2 ) and clionasterol ( 3 ) were isolated from the aerial parts of Oplismenus burmannii. The nature and length of fatty acid acyl chains in 2 was identified by alkaline methanolysis of compound 2 . The aglycone fraction on GC‐MS analysis showed three peaks in GC at t_R 49.86 (82.1%), 51.13 (13.3%) and 56.53 (4.6%) min, which were characterized as arachidic acid methyl ester ( a ) oleic acid methyl ester ( b ) and 12‐methyltetradecanoic acid methyl ester ( c ) respectively. Thus 2 was characterized as a mixture of three new compounds, clionasterol‐[6'‐O‐eicosanoyl‐(1'→3β)‐O‐β‐D]‐glucopyranoside ( 2a ), clionasterol‐[6'‐O‐(8Z)‐octa‐deca‐9‐enoyl‐(1'→3β)‐O‐β‐D]‐glucopyranoside ( 2b ) and clionasterol‐[6'‐O‐(12‐methyltetradecanoyl)‐(1'→3β)‐O‐β‐D]‐glucopyranoside ( 2c ).     

Synthesis of Phenanthrene Derivatives through the Reaction of an α,α‐Dicyanoolefin with α,β‐Unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds

Phenanthrene derivatives were prepared by reacting an α,α‐dicyanoolefin with different α,β‐unsaturated carbonyl compounds resulting from Wittig reaction of ninhydrin and phosphanylidene or condensation of barbituric acid and an aldehyde. The easy procedure, mild and metal‐catalyst free, reaction conditions, good yields, and no need for chromatographic purifications are important features of this protocol. The structures of the product of type 3 and 5 were corroborated spectroscopically (IR, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR, and EI‐MS). A plausible mechanism for this type of reaction is proposed (Scheme 1).     

A Novel,One‐Pot Four‐Component Route to 2′‐Thioxo‐2′,3′‐dihydrospiro[indole‐3,6′‐[1,3]thiazin]‐2‐one Derivatives

An efficient route to 2′,3′‐dihydro‐2′‐thioxospiro[indole‐3,6′‐[1,3]thiazin]‐2(1H)‐one derivatives is described. It involves the reaction of isatine, 1‐phenyl‐2‐(1,1,1‐triphenyl‐λ⁵‐phosphanylidene)ethan‐1‐one, and different amines in the presence of CS₂ in dry MeOH at reflux (Scheme 1). The alkyl carbamodithioate, which results from the addition of the amine to CS₂, is added to the α,β‐unsaturated ketone, resulting from the reaction between 1‐phenyl‐2‐(1,1,1‐triphenyl‐λ⁵‐phosphanylidene)ethan‐1‐one and isatine, to produce the 3′‐alkyl‐2′,3′‐dihydro‐4′‐phenyl‐2′‐thioxospiro[indole‐3,6′‐[1,3]thiazin]‐2(1H)‐one derivatives in excellent yields (Scheme 2). Their structures were corroborated spectroscopically (IR, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR, and EI‐MS) and by elemental analyses.     

Novel and Efficient One Pot Condensation Reactions between Ketones and Aromatic Alcohols in the Presence of CrO3 Producing α,β‐Unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds

We report a new, effective and simple method for preparing α,β‐unsaturated carbonyl compounds by reacting ketones and aromatic alcohols at 56°C in the presence of CrO₃ (CrO₃ acts as an oxidant and also a catalyst) for around 10 h. The condensation reactions occurred effectively among a wide combination of ketones and alcohols. The procedure is simple and the yields can be high up to 98%. And a probable mechanism is proposed.     

Silica‐supported Perchloric Acid Catalyzed One‐pot Synthesis of 1,4‐Dihydropyridines

An environmentally friendly and highly efficient procedure for the preparation of 1,4‐dihydropyridines by the reaction between α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes, aromatic amines and β‐keto esters in the presence of silica supported perchloric acid is described.     

New Flavonoids from Lysimachia christinae Hance

A chemical investigation of Lysimachia christinae, a traditional Chinese medicine used as an effective conservative treatment for gall stones, hepatolithiasis, and urinary calculi, resulted in the isolation of two new flavonoids, myricetin 3,3′‐di‐α‐L ‐rhamnopyranoside ( 1 ) and quercetin 3,3′‐di‐α‐L ‐rhamnopyranoside ( 2 ), along with the five known flavonoids quercetin 3‐[O‐α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐β‐D ‐galactopyranoside], amentoflavone, hyperin, quercetin 3‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside, and kaempferol 3‐α‐L ‐rhamnopyranoside. Amentoflavone was reported for the first time from the genus Lysimachia, and quercetin 3‐[O‐α‐L ‐rhamopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐β‐D ‐galactopyranoside] was isolated from this plant for the first time. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated on the basis of their chemical reactions and extensive spectroscopic analyses, including UV, mass, and NMR spectra.     

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.     

Reactions of Acid Chlorides/Ketenes with 2‐Substituted 4,5‐Dihydro‐4,4‐dimethyl‐1,3‐thiazoles: Formation of Penam Derivatives

Addition reactions of acid chlorides with various 2‐substituted 4,5‐dihydro‐4,4‐dimethyl‐5‐(methylsulfanyl)‐1,3‐thiazoles under basic conditions were studied. Two kinds of products were obtained from these additions, β‐lactams and non‐β‐lactam adducts. When the reaction was carried out with 4,5‐dihydro‐1,3‐thiazoles with a Ph substituent at C(2), the reaction proceeded via formal [2+2] cycloaddition and led to the correspoding β‐lactam. On the other hand, acid chlorides and 4,5‐dihydro‐1,3‐thiazoles bearing an α‐H‐atom at the C(2)‐substituent underwent C(α)‐ and/or N‐addition reactions and furnished non‐β‐lactam adducts, i.e., C(α)‐ and/or N‐acylated 1,3‐thiazolidines. The attempted transformations of sulfonyl esters of exo‐6‐hydroxy penams to endo‐6‐azido penams failed, although they were successful with mono‐β‐lactams under the same conditions.     

Insights into the Synthesis of Steroidal A‐Ring Olefins

The classical synthesis, followed by purification of the steroidal A‐ring Δ¹‐olefin, 5α‐androst‐1‐en‐17‐one ( 5 ), from the Δ¹‐3‐keto enone, (5α,17β)‐3‐oxo‐5‐androst‐1‐en‐17‐yl acetate ( 1 ), through a strategy involving the reaction of Δ¹‐3‐hydroxy allylic alcohol, 3β‐hydroxy‐5α‐androst‐1‐en‐17β‐yl acetate ( 2 ), with SOCl₂, was revisited in order to prepare and biologically evaluate 5 as aromatase inhibitor for breast cancer treatment. Surprisingly, the followed strategy also afforded the isomeric Δ²‐olefin 6 as a by‐product, which could only be detected on the basis of NMR analysis. Optimization of the purification and detection procedures allowed us to reach 96% purity required for biological assays of compound 5 . The same synthetic strategy was applied, using the Δ⁴‐3‐keto enone, 3‐oxoandrost‐4‐en‐17β‐yl acetate ( 8 ), as starting material, to prepare the potent aromatase inhibitor Δ⁴‐olefin, androst‐4‐en‐17‐one ( 15 ). Unexpectedly, a different aromatase inhibitor, the Δ^3,5‐diene, androst‐3,5‐dien‐17‐one ( 12 ), was formed. To overcome this drawback, another strategy was developed for the preparation of 15 from 8 . The data now presented show the unequal reactivity of the two steroidal A‐ring Δ¹‐ and Δ⁴‐3‐hydroxy allylic alcohol intermediates, 3β‐hydroxy‐5α‐androst‐1‐en‐17β‐yl acetate ( 2 ) and 3β‐hydroxyandrost‐4‐en‐17β‐yl acetate ( 9 ), towards SOCl₂, and provides a new strategy for the preparation of the aromatase inhibitor 12 . Additionally, a new pathway to prepare compound 15 was achieved, which avoids the formation of undesirable by‐products.     

Mn(III)‐Mediated Chlorination of Conjugated Ketones

Mn(III)‐Cl formed by the reaction of Mn(OAc)₃ and hydrochloric acid in situ, reacted with α,β‐unsaturated ketones readily to afford α,β‐dichloroketones in good yields under mild conditions. The products are key precursors for synthesis of conjugated alkynones and other organic compounds.     

Internally Reuse Waste: Catalytic Asymmetric One‐Pot Strecker Reaction of Fluoroalkyl Ketones,Anilines and TMSCN by Sequential Catalysis

We report a highly enantioselective one‐pot facile synthesis of fluorinated C^α‐tetrasubstituted amino nitriles from α‐fluoroalkyl α‐aryl ketones, anilines, and TMSCN through a sequential p‐TsOH catalyzed ketimine formation and chiral bifunctional tertiary amine mediated asymmetric Strecker reaction. This one‐pot approach has two important advantages. First, it greatly improves the overall yield of the synthesis of chiral C^α‐tetrasubstituted fluorinated aminonitriles from ketones, because the purification of α‐fluorinated ketimines by column chromatography suffers from great yield loss. Second, it represents the first example of asymmetric tandem reactions that can simultaneously reuse the by‐product and catalyst from the upstream step as a promoter and an additive to improve the reactivity and enantioselectivity of the subsequent catalytic enantioselective reaction, respectively. It could utilize the by‐product H₂O generated in‐situ from the ketimine formation step to activate TMSCN to form HCN, and concurrently reuse the remaining p‐TsOH acid as an additive to improve enantioselectivity.     

Rhodium Fluoroapatite Catalyzed Conjugate Addition of Arylboronic Acids to α,β‐Unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds

Rhodium fluoroapatite (RhFAP) is an efficient catalyst for conjugate addition of organoboron reagents to α,β‐unsaturated carbonyl compounds. A variety of arylboronic acids and α,β‐unsaturated carbonyl compounds were converted to the corresponding conjugate‐addition products, demonstrating the versatility of the reaction. The reaction is highly selective. RhFAP was recovered quantitatively by simple filtration, and reused for four cycles.     

Enantioselective Alkylation of N‐Arylhydrazones Derived from α‐Keto Esters and Isatin Derivatives through Asymmetric Phase‐Transfer Catalysis

The phase‐transfer‐catalyzed asymmetric alkylation reactions of N‐arylhydrazones derived from α‐keto‐esters and isatin derivatives afford enantioenriched azo compounds that bear a tetra‐substituted carbon stereocenter in good yields with high chemo‐ and enantioselectivity. The alkylation products can be readily converted into chiral amino esters, hydrazine derivatives, and aza‐β‐lactams without loss of enantiopurity.     

Synthesis of Three‐, Five‐, and Six‐Membered Heterocycles Derived from New β‐Amino‐α‐(trifluoromethyl) Alcohols

Nucleophilic trifluoromethylation of α‐imino ketones 2 , derived from arylglyoxal, with Ruppert–Prakash reagent (CF₃SiMe₃) offers a convenient access to the corresponding O‐silylated β‐imino‐α‐(trifluoromethyl) alcohols. In a ‘one‐pot’ procedure, by treatment with NaBH₄, these products smoothly undergo reduction and desilylation yielding the expected β‐amino‐α‐(trifluoromethyl) alcohols 4 . The latter were used as starting materials for the synthesis of diverse trifluoromethylated heterocycles, including aziridines 5 , 1,3‐oxazolidines 8 , 1,3‐oxazolidin‐2‐ones 9 , 1,3,2‐oxazaphospholidine 2‐oxides 10 , 1,2,3‐oxathiazolidine 2‐oxides 11 , and morpholine‐2,3‐diones 12 . An optically active 5‐(trifluoromethyl)‐substituted 1,3‐oxazolidin‐2‐one 9g was also obtained.     

Steroidal Alkaloids from the Roots and Rhizomes of Vertrum nigrum L.

Two new steroidal alkaloids, neoverapatuline ( 1 ) and (1β,3α,5β)‐1,3‐dihydroxyjervanin‐12‐en‐11‐one ( 2 ), together with the four known compounds, veratramine ( 3 ), rubijervine ( 4 ), veratrosine ( 5 ), and veratroylzygadenine ( 6 ), were isolated from the roots and rhizomes of Veratrum nigrum L. Their structures were established through combined analyses of physicochemical properties and spectroscopic evidence. All compounds 1 – 6 were tested for their cytotoxicities in vitro against the human glioma cell line SF188.