Stereoselective synthesis of a potent thrombin inhibitor by a novel P2-P3 lactone ring opening

The concise synthesis of a potent thrombin inhibitor was accomplished by a mild lactone aminolysis between an orthogonally protected bis-benzylic amine and a diastereomerically pure lactone. The lactone was synthesized by the condensation of l-proline methyl ester with an enantiomerically pure hydroxy acid, which in turn was synthesized by a highly stereoselective (>500:1 er) and productive (100,000:1, S/C) enzymatic reduction of an alpha-ketoester. In addition, a second route to the enantiomerically pure lactone was accomplished by a diastereoselective ketoamide reduction.     

Dihydrobenzopyran skeleton from β-lactams: a stereoselective ring opening–ring closure reaction sequence

Sodium borohydride treatment of the enantiomerically pure tricarbonyl(η⁶-arene) chromium(0) complexed β-lactam 7 promoted a stereoselective ring opening–ring closure reaction sequence leading to the novel dihydrobenzopyran derivative 9 in good yield.     

One-pot asymmetric synthesis of beta-cyanohydroxymethyl alpha-amino acid derivatives: formation of three contiguous stereogenic centers

[reaction: see text] One-pot asymmetric Mannich-hydrocyanation reactions are described. Reaction of unmodified aldehydes with N-PMP-protected alpha-imino ethyl glyoxylate in the presence of catalytic amounts of L-proline followed by the addition of Et(2)AlCN provided highly enantiomerically pure beta-cyanohydroxymethyl alpha-amino acid derivatives possessing three contiguous stereogenic centers as single diastereomers (93-99% ee). Control of reaction temperature during the cyanation step directed whether cyclization of the products to lactones occurred.     

Michael addition of nitromethane to non-racemic chiral Cr(CO)3 complexes of ethyl cinnamate derivatives: stereoselective synthesis of (R)-(−)-baclofen

We carried out a highly stereoselective Michael addition (96% de) of nitromethane to enantiomerically pure tricarbonyl(ethyl-4-chloro-2-trimethylsilylcinnamate)chromium(0). This reaction is the key step in the synthesis of (R)-(−)-baclofen, a potent antispastic drug.     

Novel multichiral diols and diamines by highly stereoselective pinacol coupling of planar chiral [2.2]paracyclophane derivatives

The TiCl4/Zn-mediated intermolecular pinacol coupling of the planar chiral carbonyl compounds [2.2]paracyclophane-4-carbaldehyde, 4-acetyl[2.2]paracyclophane (ketone) and the four regioisomeric 5-, 7-, 12- and 13-methoxy[2.2]paracyclophane-4-carbaldehydes as well as the pTosOH-Zn/Cu-promoted coupling of their N-substituted imines is described. Coupling of the enantiomerically pure substrates (most of carbonyl compounds and all imines) occurs stereoselectively giving rise to diastereomerically pure 1,2-diols and 1,2-diamines. Racemic aldehydes and ketone react with different degrees of stereoselectivity (depending on the substituents in certain positions) and produce one to three diastereomers. 7-methoxy[2.2]paracyclophane-4-carbaldehyde undergoes a tandem pinacol coupling-pinacol rearrangement to yield bis-(7-methoxy[2.2]paracyclophane-4-yl)acetaldehyde. Coupling of the racemic imines produces a mixture of single racemic D,L-diamine and single meso-diamine in each case. The stereoselective formation of the asymmetric centres is governed by the planar chiral [2.2]paracyclophanyl moiety. The techniques elaborated are extended to the intramolecular coupling of [2.2]paracyclophane-4,13-dicarbaldehyde and its bis-N-phenylimine, resulting in stereoselective formation of the chiral triply-bridged diol and exclusive formation of the meso-diamine. X-Ray investigations of several diols and diamines have been carried out and the structural features of these derivatives are discussed.     

Asymmetric synthesis of axially chiral benzamides and anilides utilizing planar chiral arene chromium complexes

Optically active axially chiral 2,6-disubstituted benzamides and anilides were stereoselectively prepared by utilizing planar chiral (arene)chromium complexes. Nucleophilic addition to enantiomerically pure planar chiral tricarbonyl(N,N-diethyl-2-methyl-6-formyl- (or 6-acyl)benzamide)chromium complex gave axially chiral 2-methyl-6-substituted N,N-diethyl benzamide chromium complexes with high selectivity. An alternative method for the preparation of axial chiral benzamides or anilides is an enantiotopic lithiation at the benzylic methyl of prochiral tricarbonylchromium complexes of N,N-diethyl-2,6-dimethylbenzamide and N-methyl-N-acyl-2,6-dimethylaniline with a chiral lithium amide followed by electrophilic substitution. The resulting axially chiral chromium-complexed benzamides and anilides were oxidized in air to give chromium-free axially chiral benzamides and anilides in enantiomerically enriched form without axial bond rotation at room temperature.     

Single enantiomer epoxides by bromomandelation of prochiral alkenes

A combination of mandelic acid and N-bromosuccinimide efficiently converts prochiral alkenes into a readily separable 1:1 mixture of the bromomandelates. The diastereomerically pure bromomandelates are then converted into a variety of enantiomerically pure products. Terminal alkenes are converted into enantiomerically pure epoxides. Cyclohexene is converted into enantiomerically pure cis-2-azidocyclohexanol and cis-2-phenylthiocyclohexanol.     

An efficient and general method for resolving cyclopropene carboxylic acids

A general method is described for the resolution of cycloprop-2-ene carboxylic acids via diastereomeric N-acyloxazolidines prepared from enantiomerically pure oxazolidinones. Although a number of oxazolidinones were shown to resolve cyclopropene carboxylic acids, the oxazolidinones of S-phenylalaninol, S-phenylglycine and (1S,2R)-cis-1-amino-2-indanol are optimal in terms of resolving power and cost effectiveness. Separations were performed using simple flash chromatography, and because there is typically a large difference in R_f values it is possible to separate gram quantities of pure diastereomers in a single chromatogram. The cycloprop-2-ene carboxylic acids that can be resolved include those that are substituted at the 1-position by H, Ph, α-naphthyl, CO₂Me, CH₂OMOM, and trans-styryl; alkene substituents include Me, n-alkyl, Ph and tethered alkynes. Remarkably, 2-methyl-3-propylcycloprop-2-ene carboxylic acid can also be resolved with ease. The relative configurations of four diastereomerically pure oxazolidines were determined by X-ray crystallography. Reduction of the N-acyloxazolidinones with LiBH₄ give enantiomerically pure derivatives of 3-hydroxymethylcyclopropene that react with either MeMgCl or vinylMgCl and catalytic CuI to give enantiomerically pure products of syn-addition.     

An efficient resolution of phosphinous acid-boranes

A general protocol has been developed for the resolution of racemic P-stereogenic phosphinous acid-boranes. It employs cinchonine as the resolving agent and most frequently gives an access to the pertinent diastereomerically pure cinchoninium salt of the acid in a single crystallization step. The resolved acids were assigned their absolute configurations by chemical correlations with already known enantiomerically pure phosphinite-boranes.     

Asymmetric Catalytic Preparation of Polysubstituted Cyclopropanol and Cyclopropylamine Derivatives

The catalytic asymmetric carbometalation of cyclopropenes followed by either an electrophilic oxidation or amination reaction provides a unique approach to the formation of diastereomerically pure and enantiomerically enriched cyclopropanol and cyclopropylamine derivatives, respectively.     

Metal arene complexation of polybenzyl: Preparation and methylation

Polybenzyl has been complexed with the chromium tricarbonyl moiety by thermal treatment with chromium hexacarbonyl. The aryl rings of the product were complexed with the chromium tricarbonyl moiety to the extent of 41–63%. Assessment of the degree of complexation was satisfactorily carried out by elemental chromium analysis or by ¹³C-NMR methods which agreed within 5%. GPC was less satisfactory. TGA analysis of the complexed polymers suggested the possibility of cross-linking on thermal treatment. The benzylic groups of the polymer complex were methylated with base and methyl iodide in up to 88% of the complexed arene activated methylene groups. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

High stereocontrol in aldol reaction with ketones: enantioselective synthesis of beta-hydroxy gamma-ketoesters by ester enolate aldol reactions with 2-acyl-2-alkyl-1,3-dithiane 1-oxides

The asymmetric aldol reaction of 1,2-diketones, masked as nonracemic 2-acyl dithiane oxides, with lithium enolates derived from several esters and lactones, proceeds with a high degree of stereocontrol at both carbonyl and enolate prochiral centers, the stereocontrol mainly determined by the configuration of the sulfoxide sulfur atom. The sense of induced stereochemistry observed for ester enolates is different from that seen for lactone enolates. Hydrolysis of the dithiane oxide units of the major diastereoisomerically pure aldol products affords enantiomerically pure tertiary alpha-substituted beta-hydroxy-gamma-ketoesters.     

Stereoselective synthesis of 3-amino-4-substituted-2-azetidinones via [2+2] cycloadditions of tricarbonyl(ηarene)chromium(0)complexed imines

The stereoselective [2+2] cycloaddition reaction between the chiral tricarbonyl(η⁶arene) chromium(0) complexed imines 1 and 6 and phthalimidoketene affords tricarbonyl (η⁶arene)chromium(0) complexed 3-phthalimido-2-azetidinones 3, 7 and 8, both in racemic and enantiopure form. Decomplexation and the cleavage of the phthalimido group give 3-amino-4-substituted-2-azetidinones 5 and 10. Some insights into the stereochemical outcome of the [2+2] cycloaddition process are discussed.     

Novel enantioselective synthesis of trans-α-(2-carboxycycloprop-1-yl)glycines: conformationally constrained l-glutamate analogues

d- and l-α-(2-carboxycycloprop-1-yl)glycines were synthesized from trans-1,3-di(2-furyl)propenone. Conversion of the double bond to a cyclopropane is followed by the formation of an oxime ether. Enantioselective reduction of the oxime ether, separation of diastereomers and oxidation of the furane rings gave enantiomerically pure d- and l-CCG I and CCG II. The structure of oxime 7b was determined by X-ray crystal structure analysis. The key step is the oxazaborolidine catalyzed enantioselective conversion of oxime ethers to amines.     

A stereospecific synthesis of chiral cyclic sulfinamides

Treatment of racemic or enantiomerically pure 2,1-benzothiazines (cyclic sulfoximines) with lithium triethylborohydride results in clean loss of the S-aryl group with complete retention of configuration at sulfur to produce diastereomerically and/or enantiomerically pure cyclic sulfinamides in excellent yield.     

A chemoenzymatic total synthesis of the phytotoxic undecenolide (-)-cladospolide A

An eleven-step synthesis of the title compound (1) from biocatalytically-derived and enantiomerically pure 'building blocks' alcohol (R)-(-)-9 and ester 13 is described. Attempts to construct the twelve-membered lactone ring of cladospolide A in a direct manner by using a ring-closing metathesis (RCM) reaction failed. However, a ten-membered lactone 19, could be constructed by such means and this was then subject to a two-carbon homologation sequence involving, inter alia, Wadsworth-Horner-Emmons and Yamaguchi lactonisation reactions in the closing stages of the synthesis. The impact of substituent stereochemistries and protecting groups on the RCM reaction leading to various ten-membered lactones is also described.     

Total synthesis of the four enantiomerically pure diastereomers of 8-F(2t)-isoprostane

Syntheses of the four enantiomerically pure diastereomers of 8-F(2t)-isoprostane (5-8) are described. The key to this approach was to prepare the racemic alcohol 9 in high diastereomeric purity and then resolve 9 by lipase-mediated acetylation to yield the enantiomerically pure alcohols 30 and 32.     

Synthesis of enantiomerically and diastereomerically pure 2(S)-amino-6(R)-hydroxy-1,7-heptanedioic acid dimethyl ester hydrochloride from cycloheptadiene

The complete carbon framework of enantiomerically and diastereomerically pure 2(S)-amino-6(R)-hydroxy-1,7-heptanedioic acid dimethyl ester hydrochloride was derived from cycloheptadiene in six steps utilizing an amino acid-derived acylnitroso Diels-Alder reaction as the key step. This versatile amino diester has been previously used to synthesize amino-differentiated diaminopimelic acid (DAP) and biologically active analogues. In addition, after formation of a novel aminoxy diketopiperazine, the newly formed carboxyl groups were differentiated by a novel transpeptidation of the amino acid that directed the stereochemistry of the initial cycloaddition.     

Asymmetric Synthesis of Axially Chiral Anilides by Enantiotopic Lithiation of Tricarbonyl(N-methyl-N-acyl-2,6-dimethylanilide)chromium Complex

Axially chiral N-methylanilides were synthesized by enantioselective lithiation of prochiral tricarbonyl(N-methyl-N-pivaloyl-2,6-dimethylaniline)chromium (1) with the lithium amide of the 4-methylpiperazinylethylamine derivative 13 followed by electrophilic quenching up to 97% ee in good yields. The resulting axially chiral chromium-complexd anilides 2 were oxidized under air to give the axially chiral anilides 14 in enantiomerically active form without axial bond rotation at room temperature.     

Lactone Radical Cyclizations and Cyclization Cascades Mediated by SmI(2)-H(2)O

Unsaturated lactones undergo reductive radical cyclizations upon treatment with SmI(2)-H(2)O to give decorated cycloheptanes in a single highly selective operation during which up to three contiguous stereocenters are generated. Furthermore, cascade processes involving lactones bearing two alkenes, an alkene and an alkyne, or an allene and an alkene allow "one-pot" access to biologically significant molecular scaffolds with the construction of up to four contiguous stereocenters. The cyclizations proceed by the trapping of radical anions formed by electron transfer reduction of the lactone carbonyl.