Synthesis and conformational properties of model dipeptides containing novel axially chiral α,β-didehydroamino acids at the (i+1) position of a β-turn conformation

A series of model dipeptides containing some novel axially chiral α,β-didehydroamino acids at the (i+1) position has been synthesised by reaction of the corresponding 4-(4-alkylcyclohexylidene)-2-phenyl-1,3-oxazol-5(4H)-one with (S)-phenylalanine cyclohexylamide. The conformations of two dipeptides in the crystal state have been studied by X-ray diffraction crystallographic analysis. The backbone torsion angles suggest that both peptides adopt similar type-II′ β-turn conformations. NMR spectroscopy has revealed that relatively rigid β-turn structures also persist in solution and that the absolute configurations of the axially chiral α,β-didehydroamino acids do not significantly influence the conformation of the peptide chain. Both heterochiral and homochiral dipeptides are found to accommodate the same βII′-turn conformation. Axially chiral α,β-didehydroamino acids (R_a)- and (S_a)-4-methyl-, 4-phenyl- and (4-tert-butylcyclohexylidene)glycine can be considered as elongated structural analogues of alanine, phenylglycine and tert-leucine of R and S configuration since, in these chiral α,β-didehydroamino acids, the methyl, phenyl and tert-butyl groups are located about 4.3 Å away from the peptide backbone in which they are incorporated.     

Chiral N,N′-dioxide-iron(II) complexes catalyzed enantioselective oxa-Michael addition of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes

The enantioselective oxa-Michael addition reaction of 1-(4-methoxyphenyl) ethanone oxime to various α,β-unsaturated aldehydes was accomplished by using chiral N,N′-dioxide-FeSO₄·7H₂O (1:1) complex. Aromatic acid was employed as additive to increase the yield of the reaction. The corresponding adducts were obtained in moderate yields with up to 76% ee under mild conditions.     

The stereodivergent asymmetric synthesis of a range of 2-(1′-hydroxyalkyl)phenols

The use of the (S)-α-methylbenzyl group as a chiral auxiliary has allowed the diastereoselective ortho-deprotonation of a chromium tricarbonyl complexed phenoxy ring. When the resultant ortho-anion is treated with an aldehyde two diastereoisomeric complexes are formed, in relatively poor dr, which differ in the configuration of the newly formed benzylic stereogenic centre. However, both ortho-formylation followed by treatment with Grignard reagents and ortho-acylation followed by reduction with Super-Hydride^® were found to be completely diastereoselective, giving access to either epimer of the corresponding benzylic alcohol complexes in >99:1 dr. Subsequent oxidative removal of the chromium tricarbonyl unit, followed by cleavage of the O-α-methylbenzyl chiral auxiliary gives enantiopure 2-(1′-hydroxyalkyl)phenols. Following this stereodivergent procedure, either enantiomer of the product may be accessed from a single antipode of [(α-methylbenzyloxy)benzene]Cr(CO)₃.     

α-Oxides in reactions with N-H acids of the heterocyclic series

The reaction of epoxides with 3-nitro-5-bromo-1,2,4-triazole gave a series of 1-(β-hydroxyalkyl)-3-nitro-5-bromo-1,2,4-triazoles, which, under the influence of bases, undergo intramolecular cyclization with HBr elimination to give an ew heterocyclic system — 2-nitro-5,6-dihydrooxazolo[2,3-e]-1,2,4-triazole.     

Synthese und Eigenschaften von 2-(α-Hydroxyalkyl)-und 2-(α-alkoxycarbonyl)-substituierten 4-Methyl-5-(β-hydroxyäthyl)-thiazolen und -thiazoliumsalzen

Condensation of the tetrahydropyranyl ether of the α-hydroxyalkyl-thioamides with 3-bromo-4-hydroxy-2-pentanones yields DL -2-(α-hydroxyalkyl)-4-methyl-5-(β-hydroxyethyl)-thiazoles. By oxidation with chromic anhydride 2-hydroxymethyl-4-methyl-5-(β-acetoxyethyl)-thiazole yields the corresponding 2-formyl derivative. The latter compound reacted with GRIGNARD complexes gives the homologous DL -2-(α-hydroxyalkyl)-4-methyl-5-(β-hydroxyethyl)-thiazoles. This is a general method for the synthesis of the thiazole part of the «active aldehydes». 2-Acetyl-4-methyl-5-(β-hydroxyethyl)-thiazole is also obtained by chromic oxidation of the suitable methylthiazol-2-yl-carbinol. The condensation of the thioamides obtained from the α-ethoxycarbonyl-nitriles with 3-bromo-5-acetoxy-2-pentanone results in the DL -2-(α-ethoxycarbonyl-alkyl)-4-methyl-5-(β-acetoxyethyl)-thiazoles. The α-hydroxyl function is introduced into the 2-(α-ethoxycarbonyl-alkyl) group by chlorination with sulfuryl chloride and replacement of the introduced chlorine by acetate. The latter compounds are the esters of the thiazole part of the «active α-oxo-carboxylic acids» (e.g. active pyruvate, etc.). The reaction of 2-(α-hydroxyalkyl)-4-methyl-5-(β-hydroxyethyl)-thiazoles and 2-(α-ethoxycarbonyl-α-acetoxy-alkyl)-4-methyl-5-(β-acetoxyethyl)-thiazoles, respectively, with alkyl, alkenyl and aralkyl haloids, or with 2-methyl-4-amino-5-bromomethyl-pyrimidine hydrobromide results in the quaternary thiazolium compounds belonging to the group of the active aldehydes, active α-oxo-carboxylic acids, etc. According to this method 2-hydroxymethyl-thiamine bromide hydro-bromide has been synthesized, which can be considered as the pyrophosphate-free «active formal-dehyde». The 2-α-hydrogen atom in 2-(α-hydroxyalkyl)-thiazolium compounds cannot be replaced by deuterium under conditions similar to those used for the H → D exchange in thiamine. The main peaks in the mass spectra of 2-(α-hydroxyalkyl) substituted thiazoles and thiazolium quaternary salts are listed.     

New functional chiral P-based ligands and application in ruthenium-catalyzed enantioselective transfer hydrogenation of ketones

Metal-catalyzed asymmetric transfer hydrogenation is a powerful and practical method for the reduction of ketones to produce the corresponding secondary alcohols, which are valuable building blocks in the pharmaceutical, perfume, and agrochemical industries. Hence, a series of novel chiral β-amino alcohols were synthesized by chiral amines with regioselective ring opening of (S)-propylene oxide or reaction with (S)-(+)-2-hydroxypropyl p-toluenesulfonate by a straightforward method. The chiral ruthenium catalytic systems generated from [Ru(arene)(μ-Cl)Cl]₂ complexes and chiral phosphinite ligands based on amino alcohol derivatives were employed in asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of ketones to give the corresponding optically active alcohols; (2S)-1-{[(2S)-2-[(diphenylphosphanyl)oxy]propyl][(1R)-1-phenylethyl]amino}propan-2-yldiphenylphosphinitobis[dichol-oro(η⁶-benzene)ruthenium(II)] acts an excellent catalyst in the reduction of α-naphthyl methyl ketone, giving the corresponding alcohol with up to 99% ee. The substituents on the backbone of the ligands were found to have a remarkable effect on both the conversion and enantioselectivity of the catalysts. Furthermore, this transfer hydrogenation is characterized by low reversibility under these conditions.     

Enantioselective synthesis of 2-substituted-1,4-diketones from (S)-mandelic acid enolate and α,β-enones

An approach for the synthesis of chiral non-racemic 2-substituted-1,4-diketones from (S)-mandelic acid and α,β-enones has been developed. The reaction of lithium enolate of the 1,3-dioxolan-4-one derived from optically active (S)-mandelic acid and pivalaldehyde with α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds proceeds readily to give the corresponding Michael adducts in good yields and with high diastereoselectivities. The addition of HMPA (3 equiv) reverses and strongly enhances the diastereoselectivity of the reaction. A change in the reaction mechanism from a lithium catalyzed to the one where catalysis has been suppressed by coordination of HMPA to lithium is proposed to explain these results. Subsequent basic hydrolysis of the 1,3-dioxolan-4-one moiety yields the corresponding α-hydroxy acids (in hemiacetal form), which after decarboxylation with oxygen in the presence of pivalaldehyde and the Co(III)Me₂opba complex as catalyst give chiral 2-substituted 1,4-dicarbonyl compounds with very high enantiomeric excesses. In this approach, (S)-mandelic acid acts as an umpoled chiral equivalent of the benzoyl anion.     

Synthesis of optically active gem-difluorocyclopropanes through a chemo-enzymatic reaction strategy

The synthesis of a chiral difluorocyclopropane building block has been accomplished using lipase-catalyzed reaction; the prochiral diacetate of cis-1,3-bishydroxymethyl-2,2-difluorocyclopropane was converted to the corresponding chiral monoacetate by the Alcaligenes lipase (lipase QL)-catalyzed hydrolysis with >99% enantiomeric excess. Enantiomerically pure trans-1,3-bishydroxymethyl-2,2-difluorocyclopropane was also obtained through the Pseudomonas cepacia SL-25 lipase (lipase SL)-catalyzed reaction. The synthesis of the chiral trans,trans-bis-gem-difluorocyclopropane derivatives has been accomplished using the same lipase technology; trans,trans-1,6-bishydroxymethyl-2,2,5,5-tetrafluorobicyclopropane was obtained in optically active form using the lipase SL-catalyzed hydrolysis of the corresponding diacetate.     

Reaction of α,β-unsaturated Fischer carbene complexes with allyl alkoxide

Optically enriched homo-binuclear Fischer chromium carbene complexes with planar chiral arene chromium complexes gave α-allyl β-arylpropionates up to 97% ee by reaction with allyl alkoxide and subsequent photo-oxidative demetalation. The chiral hetero-binuclear tungsten carbene complexes afforded anti α-allyl β-hydroxy β-arylpropionates as a major product up to 92/8 dr by the same reaction sequence. High diastereoselectivity in these reactions is contributed to the planar chirality of the arene chromium complex, even though the reaction was carried out under vigorous basic media. The reaction products, α-allyl β-arylpropionates were derived by 1,3-M(CO)₅ shift and subsequent [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement. Also, the corresponding chromium-uncomplexed α,β-unsaturated Fischer carbene complexes afforded α-allyl β-arylpropionates under the same conditions. Formation of β-allyl β-arylpropionates via 1,2-M(CO)₅ shift followed by [3,4]-sigmatropic rearrangement was not observed in both reactions of chromium-coordinated and the corresponding chromium-uncoordinated α,β-unsaturated Fischer carbene complexes with allyl alkoxide in the presence of base.     

A convenient method for the preparation of chiral phosphonoacetamides and their Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons reaction

Chiral phosphonoacetamides bearing (S)-(α-methylbenzyl)benzylamine, (S,S)-bis(α-methylbenzyl)amine, l-phenylglycine methyl ester and l-phenylglycinol were easily prepared in good yield by means of the Michaelis–Arbuzov reaction of chiral bromoacetamides obtained in quantitative yield, with trimethyl phosphite, which under Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons conditions with several aryl and alkyl aldehydes under Masamune–Roush procedure using LiCl and DBU in THF or toluene gave the corresponding chiral α,β-unsaturated amides. The present procedure is a convenient and efficient methodology for the preparation of phosphonoacetamides and chiral α,β-unsaturated amides in high E-selectivity.     

Asymmetric synthesis of (alphaR)-polyfluoroalkylated prolinols based on the perfluoroalkyl-induced highly stereoselective reduction of perfluoroalkyl N-Boc-pyrrolidyl ketones

Reduction of the obtained chiral (S)- tert-butyl 2-(perfluoroalkanoyl)pyrrolidine-1-carboxylate with sodium borohydride or lithium aluminum hydride proceeded smoothly to give the corresponding (S)- tert-butyl 2-((R)-perfluoro-1-hydroxyalkyl)pyrrolidine-1-carboxylate in yields of 73-97% with excellent diastereoselectivities (up to >98% de), compared with the reduction of nonfluorinated (S)-tert-butyl 2-pentanoylpyrrolidine-1-carboxylate.     

Chemoenzymatic synthesis of chiral 4-(N,N-dimethylamino)pyridine derivatives

Chiral 4-(N,N-dimethylamino)pyridine derivatives have been prepared through a chemoenzymatic synthesis where the enzymatic kinetic resolution of a family of 4-chloro-2-(1-hydroxyalkyl)pyridines is the key step for the formation of potentially important chiral catalysts. Pseudomonas cepacia lipase (PSL) showed excellent enantioselectivity in the acylation of the (R)-enantiomers (E > 200) using vinyl acetate as acylating agent and THF as solvent, obtaining products and substrates enantiomerically pure and with excellent yields.     

Asymmetric catalytic aza-Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction using chiral bifunctional phosphine amides as catalysts

The asymmetric catalytic aza-Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction of N-sulfonated imines with α,β-unsaturated ketones has been successfully conducted by using chiral bifunctional phosphine amides as catalysts. A series of new chiral bifunctional phosphine amides were designed, synthesized, and systematically studied for this asymmetric reaction. The corresponding aza-MBH adducts were obtained in good yields (75-99%) and up to very good enantiomeric excesses (51-95% ee) under mild conditions.     

Stereoselective synthesis of 3-(ω-hydroxyalkyl)-2-pyrrolidinones from α-alkylidenelactones and nitromethane

Enantiopure 3-(ω-hydroxyalkyl)-2-pyrrolidinones 7 and 9 were synthesised by Michael-addition of nitromethane to chiral α-alkylidenelactones 1 followed by reduction of the resulting 3-(β-nitroalkyl)-lactones and ring transformation of the intermediate 3-(β-aminoalkyl)-lactones. In an analogous manner the naturally occurring costuslactone 10 was transformed into the butyrolactam 12.     

Synthesis of N-alkyl- and N-(β-hydroxyalkyl)-2-(acylmethylthio)benzimidazoles and their properties

N-alkyl- and N-(β-hydroxyalkyl)-2-(acylmethylthio)benzimidazoles have been obtained by the reaction of N-alkyl- and N-(β-hydroxyalkyl)benzimidazoline-2-thiones with α-haloketones. The structures of the substances synthesized have been confirmed by IR, PMR, and mass spectra. The biological properties of the compounds obtained have been studied.     

Studies on asymmetric synthesis of bicyclomycin precursors. A chemoenzymatic route to chiral 2,5-diketopiperazines and 2-oxa-bicyclo[4.2.2]decane-8,10-diones

A novel asymmetric route to bicyclomycin analogues, 2-oxa-bicyclo[4.2.2]decane-8,10-diones, is described. The key chiral synthons 3-(ω-hydroxyalkyl)-2,5-diketopiperazines 3a-c were obtained via enzymatic kinetic resolution of their respective acetates 2a-c using hydrolases (up to >98% ee, E > 200). The chiral 2,5-diketopiperazines were then transformed into their bicyclic derivatives in a stereospecific manner. Circular dichroism and NMR studies were performed to determine the absolute and relative configuration of the obtained products. The biocatalytic approach gave high stereoselectivities in comparison to the chiral pool synthesis from glutamic acid (58% ee) and thus demonstrated the ability of hydrolases to discriminate a remote stereocenter.     

The stereoselective α-alkylation of chiral β-hydroxy esters and some applications thereof

The stereoselectivity of the α-alkylation of chiral β-hydroxy ester is discussed. The configuration of the alkylated product was proved chemically (Scheme 2). A one pot aldol-alkylation reaction was developed leading stereoselectively to racemic (s*,s*)-α-alkyl-β-hydroxy ester (Scheme 3,4). Baker's yeast reduction of 2-alkyl-3-keto ester led to valuable chiral (2RS,3S)-intermediates, which were converted via the corresponding dianion to compounds with a chiral quaternary C atom (Scheme 6). Synthetic applications of the above findings are shown in the synthesis of various chiral compounds (Scheme 8 and 9).     

TiCl4 promoted menthyl ester chiral auxiliary mediated synthesis of chiral syn-β-amino esters and applications of a representative syn-β-amino ester

β-Amino esters were obtained in up to 78% yield with 72:28–96:4 diastereomeric ratios by the reaction of the chiral titanium enolate of menthyl esters, prepared using the TiCl₄/Et₃N reagent system with prochiral imines. A representative syn-β-amino ester derivative has been used for the resolution of racemic mandelic acid to obtain a sample with >99% ee in a single step. A representative syn-β-amino ester was converted to the corresponding N-deprotected amino ester using the Pd–C/HCOOH reagent system, and then to the corresponding β-amino acid using the glacial CH₃COOH/HCl reagent system, and to the corresponding β-lactam derivative with partial epimerization by the reaction using C₂H₅MgBr.     

Doubly stereocontrolled asymmetric Michael addition of acetylacetone to nitroolefins promoted by an isosteviol-derived bifunctional thiourea

A novel class of chiral bifunctional thioureas bearing a chiral lipophilic beyerane scaffold and a tertiary amino group was designed and prepared. The thioureas were proven to be effective for catalyzing the doubly stereocontrolled asymmetric Michael addition between acetylacetone and nitroolefins. The corresponding adducts were obtained in high yields (up to 95%) and with good to excellent enantioselectivities (up to 97%). In addition, the reaction of tert-butyl acetoacetate and trans-β-nitrostyrene also proceeded smoothly with good enantioselectivity.     

Synthesis of enantiopure β-amino alcohols via AKR/ARO of epoxides using recyclable macrocyclic Cr(III) salen complexes

A series of chiral macrocyclic Cr(III) salen complexes 1-8 were synthesized and characterized. These complexes were found to be highly active, regio-, diastereo-, and enantioselective catalysts in aminolytic kinetic resolution (AKR) of racemic trans-epoxides as well as asymmetric ring opening (ARO) of prochiral meso-epoxides with various anilines as nucleophiles at room temperature in 18-24 h. Excellent yields (>99% with respect to the nucleophile) with high enantioselectivity (ee, >99%) of chiral anti-β-amino alcohols was achieved with concomitant recovery of corresponding epoxides in high ee (up to >99%). The complex 1 also catalyzed the ARO of meso-epoxides to provide corresponding syn-β-amino alcohols in high yield (99%) and ee (up to 91%). Due to built-in basic sites in the catalyst, no external base (as an additive) was required to promote AKR and ARO reactions. The catalyst 1 was conveniently recycled several times with retention of its performance. The AKR of trans-stilbene oxide with aniline was successfully demonstrated at relatively higher scale (10 mmol) using the catalyst 1.