Synthesis of optically active forms of sulcatol : The aggregation pheromone in the scolytid beetle, Gnathotrichus sulcatus

(S)-(+)-Sulcatol (1) and its antipode (1′) were synthesized from (R)-(−)-glutamic acid (2), and its antipode (2′), respectively. This established the absolute configurations of both enantiomers of sulcatol and afforded key materials to study the relationship between pheromone activity and chirality.     

Synthesis of 1,1′-methylenedi[(1R,1′R,3R,3′R,5R,5′R)-8-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-6-en-3-ol] and derivatives: precursors of long-chain polyketides

Racemic 1,1′-methylene[(1RS,1′RS,3RS,3′RS,5RS,5′RS)-8-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-6-en-3-ol] ((±)-6) derived from 2,2′-methylenedifuran has been resolved kinetically with Candida cyclindracea lipase-catalysed transesterification giving 1,1′-methylenedi[(1R,1′R,3R,3′R,5R,5′R)-8-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-6-en-3-ol] (−)-6 (30% yield, 98% ee) and 1,1′-methylenedi[(1S,1′S,3S,3′S,5S,5′S)-8-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-6-en-3-yl] diacetate (+)-8, (40% yield, 98% ee). These compounds have been converted into 1,1′-methylenedi[(4S,4′S,6S,6′S)- and (4R,4′R,6R,6′R)-cyclohept-1-en-4,6-diyl] derivatives.     

Oligomeric flavanoids. Part 13. Synthesis of profisetinidins based on (−) robinetinidol and (+) -epifisetinidol

Acid-catalyzed condensation of (+)-mollisacacidin-[(2R, 3S, 4R)-2, 3-trans-3, 4-trans-flavan-3,3′,4,4′,7-pentaol] with an excess of (−)-robinetinidol[(2R,3S)-2,3-trans-flavan-3,3′,4′,5′,7-pentaol] afforded a novel series of bi-, tri-, and tetraflavanoid profisetinidins. They are accompanied by (−)-fisetinidol-(4,2′)-(−)-robinetinidol which results from the pyrogallol B-ring of (−)-robinetinidol serving as nucleophile competing with its resorcinol A-ring in coupling with a C-4 carbocationic intermediate. Similar condensation with (+)-epifisetinidol[(2S,3S)-2,3-cis-flavan-3,3′,4′,7-tetraol] led to the exclusive formation of [4,6]-interflavanyl bonds, these units being ‘linearly’ arranged in the tetraflavanoid analogue in contrast to the ‘branched’ nature of the (−)-robinetinidol homologue.     

Synthesis and olfactory properties of (−)-(1R,2S)-Georgywood

The enantiomers of Georgywood^® were synthesized from (E)-2-methyl-6-methylene-nona-2,7-diene and methacrylaldehyde followed by oxidation of the Diels–Alder adduct and classical racemate separation of the acid with optically-active N-methylephedrine. Conversion to the final ketone and olfactory evaluation showed that the (−)-(1R,2S)-enantiomer is more powerful by a factor of >100 than its antipode. The absolute configuration was determined by conformational studies and CD-analysis.     

Asymmetric deuteration and deuteriooligomerization of 1-pentene

1-Pentene has been polymerized in the presence of deuterium using as catalyst precursors [Al(CH₃)-O]n and (−)-ethylenebis(4,5,6,7-tetrahydro)-(R)-1-indenylzirconium derivatives ((−)-(R)-EBTHI-ZrX₂, X = CH₃ (I); X = (R)-1′,1″-bi-2-naphtholate (II)). The investigation of 1,2-dideuteriopentane and of the deuteriooligomers thus obtained shows that the (Re) enantioface of the olefin is predominantly involved in the deuteration but its (Si) enantioface in the dimerization and oligomerization. These results, which show the participation of the growing chain in the enantioface discrimination in the stereospecific polymerization of 1-pentene are discussed on the basis of a simple stereochemical model for the transition state of the olefin insertion step.     

Asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of chiral sulphinylethenes with 1-methyl-3-oxido-pyridinium and some nitrones

1,3-Dipolar cycloaddition of (R)-(+)-p-tolyl vinyl sulphoxide 1 with 1-methyl-3-oxidopyridinium 6 proceeded in a diastereoselective manner to afford the exo and endo cycloadducts 11a,b and 12a in 36%, 7% and 29% yield, respectively. The absolute configuration of 11a was determined by its transformation to (1S)-(−)-2-tropanol (−)-15. Attempts to the cycloaddition of the sulphinylethenes 17–19 with the pyridinium 6 were nsuccessful under several conditions. The reaction of the sulphoxide 20 with pyrroline 1-oxide 21 gave an inseparable mixture of products. The cycloaddition of 20 with 3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyridine 1-oxide22 afforded a mixture of four adducts in ca. 90% yield. High level of diastereoselectivity was achieved for the endo cycloaddition affording the adduct 23 in 33% isolated yield. The absolute configuration of 23 was confirmed by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction study. The stereochemical course of the reaction was discussed based on the absolute configuration of the products.     

Tris-chelate complexes with chiral ligands: In search of diastereoisomeric selectivity with remote stereogenic centres

The chiral ligands, 4,4′-bis{(1S,2R,4S)-(−)-bornyloxy}-2,2′-bipyridine, (1S,2R,4S)-1, and 4,4′-bis{(1R,2S,4R)-(+)-bornyloxy}-2,2′-bipyridine, (1R,2S,4R)-1, have been prepared and characterized by spectroscopic techniques and, for (1S,2R,4S)-1, by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Despite the use of enantiomerically pure ligands, the formation of the complexes [Fe((1S,2R,4S)-1)₃]²⁺, [Ru((1S,2R,4S)-1)₃]²⁺, [Ru((1S,2R,4S)-1)(bpy)₂]²⁺ and [Ru((1R,2S,4R)-1)(bpy)₂]²⁺ proceeds without preference for either the Δ or Λ-diastereoisomers.     

Studies on the synthesis of biphenylneolignans. Part 1: Enantioselective synthesis of (S,S)- and (R,R)-2,2′-dimethoxy-4-(3-hydroxy-1-propenyl)-4′-(1,2,3-trihydroxypropyl)diphenyl ether

Two erythro-isomers of 2,2′-dimethoxy-4-(3-hydroxy-1-propenyl)-4′-(1,2,3-trihydroxypropyl)diphenyl ether, (7′S, 8′S)-9 and (7′R, 8′R)-9, were synthesized in seven steps, in which an improved method for the synthesis of the key intermediate 3 was developed. The absolute configuration of the target molecules was also confirmed.     

Asymmetric cyclization of 2-alkenylphenols. A comparative study on the use of palladium(II) and titanium(IV) complexes

The oxidative cyclization of 2-(3-pentenyl)phenol catalyzed by [(η³-pinene)PdOAc]₂ gives optically active (+)-2-vinylchroman (25% e.e.), while (−)-2-(1-hydroxyethyl)chroman (56% e.e.) is formed as a single diastereomer upon treatment with t-BuOOH in the presence of Ti(OⁱPr)₄ and -(+)-diethyl tartrate. 2-(2-Butenyl)phenol also undergoes the Ti-promoted asymmetric cyclization to give (2S,1′R)-(−)-2-(1-hydroxyethyl)-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran (29% e.e.).     

Polyhydroxylated pyrrolizidines. Part 3: A new and short enantiospecific synthesis of (+)-hyacinthacine A2

(1R,2R,3R,7aR)-1,2-Dihydroxy-3-hydroxymethylpyrrolizidine (+)-Hyacinthacine A₂ 1 has been synthesized by Wittig's methodology using [(2′S,3′R,4′R,5′R)-3′,4′-dibenzyloxy-N-tert-butyloxycarbonyl-5′-tert-butyldiphenylsilyloxymethylpyrrolidin-2′-yl]carbaldehyde 3, prepared from a partially protected DMDP 2, and the appropriated ylide, followed by cyclization by an internal reductive amination process of the resulting unsaturated aldehyde 4 and total deprotection.     

Total, asymmetric synthesis of (1r-1-c-(6′-amino-7′h-purin-8′-yl)-1,4-anhydro-3-azido-2,3-dideoxy-d-erythro-pentitol.

The “naked sugar” (+)-(1R,2R,4R)-2-cyano-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-exo-yl acetate ((+)-3) was converted in ten synthetic steps into the new C-nucleoside (1R)-1-C-(6′-amino-7′H-purin-8′-yl)-1,4-anhydro-3-azido-2,3-dideoxy- D-erythro-pentitol ((+)-2) in 19% overall yield.     

Asymmetric hydroboration of [E]- and [Z]-2-methoxy-2-butenes. Synthesis of (−)-[2R,3R]-butane-2,3-diol in >97% ee

Asymmetric hydroboration of [E]- and [Z]-2-methoxy-2-butene, using (−)-diisopinocampheylborane at −25°C in THF solvent, followed by oxidation using H₂O₂/NaOH, gave (−)-[2R,3R]- and (+)-[2R,3S]-3-methoxy-2-butanols in >97 and 90% ee, respectively. (−)-[2R,3R]-3-Methoxy-2-butanol was converted to (−)-[2R,3R]-butane-2,3-diol (>97% ee, in an overall yield of 65%).     

3-exo,3′-exo-(1R,1′R)-Bithiocamphor — a versatile source for functionally different 3,3′-bibornane derivatives, II. 1 An access to 3-exo,3′-exo-(1r,1′r)-bicamphor and related compounds

3-exo,3′-exo-(1R,1′R)-bicamphor (12) is obtained from 3-exo,3′-exo-(1R,1′R)-bithtiocamphor (3) by condensation with hydrazine hydrate followed by hydrolysis of the resulting dihydropyridazine 11. Deprotonation of 12 with NaH and subsequent treatment with potassium hexacyanoferrate (III) furnishes the 2,2′-dioxo-3,3′-bibornanylidene 13, whilst reduction of 12 with L1AlH₄ affords the 3,3′-biisoborneol 16. Further related transformations to various 2,2′-difunctional 3,3′-bibornane derivatives are described, which are could be of interest as chiral ligands     

A convenient stereoselective synthesis of (R)-(−)-denopamine and (R)-(−)-salmeterol

β-Adrenoreceptor agonists (R)-(−)-denopamine (R)-1 and (R)-(−)-salmeterol (R)-2 have been prepared in good overall yield and high enantioselectivity through a biotransformative pathway.     

Synthesis of new chiral amino ether derivatives: synthetic application of meso aziridinium ions prepared from β-amino alcohols

Methods of synthesis of new chiral amino ether derivatives through the opening of aziridinium ions, prepared in situ using trans-(±)-2-(1-N,N-dialkylamino)cyclohexyl mesylate with (R)-(+)-1,1′-bi-2-naphthol, are described. The (R,R,R)-diastereomer was obtained as the major product and isolated as an enantiopure salt, and characterized by single crystal X-ray analysis. The C₂-chiral (R,R,R,R,R)-diamino ether was obtained as the major product by opening of the aziridinium ion, prepared using trans-(±)-2-(1-pyrrolidino)cyclohexyl mesylate and (R)-(+)-1,1′-bi-2-naphthol in the presence of aq NaOH. This was also characterized by single crystal X-ray analysis.     

Extraordinary chiral discrimination in inclusion gas chromatography. Thermodynamics of enantioselectivity between a racemic perfluorodiether and a modified γ-cyclodextrin

The enantiomers of the perfluorodiether “compound B” [2-(fluoromethoxy)-3-methoxy-1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane], a decomposition product of the inhalational anesthetic sevoflurane [2-(fluoromethoxy)-1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoropropane], were separated by gas chromatography on octakis(3-O-butanoyl-2,6-di-O-n-pentyl)-γ-cyclodextrin (Lipodex E), dissolved in polysiloxane PS 255 (30% w/w), with an unexpectedly high separation factor of =10.6 at 26 °C. Using the concept of the retention increment R′, non-enantioselective and enantioselective contributions to retention were separated and thus reliable thermodynamic parameters of enantioselectivity, i.e. −Δ_S,R(ΔG)=5.7 (0.05) kJ/mol at 303 K, −Δ_S,R(ΔH)=20.1 (0.64) kJ/mol, Δ_S,R(ΔS)=−47.4 (2.0) J/K mol and T_isoenant=424 (30) K or 150 °C, were determined by temperature-dependent measurements. The enantiomeric bias represents the largest values ever measured in enantioselective gas chromatography. An equation is presented which allows calculation of the non-enantioselective contributions to retention from measurements at two arbitrary concentrations of Lipodex E in polysiloxane. Surprisingly, the enantioselectivity is greatly reduced when employing the β-cyclodextrin analogue and breaks down completely with the -cyclodextrin analogue of Lipodex E.     

Total asymmetric syntheses of 3- and 4-deoxy-hexoses and derivatives

(1S,4S)-7-Oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-one ((−)-5, a “naked sugar”) has been converted to (−)-(1R,4S,6S)-6-endo-benzyloxy-2-bromo-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene ((−)-12) in a highly stereoselective fashion. Double hydroxylation of the C=C double bond of (−)-12, followed by acetylation and Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of the resulting -acetoxyketone (−)-14 afforded (−)-5-O-acetyl-2-O-benzyl-3-deoxy-β-D-arabino-hexofuranurono-6,1-lactone ((−)-15). This compound was converted readily into (+)-methyl 3-deoxy--D-arabino-hexofuranoside ((+)-6 and (+)-methyl 3-deoxy-β-L-xylo-hexofuranoside ((+)-7) and partially protected derivatives. (−)-15 was also converted into 4-deoxy-D-lyxo-hexopyranose (34) and several partially protected derivatives such as (+)-methyl 4-deoxy-2,3-O-isopropylidene--D-lyxo-hexopyranoside ((+)-8).     

Enzymatic production of (3S,4R)-(−)-4-(4′-fluorophenyl)-6-oxo-piperidin-3-carboxylic acid using a commercial preparation from Candida antarctica A: the role of a contaminant esterase

The enantioselective hydrolysis of (3RS,4RS)-trans-4-(4′-fluorophenyl)-6-oxo-piperidin-3-ethyl carboxylate (±)-2 was effected using a commercial preparation of lipase from C. antarctica A (CAL-A). We found that the hydrolytic activity of the lipase (immobilized on a number of very different supports) with this substrate was negligible. However, a contaminant esterase with Mw of 52 KDa from this commercial preparation exhibited much higher activity with (±)-2. This enzyme was purified and immobilized on PEI-coated support and the resulting enzyme preparation was highly enantioselective in the hydrolysis of (±)-2 (E >100), hydrolyzing only the (3S,4R)-(−)-3, which is a useful intermediate for the synthesis of pharmaceutically important (−)-paroxetine. Optimization of the reaction system was performed using a racemic mixture with a substrate concentration of 50 mM. This enzyme preparation was used in three reaction cycles and maintained its catalytic properties.     

Dynamic behaviour and X-ray analysis of chiral η-allylpalladium complexes. II

The DANTE technique and NOESY two-dimensional method have been employed to observe the isomerization of the chiral cationic complex [Pd(η³-CH₂CMeCH₂(P-P′)]⁺ (1a), where P-P′ = the chiral chelating ligand (S)(N-diphenylphosphino)(2-diphenylphosphinoxymethyl)pyrrolidine. The rate constant was found to be 0.5 s⁻¹ in CHCl₃ at 295 K and 1.50 s⁻¹ in the presence of added free ligand. In the latter case the epimerization proceeds by a π-σ-π mechanism via the intermediacy of a primary η¹-allylpalladium complex. Although the intermediate was not detected, the NMR findings reveal that it has the allylic terminus η¹-bonded to palladium. The structure of 1a in its PF₆⁻ salt has been determined. The compound crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group P2₁2₁2₁ with a 10.029(4) b 19.203(8) c 36.115(6) Å, Z = 8, R = 0.0572 and R_w = 0.0712 for 3716 observed reflections with I > 3σ(I).     

New chiral P-ligands: P-amino- and P-cycloalkoxy dibenzo[c.e][1,2]oxaphosphorines

The reaction of racemic chloro-dibenzo[c.e][1,2]oxaphosphorine with (S)-(−)--methyl-benzylamine and (1R,2S,5R)-(−)-menthol led to a mixture of optically active diastereomers of the corresponding phosphonous derivatives. The isomers were separated in a diastereomeric excess of 71–93% at the phosphonic oxide and/or at the phosphonous borane stage. The P(III) boranes are suitable precursors of the P-ligands. The absolute P-configuration in one of the menthyl phosphonates isolated was determined by single crystal X-ray analysis.