The first total synthesis of the (±)-17-methyl-trans-4,5-methyleneoctadecanoic acid and related analogs with antileishmanial activity

The first total synthesis of the marine cyclopropane fatty acid (±)-17-methyl-trans-4,5-methyleneoctadecanoic acid was accomplished in eight steps and in 9.1% overall yield starting from 1-bromo-12-methyltridecane. The cis analog (±)-17-methyl-cis-4,5-methyleneoctadecanoic acid was also synthesized but in seven steps and in 16.4% overall yield. With the two isomeric cyclopropane fatty acids at hand it was possible to unequivocally corroborate the trans relative configuration of the naturally occurring fatty acid by gas chromatographic co-elution of the corresponding methyl esters. The cis isomer was cytotoxic to Leishmania donovani promastigotes with an IC₅₀ of 300.2 ± 4.2 μM.     

Cis-homo addition-1,4 thiophile d'organomagnesiens avec des composes thiocarbonyles comportant un groupe carbonyle en β: Synthese stereoselective d'alcoylthio-2 et de bis (alcoylthio)-2,2 cyclopropanols

Aliphatic Grignard reagents react stereoselectively with β thioxo carbonyl compounds to give substituted cis 2-alkylthio or 2,2-bis (alkylthio) cyclopropanols with good yields. Two types of non-enethiolisable thiocarbonyl compounds of formulae MeCOC(Me)₂CSR undergo this reaction a thioketone (R = Me) and a number of dithioesters (R = SMe, SEt, S iso Pr). The cis configuration of cyclopropanols has been assigned by ¹H NMR-Eu(fod)₃. The cyclopropane ring closure is a concerted cis-1,4-homo addition.     

Enantioselective copper-catalyzed cyclopropanation of styrene by means of chiral bispidine ligands

Enantiopure C₁- and C₂-symmetric bispidine ligands have been synthesized and screened in the asymmetric copper-catalyzed cyclopropanation of styrene. In order to improve the enantiomeric excesses (ee) of the cyclopropane derivatives, the best performing C₁-symmetric diamine ligand was selected for studies on the reaction conditions. The optimized procedure allowed us to obtain up to 91% ee for the cis-cyclopropane derivative and up to 79% ee for the trans one.     

Synthesis of monohalocyclopropane derivatives from olefins by the reaction with trihalomethanes and copper

Fluoro-, chloro-, bromo-, and iodocyclopropane derivatives were obtained in 10–80% yields by the reaction of FCHI₂, ClCHI₂, BrCHI₂, and CHI₃, respectively, with Cu in the presence of olefins. The reaction was electrophilic, and proceeded stereospecifically, i.e., cis and trans olefins afforded cyclopropane derivatives whose configurations with respect to the substituents from original olefins were cis and trans, respectively. Since isomeric olefins were not detected in the reaction mixture which would be expected from the insertion of the corresponding free monohalocarbenes into C—H bonds, the reaction seemed to proceed via organocopper intermediates rather than free monohalocarbenes. With respect to the configuration of the halogen introduced by the new reaction, the cis or endo isomers were generally obtained predominantly over the corresponding trans or exo isomers.     

Asymmetric synthesis of cyclopropyl phosphonates using chiral terpenyl sulfonium and selenonium ylides

The asymmetric cyclopropanation of a vinylphosphonate using optically active sulfonium and selenonium ylides derived from (−)-menthol and (+)-limonene was developed. The ylides were generated in situ by the reaction of the corresponding sulfonium or selenonium salt in the presence of potassium carbonate or DBU as a base. The transfer of the CHPh and CHCO₂Et groups into the cyclopropane ring showed moderate diastereoselectivity and excellent enantioselectivity (up to 99:1) for the trans- and cis-products. The absolute configuration of phenyl cyclopropyl was assigned based on comparison to their tolyl analogues.     

Occurrence of Cis-11,12-Methylene-Hexadecanoic Acid in the Red Alga Solieria pacifica (Yamada) Yoshida

Fatty acids in marine algae have attracted the attention of natural chemists because of their biological activity. The fatty acid compositions of the Solieriaceae families (Rhodophyceae, Gaigartinales) provide interesting information that unusual cyclic fatty acids have been occasionally found. A survey was conducted to profile the characteristic fatty acid composition of the red alga Solieria pacifica (Yamada) Yoshida using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), infrared spectroscopy (IR), and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H-NMR). In S. pacifica, two cyclopentyl fatty acids, 11-cyclopentylundecanoic acid (7.0%), and 13-cyclopentyltridecanoic acid (4.9%), and a cyclopropane fatty acid, cis-11,12-methylene-hexadecanoic acid (7.9%) contributed significantly to the overall fatty acid profile. In particular, this cyclopropane fatty acid has been primarily found in bacteria, rumen microorganisms or foods of animal origin, and has not previously been found in any other algae. In addition, this alga contains a significant amount of the monoenoic acid cis-11-hexadecenoic acid (9.0%). Therefore, cis-11,12-methylene-hexadecanoic acid in S. pacifica was likely produced by methylene addition to cis-11-hexadecenoic acid.     

The di-π-methane rearrangement of systems with simple vinyl moieties : Mechanistic and exploratory organic photochemistry

3,3-Dimethyl-1,1-diphenyl-1,4-pentadiene and two 5-substituted derivatives were synthesized and studied. The regioselectivity, stereochemistry, quantum efficiency, multiplicity, and excited state reaction rates were studied in each case. The parent hydrocarbon, 5-MeO-derivative, and 5-cyano-diene—all rearranged on direct irradiation to give vinylcyclopropanes. The first compound led to 3,3-dimethyl-2,2-diphenyl-1-vinylcyclopropane. The second afforded 3,3-dimethyl-2,2-diphenyl-1-(2'-methoxyvinyl)cyclopropane. The last gave 1-cyano-3,3-dimethyl-2-(2',2'-diphenylvinyl)cyclopropane. Thus, the vinyl and methoxyvinyl groups survive in the products intact, while the cyanovinyl group is incorporated in the three-ring. In the two substituted dienes, cis-reactant gave cis-product and trans-reactant gave trans-product, both where the substituent was on the vinyl group of the product and where it became a ring substituent. The substituted di-π-methane systems underwent only cis-trans isomerization on sensitization, while the parent, unsubstituted diene led to di-π-methane product on sensitized as well as direct photolysis. While the quantum yields for the hydrocarbon diene were the same at room temperature for the direct and sensitized runs, only the sensitized runs showed a temperature dependence of efficiency with a dramatic, 5-fold increase on a 46° temperature increase. Thus, evidence was obtained for a singlet rearrangement in all cases and a triplet process only in the case of the unsubstituted diene. A sizable activation energy was seen for the triplet but not for the singlet. The room temperature quantum yields in the direct irradiations were: φ(parent diene)=0.011, φ(trans-methoxydiene)=0.051, φ(cis-methoxy-diene)= 0.050, φ(trans-cyanodiene)=0.36, and φ(cis-cyano-diene) = 0.20. A competing side reaction was cis-trans isomerization but these quantum yields were lower. Single photon counting was employed to obtain excited singlet reaction and decay rates at low temperature (i.e. 77°K) and the method of magic multipliers was used to obtain room temperature rates. These were: k_r(parent diene) = 4.7 × 10⁸ sec^?1, k_r(trans-cyano-diene)= 1.5 ×10¹⁰ sec^?1, k_r(cis-cyano-diene)= 8.0 × 10⁹sec^?1, and k_r(trans-methoxy-diene) = 1.9 × 10⁹ sec^?1. The results are discussed in terms of excited state molecular structure.An SCF-CI molecular orbital treatment of the reaction was developed. This used a cyclopropyldicarbinyl diradical species, with Walsh cyclopropane basis orbitals, as representing the half-reacted species. The energy of formation of this species from vertical excited state reactant was calculated for all three dienes and an excellent correlation with observed excited singlet rates was obtained. Similarly, dissection of the excited diradical energy into bond components led to a correlation between regioselectivity and weakness of the three-ring bond broken in the regioselectivity-determining step. Evidence was adduced for localization of the excitation energy in S₁ of reactant in the diphenylvinyl chromophore with migration of electronic excitation into the cyclopropyldicarbinyl diradical moiety during the vinyl-vinyl bridging process. A general method for quantitatively partitioning excitation energy was developed and applied to the case in hand. Finally, there was predicted a greater probability of di-π-methane three-ring fission in the excited state compared to the diradical ground state where Grob fragmentation proved energetically more favorable.     

Enantio- and diastereoselective cyclopropanation with tert-butyl α-diazopropionate catalyzed by dirhodium(II) tetrakis[N-tetrabromophthaloyl-(S)-tert-leucinate]

The first successful example of a catalytic asymmetric cyclopropanation with α-diazopropionates is described. The cyclopropanation reaction of 1-aryl-substituted and related conjugated alkenes with tert-butyl α-diazopropionate has been achieved by catalysis with dirhodium(II) tetrakis[N-tetrabromophthaloyl-(S)-tert-leucinate], Rh₂(S-TBPTTL)₄, providing the corresponding cyclopropane products containing a quarternary stereogenic center in good to high yields and with high diastereo- and enantioselectivities (trans:cis = 90:10 to >99:1, 81-93% ee).     

Preparation and identification of bis(formylmethano)[60]fullerene isomers: the first systematic study on bifunctionalized [60]fullerenes with dissymmetric addends

Fourteen isomers of bis(formylmethano)C₆₀ were isolated and characterized. A mixture of the bisadducts was obtained by the reaction of C₆₀ with an α-formylsulfonium ylide, and then separated into 15 fractions by preparative HPLC, preparative TLC, and recycling preparative HPLC. Fourteen of the fifteen fractions were found to consist of a single isomer, respectively, which were assigned to the trans-2 (3 diastereo-isomers), trans-3 (3 diastereo-isomers), trans-4 (3 diastereo-isomers), equatorial (2 diastereo-isomers), and cis-2 (3 diastereo-isomers) bisadducts by the comparison of their UV/vis spectra with those of the bisadducts obtained by the Bingel-Hirsch reaction. The ¹H and ¹³C NMR analysis, the transformation of the formyl groups, and the dipole moment calculation clarified the stereochemistry of the substituents on the two cyclopropane bridge-head carbons (in/in, in/out, and out/out).     

Ionization efficiencies of C3H6, C4H8, C6H12, C2H6O,and C3H8O isomers

Ionization efficiencies of 14 organic compounds have been measured in the wavelength region from 105 to 134nm using an ionization chamber. The compounds examined are cyclopropane, propylene, l-butene, isobutene, cis-and trans-2-butenes, cyclohexane, 1-hexane, tetramethylethylene, ethyl alcohol, dimethyl ether, n-, and iso-propyl alcohol, and ethyl methyl ether. The ionization efficiencies of cyclopropane and cyclohexane monotonically increase with increasing photon energy, but those for the others show a peak or a shoulder in the wavelength region of the present work.     

Application of a chiral copper-1,1-bis{2-[(4S)-tert-butyloxazolinyl]}cyclopropane catalyst for asymmetric cyclopropanation of styrene

The structural effects of the bridge moiety and 5-position on bisoxazoline ligands were studied for the copper-catalyzed asymmetric cyclopropanation of styrene with ethyl diazoacetate. The 1,1-bis{2-[(4S)-tert-butyloxazolinyl]}cyclopropane ligand showed a remarkable enhancement in the stereoselectivities (trans/cis = 84/16, >99.9% ee for the trans product) compared with the previously reported best ligand, 2,2-bis{2-[(4S)-tert-butyloxazolinyl]}propane (trans/cis = 75/25, 99.0% ee for the trans product).     

A novel C2-symmetric bisphosphane ligand with a chiral cyclopropane backbone: synthesis and application in the Rh(I)-catalyzed asymmetric 1,4-addition of arylboronic acids

The synthesis of a novel C₂-symmetric bisphosphane ligand was accomplished starting from trans-(2R,3R)-bis(3′,5′-diphenylphenyl)cyclopropane-1,1-dimethanol as a key intermediate. This ligand was tested in the asymmetric rhodium(I)-catalyzed 1,4-addition to cyclic enones. We also compared the new ligand with a similar phosphane ligand with a less bulky cyclopropane backbone. Good yields (up to 99%) and enantioselectivities (up to 89% ee) were observed. We demonstrated that the presence of a more bulky cyclopropane backbone resulted in a less effective ligand.     

The unusual 1,4-chelation-controlled nucleophilic addition to aldehydes with high stereoselectivity. A systematic study of stereoselectivity in the addition reaction of carbon nucleophiles to cis-substituted cyclopropanecarbaldehydes

The addition reaction of carbon nucleophiles to cis-substituted cyclopropanecarbaldehydes was systematically investigated. Ab initio calculations of model cyclopropanecarbaldehydes suggested that the bisected s-cis and s-trans conformers are the only two minimum energy conformers, which are stabilized due to the π-donating stereoelectronic effect of the cyclopropane ring. The experimental results of a series of substrates, that is, cyclopropanecarbaldehydes 1-5 bearing a cis-(tert-butyldiphenylsilyloxy)methyl group, a cis-benzyloxymethyl group, a cis-(p-methoxybenzyloxy)methyl group, cis-N,N-diethylcarbamoyl and trans-phenyl groups, and cis-(tert-butyldiphenylsilyloxy)methyl and trans-phenyl groups, respectively, showed that highly anti-selective Grignard additions could be realized. It turned out that it occurred via an unusual 7-membered 1,4-chelation-controlled pathway. Highly stereoselective Grignard addition via the chelation-controlled pathway occurred even in the reaction of the usually non-chelating silyl ether-type substrate 5. The results have great importance because the 1,4-chelation-controlled stereoselective addition reactions can indeed be realized. Under non-chelation conditions, the syn-products were produced with moderate stereoselectivity, which are likely to be formed via the bisected s-cis conformation-like transition state stabilized by the characteristic orbital interaction. These reactions, especially the chelation-controlled reaction, should be useful because of their t stereoselectivity and stereochemical predictability.     

cis–trans Geometrical isomerization of bis(2-pyridinecarboxylato)nitrosylruthenium complex accompanying electrochemical one-electron reduction

cis-[Ru(NO)(CH₃CN)(pyca)₂] and trans-[Ru(NO)(OH)(pyca)₂] (pyca = 2-pyridinecarboxylato) were synthesized and characterized by X-ray crystallography. Electrochemical behaviors of cis-[Ru(NO)(CH₃CN)(pyca)₂] and cis-[Ru(NO)(CH₃O)(pyca)₂] in acetonitrile were studied. These complexes showed two reduction processes in CH₃CN. The controlled potential electrolyses of cis-[Ru(NO)(CH₃O)(pyca)₂] in a methanol–acetonitrile mixed solution were performed at the potential of the first reduction process. trans-[Ru(NO)(CH₃O)(pyca)₂] was isolated from the electrolyzed solution and characterized by IR and CV. The cis–trans geometrical change reaction occurred in the electrochemical one-electron reduction of cis-[Ru(NO)(CH₃O)(pyca)₂].     

A study of the reactions of methionine- and histidine-containing peptides with palladium(II) complexes: The key role of steric crowding on palladium(II) in the selective cleavage of the peptide bond

¹H NMR spectroscopy was applied to study the reactions of palladium(II) complexes, cis-[Pd(dpa)Cl₂] and cis-[Pd(dpa)(H₂O)₂]²⁺ (dpa is 2,2′-dipyridylamine acting as a bidentate ligand) with the dipeptides methionylglycine (Met-Gly) and histidylglycine (His-Gly), and the N-acetylated derivatives of these dipeptides, MeCOMet-Gly and MeCOHis-Gly. All reactions were carried out in the pH range 2.0–2.5 with equimolar amounts of the palladium(II) complex and the peptide at two different temperatures, 25 and 60 °C. In the reactions of cis-[Pd(dpa)Cl₂] and cis-[Pd(dpa)(H₂O)₂]²⁺ with Met-Gly and His-Gly, no hydrolysis of the peptide bond was observed. The final product in these reactions was the [Pd(dpa)₂]²⁺ complex. The square-planar structure of this complex was confirmed by X-ray analysis. The reaction of the cis-[Pd(dpa)(H₂O)₂]²⁺ complex with the MeCOHis-Gly and MeCOMet-Gly peptides under the previously mentioned experimental conditions was remarkably selective in the cleavage of the amide bond involving the carboxylic group of methionine in the side chain. The modes of coordination of cis-[Pd(dpa)Cl₂] and cis-[Pd(dpa)(H₂O)₂]²⁺ in the reactions with the non-acetylated peptides and the total steric inhibition of the hydrolytic reaction between cis-[Pd(dpa)(H₂O)₂]²⁺ and MeCOHis-Gly can be attributed to the steric bulk of the palladium(II) complex. This finding should be taken into consideration in designing new palladium(II) complexes for the regioselective cleavage of peptides and proteins.     

A mild and selective synthesis of cyclopropene and cyclopropane derivatives via cycliallylation of alkenyllithiums

Treatment of cis-1-iodo-3-chloro-1-propene derivatives, readily obtainable via trans addition of organometals to propargyl alcohols followed by iodinolysis and chlorination, with alkyllithiums, such as t-BuLi and n-BuLi, can proceed rapidly and cleanly even at ?78°C to give in high yields cyclopropene derivatives, which undergo cis hydrometalation and carbometalation reactions more rapidly than the corresponding alkynes to produce cyclopropane derivatives.     

Reactions of zinc enolates derived from α,α-dibromo carbonyl compounds with 3-(2-oxo-4a,8a-dihydro-2H-chromene-3-carbonyl)chromen-2-one

Zinc enolates derived from 1-R-2,2-dibromoethanone reacted with 3-(2-oxo-4a,8a-dihydro-2H-chromene-3-carbonyl)chromen-2-one to give the corresponding 1-R-1a-{(1-R-2-oxo-1,7b-dihydrocyclopropa[c]chromen-1(2H)-yl)carbonyl}-1a,7b-dihydrocyclopropa[c]chromen-2(1H]-ones as a single diastereoisomer with cis arrangement of the hydrogen atoms with respect to the cyclopropane ring plane. Reactions of the same electrophilic substrate with zinc enolates obtained from 1-aryl-2,2-dibromoalkanones led to the formation of 1-alkyl-1a-{(1-alkyl-1-aroyl-2-oxo-1,7b-dihydrocyclopropa[c]chromen-1(2H)-yl)carbonyl}-1-aroyl-1a,7b-dihydrocyclopropa[c]chromen-2(1H)-ones as a single diastereoisomer with trans arrangement of the alkyl group and hydrogen atom with respect to the cyclopropane ring plane.     

Synthetic studies toward plakortide E: application of the Feldman oxygenation to synthesis of highly substituted 1,2-dioxolanes

The Feldman radical oxygenation of vinylcyclopropanes is successfully applied to the synthesis of the highly substituted core of the 1,2-dioxolane natural product, plakortide E. The ratio of the desired cis-1,2-dioxolane can be enhanced by choice of cyclopropane substituents.     

Three-membered ring formation reaction—III : Mechanism of the reaction of α-halogenoacrylic ester with organozinc compounds

The stereochemistry of ring formation in the reaction of α-halogenoacrylic ester with organozinc compounds was studied using β-deuterated α-halogenoacrylic ester. A quantitative study was made on the steric course of every step of the reactions involved in the synthesis of methyl β-deuterio-α-bromoacrylate-cis-d₁ starting from methyl propiolate. The mode of the CC double bond opening of methyl β-deuterio-α-bromoacrylate-cis-_d1 to form dimethyl 1 -bromo-2-propyl-cis-1,2- cyclopropanedicarboxylate-d₂ was confirmed to be cis and trans in a 50 to 50 ratio. Asymmetric syntheses for the cyclopropanedicarboxylic ester were possible, especially under the influence of chiral organozinc alkoxide system. A stepwise mechanism was postulated for the ring formation reaction.     

Aryl vinyl cyclopropane Cope rearrangements

While the divinyl cyclopropane Cope rearrangement is well-known, and has been broadly applied in synthesis, examples of the aryl vinyl cyclopropane Cope rearrangement are less common and generally limited in scope or reaction yield. The aryl vinyl cyclopropane Cope rearrangement gives access to the benzocycloheptene scaffold, which is present in a variety of naturally occurring and medicinally relevant products. Herein we report a method to obtain either of two regioisomeric benzocycloheptene products via an aryl vinyl cyclopropane Cope rearrangement, featuring additive-controlled regioselectivity. Mechanistic studies indicate a dynamic equilibration of cyclopropane stereoisomers, followed by rearrangement of the cis diastereomer.