A facile method for the synthesis of enantiopure α-unsubstituted β-hydroxy esters

One-pot deacylation–debromination reactions involving the transesterification of the initial chiral α-bromo-β-hydroxy thioimide aldol adducts and subsequent Al–Hg mediated reductive cleavage of the C–Br bond allow for a facile synthesis of enantiopure β-hydroxy esters.     

A novel photoinduced ring opening and isomerization of adamantane-2-spiro isoxazolines using Mo(CO)6

The Mo(CO)₆-mediated photoinduced ring-opening reactions of adamantane isoxazolines involve novel rearrangement that provide enaminoketones as major products and β-hydroxy ketones as minor ones; in contrast, only β-hydroxy ketones and α,β-unsaturated ketones were obtained under thermal condition.     

Synthesis of polymer networks containing degradable polyacetal segments

Four different routes for the production of polyacetal containing networks are described : (1) free radical copolymerization of α,ω-(meth)acrylate terminated polyacetals, (2) hydrosilylation reactions of α,ω-allyl terminated poly- (1,3-dioxolane) with a multifunctional silane, (3) modification of α,ω-hydroxy terminated poly(1,3-dioxepane) through reaction with 3-isocyanatopropyl-triethoxysilane and subsequent cross-linking under influence of H₂O and (4) cross-linking of multifunctional hydroxy-terminated polyacetals by reaction with a diisocyanate.     

Investigations into the selective oxidation of vicinal diols to α-hydroxy ketones with the NaBrO3/NaHSO3 reagent: pH dependence, stoichiometry, substrates and origin of selectivity

The NaBrO₃/NaHSO₃ reagent is one of the few oxidizing agents that chemoselectively oxidizes vicinal diols to α-hydroxy ketones with little overoxidation to the corresponding vicinal-dione or dicarboxylic acid. Oxidation reactions performed with this reagent showed strong pH dependence. cis-Vicinal diols reacted faster than trans-vicinal diols to the α-hydroxy ketone product. Hydroxy functional groups at axial ring positions were more readily oxidized than equatorial hydroxy groups. The application of the NaBrO₃/NaHSO₃ reagent for the chemoselective oxidation of vicinal diols was limited to simple systems and failed with more complex monosaccharide compounds probably due to acid catalyzed dehydrogenation reactions. Despite the simple reaction set-up and good selectivity towards the α-hydroxy ketone product, the actual oxidation reaction mechanism is highly complex and postulated to involve at least six different equilibria with a plethora of bromine containing species. A possible oxidation reaction mechanism is discussed.     

Reactions of acyl phosphonates with organoaluminum reagents: a new method for the synthesis of secondary and tertiary α-hydroxy phosphonates

The reactions of organoaluminum reagents (trimethylaluminum, triethylaluminum, etc.) with aryl and alkyl acyl phosphonates, which lead to the formation of α-hydroxy phosphonates in moderate to good yields, are reported. This method provides easy access to secondary and tertiary α-hydroxy phosphonates depending on the reaction conditions. The reactions of triethylaluminum with a series of acyl phosphonates at 0 °C gave the secondary α-hydroxy phosphonates, while at −100 °C they afford the tertiary α-hydroxy phosphonates.     

Stereoselective allylation of α-hydroxy aldimines and its application to the formal synthesis of (−)-β-conhydrine

Stereoselective allylation of N-p-methoxyphenyl (PMP)-substituted α-hydroxy aldimines is described. Several Lewis acids (BF₃·OEt₂, SnCl₄, TiCl₄, ZnCl₂, and MgBr₂·OEt₂) were employed to mediate the allylation reactions. The addition of the allyl group generates a new stereocenter and affords the syn vicinal amino alcohol. Formal synthesis of (?)-β-conhydrine (1) was accomplished via syn-selective allyl addition to N-PMP-substituted α-hydroxy aldimine.     

Rhodium-catalyzed addition of arylstannanes to carbon-heteroatom double bond

The addition of arylstannanes to the carbon-heteroatom double bond in the presence of a catalytic amount of a cationic rhodium complex ([Rh(cod)(MeCN)₂]BF₄) was examined. The reactions of aldehydes, α-dicarbonyl compounds, and N-substituted aldimines with the arylstannanes gave corresponding alcohols, α-hydroxy carbonyl compounds, and amines, respectively. An arylrhodium complex generated by the transmetalation with the arylstannane was probably the active catalytic species.     

A Dual Photoredox- and Cp2TiCl2-Catalyzed Approach for the Direct Access to α-Vinyl-β-hydroxy Esters

For the first time, a dual photoredox- and titanocene-catalyzed methodology for the regioselective access to α-vinyl-β-hydroxy esters towards aldehyde allylation with 4-bromobut-2-enoate is reported. The protocol is based on the Barbier-type properties of the inexpensive and available Cp₂TiCl₂ in catalytic amount (5 mol%). The developed mild reaction conditions gave access to a library of differently functionalized α-vinyl-β-hydroxy esters in moderate diastereoselectivity, employing the commercially available ethyl 4-bromobut-2-enoate and both aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes. The reaction was realized under visible light irradiation, in the presence of an organophotocatalyst (3DPAFIPN, 2 mol%) combined with Hantzsch's ester as the sacrificial reductant. In contrast to other Barbier-type reactions employing ethyl 4-bromobut-2-enoate, the photoredox system ensures a better regioselectivity. Moreover, the use of preformed organometallic nucleophilic species (e. g., dienolborinates), and the need of metal reductants or stoichiometric amount of transition metals in low oxidation state for Barbier-type reactions, is avoided. To support the experimental evidence, a detailed photophysical study shed light on the mechanism of the reaction.     

Lead(IV) acetate oxidative ring-opening of 2,3-epoxy primary alcohols: a new entry to optically active α-hydroxy carbonyl compounds

The treatment of 2,3-epoxy primary alcohols with lead(IV) acetate (LTA) leads to α-acetoxy aldehydes or α-acetoxy ketones, through the nucleophilic ring-opening of an intermediate oxonium and the subsequent carbon-carbon bond cleavage. This reaction represents a new route to optically active α-hydroxy carbonyl compounds.     

gem-Difluoromethylation of α- and γ-ketoesters: preparation of gem-difluorinated α-hydroxyesters and γ-butyrolactones

PhSCF₂SiMe₃ has been demonstrated as difluoromethyl carbanion synthon (⁻CF₂H). It reacts chemoselectively with α- and γ-ketoesters at the keto group in the presence of a catalytic amount of TBAF in THF to give the corresponding α-hydroxy ester adducts as well as γ-gem-difluorophenylsulfanylmethylated-γ-butyrolactones in good yields. Reductive cleavage of the phenylsulfanyl group of these products employing Bu₃SnH/AIBN gives the corresponding gem-difluoromethylated α-hydroxyesters and γ-butyrolactones in good yields.     

Thallium nitrate as a reagent for the conversion of epoxides into α-hydroxynitrate esters and for the cleavage of aliphatic ethers

Simple as well as steroidal oxiranes are converted into the corresponding α-hydroxy nitrate esters by treatment with Tl(NO₃)₃ in hexane solution. Moreover aliphatic ethers react with Tl(NO₃)₃ in acetic anhydride via cleavage of the ethereal bond and formation of the corresponding acetoxy derivatives.     

Regio- and stereochemical aspects in the synthesis of homoallylic alcohols from benzoins and their iodocyclisation to 2,3-diphenyltetrahydrofurans

Indium mediated allylation, crotylation and cinnamylation of benzoins and its substituted derivatives in THF-H₂O (2/1) provide a range of homoallylic alcohols. In general, the benzoins undergo allylation and crotylation in a sluggish manner compared to those observed earlier in the case of α-hydroxy aldehydes and are significantly affected by the electronic features of both the benzoin and indium organometallic reagent. The reactions exhibit higher order of diastereoselectivities than those observed for α-hydroxy aldehydes. The cinnamylation though proceeds in a highly diastereoselective manner but is restricted to only benzoin and 4,4′-dichlorobenzoin. The homoallylic alcohols undergo I₂ mediated intramolecular diastereoselective cyclization to provide 2,3-diphenyltetrahydrofuran derivatives. The relative stereochemistries in tetrahydrofurans and homoallylic alcohols have been assigned by coupling constants, NOE experiments and in one case by X-ray crystallography.     

Mo(CO)6-mediated synthesis of calix[4]arenes carrying β-hydroxy ketones or α,β-unsaturated-β-amino ketones

Mo(CO)₆-mediated ring opening reactions of calix[4]arene isoxazolines/isoxazoles provide a new synthetic methodology for calix[4]arenes carrying bifunctional β-hydroxy ketones or α,β-unsaturated-β-amino ketones. Mo(CO)₆ is a highly selective and convenient reagent for the ring opening process of these supramolecular isoxazolines/isoxazoles.     

Solid-phase domino syntheses of functionalized tetronates with Ph3PCCO

Domino addition-Wittig olefination reactions of α-hydroxy esters immobilized on polystyrene with Ph₃PCCO to give resin-bound tetronates proceed as readily as in solution. α-Hydroxy allyl esters can react to give either supported allyl tetronates or the corresponding Claisen-rearranged 3-allyltetronic acids, depending on conditions.     

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.     

Design and development of bioactive α-hydroxy carboxylate group modified MnFe2O4 nanoparticle: Comparative fluorescence study,magnetism and DNA nuclease activity

Three new α-hydroxy carboxylate group functionalized MnFe₂O₄ nanoparticles (NPs) have been developed to explore the microscopic origin of ligand modified fluorescence and magnetic properties of nearly monodispersed MnFe₂O₄ NPs. The surface functionalization has been carried out with three small organic ligands (tartrate, malate, and citrate) having different number of α-hydroxy carboxylate functional group along with steric effect. Detailed study unveils that α-hydroxy carboxylate moiety of the ligands plays key role to generate intrinsic fluorescence in functionalized MnFe₂O₄ NPs through the activation of ligand to metal charge transfer transitions, associated with ligand–Mn²⁺/Fe³⁺ interactions along with d–d transition corresponding to d–orbital energy level splitting of Fe³⁺ ions on NP surface. Further, MnFe₂O₄ NPs show a maximum 140.88% increase in coercivity and 97.95% decrease in magnetization compared to its bare one upon functionalization. The ligands that induce smallest crystal field splitting of d–orbital energy level of transition metal ions are found to result in strongest ferrimagnetic activation of the NPs. Finally, our developed tartrate functionalized MnFe₂O₄ (T-MnFe₂O₄) NPs have been utilized for studying DNA binding interaction and nuclease activity for stimulating their beneficial activities toward diverse biomedical applications. The spectroscopic measurements indicate that T-MnFe₂O₄ NPs bind calf thymus DNA by intercalative mode. The ability of T-MnFe₂O₄ NPs to induce DNA cleavage was studied by gel electrophoresis technique where the complex is found to promote the cleavage of pBR322 plasmid DNA from the super coiled form I to linear coiled form II and nicked coiled form III with good efficiency.     

AlEt3-promoted eliminative ring-opening of β-hydroxy epoxides: highly stereoselective synthesis of terminal α-hydroxy olefins

AlEt₃-promoted eliminative ring-opening of β-epoxy alcohols leading to α-hydroxy olefins is reported. This eliminative ring-opening reaction is shown to be highly stereoselective, thus providing an alternative asymmetric synthesis for α-hydroxy olefins.     

Stereoselective allylation reactions of acyclic and chiral α-amino-β-hydroxy aldehydes

Stereoselective allylation reactions of acyclic and chiral α-amino-β-hydroxy aldehydes affording chiral β-amino-α,γ-diols are described. Several Lewis acids (BF₃·OEt₂, SnCl₄, TiCl₄, ZnCl₂, and MgBr₂·OEt₂) were employed to mediate the allylation reactions. The reactions of anti-α-NHCbz-β-OTBS substrates mediated by SnCl₄ afforded syn-selective products. The same reaction conditions also gave satisfactory results for the reactions of syn-α-NHCbz-β-OTBS substrates. The mechanism involves α-chelation between the amido group and aldehyde oxygen.     

Stereoselective functionalisation of SuperQuat enamides: asymmetric synthesis of homochiral 1,2-diols and α-benzyloxy carbonyl compounds

Homochiral (E)- and (Z)-enamides derived from SuperQuat (S)-4-phenyl-5,5-dimethyl-oxazolidin-2-one undergo highly diastereoselective epoxidation upon treatment with dimethyldioxirane. Subsequent epoxide opening with meta-chlorobenzoic acid proceeds via a stereoselective S_N1-type process, with retention of configuration, to give the corresponding 1′-m-chlorobenzoyl-2′-hydroxy derivatives. Treatment of the SuperQuat enamides with mCPBA effects this two-step transformation in one pot. Reductive cleavage of the isolated 1′-m-chlorobenzoyl-2′-hydroxy derivatives (≥96% de) generates homochiral 1,2-diols in ≥96% ee. Alternatively, regioselective lithiation of the enamide at C(1′) with ^tBuLi followed by reaction with an aromatic aldehyde and in situ O-benzylation generates a 1′-(benzyloxy-aryl-methyl) substituted enamide with high diastereoselectivity. Subsequent oxidative cleavage of the enamide CC bond with NaIO₄/RuCl₃ followed by methanolysis of the resultant N-acyl fragment furnishes an O-benzyl protected α-hydroxy methyl ester in high ee.     

Enantioselective Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) reaction promoted by a heterobimetallic complex with a Lewis base

A new double-activation catalysis is presented for the Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) reaction of an α,β-unsaturated ketone and an aldehyde by the combined use of a heterobimetallic asymmetric complex and tributylphosphine ((n-Bu)₃P) to afford the α-methylene-β-hydroxy ketone with up to 99% ee.