Synthesis of (+)-(1S,2R) and (−)-(1R,2S)-2-aminocyclobutane-1-carboxylic acids

(+)-(1S,2R) and (−)-(1R,2S)-2-aminocyclobutane-1-carboxylic acids have been prepared in >97% ee and in 33% and 20% overall yields starting from a single, chiral, bicyclic compound perceived as a chiral uracil equivalent. Construction of the cyclobutane ring is achieved via a [2+2] photocycloaddition reaction of this chiral precursor with ethylene.     

[2,3]-Wittig rearrangement of methyl β-pyrrolidinyl-γ-allyloxy-(E)-2-butenoate. Expeditious synthesis of 5-alkenyl-4-pyrrolidin-1-yl-5H-furan-2-ones

Dienolates of various γ-allyloxy substituted methyl β-pyrrolidinyl (E)-2-butenoate undergo a [2,3]-Wittig rearrangement to generate various 5-alkenyl-4-pyrrolidin-1-yl-5H-furan-2-one type compounds.     

Stereoselective synthesis of (1′S,3R,4R)-4-acetoxy-3-(2′-fluoro-1′-trimethylsilyloxyethyl)-2-azetidinone

A stereoselective synthesis of (1′S,3R,4R)-4-acetoxy-3-(2′-fluoro-1′-trimethylsilyloxyethyl)-2-azetidinone as a new fluorine-containing intermediate towards β-lactams, is described. The synthetic key step relies upon the dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) of ethyl 2-benzamidomethyl-4-fluoro-3-oxo-butanoate via asymmetric transfer hydrogenation catalyzed by [Ru(η⁶-arene)(S,S)-R₂NSO₂DPEN].     

A concise synthesis of (2S,4R)- and (2S,4S)-4-methylglutamic acid

A concise, multi-gram scale method for producing the bioactive and enantiomerically pure epimers, (2S,4R)- and (2S,4S)-glutamic acids, in a single synthetic scheme is described.     

Total synthesis of (9S,12R,13S)-pinellic acid

The total synthesis of (9S,12R,13S)-pinellic acid, a novel and potentially useful oral adjuvant, isolated from Pinelliae tuber has been accomplished.     

Convergent and enantioselective total synthesis of (−)-nalanthalide, a potential Kv1.3 blocking immunosuppressant

The first total synthesis of (−)-nalanthalide (1), a novel blocker of the voltage-gated potassium channel Kv1.3 from a microorganism, was accomplished in a convergent manner by utilizing coupling reaction of the trans-decalin 5 with 3-lithio-γ-pyrone 4. The key intermediate 5 was efficiently prepared from the known trans-decalone 7 through a [2,3]-Wittig rearrangement of the stannylmethyl ether 6 to install the stereogenic center at C9 and the exo-methylene function at C8.     

Highly diastereoselective chemoenzymatic synthesis of (2′R)- and (2′S)-2′-deoxy[2′-H]guanosines

In an effort to develop an efficient synthetic method of highly diastereoselective (2′R)- and (2′S)-2′-deoxy[2′-²H]guanosines, chemoenzymatic conversion was investigated. The synthesis of (2′R > 98% de)-2′-deoxy[2′-²H]guanosine was achieved by biological transdeoxyribosylation using (2′R > 98% de)-2′-deoxy[2′-²H]uridine, 2,6-diaminopurine, and Enterobacter aerogenes AJ-11125, followed by treatment with adenosine deaminase. (2′S > 98% de)-2′-Deoxy[2′-²H]guanosine was synthesized from (2′S > 98% de)-2′-deoxy[2′-²H]uridine and 2,6-diaminopurine using thymidine phosphorylase and purine nucleoside phosphorylase instead of E. aerogenes AJ-11125.     

Stereoselective synthesis of (1R,2S)- and (1S,2R)-1-amino-cis-3-azabicyclo[4.4.0]decan-2,4-dione hydrochlorides: bicyclic glutamic acid derivatives

Asymmetric synthesis of (1R,2S)- and (1S,2R)-1-amino-cis-3-azabicyclo[4.4.0]decan-2,4-diones has been achieved. The underlying second generation asymmetric synthesis proceeds via a Strecker reaction with commercially available (R)-1-phenylethylamine (1-PEA) as chiral auxiliary, TMSCN as cyanide source and racemic ethyl 2-(2-oxocyclohex-1-yl)ethanoate. A ring closure addition-elimination reaction between an amide nitrogen and the ester functionality leads to the 1-amino-3-azabicyclo[4.4.0]decan-2,4-diones. The absolute configurations of the title compounds have been assigned based on detailed NMR-spectroscopic analysis and X-ray data.     

Regioselective synthesis of pentacyclic heterocycles by sequential [3,3] sigmatropic rearrangement of 2-(4′-aryloxybut-2′-ynyl-mercapto)thiochromen-4-ones

A number of 4-aryloxymethyl-7-chlorothiopyrano[2,3-b]thiochromen-5(2H)-ones are regioselectively synthesized in 80-85% yield by the Claisen rearrangement of 2-(4′-aryloxybut-2′-ynylmercapto)thiochromen-4-ones in refluxing chlorobenzene for 3 h. These products are then subjected to a second Claisen rearrangement in refluxing N,N-diethylaniline for 6 h to give hitherto unreported pentacyclic heterocycles in 50-55% yield.     

Synthesis of the constrained glutamate analogues (2S,1′R,2′R)- and (2S,1′S,2′S)-2-(2′-carboxycyclobutyl)glycines L-CBG-II and L-CBG-I by enzymatic transamination

Optically pure trans-cyclobutane analogues of glutamic acid are prepared by highly selective enzymatic transamination of a single racemic trans-cyclobutane α-ketoglutaric acid derivative 5, which is synthesized in five steps from maleic anhydride. (2S,1′R,2′R)- and (2S,1′S,2′S)-2-(2′-carboxycyclobutyl)glycines L-CBG-II and L-CBG-I are obtained using aspartate aminotransferase (AAT) and branched chain aminotransferase (BCAT), respectively.     

Chemoenzymatic synthesis of (3S,4S)- and (3R,4R)-3-methoxy-4-methylaminopyrrolidine

Facile chemoenzymatic enantioselective synthesis of (3S,4S)-3-methoxy-4-methylaminopyrrolidine, a key intermediate for a new quinolone antitumor compound AG-7352 has been described. This methodology illustrates the preparation of 3-azido-1-benzyloxycarbonyl-4-hydroxypyrrolidine starting from diallylamine via 1-benzyloxycarbonyl-3-pyrroline obtained by ring-closing metathesis (RCM) employing Grubbs’ catalyst. Enzymatic transesterification employing PS-C lipase gave (3S,4S)-3-azido-1-benzyloxycarbonyl-4-hydroxypyrrolidine in >99% ee, which upon methylation of the hydroxyl group followed by sequential reactions gave the desired intermediates, (3S,4S)-1-tert-butoxycarbonyl-3-tert-butoxycarbonylamino-4-methoxypyrrolidine.     

4-Formylazetidin-2-ones, synthon for the synthesis of (2R,3S) and (2S,3R)-3-amino-2-hydroxydecanoic acid (AHDA)

An efficient synthesis of 3-amino-2-hydroxydecanoic acid (AHDA), a nonproteinogenic amino acid, using enantiopure 3-benzyloxy-4-formylazetidin-2-one as a building block is described. Both the enantiomers of AHDA have been synthesized from the corresponding enantiomer of 3-benzyloxy-4-formylazetidin-2-one in good yield and optical purity.     

An efficient stereoselective synthesis of (2S,4S,5R)-(−)- and (2R,4R,5S)-(+)-bulgecinine

A short synthetic route to (−)-and (+)-bulgecinine, the amino acid moiety of the bulgecins was achieved from the readily available nonchiral pool starting material cis-2-butene-1,4-diol in which a Claisen orthoester rearrangement and a Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation were used as the key steps.     

Concise and practical synthesis of (2S,3R,4R,5R) and (2S,3R,4R,5S)-1,6-dideoxy-1,6-iminosugars

The syntheses of (2S,3R,4R,5R) and (2S,3R,4R,5S)-1,6-dideoxy-1,6 iminosugars 1a and 1b, respectively, from d-glucose are described. The key transformations in this reaction sequence include regio-selective epoxide ring opening with N-benzylamine followed by intramolecular reductive amination of amino-aldehyde.     

A facile synthesis of (6S,1′S)-(+)-hernandulcin and (6S,1′R)-(+)-epihernandulcin

A facile total synthesis of (+)-hernandulcin (1) was accomplished from (−)-isopulegol in 6 steps with 15% overall yield. Epoxidation of (−)-isopulegol with m-chloroperbenzoic acid followed by opening of the epoxide 3a with prenyl Grignard afforded the tertiary alcohol 4a with correct C-6 and C-1′ stereochemistry as a major product. Oxidation of the secondary alcohol in compound 4a to the ketone 5a was accomplished in high yield by using TPAP and N-methylmorpholine N-oxide. Conversion of the ketone 5a to α,β-unsaturated ketone via organoselenium intermediate gave (+)-hernandulcin (1). This method was also successfully applied to the synthesis of (+)-epihernandulcin (2).     

The first preparation of (1S,5R)-(−)- and (1R,5S)-(+)-7-phenyl-3-borabicyclo[3.3.1]non-6-enes and their application for synthesis of chiral cyclohexene derivatives

(1S,5R)-(−)- and (1R,5S)-(+)-7-phenyl-3-borabicyclo[3.3.1]non-6-enes of 97-98% de that differed only by the location of the double bond were prepared by the resolution of diastereomeric intramolecular chelates with l- and d-prolinol. Deboronation of chiral bicyclic boranes obtained was used for synthesis of optically active 3,5-dimethyl- and 3,5-dihydroxymethyl-1-phenylcyclohexenes.     

Total synthesis of (+)-eupomatilone 2 via asymmetric [2,3]-Wittig rearrangement of highly oxygenated biphenylmethyl ethers

We have achieved the total synthesis of (±)- and (+)-eupomatilone 2 isolated from the Australian shrub Eupomatia bennettii. The key reaction was an asymmetric [2,3]-Wittig rearrangement employing a bis(oxazoline) chiral ligand. Although the highly oxygenated biphenylmethyl ether exhibited considerably lowered enantioselectivity as compared with the non-substituted biphenylmethyl ether, the selectivity was improved to 89% ee by using n-BuLi and ether as the base and the co-solvent, respectively.     

Stereoselective synthesis of (2R,3R) and (2R,3S)-3-hydroxyleucines

A stereoselective synthesis of (2R,3R) and (2R,3S)-3-hydroxyleucine is disclosed. The key step of the reaction sequence involves, stereo- and regioselective bromohydration of 7, using a brominating agent derived in situ from N-bromosuccinimide and 2,6-lutidine, via intramolecular sulfinyl group participation.     

Asymmetric synthesis of (R)- and (S)-2-trifluoromethylepinephrine

An asymmetric synthesis of (R)- and (S)-2-trifluoromethylepinephrine (1R and 1S) is presented. Trifluoromethylation involves nucleophilic aromatic substitution of halobenzene 4 most likely via a copper mediated CF₃ anion equivalent generated in situ. The asymmetric step involves conversion of 3,4-dimethoxy-2-trifluoromethylbenzaldehyde (5) to silyl cyanohydrin (6R and 6S) using a chiral salen catalyst in the presence of titanium. 1R and 1S are potential alternatives to currently used vasoconstrictors in local anesthetic formulations.     

Studies on the aza-Claisen rearrangement of 4,5-dihydroxylated allylic trichloroacetimidates: the stereoselective synthesis of (2R,3S)- and (2S,3S)-2-amino-3,4-dihydroxybutyric acids

Two new synthetic approaches, involving substrate directed aza-Claisen rearrangements and aza-Claisen rearrangements mediated by chiral Pd(II) catalysts, have been developed for the stereoselective synthesis of (2R,3S)-2-amino-3,4-dihydroxybutyric acid, a dihydroxylated α-amino acid from the edible mushroom, Lyophyllum ulmarium and its (2S,3S)-unnatural diastereomer.