Singlet oxygen addition to homoallylic substrates in solution and microemulsion: novel secondary reactions

The photooxygenation of three homoallylic substrates, the γ,δ-unsaturated ketone 1a, nitrile 2a, and the γ,δ-unsaturated ester 3a was investigated in homogeneous solution and in microemulsion (for 1a). Two secondary reaction pathways were detected for the allylic hydroperoxides of type b and c, respectively. The cyclization reactions of 1b and 2b to the 1,2-dioxanes 1d and 2d followed well-known reaction patterns, whereas the base-catalyzed epoxide (1e-3e) formation from the tertiary allylic hydroperoxides 1c-3c is a unprecedented reaction type.     

Ring-opening reactions of cyclic ethers with diiodo- and dibromodimethylsilane equivalents

Ring-opening halosilation of cyclic ethers with reagents of (Me₂N)₂SiMe₂/4MeI (1a) and (Me₂N)₂SiMe₂/4allylBr (1b) was studied. Tetrahydrofuran and cyclohexene oxide reacted with 1a and 1b to give ring-opened di(haloalkoxy)dimethylsilanes in good yield. With less strained tetrahydropyran, however, only reagent 1a gave the ring-opened product. Reactions of reagents 1a and 1b with propylene oxide also proceeded smoothly, although the regioselectivity was rather low. When similar reactions were carried out with (Me₂N)₂SiMe₂/2MeI (2a) and (Me₂N)₂SiMe₂/2allylBr (2b) in a ratio of cyclic ethers/2a or 2b = 1/1, the corresponding 1:1 adducts were obtained.     

Reactions of aminobenzoic acids with α,β-acetylenic γ-hydroxy nitriles: synthesis of functionalized amino acids and unusually facile esterification and acetylene hydration

2-Aminobenzoic acid 1 reacts with α,β-acetylenic γ-hydroxy nitriles 4 and 5 to afford 2-[(5-iminio-2,2-dialkyl-2,5-dihydro-3-furanyl)amino]benzenecarboxylates 7 and 8 (yield 73-74%), a new class of unnatural amino acids in a peculiar zwitterionic form, having the positive charge transferred to the remote imino group of the dihydrofuranyl substituent. 3- and 4-Aminobenzoic acids 2 and 3 with α,β-acetylenic γ-hydroxy nitriles 4-6 undergo entirely different transformations to deliver the esters of cyanomethylhydroxyalkyl ketones 9-12, which result from the unusually facile esterification of the hydroxyl function and simultaneous hydration of the triple bond. 4-Aminobenzoic acid 3 is found to be an active organic catalyst for the one-pot conversion of α,β-acetylenic γ-hydroxy nitrile 4 to 5-amino-2,2-dimethyl-3(2H)-furanone 13, in 80% yield.     

Rearrangement of the carbon skeleton in the intramolecular photoadduct of anthracene and benzene rings

The effectivity of optical switching between anthracene derivatives 3a,b and their intramolecular photocycloadducts 4a,b is impaired by traces of acid. The systematic treatment of 4a,b with an increasing excess of formic acid revealed that—apart from the normal enolether cleavage 4a,b→6a,b→7a,b—a cleavage with rearrangement of the carbon skeleton can occur: 5b→6b′. The driving force is a stability enhancement of the involved carbenium ions 5b→5b′. A further increased excess of formic acid leads finally to a competitive ether cleavage in the tetrahydrofuran ring 5b→8.     

The synthesis of 2,4-dienyl fluoroalkyl ketones by a tandem three-stage sequence of propargyl 2-fluoroalkylvinyl ether formation, Claisen rearrangement, and allene-to-conjugated diene isomerization

A tandem three stages process to a series of trifluoromethyl and halodifluoromethyl 2,4-unsaturated ketones 4a-c is described. This process started with the preparation of 2-fluoroalkyl substituted propargyl vinyl ether 3a-d by treatment of a mixture of individual ethyl α-per(poly)fluoroalkyl acetates 1a-d and propargyl alcohol 2 in CH₂Cl₂ with the mixed base (Na₂CO₃/TEA) at ambient temperature. When heated in toluene at 80°C, these ethers readily underwent a tandem propargyl-allenyl Claisen rearrangement and isomerization of the resultant 3,4-dienone to give 2,4-unsaturated fluoroalkyl ketones 4a-c (Z/E mixture). The reaction of ethyl α-per(poly)fluoroalkyl acetate 1 with 1-phenyl propargyl alcohol 5 in refluxing CH₂Cl₂ in the presence of the mixed base (Na₂CO₃/TEA) directly afforded the corresponding unsaturated fluoroalkyl ketone 6a-c in one pot. In the presence of NaH, the reaction of ethyl 3-halo-3-fluoroalkylacrylates 8a-b with 1,1-dimethyl propargyl alcohol 9 at −50°C to 0°C also gave the unsaturated fluoroalkyl ketones 10a-b in one pot. The difluorovinyl propargyl ether 11 produced by reduction of 2-bromodifluoromethyl substituted propargyl vinyl ether 3b rearranged in hot benzene to give the corresponding allene 12 bearing a gem-difluoromethylene group in the middle of the aliphatic chain.     

Studies on the Suzuki reaction on methyl 1-(2-bromoaryl)-5-oxo-3-aryl/heteroaryl-pyrrolidin-2-carboxylate derivatives: synthesis of N-aryl modified monocyclic γ-lactam derivatives in search for newer antibacterial agents

A large number of novel N-aryl modified monocyclic γ-lactam derivatives have been prepared via Pd(0) catalyzed heteroarylation in the N-aryl part of (±) cis and (±) trans γ-lactam carboxylate derivatives 3(a–f) and 6(a–f), respectively, with furan-2-boronic acid and thiophen-2-boronic acid. (±) cis Methyl 1-(2-bromoaryl)-5-oxo-3-aryl/heteroarylpyrrolidin-2-carboxylate derivatives 3(a–f), were prepared in good yields from 1(a–f) via hydrolysis, stereoselective decarboxylation, followed by esterification. Corresponding trans isomers 6(a–f) were prepared by the standard method already reported by us.     

Synthesis of C1- and C8a-epimers of (+)-castanospermine from d-glucose derived γ,δ-epoxyazide: intramolecular 5-endo epoxide opening approach

A concise synthesis of two diastereomers of (+)-castanospermine namely 1- and 8a-epi-castanospermine 1b and 1c, respectively, is reported from d-glucose. The methodology involves stereoselective cross metathesis of d-glucose derived alkene 2 with 4-bromo-1-butene followed by azide displacement and m-CPBA oxidation to afford diastereomeric γ,δ-epoxyazides 5a/5b. The Staudinger reaction of epoxyazide 5a followed by reaction with benzylchloroformate (CbzCl) unexpectedly furnished 1,3-oxazinan-2-one derivative 7 whose stereochemistry was establish by single crystal X-ray. This helps to assign the stereochemistry in the epoxidation reaction. The reduction of 5a/5b was then carried out by transfer hydrogenation to provide γ,δ-epoxyamine that concomitantly undergoes intramolecular 5-endo-tet cyclization to afford hydroxypyrrolidine ring skeleton with sugar framework-a precursor to castanospermine analogues 1b/1c.     

The stereoselective synthesis of γ-lactam derivatives through N(1)-C(4) one carbon ring expansion of β-lactam derivatives

The base induced ring opening of β-lactam derivatives, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 with LDA gave γ-lactam derivatives, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 stereoselectively. The γ-lactam derivatives were formed stereoselectively depending on C-3 substituent of β-lactam derivatives.     

Complexing properties of two benzocrown-ether moieties arranged at a cyclobutane ring system

Biscrown ethers 2a-c and 3a-c arranged at a cyclobutane ring were prepared by intermolecular [2+2] photocycloaddition of vinylated benzocrown ethers. The complexing behavior of 2a-c toward alkali metal cations was evaluated by ESI-MS analysis, liquid-liquid extraction, and the comparison of complexing stability constant. An intramolecular sandwich-type 1:1 (host/guest) complexation was observed by ESI-MS analysis in the competitive system where 2a-Na⁺, 2b-K⁺, and 2c-Cs⁺ were formed selectively. In the liquid-liquid extraction, however, 2a hardly extracted any cation, while both 2b and 2c efficiently extracted larger cations such as K⁺, Rb⁺, and Cs⁺. It was found that the complexing stability constant of 2a-Na⁺ is lower than that of benzo-15-crown-5-Na⁺ though extraordinarily high values were obtained for 2b-K⁺ and 2c-Cs⁺ complexes compared with those of 18-crown-6-K⁺ and dibenzo-24-crown-8-Cs⁺ complexes, respectively. Hence, the excellent complexing ability was achieved by using the cyclobutane ring, which strongly preorganized two benzocrown-ether moieties for the larger alkali metal cations.     

Total synthesis of resolvin E2

Resolvin E2 (2) was synthesized stereoselectively using the C1-8 and C15-20 aldehydes 6 and 9, which were connected to the C9-14 fragment by using Wittig reactions. The aldehyde 6 was prepared from the γ-silyl alcohol (S)-20 by a sequence of reactions involving ozonolysis, oxidation with NaIO₄, and the Wittig reaction of the resulting aldehyde with Ph₃PCHCHO, whereas the aldehyde 9 was synthesized from the corresponding γ-silyl alcohol through epoxidation, reaction with Et₂AlCN, and reduction with DIBAL-H.     

Synthetic application of fluorinated vinamidinium salts: Synthesis of fluorinated 1,3-butadienylphosphonates by the reaction with Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reagents

The reaction of β-fluoro vinamidinium salt 1 with Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reagents (HWE) such as diethyl(ethoxycarbonyl)methylphosphonate (2a), diethyl(methoxycarbonyl)methylphosphonate (2b), diethyl-2-oxopropylphosphonate (2c), diethyl benzylphosphonate (2d), tetraethyl methylenediphosphonate (2e) and diethyl cyanomethylphosphonate (2f) under basic conditions gave the fluorinated 1,3-butadienylphosphonates 3 in moderate to good yields. The phosphonates 3 could be hydrolyzed with a 10% HCl aqueous solution to afford the corresponding γ-(diethylphosphono)-α-fluoro-α,β-unsaturated aldehydes 7 in good yields. The treatment of the phosphonate 3c with an NH₃ aqueous solution at 70 °C produced the pyridine derivative 8 in 60% yield.     

Methylenepyran unsaturated Fischer carbene complexes from γ-methylpyrylium salts and alkynylcarbenes. Evolution to spiro-pyran-cyclopentenone compounds

Push-pull methylenepyran compounds 3 containing ferrocenyl or aryl groups are synthesized from reaction of condensation between γ-methyl-pyrylium salts 1 as precursors of γ-methylenepyrans and alkynylcarbene complexes 2 as Michaël-type acceptors. The new carbenes 3 evolve in CH₂Cl₂ solution at room temperature to provide spiro-fused-pyran-cyclopentenenone 4 and polysubstituted cyclopentenones 5.     

Synthesis of the common FGHI-ring part of ciguatoxins

The common FGHI-ring part (2) of ciguatoxins has been synthesized from the F- and I-ring parts (6 and 5, respectively). The Nozaki-Hiyama-Kishi coupling of 6 with 5 followed by regio- and stereoselective epoxidation at C29 and C30 afforded an epoxide (4), which was transformed into a tricyclic compound (3) corresponding to the F-HI-ring part by 6-exo-epoxide opening and the subsequent inversion of the C29 stereocenter. Reductive cyclization of 3 forming the C31-O26 bond of the G-ring successfully produced 2.     

Synthesis and properties of novel crown ether-annelated 4′,5′-diaza-9′-(1,3-dithiole-2-ylidene)-fluorenes and their ruthenium(II) complexes

Two novel redox-active 1,3-dithiole (DT) ring-fused 4,5-diazafluorene ligands with crown ether moieties (L1 and L2) were synthesized and characterized. The crystal structure of L1 was studied. The electrochemical and spectroscopic properties of these new ligands, as well as the corresponding bis(bipyridine)ruthenium(II) complexes [4: Ru L1(bpy)₂ and 5: Ru L2(bpy)₂], were also been investigated.     

An expeditious synthesis for γ-carboline analogue 4-aryl-1,3-thiazino[6,5-b]indole derivatives via the trifluoromethanesulfonic acid-promoted isomerization of 3-amidomethylthioindole intermediates to 2-indolyl sulfides

A highly efficient trifluoromethanesulfonic acid-mediated rearrangement of the benzoylaminomethylthio group of 3-benzoylaminomethylthioindoles (7a-e) to position 2 of the indole ring was developed. Thus, 2-benzoylaminomethylthioindoles (9a-e) were obtained in good yields and were involved as key intermediates in the synthesis of the new γ-carboline analogue ring system: 2,9-dihydro-4-aryl-1,3-thiazino[6,5-b]indole derivatives (11a-e). The target thiazinoindoles (11a-e) were prepared via 2-thiobenzoylaminomethylindoles (10a-e) in modified Bischler-Napieralski reactions.     

Dipyrone approach toward the synthesis of the cytotoxic natural product auripyrone A

An approach to the synthesis of the cytotoxic natural product auripyrone A 1 via the cyclization of an alcohol onto a γ-pyrone in 3 is described. The bis(pyrone) alcohol 3 was prepared efficiently from the advanced aldolate 4 via silyl ether cleavage, oxidation, pyrone formation, and PMB ether removal. Instead of providing auripyrone A 1, the attempted cyclization of 3 gave the product of 1,5-acyl migration 8. Model studies show this to be a general process; therefore, cyclization of an alcohol on such a hindered γ-pyrone under normal conditions is very difficult.     

Nitroalkylation and nitroalkenylation reactions of γ-lactone enolates. A facile ring switch from polysubstituted γ-lactones to polysubstituted γ-lactams

Michael addition of lithium enolates of γ-butyrolactone 1 and α-methyl-γ-butyrolactone 1′ to (E)-1-nitropropene 2, (E)-β-nitrostyrene 3 and (E)-2-nitro-1-phenylpropene 4 is described. Reactions of the lithium enolate of 1′ with 2 and 4 occurred with high diasteroselectivity (80 and 92% d.e., respectively). Reactions of the zinc enolate of 1′ with two β-nitroenamines and two methylthio-substituted 1-amino-2-nitro-1,3-dienes were also examined. Catalytic reduction of the nitroalkylated and nitroalkenylated products allowed the achievement of functionalized γ-lactams and/or cyclic hydroxamic acids.     

Synthesis of 2-azaspiro[4.4]nonan-1-ones via phosphine-catalysed [3+2]-cycloadditions

The phosphine-catalyzed [3+2]-cycloaddition of the 2-methylene γ-lactams 4 and 5 and the acrylate 6 with the ylides derived from the ethyl ester, the amide or the chiral camphor sultam derivative of 2-butynoic acid (7a-c) give directly, or indirectly after reductive cyclization, spiro-heterocyclic products. The acid 32 underwent Curtius rearrangement and then acid hydrolysis to give two novel spiro-cyclic ketones, 41 and 42.     

Carbonyl complexes of manganese, rhenium and molybdenum with 2-pyridylimino acid ligands

[MBr(CO)₃{κ²(N,O)-pyca}] [M = Mn(1a), Re(1b), pyca = pyridine-2-carboxaldehyde] and [MoCl(η³-C₃H₄Me-2)(CO)₂{κ²(N,O)-pyca}] (1c) react with aminoacid β-alanine to give the corresponding iminopyridine complexes 2a-2c. The same method affords the iminopyridine derivatives from γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) (3a-3c) and 3-aminobenzoic acid (4a-4c). For complexes 2a-2c, 3a, 3c and 4a, the solid state structures have been determined by X-ray crystallography, revealing interesting differences in their hydrogen-bonding patterns in solid state.     

Highly stable pseudo[2]rotaxanes co-driven by crown ether-ammonium and donor-acceptor interactions

Bis-p-phenylene-34-crown-10 derivatives 1 and 2, bearing one and two dibenzo[24]crown-8 units, respectively, and 4,4′-dipyridinium derivatives of 3·3PF₆ and of 4·4PF₆, bearing one and two ammonium groups, respectively, have been synthesized from readily available starting materials. ¹H NMR and UV-vis studies reveal that in polar acetonitrile 1 binds 3·3PF₆ to produce pseudo[2]rotaxane 1·3·3PF₆ by making use of one donor-acceptor and one electrostatic interaction, whereas 2 binds 4·4PF₆ to form pseudo[2]rotaxane 2·4·4PF₆ through one donor-acceptor and two electrostatic interactions. The association constants of the two pseudorotaxanes have been determined by the UV-vis titration method to be 9.1 (±1.0)×10³ M⁻¹ and 6.5 (±0.7)×10⁵ M⁻¹, respectively. The high stability of the new pseudo[2]rotaxanes has been ascribed to the cooperative interaction of the two different non-covalent forces.