Asymmetric synthesis of β-dialkylamino alcohols by transfer hydrogenation of α-dialkylamino ketones

Transfer hydrogenation of representative aryl and heteroaryl dialkylaminomethyl ketones with formic acid–triethylamine, catalyzed by RuCl[(R,R)-TsDPEN](η-p-cymene), produces the corresponding β-dialkylamino alcohols, 97–99% ee, in 50–73% yields. Asymmetric synthesis of (R)-macromerine, 98% ee, the cactus Coryphantha macromeris alkaloid, is also described.     

First asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-curcutetraol

The first asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-curcutetraol, a marine phenolic bisabolane-type sesquiterpene, was achieved in eight steps in ca. 50% overall yield. The chiral tertiary benzylic alcohol moiety in the o-position of a phenol was constructed in high optical yield (99% ee) by an asymmetric synthesis using a chiral aminal, (2R,5S)-2-methoxycarbonyl-3-phenyl-1,3-diazabicyclo[3.3.0]octane.     

Asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-curcutetraol and (+)-sydonol

The asymmetric total syntheses of (+)-curcutetraol and (+)-sydonol, phenolic bisabolane-type sesquiterpenoids having chiral tertiary alcohol moiety in the o-position of a phenol, were achieved in high enantiomeric excesses (99% ee). The chiral tertiary benzylic alcohol moiety of these compounds was constructed by an asymmetric synthesis using an easily available chiral aminal, (−)-(2R,5S)-2-methoxycarbonyl-3-phenyl-1,3-diazabicyclo[3.3.0]octane. The absolute configurations of both (+)-curcutetraol and (+)-sydonol have been assumed to be S-configuration based on the stereochemical course of the well established asymmetric synthesis used in the syntheses.     

Enzymatic asymmetric synthesis of the silodosin amine intermediate

Various enantiocomplementary ω-transaminases (ωTAs) were investigated in kinetic resolution and asymmetric reductive amination reactions to prepare silodosin amine. Whilst the enzymatic kinetic resolution gave moderate to good results with respect to the yield and enantioselectivity, the asymmetric reductive amination proved to be superior. The best results were obtained with the ωTA originating from (R)-Arthrobacter sp. which afforded the desired bioactive (R)-enantiomer in enantiomerically pure form (ee >97%) at excellent conversion (conv. >97%) under mild and benign reaction conditions.     

Lipase-catalyzed kinetic resolution of tetronic acid derivatives bearing a chiral quaternary carbon: total synthesis of (S)-(−)-vertinolide

We have developed a chemoenzymatic synthesis of (S)-vertinolide 1 with a chiral quaternary carbon atom at C5. In the kinetic resolution of tetronic acid precursor 6, lipase PS-D furnished the recovered alcohol 6 with an (R)-stereochemistry in a ratio of 95% ee, whereas lipase AY gave (S)-alcohol 6 with 93% ee. Chemical transformations of (S)-alcohol 6 provided (S)-vertinolide 1 in 33% yield in five steps with no loss of enantiomeric excess.     

Synthesis of (αR,βS)-epoxyketones by asymmetric epoxidation of chalcones with cinchona phase-transfer catalysts

An efficient method to synthetically produce optically enriched (αR,βS)-epoxyketones was developed using a quaternary ammonium salt derived from cinchona alkaloid as the chiral phase-transfer catalyst. (αR,βS)-Epoxyketones were prepared in high optical purities (91-99% ee) by the asymmetric epoxidation of 1,3-diarylenones with aqueous sodium hypochlorite in the presence of a hydrocinchonine-derived chiral phase-transfer catalyst bearing a 2,3,4-trifluorobenzyl group.     

Efficient and practical synthesis of both enantiomers of 6-silyloxy-3-pyranone derivatives

Lipase catalyzed kinetic resolution of racemic cis-6-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-3,6-dihydro-2H-pyran-3-ol (rac)-1 was achieved in high enantiomeric excess. Transesterification of (rac)-1 with vinylacetate in ^tBuOMe yielded the alcohol (3S,6R)-1 in 99.0% ee, whereas (3R,6S)-1 was obtained, in 99.0% ee, by the lipase catalyzed ester hydrolysis of acetate (3R,6S)-2, which was obtained along with the transesterification. Both (3S,6R)-1 and (3R,6S)-1 were subjected to oxidation to provide the corresponding 6-silyloxy-3-pyranone (6R)-3 and (6S)-3, respectively. Application to the synthesis of 7, which is the key intermediate of asymmetric synthesis of pseudomonic acid A 9 is also described.     

Synthesis of (1S,4R)-4-isopropyl-1-methyl-2-cyclohexen-1-ol,the aggregation pheromone of the ambrosia beetle Platypus quercivorus,its racemate, (1R,4R)- and (1S,4S)-isomers

(S)-Perillyl alcohol was converted to (R)-cryptone (91.5–93% ee) in six steps, which was then treated with methyllithium to give (1S,4R)-4-isopropyl-1-methyl-2-cyclohexen-1-ol, the aggregation pheromone of the ambrosia beetle Platypus quercivorus. The racemic pheromone was also prepared by methylation of (±)-cryptone. Both (1R,4R)- and (1S,4S)-isomers (98% ee) of the pheromone were synthesized from the enantiomers of dihydrolimonene oxide.     

Stereochemical clarification of the enzyme-catalysed reduction of 2-acetylchromen-4-one

Lactobacillus kefir alcohol dehydrogenase catalysed asymmetric reduction of 2-acetylchromen-4-one was achieved with 68% yield and 90% ee. The (R)-stereochemistry of the corresponding alcohol was unambiguously assigned by means of single crystal X-ray analysis.     

Asymmetric reductive amination of boron-containing aryl-ketones using ω-transaminases

The asymmetric reductive amination of aryl-ketones bearing various boron-functionalities (acid, ester or potassium trifluoroborates) was investigated employing enantiocomplementary ω-transaminases as catalysts. Under the optimized conditions, high conversions (up to 94%) and excellent ee’s (up to >99%) were obtained providing access to both (R)- and (S)-configured amino-aryl boronates under mild reaction conditions.     

Chemoenzymatic synthesis of enantiomerically pure tricyclic benzomorphan analogues

The key step in the synthesis of enantiomerically pure benzomorphan analogous tricyclic amines 2 is the kinetic resolution of secondary alcohol 7 using the lipase from Pseudomonas fluorescence. The (S)-configured alcohol (S)-7 and the (R)-configured ester (R)-8 were obtained in good yield (40% and 46%, respectively) and excellent enantiomeric excess (99% ee and 98.4% ee, respectively). A diastereoselective oxa-Pictet-Spengler reaction of (S)-7 with ethyl glyoxalate (OHC–CO₂Et) followed by a Dieckmann cyclization provided the tricyclic ring system 11, which allowed the diastereoselective introduction of an amino group at the 6-position. The absolute configuration of alcohol (S)-7 was determined with the tricyclic alcohol 13. The quantum mechanically calculated specific optical rotation of (S,S,S)-configured alcohol 13 is in accordance with the measured specific rotation of the synthesized compound. Moreover, X-ray crystal structure analysis of the synthesized compound, determined with the three-beam interference method, proved the (S,S,S)-configuration of 13. The enantiomerically pure dimethylamine 12 showed moderate affinity toward σ₂ receptors.     

Chemo-biological preparation of the chiral building block (R)-4-acetoxy-2-methyl-1-butanol using Pseudomonas putida

In order to develop new methyl substituted chiral building blocks which are useful for the synthesis of methyl branched natural products, the enantioselective bioreduction of an exo-methylene to a methyl group was investigated. 4-Acetoxy-2-methylene-1-butanol 3 was prepared from itaconic acid over four steps and converted to the chiral alcohol (R)-4-acetoxy-2-methyl-1-butanol 4, by growing cells of Pseudomonas putida. The bioconversion achieved a high enantioselectivity (92% ee) and a high chemical yield (65%) within a relatively short reaction time (18–20 h).     

Chemo-enzymatic synthesis of both enantiomers of rugulactone

The synthesis of both the (R)- and (S)-enantiomers of the natural product rugulactone has been achieved. Candida rugosa lipase hydrolyzes the butyrate ester of the protected 3-hydroxy homoallylic alcohol with very high enantioselectivity (E = 244) and provides the key intermediates with high enantiomeric purity (ee 98–99%) and excellent yields.     

Enzyme-catalyzed preparation of methyl (R)-N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)alaninate: a key intermediate for (R)-metalaxyl

A biocatalytic approach for the production of (R)-metalaxyl, mefenoxam, has been developed. A practical synthesis of methyl (R)-N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)alaninate, a key intermediate for (R)-metalaxyl, has been developed by the use of lipase-catalyzed hydrolytic kinetic resolution and chemical racemization of the remaining ester. At high concentrations in aqueous media (300 g/L) lipases were stable and gave moderate to good conversions and excellent enantioselectivities (>98% ee). A simple extraction procedure was used to separate the acid product from the remaining ester and the acid was esterified with methanol to give methyl (R)-N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)alaninate without any reduction in enantiomeric excess (>98% ee). Subsequent chemical coupling with methoxyacetyl chloride provided enantiomerically pure (R)-metalaxyl (>98% ee) without racemization.     

Parallel kinetic resolution of propargyl ketols: formal synthesis of (+)-bakkenolide A

We describe an intriguing new example of a parallel kinetic resolution; an asymmetric cyclization-carbonylation of propargyl ketols catalyzed by palladium(II) with chiral bisoxazoline (box) ligands. The 2S,3S enantiomer of (±)-6 was preferentially converted to 13 (45-49% yields, 37-46% ee), and the 2R,3R enantiomer of (±)-6 was preferentially converted to 14 (21-23% yields, 92-97% ee). As an application of this reaction, formal synthesis of (+)-bakkenolide A was achieved.     

Asymmetric synthesis and Lewis acid mediated type II carbonyl ene cyclisations of (R)-2-isopropyl-5-methylhex-5-enal

The asymmetric synthesis of (R)-2-isopropyl-5-methylhex-5-enal in 98% ee is described. It was discovered that the key alkylation step employing an Evans chiral auxiliary and 3-methylbut-3-en-1-yl trifluoromethanesulphonate as the alkylating agent led to significant competing O-alkylation, a phenomenon not previously reported. Type II carbonyl ene cyclisation of the aldehyde with a range of Lewis acids led to either the (R,R)- or (R,S)-5-methylidenecyclohexanols without concurrent racemisation of the alpha stereogenic centre of the aldehyde. Conditions for effecting the easy racemisation of a model enantiomerically pure aldehyde, (S)-2-methylbutanal, were developed. In an effort to secure a dynamic kinetic resolution procedure, these conditions were applied to (R)-2-isopropyl-5-methylhex-5-enal. However, a competing and dominant Prins cyclisation occurred instead leading to a mixture of all possible cycloadducts, all of which were obtained in 98% ee. Any unreacted aldehyde was found to be enantiomerically pure.     

Enantioselective anti-Mannich reaction catalyzed by modularly designed organocatalysts

A highly stereoselective method for achieving the anti-Mannich reaction of aldehydes and ketones with ethyl (4-methoxyphenylimino)acetate was realized using the modularly designed organocatalysts (MDOs) self-assembled from cinchona alkaloid derivatives and (R)-pyrrolidien-3-carboxylic acid in the reaction media. The desired anti-Mannich products were obtained in good to excellent yields (up to 93%), excellent diastereoselectivities (up to 99:1 dr), and good to high enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee).     

Organozinc-aided,HMPA-free,stoichiometric three-component coupling for the general synthesis of prostaglandins and stable prostacyclin analogs with biological significance

A three-component coupling procedure was developed to construct the entire prostaglandin (PG) skeleton under HMPA-free and stoichiometric conditions via a combination of dimethylzinc-aided conjugate addition of an ω-side-chain vinyllithium with (R)-4-hydroxy-2-cyclopentenone and the direct trapping of the resulting enolate with an α-side-chain propargyl triflate. Dimethylzinc effectively regulated both the conjugate addition and alkynylation reactions. Thus, the method afforded protected 5,6-didehydro-PGE₂, a common intermediate for the general synthesis of natural PGs and the stable artificial prostacyclin (PGI₂) analog isocarbacyclin in 88% yield. The utility of the method was further applied to the syntheses of novel intermediates, which are useful for the straightforward synthesis of 15R-TIC and 15-deoxy-TIC in 79% and 86% yield, respectively.     

Microbial deracemisation of N-(1-hydroxy-1-phenylethyl)benzamide

Microbial deracemisation of racemic N-(1-hydroxy-1-phenylethyl)benzamide to give the (R)-enantiomer is described using whole cells of Cunninghamella echinulata NRRL 1384. The deracemisation involves fast highly (S)-selective oxidation followed by slower partially (S)-selective reduction of the intermediate ketone. The yield and ee of (R)-N-(1-hydroxy-1-phenylethyl)benzamide were optimised (82%, 98% ee) by removal of a competing extracellular amidase/protease activity by using static cells at pH 5. Use of the protease inhibitor PMSF with growing cells leads to a slower deracemisation (82% ee) but a very high (98%) overall recovery of alcohol and ketone.     

Chemoenzymatic synthesis of (5S)- and (5R)-hydroxymethyl-3,5-dimethyl-4-(methoxymethoxy)-5H-thiophen-2-one: a precursor of thiolactomycin and determination of its absolute configuration

A convenient enantioselective synthesis of (5S)- and (5R)-hydroxymethyl-3,5-dimethyl-4-(methoxymethoxy)-5H-thiophen-2-one, a key intermediate in the synthesis of thiolactomycin has been carried out by a Carica papaya lipase-mediated resolution protocol to provide (R)-2 in a 94% ee and its enantiomer (S)-9 in a 98% ee. The absolute configuration at the C-5 position has been determined by Mosher’s method.