A facile synthesis of a polyhydroxylated 2-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane

Synthetic or natural aza-sugars have shown promise as a therapeutic approach to a variety of disease states by acting as transition state mimics to sugar processing enzymes. Although the synthesis of functionalized bicyclo[3.2.1]octanes has been reported, the procedures are relatively long and low yielding. Herein, we report the facile synthesis of polyhydroxylated 2-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane that can be selectively functionalized.     

Regioselective enzymatic glycosylation of natural polyhydroxylated compounds: galactosylation and glucosylation of protopanaxatriol ginsenosides.

Ginsenoside Rg1 (1), the most representative Ginsenoside from Panax Ginseng C.A. Meyer belonging to the protopanaxatriol family, has been galactosylated by action of the beta-(1,4)-galactosyltransferase (GalT) from bovine colostrum, using UDP-galactose as an activated sugar donor. The enzyme showed the well-known specificity for the formation of a beta-linkage with the C-4 OH of the glucose acceptor, but it was not able to discriminate between the two glucose moieties of 1, giving a mixture of mono- and digalactosylated derivatives. Other natural Rg1-analogues such as F1, Rh1, Re, as well as the synthetic derivative 6'-O-acetyl-Rg1 have been also galactosylated, giving monolactosyl derivatives. GalT was also able to accept UDP-glucose as an activated sugar donor, giving rise to cellobiosyl derivatives of Rg1.     

Asymmetric synthesis of polyhydroxylated N-alkoxypiperidines by ring-closing double reductive amination: facile preparation of isofagomine and analogues

A de novo synthesis of novel polyhydroxylated N-alkoxypiperidines based on the ring-closing double reductive amination of 1,5-dialdehydes, obtained by oxidative cleavage of cyclopentene derivatives, with O-substituted hydroxylamines is reported. Isofagomine was accessed by cleavage of the N-O bond of an N-alkoxypiperidine.     

Rhodium-catalyzed direct aldol condensation of ketones: a facile synthesis of fused aromatic compounds

Cationic rhodium complex [Cp^∗Rh(η⁶-C₆H₆)](BF₄)₂ (1) acts as an efficient catalyst for direct aldol condensation of ketones. The method can be applied to one-pot synthesis of fused aromatic compounds from cyclic ketones via sequential C-C bond formations.     

Zinc-mediated alkynylation of carbonyl compounds with iodoalkynes: a facile synthesis of propargyl alcohols

A straightforward synthesis of propargyl alcohols from alkynyl iodides and carbonyl compounds using zinc is described.     

Tuning the regioselectivity of the Staudinger reaction for the facile synthesis of kanamycin and neomycin class antibiotics with N-1 modification

[reaction: see text] A novel method for achieving the desired regioselective reduction of the N-1 azido group on a tetraazidoneamine has been developed that leads to the synthesis of both kanamycin and neomycin class antibiotics bearing N-1 modification. Both classes of aminoglycosides are active against aminoglycoside-resistant bacteria carrying APH(3')-I and AAC(6')/APH(2').     

A new method for the synthesis of organopolyoxometalate hybrid compounds

The reaction of a quaternary ammonium salt of the tin chloride-substituted polyoxometalate, [PSn(Cl)W11O39]4-, with a variety of n-nucleophiles including primary, secondary, and tertiary amines and a tertiary phosphine, yielded tin-centered Lewis acid-base adducts, [PSn(Cl)W11O39]4--n-nucleophile; with more nucleophilic secondary amines such as diisopropylamine, apparently some [PSnN[CH(CH3)2]2W11O39]4- was formed as a minor product. The compounds were identified by 1H, 119Sn, 15N, 31P, and 183W NMR, ESI-MS, and elemental analyses. The key connectivity of the Sn-Cl center with the amine was clarified by the observation of 3J Sn-H couplings (Sn from the polyoxometalate cluster and H from the amine moiety) in a 2D 119Sn-1H heteronuclear multiple-bond correlation NMR experiment. This new, rather simple synthetic method was also utilized for preparing amino acid-polyoxometalate hybrid compounds.     

An entirely new methodology for synthesizing perfluorinated compounds: synthesis of perfluoroalkanesulfonyl fluorides from non-fluorinated compounds

A new synthetic procedure for the preparation of perfluoroalkanesulfonyl fluorides utilizing liquid-phase direct fluorination with elemental fluorine has been developed. Direct fluorination of a partially fluorinated ester, which has alkanesulfonyl fluoride in the end, was synthesized from non-fluorinated counterparts and perfluorinated acid fluoride according to the PERFECT process, gave the desired perfluorinated product in moderate yield as well as by-products arising from CS bond cleavage. The results of the direct fluorination of some model substrates suggest that the CS bond cleavage occurred due to radical formation at the α-position rather than the β-position.     

Stereo- and regioselectivity in asymmetric synthesis of α-amino substituted benzocyclic compounds

The enantiomerically pure chiral benzocyclic amines 6–8 were obtained by asymmetric transamination of the corresponding prochiral ketones 9a–c. The method involves: (a) formation of chiral imines 10a–c from the prochiral ketones 9a–c and the inexpensive chiral auxiliary (R)- or (S)-phenylethylamine (PEA); (b) asymmetrically induced reduction of these imines to the diastereomeric amines 11a–c and 12a–c; (c) catalytic hydrogenation to remove the benzylic fragment of the chiral PEA auxiliary. The stereoselectivity of the imine reduction, as well as the regioselectivity of the catalytic hydrogenation, are strongly dependent on the size of the saturated ring condensed with the benzene ring. This approach was used to develop a convenient, high yielding, and stereoselective route to several practically important optically active α-amino substituted benzocyclic compounds.     

Continuous-flow reactor-based enzymatic synthesis of phosphorylated compounds on a large scale

Acid phosphatase, an enzyme that is able to catalyze the transfer of a phosphate group from cheap pyrophosphate to alcoholic substrates, was covalently immobilized on polymethacrylate beads with an epoxy linker (Immobeads-150 or Sepabeads EC-EP). After immobilization 70% of the activity was retained and the immobilized enzyme was stable for many months. With the immobilized enzyme we were able to produce and prepare D-glucose-6-phosphate, N-acetyl-D-glucosamine-6-phosphate, allyl phosphate, dihydroxyacetone phosphate, glycerol-1-phosphate, and inosine-5'-monophosphate from the corresponding primary alcohol on gram scale using either a fed-batch reactor or a continuous-flow packed-bed reactor.     

Solvent effect on mineral modification: selective synthesis of cerium compounds by a facile solution route

A mild solution method has been designed for the selective synthesis of orthorhombic and hexagonal CeOHCO(3), as well as cubic CeO(2) crystals in an ethanol/water mixed solvent. This study added a new example for selectively controlling different cerium compounds by manipulating the balance between kinetics and thermodynamics in a mixed solvent system. The competitive reactions taking place in the ethanol/water system, phase transition, and shape evolution were fully investigated: they were found to be strongly dependent on the composition of the reaction media. The influence of the ethanol content in the mixed solvent and that of the reaction time on the phase transition and shape of orthorhombic and hexagonal CeOHCO(3) crystals is discussed in detail. Metastable hexagonal CeOHCO(3) can be trapped, even at 80 degrees C, in the ethanol/water solvent mixture without the need for the high temperature adopted by previous hydrothermal approaches. The evolution process of orthorhombic and metastable hexagonal phases under mild solution conditions is discussed for the first time. Supersaturation will become faster and more evident when water is replaced by ethanol, because the inorganic salts have a lower solubility in ethanol than in water, and this will generally favor the formation of the kinetic phase, such as the hexagonal CeOHCO(3) phase reported in this paper. The optical properties of the products with different phases and composition were investigated.     

Aldol methodology: synthesis of syn-3-hydroxy-2-vinylcarbonyl compounds

A direct approach to syn-3-hydroxy-2-vinylcarbonyl compounds via a boron-mediated aldol reaction with($\text{S}$)-1-cyclohexyl-1-triethylsilyloxypenta-3($\text{Z}$-en-2-one (6c) is described.     

Exploiting the Anders-Gaßner variant on the Wittig reaction: new methodology for the synthesis of 3,3-dimethylacroyl enol esters

A one pot synthesis of the 3,3-dimethylacroyl enol ester function found in the vibsane type diterpenes has been developed based on the Anders-Gaßner variant of the Wittig reaction (AGW reaction). This method uses easily accessible acyloxyalkylidene phosphoranes and a variety of aldehydes.     

Exploiting the regioselectivity of pyroglutamate alkylations for the synthesis of 6-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octanes and 4-azabicyclo[3.3.0]octanes

Depending on the N-protecting group of pyroglutamates, the reactivity can be directed to the formation of 6-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octanes or 4-azabicyclo[3.3.0]octanes, which are conformationally restricted glutamate analogues.     

New building block for polyhydroxylated piperidine: total synthesis of 1,6-dideoxynojirimycin

(3R,4S)-3-Hydroxy-4-N-allyl-N-Boc-amino-1-pentene 10, an important precursor for the synthesis of polyhydroxylated piperidines, has been achieved as a single diastereomer without racemization via vinyl Grignard addition to N-Boc-N-allyl aminoaldehyde 9, which was derived from an enantiopure natural amino acid. Having forged a tetrahydropyridine ring scaffold 13 from 10 in 85% yield via RCM using Grubbs II catalyst, we were able to effect its stereodivergent dihydroxylation, via a common epoxide intermediate to yield a range of interesting hydroxylated piperidines, including ent-1,6-dideoxynojirimycin (ent-1,6-dDNJ) 1 (28% overall yield) and 5-amino-1,5,6-trideoxyaltrose 2 (29% over all yield) in excellent dr. To the best of our knowledge, our synthesis of ent-1,6-dDNJ 1 is the most expeditious to date.     

Concise synthesis of two advanced intermediates for the asymmetric synthesis of polyhydroxylated indolizidine alkaloids

A concise five-step approach to indolizidinones 10 and 11, two advanced intermediates for the asymmetric synthesis of polyhydroxylated indolizidine alkaloids, has been developed by using N-Cbz pyrrolidin-2-yl pyridin-2-yl sulfide 13 as the chiral building block. The method features a SmI₂-mediated coupling of sulfide 13 with functionalized aldehyde 14 and a tandem N-deprotection-lactamization, which constitutes a stepwise “2 + 4” annulation method for the construction of the indolizidinone ring system of 12a.     

Chlorination of aromatic compounds in micellar media: regioselectivity

Chlorination of phenol and ortho-chlorophenol was studied in micellar media in order to observe the effect on regioselectivity. Hydrogen peroxide/hydrochloric acid-aqueous system, which is environmentally a safer route was employed for chlorination. Selectivity ratio was found to be dependent on the nature and concentration of the surfactant. Ortho/para selectivity ratio up to 12 was realized for the chlorination of phenol. 2,6-/2,4-dichlorophenol ratio up to 1.01 was realized for the chlorination of ortho-chlorophenol.     

Creation of quaternary stereocentres: synthesis of new polyhydroxylated indolizidines

(6R,7S,8aR)- and (6S,7R,8aR)-8a-tert-butyldimethylsilyloxymethyl-6,7-dihydroxy-indolizidin-3-ones 14 and 15 were synthesized from bicyclic silyloxypyrrole 2 by the selective formation of a quaternary stereogenic centre and a ring-closing metathesis as the main steps. They were converted into new polyhydroxyindolizidines 20 and 21 with high diastereoselectivity.     

Migratory hydroamination: a facile enantioselective synthesis of benzomorphans

We describe a highly efficient, general strategy for the enantioselective synthesis of benzomorphans (45-46% overall yield from commercially available material). The new synthesis demonstrates the effectiveness of an unprecedented diastereoselective cycloisomerization via migratory hydroamination and the power of palladium-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation (AAA) of simple ketone enolates in the context of complex synthesis. The strategy outlined here for the enantioselective synthesis of three contiguous stereogenic centers and the novel cycloisomerization should have many applications in alkaloid synthesis.     

N,N'-ditosylhydrazine: a convenient reagent for facile synthesis of diazoacetates

A novel entry to the synthesis of diazoacetates is disclosed. A variety of diazoacetates were synthesized from the corresponding bromoacetates by treatment with N,N'-ditosylhydrazine in moderate to high yields. Ease of operation with the stable crystalline reagent as well as a short reaction time offer a useful alternative to the conventional methods.