Asymmetric synthesis of α- and β-amino acids by diastereoselective addition of triorganozincates to N-(tert-butanesulfinyl)imines

The diastereoselective addition of triorganozincates to (R)-N-(tert-butanesulfinyl)imines has been used as a key step to achieve the synthesis of highly enantiomerically enriched N-protected α- and β-amino acids. Desulfinylation of the addition products followed by benzoylation of the nitrogen atom of the obtained primary amines and oxidation of one of the substituents on the carbon atom connected to the nitrogen complete the sequence. Using the same configuration in the sulfinyl chiral auxiliary, α-amino acids with the (R) or the (S) configuration can be prepared by choosing the proper combination of imine and organozincate. α,α-Disubstituted α-amino esters with high enantiomeric purity can also be prepared when α-imino esters are the starting substrates.     

Highly diastereoselective indium-mediated synthesis of β-lactam carbohydrates from imines

A simple and very effective approach to versatile carbohydrate β-lactam synthons of predictable absolute configuration has been developed. The procedure, which is based on the indium-mediated reaction of imines and bromoesters, was applied to the enantioselective synthesis of 3-monosubstituted and 3-disubstituted β-lactams from readily available carbohydrates. The opening of the β-lactamic ring gave rise to the corresponding sugar-derived β-amino acids. Transformation of the β-lactams into the corresponding azetidines was also achieved.     

Diastereoselective α-alkylation of β-hydroxy sulfoxides and its application to the synthesis of (+)- and (3)-disparlure

α-Alkylation of the dianions of β-hydroxy sulfoxides proceeds with high 1, 2-asymmetric induction to give threo-α-alkyl-β-hydroxy sulfoxides. The utility of the present reaction was demonstrated in the asymmetric synthesis of (+)- and (3)-cis-7, 8-epoxy-2-methyloctadecanes (disparlure).     

Remote induction of stereoselective 1,2-addition of aryl Grignard reagents to β-sulfinyl enones

Optically active tert-allylic alcohols constitute important and often challenging targets in organic synthesis. In this work, we employed a β-sulfinyl moiety as a remote chiral auxiliary to effect asymmetric 1,2-addition of aryl Grignard reagents to enones to form a variety of optically active tert-allylic alcohols. The absolute configuration of a representative alcohol product was determined by X-ray crystallography.     

Diastereoselective synthesis of β- and γ2-muurolene: a carbocationic pathway from mono- to sesquiterpenes

The Lewis acid catalysed addition of the piperityl chlorides6 to isoprene yields adduct7, which undergoes a cis-stereoselective cyclisation to give the diastereoisomeric muurolene monohydrochlorides8. Treatment with potassium tert-butoxide affords β- and γ₂- muurolene 2.     

Indium(I) iodide promoted highly selective 1,2-addition of allyl and benzyl groups to α,β-unsaturated nitriles under sonication: a new synthesis of conjugated imines

Allyl and benzyl bromides react with α,β-unsaturated nitriles in the presence of indium(I) iodide under sonication to produce the corresponding allylated and benzylated conjugated imines involving exclusive addition of the allyl/benzyl group to the CN moiety.     

Asymmetric synthesis of β-amino alcohols by the transfer hydrogenation of α-keto imines

The asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of representative aryl and benzofuranyl 2-tert-butylaminoethanones with formic acid–triethylamine, catalyzed by RhCl[(R,R)-TsDPEN](C₅Me₅), produced the corresponding β-tert-butylamino alcohols in 97–99% ee. A short asymmetric synthesis of (R)-bufuralol, a potent β-adrenergic receptor antagonist, is described. This approach to β-amino alcohols from ketones circumvents the halogenation–reduction–amination sequence.     

An approach to the synthesis of 1,2λ-azaphosphinines

A novel approach to 1,2λ⁵-azaphosphinines has been elaborated. Aminophosphonium chlorides bearing a β-dialkylaminocrotonic nitrile residue react with N,N-dimethylformamide dimethylacetal to afford 1,2λ⁵-azaphosphinines.     

Application of the addition of triorganozincates to N-(tert-butanesulfinyl)imines to the enantioselective synthesis of α-amino acids

Highly enantiomerically enriched N-protected α-amino acids can be easily prepared from optically pure N-(tert-butanesulfinyl)imines by a four-step sequence involving: diastereoselective addition of a triorganozincate to the imine, removal of the sulfinyl group, benzoylation of the nitrogen atom of the obtained primary amine and oxidation of one of the substituents on the carbon atom α to the nitrogen. Using the same configuration in the sulfinyl chiral auxiliary, amino acids with the (R) or the (S) configuration can be prepared by choosing the proper combination of imine and organozincate. α,α-Disubstituted α-amino esters with high optical purity can also be prepared by the diastereoselective addition of trialkylzincates to α-imino esters.     

Diastereoselective Friedel–Crafts reaction of α-trifluoromethyl imines derived from chiral amines

The Friedel–Crafts reactions of chiral N-(2,2,2-trifluoroethylidene)-1-arylethylamines 1a and 1b with various electron-rich aromatic compounds were examined. The reactions proceeded readily at room temperature in the presence of BF₃·Et₂O. Substituted products 2–12 were obtained in low to very high stereoselectivities (up to 100% d.e.). The absolute configuration of compound 12 was determined by X-ray analysis. Moreover, the chiral auxiliary from compounds 3 and 12 was selectively removed by palladium-catalyzed hydrogenolysis.     

Stereoselective bioreduction of β-carboline imines through cell-free extracts from earthworms (Eisenia foetida)

Although remarkable advances have been made over the last decade in organic synthesis, catalysis, and biotechnology, there is still a need to introduce and develop new processes for chemical production to achieve sustainable and cleaner approaches to support the increasing global pharmaceutical/chemical industry. There is a growing need to produce optically active compounds in high yields to maintain and support areas such as pharmaceutical and natural product synthesis. Thus, chemists today are looking for alternative reactions carried out under green conditions. In this context, we describe β-carboline imine reductions employing cell-free extracts from red Californian earthworms (Eisenia foetida) in high yields and enantiomeric excesses. The enantiomeric excess values of the bioreduction showed no dependence on the imine 1a–g substituents to afford amines with an (R)-configuration. Based on these data, a model for the cell-free extract from the earthworm is proposed.     

Enantioselective total synthesis of β-zearalenol from (s)-propylene oxide

The total synthesis of 14-membered resorcylic acid macrolide, β-zearalenol, was accomplished starting from commercially available enantiomerically pure propylene oxide and methyl 2,4-dihydroxy-6-methylbenzoate using Grignard reaction, asymmetric dihydroxylation, Yamaguchi macrolactonization, and ring-closing metathesis as key steps.     

Practical and stereoselective synthesis of β-amino sulfones from alkyl phenyl sulfones and N-(tert-butylsulfinyl) aldimines

A practical and straightforward approach for the highly stereoselective synthesis of β-amino sulfones was developed. With lithium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide as the base, the corresponding sulfone-stabilized carbanion derived from alkylphenyl sulfone can be transferred to N-(tert-butylsulfinyl) aldimines in excellent yields and with high diastereoselectivity.     

Diastereospecific synthesis of β-heterosubstituted alcohols from 1,2-diols via 1,3,2λ5-dioxaphospholanes

The stereochemistry of the ring opening of (R,S) or (R,R)-4,5-dimethyl-2,2,2-triphenyl-1,3,2λ⁵-dioxaphospholanes (prepared by reaction of (R,S) or (R,R)-butane-2,3-diol with dibromotriphenylphosphorane) by aniline or thiophenol was investigated. The reaction affords stereoselectively the corresponding β-anilino- or β-phenylthioalcohols with a nearly complete inversion of stereochemistry at the stereogenic reaction centre.