Stereoselective multigram-scale synthesis of cis- and trans-β-phenylproline derivatives

Efficient routes for the gram-scale preparation of the proline analogues that bear a phenyl substituent attached to the pyrrolidine β carbon (cis- and trans-β-phenylproline) have been developed. The cis derivative was synthesized from N-Boc-β-alanine in six steps and 78% overall yield. The generation of a vinyl triflate with full regiochemical control together with a high-yielding cross-coupling reaction and a completely stereoselective hydrogenation are at the basis of the high efficiency of the procedure. Epimerization of the cis β-phenylproline derivative with lithium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide provided access to the trans isomer.     

Stereospecific interconversion of cis- and trans-γ,δ-epoxy α,β-unsaturated ester systems

The unprecedented, stereospecific interconversion of cis- and trans-γ,δ-epoxy α,β-unsaturated ester systems has been realized, which involves the palladium-catalyzed stereospecific alkoxy or hydroxy substitution reaction with double inversion of configuration at the γ-position as the key step. The new methodology is not only applicable to various disubstituted and trisubstituted epoxy unsaturated esters, but also these interconversions proceed with an extremely high degree of stereoselectivity and efficiency.     

Chiral amine-induced stereoselectivity in trans-β-lactam formation via Staudinger cycloaddition

A series of chiral trans-β-lactams was obtained via Staudinger cycloaddition with low to moderate diastereoselectivity (up to 54% de) induced by a chiral amine component of the imine. It was shown that the direct connection of nitrogen to a chiral centre is crucial to induce chirality; moderate asymmetric induction was achieved by using isomeric 1-phenylethylamines, which are among the cheapest chiral sources on the market, while low diastereoselectivity was obtained from 3-aminomethylpinane, where the chiral centres are distant from nitrogen by a methylene group. It was shown, that an increase of the reaction temperature from 110 °C to 140 °C led to commensurable results but speeded-up the transformation significantly. The absolute configurations of phenylethylamine derivatives were determined by X-ray analysis of selected samples.     

Stereoselective synthesis of erythro-β-chloroamines and their conversion into functionalized trans-oxazolidin-2-ones

New erythro-β-chloroamines were synthesized by a mild and efficient stereoselective chlorination of unprotected amino alcohol diesters. These products are shown to be excellent building blocks for the synthesis of new substituted trans-oxazolidin-2-ones.     

Syntheses of β- and γ-fluorophenyl cis- and trans-α-methylene-γ-butyrolactones

Preparation of a series of cis-γ-fluorophenyl-β-phenyl-α-methylene-γ-butyrolactones is reported via ‘allylboration’ of fluorobenzaldehydes with (E)-methyl 3-phenyl-2-((4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)methyl)acrylate. The corresponding trans-γ-fluorophenyl lactones were prepared either (i) via ‘allylboration’ using the (Z)-reagents or (ii) via an indium triflate-mediated isomerization of the cis-products. The difficulty in isomerizing difluorinated cis-products confirms the probable intermediacy of carbocations. Finally, the synthesis of cis-β-fluorophenyl-γ-phenyl-α-methylene-γ-butyrolactones was achieved via an indium-catalyzed allylation–lactonization of aldehydes with (Z)-2-(bromomethyl)-3-(fluorophenyl)acrylates.     

Asymmetric synthesis of erythro-β-hydroxyasparagine

erythro-Hydroxyasparagine (eHyAsn, 1) occurs in a number of naturally occurring peptides and proteins. Previous syntheses have relied on enzyme-catalyzed reactions to produce relevant, optically active intermediates. We report herein a completely chemical synthesis that intercepts Boger’s synthesis of the diastereomer (tHyAsn, 4), utilizing a Sharpless asymmetric aminohydroxylation reaction to introduce the two stereocenters. Boc-HyAsn(OTBS)-OH (10) was coupled effectively with phenylalanine methyl ester using EDC/HOBt.     

Stereoselective synthesis of 1-O-β-feruloyl and 1-O-β-sinapoyl glucopyranoses

1-O-β-Feruloyl and 1-O-β-sinapoyl glucopyranoses are two common substrates for serine carboxypeptidase-like acyltransferases and serve as acyl donors in the biosynthesis of numerous secondary metabolites. In addition, they are involved in plant cell wall cross-linking and are also ideal substrates for studying the kinetics of lignification involving hydroxycinnamates. We report the first chemical (and multi-gram scale) synthesis of 1-O-β-feruloyl and 1-O-β-sinapoyl glucopyranoses.     

Synthesis of cis- and trans-(±)-3-mercaptoproline and pipecolic acid derivatives via thio-Michael addition

The reactivity of 2,3-dehydroproline and 2,3-dehydropipecolic acid methyl ester derivatives with S-nucleophiles in the thio-Michael addition reaction has been explored. The addition of triphenylmethanethiol and subsequent trityl cleavage led to the corresponding cis- and trans-(±)-3-mercaptoproline and pipecolic acid derivatives in good yields.     

A novel strategy toward the synthesis of N-(β-glycosyl)asparagines based on the alkylation of ethyl nitroacetate using N-(β-glycosyl)iodoacetamides

A conceptually novel strategy has been developed for the synthesis of N-(β-glycosyl)asparagine precursors in good yield by the alkylation of ethyl nitroacetate using six per-O-acetylated N-(β-glycosyl)iodoacetamides derived from mono- and disaccharides. The use of a chiral organocatalyst, N-(9-anthracenylmethyl)cinchoninium chloride (10 mol %), resulted in diastereoselective alkylation up to 64% de. Single crystal structure analysis of the purified major diastereomer of the Glc derivative revealed an absolute configuration of S at the α-carbon of the monosubstituted ethyl nitroacetate which is a precursor of the l-asparagine conjugate.     

Diastereoselective synthesis of trans-trifluoromethyl-β-lactams and α-alkyl-β-trifluoromethyl-β-amino esters

The diastereoselective synthesis of β-lactams was examined from N-tosyl-1-chloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethylamine 3 and various nonactivated aliphatic acid chlorides in the presence of a Brønsted base. The mild reaction conditions allowed to get trifluoromethyl-β-lactams in good yields with high trans-diastereo selectivity. In addition, we also demonstrated that ring-opening of β-lactams easily provided α-alkyl-β-trifluoromethyl-β-amino esters.     

Comprehensive study towards the desulfonylation/desulfinylation of cis-3-functionalized 3-phenylsulfonyl/sulfinyl-β-lactams to access novel cis-3-monosubstituted-β-lactams

An inclusive study towards the stereospecific synthesis of novel cis-3-monosubstituted-β-lactams from cis-3-functionalized 3-phenylsulfonyl/sulfinyl-β-lactams is described. 3-Sulfinyl-β-lactams 5/5? successfully furnished stereospecific cis-3-monosubstituted-β-lactams 6, however 3-sulfonyl-β-lactams 2 failed to give the desulfurized product 6?. The final stereochemical and structural conformations of novel β-lactams were established by single crystal X-ray crystallographic study (5c). The cis configuration of the β-lactams 5/5? and 6 was assigned in relevance to E and C4-H and C3-H and C4-H respectively.     

Facile synthesis of (Z)- and (E)-3-allylidene-β-lactams via thermal β-elimination of trans-3-allyl-3-sulfinyl-β-lactams

A competent synthetic route for the synthesis of novel (Z)- and (E)-3-allylidene-β-lactams is described. The strategy involves oxidation of trans-3-allyl-3-phenylthio-β-lactams 1 using sodium metaperiodate (NaIO₄) to diastereomeric trans-3-allyl-3-phenylsulfinyl-β-lactams 2 and 3, which further undergo thermal β-elimination in refluxing carbon tetrachloride to furnish (Z)- and (E)-3-allylidene-β-lactams 5 and 6 in good to excellent yields. The molecular structure of 3b has been established with the help of single crystal X-ray analysis.     

Efficient synthesis of 3-hydroxymethylated cis- and trans-cyclobutane β-amino acids using an intramolecular photocycloaddition strategy

Uracil bearing a tethered allyl alcohol appendage at N1 undergoes a [2+2] photocycloaddition reaction to provide a single tricyclic adduct in high yield. This compound is transformed in one step into a cis-cyclobutane β-amino acid bearing a 3-hydroxymethyl group. Through appropriate functionalization and epimerization, the trans isomer is obtained therefrom in only three further steps.     

6 + 6 Macrocycles derived from 2,6-diformylpyridine and trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane

While the non-templated reaction of racemic trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane with 2,6-diformylpyridine leads to a mixture of 2?+?2 and 4?+?4 macrocyclic imines, the reaction of the isolated 2?+?2 macrocycle with cadmium(II) chloride results in the fusion of three smaller macrocyclic units into a large 6?+?6 macrocycle. The X-ray molecular structures of the hexanuclear cadmium complex of this macrocycle as well as the derived 6?+?6 protonated amine reveal multiply folded macrocycles that adopt container-type conformations.     

Understanding the mechanism of the N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed ring-expansion of 4-formyl-β-lactams to succinimide derivatives

The mechanism of the N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-catalyzed ring-expansion of 4-formyl-β-lactams to succinimides has been studied using DFT methods at the B3LYP/6-31G^∗∗ level. The first step is the nucleophilic attack of NHC to the aldehyde to yield the zwitterionic intermediate, which by a proton-transfer process affords the Breslow intermediate. The lactam N-C breaking bond in this intermediate yields an enol-amidate, which by a keto-enol type equilibrium becomes the ketone form. The subsequent ring-closure achieved by the nucleophilic attack of the amidate to carbonyl carbon allows the formation of the five-membered ring. Finally, elimination of NHC affords the succinimide. Analysis of the nucleophilicity index correctly explains the behaviors of the NHCs and the Breslow intermediates in the umpolung reactivity of aldehydes.     

New polymer-supported phosphonate reagents for the synthesis of Z-α,β-unsaturated esters

New polymer-supported phosphonate reagents have been prepared and evaluated for the synthesis of Z-α,β-unsaturated esters. High Z-selectivity was obtained using the reagent having two o-t-BuC₆H₄ groups.     

In situ surface Raman study of the induced codeposition mechanism of Ni–Mo alloys

The induced codeposition of molybdenum with nickel on a Ni–Cu alloy electrode has been investigated by means of in situ surface Raman spectroscopy to obtain information about the codeposition mechanism during electrodeposition of Ni–Mo alloys. The experimental results show that, in the NiSO₄-free solution, molybdate can only be reduced to a mixture of polyvalent molybdenum oxides and/or hydroxide, while, in the case where NiSO₄ coexisted in the solution, molybdate is first reduced to Mo(IV) oxide, which, as an intermediate, subsequently is reduced to molybdenum in alloy under the catalysis of inducing nickel.     

Study of third-order nonlinear susceptibility of polySchiff base containing triphenylamine

PolySchiff base containing triphenylamine has been synthesized by polycondensation and character-ized by FT-IR,NMR,UV-visible spectrometer. Measurements of the third-order optical nonlinear sus-ceptibility χ(3) by Z-scan technique have shown that the large nonlinearity is dominated by the two-photon absorption in PSB. The sign and size of real part Reχ(3) ,nonlinear refractive index n2 have been measured with the condition of 532 nm,8 ns-duration pulses to be -1.23×10-10 esu,-3.06×10-12 esu;nonlinear absorption index β and size of image part Imχ(3) to be 3.63×10-10 m/W,1.15×10-11 esu,respec-tively,so the third-order nonlinear susceptibility χ(3) is 1.19×10-11 esu. The value is larger than other polymers reported. PSB is self-focusing material and has potential application in nonlinear optic field.     

Highly stereoselective synthesis of trans-4-trifluoromethylsulfonyl-2,3-dihydrofurans from arsonium ylides and (E)-α-trifluoromethylsulfonyl-α,β-unsaturated ketones

The reactions of arsonium bromides with (E)-α-trifluoromethylsulfonyl-α,β-unsaturated ketones in the presence of Cs₂CO₃ or K₂CO₃ proceeded smoothly under refluxing condition in dichloromethane (DCM) to give the corresponding trifluoromethylated trans-2,3-dihydrofurans in good to excellent yields with high stereoselectivity.