Development of Chiral Spiro P‐N‐S Ligands for Iridium‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation of β‐Alkyl‐β‐Ketoesters

The chiral tridentate spiro P‐N‐S ligands (SpiroSAP) were developed, and their iridium complexes were prepared. Introduction of a 1,3‐dithiane moiety into the ligand resulted in a highly efficient chiral iridium catalyst for asymmetric hydrogenation of β‐alkyl‐β‐ketoesters, producing chiral β‐alkyl‐β‐hydroxyesters with excellent enantioselectivities (95–99.9 % ee) and turnover numbers of up to 355 000.     

Mild and Efficient Deprotection of 1,3‐Dithianes with N,N′‐ Diiodo‐N,N′‐1,2‐Ethanediyl‐Bis(p‐Toluenesulphonamide)

Aliphatic and aromatic 1,3‐dithiane are oxidized to the corresponding carbonyl compounds in good yields under mild conditions by N,N′‐diiodo‐N,N′‐1,2‐ethanediyl‐bis(p‐toluenesulphonamide) [NIBTS] and silver nitrate.     

Total Synthesis of (−)‐Salvinorin A

Salvinorin A ( 1 ) is natural hallucinogen that binds the human κ‐opioid receptor. A total synthesis has been developed that parlays the stereochemistry of l ‐(+)‐tartaric acid into that of (?)‐ 1 via an unprecedented allylic dithiane intramolecular Diels–Alder reaction to obtain the trans‐decalin scaffold. Tsuji allylation set the C9 quaternary center and a late‐stage stereoselective chiral ligand‐assisted addition of a 3‐titanium furan upon a C12 aldehyde/C17 methyl ester established the furanyl lactone moiety. The tartrate diol was finally converted into the C1,C2 keto‐acetate.     

Enantioselective Conjugate Addition‐Protonation of 5H‐Oxazol‐4‐ones and 5‐Methylene 1,3‐Oxazolidine‐2,4‐diones: 2,2'‐Biphenol‐Induced Diastereoselectivity Switch

A synthetic strategy for catalytic asymmetric conjugate addition‐protonation and diastereoselective switch between 5H‐oxazol‐4‐ones and 5‐methylene 1,3‐oxazolidine‐2,4‐diones was established. An array of chiral conjugate addition‐protonation products bearing 1,3‐O‐heterotertiary‐O‐heteroquarternary nonadjacent stereocenters were obtained in excellent yields, moderate to good diastereoselectivities, and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 97% yield, 11: 1 dr, and 98% ee). Induction by 2,2’‐biphenol could effectively promote the production of the corresponding diastereoisomers via cycloaddition intermedia.     

Desymmetrization of 1,4‐Pentadien‐3‐ol by the Asymmetric 1,3‐Dipolar Cycloaddition of Azomethine Imines

Desymmetrization of the divinyl carbinol 1,4‐pentadien‐3‐ol was accomplished by the asymmetric 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine imines based on a magnesium‐mediated, multinucleating chiral reaction system utilizing diisopropyl (R,R)‐tartrate as the chiral auxiliary. The corresponding optically active trans‐pyrazolidines, each with three contiguous stereogenic centers, were obtained with excellent regio‐, diastereo‐, and enantioselectivity, with results as high as 99 % ee. This reaction was shown to be applicable to both aryl‐ and alkyl‐substituted azomethine imines. The use of a catalytic amount of diisopropyl (R,R)‐tartrate was also effective when accompanied by the addition of MgBr₂.     

Studies on 4‐Thiazolidinones: Scope of the Reactions of 3‐Aryl‐2‐thioxo‐1,3‐thiazolidin‐4‐ones with Cyanide and Cyanate Ions

Treatment of 3‐aryl‐2‐thioxo‐1,3‐thiazolidin‐4‐ones 1 with CN^? and NCO^? effected the ring cleavage providing [(cyanocarbonothioyl)amino]benzenes 4 and arylisothiocyanates 5 , respectively. Similar treatment of 5‐(2‐aryl‐2‐oxoethyl) derivatives 2 afforded 2,4‐bis(2‐aryl‐2‐oxoethylidene)cyclobutane‐1,3‐diones 6 along with each of the preceding products. Treatment of the respective (E,Z)‐5‐(2‐aryl‐2‐oxoethylidene) analogues 3b and 3c with CN^? gave 4b and 4c and 2‐(arylcarbonyl)‐2‐methoxy‐4‐oxopentanedinitriles 7b and 7c , in addition to 3,6‐bis[2‐(4‐chlorophenyl)‐1‐methoxy‐2‐oxoethylidene]‐1,4‐dithiane‐2,5‐dione 8c , which has been generated from 3c . Reactions of 3c or 3d with NCO^? provided 5c or 5d , together with 8c or 8d as pure isomers. In the formation of the MeO products 7 and 8 , the solvent (MeOH) has participated. Structures of these products are based on microanalytical and spectroscopic data. Rationalizations for the above transformations are given.     

Synthesis of Both Enantiomers of Flavanone and 2‐Methylchromanone

An efficient enantiospecific synthesis of the (R)‐ and (S)‐enantiomers of flavanone and 2‐methylchromanone is described. The key steps are a C,C‐bond formation by ring opening of a chiral epoxide with a dithiane anion, followed by a Mitsunobu cyclization. The products obtained have high enantiomeric purity.     

Selective Transformations of a Diprotected 2‐Oxobutanedial

The reactivity of 1,1‐diethoxy‐3‐(1,3‐dithian‐2‐yl)propan‐2‐one, a diacetal of oxobutanedial, and some of its derivatives toward selected reagents has been studied. As expected, hydride and Grignard‐type additions take place at the oxo moiety only and give the corresponding alcohols in good‐to‐excellent yields. Standard reductive amination occurs at the oxo moiety as well, but the reaction was in most cases not selective and furnished the expected amine mixed with 3‐(1,3‐dithian‐2‐yl)‐1,1‐diethoxypropan‐2‐ol. The conversion of the diethyl acetal moiety to an aldehyde group is generally an efficient transformation, but some aldehydes are unstable, making the deprotection useless. If the acetal contains a tertiary alcohol or a benzyloxy moiety, however, stable products are formed in good yields. Attempts to convert the 1,3‐dithiane substituent into an aldehyde group without concomitant decomposition of the product were totally unsuccessful. The chemical potential of this moiety, therefore, has to be utilized at an earlier stage and under different conditions.     

Synthesis and Antimicrobial Activity of Racemic 1,5‐Diols: 2‐(1,3‐Diaryl‐3‐hydroxypropyl)cyclohexan‐1‐ol Derivatives

A series of novel racemic 2‐(1,3‐diaryl‐3‐hydroxypropyl)cyclohexan‐1‐ol derivatives were synthesized from 1,5‐diketones. All the synthesized compounds were characterized by spectroscopic methods. The antibacterial activities of obtained chiral 1,5‐diols were investigated against four Gram‐positive and three Gram‐negative bacteria by determining of minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) in vitro. Compounds 3b , 3c , and 3d were found to be active against Enterococcus faecalis and Escherichia coli. In addition, compound 3j were found to be moderately active against all tested bacterial strains.     

Dehydrative Glycosylation Enabled by a Comproportionation Reaction of 2‐Aryl‐1,3‐dithiane 1‐Oxide†

Summaryof main observation and conclusion A new dehydrativeglycosylation reaction has been established by capitalizing on the compropor-tionation reaction of 2-aryl-1,3-dithiane 1-oxides promoted by triflic anhydride(Tf2O).By wedding the high potency of thiophilic promoter system with the step efficiency of dehydrative glycosylation,this reagentunderwent facile intermolecular oxothio acetalization with C1-hemiacetal donor to install a temporary leaving group,rendering a transient electrophilic center at the remote site to the anomeric position.The sulfenyltriflate tethered at the ter-minus concomitantly activated the sulfide intramolecularly to afford the oxocarbenium ion,thereby facilitating the title glycosylation.Aside from accom-modating broad range functional groups and inactive hemiacetal substrates,the present activation protocol also proved expedient for 1,3-diol protection.Most importantly,this method further provided a fresh perspective for the application of sulfur chemistry to carbohydrate chemistry.     

Total Synthesis of (+)‐Neomarinone

The first total synthesis of (+)‐neomarinone has been achieved by following a concise and convergent route using methyl (R)‐lactate and (R)‐3‐methylcyclohexanone as chiral building blocks. Key steps of the synthesis are the stereocontrolled formation of the two quaternary stereocenters by diastereoselective 1,4‐conjugate addition and enolate alkylation reactions, and the construction of the furanonaphthoquinone skeleton by regioselective Diels–Alder reaction between a 1,3‐bis(trimethylsilyloxy)‐1,3‐diene and a bromoquinone. The synthesis proves the relative and absolute stereochemistry of natural neomarinone.     

固相β-环糊精包结物诱导7-羟基-2-甲氧基-2-甲基色满的不对称合成

研究了室温下间苯二酚和甲基乙烯基酮分别与β-环糊精（ β-CD）形成包结物后的几种不同固相反应,结果表明包结物A（间苯二酚/β-CD）与包结物B（甲基乙烯基酮/β-CD）反应能够很好地得到目的产物,产率及ee值分别为82.8%和78.4%;间苯二酚与包结物B反应仅得到低光学活性产物（ee值为19.5%）;包结物A与甲基乙烯基酮反应却没有得到手性目的产物。以熔点、X-粉末衍射、固相核磁碳谱及ROESY多种方法对所形成的包结物进行了表征,包结物中主客体的比例（1：1）通过¹H NMR (400 MHz)得以确定,文章对固相环加成反应的机制也进行了初步探讨。     

Facile Synthesis of Chiral Cyclic Ureas through Hydrogenation of 2‐Hydroxypyrimidine/Pyrimidin‐2(1H)‐one Tautomers

A facile access to optically active cyclic ureas was developed through palladium‐catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of pyrimidines containing tautomeric hydroxy group with up to 99 % ee. Mechanistic studies indicated that reaction pathway proceed through hydrogenation of C=N of the oxo tautomer pyrimidin‐2(1H)‐one, acid‐catalyzed isomerization of enamine–imine, and hydrogenation of imine pathway. In addition, the chiral cyclic ureas are readily converted into useful chiral 1,3‐diamine and thiourea derivatives without loss of optical purity.     

Catalytic Enantioselective Synthesis of a 3‐Aryl‐3‐benzyloxindole (=3‐Aryl‐3‐benzyl‐1,3‐dihydro‐2H‐indol‐2‐one) Exhibiting Antitumor Activity

A palladium‐catalyzed intramolecular α‐arylation of an amide in the presence of a bulky chiral N‐heterocyclic carbene ligand is the key step in the first catalytic synthesis of (3R)‐6‐chloro‐3‐(3‐chlorobenzyl)‐1,3‐dihydro‐3‐(3‐methoxyphenyl)‐2H‐indol‐2‐one ((R)‐ 5 ). This oxindole, in racemic form, had been shown previously to be an anticancer agent. (R)‐ 5 was obtained with an overall yield of 45% and with 96% enantioselectivity.     

(R)‐2,3‐Cyclohexylideneglyceraldehyde,a Chiral Pool Synthon for the Synthesis of 2‐Azido‐1,3‐diols

A new approach was proposed for the synthesis of 2‐azido‐1,3‐diols from easily available and inexpensive chiral pool synthon (R)‐2,3‐O‐cyclohexylidene‐D ‐glyceraldehyde, through Mitsunobu azidation of 1,2‐diols. Both C(2) and C(1) azides in variable ratios were obtained in alkyl substituted diols with C(2) as the major one.     

Intermolecular Phenolic Hydroxy Methylation Occurring between Chiral N,N＇-Bis（2-hydroxyphenyl）-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane-4,5-dicarbamide and Co-crystallized Methanol under Electron Impact Ionization Conditions

An intermolecular phenolic hydroxy methylation occurring between chiral N,N‘-bis(2-hydroxyphenyl)-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane-4,5-dicarbamide and co-crystallized methanol under electron impact ionization conditions was observed. The result was confirmed by X-ray diffraction structural ananlysis of a co-crystalline of(R,R)-enantiomer and methanol.     

Highly Enantioselective Asymmetric Autocatalysis of Pyrimidin‐5‐yl Alkanol Induced by Chiral 1,3‐Disubstituted Hydrocarbon Allenes

1,3‐Disubstituted chiral allenes without any heteroatoms act as chiral initiators in the addition of (i‐Pr)₂Zn to pyrimidine‐5‐carbaldehyde to afford, in combination with the subsequent asymmetric autocatalysis, chiral pyrimidin‐5‐yl alkanols with up to 98% ee. The absolute configuration of the pyrimidin‐5‐yl alkanol formed depend on that of the chiral allene.     

Tandem Insertion–[1,3]‐Rearrangement: Highly Enantioselective Construction of α‐Aminoketones

An enantioselective synthesis of α‐aminoketone derivatives were readily available through a tandem insertion–[1,3] O‐to‐C rearrangement reaction. The rhodium salt and chiral N,N′‐dioxide‐indium(III) complex make up relay catalysis, which enables the O?H insertion of benzylic alcohols to N‐sulfonyl‐1,2,3‐triazoles, and asymmetric [1,3]‐rearrangement of amino enol ether intermediates, subsequently. Preliminary mechanistic studies suggested that the [1,3] O‐to‐C rearrangement step proceeded through an ion pair pathway.     

On the Enantioselectivity of Transition Metal‐Catalyzed 1,3‐Cycloadditions of 2‐Diazocyclohexane‐1,3‐diones

The formal 1,3‐cycloaddition of 2‐diazocyclohexane‐1,3‐diones 1a –1 d to acyclic and cyclic enol ethers in the presence of Rh^II‐catalysts to afford dihydrofurans has been investigated. Reaction with a cis/trans mixture of 1‐ethoxyprop‐1‐ene ( 13a ) yielded the dihydrofuran 14a with a cis/trans ratio of 85 : 15, while that with (Z)‐1‐ethoxy‐3,3,3‐trifluoroprop‐1‐ene ( 13b ) gave the cis‐product 14b exclusively. The stereochemical outcome of the reaction is consistent with a concerted rather than stepwise mechanism for cycloaddition. The asymmetric cycloaddition of 2‐diazocyclohexane‐1,3‐dione ( 1a ) or 2‐diazodimedone (=2‐diazo‐5,5‐dimethylcyclohexane‐1,3‐dione; 1b ) to furan and dihydrofuran was investigated with a representative selection of chiral, nonracemic Rh^II catalysts, but no significant enantioselectivity was observed, and the reported enantioselective cycloadditions of these diazo compounds could not be reproduced. The absence of enantioselectivity in the cycloadditions of 2‐diazocyclohexane‐1,3‐diones is tentatively explained in terms of the Hammond postulate. The transition state for the cycloaddition occurs early on the reaction coordinate owing to the high reactivity of the intermediate metallocarbene. An early transition state is associated with low selectivity. In contrast, the transition state for transfer of stabilized metallocarbenes occurs later, and the reactions exhibit higher selectivity.     

Weak C—H...O and C—H...π hydrogen bonds and π–π stacking interactions in a series of four N′‐[(E)‐(aryl)methylidene]‐N‐methyl‐2‐oxo‐1,3‐oxazolidine‐4‐carbohydrazides

Oxazolidin‐2‐ones are widely used as protective groups for 1,2‐amino alcohols and chiral derivatives are employed as chiral auxiliaries. The crystal structures of four differently substituted oxazolidinecarbohydrazides, namely N′‐[(E)‐benzylidene]‐N‐methyl‐2‐oxo‐1,3‐oxazolidine‐4‐carbohydrazide, C₁₂H₁₂N₃O₃, (I), N′‐[(E)‐2‐chlorobenzylidene]‐N‐methyl‐2‐oxo‐1,3‐oxazolidine‐4‐carbohydrazide, C₁₂H₁₂ClN₃O₃, (II), (4S)‐N′‐[(E)‐4‐chlorobenzylidene]‐N‐methyl‐2‐oxo‐1,3‐oxazolidine‐4‐carbohydrazide, C₁₂H₁₂ClN₃O₃, (III), and (4S)‐N′‐[(E)‐2,6‐dichlorobenzylidene]‐N,3‐dimethyl‐2‐oxo‐1,3‐oxazolidine‐4‐carbohydrazide, C₁₃H₁₃Cl₂N₃O₃, (IV), show that an unexpected mild‐condition racemization from the chiral starting materials has occurred in (I) and (II). In the extended structures, the centrosymmetric phases, which each crystallize with two molecules (A and B) in the asymmetric unit, form A+B dimers linked by pairs of N—H...O hydrogen bonds, albeit with different O‐atom acceptors. One dimer is composed of one molecule with an S configuration for its stereogenic centre and the other with an R configuration, and possesses approximate local inversion symmetry. The other dimer consists of either R,R or S,S pairs and possesses approximate local twofold symmetry. In the chiral structure, N—H...O hydrogen bonds link the molecules into C(5) chains, with adjacent molecules related by a 2₁ screw axis. A wide variety of weak interactions, including C—H...O, C—H...Cl, C—H...π and π–π stacking interactions, occur in these structures, but there is little conformity between them.