Copper-catalyzed enantioselective Henry reactions of alpha-keto esters: an easy entry to optically active beta-nitro-alpha-hydroxy esters and beta-amino-alpha-hydroxy esters

The catalytic enantioselective Henry reaction of alpha-keto esters with nitromethane has been developed. The reaction conditions have been optimized by the screening of different chiral Lewis acids, solvents, and bases, and it was found that the copper(II)-tert-butyl bisoxazoline complex in combination with triethylamine catalyzed a highly enantioselective reaction giving optically active beta-nitro-alpha-hydroxy esters in high yields and with excellent enantiomeric excesses. The scope of the reaction is demonstrated by the reaction of a variety of different alpha-keto esters. The catalytic enantioselective Henry reaction of beta,gamma-unsaturated-alpha-keto esters proceeds as a 1,2-addition reaction exclusively, in contrast to the uncatalyzed reaction where both the 1,2- and 1,4-addition products are formed. It is demonstrated that the beta-nitro-alpha-hydroxy esters can be converted into, e.g., Boc-protected beta-amino-alpha-hydroxy esters in high yields and without loss of optical purity. The mechanism for the reaction is discussed, and it is postulated that both the alpha-keto ester and nitromethane/nitronate is coordinated to the metal center during the reaction course.     

Palladium-catalyzed preparation of α-allyl esters and α,β-unsaturated esters from saturated esters via their silyl acetals

Reaction of ketene silyl acetals with allylic carbonates in the presence of palladium-phosphine catalyst in dioxane gives α-allyl esters in high yields. When the reaction is carried out with phosphine-free palladium catalyst in nitriles, α,β-unsaturated esters are obtained in good yields.     

In situ formation of N-trifluoroacetoxy succinimide (TFA-NHS): one-pot formation of succinimidyl esters, N-trifluoroacetyl amino acid succinimidyl esters, and N-maleoyl amino acid succinimidyl esters

A method for the in situ formation of N-trifluoroacetoxy succinimide (TFA-NHS) and its application in the formation of succinimidyl esters is presented. The developed method provides N-trifluoroacetyl and N-maleoyl amino acid succinimidyl esters from a variety of amino acids using a one-pot, high-yielding protocol. Investigations into the formation of an N-maleoyl amino acid succinimidyl ester supported the proposal of a revised reaction mechanism, and contributed to the optimization of the reaction conditions.     

Low-valent titanium-mediated cyclopropanation of vinylogous esters

[reaction: see text] Inter- and intramolecular titanium-mediated cyclopropanation reactions of vinylogous esters are reported. Comparison between the Kulinkovich cyclopropanation of esters and vinylogous esters provides mechanistic insight regarding reaction variables such as reaction temperature, solvents, and a Lewis acid additive.     

Nitroalkanes and ethyl glyoxalate as common precursors for the preparation of both β-keto esters and α,β-unsaturated esters

β-Nitro acrylic esters, obtained by the reaction of nitroalkanes and ethyl glyoxalate, are the key building blocks for the immediate synthesis of both the title compounds. In fact, their treatment with titanium trichloride produce the direct conversion to the β-keto esters, while their reaction with sodium boron hydride gives the one-pot synthesis of α,β-unsaturated esters through formal substitution of the vinylic nitro group with an hydrogen.     

Zinc-mediated ring-expansion and chain-extension reactions of beta-keto esters

[Chemical reaction: see text] The reaction of cyclic beta-keto esters with CF3CO2ZnCH2I provided the corresponding ring-expanded products in moderate to good yields. Although alpha-substituted acyclic beta-keto esters reacted with much less efficient, chain-extension reaction of simple beta-keto esters also proceeded effectively to generate gamma-keto esters in high yields.     

Palladium-catalysed arylation of acetoacetate esters to yield 2-arylacetic acid esters

The coupling reaction between ethyl acetoacetate and a number of aryl halides in the presence of palladium acetate, a bulky and electron rich phosphine and K₃PO₄ is described. The arylated acetoacetate ester is de-acylated under the reaction conditions resulting in the generation of 2-arylacetic acid esters, constituting a mild alternative to direct arylation of carboxylate esters.     

Catalytic asymmetric direct alpha-amination reactions of 2-keto esters: a simple synthetic approach to optically active syn-beta-amino-alpha-hydroxy esters

The catalytic enantioselective direct alpha-amination reaction of 2-keto esters with easily available azo dicarboxylates as the nitrogen source and chiral bisoxazoline-copper(II) complexes as the catalyst is presented. The reactions proceed with excellent enantioselectivities and high yields. The scope of the reaction is demonstrated by the direct amination of a series of 2-keto esters having different substituent patterns. The reaction provides an easy catalytic route to optically active syn-beta-amino-alpha-hydroxy esters, as demonstrated for the synthesis of masked syn-beta-amino-alpha-hydroxy esters (as oxazolidinones) and N-Boc-syn-beta-amino-alpha-hydroxy esters. On the basis of the absolute configuration of the products a tentative model for the transition state is suggested.     

Optically active seleninate esters: isolation, absolute configuration, racemization mechanism, and transformation into chiral selenoxide

Optically active seleninate esters were obtained for the first time by chromatographic resolution on an optically active column. The absolute configurations of the optically active seleninate esters were determined by comparing their chiroptical properties with those of two analogous sulfinate esters, the absolute configuration of one of which is known and that of the other was determined by X-ray crystallographic analysis. The optically active seleninate esters were found to racemize in solution. Kinetic studies of the racemization, the oxygen exchange reaction with H(2)(18)O, and theoretical studies clarified that the racemization of the optically active seleninate esters in solution proceeded via an achiral hypervalent selenurane intermediate that was formed by the reaction with water. The reaction of the optically active seleninate ester and the sulfinate ester having bulky substituents with Grignard reagents was found to proceed with the retention of stereochemistry to give an optically active selenoxide and sulfoxides, respectively.     

High-pressure transesterification of sterically hindered esters

A mild, rapid, and efficient method for the solvolysis of sterically hindered esters under high pressure is described. Transesterification is carried out in the presence of DBU at room temperature and at a pressure of 10 kbar to give quantitative conversions within short reaction times. The substrates examined included aromatic and aliphatic esters of sterically hindered alcohols and phenols. An optically pure benzyl ester of phenylalanine was chosen to study racemization of the amino acid esters under high-pressure reaction conditions.     

Microwave-assisted cleavage of phosphate, phosphonate and phosphoramide esters

A mild and rapid protocol for cleavage of phosphate, phosphonate and phosphoramide esters. The scope and limitations of this microwave-assisted reaction is explored here.     

Base-free oxidative homocoupling of arylboronic esters

Base-free oxidative homocoupling reaction of arylboronic esters has been found to proceed using a catalytic amount of a palladium-1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane (DPPP) complex under an oxygen atmosphere, affording a variety of biaryls in modest to excellent yields. Even arylboronic esters bearing a base-sensitive functional group are applicable to the reaction.     

Microwave-assisted preparation of aryltetrazoleboronate esters

[reaction: see text] The addition of azido trimethylsilane to arylnitrileboronate esters is shown to proceed rapidly in dimethoxyethane to give aryltetrazoleboronate esters in moderate to good yields, with dibutyltin oxide as catalyst.     

大环胂酸酯的合成

二氯烷基胂与二甲胺反应得到双(二甲胺基)烷基胂(1)。双(二甲胺基)烷基胂与α,ω-二醇化合物进行环缩合反应得到大环胂酸酯(2a～2e),与α,ω-二硫醇化合物进行环缩合反应得到了相应的大环硫代砷酸酯(2f～2h)。化合物2a～2h均经元素分析、IR、^1HNMR、MS等证实了它们的组成和结构。     

Diastereoselective reductive imino-aldol reaction of alpha-imino esters promoted by titanium tetraiodide: synthesis of alpha,beta-diamino esters

Under the influence of titanium tetraiodide reductive imino-aldol reaction of the N-tosylimine derived from ethyl glyoxylate proceeded with aldimines to give alpha,beta-diamino esters in good yields in a highly diastereoselective manner.     

Basic hydrolysis of glyceryl nitrate esters. II. 1,2-glyceryl and 1, 3-glyceryl dinitrate esters

Kinetics of the basic hydrolysis of 1,2-glyceryl dinitrate (1,2-DNG) and 1,3-glyceryl dinitrate (1,3-DNG) esters were investigated in CO₂-free aqueous calcium hydroxide solutions. The hydrolysis reactions were carried out in a temperature controlled reactor vessel with provision for continuous N₂ sparging of the reaction mixture. Both glyceryl dinitrate esters hydrolyzed via second-order reaction at 25°C. 1,2-DNG in basic solutions isomerized to 1,3-DNG which subsequently hydrolyzed to yield products. The main hydrolysis product of 1,3-DNG was identified as glycidyl nitrate. Other products formed during the basic hydrolysis of DNGs were nitrites and nitrates.     

A new method for the synthesis of N-protected β-amino-α-keto esters from fluoroalkanesulfonylazides and α-keto esters

In the presence of a secondary amine, treatment of α-keto esters with fluoroalkanesulfonyl azides at room temperature afforded N-sulfonyl protected β-amino-α-keto esters in good to excellent yields. This reaction provided a novel, direct and convenient access to N-sulfonyl protected β-amino-α-keto esters from α-keto esters and fluoroalkanesulfonyl azides under mild conditions. However, the reaction of fluoroalkanesulfonyl azides with β-ketoester enamines afforded two products: N-fluoroalkanesulfonyl amidines and diazoacetate. The reaction mechanism is discussed.     

A novel synthetic method for γ-acetoxy-(E)-α,β-unsaturated esters by the palladium catalyzed regio- and stereoselective acetoxylation of β,γ-unsaturated esters

A new synthetic method for γ-acetoxy-α,β-unsaturated esters by the acetoxylation of β,γ-unsaturated esters catalyzed by PdCl₂ in the presence of KOAc and pentyl nitrite in acetic acid is presented. The reaction takes place at γ-position of the esters regioselectively with double bond migration to α,β-position. The E configuration of the double bond was confirmed by NMR analysis. Preliminary investigation to synthesize pyrenophorin and pyrenophorol using this reaction is described.     

Pd-catalyzed olefination of perfluoroarenes with allyl esters

An efficient Pd(II)-catalyzed direct olefination of perfluoroarenes with allyl esters is demonstrated. Under the typical conditions, the coupling reaction of fluorinated-arenes with allylic esters proceeded via a β-H elimination rather than a β-OAc elimination to give the corresponding γ-substituted allylic esters.     

Solvent-modulated chemoselective deprotections of trialkylsilyl esters and chemoselective esterifications

A series of trialkylsilyl esters were deprotected or transesterificated into their corresponding carboxylic acids or methyl esters under a catalytic amount of CBr₄ in alcohol reaction system. This method enables to desilylate secondary sp³-carbon, sp²-carbon, sp-carbon and aryl tethered trialkylsilyl esters to carboxylic acids, whereas primary sp³-carbon tethered trialkylsilyl esters were further converted into their methyl esters under CBr₄/MeOH reaction conditions. The highly chemoselective deprotections can be modulated and achieved by the introduced protecting trialkylsilyl groups and the used alcohols such as MeOH and EtOH under this photochemically-induced reaction conditions.