Chemoenzymatic synthesis of enantiomerically enriched α-chiral 3-oxy-propionaldehydes by lipase-catalyzed kinetic resolution and desymmetrization

Enantiomerically enriched phenylalanine- and leucine aldehyde analogues have been prepared by lipase catalyzed desymmetrization or kinetic resolution of 1,3-propanediol derivatives as key steps. Observations of unusual enantioselectivity were made, and most notably, Candida antarctica lipase B showed an opposite enantiopreference from other lipases, which was exploited in the synthesis. A thorough evaluation of chemoenzymatic routes to both enantiomers of the target α-chiral 3-oxy-propionaldehydes resulted in simple, inexpensive, and efficient procedures that provide the products in up to 92% enantiomeric excess and 55% total yield in five steps from easily accessible starting materials.     

Chemoenzymatic synthesis of enantiomerically enriched aminoalkenols and glycosides thereof

1-t-Butoxycarbonylamido-3-pentene-1-ol 3 and 2-azido-4-phenyl-3-butene-1-ol 4 were enantiomerically enriched by enzymatic acetylation using various lipases and esterases (CHIRAZYM) to give acetylated compounds 5 and 7, respectively. Compound 3 gave the best results (E=94) with Candida antarctica A lipase (CHIRAZYM L-5), whereas 4 could not be separated into the enantiomers with satisfactory E values. The absolute configurations were proven for both compounds via independently prepared derivatives. Both enantiomers of 5, as well as racemic 7, were N-deblocked and condensed with octonic acid derivatives 14 to give the corresponding C-glycosides 17 and 22 after deprotection of the intermediates in good overall yield. Compound 4 was similarly condensed with glucose imidate 11 to give the diastereomeric O-glycosides 13 after deprotection. The latter glycosides were prepared as precursors for the generation of the corresponding aldehydes as substrates for aldolase catalyzed reactions.     

Highly efficient synthesis of enantiomerically enriched 2-hydroxymethylaziridines by enzymatic desymmetrization

Both enantiomers of protected and unprotected 2-hydroxymethylaziridines are efficiently and enantiospecifically synthesized by using a combination of enzymatic and synthetic methods. PPL was used for lipase-catalyzed desymmetrization of N-protected serinol. [reaction: see text].     

Stereoselective synthesis of 3-heteroaromatic-substituted alanines

An asymmetric synthesis of (R)-3-heterocyclic-substituted alanines starting from (2S)-(+)-2,5-dihydro-3,6-dimethoxy-2-isopropylpyrazine (Schöllkopf reagent) and heteroaromatic halogenomethyl derivatives via hydrolysis of intermediate adducts is reported. The diastereocontrolled addition gives mainly compounds with the (2S,5R) configuration whose formation is explained on the basis of the accepted model for the alkylation reaction of the Schöllkopf reagent, and structure confirmed by spectroscopic data.     

Baker's yeast: production of d- and l-3-hydroxy esters

Baker's yeast grown under oxygen limited conditions and used in the reduction of 3-oxo esters results in a shift of the stereoselectivity of the yeast towards d-hydroxy esters as compared with ordinary baker's yeast. The highest degree of stereoselectivity was obtained with growing yeast or yeast harvested while growing. In contrast, the stereoselectivity was shifted towards l-hydroxy esters when the oxo esters were added slowly to ordinary baker's yeast supplied with gluconolactone as co-substrate. The reduction rate with gluconolactone was increased by active aeration. Ethyl l-(S)-3-hydroxybutanoate was afforded in >99% ee. Both enantiomers of ethyl 3-hydroxypentanoate, d-(R) in 96% ee and l-(S) in 93% ee, and of ethyl 4-chloro-3-hydroxybutanoate, d-(S) in 98% ee and l-(R) in 94% ee, were obtained. The results demonstrate that the stereoselectivity of baker's yeast can be controlled to a large extent without the use of inhibitors, heat treatment, etc.     

Facile one-pot synthesis of 5-substituted hydantoins

5-Substituted and 5,5-disubstituted hydantoins are synthesised from the corresponding aldehydes or ketones, using a one-pot, gallium(III) triflate-catalysed procedure that is compatible with a range of substrates and solvents.     

Nitrile biotransformations for the synthesis of enantiomerically enriched Baylis-Hillman adducts

Catalysed by the nitrile hydratase/amidase-containing Rhodococcus sp. AJ270 cells, a number of beta-aryl- and beta-alkyl- beta-hydroxy-alpha-methylenepropiononitriles (the Baylis-Hillman nitriles) 1 underwent hydrolysis under mild conditions to produce the corresponding enantiomerically enriched Baylis-Hillman amides 2 and acids 3. The enantioselectivity of the biotransformations was strongly determined by the steric effect of the substituents at the beta-position of the substrates. The protection of the free hydroxy of beta-phenyl-beta-hydroxy-alpha-methylenepropiononitrile 1a by methylation led to the enhancement of enantiocontrol of the biohydrolysis.     

Oxiranyl anion-mediated synthesis of highly enantiomerically enriched styrene oxide derivatives

[reaction: see text] The stereospecific alpha-lithiation of optically active styrene oxides and the trapping reaction of the corresponding highly reactive intermediates with electrophiles to produce optically active styrene oxide derivatives are described. This methodology has been applied to the synthesis of an optically active oral antifungal agent of industrial interest.     

Enzymatic synthesis of enantio- and diastereomerically enriched syn-3-nitro-2-pentanol

The enzymatic resolution of a commercial mixture of nitropentanol isomers was achieved. The syn isomer could be obtained in high de and ee in either the (2S,3S) or (2R,3R) configuration by combining an enantioselective enzymatic acylation or deacylation with a stereoselective elimination of the minor anti isomer.     

A convenient method for synthesis of enantiomerically enriched methylphenidate from N-methoxycarbonylpiperidine

[formula: see text] This report describes a new method to prepare optically active methylphenidate starting from piperidine. The method consists of a transformation of N-methoxycarbonylpiperidine to the corresponding alpha-methoxylated carbamate I by utilizing electrochemical oxidation followed by the coupling reaction with optically active Evans imides II to produce optically active methylphenidate derivatives III with high stereoselectivities, threo-(2R,2'R)-Methylphenidate (IV; Ar = Ph; Ritalin) was easily prepared from III in three steps.     

Organocerium additions to proline-derived hydrazones: synthesis of enantiomerically enriched amines

The addition of organocerium reagents (from both organolithium and organomagnesium precursors) to chiral aldehyde hydrazones prepared from 1-aminoproline derivatives has been studied. The additions proceed in good yield and high diastereoselectivity and with good nucleophile (Me, n-Bu, i-Pr, t-Bu, Ph, etc.) and substrate scope (alkyl, alkenyl and aryl). The resulting hydrazines can be converted to amines by N–N bond cleavage through hydrogenolysis (Raney nickel) or by acylation and cleavage with Li/NH₃. The influence of the side chain on the diastereoselectivity was investigated through variation of the substituents to include more coordinating atoms (oxygen and nitrogen) as well as the removal of coordinating atoms. The SAMEMP auxiliary bearing a 2-methoxyethoxymethyl group gave the highest diastereoselectivities. Remarkably, auxiliaries bearing simple methyl and isobutyl substituents gave high selectivities as well. Hypotheses for the origin of the selectivity are presented.     

Facile diastereoselective synthesis of functionally enriched hydantoins via base-promoted intramolecular amidolysis of C-3 functionalized azetidin-2-ones

Synthesis of functionally enriched hydantoins has been developed and validated via base-assisted intramolecular amidolysis of C-3 functionalized β-lactams.     

Asymmetric synthesis of highly substituted beta-nitro alcohols and enantiomerically enriched 4,4,5-trisubstituted oxazolidinones

It is demonstrated that alpha,alpha-disubstituted-alpha-nitroketones are reduced to the corresponding trisubstituted nitro alcohols in good to excellent yield and enantiomeric excess by borane-dimethyl sulfide in the presence of a chiral oxazaborolidine catalyst. Reduction of the nitro alcohols to the corresponding amino alcohols and their subsequent conversion to enantiomerically enriched 4,4,5-trisubstituted oxazoldinones is also reported.     

Chemoenzymatic synthesis of highly enantiomerically enriched secondary alcohols with a thiazolic core

Stereoselective preparative enzymatic acylation and hydrolysis/methanolysis of various C-substituted rac-thiazol-2-yl-methanols were achieved for the preparation of enantiopure or enantiomerically enriched, naturally occurring 2-hydroxymethylthiazoles. The absolute configurations of the resulting secondary alcohols were determined by a detailed ¹H NMR study of Mosher’s derivatives.     

A new chemoenzymatic Baylis-Hillman approach for the synthesis of enantiomerically enriched umbelactones

An efficient and convenient strategy for the enantioselective synthesis of enantiomerically enriched umbelactones is described utilizing a lipase-mediated resolution protocol, Baylis-Hillman reaction and ring closing metathesis as key steps. The lipase-resolution is carried out using several lipases from various sources in different solvents to afford the required intermediate 8 in good yield and high enantioselectivity.     

Highly enantiomerically enriched chlorophosphine boranes: synthesis and applications as P-chirogenic electrophilic blocks

The stereoselective synthesis of P-chirogenic chlorophosphine boranes 4 was investigated by HCl acidolysis of the corresponding aminophosphine boranes 10. The reaction afforded the P-N bond cleavage with inversion of the configuration at the phosphorus center, leading to the chlorophosphine boranes 4 with high to excellent enantiomeric purities (80-99% ee), except in the case of the chloro-1-naphthylphenylphosphine borane 4d. Reaction conditions and workup significantly influence the enantiomeric purity of the product, with the exception of the o-anisyl- and o-tolylchlorophenylphosphine boranes, 4b and 4c, which were found to be particularly stable even after purification by chromatography on silica gel. Reaction of the chlorophosphine boranes 4 with various nucleophiles, such as carbanions, phenolates, thiophenolates, or amides, afforded the corresponding organophosphorus borane complexes via P-C, P-O, P-S, and P-N bond formation, respectively, in 34-93% yield and with up to 99% ee. This work demonstrates the importance of chlorophosphine boranes 4 as new and powerful electrophilic building blocks for the highly stereoselective synthesis of P-chirogenic organophosphorus compounds.     

Chemoenzymatic synthesis of enantiomerically enriched 2-oxobicyclo[m.1.0]alkan-3-yl acetate derivatives

Racemic α′-acetoxy α,β-unsaturated cyclopentanone and cyclohexanone have been resolved into the corresponding enantiomerically enriched α′-hydroxylated and acetoxylated compounds with 96–97% ee via PLE hydrolysis. Stereoselectivity in the palladium(II)-catalyzed reaction between the enantiomerically enriched α′-acetoxylated compounds and diazomethane has been investigated. In the α′-acetoxylated cyclopentenone, preferential cyclopropanation occurs in the anti-form, whereas α′-acetoxylated cyclohexenone affords both syn- and anti-products (syn:anti, 61:36%). The relative configuration of the products was determined by NOE experiments.     

One-pot synthesis of enantiomerically enriched 2,3-disubstituted cyclopentanones via copper-catalyzed 1,4-reduction and alkylation

[reaction: see text]. Enantiomerically enriched 2,3-disubstituted cyclopentanones were prepared via copper-catalyzed 1,4-reduction of 3-substituted cyclopentenones followed by alkylation of the resulting silyl enol ether. Using this procedure, trans-2,3-disubstituted cyclopentanones were produced in moderate to good overall yields (42-67%) and with excellent enantiomeric and diastereomeric excesses. The reduction and alkylation were performed in a single reaction vessel.     

Highly stereoselective synthesis of tertiary propargylic centers and their isomerization to enantiomerically enriched allenes

Center of attention: A new approach for the synthesis of enantiomerically enriched allenes by isomerization of 2-p-tolylsulfinylphenyl propargylic derivatives is presented, which in turn are prepared by reaction of sulfinylated lithium benzylcarbanions with arylsulfonylacetylenes. The high control of stereoselectivity in both steps is exerted by the sulfinyl group.