Highly enantioselective synthesis of multifunctionalized allylic building blocks via oxazaborolidine-catalyzed borane reduction

A simple and convenient synthesis of optically active alkenyl β-hydroxy sulfides with high enantiomeric excess by CBS-oxazaborolidine-catalyzed borane reduction of the corresponding β-keto sulfides and its application to synthesis of chiral alkenic diols have been established.     

Preparation of some new derivatives of (1R,2S)-1,2-diphenyl-2-aminoethanol and enantioselective borane reduction of propiophenone

Some new methylated and N-alkylated derivatives of (1R,2S)-1,2-diphenyl-2-amino ethanol were synthesized and applied to enantioselective borane reduction of propiophenone. The relationship between catalyst structure and enantioselectivity was discussed in detail.     

Enantioselective acylation of 1,2- and 1,3-diols catalyzed by aminophosphinite derivatives of (1S,2R)-1-amino-2-indanol

A phosphinite derivative that can be easily prepared in two steps from commercially available aminoindanol was found to be an effective catalyst for enantioselective acylation of diols. For the asymmetric desymmetrization of meso-1,2-diols, the corresponding monoester was obtained in up to 95% ee from the reaction in the presence of 5 mol % catalyst.     

A convenient synthesis of (1S)-tert-butyl-1,2-ethylenediamine

A practical four-step synthesis of (1S)-tert-butyl-1,2-ethylenediamine has been developed. The sequence proceeds in good overall yield via crystalline intermediates and provides the title compound in 99.3% ee.     

Studies towards the synthesis of (1R,2S)- and (1S,2S)-1,2-epoxy-3-hydroxypropylphosphonates and (1S,2S)- and (1R,2S)-2,3-epoxy-1-hydroxypropylphosphonates

The trans-configured fosfomycin analogue, diethyl (1S,2S)-1,2-epoxy-3-hydroxypropylphosphonate, was synthesised by the intramolecular Williamson reaction of diethyl (1S,2R)-1,3-dihydroxy-2-mesyloxypropylphosphonate. The cis-analogue was obtained as O-ethyl or O,O-diethyl (1R,2S)-1,2-epoxy-3-hydroxypropylphosphonates, when (1R,2R)-1,3-dihydroxy-2-mesyloxypropylphosphonate or its 3-O-trityl derivative were used as starting materials, respectively. The intramolecular Williamson cyclisations of diethyl (1S,2R)- and (1R,2S)-1-benzyloxy-3-hydroxy-2-mesyloxypropylphosphonates led to diethyl (1S,2S)- and (1R,2S)-2,3-epoxy-1-benzyloxypropylphosphonates, respectively, with the concomitant formation of diethyl (E)-1-benzyloxy-3-hydroxyprop-1-en-1-phosphonate. From diethyl (1S,2S)- and (1R,2S)-2,3-epoxy-1-benzyloxypropylphosphonates, enantiomerically pure diethyl (1S,2S)- and (1R,2S)-1,2-dihydroxypropylphosphonates were obtained by catalytic hydrogenation, while diethyl (1S,2S)- and (1R,2S)-3-acetamido-1,2-dihydroxypropylphosphonates were produced after epoxide ring opening with dibenzylamine, acetylation and hydrogenolysis.     

Stereoselective synthesis of tacalcitol via (R)-MeCBS catalyzed borane reduction

A novel and efficient approach for the synthesis of 1α, 24(R)-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ (tacalcitol) starting from readily available enone 1 has been achieved with high stereoselectivity. The key step involved in the synthesis of tacalcitol was the stereoselective reduction of enone 1 using borane as the reducing agent, and the effects of the critical reaction parameters such as temperature, various borane complexes have been examined. Finally, tacalcitol was obtained in five steps from enone 1 with an overall yield of 32% and a ratio of 24-R/S = 95/5.     

New analogues of fosfomycin—synthesis of diethyl (1R,2R)- and (1S,2R)-1,2-epoxy-3-hydroxypropylphosphonates

The trans-configured fosfomycin analogue, diethyl (1R,2R)-1,2-epoxy-3-hydroxypropylphosphonate, was synthesised via the intramolecular Williamson reaction from 3-O-protected (trityl or TBDMS) or even unprotected diethyl (1S,2R)-2,3-dihydroxy-1-mesyloxypropylphosphonate, which was obtained from the known diethyl (1S,2R)-2,3-O-cyclohexylidene-1,2,3-trihydroxypropylphosphonate. On the other hand, the cis-analogue, diethyl (1S,2R)-1,2-epoxy-3-hydroxypropylphosphonate, could only be prepared from diethyl (1R,2R)-2-hydroxy-1-mesyloxy-3-trityloxypropylphoshonate.     

Fractional crystallisation of (±)-iso-amarine with mandelic acid: convenient access to (R,R)- and (S,S)-1,2-diamino-1,2-diphenylethanes

(±)-iso-Amarine can be conveniently resolved via 1:1 salt formation with either hand of mandelic acid. Enantiopure iso-amarine can be acetylated and hydrolysed to give enantiopure 1,2-diamino-1,2-diphenylethanes.     

A practical method for synthesis of terminal 1,2-diols in high enantiomeric excess via oxazaborolidine-catalyzed asymmetric reduction

Asymmetric borane reduction of α-hydroxy ketones protected with a tetrahydropyranyl (THP) group catalyzed by Corey's CBS reagent using N-phenylamine–borane complexes as the hydride source provided the corresponding terminal 1,2-diols with a very high enantiomeric excess.     

Diastereoselective synthesis of (2S,5S)- and (2S,5R)-N-benzyloxycarbonyl-5-hydroxypipecolic acids from trans-4-hydroxy-l-proline

An efficient diastereoselective synthesis of cis- and trans-5-hydroxy-(2S)-N-benzyloxycarbonyl pipecolic acids, starting from trans-4-hydroxy-l-proline is described. The key synthetic strategies involve the regioisomeric ring expansion of keto ester 8 and diastereoselective reduction of ketone 11 in high selectivity and yield.     

Lipase-catalyzed transesterification of 2-hydroxy-2-(pentafluorophenyl)acetonitrile leading to (1R,2R)- and (1S,2S)-bis(pentafluorophenyl)ethane-1,2-diol

Optically pure (1R,2R)- and (1S,2S)-1,2-bis(pentafluorophenyl)ethane-1,2-diol (1) were synthesized from key intermediates (R)- and (S)-2-hydroxy-2-(pentafluorophenyl)acetonitrile (2), both of which were prepared by the lipase LIP-catalyzed transesterification (E = 465). The absolute configuration of (S)-2 was determined by X-ray structural analysis after transformation into (S)-alpha-cyano-2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobenzyl (S)-6-methoxy-alpha-methyl-2-naphthaleneacetate (S,S)-9. In addition, the crystal structure of (S,S)-9 has an interesting well-ordered packing pattern which shows face-to-face stacking interactions and end-to-end parallel contacts between the pentafluorophenyl and 6-methoxynaphthyl groups of the adjacent molecules.     

A convenient 3-step synthesis of (R)-7-hydroxycarvone from (S)-alpha-pinene

A convenient 3-step synthesis of (R)-7-hydroxycarvone (2) has been developed starting from (S)-alpha-pinene (7), using photooxygenation, oxidation, and fragmentation reactions. An improved synthesis of epoxy alcohol 6 and an unusual Ti(OiPr)(4) catalyzed hydroxy epoxide to keto alcohol rearrangement are also described.     

Enantiopure vic-amino alcohols and vic-diamines from (1R,2S)-1,2-dihydroxy-1,2-dihydronaphthalene

(1S,2S)-2-Hydroxy-1-amino-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene, (1R,2R)-1-hydroxy-2-amino-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene, (1S,2R)-1,2-diamino-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene, (2R,3S)-2-hydroxy-3-amino-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene and (2S,3S)-2,3-diammino-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene have been synthesized from (1R,2S)-1,2-dihydroxy-1,2-dihydronaphthalene. The latter was obtained, using a protocol reported in a previous paper, from naphthalene using an Escherichia coli recombinant strain containing the naphthalene dioxygenase gene cloned from Pseudomonas fluorescens N3.     

The Steric Effect of trans-(1S,2S)-1-Substituted-2 (N,N-dialkyl-amino)-1-indanol Derivatives as Chiral Ligands in the Catalytic Enantioselective Addition of Diethylzinc to Aldehydes

Optically active trans-(12,2S)-1-substituted-2(N,N-dialkylamino)-1-indanol derivatives have been prepared and used in the asymmetric addition of diethylzinc to aldehydes to give sec-alcohol in good yield with up to 93.1% enantiomeric excess.     

Asymmetric synthesis of (1R,2S,3R)-3-methylcispentacin and (1S,2S,3R)-3-methyltranspentacin by kinetic resolution of tert-butyl (+/-)-3-methylcyclopentene-1-carboxylate

Conjugate addition of lithium dibenzylamide to tert-butyl (+/-)-3-methylcyclopentene-1-carboxylate occurs with high levels of stereocontrol, with preferential addition of lithium dibenzylamide to the face of the cyclic alpha,beta-unsaturated acceptor anti- to the 3-methyl substituent. High levels of enantiorecognition are observed between tert-butyl (+/-)-3-methylcyclopentene-1-carboxylate and an excess of lithium (+/-)-N-benzyl-N-alpha-methylbenzylamide (10 eq.) (E > 140) in their mutual kinetic resolution, while the kinetic resolution of tert-butyl (+/-)-3-methylcyclopentene-1-carboxylate with lithium (S)-N-benzyl-N-alpha-methylbenzylamide proceeds to give, at 51% conversion, tert-butyl (1R,2S,3R,alphaS)-3-methyl-2-N-benzyl-N-alpha-methylbenzylaminocyclopentane-1-carboxylate consistent with E > 130, and in 39% yield and 99 +/- 0.5% de after purification. Subsequent deprotection by hydrogenolysis and ester hydrolysis gives (1R,2S,3R)-3-methylcispentacin in > 98% de and 98 +/- 1% ee. Selective epimerisation of tert-butyl (1R,2S,3R,alphaS)-3-methyl-2-N-benzyl-N-alpha-methylbenzylaminocyclopentane-1-carboxylate by treatment with KO'Bu in 'BuOH gives tert-butyl (1S,2S,3R,alphaS)-3-methyl-2-N-benzyl-N-alpha-methylbenzylaminocyclopentane-1-carboxylate in quantitative yield and in > 98% de, with subsequent deprotection by hydrogenolysis and ester hydrolysis giving (1S,2S,3R)-3-methyltranspentacin hydrochloride in > 98% de and 97 +/- 1% ee.     

Asymmetric synthesis of (1R,2S,3R)-2-acetyl-4-(1,2,3,4-tetrahydroxybutyl)thiazole

Two different methods for preparing the thiazole analogue 3 of the biologically active compound (1R,2S,3R)-2-acetyl-4(5)-(1,2,3,4- tetrahydroxybutyl)imidazole 1 are reported.     

Enzyme-catalyzed synthesis and absolute configuration of (1S,2R,5S)- and (1R,2S,5R)-2-(1-hydroxyethyl)-1-(methoxymethyloxyethyl)cyclobutane-1-carbonitrile,key intermediates for the preparation of chiral cyclobutane-containing pheromones

Formal synthesis of chiral grandisol and the oleander scale pheromone and their antipodes can be achieved through a convenient lipase-catalyzed enantiodifferentiation process of the common cyclobutane intermediate (±)-2-(1-hydroxyethyl)-1-(methoxymethyloxyethyl)cyclobutane-1-carbonitrile 3. The resolution afforded both enantiomers in almost enantiomerically pure form and their absolute configurations were assigned on the basis of the Δδ values for their (R)- and (S)-MTPA esters.