(R,R)-2,3-Butanediol and (s)-pinanediol allylboronates in chiral synthesis of (2S,3S)-3-methyl-5-hexen-2-ol

(R,R)-Butanediol (dichloromethyl)boronate ( 1 ) with 1 equiv. allylmagnesium halide yields (R,R)-2,3-butanediol (1S)-(1-chloro-3-butenyl)boronate ( 3 ) together with the diallylated product (R,R)-2,3-butanediol (1-allyl-3-butenyl)boronate ( 4 ). The formation of 4 is unprecedented in reactions of α-chloroboronic esters with Grignard reagents. With methylmagnesium bromide 3 yielded (R,R)-2,3-butanediol (1S)-(1-methyl-3-butenyl)boronate ( 5 ), which failed to hydrolyze with water. Hydrolysis of 3 yielded impure α-chloroboronic acid, which was esterified with pinacol and treated with methylmagnesium bromide to form 6 , which with (dichloromethyl)lithium followed by methylmagnesium bromide yielded diastereomeric boronic esters 7 and 8 . Oxidation by hydrogen peroxide yielded (2S,3S)- and (2R,3S)-3-methyl-5-hexen-2-ol ( 9 and 10 , ees unknown). Treatment of (s)-pinanediol allylboronate ( 11 ) with (dichloromethyl)lithium at −100°C followed by zinc chloride at up to 25°C has proceeded in the normal way to form (s)-pinanediol (1S)-(1-chloro-3-butenyl)-boronate ( 12 ), which has been elaborated via 13 , 14 , and 15 to (2S,3S)-3-methyl-5-hexen-2-ol ( 9 ) in 95% de.     

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.     

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.     

Synthesis of chiral 1,5-disubstituted pyrrolidinones via electrophile-induced cyclization of 2-(3-butenyl)oxazolines derived from (1R,2S)- and (1S,2R)-norephedrine

Starting from (1R,2S)- and (1S,2R)-norephedrine, enantiomers of the corresponding 2-(3-butenyl)oxazolines were prepared in a two-step process. The cyclization of the intermediate alkenylamides with phenylselenyl bromide afforded cyclic imidates instead of the expected pyrrolidinones. The electrophile-induced cyclizations of 2-alkenyloxazolines with bromine or iodine produced diastereomeric mixtures of chiral 1,5-disubstituted pyrrolidinones. The ring closure of the all-cis (1R,2S,5R)-diastereomer 7 with NaH resulted in the tetrahydropyrrolo[2,1-b]oxazol-5-one derivative 18, which was alternatively prepared by the cyclocondensation of (1R,2S)-norephedrine with levulinic acid.     

A practical preparation of enantiomerically pure (R)- and (S)-2-bromohexadecanoic acids

The efficient preparation of enantiomerically pure (R)- and (S)-2-bromohexadecanoic acids with e.e.>95% through resolution with the use of a recoverable chiral auxiliary is described. The procedure involves three reactions: Steglich esterification, DIBAL reduction, and Sharpless oxidation. The assessment of the enantiomeric purity is based on NMR analysis by using (1R,2R)-(+)-diphenylethane-1,2-diamine as a chiral solvating agent.     

Uncommon transformations of methyl (1S,2S,3R,4R)-2,3-isopropylidenedioxy-5-iodomethyl-2-tetrahydrofurylacetate initiated by bases

Methyl (1S,2S,3R,4R)-2,3-isopropylidenedioxy-5-iodomethyl-2-tetrahydrofurylacetate prepared in two stages from D-ribose acetonide underwent a series of uncommon transformations under the treatment with bases providing the following different products depending on the base applied: methyl 3-(5-acetyl-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxol-4-yl)propionate (DBU), methyl 2,3-isopropylidenedioxy-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-6-carboxylate (t-BuOK), methyl {(5R)-2,2-dimethyl-5-[(2R)-oxiranyl]-1,3-dioxolan-4-ylidene}propionate and methyl-(E)-3-{(4S,5R)-2,2-dimethyl-5-[(1R)-(2-oxiranyl)]-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl}-2-propenoate (t-BuOK and LDA).     

Studies on the transformation of nitrosugars into iminosugars III: synthesis of (2R,3R,4R,5R,6R)-2-(hydroxymethyl)azepane-3,4,5,6-tetraol and (2R,3R,4R,5R,6S)-2-(hydroxymethyl)azepane-3,4,5,6-tetraol

A divergent synthesis of the two novel polyhydroxylated azepanes (2R,3R,4R,5R,6R)-2-(hydroxymethyl)azepane-3,4,5,6-tetraol and (2R,3R,4R,5R,6S)-2-(hydroxymethyl)azepane-3,4,5,6-tetraol from d-mannose is described. The method involves a Henry reaction between dimethyl-tert-butylsilyl 2,3-O-isopropylidene-α-d-lyxo-pentodialdo-1,4-furanoside and 2-nitroethanol followed by a reductive ring closure of the resulting epimeric nitro aldols. Glycosidase inhibition tests showed that (2R,3R,4R,5R,6S)-2-(hydroxymethyl)azepane-3,4,5,6-tetraol exhibits a weak but selective inhibition against α-l-fucosides.     

Total synthesis of (4R,5S,6E,14S)- and (4R,5S,6E,14R)-cystothiazoles F

Total synthesis of (4R,5S,6E,14S)- and (4R,5S,6E,14R)-cystothiazoles F 3 was achieved from the chiral bithiazole-type primary alcohols [(S)- and (R)-4-ethoxycarbonyl-2′-(1-hydroxymethylethyl)-2,4′-bithiazoles 8], which were obtained based on the enzymatic resolution of racemic alcohol 8 and its acetate 9. From a direct comparison by means of chiral HPLC between natural cystothiazole F 3 and synthetic compounds [(4R,5S,6E,14S)- and (4R,5S,6E,14R)-cystothiazoles 3], natural cystothiazole F 3 was found to be a 33:67 diastereomeric mixture [(4R,5S,6E,14S)-3:(4R,5S,6E,14R)-3 = 33:67].     

A new chiral oxazoline derived from camphor and its conversion to (R)-2-methylalkanoic acids

(1S,5R,7R)-(−)-10,10-Dimethyl-3-ethyl-4-oxa-2-azatricyclo[5.2.1.0^1,5]dec-2-ene 2 was prepared in 95% yield from (1S)-1-amino-2-exo-hydroxyapocamphane 1. The chiral oxazoline could be alkylated (LDA/THF/−78°C/RX, RX=ethyl, n-propyl, n-butyl iodides or benzyl bromide) to 3 in 95% yield and >95% diastereoselectivity, and the products hydrolysed to (R)-2-methylalkanoic acids 4 (43–47% yield, 93–98% e.e.).     

A convenient synthesis of (1S,2R)-1,2-indene oxide and trans-(1S,2S)-2-bromo-1-indanol via oxazaborolidine-catalyzed borane reduction

A facile synthesis of (1S,2R)-indene oxide with >99% e.e. and (1S,2S)-trans-2-bromo-1-indanol with 87% e.e. has been established by employing CBS-oxazaborolidine-catalyzed asymmetric borane reduction of 2-p-toluenesulfonyloxy-1-indanone using N-ethyl-N-isopropylaniline–borane complex as the borane carrier.     

New chiral phosphine-phosphonites derived from (2R,3R)-dimethyl tartrate, (S)-binaphthol and (1R,2S)-ephedrine

The reaction of 2-lithiophenyldiphenylphosphine with phosphorus trichloride afforded the new unsymmetric phosphine, dichloro(2-diphenylphosphinophenyl)phosphine (4). Condensation of 4 with (a) (2R,3R)-dimethyl tartrate or (b) (S)-binaphthol in the presence of triethylamine gave new chiral phosphine-phosphonite ligands, (2R,3R)-[2-(2′-(diphenylphosphino)phenyl)-4,5-bis(carbomethoxy)-1,3,2-dioxaphospholane] ((2R,3R)-5) and (S)-[2-(diphenylphosphino)benzene][1,1′-binaphthalen-2,2′-diyl]phosphonite] ((S)-6). The analogous reaction of 4 with (1R,2S)-ephedrine using N-methylmorpholine as the base, gave [2-(2′-(diphenylphosphino)phenyl)-3,4-dimethyl-5-phenyl-1,3,2-oxazaphospholidine] (7) as a 95:5 mixture of diastereoisomers.     

Synthesis of the (1S,2S)- and (1R,2S)-stereoisomers of the respective E- and Z-isomers of ethyl 4-[(2-hydroxycyclohexyl)methyl]phenoxy-3-methyl-2-butenoate using yeast whole cell bioreduction of the parent ketones

Saccharomyces cerevisiae, strain DBM 2115, was successfully employed in the reduction of the separated Z- and E-isomers of ethyl 4-[(2-oxocyclohexyl)methyl]phenoxy-3-methyl-2-butenoates 1 and 2, in order to prepare the (1S,2S)- and (1R,2S)-enantiomers of the corresponding ethyl 4-[(2-hydroxycyclohexyl)methyl]phenoxy-3-methyl-2-butenoates 3–6. The products were obtained with the required absolute configuration: (1S,2S)-3 (ee = 98%; yield 48%), (1R,2S)-4 (ee = >99%; yield 45%), (1S,2S)-5 (ee = 98.5%; yield 47%), and (1R,2S)-6 (ee = >99%; chemical yield 44%).     

Exploration of chiral induction on epoxides in lipase-catalyzed epoxidation of alkenes using (2R,3S,4R,5S)-(–)-2,3:4,6-di-O-isopropylidiene-2-keto-l-gulonic acid monohydrate

Epoxidation of alkenes by peracid, generated in situ from (2R,3S,4R,5S)-(?)-2,3:4,6-di-O-isopropylidiene-2-keto-l-gulonic acid monohydrate [(?)-DIKGA] and hydrogen peroxide by lipase catalysis induces chirality on the product epoxides with moderate to good enantioselectivity (35–71%). Alkoxy/aralkyloxy styrenes however did not undergo any epoxidation. (R)-(+)-4-Hydroxy styrene-7,8-oxide was formed and isolated with moderate enantiomeric excess (57%) but was found to have poor stability.     

Asymmetric synthesis of syn-aryl-(2S,3R)-2-chloro-3-hydroxy esters via an engineered ketoreductase-catalyzed dynamic reductive kinetic resolution

We report here a generic, green synthesis of 17 valuable syn-aryl-(2S,3R)-2–chloro-3–hydroxy esters(syn-(2S,3R)-1) in 73%-99% isolated yields along with 6.1:1–83:1 dr and 31%～>99% ee, through dynamic reductive kinetic resolution of racemic aryl α–chloro β-keto esters(2) catalyzed by an engineered ketoreductase which was obtained via ep PCR-based directed evolution. The hectogram scale synthesis of syn-(2S,3R)-1b at a substrate concentration of 120 g/L showcased the application potential of th...     

Diastereomeric P,N-bidentate amidophosphites based on (S,S)- and (R,R)-hydrobenzoin as ligands in the Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylation

New P,N-bidentate diastereomeric amidophosphite ligands were obtained by phosphorylation of (S)-2-[(phenylamino)methyl]pyrrolidine involving (4S,5S)- and (4R,5R)-2-chloro-4,5-diphenyl-1,3,2-dioxaphospholanes. Their efficiency in the Pd-catalyzed enantioselective allylic substitution was compared, it was found that the reaction involving (E)-1,3-diphenylallyl acetate and pyrrolidine gives up to 75% ee.     

Solid-state structure determination and solution-state NMR characterization of the (2R,4R)/(2S,4S)- and (2R,4S)/(2S,4R)-diastereomers of the agricultural fungicide propiconazole,the (2R,4S)/(2S,4R)-symmetrical triazole constitutional isomer,and a ditriazole analogue

Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis was used to determine the structure of a racemic diastereomer of the agricultural fungicide propiconazole [1-(2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-4-n-propyl-1,3-dioxolane-2-yl-methyl)-1-H-1,2,4-triazole] and of two by-products (a symmetrical 1,3,4-triazole racemic-constitutional isomer and a propiconazole ditriazole analogue). All three crystalline racemic-diastereomers had (2R,4S)/(2S,4R)-stereochemistry in which then-propyl group was observed in atrans-to-phenyl disposition. Propiconazole (2R,4S)/(2S,4R)-diastereomer gives crystals belonging to the monoclinic space group P2₁,/a, and, at 293 K,a=8.1192(3),b=18.9769(6),c=10.7137(4) å,Β=99.765(3)?,V=1626.8(1) å³, Z=4,R(F)=0.060, andR _w(F)=0.058. The constitutional isomer by-product (2R,4S)/(2S,4R)-1-(2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-4-n-pro-pyl-1,3-dioxolane-2-yl-methyl)-1-H-1,3,4-triazole gives crystals belonging to the monoclinic space group P2₁/n, and, at 293 K,a=11.1763(6),b=10.7716(4),c=14.5804(8) å,Β=107.445(4)?,V=1674.6(1) å³, Z=4,R(F)=0.043, andR _w(F)=0.043. The ditriazole byproduct (2R,4S)/(2S,4R)-1-(2-(2-chloro-4-(1,2,4-triazole-1-yl)phenyl)-4-n-propyl-1,3-dioxolane-2-yl-methyl)-1-H-1,2,4-triazole gives crystals belonging to the triclinic space groupP¯ 1, and, at 193 K,a=5.3329(8),b=8.3738(7),c=20.240(2) å, α=84.213(6)?,Β=87.20(1)?,γ=86.23(1)?,V=896.5(2) å³, Z=2,R(F)=0.046, andR _w(F)=0.051. The presence of both propiconazole (2R.4S)- and (2S,4R)-enantiomers enables the formation of a crystalline racemic modification, while the diastereomeric propiconazole (2R,4R)- and (2S,4S)-enantiomers are viscous oils. In the absence of its enantiomorphic partner, the propiconazole (2R,4S)- or (2S,4R)-enantiomers remain as viscous oils rather than form chiral crystals.     

Synthesis of enantiomerically pure diethyl (R)- and (S)-2-hydroxy-3-(1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)propylphosphonates

The synthesis and ee determination of diethyl 3-azido-2-hydroxypropylphosphonates from 2,3-epoxypropylphosphonates have been optimised. Enantiomerically enriched diethyl (R)- and (S)-2-hydroxy-3-(1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)propylphosphonates (R)-3a–j and (S)-3a–h as well as (S)-3j were synthesised from diethyl (R)- and (S)-2,3-epoxypropylphosphonates in a reaction sequence including azidolysis followed by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition with selected alkynes.     

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.     

Novel asymmetric total syntheses of (R)-(−)-pyridindolol, (R)-(−)-pyridindolol K1, and (R)-(−)-pyridindolol K2 via a mild one-pot aromatization of N-tosyl-tetrahydro-β-carboline with (S)-2,3-O-isopropylidene-l-glyceraldehyde as the source of chirality

Novel total syntheses of (R)-(?)-pyridindolol 1, (R)-(?)-pyridindolol K1 2, and (R)-(?)-pyridindolol K2 3 are described. By using l-tryptophan methyl ester and (S)-2,3-O-isopropylidene-l-glyceraldehyde as the starting materials, (R)-(?)-pyridindolol 1, (R)-(?)-pyridindolol K1 2, and (R)-(?)-pyridindolol K2 3 were synthesized in 5–7 steps in 66%, 41%, and 55% overall yields, respectively. The characteristic step of the total syntheses is a mild one-pot aromatization of N-tosyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carboline (N-Ts-THBC), which was obtained via Pictet–Spengler reaction of l-tryptophan methyl ester with (S)-2,3-O-isopropylidene-l-glyceraldehyde, and subsequent N-tosylation.     

A practical,two-stage preparation of benzyl (3R)-3-amino-2-oxo-1-pyrrolidinecarboxylate (2S,3S)-2,3-bis[(4-methylbenzoyl)oxy]butanediote (2:1)

A convenient, efficient and cost-effective two-stage synthesis of benzyl (3R)-3-amino-2-oxo-1-pyrrolidinecarboxylate (2S,3S)-2,3-bis[(4-methylbenzoyl)oxy]butanediote (2:1) via a crystallisation-induced dynamic resolution process is reported.