1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions of azomethine ylides on enantiomerically pure (E)-γ-alkoxy-α,β-unsaturated esters.

Enantiomerically pure (E)-γ-alkoxy-α,β-unsaturated esters were reacted with azomethine ylides obtained from glycine imines in the presence of LiBr and diazabicycloundecene (DBU), to afford tetrasubstituted pyrrolidines with complete regiocontrol and fair to excellent diastereoselectivity (only two diastereoisomers formed in up to 96: 4 diastereoisomeric ratio). The results are compared with those of other 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions, and the origin of stereocontrol is discussed.     

Burkholderia cepacia lipase is an excellent enzyme for the enantioselective hydrolysis of β-heteroaryl-β-amino esters

The enantioselective (E >200) lipase PS-catalysed hydrolysis of β-heteroaryl-β-amino esters is described. The reactions were performed with H₂O (0.5 equiv) in either diisopropyl ether or tert-butyl methyl ether at 25 °C. The resulting β-heteroaryl-substituted β-amino acid enantiomers were formed in high enantiomeric excess (ee  97%) and in good yield (40%).     

Efficient synthesis of enantiomerically pure (S)-δ-azaproline starting from (R)-α-hydroxy-γ-butyrolactone via the Mitsunobu reaction

The synthesis of enantiomerically pure orthogonally protected δ-azaproline has been performed in five steps including two successive Mitsunobu reactions starting from benzyloxycarbonylaminophthalimide and the (R)-α-hydroxy-γ-butyrolactone.     

Organocatalytic enantioselective synthesis of β-blockers: (S)-propranolol and (S)-naftopidil

An efficient enantioselective synthesis of β-adrenergic blockers (S)-propranolol and (S)-naftopidil with >98% ee using an l-proline-catalyzed α-aminoxylation of an aldehyde as a key step is described.     

First synthesis of 4a-carba-β-d-galactofuranose

The synthesis of 4a-carba-β-d-galactofuranose is described starting from diacetone glucose. The key ring-closure step was carried out by metathesis to form a cyclopentene. Catalytic hydrogenation of the CC double bond gave the galacto configured saturated carbahexofuranose with excellent diastereoselectivity.     

Neutron diffraction study of the β′ and γ phases of LiFeO2

The β, β′, γ and α phases of LiFeO₂, synthesized as powders, were annealed at different temperatures and characterized by X-ray measurements. The β′ and γ modifications were also studied by time-of-flight neutron diffraction (ISIS Facility, UK). The structure of the β′ phase was refined in the monoclinic C2/c space group (a=8.566(1), b=11.574(2), c=5.1970(5) Å, β=146.064(5)°) to wR_p=0.071–0.080 (data from four counter banks). Fe and Li atoms are ordered over two of the four independent sites, and partially disordered over the other two. The ordered Li has a distorted tetrahedral coordination. The γ structure was refined at RT (a=4.047(1), c=8.746(2) Å) and at 570 °C (a=4.082(3), c=8.822(6) Å) in the I4₁/amd symmetry, showing full order with Li in octahedral coordination at RT, and in a split-atom configuration at high temperature. On annealing, the β′ polymorph was found to transform to γ at 550 °C, thus suggesting that it is a metastable phase. Electrostatics is discussed as the driving force for the α→β′→γ ordering process of LiFeO₂.     

The first enzymatic resolution of quaternary α′-acetoxy α,β-unsaturated cyclohexenones and cyclopentenones

The enantioselective resolution of various quaternary α′-acetoxy α,β-unsaturated cyclohexenones and cyclopentenones was performed with the commercially available enzyme CCL in pH = 8.0 phosphate buffer. Various parameters that would affect the enantioselectivities were tested and the best enzymatic resolution conditions were found to afford the enantiomerically enriched quaternary acetoxylated substrates with high ee varying between 36% and 99%.     

Synthesis of 2-hydroxy-6-{[(16R)-β-δ-mannopyransyloxy]heptadecyl}benzoic acid, a fungal metabolite with GABAA ion channel receptor inhibiting properties

An expeditious total synthesis of the physiologically active fungal metabolite 1 is described. The stereoselective formation of its β-δ-mannopyranosidic linkage is achieved in two steps upon reaction of the hexopyranos-2-ulosyl bromide 15 with the glycosyl acceptor 13, followed by reduction of the resulting β-δ-glycos-2-uloside 16. Alcohol 13 was efficiently prepared via a Suzuki reaction of the aryltriflate 11 with the 9-alkyl-9-BBN derivative 10.     

Substoichiometric TiCl4-mediated vicinal difunctionalization of α,β-acetylenic ketones for the synthesis of β-halo Baylis–Hillman olefins

A substoichiometric amount of titanium tetrachloride was found to be effective to promote and participate in the tandem α-hydroxyalkylation/β-chlorination of α,β-acetylenic ketones in the presence of (n-Bu)₄NI. This method provides the concise synthesis of (E)-β-halo Baylis–Hillman adducts. No β-iodo products were detected when using this combination of halogen sources. The reaction process involves 1,4-addition of chloro anion released from TiCl₄ onto α,β-acetylenic ketones to give TiCl₃–allenolate intermediates followed by the titanium Lewis acid-promoted carbonyl addition. Modest to good yields (53–77%) and excellent E/Z stereoselectivity (>95%) have been obtained for 10 examples.     

Additive Pummerer reactions of vinylic sulfoxides. Synthesis of γ-hydroxy-α,β-unsaturated esters, α-hydroxyketones, and 2-phenylsulfenyl aldehydes and primary alcohols

Treatment of β-monosubstituted vinylic sulfoxides 1 with trifluoroacetic anhydride in dichloromethane gave excellent yields of 1,2-bis(trifluoroacetoxy)thioethers 6. Mildly basic methanolysis of 2-alkyl-substituted 6 gave α-hydroxyaldehydes 11 as monomer-dimer mixtures; similar treatment of the 2-aryl analogues afforded aryl (hydroxymethyl) ketones 12. Compounds 11 underwent Wittig reactions with methoxycarbonylmethylenetriphenylphosphorane to give high yields of γ-hydroxy-α,β-unsaturated esters 13, predominantly as the E-isomers. β-Monosubstituted vinylic sulfoxides 1 possessing a β-aryl group, and β-disubstituted vinylic sulfoxides 3 reacted with trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride-sodium acetate in acetic anhydride to give 2-(phenylsulfenyl)acylals 14. These gave 2-phenylsulfenyl aldehydes 15 upon basic methanolysis, and the corresponding primary alcohols 16 on reduction with sodium borohydride. Reaction of both geometric isomers of enantiomerically pure vinylic sulfoxide 1o with TFAA gave racemic 6o as a mixture of diastereomers. Reaction of optically pure (E)- and (Z)-1p with trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride-sodium acetate in acetic anhydride gave acylal 19 in 10.5 and 23% e.e., respectively.     

Stereoselective total synthesis of (+)-(6R,2′S)-cryptocaryalactone and (−)-(6S,2′S)-epi cryptocaryalactone

The total synthesis of (+)-(6R,2′S)-cryptocaryalactone and (−)-(6S,2′S)-epi cryptocaryalactone is reported based on stereoselective reduction of δ-hydroxy β-keto ester to install 1,3-polyol system, cis Wittig olefination, and lactonization as the key steps. The synthesis of (−)-(6S,2′S)-epi cryptocaryalactone is also reported using syn-benzylidene acetal formation and a preferential Z-Wittig olefination reaction and lactonization as the key steps.     

A novel method for the synthesis of (Z)-α-selenyl-α,β-unsaturated ketones via acylation of (E)-α-selanylvinylstannanes

The (E)-α-selenylvinylstannanes react with acyl halides in presence of a catalytic amount of Pd(PPh₃)₄ to give the corresponding (Z)-α-selenyl-α,β-unsaturated ketones in good yield.     

A simple route to syn α-Amino-β-Hydroxy esters by C-2 regioselective opening of a, β-Epoxy esters with metal halides

α,β-Epoxy esters are opened by NaX (X = I, Br) in a regio and stereoselective fashion to β-hydroxy-α-halo esters, which represent suitable precursors of syn α-amino-β-hydroxy esters and β-hydroxy esters.     

Photoinduced transformation of α,β-epoxyketones to β-hydroxyketones by Hantzsch 1,4-dihydropyridine

Irradiation (λ >300 nm) of Hantzsch 1,4-dihydropyridine with aromatic α,β-epoxyketones in acetonitrile selectively breaks the Cα---O bond of the epoxides giving the corresponding β-hydroxyketones in excellent yields.     

Synthesis of α,β-unsaturated ketone from α-iodo ketone using photoirradiation

Irradiation of α-iodo ketone in hexane under a nitrogen atmosphere with a high-pressure mercury lamp (λ>300nm) at room temperature afforded the corresponding α,β-unsaturated ketones in good yield. This reaction affords a new, clean and convenient synthetic method for the α,β-unsaturated ketone.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic method for the separation of the optical isomers of γ,γ′-di-tert.-butyl- -γ-carboxyglutamic acid and -γ-carboxyglutamic acid

The chemical synthesis of γ,γ′-tert.-butyl-γ-carboxyglutamic acid is accompanied by extensive racemization, and very careful resolution is needed to obtain and -γ,γ′-di-tert.-butyl-γ-carboxyglutamic acids in high chiral purity. A novel method was devised for the separation of enantiomers of γ,γ′-di-tert.-butyl-γ-carboxyglutamic acid and γ-carboxyglutamic acid, applying precolumn derivatization with 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrophenyl-5- -alanine amide and 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β- -glucopyranosyl isothiocyanate as chiral reagents, with subsequent reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic separation of diastereomeric compounds. The effects of organic modifiers, of the mobile-phase composition and of the pH on the separation of the diastereomers were investigated.     

β-Lactamase label-based potentiometric biosensor for α-2 interferon detection

An effective immunosensor for α-2 interferon detection based on pH-sensitive field effect transistor (pH-FET) has been developed. A specific sensing element was fabricated by immobilizing α-2 interferon on the gate of a pH-FET. The interaction of anti-interferon antibodies labelled with β-lactamase with interferon–pH-FET (in the presence of specific enzyme substrate) leads to a local pH-change at the surface of transducer and produces an electrochemical signal which is proportional to the conjugate concentration. The main performance characteristics of the sensor obtained (sensitivity, dynamic range, operational and storage stability) were estimated. The effect of pH, buffer concentration and ionic strength on the immunosensor response as well as conditions of immunosensor regeneration were studied. For the determination of the interferon concentration in a sample solution the competitive electrochemical immunoassay has been employed. A linear response of the sensor on α-2 interferon concentration is obtained in the range 10–100 μg/ml. This gives the possibility to detect α-2 interferon in a non-diluted cultivated broth. The data of the competitive electrochemical immunoassay are available within 30 min and are in good accordance with the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.     

Enantioselective synthesis of β,β-dialkyl α-hydroxy γ-butyrolactones

An ephedrine-derived morpholine dione is employed in the synthesis of chiral alkylidene morpholinones that are efficiently converted to β-substituted α,γ-dihydroxy butyramides, precursors of the corresponding butyrolactones. Enantioselective synthesis of a spiro analog of pantolactone as well as a naturally occurring pantolactone homolog is achieved with this protocol.     

Tandem epoxysilane rearrangement/Wittig-type reactions using γ-phosphinoyl- and γ-phosphonio-α,β-epoxysilane

Reaction of γ-phosphinoyl- and γ-phosphonio-α,β-epoxysilane with a base followed by addition of a ketone or an aldehyde afforded dienol silyl ether derivatives via a tandem process that involves base-induced ring opening of the epoxide, Brook rearrangement, and Wittig-type reaction.     

A stereoselective synthesis of (2S,3R)-β-methoxyphenylalanine: a component of cyclomarin A

A stereoselective synthesis of (2S,3R)-β-methoxyphenylalanine, an amino acid contained within the cyclic peptide cyclomarin A, was successfully synthesized from Lajoie’s serine aldehyde.