Le (chlorodiisopropyl)silyl fluorenyllithium: Un equivalent synthetique du diisopropyl(fluorenylidène)silene

The metalation of chlorodiisopropylfluorenylsilane 1 with n-butyllithium leads to the -silyllithio compound 3. Compound 3 has a surprising stability and does not afford the diisopropyl(fluorenylidene)-silene but behaves as its synthetic equivalent; i.e. it is a useful reagent for “Wittig-Peterson” reactions with various carbonyl compounds leading readily to diisopropylsilanone and fluorenylidene derivatives.     

Preparation of both enantiomers of malic and citramalic acid and other hydroxysuccinic acid derivatives by stereospecific hydrations of cis or trans 2-butene-1,4-dioic acids with resting cells of Clostridium formicoaceticum

(R)-Malic, (S)-malic, (R)citramalic, (S)-citramalic, (2R,3S)-2-hydroxy-3-methyl-succinic and (2R,3S)-2,3-dimethyl-2-hydroxysuccinic acid were prepared on scales up to 25 mmol by stereospecific addition of water to different 2-butene-1,4-dioic acid derivatives catalyzed by resting cells of Clostridium formicoaceticum (Scheme 1). The (3R)-monodeuterio (R)- and (S)-malic acid as well as (R)- and (S)-citramalic acid were prepared using freeze-dried cells in ²H₂O-buffer. The stereochemical purity of the products was in most cases ≥ 99%.     

Asymmetric hydroformylation with Pt-phosphine-SnCl2 and Pt-bisphosphine-CuCl2 (or CuCl) catalytic systems

A study has been made of asymmetric hydroformylation of styrene with PtCl₂(PPh₃)₂ + bisphosphine + SnCl₂ (bisphosphine: BDPP = (−)-(2S,4S)-2,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)pentane or DIOP = (−)-(4R,5R)-2,2-dimethyl-4,5-bis(diphenylphosphinomethyl)-1,3-dioxolane) and PtCl₂(bisphosphine) + PPh₃ + SnCl₂ catalysts prepared “in situ”. The presence of an excess of the phosphine ligand slightly lowered the reaction rate, but the enantioselectivity of these systems is significantly higher than those involving PtCl(SnCl₃)(bisphosphine) catalysts. Under mild reaction conditions 88.8% enantiomeric excess was achieved. Replacing SnCl₂ in these catalysts by CuCl₂ or CuCl gave a new homogeneous catalytic system which is active at higher reaction temperature (> 100°C), but has a rather moderate enantioselectivity.     

Total asymmetric syntheses of d-lividosamine and 2-acetamido-2,3-dideoxy-d-arabino-hexose derivatives.

The “naked sugar” (+)-(1R, 4R)-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-one((+)-2) has been converted to D-lividosamine ((+)-1: 3-deoxy-D-glucosamine) and derivatives via (+)-2-chloro-2,3-dideoxy-5,6-O-isopropylidene-D-arabino-hexono-1,4-lactone ((+)-33) and (+)-2-azido-2,3-dideoxy-5,6-O-isopropylidene-D-ribo-hexono-1,4-lactone ((+)-34) in a highly stereoselective fashion. Similarly, 2-acetamido-2,3-dideoxy-D-arabino-hexose and derivatives were derived from the “naked sugar” (−)-(1S,4S-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]-hept-5-en-2-one ((−)-2) via the double hydroxylation of the C=C double bond in (−)-N-benzyl-N-[(1R,2S,4S)-6-bromo-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-endo-yl] amine ((−)-40).     

'Genome order index' should not be used for defining compositional constraints in nucleotide sequences

A “genome order index,” defined as S = a² + c² + t² + g², where a, c, t, and g are the nucleotide frequencies of A, C, T, and G, respectively, was used to suggest that there exist genome-specific constraints on nucleotide composition. We show that the “evidence” for constraint, S < 1/3, is in fact a mathematical property that is always true regardless of data. Moreover, we show that S is strictly equivalent to and derivable from the Shannon H-function and has no advantage over it.     

Asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of ferrocenyl ketones: a new simple route to chiral ferrocenyl alcohols

The asymmetric transfer hydrogenation (ATH) of ferrocenyl ketones, such as FcC(O)CH₂Y [Fc = ferrocenyl, Y = H (1a), CH₃ (1b), Cl (1c) or N₃ (1d)] has been carried out using the Noyori/Ikariya catalysts [(−)-(1R,2S)-ephedrine] or N-tosyl-(1R,2R)-diphenylethylenediamine [(R,R)-TsDPEN] as chiral ligands combined with [RuCl₂(η⁶-benzene)]₂ and 2-PrOH or HCO₂H–Et₃N as the hydrogen sources, respectively. The best results were achieved with the [(R,R)-TsDPEN–Ru^IIHCO₂H–Et₃N] catalytic system, which produced the ferrocenylalcohols (R)-2a, (R)-2c, and (R)-2d in good yields and excellent enantiomeric excesses (>98% ee).     

Extraordinary chiral discrimination in inclusion gas chromatography. Thermodynamics of enantioselectivity between a racemic perfluorodiether and a modified γ-cyclodextrin

The enantiomers of the perfluorodiether “compound B” [2-(fluoromethoxy)-3-methoxy-1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane], a decomposition product of the inhalational anesthetic sevoflurane [2-(fluoromethoxy)-1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoropropane], were separated by gas chromatography on octakis(3-O-butanoyl-2,6-di-O-n-pentyl)-γ-cyclodextrin (Lipodex E), dissolved in polysiloxane PS 255 (30% w/w), with an unexpectedly high separation factor of =10.6 at 26 °C. Using the concept of the retention increment R′, non-enantioselective and enantioselective contributions to retention were separated and thus reliable thermodynamic parameters of enantioselectivity, i.e. −Δ_S,R(ΔG)=5.7 (0.05) kJ/mol at 303 K, −Δ_S,R(ΔH)=20.1 (0.64) kJ/mol, Δ_S,R(ΔS)=−47.4 (2.0) J/K mol and T_isoenant=424 (30) K or 150 °C, were determined by temperature-dependent measurements. The enantiomeric bias represents the largest values ever measured in enantioselective gas chromatography. An equation is presented which allows calculation of the non-enantioselective contributions to retention from measurements at two arbitrary concentrations of Lipodex E in polysiloxane. Surprisingly, the enantioselectivity is greatly reduced when employing the β-cyclodextrin analogue and breaks down completely with the -cyclodextrin analogue of Lipodex E.     

Total asymmetric syntheses of 3- and 4-deoxy-hexoses and derivatives

(1S,4S)-7-Oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-one ((−)-5, a “naked sugar”) has been converted to (−)-(1R,4S,6S)-6-endo-benzyloxy-2-bromo-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene ((−)-12) in a highly stereoselective fashion. Double hydroxylation of the C=C double bond of (−)-12, followed by acetylation and Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of the resulting -acetoxyketone (−)-14 afforded (−)-5-O-acetyl-2-O-benzyl-3-deoxy-β-D-arabino-hexofuranurono-6,1-lactone ((−)-15). This compound was converted readily into (+)-methyl 3-deoxy--D-arabino-hexofuranoside ((+)-6 and (+)-methyl 3-deoxy-β-L-xylo-hexofuranoside ((+)-7) and partially protected derivatives. (−)-15 was also converted into 4-deoxy-D-lyxo-hexopyranose (34) and several partially protected derivatives such as (+)-methyl 4-deoxy-2,3-O-isopropylidene--D-lyxo-hexopyranoside ((+)-8).     

Chiral Non-racemic Bis(vicinal 1,2-Diamines): 4,5-Diamino-N-(3,4-diaminobutyl)pentanamide Tetrahydrochloride, N,N′-Bis[3,4-bis (t-butoxycarbonylamino)butyl]urea and N,N′Bis

The reaction of (R) or (S)-N⁴,N⁵-bis(t-butoxycarbonyl)-4,5-diaminopentanoic acid (6) with (R) or (S)-N³,N⁴-bis(t-butoxycarbonyl)-3,4-diaminobutylisocyanate (8) catalyzed by 4-dimethylamino pyridine (DMAP), leads to the synthesis of (R,R), (S,S), (R,S) and (S,R) isomeric amides (11 a — d) The addition of adipic acid monomethyl ester to (R) or (S) isocyanate, followed by saponification, acidification and subsequent reaction with the second molecule of (R) or (S) isocyanate allows isolation of the (R,R), (S.S) and the meso isomers of N,N′-bis[3,4-bis(t-butoxycarbonylamino) butyl]hexanediamide (17) Removal of protecting groups with HCl/EtOH affords chiral non-racemic molecules having two free vicinal diamine units.     

Dynamic behaviour and X-ray analysis of chiral η-allylpalladium complexes. II

The DANTE technique and NOESY two-dimensional method have been employed to observe the isomerization of the chiral cationic complex [Pd(η³-CH₂CMeCH₂(P-P′)]⁺ (1a), where P-P′ = the chiral chelating ligand (S)(N-diphenylphosphino)(2-diphenylphosphinoxymethyl)pyrrolidine. The rate constant was found to be 0.5 s⁻¹ in CHCl₃ at 295 K and 1.50 s⁻¹ in the presence of added free ligand. In the latter case the epimerization proceeds by a π-σ-π mechanism via the intermediacy of a primary η¹-allylpalladium complex. Although the intermediate was not detected, the NMR findings reveal that it has the allylic terminus η¹-bonded to palladium. The structure of 1a in its PF₆⁻ salt has been determined. The compound crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group P2₁2₁2₁ with a 10.029(4) b 19.203(8) c 36.115(6) Å, Z = 8, R = 0.0572 and R_w = 0.0712 for 3716 observed reflections with I > 3σ(I).     

Total, asymmetric synthesis of (1r-1-c-(6′-amino-7′h-purin-8′-yl)-1,4-anhydro-3-azido-2,3-dideoxy-d-erythro-pentitol.

The “naked sugar” (+)-(1R,2R,4R)-2-cyano-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-exo-yl acetate ((+)-3) was converted in ten synthetic steps into the new C-nucleoside (1R)-1-C-(6′-amino-7′H-purin-8′-yl)-1,4-anhydro-3-azido-2,3-dideoxy- D-erythro-pentitol ((+)-2) in 19% overall yield.     

Crystal structure of Fe(η-C5H5BCMe3)2 a “problem structure”

The complex Fe(η⁶-C₅H₅CMe₃)₂ crystallizes in the centrosymmetric triclinic space group P (C_i¹; No. 2) with unit cell dimensions of a 8.770(1) Å, b 8.878(1) Å, c 11.991(1) Å, 107.56(1)°, β 90.85(1)°, γ 90.13(1)°, V 890.0(2) ų and Z = 2. A full sphere of data was collected on a four-circle diffractometer. The structure was solved and refined to R 7.93% for all 3155 independent reflections and R 4.98% for those 2002 data with | F₀ | > 6σ. | F₀ |. The molecules lie on crystallographic inversion centers at 0, 0, 0 and 1/2, 0, 1/2; the crystallographic asymmetric unit therefore consists of two independent half molecules. The molecule centered at 0, 0, 0 (molecule “A”) is ordered and well-defined; that centered on 1/2, 0, 1/2 (molecule “B”)is probably disordered, as indicated by larger “thermal parameters” and a greater range of apparent interatomic distances. Discussion em phasizes the geometry of molecule A, which has precise C_i symmetry with Fe(1A)-B(1A) 2.297(4) Å and Fe(1A)-C(ring) distances ranging from 2.057(6) Å to 2.138(4) Å.     

Synthesis and olfactory properties of (−)-(1R,2S)-Georgywood

The enantiomers of Georgywood^® were synthesized from (E)-2-methyl-6-methylene-nona-2,7-diene and methacrylaldehyde followed by oxidation of the Diels–Alder adduct and classical racemate separation of the acid with optically-active N-methylephedrine. Conversion to the final ketone and olfactory evaluation showed that the (−)-(1R,2S)-enantiomer is more powerful by a factor of >100 than its antipode. The absolute configuration was determined by conformational studies and CD-analysis.     

Syntheses and absolute configurations of the cytokinins 1′-methylzeatin and its 9-riboside

On the basis of the chiral syntheses of (1′R)-I and (1′S)-I and of their 9-ribosides (1″R)-III and (1″S)-III from D- and L-alanines, the structures of the cytokinins 1′-methylzeatin and its 9-riboside have been established to be (1′R)-I and (1″R)-III.     

Synthesis of (+)-carpamic acid from (+)-alanine

(+)-Carpamic acid [(2′R,5′S,6′S)-8-(5′-hydroxy-6′-methylpiperidin-2′-yl)octanoic acid, 1] was synthesized from (S)-alanine, employing intramolecular and reductive amination of acyclic amino ketone 8 as the key step to generate the piperidine ring.     

Polyhydroxylated pyrrolizidines. Part 3: A new and short enantiospecific synthesis of (+)-hyacinthacine A2

(1R,2R,3R,7aR)-1,2-Dihydroxy-3-hydroxymethylpyrrolizidine (+)-Hyacinthacine A₂ 1 has been synthesized by Wittig's methodology using [(2′S,3′R,4′R,5′R)-3′,4′-dibenzyloxy-N-tert-butyloxycarbonyl-5′-tert-butyldiphenylsilyloxymethylpyrrolidin-2′-yl]carbaldehyde 3, prepared from a partially protected DMDP 2, and the appropriated ylide, followed by cyclization by an internal reductive amination process of the resulting unsaturated aldehyde 4 and total deprotection.     

On “vapour---liquid” phase equilibrium in a finite system

A system of a finite number of particles (atoms, molecules) is considered under the condition N. T. V. = const. A “one drop-vapour” approximation is proposed, adapting the Mayer cluster-expansion formalism to describe the heterogeneous equilibrium state of the system. The mean cluster size distribution function obtained is compared with computer simulation results by Rao, Berne and Kalos and shows quite good agreement. The difficulties of applying the Boltzmann entropy hypothesis to the heterogenous (i.e. bistable) state of the system are discussed.     

New chiral P-ligands: P-amino- and P-cycloalkoxy dibenzo[c.e][1,2]oxaphosphorines

The reaction of racemic chloro-dibenzo[c.e][1,2]oxaphosphorine with (S)-(−)--methyl-benzylamine and (1R,2S,5R)-(−)-menthol led to a mixture of optically active diastereomers of the corresponding phosphonous derivatives. The isomers were separated in a diastereomeric excess of 71–93% at the phosphonic oxide and/or at the phosphonous borane stage. The P(III) boranes are suitable precursors of the P-ligands. The absolute P-configuration in one of the menthyl phosphonates isolated was determined by single crystal X-ray analysis.     

Conformational and structural analysis of N-N′-bis(4-methoxybenzylidene)ethylenediamine

The Schiff base compound, N-N′-bis(4-methoxybenzylidene)ethylenediamine (C₁₈H₂₀N₂O₂) has been synthesized and its crystal structure has been investigated by X-ray analysis and PM3 method. The compound crystallizes in monoclinic space group P2₁/n with a=10.190(1), b=7.954(1), c=10.636(1) Å, β=111.68(1)°, V=801.1(1) ų, Z=2 and D_cal=1.229 Mgm⁻³. The title structure was solved by direct methods and refined to R=0.056 for 2414 reflections [I>3.0σ(I)] by full-matrix anisotropic least-squares methods. The energy profile of the compound was calculated by PM3 method as a function of θ[N1′–C9′–C9–N1]. The most stable molecular structure of the title compound is the anti conformation, which is different in energy by 5.0 and 1.0 kcal mol⁻¹ from the eclipsed conformation I and gauche conformations, (III and V), respectively.