Synthesis and characterization of model compounds for carbazole-substituted N-acylated linear polyethylenimine (PEI). Synthesis and 1H-NMR spectra of N-acylated diethylamine and N,N′-dimethyl-1,2-ethanediamine containing 9-carbazolylacetyl, (R,S)- or (R)-2-(9-carbazolyl)propanoyl groups

The synthesis of N,N-diethyl-9-carbazolylacetamide ( 6 ), (R,S)- and (R)-N,N-diethyl-2-(9-carbazolyl)propanamide ( 7 ), N,N′-dimethyl-N,N′-di-(9-carbazolylacetyl)-1,2-ethanediamine ( 11 ), and (R)-N,N′-dimethyl-N,N′-di[2-(9-carbazolyl)propanoyl]-1,2-ethanediamine ( 13 ) is reported. The racemic compound, (R,S)-2-(9-carbazolyl)propanoic acid ( 2 ), was resolved by partial crystallization of the diastereomeric salts formed between 2 and (+)-α-methylbenzylamine. The ¹H-NMR spectra of 6 and 7 showed magnetic nonequivalence of the chemically equivalent protons of the methyl and methylene groups in 6 and 7 due to partial double bond character of the amide bond. The upfield resonances corresponding to the two sets of methyl and methylene protons were assigned by the aromatic solvent-induced shift (ASIS) method to the protons anti to the carbonyl oxygen in the conformation of amide bond in 6 and 7 . The ¹H-NMR spectra of 11 and (R)- 13 were used to determine the population of anti-anti, anti-syn (syn-anti) and syn-syn conformers in the structures of these dimer model compounds; the relative conformer populations were 0.45:0.47:0.08 and 0.28±0.02:0.29±0.01:0.43±0.01 in 11 and (R)- 13 .     

Breaking the Mirror: pH‐Controlled Chirality Generation from a meso Ligand to a Racemic Ligand

To study the conversion from a meso form to a racemic form of tetrahydrofurantetracarboxylic acid (H₄L), seven novel coordination polymers were synthesized by the hydrothermal reaction of Zn(NO₃)₂ ? 6 H₂O with (2S,3S,4R,5R)‐H₄L in the presence of 1,10‐phenanthroline (phen), 2,2′‐bipyridine (2,2′‐bpy), or 4,4′‐bipyridine (4,4′‐bpy): [Zn₂{(2S,3S,4R,5R)‐L}(phen)₂(H₂O)] ? 2 H₂O ( 1 ), [Zn₄{(2S,3R,4R,5R)‐L}{(2S,3S,4S,5R)‐L}(phen)₂(H₂O)₂] ( 2 ), [Zn₂{(2S,3S,4R,5R)‐L}(H₂O)₂] ? H₂O ( 3 ), [Zn₄{(2S,3R,4R,5R)‐L}{(2S,3S,4S,5R)‐L} (2,2′‐bpy)₂(H₂O)₂] ? 2 H₂O ( 4 ), [Zn₂ {(2S,3S,4R,5R)‐L}(2,2′‐bpy)(H₂O)] ( 5 ), [Zn₄{(2S,3R,4R,5R)‐L}{(2S,3S,4S,5R)‐L} (4,4′‐bpy)₂(H₂O)₂] ( 6 ), and [Zn₂ {(2S,3S,4R,5R)‐L}(4,4′‐bpy)(H₂O)] ? 2 H₂O ( 7 ). These complexes were obtained by control of the pH values of reaction mixtures, with an initial of pH 2.0 for 1 , 2.5 for 2 , 4 , and 6 , and 4.5 for 3 , 5 , and 7 , respectively. The expected configuration conversion has been successfully realized during the formation of 2 , 4 , and 6 , and the enantiomers of L, (2S,3R,4R,5R)‐L and (2S,3S,4S,5R)‐L, are trapped in them, whereas L ligands in the other four complexes retain the original meso form, which indicates that such a conversion is possibly pH controlled. Acid‐catalyzed enol–keto tautomerism has been introduced to explain the mechanism of this conversion. Complex 1 features a simple 1D metal–L chain that is extended into a 3D supramolecular structure by π–π packing interactions between phen ligands and hydrogen bonds. Complex 2 has 2D racemic layers that consist of centrosymmetric bimetallic units, and a final 3D supramolecular framework is formed by the interlinking of these layers through π–π packing interactions of phen. Complex 3 is a 3D metal–organic framework (MOF) involving meso‐L ligands, which can be regarded as (4,6)‐connected nets with vertex symbol (4⁵.6)(4⁷.6⁸). Complexes 4 and 5 contain 2D racemic layers and (6,3)‐honeycomb layers, respectively, both of which are combined into 3D supramolecular structures through π–π packing interactions of 2,2′‐bpy. The structure of complex 6 is a 2D network formed by 4,4′‐bpy bridging 1D tubes, which consist of metal atoms and enantiomers of L. These layers are connected through hydrogen bonds to give the final 3D porous supramolecular framework of 6 . Complex 7 is a 3D MOF with novel (3,4,5)‐connected (6³)(4².6⁴)(4².6⁶.8²) topology. The thermal stability of these compounds was also investigated.     

Photochemische Umsetzung von optisch aktiven 2-(1′-Methylallyl)anilinen mit Methanol

Photochemical Reaction of Optically Active 2-(1′-Methylallyl)anilines with Methanol It is shown that (?)-(S)-2-(1′-methylallyl)aniline ((?)-(S)- 4 ) on irradiation in methanol yields (?)-(2S, 3R)-2, 3-dimethylindoline ((?)-trans- 8 ), (?)-(1′R, 2′R)-2-(2′-methoxy-1′-methylpropyl)aniline ((?)-erythro- 9 ) as well as racemic (1′RS, 2′SR)-2-(2′-methoxy-1′-methylpropyl) aniline ((±)-threo- 9 ) in 27.1, 36.4 and 15.7% yield, respectively (see Scheme 3). By deamination and chemical correlation with (+)-(2R, 3R)-3-phenyl-2-butanol ((+)-erythro- 13 ; see Scheme 4) it was found that (?)-erythro- 9 has the same absolute configuration and optical purity as the starting material (?)-(S)- 4 . Comparable results are obtained when (?)-(S)-N-methyl-2-(1′-methylallyl)aniline ((?)-(S)- 7 ) is irradiated in methanol, i.e. the optically active indoline (+)-trans- 10 and the methanol addition product (?)-erythro- 11 along with its racemic threo-isomer are formed (cf. Scheme 3). These findings demonstrate that the methanol addition products arise from stereospecific, methanol-induced ring opening of intermediate, chiral trans, -(→(?)-erythro-compounds) and achiral cis-spiro [2.5]octa-4,6-dien-8-imines (→(±)-threo-compounds; see Schemes 1 and 2).     

Chemical shift assignments in N,N-disubstituted trifluoroacetamides

Due to hindered rotation about the central C? N bond in N,N-disubstituted trifluoroacetamides, CF₃CONR₁R₂, two resonance peaks are usually observed for each proton in R₁ and R₂. Chemical shift assignments are made for the following amides: 1 , R₁ = R₂ = Me; 2 , R₁ = R₂ = Et; 3 , R₁ = Me, R₂ = 2-Propyl; 4 , R₁ = Me, R₂ = 1-Butyl; 5 , R₁ = Me, R₂ = Cyclohexyl; 6 , R₁ = R₂ = 2-Propyl; 7 , R₁ = 2-Propyl, R₂ = Cyclohexyl. Amides 6 and 7 show an inversion of the relative chemical shift for both the methine and methyl protons of the 2-propyl group as compared with 3 . For non-fluorinated amides, aromatic solvents shift the trans alkyl peaks to higher field faster than those cis (to the carbonyl oxygen atom); however, this generalization does not apply to all trifluoroacetamide proton peaks.     

Synthesis and Stereochemistry of (1S,3S,4S,7R11R)-3-(4-Nitrophenyl)-11-aza-2,6-dioxatricyclo[5,3,1,04,11]undecane

The reaction of (1S,2S)-2-amino-1-(4-nitrophenyl)-1,3-propanediol with glutaraldehyde has been studied. It has been established on the basis of AM1 and PM3 calculations and ¹H NMR spectra recorded in the presence of the shift reagent Eu(fod)₃ that (1S,3S,4S,7R,11R)-3-(4-nitrophenyl)-11-aza-2,6-dioxatricyclo[5,3,1,0^4,11]undecane is formed as the result of the reaction.     

Stereoselektive Totalsynthese von natürlichem Phytol und Phytolderivaten und deren Verwendung zur Herstellung von natürlichem Vitamin K1

Steroselective Total Synthesis of Natural Phytol and Derivatives thereof; Use of these Compounds in the Synthesis of Natural Vitamin K₁ The Li₂CuCl₄-catalyzed couplings of the easily accessible bifunctional C₅ allylic acetates (E)- 18a and (E)- 18b with racemic hexahydrofarnesylmagnesium bromide ((3 RS/RS, 7 RS/SR)- 19a ) proceed with high chemo- and stereoselectivity (≥98% (E)-retention) to give the (2E, 7 RS/RS, 11 RS/SR)-phytol derivatives 1a and 1b , respectively, in yields of 72–80% (Scheme 5). The same couplings performed with optically active hexahydrofarnesylmagnesium bromide (3 R, 7 R)- 19a yielded the (E)-phytol derivatives of the natural series (7 R, 11R)- 1a and (7 R, 11 R)- 1b. Acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of(2 E, 7 R, 11 R)- 1b gave natural phytol((2 E, 7 R, 11 R)- 1c ) Friedel-Crafts alkylation of ‘menadiol monobenzoate’ 11b with (2 E, 7 R, 11 R)- 1a or (2 E, 7 R, 11 R)- 1b gave the dihydrovitamine K₁ derivative (2 E/Z, 7′ R, 11′R)- 12b ((E/Z)≈? 9:l). Conversion of configurationally pure (2 E, 7′ R, 11′ R)- 12b (yield 73%; obtained after chromatographic removal of the (Z)-isomer) into natural vitamine K₁ ((2 E,7′ R, 11′ R)- 2 ) was achieved in the usual way by saponification and oxidation with air. Some further investigations of the coupling reactions of bifunctional C₅ allylic synthons with hexahydrofarnesylmagnesium bromide (3 RS/RS, 7 RS/SR)- 19a showed the outcome of these reactions to be critically dependent on the nature of the leaving group, the double-bond geometry and the nature and concentration of the catalyst. Thus, the Li₂CuCl₄-catalyzed couplings of (3 RS/RS,7 RS/SR)- 19a with the allylic halides 29a and 29c as well as with p-toluenesulfonate 29b yielded besides the phytol derivatives 1a and 1b - also the S_N2′-type products 30a and 30b (Scheme 8, Table 2); the same result was found for the coupling with the cis-configurated allylic acetates (Z)- 18a and (Z)- 18b (Table 3). A similar loss of chemo selectivity as well as the loss of stereoselectivity in the coupling reactions of 19 with the bifunctional (E)-olefins of type 18 was observed when the Li₂CuCl₄-catalyst concentration was increased from 0.2 to 25 mol-% or upon substitution of Li₂CuCl₄ by copper (I) chloride or iodide (Table 4).     

Bestimmung des Chiralitätssinns der enantiomeren 2,6-Adamantandiole

Determination of the Chirality Sense of the Enantiomeric 2,6-Adamantanediols The enantiomers of 2,6-adamantanediol ( 1 ) are resolved via the diastereoisomeric camphanoates. The (2R,6R)-chirality sense for (?)- 1 and (2S,6S) for (+)- 1 was determined by chemical correlation with (?)-(1R,5R)-bicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-2,6-dion ((1R,5R)- 3 ) of known absolute configuration in the following way: alkylation of the bis(pyrrolidine enamine) of (?)-(1R,5R)- 3 with CD₂I₂ and hydrolysis of the product gives the enantiomer 4 of (4,4-D₂)-2,6-adamantanedione. Reduction of 4 with LiAlH₄ leads to one enantiomer (Scheme 2) of each of the three diols 5 – 7 of known absolute configuration. The three diols are themselves configurational isomers due to the presence of the CD₂ group, but correspond otherwise entirely to the enantiomeric diols 1 . Accordingly, they can also be separated by means of their diastereoisomeric camphanoates to give the diols 5 / 6 and 7 . These samples are easily distinguished and identified by their characteristic ¹H-NMR spectra (cf. Fig. 2). This allows to identify the (2R,6R)- and (2S,6S)-enantiomer of 1 on the basis of their behavior in the resolution experiment analogous to that of the diols 5 / 6 and 7 , respectively. The diol (?)- 1 must have the (2R,6R)-configuration because it forms, like the diols 5 / 6 , with (?)-camphanic acid the diastereoisomeric ester less soluble in benzene. The diol (+)- 1 has (2S,6S)-configuration, because it forms, like 7 , with (+)-camphanic acid the diastereoisomeric ester less soluble in benzene. The bis(4-methoxybenzoate) of (?)-(2R,6R)- 1 shows chiroptical properties which are in accordance with Nakanishi's rule for two chromophores having coupled electric dipol transition moments arranged with a left-handed torsion angle.     

1H-NMR.-spektroskopische Bestimmung der Enantiomerenreinheit von Allencarbonsäureestern mit optisch aktiven Europium-Verschiebungsreagenzien

¹H-NMR. Spectroscopic Determination of Enantiomeric Purities of Allenic Esters Using Optically Active Europium Shift Reagents The racemic allenic methyl esters 3--7 and the racemic allenic diesters 8--10 (cf. Scheme 2) in 1,1,2-trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane (TCFE) and CCl₄ in the presence of optically active tris[3-(heptafluorobutyryl)-(+)-camphorato]europium(III) (Eu(hfc)₃) have induced unlike ¹H-NMR. shift differences (ΔΔδ) for the protons of the methoxycarbonyl groups of their enantiomers. In some allenic esters the shift reagent causes additional separation of resonance signals; thus, further substituents on the allenic framework may be differentiated in the racemic mixture. This finding provides a widely applicable method for the determination of absolute enantiomeric purities of allenic esters and their corresponding acids. Accordingly we found for optically pure (+)-(S)-2-methyl-2,3-pentadienoic acid ((+)-(S)- 13 ; cf. Fig. 2) a calculated [α] value of + 73.3 ± 1.8°. Finally, the substituent effects on ΔΔδ-values (cf. Table 1--3) are discussed.     

The Diastereoselective Formation of 1,2,4-Trioxanes and 1,3-Dioxolanes by the reaction of endoperoxides with chiral cyclohexanones

1,4-Diphenyl-2,3-dioxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene ( 2 ), on treatment with a catalytic amount of trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate (Me₃SiOTf) in CH₂Cl₂ at ?78°, reacts with excess (?)-menthone ( 10 ) to give (1S,2S,4′aS,5R,7′aS)-4′a,7′a-dihydro-2-isopropyl-5-methyl-6′,7′-diphenylspiro[cyclohexane-1,3′-[7′H]cyclopenta-[1,2,4]trioxine] ( 11 ) and its (1R,2S,4′aR,5R,7′aR)-diastereoisomer 12 in a 1:1 ratio and in 21% yield. Repeating the reaction with 1.1 equiv. of Me₃SiOTf with respect to 2 affords 11 , 12 , and (1S,2S,3′a.R,5R,6′aS)-3′a,6′a-dihydro-2-isopropyl-5-methyl-3′a-phenoxy-5′-phenylspiro[cyclohexane-l,2′-[4′H]cyclopenta[1,3]dioxole] ( 13 ) together with its(1R,2S,3′aS,5R,6′aR)-diastereoisomer 14 in a ratio of 3:3:3:1 and in 56% yield. (+)-Nopinone( 15 ) in excess reacts with 2 in the presence of 1.1 equiv. of Me₃SiOTf to give a pair of 1,2,4-trioxanes ( 16 and 17 ) analogous to 11 and 12 , and a pair of 1,3-dioxolanes ( 18 and 19 ) analogous to 13 and 14 , in a ratio of 8:2:3:3 and in 85% yield. (?)-Carvone and racemic 2-(tert-butyl)cyclohexanone under the same conditions behave like 15 and deliver pairs of diastereoisomeric trioxanes and dioxolanes. In general, catalytic amounts of Me₃SiOTf give rise to trioxanes, whereas 1.5 equiv. overwhelmingly engender dioxolanes. Adamantan-2-one combines with 2 giving only (4′aRS,7′aRS)-4′a,7′a-dihydro-6′.7′a-diphenylspiro[adamantane-2,3′-[7′H]cyclopenta[1,2,4]trioxine] in 98% yield regardless of the amount of Me3SiOTf used. The reaction of 1,4-dipheny 1-2,3-dioxabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-5-ene ( 32 ) with 10 and 1.1 equiv. of Me3SiOTf produces only the pair of trioxanes 33 and 34 homologous to 11 and 12 . Treatment of the (S,S)-diastereoisomer 33 with Zn and AcOH furnishes (1S,2S)-1,4-diphenylcyclohex-3-ene-1,2-diol. The crystal structures of 11 – 13 and 16 are obtained by X-ray analysis. The reaction courses of 10 and the other chiral cyclohexanones with prochiral endoperoxides 2 and 32 to give trioxanes are rationalized in terms of the respective enantiomeric silylperoxy cations which are completely differentiated by the si and re faces of the ketone function. The origin of the 1,3-dioxolanes is ascribed to 1,2 rearrangement of the corresponding trioxanes, which occurs with retention of configuration of the angular substituent.     

Synthesis of (+)-1,3:2,5-dianhydroviburnitol ((+)-(1R,2R,3S,5R,6S)-4,7-dioxatricyclo[3.2.1.03,6]octan-2-ol)

Epoxidation of (?)-(1R,2R,4R)-2-endo-cyano-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-exo-yl acetate ((?)-5) followed by saponification afforded (+)-(1R,4R,5R,6R)-5,6-exo-epoxy-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-one ((+)-7). Reduction of (+)-7 with diisobutylaluminium hydride (DIBAH) gave (+)-1,3:2,5-dianhydroviburnitol ( = (+)-(1R,2R,3S,4R,6S)-4,7-dioxatricyclo[3.2.1.0^3,6]octan-2-ol; (+)-3). Hydride reductions of (±)-7 were less exo-face selective than reductions of bicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-one and its derivatives with NaBH₄, AlH₃, and LiAlH₄ probably because of smaller steric hindrance to endo-face hydride attack when C(5) and C(6) of the bicyclo-[2.2.1]heptan-2-one are part of an exo oxirane ring.     

Synthesis of 4-[(1<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>,4<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>)-3-Oxo-<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-menthan-2-ylidenemethyl]benzoic Acid and Its Esters

Carbonylation of (E)-2-(4-halobenzylidene)-p-menthan-3-ones, catalyzed by PdCl₂(PPh₃)₂, gave a distereometric mixure of 4-[(1R,4R)- and (1R,4S)-3-oxo-p-menthan-2-ylidenemethyl]benzoic acids, whose reaction with phenols gave 1R,4R diastereomers of the corresponding esters.__________Translated from Zhurnal Obshchei Khimii, Vol. 75, No. 4, 2005, pp. 659–664.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Drushlyak, Kutulya, Pivnenko, Vashchenko.     

Synthesis and Self‐Aggregation of Enantiopure and Racemic Molecular Tweezers Based on the Bicyclo[3.3.1]nonane Framework

A pair of molecular tweezers (syn‐ 4 ) that consists of quinoline and pyrazine units fused to a bicyclic framework is presented. The tweezers were synthesised both as a racemic mixture (rac‐ 4 ) and an enantiomerically pure form ((R,R,R,R)‐ 4 ) starting from either racemic or enantiomerically pure bicyclo[3.3.1]nonane‐2,6‐dione ( 3 ). Homochiral dimers were observed in the solid state for rac‐ 4 . The self‐association of both rac‐ 4 and (R,R,R,R)‐ 4 was studied in solution. A weak self‐association constant in CDCl₃ was estimated by ¹H NMR spectroscopic dilution titration experiments in both cases, following several proton resonances. For this purpose, a general normalisation model for the accurate determination of association constants from multiple datasets was developed. In contrast to the solid state, no diastereomeric discrimination was observed for rac‐ 4 in solution.     

Chemo- and Stereoselective Coordination of 5,6-Dimethylidene-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene by d8- and d6-Metal Carbonyls. Diels-Alder reactivity of Dienes Perturbed by Remote Olefin Complexation

The endocyclic double bond C(2), C(3) in 5,6-dimethylidene-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]-hept-2-ene ( 1 ) can he coordinated selectively on its exo-face before complexation of the exocyclic s-cis-butadiene moiety. Irradiation of Ru₃(CO)₁₂ or Os₃(CO)₁₂ in the presence of 1 gave tetracarbonyl [(1R,2R, 3S,4S)-2,3-η-(5,6-dimethylidene-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]-hept-2-ene)]ruthenium ( 6 ) or -osmium ( 8 ). Similarly, irradiation of Cr(CO)₆ or W(CO)₆ in the presence of 1 gave pentacarbonyl[(1R, 2R, 3S,4S)-2,3-η-(5,6-dimethylidene-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene)]chromium (10) or -tungsten (11) . Irradiation of complexes 6 and 11 in the presence of 1 led to further CO substitution giving bed-tricarbonyl-ae-bis[(1R,2R,3S,4S)-2,3-η-(5,6-dimethylidene-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene)]ruthenium ( 7 ) and trans-tetracarbonyl[(1R,2R,3S,4S)-2,3-η-(5,6-dimethylidene-7-oxabicyclo-[2.2.1]hept-2-ene)]tungsten (12) , respectively. The diosmacyclobutane derivative cis-m?-[(1R,3R,3S,4S)-(5,6-dimethylidene-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hepta-2,3-diyl)]bis(tetracarbonyl-osmium) (Os-Os) (9) wa also obtained. The Diels-Alder reactivity of the exocyclic s-cis-butadiene moiety in complexs 7 and 8 was found to be significantly higher than that of the free triene 1 .     

Concomitant polymorphism in the stereoselective synthesis of a β‐benzyl‐β‐hydroxyaspartate analogue

Two concomitant polymorphs, (I) and (II), of a β‐benzyl‐β‐hydroxyaspartate analogue [systematic name: dibenzyl 2‐benzyl‐2‐hydroxy‐3‐(4‐methylphenylsulfonamido)succinate], C₃₂H₃₁NO₇S, crystallize from a mixture of ethyl acetate and cyclohexane at ambient temperature. The structure of (I) has triclinic (P) symmetry and that of (II) monoclinic (P2₁/c) symmetry. Both crystal structures are made up of a stacking of homochiral racemic dimers (2S,3S and 2R,3R) which are internally connected by a similar R₂²(9) hydrogen‐bonding pattern consisting of intermolecular N—H...O and O—H...O hydrogen bonds. The centroid of the racemic dimer lies on an inversion centre. The main structural difference between the two polymorphs is the conformational orientation of two of the four aromatic rings present in the molecule. Polymorph (II) is found to be twinned by reticular merohedry with twin index 3 and twin fractions 0.854 (1) and 0.146 (1).     

Triphenylethanediol-Derived 2-Chloro-1,3,2- dioxaphospholane: Synthesis,Structure, and Reaction with Chiral Alcohols

The reaction of (S)-1,1,2-triphenylethanediol (3) with phosphorus trichloride leads to the diastereoselective formation of (S _C,R _P)-2-chloro-1,3,2-dioxaphospholane (2). Its configuration has been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. When reacted with racemic secondary alcohols, diastereomeric phosphites are obtained, which display substantial shift differences in the ³¹P NMR spectra. Thus, chlorodioxaphospholane 2 can serve as derivatizing reagent for chiral secondary alcohols permitting to determine their enantiomeric excess.     

Chemoenzymatic synthesis of enantiopure geminally dimethylated cyclopropane-based C2- and pseudo-C2-symmetric diamines

Enantiopure (−)-(1S,3S)-2,2-dimethyl-3-(2-methylprop-1-enyl)cyclopropanecarboxamide 2 and (+)-(1R,3R)-2,2-dimethyl-3-(2-methylprop-1-enyl)cyclopropanecarboxylic acid 3 were easily obtained from a multigram scale biotransformation of racemic amide or nitrile in the presence of Rhodococcus erythropolis AJ270 whole cell catalyst under very mild conditions. Coupled with efficient and convenient chemical manipulations, comprising mainly of the Curtius rearrangement, oxidation, and reduction reactions, chiral C₂-symmetric (1S,2S)-3,3-dimethylcyclopropane-1,2-diamine 6 and ((1R,3R)-3-(aminomethyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropyl)methanamine 8 and pseudo-C₂-symmetric (1S,3S)-3-(aminomethyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanamine 11 were prepared. These were also transformed into the corresponding chiral salen derivatives 12, 13, and 14, respectively, in almost quantitative yields.     

Synthesis and crystal structures of halogenated oxathiazolones and an unexpected propanamide

The known 1,3,4-oxathiazol-2-ones with crystal structures reported in the Cambridge Structural Database are limited (13 to date) and this article expands the library to 15. In addition, convenient starting materials for the future exploration of 1,3,4-oxathiazol-2-ones are detailed. An unexpected halogenated propanamide has also been identified as a by-product of one reaction, presumably reacting with HCl generated in situ. The space group of 5-[(E)-2-chloroethenyl]-1,3,4-oxathiazol-2-one, C₄H₂ClNO₂S, ( 1 ), is P2₁, with a high Z′ value of 6; the space group of rac-2,3-dibromo-3-chloropropanamide, C₃H₄Br₂ClNO, ( 2 ), is P2₁, with Z′ = 4; and the structure of rac-5-(1,2-dibromo-2-phenylethyl)-1,3,4-oxathiazol-2-one, C₁₀H₇Br₂NO₂S, ( 3 ), crystallizes in the space group Pca2₁, with Z′ = 1. Both of the structures of compounds 2 and 3 are modeled with two-component disorder and each molecular site hosts both of the enantiomers of the racemic pairs (S,S)/(R,R) and (R,S)/(S,R), respectively.     

Sarcodictyin A and Sarcodictyin B,Novel Diterpenoidic Alcohols Esterified by (E)-N(1)-Methylurocanic Acid. Isolation from the Mediterranean Stolonifer Sarcodictyon roseum

The Mediterranean stolonifer Sarcodictyon roseum (= Rolandia rosea) (Cnidaria, Anthozoa, Alcyonaria, Stolonifera, Clavulariidae) is shown to contain two novel diterpenoidic alcohols esterified by (E)-N(1)-methyl-urocanic acid (= E)-3-(l-methyl-lH-imidazol-4-yl)acrylic acid). They are sarcodictyin A ( = (?)-(4R,4a,R, 7R,10S,11S,12aR,lZ,5E,8Z)-7,10-epoxy-3,4,4a,7,10,11,12,12a-octahydro-7-hydroxy-6-(methoxycarbonyl)-1,10-dimethyl-4-(1-methylethyl)benzocyclodecen-11-yl (E)-3-(1-methyl-lH-imidazol-4-yl)acrylate; (?)- 1 ) and sarco-dictyin B (the 6-(ethoxycarbonyl analogue; (?)- 2 ). The assignment of the structures is mainly based on 1D- and 2D-NMR data, as well as on chemical transformations of (?)- 1 , such as transesterification with MeONa/MeOH giving methyl (E)-N(1)-methylurocanate ( 3 ) and the free alcohol (+)- 4 and reduction with LiAlH₄ followed by benzoylation giving dibenzoate 7. Absolute configurations are based on Horeau's method of esterification of (+)- 4 .     

A chemo-enzymatic route to diastereoisomers of 2-methyl-1-phenyl-1,3-butanediol: the dual role of microorganisms

Diastereoisomers (1S,2R,3S)-, (1R,2R,3S)-, (1R,2S,3S)- and (1S,2S,3S)-2-methyl-1-phenyl-1,3-butanediols were prepared by simple and convenient strategies using two different chemo-enzymatic approaches for the reduction of racemic 2-methyl-1-phenyl-1,3-butanedione, both involving in situ racemization. The first method comprised a one-pot microbial reduction coupled with a chemical reduction, while in the second method, stepwise chemo-enzymatic reductions were performed.     

Synthesis of Enantiomerically Pure Pheromones of South-Pacific Brown Algae: Hormosirene and Dictyopterene A

Hormosirene ((?)- 1 ; (1R,2R)-1-((1E,3Z)-1,3-hexadienyl)-2-vinylcyclopropane) is the specific sex attractant of several brown algae of the Australian shelf, while dictyopterene A ((+)- 2 ; (1R, 2R)-1-((1E)-1-hexenyl)-2-vinylcyclopropane) is found as a minor constituent of the pheromone bouquets. The asymmetric synthesis of the two hydrocarbons is performed by resolution of the amides (?)- 5 and (+)- 5a obtained from (?)-(R)-2-phenylglycinol and racemic trans-vinylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid (rac- 4 ) on silica gel. Both diastereoisomers are obtained optically pure. They are converted by stereoselective Wittig olefination into the title compounds. Compound (?)- 1 is the active mating pheromone of the reproductive system of the seaweed Xiphophora chondrophylla as established by biological-activity assays.