Synthesis of enantiomerically pure (S)-(−)-propranolol from sorbitol

Synthesis of enantiomerically pure (S)-(−)-propranolol, the most active optical isomer of the widely used β-Sympatholyticum, was achieved in high optical yield starting from sorbitol, an inexpensive and easily accessible carbohydrate. Via regioselective protection and coupling of -naphthol, the key intermediate 5 was obtained. Deprotection of the intermediate acetals and successive oxidative degradation followed by some simple conversion steps lead to the formation of (S)-(−)-propranolol with high optically purity.     

A simple and practical approach to enantiomerically pure (S)-3-hydroxy-γ-butyrolactone: synthesis of (R)-4-cyano-3-hydroxybutyric acid ethyl ester

The oxidation of α- or β-(1,4) linked disaccharides or oligosaccharides with cumene hydroperoxide in the presence of a base gave (S)-3,4-dihydroxybutyric acid, which was cyclized under acidic conditions to furnish (S)-3-hydroxy-γ-butyrolactone. This was subsequently converted into (R)-cyano-3-hydroxybutyric acid ethyl ester, an intermediate for statin based drugs and other related compounds.     

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.     

Stereospecific substitution of enantiomerically pure 1-(2-pyridinyl)ethyl methanesulfonate with beta-dicarbony compounds

The alkylation of the sodium salt of the malonic acid diester with (R)-1-(2-pyridinyl)ethyl methanesulfonate (2) gave the dimethyl (R)-[1-(2-pyridinyl)ethyl]malonate (3a), stereospecifically. The alkylation reaction of methyl acetoacetate gave the methyl (2'S,2R/2S)-3-oxo-2-[1-(2-pyridinyl)ethyl]butanoate (3d) along with the methyl (S)-3-[1-(2-pyridinyl)ethoxy]-2-butenoate (4d). The acid hydrolysis and decarboxylation of 3d under acidic conditions gave (R)-4-(2-pyridinyl)pentan-2-one (6), and the alkylation of methyl (R)-[1-(2-pyridinyl)ethyl]acetoacetate with benzyl bromide gave a mixture of C-benzylated and O-benzylated products 7 and 8.     

Preparation of enantiomerically pure (R)-2-butyryloxymethylglycidol by lipase-catalyzed asymmetric hydrolysis

Optically active epoxy alcohol, (R)-2-butyryloxymethylglycidol3 which is the precursor of a tert-alcohol chiral building block was obtained in high enantiomeric purity, 98.7% e.e., by lipase-catalyzed asymmetric hydrolysis using a phosphate buffer and organic co-solvent system in 95% of chemical yield.     

Synthesis of ethyl 3-(3-hydroxy-2-thienyl)-3-oxopropanoates

An approach to the synthesis of substituted ethyl 3-(3-hydroxy-2-thienyl)-3-oxopropanoates was developed based on the reaction of ethyl cyanoacetate, carbon disulfide, and ethyl 4-chloroacetoacetate. The reaction regioselectively involved the ester group, rather than the nitrile one like in the case when malononitrile or cyanacetamide were used.     

Kinetics of reduction of tris(4,4,4-trifluoro-1-(2-thienyl)-butane-1,3-dionato)ruthenium(III) in methanol

Reduction of tris(4,4,4-trifluoro-1-(2-thienyl)-butane-1,3-dionato) ruthenium(III) in methanol solution containing potassium hydroxide has been studied kinetically. The results suggest outer-sphere complex formation between ruthenium(III) species and methoxide anion.

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(4,4,4--1-(2-)--1,3)(III) . , -.

     

Synthesis of ethyl 3-oxo-2-(3,4,5-trifluoro-2,6-dimethoxybenzoyl)butyrate

Ethyl acetoacetate was acylated with 3,4,5-trifluoro-2,6-dimethoxybenzoyl chloride to give, for the first time, ethyl 3-oxo-2-(3,4,5-trifluoro-2,6-dimethoxybenzoyl)butyrate and its copper chelate. The title compound was used for the synthesis of 6,7,8-trifluoro-5-hydroxy-2-methylchromone, 1-(3,4,5-trifluoro-2,6-dimethoxyphenyl)butane-1,3-dione, and its copper chelate.     

Enzyme‐Mediated Preparation of (+)‐ and (−)‐β‐Irone and (+)‐ and (−)‐cis‐γ‐Irone from Irone alpha®

The (−)‐ and (+)‐β‐irones ((−)‐ and (+)‐ 2 , resp.), contaminated with ca. 7 – 9% of the (+)‐ and (−)‐trans‐α‐isomer, respectively, were obtained from racemic α‐irone via the 2,6‐trans‐epoxide (±)‐ 4 (Scheme 2). Relevant steps in the sequence were the LiAlH₄ reduction of the latter, to provide the diastereoisomeric‐4,5‐dihydro‐5‐hydroxy‐trans‐α‐irols (±)‐ 6 and (±)‐ 7 , resolved into the enantiomers by lipase‐PS‐mediated acetylation with vinyl acetate. The enantiomerically pure allylic acetate esters (+)‐ and (−)‐ 8 and (+)‐ and (−)‐ 9 , upon treatment with POCl₃/pyridine, were converted to the β‐irol acetate derivatives (+)‐ and (−)‐ 10 , and (+)‐ and (−)‐ 11 , respectively, eventually providing the desired ketones (+)‐ and (−)‐ 2 by base hydrolysis and MnO₂ oxidation. The 2,6‐cis‐epoxide (±)‐ 5 provided the 4,5‐dihydro‐4‐hydroxy‐cis‐α‐irols (±)‐ 13 and (±)‐ 14 in a 3 : 1 mixture with the isomeric 5‐hydroxy derivatives (±)‐ 15 and (±)‐ 16 on hydride treatment (Scheme 1). The POCl₃/pyridine treatment of the enantiomerically pure allylic acetate esters, obtained by enzymic resolution of (±)‐ 13 and (±)‐ 14 , provided enantiomerically pure cis‐α‐irol acetate esters, from which ketones (+)‐ and (−)‐ 22 were prepared (Scheme 4). The same materials were obtained from the (9S) alcohols (+)‐ 13 and (−)‐ 14 , treated first with MnO₂, then with POCl₃/pyridine (Scheme 4). Conversely, the dehydration with POCl₃/pyridine of the enantiomerically pure 2,6‐cis‐5‐hydroxy derivatives obtained from (±)‐ 15 and (±)‐ 16 gave rise to a mixture in which the γ‐irol acetates 25a and 25b and 26a and 26b prevailed over the α‐ and β‐isomers (Scheme 5). The (+)‐ and (−)‐cis‐γ‐irones ((+)‐ and (−)‐ 3 , resp.) were obtained from the latter mixture by a sequence involving as the key step the photochemical isomerization of the α‐double bond to the γ‐double bond. External panel olfactory evaluation assigned to (+)‐β‐irone ((+)‐ 2 ) and to (−)‐cis‐γ‐irone ((−)‐ 3 ) the strongest character and the possibility to be used as dry‐down note.     

Preparation of enantiomerically pure (R)- and (S)-3-amino-3-phenyl-1-propanol via resolution with immobilized penicillin G acylase

Ethyl 2,4-dioxo-4-phenylbutyrate, obtained by condensation of acetophenone with diethyl oxalate, was converted to 3-oxo-3-phenyl-1-propanol in 90% yield by reaction with baker’s yeast. Reductive amination with sodium cyanoborohydride in the presence of ammonium acetate gave the racemic 3-amino-3-phenyl-1-propanol in 65% yield. Enzymatic resolution of the corresponding N-phenylacetyl derivative with penicillin G acylase, immobilized on an epoxy resin gave (S)-amide and (R)-amino alcohol in high enantiomeric purity (ee >99%) and >45% yields for each enantiomer.     

Total synthesis of chlorinated phenylpyrrole antibiotics, (+)- and (−)-neopyrrolomycins

(+)- and (−)-Neopyrrolomycins have been synthesized from 3,5-dichlorophenol through regioselective halogenations and optical resolution.