An entry into hexahydro-2H-thieno[2,3-c]pyrrole 1,1-dioxide derivatives

Hexahydro-2H-thieno[2,3-c]pyrrole is proposed as a low molecular weight polar scaffold to construct compound libraries used in the search for new drugs. Practical syntheses of derivatives of this bicyclic scaffold were developed, based on [3 + 2] cycloaddition of the ylide generated from N-benzyl-1-methoxy-N-((trimethylsilyl)methyl)methanamine and 4-substituted 2,3-dihydrothiophene 1,1-dioxides. All of the 3-substituted hexahydro-2H-thieno[2,3-c]pyrrole 1,1-dioxide derivatives were obtained as single diastereomers. Conformational properties of the hexahydro-2H-thieno[2,3-c]pyrrole 1,1-dioxide derivatives were explored using X-ray diffraction studies. The potential of the scaffold to generate libraries of 3D-shaped molecules was demonstrated.     

Synthesis of 3-Borylated Pyrrolidines by 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition of Alkenyl Boronates and Azomethine Ylide

A scalable and efficient process for the preparation of 3-borylated pyrrolidines by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of N-benzyl azomethine ylide generated in situ has been developed. The optimized method included the use of LiF in DMSO at 110 °C and was suitable for α-mono-, α,β-di-, and α,β,β-trialkyl-, β,β-(hetera)cycloalkylidene-, CO₂Et-, as well as most β-(het)aryl-substituted alkenyl boropinacolates. The 1,3-dipolar reaction proceeded on a multigram scale providing 3-borylated pyrrolidines with diverse substitution patterns (including fused and spirocyclic ones) in a diastereoselective manner. The Pd(OH)₂-mediated N-debenzylation of pyrrolidine hydrochlorides was successfully performed to give the corresponding bifunctional building blocks on an up to 130 g scale, thus providing a substantial expansion of the synthetic and medicinal chemist's toolbox. Other reactions included the preparation of trifluoroborates, Zweifel-Aggarwal sp³-sp² coupling, and oxidative deborylation as an example of C-heteroatom bond formation.     

Impact of Fluoroalkyl Substituents on the Physicochemical Properties of Saturated Heterocyclic Amines

The physicochemical properties (pK_a(H), log P, and aqueous solubility) of fluoroalkyl-substituted heterocyclic amines were profiled to facilitate the amines’ rational application in medicinal chemistry research. The features of fluorine-containing compounds were compared to those of the corresponding parent non-fluorinated heterocycles and the corresponding fluorinated n-alkylamines. Amine basicity was observed to change in a monotonic fashion depending on the fluorination pattern. Although the introduction of fluoroalkyl groups had complex effects on the lipophilicity and aqueous solubility of the compounds, possible contributions of the fluorination pattern, ring size, and conformation of the substituent in the ring were addressed for a series of derivatives. The summarized data provide a useful guideline for the application of fluorinated motifs for fine-tuning a compound's properties related to drug discovery.     

A novel approach to 2,4-ethanoproline

A novel approach to 2-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-1-carboxylic acid (2,4-ethanoproline) is reported starting from (2S,4R)-4-hydroxyproline. The synthetic scheme consists of 10 steps and results in 22% total yield of the title compound. Enantiomeric purity of the product is checked by chiral stationary phase HPLC.     

3-haloquinolines by Friedländer reaction of α-haloketones

A general approach to 3-fluoro-, 3-chloro-, and 3-bromoquinolines which relies on organosilane-promoted Friedla?nder reaction of α-haloketones is described. The scope of the methylene component as well as influence of the organosilane component on the outcome of the reaction is studied. The method can be used under parallel synthesis conditions.     

The synthesis of a 2-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane by rearrangement of a spirocyclic epoxide

An unusual rearrangement of a 1-oxa-6-azaspiro[2.5]octane derivative giving access to novel 5-substituted 2-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes is described. The synthetic application of the reaction is demonstrated by the synthesis of N-Boc-2,3-methano-β-proline. The amino acid was prepared through a three-step synthesis from easily available reagents in an overall yield of 15%.     

Synthesis of Spirocyclic and Fused Isoxazoline Building Blocks

A highly efficient multigram synthesis of spirocyclic and fused isoxazoline building blocks is described. Isoxazoline-3-carboxylates were synthesized via a regioselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of 2-chloro-2-(hydroxyimino)acetate and carbo- or heterocyclic alkenes bearing endo- or exocyclic C=C double bonds, resulting in fused or spirocyclic isoxazolines, respectively. The preparation of up to 300 g of these compounds was achieved in a single run. The ester group of isoxazolines was then subjected to common synthetic transformations for the synthesis of corresponding building blocks, including alcohols, chlorides, azides, amines, aldehydes, carboxylic acids, amino acids and their derivatives, difluoromethyl-substituted compounds, and bicyclic γ-lactones. Additionally, a direct cycloaddition-based approach to the synthesis of aminoalkyl- and chloromethyl-substituted isoxazolines was proposed to improve their preparation. The described isoxazoline building blocks are expected to be valuable tools for drug discovery.     

An approach to alicyclic ring-fused xanthines

A convenient three-step approach to the synthesis of five to eight-membered alicyclic ring-fused xanthines was developed. The method included reaction of lactim or thiolactim ethers with 6-aminouracils, followed by bromination and copper-catalyzed arylation. The procedure allowed preparation of the title compounds in 21–36% overall yields.     

Regioselective and Scalable Total Synthesis of Licochalcone C and Related Licoagrochalcones

A novel efficient method for the synthesis of licochalcone C in good yield on up to 30 g scale was developed. The reaction sequence included relied on the directed ortho-metalation (DOM) of bis-O-MOM-protected resorcinol for the regioselective C-prenylation, followed by metalation-formylation, selective O-deprotection of a hydroxyl group located between the formyl and prenyl groups, its methylation, and aldol reaction with p-hydroxyacetophenone. Synthesis of structurally related retrochalcones, i.e., licoagrochalcones B, C, and D, was also proposed.