Direct catalytic asymmetric Michael reaction of hydroxyketones: asymmetric Zn catalysis with a Et2Zn/linked-BINOL complex

Full details of our direct Michael addition of unmodified ketones using new asymmetric zinc catalysis are described. Et(2)Zn/(S,S)-linked-BINOL complexes were successfully applied to direct 1,4-addition reactions of hydroxyketones. The first generation Et(2)Zn/(S,S)-linked-BINOL 1 = 2/1 system was effective for 1,4-addition of 2-hydroxy-2'-methoxyacetophenone (3). Using 1 mol % of (S,S)-linked-BINOL 1 and 2 mol % of Et(2)Zn, we found that a 1,4-addition reaction of beta-unsubstituted enone proceeded smoothly at 4 degrees C to afford products in high yield (up to 90%) and enantiomeric excess (up to 95%). In the case of beta-substituted enones, however, the first generation Et(2)Zn/(S,S)-linked-BINOL 1 = 2/1 system was not at all effective. The second generation Et(2)Zn/(S,S)-linked-BINOL 1 = 4/1 with MS 3A system was developed and was effective for various beta-substituted enones to afford products in good dr, yield (up to 99%), and high enantiomeric excess (up to 99% ee). With the Et(2)Zn/1 = 4/1 systems, catalyst loading for beta-unsubstituted enone was reduced to as little as 0.01 mol % (substrate/chiral ligand = 10 000). The new system was also effective for 1,4-addition reactions of 2-hydroxy-2'-methoxypropiophenone (9) to afford chiral tert-alcohol in high enantiomeric excess (up to 96% ee). Mechanistic investigations as well as transformations of the Michael adducts into synthetically versatile intermediates are also described.     

X-ray diffraction analysis of nonequilibrium states in crystals: observation of an unstable conformer in flash-cooled crystals

Some molecules with a molecular skeleton similar to that of stilbenes and azobenzenes show orientational disorder in the crystals. If the disorder is dynamic, a conformational interconversion takes place through a pedal motion. In this study X-ray diffraction analyses of (E)-stilbene (1) and azobenzene (2) were carried out at various temperatures. We succeeded in observing thermodynamic nonequilibrium states that were generated by fast freezing of the conformational interconversion at low temperatures. The populations of the two conformers in crystals of 1 at 90 K varied with the cooling rate. Flash cooling of a crystal of 2 from room temperature to 90 K made it possible to observe the minor unstable conformer that does not exist in the equilibrium state at the same temperature.     

Structure-activity relationship studies of gymnocin-A

The structural elements required for cytotoxicity of gymnocin-A, a polycyclic ether isolated from the red tide-forming dinoflagellate, Karenia mikimotoi, were investigated by the total synthesis and evaluation of the structural analogues. The results of the structure-activity relationship studies indicated that the α,β-unsaturated aldehyde functionality of the side chain as well as the molecular length were needed for exhibiting the cytotoxicity of gymnocin-A.     

Oxidation with Fremy's salt—VIII : Peri-effect of a group located at the C5 position of 1-naphthol and related compounds

It has been shown by a series of experiments on 5-alkyl, 5-halo-, and other 5-substituted 1-naphthol derivatives that the product ratio of the ortho- and para-naphthoquinones formed on oxidation with Fremy's salt is controlled by the bulkiness of the C₅-substituent.     

Asymmetric hydrogenation of chiral pyruvamides

Asymmetric catalytic hydrogenations of three kinds of chiral pyruvamides were carried out using palladium on charcoal as a catalyst to give lactamides with diastereomeric ratios ranging from 76:24 to 98:2.