Enantioselective Total Synthesis of (−)-Finerenone Using Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation

(−)-Finerenone is a nonsteroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist currently in phase III clinical trials for the treatment of chronic kidney disease in type 2 diabetes. It contains an unusual dihydronaphthyridine core. We report a 6-step synthesis of (−)-finerenone, which features an enantioselective partial transfer hydrogenation of a naphthyridine using a chiral phosphoric acid catalyst with a Hantzsch ester. The process is complicated by the fact that the naphthyridine exists as a mixture of two atropisomers that react at different rates and with different selectivities. The intrinsic kinetic resolution was converted into a kinetic dynamic resolution at elevated temperature, which enabled us to obtain (−)-finerenone in both high yield and high enantioselectivity. DFT calculations have revealed the origin of selectivity.     

Correlation between Ferromagnetic Layer Easy Axis and the Tilt Angle of Self Assembled Chiral Molecules

The spin–spin interactions between chiral molecules and ferromagnetic metals were found to be strongly affected by the chiral induced spin selectivity effect. Previous works unraveled two complementary phenomena: magnetization reorientation of ferromagnetic thin film upon adsorption of chiral molecules and different interaction rate of opposite enantiomers with a magnetic substrate. These phenomena were all observed when the easy axis of the ferromagnet was out of plane. In this work, the effects of the ferromagnetic easy axis direction, on both the chiral molecular monolayer tilt angle and the magnetization reorientation of the magnetic substrate, are studied using magnetic force microscopy. We have also studied the effect of an applied external magnetic field during the adsorption process. Our results show a clear correlation between the ferromagnetic layer easy axis direction and the tilt angle of the bonded molecules. This tilt angle was found to be larger for an in plane easy axis as compared to an out of plane easy axis. Adsorption under external magnetic field shows that magnetization reorientation occurs also after the adsorption event. These findings show that the interaction between chiral molecules and ferromagnetic layers stabilizes the magnetic reorientation, even after the adsorption, and strongly depends on the anisotropy of the magnetic substrate. This unique behavior is important for developing enantiomer separation techniques using magnetic substrates.     

Nickel(0)‐Catalyzed Enantioselective [3+2] Annulation of Cyclopropenones and α,β‐Unsaturated Ketones/Imines

Ni⁰‐catalyzed chemo‐ and enantioselective [3+2] cycloaddition of cyclopropenones and α,β‐unsaturated ketones/imines is described. This reaction integrates C?C bond cleavage of cyclopropenones and enantioselective functionalization by carbonyl/imine group, offering a mild approach to γ‐alkenyl butenolides and lactams in excellent enantioselectivity (88–98 % ee) through intermolecular C?C activation.     

Catalytic Enantioselective Direct Aldol Addition of Aryl Ketones to α‐Fluorinated Ketones

The catalytic enantioselective synthesis of α‐fluorinated chiral tertiary alcohols from (hetero)aryl methyl ketones is described. The use of a bifunctional iminophosphorane (BIMP) superbase was found to facilitate direct aldol addition by providing the strong Brønsted basicity required for rapid aryl enolate formation. The new synthetic protocol is easy to perform and tolerates a broad range of functionalities and heterocycles with high enantioselectivity (up to >99:1 e.r.). Multi‐gram scalability has been demonstrated along with catalyst recovery and recycling. ¹H NMR studies identified a 1400‐fold rate enhancement under BIMP catalysis, compared to the prior state‐of‐the‐art catalytic system. The utility of the aldol products has been highlighted with the synthesis of various enantioenriched building blocks and heterocycles, including 1,3‐aminoalcohol, 1,3‐diol, oxetane, and isoxazoline derivatives.     

Thermodynamic behavior of polyelectrolytes with the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) phenomenon

A series of vinyl polymers with L-valine and L-leucine residues, and related copolymers with N-isopropylacrylamide, were studied in aqueous solution at different temperatures (25, 30 and 35°C) and at two ionic strengths (0.01 M and 0.1 M NaCl). The protonation behavior revealed great differences between the polymers that were attributed to the size of the hydrophobic lateral group. Macromolecular shrinkage, occurring above a critical degree of protonation β, was related to hydrophobic forces outweighing the electrostatic repulsions between COO – groups. Low salt concentrations increased the electrostatic potential while high temperatures increased the hydrophobic interaction at lower β. The release of fewer water molecules structured around the polymer chain, responsible for the lower critical solution temperature phenomenon, revealed lower entropy changes at higher temperatures. The reversible configuration of graft polymer chains instantly responded to changes in pH and temperature, modifying the water filtration rates through the pores of cellulose membranes.     

手性噁唑磷烷-硼烷催化还原苯乙酮对映选择性的理论研究

应用密度泛函理论BHandH/6-31G**计算方法研究新型手性非金属催化剂1,3,2-噁唑磷烷-硼烷催化还原苯乙酮的对映选择性反应机理, 确定了在反应途径上的反应物、络合物、过渡态, 中间体和对映体中间产物. 计算结果表明, 该对映选择性还原反应是两个平行的分步反应, 对映体产物主要是(R)构型. 采用同样的方法研究了对映选择性还原反应在甲苯中的溶剂化效应. SCRF计算显示, 甲苯溶剂不改变反应的机理, 但能降低各驻点的能量和(R)反应的位垒, 有利于催化还原反应朝生成(R)构型中间产物的方向进行.     

Green Strategies for the Preparation of Enantiomeric 5–8-Membered Carbocyclic β-Amino Acid Derivatives through CALB-Catalyzed Hydrolysis

Candida antarctica lipase B-catalyzed hydrolysis of carbocyclic 5–8-membered cis β-amino esters was carried out in green organic media, under solvent-free and ball-milling conditions. In accordance with the high enantioselectivity factor (E > 200) observed in organic media, the preparative-scale resolutions of β-amino esters were performed in tBuOMe at 65 °C. The unreacted β-amino ester enantiomers (1R,2S) and product β-amino acid enantiomers (1S,2R) were obtained with modest to excellent enantiomeric excess (ee) values (ee_s > 62% and ee_p > 96%) and in good chemical yields (>25%) in one or two steps. The enantiomers were easily separated by organic solvent/H₂O extraction.     

四苯基卟啉蒽醌化合物的质子化热力学

表观质子化常数;电子吸收光谱;PM3;四苯基卟啉蒽醌化合物的质子化热力学     

Thermodynamic quantities for the acid dissociation of alkylammonium ions in water over a wide temperature range

Enthalpies of protonation in aqueous solution have been determined from calorimetric measurements between 0 and 100°C for methylpentylamine, butyldimethylamine, and quinuclidine; between 0 and 125°C for di-iso-propylamine; and between 0 and 75°C for 1-azacycloheptane. Values ofpK_a at 25°C have been determined from pH measurements using a glass electrode for di-iso-propyl-, methylpentyl-, and butyldimethylamine. The calorimetric results are used together with values ofpK_a at 25°C to derive expressions which allow the calculation of accuratepK_a values over a large temperature range. The heat capacity and entropy changes for the protonation of aqueous alkylamines found in the present and in previous studies are discussed in terms of differences in hydrophobic solvation of the alkyl groups in the neutral amines and the ions.     

手性噁唑硼烷的研究进展及其应用

手性噁唑硼烷是不对称合成的重要催化剂, 它可以高产率、高立体选择性地催化酮、内消旋酰亚胺以及亚胺的不对称还原, 催化立体选择性Diels-Alder反应、不对称Mukaiyama缩合反应等重要有机化学反应. 概述了近十年来手性噁唑硼烷在不对称合成中的研究进展以及在合成VB₁₂等多种天然及非天然活性化合物中的应用.