Synthesis and microbial transformation of β-amino nitriles

Rhodococcus equi A4, Rhodococcus erythropolis NCIMB 11540 and Rhodococcus sp. R312 were investigated towards their ability to produce β-amino amides and acids from β-amino nitriles. The microorganisms show comparable trends: five-membered alicyclic 2-amino nitriles were transformed significantly faster than the six-membered compounds and the products of trans-2-amino nitriles (amides and acids) were formed considerably faster than the cis-counterparts (amides). The trans-five membered nitriles gave the amides (1b, 5b) in excellent enantiomeric excess (94-99%), the biotransformation of trans-six membered substrates resulted in the formation of the acid (3c, 7c) in excellent ee (87-99%). The ee's of the cis-compounds were throughout lower. Fifteen new substances were synthesized and characterized in the course of this work.     

Selective one-pot synthesis of substituted pyrrole-3-phosphonates from α-cyanomethyl-β-ketoesters

A one-step synthesis of 5-alkoxypyrrole-3-phosphonates is presented starting from suitable α-cyanomethyl-β-ketophosphonates. The key step in the synthesis involves a one-pot addition and heteroannulation sequence. The zinc perchlorate-catalyzed addition of alcohols to the nitrile carbon of α-cyanomethyl-β-ketophosphonates followed by annulation furnished 5-alkoxypyrrole-3-phosphonates. The addition-annulation process is carried out in the presence of water and 4,5-dihydro-5-oxo-1H-pyrrole-3-phosphonates (pyrrolinones) are obtained in good yields.     

[2+2] Carbonylative cycloaddition catalyzed by palladium: stereoselective synthesis of β-lactams

[2+2] Carbonylative cycloaddition of chiral imines to various allyl halides, under CO pressure, in the presence of Et₃N, a catalytic amount of Pd(OAc)₂ and PPh₃ as ligand, are carried out. Separable diastereomeric mixtures of chiral alkenyl-β-lactams are isolated with good yields and high trans diastereoselections. Absolute configurations are assigned by X-ray measurements and ¹H NMR spectroscopy.     

Stereoselective synthesis of (−)-allosedamine

A stereoselective synthesis of (−)-allosedamine is disclosed. β-Aminosulfoxide 4 was generated stereoselectively by condensation of the sulfinyl anion 2 with N-Ts imine 3. The bromohydrin 5 was obtained by intramolecular sulfinyl group participation and the piperidine ring of allosedamine was elaborated using the ring-closing metathesis (RCM) reaction.     

A concise synthesis of β-lactam-sulfonamide hybrids

Using ring closing metathesis (RCM) as the key operation, a rapid access to β-lactams fused to a sultam moiety of variable ring size was developed from low cost, commercially available starting materials. An efficient RCM of 4-vinyl-azetidin-2-ones to give 1-aza-bicyclo[4.2.0]oct-4-en-8-ones is also reported.     

Facile polyethylene glycol (PEG-400) promoted synthesis of β-ketosulfones

An efficient and convenient synthesis of β-ketosulfones is described. Reaction of an α-haloketone with sodium alkyl/aryl sulphinate yields the corresponding β-ketosulfone promoted by polyethylene glycol (PEG-400) as an efficient reaction medium.     

Easy α- to β-migration of an enol moiety on a pyrrole ring

Functionalized pyrrolic enols, 2-(2,2-dicyano-1-hydroxyethenyl)-1-methylpyrroles, synthesized from 2-ethenylpyrroles by a nucleophilic SEt-OH exchange, upon heating (75-142 °C) are readily rearranged to their 3-isomers in near to quantitative yield. The inter or intramolecular auto-protonation of a pyrrole ring by the acidic enol hydroxyl to form a mesomeric pyrrolium cation or zwitterion is suggested to be a key step in the rearrangement.     

Preparation of β-cyclodextrin-polyaniline complex in supercritical CO2

A method is proposed to prepare β-cyclodextrin (β-CD)/polyaniline (PANI) inclusion complex. In this route, benzoyl peroxide (BPO, the oxidant) is first encapsulated into the cavity of β-CD. Aniline is then carried into the cavity of β-CD by supercritical (SC) CO₂, which polymerizes in situ to form inclusion complex. The product is characterized by FT-IR, UV-Vis, ¹H NMR and XRD techniques. The results suggest that the columnar inclusion complexes may be formed.     

Mild and efficient deprotection of the amine protecting p-methoxyphenyl (PMP) group

Mild and efficient procedures for deprotection of the amine nitrogen protecting p-methoxyphenyl (PMP) group are described. Periodic acid and trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCCA) were found to be particularly effective in realizing amine liberation using 1 and 0.5 equiv of the oxidant, respectively. Extension of the periodic acid-mediated conditions to simultaneous alcohol oxidation by combination with a catalytic amount of sodium dichromate led to smooth conversion of PMP-protected Mannich products into the corresponding β-amino acids in a one-pot procedure.     

A practical approach to the fused β-carboline system. Asymmetric synthesis of indolo[2,3-a]indolizidinones via a diastereoselective intramolecular α-amidoalkylation reaction

Fused β-carboline systems, as indolo[2,3-a]indolizidinones, indolo[2,3-a]quinolizidinones, their 2-oxa analogues, and benzo[a]indolo[2,3-a]indolizidinones are prepared efficiently via an RLi addition-N-acyliminium ion cyclisation sequence on readily available imides. In an enantioselective variant of these α-amidoalkylation reactions, the addition of MeLi to a chiral non-racemic imide derived from tryptophan yielded an oxo amide, which was cyclised diastereoselectively upon treatment with BF₃·OEt₂, to afford 5,11b-trans-indoloindolizidinone in moderate yield and high ee (99%).