Ring expansion approach for the synthesis of the (3S,4S)-hexahydroazepine core of balanol and ophiocordin

A new and efficient formal total synthesis of (3S,4S)-balanol, a potent protein kinase C inhibitor, was accomplished from tri-O-acetyl-d-glucal. Balanol and ophiocordin consists of a chiral hexahydro azepine-containing fragment and a benzophenone fragment. The azepine core was prepared in chiral form through intramolecular aza Wittig reaction. A triphenylphosphine mediated ring expansion process was employed to form the seven-membered nitrogen heterocycle. The aldehyde equivalent key intermediate was treated with triphenylphosphine to give the azepine core. To demonstrate the applicability of the new route, a synthesis of the balanol is described.     

A synthetic approach to bicyclo[6.2.1]undecane ring systems

A synthesis of a functionalized bicyclo[6.2.1]undecane, N-(7-hydroxymethyl-bicyclo[6.2.1]undeca-3,5,9-trien-2-yl)-4-methyl-benzenesulfonamide, is described. Starting with a [6+4] cycloaddition between cyclopentadiene and cycloheptatrienone, the final product was prepared in five steps with an overall 37% yield. The remarkable resistance to hydrolysis of an intermediate lactam was overcome by tosylating the amide and reducing with LiAlH₄.     

Remarkable reactions of cyclooctatetraene diiron-bridging carbyne complexes with amino and amido compounds: nucleophilic addition to and breaking of the cyclooctatetraene ring

The reactions of the cationic, diiron-bridging carbyne complexes [Fe(2)(mu-CAr)(CO)(4)(eta(8)-C(8)H(8))]BF(4) (1, Ar=C(6)H(5); 2, Ar=p-CH(3)C(6)H(4); 3, Ar=p-CF(3)C(6)H(4)) with LiN(C(6)H(5))(2) in THF at low temperature gave novel N-nucleophilic-addition products, namely, the neutral, diiron-bridging carbyne complexes [Fe(2)(mu-CAr)(CO)(4)(eta(7)-C(8)H(8)N(C(6)H(5))(2))] (4, Ar=C(6)H(5); 5, Ar=p-CH(3)C(6)H(4); 6, Ar=p-CF(3)C(6)H(4))). Cationic bridging carbyne complexes 1-3 react with (C(2)H(5))(2)NH, (iC(3)H(7))(2)NH, and (C(6)H(11))(2)NH under the same conditions with ring cleavage of the COT ligand to produce the novel diiron-bridging carbene inner salts [Fe(2)[mu-C(Ar)C(8)H(8)NR(2)](CO)(4)] (7, Ar=C(6)H(5), R=C(2)H(5); 8, Ar=p-CH(3)C(6)H(4), R=C(2)H(5); 9, Ar=p-CF(3)C(6)H(4), R=C(2)H(5); 10, Ar=C(6)H(5), R=iC(3)H(7); 11, Ar=p-CH(3)C(6)H(4), R=iC(3)H(7); 12, Ar=p-CF(3)C(6)H(4), R=iC(3)H(7); 13, Ar=C(6)H(5), R=C(6)H(11); 14, Ar=p-CH(3)C(6)H(4), R=C(6)H(11), 15, Ar=p-CF(3)C(6)H(4), R=C(6)H(11)). Piperidine reacts similarly with cationic carbyne complex 3 to afford the corresponding bridging carbene inner salt [Fe(2)[mu-C(Ar)C(8)H(8)N(CH(2))(5)](CO)(4)] (16). Compound 9 was transformed into a new diiron-bridging carbene inner salt 17, the trans isomer of 9, by heating in benzene. Unexpectedly, the reaction of C(6)H(5)NH(2) with 2 gave a novel COT iron-carbene complex [Fe(2)[=C(C(6)H(4)CH(3)-p)NHC(6)H(5)](mu-CO)(CO)(3)(eta(8)-C(8)H(8))] (18). However, the analogous reactions of 2-naphthylamine with 2 and of p-CF(3)C(6)H(4)NH(2) with 3 produce novel chelated iron-carbene complexes [Fe(2)[=C(C(6)H(4)CH(3)-p)NC(10)H(7)](CO)(4)(eta(2):eta(3):eta(2)-C(8)H(9))] (19) and [Fe(2)[=C(C(6)H(4)CF(3)-p)NC(6)H(4)CF(3)-p](CO)(4)(eta(2):eta(3):eta(2)-C(8)H(9))] (20), respectively. Compound 18 can also be transformed into the analogous chelated iron-carbene complex [Fe(2)[=C(C(6)H(4)CH(3)-p)NC(6)H(5)](CO)(4)(eta(2):eta(3):eta(2)-C(8)H(9))] (21). The structures of complexes 6, 9, 15, 17, 18, and 21 have been established by X-ray diffraction studies.     

Enzymatic degradation of highly phenolic lignin-based polymers (lignophenols)

Enzymatic degradation of two lignin-based polymers (lignophenols), lignocatechol and lignocresol, prepared by selectively grafting catechol and p-cresol to C_α positions of lignin, respectively, were carried out in aqueous organic solvents. Both lignophenols showed high reactivity in the peroxidase-catalyzed oxidation. Structural analyses by NMR spectroscopies revealed that the degraded lignophenols contained aliphatic chain content, which might be mainly formed in the reduction of the intermediate initially generated by the aromatic ring cleavage. Lower amount of aromatic units in the lignophenols after degraded by peroxidase also indicted the cleavage of aromatic rings. Due to the substitution of phenols at C_α positions of lignin, the degraded lignophenols did not have carbonyl structure, which was abundant in the biodegradation products of native lignin. The two lignophenols were also degraded by Rhus vernicifera laccase. But the degree of degradation was lower than that of the degradation by peroxidase, which might be due to the low activity of laccase on the lignin moieties in lignophenols.     

Biodegradable Phosphorylcholine Polymer Hydrogels Cross‐Linked with Vinyl‐Functionalized Polyphosphate

A vinyl‐functionalized polyphosphate (PIOP) was synthesized by ring‐opening polymerization of 2‐isopropyl‐2‐oxo‐1,3,2‐dioxaphospholane and 2‐(2‐oxo‐1,3,2‐dioxaphosphoroyloxyethyl methacrylate) with triisobutylaluminum as an initiator. The number‐averaged molecular weight of the PIOP was 1.2 × 10⁴. The average number of vinyl groups in the PIOP is 2.20. Transparent hydrogels were prepared by the radical polymerization of 2‐methacryroyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine with PIOP as a cross‐linking reagent. These hydrogels may have many applications in the biomedical field because of their biodegradability and biocompatibility.

Synthetic route of PIOP.     

Efficient regio- and stereoselective ring opening of epoxides with alcohols, acetic acid and water catalyzed by ammonium decatungstocerate(IV)

Epoxides can be cleaved in a regio- and stereoselective manner under neutral conditions with alcohols and acetic acid in the presence of catalytic amounts of decatungstocerate(IV) ion, ([CeW₁₀O₃₆]⁸⁻), affording the corresponding β-alkoxy and β-acetoxy alcohols in high yields. In water, ring opening of epoxides occurs with this catalyst to produce the corresponding diols in good yields.     

Studies on the Silylation Reaction of α,β-Epoxy Esters Synthesized by Darzen's Condensation Reaction

Me₃SiCl/Mg in HMPA was used for silylation of α,β-epoxy esters resulting in the corresponding β-silylated esters in a one pot reaction with reasonable yields.     

Total synthesis of (±)-erythravine based on ring closing dienyne metathesis

The first total synthesis of (±)-erythravine was achieved in thirteen steps from 3,4-dimethoxyphenethylamine using ring closing dienyne metathesis as the key step.     

Transannular reactions of two parallel 1,3-butadiynes: syntheses,structures, and reactions of 1-azacyclotetradeca-3,5,10,12-tetrayne derivatives

The synthesis of 1-alkyl and 1-aryl-1-azacyclotetradeca-3,5,10,12-tetraynes was achieved in a stepwise approach. The key intermediate was 1,13-dibromotrideca-2,4,9,11-tetrayne (18). Reaction with methyl- (19 a), ethyl- (19 b), isopropyl- (19 c), n-butyl- (19 d), and tert-butylamine (19 e) as well as aniline (19 f) and p-methoxyaniline (19 g) gave the corresponding 14-membered tetraynes 20 a-20 g. The ring inversion process of 20 b was studied by variable temperature (1)H NMR spectroscopy. From these measurements a value of 10.6 kcal mol(-1) was calculated for DeltaG(not equal). X-ray investigations on single crystals of 20 b, 20 c, and 20 f revealed the axial position for the substituent at each nitrogen atom. For 20 b we encountered the chair conformation, for 20 c both chair and boat conformations, and for 20 f the boat conformation in the solid state. The reaction of 20 c with concentrated HCl in ethanol yielded 2,10-dichloro-6-isopropyl-6-azatricyclo[9.3.0.0(4,8)]tetradeca-1(11),2,4(8),9-tetraene (25 c). Compound 25 c was oxidized by 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ) to 27 c. The structure of the latter was confirmed by X-ray investigations. The reaction of 20 c in aqueous HCl lead to the formation of 10-chloro-2-isopropyl-1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-2H-benzo[g]isoquinolin-9-one (37 c). The structure of 37 c was verified by X-ray studies on single crystals.