Identification of a novel Michael acceptor group for the reversible addition of oxygen- and sulfur-based nucleophiles. Synthesis and reactivity of the 3-alkylidene-3H-indole 1-oxide function of avrainvillamide

The 3-alkylidene-3H-indole 1-oxide functional group found in the naturally occurring alkaloid avrainvillamide has been synthesized by a cross coupling-reductive condensation sequence and found to undergo reversible addition of oxygen- and sulfur-based nucleophiles.     

Overtone spectroscopy of some benzaldehyde derivatives

Overtone spectrum of o, m and p-nitrobenzaldehydes and p-chlorobenzaldehyde has been studied in 2000–12000 cm⁻¹ region. Vibrational frequencies and anharmonicity constants for aryl as well as alkyl CH stretch vibrations have been determined. We have also determined the internuclear distances for the aryl CH bond in the different molecules. The small variation observed in these distances is an indication of the substitution effect. It is observed that in the case of p-disubstituted benzens, the shift in aryl CH bond is proportional to sum of the Hammet σ of the substituents. However in the case of o-disubstituted benzenes it is only 80% of the para-substituted shift.     

11-Step enantioselective synthesis of (-)-lomaiviticin aglycon

Lomaiviticins A and B are complex antitumor antibiotics that were isolated from a strain of Micromonospora. A confluence of several unusual structural features renders the lomaiviticins exceedingly challenging targets for chemical synthesis. We report an 11-step, enantioselective synthetic route to lomaiviticin aglycon. Our route proceeds by late-stage, stereoselective dimerization of two equivalent monomeric intermediates, a transformation that may share parallels with the natural products' biosyntheses. The route we describe is scalable and convergent, and it lays the foundation for determination of the mode of action of these natural products.     

A convergent approach to batzelladine alkaloids. Total syntheses of (+)-batzelladine E, (−)-dehydrobatzelladine C,and (+)-batzelladine K

We recently reported a convergent strategy to access the polycyclic guanidinium alkaloid (+)-batzelladine B via an aldol addition–retro-aldol–aza-Michael addition cascade. Here we describe the application of this approach toward the total syntheses of (+)-batzelladine E, (?)-dehydrobatzelladine C, and (+)-batzelladine K. The identification of suitable methods to functionalize a common tropane core by electrophilic alkynylation and nucleophilic 1,2-addition were essential to generalizing this approach. We provide evidence for the intermediacy of an acylallene species in the cascade reaction.     

Hydroaminoalkylation of unactivated olefins with dialkylamines

The intermolecular addition of the alpha-C-H bonds of unactivated dialkylamines to unactivated olefins in the presence of the chloro amido complex [TaCl3(NEt2)2]2 (2) is described. This process forms the branched insertion products in high yields (up to 96%) and selectivities, and represents a rare example of an intermolecular amine-olefin coupling reaction that does not require preactivation of either substrate. The reaction is shown to encompass the addition of the primary C-H bonds in linear- and branched-methylamines, as well as secondary C-H bonds in higher dialkylamines. The related chloroanilido complex [TaCl3(NMePh)2]2 (4) is also shown to catalyze the addition of N-alkyl-arylamines to olefins at temperatures as low as 90 degreesC. 1H NMR spectroscopy, identification of the catalyst structure, and deuterium-labeling experiments all suggest that reactions catalyzed by 2 and 4 occur by turnover-limiting generation of an eta2-imine complex. These labeling studies also imply that more favorable partitioning of the eta2-imine complex toward reaction with alkene versus regeneration of the starting bis-amido complex accounts for the higher reactivity of the mixed halide amido catalyst versus a homoleptic amido complex.     

Complex-induced proximity effects. Temperature-dependent regiochemical diversity in lithiation-electrophilic substitution reactions of N-BOC-2-azabicyclo[2.1.1]hexane. 2,4- and 3,5-methanoprolines

[reaction: see text] Azabicycle 4 and sec-butyllithium/TMEDA afford the C(1) bridgehead alpha-lithio anion at 0 degrees C. Anion quenching with carbon dioxide, methyl chloroformate, or DMF provide the bridgehead acid 8a (N-BOC-2,4-methanoproline), ester 8b, or aldehyde 8c, respectively. By contrast, at -78 degrees C these same reagents give a mixture of regioisomeric methylene and bridgehead anions whose quenching leads to mixtures of regioisomeric methylene and bridgehead acids 6a/8a, esters 6b/8b, or aldehydes 6c/8c, respectively. The previously unknown 3,5-methanoproline was prepared as its N-BOC methyl ester 6b.     

Extremes of nuclear structure

With the advent of medium and large gamma detector arrays, it is now possible to look at nuclear structure at high rotational forces. The role of pairing correlations and their eventual breakdown, along with the shell effects have showed us the interesting physics for nuclei at high spins — superdeformation, shape co-existence, yrast traps, alignments and their dramatic effects on nuclear structure and so on. Nuclear structure studies have recently become even more exciting, due to efforts and possibilities to reach nuclei far off from the stability valley. Coupling of gamma ray arrays with ‘filters’, like neutron wall, charged particle detector array, gamma ray total energy and multiplicity castles, conversion electron spectrometers etc gives a great handle to study nuclei produced online with ‘low’ cross-sections. Recently we studied, nuclei in mass region 80 using an array of 8 germanium detectors in conjunction with the recoil mass analyser, HIRA at the Nuclear Science Centre and, most unexpectedly came across the phenomenon of identical bands, with two quasi-particle difference. The discovery of magnetic rotation is another highlight. Our study of light In nucleus, 107In brought us face to face with the ‘dipole’ bands. I plan to discuss some of these aspects. There is also an immensely important development — that of the ‘radioactive ion beams’. The availability of RIB, will probably very dramatically influence our ‘conventional’ concept of nuclear structure. The exotic shapes of these exotic nuclei and some of their expected properties will also be touched upon.     

Synthesis of novel 2-azabicyclo[2.2.0]- and [2.1.1]hexanols

Methyl- and phenyl-substituted N-(ethoxycarbonyl)-2-azabicyclo[2.2.0]hex-5-enes 6 were reacted with NBS in wet DMSO to afford bromohydrins. Mixtures of unrearranged 6-exo-bromo-5-endo-hydroxy-2-azabicyclo[2.2.0]hexanes 7a,b and rearranged 5-anti-bromo-6-anti-hydroxy-2-azabicyclo[2.1.1]hexanes 8a,b were formed stereoselectively from the parent alkene 6a and 4-methyl alkene 6b. The 5-methyl alkene 6c affords only unrearranged bromohydrin 7c and dibromohydrin 9. By contrast, solely rearranged 3-endo-substituted-2-azabicyclo[2.1.1]hexane bromohydrins 8d-f result from additions to 3-endo-methyl alkene 6d, 3-endo-4-dimethyl alkene 6e, and 3-endo-phenyl alkene 6f. As an alternative route to bromohydrins, the parent 5,6-exo-epoxide 10a and 5-endo-methyl-5,6-exo-epoxide 10b were ring opened with bromine/triphenylphosphine to afford unrearranged 5-endo-bromo-6-exo-hydroxy-2-azabicyclo[2.2.0]hexanes 11a,b, while the 3-endo-methyl epoxide 10c afforded solely the rearranged 5-anti-bromo-6-anti-hydroxy-3-exo-methyl-2-azabicyclo[2.1.1]hexane isomer 8g. Tributyltin hydride reduction of bromohydrins 7a,b and 11a afforded novel 2-azabicyclo[2.2.0]hexan-5-ols 13a,b and -6-ol 14, and bromohydrins 8a,b, 8d-g afforded new 2-azabicyclo[2.1.1]-hexan-5-ols 15a,b and 15d-g.