Synthesis of α-enamino esters via Cu(ii)-promoted dehydrogenation of α-amino acid esters: application to the synthesis of polysubstituted pyrroles

α-Enamino esters are synthesized from α-amino acid esters using Cu(ii)-promoted dehydrogenation. Application of the α-enamino esters to the synthesis of polysubstituted pyrroles is achieved through oxidative coupling with alkynes under Cu(ii)-promoted conditions.

A novel family of (1-aminoalkyl)(trifluoromethyl)- and -(difluoromethyl)phosphinic acids - analogues of α-amino acids

A series of novel (1-aminoalkyl)(trifluoromethyl)- and -(difluoromethyl)phosphinic acids - analogues of proteinogenic and nonproteinogenic α-amino acids were prepared. The synthetic methodology was based on nucleophilic addition of (trifluoromethyl)phosphinic acid or (difluoromethyl)phosphinic acid or its ethyl ester to substrates with C=N or activated C=C double bonds. Analogues of glycine, phenylglycine, alanine, valine, proline, aminomalonic and aspartic acids were thus prepared. Three-component one-pot reactions of (trifluoromethyl)phosphinic acid and dibenzylamine with aldehydes were also tested to prepare the title compounds.

Synthesis-guided structure revision of the sarcodonin, sarcoviolin, and hydnellin natural product family

A sweeping structural revision of the sarcodonin natural product family (published structures 1a-13a) is proposed after extensive studies aimed at their chemical synthesis. Key features of revised structure 1b include replacement of the N,N-dioxide moiety with an oxime, ring-opening of the central diketopiperazine, and transposition of the terphenyl wing from the 1β-2β position of 1a to the 2β-3β position of 1b. This structure revision arose from the serendipitous synthesis of a benzodioxane aminal (44) whose structure was unambiguously determined by X-ray crystallography and whose spectral properties bore considerable resemblance to the published data for the sarcodonins. A versatile new method for O-arylation of hydroxamic acids is also reported herein, as well as a manganese(III)-mediated α-oxidation of hydroxamic acids to aminals.

Synthetic studies of roquefortine C: synthesis of isoroquefortine C and a heterocycle

The syntheses of isoroquefortine C and a related heterocycle were achieved by implementation of both intra- and intermolecular vinyl amidation reactions. These accomplishments represent a significant advance in the use of these strategies in the generation of complex molecules.