Asymmetric Synthesis of 3-Oxa-15-deoxy-16-(m-tolyl)-17,18,19,20-tetranorisocarbacyclin and Its Neuroprotective Analogue 15-Deoxy-16-(m-tolyl)-17,18,19,20-tetranorisocarbacyclin Based on the Conjugate Addition–Azoalkene–Asymmetric Olefination Strategy

Alkylation of N,N-Dibenzylaminoacetonitrile: From Five- to Seven-Membered Nitrogen-Containing Heterocyclic Systems

The syntheses of several alkaloids and nitrogen-containing compounds including N-Boc-coniine (14b), pyrrolizidine (1), δ-coniceine (2), and pyrrolo[1,2a]azepine (3) are described. New C-C bonds in the α position relative to the nitrogen atom were formed by the alkylation of metalated α-aminonitriles 4 and 6a-c with alkyl iodides possessing the requisite size and functionality. In all of the reported cases, the pyrrolidine ring was formed in the aqueous medium through a favorable 5-exo-tet process involving a primary or a secondary amino group and a terminal δ-leaving group. Conversely, the azepane ring was efficiently formed in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), as the preferred aprotic solvent, through an unreported 7-exo-tet cyclization process involving a more nucleophilic sodium amide and a terminal mesylate borne by a saturated six carbon chain unit. In this way, we successfully synthesized pyrrolo[1,2a]azepane 3 and 2-propyl-azepane 14c in good yields from inexpensive and readily available materials without tedious separation methods.

Nickel-Catalyzed Anionic Cross-Coupling Reaction of Lithium Sulfonimidoyl Alkylidene Carbenoids With Organolithiums

The mechanistic platform for a novel nickel0 -catalyzed anionic cross-coupling reaction (ACCR) of lithium sulfonimidoyl alkylidene carbenoids (metalloalkenyl sulfoximines) with organometallic reagents is reported herein, affording substituted alkenylmetals and lithium sulfinamides. The Ni0 -catalyzed ACCR of three different types of metalloalkenyl sulfoximines, including acyclic, axially chiral and exocyclic derivatives, with sp2 organolithiums and sp2 and sp3 Grignard reagents has been studied. The ACCR of metalloalkenyl sulfoximines with PhLi in the presence of the Ni0 -catalyst and precatalyst Ni(PPh3 )2 Cl2 afforded alkenyllithiums, under inversion of configuration at the C atom and complete retention at the S atom. In a combination of experimental and DFT studies, we propose a catalytic cycle of the Ni0 -catalyzed ACCR of lithioalkenyl sulfoximines. Computational studies reveal two distinctive pathways of the ACCR, depending on whether a phosphine or 1,5-cyclooctadiene (COD) is the ligand of the Ni atom. They rectify the underlying importance of forming the key Ni0 -vinylidene intermediate through an indispensable electron-rich Ni0 -center coordinated by phosphine ligands. Fundamentally, we present a mechanistic study in controlling the diastereoselectivity of the alkenyllithium formation via the key lithium sulfinamide coordinated Ni0 -vinylidene complex, which consequently avoids an unselective formation of an alkylidene carbene Ni-complex and ultimately racemic alkenyllithium.

Chiral Lithium Amides: Tuning Asymmetric Synthesis on the Basis of Structural Parameters

An overview on the structural arrangements adopted by Chiral Lithium Amides (CLAs), alone or in mixed complexes, is presented. These species are important reagents for asymmetric synthesis and understanding their organization is essential to improve their design and the reaction conditions.

Synthesis and antitumor-evaluation of cyclopropyl-containing combretastatin analogs

Several derivatives of combretastatin have been prepared bearing a cyclopropyl unit instead of the natural occurring cis-double bond. Final products and synthetic intermediates were evaluated for their cytotoxic properties in two human cancer cell lines.

Novel synthetic strategies for the preparation of prostacyclin and prostaglandin analogues ? off the beaten track

The recent increase in activity in the fields of neuroscience and life sciences has been mirrored by the design and synthesis of novel chemically and metabolically stable prostaglandin and prostacyclin analogues. Consequently, convenient and practical access to these important classes of compounds is greatly coveted. Various strategies for the preparation of prostacyclin, prostaglandin and isoprostane analogues are discussed, with particular focus on novel approaches developed in our own laboratories.