Ring Expansion Induced by DAST: Synthesis of Substituted 3-Fluoropiperidines from Prolinols and 3-Fluoroazepanes from 2-Hydroxymethylpiperidines

Fluorine-Containing Prolines: Synthetic Strategies, Applications, and Opportunities

Fluorinated prolines play an important role in peptide studies, protein engineering, medicinal chemistry, drug discovery, and agrochemistry. Since the first synthesis of 4-fluoroprolines by Gottlieb and Witkop in 1965, their popularity started to grow exponentially. For example, during the past two decades, all isomeric trifluoromethyl-substituted prolines have been synthesized. In this Perspective, chemical properties and applications of fluorinated prolines are discussed. Synthetic approaches to all known fluorine-containing prolines are also discussed and analyzed. This analysis unexpectedly revealed an unsolved problem: in strict contrast to fluoro- and trifluoromethyl-substituted prolines, the corresponding analogues with fluoromethyl and difluoromethyl groups are mostly unknown. At the end of the paper, structures of several interesting, yet unknown, fluorinated prolines are disclosed─a good opportunity for chemists to make them.

Synthetic Applications of Aziridinium Ions

Nonactivated aziridine with an electron-donating group at the ring nitrogen should be activated to an aziridinium ion prior to being converted to cyclic and acyclic nitrogen-containing molecules. This review describes ways to generate aziridinium ions and their utilization for synthetic purposes. Specifically, the intra- and intermolecular formation of aziridinium ions with proper electrophiles are classified, and their regio- and stereoselective transformations with nucleophiles are described on the basis of recent developments.

Synthesis of Optically Active α-Trifluoromethylamines by Rearrangement of β-Amino-α-trifluoromethyl Alcohols

The synthesis of various optically active α-trifluoromethylamines has been realized from β-amino-α-trifluoromethyl alcohols via an aziridinium ion intermediate under kinetic conditions.

Pyrrolidine and oxazolidine ring transformations in proline and serine derivatives of α-hydroxyphosphonates induced by deoxyfluorinating reagents

Transformations of α-hydroxyphosphonates derived from proline or serine by treatment with different deoxyfluorinating reagents (DAST, Deoxofluor, PyFluor) are reported. Depending on the applied reagent, as well as the protecting group used (N-Cbz, N-Boc, N-Bn) different types of products are observed. The reaction of N-Cbz or N-Boc prolinols with DAST or Deoxofluor due to aziridinium intermediate participation gave fluorinated amino phosphonates such as piperidine and pyrrolidine derivatives and/or oxazolidine-2-ones. Similarly, the analogous reaction of N-Cbz or N-Boc protected serinol yielded oxazolidine-2-ones or its fluorinated analogues. As the second type of product formed by DAST-induced reaction of serine derivatives, aziridines were obtained. Only in the case of deoxyfluorination of N-benzyl prolinols were both diastereoisomers of β-fluoropiperidine-α-phosphonates formed, while the reaction of protected N-benzyl serinols gave fluorinated oxazolidines. Moreover, application of PyFluor gave sulfonate derivatives.

Diastereoselective reactions of hydroxyphosphonates from proline or serine with fluorinating agents yielding piperidine-, oxazolidine-, aziridine- or sulfonate phosphonates were reported.

β-Aminocarbonates in Regioselective and Ring Expansion Reactions

The reactivity of β-aminocarbonates as anisotropic electrophiles has been investigated with several phenols. Products distribution shows that the regioselectivity of the anchimerically driven alkylation reaction depends on the nucleophiles. The results suggest that in the presence of nucleophiles that are also good leaving groups, the reaction takes place under thermodynamic control favoring the attack on the most sterically hindered carbon of the cyclic aziridinium intermediate. Furthermore, when an enantiomerically pure pyrrolidine-based carbonate was used, the reaction with phenols proceeds via a bicyclic aziridinium intermediate leading to the stereoselective synthesis of optically active 3-substituted piperidines via ring expansion reaction. These results were confirmed both by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis.

Discovery of imidazopyridazines as potent Pim-1/2 kinase inhibitors

High levels of Pim expression have been implicated in several hematopoietic and solid tumor cancers, suggesting that inhibition of Pim signaling could provide patients with therapeutic benefit. Herein, we describe our progress towards this goal using a screening hit (rac-1) as a starting point. Modification of the indazole ring resulted in the discovery of a series of imidazopyridazine-based Pim inhibitors exemplified by compound 22m, which was found to be a subnanomolar inhibitor of the Pim-1 and Pim-2 isoforms (IC₅₀ values of 0.024nM and 0.095nM, respectively) and to potently inhibit the phosphorylation of BAD in a cell line that expresses high levels of all Pim isoforms, KMS-12-BM (IC₅₀=28nM). Profiling of Pim-1 and Pim-2 expression levels in a panel of multiple myeloma cell lines and correlation of these data with the potency of compound 22m in a proliferation assay suggests that Pim-2 inhibition would be advantageous for this indication.

Ring Contraction of 3-Hydroxy-3-(trifluoromethyl)piperidines: Synthesis of 2-Substituted 2-(Trifluoromethyl)pyrrolidines

A ring contraction of 3-hydroxy-3-(trifluoromethyl)piperidines was achieved via an aziridinium intermediate. This contraction facilitates the synthesis of a series of 2-substituted 2-(trifluoromethyl)pyrrolidines incorporating a quaternary center at the C2 position.

Stereoselective Rearrangement of (Trifluoromethyl)prolinols to Enantioenriched 3-Substituted 2-(Trifluoromethyl)piperidines

3-Substituted 2-(trifluoromethyl)piperidines B were synthesized by ring expansion of (trifluoromethyl)prolinols A, which were obtained from L-proline via an aziridinium intermediate C. The ring opening of the (trifluoromethyl)aziridinium intermediate by different nucleophiles is regio- and diastereoselective.

DAST-promoted Beckmann rearrangement/intramolecular cyclization of acyclic ketoximes: access to 2-oxazolines, benzimidazoles and benzoxazoles

The first example of DAST-promoted Beckmann rearrangement/intramolecular cyclization of acyclic ketoximes is described, which affords 2-oxazolines, benzimidazoles and benzoxazoles.

Access to optically active 3-substituted piperidines by ring expansion of prolinols and derivatives

The ring expansion of prolinols via an aziridinium intermediate gives C3-substituted piperidines in good yields and enantiomeric excess, the substituent at the C3 position being derived from the most reactive nucleophile in the reaction mixture. Depending on the nucleophile, the reaction proceeds under thermodynamic or kinetic control. The regioselectivity of attack of nucleophiles on the aziridinium intermediate depends on the nature of the substituents on the nitrogen atom and the C4 position of the starting prolinols.

Enantioselective synthesis and physicochemical properties of libraries of 3-amino- and 3-amidofluoropiperidines

The enantioselective syntheses of 3-amino-5-fluoropiperidines and 3-amino-5,5-difluoropiperidines were developed using the ring enlargement of prolinols to access libraries of 3-amino- and 3-amidofluoropiperidines. The study of the physicochemical properties revealed that fluorine atom(s) decrease(s) the pKa and modulate(s) the lipophilicity of 3-aminopiperidines. The relative stereochemistry of the fluorine atoms with the amino groups at C3 on the piperidine core has a small effect on the pKa due to conformationnal modifications induced by fluorine atom(s). In the protonated forms, the C-F bond is in an axial position due to a dipole-dipole interaction between the N-H(+) and C-F bonds. Predictions of the physicochemical properties using common software appeared to be limited to determine correct values of pKa and/or differences of pKa between cis- and trans-3-amino-5-fluoropiperidines.

Nucleophile-dependent regio- and stereoselective ring opening of 1-azoniabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane tosylate

1-[(1R)-(1-Phenylethyl)]-1-azoniabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane tosylate was generated as a stable bicyclic aziridinium salt from the corresponding 2-(3-hydroxypropyl)aziridine upon reaction with p-toluenesulfonyl anhydride. This bicyclic aziridinium ion was then treated with various nucleophiles including halides, azide, acetate, and cyanide in CH3CN to afford either piperidines or pyrrolidines through regio- and stereoselective ring opening, mediated by the characteristics of the applied nucleophile. On the basis of DFT calculations, ring-opening reactions under thermodynamic control yield piperidines, whereas reactions under kinetic control can yield both piperidines and pyrrolidines depending on the activation energies for both pathways.

Nucleophilic radiofluorination at room temperature via aziridinium intermediates

2-Fluoroamines were synthesized at RT from alcohols with different sources of nucleophilic [¹⁸F]- or [¹⁹F]-fluoride.

Stereoselectively fluorinated N-heterocycles: a brief survey

The stereoselective incorporation of fluorine atoms into N-heterocycles can lead to dramatic changes in the molecules’ physical and chemical properties. These changes can be rationally exploited for the benefit of diverse fields such as medicinal chemistry and organocatalysis. This brief review will examine some of the effects that fluorine substitution can have in N-heterocycles, including changes to the molecules’ stability, their conformational behaviour, their hydrogen bonding ability, and their basicity. Finally, some methods for the synthesis of stereoselectively fluorinated N-heterocycles will also be reviewed.

Ring expansion of cyclic β-amino alcohols induced by diethylaminosulfur trifluoride: synthesis of cyclic amines with a tertiary fluorine at C3

As the replacement of a hydrogen atom by a fluorine atom in a compound can have an important impact on its biological properties, the development of methods allowing the introduction of a fluorine atom is of great importance. The scope and limitations of the ring expansion of cyclic 2-hydroxymethyl amines induced by diethylaminosulfur trifluoride (DAST) to produce cyclic β-fluoro amines was studied as well as the enantioselectivity of the process.

Access to optically active 3-azido- and 3-aminopiperidine derivatives by enantioselective ring expansion of prolinols

The activation of N-alkyl prolinols by XtalFluor E allowed the formation of an aziridinium intermediate that can react with tetrabutylammonium azide (nBu(4)NN(3)) to produce 3-azidopiperidines and/or 2-(azidomethyl)pyrrolidines, in a ratio up to 100/0. These 3-azidopiperidines can be reduced to the corresponding 3-aminopiperidines.

Synthesis of enantiopure substituted piperidines via an aziridinium ring expansion

Herein we report a novel methodology for the asymmetric synthesis of 3-substituted piperidines from readily available chiral building blocks. This method, which features a novel irreversible dihydropyrole-tetrahydropyridine ring expansion, allows the introduction of a large variety of substituents at the 3-position and permits substitution at the 2- and 6-position giving mono-, di-, or trisubstituted piperidines with high diastereocontrol.

Enantioselective synthesis of β-fluoroamines from β-amino alcohols: application to the synthesis of LY503430

N,N-Dialkyl-β-amino alcohols were enantiospecifically and regioselectively rearranged by using N,N-diethylaminosulfur trifluoride (DAST) to give optically active β-fluoroamines in excellent yields and enantiomeric excesses. This rearrangement was applied to the enantioselective synthesis of LY503430, a potential therapeutic agent for Parkinson's disease.

Fluorinated methylenecyclopropane analogues of nucleosides. Synthesis and antiviral activity of (Z)- and (E)-9-{[(2-fluoromethyl-2-hydroxymethyl)-cyclopropylidene]methyl}adenine and -guanine

Synthesis and antiviral activity of the title fluoromethylenecyclopropane analogues 15a, 15b, 16a, and 16b is described. Methylenecyclopropane carboxylate was first transformed to 2,2-bis-hydroxymethylmethylenecyclopropane. Selective monoacetylation followed by introduction of fluorine gave 2-acetoxymethyl-2-fluoromethylmethylenecyclopropane as the key intermediate. The synthesis of analogues 15a, 15b, 16a, and 16b then followed alkylation-elimination procedure as described previously for other methylenecyclopropane analogues [corrected] Compounds 15a, 15b, 16a and 16b were not active against Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) [corrected] Analogue 15a inhibited hepatitis C virus by virtue of its cytotoxicity and it moderately inhibited replication of the Towne strain of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). The E-isomer 16a was a substrate for adenosine deaminase, whereas the Z-isomer 15a was not deaminated.