A Tandem Isomerization-Mannich Reaction for the Enantioselective Synthesis of β-Amino Ketones and β-Amino Alcohols with Applications as Key Intermediates for ent-Nikkomycins and ent-Funebrine

Palladium mediated one-pot synthesis of 3-aryl-cyclohexenones and 1,5-diketones from allyl alcohols and aryl ketones

One-pot synthesis of Robinson annulated 3-aryl-cyclohexenones from allyl alcohols and ketones using palladium is reported. Long chain aliphatic or aryl substitutions at the C1 position of allyl alcohol result in the formation of 1,5-diketone products. This simple one-pot method avoids the use of highly electrophilic vinyl ketones.

Chiral N-tert-Butylsulfinyl Imines: New Discoveries

In this account the reactions of chiral N-tert-butylsulfinyl imines with organometallic reagents such as organoalkaline (lithium, sodium, potassium and cesium derivatives), organomagnesium, organozinc, organoboron, organoaluminium, organoindium and organosilicon compounds is comprehensively described. The reactivity in all cases is derived to synthetic applications in order to prepare interesting organic nitrogenated molecules, especially in the field of alkaloid compounds.

3,4-Dideoxy-3,3,4,4-tetrafluoro- and 4-OH epimeric 3-deoxy-3,3-difluoro-α-GalCer analogues: Synthesis and biological evaluation on human iNKT cells stimulation

iNKT cells recognize CD1d/α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer) complexes via their invariant TCR receptor and stimulate the immune response. Many α-GalCer analogues have been investigated to interrogate this interaction. Following our previous work related to the modification of the hydrogen bond network between α-GalCer and CD1d, we have now focused our attention on the synthesis of 3-deoxy-3,3-difluoro- and 3,4-dideoxy-3,3,4,4-tetrafluoro-α-GalCer analogues, and studied their ability to stimulate human iNKT cells. In each case, deoxygenation at the indicated positions was accompanied by difluoro introduction in order to evaluate the resulting electronic effect on the stability of the ternary CD1d/Galcer/TCR complex which has been rationalized by modeling study. With deoxy-difluorination at the 3-position, the two epimeric 4-OH analogues were investigated to establish their capacity to compensate for the lack of the hydrogen bond donating group at the 3-position. The 3,4-dideoxytetrafluoro analogue was of interest to highlight the amide NH-bond hydrogen bond properties.

Stereoselective Coupling of N-tert-Butanesulfinyl Aldimines and β-Keto Acids: Access to β-Amino Ketones

The reaction of chiral N-tert-butanesulfinyl aldimines with β-keto acids under basic conditions at room temperature proceeds with high levels of diastereocontrol, leading to β-amino ketones in high yields. Based on DFT calculations, an eight-membered cyclic transition state involving coordination of the lithium atom to the oxygens of carboxylate and sulfinyl units was proposed, being in agreement with the observed experimental diastereomeric ratios. The synthesis of the piperidine alkaloid (-)-pelletierine was successfully undertaken in order to demonstrate the utility of this methodology.

Preparation of Enantiomerically Pure Perfluorobutanesulfinamide and Its Application to the Asymmetric Synthesis of α-Amino Acids

A high yielding and practical two-step synthesis of enantiomerically pure perfluorobutanesulfinamide from Senanayake's 2-aminoindanol-derived sulfinyl transfer reagent was developed and carried out on a multigram scale. Straightforward condensation of this sulfinamide with ethyl glyoxylate provided the N-perfluorobutanesulfinyl imino ester. The utility of this activated N-sulfinyl imino ester was demonstrated for reactions that gave either no product or very low yields with the corresponding less electrophilic N-tert-butanesulfinyl derivative. Specifically, the Rh(III)-catalyzed C-H bond addition of aromatic compounds to the N-perfluorobutanesulfinyl imino ester provided arylglycines with very high diastereoselectivities for a range of directing groups including pyrrolidine amide, azo, sulfoximine, 1-pyrazole, and 1,2,3-triazole functionalities. Thermal asymmetric aza-Diels-Alder reactions also proceeded in good yields and with high selectivity, including for the substituted dienes (E)-1,3-pentadiene and (2E,4E)-2,4-hexadiene.

Asymmetric disulfonimide-catalyzed synthesis of δ-amino-β-ketoester derivatives by vinylogous Mukaiyama-Mannich reactions

An organocatalytic asymmetric synthesis of δ-amino-β-ketoester derivatives has been developed. A chiral disulfonimide (DSI) serves as a highly efficient precatalyst for a vinylogous Mukaiyama-Mannich reaction of readily available dioxinone-derived silyloxydienes with N-Boc-protected imines, delivering products in excellent yields and enantioselectivities. The synthetic utility of this reaction is illustrated in various transformations, including a new CC bond-forming reaction, which provide useful enantioenriched building blocks. The methodology is applied in a formal synthesis of (-)-lasubin.

Transition metal-catalyzed redox isomerization of codeine and morphine in water

A water-soluble rhodium complex formed from commercially available [Rh(COD)(CH₃CN)₂]BF₄ and 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane (PTA) catalyzes the isomerization of both codeine and morphine into hydrocodone and hydromorphone in water with very high efficiency.

Synthesis, FT-IR, ¹H, ¹³CNMR, ESI MS and PM5 studies of a new Mannich base of polyether antibiotic - Lasalocid acid and its complexes with Li⁺, Na⁺ and K⁺ cations

The polyether antibiotic Lasalocid acid has been converted to its Mannich base derivative by a chemoselective one-pot reaction with formaldehyde and morpholine through the decarboxylation process. Spectroscopic studies of the structure of this new derivative have shown that in this ortho-phenol Mannich base the O-H⋯N intarmolecular hydrogen bond is present. The compound forms complexes with Li(+), Na(+) and K(+) cations of exclusively 1:1 stoichiometry. The structures of these complexes have been studied and visualized by semi-empirical calculation based on results of spectrometric and spectroscopic investigation. It is demonstrated that in contrast to Lasalocid acid the novel Mannich type derivative forms preferential complexes with Li(+) cation.