Direct asymmetric organocatalytic de novo synthesis of carbohydrates

Evaluation of the enantioselectivity of new chiral ligands based on imidazolidin-4-one derivatives

The new chiral ligands I-III based on derivatives of imidazolidin-4-one were synthesised and characterised. The catalytic activity and enantioselectivity of their corresponding copper(II) complexes were studied in asymmetric Henry reactions. It was found that the enantioselectivity of these catalysts is overall very high and depends on the relative configuration of the ligand used; cis-configuration of ligand affords the nitroaldols with major enantiomer S- (up to 97% ee), whereas the application of ligands with trans-configuration led to nitroaldols with major R-enantiomer (up to 96% ee). The "proline-type" ligand IV was also tested in asymmetric aldol reactions. Under the optimised reaction conditions, aldol products with enantioselectivities of up to 91% ee were obtained.

Total Synthesis of ( + )-Swainsonine, (–)- Swainsonine, ( + )-8--

A tactical combination of either ( S)- or ( R)-proline catalyzed aldol reaction followed by intramolecular reductive amination enabled the synthesis of a chiral pyrrolidine derivative with 3 contiguous stereocenters in only 2 synthetic steps, starting from achiral precursors. This product, obtainable in both enantiomeric forms, was further exploited as a common intermediate in total syntheses of the biologically active iminosugars: ( + )-swainsonine, (–)-swainsonine, ( + )-8- epi-swainsonine, and ( + )-dideoxy-imino-lyxitol.

Highly diastereo- and enantioselective organocatalytic synthesis of trifluoromethylated erythritols based on the in situ generation of unstable trifluoroacetaldehyde

Thus far, only a few methods for the asymmetric synthesis of erythritols bearing a trifluoromethyl group have been developed, and these methods present serious disadvantages such as the requirement of multiple steps for the preparation of their starting materials, low stereoselectivity, and the use of highly toxic reagents. Herein, we have developed a highly diastereo- and enantioselective organocatalytic method to synthesise erythritols bearing a trifluoromethyl group using (1) a commercially available organocatalyst to produce unstable trifluoroacetaldehyde in situ from its corresponding hemiacetal, followed by the simultaneous asymmetric carbon-carbon bond-forming reaction of the organocatalyst with an in situ-generated chiral enamine derived from 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxane-5-one to obtain the corresponding aldol product in good yield (65-80%) with high diastereoselectivity (up to 94% de) and excellent enantioselectivity (up to >98% ee), (2) the highly diastereoselective reduction of the ketone moiety in the aldol product (up to 98% de), and (3) the deprotection of the acetal moiety.

A Simple and Efficient Protocol for Proline-Catalysed Asymmetric Aldol Reaction

The proline-catalysed asymmetric aldol reaction is usually carried out in highly dipolar aprotic solvents (dimethylsulfoxide, dimethylformamide, acetonitrile) where proline presents an acceptable solubility. Protic solvents are generally characterized by poor stereocontrol (e.g., methanol) or poor reactivity (e.g., water). Here, we report that water/methanol mixtures are exceptionally simple and effective reaction media for the intermolecular organocatalytic aldol reaction using the simple proline as the catalyst.

Total Synthesis of the Trisaccharide Antigen of the Campylobacter jejuni RM1221 Capsular Polysaccharide via de Novo Synthesis of the 6-Deoxy-d- manno-heptose Building Blocks

A de novo approach utilizing the d-proline-catalyzed and LDA-promoted aldol reactions as key steps for the preparation of differentiated-protected 6-deoxy-d- manno-heptose building blocks was developed. PPh₃AuBAr₄^F-catalyzed glycosylation with the 6-deoxy-d- manno-heptosyl o-hexynylbenzoate as donor was demonstrated as a direct and practical method for the stereoselective synthesis of the β-linked 6-deoxy-d- manno-heptoside as the major product. Coupling of the 6-deoxy-α-d- manno-heptosyl H-phosphonate with the 3-hydroxyl disaccharide acceptor based on H-phosphonate chemistry was described for the construction of the trisaccharide skeleton with the acid-labile phosphodiester linkage. Finally, first total synthesis of the unique trisaccharide antigen of the capsular polysaccharide of Campylobacter jejuni RM1221 that belongs to HS:53 serotype complex was accomplished for further evaluation as vaccine candidate against C. jejuni RM1221 infection.

L-Proline functionalized magnetic nanoparticles: A novel magnetically reusable nanocatalyst for one-pot synthesis of 2,4,6-triarylpyridines

In this work, an efficient method for the immobilization of L-proline on magnetic nanoparticles was offered and evaluated as a recoverable magnetic nanocatalyst for synthesis of 2,4,6-triarylpyridines through one-pot three-component reaction of acetophenone, aryl aldehydes and ammonium acetate. This article is the first report of the catalytic application of L-proline functionalized magnetic nanoparticles in organic reactions as a magnetic nanocatalyst. This novel magnetic nanocatalyst proved to be effective and provided the products in high to excellent yield under solvent-free conditions. The structure of obtained nanoparticles was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry (FT-IR), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). TGA result revealed that it is stable up to 200 °C for using as a catalyst in organic reactions. FE-SEM image of the synthesized nanocatalyst showed that it has nearly core-shell spherical shape and uniform size distribution with an average size about 80 nm. Moreover, the catalyst could be easily recovered by facile separation by magnetic forces and recycled for several times without significant loss of its catalytic activity. The benefits of this study are simplicity, nontoxicity, low cost, simple workup, and an environmentally benign nature.

Catalytic enantioselective aldol reactions

Recent developments in catalytic asymmetric aldol reactions have been summarized.

Synthesis of D-manno-heptulose via a cascade aldol/hemiketalization reaction

A [4 + 3] synthesis of D-manno-heptulose is described. The cascade aldol/hemiketalization reaction of a C₄ aldehyde with a C₃ ketone provides the differentially protected ketoheptose building block, which can be further reacted to furnish target D-manno-heptulose.

Synthesis of octitols and the respective amino-derivatives from 'organo-aldols'

Two diastereoisomeric keto-octoses, obtained in the reaction of 2,3:4,5-diacetone-D-arabinose with protected dihydroxyacetone catalyzed with L- or D-proline, were converted into octitols by stereoselective reduction of the carbonyl group with zinc borohydride and final deprotection. The study on the preparation of the respective amino-derivatives by reductive amination of these organo-adducts is presented; stereochemical aspects of these processes are discussed.

Total synthesis of (+)-swainsonine and (+)-8-epi-swainsonine

Enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-swaisonine that hinges on a combination of organocatalyzed aldolization and reductive amination, affords the title compound in 9 steps, with 24% overall yield.

A tandem organocatalytic α-chlorination-aldol reaction that proceeds with dynamic kinetic resolution: a powerful tool for carbohydrate synthesis

A tandem, proline-catalyzed α-chlorination/aldol reaction is described that involves a dynamic kinetic resolution of α-chloroaldehyde intermediates. The resulting syn-chlorohydrins are produced with good to excellent diastereoselectivity in high enantiopurity and provide new opportunities for the synthesis of carbohydrates.

Enamine catalysis

The reversible reaction of primary or secondary amines with enolizable aldehydes or ketones affords nucleophilic intermediates, enamines. With chiral amines, catalytic enantioselective reactions via enamine intermediates become possible. In this review, structure-activity relationships and the scope as well as current limitations of enamine catalysis are discussed.

Towards the synthesis of a Yersinia pestis cell wall polysaccharide: enantioselective synthesis of an L-glycero-D-manno-heptose building block

A short and enantioselective de novo synthesis of an L-glycero-D-manno-heptose building block for the total synthesis of a Yersinia pestis cell wall polysaccharide is described.

The direct catalytic asymmetric aldol reaction

Asymmetric aldol reactions are a powerful method for the construction of carbon-carbon bonds in an enantioselective fashion. Historically this reaction has been performed in a stoichiometric fashion to control the various aspects of chemo-, diastereo-, regio- and enantioselectivity, however, a more atom economical approach would unite high selectivity with the use of only a catalytic amount of a chiral promoter. This critical review documents the development of direct catalytic asymmetric aldol methodologies, including organocatalytic and metal-based strategies. New methods have improved the reactivity, selectivity and substrate scope of the direct aldol reaction and enabled the synthesis of complex molecular targets (357 references).

Chiral catalysts dually functionalized with amino acid and Zn2+ complex components for enantioselective direct aldol reactions inspired by natural aldolases: design, synthesis, complexation properties, catalytic activities, and mechanistic study

Aldolases are enzymes that catalyze stereospecific aldol reactions in a reversible manner. Naturally occurring aldolases include class I aldolases, which catalyze aldol reactions via enamine intermediates, and class II aldolases, in which Zn(2+) enolates of substrates react with acceptor aldehydes. In this work, Zn(2+) complexes of L-prolyl-pendant[15]aneN(5) (ZnL(3)), L-prolyl-pendant[12]aneN(4) (ZnL(4)), and L-valyl-pendant[12]aneN(4) (ZnL(5)) were designed and synthesized for use as chiral catalysts for enantioselective aldol reactions. The complexation constants for L(3) to L(5) with Zn(2+) [logK(s)(ZnL)] were determined to be 14.1 (for ZnL(3)), 7.6 (for ZnL(4)), and 9.6 (for ZnL(5)), indicating that ZnL(3) is more stable than ZnL(4) and ZnL(5). The deprotonation constants of Zn(2+)-bound water [pK(a)(ZnL) values] for ZnL(3), ZnL(4), and ZnL(5) were calculated to be 9.2 (for ZnL(3)), 8.2 (for ZnL(4)), and 8.6 (for ZnL(5)), suggesting that the Zn(2+) ions in ZnL(3) is a less acidic Lewis acid than in ZnL(4) and ZnL(5). These values also indicated that the amino groups on the side chains weakly coordinate to Zn(2+). We carried out aldol reactions between acetone and 2-chlorobenzaldehyde and other aldehydes in the presence of catalytic amounts of the chiral Zn(2+) complexes in acetone/H(2)O at 25 and 37 degrees C. Whereas ZnL(3) yielded the aldol product in 43% yield and 1% ee (R), ZnL(4) and ZnL(5) afforded good chemical yields and high enantioselectivities of up to 89% ee (R). UV titrations of proline and ZnL(4) with acetylacetone (acac) in DMSO/H(2)O (1:2) indicate that ZnL(4) facilitates the formation of the ZnL(4)(acac)(-) complex (K(app)=2.1x10(2) M(-1)), whereas L-proline forms a Schiff base with acac with a very small equilibrium constant. These results suggest that the amino acid components and the Zn(2+) ions in ZnL(4) and ZnL(5) function in a cooperative manner to generate the Zn(2+)-enolate of acetone, thus permitting efficient enantioselective C-C bond formation with aldehydes.

5-(Pyrrolidin-2-yl)tetrazole-catalyzed aldol and mannich reactions: acceleration and lower catalyst loading in a continuous-flow reactor

Continuous organocatalysis: Fast aldol and Mannich reactions require less catalyst when conducted in a microreactor. A proline tetrazole derivative (5-10 mol %) catalyzes asymmetric aldol reactions between various aromatic aldehydes and ketones in microreactor at 60 degrees C with reaction times ranging from 10 to 30 min.

Lessons from nature: biomimetic organocatalytic carbon-carbon bond formations

Nature utilizes simple C2 and C3 building blocks, such as dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP), phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP), and the "active aldehyde" in various enzyme-catalyzed carbon-carbon bond formations to efficiently build up complex organic molecules. In this Perspective, we describe the transition from using enantiopure chemical synthetic equivalents of these building blocks, employing our SAMP/RAMP hydrazone methodology and metalated chiral alpha-amino nitriles, to the asymmetric organocatalytic versions developed in our laboratory. Following this biomimetic strategy, the DHAP equivalent 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxan-5-one (dioxanone) has been used in the proline-catalyzed synthesis of carbohydrates, aminosugars, carbasugars, polyoxamic acid, and various sphingosines. Proline-catalyzed aldol reactions involving a PEP-like equivalent have also allowed for the asymmetric synthesis of ulosonic acid precursors. By mimicking the "active aldehyde" nucleophilic acylations in Nature catalyzed by the thiamine-dependent enzyme, transketolase, enantioselective N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed benzoin and Stetter reactions have been developed. Finally, based on Nature's use of domino reactions to convert simple building blocks into complex and highly functionalized molecules, we report on our development of biomimetic asymmetric multicomponent domino reactions which couple enamine and iminium catalysis.

Asymmetric organocatalysis: from infancy to adolescence

After an initial period of validating asymmetric organocatalysis by using a wide range of important model reactions that constitute the essential tools of organic synthesis, the time has now been reached when organocatalysis can be used to address specific issues and solve pending problems of stereochemical relevance. This Review deals with selected studies reported in 2006 and the first half of 2007, and is intended to highlight four main aspects that may be taken as testimony of the present status and prospective of organocatalysis: a) chemical efficiency; b) discovery of new substrate combinations to give new asymmetric syntheses; c) development of new catalysts for specific purposes by using mechanistic findings; and d) applications of organocatalytic reactions in the asymmetric total synthesis of target natural products and known compounds of biological and pharmaceutical relevance.

Highly enantioselective direct syn- and anti-aldol reactions of dihydroxyacetones catalyzed by chiral primary amine catalysts

We present herein simple primary-tertiary diamine-Brønsted acid conjugates that catalyze both syn- and anti-aldol reactions of dihydroxyacetones (DHAs) with high diastereoselectivities and enantioselectivities. This type of organocatalysts functionally mimics all four DHA aldolases, namely L-fuculose-1-phosphate aldolase, D-tagatose-1,6-diphosphate aldolase, D-fructose-1,6-diphosphate aldolase, and L-rhamnulose-1-phosphate aldolase.