Asymmetric Kinugasa reaction involving six-membered cyclic nitrones

Copper-Catalyzed Asymmetric Kinugasa/Michael Addition Cascade Reactions for the Synthesis of Chiral Spiro β-Lactams

A mild copper-catalyzed asymmetric Kinugasa/Michael addition cascade process is developed. The reaction of α, β-unsaturated ester-tethered propiolamides with nitrones provides an efficient protocol for the construction of functionalized chiral 2,6-diazaspiro[3.4]octane-1,5-dione products in satisfactory yields and with high enantio- and diastereoselectivities.

Cascade synthetic strategies opening access to medicinal-relevant aliphatic 3- and 4-membered N-heterocyclic scaffolds

Cascade reactions are often 'employed' by nature to construct structurally diverse nitrogen-containing heterocycles in a highly stereoselective fashion, i.e., secondary metabolites important for pharmacy. Nitrogen-containing heterocycles of three- and four-membered rings, as standalone and bicyclic compounds, inhibit different enzymes and are pharmacophores of approved drugs or drug candidates considered in many therapies, e.g. anticancer, antibacterial or antiviral. Domino transformations are in most cases in line with modern green chemistry concepts due to atom economy, one-pot procedures often without use the protective groups, time-saving and at markedly lower costs than multistep transformations. The tandem approaches can help to obtain novel N-heterocyclic scaffolds, functionalized according to structural requirements of the target in cells, taking into account the nature of functional group and stereochemistry. On the other hand cascade strategies allow to modify small N-heterocyclic rings in a systematic way, which is beneficial for structure-activity relationship (SAR) analyses. This review is focused on the biological relevance of the N-heterocyclic scaffolds with smaller 3- and 4-membered rings among approved drugs and leading structures of drug candidates. The cascade synthetic strategies offering N-heterocyclic scaffolds, at relatively good yields and high stereoselectivity, are discussed here. The review covers mainly years from 2015 to 2021.

Bypassing the stereoselectivity issue: transformations of Kinugasa adducts from chiral alkynes and non-chiral acyclic nitrones

An approach to β-lactams via a reaction between chiral copper acetylides and acyclic nitrones is reported. Electronic circular dichroism (ECD) in combination with NMR spectroscopy was used to determine the absolute configuration of all components of complex mixtures of azetidinones. Stereochemical preferences observed in the studied reactions are discussed and a model of a new reaction pathway supported by DFT conformational analysis is proposed. Subsequent transformations of the synthesized Kinugasa adducts followed by epimerization at the C-3 carbon atom led to trans-substituted azetidinones with improved stereoselectivity, mimicking a variety of important β-lactam structures. On the other hand, the oxidation of the furyl residue to the carboxylic group followed by oxidative decarboxylation with lead tetraacetate afforded the more thermodynamically stable trans-substituted 4-acetoxy azetidinone. The latter strategy is particularly attractive for the diastereomeric mixture in which isomers with the same configuration at the C-3 carbon atom dominate.

Monomeric, dimeric and tetrameric triazoles which also include nitrones

The synthesis of some novel nitrones as part of molecules with a potential dual biological functionality is described. Novel aldehydes with 1,2,3-triazole linkers were synthesised and the nitrones were introduced by the classical methodology by reacting the aldehyde with phenyl hydroxylamine.

Assessing inter- and intramolecular continuous-flow strategies towards methylphenidate (Ritalin) hydrochloride

Development of a scalable continuous-flow process towards enriched threo-methylphenidate (Ritalin) hydrochloride.

Recent developments in the synthesis of condensed β-lactams

β-Lactams are important heterocycles with diverse pharmacological profiles and have emerged as useful organic synthons.

Regioselective facile synthesis of novel isoxazole-linked glycoconjugates

One-pot regioselective synthesis of novel isoxazole-linked glycoconjugates, by the reaction ofin situgenerated glycosyl-β-nitrile oxide and different alkynes, has been devised.