Short enantioselective synthesis of sedridines, ethylnorlobelols and coniine via reagent-based differentiation

Structural diversity using amino acid "Customizable Units": conversion of hydroxyproline (Hyp) into nitrogen heterocycles

The ability of amino acid “customizable units” to generate structural diversity is illustrated by the conversion of 4-hydroxyproline (Hyp) units into a variety of nitrogen heterocycles. After a first common step, where the unit underwent a one-pot decarboxylation–alkylation reaction to afford 2-alkylpyrrolidines with high stereoselectivity, a divergent step was carried out. Thus, the deprotected 4-hydroxy group was used either to initiate a radical scission that afforded aliphatic β-amino aldehydes, or to carry out an elimination reaction, to give 2-alkyl-2,5-dihydro-1H-pyrroles. In the first case, the amines underwent a tandem reductive amination–cyclization to afford β-amino-δ-lactams, an efficient rigidifying unit in peptides. Different lactam N-substituents, such as alkylamines, peptides, and alkenyl chains suitable for olefin metathesis were introduced this way. In the second case, the pyrrole derivatives were efficiently converted into alkaloid and iminosugar derivatives in good global yields and with excellent stereoselectivity.

O2 -Assisted Four-Component Reaction of Vinyl Magnesium Bromide with Chiral N-tert-Butanesulfinyl Imines To Form syn-1,3-Amino Alcohols

An O₂ -assisted, four-component reaction has been developed to synthesize a wide range of syn-1,3-amino alcohols in one step. The reaction proceeds by oxygenation of vinyl magnesium bromide (component-I) with O₂ (component-II) to give a magnesium enolate of acetaldehyde, which undergoes addition to a chiral N-tert-butanesulfinyl imine (component-III) followed by a sequential addition with excess vinyl magnesium bromide (component-IV). The approach allows diastereoselective synthesis of anti/syn- and syn/syn-3-amino-1,5-diols in good yields with high diastereoselectivity. The method was illustrated in an efficient, four-step synthesis of piperidine alkaloid (-)-2'-epi-ethylnorlobelol.

Enzymatic Kinetic Resolution of 2-Piperidineethanol for the Enantioselective Targeted and Diversity Oriented Synthesis

2-Piperidineethanol (1) and its corresponding N-protected aldehyde (2) were used for the synthesis of several natural and synthetic compounds. The existence of a stereocenter at position 2 of the piperidine skeleton and the presence of an easily-functionalized group, such as the alcohol, set 1 as a valuable starting material for enantioselective synthesis. Herein, are presented both synthetic and enzymatic methods for the resolution of the racemic 1, as well as an overview of synthesized natural products starting from the enantiopure 1.

The role of biocatalysis in the asymmetric synthesis of alkaloids

Alkaloids are not only one of the most intensively studied classes of natural products, their wide spectrum of pharmacological activities also makes them indispensable drug ingredients in both traditional and modern medicine. Among the methods for their production, biotechnological approaches are gaining importance, and biocatalysis has emerged as an essential tool in this context. A number of chemo-enzymatic strategies for alkaloid synthesis have been developed over the years, in which the biotransformations nowadays take an increasingly 'central' role. This review summarises different applications of biocatalysis in the asymmetric synthesis of alkaloids and discusses how recent developments and novel enzymes render innovative and efficient chemo-enzymatic production routes possible.

Diastereoselective access to nonracemic 2-cis-substituted and 2,6-cis-disubstituted piperidines

Access to nonracemic amino ketones via a hydrozirconation/transmetalation/acylation sequence applied to Boc-protected 1-aminobut-3-enes is presented. This method was applied to the stereoselective synthesis of cyclic imines (or iminiums) which were diastereoselectively converted into 2-cis-substituted and 2,6-cis-disubstituted piperidines. The potential of this approach in the field of alkaloid synthesis was illustrated by the synthesis of (-)-coniine and (-)-indolizidine 209D. Furthermore, access to indolizidines bearing a quaternary center could also be envisioned through this strategy.

Synthesis of (+)-dumetorine and congeners by using flow chemistry technologies

An efficient total synthesis of the natural alkaloid (+)-dumetorine by using flow technology is described. The process entailed five separate steps starting from the enantiopure (S)-2-(piperidin-2-yl)ethanol 4 with 29% overall yield. Most of the reactions were carried out by exploiting solvent superheating and by using packed columns of immobilized reagents or scavengers to minimize handling. New protocols for performing classical reactions under continuous flow are disclosed: the ring-closing metathesis reaction with a novel polyethylene glycol-supported Hoveyda catalyst and the unprecedented flow deprotection/Eschweiler-Clarke methylation sequence. The new protocols developed for the synthesis of (+)-dumetorine were applied to the synthesis of its simplified natural congeners (-)-sedamine and (+)-sedridine.

Gold(I)-catalyzed intramolecular amination of allylic alcohols with alkylamines

A 1:1 mixture of (1)AuCl [1 = P(t-Bu)(2)o-biphenyl] and AgSbF(6) catalyzes the intramolecular amination of allylic alcohols with alkylamines to form substituted pyrrolidine and piperidine derivatives. Gold(I)-catalyzed cyclization of (R,Z)-8-(N-benzylamino)-3-octen-2-ol (96% ee, 95% de) led to isolation of (R,E)-1-benzyl-2-(1-propenyl)piperidine in 99% yield with 96% ee, consistent with the net syn addition of the amine relative to the departing hydroxyl group.

Regioselective and stereoselective copper(I)-promoted allylation and conjugate addition of N-Boc-2-lithiopyrrolidine and N-Boc-2-lithiopiperidine

Copper salts have been screened for transmetalation and electrophilic quench of N-tert-butoxycarbonyl-2-lithiopyrrolidine (N-Boc-2-lithiopyrrolidine) and N-Boc-2-lithiopiperidine, formed by deprotonation of N-Boc-pyrrolidine and N-Boc-piperidine, respectively. Transmetalation with zinc chloride then (lithium chloride solubilized) copper cyanide followed by allylation typically gives mixtures of regioisomers (S(N)2 and S(N)2' products), whereas transmetalation with copper iodide.TMEDA then allylation occurs regioselectively (S(N)2 mechanism). Addition to an enone or alpha,beta-unsaturated ester occurs by 1,4-addition. Asymmetric deprotonation of N-Boc-pyrrolidine or dynamic resolution in the presence of a chiral ligand of N-Boc-2-lithiopiperidine followed by the zinc/copper chemistry was successful and gave the allylated pyrrolidine and piperidine products with good enantioselectivity, although use of the copper iodide chemistry resulted in some loss of enantiopurity. The chemistry provides formal syntheses of (+)-allosedridine, (+)-lasubine II, and (+)-pseudohygroline and has been used for the synthesis of (+)-coniine, (-)-pelletierine, (+)-coniceine, (-)-norhygrine, and the ant extract alkaloids cis- and trans-2-butyl-5-propylpyrrolidine.

Stereocontrol in N-directed hydroboration: synthesis of amino alcohols related to the piperidine alkaloids

Treatment of 2-(2'-alkenyl)-piperidine boranes with iodine or triflic acid induces internal hydroboration with high regiocontrol, even with a terminal alkene (R = H). Good stereocontrol is possible for the N-benzyl substrates. Comparisons with acyclic model structures show that the source of regiocontrol with the terminal alkene is due to a steric effect of the axial piperidine C(3,5) hydrogens that destabilize the competing bridged bicyclic transition state.

Allylic C-H amination for the preparation of syn-1,3-amino alcohol motifs

A highly selective and general Pd/sulfoxide-catalyzed allylic C-H amination reaction en route to syn-1,3-amino alcohol motifs is reported. Key to achieving this reactivity under mild conditions is the use of electron-deficient N-nosyl carbamate nucleophiles that are thought to promote functionalization by furnishing higher concentrations of anionic species in situ. The reaction is shown to be orthogonal to classical C-C bond-forming/-reduction sequences as well as nitrene-based C-H amination methods.

Synthesis of 2,4,6-Trisubstituted Chiral Piperidines and (−)-Dendroprimine by One-Pot Asymmetric Azaelectrocyclization Protocol

[reaction: see text] Stereocontrolled synthesis of 2,4,6-trisubstituted piperidine diastereomers has been realized from common intermediates, obtained by a one-pot azaelectrocyclization protocol. Based on the method, the asymmetric synthesis of an indolizidine alkaloid, (-)-dendroprimine, was achieved.