Chemo-enzymatic synthesis of the azasugars 1,4-dideoxyallonojirimycin and 1,4-dideoxymannojirimycin

Biomanufacture of L-homoserine lactone building block: A strategy for preparing γ-substituted L-amino acids by modular reaction

A strain high-performance of esterase producing bacteria was screened from soil, which could selectively hydrolyze D-homoserine lactone from its racemate to achieve the resolution of L- homoserine lactone with more than 99% e.e. in 48% yield. L-homoserine lactone building block was then converted to L-α-amino-γ-bromobutyronic acid chiral blocks, which reacted with various nucleophilic reagent modules could to be applied to prepare L-γ- substituted α-amino acids such as L-selenomethionine, L-methionine, L-glufosinate and L-selenocystine. Its advantages included high selectivity of biocatalytic resolution reactions, high optical purity of products, racemic recycle of D-substrates and modular reaction, which simplified the production process of these products and highlighted the power of biological manufacturing.

Stereodivergent synthesis of α-fluoro α-azaaryl γ-butyrolactones via cooperative copper and iridium catalysis

The development of stereodivergent synthetic methods to access all four stereoisomers of biologically important α-fluoro γ-butyrolactones containing vicinal stereocenters is of great importance and poses a formidable challenge owing to ring strain and steric hindrance. Herein, a novel asymmetric [3+2] annulation of α-fluoro α-azaaryl acetates with vinylethylene carbonate was successfully developed through Cu/Ir-catalyzed cascade allylic alkylation/lactonization, affording a variety of enantioenriched α-fluoro γ-butyrolactones bearing vicinal stereogenic centers with high reaction efficiency and excellent levels of both stereoselectivity and regioselectivity (up to 98% yield, generally >20:1 dr and >99% ee). Notably, all four stereoisomers of these pharmaceutically valuable molecules could be accessed individually via simple permutations of two enantiomeric catalysts. In addition, other azaaryl acetates bearing α-methyl, α-chlorine or α-phenyl group were tolerated well in this transformation. Reaction mechanistic investigations were conducted to explore the process of this bimetallic catalysis based on the results of reaction intermediates, isotopic labelling experiments, and kinetic studies.

Dinuclear zinc-catalyzed asymmetric [3 + 2] cyclization reaction for direct assembly of chiral α-amino-γ-butyrolactones bearing three stereocenters

A highly atom-economic and novel enantioselective [3 + 2] cyclization reaction for the construction of optical α-amino-γ-butyrolactones possessing three stereocenters.

From racemic precursors to fully stereocontrolled products: one-pot synthesis of chiral α-amino lactones and lactams

Substituted racemic lactols or cyclic hemiaminals were directly used as nucleophiles in enamine-based asymmetric amination reactions to access enantioenriched α-amino lactones or lactams via a one-pot sequence. The desired products, which are very important building blocks in organic synthesis but difficult to be prepared in the optically enriched form, could be afforded with two stereogenic centers in high yields with excellent enantioselectivities. Moreover, starting from the racemic precursors and catalyzed by the enantiomeric pair of the catalyst, all possible stereoisomeric products were discretely provided only after simple column chromatography. Additionally, this protocol provides facile access to several novel bicyclic carbamates, and such drug-like heterocyclic compounds should be potentially useful in medicinal chemistry.

Chemoselective room temperature E1cB N–N cleavage of oxazolidinone hydrazides from enantioselective aldehyde α-hydrazination: synthesis of (+)-1,4-dideoxyallonojirimycin

A room temperature method for hydrazide N–N cleavage is presented that completes enantioselective aldehyde α-hydrazination methodology.

Synthesis of α-Benzyloxyamino-γ-butyrolactones via a Polar Radical Crossover Cycloaddition Reaction

A direct catalytic synthesis of substituted α-benzyloxyamino-γ-butyrolactones is reported, starting from simple oxime acids and alkenes. The substituted O-benzyloxime acid starting materials are cyclized with oxidizable alkenes, via Polar Radical Crossover Cycloaddition (PRCC) reactions. The catalytic reaction is carried out using the Fukuzumi acridinium photooxidant and substoichiometric amounts of a redox-active cocatalyst. The utility of this method has been demonstrated through the use of 3 oxime acids and 19 oxidizable olefins.