Applications of chiral allenylzinc additions and Noyori asymmetric reductions to an enantioselective synthesis of a C3–C13 precursor of the polyketide phosphatase inhibitor cytostatin

Lewis-base-catalysed selective reductions of ynones with a mild hydride donor

Nucleophilic phosphines catalyze efficient 1,2-reductions of ynones employing pinacolborane as a mild hydride donor in the presence of alcohol additives.

Synthetic Strategies Employed for the Construction of Fostriecin and Related Natural Products

Fostriecin and related natural products present a significant challenge for synthetic chemists due to their structural complexity and chemical sensitivity. This review will chronicle the successful efforts of synthetic chemists in the construction of these biologically active molecules. Key carbon-carbon bond forming reactions will be highlighted, as well as the methods used to install the numerous stereocenters present in this class of compounds.

Paleo-soraphens: chemical total syntheses and biological studies

To provide a picture of the hypothetical evolutionary optimization of soraphen four additional paleo-soraphens and their biological profiles are described.

Highly enantioselective reduction of 4-(trimethylsilyl)-3-butyn-2-one to enantiopure (R)-4-(trimethylsilyl)-3-butyn-2-ol using a novel strain Acetobacter sp. CCTCC M209061

The biocatalytic reduction of 4-(trimethylsilyl)-3-butyn-2-one to enantiopure (R)-4-(trimethylsilyl)-3-butyn-2-ol was successfully conducted with high enantioselectivity using immobilized whole cells of a novel strain Acetobacter sp. CCTCC M209061, newly isolated from kefir. Compared with other microorganisms that were investigated, Acetobacter sp. CCTCC M209061 was shown to be more effective for the bioreduction reaction, and afforded much higher yield and product enantiomeric excess (e.e.). The optimal buffer pH, co-substrate concentration, reaction temperature, substrate concentration and shaking rate were 5.0, 130.6 mM, 30 degrees C, 6.0 mM and 180 r/min, respectively. Under the optimized conditions, the maximum yield and the product e.e. were 71% and >99%, respectively, which are much higher than those reported previously. Additionally, the established biocatalytic system proved to be efficient for the bioreduction of acetyltrimethylsilane to (R)-1-trimethylsilylethanol with excellent yield and product e.e. The immobilized cells manifested a good operational stability under the above reaction conditions since they retained 70% of their catalytic activity after ten cycles of use.

The use of a [4 + 2] cycloaddition reaction for the preparation of a series of ‘tethered’ Ru(ii)–diamine and aminoalcohol complexes

A series of catalysts have been prepared for use in the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of ketones. The complexes were prepared using a [4 + 2] cycloaddition reaction at a key step in the reaction sequence. This provides a means for the synthesis of catalysts with modifications at specific sites.

Total synthesis and evaluation of cytostatin, its C10-C11 diastereomers, and additional key analogues: impact on PP2A inhibition

The total synthesis of cytostatin, an antitumor agent belonging to the fostriecin family of natural products, is described in full detail. The convergent approach relied on a key epoxide-opening reaction to join the two stereotriad units and a single-step late-stage stereoselective installation of the sensitive (Z,Z,E)-triene through a beta-chelation-controlled nucleophilic addition. The synthetic route provided rapid access to the C4-C6 stereoisomers of the cytostatin lactone, which were prepared and used to define the C4-C6 relative stereochemistry of the natural product. In addition to the natural product, each of the C10-C11 diastereomers of cytostatin was divergently prepared (11 steps from key convergence step) by this route and used to unequivocally confirm the relative and absolute stereochemistry of cytostatin. Each of the cytostatin diastereomers exhibited a reduced activity toward inhibition of PP2A (>100-fold), demonstrating the importance of the presence and stereochemistry of the C10-methyl and C11-hydroxy groups for potent PP2A inhibition. Extensions of the studies provided dephosphocytostatin, sulfocytostatin (a key analogue related to the natural product sultriecin), 11-deshydroxycytostatin, and an analogue lacking the entire C12-C18 (Z,Z,E)-triene segment, which were used to define the magnitude of the C9-phosphate (>4000-fold), C11-alcohol (250-fold), and triene (220-fold) contribution to PP2A inhibition. A model of cytostatin bound to the active site of PP2A is presented, compared to that of fostriecin, which is also presented in detail for the first time, and used to provide insights into the role of the key substituents. Notably, the alpha,beta unsaturated lactone of cytostatin, like that of fostriecin, is projected to serve as a key electrophile, providing a covalent adduct with Cys269 unique to PP2A, contributing to its potency (> or =200-fold for fostriecin) and accounting for its selectivity.

The “Reverse-Tethered” Ruthenium (II) Catalyst for Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation: Further Applications

The attachment of a tethering group from the basic nitrogen atom to the arene ligand of a ruthenium(II) catalyst greatly improves its ability to catalyze asymmetric transfer hydrogenation (ATH) reactions. In this paper, we describe further applications of this versatile system to an extended substrate range.

(R)- and (S)-4-TIPS-3-butyn-2-ol. Useful Precursors of Chiral Allenylzinc and Indium Reagents

A convenient route to the enantiomers of 4-TIPS-3-butyn-2-ol of >95% enantiomeric purity by reduction of the ynone precursor 4 with the Noyori N-tosyl-1,2-diphenylethylenediamineruthenium cymene catalyst is described. The mesylate derivative of the (S) enantiomer (1c) is converted in situ to an allenylzinc or indium reagent in the presence of a catalyst derived from Pd(OAc)2 and Ph3P and either Et2Zn or InI. A second in situ addition of these reagents to aldehydes leads to anti homopropargylic alcohol adducts. The additions proceed in generally high (60-90%) yield with modest to excellent diastereoselectivity and high enantioselectivity. Only slight mismatching (<5%) is observed with chiral alpha-methyl and alpha-silyloxy aldehydes. Additions to alpha-substituted enals are highly diastereoselective, while beta,beta-disubstituted enals afford ca. 2:1 mixtures of anti and syn adducts.

An outstanding catalyst for asymmetric transfer hydrogenation in aqueous solution and formic acid/triethylamine

A Rh/tetramethylcyclopentadienyl complex containing a tethered functionality has been demonstrated to give excellent results in the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of ketones in both aqueous and formic acid/triethylamine media.

A Stereochemically Well-Defined Rhodium(III) Catalyst for Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation of Ketones

[reaction: see text] A rhodium(III) catalyst for asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of ketones has been designed. The incorporation of a tethering group between the diamino group and the cyclopentadienyl unit provides extra stereochemical rigidity. The catalyst is capable of enantioselective reduction of a range of ketones in excellent ee using formic acid/triethylamine as both the solvent and the reducing agent.

A Class of Ruthenium(II) Catalyst for Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenations of Ketones

Ruthenium dimer 6 (readily available in two steps from TsDPEN) is converted directly to monomeric asymmetric transfer hydrogenation catalyst 3 in situ under the conditions employed for ketone reduction. Catalyst 3 is a significantly more active catalyst for this application than the untethered derivative, exhibits higher enantioselectivities across a range of substrates, and appears to be highly stable to the reaction conditions. It is active at loadings of as low as 0.01 mol %, and reductions at the 0.1 mol % level are complete within 20 min at 80 degrees C without significant loss of enantioselectivity.