Asymmetric synthesis of 34--substituted β-lactams via chiral norephedrine-derived oxazolidines

Asymmetric one-pot synthesis of 1,3-oxazolidines and 1,3-oxazinanes via hemiaminal intermediates

A highly efficient method for the enantioselective one-pot synthesis of 1,3-oxazolidines and 1,3-oxazinanes has been reported. The reaction proceeds via the formation of hemiaminal intermediates obtained by the enantioselective addition of respective alcohols to imines catalyzed by a chiral magnesium phosphate catalyst, followed by intramolecular cyclization under mildly basic conditions. A wide range of substrates have been converted to the respective chiral heterocyclic products in high yields and with excellent enantioselectivities using this one-pot procedure.

Nitrenium ion azaspirocyclization-spirodienone cleavage: a new synthetic strategy for the stereocontrolled preparation of highly substituted lactams and N-hydroxy lactams

[reaction: see text] Although 1,4-cyclohexadienes 2, obtained through the Birch reduction of arenes 1, have found widespread use as masked beta-oxo carbonyl synthons 3, the possibility that 2,5-cyclohexadienones 5 might also be employed to the same end has been overlooked despite their ready availability. As part of our ongoing investigation of the synthetic chemistry of nitrenium ions, we have developed a novel and efficient strategy for the stereoselective preparation of di- and trisubstituted azetidinone, pyrrolidinone, and piperidinone derivatives, which features the ozonolytic cleavage of azaspirocyclic 2,5-cyclohexadienones 12. For example, ozonolysis of spirodienone 12c in CH2Cl2 and reductive workup with dimethyl sulfide generated unstable beta-formyl ester 21, whereas cleavage in MeOH followed by reduction with thiourea led to hemiacetal 22. While both 21 and 22 partially decompose upon exposure to silica gel, they can be trapped in situ, with a variety of weakly basic nucleophiles, to usefully substituted products. The requisite spirodienone substrates are readily accessible through the nitrenium ion cyclization of alkyl omega-arylhydroxamates 10, which proceeds with moderate to high diastereoselectivity.

Regio- and Stereocontrolled Formation of Chiral Epoxy Oxazolidines via Bromocarbamation of N-Boc Alkenyl Oxazolidines. Application to Asymmetric Synthesis

Treatment of alpha-alkenyl N-Boc oxazolidines with N-bromosuccinimide leads to epoxy oxazolidines via a bromocyclocarbamation reaction which is completely stereoselective. Action of sodium azide on these epoxides, followed by a few functional group manipulations, eventually affords chiral beta-amino alcohols which are intermediates for the enantioselective synthesis of bioactive products: the anti side chain of taxol and a hydroxyethylamine isostere. Both the bromocarbamation cyclization and the nucleophilic cleavage of epoxides are totally regioselective. AM1 calculations suggest that this selectivity is controlled by the positive charge distribution at the electrophilic centers.