The use of chloroacetic acid in the mitsunobu reaction

The essential oil of the condiment species Clinopodium thymifolium (Scop.) Kuntze: new natural products and seasonal variation

BACKGROUND

Clinopodium thymifolium is an aromatic plant species that is widespread in the Mediterranean region. It has been considered as a condiment and is used in cooking. As a promising spice plant, some efforts are being made to introduce this plant as a new crop species and it has been successfully cultivated in northern Italy.

RESULTS

Essential oils isolated from the aerial parts of a flavoring species C. thymifolium were analyzed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The results of a detailed analysis of the chemical composition of the oils showed the domination of pulegone, piperitone, piperitenone and isomenthone, as well as a significant alteration of the pulegone/isomenthone ratio with the developmental stage of the plant. Additionally, a comprehensive chemical analysis of the oils in combination with detailed spectral analyses and chemical synthesis of selected compounds has led to the identification of two new natural products: isomenthyl formate and neomenthyl 2-methylbutanoate.

CONCLUSION

The observed chemical variability at the intrapopulation level appeared to be a phenological variation. In an evolutionary sense, the alteration of the pulegone/isomenthone ratio suggests their possible role in the ecological adaptation of the species to pollinators. Significant quantitative changes in the chemical composition of the oil at different phenological stages may be relevant in the case of plant material intended for edible purposes. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

A series of esters of diastereomeric menthols: Comprehensive mass spectral libraries and gas chromatographic data

A comprehensive data collection of mass spectral and gas chromatographic data of a series of esters of diastereomeric menthols (menthol, isomenthol, neomenthol, and neoisomenthol), in total 150 chemical entities, obtained by GC-MS on commonly used capillary columns of different polarity (non-polar HP-5MS and polar HP-Innowax), was created. Also, MS libraries containing electron ionization MS recorded on single quadrupole as well as on quadrupole ion-trap mass detectors together with the RIs on non-polar and polar columns were compiled (available as supplementary materials). The results point out to frequent misidentification of neoisomenthyl acetate as isomenthyl acetate in the literature, and the means of how to resolve this issue was suggested. The outcomes of this study provide chemists and food technologists with a useful tool in the field of food analysis of compounds with important food aroma properties.

Steroidal Aphidicolin Analogues Derived from Pregnenolone

The conversion of pregnenolone into the 3β,5α-, 3α,5α-, 4β,5α-, 3α,4α-, 3α,4β- and 3α,4α-dihydroxy derivatives of 17β-hydroxymethyl-5β-androstane as steroidal analogues of the diterpenoid DNA polymerase α inhibitor, aphidicolin, is described.

Systematic Evaluation of 2-Arylazocarboxylates and 2-Arylazocarboxamides as Mitsunobu Reagents

2-Arylazocarboxylate and 2-arylazocarboxamide derivatives can serve as replacements of typical Mitsunobu reagents such as diethyl azodicarboxylate. A systematic investigation of the reactivity and physical properties of those azo compounds has revealed that they have an excellent ability as Mitsunobu reagents. These reagents show similar or superior reactivity as compared to the known azo reagents and are applicable to the broad scope of substrates. p K_a and steric effects of substrates have been investigated, and the limitation of the Mitsunobu reaction can be overcome by choosing suitable reagents from the library of 2-arylazocarboxylate and 2-aryl azocarboxamide derivatives. Convenient recovery of azo reagents is available by one-pot iron-catalyzed aerobic oxidation, for example. SC-DSC analysis of representative 2-arylazocarboxylate and 2-arylazocarboxamide derivatives has shown high thermal stability, indicating that these azo reagents possess lower chemical hazard compared with typical azo reagents.

Stereocontrol by quaternary centres: a stereoselective synthesis of (-)-luminacin D

Very high diastereoselectivity can be achieved by 1,3-chelation-controlled allylation of aldehydes that possess a non-chelating α-ether substituent, even if the α-position is a quaternary centre and/or a spiro-epoxide. This reaction was used as a key step in an enantioselective synthesis of the angiogenesis inhibitor luminacin D.

A Further Contribution to the Study of Sagittamide A: Synthesis of a Pivotal Intermediate Belonging to a Rare L-Series

A key saggitamide intermediate corresponding to a rare sugar framework has been obtained. This approach should help to establish the overall configuration of more complex structures of the sagittamide family.

Divergent total syntheses of (-)-aspidospermine and (+)-spegazzinine

Divergent total syntheses of (+)-spegazzinine (1) and (-)-aspidospermine (2) and their extensions to the synthesis of C19-epi-aspidospermine and C3-epi-spegazzinine are detailed, confirming the relative stereochemistry and establishing the absolute configuration of (+)-spegazzinine. A powerful intramolecular [4 + 2]/[3 + 2] cycloaddition cascade of a 1,3,4-oxadiazole provided the pentacyclic skeleton and all the requisite stereochemistry of the natural products in a single reaction that forms three rings, four C-C bonds, and five stereocenters.

Formal synthesis of leustroducsin B via Reformatsky/Claisen condensation of silyl glyoxylates

A formal synthesis of leustroducsin B has been completed. The synthesis relies upon a recently developed Reformatsky/Claisen condensation of silyl glyoxylates and enantioenriched β-lactones that establishes two of the molecule's three core stereocenters and permits further elaboration to an intermediate in Imanishi's synthesis via reliable chemistry (Prasad reduction, asymmetric pentenylation, Mitsunobu inversion).

Remote stereoinduction in the acylation of fully substituted enolates: tandem Reformatsky/quaternary Claisen condensations of silyl glyoxylates and β-lactones

Reformatsky reagents react sequentially with silyl glyoxylates and β-lactones to give highly functionalized Claisen condensation products. A heretofore undocumented instance of stereochemical 1,4-induction results in efficient transmission of β-lactone stereochemistry to the emerging fully substituted stereocenter. Second-stage transformations reveal that the five heteroatom-containing functionalities embedded within the products are entirely chemo-differentiated, a circumstance that permits rapid assembly of the leustroducsin B core substructure.

A chemoenzymatic total synthesis of the structure assigned to the alkaloid (+)-montabuphine

An enantioselective synthesis of the structure, 3, assigned to the alkaloid (+)-montabuphine has been achieved using the readily available metabolite 4 as starting material. A comparison of the physical and spectral data recorded on compound 3 with those reported for (+)-montabuphine suggests that they are different compounds.

Synthesis of (+/-)- and (-)-vibralactone and vibralactone C

Mander reductive alkylation of methyl 2-methoxybenzoate with prenyl bromide and hydrolysis of the enol ether afforded methyl 6-oxo-1-prenyl-2-cyclohexenecarboxylate. This was converted in five steps (reduction of the ketone, saponification, iodolactonization, ozonolysis, and intramolecular aldol reaction) to a spiro lactone cyclopentenal. An efficient first synthesis of (+/-)-vibralactone was completed by retro-iodolactonization with activated Zn, formation of the beta-lactone (vibralactone C), and reduction of the aldehyde. Except for the novel use of an iodolactone to protect both the prenyl double bond and carboxylic acid, no protecting groups were used. A similar sequence starting with asymmetric reductive alkylation of the (2S)-2-methoxymethoxymethylpyrrolidine amide of 2-methoxybenzoic acid with prenyl bromide afforded (-)-vibralactone confirming the absolute stereochemical assignment that was based on computational methods.

Synthesis of (+/-)-vibralactone

Reductive alkylation of methyl 2-methoxybenzoate with prenyl bromide and hydrolysis afforded methyl 6-oxo-1-prenyl-2-cyclohexenecarboxylate. Reduction of the ketone, hydrolysis, iodolactonization, ozonolysis, and intramolecular aldol reaction provided a spiro lactone cyclopentenal. Retro-iodolactonization with activated Zn, formation of the beta-lactone, and reduction of the aldehyde completed an efficient first synthesis of (+/-)-vibralactone. No protecting groups were used except for the novel use of an iodolactone to protect both the prenyl double bond and carboxylic acid.

The Mitsunobu Reaction: Origin, Mechanism, Improvements, and Applications

The Mitsunobu reaction is a widely used and versatile method for the dehydrative oxidation-reduction condensation of an acid/pronucleophile usually with a primary or secondary alcohol that requires the combination of a reducing phosphine reagent together with an oxidizing azo reagent. The utility of this reaction stems from the fact that it is generally highly stereoselective and occurs with inversion of the stereochemical configuration of the alcohol starting material. Furthermore, as carboxylic acids, phenols, imides, sulfonamides, and other compounds can be used as the acid/pronucleophile, this reaction is useful for the preparation of a wide variety of functional groups. This Focus Review of the Mitsunobu reaction summarizes its origins, the current understanding of its mechanism, and recent improvements and applications.

Divergence en Route to Nonclassical Annonaceous Acetogenins. Synthesis of Pyranicin and Pyragonicin†

Syntheses of the nonclassical annonaceous acetogenins, pyranicin, and pyragonicin from common late-stage intermediates are presented. The construction of key elements relies on asymmetric HWE reactions, including the desymmetrization of a meso-dialdehyde and a parallel kinetic resolution of a racemic aldehyde. A stereoconvergent Pd-catalyzed substitution serves to install the C4 stereocenter in protected form with different orthogonal protective groups. A divergent strategy to form 1,4- and 1,6-diols, employing stereoselective Zn-mediated alkynylations, is used for completion of the core structures. Notably, the stereoselective coupling reaction toward pyragonicin proceeds with highly functionalized fragments. The methodology is further expanded by a divergent synthesis of all stereoisomers of the 2,3,6-trisubstituted tetrahydropyran subunit.

Diastereoselective Synthesis of All Eight l-Hexoses from l-Ascorbic Acid

[reaction: see text] A novel versatile method for the synthesis of all eight diastereomerically pure L-hexoses was developed. L-Ascorbic acid was converted to two diastereomers A. These alpha-hydroxy esters were transformed into four gamma-alkoxy-alpha,beta-unsaturated esters C via the intermediates B and subsequent Wittig olefination reactions. Each one of compounds C was subjected to dihydroxylation to provide a set of two diols D. Anti/syn-differentiation in diol formation was manipulated by using (DHQD)2PHAL and (DHQ)2PHAL as chiral ligands. Further two-step reaction sequence affords all eight diastereopure L-hexoses.

Hydroxylated analogues of the orally active broad spectrum antifungal, Sch 51048 (1), and the discovery of posaconazole [Sch 56592; 2 or (S,S)-5]

As part of a detailed study, the syntheses, biological activities, and pharmacokinetic properties of hydroxylated analogues of the previously described broad spectrum antifungal agents, Sch 51048 (1), Sch 50001 (3), and Sch 50002 (4), are described. Based on an overall superior profile, one of the alcohols, Sch 56592 (2), was selected for clinical studies.

Density Functional Investigation of the Mitsunobu Reaction

In this article we performed an extensive density functional [BP86/6-311++G(3df,3pd) level] investigation of the hypersurface of the Mitsunobu reaction. Reaction of a phosphine with a dialkyl azodicarboxylate (first step in the Mitsunobu conversion) leads to either a five-membered oxadiazaphosphole ring (more stable) or a betaine. The subsequent formation of two stable intermediates, a dialkoxyphosphorane and an acyloxyalkoxyphosphorane, constitutes the second step in the mechanism. These intermediates are in equilibrium with each other (under exchange of alkoxy and acyloxy ligands), and both can undergo an acid-induced decomposition to yield the alkoxy- and/or acyloxyphosphonium salts. The alkoxyphosphonium salt generates the desired ester via a SN2 mechanism (inversion product). Alternatively, the phosphorus atom in a mixed acyloxyalkoxyphosphorane species can easily undergo Berry pseudorotation. A subsequent intramolecular substitution leads to the final ester via a retention mechanism. The hypersurface is much more complicated than previously assumed, and the Mitsunobu reaction is fundamentally capable of running under either inversion or retention. The possibility of selective stereocontrol is discussed. Side reactions include the formation of a degradation product and an anhydride.

From C-Glycosides to Pyranopyrans: An Approach to Thyrsiferol Using Titanium(III)-Promoted Redox Couplings

An approach to the pyranopyran ring system that is found in many natural products, including thyrsiferol, is described. The route entails the assembly of an alpha,beta-unsaturated ketone (11) from geraniol and dihydropyran (23) from acetyl acetaldehyde dimethyl acetal (19) and their titanium(III)-promoted coupling to afford a respectable 60% yield of keto alcohol 26. The sigma-bond formed in this process corresponds to the pro-C(9)-C(10) bond of thyrsiferol (4). Attempts to invert the stereochemistry at the pro-C(11) center were thwarted by the congestion imparted by the presence of the vicinal TBS-ether. Consequently, cyclization of the coupling adduct under conditions developed by Olah and Prakash and co-workers led to the cis-fused pyranopyran 27. X-ray analysis of this crystalline material confirmed each of the stereochemical assignments. After much effort, it was determined that the hydroxyl group at C(12) could be removed by treating the derived methyl xanthate with a tri-n-butylphosphine-borane complex under radical-forming conditions. The reaction sequence worked well, despite the hindered working environment and the presence of a potentially labile C-Br bond.

An unusual intramolecular hydrogen transfer during the hydrolysis of a chloroacetoxy ester

An intramolecular hydrogen transfer from the chloroacetoxy group has been shown to occur in the hydrolysis of the sesquiterpenoid derivative, 5β-chloroacetoxy-15-norpanasinsan-8-one leading to the formation of 5ββ,8α-dihydroxy-15-norpanasinsane.

Total Synthesis of (−)-Apicularen A

Complete details of an asymmetric synthesis of apicularen (1) are described. The synthesis has been accomplished using a highly diastereo- and enantioselective [4 + 2] annulation for the assembly of the functionalized pyran core. An underdeveloped lactonization method involving an NaH promoted transesterification of an advanced intermediate bearing an aryl cyanomethyl ester was used for the macrolactonization step.

4‘- and 1‘-Methyl-Substituted 5‘-Norcarbanucleosides

5'-norcarbocyclic nucleosides have been found to possess a variety of meaningful biological properties. Derivatives of these compounds possessing substituents at the hydroxyl and heterocyclic ring bearing carbon atoms have not been described. As entries into these compounds, the 4'- and 1'-methyl derivatives of 5'-noraristeromycin (2 and 3) have been prepared from a common cyclopentyl precursor 8. The synthetic methods developed are adaptable to 5'-norcarbanucleosides possessing a variety of heterocyclic bases and in the l-like configuration. In turn, the products from such syntheses will lend themselves to a number of structural and biochemical investigations relevant to carbanucleosides in general. Compounds 2 and 3 lack antiviral properties and were not cytotoxic.

A dirhodium(II)-carbenoid route to (-)- and (+)-Geissman-Waiss lactone: synthesis of (1R,7R,8R)-(-)-turneforcidine

(-)- and (+)-Geissman-Waiss lactone, 4b, was efficiently prepared via the intramolecular C-H insertion reaction of the chiral nonracemic diazoacetates (-)-5a and (+)-5b catalyzed by dirhodium(II) tetrakis[methyl (5R and 5S)-3-phenylpropanoyl-2-imidazolidinone-5-carboxylate]. The cyclization was found to proceed with excellent regioselectivity and cis-diastereoselectivity. The bicyclic lactone (-)-4b was successfully used in the synthesis of the necine base, (-)-turneforcidine 2.

[Development of new synthetic reagents in Mitsunobu-type reaction]

The author's work in the past 10 years have been reviewed, focusing on their endeavor to find more effective and versatile reagents applicable to the Mitsunobu-type reactions. The project was originally planned to provide various N-alkyl-N-allylacylamides, the substrates for the aza-Claisen rearrangement the authors have developed. The effort was rewarded by more colorful results than expected originally, introducing to the chemical community two new series of reagents, that is, azodicarboxamides, such as TMAD and DHTD, and phosphoranes, such as CMBP and CMMP. The former series mediates the Mitsunobu reaction between primary alcohols and various protonic acids (N- and C-nucleophiles) of pKa up to 12, while the later, though needed a higher temperature, mediates the reactions of both primary and secondary alcohols with protonic acids of pKa of up to 23.5. Utilizing both the aza-Claisen rearrangement and new Mitsunobu reaction, a variety of natural products including isoirridomyrmecin, alpha-skytanthine, antimycin A3b as well as various alkaloids and pheromones were synthesized in reasonable ease.

Halichondrin B: synthesis of the C(1)-C(15) subunit

A short and efficient synthesis of the C(1)-C(15) subunit of halichondrin B in its natural configuration is described. The polycyclic caged ketal 3, containing nine asymmetric centers, is prepared in 14 steps from alpha-D-glucoheptonic acid gamma-lactone (7). Key steps in the two similar routes described include EtMgBr-promoted pinacol ring expansions of hydroxy mesylates 23 and 34, intramolecular Michael additions of 29 and 37, and a one-pot, HF-induced conversion of 4 to 3involving in situ silyl ether cleavage, acetal hydrolysis, Michael addition, and caged ketal formation. Alternative protocols for carbinol inversion at C(11), one early and one late in the synthetic sequence, are also described.

Synthetic Studies of Antitumor Macrolide Rhizoxin: Stereoselective Syntheses of the C(1)-C(9) and C(12)-C(26) Subunits

A triply convergent synthetic approach which culminates in the enantioselective syntheses of the C(1)-C(9) and C(12)-C(26) subunits of the macrolide antitumor agent rhizoxin is described. The central C(12)-C(20) subunit 4 has been prepared efficiently via diastereoselective enzymatic acetate hydrolysis of 15 with porcine pancreatic lipase, a chelation-controlled Ireland-Claisen rearrangement (10 --> 12) combined with kinetic bromolactonization (12 --> 14), and Mitsunobu inversion (23 --> 26) to introduce the three contiguous C(15)-C(17) stereocenters. Formation of the C(18)-C(19) trisubstituted (E)-olefin was achieved by a stereoselective Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reaction. The central segment 4 and the oxazole chromophore side chain 3 were coupled using another highly stereoselective Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reaction. Two different lactone subunits [C(1)-C(9) segment 5 and C(3)-C(10) segment 47] were also prepared, employing a thermodynamically controlled diastereotopic group differentiation tactic for establishing the C(5) stereochemistry.

Synthesis of alpha- and beta-C-Aryl Delta(2)-Glycopyranosides from p-tert-Butylphenyl Delta(2)-Glycopyranosides via Grignard Reagents

Treatment of p-tert-butylphenyl 4,6-di-O-benzyl-2,3-dideoxy-alpha-D-erythro-hex-2-enopyranoside (1aalpha) or the 4,6-di-O-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl) analogue (1balpha) with various functionalized arylmagnesium bromides in the presence of a catalytic amount of PdCl(2)(dppf) at 25 degrees C in THF afforded the corresponding unsaturated C-arylglycosides 2-14 having the alpha-configuration in quite good yields. Benzyl-, allyl-, and vinylmagnesium bromides gave also the corresponding unsaturated alpha-C-glycosides 15-18, although in lower yields. When the same reaction was performed in the presence of NiCl(2)(dppe) as the catalyst at -40 degrees C, only the formation of the corresponding unsaturated C-arylglycosides having the beta-configuration was observed. As expected, reaction of phenylmagnesium bromide with p-tert-butylphenyl 4,6-di-O-benzyl-2,3-dideoxy-beta-D-erythro-hex-2-enopyranoside (1abeta) in the presence of NiCl(2)(dppe) gave only the unsaturated beta-C-phenylglycoside 2abeta, while palladium-catalyzed reaction led to the preponderant formation of C-phenylglycoside 2aalpha. Reaction of PhMgBr with p-tert-butylphenyl 4-O-benzyl-2,3,6-trideoxy-alpha-L-erythro-hex-2-enopyranoside (20) afforded stereospecifically the unsaturated alpha- and beta-C-phenylglycoside 25 in the presence of PdCl(2)(dppf) and NiCl(2)(dppe), respectively.

Production of 3R-hydroxy-polyenoic fatty acids by the yeast Dipodascopsis uninucleata

Various fatty acids were fed to the yeast Dipodascopsis uninucleata UOFS Y 128, and the extracted samples were analyzed for the accumulation of 3-hydroxy metabolites with the help of electron impact gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Fatty acids containing of 5Z,8Z-diene system (5Z,8Z,11Z-eicosatrienoic, 5Z,8Z,11Z,14Z-eicosatetraenoic, and 5Z,8Z,11Z,14Z,17Z-eicosapentaenoic acids) yielded the corresponding 3-hydroxy-all-Z-eicosapolyenoic acids. Moreover, linoleic acid (9Z,12Z-octadecadienoic acid) and 11Z,14Z,17Z-eicosatrienoic acid were converted to the 3-hydorxylated metabolites of shorter chain length, e,g., 3-hydroxy-5Z,8Z-tetradecadienoic acid and 3-hydroxy-5Z,8Z,11Z-tetradecatrienoic acid, respectively. In contrast, no accumulation of a 3-hydroxy metabolite was observed with oleic acid (9Z-octadecenoic acid), linolelaidic acid (9E,12E-octadecadienoic acid), gamma-linolenic acid (6Z,9Z,12Z-octadecatrienoic acid), and eicosanoic acid as substrate. These findings pinpoint that the 3-hydroxylation of a fatty acid in Dipodascopsis uninucleata requires a 5Z,8Z-diene system either directly or following initial incomplete beta-oxidation. Following analysis of the enantiomer composition, the arachidonic acid metabolite was identified as 3R-hydroxy-5Z,8Z,11Z,14Z-eicosatetraenoic acid, which rules out a normal beta-oxidation as biosynthetic route to this new class of oxylipins.

Mitsunobu Reaction of Unbiased Cyclic Allylic Alcohols

The stereochemical inversion of unbiased allylic alcohols using triphenylphosphine, diethyl azodicarboxylate, and benzoic acid, commonly known as the Mitsunobu reaction, was studied in three different solvents with specific attention toward the product composition. The results generated for the Mitsunobu reaction of (R)-3-deuterio-2-cyclohexen-1-ol and the cis and trans isomers of 1-deuterio-5-methyl-2-cyclohexen-1-ol, 1-deuterio-5-tert-butyl-2-cyclohexen-1-ol, and optically active cis and trans 5-isopropyl-2-methyl-2-cyclohexen-1-ol all gave similar product distributions with respect to inversion and retention at the carbinol center as well-as syn and anti S(N)2' type addition when THF or benzene was used as the solvent (CH(2)Cl(2) gave less selective product distributions). Interestingly, it was found that the quasi-equatorial and quasi-axial nature of the starting allylic alcohol does not appear to affect the product distribution for this reaction, nor does methyl substitution at the central carbon of the allylic alcohol. In all cases, significant amounts (8-28%) of non-S(N)2 type products were detected for these sterically unbiased allylic alcohols; only 72-77% of the product was from S(N)2 type reaction when sterically undemanding (R)-3-deuterio-2-cyclohexen-1-ol was subjected to Mitsunobu conditions.