Stereoselective addition of furyllithium to variously N,N-diprotected d-alaninals

Achmatowicz Reaction and its Application in the Syntheses of Bioactive Molecules

Substituted pyranones and tetrahydropyrans are structural subunits of many bioactive natural products. Considerable efforts are devoted toward the chemical synthesis of these natural products due to their therapeutic potential as well as low natural abundance. These embedded pyranones and tetrahydropyran structural motifs have been the subject of synthetic interest over the years. While there are methods available for the syntheses of these subunits, there are issues related to regio and stereochemical outcomes, as well as versatility and compatibility of reaction conditions and functional group tolerance. The Achmatowicz reaction, an oxidative ring enlargement of furyl alcohol, was developed in the 1970s. The reaction provides a unique entry to a variety of pyranone derivatives from functionalized furanyl alcohols. These pyranones provide convenient access to substituted tetrahydropyran derivatives. This review outlines general approaches to the synthesis of tetrahydropyrans, covering general mechanistic aspects of the Achmatowicz reaction or rearrangement with an overview of the reagents utilized for the Achmatowicz reaction. The review then focuses on the synthesis of functionalized tetrahydropyrans and pyranones and their applications in the synthesis of natural products and medicinal agents.

Diastereoselection during 1,2-Addition of the Allylindium Reagent to alpha-Thia and alpha-Amino Aldehydes in Aqueous and Organic Solvents

The stereochemistry of the indium-promoted reaction of allyl bromide with alpha-thia (PhS and MeS), disubstituted alpha-amino (Bn(2)N, Me(2)N, isoindolyl), and protected alpha-amino aldehydes (Ac and Boc) in water has been evaluated. The reactions involving the sulfur derivatives are minimally diastereoselective, indicating that the allylindium reagent is not thiophilic. Chelation is not observed and pi-facial discrimination is achieved via Felkin-Ahn transition states under the steric control of the substituents. The Garner aldehyde is also anti-diastereoselective. Interestingly, N-acetylmannosamine is appreciably responsive to chelation control and is capable of generating 90% of the syn beta-amino alcohol when reacted in a 0.5 M NH(4)Cl solution. While the alpha-dibenzylamino substituent is too bulky to enter into complexation, the alpha-dimethylamino group is not and can lead to high levels (99%) of syn diastereomer. The size of other neighboring substituents does have an impact on pi-facial discrimination in these systems and can erode the stereoselectivity accordingly.