Highly diastereoselective Michael addition reactions of butane-2,3-diacetal desymmetrized glycolic acid. Preparation of alpha-hydroxy-gamma-amino acid derivatives

Dynamic Kinetic Resolution of β-Cyano α-Ketoesters via Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation

An efficient rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of β-cyano α-ketoesters via dynamic kinetic resolution has been developed. Despite the challenge posed by multiple functional groups, the reaction proceeded smoothly under mild conditions, generating versatile synthons with two adjacent stereocenters in high yields with excellent enantio- and diastereoselectivities. Furthermore, the power of this strategy is highlighted by the scale-up reaction and the follow-up synthesis of cytoxazone and paclitaxel intermediates.

Divergent synthesis and chemical reactivity of bicyclic lactone fragments of complex rearranged spongian diterpenes

The synthesis and direct comparison of the chemical reactivity of the two highly oxidized bicyclic lactone fragments found in rearranged spongian diterpenes (8-substituted 6-acetoxy-2,7-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-3-one and 6-substituted 7-acetoxy-2,8-dioxabicyclo[3.3.0]octan-3-one) are reported. Details of the first synthesis of the 6-acetoxy-2,7-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-3-one ring system, including an examination of several possibilities for the key bridging cyclization reaction, are described. In addition, the first synthesis of 7-acetoxy-2,8-dioxabicyclo[3.3.0]octanones containing quaternary carbon substituents at C6 is disclosed. Aspects of the chemical reactivity and Golgi-modifying properties of these bicyclic lactone analogs of rearranged spongian diterpenes are also reported. Under both acidic and basic conditions, 8-substituted 2,7-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octanones are converted to 6-substituted-2,8-dioxabicyclo[3.3.0]octanones. Moreover, these dioxabicyclic lactones react with primary amines and lysine side chains of lysozyme to form substituted pyrroles, a conjugation that could be responsible for the unique biological properties of these compounds. These studies demonstrate that acetoxylation adjacent to the lactone carbonyl group, in either the bridged or fused series, is required to produce fragmented Golgi membranes in the pericentriolar region that is characteristic of macfarlandin E.

Ru-TsDPEN with formic acid/Hunig's base for asymmetric transfer hydrogenation, a practical synthesis of optically enriched N-propyl pantolactam

The Noyori-Ikariya catalysts, Ru-TsDPEN 1 or 2, in combination with HCOOH/Hunig's base (5:2) have been successfully utilized for catalytic asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of alpha-ketopantolactam, and optically enriched N-substituted pantolactam was prepared (S/C = 500, up to 95% ee and 99% conversion in HCOOH/Hunig's base condition). More than 2 kg of this key intermediate 9 has been synthesized efficiently with excellent chemical yield and chiral purity.

A Fascination with 1,2-Diacetals

1,2-Diacetals are readily prepared, rigid structural motifs that provide a wide range of opportunities for applications in natural product assembly. These uses encompass selective 1,2-diol or alpha-hydroxy acid protection, enantiotopic recognition and desymmetrization methods, chiral memory applications, and reactivity control in oligosaccharide synthesis, as well as functioning as templating components, chiral auxiliaries, and building blocks. 1,2-Diacetals are often more stable and lead to products with enhanced crystallinity compared to their five-ring acetonide counterparts. Many 1,2-diacetals have favorable NMR parameters, which facilitate structural assignment, particularly during asymmetric reaction processes.

Asymmetric Synthesis of Highly Substituted γ-Amino Acids from Allyltitanium Sulfoximines

[structure: see text]. Asymmetric syntheses of the highly substituted protected gamma-amino acids 10a, 10b, 18, and 21 have been developed starting from the allyltitanium sulfoximines V and VI, respectively, and furan-2-carbaldehyde.

Michael, Michael-aldol and Michael-Michael reactions of enolate equivalents of butane-2,3-diacetal protected glycolic acid derivatives

Consecutive coupling reactions of butane-2,3-diacetal protected glycolic acid derivatives with Michael acceptors and aldehydes are reported. An enantiopure sample of this building block was used to kinetically resolve a chiral Michael acceptor present as a racemic mixture of enantiomers.

N-Sulfinyl Metalloenamine Conjugate Additions: Asymmetric Synthesis of Piperidines

[reaction: see text] The first examples of conjugate additions of N-tert-butanesulfinyl metalloenamines are reported. Highly stereoselective conjugate additions (97:3 to 99:1 dr) were observed between metalloenamines derived from N-sulfinyl ketimines and alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones bearing either alkyl or aryl substituents. The conjugate addition products could rapidly be converted with high diastereoselectivity to 2,4,6-trisubstituted piperidines, which are difficult to access by other methods.

Studies on the generation of enolate anions from butane-2,3-diacetal protected glycolic acid derivatives and subsequent highly diastereoselective coupling reactions with aldehydes and acid chlorides

Highly diastereoselective coupling reactions of enolates derived from butane-2,3-diacetal protected glycolic acids 1 and 2 and their alkylated derivatives with aldehydes are reported together with their efficient acid-catalysed deprotection to yield enantiopure anti-2,3-dihydroxyesters. A procedure to provide the corresponding syn-2,3-dihydroxyesters is also described in two cases, proceeding via an acylation-reduction sequence. An usual double addition reaction of butane-2,3-diacetal protected glycolic acid to small aliphatic acid chlorides provides a synthetically useful, densely-functionalised lactone after acidic deprotection.

Preparation of enantiopure butane-2,3-diacetals of glycolic acid and alkylation reactions leading to α-hydroxyacid and amide derivatives

The preparation of butane-2,3-diacetal protected glycolic acid and related systems is described together with highly selective alkylation reactions of (R,R) and (S,S) butanediacetal protected glycolic acid. These compounds are readily deprotected to give enantiopure alpha-hydroxyacids, alpha-hydroxyesters or alpha-hydroxyamides by suitable choice of conditions.

First direct reductive amination of mucochloric acid: a simple and efficient method for preparing highly functionalized alpha,beta-unsaturated gamma-butyrolactams

[reaction: see text] The first direct reductive amination of mucochloric acid (1) has been accomplished. Reaction of 1 with various alkyl, aryl, and benzylamines, followed by reduction in the same pot, provides an efficient method of obtaining N-benzyl-3,4-dichloro-1,5-dihydro-pyrrol-2-one and N-aryl (or alkyl)-3,4-dichloro-1,5-dihydro-pyrrol-2-ones.

Highly diastereoselective lithium enolate aldol reactions of butane-2,3-diacetal desymmetrized glycolic acid and deprotection to enantiopure anti-2,3-dihydroxy esters

[reaction--see text] The butane-2,3-diacetal (BDA) desymmetrized glycolic acid building block 1 undergoes efficient and highly diastereoselective lithium enolate aldol reactions with both aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes to afford, after an acidic methanolysis deprotection step, the enantiopure anti-2,3-dihydroxy esters in good yield.