Sterically Biased 3,3-Sigmatropic Rearrangement of Azides: Efficient Preparation of Nonracemic α-Amino Acids and Heterocycles

Stereocontrol in an intermolecular Schmidt reaction of equilibrating hydroxyalkyl allylic azides

A selective intermolecular Schmidt reaction of equilibrating hydroxyalkyl allylic azides is reported to afford N-hydroxyalk-1-en-3-yl lactams in modest to high yields. For prochiral and chiral ketones, modest to high 1,5-diastereoselectivity was achieved, and the mechanistic analysis is supported by DFT calculation.

Selective hydroboration of equilibrating allylic azides

The iridium(I)-catalyzed hydroboration of equilibrating allylic azides is reported to provide only the anti-Markovnikov product of alk-1-ene isomers in good yields and with good functional group tolerance.

Highly selective hydrosilylation of equilibrating allylic azides

The Pt-catalyzed hydrosilylation of equilibrating allylic azides is reported. The reaction provides only one out of four possible hydrosilylation products in good yields and with very high chemoselectivity (alk-1-ene vs. alk-2-ene), regioselectivity (linear vs. branched), and excellent functional group tolerance.

Stereocontrolled Microwave-Assisted Domino [3,3]-Sigmatropic Reactions: A Winstein-Overman Rearrangement for the Formation of Differentiated Contiguous C-N Bonds

A domino [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement sequence employing a sequential reversible allylic azide rearrangement followed by an irreversible Overman reaction provides a new route to the formation of two contiguous C-N bonds. The reaction occurs in a stereocontrolled fashion in two steps from readily available alkenyl epoxides via initial azide anion ring opening of the epoxides.

Combined Enzyme- and Transition Metal-Catalyzed Strategy for the Enantioselective Syntheses of Nitrogen Heterocycles: (-)-Coniine, DAB-1, and Nectrisine

The enantioselective syntheses of (-)-coniine, DAB-1, and nectrisine have been developed, utilizing a complementary strategy of enzyme- and transition metal-catalyzed reactions. The initial stereocenter was set with >99% enantioselectivity via an enzyme-catalyzed hydrocyanation reaction. Substrate incompatibilities with the natural enzyme were overcome by tactical utilization of ruthenium-catalyzed olefin metathesis to functionalize an enzyme-derived (R)-allylic fragment. The piperidine and pyrrolidine alkaloid natural products were obtained by a route that leveraged regio- and stereoselective palladium-catalyzed 1,3-substitutive reactions.

On the Winstein rearrangement: equilibrium and mechanism

Allylic azides are underutilized in organic synthesis when compared to other organic azides or other allylic functionality. This is likely because allylic azides rearrange at room temperature, resulting in a potentially complex mixture of azides. This rearrangement has been termed the Winstein rearrangement. Understanding the mechanism and basic principles governing the allylic azide equilibrium may aid in developing applications for these molecules based on either alkene or azide functionalization. Presented herein is a compilation of the key observations regarding the nature of the allylic azide rearrangement. Mechanistic considerations are explicitly addressed with key examples from the literature.

Allylic azides: synthesis, reactivity, and the Winstein rearrangement

Organic azides are useful synthetic intermediates, which demonstrate broad reactivity. Unlike most organic azides, allylic azides can spontaneously rearrange to form a mixture of isomers. This rearrangement has been named the Winstein rearrangement. Using allylic azides can result in low yields and azide racemization in some synthetic contexts due to the Winstein rearrangement. Effort has been made to understand the mechanism of the Winstein rearrangement and to take advantage of this process. Several guiding principles can be used to identify which azides will produce a mixture of isomers and which will resist rearrangement. Selective reaction conditions can be used to differentiate the azide isomers in a dynamic manner. This review covers all aspects of allylic azides including their synthesis, their reactivity, the mechanism of the Winstein rearrangement, and reactions that can selectively elaborate an azide isomer. This review covers the literature from Winstein's initial report to early 2019.

Evidence for a Sigmatropic and an Ionic Pathway in the Winstein Rearrangement

The spontaneous rearrangement of allylic azides is thought to be a sigmatropic reaction. Presented herein is a detailed investigation into the rearrangement of several allylic azides. A combination of experiments including equilibrium studies, kinetic analysis, density functional theory calculations, and selective ¹⁵N-isotopic labeling are included. We conclude that the Winstein rearrangement occurs by the assumed sigmatropic pathway under most conditions. However, racemization was observed for some cyclic allylic azides. A kinetic analysis of this process is provided, which supports a previously undescribed ionic pathway.

Total Synthesis of Scytonemide A Employing Weinreb AM Solid-Phase Resin

The human 20S proteasome inhibitor scytonemide A (1), a macrocyclic imine originally isolated from the cyanobacterium Scytonema hofmanni, was synthesized via a biomimetic solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) approach employing the Weinreb AM resin. Utilizing this approach, cyclization of the protected heptapeptide via formation of the imine bond occurred spontaneously upon cleavage from the resin in the presence of a reducing agent and subsequent aqueous workup. The final deprotection step necessary to produce the natural product was accomplished under slightly basic conditions, facilitating cleavage of the silyl ether group while leaving the macrocycle intact. Purification of the synthetic scytonemide A was accomplished via normal-phase flash column chromatography, potentially facilitating larger scale preparation of the compound necessary for future mechanistic and SAR studies. The structure of the target compound was confirmed by NMR spectroscopy, which also shed light on differences in the spectroscopic data obtained for the synthetic and natural scytonemide A samples for some of the amide and alcohol signals in the 1H NMR spectrum.

Stereoselective Dynamic Cyclization of Allylic Azides: Synthesis of Tetralins, Chromanes, and Tetrahydroquinolines

This report describes the stereoselective synthesis of 3-azido-tetralins, -chromanes, and -tetrahydroquinolines via a tandem allylic azide rearrangement/Friedel-Crafts alkylation. Exposure of allylic azides with a pendant trichloroacetimidate to catalytic quantities of AgSbF6 proved optimal for this transformation. This cascade successfully differentiates the equilibrating azide isomers, providing products in excellent yield and selectivity (>25 examples, up to 94% yield and >25:1 dr). In many cases, the reactive isomer is only a trace fraction of the equilibrium mixture, keenly illustrating the dynamic nature of these systems. We demonstrate the utility of this process via a synthesis of hasubanan.

Catalytic enantioselective synthesis of α-chiral azides

The catalytic asymmetric synthesis of α-chiral azides is of current interest and three synthetic strategies have been developed. This review summarizes the recent progress in this research area, discusses the advantages and limitations of each strategy, and outlines synthetic opportunities for future research.

The carolactam strategy is ineffective: synthesis and biological evaluation of carolactam

The lactam analogue of carolacton was prepared which has lost biofilm inhibitory activity towards Streptococcus mutans.

Enantioselective, Stereodivergent Hydroazidation and Hydroamination of Allenes Catalyzed by Acyclic Diaminocarbene (ADC) Gold(I) Complexes

The gold-catalyzed enantioselective hydroazidation and hydroamination reactions of allenes are presented herein. ADC gold(I) catalysts derived from BINAM were critical for achieving high levels of enantioselectivity in both transformations. The sense of enantioinduction is reversed for the two different nucleophiles, allowing access to both enantiomers of the corresponding allylic amines using the same catalyst enantiomer.

A short and modular approach towards 3,5-disubstituted indolizidine alkaloids

A short modular access to 5,9-trans-configurated 3,5-disubstituted indolizidines through double α-metalation of piperidine is presented.

Evolution of moth sex pheromone composition by a single amino acid substitution in a fatty acid desaturase

For sexual communication, moths primarily use blends of fatty acid derivatives containing one or more double bonds in various positions and configurations, called sex pheromones (SPs). To study the molecular basis of novel SP component (SPC) acquisition, we used the tobacco hornworm (Manduca sexta), which uses a blend of mono-, di-, and uncommon triunsaturated fatty acid (3UFA) derivatives as SP. We identified pheromone-biosynthetic fatty acid desaturases (FADs) MsexD3, MsexD5, and MsexD6 abundantly expressed in the M. sexta female pheromone gland. Their functional characterization and in vivo application of FAD substrates indicated that MsexD3 and MsexD5 biosynthesize 3UFAs via E/Z14 desaturation from diunsaturated fatty acids produced by previously characterized Z11-desaturase/conjugase MsexD2. Site-directed mutagenesis of sequentially highly similar MsexD3 and MsexD2 demonstrated that swapping of a single amino acid in the fatty acyl substrate binding tunnel introduces E/Z14-desaturase specificity to mutated MsexD2. Reconstruction of FAD gene phylogeny indicates that MsexD3 was recruited for biosynthesis of 3UFA SPCs in M. sexta lineage via gene duplication and neofunctionalization, whereas MsexD5 representing an alternative 3UFA-producing FAD has been acquired via activation of a presumably inactive ancestral MsexD5. Our results demonstrate that a change as small as a single amino acid substitution in a FAD enzyme might result in the acquisition of new SP compounds.

A concomitant allylic azide rearrangement/intramolecular azide-alkyne cycloaddition sequence

An intramolecular Huisgen cycloaddition of an interconverting set of isomeric allylic azides with alkynes affords substituted triazoles in high yield. The stereoisomeric vinyl-substituted triazoloxazines formed depend on the rate of cycloaddition of the different allylic azide precursors when the reaction is carried out under thermal conditions. In contrast, dimerized macrocyclic products were obtained when the reaction was done using copper(I)-catalyzed conditions, demonstrating the ability to control the reaction products through changing conditions.

Exploiting hidden symmetry in natural products: total syntheses of amphidinolides C and F

The total synthesis of amphidinolide C and a second-generation synthesis of amphidinolide F have been accomplished through the use of a common intermediate to access both the C1-C8 and the C18-C25 sections. The development of a Ag-catalyzed cyclization of a propargyl benzoate diol is described to access both trans-tetrahydrofuran rings. The evolution of a Felkin-controlled, 2-lithio-1,3-dienyl addition strategy to incorporate C9-C11 diene as well as C8 stereocenter is detailed. Key controlling aspects in the sulfone alkylation/oxidative desulfurization to join the major subunits, including the exploration of the optimum masking group for the C18 carbonyl motif, are discussed. A Trost asymmetric alkynylation and a stereoselective cuprate addition to an alkynoate have been developed for the rapid construction of the C26-C34 subunit. A Tamura/Vedejs olefination to introduce the C26 side arm of amphidnolides C and F is employed. The late-stage incorporation of the C15, C18 diketone motif proved critical to the successful competition of the total syntheses.

Stereocontrol in a combined allylic azide rearrangement and intramolecular Schmidt reaction

Pre-equilibration of an interconverting set of isomeric allylic azides is coupled with an intramolecular Schmidt reaction to afford substituted lactams stereoselectively. The effect of substitution and a preliminary mechanistic study are reported. The synthetic potential of this method is demonstrated in the context of an enantioselective synthesis of an advanced intermediate leading toward pinnaic acid.

α-Chloro-β,γ-ethylenic esters: enantiocontrolled synthesis and substitutions

Chiral nonracemic γ-seleno-α,β-ethylenic esters, when treated with sulfuryl chloride and ethyl vinyl ether in hexanes, produced α-chloro-β,γ-ethylenic esters in 65-75% yields, with ee values of 95-97%, and with 1,3-syn transfer of chirality. Reaction of these allylic chloride electrophiles with methylcuprate and with sodium azide nucleophiles afforded exclusively γ-substituted-α,β-ethylenic esters with faithful anti-transfer of chirality on multigram scale.

Whole structure-activity relationships of the fat-accumulation inhibitor (-)-ternatin: recognition of the importance of each amino acid residue

A series of Ala and Aoc analogues of (-)-ternatin were prepared, and their bioactivities were assessed by a fat-accumulation inhibition assay using 3T3-L1 adipocytes, which led to the discovery of key structure-activity relationships (SAR).

A chiral auxiliary cleavable by ring-closing alkene metathesis — Efficient synthesis of chiral nonracemic cycloalkenes

p-Menthane-3-carboxaldehyde is a readily available chiral auxiliary used to prepare cycloalkenes and heterocycles bearing a chiral tertiary or quaternary carbon of high enantiomeric purity. The auxiliary is available in both enantiomeric forms and is inexpensive and recyclable. It is cleaved by a ring-closing alkene metathesis reaction directly yielding the cycloalkene.Key words: chiral auxiliary, cleavage reaction, cyclization, ring-closing alkene metathesis, enantioenriched cycloalkenes.

Stereocontrolled Formation of Amino Acids and N-Heterocycles Bearing a Quaternary Chiral Carbon

Stereocontrolled formation of tertiary or quaternary chiral carbons bearing nitrogen was achieved using the [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement of cyanate to isocyanate as a key element. A short and highly selective sequence of reactions, starting from p-menthane-3-carboxaldehyde, was developed leading to alpha,alpha-dialkylated alpha-amino acids or N-heterocycles, depending on the method of cleavage of the auxiliary.