Enantiodivergent Synthesis of Benzoquinolizidinones from L-Glutamic Acid

Benzoquinolizidinone systems were synthesized in both enantiomeric forms from L-glutamic acid. The key chiral arylethylglutarimide intermediate was synthesized from dibenzylamino-glutamate and homoveratrylamine. Aldol reaction of the glutarimide afforded a mixture of syn and anti-aldol adducts. Subsequent regioselective hydride reduction of the glutarimide carbonyl followed by N-acyliminium ion cyclization afforded a product with opposite absolute configurations at C3 and C11b. Cope elimination of the dibenzylamino group then converted the two diastereomers into enantiomers.

Synthesis of Tetrahydroisoquinoline Alkaloids and Related Compounds through the Alkylation of Anodically Prepared α-Amino Nitriles

α-Amino nitrile 2a was conveniently prepared in two individual steps from chiral hexafluorophosphate salt isoquinolinium (-)-8b including anodic cyanation as an efficient means to activate the sp(3) C1-H bond of the THIQ nucleus. The lithiation of 2a was carried out in THF at -80 °C in the presence of LDA to produce a stable α-amino carbanion which was condensed on a large variety of alkyl halides. The resulting quaternary α-amino nitriles were subjected to a stereoselective reductive decyanation in ethanol in the presence of NaBH4 as the hydride donor to yield N-Boc-1-alkyl-THIQs (+)-10a-g in up to 97:3 er's after removal of the chiral auxiliary group. Examination of the ORTEP view of THIQ (+)-1f revealed that the newly created stereogenic center had an absolute S configuration. Likewise, (-)-xylopinine was synthesized in four workup steps in an overall 63% yield from α-amino nitrile (+)-2b. In this process, crystallization of an enantioenriched mixture (90:10) of (-)-norlaudanosine with 1 equiv of (-)-N-acetyl-l-leucine afforded the leucinate salt (+)-13 (99:1 dr). Similarly, (+)-salsolidine was displaced from its (-)-DBTA salt (-)-12 in 99:1 er, which was determined by proton and carbon NMR spectroscopy in the presence of thiophosphinic acid (+)-14 as the chiral solvating agent.

Asymmetric synthesis of (S)-(-)-xylopinine. Use of the sulfinyl group as an ipso director in aromatic SE

Optically pure (S)-(-)-xylopinine 2 was prepared in three steps in 52% overall yield. Thus, condensation of the carbanion derived from (S)-4 with the (S)-(E)-sulfinylimine 5 gave a 2:1 mixture of tetrahydroisoquinolines 6a and 6b, differing only in configuration at sulfur. N-Desulfinylation of this mixture gave the diastereomeric sulfoxides which, without separation, were converted into (S)-(-)-xylopinine (2) with loss of the sulfinyl moieties under Pictet-Spengler conditions. This unprecedented ipso electrophilic substitution of a sulfinyl group may have synthetic implications beyond that described in this work.

Enantioselective total synthesis and X-ray structures of the tetrahydroprotoberberine alkaloids (-)-(S)-tetrahydropalmatrubine and (-)-(S)-corytenchine

Enantioselective total syntheses and X-ray structures of both (S)-tetrahydropalmatrubine (2) and (S)-corytenchine (3) are reported for the first time. They were both derived from (S)-N-norlaudanidine, a benzyltetrahydroisoquinoline that was synthesized with high (>95% ee) enantioselectivity using a chiral auxiliary-assisted Bischler-Napieralski cyclization/reduction approach.

π–π Stacking versus Steric Effects in Stereoselectivity Control: Highly Diastereoselective Synthesis ofsyn-1,2-Diarylpropylamines

N-Arylarylideneamines react with sulfinylbenzyl carbanions derived from 2-(p-tolylsulfinyl)toluenes (S)-1 and (S)-2, affording epimeric mixtures at C1 of 1,2-diarylethyl- and 1,2-diarylpropylamine derivatives. The sulfinyl group completely controls the configuration at C2 in the reactions of (S)-2. The configuration at C1 depends on the electron density of the ring adjacent to the iminic carbon atom which is modulated by pi-pi stacking interactions with the ring joined to the carbanionic centre. The stereoselectivity was controlled by modifying the acceptor character of the arylideneamine ring with appropriate substituents, the formation of the highly selective (R) configuration at C1 being made possible by electron-donating groups. N-(2,4,6-Trimethoxyphenyl)arylideneamines have been shown to be suitable starting materials for the preparation of (R)-1,2-diarylethyl- and (1R,2S)-1,2-diarylpropylamines (syn epimers) in a highly stereoselective manner.

Asymmetric synthesis of the protoberberine alkaloid (S)-(-)-xylopinine using enantiopure sulfinimines

A concise enantioselective synthesis of (S)-(-)-xylopinine (1) is described involving the addition of the laterally lithiated derivative of o-tolunitrile of 16 to enantiopure sulfinimine (+)-14. Treatment of the resulting cyano sulfinamide adduct (-)-17b with DIBAL-H accomplishes five operations in a single pot and furnishes the cyclic imine (+)-18 in good yield. Reduction and cyclization affords (S)-(-)-1. Alternatively basic hydrolysis of 17b,c gives isoquinolone 21 that is cyclized and reduced to give (S)-(-)-1.

Preparation of hexahydrobenzo[f]isoquinolines using a vinylogous pictet-spengler cyclization

A vinylogous Pictet-Spengler cyclization has been carried out using activated aldehydes, ketones, and alkynes to prepare a variety of substituted hexahydrobenzo[f]isoquinolines. A unique set of conditions was utilized to effect efficient cyclization with acid-sensitive electrophiles.