Organocatalytic Asymmetric Synthesis of Protected α,β‐Diamino Acids

In the presence of the readily available quinine‐derived catalyst 4d , highly diastereo‐ and enantioselective Mannich reactions of tosyl‐protected imines and α‐isothiocyanato imides proceeded to afford the protected α,β‐diamino acids, useful building blocks for natural products and biologically active compounds, in good to excellent yields.     

Direct Decarboxylative Alkynylation of α,α‐Difluoroarylacetic Acids under Transition Metal‐Free Conditions

An efficient and generally applicable protocol for decarboxylative coupling of α,α‐difluoroarylacetic acids with ethynylbenziodoxolone (EBX) reagents has been developed, affording α,α‐difluoromethylated alkynes bearing various functional groups in moderate to excellent yields. Remarkably, this potassium persulfate (K₂S₂O₈)‐promoted reaction employs water as solvent under transition metal‐free conditions, thus providing a green synthetic approach to α,α‐difluoromethylated alkynes.

     

Titanium‐Catalyzed Enantioselective Synthesis of α‐Ambrinol

We describe the first enantioselective synthesis of the odorant compound (−)‐α‐ambrinol (96% ee) from commercial geranylacetone. The key steps are a Jacobsen’s asymmetric epoxidation and a titanium‐catalyzed stereoselective cyclization initiated by radical epoxide opening. The oxirane ring opening proceeds with retention of configuration at the epoxide chiral center, giving a secondary alcohol which can be advantageously exploited to raise the ee provided by the synthetic sequence. We also synthesized (+)‐α‐ambrinol by a closely related procedure, showing the synthetic versatility of combining titanium‐catalyzed cyclization with Jacobsen’s epoxidation reactions.     

The One‐Pot Wittig Reaction: A Facile Synthesis of α,β‐Unsaturated Esters and Nitriles by Using Nanocrystalline Magnesium Oxide

Nanocrystalline magnesium oxide was found to be an effective heterogeneous, solid base catalyst for the one‐pot Wittig reaction to afford α,β‐unsaturated esters and nitriles in excellent yields with high E‐stereoselectivity in the presence of triphenylphosphine under mild conditions.     

Organocatalytic Asymmetric Michael Addition/Carbon‐Carbon Bond Cleavage of Trifluoromethyl α‐Fluorinated gem‐Diols to Nitroolefins

A new organocatalytic asymmetric Michael addition reaction by cleavage of carbon‐carbon bonds through a mild release of trifluoroacetate has been developed. The reported method generates the decarboxylated γ‐nitro‐α‐fluorocarbonyl products with excellent enantioselectivies (up to 98% ee) and good diastereoselectivies (up to 20:1 dr).     

Organocatalytic Enantioselective Aziridination of α‐Substituted α,β‐Unsaturated Aldehydes: Asymmetric Synthesis of Terminal Aziridines

The first example of a highly enantioselective organocatalytic aziridination of α‐substituted α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes is presented. The reaction is catalyzed by simple chiral amines and gives access to highly functional terminal azirdines containing an α‐tertiary amine stereocenter in high yields and enantiomeric ratios (95.5:4.5–98:2).     

Ligand‐Free Nickel‐Catalysed 1,4‐Addition of Arylboronic Acids to α,β‐Unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds

A simple and efficient ligand‐free nickel‐based catalytic system has been developed for the 1,4‐addition of arylboronic acids to α,β‐unsaturated carbonyl compounds. With catalyst loadings of 1–2 mol%, a series of 1,4‐adducts from chalcones and cinnamates was obtained in moderate to excellent yields within 5–30 min under a nitrogen atmosphere and microwave irradiation. The 1,4‐addition of arylboronic acids to acrylates is less efficient.

     

Heck Arylation of α,β‐Unsaturated Aldehydes

The Heck arylation of α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes is strongly dependent on the catalyst, the solvent and the base. Optimized conditions yielded either selectively cinnamyl derivatives (83%) or double arylation products (88% based on aryl conversion). A new α‐arylation of β,β‐disubstituted acrolein is also realized.     

The Synthesis of trans‐Perhydroindolic Acids and their Application in Asymmetric Domino Reactions of Aldehyde Esters with β,γ‐Unsaturated α‐Keto Esters

(2S,3aR,7aS)‐Perhydroindolic acid, the key intermediate in the synthesis of trandolapril, and its trans‐isomers, were readily prepared. These proline‐like molecules are unique in that they contain a rigid bicyclic structure, with two hydrogen atoms trans to each other at the bridgehead carbon atoms. These molecules were used successfully as chiral organocatalysts in asymmetric domino Michael addition/cyclization reactions of aldehyde esters with β,γ‐unsaturated α‐keto esters. They proved to have excellent catalytic behavior, allowing for the synthesis of multi‐substituted, enantiomerically enriched hemiacetal esters. Under optimal conditions (using 10 mol% catalyst loading), a series of β,γ‐unsaturated α‐keto esters was examined with up to 99% de, ee and yield, respectively. Additionally, the enantiomerically enriched hemiacetal esters could be readily transformed into their corresponding bioactive pyrano[2,3‐b]pyrans (possessing a multi‐substituted bicyclic backbone).     

Chemical Synthesis of Rare Natural Bile Acids: 11α‐Hydroxy Derivatives of Lithocholic and Chenodeoxycholic Acids

A method for the preparation of 11α‐hydroxy derivatives of lithocholic and chenodeoxycholic acids, recently discovered to be natural bile acids, is described. The principal reactions involved were (1) elimination of the 12α‐mesyloxy group of the methyl esters of 3α‐acetate‐12α‐mesylate and 3α,7α‐diacetate‐12α‐mesylate derivatives of deoxycholic acid and cholic acid with potassium acetate/hexamethylphosphoramide; (2) simultaneous reduction/hydrolysis of the resulting △¹¹‐3α‐acetoxy and △¹¹‐3α,7α‐diacetoxy methyl esters with lithium aluminum hydride; (3) stereoselective 11α‐hydroxylation of the △¹¹‐3α,24‐diol and △¹¹‐3α,7α,24‐triol intermediates with B₂H₆/tetrahydrofuran (THF); and (4) selective oxidation at C‐24 of the resulting 3α,11α,24‐triol and 3α,7α,11α,24‐tetrol to the corresponding C‐24 carboxylic acids with NaClO₂ catalyzed by 2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidine 1‐oxyl free radical (TEMPO) and NaClO. In summary, 3α,11α‐dihydroxy‐5β‐cholan‐24‐oic acid and 3α,7α,11α‐trihydroxy‐5β‐cholan‐24‐oic acid have been synthesized and their nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra characterized. These compounds are now available as reference standards to be used in biliary bile acid analysis.     

Michael Reaction of Nitroalkanes with β‐Nitroacrylates under a Solid Promoter: Advanced Regio‐ and Diastereoselective Synthesis of Nitro‐Functionalized α,β‐Unsaturated Esters and 1,3‐Butadiene‐2‐carboxylates

A new class of nitro‐functionalized α,β‐unsaturated esters has been prepared by a regio‐ and diastereoselective Michael addition of nitroalkanes to β‐nitroacrylates, performed at room temperature, under carbonate on polymer as promoter, and in the presence of ethyl acetate as eco‐friendly solvent. Moreover, by the modular choice of the reaction conditions the method allows the synthesis of 1,3‐butadiene‐2‐carboxylates.     

Multi‐Enzymatic Synthesis of Optically Pure β‐Hydroxy α‐Amino Acids

A novel enzymatic production system of optically pure β‐hydroxy α‐amino acids was developed. Two enzymes were used for the system: an N‐succinyl L ‐amino acid β‐hydroxylase (SadA) belonging to the iron(II)/α‐ketoglutarate‐dependent dioxygenase superfamily and an N‐succinyl L ‐amino acid desuccinylase (LasA). The genes encoding the two enzymes are part of a gene set responsible for the biosynthesis of peptidyl compounds found in the Burkholderia ambifaria AMMD genome. SadA stereoselectively hydroxylated several N‐succinyl aliphatic L ‐amino acids and produced N‐succinyl β‐hydroxy L ‐amino acids, such as N‐succinyl‐L ‐β‐hydroxyvaline, N‐succinyl‐L ‐threonine, (2S,3R)‐N‐succinyl‐L ‐β‐hydroxyisoleucine, and N‐succinyl‐L ‐threo‐β‐hydroxyleucine. LasA catalyzed the desuccinylation of various N‐succinyl‐L ‐amino acids. Surprisingly, LasA is the first amide bond‐forming enzyme belonging to the amidohydrolase superfamily, and has succinylation activity towards the amino group of L ‐leucine. By combining SadA and LasA in a preparative scale production using N‐succinyl‐L ‐leucine as substrate, 2.3 mmol of L ‐threo‐β‐hydroxyleucine were successfully produced with 93% conversion and over 99% of diastereomeric excess. Consequently, the new production system described in this study has advantages in optical purity and reaction efficiency for application in the mass production of several β‐hydroxy α‐amino acids.

     

Enantioselective Organocatalytic Conjugate Addition of Aldehydes to α,β‐Unsaturated Thiol Esters

The first example of an organocatalytic asymmetric Michael addition of aldehydes to α,β‐unsaturated thiol esters promoted by chiral diphenylprolinol silyl ether is presented. The reaction occurs with good yields, diastereoselectivity and excellent enantioselectivity.     

Ruthenium(II)‐Catalyzed Protocol for Preparation of Diverse α,β‐ and β,β‐Dihaloenones from Diazodicarbonyls

Efficient one‐step syntheses of α,β‐ and β,β‐dihaloenones were achieved by ruthenium(II)‐catalyzed reactions between cyclic or acyclic diazodicarbonyl compounds and oxalyl chloride or oxalyl bromide in moderate to good yields. This methodology offers several significant advantages, which include ease of handling, mild reaction conditions, one‐step reaction, and the use of an effective and non‐toxic catalyst. The synthesized compounds were further transformed into highly functionalized novel molecules bearing aromatic rings on the enone moiety using the Suzuki reaction.

     

Regio‐ and Enantioselective Copper‐Catalyzed 1,4‐Conjugate Addition of Trimethylaluminium to Linear α,β,γ,δ‐Unsaturated Alkyl Ketones

A regio‐ and enantioselective copper‐catalyzed 1,4‐conjugate addition of trimethylaluminium to linear δ‐aryl‐substituted α,β,γ,δ‐unsaturated alkyl ketones was developed. A series of γ,δ‐unsaturated alkyl ketones were obtained in good yields with high regio‐ and enantioselectivity (up to 88% ee and 96:4 dr). Expansion of the reaction scope to substrates containing aromatic heterocycles also afforded good yields and enantioselectivities (up to 91% ee) with very high regioselectivities, exclusively providing the single 1,4‐products.

     

Highly Enantioselective Michael Addition of Cyclic 1,3‐Dicarbonyl Compounds to β,γ‐Unsaturated α‐Keto Esters

A highly enantioselective Michael addition of cyclic 1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds to β,γ‐unsaturated α‐keto esters catalyzed by amino acid‐derived thiourea‐tertiary‐amine catalysts is presented. Using 5 mol% of a novel tyrosine‐derived thiourea catalyst, a series of chiral coumarin derivatives were obtained in excellent yields (up to 99%) and with up to 96% ee under very mild conditions within a short reaction time.     

Cationic copolymers of α,β‐poly‐(N‐2‐hydroxyethyl)‐DL‐aspartamide (PHEA) and α,β‐polyasparthylhydrazide (PAHy): synthesis and characterization

In the present study the derivatization of two water‐soluble synthetic polymers, α,β‐poly(N‐2‐hydroxyethyl)‐DL ‐aspartamide (PHEA) and α,β‐polyasparthylhydrazide (PAHy), with glycidyltrimethylammonium chloride (GTA) is described. This reaction permits the introduction of positive charges in the macromolecular chains of PHEA and PAHy in order to make easier the electrostatic interaction with DNA. Different parameters affect the reaction of derivatization, such as GTA concentration and reaction time. PHEA reacts partially and slowly with GTA; on the contrary the reaction of PAHy with GTA is more rapid and extensive. The derivatization of PHEA and PAHy with GTA is a convenient method to introduce positive groups in their chains and it permits the preparation of interpolyelectrolyte complexes with DNA. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

A Simple Organocatalytic Enantioselective Cyclopropanation of α,β‐Unsaturated Aldehydes

A highly chemo‐ and enantioselective organocatalytic cyclopropanation of α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes with bromomalonate and 2‐bromoacetoacetate esters is presented. The reaction is catalyzed by chiral amines and gives access to 2‐formylcyclopropanes in high yields and up to 99 % ee.     

Organocatalytic Enantioselective Strecker Synthesis of α‐Quaternary α‐Trifluoromethyl Amino Acids

The first organocatalytic enantioselective Strecker synthesis of α‐quaternary α‐trifluoromethylated amino acids has been developed. Employing Takemoto’s thiourea catalyst the nucleophilic addition of trimethylsilyl cyanide to trifluoromethyl ketimines affords α‐amino nitriles in good to excellent yields (50–99%) and very good enantioselectivities (ee=83–95%). The enantiopure amino nitriles can be obtained by recrystallization. Deprotection and hydrolysis leads to the title amino acids.