Search

Biosynthesis of (1R,4aS,7S,7aR)-nepetalactol (1) and (4aS,7S,7aR)-nepetalactone (2) in plants involves iridoid synthase (ISY), an atypical reductive cyclase that catalyses the reduction of 8-oxogeranial into the reactive enol of (S)-8-oxocitronellal, and cyclization of this enol intermediate, either non-enzymatically or by a nepetalactol-related short chain dehydrogenase enzyme (NEPS) that yields the nepetalactols. In this study, we investigated the biosynthesis in vivo of 1 and 2 in the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, using a library of isotopically-labelled monoterpenoids as molecular probes. Topical application of deuterium-labelled probes synthesized from geraniol and nerol resulted in production of 2 H4 -lactol 1 and 2 H4 -lactone 2. However, deuterium incorporation was not evident using labelled probes synthesized from (S)-citronellol. These results suggest that iridoid biosynthesis in animals, specifically aphids, may follow a broadly similar route to that characterised for plants.

Unprotected tertiary sulfonimidamides have been prepared in good to excellent yields in a one‐pot transformation from tertiary sulfinamides through NH transfer. The reaction is mediated by commercially available (diacetoxyiodo)benzene and ammonium carbamate in methanol under convenient conditions. A wide range of functional groups are tolerated and initial results indicate that the NH transfer is stereospecific. A small molecule X‐ray analysis of NH sulfonimidamide 2 a and its behavior in selected in vitro assays in comparison to the matched sulfonamide are also reported. This new reaction provides a safe, short and efficient approach to sulfonimidamides, which have been the subject of recent, growing interest in the life sciences.

A simple and efficient asymmetric synthesis of novel sp3 -rich pyrrolidine chemical scaffolds over five steps starting from simple ketones is described. Key steps involve the use of tert-butanesulfinamide as a chiral auxiliary to perform an asymmetric Tsuji-Trost allylation, with subsequent cross-metathesis with an acrylate ester and reduction of the sulfinimine/cyclisation of the resulting amine giving the pyrrolidine scaffolds in high yields and diastereoselectivites. By removing the chiral auxiliary and functionalising the ester group, the resulting scaffold core can be further derivatised.

A diastereoselective mono-allylation reaction at the α-position of symmetric cyclic ketones by using tert-butanesulfinamide as a chiral auxiliary is explored. Excellent yields and high diastereomeric ratios were achieved under palladium(0) catalysis in the presence of a readily available achiral phosphine ligand.

The reaction of chiral (hetero)aryl benzyl sulfoxides with Grignard reagents affords enantiomerically pure diarylalkanes in up to 98 % yield and greater than 99.5 % enantiomeric excess. This ligand coupling reaction is tolerant to multiple substitution patterns and provides access to diverse areas of chemical space in three operationally simple steps from commercially available reagents. This strategy provides orthogonal access to electron-deficient heteroaromatic compounds, which are traditionally synthesized by transition metal catalyzed cross-couplings, and circumvents common issues associated with proto-demetalation and β-hydride elimination.

A novel rearrangement of 2-vinyl aziridine 2-carboxylates to unusual chiral cyclic sulfoximines is described herein. The method allows the synthesis of substituted cyclic sulfoximines in high yields with complete stereocontrol, displaying a wide substrate scope under mild conditions. Further development of a one-pot process directly from sulfinimines shows the synthetic applicability of this protocol, providing access to complex chiral sulfoximines in only two steps from commercially available aldehydes. A mechanistic hypothesis and synthetic application in the formal synthesis of trachelanthamidine by transformation of a cyclic sulfoximine into a pyrroline is also disclosed.

The first diastereoselective allylation reaction at the α-position of ketones by using tert-butanesulfinamide as a chiral auxiliary is explored. Excellent yields and high diastereomeric ratios were achieved under palladium catalysis in the presence of a readily available achiral phosphine ligand. The chiral auxiliary was removed in quantitative yield under the optimized conditions without any racemization.

An unprecedented set of structurally diverse sulfonimidamides (47 compounds) has been prepared by various N‐functionalization reactions of tertiary =NH sulfonimidamide 2 aa. These N‐functionalization reactions of model compound 2 aa include arylation, alkylation, trifluoromethylation, cyanation, sulfonylation, alkoxycarbonylation (carbamate formation) and aminocarbonylation (urea formation). Small molecule X‐ray analyses of selected N‐functionalized products are reported. To gain further insight into the properties of sulfonimidamides relevant to medicinal chemistry, a variety of structurally diverse reaction products were tested in selected in vitro assays. The described N‐functionalization reactions provide a short and efficient approach to structurally diverse sulfonimidamides which have been the subject of recent, growing interest in the life sciences.

A heterocyclic, sp(3)-rich chemical scaffold was synthesised in just 6 steps via a highly regio- and diastereo-selective tandem nitrone formation/intramolecular nitrone-alkene [3+2] cycloaddition reaction. A library of 543 lead-like compounds based on the scaffold core has been produced.

The reaction of chiral (hetero)aryl benzyl sulfoxides with Grignard reagents affords enantiomerically pure diarylalkanes in up to 98 % yield and greater than 99.5 % enantiomeric excess. This ligand coupling reaction is tolerant to multiple substitution patterns and provides access to diverse areas of chemical space in three operationally simple steps from commercially available reagents. This strategy provides orthogonal access to electron-deficient heteroaromatic compounds, which are traditionally synthesized by transition metal catalyzed cross-couplings, and circumvents common issues associated with proto-demetalation and β-hydride elimination.

The first diastereoselective allylation reaction at the α-position of ketones by using tert-butanesulfinamide as a chiral auxiliary is explored. Excellent yields and high diastereomeric ratios were achieved under palladium catalysis in the presence of a readily available achiral phosphine ligand. The chiral auxiliary was removed in quantitative yield under the optimized conditions without any racemization.

We present new acrylic monomers derived directly from abundant naturally available terpenes via a facile, green and catalytic approach. These monomers can be polymerised to create new polymers with a wide range of mechanical properties that positions them ideally for application across the commodity and specialty plastics landscape; from packaging, cosmetic and medical, through to composites and coatings. We demonstrate their utility through formation of novel renewable polymer coatings.

Syntheses of the potent neurotoxins and biochemical probes anatoxin-a and homoanatoxin and several analogues by a combined two-directional synthesis―tandem reaction strategy are presented. Key steps include an oxidative desymmetrisation and a tandem Michael―intramolecular Mannich cyclisation.

The application of a tandem condensation/cyclisation/[3+2]-cycloaddition/elimination reaction gives an sp(3)-rich tricyclic pyrazoline scaffold with two ethyl esters in a single step from a simple linear starting material. The successive hydrolysis and cyclisation (with Boc anhydride) of these 3-dimensional architectures, generates unprecedented 16-membered macrocyclic bisanhydrides (characterised by XRD). Selective amidations could then be achieved by ring opening with a primary amine followed by HATU-promoted amide coupling to yield an sp(3)-rich natural product-like library.

It has been a very active year in the arena of heterocyclic chemistry. Particular highlights include the use of N-bromosuccinimide to promote aziridination of alkenes by Chloramine-T, the first report of an aldehyde catalyst for the Oxone® mediated epoxidation of alkenes, asymmetric variants of the Kinugasa β-lactam synthesis reported by Tang and Fu, Gabrielle's comprehensive study of the 5-endo-dig cyclisation of aminoynenes to form tetrasubstituted pyrroles, Zard's report of an amidinyl radical approach to imidazolines and Woodward's direct synthesis of cyclic sulfates from alkenes.

© 2014 The Royal Society of Chemistry. The first total synthesis of myrmicine ant alkaloid 5-epi-cis-275B′ (4) is presented. A tandem cyclisation established the entire core of the structure in a single transformation as well as the required 2,5-anti stereochemistry. Two-directional synthesis was used to furnish the cyclisation precursor 2, as in each of the subsequent steps towards the natural product. The first electrophysiology studies for 4 (against nicotinic acetylcholine receptors) were also conducted, finding modest inhibition of current.

The thermolysis of S-aryl sulfinimines is shown to generate 1,2-disulfoxides and disulfides via initial Cope elimination, dimerisation of the produced sulfenic acid to a thiosulfinate, and subsequent disproportionation of the thiosulfinate.

Chiral amines are formed by the highly diastereoselective intramolecular addition of alkyl and aryl radicals onto chiral mesityl sulfinimines.

The cycloaddition of chiral tert-butanesulfinimines with trimethylenemethane is found to give facile access to methylene-pyrrolidines with good yields and diastereoselectivities. The full scope of the cycloaddition is explored, and a range of transformations of the formed methylenepyrrolidines to give a range of functionalized chiral pyrrolidines is presented.

Two oxathiozolidine-S-oxide templates have been developed and used in a four-component coupling protocol for the synthesis of a wide range of chiral sulfinimines in high enantiomeric excesses. The templates can be synthesized from cheap commodity chemicals in three steps in high yields. Furthermore the template is easily recovered in high yields for recycling.

Two-directional ring-opening cross-metathesis of a range of cyclic alkenes with a variety of electron deficient alkenes has been accomplished; it was found that the process is quite general and gives complete selectivity for the E,E-dienes, making this a very useful and high-yielding protocol for two-directional chain synthesis.

Two-directional cross-metathesis of a range of alpha,omega dienes with a variety of electron deficient alkenes has been accomplished. It was found that the process is quite general and gives complete selectivity for the E,E-dienes, making this a very useful and high yielding protocol for two-directional chain elongation.

Two new tandem reactions for the synthesis of 3,5-disubstituted pyrrolizidines and the first total synthesis of alkaloid cis-223B (in 7 steps and 43% overall yield), involving a double cross metathesis and double Michael addition as key steps, are presented.

A tandem azide formation/intramolecular cycloaddition/triazoline fragmentation/Michael addition, which results in a non-symmetrical quinolizidine from an acyclic symmetrical precursor, is presented.

The synthesis of (+/-)-histrionicotoxin has been achieved in just nine steps using a two-directional synthesis strategy. Key reactions include a two-directional cross-metathesis, a tandem oxime formation/Michael addition/1,4-prototopic shift/[3 + 2]-cycloaddition cascade, a selective Z,Z-bisenyne formation, and a one-pot N-O and bischloroacetylene reduction.

Total syntheses of alkaloid cis-223B and xenovenine are reported in 3 and 4 steps respectively using a two-directional synthesis/triple reductive amination strategy, and their neurotoxic properties assessed.

The synthetic utility of S-mesitylsulfinimines for the synthesis of chiral amines and aziridines was examined through their reactions with Grignard reagents, with the ylides derived from trimethylsulfonium iodide and S-allyl-tetrahydrothiophenium bromide and through an aza-Darzens manifold, affording convenient access to a diverse range of highly substituted chiral amines and aziridines in high yields and excellent stereoselectivities.

Total syntheses of the potent neurotoxins, environmental hazards, and biochemical probes anatoxin-a and homoanatoxin have been achieved from a common intermediate using a combined two-directional synthesis-tandem reaction strategy which includes key advances in oxidative desymmetrisation, tandem Michael-intramolecular Mannich cyclisations and a new method for deprotection of N-tosyl anatoxin-a.

The direct preparation of a range of variously substituted chiral tert-butylsulfinylketimines was achieved in good yield (41–90%), with relatively rapid reaction times (4–15 hours); their synthetic application was examined through the reaction with the ylides derived from trimethylsulfonium iodide and S-allyl tetrahydrothiophenium bromide, affording convenient access to a diverse range of highly substituted chiral aziridines in up to 78% yield and > 90% d.e.