Search

An enantioselective, biomimetic organocatalytic synthesis of 4-arylquinolizidin-2-ones, key intermediates in the synthesis of several Lythraceae alkaloids, was developed. The methodology features S...

A concise synthesis of 2-t-butoxycarbonyl allyl vinyl ethers by regioselective Petasis methylenation and stereoselective Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reactions of iodoallyl t-butyl oxalates was developed. Ethers with a terminally unsubstituted vinyl group and a terminally disubstituted allyl portion are readily accessible by this method. The enantioselective Claisen rearrangement of representative allyl vinyl ethers was examined.

An enantioselective synthesis of functionalized quaternary stereocenters was developed from amino alcohol derived (bromoalkylidene)morpholinones. Stereoselective cross-coupling of the morpholinones with arylboronic acids or alkyl trifluoroborates provided a variety of disubstituted alkylidenemorpholinones. A highly stereoselective Prins reaction of the cross-coupling products generated the target quaternary stereocenter. The Prins products are readily converted into a variety of acyclic, enantiomerically enriched, functionalized building blocks with a quaternary stereocenter.

The enantioselective organocatalytic direct vinylogous aldol reaction of γ-crotonolactone and a suitable aldehyde was utilized in the synthesis of a functionalized γ-butenolide. The γ-butenolide (aldol product) was stereoselectively converted into a 5-aminoalkyl butyrolactone, which isomerized to the key 2,3-disubstituted piperidinone, a common intermediate to (+)-febrifugine and (+)-halofuginone.

An efficient route to functionalized indolizidines from an enantiomerically enriched γ-nitro ketone is described. The nitro ketone is obtained by an organocatalytic, enantioselective ketone-nitro alkene Michael addition. Oxidative ring expansion of the nitro ketone and subsequent methanolysis provides a 8-nitro-4-oxooctanoate. This is stereoselectively transformed to the key, functionalized indolizidine intermediate which is readily converted to (+)-ipalbidine and (+)-antofine.

Secondary–secondary diamines derived from S-proline are efficient catalysts for the ketone–nitroalkene Michael addition reaction. The stereoselectivity of the Michael addition is dependant on the pKa of the N-substituted aminomethyl pendant in these diamines. N′-Aryl aminomethyl pyrrolidines provide γ-nitroketones with moderate to good enantiomeric excess (65–92%). Removal of the hydrogen-bond donor group by N-methylation results in a dramatic reduction of enantioselectivity (average ee 6%).

Guanidinyl pyrrolidines derived from 'S'-proline are effective catalysts for the enantioselective conjugate addition of malonate, nitroalkane and other carbon and heteroatom nucleophiles to cyclohexenone and cyclopentenone in the absence of basic additives. The stereoselectivity is strongly dependent on catalyst loading as well as reaction concentration.

An enantioselective synthesis of functionalized quaternary stereocenters was developed from amino alcohol derived (bromoalkylidene)morpholinones. Stereoselective cross-coupling of the morpholinones with arylboronic acids or alkyl trifluoroborates provided a variety of disubstituted alkylidenemorpholinones. A highly stereoselective Prins reaction of the cross-coupling products generated the target quaternary stereocenter. The Prins products are readily converted into a variety of acyclic, enantiomerically enriched, functionalized building blocks with a quaternary stereocenter.

An efficient enantioselective synthesis of β,β-dialkyl α-hydroxy γ-butyrolactones, analogues of pantolactone, has been developed employing a stereoselective Prins reaction of chiral alkylidene morpholinones, as the key step. Enantioselective synthesis of a naturally occurring pantolactone homologue and a spiro analogue of pantolactone was achieved with this protocol.

A new enantioselective approach to α-alkyl-α-hydroxy-γ-butyrolactones employing (1R,2S)-ephedrine-derived chiral allyl morpholinones as starting materials is described.

An expedient enantioselective approach to (R)-homocitric acid lactone from an ephedrine-derived morpholine-dione, a cationic glycolate equivalent, is described.

An efficient synthesis of functionalized quinolizidines was developed from an enantiomerically enriched γ-nitroketone, which is easily prepared by an organocatalytic ketone–nitroalkene Michael addition. Oxidative ring expansion of the nitroketone followed by reductive ring-opening leads to a suitably functionalized nitrodiol which is an intermediate to the title compounds.

An ephedrine-derived morpholine dione is employed in the synthesis of chiral alkylidene morpholinones that are efficiently converted to β-substituted α,γ-dihydroxy butyramides, precursors of the corresponding butyrolactones. Enantioselective synthesis of a spiro analog of pantolactone as well as a naturally occurring pantolactone homolog is achieved with this protocol.

A new enantioselective approach to α-alkyl-α-hydroxy-γ-butyrolactones employing (1R,2S)-ephedrine-derived chiral allyl morpholinones as starting materials is described.

The Prins reaction of a chiral alkylidene morpholinone derived from (1R,2S)-ephedrine and 3-methyl-2-oxobutanoic acid proceeds with good diastereoselectivity to generate a spiro bis-acetal. Lewis a...

An ephedrine-derived morpholine dione is employed in the synthesis of chiral alkylidene morpholinones that are efficiently converted to β-substituted α,γ-dihydroxy butyramides, precursors of the corresponding butyrolactones. Enantioselective synthesis of a spiro analog of pantolactone as well as a naturally occurring pantolactone homolog is achieved with this protocol.

Secondary–secondary diamines derived from S-proline are efficient catalysts for the ketone–nitroalkene Michael addition reaction. The stereoselectivity of the Michael addition is dependant on the pKa of the N-substituted aminomethyl pendant in these diamines. N′-Aryl aminomethyl pyrrolidines provide γ-nitroketones with moderate to good enantiomeric excess (65–92%). Removal of the hydrogen-bond donor group by N-methylation results in a dramatic reduction of enantioselectivity (average ee 6%).

[reaction: see text] The Prins reaction of a chiral alkylidene morpholinone derived from (1R,2S)-ephedrine and 3-methyl-2-oxobutanoic acid proceeds with good diastereoselectivity to generate a spiro bis-acetal. Lewis acid mediated diastereoselective reductive cleavage of the spiro acetal and subsequent removal of the ephedrine portion generates a alpha-hydroxy-gamma-methoxy carboxamide which is readily converted to (S)-(+)-pantolactone with high enantiomeric excess.

Enantioselective routes to functionalized, seven-, eight-, and nine-membered oxacycles that are amenable to further elaboration have been developed. Salient features of the methodology include highly diastereoselective and regioselective transformations of an ephedrine-derived epoxy morpholinone to functionalized precursors of the oxacycles. The ephedrine scaffold exerts remote stereocontrol in the functionalization of the appended oxacycle. [reaction: see text]

Simple, chiral, pyrrolidine-based diamine and triamine derivatives that incorporate the secondary−secondary diamine motif are efficient catalysts for the highly diastereoselective and enantioselective Michael addition of cyclic ketones to 2-nitrovinyl arenes. The highest selectivities are obtained when these catalysts are used in conjunction with protonic acids. Steric factors in the substrate and the size of the acid additive play an important role in stereoselection.

[reaction: see text] An expedient, enantioselective synthesis of a key precursor to (-)-quinic acid has been achieved from an ephedrine-derived morpholine-dione. The salient features of this approach are a highly diastereoselective conversion of the dione to a dialkenyl morpholinone and a subsequent ring-closing metathesis reaction. Removal of the ephedrine portion generates an enantiomerically enriched hydroxycyclohexene carboxamide that is readily converted to the quinic acid precursor.

A formal enantioselective synthesis of (−)-aphanorphine (91% ee), that culminates with the preparation of (+)-O-methyl aphanorphine, was achieved. The methodology involves the diastereoselective synthesis of a key 3,5-disubstituted pyrrolidinone intermediate by the intramolecular oxidative amidation of a suitably functionalized α-hydroxy pentenoic acid derivative. A late-stage N-formyl protection, which functions as a latent N-methyl group, is utilized as a simple alternative to a protecting group switch and subsequent N-methylation strategy implemented in all other syntheses of aphanorphine related to the present approach.

A convergent enantioselective route to an advanced intermediate for the synthesis of the marine natural product (+)-laurencin has been developed. The methodology employs ring-opening of an ephedrine-based spiro-epoxide with a chiral secondary alcohol, hemiacetal allylation and ring closing metathesis as the key steps for elaboration of the functionalized medium-ring ether moiety in laurencin.