Intermolecular cycloaddition of nonstabilized azomethine ylides generated from 1,3-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acids: synthesis of 5,7a-dihydro-1H,3H-pyrrolo[1,2-c]thiazoles

The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate with nonstabilized azomethine ylides, generated via the decarboxylative condensation of 1,3-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acids with aldehydes, afforded 5,7a-dihydro-1H,3H-pyrrolo[1,2-c]thiazole derivatives. 2-Substituted-1,3-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acids led to the stereoselective formation of 5,7a-dihydro-1H,3H-pyrrolo[1,2-c]thiazoles. Quantum-chemistry calculations were carried out allowing the rationalization of the observed stereoselective formation of the anti-dipole.     

Stereoselective pyrroline-ring formation through the cyclization of conjugated azomethine ylides at the periphery of pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidine system

The thermal reaction of N-benzyl-N-[3-(N-substituted imino)methyl-4-oxo-4H-pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidin-2-yl]amino acid esters, generated from aldehyde esters and primary amines, provides 2,3-dihydropyrido[1,2-a]pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4(1H)-one derivatives effectively and stereoselectively. Therein, the stereoselective generation of conjugated azomethine ylides from the imine esters and their cyclization is essential for the pyrroline-ring formation.     

Synthesis of enantiopure ethyl (1S,9aS)- and (1S,9aR)-1-phenyl-4,9-dioxohexahydropyrrolo[1,2-d][1,4]oxazepine-9a(7H)-carboxylate by carbenoid/ylide/Stevens-[1,2]-shift with ring enlargement

Enantiomerically pure ethyl (1S,9aS)- and (1S,9aR)-1-phenyl-4,9-dioxohexahydropyrrolo[1,2-d][1,4]oxazepine-9a(7H)-carboxylate were obtained by Cu(II)-catalyzed decomposition of an α-diazo carbonyl tethered to a chiral morpholinone. The reaction occurred with moderate diastereoselectivity but with complete enantioselectivity through the carbenoid/spiro-[5,6]-ammonium ylide/Stevens-[1,2]-shift with ring enlargement sequence.     

Substituted chromones in [3+2] cycloadditions with nonstabilized azomethine ylides: synthesis of 1-benzopyrano[2,3-c]pyrrolidines and 1-benzopyrano[2,3-c:3,4-c′]dipyrrolidines

Chromones bearing electron-withdrawing substituents at the 2- or 3-position react with nonstabilized azomethine ylides to produce 1-benzopyrano[2,3-c]pyrrolidines in good yields. Reactions of 3-cyanochromones proceed diastereoselectively to give 1-benzopyrano[2,3-c]pyrrolidines and tetrahydro-1H-spiro[chromeno[2,3-c]pyrrol-9,5′-oxazolidine]-9a-carbonitriles, depending on the reactant ratio, as a result of a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of the azomethine ylide at the double bond and carbonyl group of the chromone system. The latter undergoes demethylenation and recyclization into a novel hexahydrochromeno[2,3-c:3,4-c′]dipyrrole tetracyclic system on heating with hydrochloric acid.     

Synthesis of pyrrolo[3,4-c]quinolines by 1,5-electrocyclisation of non-stabilised azomethine ylides

A new route to the pyrrolo[3,4-c]quinoline ring system has been developed via the 1,5-dipolar electrocyclisation reactions of azomethine ylides derived from easily available 3-formylquinoline derivatives. The intermediacy of azomethine ylides was shown by the trapping of the proposed dipoles with N-phenylmaleimide.     

Synthesis of pyrrolo[3,4-c]quinolines by 1,5-electrocyclisation of non-stabilised azomethine ylides

A new route to the pyrrolo[3,4-c]quinoline ring system has been developed via the 1,5-dipolar electrocyclisation reactions of azomethine ylides derived from easily available 3-formylquinoline derivatives. The intermediacy of azomethine ylides was shown by the trapping of the proposed dipoles with N-phenylmaleimide.     

Enantioselective synthesis of (1S,2S)-1,2-di-tert-butyl and (1R,2R)-1,2-di-(1-adamantyl)ethylenediamines

An enantioselective synthesis of sterically congested 1,2-di-tert-butyl and 1,2-di-(1-adamantyl)ethylenediamines has been developed. Thus, diastereomerically pure trans-1-apocamphanecarbonyl-4,5-dimethoxy-2-imidazolidinones 6 and 7 were successfully prepared by optical resolution of (±)-trans-4,5-dimethoxy-2-imidazolidinone using apocamphanecarbonyl chloride (MAC-Cl) followed by stereospecific and stepwise substitution of the dimethoxyl groups using tert-butyl or 1-adamantyl cuprates to provide (4S,5S)-4,5-di-tert-butyl and (4R,5R)-4,5-di-(1-adamantyl)-2-imidazolidinones 12 and 15, respectively. Furthermore, N-acetyl 4,5-di-tert-butyl and 4,5-di-(1-adamantyl)-2-imidazolidinones 16a,b were enantioselectively deacetylated using a catalytic oxazaborolidine system to provide enantiopure 1-p-tolylsulfonyl-4,5-di-tert-butyl-2-imidazolidinones 12 and 19 and 1-p-tolylsulfonyl-4,5-di-(1-adamantyl)-2-imidazolidinones 18 and 20, respectively. Finally, N-p-tolylsulfonyl-2-imidazolidinones 12 and 15 were treated with 30 equiv of Ba(OH)₂·8H₂O to achieve ring cleavage and to provide (1S,2S)-1,2-di-tert-butylethylenediamine 3 and (1R,2R)-1,2-di-(1-adamantyl)ethylenediamine 4.     

Stereoselective synthesis of functional derivatives of 2-(2-carboxyethyl)pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid

Azomethine ylides generated from dimethyl 2-(arylmethylideneamino)pentanedioates by the action of AgOAc and Et₃N reacted with dipolarophiles in regio-and stereoselective fashion to form 5-aryl-2-(2-carboxyethyl)pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid derivatives. 1,3-Dipolar cycloaddition of divinyl sulfone to the azomethine ylide generated from the Schiff base derived from methyl (S)-2-phthalimido-4-oxobutanoate and dimethyl glutamate gave chiral simplified kaitocephalin analogs.     

Enantioselective synthesis of (−)-(1R,2R)-1,2-dihydrochrysene-1,2-diol

A general chiral building block containing the 1R,2R-trans-diol moiety was constructed utilizing the stereoselective Shi-epoxidation reaction on a tetralone scaffold assembled by a Negishi cross-coupling on N,N-diethylbenzamide. Further elaboration of this chiral building block into polycyclic aromatic compounds was demonstrated with the total synthesis of the precursor for the most carcinogenic metabolite of chrysene, (−)-(1R,2R)-1,2-dihydrochrysene-1,2-diol in 87% ee.     

1,5-Electrocyclisation of azomethine ylides leading to pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines—concise construction of the lamellarin skeleton

A new, general route to the 1,2-diaryl-substituted pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines has been developed via the 1,5-dipolar electrocyclisation reactions of azomethine ylides derived from readily available stilbenic acid derivatives. This method was applied to the concise construction of a lamellarin skeleton.     

An efficient method for the synthesis of hydrocyclopenta[1,2-b]furan with various side chains at 3a-position

(3aS∗,1aR∗)-1a-Methoxy-3a-methoxycarbonyl-2,3,4,5,6,3a-hexahydrocyclopenta[1,2-b]furan was prepared in 96% overall yield from 2-methoxycarbonylated cyclopenta-1-one in two steps. This furan derivative is used as a divergent intermediate in the synthesis of our originally designed chiral resolving agents having various substitutions. During the preliminary evaluation of divergent synthetic products, it was discovered that 3a-(fluoren-9-ylidenemethyl)-2,3,4,5,3a-pentahydrocyclopenta[1,2-b]furan, was a remarkably improved chiral resolving agent for secondary alcohols.     

Diastereoselective route to (2R,5S)- and (2S,5S)-2-methyl-1,6-dioxaspiro[4.5]decane, a pheromone component of the wasp Paravespula vulgaris

A diastereoselective approach to (2R,5S)- and (2S,5S)-2-methyl-1,6-dioxaspiro[4.5]decane 1 and 1a is described. The route starts with an alkylation reaction among the cyclopentanone N,N-dimethylhydrazone 6 and the chiral iodides (R)-3 or (S)-3, derived from the enantiomers of ethyl β-hydroxybutyrate, controlling the estereocenter at C-2 of the molecules. The alkylated products 7 and 7a were easily transformed into the 1,8-O-TBS-1,8-dihydroxy-5-nonanones 9 and 9a in four steps, and a subsequent stereoselective spiroketalization, in acidic media, afforded a Z:E mixture (1:2) of compounds 1 and 1a.     

Dihydroboronium derivatives of (S,S)-1,2-bis(t-butylmethylphosphino)ethane as convenient chiral ligand precursors

Dihydroboronium derivatives of (S,S)-1,2-bis(t-butylmethylphosphino)ethane (t-Bu-BisP*) were prepared and used as chiral diphosphine ligand precursors in Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of methyl (Z)-acetamidocinnamate to afford the hydrogenation product in up to 94% enantioselectivity.     

Synthesis of benz[5,6]azepino[4,3-b]indoles by 1,7-electrocyclisation of azomethine ylides

A new, general route to the benz[5,6]azepino[4,3-b]indole ring system has been developed via the 1,7-dipolar electrocyclisation reactions of azomethine ylides derived from easily available 3-formyl indole derivatives. The intermediacy of azomethine ylides was shown by the trapping of the proposed α,β:γ,δ-conjugated dipole with N-phenylmaleimide.     

1,3-Dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine imines to ethynyl hetarenes: A synthetic route to 2,3-dihydropyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-1(5H)-one based heterobiaryls

π-Deficient ethynyl hetarenes were used as dipolarophiles in a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction with azomethine imines (2-arylidene-5-oxopyrazolidin-2-ium-1-ides). Both CuI-catalyzed and catalyst-free thermally induced reactions proceeded with high regioselectivity providing 6-hetaryl-5-aryl-2,3-dihydropyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-1(5H)-ones in moderate to excellent yields. The ethynyl hetarenes (pyridines, pyrazines, quinoxalines, pteridines and pyrimido[4,5-c]pyridazines) with ortho-methyl, ortho-cyano and ortho-alkynyl substituents were applicable to this reaction. 1,3-Dipolar cycloaddition reactions of alkynyl hetarenes with azomethine imines or other 1,3-dipole reagents can be considered as an alternative synthetic approach to heterobiaryls.     

Synthesis of (R)-propane-1,2-diol from lactides by dynamic kinetic resolution

The dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) of rac-1-tert-butoxypropan-2-ol with isopropenyl acetate in the presence of Novozyme 435 and a ruthenium catalyst produces enantiomerically pure (R)-1-tert-butoxy-2-acetoxy-propane (>99.5 %ee) in a good yield. The product can be easily transformed into (R)-propane-1,2-diol without loss of stereoselectivity. Together with recently published procedures, the herein described DKR offers the possibility to use any lactide source as starting material for the production of (R)-propane-1,2-diol. The chiral diol may serve as the chiral building block for the synthesis of important enantiopure esters, like propylene carbonate, chiral polymers, etc.     

Synthesis of 9-arylamino- and (Z)-9-arylimino-9H-pyrrolo[1,2-a]indoles by reactions of 2-(pyrrol-1-yl)benzaldehydes with aryl amines

Heating mixtures of 2-(pyrrol-1-yl)benzaldehydes and aryl amines under argon afforded 9-arylamino-9H-pyrrolo[1,2-a]indoles, via cyclization of the resulting 2-(pyrrol-1-yl)benzaldimine intermediates. Heating in the presence of oxygen afforded (Z)-9-arylimino-9H-pyrrolo[1,2-a]indoles, which were successfully hydrolyzed with hydrochloric acid to give pyrrolo[1,2-a]indol-9-ones.     

Synthesis of (S,Z)-3-[(1H-indol-3-yl)methylidene]hexahydropyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazin-4(1H)-one: an alternative, enaminone based, route to unsaturated cyclodipeptides

A series of racemic and enantiopure (S,Z)-3-[(1H-indol-3-yl)methylidene]hexahydropyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazin-4(1H)-one (cyclic Pro-ΔTrp) dipeptide analogues were prepared. Racemic analogues 6a-c were prepared by direct coupling of racemic cyclodipeptide enaminone (R,S)-5 with various indole derivatives. On the other hand, enantiopure analogues were prepared through a copper(I) catalyzed vinyl amidation reaction in which acyclic (S)-Pro-ΔTrp dipeptide analogues 20 and 21 were formed. Acyclic dipeptides were cyclized to enantiopure (S)-Pro-ΔTrp dipeptide analogues 24 and 25. For coupling reactions, vinyl bromides were prepared in several steps. From ethyl acetate (7), enaminone 8 was prepared and coupled with 2-methylindole and 2-phenylindole to give 9 and 10. Direct bromination of 3-(indole-3-yl)propenoates 9 and 10 at position 2 results in vinyl bromides 11 and 12. The Boc protecting group on the indole nitrogen 1′ in vinyl bromides 11 and 12 was introduced, before the copper(I) catalyzed coupling with N-Boc prolinamide 18 was performed. Enantiomeric purity of chiral intermediates and final products was determined mostly by HPLC or ¹H NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction.     

Short asymmetric synthesis of (S,S)-PDP using l-prolinol derivative as economic starting material

(S,S)-PDP (5d) and its backbone (2S,2′S)-bipyrrolidine (1) have been extensively applied as the scaffold of various chiral ligands in catalytic asymmetric syntheses. In this study, new short asymmetric syntheses of these two important C₂-symmetrical nitrogen heterocycles have been accomplished employing economically available l-prolinol derivative 10 as the starting material. Excellent diastereoselectivity was achieved of the key Grignard addition to imine intermediate utilizing (S)-N-tert-butanesulfinamide as the chiral auxiliary.     

Simplified syntheses of the water-soluble chiral shift reagents Sm-(R)-pdta and Sm-(S)-pdta

The chiral shift reagents Sm-(R)-pdta and Sm-(S)-pdta, which are based on (R)- or (S)-1,2-diaminopropane-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid were synthesized from easily accessible compounds in three simple steps, which makes the method suitable for laboratory-scale production. In addition, a new and efficient method for the preparation of pure anhydrous (R)- or (S)-1,2-diaminopropane-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid was developed.