An attempt to determine the absolute configuration of two ascolactone stereoisomers with time-dependent density functional theory

Two stereoisomers of ascolactone (A, B), natural products with two asymmetric carbon atoms, are isolated from the marine-derived fungus Ascochyta salicorniae. Although these compounds show virtually opposite CD spectra and [alpha]D, 1H- and 13C-NMR data exclude the presence of enantiomers and suggest ascolactone A and B to be epimeric lactones. By comparing the experimental CD spectra with those calculated employing time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT), we elucidate the configuration at one of the asymmetric carbon atoms.

Polyketides from the marine-derived fungus Ascochyta salicorniae and their potential to inhibit protein phosphatases

Chemical investigation of the marine fungus Ascochyta salicorniae led to the isolation of two new epimeric compounds, ascolactones A (1) and B (2), in addition to the structurally-related polyketides hyalopyrone (3), ascochitine (4), ascochital (5) and ascosalipyrone (6). The absolute configurations of the epimeric compounds 1 and 2 were assigned as (1R,9R) and (1S,9R), respectively, through simulation of the chiroptical properties using quantum-chemical CD calculations, and chiral GC-MS subsequent to oxidative cleavage (Baeyer-Villiger oxidation) of the side chain. In silico screening using the PASS software identified some of the A. salicorniae compounds (1-6) as potential inhibitors of protein phosphatases. Compound was found to inhibit the enzymatic activity of MPtpB with an IC(50) value of 11.5 microM.

Asymmetric Total Synthesis of the 1-epi-Aglycon of the Cripowellins A and B

[structure: see text] The unusual [5.3.2]-bicyclic structure of the insecticidal Amaryllidaceae alkaloids cripowellin A (1) and B (2) has been synthesized for the first time via a sequence of Sharpless dihydroxylation, ring-closing metathesis, and intramolecular Heck reaction. The asymmetric synthesis of the 1-epi-aglycon 82 proceeds with virtually complete diastereo- and enantioselectivity (de, ee > or = 98%) in 13 steps and an overall yield of 5.6%. In addition, three alternative approaches toward the aglycon 3 are also described focusing on (1) the alkylation of the 2-benzazepinedithianes 35 and 36 with the electrophile 11, (2) a radical cyclization of the precursor (R/S,S,S)-39, and (3) an intramolecular arylation reaction of the aryl ketone 47.

Hierarchical Assembly of Helicate-Type Dinuclear Titanium(IV) Complexes

The ligands 4-7-H(2) were used in coordination studies with titanium(IV) and gallium(III) ions to obtain dimeric complexes Li(4)[(4-7)(6)Ti(2)] and Li(6)[(4/5a)(6)Ga(2)]. The X-ray crystal structures of Li(4)[(4)(6)Ti(2)], Li(4)[(5b)(6)Ti(2)], and Li(4)[(7a)(6)Ti(2)] could be obtained. While these complexes are triply lithium-bridged dimers in the solid state, a monomer/dimer equilibrium is observed in solution by NMR spectroscopy and ESI FT-ICR MS. The stability of the dimer is enhanced by high negative charges (Ti(IV) versus Ga(III)) of the monomers, when the carbonyl units are good donors (aldehydes versus ketones and esters), when the solvent does not efficiently solvate the bridging lithium ions (DMSO versus acetone), and when sterical hindrance is minimized (methyl versus primary and secondary carbon substituents). The dimer is thermodynamically favored by enthalpy as well as entropy. ESI FT-ICR mass spectrometry provides detailed insight into the mechanisms with which monomeric triscatecholate complexes as well as single catechol ligands exchange in the dimers. Tandem mass spectrometric experiments in the gas phase show the dimers to decompose either in a symmetric (Ti) or in an unsymmetric (Ga) fashion when collisionally activated. The differences between the Ti and Ga complexes can be attributed to different electronic properties and a charge-controlled reactivity of the ions in the gas phase. The complexes represent an excellent example for hierarchical self-assembly, in which two different noncovalent interactions of well balanced strengths bring together eleven individual components into one well-defined aggregate.

Dynamic Behavior of Chiral Sulfonimidoyl-Substituted Allyl and Alkyl (Dimethylamino)titanium(IV) Complexes: Metallotropic Shift, Reversible β-Hydride Elimination/Reinsertion, and ab Initio Calculations of Allyl and Alkyl Aminosulfoxonium Ylides

Variable-temperature (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy of the sulfonimidoyl-substituted allyltitanium(IV) complexes E-1a-c and Z-1a-c, which carry diethylamino groups at the Ti atom, revealed a fast 1,3-C,N-shift of the Ti atom, leading to an equilibrium between the epimeric Calpha-titanium allyl complexes A and C and the N-titanium allyl aminosulfoxonium ylide B. Based on these findings a model for the reactions of E-1a-c and Z-1a-c with aldehydes is proposed, which features regio- and diastereoselective reactions of the N-titanium ylide B at the alpha-position and the Calpha-titanium complex A at the gamma-position. Model ab initio calculations of the methylene and allyl (dimethylamino)sulfoxonium ylides 10 and 14, respectively, revealed short Calpha-S bonds, a stabilization by both electrostatic interaction and negative hyperconjugation, and a low Calpha-S rotational barrier. The ylides preferentially adopt Calpha-S and Calpha-N conformations in which the lone pair orbital at the Calpha atom is periplanar to the S=O bond and that at the N atom periplanar to the Calpha-Ph bond. Variable-temperature NMR spectroscopy of the sulfonimidoyl-substituted alkyltitanium(IV) complex 16, which carries diethylamino groups at the Ti atom, revealed a dynamic behavior leading to a complete topomerization of all four methylene hydrogens of the Calpha-ethyl groups. Two fast processes are held responsible for the topomerization of the hydrogens of 16. The first one is a reversible intramolecular beta-hydride elimination/alkene-Ti-H insertion with the intermediate formation of a complex between (Et(2)N)TiH and a 1-alkenyl sulfoximine, and the second one consists of a reversible 1,3-C,N-shift of the Ti atom in combination with a Calpha-S bond rotation. Interestingly, the room-temperature NMR spectra of the corresponding sulfonimidoyl-substituted alkyltitanium(IV) complex 17, which carries isopropoxy groups at the Ti atom, give no indication of a similar dynamic behavior of this complex.

Structural diversity in the assembly of helicate-type nickel(ii) complexes with enantiopure bis(β-diketonate) ligands

The tartaric acid derived bis(beta-diketonate) ligand L affords either 2:3 or 3:2 ligand:metal complexes with nickel(II) ions depending on the stoichiometry of the components; the two complexes possess different electronic and geometric properties.

A new class of C1-symmetric monosulfoximine ligands for enantioselective hetero Diels-Alder reactions

Quinoline-based C1-symmetric sulfoximines have been used as chiral ligands in copper-catalyzed asymmetric hetero Diels-Alder reactions leading to cycloadducts with up to 96% ee.

Synthetic and Spectroscopic Investigation ofN-Acylated Sulfoximines

N-Acylated sulfoximines display unique chemical properties. Various derivatives have been synthesized and investigated by NMR and IR spectroscopy. The results of these studies suggest that the bond between the sulfoximine nitrogen atom and the carbonyl group has a less pronounced double-bond character than the corresponding bond in an amide. This assumption is supported by the first X-ray crystal structure of a sulfoximidoyl derivative. Ab initio calculations (MP2/6-311++G**) provide further insight into the electronic nature of the N-acyl fragment. Studies of the chemical behavior of N-acylated sulfoximines indicate the presence of a highly electrophilic carbonyl group. Thus, the N--C(O) bond can easily be cleaved under mild basic conditions, and the acidity of the hydrogen atoms alpha to the sulfoximine carbonyl group is high. As a consequence of the latter property, endo,endo-sulfoximidoyl norbornene derivatives readily isomerize to their endo,exo counterparts, and sulfoximine-containing pseudopeptides can easily epimerize at the stereogenic center next to the N--C(O) carbonyl group.

Asymmetric Synthesis of 2,3-Dihydrofurans and of Unsaturated Bicyclic Tetrahydrofurans through α-Elimination and Migratory Cyclization of Silyloxy Alkenyl Aminosulfoxonium Salts. Generation and Intramolecular O,Si-Bond Insertion of Chiral Disubstituted β-Silyloxy Alkylidene Carbenes

Treatment of the bis(allylsulfoximine)titanium complexes derived from the beta-methyl-substituted acyclic allylic sulfoximines 13a and 13b with aldehydes gave with high selectivities the corresponding sulfoximine-substituted homoallylic alcohols which were isolated as the silyl ethers 15a-h. Methylation of sulfoximines 15a-h afforded the aminosulfoxonium salts 5a-h which upon treatment with LiN(H)tBu gave in high yields the enantio- and diastereomerically pure silyl-substituted 2,3-dihydrofurans 4a-h. Treatment of the titanium complexes derived from the cyclic allylic sulfoximines 17a, 17b, and ent-17c with p-MeOC(6)H(4)CHO delivered with high selectivities the corresponding sulfoximine-substituted cyclic homoallylic alcohols which were isolated as the silyl ethers 18a, 18b, and ent-18c, respectively. Methylation of sulfoximines 18a, 18b, and ent-18c furnished the aminosulfoxonium salts 8a, 8b, and ent-8c, respectively, whose treatment with LiN(H)t-Bu gave the enantio- and diastereomerically pure fused bicyclic 2,3-dihydrofurans 6a, 6b, and ent-6c, respectively, in good yields. It is proposed that the 1-alkenyl aminosulfoxonium salts 5a-h, 8a, 8b, and ent-8c react with the base under alpha-elimination and formation of the acyclic and cyclic beta-silyloxy alkylidene carbenes 2a-h, 7a, 7b, and ent-7c, respectively, which then undergo a 1,5-O,Si-bond insertion and 1,2-silyl migration. The cyclic aminosulfoxonium salts 8a, 8b, and ent-8c upon treatment with 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]-7-undecene did not undergo an alpha-elimination but suffered a novel migratory cyclization with formation of the enantio- and diastereomerically pure bicyclic tetrahydrofurans 9a, 9b, and ent-9c, respectively. It is proposed that the 1-alkenyl sulfoxonium salts 8a, 8b, and ent-8c are isomerized to the allylic aminosulfoxonium salts 10a, 10b, and ent-10c, respectively, which then suffer an intramolecular substitution of the (dimethylamino)sulfoxonium group by the silyloxy group followed by a desilylation. The syntheses of the 2,3-dihydrofurans 4a-h, 6a, and 6b and of the tetrahydrofurans 9a and 9b are accompanied by the formation of sulfinamide 16 of >or=98% ee, which can be converted via sulfoxide 28 of >or=98% to the starting sulfoximine 11 of >or=98% ee.

Asymmetric Synthesis of Unsaturated, Fused Bicyclic Proline Analogues through Amino Alkylation of Cyclic Bis(allylsulfoximine)titanium Complexes and Migratory Cyclization of δ-Amino Alkenyl Aminosulfoxonium Salts

Described is an asymmetric synthesis of new Delta(3a,4)-unsaturated, fused bicyclic proline analogues from cyclic bis(allylsulfoximine)titanium complexes and N-tert-butylsulfonyl imino ethyl ester. Treatment of the enantiomerically pure five-, six-, seven-, and eight-membered cyclic bis(allylsulfoximine)titanium complexes with the imino ester gave mixtures of the corresponding (E,syn)- and (Z,syn)-configured, delta-sulfoximine substituted, cyclic gamma,delta-unsaturated alpha-amino acid esters with high regio- and diastereoselectivities in good yields. Activation of the N-methyl sulfoximine group of these amino acid derivatives through methylation with Me(3)OBF(4) afforded in nearly quantitative yields the corresponding (dimethylamino)sulfoxonium salts. A novel migratory cyclization of these salts with DBU gave via an isomerization to the corresponding allylic (dimethylamino)sulfoxonium salts and an intramolecular substitution of the (dimethylamino)sulfoxonium group the enantio- and diastereomerically pure, bicyclic, N-tert-butylsulfonyl protected proline analogues having a six- and eight-membered unsaturated carbocyclic ring. Cyclization of the alkenyl (dimethylamino)sulfoxonium salts was independent of the configuration of the double bond. N,N-Dimethylphenylsulfinamide of > or =99% ee was obtained in good yield as a further reaction product. Conversion of the sulfinamide to N,S-dimethyl-S-phenylsulfoximine of > or =99% ee, the starting material for the synthesis of the allylic sulfoximines, had been accomplished previously. Finally, cleavage of the tert-butylsulfonyl protecting group with anhydrous acid furnished the fused bicyclic proline analogue containing an unsaturated six-membered ring in high yield.

Highly selective palladium catalyzed kinetic resolution and enantioselective substitution of racemic allylic carbonates with sulfur nucleophiles: asymmetric synthesis of allylic sulfides, allylic sulfones, and allylic alcohols

We describe the highly selective palladium catalyzed kinetic resolutions of the racemic cyclic allylic carbonates rac-1 a-c and racemic acyclic allylic carbonates rac-3 aa and rac-3 ba through reaction with tert-butylsulfinate, tolylsulfinate, phenylsulfinate anions and 2-pyrimidinethiol by using N,N'-(1R,2R)-1,2-cyclohexanediylbis[2-(diphenylphosphino)-benzamide] (BPA) as ligand. Selectivities are expressed in yields and ee values of recovered substrate and product and in selectivity factors S. The reaction of the cyclohexenyl carbonate 1 a (>/=99 % ee) with 2-pyrimidinethiol in the presence of BPA was shown to exhibit, under the conditions used, an overall pseudo-zero order kinetics in regard to the allylic substrate. Also described are the highly selective palladium catalyzed asymmetric syntheses of the cyclic and acyclic allylic tert-butylsulfones 2 aa, 2 b, 2 c, 2 d and 4 a-c, respectively, and of the cyclic and acyclic allylic 2-pyrimidyl-, 2-pyridyl-, and 4-chlorophenylsulfides 5 aa, 5 b, 5 ab, 6 aa-ac, 6 ba and 6 bb, respectively, from the corresponding racemic carbonates and sulfinate anions and thiols, respectively, in the presence of BPA. Synthesis of the E-configured allylic sulfides 6 aa, 6 ab, 6 ac and 6 bb was accompanied by the formation of minor amounts of the corresponding Z isomers. The analogous synthesis of allylic tert-butylsulfides from allylic carbonates and tert-butylthiol by using BPA could not be achieved. Reaction of the cyclopentenyl esters rac-1 da and rac-1 db with 2-pyrimidinethiol gave the allylic sulfide 5 c having only a low ee value. Similar results were obtained in the case of the reaction of the cyclohexenyl carbonate rac-1 a and of the acyclic carbonates rac-3 aa and rac-3 ba with 2-pyridinethiol and lead to the formation of the sulfides 5 ab, 6 ab, and 6 bb, respectively. The low ee values may be ascribed to the operating of a "memory effect", that is, both enantiomers of the substrate give the substitution product with different enantioselectivities. However, in the reaction of the racemic carbonate rac-1 a as well as of the highly enriched enantiomers 1 a (>/=99 % ee) and ent-1 a (>/=99 % ee) with 2-pyrimidinethiol the ee values of the substrates and the substitution product remained constant until complete conversion. Similar results were obtained in the reaction of the cyclic carbonates rac-1 a, ent-1 a (>/=99 % ee) and ent-1 c (>/=99 % ee) with lithium tert-butylsulfinate. Thus, in the case of rac-1 a and 2-pyrimidinthiol and tert-butylsulfinate anion as nucleophiles the enantioselectivity of the substitution step is, under the conditions used, independent of the chirality of the substrate; this shows that no "memory effect" is operating in this case. Hydrolysis of the carbonates ent-1 a-c, ent-3 aa and ent-3 ba, which were obtained through kinetic resolution, afforded the enantiomerically highly enriched cyclic allylic alcohols 9 a-c (>/=99 % ee) and acyclic allylic alcohols 10 a (>/=99 % ee) and 10 b (99 % ee), respectively.

[Necrotizing sialometaplasia--a specific differential diagnosis of an ulcer of the hard palate]

BACKGROUND

Ulcers of the hard palate are mostly caused by malignancies. In addition, rare diseases should be included in the differential diagnosis. Beside specific inflammations (lues, tuberculosis) necrotizing sialometaplasia belongs to these uncommon medical conditions.

PATIENTS

A 51-year-old male was admitted to the hospital with an algetic ulcer of the hard palate. Malignancy was ruled out by pathohistological examination. Inflammation or infection was excluded by serological examination. A second biopsy was investigated by the pathologist suspecting necrotizing sialometaplasia and confirmed the suspicion. By applying local treatment and systemic antibiosis against bacterial superinfection the ulcer finally healed.

CONCLUSIONS

Necrotizing sialometaplasia is a rare medical condition generated by local circulatory disorder. 128 cases were published so far. Typical patients are males aged 50 and above. Characteristics of this ulcer are a high rate of spontaneous healing and lacking malignancy. After excluding a malignant tumor this rare disease has to be considered when diagnosing an ulcer of the hard palate.

Reactivity of the organometallic fac-[(CO)3ReI(H2O)3]+ aquaion. Kinetic and thermodynamic properties of H2O substitution

The water exchange process on [(CO)(3)Re(H(2)O)(3)](+) (1) was kinetically investigated by (17)O NMR. The acidity dependence of the observed rate constant k(obs) was analyzed with a two pathways model in which k(ex) (k(ex)(298) = (6.3 +/- 0.1) x 10(-3) s(-1)) and k(OH) (k(OH)(298)= 27 +/- 1 s(-1)) denote the water exchange rate constants on 1 and on the monohydroxo species [(CO)(3)Re(I)(H(2)O)(2)(OH)], respectively. The kinetic contribution of the basic form was proved to be significant only at [H(+)] < 3 x 10(-3) M. Above this limiting [H(+)] concentration, kinetic investigations can be unambiguously conducted on the triaqua cation (1). The variable temperature study has led to the determination of the activation parameters Delta H(++)(ex) = 90 +/- 3 kJ mol(-1), Delta S(++)(ex) = +14 +/- 10 J K(-1) mol(-1), the latter being indicative of a dissociative activation mode for the water exchange process. To support this assumption, water substitution reaction on 1 has been followed by (17)O/(1)H/(13)C/(19)F NMR with ligands of various nucleophilicities (TFA, Br(-), CH(3)CN, Hbipy(+), Hphen(+), DMS, TU). With unidentate ligands, except Br(-), the mono-, bi-, and tricomplexes were formed by water substitution. With bidentate ligands, bipy and phen, the chelate complexes [(CO)(3)Re(H(2)O)(bipy)]CF(3)SO(3) (2) and [(CO)(3)Re(H(2)O)(phen)](NO(3))(0.5)(CF(3)SO(3))(0.5).H(2)O (3) were isolated and X-ray characterized. For each ligand, the calculated interchange rate constants k'(i) (2.9 x 10(-3) (TFA) < k'(I) < 41.5 x 10(-3) (TU) s(-1)) were found in the same order as the water exchange rate constant k(ex), the S-donor ligands being slightly more reactive. This result is indicative of I(d) mechanism for water exchange and complex formation, since larger variations of k'(i) are expected for an associatively activated mechanism.

Asymmetric synthesis of succinic semialdehyde derivatives

The nucleophilic Michael addition of 2-(diphenylmethoxymethyl)-1-methyleneamino pyrrolidine 1Dto prochiral aliphatic and aromatic alkylidene malonates 2 takes place in the presence of MgI(2) to afford the corresponding Michael adducts 3 in excellent yields and good selectivities. In the aromatic series, optically pure (de > 98%) major diastereomers (S,S)-3 were isolated in good yields (77-93%) after chromatographic separation. Direct, racemization-free BF(3).OEt(2)-catalyzed thiolysis of compounds 3 afforded dithioacetals 7. These compounds were transformed into malonates 8 and succinic semialdehyde derivatives 9 by Raney Nickel mediated desulfuration or decarboxylation, respectively.

Asymmetric synthesis of anti-homopropargylic alcohols from aldehydes and chiral sulfonimidoyl substituted bis(allyl)titanium complexes through generation and elimination of novel chiral alkylidenecarbene (dimethylamino)sulfoxonium ylides

A new method for the asymmetric synthesis of anti-configured homopropargylic alcohols 1 is described, which features the addition of chiral sulfonimidoyl substituted bis(allyl)titanium complexes 3 to aldehydes, the methylation of sulfonimidoyl substituted homoallylic alcohols 2 at the N-atom, and the elimination of alkenyl (dimethylamino)sulfoxonium salts 7 with LiN(H)tBu. The reaction of isopropyl, cyclohexyl, and methyl substituted allylic titanium complexes 3a-c with benzaldehyde, p-bromobenzaldehyde, p-chlorobenzaldehyde, p-methoxybenzaldehyde, (E)-3-phenylpropenal, and phenylpropynal afforded with high regio- and diastereoselectivities the anti-configured sulfonimidoyl substituted homoallylic alcohols 2a-j, respectively. Only one allylic unit of the titanium complexes 3a-c was transferred in the case of unsaturated aldehydes, and the starting allylic sulfoximines 2a-g were recovered in approximately 50% yield. The methylation of the silyl protected alkenyl sulfoximines 6a-j with Me(3)OBF(4) gave in practically quantitative yields the (dimethylamino)sulfoxonium salts 7a-j, respectively. Salts 7a-e, 7g, 7h, and 7j delivered upon treatment with 2 equiv of LiN(H)tBu the enantio- and diastereomerically pure saturated and unsaturated alkynes 9a-e, 9g, 9h, and 9j, respectively, in high yields. Besides the alkynes the sulfinamide 8 (96% ee) was isolated. Aminosulfoxonium salts 9f and 9i, which carry a CC triple bond, also suffered an elimination under these conditions but did not yield the corresponding diynes. Elimination of salts 7a-e, 7g, 7h, and 7j proceeds most likely through deprotonation at the alpha-position with formation of the novel alkylidenecarbene aminosulfoxonium ylides 19a-e, 19g, 19h, and 19j, respectively. The ylides 19a-e, 19g, 19h, and 19j presumably eliminate sulfinamide 8 with generation of the chiral nonracemic (beta-siloxyalkylidene)carbenes 20a-e, 20g, 20h, and 20j, which suffer a 1,2-H-shift with formation of alkynes 9. Support for the formation of the putative alkylidenecarbenes 20 as intermediates comes from the elimination of the beta-methyl substituted aminosulfoxonium salt 24, which delivered the enantio- and diastereomerically pure 2,3-dihydrofuran derivative 28 upon treatment with LiN(H)tBu in high yield. Here, the putative (beta-siloxyalkylidene)carbene 26 suffers a 1,5-O,Si bond insertion rather than a 1,2-Me shift. Methylation of the alkenyl sulfoximine 6a at the alpha-position with formation of 13 was achieved through deprotonation of the former with formation of the alpha-lithioalkenyl sulfoximine 11a and its treatment MeI. Reaction of the alpha-methylated alkenyl aminosulfoxonium salt 14a with LiNiPr(2) at low temperatures gave the enantio- and diastereomerically pure anti-configured homoallenylic alcohol derivative 15, while reaction of the salt with LiNiPr(2) or LiN(H)tBu at higher temperatures afforded the enantio- and diastereomerically pure nonterminal homopropargylic alcohol derivative 17. Deprotonation of the alkenyl (dimethylamino)sulfoxonium salts 7a and 7b with nBuLi afforded the novel alkylidenecarbene aminosulfoxonium ylides 19a and 19b, respectively, which upon treatment with MeI yielded the methylated aminosulfoxonium salts 14a and 14b, respectively.

Highly selective addition of chiral, sulfonimidoyl substituted bis(allyl)titanium complexes to N-sulfonyl alpha-imino esters: asymmetric synthesis of gamma,delta-unsaturated alpha-amino acids bearing a chiral, electron-withdrawing nucleofuge at the delta-position

Selective addition of the chiral, sulfonimidoyl substituted bis(allyl)titanium complexes 5a-d, which are configurationally labile in regard to the Calpha-atoms, to N-toluenesulfonyl (Ts)-, N-2-trimethylsilylethanesulfonyl (SES)-, and N-tert-butylsulfonyl (Bus) alpha-imino ester (9a-c) in the presence of Ti(OiPr)(4) and ClTi(OiPr)(3) afforded with high regio- and diastereoselectivities in good yields the (syn, E)-configured beta-alkyl-gamma,delta-unsaturated alpha-amino acid derivatives 2a-g, which carry a chiral, electron-withdrawing nucleofuge at the delta-position and a cyclohexyl, an isopropyl, a phenyl, and a methyl group at the beta-position. Addition of the cyclic bis(allyl)titanium complex 14 to N-Bus alpha-imino ester 9c afforded with similar high regio- and diastereoselectivities the (E)- and (Z)-configured amino acid derivatives (E)-8 and (Z)-8. Reaction of complexes 5a-d with alpha-imino esters 9a-c in the presence of Ti(OiPr)(4) occurs stepwise to give first the mono(allyl)titanium complexes containing 2a-g as ligands, which react in the presence of ClTi(OiPr)(3) with a second molecule of 9a-c with formation of two molecules of 2a-g. Formation of (S,R,E)-configured homoallylic amines 2a-g entails Si,Re,E processes of alpha-imino esters 9a-c with the (R,R)-configured bis(allyl)titanium complexes (R,R)-5a-d and (R)-configured mono(allyl)titanium complexes (R)-17a-d, both of which are most likely in rapid equilibrium with their (S,S)-diastereomers and (S)-diastereomers, respectively. Interestingly, in the reaction of 5a-d with aldehydes, the (S,S)-configured complexes (S,S)-5a-d are the ones which react faster. Reaction of the N-titanated amino acid derivatives Ti-2a and Ti-2b with N-Ts alpha-imino ester 9a led to the highly diastereoselective formation of imidazolidinones 15a and 15b, respectively. Cleavage of the sulfonamide group of the N-Bus amino acid derivative 2d with CF(3)SO(3)H gave quantitatively the sulfonimidoyl functionalized amino acid H-2d. A Ni-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of the amino acid derivative 2e with ZnPh(2) led to a substitution of the sulfonimidoyl group by a phenyl group and furnished the enantiomerically pure protected alpha-amino acid Bus-1. Two new N-sulfonyl alpha-imino esters, the SES and the Bus alpha-imino esters 9b and 9c, respectively, have been synthesized from the corresponding sulfonamides by the Kresze method in medium to good yields. The N-SES alpha-imino ester 9b and the N-Bus alpha-imino ester 9c should find many synthetic applications, in particular, in cases where the N-Ts alpha-imino ester 9a had been used before.