A stereoselective and scalable synthesis of a conformationally constrained S1P1 agonist

Asymmetric bifunctionalization of allenes with aryl iodides and amino acids enabled by chiral aldehyde/palladium combined catalysis

Even though catalytic asymmetric bifunctionalization of allenes has been extensively studied, almost all of the reported examples have been achieved in a two-component manner. In this study, we report a highly efficient asymmetric bifunctionalization of allenes with iodohydrocarbons and NH2-unprotected amino acid esters. The adopted chiral aldehyde/palladium combined catalytic system precisely governs the chemoselectivity, regioselectivity, and stereoselectivity of this three-component reaction. A wide range of substituted aryl iodides, allenes and amino acid esters can well participate in this reaction and deliver structurally diverse α,α-disubstituted α-amino acid esters with excellent experimental outcomes. One of the resulting products is utilized for the total synthesis of the molecule (S,R)-VPC01091.

Enantioselective total synthesis of the highly selective sphingosine-1-receptor VPC01091 by the Heck desymmetrization of a non-activated cyclopentene-fused spiro-pyrrolidinone

The total synthesis of VPC01091 was accomplished in a concise manner, in a good overall yield of 40% from ethyl nitroacetate and 94% ee.