A facile and efficient asymmetric synthesis of (+)-salsolidine

Characterizing the origin band spectrum of isoquinoline with resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization and electronic structure calculations

We report the experimental resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization spectrum of isoquinoline between 315 and 310 nm, along with correlated electronic structure calculations on the ground and excited states of this species. This spectral region spans the origin transitions to a π-π* excited state, which previous work has suggested to be vibronically coupled with a lower lying singlet n-π* state. Our computational results corroborate previous density functional theory calculations that predict the vertical excitation energy for the n-π* state to be higher than the π-π* state; however, we find an increase in the C-N-C angle brings the n-π* state below the energy of the π-π* state. The calculations find two out-of-plane vibrational modes of the n-π* state, which may be brought into near resonance with the π-π* state as the C-N-C bond angle increases. Therefore, the C-N-C bond angle may be important in activating vibronic coupling between the states. We fit the experimental rotational contour with a genetic algorithm to determine the excited state rotational constants and orientation of the transition dipole moment. The fits show a mostly in-plane polarized transition, and the projection of the transition dipole moment in the a-b plane is about 84° away from the a axis. These results are consistent with the prediction of our electronic structure calculations for the transition dipole moment of the π-π* excited state.

Tropane and related alkaloid skeletons via a radical [3+3]-annulation process

Tropanes and related bicyclic alkaloids are highly attractive compounds possessing a broad biological activity. Here we report a mild and simple protocol for the synthesis of N-arylated 8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane and 9-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane derivatives. It provides these valuable bicyclic alkaloid skeletons in good yields and high levels of diastereoselectivity from simple and readily available starting materials using visible-light photoredox catalysis. These bicyclic aniline derivatives are hardly accessible via the classical Robinson tropane synthesis and represent a particularly attractive scaffold for medicinal chemistry. This unprecedented annulation process takes advantage of the unique reactivity of ethyl 2-(acetoxymethyl)acrylate as a 1,3-bis radical acceptor and of cyclic N,N-dialkylanilines as radical 1,3-bis radical donors. The success of this process relies on efficient electron transfer processes and highly selective deprotonation of aminium radical cations leading to the key α-amino radical intermediates.

Total synthesis and absolute structure of N55, a positive modulator of GLP-1 signaling

The absolute structure of N55, a positive modulator of Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) signaling, was determined by a 7-step total synthesis with 29% overall yield.

Studies on the Bisoxazoline and (-)-Sparteine Mediated Enantioselective Addition of Organolithium Reagents to Imines

The enantioselective addition of organolithium reagents to N-anisyl aldimines promoted by chiral bisoxazolines and (-)-sparteine as external ligands is described. This reaction proceeds readily with a wide range of aldimine substrates (aliphatic, aromatic, olefinic) and organolithium nucleophiles (Me, n-Bu, Ph, vinyl) in excellent yields (81-99%) and with high enantioselectivities (up to 95.5:4.5 er). The external ligands can be used in substoichiometric amounts albeit with slightly attenuated enantioselectivities. A systematic evaluation of the structural features of the bisoxazolines revealed a primary contribution from the substituent at C(4) and a secondary influence from the bridging substituents. A computational analysis (PM3) provided a clear rationalization for the origin of enantioselectivity.

Enantioselective Rh-Catalyzed Arylation of N-Tosylarylimines with Arylboronic Acids

The asymmetric arylation of N-tosylarylimines with arylboronic acids was realized by using rhodium/(S)-ShiP as catalyst. The reaction proceeded in aqueous toluene to give diarylmethylamines in good yields with up to 96% ee. [reaction: see text]

Efficient N-p-Methoxyphenyl Amine Deprotection through Anodic Oxidation

[reaction: see text] A new method of deprotection of N-p-methoxyphenylamines using anodic oxidation in acidic medium is presented. The process furnishes a high yield of amine and is compatible with several oxidable functional groups.

Catalytic Asymmetric Conjugate Addition of Dialkylzinc Reagents to β-Aryl-α,β-unsaturated N-2,4,6-Triisopropylphenylsulfonylaldimines with Use of N-Boc-l-Val-Connected Amidophosphane-Copper(I) Catalyst

Asymmetric conjugate addition of dialkylzinc to alpha,beta-unsaturated N-2,4,6-triisopropylphenylsulfonylaldimines 9 was catalyzed by 5 mol % N-Boc-L-valine-connected amidophosphane 5a-Cu(MeCN)(4)BF(4) in the presence of 4 angstroms MS in toluene to afford, after hydrolysis of an imine to an aldehyde through a short alumina column and reduction with sodium borohydride, the corresponding beta-alkylated alkanols 10 with 67-91% ee in reasonably high yields.

[Asymmetric reactions based on activation and structure control of molecule--asymmetric reaction of lithiated nucleophiles]

The methodology we developed relies on an external chiral coordinating reagent that forms a deaggregated chelate complex with organolithium reagents. Under the positive control of a chiral dimethyl ether of stilbenediol 4, an asymmetric conjugate addition reaction of organolithium reagents with unsaturated imines and esters proceeded successfully to yield the corresponding addition products with reasonably high stereoselectivity. The sense of stereochemistry is predictable based on a coordination model. The methodology has been extended to a catalytic asymmetric 1,2-addition reaction of organolithium reagents with imines. An enantiotopic group differentiating the opening of cyclohexene oxide with organolithium was also mediated by a chiral ligand. The asymmetric Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reaction of phosphonates and Peterson reaction of alpha-silylester with 4-substituted cyclohexanone were another successful extension of the methodology. A three-component reagent of lithium ester enolate, lithium amide, and chiral diether reacts with imines to afford beta-lactam with reasonably high enantioselectivity. Tridentate aminoether ligands were also shown to affect the catalytic asymmetric addition of lithium ester enoaltes to imines, giving beta-lactams with high enantioselectivity. Asymmetric conjugate addition of lithium amide to enoates was mediated by a chiral diether ligand to give the beta-aminoester with high yield and enatioselectivity. The methodology has been successfully applied to an asymmetric synthesis of biologically potent compounds. Dihydrexidine, a promising anti-Parkinsonism candidate, and salsolidine, a representative isoquinoline alkaloid, have been synthesized using asymmetric addition reactions of organolithium reagents as the key steps.

Construction of Arene-Fused-Piperidine Motifs by Asymmetric Addition of 2-Trityloxymethylaryllithiums to Nitroalkenes: The Asymmetric Synthesis of a Dopamine D1 Full Agonist, A-86929

The straightforward methodology for the construction of chiral arene-fused-piperidine motifs using a highly enantioselective addition of 2-trityloxymethylaryllithiums to cyclic and acyclic nitroalkenes has been developed. The versatility of the process was highlighted by the first asymmetric synthesis of a dopamine D1 full agonist, A-86929.

Chiral ligand-controlled asymmetric conjugate addition of alpha-trimethylsilanylacetate to acyclic and cyclic enones

The reaction of lithium ester enolate with enones provides a challenge for chemoselectivity, that is, discrimination between a conjugate addition and a 1,2-addition. Asymmetric conjugate addition of a lithium enolate of alpha-trimethylsilanylacetate to acyclic and cyclic alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones was mediated by an external chiral ligand to give the corresponding 1,4-adducts in good enantioselectivity of 74% and good chemoselectivity.

Asymmetric Alkylation of N-Toluenesulfonylimines with Dialkylzinc Reagents Catalyzed by Copper−Chiral Amidophosphine

The synthetic procedure of a chiral amidophosphine ligand 5 bearing two bulky substituents, 2,4,6-trimethylphenylmethyl or 2,4,6-triisopropylphenylmethyl groups, on the pyrrolidine ring was improved by employing the borane-THF reduction of the lactam-alcohol intermediate 8. The resulting amino alcohol was selectively acylated to give an amide-alcohol 11, which was then converted to the chloride 12 in 55-73% yields by the treatment with methanesulfonyl chloride in collidine. The reaction of the chloride 12 with NaPPh(2) in dioxane-THF gave an amidophosphine 5 in an acceptably high 82-83% yields. Addition of a hexane solution of dialkylzinc reagent to a mixture of catalytic amount of an amidophosphine 5, copper species, and N-toluenesulfonylimine 1a of benzaldehyde in toluene provided a solution which gave the alkylated amide 3 in high yield and enantioselectivity up to 96%. A survey of copper sources and solvents concluded that copper(II) ditriflate and copper(I) triflate-benzene complex as good copper sources and toluene as a choice of solvent. N-Toluenesulfonylimines 1a-e of arylaldehydes, furfural, and alkanals were successfully ethylated with diethylzinc to give the corresponding N-toluenesulfonylamides 3aE-eE in satisfactorily good 69-97% yields and high 86-96% enantioselectivities.

Highly enantioselective reductive amination of simple aryl ketones catalyzed by Ir-f-Binaphane in the presence of titanium(IV) isopropoxide and iodine

Using an Ir-f-Binaphane complex as the catalyst, complete conversions and high enantioselectivies (up to 96% ee) were achieved in the asymmetric reductive amination of aryl ketones in the presence of Ti(O(i)()Pr)(4) and I(2). A simple and efficient method of synthesizing chiral primary amines has been realized.

Asymmetric conjugate addition of arylthiols to enoates and its application to organic synthesis of biologically potent compounds

As a part of our studies aimed at asymmetric catalytic reactions by using an external chiral ligand, we have developed a catalytic asymmetric addition reaction of an arylthiol to alpha,beta-unsaturated esters under the control of an external chiral ligand. The characteristic of our technology is a double activation of a thiol by lithiation and chelate formation with a chiral tridentate amino diether ligand, which simultaneously and effectively controls a stereochemistry of the reaction. One significant feature of an arylthiol is a bulky 2-substitution on aryl group, which enables the formation of a really reactive monomeric thiolate species. s-Cis conformation and capability of electron lone pair-differentiating coordination of a carbonyl oxygen to lithium are structural requirements of the substrates for high enantioselectivity. The enantioselectivity came up to 97% under the cited conditions. Asymmetric protonation of a transient enolate, generated by conjugate addition of a lithium thiolate to an enoate, was also realized. The stereochemistry of the protonation was controlled by the conformation of initially formed transient enolate in a 1,2-asymmetric induction manner. This technology enabled the asymmetric synthesis of (S)-naproxene. Stereoselective tandem C-S and C-C bond-forming reaction was developed as a logical extension by trapping the transient enolate intermediate with an aldehyde as a carbo-electrophile in the presence of phenylthiotrimethylsilane as an equilibrium-shift reagent. This tandem reaction was extended to a stereoselective cyclization of omega-oxo-alpha,beta-unsaturated esters initiated by a lithium thiolate. Stereoselectivity of both tandem inter- and intramolecular reaction is predictable by an allylic strain-controlled conformation model of the enolate, in which an approach of aldehyde takes place anti to C-S bond through coordination of an aldehyde oxygen to lithium. Total synthesis of (-)-neplanocin A was achieved by using the tandem cyclization as a key tool for the direct construction of a five-membered carbocycle where every carbon is functionalized.

Radical addition of ethers to imines initiated by dimethylzinc

Ethers undergo addition to imines in the presence of dimethylzinc and air through a radical process. [reaction: see text]