A bicyclo[3.2.0]hept-3-en-6-one approach to prostaglandin intermediates

Lactones in the Synthesis of Prostaglandins and Prostaglandin Analogs

In the total stereo-controlled synthesis of natural prostaglandins (PGs) and their structural analogs, a vast class of compounds and drugs, known as the lactones, are encountered in a few key steps to build the final molecule, as: δ-lactones, γ-lactones, and 1,9-, 1,11-, and 1,15-macrolactones. After the synthesis of 1,9-PGF2α and 1,15-PGF2α lactones, many 1,15-lactones of E2, E3, F2, F3, A2, and A3 were found in the marine mollusc Tethys fimbria and the quest for understanding their biological role stimulated the research on their synthesis. Then 1,9-, 1,11-, and 1,15-PG lactones of the drugs were synthesized as an alternative to the corresponding esters, and the first part of the paper describes the methods used for their synthesis. The efficient Corey procedure for the synthesis of prostaglandins uses the key δ-lactone and γ-lactone intermediates with three or four stereocenters on the cyclopentane fragment to link the PG side chains. The paper describes the most used procedures for the synthesis of the milestone δ-Corey-lactones and γ-Corey-lactones, their improvements, and some new promising methods, such as interesting, new stereo-controlled and catalyzed enantioselective reactions, and methods based on the chemical/enzymatic resolution of the compounds in different steps of the sequences. The many uses of δ-lactones not only for the synthesis of γ-lactones, but also for obtaining 9β-halogen-PGs and halogen-substituted cyclopentane intermediates, as synthons for new 9β-PG analogs and future applications, are also discussed.

Pot and time economies in the total synthesis of Corey lactone

The Corey lactone is a highly versatile intermediate for the synthesis of a variety of prostaglandin hormones that natively control a multitude of important physiological processes. Starting from commercially available compounds, we herein disclose a time-economical, one-pot enantioselective preparation of the Corey lactone by virtue of a new diphenylprolinol silyl ether-mediated domino Michael/Michael reaction to afford the substituted cyclopentanone core in a formal (3 + 2) cycloadditive fashion. More broadly, this work advances the on-demand, gram-scale synthesis of high-value targets involving chemically orthogonal transformations, whereby distinct reactions of acids, bases, organometalics, reductants and oxidants can be carried out in a single reaction vessel in a sequential fashion.

Catalyst and Ring Size Effects on Periselectivity of Oxonium Ylide Rearrangements

Diazoketones were subjected to carbene-transfer with Rh(II) or Cu(II) catalysts to probe the selectivity for rearrangement via five- or six-membered oxonium ylides. 4,5-Bis(benzyloxy) and 4-allyloxy-5-benzyloxy substrates 3a,b showed a large preference for rearrangement via the five-membered ylide under all conditions. However, a sharp divergence was seen with 5-allyloxy-4-benzyloxy substrate 3c, which underwent predominantly a [2,3]-shift to pyran 5c via the six-membered ylide with Cu(II) catalysis and a [1,2]-shift to furan 4c via the five-membered ylide with Rh(II) catalysis.

Preparation of Bicyclo[3.2.0]heptane-2-endo,7-endo-diols: 1,3-Diols with a Chiral Rigid Backbone

The easily available bicyclo[3.2.0]hept-3-en-6-ones (1a-f) have been converted into the corresponding bicyclo[3.2.0]heptane-2-endo,7-endo-diols (4a-f) in an efficient and stereoselective fashion. This preparation opens a route to a family of 1,3-diols with a chiral rigid backbone, potentially suitable as nonracemic precursors for bidentate ligands in asymmetric synthesis.

Diethylphosphine oxide (DEPO): high-yielding and facile preparation of indolones in water

[reaction: see text] Indolones are prepared in excellent yield at 80 degrees C in water by radical reaction (aryl radical formation, hydrogen atom abstraction, cyclization, and rearomatization) mediated by the reagent diethylphosphine oxide (DEPO). The reaction features V-501 as a water-soluble initiator; no other additives are needed. The process proceeds at a much lower temperature than is required for efficient reaction with toxic tributyltin hydride in benzene and permits significantly higher isolated yields than the corresponding reaction mediated by ethylpiperidine hypophosphite (EPHP).

CeCl(3) x 7H(2)O-NaI catalyzed hydrooxacyclization of unsaturated 3-hydroxy esters

[reaction: see text] Cerium(III) chloride heptahydrate and sodium iodide in boiling acetonitrile promote cyclization of 3-hydroxyalkenoic acids esters giving 5-substituted tetrahydrofuranacetic acid esters and 6-substituted tetrahydropyranacetic acid esters in fair to good yield and with complete retention of the absolute configuration of the starting 3-hydroxy ester.

Triethylborane-initiated room temperature radical addition of hypophosphites to olefins: synthesis of monosubstituted phosphinic acids and esters

A novel and practical approach to monosubstituted phosphinic acid (alkylphosphonous acid) derivatives from hypophosphite salts or esters is described. Phosphorus-centered radical formation is initiated with Et(3)B/O(2), and the reaction is conveniently conducted at room temperature in an open flask. In contrast to previously reported conditions for the radical reaction of hypophosphorous acid and sodium hypophosphite (peroxide initiators, acid catalysis, heat), the method proceeds under neutral conditions and therefore tolerates a wide range of functional groups. Previously inaccessible phosphinic acids can be prepared in a single step from cheap starting materials. Excellent selectivity is observed for monoaddition, and symmetrical dialkyl phosphinates do not form in significant amounts. Monosubstituted phosphinic acids are usually obtained in better than 90% purity by a simple extractive workup; however, isolated yields are diminished if the substituent is polar. Because radicals derived from hypophosphites are electrophilic, the reaction is limited to the use of electron-rich olefins. The reaction conditions can also be employed in the room temperature radical reduction of alkyl halides and provide an exceptionally mild and environmentally friendly alternative to the use of tributyltin hydride. The remarkable mild nature of the reaction conditions allows for the radical reaction of sensitive alkyl hypophosphites to occur, in which case, a catalytic amount of Et(3)B suffices to deliver alkyl phosphinate esters in reasonable yield.