Crystal structure of rac-(3aR,4S,5aR,6S,9R,10aS,10bR)-3a,5a,9-tri-methyl-tetra-deca-hydro-6,9-ep-oxy-cyclo-hepta-[e]inden-4-ol monohydrate.

The title hydrate, C17H28O2·H2O, was synthesized in order to determine the relative configuration of the tetra-cyclic framework. The fused 5,6,7-tricarbocyclic core exhibits an entire cis-annulation, featuring a 1,4-cis-relation of the angular methyl groups in the six-membered ring. The oxa bridge of the ep-oxy-cyclo-heptane moiety is oriented towards the concave face of the boat-shaped mol-ecule, whereas the angular methyl groups are directed towards the convex face. The asymmetric unit of the crystal contains two nearly identical formula units, which are related via a pseudo-centre of symmetry. The structure could be solved in the space groups I-4 and I41/a. The refinement in the acentric space group, however, gave significantly better results and these are used in this paper. O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds are observed between the organic mol-ecules, between the organic mol-ecules and the water mol-ecules, and between the water mol-ecules, forming a chain along the c-axis direction.

Crystal structure of (E)-N'-{[(1R,3R)-3-isopropyl-1-methyl-2-oxo-cyclo-pent-yl]methyl-idene}-4-methyl-benzene-sulfono-hydrazide.

The title compound, C17H24N2O3S, was synthesized in order to determine the relative configuration of the corresponding ß-keto aldehyde. In the U-shaped mol-ecule, the five-membered ring approximates an envelope with the methyl-ene atom adjacent to the quaternary C atom being the flap. The dihedral angles between the four nearly coplanar atoms of the five-membered ring and the flap and the aromatic ring are 38.8 (4) and 22.9 (2)°, respectively. The bond angles around the S atom are in the range 104.11 (16)-119.95 (16)°. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked via N-H⋯O by hydrogen bonds, forming a chain along the a-axis direction.

Crystal structure of 4-(4-meth-oxy-phen-oxy)benzaldehyde.

The title compound, C14H12O3, was synthesized via the nucleophilic addition of 4-meth-oxy-phenol to 4-fluoro-benzaldehyde. The dihedral angle between the least-squares planes of the benzene rings is 71.52 (3)° and the C-O-C angle at the central O atom is 118.82 (8)°. In the crystal, weak C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds link the molecules to generate supra-molecular layers in the bc plane. The layers are linked by weak C-H⋯π inter-actions.

Crystal structure of N'-[(E)-(1S,3R)-(3-isopropyl-1-methyl-2-oxo-cyclo-pent-yl)methyl-idene]-4-methyl-benzene-sulfono-hydrazide.

The title compound, C17H24N2O3S, was synthesized in order to determine the relative configuration of the corresponding ß-keto aldehyde. In the U-shaped mol-ecule, the five-membered ring approximates an envelope, with the methyl-ene C atom adjacent to the quaternary C atom being the flap, and the methyl and isopropyl substituents lying to the same side of the ring. The dihedral angles between the four nearly coplanar atoms of the five-membered ring and the flap and the aromatic ring are 35.74 (15) and 55.72 (9)°, respectively. The bond angles around the S atom are in the range from 103.26 (12) to 120.65 (14)°. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked via N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming a chain along the a axis.

rac-2-Phenyl-1-[(2,4,6-triiso-propyl-benzene)-sulfon-yl]aziridine.

In the title compound, C23H31NO2S, the geometry of the triiso-propyl-phenyl group is slightly distorted, with elongated C-C bonds at the ipso-C atom, and an S atom which deviates from the benzene ring plane by 0.228 (2) Å. This distortion is caused by the bulky substituents and, in comparison, an unbent geometry is observed in N-toluene-sulfonyl-aziridine [Zhu et al. (2006 ▶). Acta Cryst. E62, o1507-o1508]. π-π inter-actions between adjacent benzene rings [centroid-centroid distance = 3.7928 (11) Å] and are observed.

Highly enantioselective catalytic synthesis of neurite growth-promoting secoyohimbanes.

Natural products endowed with neuromodulatory activity and their underlying structural scaffolds may inspire the synthesis of novel neurotrophic compound classes. The spirocyclic secoyohimbane alkaloid rhynchophylline is the major component of the extracts of Uncaria species used in Chinese traditional medicine for treatment of disorders of the central nervous system. Based on the structure of rhynchophylline, a highly enantioselective and efficient organocatalyzed synthesis method was developed that gives access to the tetracyclic secoyohimbane scaffold, embodying a quaternary and three tertiary stereogenic centers in a one-pot multistep reaction sequence. Investigation of a collection of the secoyohimbanes in primary rat hippocampal neurons and embryonal stem cell-derived motor neurons led to discovery of compounds that promote neurite outgrowth and influence the complexity of neuronal network formation.

Palladium(II)-catalyzed cycloisomerization of substituted 1,5-hexadienes: a combined experimental and computational study on an open and an interrupted hydropalladation/carbopalladation/ß-hydride elimination (HCHe) catalytic cycle.

The Pd(II)-catalyzed cycloisomerization of 3-alkoxycarbonyl-3-hydroxy-substituted 1,5-hexadienes has been studied experimentally and computationally. Experimentally, the reaction is characterized by a rapid room temperature formation of monomeric as well as dimeric cycloisomerization products using the commercially available precatalyst [(CH(3)CN)(4)Pd](BF(4))(2). In situ NMR measurements indicate the initial kinetic advantage of the desired cycloisomerization pathway to methylene cyclopentanes; however, double bond isomerization, elimination, and dimer formation are competitive undesired pathways. Evaluation of the obtained product structures by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography indicates that the sole determinant for the monomer/dimer ratio is the regioselectivity of the initial hydropalladation in favor of the allylic (monomer formation) or the homoallylic double bond (dimer formation). In order to account for the experimental results, we propose the coexistence of two product-forming catalytic cycles, an open, monomer generating, as well as an interrupted and redirected, dimer generating, hydropalladation/carbopalladation/ß-hydride elimination (HCHe) process. Results from computational studies of the proposed competing catalytic cycles are supportive to our mechanistic hypothesis and pinpoint the pivotal importance of Pd(II)-hydroxo-chelate complexes for the reactivity-stability interplay of on- and off-pathway intermediates.

Programmable enantioselective one-pot synthesis of molecules with eight stereocenters.

We developed an enantioselectively catalyzed tandem synthesis of structurally and stereochemically complex molecules that forms four carbon-carbon bonds and sets eight stereocenters with high regio-, diastereo- and enantioselectivity. It can be programmed to yield different stereoisomers by varying only the order of combination of a common set of reagents and catalysts. We report what is to our knowledge the first synthesis of both enantiomers of a chiral compound using the same chiral catalyst.

Triphen-yl(prop-2-yn-1-yl)silane.

In the title compound, C(21)H(18)Si, the coordination geometry around the Si atom is a slightly distorted tetra-hedron with C-Si-C angles in the range 106.05 (11) to 110.58 (10) ° and Si-C bond lengths in the range 1.855 (2) to 1.883 (3) Å. The alkyne C-C bond length is 1.167 (4) Å. The dihedral angles between the three phenyl rings are 63.89 (7), 86.38 (7) and 70.51 (8)°. In the crystal, mol-ecules inter-act only by van der Waals forces.

(4R)-4-Benzyl-3-{(4S)-4-chloro-4-[(S)-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl]butano-yl}-1,3-oxazolidin-2-one.

The title compound, C(19)H(24)ClNO(5), was synthesized and subsequently employed in an Evans alkyl-ation. The purpose was to prove the absolute configuration in the projected synthesis of the side chain of (-)-Lytophilippine A. The oxazolidinone and the isopropylidene acetal rings have twisted conformations. The oxazolidinone and side-chain carbonyl groups are orientated in an anti-periplanar arrangement to minimize van der Waals repulsions. Furthermore, the Cl atom and the acetonide-protected secondary alcohol are also in an anti-periplanar arrangement with a torsion angle of 173.64 (14)°. The absolute configuration was determined and agrees with the configuration of the used chiral auxiliary.

Natural product-inspired cascade synthesis yields modulators of centrosome integrity.

In biology-oriented synthesis, the scaffolds of biologically relevant compound classes inspire the synthesis of focused compound collections enriched in bioactivity. This criterion is, in particular, met by the scaffolds of natural products selected in evolution. The synthesis of natural product-inspired compound collections calls for efficient reaction sequences that preferably combine multiple individual transformations in one operation. Here we report the development of a one-pot, twelve-step cascade reaction sequence that includes nine different reactions and two opposing kinds of organocatalysis. The cascade sequence proceeds within 10-30 min and transforms readily available substrates into complex indoloquinolizines that resemble the core tetracyclic scaffold of numerous polycyclic indole alkaloids. Biological investigation of a corresponding focused compound collection revealed modulators of centrosome integrity, termed centrocountins, which caused fragmented and supernumerary centrosomes, chromosome congression defects, multipolar mitotic spindles, acentrosomal spindle poles and multipolar cell division by targeting the centrosome-associated proteins nucleophosmin and Crm1.

1-Phenyl-5-{[2-(trimethyl-sil-yl)eth-yl]sulfon-yl}-1H-tetra-zole.

The title compound, C(12)H(18)N(4)O(2)SSi, was synthesized to be employed in a Julia-Kocienski olefination. In the mol-ecule, the dihedral angle between the phenyl ring and the tetra-zole ring is 41.50 (5)°. The significantly longer Si-C(methyl-ene) bond [1.8786 (13) Å] and the shortened adjacent C-C bond [1.5172 (18) Å], as well as the significant deviation of the corresponding Si-C-C angle [114.16 (9)°] from the ideal tetra-hedral angle, can be attributed to the ß-effect of silicon. In the crystal, mol-ecules are held together by van der Waals inter-actions.

Biology-oriented synthesis of a natural-product inspired oxepane collection yields a small-molecule activator of the Wnt-pathway.

In Biology Oriented Synthesis the scaffolds of biologically relevant compound classes inspire the synthesis of focused compound collections enriched in bioactivity. This criterion is met by the structurally complex scaffolds of natural products (NPs) selected in evolution. The synthesis of NP-inspired compound collections approaching the complexity of NPs calls for the development of efficient synthetic methods. We have developed a one pot 4-7 step synthesis of mono-, bi-, and tricyclic oxepanes that resemble the core scaffolds of numerous NPs with diverse bioactivities. This sequence entails a ring-closing ene-yne metathesis reaction as key step and makes productive use of polymer-immobilized scavenger reagents. Biological profiling of a corresponding focused compound collection in a reporter gene assay monitoring for Wnt-signaling modulation revealed active Wntepanes. This unique class of small-molecule activators of the Wnt pathway modulates the van-Gogh-like receptor proteins (Vangl), which were previously identified in noncanonical Wnt signaling, and acts in synergy with the canonical activator protein (Wnt-3a).

Highly enantioselective synthesis and cellular evaluation of spirooxindoles inspired by natural products.

In biology-oriented synthesis the underlying scaffold classes of natural products selected in evolution are used to define biologically relevant starting points in chemical structure space for the synthesis of compound collections with focused structural diversity. Here we describe a highly enantioselective synthesis of natural-product-inspired 3,3'-pyrrolidinyl spirooxindoles--which contain an all-carbon quaternary centre and three tertiary stereocentres. This synthesis takes place by means of an asymmetric Lewis acid-catalysed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of an azomethine ylide to a substituted 3-methylene-2-oxindole using 1-3 mol% of a chiral catalyst formed from a N,P-ferrocenyl ligand and CuPF(6)(CH(3)CN)(4). Cellular evaluation has identified a molecule that arrests mitosis, induces multiple microtubule organizing centres and multipolar spindles, causes chromosome congression defects during mitosis and inhibits tubulin regrowth in cells. Our findings support the concept that compound collections based on natural-product-inspired scaffolds constructed with complex stereochemistry will be a rich source of compounds with diverse bioactivity.

{2,2-Bis[(4S)-4-isopropyl-4,5-dihydro-1,3-oxazol-2-yl]propane}-bis-(N,N-dimethyl-formamide)-copper(II) bis-[hexa-fluoridoanti-monate(V)].

In the title compound, [Cu(C(15)H(26)N(2)O(2))(C(3)H(7)NO)(2)][SbF(6)](2), which is a potential catalyst in the catalytic asymmetric Gosteli-Claisen rearrangement, the central Cu(II) atom is in a nearly square-planar cis-N(2)O(2) environment in the cation arising from its coordination by an N,N-bidentate 2,2-bis-[(4S)-4-isopropyl-4,5-dihydro-1,3-oxazol-2-yl]propane ligand and two O-bonded N,N-dimethyl-formamide mol-ecules. Two SbF(6) (-) anions are positioned on opposite sides of the plane through the CuN(2)O(2) unit, generating an axially distorted CuN(2)O(2)F(2) octa-hedral geometry for the metal ion.

(2SR,3SR)-Isopropyl 3-{[dimeth-yl(phenyl)-sil-yl]meth-yl}-2-hy-droxy-2-vinyl-pent-4-enoate.

The relative configuration of the title compound, C(19)H(28)O(3)Si, which was synthesized using a dienolate-[2,3]-Wittig rearrangement, was corroborated by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The Si-C bond distances are in the range 1.858 (2)-1.880 (2) Šand an intra-molecular O-H⋯O hydrogen bond helps to stabilize the mol-ecular conformation.

(3R,4R,5S)-4-Hydr-oxy-3-methyl-5-[(2S,3R)-3-methyl-pent-4-en-2-yl]-4,5-dihydro-furan-2(3H)-one.

The relative configuration of the title compound, C(11)H(18)O(3), which was synthesized using a catalytic asymmetric Gosteli-Claisen rearrangement, a diastereoselective reduction with K-Selectride and an Evans aldol addition, was corroborated by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The five-membered ring has an envelope conformation with a dihedral angle of 29.46 (16)° between the coplanar part and the flap (the hydr-oxy-bearing ring C atom). In the crystal, mol-ecules are connected via bifurcated O-H⋯(O,O) hydrogen bonds, generating [010] chains.

{2,2-Bis[(4S)-4-tert-butyl-4,5-dihydro-1,3-oxazol-2-yl]propane}bis-(N,N-di-methyl-formamide)copper(II) bis-(hexa-fluoridoantimonate).

In the title compound, [Cu(C(17)H(30)N(2)O(2))(C(3)H(7)NO)(2)][SbF(6)](2), which is a potential catalyst in the asymmetric Gosteli-Claisen rearrangement, the Cu atom adopts a distorted cis-CuN(2)O(2) square-planar geometry arising from N,N'-bidentate coordin-ation by the chiral ligand and two O-bonded dimethyl-formamide mol-ecules. Two short C-H⋯O contacts occur within the ligand and two weak inter-molecular C-H⋯F bonds may help to establish the packing.

(±)-syn-Isopropyl 4-(1,1,1,3,3,3-hexa-fluoro-propan-2-yl-oxy)-1-hydr-oxy-3-methyl-2-(prop-1-yn-yl)cyclo-pent-2-ene-carboxyl-ate.

The title compound, C(16)H(18)F(6)O(4), was obtained through an unprecedented one-pot reaction sequence involving a Gosteli-Claisen rearrangement and a cyclo-isomerization. The constitution and relative configuration were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. In the crystal, mol-ecules are connected via O-H ⋯ O hydrogen bonds.

7,7-Dimethyl-3,3,4a-tris-(3-methyl-but-2-en-yl)-4a,5,6,7-tetra-hydro-2H-chromene-2,4(3H)-dione.

The title compound, C(26)H(38)O(3), was prepared by an intra-molecular Claisen-like cyclization of ethyl 2-acet-oxy-4,4-dimethyl-1-(3-methyl-but-2-en-yl)cyclo-hex-2-enecarboxyl-ate followed by dialkyl-ation. One of the methyl groups is disordered over two sets of sites in a 0.67:0.33 ratio.