Enantioselective Synthesis of a γ-Secretase Modulator via Vinylogous Dynamic Kinetic Resolution.

Two efficient asymmetric routes to γ-secretase modulator BMS-932481, under investigation for Alzheimer's disease, have been developed. The key step for the first route involves a challenging enantioselective hydrogenation of an unfunctionalized trisubstituted alkene to establish the benzylic stereocenter, representing a very rare case of achieving high selectivity on a complex substrate. The second route demonstrates the first example of a vinylogous dynamic kinetic resolution (VDKR) ketone reduction, where the carbonyl and the racemizable stereocenter are not contiguous, but are conjugated through a pyrimidine ring. Not only did this transformation require both catalyst and substrate control to correctly establish the two stereocenters, but it also necessitated that the nonadjacent benzylic center of the ketone substrate be more acidic than that of the alcohol product to make the process dynamic. DFT computations aided the design of this novel VDKR pathway by reliably predicting the relative acidities of the intermediates involved.

Ni-Catalyzed C-H Functionalization in the Formation of a Complex Heterocycle: Synthesis of the Potent JAK2 Inhibitor BMS-911543.

BMS-911543 is a complex pyrrolopyridine investigated as a potential treatment for myeloproliferative disorders. The development of a short and efficient synthesis of this molecule is described. During the course of our studies, a Ni-mediated C-N bond formation was invented, which enabled the rapid construction of the highly substituted 2-aminopyridine core. The synthesis of this complex, nitrogen-rich heterocycle was accomplished in only eight steps starting from readily available materials.

Stereoselective synthesis of acetoacetate-derived enol triflates.

A highly stereoselective method for preparing ( Z)- and ( E)-enol triflates derived from substituted acetoacetate derivatives is described. The salient feature of this methodology is the use of Schotten-Baumann-type conditions to control enolate geometry using either aqueous LiOH ( Z-selective) or aqueous (Me)(4)NOH ( E-selective) in combination with triflic anhydride to provide a practical and predictable approach to these valuable substrates.

A concise synthesis of (+)-SCH 351448.

[structure: see text] We describe a highly convergent synthetic approach to the natural product (+)-SCH 351448 (1)-a hexane-soluble heptacoordinate monosodium salt of a C(2)-symmetrical macrocyclic dilactone. Our approach implements a photochemical acylation as the key step to combine two nearly identical but orthogonal C1-C29 fragments, followed by a base-induced intramolecular acylation and deprotection to yield the natural product.

Synthesis of the C1-C21 (C1'-C21') fragment of the dimeric polyketide natural product SCH 351448.

[structure: see text] A convergent, stereoselective assembly of the C1-C21 (C1'-C21') fragment of SCH 351448, a 28-membered bis-lactone natural product, has been developed. A highly efficient approach to this fragment assembles 75% of the carbon skeleton and all the stereochemical elements present in the natural product. In addition, an interesting boron ligand effect on the diastereoselectivity of a key aldol reaction with methyl ketone-derived enolborinates is reported.

Comparing Two Different Doses of Intravenous Ondansetron With Placebo on Attenuation of Spinal-induced Hypotension and Shivering.

BACKGROUND: Side effects of spinal anesthesia are hypotension, bradycardia and shivering. Five-hydroxytriptamine (5-HT), a serotonergic receptor, may be an important factor associated with inducing the Bezold Jarish reflex (BJR) that may lead to the bradycardia and hypotension in the setting of decreased blood volume. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the effect of intravenous administration of ondansetron, a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, which could attenuate spinal-induced hypotension, bradycardia and shivering. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Two hundred and ten patients aged 20-50 years old were scheduled for spinal anesthesia and were divided randomly into three equal groups. The control group received normal saline and intervention groups received 6 mg or 12 mg of intravenous ondansetron 5 minutes before spinal anesthesia. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), and shivering were recorded before and after spinal anesthesia every 5 minutes during first 20 minutes of surgery. RESULTS: Demographic data were not statistically different among groups. HR was statistically different between the experimental groups and the control group. Ten patients (14%) in the control group had HR < 50 bpm, that required intravenous atropine compared to experimental groups (P =0.02). In the control group 12 (17%) patients had MAP < 80 mm Hg and required vasopressors compared to experimental groups (P = 0.04). There were no significant differences in MAP and HR between the experimental groups (P =0.06). Incidence of shivering in the control group was 45% (32.70) that was statistically more than experimental groups (P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Administration of two different doses of intravenous ondansetron, 6 mg and 12 mg, significantly attenuates spinal induced hypotension, bradycardia and shivering compared to the control saline group. However, the hemodynamic profiles and shivering in experimental groups were not statistically different.

Transfer hydrogenation in water: enantioselective, catalytic reduction of alpha-cyano and alpha-nitro substituted acetophenones.

Catalytic reduction of alpha-substituted acetophenones under conditions involving asymmetric transfer hydrogenation in water is described. The reaction is conducted in water and open to air, and formic acid is used as reductant.

Transfer hydrogenation in water: enantioselective, catalytic reduction of (E)-beta,beta-disubstituted nitroalkenes.

A mild catalytic asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of beta,beta-disubstituted nitroalkenes is reported. Formic acid is used as a reductant in combination with an Ir catalyst. The reaction is conducted in water at low pH and open to air to give adducts in preparatively useful yield and selectivity.