Homologation Strategy for the Generation of 1-Chloroalkyl Radicals from Organoboranes.

The generation of 1-bromo and 1-chloroalkyl radicals from organoboranes has been investigated. The direct approach involving the hydroboration of halogenated alkenes is impeded by partial dehalogenation taking place during the hydroboration process. An indirect method involving the generation of B-(1-chloroalkyl)catecholborane by homologation of B-alkylcatecholborane with dichloromethyllithium was developed. A reaction sequence involving a hydroboration reaction, a Matteson homologation, and a radical allylation process has been performed as a one-pot process that takes advantage of three different reactivities of organoboron species. Starting from styrene derivatives, it was possible to prepare B-(1-chloro-2-arylpropyl)catecholboranes that are excellent precursors to 1-chloro-2-arylpropyl radicals. A concise approach for the synthesis of an optically active α-methylene-γ-lactone from p-chlorostyrene has been developed on the basis of a two-step sequence involving an enantioselective hydroboration-homologation-cyclization reaction followed by a hydrolysis-lactonization process.

Lead-oriented synthesis: Investigation of organolithium-mediated routes to 3-D scaffolds and 3-D shape analysis of a virtual lead-like library.

Synthetic routes to six 3-D scaffolds containing piperazine, pyrrolidine and piperidine cores have been developed. The synthetic methodology focused on the use of N-Boc α-lithiation-trapping chemistry. Notably, suitably protected and/or functionalised medicinal chemistry building blocks were synthesised via concise, connective methodology. This represents a rare example of lead-oriented synthesis. A virtual library of 190 compounds was then enumerated from the six scaffolds. Of these, 92 compounds (48%) fit the lead-like criteria of: (i) -1⩽AlogP⩽3; (ii) 14⩽number of heavy atoms⩽26; (iii) total polar surface area⩾50Å(2). The 3-D shapes of the 190 compounds were analysed using a triangular plot of normalised principal moments of inertia (PMI). From this, 46 compounds were identified which had lead-like properties and possessed 3-D shapes in under-represented areas of pharmaceutical space. Thus, the PMI analysis of the 190 member virtual library showed that whilst scaffolds which may appear on paper to be 3-D in shape, only 24% of the compounds actually had 3-D structures in the more interesting areas of 3-D drug space.

Synthesis of unusual oxime ethers by reaction of tetranitromethane with B-alkylcatecholboranes.

The reaction of tetranitromethane with B-alkylcatecholboranes leads to the formation of unusual dinitrooxime ethers. A tentative mechanism is provided, which suggests the involvement of extremely fast addition of alkyl radicals to tetranitromethane. The substitution of one of the nitro groups in the oxime ethers by nucleophiles (such as secondary amines, halogens and styrene) and by radicals generated from B-alkylcatecholboranes is reported.