From enantiopure hydroxyaldehydes to complex heterocyclic scaffolds: development of domino Petasis/Diels-Alder and cross-metathesis/Michael addition reactions.

One-step assembly of hexahydroisoindole scaffolds by a sequence that combines the Petasis (borono-Mannich) and Diels-Alder reactions is described. The unique selectivity observed experimentally was confirmed by quantum calculations. The current method is applicable to a broad range of substrates, including free sugars, and holds significant potential to efficiently and stereoselectively build new heterocyclic structures. This easy and fast entry to functionalized polycyclic compounds can be pursued by further transformations, for example, additional ring closure by a cross-metathesis/Michael addition domino sequence.

Goniomedines A and B: unprecedented bisindole alkaloids formed through fusion of two indole moieties via a dihydropyran unit.

Two novel bisindole alkaloids, goniomedines A (1) and B (2), possessing an unprecedented quebrachamine-pleioarpamine-type skeleton, in which indole moieties are fused via a dihydropyran unit, were isolated from the stem bark of Gonioma malagasy. The structures were elucidated by comprehensive analysis of MS and NMR spectroscopic data. Their absolute configurations were deduced following the comparison of experimental and theoretically calculated ECD spectra and through biogenetic considerations. Goniomedine B (2) exhibited moderate activity against Plasmodium falciparum.

Rigid Analogues of Antimitotic Indolobenzazepinones: New Insights into Tubulin Binding via Molecular Modeling.

Two rigid analogues of 5-ethylindolobenzazepinone 4, a potent cytotoxic agent and inhibitor of tubulin polymerization, were prepared. The first was the indane derivative 5, in which the ethyl group is attached to the benzo moiety. The second was the pyrrolidine analogue 6, in which the ethyl chain was bound to the lactam nitrogen. While both compounds were considerably less active inhibitors of KB cell growth as compared to 4, inhibition of tubulin polymerization was only moderately reduced. Tubulin docking studies indicated that the aR and aS atropoisomers of 5 and 6 occupy different binding pockets at the colchicine binding site. Conversely, both aS-5 and aS-6 occupy the same binding pocket as aSS-4 but do not benefit from the favorable hydrophobic interactions provided by the C5 alkyl group of 4, thus possibly explaining their lower activities.

A facile and stereocontrolled synthesis of γ-substituted γ-fluoroglutamates by conjugate addition: conflicting effect between fluorinated enaminoester and hinderered Michael acceptor.

Asymmetric Michael addition of chiral 2-fluoroenaminoesters derived from (S)-1-phenylethylamine to α-substituted methyl acrylate leads to diastereomeric γ-substituted γ-fluoroglutamate precursors. The tertiary center bearing the amino acid function in its natural configuration is generated with a high level of stereocontrol in contrast to the quaternary carbon center. Diastereomeric γ-substituted γ-fluoroglutamates were efficiently separated and isolated as thioketal derivatives harboring very good enantioselectivity. The Michael addition diastereoselectivity was studied for the asymmetric conjugate addition of fluorinated chiral ß-enaminoester to methyl α-acetamidoacrylate by (19)F and (1)H NMR experiments as well as ab initio computations. An interfering conjunction between hindrance of the electrophile and a destabilizing effect of the fluorine atom borne by the nucleophile is revealed.

Kingianin A: a new natural pentacyclic compound from Endiandra kingiana.

A new natural pentacyclic compound, named kingianin A, was isolated as a racemic mixture from the barks of Endiandra kingiana (Lauraceae). Its structure was elucidated by comprehensive analysis of NMR spectroscopic data, X-ray crystallography, and ECD calculations. The pentacyclic skeleton may be formed by a Diels-Alder reaction between two monomers having a bicyclo[4.2.0]octadiene backbone formed by a stereospecific electrocyclization of a linear compound of polyketide origin.

Highly diastereoselective three-component vinylogous Mannich reaction between isoquinolines, acyl/sulfonyl chlorides, and silyloxyfurans.

Reaction of an isoquinoline, a silyloxyfuran, and an acyl or sulfonyl chloride provides easy access to a wide variety of isoquinolinobutyrolactones with excellent yields and diastereoselectivites (R*,R* isomer), even in the case of formation of quaternary centers (i.e., R(3) or R(4) = Me). Moreover, the use of a chiral auxiliary allowed formation of a single stereoisomer in 96% yield. This represents the first examples of asymmetric vinylogous Mannich reactions on isoquinolinium salts.

Strained-cyclophane-induced beta-turn template: design, synthesis, and spectroscopic characterization.

[structure: see text] Three tetrapeptides incorporating a 14-membered (R(i+1), S(i+2)) cycloisodityrosine at the i + 1 and i + 2 positions were designed and synthesized. Conformational analysis by (1)H NMR and CD spectra as well as molecular modeling indicated that they all adopt a beta-turn conformation. While the CD spectrum of compound 2 is characteristic of the typical type-II beta-turn (maximum at approximately 200 nm and a minimum at approximately 220 nm), that of 1a (atropisomer of 2) is opposite in sign to the expected spectrum of the type-II beta-turn.

Toward synthesis of alpha-alkyl amino glycines (A3G), new amino acid surrogates.

A general method giving access to protected alpha-alkyl amino glycines (A3G) 4 from the previously described precursor alpha-isopropylthioglycine 1 is described. In the presence of N-bromosuccinimide, displacement of the thiol by a large variety of amines afforded the corresponding racemic amino acid mimics. The efficiency of the reaction was strongly dependent on the protective groups of the nucleophile used in the condensation.

Stereocontrolled synthesis of heterocyclic C-nucleosides. Protecting group effect and molecular modeling studies.

We report herein a short stereocontrolled synthesis of heterocyclic C-nucleosides (indole, imidazole, benzimidazole, and 6-iodobenzimidazole). First, condensation of 2-lithiated heterocycles 2-5 with 5-(tert-butyldiphenylsilyl)-2,3-O-isopropylidene-D-gamma-ribonolactone (1) afforded the hemiacetals 6-9 in good yields. Then, borohydride reduction (NaBH(4)) of the protected hemiacetals proceeded stereoselectively to give predominantly the S diols 10-13, which upon Mitsunobu cyclization afforded the alpha-C-nucleosides 14-17. In contrast, the same PPh(3)/DEAD treatment of the 1:1 diastereomeric mixture of the free heterocyclic diols 10d and 11d gave exclusively the beta-anomers 14dbeta and 15dbeta, respectively, by a stereocontrolled process. The mechanisms of these stereocontrolled steps are discussed with the support of molecular modeling studies.

Reactivity of N-Phenyl-1-Aza-2-Cyano-1,3-Butadienes in the Diels-Alder Reaction.

It is found that N-phenyl-2-cyano-1-azadiene 4, prepared via a two-step, one-pot, sequence from acrylanilide, undergoes efficient [4 + 2] cycloaddition with a complete range of electron rich, electron poor, and neutral dienophiles under remarkably mild thermal conditions (90-120 degrees C for 20-48 h). Regiospecific formation of the alpha-cycloadduct wherein the dienophile substituent is alpha to nitrogen is observed for vinyl ethers and styrene, whereas the Diels-Alder reactions with methyl acrylate and methyl vinyl ketone (MVK) produce alpha/beta mixtures in which the alpha-cycloadduct is the major regioisomer (approximately 4-5:1). An essentially identical reaction pattern was observed in the Diels-Alder reaction of N-(p-methoxyphenyl)-2-cyano-1-azadiene 18 and the 4-methyl-substituted azadiene 27. For compound 19 derived from cycloaddition of 18 with ethyl vinyl ether, facile conversion to the dihydropyridine 21 through loss of EtOH on brief acid treatment was also noted. The 2,4-cis-disubstitution pattern confirmed by X-ray diffraction for the major cycloadduct 29 isolated from the reaction of 27 with styrene provides evidence for the endo mode of cycloaddition in the Diels-Alder reaction of N-phenyl(aryl)-2-cyano-1-azadienes. Calculation of the frontier orbital energies and coefficients, as well as the transition state geometries for the [4 + 2] cycloaddition of N-phenyl-2-cyano-1-azadiene 4 with methyl vinyl ether, styrene, and MVK were carried out at the RHF AM1 level (MOPAC, Version 5.0). The FMO treatment indicates that the reaction of 4 with methyl vinyl ether occurs under LUMO(diene) control, whereas in contrast, the corresponding cycloaddition with MVK occurs preferably under HOMO(diene) control. A high degree of asynchronicity is observed in the calculated transition states for reaction of 4 with the three representative dienophiles. In all cases the transition states leading to the alpha-cycloadducts are lower in energy than those giving the beta-products. However, at the AM1 level the exo cycloaddition mode is found to be the preferred, this result contrasting with experimental results for azadiene 27.