Practical Asymmetric Synthesis of Chiral Sulfoximines via Sulfur-Selective Alkylation.

Chiral sulfoximines have recently been considered as promising bioisosteres in medicinal chemistry. However, methods for preparing chiral sulfoximines in a stereoselective manner are underdeveloped. Herein, we demonstrate an asymmetric synthesis of chiral sulfoximines through a stereospecific S-alkylation of readily accessible chiral sulfinamides under practical conditions. A key to establishing the practical conditions was the identification of the intermediate structure in our previously reported S-alkylation by X-ray crystallographic analysis.

CuCl2 -Mediated Oxidative Intramolecular α-Arylation of Ketones with Phenolic Nucleophiles via Oxy-Allyl Cation Intermediates.

α-Functionalization of ketones in an umpolung fashion can be achieved by nucleophilic addition to the oxy-allyl cation intermediate. However, applicable carbon nucleophiles are limited to ones with high nucleophilicity. Additionally, introduction of a leaving group to the α-position of ketone substrates is required beforehand. Herein, we report the CuCl2 -mediated oxidative intramolecular α-arylation of ketones with less nucleophilic phenolic moieties as carbon nucleophiles via α-chlorination of ketones and the subsequent generation of the oxy-allyl cation intermediates, giving ketones with a quaternary carbon center at the α-position.

Asymmetric Synthesis of Chiral Sulfoximines via the S-Arylation of Sulfinamides.

Optically active sulfoximines are a promising substance in medicinal chemistry. However, a methodology for preparing chiral sulfoximines in a stereoselective manner has been underdeveloped. Here, we report an asymmetric synthesis of chiral sulfoximines having an aryl group by the newly developed sulfur-selective arylation of easily accessible chiral sulfinamides. The utility of the present method is demonstrated by the asymmetric synthesis of a key intermediate of a COX-2 inhibitor.

Efficient Synthesis of Cyclic Sulfoximines from N-Propargylsulfinamides through Sulfur-Carbon Bond Formation.

Cyclic sulfoximines were readily synthesized by the cyclization of N-propargylsulfinamides without using expensive and toxic metal catalysts. This cyclization proceeded without loss of optical purity of chiral sulfinamides through the unusual sulfur-carbon bond formation promoted by an inexpensive inorganic base. This stereospecific cyclization offers a general approach to the asymmetric synthesis of chiral cyclic sulfoximines as an emerging heterocycle in medicinal chemistry.

Asymmetric Synthesis of Chiral Sulfoximines through the S-Alkylation of Sulfinamides.

Innovation in drug discovery critically depends on the development of new bioisosteric groups. Chiral sulfoximines, which contain a tetrasubstituted sulfur atom that bears one nitrogen, one oxygen, and two different carbon substituents, represent an emerging chiral bioisostere in medicinal chemistry. Chiral sulfoximines are conventionally prepared by a stereospecific nitrene transfer reaction to chiral sulfoxides; however, the number of readily available chiral sulfoxides remains limited. Herein, we report the asymmetric synthesis of a class of hitherto difficult-to-access chiral sulfoximines with two structurally similar alkyl chains. Our synthetic approach is based on the sulfur-selective alkylation of easily accessible chiral sulfinamides with commercially available reagents under simple and safe conditions. This stereospecific S-alkylation offers a general and scalable approach to the asymmetric synthesis of chiral sulfoximines, which represent important substructures in bioactive molecules.

Dynamic Kinetic Resolution of Aldehydes by Hydroacylation.

We report a dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) of chiral 4-pentenals by olefin hydroacylation. A primary amine racemizes the aldehyde substrate via enamine formation and hydrolysis. Then, a cationic rhodium catalyst promotes hydroacylation to generate α,γ-disubstituted cyclopentanones with high enantio- and diastereoselectivities.

Anti-Allergic Activity of Monoacylated Ascorbic Acid 2-Glucosides.

2-O-α-d-Glucopyranosyl-l-ascorbic acid (AA-2G) is one of the stable ascorbic acid (AA) derivatives known as provitamin C agents. We have previously synthesized two types of monoacylated derivatives of AA-2G, 6-O-acyl-2-O-α-d-glucopyranosyl-l-ascorbic acids having a straight-acyl chain of varying length from C4 to C18 (6-sAcyl-AA-2G) and a branched-acyl chain of varying length from C6 to C16 (6-bAcyl-AA-2G) in order to improve the bioavailability of AA-2G. In this study, 6-sAcyl-AA-2G and 6-bAcyl-AA-2G per se showed the inhibitory effects on hyaluronidase activity and degranulation. 6-sAcyl-AA-2G exhibited strong inhibitory effects on hyaluronidase activity and degranulation in a concentration-dependent manner, and the inhibitory effects tended to become stronger with increasing length of the acyl chain. 2-O-α-d-Glucopyranosyl-6-O-hexadecanoyl-l-ascorbic acid (6-sPalm-AA-2G), which has a straight C16 acyl chain, was the most potent effective for inhibition of hyaluronidase activity and for inhibition of degranulation among the 6-sAcyl-AA-2G derivatives and the two isomers of 6-sPalm-AA-2G. Furthermore, percutaneous administration of 6-sPalm-AA-2G significantly inhibited IgE-mediated passive cutaneous anaphylaxis reaction in mice. These findings suggest that 6-sPalm-AA-2G will be useful for treatment of allergies.

Asymmetric Synthesis of Less Accessible α-Tertiary Amines from Alkynyl Z-Ketimines.

A highly stereoselective synthesis of hitherto less accessible chiral α-tertiary amines with multiple structurally similar linear carbon chains was achieved through chiral auxiliary mediated addition of organolithium reagents to the geometrically well-controlled alkynyl Z-ketimines. This stereoselective nucleophilic addition offers a general approach to the asymmetric synthesis of nitrogen-containing chiral materials.

Brønsted acid-catalyzed Mannich reaction through dual activation of aldehydes and N-Boc-imines.

In the presence of a Brønsted acid catalyst, both aldehydes and N-Boc-aminals were converted to enecarbamates and N-Boc-iminium salts as activated nucleophiles and electrophiles, respectively, giving unprecedented Mannich adducts. The asymmetric variant of the present Mannich reaction has also been demonstrated with a chiral phosphoric acid catalyst.