Synthesis of 2-amino-3-arylpropan-1-ols and 1-(2,3-diaminopropyl)-1,2,3-triazoles and evaluation of their antimalarial activity.

A variety of 2-amino-3-arylpropan-1-ols, anti-2-amino-3-aryl-3-methoxypropan-1-ols and anti-2-amino-1-arylpropan-1,3-diols were prepared selectively through elaboration of trans-4-aryl-3-chloro-ß-lactams. In addition, a number of 2-(azidomethyl)aziridines was converted into novel 2-[(1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)methyl]aziridines by Cu(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition, followed by microwave-assisted, regioselective ring opening by dialkylamine towards 1-(2,3-diaminopropyl)-1,2,3-triazoles. Although most of these compounds exhibited weak antiplasmodial activity, six representatives showed moderate antiplasmodial activity against both a chloroquine-sensitive and a chloroquine-resistant strain of Plasmodium falciparum with IC(50)-values of ≤25 µM.

Stereoselective synthesis of chiral 4-(1-chloroalkyl)-beta-lactams starting from amino acids and their transformation into functionalized chiral azetidines and pyrrolidines.

Chiral short-chain alpha-chloroaldehydes were prepared starting from enantiomerically pure amino acids in a three-step approach, thus providing a practical synthetic alternative for known organocatalytic alpha-chlorination procedures. The latter aldehydes proved to be useful starting materials for the stereoselective Staudinger synthesis of (3S,4S)-4-[(1S)-1-chloroalkyl]azetidin-2-ones in high diastereomeric ratios and good overall yields, which were used as chiral building blocks for the preparation of a number of azetidines and pyrrolidines.

Stereoselective synthesis of trans- and cis-2-aryl-3-(hydroxymethyl)aziridines through transformation of 4-aryl-3-chloro-beta-lactams and study of their ring opening.

trans- and cis-1-Alkyl-4-aryl-3-chloroazetidin-2-ones, prepared through cyclocondensation of chloroketene and the appropriate imines in a diastereoselective way, were transformed into the corresponding non-activated trans- and cis-2-aryl-3-(hydroxymethyl)aziridines via reductive ring contraction using LiAlH(4) in Et(2)O. Furthermore, trans-2-aryl-3-(hydroxymethyl)aziridines were transformed into 2-amino-3-arylpropan-1-ols and anti-2-amino-3-aryl-3-methoxypropan-1-ols by means of an unprecedented ring opening by LiAlH(4) and by MeOH, respectively. cis-2-Aryl-3-(hydroxymethyl)aziridines were shown to be highly reluctant to undergo ring opening by LiAlH(4) and MeOH under similar reaction conditions.

Synthesis of novel 2-alkoxy-3-amino-3-arylpropan-1-ols and 5-alkoxy-4-aryl-1,3-oxazinanes with antimalarial activity.

A variety of novel syn-2-alkoxy-3-amino-3-arylpropan-1-ols was prepared through LiAlH(4)-promoted reductive ring-opening of cis-3-alkoxy-4-aryl-beta-lactams in Et(2)O. The latter gamma-aminoalcohols were easily converted into cis-5-alkoxy-4-aryl-1,3-oxazinanes using formaldehyde in THF. Both series of compounds were evaluated against a chloroquine sensitive strain of Plasmodium falciparum (D10), revealing micromolar potency for almost all representatives. Eleven compounds exhibited antimalarial activity with IC(50) values of

Diastereoselective synthesis of bicyclic gamma-lactams via ring expansion of monocyclic beta-lactams.

cis-4-(1-Chloro-1-methylethyl)-1-(omega-hydroxyalkyl)azetidin-2-ones were diastereoselectively transformed into novel trans-1-aza-4-oxabicyclo[3.3.0]octan-8-ones and trans-1-aza-5-oxabicyclo[4.3.0]nonan-9-ones upon treatment with 1 equiv of AgBF4 and pyridine in toluene via intramolecular nucleophilic trapping of N-acyliminium intermediates by the hydroxyl moiety. Additionally, the corresponding aza-analogues of the aforementioned bicyclic gamma-lactams (i.e., trans-1,4-diazabicyclo[3.3.0]octan-8-ones and trans-1,5-diazabicyclo[4.3.0]nonan-9-ones) were prepared in a convenient way starting from cis-4-(1-chloro-1-methylethyl)-1-{omega-[(tert-butoxycarbonyl)amino]alkyl}azetidin-2-ones applying the same reaction conditions. The intermediate N-acyliminium ions were formed by ring expansion of the starting beta-lactams through generation of a transient silver(I)-induced carbenium ion.

Reactivity of N-(omega-haloalkyl)-beta-lactams with regard to lithium aluminium hydride: novel synthesis of 1-(1-aryl-3-hydroxypropyl)aziridines and 3-aryl-3-(N-propylamino)propan-1-ols.

The reactivity of 4-aryl-1-(2-chloroethyl)azetidin-2-ones and 4-aryl-1-(3-bromopropyl)azetidin-2-ones with regard to lithium aluminium hydride has been evaluated for the first time. 4-Aryl-1-(2-chloroethyl)azetidin-2-ones were transformed into novel 1-(1-aryl-3-hydroxypropyl)aziridines through an unprecedented conversion of beta-lactams into 2,3-unsubstituted aziridine derivatives. Unexpectedly, 4-aryl-1-(3-bromopropyl)azetidin-2-ones underwent dehalogenation towards 3-aryl-3-(N-propylamino)propan-1-ols upon treatment with LiAlH(4). 1-(1-Aryl-3-hydroxypropyl)aziridines were further elaborated by means of ring opening reactions using benzyl bromide in acetonitrile towards 3-aryl-3-[N-benzyl-N-(2-bromoethyl)amino]propan-1-ols and using aluminium(iii) chloride in diethyl ether, affording 3-aryl-3-[N-(2-chloroethyl)amino]propan-1-ols.