Heterochiral Ala/(αMe)Aze sequential oligopeptides: Synthesis and conformational study.

α-Amino acid residues with a ϕ,ψ constrained conformation are known to significantly bias the peptide backbone 3D structure. An intriguing member of this class of compounds is (αMe)Aze, characterized by an Nα -alkylated four-membered ring and Cα -methylation. We have already reported that (S)-(αMe)Aze, when followed by (S)-Ala in the homochiral dipeptide sequential motif -(S)-(αMe)Aze-(S)-Ala-, tends to generate the unprecedented γ-bend ribbon conformation, as formation of a regular, fully intramolecularly H-bonded γ-helix is precluded, due to the occurrence of a tertiary amide bond every two residues. In this work, we have expanded this study to the preparation and 3D structural analysis of the heterochiral (S)-Ala/(R)-(αMe)Aze sequential peptides from dimer to hexamer. Our conformational results show that members of this series may fold in type-II ß-turns or in γ-turns depending on the experimental conditions.

A novel peptide conformation: the γ-bend ribbon.

Unlike the extensively investigated relationship between the peptide ß-bend ribbon and its prototypical 310-helix conformation, the corresponding relationship between the narrower γ-bend ribbon and its regular γ-helix counterpart still remains to be studied, as the latter 3D-structures have not yet been experimentally authenticated. In this paper, we describe the results of the first characterization, both in the crystal state and in solution, of the γ-bend ribbon conformation using X-ray diffraction and FT-IR absorption, electronic CD and 2D-NMR spectroscopies applied to an appropriate set of synthetic, homo-chiral, sequential dipeptide oligomers based on (S)-Ala and the known γ-bend inducer, Cα-tetrasubstituted, N-alkylated α-amino acid residue (S)-Cα-methyl-azetidine-carboxylic acid.

N-Arylazetidines: Preparation through Anionic Ring Closure.

We report herein an efficient synthesis of diversely substituted N-aryl-2-cyanoazetidines based on an anionic ring-closure reaction. These compounds can be prepared from ß-amino alcohols in enantiomerically pure form through a three-step sequence involving (i) copper-catalyzed N-arylation, (ii) N-cyanomethylation of the secondary aniline, and (iii) one-pot mesylation followed by ring closure induced by a base. This high-yielding sequence gives access to azetidines with a predictable and adjustable substitution pattern and also with predictable diastereoselectivity. These compounds are susceptible to multiple further derivatizations through Suzuki coupling or nitrile transformation, thus appearing as valuable new scaffolds for medicinal chemistry. Their rigid shape, featuring an almost planar N-arylamine and a planar four-membered ring, was revealed by both AM1 calculations and X-ray crystallography.

Competitive Ring Expansion of Azetidines into Pyrrolidines and/or Azepanes.

Azetidines fitted with a 3-hydroxypropyl side chain at the 2-position undergo intramolecular N-alkylation after activation of the primary alcohol, and the produced 1-azonia-bicyclo[3.2.0]heptane is opened by different nucleophiles (cyanide, azide, or acetate anions) to produce mixtures of ring expanded pyrrolidines and azepanes, or a unique type of compound. Distribution of produced five- or seven-membered rings depends on the substitution pattern on the azetidine ring and on its side chain, together with the nature of the nucleophile used in the expansion process. Observed regioselectivities for nucleophilic opening are rationalized by quantum mechanical DFT calculations and are in good agreement with experimental results.

De novo synthesis of 1,4-dihydropyridines and pyridines.

An efficient and general method for the synthesis of 1,4-dihydropyridines and pyridines based on a lithiation/isomerization/intramolecular carbolithiation sequence is reported. This procedure provides an efficient, divergent, and straightforward entry to a wide range of polysubstituted dihydropyridines and pyridines starting from readily available N-allyl-ynamides.

Increasing the reactivity of nitrogen catalysts.

This review article presents how nitrogen-centred Lewis bases were modified in order to increase their reactivity in catalytic processes. As examples, we focus on alcohol acylation and Morita-Baylis-Hilman reactions in order to showcase the fundamental parameters at play in transformations initiated by catalysts bearing respectively an active sp(2) or sp(3) nitrogen atoms. These two aspects are epitomised by two leading compounds, the Steglich base 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP), and 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO). Throughout this review, we stress the role played and the information brought by physical organic chemistry. Comprehension of these complex transformations relies on the fundamental knowledge of parameters, such as, nucleophilicity, nucleofugality, Lewis basicity, and crucially also the knowledge of their divergent impacts on each elementary step of the catalytic cycle.

One-step synthesis of chiral cages.

A novel type of hemispherical cage was synthesized in a one-pot procedure, which displayed good binding properties towards nickel(ii).

Copper-mediated coupling of 1,1-dibromo-1-alkenes with nitrogen nucleophiles: a general method for the synthesis of ynamides.

Mild reaction conditions are the advantage of the title reaction, which allows straightforward entry to a variety of ynamides starting from readily available 1,1-dibromo-1-alkenes, which act as attractive alkynylating agents (see scheme; EWG = electron-withdrawing group, DMF = N,N-dimethylformamide).

Strained azetidinium ylides: new reagents for epoxidation.

Azetidinium ylides effected facile epoxidation of various carbonyl compounds furnishing tri or tetrasubstituted epoxides that were unattainable via classical ammonium ylide chemistry; the produced trisubstituted oxiranes gave rise to a remarkable cascade of reactions leading to some original pyrrolidin-3-ones.

Reaction of azetidines with chloroformates.

The reaction of an azetidine with a chloroformate can give either the dealkylated heterocycle or the ring-opened product (gamma-chloroamine), which can further cyclize to the oxazinanone. A general study of this underrated reaction was conducted and revealed that azetidines can undergo smooth nucleophilic ring-opening reactions to highly functionalized gamma-chloroamines in the presence of a variety of alkyl chloroformates under mild reaction conditions. Yields are usually good, and parameters governing this reaction were evaluated. [reaction: see text].

A one carbon staple for orthogonal copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloadditions.

We describe herein the use of α-hydroxy-ß-azidotetrazoles, easily prepared in one step from α,ß-epoxynitriles, as new scaffolds for orthogonal CuAAC reactions performed on the same carbon atom. After a first ligation involving an alkyne with the ß-azido moiety, treatment with EDC smoothly releases an alkyne from the remaining α-hydroxytetrazole, ready for a second CuAAC reaction. This "double click" process can be performed iteratively, leading to triazolamers.

3-Aminopyrrolidines via ring rearrangement of 2-aminomethylazetidines. Synthesis of (-)-absouline.

[reaction: see text] A new entry to enantiopure 3-aminopyrrolidines was developed using a boron trifluoride-mediated rearrangement of 2-aminomethylazetidines. The method is quite general and produces rearranged products in good yield regardless of both substitution pattern and relative stereochemistry of the starting material. A concise stereocontrolled synthesis of (-)-absouline was achieved on the basis of this new method.

Regio- and Stereocontrolled Formation of Chiral Epoxy Oxazolidines via Bromocarbamation of N-Boc Alkenyl Oxazolidines. Application to Asymmetric Synthesis.

Treatment of alpha-alkenyl N-Boc oxazolidines with N-bromosuccinimide leads to epoxy oxazolidines via a bromocyclocarbamation reaction which is completely stereoselective. Action of sodium azide on these epoxides, followed by a few functional group manipulations, eventually affords chiral beta-amino alcohols which are intermediates for the enantioselective synthesis of bioactive products: the anti side chain of taxol and a hydroxyethylamine isostere. Both the bromocarbamation cyclization and the nucleophilic cleavage of epoxides are totally regioselective. AM1 calculations suggest that this selectivity is controlled by the positive charge distribution at the electrophilic centers.

Exploring the anionic reactivity of ynimines, useful precursors of metalated ketenimines.

Insights into the reactivity of ynimines under anionic conditions are reported. They were shown to be excellent precursors of metalated ketenimines, which can be generated in situ by the reaction of ynimines with organolithium reagents or strong bases. The metalated ketenimines can then be trapped with various electrophiles and, depending on their substitution pattern, afford original and divergent entries to various building blocks.

Intramolecular carbocupration of N-aryl-ynamides: a modular indole synthesis.

A modular indole synthesis based on an intramolecular 5-endo-dig carbocupration starting from readily available N-aryl-ynamides is reported. A variety of ynamides are converted to indoles in moderate to good yields and with varying substitution pattern on the indole ring. This further extends the synthetic utility of ynamides in organic synthesis and provides additional insights on the use of intramolecular carbometalation reactions.

Copper-catalyzed oxidative alkynylation of diaryl imines with terminal alkynes: a facile synthesis of ynimines.

An efficient copper-mediated method for the oxidative alkynylation of diaryl imines with terminal alkynes is reported. This reaction provides the first catalytic and general synthesis of ynimines and allows for an easy preparation of these useful building blocks. An improved copper-catalyzed oxidative dimerization of imines to azines and the synthesis of dienes and azadienes from ynimines are also described.

Copper-mediated cross-coupling of 1,1-dibromo-1-alkenes with dialkyl phosphites: a convenient synthesis of 1-alkenylphosphonates.

An efficient and stereoselective procedure for the preparation of E-1-alkenylphosphonates by copper-mediated cross-coupling between 1,1-dibromo-1-alkenes and dialkyl phosphites is reported. The reaction allows for formal substitution of both bromine atoms, respectively, by an hydrogen and a dialkoxyphosphoryl.

Assessing the rates of ring-opening of aziridinium and azetidinium ions: a dramatic ring size effect.

Rates for the ring-opening of aziridinium and azetidinium ions by DMAP were measured. The four-membered ring appears to be ca. 17,000 times less reactive compared to the three-membered ring but is still highly relevant from a synthetic viewpoint. The electrophilicity of these strained ammonium ions is measured for the first time.

Synthesis and reactivity of highly nucleophilic pyridines.

3,4,5-Triamino-substituted pyridines are avid for electrophiles but are still willing to give them back. In these compounds three amino groups conjoin their forces into the heterocyclic nitrogen, making it a powerful Lewis base. A short and efficient synthesis is described, and the origin of its unique activity in nucleophilic organocatalysis is rationalized by kinetics and thermodynamic quantifications.