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Homochiral (E)- and (Z)-enamides derived from SuperQuat (S)-4-phenyl-5,5-dimethyl-oxazolidin-2-one undergo highly diastereoselective epoxidation upon treatment with dimethyldioxirane. Subsequent epoxide opening with meta-chlorobenzoic acid proceeds via a stereoselective SN1-type process, with retention of configuration, to give the corresponding 1′-m-chlorobenzoyl-2′-hydroxy derivatives. Treatment of the SuperQuat enamides with mCPBA effects this two-step transformation in one pot. Reductive cleavage of the isolated 1′-m-chlorobenzoyl-2′-hydroxy derivatives (≥96% de) generates homochiral 1,2-diols in ≥96% ee. Alternatively, regioselective lithiation of the enamide at C(1′) with tBuLi followed by reaction with an aromatic aldehyde and in situ O-benzylation generates a 1′-(benzyloxy-aryl-methyl) substituted enamide with high diastereoselectivity. Subsequent oxidative cleavage of the enamide C{double bond, long}C bond with NaIO4/RuCl3 followed by methanolysis of the resultant N-acyl fragment furnishes an O-benzyl protected α-hydroxy methyl ester in high ee. © 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

(R)-4-Phenyl-5,5-dimethyl-oxazolidin-2-one, readily available from d -phenylglycine, is shown to be an effective chiral auxiliary for stereoselective conjugate additions to attached α,β-unsaturated N-acyl moieties. Its utility is demonstrated by the asymmetric synthesis of the antifungal, antibacterial (−)-Aplysillamide B.

N -acyl-5,5-dimethyl-oxazolidin-2-ones can function as versatile latent aldehyde equivalents - reductive cleavage with DIBAL-H affords aldehydes in good yield, while tandem DIBAL-H/Wittig methodology affords α,β-unsaturated esters.

An efficient, easy to perform, one-pot reaction cascade for the synthesis of 2,5-disubstituted pyrroles from p-toluenesulfonyl protected imines and 4-nitrobut-1-yne under a combination of base and gold(III) catalysis is reported.

The synthesis of a series of chiral auxiliaries, 5-substituted-3,3-dimethyl-2-pyrrolidinones, “quats”, from L-glutamic acid is described. Efficient regeneration of the chiral auxiliaries from their N-pivaloyl derivatives is readily achieved with LiOH in THF-water at 20°C.

The highly enantioselective preparation of synthetically useful tetrahydropyridine derivatives employing a one-pot nitro-Mannich/hydroamination cascade is reported. This approach utilizes an asymmetric organocatalytic nitro-Mannich reaction followed by a gold-catalyzed alkyne hydroamination/isomerization sequence that yields the desired tetrahydropyridines in good yields and high diastereo- and enantioselectivities.

2,4-Disubstituted-5-fluoropyrimidine is a biologically active molecular core seen in various anticancer agents such as 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). As part of a programme aimed at discovering kinase inhibitors, routes to two series of novel compounds (5-fluoropyrimidine-2-carboxamides and 5-fluoropyrimidine-4-carboxamides) were successfully executed. For the first series, regioselective substitution at the 4-position of the pyrimidine with an amine (HNR 1 R 2 ) was achieved, followed by preparation of the amide at the 2-position. The route to the second series involved introduction of the methoxy protecting group at the 4-position, which allowed subsequent amine substitution to occur at the 2-position. The 4-amide substituent was finally introduced by direct conversion of the 4-methoxy into a 4-chloro group followed by transformation into an amide by palladium catalysis.

Novel indole-3-thio-, 3-sulfonyl- and 3-oxy-aryl-1-acetic acids are reported which are potent, selective antagonists of the chemoattractant receptor-homologous expressed on Th2 lymphocytes receptor (CRTh2 or DP2). Optimization required maintenance of high CRTh2 potency whilst achieving a concomitant reduction in rates of metabolism, removal of cyp p450 inhibition and minimization of aldose reductase and aldehyde reductase activity. High quality compounds suitable for in vivo studies are highlighted, culminating in the discovery of AZD1981 (22).

A novel series of small molecule C5a antagonists is reported. In particular, in vitro metabolic studies and solution based combinatorial synthesis are demonstrated as useful tools for the rapid identification of antagonists with low in vitro clearance. Members of this series specifically inhibited the binding of (125)I-labeled C5a to human recombinant C5a receptor (C5aR). In functional cell assays these compounds displayed surmountable antagonism against C5a and did not demonstrate any detectable agonist activity.

Starting with the weak agonist indomethacin, a series of potent, selective CRTh2 (DP(2)) antagonists have been discovered as potential treatments for asthma, allergic rhinitis and other inflammatory diseases.

The synthesis and utility of the 3,3-dimethyl-5-substituted-2-pyrrolidinone 'Quat' chiral auxiliary in stereoselective enolate reactions of attached N-acyl side chains combined with the mild and non-racemising conditions required for the ultimate removal of the chiral side chain is described. © 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

The highly enantioselective preparation of trisubstituted pyrrolidine derivatives employing a one-pot nitro-Mannich/hydroamination cascade is reported. This cascade approach utilizes an asymmetric bifunctional organocatalytic nitro-Mannich reaction followed by a gold-catalyzed allene hydroamination reaction. The products are afforded in good yields and excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivities.

Reduction of α-substituted-(S)-N-acyl-4-benzyl-5,5-dimethyl-oxazolidin-2-ones with DIBAL-H in CH2Cl2 affords α-substituted aldehydes with no loss of stereochemical integrity at their α-centre. Copyright (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd.

An efficient one-pot nitro-Mannich/hydroamination cascade reaction for the synthesis of substituted pyrrolidines bearing three stereocentres is reported. Proceeding under the control of a combination of base and gold(I) catalysts, the cascade reaction affords the pyrrolidine products in high yields with good to excellent diastereoselectivities.

4-(Methyl, phenyl, benzyl, and i -propyl)-5,5-dimethyl-oxazolidin-2-ones, readily available from α-amino acids, are shown to be effective chiral auxiliaries for stereoselective enolate alkylations and conjugate additions of attached N-acyl moieties.

A series of dual CCR3/H1 antagonists based on a bispiperidine scaffold were discovered. Introduction of an acidic group overcame hERG liability. Bioavailability was optimised by modulation of physico-chemical properties and physical form to deliver a compound suitable for clinical evaluation.

Enolates derived from the N -propionoyl derivative of the “quat” chiral auxiliary ( R )-(−)-5-methyl-3,3-dimethyl-2-pyrrolidinone undergo highly stereoselective aldol and alkylation reactions. Removal of the auxiliary has been demonstrated with LiOH, PhCH 2 OLi, MeOMgBr and LiAlH 4 to generate respectively (2 R ,3 R )-3-hydroxy-2-methyl-3-phenylpropionic acid in homochiral form, and with 96% e.e. ( S )-2-methyl-3-phenylpropionic acid and derived methyl and benzyl esters and with >94% e.e. ( S )-2-methyl-3-phenylpropanol.

The synthesis of a series of chiral auxiliaries, 5-substituted-3,3-dimethyl-2-pyrrolidinones, “quats”, from L-glutamic acid is described. Efficient regeneration of the chiral auxiliaries from their N-pivaloyl derivatives is readily achieved with LiOH in THF-water at 20°C.

N -acyl-5,5-dimethyl-oxazolidin-2-ones can function as versatile latent aldehyde equivalents - reductive cleavage with DIBAL-H affords aldehydes in good yield, while tandem DIBAL-H/Wittig methodology affords α,β-unsaturated esters.

The proclivity of alpha-branched N-2'-benzyl-3'-phenylpropionyl derivatives of (S)-4-benzyl-5,5-dimethyl-, (S)-4-phenyl-5,5-dimethyl-, (S)-4-isopropyl-5,5-dimethyl-, (S)-4-benzyl- and (S)-4-benzyl-5,5-diphenyl-oxazolidin-2-ones to generate directly 2-benzyl-3-phenylpropionaldehyde upon hydride reduction with DIBAL is investigated. The (S)-4-benzyl-5,5-dimethyl-derivative proved optimal for inhibition of endocyclic nucleophilic attack, giving 2-benzyl-3-phenylpropionaldehyde in good yield upon reduction. Application of this methodology for the asymmetric synthesis of chiral aldehydes via diastereoselective enolate alkylation of a range of (S)-N-acyl-4-benzyl-5,5-dimethyloxazolidin-2-ones to afford and array of alpha-substituted-N-acyl-5,5-dimethyloxazolidin- 2-ones (85-94% de) and subsequent reduction with DIBAL afforded directly non-racemic alpha-substituted aldehydes without loss of stereochemical integrity (87-94% ee). The extension of this protocol for the asymmetric synthesis of beta-substituted aldehydes is demonstrated, via the diastereoselective conjugate addition of a range of organocuprates to (S)-N-acyl-4-phenyl-5,5-dimethyloxazolidin-2-ones which proceeds with high diastereoselectivity (generally > 95% de). Reduction of the conjugate addition products with DIBAL gives non-racemic beta-substituted aldehydes in high yields and in high ee (generally > 95% ee). This methodology is exemplified by the asymmetric synthesis of (R)-3-isopropenylhept-6-enal, which has previously been used in the synthesis of (3Z,6R)-3-methyl-6-isopropenyl-3,9-decadien-1-yl acetate, a component of the sex pheromones of the California red scale.

Homochiral (E)-enamides derived from (S)-4-phenyl-5,5-dimethyl-oxazolidin-2-one undergo highly diastereoselective epoxidation upon treatment with dimethyldioxirane (DMDO). Treatment with m-chloroperbenzoic acid (MCPBA) produces syn-(4S, 1′R,2′)-1′ -acyloxy-2′-hydroxy derivatives with high diastereoselectivity, consistent with a mechanism involving initial epoxidation and subsequent in situ S N1 type epoxide opening and trapping with m-chlorobenzoic acid. Reductive cleavage of the isolated 1′-acyloxy-2′-hydroxy derivatives generates 1,2-diols in high yields and in high ee.

A study of the properties of N-hydrocinnamoyl- derivatives of 5,5-dimethyloxazolidin-2-one, 4,4-dimethyloxazolidin-2-one and oxazolidin-2-one upon hydride reduction with DIBAL-H demonstrates that the 5,5-dimethyl-group is essential for inhibition of endocyclic nucleophilic attack. For instance, treatment of N-hydrocinnamoyl-5,5-dimethyloxazolidin-2-one with DIBAL-H results in the selective formation of the stable N-1'-hydroxyalkyl derivative which may be regarded as a masked hydrocinnamaldehyde equivalent, as treatment under basic conditions affords the parent aldehyde in excellent yield. Treatment of N-hydrocinnamoyl-4,4-dimethyloxazolidin-2-one with DIBAL-H under identical conditions affords a complex mixture of products, including the formate ester product of endocyclic cleavage. As an alternate strategy, DIBAL-H reduction of straight chain and branched N-acyl-5,5-dimethyloxazolidin-2-one derivatives, followed by a Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reaction affords alpha,beta-unsaturated esters in good yields. Branching alpha- to the exocyclic carbonyl in N-acyl-oxazolidinones inhibits DIBAL-H reduction, but this can be overcome by precomplexation with ZnCl2, with subsequent fragmentation generating either the corresponding aldehyde or alpha,beta-unsaturated esters. The addition of ZnCl2 has been shown to increase the diastereoselectivity observed in Wadsworth-Horner-Emmons reactions of lithiated phosphonates.

An efficient and simple synthesis of oxazolidin-2-one SuperQuat chiral auxiliaries is described which provides rapid access to multigram quantities of the auxiliaries.