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The rich stereochemistry of the self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of four butanethiols on Au(111) is described, the SAMs containing up to 12 individual C, S, or Au chiral centers per surface unit cell. This is facilitated by synthesis of enantiomerically pure 2-butanethiol (the smallest unsubstituted chiral alkanethiol), followed by in situ scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) imaging combined with density functional theory molecular dynamics STM image simulations. Even though butanethiol SAMs manifest strong headgroup interactions, steric interactions are shown to dominate SAM structure and chirality. Indeed, steric interactions are shown to dictate the nature of the headgroup itself, whether it takes on the adatom-bound motif RS(•)Au(0)S(•)R or involves direct binding of RS(•) to face-centered-cubic or hexagonal-close-packed sites. Binding as RS(•) produces large, organizationally chiral domains even when R is achiral, while adatom binding leads to rectangular plane groups that suppress long-range expression of chirality. Binding as RS(•) also inhibits the pitting intrinsically associated with adatom binding, desirably producing more regularly structured SAMs.

As an approach to the enantioselective synthesis of trans-decahydroquinolines (DHQs), desymmetrization of meso-aziridine (5) with various carbon nucleophiles under catalytic conditions was investigated. By applying TMSCN in the presence of YbCl3 and chiral non-racemic ligands, nitrile 13 was obtained with an ee up to 40%. Nitrile 13 was a key intermediate in a novel route to trans-DHQs.

The objective of this work was to characterize the enantiospecificity of the allylic alkylation of enantioenriched 2-cyclohexen-1-yl acetate with the enolate ion of dimethyl malonate catalyzed by unsymmetrical palladium catalysts. The precatalysts employed were (η 3 -allyl)PdLCl, where L is a monophosphine ligand [PPh 3 , PCy 3 , P(2-BiPh)Cy 2 , or P(t-Bu) 3 ], all of which afforded enantiospecificity to some extent (5-47%). Quantum mechanical calculations show that, theoretically, the enantiospecificity should be high due to a preference for the "trans to P" transition state in both formation of the η 3 -allyl intermediate and nucleophilic attack. However, the observed enantiospecificity is relatively low due to isomerization of the η 3 -allyl intermediate and/or dynamic equilibria between the catalytically active (η 3 -allyl)PdLCl species and [(η 3 -allyl)PdL 2 ] + or [(η 3 -allyl)PdCl] 2 . It was also observed experimentally that increasing the bulk of the phosphine inhibits formation of the [(η 3 -allyl)PdL 2 ] + complexes, significantly increasing the observed enantiospecificity for some of the ligands.

The three possible dimethylsubstituted phenyloxiranes (cis, trans and geminal) were synthesized in both racemic (mCPBA) and enantiomerically enriched forms (Shi epoxidation) and subjected to a vibrational circular dichroism study. The experimental spectra were compared to theoretical spectra obtained using DFT/B3LYP calculations, and the differences between experiment and theory are discussed. The absolute configuration at the benzylic position was established as being (R), (S) and (R) for the cis, trans and geminal dimethylsubstituted phenyloxiranes, respectively. In all three cases the configuration of the major enantiomer was in accordance with a simple transition state model based on the spiro reaction mode.

A regioselective aromatic Claisen rearrangement was used to prepare 17a, the precursor of triflate 17e. The intramolecular Heck reaction of 17e is promoted only by bidentate phosphine ligands, giving exclusively and in excellent yield 20, the product of a 5-endo-trig cyclization, despite the possibility for a 6-exo-trig pathway.

The interactions between the substrate and the ligand in the Sharpless AD reaction have been examined in detail, using a combination of substrate competition experiments and molecular modeling of transition states. There is a good agreement between computational and experimental results, in particular for the stereoselectivity of the reaction. The influence of each moiety in the second-generation ligand (DHQD)2PHAL on the rate and selectivity of the reaction has been elucidated in detail. 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The oxidative addition of PhI to Pd0 has been studied by DFT with a continuum representation of the solvent. It is shown that the preferred number of ligands on palladium is lower than would be expected from “conventional wisdom” and the 18-electron rule. The most favored oxidative addition is obtained when Pd is coordinated by only the aryl iodide and one additional ligand in a linear arrangement. The calculations indicate that p-orbitals on the central metal are not involved in bonding in any of the complexes described herein, in good agreement with classic ligand field theory and also with a recent bonding analysis by Weinhold and Landis, but in apparent violation of the 18-electron rule.

This paper describes a study of reactivity and enantioselectivity for a series of methyl-substituted styrenes in the Jacobsen-Katsuki (Mn(salen)-catalyzed) epoxidation reaction. Competition experiments provided kinetic data for the reactivity of the seven possible methyl-substituted styrenes (mono-, di- and trisubstituted) relative to styrene itself, ee values were measured by chiral GC, and absolute configurations were secured by chemical correlation. Of particular interest was the switch in absolute configuration at the benzylic position of the epoxides derived from (Z)- and (E)-alpha,beta-dimethylstyrene, respectively. The results could be rationalized in terms of an approach vector with the phenyl substituent proximal to the salen. As opposed to alkyl groups, a proximal phenyl group has very little effect on the rate of the reaction. Consideration of distal vs proximal approach allows prediction of absolute stereochemistry as a function of alkene substitution pattern. Trisubstituted alkenes with one phenyl group cis to the alkene hydrogen can be identified as a favored substrate class in the title reaction, with both rate and selectivity close to the classic (Z)-beta-substituted styrene substrates.

This paper deals with an approach to the enantioselective total synthesis of Lyngbyatoxin A, with focus on the stereocontrolled introduction of the quaternary stereogenic centre. The key step in the synthesis involves an enantiospecific Lewis-acid mediated rearrangement of chiral vinyl epoxides carrying a 7-substituted indole moiety.

Some new results on asymmetric synthesis via the addition of α-metalated methyl tolyl sulfoxides to imines are presented. Good diastereoselectivity (up to >98% d.e. for product 3g) can be obtained under conditions of kinetic control (short reaction time, low temperature). The transition state (a six-membered "flat chair") was probed by quantum mechanical calculations, which underpinned the idea of using external chiral ligands to enhance the diastereoselectivity of otherwise moderately selective reactions. In this way, the diastereomeric ratio of the product 3a could be raised from (84:16) to (>99:1) by use of a readily available C2-symmetric bis(sulfonamide) ligand.

This new approach represents an attractive alternative to the classical Pictet—Spengler reaction.

A series of derivatives of 3-methyl-2-buten-1-ol has been used to test the scope and limitations of the copper-catalysed asymmetric cyclopropanation of trisubstituted alkenes by ethyl diazoacetate in the presence of C2-symmetric bis(oxazoline) ligands. In the best case, a trans/cis ratio of 91:9, with 92% ee for the major isomer, was obtained from the reaction of the p-methoxybenzoate derivative. The highest ee was 95%, for the trans isomer of a 80:20 diastereomer mixture (acetate derivative).

[reaction: see text] A racemic aldehyde can undergo parallel kinetic resolution (PKR) by simultaneous reaction with two different chiral phosphonates, differing either in the structure of the chiral auxiliary or in the structure of the phosphoryl group (i.e., one (E)- and one (Z)-selective reagent). This strategy allows conversion of a racemic aldehyde to two different, synthetically useful chiral products with essentially doubled material throughput and similar or improved selectivities as compared to conventional kinetic resolution.

As part of a program on the use of chiral aziridines in asymmetric synthesis and catalysis, the enantiopure (N,P) ligand 1, consisting of a C-2-symmetric chiral aziridine and a triarylphosphine uni ...

This paper describes the use of selenium-based [2,3] sigmatropic rearrangement in combination with ruthenium-catalyzed ring-closing metathesis (RCM) for the synthesis of azaspiro ring systems, as exemplified by the reactions of model substrates 5 and 6 . The methodology has been applied to a short and efficient formal total synthesis of the alkaloid (±)-perhydrohistrionicotoxin ( 2 ). Thus, (±)-depentylperhydrohistrionicotoxin, 1 , a known key intermediate for the synthesis of 2 , was synthesised from 2,3-epoxycyclohexan-1-one in 10 laboratory operations and ca. 20% overall yield. The synthetic route is potentially enantioselective, and key steps were the [2,3] sigmatropic rearrangement of 11 to 12 via the corresponding allylic selenide (86% yield) and ruthenium-catalyzed RCM of 13 to 14 (80%).

A comparative study has been made of the performance of differently substituted Ca-symmetric bis(aziridine) ligands in a variety of metal-mediated asymmetric reactions. The metals studied were osmi ...

A convergent enantioselective total synthesis of the neurotoxic spirocyclic alkaloid (−)-perhydrohistrionicotoxin (2) is described. A Lewis acid-mediated intramolecular imine ene-type reaction was used for the key spirocyclisation step (14 to 3, with 3 being obtained as a single diastereoisomer). Spirocyclisation precursor 14 was prepared from enantiomerically pure ketone 13, itself available via an efficient one-pot, three-component, coupling reaction involving chiral electrophiles 9 and 10. The stereogenic centres of 9 and 10 derive in turn from Sharpless kinetic resolution, which allowed access to both chiral electrophiles from a common racemic precursor, 8.

A high yielding solid-phase dimerisation of 2-naphthol by means of a ball-milling procedure is described. Present address: Nycomed Innovation AB, Ideon Malm⊘, S-20512, Malm⊘, Sweden.

A convergent enantioselective total synthesis of the natural product (-)-balanol (1) is described. In addition to benzophenone fragment 8, key intermediates are chiral bicyclic aziridine 3 and the corresponding epoxide 4, both of which undergo highly regio- and stereoselective nucleophilic ring-opening reactions, allowing control of the two stereogenic centres of the target molecule. The structure and reactivity of 3 and 4 have been investigated in some detail.

This paper describes the construction of three key intermediates 11, 15 and 23 for a projected total synthesis of the marine alkaloid zoanthamine. These building blocks, corresponding to the C-1-C-5, C-6-C-10, and C-11-C-24 fragments of the target molecu

The readily available C2-symmetric bis(aziridines) 1 can act as ligands in a variety of asymmetric transformations mediated by transition metals. In the best cases, >95% ee can be obtained.

A synthetic approach to the marine alkaloid Zoanthamine is outlined. Starting with (-)- perilly alkohol, the C-11 to C-20 fragment 9b has been synthesized in 12 operations and > 30% overall yield. Model studies for a proposed intramolecular Diels-Alder strategy are also described.

Herein is described the synthesis of a novel class of peptidyl FVIIa inhibitors having a C-terminal benzyl ketone group. This class is designed to be potentially suitable as stabilization agents of liquid formulations of rFVIIa, which is a serine protease used for the treatment of hemophilia A and B inhibitor patients. A library of compounds was synthesized with different tripeptide sequences, N-terminals and d -amino acids in the P3 position. Cbz- d -Phe–Phe–Arg–bk (33) was found to be the best candidate with a potency of Ki = 8 μM and no substantial inhibition of related blood coagulation factors (thrombin and FXa). Computational studies revealed that 33 has a very stable binding conformation due to intramolecular hydrogen bonds, which cannot be formed with l -Phe in the P3 position. Nonpolar amino acids were found to be superior, probably due to a minimization of the cost of desolvation upon binding to FVIIa.

The regio- and stereoselective carbonylation of optically pure trans vinylaziridine 5 to trans 3-vinylazetidinone 6 is catalyzed by Pd(0). Compound 6 is then transformed to a known key intermediate for the total synthesis of the carbapenem antibiotic (+)-PS-5.

The non-racemic C2-symmetric azirdines7 and8, easily available from (+)- and (-)-tartaric acid, respectively, undergo rapid nucleophilic attack to yield products formally derived from the β-cation ofL- orD-aspartic acid.

A novel and diastereoselective entry to the β-lactam nucleus of the carbapenems starting from L-glutamic acid is exemplified by the synthesis of the potential (+)-PS-5 intermediate 13 .

A synthetic approach to the marine alkaloid Zoanthamine is outlined. Starting with (-)- perilly alkohol, the C-11 to C-20 fragment 9b has been synthesized in 12 operations and > 30% overall yield. Model studies for a proposed intramolecular Diels-Alder strategy are also described.

This paper describes the construction of three key intermediates 11, 15 and 23 for a projected total synthesis of the marine alkaloid zoanthamine. These building blocks, corresponding to the C-1-C-5, C-6-C-10, and C-11-C-24 fragments of the target molecu

A convergent enantioselective total synthesis of the neurotoxic spirocyclic alkaloid (−)-perhydrohistrionicotoxin (2) is described. A Lewis acid-mediated intramolecular imine ene-type reaction was used for the key spirocyclisation step (14 to 3, with 3 being obtained as a single diastereoisomer). Spirocyclisation precursor 14 was prepared from enantiomerically pure ketone 13, itself available via an efficient one-pot, three-component, coupling reaction involving chiral electrophiles 9 and 10. The stereogenic centres of 9 and 10 derive in turn from Sharpless kinetic resolution, which allowed access to both chiral electrophiles from a common racemic precursor, 8.

This paper describes the use of selenium-based [2,3] sigmatropic rearrangement in combination with ruthenium-catalyzed ring-closing metathesis (RCM) for the synthesis of azaspiro ring systems, as exemplified by the reactions of model substrates 5 and 6 . The methodology has been applied to a short and efficient formal total synthesis of the alkaloid (±)-perhydrohistrionicotoxin ( 2 ). Thus, (±)-depentylperhydrohistrionicotoxin, 1 , a known key intermediate for the synthesis of 2 , was synthesised from 2,3-epoxycyclohexan-1-one in 10 laboratory operations and ca. 20% overall yield. The synthetic route is potentially enantioselective, and key steps were the [2,3] sigmatropic rearrangement of 11 to 12 via the corresponding allylic selenide (86% yield) and ruthenium-catalyzed RCM of 13 to 14 (80%).

This paper describes two enantioselective aziridine-based routes toward 1β-methylthienamycin, 2, and related carbapenems, the key steps being completely regioselective ring-opening reactions of the chiral aziridines 7 and 10 with AlMe3.

Nucleophilic ring-opening of trans and cis aziridino alcohols 1 ( 1′ ) and 2 ( 2′ ) by hydride- and by methyl-transfer reagents has been studied. In general, good to excellent C-2 selectivity was observed (the regioselectivity being better for the trans isomers) and the results can be interpreted in terms of directive effects exerted by the C-1 hydroxyl group. However, complete C-3 selectivity was observed in the reactions of 1 and 2 with AlMe 3 , indicating a complexation effect of the C-4 benzyloxy group in those cases.

A novel and diastereoselective entry to the β-lactam nucleus of the carbapenems starting from L-glutamic acid is exemplified by the synthesis of the potential (+)-PS-5 intermediate 13 .

The complex marine alkaloid norzoanthamine (2) was envisioned to be assembled from three key building blocks: the C1-C5 fragment A, the C6-C10 fragment B, and the C11-C24 fragment C. The synthesis of fragment A was achieved in 14 steps and 33% overall yield from (R)-gamma-hydroxymethyl-gamma-butyrolactone. Fragment B was made in two steps from PMB-protected 4-pentynol in 76% yield. The C11-C24 fragment C was made from (S)-carvone via (R)-isocarvone in 18 steps (6% overall yield). The convergent stereoselective synthesis of the entire carbon framework (C1-C24) of the target molecule was achieved via the following assemblage. Alkenyl iodide 20 derived from the C11-C24 fragment C was coupled to fragment B (C6-C10) through a high-yielding Stille coupling reaction of these two sterically very demanding coupling partners, affording the key Diels-Alder precursor 24. The intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction proceeded smoothly in excellent yield and diastereoselectivity, generating the tricyclic trans-anti-trans perhydrophenanthrene motif of norzoanthamine (C6-C24). The final fragment coupling between lithiated fragment A (C1-C5) and aldehyde 40 (C6-C24) has also been successfully accomplished affording the entire carbon framework of the natural product.

Pyrrolidine-2,4-diones have been identified as a novel starting point for the synthesis of peptide analogues. This paper describes a method for the efficient and diastereoselective incorporation of this moiety into peptide chains to furnish di- and tripeptide analogs. The stability of these pyrrolidinone modified di- and tripeptides was found to be markedly improved when compared to that of a natural peptide. In addition, solid phase peptide synthesis employing a pyrrolidinone containing tripeptide is demonstrated.

[reaction: see text] This paper describes the total synthesis of the naturally occurring alkaloids pinnamine (1) and anatoxin-a (2) from a common enantiomerically pure intermediate (7) easily available from pyroglutamic acid. The synthesis of enantiopure pinnamine proceeded in 10 steps and 4.8% overall yield, and the route was flexible enough to allow stereocontrolled access to a non-natural congener (5-epi-pinnamine) of the natural product. Intramolecular reaction of an N-acyl iminium ion was a key step in the synthesis of both pinnamine and anatoxin-a. However, in stark contrast to literature precedent, complete racemization was observed during the reaction of the N-acyliminium ion leading to the latter alkaloid.

(E)-beta-Trialkylstannyl-alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones are readily available from secondary propargylic alcohols via a two-step sequence involving highly regio- and stereoselective Pd(0)-catalyzed hydrostannation followed by mild oxidation (TPAP). The methodology has been applied to the synthesis of enantiomerically pure enone 12 which is a key intermediate for the total synthesis of zoanthamine, a structurally complex marine natural product.

The selectivity-determining step in enantioselective copper-catalyzed cyclopropanation with diazo compounds has been studied by experimental and computational methods. The addition of the very reactive metallacarbene intermediate in an early transition state to the substrate alkene is concerted but strongly asynchronous, with substantial cationic character on one alkene carbon in the neighborhood of the transition state. Evidence from isotope effects and Hammett studies supports the nature of the transition state. Formation of a metallacyclobutane intermediate by a [2+2] addition is kinetically disfavored. Ligand-substrate interactions influencing the enantio- and diastereoselectivity have been identified, and the preferred orientation of the alkene substrate during the addition is suggested.

A new method for enantioconvergent synthesis has been developed. The strategy relies on the combination of an asymmetric Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons (HWE) reaction and a palladium-catalyzed allylic substitution. Different alpha-oxygen-substituted, racemic aldehydes were initially transformed by asymmetric HWE reactions into mixtures of two major alpha,beta-unsaturated esters, possessing opposite configurations at their allylic stereocenters as well as opposite alkene geometry. Subsequently, these isomeric mixtures of alkenes could be subjected to palladium-catalyzed allylic substitution reactions with carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen nucleophiles. In this latter step, the respective (E) and (Z) alkene substrate isomers were observed to react with opposite stereospecificity: the (E) alkene reacted with retention and the (Z) alkene with inversion of stereochemistry with respect to both the allylic stereocenter and the alkene geometry. Thus, a single gamma-substituted ester was obtained as the overall product, in high isomeric purity. The method was applied to a synthesis of a subunit of the iejimalides, a group of cytotoxic macrolides.

A short enantioselective synthesis of the spirocyclic alkaloid (+)-Nitramine ( 1 ) is reported, the azaspiro ring system being formed via intramolecular ring-opening of the chiral epoxy sulfone 7 .

An efficient enantioselective total synthesis of the antibiotic (+)-negamycin is described, the absolute stereochemistry deriving from ( R )-(+)-malic acid and subsequent use of the Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation reaction.

An enantioselective synthesis of the carbapenem antibiotic (+)-PS-5 is described. The starting point is the chiral Sharpless epoxy-alcohol 3 which is transformed stereospecifically to the aziridine 6 . Regioselective ring-opening of 6 by LiEt2Cu followed by RuO4 oxidation yields the β-sulfonamido carboxylic acid 8 which is cyclised under mild conditions and in excellent yield to the N-tosyl azetidinone 9 . Deprotection at nitrogen, unmasking of the side-chain hydroxyl and oxidation then furnishes 11 , a known advanced intermediate for (+)-PS-5.

Two simple, efficient and stereocontrolled routes to the cis -azaspiro-[5-5]-undecan-8-ol skeleton of the histrionicotoxin alkaloids are described.

Three cyclophanes, each displaying a different type of dynamic process, have been studied by NMR methods. The barriers to these processes are attributed mainly to the decrease in π-electron overlap between the benzene rings and adjacent double bonds which occurs in the transition state for each process. In [5 2 ] paracyclophanetetraene, two successive flippings of the benzene rings interconvert the two hydrogens in the methylene groups (Scheme 1). In tetramethyl [2 4 ] paracyclophanetetraene, the passage of one methyl group through the central cavity of the molecule interconverts two conformations of similar, but not equal, free energy (Scheme 2). In [2 6 ] orthoparacyclophanehexaene, the orthosubstituted rings change sides by passing through the centre of the cyclophane (Scheme 3).