Cyclic Precursors Research Articles

ChemInform Abstract: Intramolecular Polar [4+ + 2] Cycloadditions of Aryl‐1‐aza‐2‐azoniaallene Salts: Unprecedented Reactivity Leading to Polycyclic Protonated Azomethine Imines.

ChemInform Abstract: Intramolecular Polar [4⁺ + 2] Cycloadditions of Aryl‐1‐aza‐2‐azoniaallene Salts: Unprecedented Reactivity Leading to Polycyclic Protonated Azomethine Imines.

Biochemistry and biosynthesis of insect pigments

The functional role and commercial importance of insect pigments have been studied for well over a century. They are classified into those synthesized by insects, which include anthraquinones, aphins, pterins, tetrapyrroles, ommochromes, melanins and papiliochromes, and those sequestered from their host plants, the antioxidative carotenoids and water-soluble flavonoids. They can also be categorized into those that are produced by cyclization of linear precursors, e.g. anthraquinones, aphins and tetrapyrroles and those derived from cyclic precursors such as pterins, ommochromes, melanins and anthocyanins. Anthraquinones and aphins are derived by cyclization of linear polyketides via successive condensation of simple carboxylic acid metabolites and occur in two major Superfamilies of Hemiptera, the Coccoidea and Aphidoidae, respectively. Ommochromes, tetrapyrroles and melanins are derived from different amino acid precursors, tryptophan, glycine and tyrosine, respectively. Apart from providing body colouration, ommochromes are visual pigments, melanins act as a protectant against UV and tetrapyrroles facilitate oxygen transport to cells. Papiliochromes are synthesized using both, the essential amino acids tyrosine and tryptophan. Pterins are derived from guanosine triphosphate (GTP) and are also present in ommatidia of eyes. The sequestered pigments, anthocyanins and carotenoids, are synthesized from phenylalanine and by condensation of two isoprene units, respectively, in plants. The biosyntheses of chemochromes in insects are governed by a complex set of enzymes, pathways and genetics. This review provides a comprehensive understanding of the molecules that are not only responsible for the striking colours but also provide functional benefits for insects. The commercially important pigments are also discussed.

Convergent Access to Polycyclic Cyclopentanoids from α,β-Unsaturated Acid Chlorides and Alkynes through a Reductive Coupling, Nazarov Cyclization Sequence

Reductive coupling of α,β-unsaturated acid chlorides A with alkynoyls B provides convergent access to Nazarov cyclization precursors, α-carboxy divinyl ketones C. Cyclization of C gives an intermediate oxyallyl cation intermediate D, which can be trapped with tethered arenes (Ar). The resultant products can be further cyclized through nucleophilic displacement of suitable leaving groups X by tethered OH groups to give lactones (in a subsequent step). Where X is a suitable chiral auxiliary (e.g., oxazolidinone) this strategy affords access to homochiral cyclopentanoids.

Diastereotopic Group Selection in Hydroxy‐Directed Intramolecular CH Alkenylation of Indole under Oxidative Palladium(II) Catalysis

AbstractGroup‐selective palladium(II)‐catalyzed ring closures involving CH bond alkenylation are reported. The cyclization precursors contain a prochiral bis(homoallylic) alcohol unit tethered to either an arene or an indole. The homobenzylic hydroxy group in these substrates is positioned to act as a directing group in the ortho‐selective CH bond activation prior to the cyclization event. Arene‐derived precursors reacted poorly, even when applying a protocol that had proven effective in intermolecular hydroxy‐directed CH bond alkenylations. No asymmetric induction was obtained with chiral ligands, mono‐N‐protected amino acids (MPAAs) in particular. Conversely, the cyclization of indole‐derived precursors was substantially more efficient, and installation of a substituent in the benzylic position rendered these intramolecular CH bond alkenylations diastereoselective. The diastereotopic group selection is high with diastereomeric ratios ranging from dr=91:9 to 94:6.magnified image

Recent advances in the biosynthesis of modified tetrapyrroles: the discovery of an alternative pathway for the formation of heme and heme d 1.

Hemes (a, b, c, and o) and heme d 1 belong to the group of modified tetrapyrroles, which also includes chlorophylls, cobalamins, coenzyme F430, and siroheme. These compounds are found throughout all domains of life and are involved in a variety of essential biological processes ranging from photosynthesis to methanogenesis. The biosynthesis of heme b has been well studied in many organisms, but in sulfate-reducing bacteria and archaea, the pathway has remained a mystery, as many of the enzymes involved in these characterized steps are absent. The heme pathway in most organisms proceeds from the cyclic precursor of all modified tetrapyrroles uroporphyrinogen III, to coproporphyrinogen III, which is followed by oxidation of the ring and finally iron insertion. Sulfate-reducing bacteria and some archaea lack the genetic information necessary to convert uroporphyrinogen III to heme along the "classical" route and instead use an "alternative" pathway. Biosynthesis of the isobacteriochlorin heme d 1, a cofactor of the dissimilatory nitrite reductase cytochrome cd 1, has also been a subject of much research, although the biosynthetic pathway and its intermediates have evaded discovery for quite some time. This review focuses on the recent advances in the understanding of these two pathways and their surprisingly close relationship via the unlikely intermediate siroheme, which is also a cofactor of sulfite and nitrite reductases in many organisms. The evolutionary questions raised by this discovery will also be discussed along with the potential regulation required by organisms with overlapping tetrapyrrole biosynthesis pathways.

Gold nanoparticles decorated with mannose-6-phosphate analogues.

Herein, the preparation of neoglycoconjugates bearing mannose-6-phosphate analogues is described by: (a) synthesis of a cyclic sulfate precursor to access the carbohydrate head-group by nucleophilic displacement with an appropriate nucleophile; (b) introduction of spacers on the mannose-6-phosphate analogues via Huisgen’s cycloaddition, the Julia reaction, or the thiol-ene reaction under ultrasound activation. With the resulting compounds in hand, gold nanoparticles could be functionalized with various carbohydrate derivatives (glycoconjugates) and then tested for angiogenic activity. It was observed that the length and flexibility of the spacer separating the sugar analogue from the nanoparticle have little influence on the biological response. One particular nanoparticle system substantially inhibits blood vessel growth in contrast to activation by the corresponding monomeric glycoconjugate, thereby demonstrating the importance of multivalency in angiogenic activity.

Two-directional synthesis and biological evaluation of alkaloid 5-epi-cis-275B'.

The first total synthesis of myrmicine ant alkaloid 5-epi-cis-275B' (4) is presented. A tandem cyclisation established the entire core of the structure in a single transformation as well as the required 2,5-anti stereochemistry. Two-directional synthesis was used to furnish the cyclisation precursor 2, as in each of the subsequent steps towards the natural product. The first electrophysiology studies for 4 (against nicotinic acetylcholine receptors) were also conducted, finding modest inhibition of current.

Towards the Core Structure of Strychnos Alkaloids Using Samarium Diiodide‐Induced Reactions of Indole Derivatives

This report describes the development of a first and second generation approach towards the synthesis of the ABCEG pentacyclic core structure of Strychnos alkaloids. First, we discuss a sequential approach applying a series of functional group transformations to prepare suitable precursors for cyclization reactions. These include attempts of samarium diiodide-induced cyclizations or a Barbier-type reaction of a transient lithium organyl, which successfully led to a tetracyclic key building block earlier used for the synthesis of strychnine. Secondly, we account our first steps towards the development of an atom-economical samarium diiodide-induced cascade reaction using "dimeric" indolyl ketones as cyclization precursors. In this context, we discuss plausible mechanisms for the samarium diiodide-induced cascade reaction as well as transformations of the obtained tetracyclic dihydroindoline derivatives.

Scalable Solution-Phase Synthesis of the Biologically Active Cyclodepsipeptide Destruxin E, a Potent Negative Regulator of Osteoclast Morphology

The scalable solution-phase synthesis of the cyclodepsipeptide destruxin E (1) has been achieved. Diastereoselective dihydroxylation of the terminal alkene in a 2-alkoxy-4-pentenoic amide, 7, was successfully accomplished utilizing (DHQD)2PHAL as the chiral ligand, and it was found that the use of the l-proline moiety in the substrate as a chiral auxiliary was essential for the induction of high diastereoselectivity to afford the key compound 4 on a gram scale. MNBA-mediated macrolactonization of 3 was also performed without formation of the dimerized product even under higher-dilution conditions, and it is noteworthy that the internal hydrogen bonds and s-cis configuration of the amide bond between N-methylalanine and N-methylvaline in the cyclization precursor 3 would assist in the macrolactonization to provide the macrolactone 2 without forming a dimerized product. Finally, epoxide formation in the side chain afforded destruxin E (1) on a gram scale in high purity (>98%).

Syntheses and characterizations of zinc phosphites with new templates generated by N-alkylation transformations

Two new organically templated zinc phosphites, [tmpip]0.5[Zn2(HPO3)2(H2PO3)] (1) and [dmdabco][Zn3(HPO3)4]·(H2O) (2), have been synthesized under solvothermal conditions, where tmpip=N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-piperazinium and dmdabco=N,N′-dimethyl-1,4-diazabicyclo[2,2,2]octane. Note that the templating agents tmpip2+ and dmdabco2+ originated from in situ N-methylation transformations between CH3OH solvent and corresponding cyclic aliphatic amine precursors, i.e. piperazine, 1-methylpiperazine or 1,4-dimethylpiperazine in 1, and 1,4-diazabicyclo[2,2,2]octane in 2. Distinct from conventional Eschweiler–Clarke methylation with excess formic acid and formaldehyde, such direct methylation transformation from methanol molecules is unique. Compound 1 consists of ZnO4 tetrahedra, HPO3 and HPO2(OH) pseudopyramids, exhibiting a complex double layered structure with 12-ring windows. Compound 2 is constructed from strictly alternating ZnO4 tetrahedra and HPO3 pseudopyramids, and possesses a (3,4)-connected interrupted architecture with intersecting 8- and 12-ring channels.

Intramolecular Polar [4⊕+2] Cycloadditions of Aryl‐1‐aza‐2‐azoniaallene Salts: Unprecedented Reactivity Leading to Polycyclic Protonated Azomethine Imines

Intramolecular Polar [4^⊕+2] Cycloadditions of Aryl‐1‐aza‐2‐azoniaallene Salts: Unprecedented Reactivity Leading to Polycyclic Protonated Azomethine Imines

Accelerated effect on Mitsunobu reaction via bis-N-tert-butoxycarbonylation protection of 2-amino-6-chloropurine and its application in a novel synthesis of penciclovir

Solubility of 2-amino-6-chloropurine in Mitsunobu solvents could be significantly improved after its exocyclic amino group is protected via N-tert-butoxycarbonylation. The bis-Boc protected 2-amino-6-chloropurine also shows excellent activity and N9 selectivity in the coupling with various alcohols by a Mitsunobu reaction. Then, a new practical and efficient method is established for the synthesis of penciclovir (PCV) from bis-Boc-2-amino-6-chloropurine 9 and the side chain of 5-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxane 5—the latter being a more easily prepared cyclic precursor of the diacetate side chain used in the conventional process. The coupling of 9 with 5 proceeded regioselectively at a N9 position of purine derivative for a good yield under Mitsunobu conditions.

Tetrabenzo[8]circulene: Aromatic Saddles from Negatively Curved Graphene

An aromatic saddle was designed from the hypothetical three-dimensional graphene with the negative Gaussian curvature (Schwarzite P192). Two aromatic saddles, tetrabenzo[8]circulene (TB8C) and its octamethyl derivative OM-TB8C, were synthesized by the Scholl reaction of cyclic octaphenylene precursors. The structure of TB8C greatly deviates from planarity, and the deep saddle shape was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. There are two conformers with the S4 symmetry, which are twisted compared to the DFT structure (D2d). The theoretical studies propose that the interconversion of TB8C via the planar transition state (125 kcal mol(-1)) is not possible. However, the pseudorotation leads to a low-energy tub-to-tub inversion via the nonplanar transition state (7.3 kcal mol(-1)). The ground-state structure of TB8C in solution is quite different from the X-ray structure because of the crystal-packing force and low-energy pseudorotation. OM-TB8C is a good electron donor and works as the p-type semiconductor.

Gram scale synthesis of the C(1)–C(9) fragment of amphidinolide C

An allylic cis-epoxide prepared by Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation was transformed in nine steps and 41% overall yield to the cyclization precursor 4 via a key one carbon homologation. Cobalt-catalyzed aerobic oxidative cyclization of 4 gave the trans-THF in 94% yield at gram scale. Subsequent manipulations, including a Still–Gennari olefination, Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation, Corey–Fuchs alkynylation, and Kazmaier hydrostannylation provided the fully functionalized C(1)–C(9) fragment 2 suitable for cross-coupling. The sequence is readily scalable and provides gram quantities of 2.

Synthesis of ent‐Kaurane and Beyerane Diterpenoids by Controlled Fragmentations of Overbred Intermediates

Efficient access to minimally oxidized members of the ent-kaurane and beyerane class of terpenes has been achieved by using a polyene cyclization precursor designed to directly yield oxidation at the axial C19-methyl group. Construction of the [3.2.1]bicyclic system found in the ent-kaurane skeleton was realized with two overbred intermediates. Wagner–Meerwein rearrangement of the [3.2.1]bicyclic system yields the beyerane skeleton of isosteviol.

Cyclic Acyloxonium Ions as Diagnostic Aids in the Characterization of Chloropropanol Esters under Electron Impact (EI), Electrospray Ionization (ESI), and Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization (APCI) Conditions

During mass spectrometric analysis of various lipids and lipid derivatives such as the chlorinated counterparts of triacylglycerols, the detailed structure of the characteristic and common ions formed under electron impact (EI), electrospray ionization (ESI), and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) conditions by the loss of a single fatty acid remains ambiguous. These ions are designated in the literature as "diacylglyceride ions" and are frequently depicted with a molecular formula without showing any structural features and sometimes represented as cyclic acyloxonium ions. Characterization of these ions is of considerable importance due to their utility in structural identification of lipid derivatives. This study provides complementary evidence on the cyclic nature of "diacylglyceride ions" through the use of the simplest 3-monochloropropanediol diester as a model and the use of isotope labeling technique. Tandem MS/MS studies have indicated that the ion at m/z 135.6 generated from 1,2-bis(acetoyl)-3-chloropropane through the loss of an acetyl group was identical to the ion at m/z 135.6 generated from 4-chloromethyl-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane, the latter being generated from a cyclic precursor through the loss of a methyl radical, keeping the dioxolane ring structure intact, thus confirming the cyclic nature of these ions. The corresponding cyclic oxonium ions generated from longer chain chloropropanol diesters, such as the ion at m/z 331.2 originating from 3-monochloropropanediol (3-MCPD) diesters containing palmitic acid(s), could serve as chemical markers for the presence chloropropanol esters.

ChemInform Abstract: Study of Aza‐Cyclization of α,β‐Unsaturated Carbonyl Moieties and Synthetic Application to Hexahydroapoerysopine.

AbstractBoronic acid (I) is coupled with brominated lactones under conditions A) to produce the cyclization precursors (III) or (V) which undergo intramolecular Michael addition to form azepine systems.

ChemInform Abstract: Thienannulation: Efficient Synthesis of π‐Extended Thienoacenes Applicable to Organic Semiconductors

AbstractReview: 101 refs.

Unified Azoline and Azole Syntheses by Optimized Aza‐Wittig Chemistry

AbstractIntramolecular aza‐Wittig ring closures were applied to synthesize thiazolines, oxazolines, and imidazolines from β‐azido thioester, ester, and amide precursors. The cyclization precursors were obtained from amino acid derivatives. Optimized conditions for diazo transfer with a fast rate and racemization suppression, (thio)esterification, and amide coupling reactions are described. The ring closure reaction can be executed with PPh3 under neutral conditions and was found to be highly chemoselective for five‐membered rings. If amide groups were activated with tosyl groups, smooth intramolecular ring closure of iminophosphoranes furnished enantiopure imidazoline products with position‐specific tosyl protection. This aza‐Wittig‐based azoline synthesis was then extended to double azoline ring closures to furnish catenated azoline building blocks common to peptide natural product building blocks and their analogues.

Solid-phase synthesis of fusaricidin/LI-F class of cyclic lipopeptides: Guanidinylation of resin-bound peptidyl amines.

Fusaricidins/LI-Fs and related cyclic lipopeptides represent an interesting new class of antibacterial peptides with the potential to meet the challenge of antibiotic resistance in bacteria. Our previous study (Bionda et al. ChemMedChem 2012, 7, 871-882) revealed the significance of the guanidinium group located at the termini of the lipidic tails of these cyclic lipopeptides for their antibacterial activities. Therefore, devising a synthetic strategy that will allow incorporation of guanidinium functionality into their structure is of particular practical importance. Since appropriately protected guanidino fatty acid building blocks are not commercially available, our strategy toward guanidinylated fusaricidin/LI-F analogs include solid-phase synthesis of a cyclic lipopeptide precursor possessing a lipidic tail with a terminal amino group followed by its conversion into corresponding guanidine. To find the optimal method for this conversion, we have examined commonly used guanidinylation reagents under the conditions compatible with standard solid-phase peptide synthesis. Described experimental results demonstrated superiority of N,N'-di-Boc-N″-triflylguanidine in solid-phase preparation of fusaricidin/LI-F class of cyclic lipopeptides. The triflylguanidine reagent gave a single monoguanidinylated product in excellent yield independently of the type of solid-support.