Stereochemistry Of Reaction Research Articles

A Copper Catalyst with a Cinchona‐Alkaloid‐Based Sulfonamide Ligand for Asymmetric Radical Oxytrifluoromethylation of Alkenyl Oximes

A copper-catalyzed asymmetric radical oxytrifluoromethylation of alkenyl oxime and Togni's reagent has been successfully developed, thereby providing straightforward access to CF3 -containing isoxazolines bearing α-tertiary stereocenters with excellent yield and enantioselectivity. The key to success is the rational design of cinchona-alkaloid-based sulfonamides as neutral/anionic hybrid ligands to effectively control the stereochemistry in copper-catalyzed reactions involving free alkyl radical species. The utility of this method is illustrated by efficient transformation of the products into useful chiral CF3 -containing 1,3-aminoalcohols.

Catalyst-Controlled Stereodivergent Synthesis of Atropisomeric Multiaxis Systems.

Molecular scaffolds with multiple rotationally restricted bonds allow a precise spatial positioning of functional groups. However, their synthesis requires methods addressing the configuration of each stereogenic axis. We report here a catalyst-stereocontrolled synthesis of atropisomeric multiaxis systems enabling divergence from the prevailing stereochemical reaction path. By using ion-pairing catalysts in arene-forming aldol condensations, a strong substrate-induced stereopreference can be overcome to provide structurally well-defined helical oligo-1,2-naphthylenes. The configuration of up to four stereogenic axes was individually catalyst-controlled, affording quinquenaphthalenes with a unique topology.

Installation of the Ether Bridge of Lolines by the Iron- and 2-Oxoglutarate-Dependent Oxygenase, LolO: Regio- and Stereochemistry of Sequential Hydroxylation and Oxacyclization Reactions

The core of the loline family of insecticidal alkaloids is the bicyclic pyrrolizidine unit with an additional strained ether bridge between carbons 2 and 7. Previously reported genetic and in vivo biochemical analyses showed that the presumptive iron- and 2-oxoglutarate-dependent (Fe/2OG) oxygenase, LolO, is required for installation of the ether bridge upon the pathway intermediate, 1-exo-acetamidopyrrolizidine (AcAP). Here we show that LolO is, in fact, solely responsible for this biosynthetic four-electron oxidation. In sequential 2OG- and O2-consuming steps, LolO removes hydrogens from C2 and C7 of AcAP to form both carbon–oxygen bonds in N-acetylnorloline (NANL), the precursor to all other lolines. When supplied with substoichiometric 2OG, LolO only hydroxylates AcAP. At higher 2OG:AcAP ratios, the enzyme further processes the alcohol to the tricyclic NANL. Characterization of the alcohol intermediate by mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy shows that it is 2-endo-hydroxy-1-exo-acetamidopyrrolizidine (2-endo-OH-AcAP). Kinetic and spectroscopic analyses of reactions with site-specifically deuteriated AcAP substrates confirm that the C2–H bond is cleaved first and that the responsible intermediate is, as expected, an FeIV–oxo (ferryl) complex. Analyses of the loline products from cultures fed with stereospecifically deuteriated AcAP precursors, proline and aspartic acid, establish that LolO removes the endo hydrogens from C2 and C7 and forms both new C–O bonds with retention of configuration. These findings delineate the pathway to an important class of natural insecticides and lay the foundation for mechanistic dissection of the chemically challenging oxacyclization reaction.

Two Dimensional Technique for the Determination of Stereochemistry in Addition Reaction on C=C

Two Dimensional Technique for the Determination of Stereochemistry in Addition Reaction on C=C

Properties and mechanism of d-glucosaminate-6-phosphate ammonia-lyase: An aminotransferase family enzyme with d-amino acid specificity

Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium utilizes a wide range of growth substrates, some of which are relatively novel. One of these unusual substrates is d-glucosaminate, which is metabolized by the enzymes encoded in the dga operon. d-Glucosaminate is transported and converted to d-glucosaminate-6-phosphate (G6P) by a phosphotransferase system, composed of DgaABCD. The protein product of dgaE, d-glucosaminate-6-phosphate ammonia lyase (DGL), converts G6P to 2-keto-3-deoxygluconate-6-phosphate, which undergoes a retroaldol reaction catalyzed by the DgaF protein to give d-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate and pyruvate. We have now developed an improved synthesis of G6P which gives a higher yield. The DGL reaction is of mechanistic interest because it is one of only a few enzymes in the pyridoxal-5′-phosphate (PLP) dependent aminotransferase superfamily known to catalyze reaction of a d-amino acid substrate. The pH dependence of DGL shows an optimum at 7.5–8.5, suggesting a requirement for a catalytic base. α-Glycerophosphate and inorganic phosphate are weak competitive inhibitors, with Ki values near 30mM, and d-serine is neither a substrate nor an inhibitor. We have found in rapid-scanning stopped-flow experiments that DGL reacts rapidly with its substrate to form a quinonoid intermediate with λmax=480nm, within the dead time (ca. 2msec), which then rapidly decays (k=279s−1) to an intermediate with absorption between 330 and 350nm, probably an aminoacrylate complex. We suggest a mechanism for DGL and propose that the unusual stereochemistry of the DGL reaction requires a catalytic base poised on the opposite face of the PLP-substrate complex from the other members of the aminotransferase superfamily.

Deuterium incorporation experiments from (3R)- and (3S)-[3-2H]leucine into characteristic isoprenoidal lipid-core of halophilic archaea suggests the involvement of isovaleryl-CoA dehydrogenase

The stereochemical reaction course for the two C-3 hydrogens of leucine to produce a characteristic isoprenoidal lipid in halophilic archaea was observed using incubation experiments with whole cell Halobacterium salinarum. Deuterium-labeled (3R)- and (3S)-[3-2H]leucine were freshly prepared as substrates from 2,3-epoxy-4-methyl-1-pentanol. Incorporation of deuterium from (3S)-[3-2H]leucine and loss of deuterium from (3R)-[3-2H]leucine in the lipid-core of H. salinarum was observed. Taken together with the results of our previous report, involving the incubation of chiral-labeled [5-2H]leucine, these results strongly suggested an involvement of isovaleryl-CoA dehydrogenase in leucine conversion to isoprenoid lipid in halophilic archaea. The stereochemical course of the reaction (anti-elimination) might have been the same as that previously reported for mammalian enzyme reactions. Thus, these results suggested that branched amino acids were metabolized to mevalonate in archaea in a manner similar to other organisms.

Progress in Enantioselective Radical Cyclizations.

The control of stereoselectivity in radical reactions is of great importance to organic synthesis. Hence, new concepts and strategies for controlling stereochemistry of radical reactions are emerging continuously. This Review highlights the recent remarkable progress in enantioselective radical cyclization reactions. Initially, the chiral Lewis acid-catalyzed method became a field of central importance for enantioselective radical cyclizations. In recent years, significant progress has been made in enantioselective organocatalysis. In contrast to intermolecular reactions, the successful examples for enantioselective radical cyclizations are still limited. In this Review, the radical cyclizations controlled by chiral Lewis acids, chiral metallic reagents, chiral imidazolidinone catalysts, chiral non-covalent organocatalysts, and chiral thiols are summarized.

Oxidative radical cyclizations of diketopiperazines bearing an amidomalonate unit. Heterointermediate reaction sequences toward the asperparalines and stephacidins

A novel approach to the diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane core of prenylated bridged diketopiperazine alkaloids is described by direct oxidative cyclizations of functionalized diketopiperazines mediated by ferrocenium hexafluorophosphate or the Mn(OAc)3•2H2O/Cu(OTf)2 system. Divergent reaction pathways take place depending on the substitution pattern of the substrates and the oxidation conditions such as temperature or the presence or absence of persistent radical TEMPO. For ester-substituted diketopiperazines, the ester group exerts a significant influence on the reaction outcome and stereochemistry of the radical cyclizations.

ChemInform Abstract: Enantioselective Photocatalytic [3 + 2] Cycloadditions of Aryl Cyclopropyl Ketones.

Control of stereochemistry in photocycloaddition reactions remains a substantial challenge; almost all successful catalytic examples to date have involved [2 + 2] photocycloadditions of enones. We report a method for the asymmetric [3 + 2] photocycloaddition of aryl cyclopropyl ketones that enables the enantiocontrolled construction of densely substituted cyclopentane structures not synthetically accessible using other catalytic methods. These results show that the dual-catalyst strategy developed in our laboratory broadens synthetic chemists' access to classes of photochemical cycloadditions that have not previously been feasible in enantioselective form.

Photochemical Stereocontrol Using Tandem Photoredox-Chiral Lewis Acid Catalysis.

ConspectusThe physical, biological, and materials properties of organic compounds are determined by their three-dimensional molecular shape. The development of methods to dictate the stereochemistry of organic reactions has consequently emerged as one of the central themes of contemporary synthetic chemistry. Over the past several decades, chiral catalysts have been developed to control the enantioselectivity of almost every class of synthetically useful transformation. Photochemical reactions, however, are a conspicuous exception. Relatively few examples of highly enantioselective catalytic photoreactions have been reported to date, despite almost a century of research in this field. The development of robust strategies for photochemical enantiocontrol has thus proven to be a long-standing and surprisingly difficult challenge.For the past decade, our laboratory has been studying the application of transition metal photocatalysts to a variety of problems in synthetic organic chemistry. These efforts have recently culminated in the discovery of an effective system in which the activity of a visible light absorbing transition metal photoredox catalyst is combined with a second stereocontrolling chiral Lewis acid catalyst. This dual catalyst strategy has been applied to a diverse range of photochemical reactions; these have included highly enantioselective photocatalytic [2 + 2] cycloadditions, [3 + 2] cycloadditions, and radical conjugate addition reactions.This Account describes the development of the tandem Lewis acid photoredox catalysis strategy utilized in our laboratory. It provides an analysis of the factors that we believe to be particularly important to the success of this seemingly robust approach to photocatalytic stereocontrol. (1) The photocatalysts utilized in our systems are activated by wavelengths of visible light where the organic substrates are transparent, which minimizes the possibility of competitive racemic background photoreactions. (2) The high degree of tolerance that Ru(bpy)32+ and similar octahedral metal polypyridine complexes exhibit toward Lewis acids affords great flexibility in tuning the structure of the stereocontrolling chiral catalyst without perturbing the photoredox properties of the photocatalyst. (3) Synthetic chemists have amassed a substantial understanding of the features that are common in highly successful chiral Lewis acid catalyzed reactions, and these deep, well-validated insights are readily applied to the reactions of a variety of photogenerated intermediates. We hope that the recent success of this and similar dual catalytic systems will provide a useful foundation for the further development of powerful, stereocontrolled photochemical reactions.

Enantioselective Photocatalytic [3 + 2] Cycloadditions of Aryl Cyclopropyl Ketones.

Control of stereochemistry in photocycloaddition reactions remains a substantial challenge; almost all successful catalytic examples to date have involved [2 + 2] photocycloadditions of enones. We report a method for the asymmetric [3 + 2] photocycloaddition of aryl cyclopropyl ketones that enables the enantiocontrolled construction of densely substituted cyclopentane structures not synthetically accessible using other catalytic methods. These results show that the dual-catalyst strategy developed in our laboratory broadens synthetic chemists' access to classes of photochemical cycloadditions that have not previously been feasible in enantioselective form.

Boyer's Reaction and Transetherification: Mechanism and New Perspectives.

The progress and stereochemistry of Boyer's reaction were analyzed using several simple, chiral, alcoholic substrates, a variable amount of BiBr3 and different solvents. Basic solvents inhibit the reaction, while cyclohexane works very well; thus, it was our choice for the present study. In contrast to previous works, BiBr3 behaves as a true catalyst, being not consumed during the reaction. Although poisoning of the catalyst occurs to some extent, it does not prejudice the reaction yields (>90%). Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS) monitoring of the reaction revealed that, for example, in the presence of alcohol , isomeric ethers transetherificate to . We propose a unifying mechanistic model for both Boyer's and transetherification reactions, in which the electronic properties of n-adducts intermediates, formed by combination of bismuth(III) of BiBr3 and oxygen atoms of alcohols and ethers, play the key role for both the reactivity and the stereochemical outcome of the reaction.

ChemInform Abstract: Woodward—Hoffmann′s Stereochemistry of Electrocyclic Reactions: From Day 1 to the JACS Receipt Date (May 5, 1964 to November 30, 1964)

AbstractReview: [182 refs.]

Tuning the sense of product stereochemistry in aldol reactions of acetone and aromatic aldehydes in the presence of water with a single chiral catalyst

We report the aldol addition of acetone to aromatic aldehydes in the presence of a large amount of water where the stereochemical outcome of the reactions can be tuned with achiral salt additives using a single proline-derived catalyst. Depending on the nature of the added salt the (R) and (S) enriched products could be obtained. In the reaction of 2-nitrobenzaldehyde with acetone, NaOAc promoted the formation of the (S)-enantiomer (20% ee) while using NH4Cl the (R)-enantiomer was obtained in excess (58% ee). A similar inversion was observed for several other aromatic aldehydes.

Organocatalytic Nonclassical Trienamine Activation in the Remote Alkylation of Furan Derivatives.

A new approach for the stereoselective remote alkylation of furan derivatives is reported. The reaction of 5-alkylfurfurals with nitroolefins as electrophilic counterparts occurs at their exocyclic ε-position and proceeds through the intermediacy of a nonclassical catalytic trienamine intermediate. The aminocatalyst bearing a H-bonding unit is used to control the stereochemical reaction outcome confirming the usefulness of such catalytic systems for the remote functionalizations of carbonyl compounds. Target products with two adjacent stereogenic centers are obtained in excellent yields and with good to moderate stereoselectivities.

Structure and two-metal mechanism of a eukaryal nick-sealing RNA ligase.

ATP-dependent RNA ligases are agents of RNA repair that join 3'-OH and 5'-PO4 RNA ends. Naegleria gruberi RNA ligase (NgrRnl) exemplifies a family of RNA nick-sealing enzymes found in bacteria, viruses, and eukarya. Crystal structures of NgrRnl at three discrete steps along the reaction pathway-covalent ligase-(lysyl-Nζ)-AMP•Mn(2+) intermediate; ligase•ATP•(Mn(2+))2 Michaelis complex; and ligase•Mn(2+) complex-highlight a two-metal mechanism of nucleotidyl transfer, whereby (i) an enzyme-bound "catalytic" metal coordination complex lowers the pKa of the lysine nucleophile and stabilizes the transition state of the ATP α phosphate; and (ii) a second metal coordination complex bridges the β- and γ-phosphates. The NgrRnl N domain is a distinctively embellished oligonucleotide-binding (OB) fold that engages the γ-phosphate and associated metal complex and orients the pyrophosphate leaving group for in-line catalysis with stereochemical inversion at the AMP phosphate. The unique domain architecture of NgrRnl fortifies the theme that RNA ligases have evolved many times, and independently, by fusions of a shared nucleotidyltransferase domain to structurally diverse flanking modules. The mechanistic insights to lysine adenylylation gained from the NgrRnl structures are likely to apply broadly to the covalent nucleotidyltransferase superfamily of RNA ligases, DNA ligases, and RNA capping enzymes.

Woodward-Hoffmann's Stereochemistry of Electrocyclic Reactions: From Day 1 to the JACS Receipt Date (May 5, 1964 to November 30, 1964).

The publication in January 1965 of the first Woodward-Hoffmann paper, The Stereochemistry of Electrocyclic Reactions, ushered into organic chemistry both an explanation of the stereochemistry and "allowedness" or "forbiddenness" of concerted reactions and an impetus for untold numbers of research projects. In the current paper, details of the collaboration between R. B. Woodward and R. Hoffmann, from when they first met to discuss the solution to the "no-mechanism problem" to the date their first paper was received in the offices of the Journal of the American Chemical Society, will be discussed and analyzed. The primary focus will be on the historically relevant extant documents from the early 1960s. These include Hoffmann's laboratory notebooks describing his research, including his extended Hückel calculations used to explain and predict the stereochemistry of electrocyclic reactions. Drafts of the Stereochemistry of Electrocyclic Reactions paper and letters and notes by Woodward, Jerome Berson, and others will further illuminate the development of this first Woodward-Hoffmann paper.

Versatile transformations of hydrocarbons in anaerobic bacteria: substrate ranges and regio- and stereo-chemistry of activation reactions.

Anaerobic metabolism of hydrocarbons proceeds either via addition to fumarate or by hydroxylation in various microorganisms, e.g., sulfate-reducing or denitrifying bacteria, which are specialized in utilizing n-alkanes or alkylbenzenes as growth substrates. General pathways for carbon assimilation and energy gain have been elucidated for a limited number of possible substrates. In this work the metabolic activity of 11 bacterial strains during anaerobic growth with crude oil was investigated and compared with the metabolite patterns appearing during anaerobic growth with more than 40 different hydrocarbons supplied as binary mixtures. We show that the range of co-metabolically formed alkyl- and arylalkyl-succinates is much broader in n-alkane than in alkylbenzene utilizers. The structures and stereochemistry of these products are resolved. Furthermore, we demonstrate that anaerobic hydroxylation of alkylbenzenes does not only occur in denitrifiers but also in sulfate reducers. We propose that these processes play a role in detoxification under conditions of solvent stress. The thermophilic sulfate-reducing strain TD3 is shown to produce n-alkylsuccinates, which are suggested not to derive from terminal activation of n-alkanes, but rather to represent intermediates of a metabolic pathway short-cutting fumarate regeneration by reverse action of succinate synthase. The outcomes of this study provide a basis for geochemically tracing such processes in natural habitats and contribute to an improved understanding of microbial activity in hydrocarbon-rich anoxic environments.

Sir John Cornforth AC CBE FRS: his biosynthetic work.

Sir John Cornforth's work on the stereochemistry of enzyme reactions involved in the biosynthesis of squalene and cholesterol and in the formation and metabolism of a chiral methyl group in acetyl co-enzyme A, is reviewed.

Stereoselective Synthesis of Enantioenriched 2-Chloro-2-aroylaziridines by Cascade Reaction between Aryl Nitriles, Silyldichloromethanes, and tert-Butanesulfinylimines.

The cascade coupling of aryl nitriles, silyldichloromethanes, and tert-butanesulfinylimines is described, in which silyldichloromethyllithiums, generated from silyldichloromethanes in the presence of lithium diisopropylamide, undergo nucleophilic addition with aryl nitriles and subsequent [1,3]-aza-Brook rearrangement to give dichlorocarbanions bearing α-N-silyl imine (or their 1-azaenolate equivalents), which are then trapped by tert-butanesulfinylimines via an aza-Darzens-type transformation, affording enantioenriched 2-chloro-2-aroylaziridines after acidic hydrolysis of the N-silyl imine group. The stereochemistry of this cascade reaction can be tuned by selecting appropriate silyl groups on the silyldichloromethanes and altering the order of addition of the imines and the hexamethylphosphoramide additive.