Gerard Andrew Potter

Rhodium catalysed asymmetric hydrosilylation of ketones using phosphorus-containing oxazoline ligands

Abstract The rhodium catalysed hydrosilylation of ketones in the presence of the phosphorus-containing oxazoline ligand 1a has afforded up to 86% ee in the conversion of acetophenone into phenethyl alcohol.

Dynamic diastereomeric salt resolution of narwedine and its transformation to (−)-galanthamine

Abstract Racemic narwedine may be resolved by means of a dynamic diastereomeric salt formation using di- p -toluoyl- d -tartaric acid. Both the 1:1 and 2:1 salts are formed in excellent yields and diastereomeric excesses. These salts are reduced in a highly diastereoselective and chemoselective manner to give (−)-galanthamine.

A Convenient Preparation of p-Methoxybenzyl Esters

Abstract Carboxylic acids are conveniently and efficiently protected as their p-methoxybenzyl esters under very mild conditions using the pre-formed reagent N,N-diisopropyl-O-(4-methoxybenzyl)isourea, and this method allows selective protection of carboxylic acids in the presence of other functionalities such as enolisable ketones and alcohol groups.

Chemoselective arylation of 2′-deoxyguanosine at N-2 with organoiron complexes

2′-Deoxyguanosine has been directly and chemoselectively arylated at the N2-amino function by treatment with tricarbonyl(η5-cyclohexadienylium)iron or tricarbonyl[η5-2-(n-butyl)cyclohexadienylium]iron cations, followed by decomplexation and dehydrogenation, providing a rapid route to N2-aryl-2′-deoxyguanosine nucleosides.

Facile formation of the novel pyridyl substituted allene 2,4-bis(4-pyridyl)penta-2,3-diene

Abstract Reaction of the Meldrum’s acid derivative 2,2,5-trimethyl-5-(4-pyridyl)-4,6-dioxo-1,3-dioxane with methyllithium in THF/HMPA resulted in formation of the novel pyridyl substituted allene 2,4-bis(4-pyridyl)penta-2,3-diene.