Isac G. Rosset

Three-Step Synthesis of (±)-Preussin from Decanal

A straightforward and stereoselective synthesis of the alkaloid preussin is described starting from decanal and diethyl 3-diazo-2-oxopropylphosphonate. The key steps are an aza-Michael reaction from an α,β-unsaturated diazoketone followed by a highly stereoselective Cu-catalyzed ylide formation and then a [1,2]-Stevens rearrangement. This strategy is feasible for extension to preussin analogues, demonstrating its utility for the rapid construction of all-cis-substituted pyrrolidines.

Bioconversion of Iodoacetophenones by Marine Fungi

Nine marine fungi (Aspergillus sclerotiorum CBMAI 849, Aspergillus sydowii Ce19, Beauveria felina CBMAI 738, Mucor racemosus CBMAI 847, Penicillium citrinum CBMAI 1186, Penicillium miczynskii Ce16, P. miczynskii Gc5, Penicillium oxalicum CBMAI 1185, and Trichoderma sp. Gc1) catalyzed the asymmetric bioconversion of iodoacetophenones 1–3 to corresponding iodophenylethanols 6–8. All the marine fungi produced exclusively (S)-ortho-iodophenylethanol 6 and (S)-meta-iodophenylethanol 7 in accordance to the Prelog rule. B. felina CBMAI 738, P. miczynskii Gc5, P. oxalicum CBMAI 1185, and Trichoderma sp. Gc1 produced (R)-para-iodophenylethanol 8 as product anti-Prelog. The bioconversion of para-iodoacetophenone 3 with whole cells of P. oxalicum CBMAI 1185 showed competitive reduction–oxidation reactions.

Preparation of Z-α,β-Unsaturated Diazoketones from Aldehydes. Application in the Construction of Substituted Dihydropyridin-3-ones

The stereoselective preparation of α,β-unsaturated diazoketones with Z geometry is described from aldehydes and a new olefination reagent. When prepared from amino aldehydes, these diazoketones could be converted to substituted dihydropyridin-3-ones in just one step, after an intramolecular N-H insertion reaction. The straightforward synthesis of a natural trihydroxylated piperidine demonstrates the utility of these unsaturated diazoketones for the rapid construction of piperidines.

Synthesis of Alkaloids: Recent Advances in the Synthesis of Phenanthroindolizidine Alkaloids

Phenanthroindolizidine alkaloids are a well-known class of compounds due to their interesting biological activities, especially anticancer ones. Represented by more than 60 substances, they are mainly isolated from plants of the Moraceae and Asclepiadaceae families. In the last 30 years, a great effort has been made aiming the synthesis of these compounds and analogues to be applied in medicinal chemistry.

Chemoenzymatic resolution of β-azidophenylethanols by candida antarctica and their application for the synthesis of chiral benzotriazoles

The kinetic resolutions of (±)-β-azidophenylethanols were carried out using lipase from Candida antarctica, and enantiomerically enriched (R)-β-azidophenylethanols and their corresponding (S)-β-azidophenylethyl acetates were obtained in good enantiomeric excesses (up to > 99%). The enantiomerically enriched (R)-β-azidophenylethanols were subjected to cyclization reaction with 2-(trimethylsilyl)phenyl triflate and CsF producing chiral 1,2,3-benzotriazole compounds in good yields (75-86%) by a [3 + 2] cycloaddition, which involves the benzyne formation.