Michael Palucki

LOW TEMPERATURE ASYMMETRIC EPOXIDATION OF UNFUNCTIONALIZED OLEFINS CATALYZED BY (SALEN)MN(III) COMPLEXES

Abstract The enantioselective epoxidation of olefins catalyzed by (salen)Mn(III) complexes can be effected under anhydrous conditions with a variety of primary oxidant systems. The combination of m -CPBA and NMO is particularly reactive, allowing for epoxidation reactions to be carried out at −78 °C. Under these low temperature conditions, a variety of unfunctionalized olefins undergo epoxidation with a significant increase in enantioselectivity relative to reaction using aqueous bleach.

A Practical Synthesis of 5-Lipoxygenase Inhibitor MK-0633

Practical, chromatography-free syntheses of 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor MK-0633 p-toluenesulfonate (1) are described. The first route used an asymmetric zincate addition to ethyl 2,2,2-trifluoropyruvate followed by 1,3,4-oxadiazole formation and reductive amination as key steps. An improved second route features an inexpensive diastereomeric salt resolution of vinyl hydroxy-acid 22 followed by a robust end-game featuring a through-process hydrazide acylation/1,3,4-oxadiazole ring closure/salt formation sequence to afford MK-0633 p-toluenesulfonate (1).

Remote Electronic Control in the Regioselective Reduction of Succinimides: A Practical, Scalable Synthesis of EP4 Antagonist MF-310

A practical large-scale chromatography-free synthesis of EP4 antagonist MF-310, a potential new treatment for chronic inflammation, is presented. The synthetic route provided MF-310 as its sodium salt in 10 steps and 17% overall yield from commercially available pyridine dicarboxylate 7. The key features of this sequence include a unique regioselective reduction of succinimide 2 controlled by the electronic properties of a remote pyridine ring, preparation of cyclopropane carboxylic acid 3 via a Corey-Chaykovsky cyclopropanation, and a short synthesis of sulfonamide 5.

Raney-Co Mediated Reductive Cyclization of an α,β-Unsaturated Nitrile

An expedient, five step synthesis of caprolactam 1 is reported starting from natural L-homoserine. The key step is a chemoselective reductive cyclization of alpha,beta-unsaturated nitrile 10 mediated by Raney-Co type metals. This hydrogenation is extensively investigated in order to account for the observed product distribution and yields.