Ming-Sheng Xie

Enantioselective Dearomative [3+2] Cycloaddition Reactions of Benzothiazoles

A highly enantioselective dearomative [3+2] cycloaddition of benzothiazole has been successfully developed. A wide range of benzothiazoles and cyclopropane-1,1-dicarboxylates are suitable substrates for this reaction. The desired hydropyrrolo[2,1-b]thiazole compounds were obtained in excellent enantioselectivity and yields (up to 97 % ee and 97 % yield). With the same catalytic system, a highly efficient kinetic resolution of 2-substituted cyclopropane-1,1-dicarboxylates was also realized.

The synthesis of tenofovir and its analogues via asymmetric transfer hydrogenation.

A series of tenofovir analogues with potential antiviral and immunobiologically active compounds were synthesized through an asymmetric transfer hydrogenation reaction from achiral purine derivatives. Up to 97% ee and good to excellent yields were achieved under mild conditions through short reaction steps. The present report suggests an efficient process to acquire tenofovir and its analogues.

Highly Regioselective Three-Component Domino Heck–Negishi Coupling Reaction for the Functionalization of Purines at C6

A highly regioselective three-component domino Heck-Negishi coupling reaction has been developed. Organozinc reagents are used to trap an alkylpalladium intermediate of olefins for a first example in the domino Heck reaction. This reaction is applicable to acrylates (or acrylamides) and purine compounds, producing a series of novel purine compounds with carbon substituents at the C6 position in moderate to good yields.

A new strategy to construct acyclic nucleosides via Ag(I)-catalyzed addition of pronucleophiles to 9-allenyl-9H-purines.

A new strategy to construct acyclic nucleosides with diverse side chains was developed. With Ag(I) salts as catalysts, the hydrocarboxylation, hydroamination, and hydrocarbonation reactions proceeded well, affording acyclic nucleosides in good yields (41 examples, 60-98% yields). Meanwhile, these reactions exhibited high chemoselectivities and E-selectivities.

Pd(II)-catalyzed one-pot, three-step route for the synthesis of unsymmetrical acridines.

Unsymmetric acridines are synthesized via a one-pot amination/cyclization/aromatization reaction for the first time. With Pd(OAc)2-X-Phos as the catalyst, a series of unsymmetric acridines are obtained in moderate to excellent yields (up to 99% yield). Meanwhile, the diphenylamine intermediate could be isolated, which is evidence of the domino process.

Synthesis of Azacyclic Nucleoside Analogues via Asymmetric [3 + 2] Cycloaddition of 9-(2-Tosylvinyl)-9H-purines

With 9-(2-tosylvinyl)-9H-purines as the dipolarophiles, a series of chiral azacyclic nucleosides with four continuous stereocenters were obtained in 86-99% yields, >20:1 dr, and 94 → 99% ee via the Cu(I)-catalyzed asymmetric [3 + 2] cycloaddition. Both (E)- and (Z)-9-(2-tosylvinyl)-9H-purines were suitable dipolarophiles, enriching the structure diversity of azacyclic nucleosides. Furthermore, when α-methyl imino ester was explored, the corresponding azacyclic nucleoside with a chiral quaternary stereocenter could also be afforded with excellent results.

Efficient synthesis of nebularine and vidarabine via dehydrazination of (hetero)aromatics catalyzed by CuSO4 in water

A simple dehydrazination reaction has been achieved in the presence of a catalytic amount of CuSO4 for the first time. With CuSO4 (2 mol%) as a catalyst and water as a solvent, the dehydrazination products were obtained in good yields (66–95%). Moreover, the drugs nebularine and vidarabine were afforded successfully, and vidarabine could be produced on a 0.923 kg scale, which shows good potential for industrial applications.

Enantioselective Intermolecular Cyclopropanations for the Synthesis of Chiral Pyrimidine Carbocyclic Nucleosides

A direct route to chiral cyclopropylpyrimidine carbocyclic nucleoside analogues has been reported via highly enantioselective intermolecular cyclopropanation reactions of N1-vinylpyrimidines with α-diazoesters. With chiral ruthenium(II)-phenyloxazoline complex (2 mol %) as the catalyst, cyclopropyl pyrimidine nucleoside analogues could be obtained in good yields (71-96% yields) with high levels of diastereo- and enantioselectivities (10:1 to >20:1 dr and 96-99% ee) in 1 min.

Asymmetric Hydrogenation of α-Purine Nucleobase-Substituted Acrylates with Rhodium Diphosphine Complexes: Access to Tenofovir Analogues

The first asymmetric hydrogenation of α-purine nucleobase-substituted α,β-unsaturated esters, catalyzed by a chiral rhodium (R)-Synphos catalyst, has been developed. A wide range of mono- and disubstituted acrylates were successfully hydrogenated under very mild conditions in high yields with good to excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee). This method provides a convenient approach to the synthesis of a new kind of optically pure acyclic nucleoside and Tenofovir analogues.

One-Pot Synthesis of 7,9-Dialkylpurin-8-one Analogues: Broad Substrate Scope

The one-pot and direct synthesis of 7,9-dialkylpurin-8-one analogues with broad substrate scope has been developed. This copper-catalyzed C-H oxidation reaction could avoid multistep synthesis of quaternary ammonium salts and expand the scope of halogenated alkanes. Moreover, benzimidazole derivatives are also applicable in the catalytic system.