Olivier Loiseleur

Enantioselective allylic amination with chiral (phosphino-oxazoline)pd catalysts

Abstract Chiral (phosphinophenyl-oxazoline)palladium complexes have been studied as enantioselective catalysts for allylic amination using benzylamine or the sodium salts of p-toluenesulfonamide, benzoylhydrazine, and (Boc) 2 NH as nucleophiles. In the reactions with 1,3-diphenyl- and 1,3 -dialkyl-2-propenyl acetates, carbonates, or phosphates, moderate to high enantiomeric excesses of up to 97% have been obtained.

Anti-MRSA Agent Discovery Using Diversity-Oriented Synthesis†

Antibacterial drugs have played an essential role in the global increase in quality of life and life expectancy. However, these gains are at serious risk owing to bacterial drug resistance by so-called “superbugs”, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The discovery of new antibiotics with novel modes of action is vital to tackle the threat of multidrug-resistant bacteria. Traditionally, antibiotics have been discovered from natural sources; however, there are many disadvantages to using extracts (e.g. limited availability, bioactive constituent identification, and complex analogue synthesis). These problems have led to a complementary approach of synthesizing structurally diverse, natural-product-like small molecules directly and efficiently, an approach known as diversity-oriented synthesis (DOS). Whereas compound collections of a common scaffold decorated with diverse building blocks have been synthesized efficiently, there are limited examples of the synthesis of small molecules with a high degree of skeletal diversity (usually by a build–couple–pair strategy). Previously, we have used a diazoacetate starting unit to mimic nature8s divergent synthetic strategy with acetyl CoA (by a pluripotent functional-group strategy) to synthesize compounds with natural-product scaffolds (e.g. cocaine and warfarin). Herein, we report the use of a solid-supported phosphonate unit to synthesize 242 drug-like compounds based on 18 natural-product-like scaffolds in two to five steps and their use in discovering a new structural class of antibiotic with anti-MRSA activity. The solid-supported phosphonate 1 (Scheme 1) was identified as an attractive DOS starting unit for three key reasons. First, the reactive phosphonate functionality permits the stereoselective formation of a,b-unsaturated acyl imidazolidinones (2) that could be used to generate enantioselectively a wide range of scaffolds that can be diversified further. Second, the imidazolidinone linker not only enables twopoint binding of chiral catalysts but also permits divergent cleavage of the exocyclic acyl group (hydrolysis, reduction, esterification, and amide formation). Thirdly, immobilization of 1 on a silyl polystyrene support simplified reaction optimization and work-up procedures in the multistep parallel synthesis (total of over 1000 individual steps), thereby allowing the efficient production of milligram quantities of 242 compounds without the requirement for automation equipment. In the first step of the diversity-oriented synthesis, 1 was treated with aldehyde building blocks (aryl, heteroaryl, and alkyl; see the Supporting Information) to deliver twelve a,bunsaturated acyl imidazolidinones (2). The second steps of the solid-supported synthesis exploited three catalytic, enantioselective, divergent reaction pathways (Scheme 1): 1) [2+3] cycloaddition (reaction b, ee 60–65%, de 7899%), 2) dihydroxylation (reaction c, ee 88–91%), and 3) [4+2] cycloaddition (reaction d, ee 89–98%, de 74– 74%). Similar selectivities were observed when repeating the reactions in solution with a triisopropylsilyl-protected linker (as opposed to the diisopropylpolystyrene group; see the Supporting Information). The reactions were also conducted with achiral catalysts to give racemic products, which were used for the later steps of the synthesis. This procedure enabled the diversity-oriented synthesis to be streamlined to half the size, yet permitted the enantioselective synthesis of hits during the structure–activity relationship stages of this [*] Dr. G. L. Thomas, R. J. Spandl, F. G. Glansdorp, Dr. M. Ladlow, Dr. D. R. Spring Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW (UK) Fax: (+44) 1223-336362 E-mail: drspring@ch.cam.ac.uk Homepage: http://www-spring.ch.cam.ac.uk/

Enantioselective Heck reactions using chiral P,N-ligands

Abstract Palladium complexes with chiral phosphinooxazoline ligands are efficient catalysts for enantioselective Heck reactions with aryl or alkenyl triflates and cyclic olefins. In the arylation and alkenylation of 1,2-dihydrofuran, cyclopentene, 2,3-dihydro-4 H -pyran, 4,7-dihydro-1,3-dioxepin, and N- methoxycarbonyl-2,3-dihydropyrrole high yields and good to excellent enantioselectivities have been obtained. In contrast to palladium-BINAP catalysts, the catalysts derived from phosphinooxazolines show a very low tendency to promote isomerization of the product by C–C double bond migration.

The stereocontrolled total synthesis of spirastrellolide A methyl ester. Expedient construction of the key fragments

Due to a combination of their promising anticancer properties, limited supply from the marine sponge source and their unprecedented molecular architecture, spirastrellolides represent attractive and challenging synthetic targets. A modular strategy for the synthesis of spirastrellolide A methyl ester, which allowed for the initial stereochemical uncertainties in the assigned structure was adopted, based on the envisaged sequential coupling of a series of suitably functionalised fragments; in this first paper, full details of the synthesis of these fragments are described. The pivotal C26-C40 DEF bis-spiroacetal was assembled by a double Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation/acetalisation cascade process on a linear diene intermediate, configuring the C31 and C35 acetal centres under suitably mild acidic conditions. A C1-C16 alkyne fragment was constructed by application of an oxy-Michael reaction to introduce the A-ring tetrahydropyran, a Sakurai allylation to install the C9 hydroxyl, and a 1,4-syn boron aldol/directed reduction sequence to establish the C11 and C13 stereocentres. Two different coupling strategies were investigated to elaborate the C26-C40 DEF fragment, involving either a C17-C25 sulfone or a C17-C24 vinyl iodide, each of which was prepared using an Evans glycolate aldol reaction. The remaining C43-C47 vinyl stannane fragment required for introduction of the unsaturated side chain was prepared from (R)-malic acid.

Progress toward a total synthesis of spirastrellolide A

Progress toward a total synthesis of spirastrellolide A, a 38-membered marine macrolide, is reported. Syntheses of two diastereomers of the C1-C25 region, and an evolving Sharpless dihydroxylation strategy toward a C26-C40 fragment, are described. The syntheses exploit boron-mediated aldol chemistry to install key stereocenters, and feature late-stage thermodynamically controlled spiroacetalizations.

A Formal Synthesis of (+)-Discodermolide

Herein, we report the formal synthesis of (+)-discodermolide (1), a promising anticancer agent of sponge origin, in 24 linear steps, with 35 steps in total. The route proceeds from lactone 2, a building block containing the common 1,2-anti-2,3-syn stereotriad found in each of the three subunits, methyl ketone 4 (C1−C6), vinyl iodide 7 (C9−C14), and iodide 8 (C15−C24) utilized for the construction of 1. The key fragment union was achieved by a Suzuki cross-coupling between 7 and 8.

Toward the Total Synthesis of the Brasilinolides: Stereocontrolled Assembly of a C1−C19 Polyol Segment

Two highly convergent syntheses of a fully protected C1-C19 polyol subunit of the brasilinolide family of immunosuppressive macrolides are described, exploiting boron-mediated 1,5-anti aldol couplings to form the C8-C9 and C13-C14 bonds.

DAST-Mediated Cyclization of α,α-Disubstituted-α-acylaminoketones: Efficient and Divergent Synthesis of Unprecedented Heterocycles

The design of a new potent nonsteroidal ecdysone agonist led to the discovery of a diethylaminosulfur trifluoride (DAST)-mediated cyclization of α,α-disubstituted-α-acylaminoketones. The resulting fluorooxazolines can be ring-opened or selectively substituted by a range of nucleophiles to provide in high yields a diverse array of unprecedented heterocyclic frameworks.

Toward the total synthesis of the brasilinolides: construction of a differentially protected C20-C38 segment.

An efficient, convergent synthesis of a differentially protected C20-C38 segment of the brasilinolides is described. Iterative 1,4-syn aldol additions and ketone reductions were employed to construct the two related stereotetrads, while a sequence of Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons (HWE) coupling, CBS reduction, and Sharpless AE installed the epoxy alcohol functionality.

Bicyclic heterocyclic anthranilic diamides as ryanodine receptor modulators with insecticidal activity.

The diamide insecticides act on the ryanodine receptor (RyR). The synthesis of various bicyclic anthranilic derivatives is reported. Their activity against the insect ryanodine receptor (RyR) and their insecticidal activity in the greenhouse is presented, as well as structure activity relationship considerations.