Timothy S. Snowden

General and practical conversion of aldehydes to homologated carboxylic acids.

The reaction of aldehydes with trichloromethide followed by sodium borohydride or sodium phenylseleno(triethyl)borate under basic conditions affords homologated carboxylic acids in high yields. This operationally simple procedure provides a practical, efficient alternative to other homologation protocols. The approach is compatible with sensitive aldehydes including enals and enolizable aldehydes. It also offers convenient access to alpha-monodeuterated carboxylic acids.

One-Pot Synthesis of Trichloromethyl Carbinols from Primary Alcohols

Versatile trichloromethyl carbinols can be prepared in one pot from primary alcohols by treatment with Dess-Martin periodinane (DMP) in CHCl(3) followed by introduction of commercially available 1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-ene (TBD). A modification of the method was used to convert chiral primary alcohol (R)-(-)-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane-4-methanol to the corresponding trichloromethyl carbinol with complete stereochemical fidelity, despite the reactant proceeding through a base-sensitive aldehyde intermediate.

Preparation of One-Carbon Homologated Amides from Aldehydes or Primary Alcohols

Aldehydes and primary alcohols can be converted to one-carbon homologated primary, secondary, or tertiary amides in two operational steps. The approach offers several unique features including compatibility with (hetero)aryl, alkyl, alkenyl, and racemizable chiral substrates, the ability to prepare Weinreb amides from aryl and unhindered aliphatic substrates, and the opportunity to employ unprotected amino acids as amine sources in the amidation step.

Stereospecific Suzuki, Sonogashira, and Negishi Coupling Reactions of N-Alkoxyimidoyl Iodides and Bromides

A high-yielding stereospecific route to the synthesis of single geometric isomers of diaryl oxime ethers through Suzuki coupling of N-alkoxyimidoyl iodides is described. This reaction occurs with complete retention of the imidoyl halide geometry to give single E- or Z-isomers of diaryl oxime ethers. The Sonogashira coupling of N-alkoxyimidoyl iodides and bromides with a wide variety of terminal alkynes to afford single geometric isomers of aryl alkynyl oxime ethers has also been developed. Several of these reactions proceed through copper-free conditions. The Negishi coupling of N-alkoxyimidoyl halides is introduced. The E and Z configurations of nine Suzuki-coupling products and two Sonogashira-coupling products were confirmed by X-ray crystallography.

Carbocupration-functionalization of arynes: rapid access to variably ortho-substituted ((E)-3-phenylprop-1-enyl)silanes.

A consecutive three-component coupling reaction involving a lithium di[3-(prop-1-enyltrimethylsilyl)]cuprate, variably substituted ortho-arynes, and a selection of common electrophiles is described. The method affords readily functionalized homobenzylic vinylsilanes with exceptional E-diastereoselectivity and allows for in situ incorporation of carbon- or heteroatom-based electrophiles into the arene.

A small diversity library of α-methyl amide analogs of sulindac for probing anticancer structure-activity relationships

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have a variety of potential indications that include management of pain and inflammation as well as chemoprevention and/or treatment of cancer. Furthermore, a specific form of ibuprofen, dexibuprofen or the S-(+) form, shows interesting neurological activities and has been proposed for the treatment of Alzheimers disease. In a continuation of our work probing the anticancer activity of small sulindac libraries, we have prepared and screened a small diversity library of α-methyl substituted sulindac amides in the profen class. Several compounds of this series displayed promising activity compared with a lead sulindac analog.