Vera Lúcia Patrocinio Pereira

Selective conjugate addition of nitromethane to enoates derived from D-mannitol and L-tartaric acid

The conjugate addition of nitromethane to enoates prepared from D-(+)-mannitol, substituted at the alpha-position by a methyl or a benzyl group, was investigated. While excellent syn-selectivity (d.e. >90%) was obtained from a-benzyl enoates (used as a mixture of epimers, E/Z=1.8:1), for alpha-methyl enoates the selectivity depended on the stereochemistry of the double bond in the acceptor (d.e. >90% for the (Z)-enoate and 50% for the (E)-enoate). In all cases, a mixture of epimers was formed at the newly generated stereocenter at the a-position. The epimeric syn-adducts were transformed into the corresponding pure alpha,beta,gamma-trisubstituted gamma-butyrolactones by cyclization in acid medium followed by epimerization of the stereocenter at the a-position in DBU/CH2Cl2. When enoates derived from L-tartaric acid were used as acceptors, syn-selective conjugate additions were also observed (d.e. >90% for the (Z)-isomer and 50% for the (E)-isomer). The configuration at the newly generated stereogenic centers were assigned based on X-ray analyses, H-1-H-1 coupling constants and NOE experiments in NMR spectroscopy

AN EXPEDITIOUS SYNTHESIS OF 3-NITROPROPIONIC ACID AND ITS ETHYL AND METHYL ESTERS

The synthesis to 3-nitropropionic acid 1 was easily accomplished, in two steps, from commercially available acrolein in 60% yield. The ethyl and methyl esters of 1 were also obtained.

Synthesis of bio-additives: transesterification of ethyl acetate with glycerol using homogeneous or heterogeneous acid catalysts

A new catalytic route with potential practical interest to sustainable production of bio-additives from glycerol is described. Ethyl acetate was transesterified with glycerol, in the ratio glycerol:EtOAc 1:10, at 25 or 90 oC using 0.1 equiv. of H2SO4 or TsOH, as homogeneous catalysts. H2SO4 led to the total glycerol consumption in 2 h. In the equilibrium, attained in 9 h, 100% yield of a diacetin:triacetin (55:45) mixture was formed. Using AmberlystTM 15 dry and AmberlystTM 16 wet in 1:30 glycerol:EtOAc ratio and reflux at 90 oC the total glycerol consumption was achieved in 2 and 10h, respectively. The lower reactivity of Amberlyst-16 wet was explained in terms of deactivation of acid sites and decrease in glycerol diffusion to the inner resin pores, both factors caused by adsorbed water. The kinetics of glycerol transformation and product distribution in the equilibrium in relation to the H2SO4, Amberlyst-15 (dry) and Amberlyst-16 (wet) catalyzed reactions were measured.

Antinociceptive activity of (-)-(2S,6S)-(6-ethyl-tetrahydropyran-2-yl)-formic acid on acute pain in mice.

Pain is a major cause of distress, both physical and psychological. There is a continuous search for new pharmacologically active analgesic agents with minor adverse effects. Recently, the synthesis of (−)-(2S,6S)-(6-ethyl-tetrahydropyran-2-yl)-formic acid [tetrahydropyran derivative (TD)] was described. The objective of this study was to investigate antinociceptive effects of TD. Its activity was compared with the activity of morphine. The effects of TD and morphine were evaluated in models of inflammatory and noninflammatory pain. TD (6–1200 &mgr;mol/kg, intraperitoneally) significantly reduced the nociceptive effects induced by acetic acid or formalin in mice. TD also demonstrated an antinociceptive effect in the tail-flick and hot-plate model. The opioid receptor antagonist, naloxone (at 15 &mgr;mol/kg, intraperitoneally), reversed the antinociceptive activity of TD in all the models evaluated. Morphine and TD induced tolerance in mice. However, the onset of tolerance to TD was delayed compared with that induced by morphine. These results indicate that TD develops significant antinociceptive activity and, at least part of its effects seems to be mediated by the opioid system.

Structural determination Vitex cymosa Bertero active principle: Diastereoselective synthesis of (+/-)-trans-4-hydroxy-6-propyl-1-oxocyclohexan-2-one and its antinociceptive activity.

The diastereoselective synthesis of (+/-)-trans-4-hydroxy-6-propyl-1-oxocyclohexan-2-one, as a mixture trans:cis (3:1), was accomplished using a protocol that combine the Prins cyclization and RuO(4) oxidation. The synthesis this lactone allowed the elucidation of the correct structure of the substance isolated from the barks of Vitex cymosa. The delta-lactones mixture showed significant antinociceptive properties in preliminary tests using the tail flick model assay.

A versatile and efficient approach for the synthesis of chiral 1,3-nitroamines and 1,3-diamines via conjugate addition to new (S,E)-γ-aminated nitroalkenes derived from L-α-amino acids

Summary New chiral (S,E)-γ-N,N-dibenzylated nitroalkenes 2a–c were synthesized from natural L-(α)-amino acids in five steps with overall yields of 68–88%. The conjugate addition of hydride, methoxide, nitronate and azide nucleophiles to 2a–c led to the corresponding chiral 1,3-nitroamines in 74–90% yield. The conjugate addition of cyanide anion to 2a,b was followed by HNO2 elimination affording chiral aminated acrylonitriles (73–98%). On the other hand, the azide anion reacted with 2a, in acetonitrile, via a [3 + 2]-cycloaddition in which HNO2 was lost, providing the corresponding 1,2,3-triazole derivative. Direct reduction of 1,3-nitroamine derivatives 9a,b produced the corresponding 1,3-diamines in good yields.

Diastereoselective synthesis of nitroso acetals from (S,E)-γ-aminated nitroalkenes via multicomponent [4 + 2]/[3 + 2] cycloadditions promoted by LiCl or LiClO4

Summary Chiral nonracemic aminated nitroso acetals were synthesized via diastereoselective multicomponent [4 + 2]/[3 + 2] cycloadditions employing new (S,E)-γ-nitrogenated nitroalkenes 5a–c as heterodienes, ethyl vinyl ether (EVE) as a dienophile, and selected electron-deficient alkenes as 1,3-dipolarophiles. The employment of different organic solutions of LiClO4 or LiCl as promoter systems provided the respective nitroso acetals with yields from 34–72% and good levels of diastereoselectivity. In addition, the nitroso acetal 9c was transformed to the pyrrolizidin-3-one derivative 14c, proving the usefulness of the route in the synthesis of an interesting chiral compound. The elucidation of the stereostructures was based on 2D COSY, NOESY and HSQC NMR experiments as well as an X-ray diffraction experiment.

Separation of acetins by counter-current chromatography

In this work we report the purification of a crude acetin mixture into mono-, di- and triacetin by countercurrent chromatography. The process was initially tested on a small, semi-preparative scale (0.5 g) to determine its efficiency. The process was then scaled up to accommodate 2.5 g of crude reaction products containing a mixture of the acetins. The solvent system ethyl acetate/n-butanol/water 1:0.2:1 was used in all separation procedures. Mono-, di- and triacetins were separated similarly in the semi-preparative and preparative runs.

An expeditious and consistent procedure for tetrahydrofuran (THF) drying and deoxygenation by the still apparatus

Despite the availability of alternative methods for drying tetrahydrofuran (THF), the use of the still apparatus, wherein a THF solution containing Na-bezophenone ketyl is heated to reflux, remains widespread. We herein propose a set of procedures to solve the problems usually faced in applying this drying technique. Moreover, a discussion is made on the chemical knowledge underlying such procedures. Safety and economy issues concerned with the operation of the THF still apparatus are also discussed.

A new route to keto and alkyl derivatives of (R)-carvone via diastereoselective conjugate addition of nitronate ions

The reactivity and diastereoselectivity of conjugate addition of different nitronates ions to (R)-carvone was systematically studied. The Michael adducts 2a-e were obtained in good yield and 3,2-cis-3,5-trans selectivity. The nitroadducts 2b,c were transformed via Nef reaction into (R)-carvone ketone derivatives 9,10 and nitroadducts 2b,d led to (R)-carvone alkylated derivatives 11,12, via a denitration reaction.