P(III)-Chirogenic Phosphinite Building Blocks by Stereospecific N→O Phosphinyl Migration.

In the recent past, the chirality borne by a phosphorus center has aroused growing interest in many fields, and the development of new methodologies, notably using inexpensive reagents and simple experimental conditions, has become topical. An efficient stereoselective synthesis of P-chirogenic phosphinites useful as chiral phosphorus building blocks is herein described thanks to a new intramolecular phosphorus rearrangement based on P*(III)-phosphinyl N→O migration. This rearrangement was performed by heating at 50 °C aminophosphine-boranes, easily prepared from chiral amino alcohols, with DABCO in toluene overnight. Twenty-seven P-chirogenic phosphinites and borane complexes were thus prepared in yields up to 89%. The crude P*(III)-phosphinites were in situ used in stereoselective synthesis of P-chirogenic aminophosphine-phosphinites, phosphinothioates, sec- and tert-phosphine-oxides, and mono- and diphosphines in overall yields ranging from 28 to 89% and with e.e. up to 99%. Twenty-one X-ray structures of P-chirogenic compounds were established, allowing us to attribute undoubtedly their absolute configuration and the stereochemistry of the reactions. Finally, new ferrocenyl-bridged diphosphine ligands synthesized from P*(III)-chirogenic diphosphinites were tested in asymmetric metal-catalyzed reactions, providing enantioselectivities up to 95% e.e. in allylation of α-naphthylmethylamine at room temperature. To conclude, this rearrangement opens up an efficient new way for the stereoselective synthesis of numerous classes of P-chirogenic phosphorus compounds, notably bearing bulky substituents.

Al and Zn phenoxy-amidine complexes for lactide ROP catalysis.

We report the synthesis of a new generation of phenoxy-amidine ligands based on an aryloxy moiety possessing an ortho-N-linked trisubstituted amidine. The reaction of the phenol-amidine proligands with aluminum and zinc alkyls gave mono- or bis-ligated complexes depending on the metal/ligand ratio used. The solid-state structure of four proligands and thirteen Zn and Al complexes has been determined by X-Ray diffraction analysis. The mono-ligated complexes present an aryloxy-bridged dimeric structure, which is retained in solution in the case of Zn complexes but not with aluminum according to DOSY NMR experiments. Bis(ligated) Al and Zn complexes exhibit fluxional behaviour in solution attributed to coordination-decoordination of the amidine moiety and the rotation around the amidine C-NR'2 and C-Ar bonds. These complexes were tested for the ROP of rac-lactide in solution and under bulk conditions. In both cases, the most performant catalysts are Zn complexes featuring a phenoxy-amidine ligand with a pendant additional dimethylamino arm.

Bis(salicylamidine) Ligands (FAlen): A Variant of Salen with "à la Carte" Denticity.

Ethylene- and phenylene-bridged bis(salicylamidine) ligands have been readily prepared from ethylene or phenylenediamine and iminium chloride derivatives generated in situ from N,N-dialkylsalicylamides. The former, in its diprotonated form (FAlenH2), reacts with AlMe3 to afford a zwitterionic dimethyldiphenoxyaluminate complex with the FAlen ligand monoprotonated and in a bidentate κ2O,O' fashion. A phenylene-bridged proligand behaves differently, yielding a neutral methylaluminum complex bearing a κ3O,N,O'-coordinated FAlen ligand. From these complexes, methyl anion abstraction with B(C6F5)3 or a reaction with Schrock's alcohol leads to the corresponding aluminum cationic or alkoxy complexes in which a κ4O,N,N',O'-coordination mode of the FAlen ligand is observed. X-ray diffraction studies of the proligands and of the complexes show that the amidine functions feature a trans configuration when the N-amidine atom is not coordinated to the metal and conversely a cis configuration when it is. Density functional theory calculations show that trans-cis isomerization of the amidine functions occurs upon coordination with the metal ion with very low energy barriers. They also confirm the intuition that the denticity of the FAlen ligands in the complexes is directly related to the electron richness of the metal ion. At last, FAlen Al complexes are used as initiators for the controlled ring-opening polymerization of rac-lactide to afford poly(lactic acid) with slight isotactic bias.

Novel Fat Taste Receptor Agonists Curtail Progressive Weight Gain in Obese Male Mice.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The spontaneous preference for dietary lipids is principally regulated by 2 lingual fat taste receptors, CD36 and GPR120. Obese animals and most of human subjects exhibit low orosensory perception of dietary fat because of malfunctioning of these taste receptors. Our aim was to target the 2 fat taste receptors by newly synthesized high affinity fatty acid agonists to decrease fat-rich food intake and obesity. METHODS: We synthesized 2 fat taste receptor agonists (FTA), NKS-3 (CD36 agonist) and NKS-5 (CD36 and GPR120 agonist). We determined their molecular dynamic interactions with fat taste receptors and the effect on Ca2+ signaling in mouse and human taste bud cells (TBC). In C57Bl/6 male mice, we assessed their gustatory perception and effects of their lingual application on activation of tongue-gut loop. We elucidated their effects on obesity and its related parameters in male mice fed a high-fat diet. RESULTS: The two FTA, NKS-3 and NKS-5, triggered higher Ca2+ signaling than a dietary long-chain fatty acid in human and mouse TBC. Mice exhibited a gustatory attraction for these compounds. In conscious mice, the application of FTA onto the tongue papillae induced activation of tongue-gut loop, marked by the release of pancreato-bile juice into collecting duct and cholecystokinin and peptide YY into blood stream. Daily intake of NKS-3 or NKS-5 via feeding bottles decreased food intake and progressive weight gain in obese mice but not in control mice. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that targeting fat sensors in the tongue by novel chemical fat taste agonists might represent a new strategy to reduce obesity.

Conception and Evaluation of Fluorescent Phosphine-Gold Complexes: From Synthesis to in†vivo Investigations.

A phosphine gold(I) and phosphine-phosphonium gold(I) complexes bearing a fluorescent coumarin moiety were synthesized and characterized. Both complexes displayed interesting photophysical properties: good molar absorption coefficient, good quantum yield of fluorescence, and ability to be tracked in vitro thanks to two-photon imaging. Their in vitro and in vivo biological properties were evaluated onto cancer cell lines both human and murine and into CT26 tumor-bearing BALB/c mice. They displayed moderate to strong antiproliferative properties and the phosphine-phosphonium gold(I) complex induced significant in vivo anti-cancer effect.

Development of a novel highly anti-proliferative family of gold complexes: Au(i)-phosphonium-phosphines.

A family of gold(i)-phosphonium-phosphine complexes was synthesized thanks to an efficient 5-step strategy, which involves a phospha-Fries rearrangement. It enables the facile variation of the phosphonium moiety. All the complexes along with a synthetic intermediate were fully characterized (a crystal structure was obtained for two of them). The antiproliferative properties of the six novel complexes were evaluated on three human cancer cell lines (A549, MDA-MB-231, and SW480) and compared to those of three benchmark anticancer drugs used in clinics (oxaliplatin, 5-fluorouracil, and paclitaxel) and to a phosphonium-free gold(i) complex [Au(PPh3)Br]. All the gold(i) complexes, containing a phosphonium, displayed strong anti-proliferative properties. They were more efficient than oxaliplatin and 5-fluorouracil, and one of the complexes was even more efficient than paclitaxel.

Design of P-Chirogenic Aminophosphine-Phosphinite Ligands at Both Phosphorus Centers: Origin of Enantioselectivities in Pd-Catalyzed Allylic Reactions.

We have recently patented an unprecedented stereospecific N → O phosphinyl migration process which transforms P-chirogenic aminophosphines into phosphinites. A fine design of aminophosphine phosphinite ligands (AMPP*) derived from ephedrine and bearing a P-chirogenic center either at the aminophosphine or phosphinite moiety was performed. The synthesis of AMPP* ligands with a P-chirogenic aminophosphine moiety was based on the well-established stereospecific reaction of oxazaphospholidine borane with organolithium reagents, followed by trapping with a chlorophosphine and borane decomplexation. Concurrently, the preparation of AMPP* ligands with a P-chirogenic phosphinite moiety was performed by N → O phosphinyl migration of aminophosphines borane by heating at 50 °C with DABCO and then reaction with chlorophosphines. AMPP* ligands were studied in palladium-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylations, leading to enantioselectivities from 91% (R) to 95% ee (S). X-ray crystallographic data for relevant Pd-AMPP* complexes and computer modeling explained the origin of the enantioselectivities based on MO interactions of most stable conformers with nucleophiles.

[60]Fullerene l-Amino Acids and Peptides: Synthesis under Phase-Transfer Catalysis Using a Phosphine-Borane Linker. Electrochemical Behavior.

A new method to link amino acid and peptide derivatives to [60]fullerene is described. It uses hydrophosphination with a secondary phosphine borane. First, the stereoselective synthesis of secondary phosphine borane amino acid derivatives was achieved by alkylation of phenylphosphine borane with γ-iodo-α-amino ester reagents under phase-transfer catalysis (PTC). Second, a sec-phosphine borane amino ester was saponified and coupled with α,γ-diamino esters to afford the corresponding dipeptide derivatives in good yields. Finally, the hydrophosphination reaction of [60]fullerene by the sec-phosphine borane compounds was performed under PTC to obtain C60-amino acid or dipeptide derivatives in yields up to 80% by P-C bond formation. This addition reaction which proceeds in mild and moderate dilute conditions (0.03 M) leads to [60]fullerene derivatives as epimeric mixtures (∼1:1) due to the P-chirogenic center but without racemization of the amino acid or peptide moiety. In addition, the electrochemical behavior of a C60-phosphine borane amino ester was investigated by cyclic voltammetry and spectroelectrochemistry after controlled-potential electrolysis. It showed evidence for the retro-hydrophosphination reaction into free [60]fullerene and sec-phosphine borane amino ester compound. Consequently, the synthesis of sec-phosphine borane amino acids followed by their use in hydrophosphination reactions of [60]fullerene under phase-transfer catalysis has demonstrated a great utility for the preparation of C60-derivatives. Indeed, the hydrophosphination and the retro-hydrophosphination reactions of [60]fullerene/phosphine borane compounds offer a promising new strategy for the reversible immobilization of amino acid or peptide derivatives on carbon nanomaterials such as [60]fullerene.

Applications and stereoselective syntheses of P-chirogenic phosphorus compounds.

Phosphorus compounds bearing chirality on the P-center are usually qualified as P-chirogenic or P-stereogenic. This chemical class concerns natural products, agrochemistry, molecular materials, biology and pharmacy, although it is certainly in coordination chemistry and in asymmetric catalysis using chiral transition metal complexes that P-chirogenic phosphorus compounds are the most used. The chiral phosphine ligands and their uses in asymmetric metal-catalyzed reactions have been widely reviewed in literature. However, an overview covering the applications as well as the stereoselective syntheses of all classes of phosphorus compounds has not yet been provided. This review reports the best stereoselective or asymmetric syntheses, the most efficient P*-building blocks and functionalisation of P-chirogenic compounds, in the light of chiral phosphorus compound applications. It is an extensive and useful documentation from pioneering work to recent advances in phosphorus stereochemistry.

Designing P-Chirogenic 1,2-Diphosphinobenzenes at Both P-Centers Using P(III)-Phosphinites.

A new enantiodivergent synthesis of P-chirogenic 1,2-diphosphinobenzenes (DP*B) bearing the chirality on one or both phosphorus centers is reported using aryne chemistry. The principle is based on successive reactions of 1,2-dibromobenzene with sec-phosphide boranes, then DABCO to remove the borane, and finally with chlorophosphines or P(III)-chirogenic phosphinites. The efficiency of this synthesis was demonstrated by the stereoselective preparation of (S,S)-1,2-bis(o-anisylphenylphosphino)benzene. A comparison of DIPAMP and homochiral DP*B ligands in asymmetric Rh- or Pd-catalyzed reactions was reported.

Efficient synthesis of (P-chirogenic) o-boronated phosphines from sec-phosphine boranes.

An efficient synthesis of boronated phosphines with an o-phenylene-bridge prepared from sec-phosphine boranes and using benzyne chemistry is reported. Successive reactions of sec-phosphine boranes with n-BuLi and 1,2-dibromobenzene, and then with boron reagents, afford the o-boronatophenylphosphine derivatives in 71% yields. The use of P-chirogenic sec-phosphine boranes leads to the free boronated phosphines with retention of configuration at the P-center after decomplexation. The reaction of P-chirogenic o-boronatophenylphosphine with KHF2 affords the corresponding trifluoroborated phosphine with ee >98%.

P-chirogenic organocatalysts: application to the aza-Morita-Baylis-Hillman (aza-MBH) reaction of ketimines.

The P-chirogenic organocatalysts were found to promote the enantioselective aza-Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction of ketimines derived from acyclic α-keto esters. In the P-chirogenic organocatalyzed aza-MBH reactions, α,α-disubstituted α-amino acid derivatives were obtained in high yields with high enantioselectivities (up to 97% ee).

o-(Hydroxyalkyl)phenyl P-chirogenic phosphines as functional chiral Lewis bases.

The stereoselective synthesis of P-chirogenic phosphines bearing an o-hydroxyalkyl chelating arm is described. The synthesis is based either on the hydroxyalkylation of P-chirogenic o-bromophenylphosphines (borane) or on their carbonatation and then reduction. The hydroxyalkylation with benzaldehyde or pivalaldehyde affords a mixture of epimers which are isolated by chromatography and characterized by their X-ray structures. Preliminary assays of free P-chirogenic o-(hydroxyalkyl)phenyl phosphines, as new functional Lewis bases in catalyzed asymmetric aza-MBH reaction, lead to ß-aminoester derivatives with ee values up to 74%.

Stereoselective synthesis of unsaturated and functionalized L-NHBoc amino acids, using Wittig reaction under mild phase-transfer conditions.

The stereoselective synthesis of a new amino acid phosphonium salt was described by quaternization of melting triphenylphosphine with the γ-iodo NHBoc-amino ester, derived from L-aspartic acid. The deprotection of the carboxylic acid function to afford the phosphonium salt with a free carboxylic acid group was achieved by a palladium-catalyzed desallylation reaction. This phosphonium salt was used in the Wittig reaction with aromatic or aliphatic aldehydes and trifluoroacetophenone, under solid-liquid phase-transfer conditions in chlorobenzene and in the presence of K(3)PO(4) as weak base, to afford the corresponding unsaturated amino acids without racemization. Thus, the reaction with substituted aldehydes allows to graft various functionalized groups on the lateral chain of the amino acid, such as trifluoromethyl, cyano, nitro, ferrocenyl, boronato, or azido. In addition, the reaction of the amino acid Wittig reagent with α,ß-unsaturated aldehydes leads to amino acids bearing a diene on the lateral chain. Finally, this amino acid phosphonium salt appears to be a new powerful tool for the preparation of unsaturated and non-proteinogenic α-amino acids, directly usable for the synthesis of customized peptides.

Stereoselective synthesis of o-bromo (or iodo)aryl P-chirogenic phosphines based on aryne chemistry.

The efficient synthesis of chiral or achiral tertiary phosphines bearing an o-bromo (or iodo)aryl substituent is described. The key step of this synthesis is based on the reaction of a secondary phosphine borane with the 1,2-dibromo (or diiodo)arene, owing to the formation in situ of an aryne species in the presence of n-butyllithium. When P-chirogenic secondary phosphine boranes were used, the corresponding o-halogeno-arylphosphine boranes were obtained without racemization in moderate to good yields and with ee up to 99%. The stereochemistry of the reaction, with complete retention of the configuration at the P atom, has been established by X-ray structures of P-chirogenic o-halogenophenyl phosphine borane complexes. The decomplexation of the borane was easily achieved without racemization using DABCO to obtain the free o-halogeno-arylphosphines in high yields.

Stereoselective synthesis of P-chirogenic dibenzophosphole-boranes via aryne intermediates.

A new aryne-mediated tandem cross-coupling/P-cyclization sequence starting from tertiary phosphine-boranes and 1,2-dibromobenzenes is reported. P-chirogenic dibenzophospholes become accessible in a regio-, chemo-, and diastereoselective way.

Efficient synthesis of quaternary and P-stereogenic phosphonium triflates.

An efficient and general method for the preparation of achiral and chiral phosphonium salts is reported. This synthesis is based on the quaternization of phosphines and their derivatives with arynes generated in situ from 2-(trimethylsilyl)aryl triflates. This methodology is successfully applied to the synthesis of new valuable P-stereogenic phosphonium triflates.

Organic carbonates as alternative solvents for asymmetric hydrogenation.

Organic carbonates like propylene carbonate (PC) or butylene carbonate (BC) belong to the class of aprotic, highly dipolar solvents (AHD). Interestingly, their potential as solvents for asymmetric catalysis has been overlooked for a long time. The aim of this work is to evaluate organic carbonates and other organic solvents like THF, CH(2)Cl(2), and acetonitrile as well as members of the AHD-family (DMF, DMSO, etc.) as media for homogeneous asymmetric hydrogenation. For this reason cationic Rh-complexes based on chiral phosphine ligands were tested in the hydrogenation of typical benchmark substrates. In several trials, significant advantages of organic carbonates were found. In contrast to DMSO, DMF and acetonitrile, in PC and BC high conversion rates and excellent enantioselectivities were usually observed.

Ferrocenyl glycopeptides as electrochemical probes to detect autoantibodies in multiple sclerosis patients' sera.

Glycopeptide analogues of CSF114(Glc), modified at N-terminus with new ferrocenyl carboxylic acid and a new ferrocenyl-thiphosphino amino acid, were used to implement a new electrochemical biosensor for autoantibody detection in multiple sclerosis. The ferrocenyl moiety of these "electrochemical probes" did not affect autoantibody recognition both in SP-ELISA and in inhibition experiments. By electrochemical monitoring the interactions of the modified peptides Fc-CSF114(Glc) and 4-FcPhP(S)Abu-CSF114(Glc) with the autoantibodies, we demonstrated that autoantibodies could be detected with a sensitivity comparable to ELISA method. The new electrochemical probes can be proposed to characterize autoantibodies as biomarkers of multiple sclerosis by a simple, rapid, and reproducible cyclic voltammetry-based diagnostic methodology.