Study of boron-nitrogen dative bonds using azetidine inversion dynamics.

A method for probing the strength of B-N dative bonds is reported. The activation parameters for nitrogen inversion in a series of azetidines tethered to boronate esters have been quantified by VT-NMR and the measured barriers correlated with data obtained by (11)B NMR, X-ray crystallography and MP2 calculations.

Lewis acid promoted intramolecular (3 + 2) 'cycloadditions' of methyleneaziridines with alkene and alkyne acceptors.

2-Methyleneaziridines can be tethered to a variety of alkene or alkyne acceptors through the saturated carbon of the heterocyclic ring by application of a simple lithiation/alkylation sequence (8 examples, 31-59%). Treatment of the resultant alkene bearing substrates with BF(3)·OEt(2) leads to cis-octahydrocyclopenta[c]pyrroles in which up to four contiguous stereocentres are created in a diastereocontrolled manner after reductive work-up. Using an alkyne based substrate, a 2,4,5,6-tetrahydrocyclopenta[c]pyrrole is produced by rapid tautomerisation of the initially formed bisenamine. Evidence that these (3 + 2) 'cycloadditions' proceed in a stepwise manner via a 2-aminoallyl cation is presented.

Amino acid homologation by the Blaise reaction: a new entry into nitrogen heterocycles.

A general strategy for the amino acid homologation via Blaise reaction and subsequent reduction is presented. This strategy involves the preparation of protected alpha-amino nitriles from the corresponding amino acids, followed by the zinc-mediated condensation of tert-butyl bromoacetate, to give the imidazolidones after iminozincate cyclization. Reduction gave the saturated imidazolidinones with cis or trans stereochemistry, depending on the reduction conditions. This strategy was applied to nonfunctionalized amino acids and to functionalized amino acids such as serine and aspartic acid. Additionally, acidic hydrolysis of cis or trans imidazolidinones to the corresponding chiral 4-aminopyrrolidones is described.

3-Aminopyrrolidines from alpha-aminoacids: total synthesis of (+)-nemonapride from D-alanine.

The antipsychotic compound nemonapride 1 was synthesized in nine steps from d-alanine 2. The key steps for the synthesis of the 3-aminopyrrolidine moiety include a Birch reduction of a cyclic enaminoester and the reduction of a pyrrolidinone to the pyrrolidine 7. Final coupling with the benzoic acid derivative 9 gave 1 as a single enantio- and diastereomer.

A stereoselective entry into functionalized 1,2-diamines by zinc-mediated homologation of alpha-aminoacids.

A general, stereoselective synthesis of 4,5-disubstituted imidazolidines-2-ones from alpha-aminoacids has been developed: the key steps are a Blaise reaction of bromoacetate on alpha-aminonitriles and further reduction. Although reduction with sodium cyanoborohydride afforded a mixture of cis and trans isomers 6a-e with moderate to good stereoselectivity, reduction with sodium in liquid ammonia gave the trans isomers 8a-e with complete stereoselectivity. Acidic hydrolysis of the urea gave 4-amino-pyrrolidinones, which can be precursors to beta,gamma-diaminoacids or 3-aminopyrrolidines.