Synthesis of B,O,N-Doped Adamantanes and Diamantanes by Condensation of Oximes with Boronic Acids.

Condensation of oximes with boronic acids RB(OH)2 or B(OH)3 affords remarkably stable 2,4,10-trioxa-1,5,7-triaza-3-boroadamantanes via an unprecedented multicomponent process. The mechanism involves the reversible generation of unstable oxime cyclotrimers, which are readily intercepted by boronic acids.

Urotropine isomer (1,4,6,10-tetraazaadamantane): synthesis, structure, and chemistry.

The first synthesis of 1,4,6,10-tetraazaadamantane, the C3v-symmetrical structural isomer of urotropine (1,3,5,7-tetraazaadamantane), and a series of its derivatives is reported. X-ray and quantum-chemical studies revealed remarkable distinctions in structures of urotropine and "isourotropine" cations, probably arising from different types of hyperconjugation between lone electron pairs of nitrogen atoms and σ*C-N orbitals in these heterocage systems. Since substitution at bridge and bridgehead nitrogen atoms can be easily introduced, 1,4,6,10-tetraazaadamantane may be considered as a new rigid multivalent (3 + 1) scaffold for the design of functional molecules and materials.

Six-membered cyclic nitronates as 1,3-dipoles in formal [3 + 3]-cycloaddition with donor-acceptor cyclopropanes. Synthesis of new type of bicyclic nitrosoacetals.

The first formal [3 + 3]-cycloaddition of nitronates with donor-acceptor cyclopropanes is reported. The reaction is catalyzed by ytterbium trifluoromethanesulfonate and leads to hitherto unknown bicyclic nitrosoacetals, possessing two annelated six-membered rings.

Synthesis of PDE IVb inhibitors. 1. Asymmetric synthesis and stereochemical assignment of (+)- and (-)-7-[3-(cyclopentyloxy)-4-methoxyphenyl]hexahydro-3H-pyrrolizin-3-one.

Asymmetric synthesis of GlaxoSmithKline's highly potent phosphodiesterase inhibitor 1 has been accomplished in nine steps and 16% overall yield. The original strategy suggested involves as a key step the silylation of enantiopure six-membered cyclic nitronates 4 obtained by a highly stereoselective [4 + 2]-cycloaddition of an appropriate nitroalkene 5 to trans-1-phenyl-2-(vinyloxy)cyclohexane. Functionalization of the resulting 5,6-dihydro-4H-1,2-oxazine and subsequent stereoselective reduction of 1,2-oxazine ring in intermediate 2 furnished the pyrrolizidinone framework with the recovery of chiral auxiliary alcohol.

Thermodynamic stability and reactivity of silylated bis(oxy)iminium ions.

Silylation of various nitronates with trialkylsilyl triflates was investigated by applying NMR techniques. In several cases, a flexible nitronate-bis(oxy)iminium ion (as an ion pair with triflate as counterion) equlibrium was found, and its thermodynamic parameters were determined. Elevation of temperature or dilution shifts this equilibrium toward the reactants. Activation parameters for the C,C-coupling reaction of silylated bis(oxy)iminium ions with a series of reference nucleophiles were determined. Estimated electrophilicity of bis(oxy)iminium ions allows one to count on C,C-coupling when partner nucleophilicity is N > 4.

New C-C coupling reaction of cyclic nitronates with carbon nucleophiles. Umpolung of the conventional reactivity of nitronates.

Cyclic six-membered nitronates 1 are involved in diastereoselective C-C coupling reactions with various nucleophiles in the presence of either catalytic or stoichiometric amounts of TBDMSOTf to give the previously unknown N-siloxytetrahydrooxazines. The intermediacy of N,N-bis(oxy)iminium cations was proven by NMR data.