Application of Metathesis Protocols to the Stereocontrolled Synthesis of some Functionalized ß-Amino Esters and Azaheterocycles.

In this account our aim was to give an insight into the application of metathesis protocols (ROM, RCM, RCEYM, CM, RRM) for the synthesis of various azaheterocyclic frameworks. Due to the high biological potential and importance in peptide chemistry and drug design of ß-amino acids our intention is to give a highlight on the synthetic procedures and transformation of these class of compounds with the above-mentioned metathesis strategies with emphasis on selectivity, stereocontrol, substrate-directing effect or functional group tolerance.

Stereocontrolled synthesis of some novel functionalized heterocyclic amino ester and amide derivatives with multiple stereocenters.

The synthesis of some novel functionalized fused-ring ß-amino lactones and lactams with multiple chiral centers has been attempted from readily available strained bicyclic ß-amino acids via a stereocontrolled synthetic route. The key step was ring-rearrangement metathesis of allyl/propargyl esters or N-allylated/N-propargylated amides of (oxa)norbornene ß-amino acids. The RRM transformations [ring-opening metathesis (ROM)/ring-closing metathesis (RCM) or ring-opening metathesis (ROM)/ring-closing enyne metathesis (RCEYM)] have been investigated using some commercially available catalysts. Importantly, the procedure used in this synthetic process does not affect the configurations of the chiral centers. This means that the structure of the starting (oxa)norbornene ß-amino acids predetermines the configuration of the formed products.

The synthesis of pharmacologically important oxindoles via the asymmetric aldol reaction of isatin and the investigation of the organocatalytic activity of new alicyclic ß-amino acid derivatives.

This work involves the synthesis and subsequent development of a number of novel organocatalysts generated from ß-amino acids bearing diendo and diexo norbornene skeletons to improve their catalytic characteristics. The aldol reaction between isatin and acetone selected as the model reaction, was used to test and study enantioselectivities. The potential impact on enantioselectivity control regarding enantiomeric excess (ee%) was probed by varying the reaction parameters, such as additive, solvent, catalyst loading, temperature and substrate range. The corresponding 3-hydroxy-3-alkyl-2-oxindole derivetives were produced by organocatalyst 7 with good enantioselectivity up to 57% ee in the presence of LiOH. Substrate screening was used to investigate a number of substituted isatins with excellent findings up to 99% ee. Another aspect of this effort involved employing high-speed ball mill apparatus to conduct a mechanochemical study to make this model reaction more environmentally benign and sustainable.

Recent Progress in Aryltrifluoromethylation Reactions of Carbon-Carbon Multiple Bonds.

Due to the increasing relevance of fluorine-containing organic molecules in drug design, the synthesis of organofluorine compounds has gained high significance in synthetic organic chemistry. Trifluoromethylative difunctionalizations of carbon-carbon multiple bonds, with the simultaneous incorporation of a CF3 group and another functional element, have considerable potential. Because of the high importance of carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions in organic synthesis, carbotrifluoromethylations and, in particular, aryltrifluoromethylations or heteroaryltrifluoromethylations are considered to be increasing fields of synthetic organic chemistry. The aim of the current review is to summarize recent developments of aryltrifluoromethylation or heteroaryltrifluoromethylation reactions.

Selective Transformation of Norbornadiene into Functionalized Azaheterocycles and ß-Amino Esters with Stereo- and Regiocontrol.

Novel functionalized azaheterocycles with multiple chiral centers have been accessed from readily available norbornene ß-amino acids or ß-lactams across a stereocontrolled synthetic route, based on ring-opening metathesis (ROM) of the staring unsaturated bicyclic amino esters, followed by selective cyclization through ring-closing metathesis (RCM). The RCM transformations have been studied under various experimental conditions to assess the scope of conversion, catalyst, yield, and substrate influence. The structure of the starting norbornene ß-amino acids predetermined the structure of the new azaheterocycles, and the developed synthetic route took place with the conservation of the configuration of the chiral centers.

A study on selective transformation of norbornadiene into fluorinated cyclopentane-fused isoxazolines.

This work presents an examination of the selective functionalization of norbornadiene through nitrile oxide 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition/ring-opening metathesis (ROM)/cross-metathesis (CM) protocols. Functionalization of commercially available norbornadiene provided novel bicyclic scaffolds with multiple stereogenic centers. The synthesis involved selective cycloadditions, with subsequent ROM of the formed cycloalkene-fused isoxazoline scaffolds and selective CM by chemodifferentiation of the olefin bonds of the resulting alkenylated derivatives. Various experimental conditions were applied for the CM transformations with the goal of exploring substrate and steric effects, catalyst influence and chemodifferentiation of the olefin bonds furnishing the corresponding functionalized, fluorine-containing isoxazoline derivatives.

Diversity-oriented Functionalization of Cyclodienes Through Selective Cycloaddition/Ring-opening/Cross-metathesis Protocols; Transformation of a "Flatland" into Three-dimensional Scaffolds With Stereo- and Regiocontrol.

This article presents selective transformations of some readily available cyclodienes through simple chemical procedures into novel functionalized small-molecular entities. The syntheses hereby described involved selective cycloadditions, followed by ring-opening metathesis of the resulting ß-lactam or isoxazoline derivatives and selective cross-metathesis by differentiation of the olefin bonds on the alkenylated heterocycles. The cross-metathesis transformations have been detailed, which were performed under various experimental conditions with the aim of exploring chemodiscrimination of the olefin bonds and delivering the corresponding functionalized ß-lactam or isoxazoline derivatives.