Synthesis of 2,2-Dialkyl Chromanes by Intramolecular Ullmann C-O Coupling Reactions toward the Total Synthesis of D-α-Tocopherol.

The complete synthesis of D-α-tocopherol was achieved using our developed-Ullmann C-O coupling reaction as a key reaction. The synthesis of the core structure of D-α-tocopherol, which is a chiral chromane, has never been reported using intramolecular Ullmann C-O coupling reactions owing to the low reactivity of electron-rich iodoarenes with tertiary alcohols. Because the developed intramolecular C-O coupling reactions prefer electron-rich iodoarenes with tertiary alcohols, we successfully synthesized the chiral chromane core and achieved the total synthesis of D-α-tocopherol.

Chiral Calcium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Epoxidation Reactions Using Hydrogen Peroxide as the Terminal Oxidant.

Asymmetric epoxidation reactions of chalcone derivatives catalyzed by chiral calcium complexes using hydrogen peroxide were developed. The epoxidation reactions proceeded smoothly to afford the desired products in good yields with good enantioselectivities. This is the first example of chiral calcium-catalyzed asymmetric epoxidation reactions using hydrogen peroxide as the terminal oxidant.

Total Synthesis of GKK1032A2 via Direct 13-Membered Macrocyclization Using a Nucleophilic Aromatic Substitution of an (η6 -Arene)Chromium Complex.

The first enantioselective total synthesis of GKK1032A2 has been achieved. The key step is a direct construction of the highly strained 13-membered macrocycle of GKK1032A2 by an intramolecular nucleophilic aromatic substitution (SN Ar) reaction. This is the first successful example of construction of a macrocycle with an aryl ether linkage utilizing an intramolecular SN Ar reaction of an (η6 -arene)chromium complex.

Synthesis of Nitro-Containing Compounds through Multistep Continuous Flow with Heterogeneous Catalysts.

Synthesis of ß-nitrostyrene derivatives and their following reactions through two-step continuous-flow protocols with heterogeneous catalysts are described. In the first step to provide ß-nitrostyrenes from aromatic aldehydes and nitromethane, readily available amino-functionalized silica gel was employed as a catalyst and gave the products continuously for at least 100 h with high selectivity. In the second step, reactions of ß-nitrostyrenes, solid bases, immobilized bases, solid acids, and chiral supported metals and nonmetals were used as catalysts, and seven kinds of nitro-containing organic compounds could be effectively synthesized through the two-step continuous-flow systems.

Calcium-catalyzed asymmetric synthesis of 3-tetrasubstituted oxindoles: efficient construction of adjacent quaternary and tertiary chiral centers.

Chiral Ca-catalyzed asymmetric addition reactions of 3-substituted oxindoles with N-Boc-imines afford 3-tetrasubstituted oxindole derivatives bearing adjacent quaternary and tertiary chiral centers, which are key structures for biological activities. Ubiquitous and nontoxic Ca catalysts (1-10 mol %) work well in this reaction, and high yields (up to 99%) and selectivities (up to >99% ee) of the products with wide substrate scope have been attained. The structures of the chiral Ca catalysts and intermediary Ca enolates are also discussed.

Multistep continuous-flow synthesis of (R)- and (S)-rolipram using heterogeneous catalysts.

Chemical manufacturing is conducted using either batch systems or continuous-flow systems. Flow systems have several advantages over batch systems, particularly in terms of productivity, heat and mixing efficiency, safety, and reproducibility. However, for over half a century, pharmaceutical manufacturing has used batch systems because the synthesis of complex molecules such as drugs has been difficult to achieve with continuous-flow systems. Here we describe the continuous-flow synthesis of drugs using only columns packed with heterogeneous catalysts. Commercially available starting materials were successively passed through four columns containing achiral and chiral heterogeneous catalysts to produce (R)-rolipram, an anti-inflammatory drug and one of the family of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) derivatives. In addition, simply by replacing a column packed with a chiral heterogeneous catalyst with another column packed with the opposing enantiomer, we obtained antipole (S)-rolipram. Similarly, we also synthesized (R)-phenibut, another drug belonging to the GABA family. These flow systems are simple and stable with no leaching of metal catalysts. Our results demonstrate that multistep (eight steps in this case) chemical transformations for drug synthesis can proceed smoothly under flow conditions using only heterogeneous catalysts, without the isolation of any intermediates and without the separation of any catalysts, co-products, by-products, and excess reagents. We anticipate that such syntheses will be useful in pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Asymmetric carbon-carbon bond formation under continuous-flow conditions with chiral heterogeneous catalysts.

Catalytic asymmetric carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions provide one of the most efficient ways to synthesize optically active compounds, and, accordingly, many chiral catalysts for these reactions have been developed in the past two decades. However, the efficiency of the catalysts in terms of turnover number (TON) is often lower than that of some other reactions, such as asymmetric hydrogenation, and this has been one of the obstacles for industrial applications. Although there are some difficulties in increasing the efficiency, the issues might be solved by using continuous flow in the presence of chiral heterogeneous catalysts. Indeed, continuous-flow systems have several advantages over conventional batch systems. Here we summarize the recent progress in asymmetric C-C bond-forming reactions under continuous-flow conditions with chiral heterogeneous catalysts.

Chiral calcium iodide for asymmetric Mannich-type reactions of malonates with imines providing ß-aminocarbonyl compounds.

Out of the pybox: We have developed a novel chiral calcium iodide catalyst from CaI2 and a pybox that is stable under moisture and oxygen. This catalyst was applied to catalytic asymmetric Mannich-type reactions of malonates with both N-Boc-protected aromatic and aliphatic imines, and resulted in moderate to high yields with high enantioselectivities. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of highly enantioselective metal-catalyzed asymmetric Mannich-type reactions of malonates with N-Boc-protected aliphatic imines. The Mannich adduct was successfully converted into the α-hydroxy ß-amino acid derivative. We have also shown the unique structure of the chiral Ca complexes with malonates.

Toward efficient asymmetric carbon-carbon bond formation: continuous flow with chiral heterogeneous catalysts.

A chiral Ca catalyst based on CaCl(2) with a chiral ligand was developed and applied to the asymmetric 1,4-addition of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds to nitroalkenes as a model system. To address product inhibition issues, the Ca catalyst was applied to continuous flow with a chiral heterogeneous catalyst. The continuous flow system using a newly synthesized, polymer-supported Pybox was successfully employed, and the TON was improved 25-fold compared with those of the previous Ca(OR)(2) catalysts.

Asymmetric mannich reaction of malonates with imines catalyzed by a chiral calcium complex.

A chiral calcium complex was found to be effective for the Mannich reactions of malonates with N-Boc imines. The desired adducts were obtained in excellent yields (up to 95%) with moderate to good enantioselectivities (up to 77% ee).

Development of catalytic asymmetric 1,4-addition and [3 + 2] cycloaddition reactions using chiral calcium complexes.

Catalytic asymmetric 1,4-addition and [3 + 2] cycloaddition reactions using chiral calcium species prepared from calcium isopropoxide and chiral bisoxazoline ligands have been developed. Glycine Schiff bases reacted with acrylic esters to afford 1,4-addition products, glutamic acid derivatives, in high yields with high enantioselectivities. During the investigation of the 1,4-addition reactions, we unexpectedly found that a [3 + 2] cycloaddition occurred in the reactions with crotonate derivatives, affording substituted pyrrolidine derivatives in high yields with high enantioselectivities. On the basis of this finding, we investigated asymmetric [3 + 2] cycloadditions, and it was revealed that several kinds of optically active substituted pyrrolidine derivatives containing contiguous stereogenic tertiary and quaternary carbon centers were obtained with high diastereo- and enantioselectivities. In addition, optically active pyrrolidine cores of hepatitis C virus RNA-dependent polymerase inhibitors and potential effective antiviral agents have been synthesized using this [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction. NMR spectroscopic analysis and observation of nonamplification of enantioselectivity in nonlinear effect experiments suggested that a monomeric calcium species with an anionic ligand was formed as an active catalyst. A stepwise mechanism of the [3 + 2] cycloaddition, consisting of 1,4-addition and successive intramolecular Mannich-type reaction was suggested. Furthermore, modification of the Schiff base structure resulted in a modification of the reaction course from a [3 + 2] cycloaddition to a 1,4-addition, affording 3-substituted glutamic acid derivatives with high diasterero- and enantioselectivities.

Synthesis of new UV-B light absorbents: (Acetylphenyl)glycosides with antioxidant activities.

m-Acetylphenyl-beta-d-glucopyranosides and m-acetylphenyl-alpha/beta-d-mannopyranosides were synthesized by the Koenigs-Knorr, Mitsunobu, and Helferich reactions as key glycosylation reactions, respectively. Their spectroscopic properties and antioxidative activities were characterized as potential ultraviolet B-ray absorbents.

Calcium-catalyzed diastereo- and enantioselective 1,4-addition of glycine derivatives to alpha,beta-unsaturated esters.

The first highly diastereo- and enantioselective catalytic asymmetric 1,4-addition reactions of a glycine Schiff base to beta-substituted alpha,beta-unsaturated esters have been developed. The reaction pathway was successfully controlled, and the desired 1,4-addition products were exclusively obtained with high enantioselectivities. The product obtained was converted to a 3-substituted glutamic acid derivative by acid hydrolysis.

Direct-type catalytic Mannich reactions of amides with imines.

Direct-type catalytic Mannich reactions of amides with imines proceeded smoothly using barium phenoxide as a catalyst to afford the desired adducts in high yields with high anti selectivities.