Cyclohexenylboration of Aldehydes and Ketones with the Borabicyclo[3.3.2]decanes (BBDs).

Asymmetric hydroboration of 1,3-cyclohexadiene with 4R produces the allylborane 5RR as essentially a single diastereomer (i.e., no observable 5RS), and its addition to representative aldehydes provides 9RS (52-75%) with excellent selectivity (94-99% ee). By contrast, a similar sequence with the 10-Ph-BBD reagent, 14R, results in a ca. 45:55 mixture of 15RR and 15RS. However, their addition to methyl ketones provides the corresponding 3°-homoallylic alcohols (18RS) with excellent selectivity (80-99% ee) but in low yields (15-52%) because 15RS is unreactive toward either allylboration or isomerization to 15RR. Thus, with 2 equiv of 15, the yield of 18 (R = Ph) is increased from 52% to 85%. Boranes 5SS and 15SS provide enantiomeric alcohols.

9-Borabicyclo[3.3.2]decanes and the asymmetric hydroboration of 1,1-disubstituted alkenes.

The syntheses of the optically pure asymmetric hydroborating agents 1 (a, R = Ph; b, R = TMS) in both enantiomeric forms are reported. These reagents are effective for the hydroboration of cis-, trans- and trisubstituted alkenes. More significantly, they exhibit unprecedented levels of selectivity in the asymmetric hydroboration of 1,1-disubstituted alkenes (28-92% ee), a previously unanswered challenge in the nearly 50 year history of this reagent-controlled process. For example, the hydroboration of alpha-methylstyrene with 1a produces the corresponding alcohol 6f in 78% ee (cf., Ipc2BH, 5% ee). Suzuki coupling of the intermediate adducts 5 produces the nonracemic products 7 very effectively (50-84%) without loss of optical purity.

A 1,3,2-oxazaborolidine dimer derived from (S)-alpha,alpha-diphenylprolinol.

The reaction of (S)-alpha,alpha-diphenylprolinol with an excess of borane-tetrahydrofuran complex yields a stable crystalline material with the composition C34H38B2N2O2, which features a borane adduct of a spirocyclic structure with two oxazaborolidine rings joined by a central tetrahedral B atom. This dimeric oxazaborolidine complex, viz. 3,3,3',3'-tetraphenyl-1,1'-spirobi(3a,4,5,6-tetrahydro-3H-pyrrolo[1,2-c][1,3,2]oxazaborole)-7-borane, is the dominant product under various reaction conditions; its crystal structure is consistent with 11B, 1H and 13C NMR and IR analyses.

Efficient synthesis of B-alkylated oxazaborolidines derived from ephedrine and norephedrine.

[reaction: see text] Representative B-butyl- and B-methyl-1,3,2-oxazaborolidines derived from ephedrine and norephedrine were prepared in good yield and excellent purity by one-pot treatment of B-H oxazaborolidines with the corresponding organolithium reagent and subsequent hydrolysis of the cyclic borohydride intermediate with anhydrous ammonium chloride.

Unusual Terpenes with Novel Carbon Skeletons from the West Indian Sea Whip Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae (Octocorallia)(1).

From the hexane solubles of the West Indian gorgonian Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae collected near San Andrés Island, Colombia, were isolated a marine diterpenoid, two nor-diterpenoids, and a bisnor-diterpenoid, all of which possess most unusual carbocyclic skeletons. The structures and relative configurations of novel metabolites elisabethins A-C (1-3) and elisabanolide (4) were elucidated by interpretation of overall spectral data, which included 2D NMR correlation methods; IR, UV, and accurate mass measurements (HREIMS); chemical reactions; and X-ray diffraction analyses. One of these, elisabethin B (2), showed significant differential antitumor activity, and compounds 3 and 4 have weak in vitro antituberculosis activity.