A Multidimensional Diversity-Oriented Synthesis Strategy for Structurally Diverse and Complex Macrocycles.

Synthetic macrocycles are an attractive area in drug discovery. However, their use has been hindered by a lack of versatile platforms for the generation of structurally (and thus shape) diverse macrocycle libraries. Herein, we describe a new concept in library synthesis, termed multidimensional diversity-oriented synthesis, and its application towards macrocycles. This enabled the step-efficient generation of a library of 45 novel, structurally diverse, and highly-functionalized macrocycles based around a broad range of scaffolds and incorporating a wide variety of biologically relevant structural motifs. The synthesis strategy exploited the diverse reactivity of aza-ylides and imines, and featured eight different macrocyclization methods, two of which were novel. Computational analyses reveal a broad coverage of molecular shape space by the library and provides insight into how the various diversity-generating steps of the synthesis strategy impact on molecular shape.

A strategy for the diversity-oriented synthesis of macrocyclic scaffolds using multidimensional coupling.

A prerequisite for successful screening campaigns in drug discovery or chemical genetics is the availability of structurally and thus functionally diverse compound libraries. Diversity-oriented synthesis (DOS) provides strategies for the generation of such libraries, of which the build/couple/pair (B/C/P) algorithm is the most frequently used. We have developed an advanced B/C/P strategy that incorporates multidimensional coupling. In this approach, structural diversity is not only defined by the nature of the building blocks employed, but also by the linking motif installed during the coupling reaction. We applied this step-efficient approach in a DOS of a library that consisted of 73 macrocyclic compounds based around 59 discrete scaffolds. The macrocycles prepared cover a broad range of different molecular shapes, as illustrated by principal moment-of-inertia analysis. This demonstrates the capability of the advanced B/C/P strategy using multidimensional coupling for the preparation of structurally diverse compound collections.

Sc(OTf)3-catalyzed diastereoselective Friedel-Crafts reactions of arenes and hetarenes with 3-phenylglycidates.

Five different para-substituted 3-phenylglycidates (3-phenyloxirane-2-carboxylates) were prepared and subjected to reactions with arenes and hetarenes under Lewis acid catalysis. Sc(OTf)(3) was found to effectively (5 mol%) promote a Friedel-Crafts reaction in nitromethane as the solvent. The reaction was shown to proceed stereoconvergently, which makes the intermediacy of a benzylic cation likely. The diastereoselectivities varied depending on the choice of the nucleophile and 3-arylglycidate. Best results were obtained with tert-butyl 3-anisylglycidate, which delivered the respective products with high syn-preference in diastereomeric ratios (d.r.) between 82 : 18 and >95 : 5. The observed selectivity can be explained by a model, according to which the intermediate benzylic cations adopt a preferred conformation, which allows for diastereoface-differentiation by the adjacent stereogenic center.

S(N)1-type substitution reactions of N-protected ß-hydroxytyrosine esters: stereoselective synthesis of ß-aryl and ß-alkyltyrosines.

The title compounds were prepared by aldol reaction of anisaldehyde and the respective N,N-dibenzyl glycinates. Deprotection of the nitrogen atom with Pearlman's catalyst delivered the unprotected ß-hydroxytyrosine esters, which were further N-protected as N,N-phthaloyl (Phth) and N-fluorenylmethylcarbonyloxy (Fmoc) derivatives. The Friedel-Crafts reaction with various arenes was studied employing these alcohols as electrophiles. It turned out that the facial diastereoselectivitiy depends on the nitrogen protecting group and on the ester group. The unprotected substrates (NH(2)) gave preferentially syn-products but the anti-selectivity increased when going from NHFmoc over NPhth to NBn(2). If the ester substituent was varied the syn-preference increased in the order Me < Et < iPr. The reactions were shown to be fully stereoconvergent and proceeded under kinetic product control. A model is suggested to explain the facial diastereoselectivity based on a conformationally locked benzylic cation intermediate. The reactions are preparatively useful for the N-unprotected isopropyl ester, which gave Friedel-Crafts alkylation products with good syn-selectivity (anti/syn=21:79 to 7:93), and for the N,N-dibenzyl-protected methyl ester, which led preferentially to anti-products (anti/syn=80:20 to >95:5). Upon acetylation of the latter compound to the respective acetate, Bi(OTf)(3) -catalyzed alkylation reactions became possible, in which silyl enol ethers served as nucleophiles. The respective alkylation products were obtained in high yield and with excellent anti-selectivitiy (anti/syn≥95:5).