Asymmetric epoxidation racemic synthesis

Chiral epoxides and their corresponding vicinal diols are very important intermediates in asymmetric synthesis [163]. Chiral nonracemic epoxides can be obtained through asymmetric epoxidation using either chemical catalysts [164] or enzymes [165-167]. Biocatalytic epoxidations require sophisticated techniques and have thus far found limited application. An alternative approach is the asymmetric hydrolysis of racemic or meso-epoxides using transition-metal catalysts [168] or biocatalysts [169-174]. Epoxide hydrolases (EHs) (EC 3.3.2.3) catalyze the conversion of epoxides to their corresponding vicinal diols. EHs are cofactor-independent enzymes that are almost ubiquitous in nature. They are usually employed as whole cells or crude... 

Related catalytic enantioselective processes It is worthy of note that the powerful Ti-catalyzed asymmetric epoxidation procedure of Sharpless [27] is often used in the preparation of optically pure acyclic allylic alcohols through the catalytic kinetic resolution of easily accessible racemic mixtures [28]. When the catalytic epoxidation is applied to cyclic allylic substrates, reaction rates are retarded and lower levels of enantioselectivity are observed. Ru-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation has been employed by Noyori to effect the resolution of five- and six-membered allylic carbinols [29] in this instance, as with the Ti-catalyzed procedure, the presence of an unprotected hydroxyl function is required. Perhaps the most efficient general procedure for the enantioselective synthesis of this class of cyclic allylic ethers is that recently developed by Trost and co-workers, involving Pd-catalyzed asymmetric additions of alkoxides to allylic esters [30]. 

Spino and Frechette reported the synthesis of non-racemic allenic alcohol 168 by a combination of Shi s asymmetric epoxidation of 166 and its organocopper-mediat-ed ring-opening reaction (Scheme 4.43) [74]. Reduction of the ethynyl epoxide 169 with DIBAL-H stereoselectively gave the allenic alcohol 170, which was converted to mimulaxanthin 171 (Scheme 4.44) [75] (cf. Section 18.2.2). The DIBAL-H reduction was also applied in the conversion of 173 to the allene 174, which was a synthetic intermediate for peridinine 175 (Scheme 4.45) [76], The SN2 reduction of ethynyl epoxide 176 with DIBAL-H gave 177 (Scheme 4.46) [77]. 

The epoxy alcohol 47 is a squalene oxide analog that has been used to examine substrate specificity in enzymatic cyclizations by baker s yeast [85], The epoxy alcohol 48 provided an optically active intermediate used in the synthesis of 3,6-epoxyauraptene and marmine [86], and epoxy alcohol 49 served as an intermediate in the synthesis of the antibiotic virantmycin [87], In the synthesis of the three stilbene oxides 50, 51, and 52, the presence of an o-chloro group in the 2-phenyl ring resulted in a lower enantiomeric purity (70% ee) when compared with the analogs without this chlorine substituent [88a]. The very efficient (80% yield, 96% ee) formation of 52a by asymmetric epoxidation of the allylic alcohol precursor offers a synthetic entry to optically active 11 -deoxyanthracyclinones [88b], whereas epoxy alcohol 52b is one of several examples of asymmetric epoxidation used in the synthesis of brevitoxin precursors [88c]. Diastereomeric epoxy alcohols 54 and 55 are obtained in combined 90% yield (>95% ee each) from epoxidation of the racemic alcohol 53 [89], Diastereomeric epoxy alcohols, 57 and 58, also are obtained with high enantiomeric purity in the epoxidation of 56 [44]. The epoxy alcohol obtained from substrate 59 undergoes further intramolecular cyclization with stereospecific formation of the cyclic ether 60 [90]. 

In the example of the asymmetric epoxidation of olefins, enzymes, synthetic catalysts, and catalytic antibodies have been compared side-by-side with respect to performance in chemical synthesis (Jacobsen, 1994). Epoxidation of olefins is a reaction of considerable industrial interest where, historically, enzymes have not performed extremely well. One reason is the dependence of the enantiomeric purity of the diol and epoxide products on the regiospecificity of the attack on the racemic epoxide by a water molecule (Figure 20.1). 

A Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation features in a synthesis of (S)-chromanethanol (15). In the key cyclisation step, the absolute configuration of the diol is retained by a double inversion (95SL1255). trans-6-Cyano-2,2-dimethylchroman-3,4-diol is obtained from the racemic diol with excellent optical purity by the stereoselective acylation using Candida cylindraceae lipase (95TA123). 

An intramolecular diastereoselective Refor-matsky-type aldol approach was demonstrated by Taylor et al. [47] with an Sm(II)-mediated cy-clization of the chiral bromoacetate 60, resulting in lactone 61, also an intermediate in the synthesis of Schinzer s building block 7. The alcohol oxidation state at C5 in 61 avoided retro-reaction and at the same time was used for induction, with the absolute stereochemistry originating from enzymatic resolution (Scheme II). Direct re.solution of racemic C3 alcohol was also tried with an esterase adapted by directed evolution [48]. In other, somewhat more lengthy routes to CI-C6 building blocks, Shibasaki et al. used a catalytic asymmetric aldol reaction with heterobimetallic asymmetric catalysts [49], and Kalesse et al. used a Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation [50]. 

Asymmetric ylide reactions such as epoxidation, cyclopropanation, aziridination, [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement and alkenation can be carried out with chiral ylide (reagent-controlled asymmetric induction) or a chiral C=X compound (substrate-controlled asymmetric epoxidations). Non-racemic epoxides are significant intermediates in the synthesis of, for instance, pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. 

Preparation. A number of methods have been reported for both the racemic and asymmetric preparations of l-amino-2,3-dihydro-lH-inden-2-ol (1), most commonly starting from inexpensive and readily available indene. These methods have been described in detail in recent reviews. The valuable properties of 1 as both a component of a medicinally active compound and as a chirality control element, derive primarily from its rigid and well-defined stereochemical structure. As a result, the compound is most desirable in enantiomerically pure form. One of the most efficient asymmetric syntheses of 1, which may be employed for the synthesis of either enantiomer of the target molecule, involves an asymmetric epoxidation (89% yield, 88% ee) of indene to give epoxide 2 using the well-established Jacobsen catalyst. This is followed by a Ritter reaction using oleum in acetonitrile resulting in conversion to the oxazoline (3) which is subsequently hydrolysed to the amino alcohol. Fractional crystallization with a homochiral diacid permits purification to >99% ee (eq 1). ... 

A simple, divergent, asymmetric synthesis of the four stereomers of the 3-amino-2,3,6-trideoxy-L-hexose family has been proposed by Dai and co-workers [523] which is based on the Katsuki-Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation of allylic alcohols ( )-408. iV-Trifluoroacetyl-L-daunosamine, A-trifluoro acetyl-L-acosamine, A-benzoyl-D-acosamine, and A-benzoyl-D-nitrosamine have been derived from methyl sorbate via the methyl 4,5-epoxy-( )-hex-2-enoates obtained via a chemoenzymatic method [524]. Application of the Katsuki-Sharpless enantioselective epoxidation to racemic mono-O-benzylated divinylglycol has allowed us to prepare enantiomerically pure L-lyxo and D-/yro-pentoses and analogs [525,526,527, 528],... 

Asymmetric epoxidation is applied to the synthesis of the novel ferroelectric liquid crystals 99 that have the chiral trans-2, >-e, o y hexyl group as a core moiety (Scheme 31). The (25, 35 )-epoxy alcohol 98, conveniently obtained in 86% ee, is transformed into the desired material in two steps [99]. A formal synthesis of Brefeldin A (102), which shows a variety of biological activity represented by antitumor, antifungal, and antiviral activity, is accomplished via a highly enantioselective intramolecular hydroacylation of racemic pentanal 100 with 0.9 % of cationic Rh[(S)-binap] BF4. A 1 1 mixture of trans- and cis-cyclopentanones 101 is obtained with a high enantiomeric excess of 96% for each (Scheme 32). In the following step, the undesired cw-isomer is converted into the thermodynamically favored tran -isomer for further transformation [100]. 

E. Da Palma Carreiro, G. Young-En, A. J. Burke, Approaches towards catalytic asymmetric epoxidations with methyltrioxorhenium(VII) (MTO) Synthesis and evaluation of chiral non-racemic 2-substituted pyridines, J. Mol. Cat. A.. Chem. 235, 285-292 (2005). 

Kinetic resolution of secondary allylic alcohols by Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation using fert-butylhydroperoxide in the presence of a chiral titanium-tartrate catalyst has been widely used in the synthesis of chiral natural products. As an extension of this synthetic procedure, the kinetic resolution of a-(2-furfuryl)alkylamides with a modified Sharpless reagent has been used . Thus treatment of racemic A-p-toluenesulphonyl-a-(2-furfuryl)ethylamine [( )-74] with fert-butylhydroperoxide, titanium isopropoxide [Ti(OPr-/)4], calcium hydride (CaHa), silica gel and L-(+)-diisopropyl tartrate [l-(+)-DIPT] gave (S)-Al-p-toluenesulphonyl-a-(2-furfuryl)ethylamine [(S)-74] in high chemical yield and enantiomeric excess . Similarly prepared were the (S)-Al-p-toluenesulphonyl-a-(2-furfuryl)-n-propylamine and other homologues of (S)-74 using l-(+)-D1PT. When D-(—)-DIPT was used, the enantiomers were formed . ... 

Efaroxan, an a2 adrenoreceptor antagonist, could be used for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer and Parkinson), migraine and type II diabetes. Therefore, the total syntheses of ( + )-efaroxan and their derivatives have drawn much attention.The chiral 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran carboxylic acid 135, the direct precursor of (+ )-efaroxan, was obtained mainly from the resolution of racemic 135. Coelho el al. have reported a straightforward enantioselective synthesis of i -( + )-2-ethyl-2,3-dihydrofuran-2-carboxylic acid (135) achieved by a Sharpless-Katsuki asymmetric epoxidation reaction (Scheme 5.22). The dihydrobenzofuran acid 135 was obtained in seven steps from MBH adduct 136 in an overall yield of 17%. 

In 1980, K. B. Sharpless (then at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, presently at The Scripps Research Institute) and co-workers reported a method that has since become one of the most valuable tools for ohiral synthesis. The Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation is a method for converting allylic alcohols (Section 11.1) to chiral epoxy alcohols with very high enantioselectivity (I. e., with preference for one enantiomer rather than formation of a racemic mixture). In recognition of this and other work in asymmetric oxidation methods (see Section 8.16A), Sharpless received half of the 2001 Nobel Prize in Chemistry (the other half was awarded to W. S. Knowles and R. Noyori see Section 7.14). The Sharpless asymmetric ep-... 

The Sharpless asymmetric epoxidations (SAEs) have been used in many cases for the synthesis of enantiopure 5,6-dihydropyrones, both in the direct mode, the conversion of a prochiral olefin into an enantioenriched epoxide, and in the kinetic resolution mode, which involves the selective epoxidation of one of the enantiomers in a racemic olefin. For example, a very recent synthesis of a natural pyrone isolated... 

As an application of the modified conditions, the asymmetric synthesis of (7 )-fiuoxetine was demonstrated (Scheme 35.28). Fluoxetine is an antidepressant drug and currently marketed as a racemate. Asymmetric epoxidation of amide 101 under Shibasaki s conditions provided epoxide 102 in 91% yield and 99% ee. Subsequent regionselec-tive reduction with Red-Al in the presence of a crown ether afforded the (3-hydoxyl amide 103, which was converted into (/ )-fluoxetine 104 in two steps. °... 

Enzymatic hydrolysis of A/-acylamino acids by amino acylase and amino acid esters by Hpase or carboxy esterase (70) is one kind of kinetic resolution. Kinetic resolution is found in chemical synthesis such as by epoxidation of racemic allyl alcohol and asymmetric hydrogenation (71). New routes for amino acid manufacturing are anticipated. 

Racemic 5-methyl-5 -(sodiomethyl)-A-(4-methylphenylsulfonyl)sulfoximine reacts with ketones to give an initial methylene transfer which produces an intermediate epoxide that is ring expanded to the oxctanc56. Application to 4-rerf-butylcyclohexanonc affords a single oxetane in 69% yield. While only achiral alkylidcne transfer reagents were utilized, in principle this reaction is amenable to the asymmetric synthesis of oxetanes. 

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