Asymmetric synthesis absolute configuration determination

A series of benzylnitramines were prepared by either nitration of the carbamates or N-alkylation of nitrourethane, followed by ammonolysis. These represent one-phenylnitramines, known broadleaf herbicides. Nastic responses and growth inhibition observed for this class suggested similarity to the auxin type herbicides. To determine if die preference for the (R) -configuration extended to nitramines, l-(2 6 -dichlorophenethyl)nitramine was resolved and the absolute configuration determined by asymmetric synthesis. A comparison of the (+) and (-) isomers in herbicidal and in vitro assays was performed and the results are discussed. 

On the other hand, optically active telluroxides have not been isolated until recently, although it has been surmised that they are key intermediates in asymmetric synthesis.3,4 In 1997, optically active telluroxides 3, stabilized by bulky substituents toward racemization, were isolated for the first time by liquid chromatography on optically active columns.13,14 The stereochemistry was determined by comparing their chiroptical properties with those of chiral selenoxides with known absolute configurations. The stability of the chiral telluroxides toward racemization was found to be lower than that of the corresponding selenoxides, and the racemization mechanism that involved formation of the achiral hydrate by reaction of water was also clarified. Telluroxides 4 and 5, which were thermodynamically stabilized by nitrogen-tellurium interactions, were also optically resolved and their absolute configurations and stability were studied (Scheme 2).12,14... 

It is always advisable to examine the complete molecular topology in the neighborhood of the chiral carbon atom and to confirm the results by employing another analytical method before the final assignment. In conclusion, Prelog s rule does predict the steric course of an asymmetric synthesis carried out with a chiral a-keto ester, and the predictions have been found to be correct in most cases. Indeed, this method has been widely used for determining the absolute configuration of secondary alcohols. 

This chapter has provided a general introduction to stereochemistry, the nomenclature for chiral systems, the determination of enantiomer composition and the determination of absolute configuration. As the focus of this volume is asymmetric synthesis, the coming chapters provide details of the asymmetric syntheses of different chiral molecules. 

Although many previous reviews (5-12) and literature compilations (13-16) have dealt with sulfur stereochemistry, we decided to write a new report on chiral sulfur compounds to provide a survey of the topic with emphasis on the most recent findings. This chapter consists of four major parts treating syntheses of chiral sulfur compounds, methods for determination of their absolute configuration and optical purity, the dynamic stereochemistry of organosulfur compounds, and the use of chiral sulfur compounds in asymmetric synthesis. 

The stereospecific conversion of sulfinates into sulfoxides of known chirality has been applied as a general method for determining the absolute configuration of a wide range of optically active sulfinic esters. For example, the absolute configurations of a series of alkyl alkanesulfinates obtained by asymmetric synthesis (107) or resolution via 3-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes (106) were determined by this method. 

Organosulfur chemistry is presently a particularly dynamic subject area. The stereochemical aspects of this field are surveyed by M. Mikojajczyk and J. Drabowicz. in the fifth chapter, entitled Qural Organosulfur Compounds. The synthesis, resolution, and application of a wide range of chiral sulfur compounds are described as are the determination of absolute configuration and of enantiomeric purity of these substances. A discussion of the dynamic stereochemistry of chiral sulfur compounds including racemization processes follows. Finally, nucleophilic substitution on and reaction of such compounds with electrophiles, their use in asymmetric synthesis, and asymmetric induction in the transfer of chirality from sulfur to other centers is discussed in a chapter that should be of interest to chemists in several disciplines, in particular synthetic and natural product chemistry. 

Swainsonine is a trihydroxylated bicyclic indolizidine alkaloid with four chiral centres, whose relative stereochemistry was determined by X-ray crystallographic analysis and the absolute configuration was deduced on the basis of biosynthetic and asymmetric induction studies, and then confirmed by an enantiospecific synthesis from D-mannose [2a]. 

The above-mentioned facts have important consequences on the stereochemical outcome of the kinetic resolution of asymmetrically substituted epoxides. In the majority of kinetic resolutions of esters (e.g. by ester hydrolysis and synthesis using lipases, esterases and proteases) the absolute configuration at the stereogenic centre(s) always remains the same throughout the reaction. In contrast, the enzymatic hydrolysis of epoxides may take place via attack on either carbon of the oxirane ring (Scheme 7) and it is the structure of the substrate and of the enzyme involved which determine the regioselec-tivity of the attack [53, 58-611. As a consequence, the absolute configuration of both the product and substrate from a kinetic resolution of a racemic... 

Cyclic mew-configurated 1,2-dicarboxylic acid dimethyl esters are excellent substrates for pig liver esterase90. Cyclopropanedicarboxylales have been studied not only for synthetic reasons, but also so that an active-site and/or substrate model of pig liver may be developed13 5. The results obtained, compounds 11-17, are a good demonstration of the scope and limitation of PLE in asymmetric synthesis. Enantiomeric excesses of the monoesters can be determined by conversion into the amides with (S)-l-phenylethylamine and analysis either by GC or H-NMR spectroscopy, whereas the absolute configuration rests on chemical correlation. 

Neonepetalactone, 61 (Fig. 1.2.3), a bioactive compound found to be quite attractive to cats [41], was isolated in 1965 from the leaves and galls of Actinidia polygama by T. Sakan et al. and its absolute configuration was determined in 1980 [41b]. As some syntheses of the racemic mixture or ex-chiral-pool syntheses had already been reported, we realized that our SAMP/RAMP hydrazone methodology would make it possible to develop a very short asymmetric synthesis of this bioactive 8-lactone. 

Amide-linked catenanes and rotaxanes can play a major role in the study of rare forms of chirality, e.g. topological chirality and cycloenantiomerism [60]. Resolution of enantiomeric catenanes, rotaxanes, and pretzelanes has been achieved by HPLC on chiral column materials, but further work must be performed to determine absolute configurations and to realize new chiral skeletons composed of achiral building blocks. Topological asymmetric synthesis still belongs to dreams of the future yet should be kept in mind. 

The enantioselective synthesis of phthalide 227 (the (3 )-isomer), and other substituted phthalides, and the determination of their absolute configuration has been reported <2005CH218>. In a different approach to the same compounds, 2-alkylbenzoic acids were fed to microorganisms known to affect asymmetric hydroxylation. Lactonization of the resulting alcohols yielded the phthalides, used as scents in cosmetics and soaps <1997JPP10243794>. There is sufficient interest in these optically pure compounds for a chiral gas chromatography (GC) stationary phase to have been developed to quantify stereoisomeric mixtures. A silylated /3-CD was employed... 

Fischer Projections Stereoisomerism in Cyclic Compounds Methods of Determining Absolute Configuration Asymmetric Synthesis... 

The first asymmetric synthesis of an a-mercapto y-unsaturated phosphonate (203) using the readily available chiral dimenthylphosphonyl ester group and a carbanionic [2,3] sigmatropic rearrangement was achieved. Absolute configuration of the newly formed chiral centre of nonracemic thiol (203) was determined. 

Other methods have also been used for determining absolute configuration in a variety of molecules, including optical rotatory dispersion, circular dichroism, " and asymmetric synthesis (see p. 166). Optical rotatory dispersion (ORD) is a measurement of specific rotation, [a], as a function of wavelength. The change of specific rotation [a] or molar rotation [[Pg.160]

Our synthesis started from hydroxy ketone B (Figure 5.31), which was obtained by asymmetric reduction of prochiral diketone A with fermenting baker s yeast.38 The key step in the present synthesis was the ring formation by intramolecular alkylation of C to give D. To obtain C, the enfifo-hydroxy group of B was first epimerized via retro-aldol/aldol by treatment with p-toluenesulfonic acid in carbon tetrachloride. The tricyclic intermediate D was converted to (+)-pinthunamide (146), mp 187-189°C, [a]D215 = +60 (EtOH), which was identical with the natural product. Its absolute configuration was thus determined as depicted in 146.39... 

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