Synthesis of Enantiopure Constrained α,β-Cycloaliphatic Cystines via Diels-Alder Reaction with Homochiral Thiazolines.

The behavior of homochiral 2,3-dihydrothiazoles, easily available from l-cysteine in Diels-Alder reaction with different dienes, "en route" to sterically constrained modified cystines, has been studied. The oxidation level of the sulfur atom of the heterocyclic ring was crucial for the course of the reaction. Whereas 2,3-dihydrothiazoles did not lead to Diels-Alder adducts, 1-oxide and 1,1-dioxide derivatives afforded the exo adduct enantiopurely in high yields and diastereoselectivities.

Half-sandwich complexes of rhodium containing cysteine-derived ligands.

The modified cysteine ligand, S-benzyl-α-methyl-l-cysteine (HL2), was prepared from l-cysteine hydrochloride methyl ester. The reaction of commercial S-benzyl-l-cysteine (HL1) or HL2 with the dimer, [{(η(5)-C5Me5)RhCl}2(μ-Cl)2], gives rise to the cationic complexes, [(η(5)-C5Me5)RhCl(HL)]Cl (HL = HL1 (1), HL2 (2)), in which the cysteine ligand exhibits a κ(2)N,S coordination mode. In a basic medium, HL1 or HL2 reacts with [{(η(5)-C5Me5)RhCl}2(μ-Cl)2] to afford mixtures of two epimers at the metal centre of the neutral complexes, [(η(5)-C5Me5)RhCl(κ(2)N,O-L)] (HL = HL1 (3), HL2 (4)), in which amino carboxylate adopts a κ(2)N,O mode of coordination along with variable amounts of the cationic compounds, [(η(5)-C5Me5)Rh(κ(3)N,O,S-L)]Cl (HL = HL1 (6Cl), HL2 (7Cl)), which contain κ(3)N,O,S coordinated cysteine-derived ligands.

Intramolecular hydrogen-bonding activation in cysteines: a new effective radical scavenger.

The challenge of developing organic molecules with improved antioxidant activities for a competitive marketplace requires, given the great amount of possibilities, much laboratory work. Nowadays, the ability of methodologies based on quantum chemistry to determine the influence of different modifications on a molecule core provides a powerful tool for selecting the most useful derivatives to be synthesized. Here, we report the results of the assessment of antioxidant activity for quaternary amino acids, specifically for cysteine derivatives.

Highly diastereoselective Katsuki-Jacobsen oxidation-epoxidation of alpha-silyloxy sulfinyl dienes: synthetic applications.

Katsuki-Jacobsen oxidation-epoxidation of acyclic alpha-silyloxy sulfinyl dienes, followed by acid-promoted cyclization, leads to 2,5-trans-sulfonyl dihydrofurans with good selectivities. As an application, the formal syntheses of (6S,7S,9R,10R)- and (6S,7S,9S,10S)-6,9-epoxynonadec-18-ene-7,10-diols is reported.

Enantiodivergent synthesis of pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines based on diastereoselective Parham cyclization and alpha-amidoalkylation reactions.

Enantiodivergent synthesis of C-10b-substituted pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines starting from an enantiomerically pure N-phenethylnorborn-5-en-endo-2,3-dicarboxyimide 3a, with a 2-exo-hydroxy-10-bornylsulfinyl group as a chiral auxiliary, has been developed. The key transformations are derived from diastereoselective intramolecular cyclization of aryllithiums and alpha-amidoalkylation reactions, with the ethylidene bridge of the norbornene moiety dictating the stereochemical outcome in both types of reactions. Thus, the organolithium addition-intramolecular alpha-amidoalkylation sequence on imide 3a afforded stereoselectively the R configuration at C-12b, whereas the tandem Parham cyclization-intermolecular alpha-amidoalkylation reactions on the corresponding iodinated imide 3b occurred with complete control of stereoselectivity, leading to the epimer at C-12b.