Asymmetric Synthesis of 2-Arylethylamines: A Metal-Free Review of the New Millennium.

2-Arylethylamines are presented in several natural bioactive compounds, as well as in nitrogen-containing drugs. Their ability to surpass the blood-brain barrier makes this family of compounds of especial interest in medicinal chemistry. Asymmetric methodologies towards the synthesis of 2-arylethylamine motives are of great interest due to the challenges they may present.

2-Heteroarylethylamines in medicinal chemistry: a review of 2-phenethylamine satellite chemical space.

The concept of bioisostere replacement is of paramount importance in medicinal chemistry, as it can be employed as a rational to expand bioactive chemical space to tackle lead optimization issues like lack of potency, efficacy, and selectivity or pharmacokinetic/dynamic issues. One of the most important building blocks (in the sense of participating in a vast area of chemical space of biological importance) in medicinal chemistry is the 2-phenethyl moiety, a key component of diverse drug-like entities. Although the core 2-phenethylamine structure has been recognized by the drug discovery community, little attention has been given to the various ring-based rescaffolding procedures that can be conducted with this unit.

2-Phenethylamines in Medicinal Chemistry: A Review.

A concise review covering updated presence and role of 2-phenethylamines in medicinal chemistry is presented. Open-chain, flexible alicyclic amine derivatives of this motif are enumerated in key therapeutic targets, listing medicinal chemistry hits and appealing screening compounds. Latest reports in discovering new bioactive 2-phenethylamines by research groups are covered too.

Synthesis and Modeling of Ezetimibe Analogues.

Ezetimibe is a well-known drug that lowers blood cholesterol levels by reducing its absorption in the small intestine when joining to Niemann-Pick C1-like protein (NPC1L1). A ligand-based study on ezetimibe analogues is reported, together with one-hit synthesis, highlighted in the study. A convenient asymmetric synthesis of (2,3)--α-()-methylbenzyl-3-methoxycarbonylethyl-4-methoxyphenyl β-lactam is described starting from Baylis-Hillman adducts.

1,3-Cyclohexadien-1-Als: Synthesis, Reactivity and Bioactivities.

In synthetic organic chemistry, there are very useful basic compounds known as building blocks. One of the main reactions wherein they are applied for the synthesis of complex molecules is the Diels-Alder cycloaddition. This reaction is between a diene and a dienophile.

Multicomponent Domino Reaction in the Asymmetric Synthesis of Cyclopentan[c]pyran Core of Iridoid Natural Products.

The asymmetric synthesis of a compound with the cyclopentan[c]pyran core of iridoid natural products in four steps and 40% overall yield is reported. Our methodology includes a one-pot tandem domino reaction which provides a trisubstituted cyclopentane with five new completely determined stereocenters, which were determined through 2D homo and heteronuclear NMR and n.O.

Organocatalyzed Synthesis of [3.2.1] Bicyclooctanes.

Organocatalysis constitutes one of the main research areas in organic chemistry from the last two decades. This chemistry has been applied to the synthesis of many natural products and structures in a manner that reduces the residues and so the ecological impact. In this review, we consider the work that has been done for the synthesis of bicyclo[3.

Diastereoselective synthesis of chiral 1,3-cyclohexadienals.

A novel approach to the production of chiral 1,3-cyclohexadienals has been developed. The organocatalysed asymmetric reaction of different β-disubstituted-α,β-unsaturated aldehydes with a chiral α,β-unsaturated aldehyde in the presence of a Jørgensen-Hayashi organocatalyst provides easy and stereocontrolled access to the cyclohexadienal backbone. This method allows for the synthesis of potential photoprotective chiral 1,3-cyclohexadienals and extra extended conjugation compounds in a simple manner.

Crystal structure of methyl (4)-4-(4-meth-oxy-benzo-yl)-4-{[(1)-1-phenyl-eth-yl]carbamo-yl}butano-ate.

The title compound, CHNO, was prepared by CAN [cerium(IV) ammonium nitrate] oxidation of the corresponding β-lactam. The dihedral angle between the benzene rings is 13.3 (4)° and the C-N-C(=O)-C torsion angle is 176.

Crystal structure of (2*,3a*)-2-phenyl-sulfonyl-2,3,3a,4,5,6-hexa-hydro-pyrrolo-[1,2-]isoxazole.

The title compound, CHNOS, was prepared by 1,3-dipolar cyclo-addition of 3,4-di-hydro-2-pyrrole 1-oxide and phenyl vinyl sulfone. In the mol-ecule, both fused five-membered rings display a twisted conformation. In the crystal, C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds link neighbouring mol-ecules, forming chains running parallel to the axis.

Design, synthesis, pharmacological evaluation and molecular dynamics of β-amino acids morphan-derivatives as novel ligands for opioid receptors.

Structure-Activity Relationship (SAR) is a current approach in the design of new pharmacological agents. We previously reported the synthesis of a novel analogue of morphine, a 2-azabicyclo[3.3.

Enantioselective synthesis of cis-decalins using organocatalysis and sulfonyl Nazarov reagents.

The first organocatalytic synthesis of cis-decalins using sulfonyl Nazarov reagents is reported. The Jørgensen's catalyst directs this highly enantioselective synthesis using different cyclohexenal derivatives.

To be or not to be butterfly: New mechanistic insights in the Aza-Michael asymmetric addition of lithium (R)-N-benzyl-N-(α-methylbenzyl)amide.

The asymmetric Aza-Michael addition of homochiral lithium benzylamides to α,β-unsaturated esters represents an extended protocol to obtain enantioenriched β-amino esters. An exhaustive mechanistic revision of the originally proposed mechanism is reported, developing a quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics protocol for the asymmetric Aza-Michael reaction of homochiral lithium benzylamides. Explicit and implicit solvent schemes were considered, together with a proper account of long-range dispersion forces, evaluated through a density functional theory benchmark of different functionals.

Domino elimination/nucleophilic addition in the synthesis of chiral pyrrolidines.

Polyhydroxylated pyrrolidines have been synthesized in a one-pot procedure by the addition of an organometallic reagent to isoxazolidines obtained by a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition between nitrones and vinylsulfones. This method highlights sulfone reactivity and provides an easy approach for the preparation of chiral pyrrolidines using cyclic imines as key intermediates.

(2R,3S,4R)-3,4-Isopropyl-idenedi-oxy-2-(phenyl-sulfonyl-meth-yl)pyrrolidin-1-ol.

The title compound, C(14)H(19)NO(5)S, was prepared by nucleophilic addition of the lithium derivative of methyl-phenyl-sulfone to (3S,4R)-3,4-isopropyl-idene-dioxy-pyrroline 1-oxide. There are four mol-ecules in the asymmetric unit. The crystal structure determination confirms the configuration of the chiral centres as 2R,3S,4R.

(3S*,4S*,E)-tert-Butyl 3,4-dibromo-5-oxo-cyclo-oct-1-ene-carboxyl-ate.

The title compound, C(13)H(18)Br(2)O(3), was prepared by a bromination reaction of (1E,3Z)-methyl 5-oxocyclo-octa-1,3-diene-carboxyl-ate, which was obtained by an ep-oxy-dation reaction of tert-butyl cyclo-oct-1,3-diene-carboxyl-ate. The crystal structure confirms unequivocally the absolute configuration of both chiral centres to be S. In the crystal, C-H⋯O inter-actions link the mol-ecules into chains running along the c axis.

(3R,4S)-3,4-Isopropyl-idenedioxy-3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrrole 1-oxide.

The title compound C(7)H(11)NO(3) was prepared by intra-molecular nucleophilic displacement of 2,3-O-iso-propyl-idene-d-erythronolactol. There are two mol-ecules in the asymmetric unit, which are related by a pseudo-inversion centre. The crystal structure determination confirms unequivocally the configuration of the chiral centres as 3S,4R.

(3R,4S)-3,4-Isopropylidenedioxy-5-phenylsulfonylmethyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrrole 1-oxide.

The title compound, C(14)H(17)NO(5)S, was prepared by oxidation of (2R,3S,4R)-2-phenyl-sulfonyl-methyl-1-hy-droxy-3,4-iso-pro-pyl-idene-dioxy-pyrrolidine. Its crystal structure confirms unequivocally its configuration. Two inter-molecular C-H⋯O inter-actions help to establish the packing.

Synthesis of a new chiral pyrrolidine.

The synthesis of a new chiral pyrrolidine has been performed using 2,3-O-isopropylidene-D-erythronolactol as a suitable starting material.

Diastereoselective synthesis of delta-aminoacids through domino Ireland-Claisen rearrangement and Michael addition.

A novel domino reaction--stereoselective Ireland-Claisen rearrangement and asymmetric Michael addition--is described. A protocol starting from Baylis-Hillman adducts 3a-f using chiral lithium amide affords optically active gamma-substituted delta-amino acids 4a-f with high diastereoselectivities and enantioselectivities. The acid can be isolated easily from large-scale reactions and transformed to 2,3-disubstituted piperidines 11 or 2-substituted nipecotic acid derivates 12.

A novel strategy towards the asymmetric synthesis of orthogonally funtionalised 2-N-benzyl-N-alpha-methylbenzylamino- 5-carboxymethyl-cyclopentane-1-carboxylic acid.

The asymmetric synthesis of the orthogonally funtionalised compounds tert-butyl 2-N-benzyl-N-alpha-methylbenzylamino-5-methoxycarbonylmethylcyclopentane- 1-carboxylate and methyl 2-N-benzyl-N-alpha-methylbenzylamino-5-carboxymethylcyclo- pentane-1-carboxylate by a domino reaction of tert-butyl methyl (E,E)-octa-2,6- diendioate with lithium N-alpha-methylbenzyl-N-benzylamide initiated by a Michael addition, subsequent 5-exo-trig intramolecular cyclisation and posterior selective hydrolysis with trifluoroacetic acid is reported.

Synthesis of (R)-2-(benzyloxy)-tetrahydro-5,5-dimethylfuran by a new oxidative rearrangement.

The rearrangement under oxidative conditions of 3-(benzyloxy)-tetrahydro- 2,6,6-trimethyl-2H-pyran-2-carbaldehydes to afford a chiral protected tetrahydrofuran lactol is described.

A convenient asymmetric synthesis of a beta-amino ester with additional functionalization as a precursor for peptide nucleic acid (PNA) monomers.

We report the asymmetric synthesis of di-3-pentyl (3S,alphaS,7E)-3-N-benzyl-N-alpha-methylbenzylamino-dec-7-enedioate (9), which contains the correct functionalization to produce delta-amino acid derivatives to be used as monomers for Peptide Nucleic Acid (PNA) formation With this aim, thymine-pentanoic acid 15 and some of its ester derivatives were obtained, their reactivity was studied and the noteworthy ethyl ester 12 was quantitatively produced by transesterification of methyl ester 11, thus paving the way for the synthesis of the thymine-containing amino ester IV, which has been designed as a building block for a Nucleic-Acid analog with a chiral, flexible peptide backbone.

Cyclic beta-amino acid derivatives: synthesis via lithium amide promoted tandem asymmetric conjugate addition-cyclisation reactions.

The product distribution upon conjugate addition of homochiral lithium N-benzyl-N-alpha-methylbenzylamide to dimethyl-(E,E)-nona-2,7-dienedioate can be controlled to give either the cyclic 1,2-anti-1,6-anti-beta-amino ester (derived from conjugate addition and intramolecular enolate cyclisation) or the acyclic bis-beta-amino ester derivative (derived from double conjugate addition) in high de. The introduction of a protected nitrogen functionality into the diester skeleton facilitates, after conjugate addition and intramolecular enolate cyclisation, the asymmetric construction of piperidines in high de; variation in the N-protecting group indicates that the highest stereoselectivity is observed with alpha-branched N-substituents. Tandem conjugate addition-aldol reactions can also be achieved stereoselectively, with lithium amide conjugate addition to epsilon- and zeta-oxo-alpha,beta-unsaturated esters giving the corresponding five and six membered cyclic beta-amino esters in high de.

Asymmetric synthesis of the stereoisomers of 2-amino-5-carboxymethyl-cyclopentane-1-carboxylate.

The stereoisomers of 2-amino-5-carboxymethyl-cyclopentane-1-carboxylate may be prepared stereoselectively from diester derivatives of (E,E)-octa-2,6-diendioc acid, with the key step utilising the conjugate addition of homochiral lithium N-benzyl-N- alpha-methylbenzylamide. The trans-C(1)-C(2)-stereoisomers are readily prepared via a diastereoselective tandem conjugate addition cyclisation protocol with lithium (R)-N-benzyl-N- alpha-methylbenzylamide, with subsequent hydrogenolysis and ester hydrolysis giving the (1R,2R,5R)- and (1R,2R,5S)- beta-amino diacids in good yields. The preparation of the cis-C(1)-C(2)-stereoisomers utilises a protocol involving N-oxidation and Cope elimination of the major diastereoisomeric product arising from conjugate addition and cyclisation, giving homochiral (R)-5-carboxymethyl-cyclopentene-1-carboxylate.