No abstract

No abstract

A stereoselective and efficient total synthesis of optically active tetrodotoxin (TTX) is described. A polyfunctionalized key cyclitol compound containing branched-chains for the synthesis of TTX was prepared from D-glucose employing the Henry reaction (Nitro aldol reaction) as the key transformation. Stereoselective construction of the alpha-azido-aldehyde branched-chain was achieved via the key spiro alpha-chloroepoxide intermediate.

It was shown that N-(4-methoxybenzyl) group on 2,5-piperazinediones can be oxidatively removed with cerium(IV) diammonium nitrate under mild conditions, and the oxidative removal was performed in some model compounds which have several functional groups.

[reactions: see text] The novel and stereocontrolled synthesis of (+/-)-tetrodotoxin from myo-inositol is described. The key steps involve the stepwise oxidation of hydroxyl groups to the carbonyl function, followed by the addition of specific nucleophiles, including the successive spiro alpha-chloroepoxide formation and its ring-opening with the azide anion, to give the desired branched chain structures (5-->6, 17-->18-->19-->20 and 23-->24-->25) with the desired regio- and stereoselectivities in high yields. The stepwise conversion of the alpha-azido aldehyde 25 to the delta-lactone 29, followed by reduction of the azide, introduction of a guanidine moiety, aldehyde formation, and deprotection, produced the (+/-)-tetrodotoxin.

The catalytic asymmetric hydrogenations of α-diketones, α-keto carboxylates, α-(acylamino)acrylates, α-phenylacrylophenone, and α-phenylacrylate were examined with bis(dimethylglyoximato)cobalt(II)–chiral cocatalyst (amino alcohol) and with simple achiral base coordinated bis(dimethylglyoximato)cobalt(II)–chiral cocatalyst (amino alcohol) systems. These gave corresponding optically active reduction products, and in some cases, optically active reductive dimerization products. High degrees of enantioselectivities (≈78%) are achieved in the hydrogenation of α-diketones. Evidence for non-binding of chiral base to cobalt complexes was presented in the case of latter system, i.e., it was shown that the catalytic site and the enantioselectivity-determining site are separated in this system, as in enzymes. The importance of protonated chiral bases for enantioselection was also shown. Based on these results and the stereochemical correlations between structures of the chiral bases and those of the products, a mechanism for this asymmetric hydrogenation was proposed.

No abstract

N-(p-Methoxybenzyl) groups in some diketopiperazine derivatives were proved to be readily and efficiently removed with ceric ammonium nitrate in acetonitrile-water under mild conditions, where N-benzyl , methoxyl in the aminal structure, and isolated vinyl groups remained unchanged.