Mechanically axially chiral catenanes and noncanonical chiral rotaxanes

Chirality, the property of objects that are distinct from their own mirror image, is important in many scientific areas but particularly chemistry, where the appearance of molecular chirality because of rigid arrangements of atoms in space famously influences a molecule’s biological properties. Less generally appreciated is that two molecular rings with chemically distinct faces combined like links in a chain results in a chiral structure even when the rings are achiral. To date, no enantiopure examples of such mechanically axially chiral catenanes has been reported. We re-examined the symmetry properties of the mechanically axially chiral motif and identified a straightforward route to such molecules from simple building blocks. We also identify that common representations of axially chiral catenanes obscure that a previously overlooked stereogenic unit arises when a ring is threaded onto a dumbbell-shaped molecule to generate a rotaxane. These insights allowed us to demonstrate the first stereoselective syntheses of an axially chiral catenane and a noncanonical axially chiral rotaxane motif. With methods to access these structures in hand, the process of exploring their properties and applications can now begin.

Mechanically axially chiral catenanes and noncanonical chiral rotaxanes

Chirality, the property of objects that are distinct from their own mirror image, is important in many scientific areas but particularly chemistry, where the appearance of molecular chirality because of rigid arrangements of atoms in space famously influences a molecule’s biological properties. Less generally appreciated is that two molecular rings with chemically distinct faces combined like links in a chain results in a chiral structure even when the rings are achiral. To date, no enantiopure examples of such mechanically axially chiral catenanes has been reported. We re-examined the symmetry properties of the mechanically axially chiral motif and identified a straightforward route to such molecules from simple building blocks. We also identify that common representations of axially chiral catenanes obscure that a previously overlooked stereogenic unit arises when a ring is threaded onto a dumbbell-shaped molecule to generate a rotaxane. These insights allowed us to demonstrate the first stereoselective syntheses of an axially chiral catenane and a noncanonical axially chiral rotaxane motif. With methods to access these structures in hand, the process of exploring their properties and applications can now begin.

Mechanically axially chiral catenanes and noncanonical chiral rotaxanes

Chirality, the property of objects that are distinct from their own mirror image, is important in many scientific areas but particularly chemistry, where the appearance of molecular chirality because of rigid arrangements of atoms in space famously influences a molecule’s biological properties. Less generally appreciated is that two molecular rings with chemically distinct faces combined like links in a chain results in a chiral structure even when the rings are achiral. To date, no enantiopure examples of such mechanically axially chiral catenanes has been reported. We re-examined the symmetry properties of the mechanically axially chiral motif and identified a straightforward route to such molecules from simple building blocks. We also identify that common representations of axially chiral catenanes obscure that a previously overlooked stereogenic unit arises when a ring is threaded onto a dumbbell-shaped molecule to generate a rotaxane. These insights allowed us to demonstrate the first stereoselective syntheses of an axially chiral catenane and a noncanonical axially chiral rotaxane motif. With methods to access these structures in hand, the process of exploring their properties and applications can now begin.

Synthesis of Bungeanool, Isobungeanool, Dihydrobungeanool, Tetrahydrobungeanool, Hazaleamide, Lanyuamide III and Analogues

The bungeanools are a family of alkamide natural products isolated from the pericarps of Zanthoxylum bungeanum (Sichuan pepper), and they are structurally related to the sanshools. While the sanshools, especially hydroxy-α-sanshool, have been studied in a variety of contexts, research regarding the bungeanools has been much more limited. Therefore, in order to facilitate their study we have developed stereoselective syntheses of all four members of this family of compounds using flexible routes that are amenable to the synthesis of analogues as well. The key transformation in the syntheses was the stereoselective triphenylphosphine/phenol-catalyzed isomerization of an alkynoate to the corresponding conjugated E-,E-dienoate.

Facile Anomer-oriented Syntheses of 4-Methylumbelliferyl Sialic Acid Glycosides

<p>As part of a program to find new sialidases and determine their enzymatic specificity and catalytic activity, a library of 4-methylumbelliferyl sialic acid glycosides derivatised at the C-5 position were prepared from <i>N</i>-acetylneuraminic acid. Both α- and β-4-methylumbelliferyl sialic acid glycosides were prepared in high yields and excellent stereoselectivity. Alpha anomers were accessed via reagent control by utilising additive CH₃CN and TBAI, whereas the beta anomers were synthesised through a diastereoselective addition reaction of iodine and the aglycone to the corresponding glycal followed by reduction of the resulting 3-iodo compounds. Both anomer-oriented synthetic pathways allow for gram-scale stereoselective syntheses of the desired C-5 modified neuraminic acid derivatives for use as tools to quantify the enzymatic activity and substrate specificity of known<b> </b>sialidases, and potential detection and investigation of<b> </b>novel sialidases.</p>

Facile Anomer-oriented Syntheses of 4-Methylumbelliferyl Sialic Acid Glycosides

<p>As part of a program to find new sialidases and determine their enzymatic specificity and catalytic activity, a library of 4-methylumbelliferyl sialic acid glycosides derivatised at the C-5 position were prepared from <i>N</i>-acetylneuraminic acid. Both α- and β-4-methylumbelliferyl sialic acid glycosides were prepared in high yields and excellent stereoselectivity. Alpha anomers were accessed via reagent control by utilising additive CH₃CN and TBAI, whereas the beta anomers were synthesised through a diastereoselective addition reaction of iodine and the aglycone to the corresponding glycal followed by reduction of the resulting 3-iodo compounds. Both anomer-oriented synthetic pathways allow for gram-scale stereoselective syntheses of the desired C-5 modified neuraminic acid derivatives for use as tools to quantify the enzymatic activity and substrate specificity of known<b> </b>sialidases, and potential detection and investigation of<b> </b>novel sialidases.</p>

Stereoselective syntheses of 3-aminocyclooctanetriols and halocyclooctanetriols

The efficient synthesis of two new stereoisomeric 3-aminocyclooctanetriols and their new halocyclitol derivatives starting from cis,cis-1,3-cyclooctadiene are reported. Reduction of cyclooctene endoperoxide, obtained by photooxygenation of cis,cis-1,3-cyclooctadiene, with zinc yielded a cyclooctene diol followed by acetylation of the hydroxy group, which gave dioldiacetate by OsO4/NMO oxidation. The cyclooctane dioldiacetate prepared was converted to the corresponding cyclic sulfate via the formation of a cyclic sulfite in the presence of catalytic RuO4. The reaction of this cyclic sulfate with a nucleophilic azide followed by the reduction of the azide group provided the target, 3-aminocyclooctanetriol. The second key compound, bromotriol, was prepared by epoxidation of the cyclooctenediol with m-chloroperbenzoic acid followed by hydrolysis with HBr(g) in methanol. Treatment of bromotriol with NaN3 and the reduction of the azide group yielded the other desired 3-aminocyclooctanetriol. Hydrolysis of the epoxides with HCl(g) in methanol gave stereospecifically new chlorocyclooctanetriols.

Stereoselective syntheses and biological activities of E-series resolvins

Total syntheses of E-series resolvins are reviewed, along with the most significant bioactions of the E-series resolvins.