10.1016/S0040-4039(00)97877-8
The research focuses on the development of a method for efficient diastereoselective synthesis of chiral tertiary alcohols by reacting chiral thiomethylketones with appropriate organometallic reagents. The study aimed to demonstrate that the introduction of a sulfur atom in place of oxygen at the α-position to the ketone was crucial for achieving high diastereoselectivity. The researchers found that the choice of organometallic reagent and reaction conditions significantly influenced the stereoselectivity of the reaction, allowing for the selective synthesis of either diastereomer of the tertiary alcohol. Key chemicals used in the process included a-thio carbonyl compounds, organolithium reagents like MeLi, organozinc reagents like MeZn, and chiral thiomethylketones derived from α-2-mercapto-2-phenylethanol and α-halo ketones. The study concluded that this method provided a useful approach for selectively synthesizing either enantiomer of tertiary alcohol starting from the same chiral carbonyl compound by choosing the appropriate organometallic reagent.
10.1246/cl.1981.457
The research focuses on the synthetic studies toward maytansinoids, specifically the preparation of optically active intermediates (15 and 23) from D-mannose. The purpose of this study was to develop a new synthetic strategy for maytansine, a naturally occurring anti-cancer agent, by utilizing D-mannose as a chiral starting material. The researchers synthesized the intermediates through a series of chemical reactions, with a crucial step involving heteroconjugate addition of methyllithium.
10.1016/S0040-4039(01)90354-5
The study presents an efficient methodology for the synthesis of indole derivatives in a single operation using organodilithium reagents and vicinal dication equivalents. Key chemicals involved include 2-bromoaniline derivatives, which are used to prepare organodimetallic reagents through bromine-lithium exchange, a process that facilitates efficient, site-specific lithiation. For instance, 2'-bromo-2,2-dimethylpropionanilide reacts with methyllithium and t-butyllithium to form the organodilithium derivative. This derivative is then reacted with biselectrophiles such as 2-chlorocyclohexanone to produce indole precursors. The study also explores the effects of variations in nitrogen protecting groups and reaction temperatures. The methodology allows for the formation of either N-protected or unprotected indoles, with dehydration induced by trifluoroacetic acid yielding N-protected products like 3,4-tetrahydrocarbazole. The study further demonstrates the versatility of the method by using different biselectrophiles, such as the enolate of cyclohexenone epoxide and enediones, to produce various indole derivatives. The results highlight the regiocontrol and synthetic efficiency of this approach, with high yields and the ability to directly convert commercially available 2-bromoaniline to tetrahydrocarbazole in one operation.
10.1016/0957-4166(90)90037-B
The research explores a method for synthesizing chiral a-amino ketones without racemization and their subsequent stereoselective reduction to amino alcohols. The study aims to develop a reliable and non-racemizing route for the synthesis of these compounds, which are important in the field of organic chemistry and pharmaceuticals. The key chemicals used in this research include a-amino acids, benzyl bromide, potassium carbonate (K2CO3), potassium hydroxide (KOH), methyllithium, and sodium borohydride (NaBH4). The researchers first doubly benzylated the nitrogen of a-amino acids to form N,N-dibenzyl amino acids, which were then converted into a-amino ketones. These ketones were reduced using NaBH4 under non-chelation control to form amino alcohols with high stereoselectivity. The study concludes that this method allows for the synthesis of chiral a-amino ketones without significant racemization, provided the conversion of amides to ketones is performed at low temperatures (-30°C to -40°C). The resulting amino alcohols were found to be enantiomerically pure, with enantiomeric excess (ee) values ranging from 98.5% to 100%. This work represents a significant advancement in the non-racemizing synthesis of chiral compounds and their stereoselective transformations.
10.1021/jo00171a038
The purpose of this study is to explore the reaction pathways and products formed when primary amines react with organolithium compounds under mild conditions. The researchers used various primary amines, such as benzylamine, 1-hexanamine, and 1-phenylethanamine, along with organolithium reagents like n-butyllithium, tert-butyllithium, methyllithium, and phenyllithium. The study concluded that these reactions primarily involve three steps: mono- and dilithiation of the primary amine, elimination to form N-lithioimines, and addition of the organolithium compound to the lithioimine. The products include imines, α-substituted primary amines, and N-alkylimines.