Abstract: The synergy of hydrolases, such as lipases, and metal catalysts can provide quantitative production of optically pure compounds from racemic compounds that cannot be available by using each single catalyst. Dynamic kinetic resolution of racemic alcohols is shown as a typical example.
Abstract: We have devised a novel 1,3-benzdiyne equivalent, capable of quadruple functionalization by sequential benzyne generation and reaction with arynophiles. The key features of this method include the chemoselective generation of two triple bonds in a single benzene ring under fluoride-mediated mild conditions, and the regiocontrol of each benzyne reaction by the substituent next to the triple bond. This method produced various benzo-fused heteroaromatic compounds via reactions with arynophiles, such as furans, azides, and diazo compounds. A validation of the method is given in the convergent synthesis of the antipsychotic drug risperidone. A similar strategy has also been applied to a 1,4-benzdiyne equivalent to construct linearly benzo-fused heteroaromatics.
Abstract: We recently reported a new dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) method based on the combination of lipase-catalyzed kinetic resolution of racemic alcohols and the V-MPS3-catalyzed in situ racemization of less reactive alcohol enantiomers. In V-MPS3, oxovanadium moieties were covalently bound to the inner surface of mesoporous silica (MPS) with a pore size of about 3 nm. The catalytic activity of V-MPS3 was much higher than that of related vanadium compounds; however, we could neither explain its unusually high activity nor confirm that the racemization predominantly occurred inside the V-MPS pores. Therefore, in this study, we prepared V-MPS2 and V-MPS4 from the corresponding MPS with pore diameters of approximately 2 nm and 4 nm, respectively and compared their racemization activities with that of V-MPS3 using some optically active alcohols with different molecular sizes and polarities. We discovered a positive correlation between the pore size of V-MPS and substrate racemization rate as well as the high polarity of the MPS pores. The results suggested that the racemization predominantly occurs in the pores of V-MPS and that a small pore size (2–4 nm) is essential to generate the polar environment of V-MPS, which probably accelerates the racemization by facilitating the C–O bond cleavage of the vanadate intermediates. Using V-MPS with a pore size suitable for each substrate, lipase/oxovanadium combo-catalyzed DKR could be applied to a wider range of alcohols including allyl alcohols, benzylic alcohols, and propargyl alcohols to give the corresponding esters in excellent isolated yields and enantioselectivities.
Abstract: Allocolchicinoids, with a distinct polyoxygenated dibenzocycloheptane skeleton, attract much attention as potential candidate anticancer drugs. In this study, eight C-ring fluorinated analogues of allocolchicinoids, seven C-ring oxygen-substituted analogues, and known compounds N-acetylcolchinol and NSC 51046 were synthesized as racemates from a single common intermediate by using either the deoxyfluorination/migration domino reaction or acid-promoted migration as the key step. Among the products obtained, some of the fluorinated derivatives strongly inhibited the growth of prostate DU145 and pancreas Panc 1 cancer cell lines with efficacy comparable to or better than those of N-acetylcolchinol and NSC 51046. They were also less toxic against a non-cancerous cell line than the known compounds were.