Ruthenium-Catalyzed Dynamic Kinetic Resolution Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation of β‑Chromanones by an Elimination-Induced Racemization Mechanism

Chiral chroman derivatives are important pharmacophores in natural and synthetic bioactive molecules. The discovery of catalytic asymmetric methods for the synthesis of these compounds is an important goal. Ruthenium-catalyzed asymmetric transfer hydrogenation under strongly basic conditions has been found to induce dynamic kinetic resolution of β-substituted chromanones, producing valuable chromanols in high yields and with high levels of stereocontrol. The reaction proceeds by base-catalyzed racemization of the β-stereocenter through a conjugate elimination/conjugate addition pathway in concert with a highly selective ketone transfer hydrogenation step. Computational analysis of the catalyst, substrate, and transition state structures has revealed the driving interactions for diastereoselectivity as well as unexpected CH–O stabilizing interactions between the catalyst sulfonamide and the reacting substrate

Optical Chirality Sensing with a Stereodynamic Aluminum Biphenolate Probe

The determination of the enantiopurity and the concentration of chiral compounds by chiroptical sensing with molecular probes is increasingly attractive for high-throughput screening applications including streamlined asymmetric reaction development. In this study, we use stereodynamic aluminum biphenolate complexes for quantitative ee and concentration analysis of amino alcohols and α-hydroxy acids. An important feature of the tropos biphenolate ligand used is the presence of a phenylacetylene antenna for optimal chirality recognition and CD/UV responses at high wavelengths. The complexation-driven chirality amplification yields strong CD signals, which allows quantitative chiroptical sensing with good accuracy. We show that aluminate biphenolate sensors can exhibit linear and nonlinear correlations between the induced CD signals and the enantiomeric composition or concentration of the chiral substrate

Antenna Biphenols: Development of Extended Wavelength Chiroptical Reporters

Molecular hosts capable of chiroptical sensing of complexed guest molecules offer an attractive alternative to conventional methods for the analysis of the absolute configuration and enantiopurity. Sensors based on the Pfeiffer effect rely on complexation-driven asymmetric transformation of the first kind and can produce a chiroptical signal against an otherwise null background. To be most effective, the wavelength of the induced chiroptical sensor readout should be free and clear of interfering signals coming from the sample under investigation. In this study, we report the introduction of stereodynamic zinc complexes of antenna biphenols, a new class of sensors bearing antenna-like appendages that can extend the wavelength of the chiroptical signal while also improving enantioselective guest recognition

Heterocyclic Regioisomer Enumeration (HREMS): A Cheminformatics Design Tool

We report the development and implementation of a cheminformatics tool which aids in the design of compounds during exploratory chemistry and lead optimization. The Heterocyclic Regioisomer Enumeration and MDDR Search (HREMS) tool allows medicinal chemists to build greater structural diversity into their synthetic planning by enabling a systematic, automated enumeration of heterocyclic regioisomers of target structures. To help chemists overcome biases arising from past experience or synthetic accessibility, the HREMS tool further provides statistics on clinical testing for each enumerated regioisomer substructure using an automated search of a commercial database. Ready access to this type of information can help chemists make informed choices on the targets they will pursue being mindful of past experience with these structures in drug development. This tool and its components can be incorporated into other cheminformatics workflows to leverage their capabilities in triaging and in silico compound enumeration

Heterocyclic Regioisomer Enumeration (HREMS): A Cheminformatics Design Tool

We report the development and implementation of a cheminformatics tool which aids in the design of compounds during exploratory chemistry and lead optimization. The Heterocyclic Regioisomer Enumeration and MDDR Search (HREMS) tool allows medicinal chemists to build greater structural diversity into their synthetic planning by enabling a systematic, automated enumeration of heterocyclic regioisomers of target structures. To help chemists overcome biases arising from past experience or synthetic accessibility, the HREMS tool further provides statistics on clinical testing for each enumerated regioisomer substructure using an automated search of a commercial database. Ready access to this type of information can help chemists make informed choices on the targets they will pursue being mindful of past experience with these structures in drug development. This tool and its components can be incorporated into other cheminformatics workflows to leverage their capabilities in triaging and in silico compound enumeration

Correction to “Application of Machine Learning and Reaction Optimization for the Iterative Improvement of Enantioselectivity of Cinchona-Derived Phase Transfer Catalysts”

Correction to “Application of Machine Learning and Reaction Optimization for the Iterative Improvement of Enantioselectivity of Cinchona-Derived Phase Transfer Catalysts

Systematic Approach to Conformational Sampling for Assigning Absolute Configuration Using Vibrational Circular Dichroism

Systematic methods that speed-up the assignment of absolute configuration using vibrational circular dichrosim (VCD) and simplify its usage will advance this technique into a robust platform technology. Applying VCD to pharmaceutically relevant compounds has been handled in an ad hoc fashion, relying on fragment analysis and technical shortcuts to reduce the computational time required. We leverage a large computational infrastructure to provide adequate conformational exploration which enables an accurate assignment of absolute configuration. We describe a systematic approach for rapid calculation of VCD/IR spectra and comparison with corresponding measured spectra and apply this approach to assign the correct stereochemistry of nine test cases. We suggest moving away from the fragment approach when making VCD assignments. In addition to enabling faster and more reliable VCD assignments of absolute configuration, the ability to rapidly explore conformational space and sample conformations of complex molecules will have applicability in other areas of drug discovery

Model for the Enantioselectivity of Asymmetric Intramolecular Alkylations by Bis-Quaternized Cinchona Alkaloid-Derived Catalysts

A model for the stereoselectivity of intramolecular alkylations by <i>N</i>,<i>N</i>′-disubstituted cinchona alkaloids reported by Xiang et al. was established using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The stereocontrol is based on the minimal distortion of the transition state (TS) and catalyst required to achieve favorable electrostatic interactions in the favored TS. Counterions must be included in computational modeling of ion-paired catalysis in order to reproduce experimental enantioselectivity

Post-Synthetic Modification of Oligonucleotides via Orthogonal Amidation and Copper Catalyzed Cycloaddition Reactions

An efficient multicomponent orthogonal protocol was developed for post-synthetic oligonucleotide modification using commercially available 2′-<i>O</i>-methyl ester and 2′-<i>O</i>-propargyl nucleoside scaffolds. Amidation of methyl esters with primary amines was achieved in the presence of 2′-propargyl groups which were utilized for subsequent copper catalyzed cycloaddition with GalNAc-azide. The methodology was applied to generate siRNA composed of multiple amide and triazole conjugates. Computational methods were used to illustrate the impact of substitution at the 2′-position. This a powerful post-oligomerization technique for rapidly introducing diversity to oligonucleotide design

Selective Formation of Functionalized α‑Quaternary Malononitriles toward 5,5-Disubstituted Pyrrolopyrimidinones

A modular, selective approach to complex α-tertiary substituted malononitriles is reported. The method takes advantage of β-ester-substituted α,α-dinitrile alkenes as highly reactive, chemoselective electrophiles for 1,4-additions with organometallic nucleophiles to produce functionally and sterically dense all-carbon quaternary centers. In the presence of a chiral ester auxiliary bearing an aromatic ring, the 1,4-addition occurs with good to excellent selectivity due to favorable cation−π interactions. The highly functionalized malononitriles represent versatile building blocks and can be applied toward efficient, highly selective syntheses of 5,5-disubstituted pyrrolopyrimidinones