title: A facile asymmetric synthesis of either enantiomer of 2-substituted pyrrolidines.
abstract: A new and general method for asymmetric synthesis of either enantiomer of 2-substituted pyrrolidines from a single starting material is described. Reductive cyclization of (S(S))-gamma-chloro-N-tert-butanesulfinyl ketimines with LiBHEt(3) in THF at -78 to 23 degrees C afforded (S(S),R)-N-tert-butanesulfinyl-2-substituted pyrrolidines in excellent yields (88-98%) and with high diastereoselectivity (99:1). The diastereoselectivity is controlled effectively by the choice of reducing agent. Thus, the corresponding epimers of (S(S),S)-2-substituted pyrrolidines were synthesized in good yields (87-98%) and with high diastereoslectivity (1:99) by simply switching the reducing agent from LiBHEt(3) to DIBAL-H/LiHMDS. Deprotection of N-tert-butanesulfinyl-2-substituted pyrrolidines using 4 N HCl in dioxane and MeOH gave the corresponding enantiomers of 2-substituted pyrrolidines in quantative yield. This method was found to be effective for a variety of substrates including aromatic, heteroaromatic, and aliphatic substituents. Extension of this methodology to the formation of 2-substituted piperidines is also illustrated. Reductive cyclization of (S(S))-delta-chloro-N-tert-butanesulfinyl ketimine with LiBHEt(3) in THF at -78 to 23 degrees C or DIBAL-H/LiHMDS in toluene at -78 to 0 degrees C afforded the (S(S),R)-N-tert-butanesulfinyl-2-substituted piperidines in excellent yield (98%) and with high diastereoselectivity (99:1) or (S(S),S)-N-tert-butanesulfinyl-2-substituted piperidines in good yield (98%) and with high diastereoselectivity (1:99), respectively.
authors.affiliation: Chemical Research and Development, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, One Health Plaza, East Hanover, New Jersey 07936, USA. rajender.leleti@novartis.com
authors.forename: Leleti
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rajender Reddy
authors.forename: Sonia G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: Yugang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Mahavir
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prashad
mesh_terms: D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D003500:Cyclization; D008958:Models, Molecular; D015394:Molecular Structure; D011759:Pyrrolidines / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D013237:Stereoisomerism
chemical_list: D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D011759:Pyrrolidines