Efficient Construction of Drug-like Bispirocyclic Scaffolds Via Organocatalytic Cycloadditions of α-Imino γ-Lactones and Alkylidene Pyrazolones

Summary

Enantiomerically enriched bispiro[γ-butyrolactone-pyrrolidin-4,4'-pyrazolone] skeletons are asymmetrically synthesized through a simple organocatalytic 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction.

Abstract

Bispirocyclic scaffolds are one of the important structural subunits in many natural products that exhibit diverse and attractive biological activities. Recently, we have developed an efficient organocatalytic strategy, which provides facile access to a variety of enantiomerically enriched bispiro[γ-butyrolactone-pyrrolidin-4,4'-pyrazolone] skeletons. In this paper, we demonstrate a detailed protocol for the asymmetric synthesis of drug-like bispirocyclic compounds with two spirocyclic carbon centers via an organocatyltic 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction. Spirocyclization synthons α-imino γ-lactones and alkylidene pyrazolones are prepared first, which are then subjected to a cycloaddition reaction in the presence of a bifunctional squaramide organocatalyst to afford the desired bispirocycles in high yields and excellent stereoselectivities. Chiral high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is carried out to determine the enantiomeric purity of the products, and the d.r. value is examined by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR). The absolute configuration of the product is assigned according to an X-ray crystallographic analysis. This synthetic strategy allows scientists to prepare a diversity of bispirocyclic scaffolds in high yields and excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivities.

Introduction

Chiral spirocyclic compounds found prevalent in natural products, chiral ligands and organometallic complexes have emerged as attractive synthetic targets due to their structural complexity and biological activity^1,2,3. Specifically, bispirocyclic scaffolds, featured by three rings with two rigid spirocenters, are structural subunits in many natural products with important biological activities^4,5. Consequently, the construction of compounds with stereocontrolled, optically pure bispirocyclic skeletons has drawn great....

Protocol

CAUTION: Please consult all relevant material safety data sheets (MSDS) before use. Chemicals and solvents used were of reagent grade and were used without further purification. All reactions involving air or moisture-sensitive reagents or intermediates were performed under an argon atmosphere.

1. Preparation of α-Arylidiene Pyrazolinone Species

1. Preparation of pyrazolones
   1. Add 40 mL of glacial acetic acid to a 250 mL round-bottom fl.......

Discussion

The successful preparation of bispiro[γ-butyrolactone-pyrrolidin-4,4'-pyrazolone] skeletons is dependent on a number of factors.

The key step of this one-step asymmetric cycloaddition process is the synergistical activation of the α-arylidiene pyrazolinone 1a and cyclic imino ester 2a by the bifunctional squaramide catalyst. It is achieved by the formation of multiple intermolecular hydrogen bonds between catalyst as a hydrogen-bond donor and two.......

Materials

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Acetonitrile, anhydrous, 99.9%	Innochem (China)	A0080
α-amino-γ-butyrolactone hydrobromide, 98%	Alfa Aesar	B23148
3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)aniline, 98+%	Adamas	48611B
Dichloromethane, 99.5%	Greagent	G81014H
3,4-dimethoxycyclobut-3-ene-1,2-dione, 98+%	Leyan (China)	1062550
Ethanol, 99.5%	Greagent	G73537B
Ethyl acetate, 99.5%	Greagent	G23272L
Ethyl ether,anhydrous,99.5%	Greagent	G69159B
Ethyl 3-oxobutanoate, 98%	TCI	A0649
4-fluorobenzaldehyde, 98%	Innochem (China)	A24295
Glacial acetic acid, 99.5%	Greagent	G73562B
Magnesium oxide, 99+%	Alfa Aesar	44733
Magnesium sulfate, 98%	Greagent	G80872C
Methanol, 99.5%	Greagent	G75851A
Petroleum ether	Greagent	G84208D
Phenylhydrazine, 98%	Innochem (China)	A57671
(S)-(6-methoxyquinolin-4-yl)((1S,2R,4S,5R)-5-vinylquinuclidin-2-yl)methanamine	DAICEL Group	111240
Sodium sulfate,anhydrous,99%	Greagent	G82667A
Thiophene-2-carbaldehyde, 98%	J & K scientific (China)	124605
Triethylamine, 99%	J & k scientific (China)	432915