Stereoselective Synthesis of Highly Substituted Tetrahydropyrans through an Evans Aldol-Prins Strategy

J Org Chem. 2018 Aug 17;83(16):9039-9066. doi: 10.1021/acs.joc.8b01182. Epub 2018 Aug 6.

Abstract

A direct and general method for the synthesis of naturally occurring 2,3,4,5,6-pentasubstituted tetrahydropyrans has been developed, employing β,γ-unsaturated N-acyl oxazolidin-2-ones as key starting materials. The combination of the Evans aldol addition and the Prins cyclization allowed the diastereoselective and efficient generation of the desired oxacycles in two fashions: a one-pot Evans aldol-Prins protocol, in which five new σ bonds and five contiguous stereocenters were straightforwardly generated, and a two-step version, which additionally permitted the isolation of β,γ-unsaturated alcohol precursors bearing an N-acyl oxazolidin-2-one in the α position. From these alcohols were also obtained halogenated pentasubstituted tetrahydropyrans as well as 2,3,4,5-tetrasubstituted tetrahydrofurans, shedding light on the mechanism of the process. Computational studies were consistent with the experimental findings, and this innovative Evans aldol-Prins strategy was performed for the preparation of a battery of more than 30 densely substituted tetrahydropyrans, unprecedentedly fused to a 1,3-oxazinane-2,4-dione ring, both in a racemic fashion and in an enantiomeric fashion. These novel molecules were successfully submitted to several transformations to permit simple access to a variety of differently functionalized tetrahydropyrans. Most of these unique molecules were evaluated for their antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and the yeast Candida albicans, and some structure-activity relationships were established.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Chemistry Techniques, Synthetic
  • Cyclization
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Pyrans / chemical synthesis*
  • Pyrans / chemistry*
  • Stereoisomerism

Substances

  • Pyrans