IChO 2015 · Theory problem 7

Not by bread alone

Pomegranate is called in Azerbaijan, which is famous for its vegetables, as the “king of all fruits”. Pomegranate is honored in various religions as a “fruit of Paradise”, symbol of righteousness, wealth, hope for eternal life.

Figure 1

In 1878 alkaloid pelletierine was isolated from the bark of pomegranate tree (Punica granatum L., Lythraceae). This alkaloid is traditionally used as an anti-helminthic drug. Initially \(X_W\) (3-(piperidin-2-yl)propanal) was incorrectly proposed for pelletierine. But now it is accepted that natural pelletierine is (S)-1-(piperidin-2-yl)propan-2-one (\(X_S\)).

Figure 2

7.1 Write down the structural formulae of \(X_W\) and \(X_S\) (the latter – with the stereochemical information).

The synthesis of natural pelletierine (\(X_S\)) based on the transformation of nortropanol A was recently described.

Figure 3

7.2 Write down the structural formulae of compounds B - G with the stereochemical information.

7.3 Nortropanol A was used in this reaction as a single stereoisomer. How many stereoisomers can exist for compound A (including A)? Ignore nitrogen chirality.

Enantiomer of \(X_S\) was synthesized using chiral tert-butanesulfinamide (H):

Figure 4

7.4 Write down the structural formulae of compounds I – L with the stereochemical information.

Official English text of the problem.

Answers

Cbz means benzyloxycarbonyl, and Boc means tert-butoxycarbonyl. The descriptor \(R_{\mathrm S}\) denotes an \(R\) configuration at sulfur.

  • 7.1
Compound Name SMILES
\(X_W\) 3-(Piperidin-2-yl)propanal; stereochemistry unspecified O=CCCC1CCCCN1
\(X_S\) (S)-1-(Piperidin-2-yl)propan-2-one, natural pelletierine CC(=O)C[C@@H]1CCCCN1
  • 7.2
Compound Name Isomeric SMILES
B Benzyl (1S,5R,6S)-6-hydroxy-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane-8-carboxylate O=C(OCc1ccccc1)N1[C@H]2CCC[C@@H]1[C@@H](O)C2
C Benzyl (1S,5R)-6-oxo-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane-8-carboxylate O=C(OCc1ccccc1)N1[C@H]2CCC[C@@H]1C(=O)C2
D Benzyl (1S,5S)-3-oxo-2-oxa-9-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane-9-carboxylate O=C(OCc1ccccc1)N1[C@H]2CCC[C@@H]1OC(=O)C2
E 2-[(2S)-1-(Benzyloxycarbonyl)piperidin-2-yl]acetic acid O=C(O)C[C@@H]1CCCCN1C(=O)OCc1ccccc1
F N-Methoxy-N-methyl-2-[(2S)-1-(benzyloxycarbonyl)piperidin-2-yl]acetamide, the Weinreb amide of E CN(OC)C(=O)C[C@@H]1CCCCN1C(=O)OCc1ccccc1
G Benzyl (2S)-2-(2-oxopropyl)piperidine-1-carboxylate, N-Cbz-(S)-pelletierine CC(=O)C[C@@H]1CCCCN1C(=O)OCc1ccccc1
  • 7.3 There are four stereoisomers, comprising two enantiomeric pairs.

  • 7.4

Compound Name Isomeric SMILES
I \((R_{\mathrm S})\)-N-[(4R)-8-bromooct-1-en-4-yl]-2-methylpropane-2-sulfinamide C=CC[C@@H](CCCCBr)N[S@](=O)C(C)(C)C
J \((2R,R_{\mathrm S})\)-2-Allyl-1-(tert-butylsulfinyl)piperidine C=CC[C@H]1CCCCN1[S@](=O)C(C)(C)C
K tert-Butyl (2R)-2-(prop-2-en-1-yl)piperidine-1-carboxylate C=CC[C@H]1CCCCN1C(=O)OC(C)(C)C
L tert-Butyl (2R)-2-(2-oxopropyl)piperidine-1-carboxylate, N-Boc-(R)-pelletierine CC(=O)C[C@H]1CCCCN1C(=O)OC(C)(C)C

Solution

7.1 — The proposed and actual structures

In \(X_W\), carbon 3 of propanal is attached to carbon 2 of piperidine. Thus the substituent on the piperidine ring is \(\ce{-CH2-CH2-CHO}\). No configuration is specified for its stereogenic ring carbon.

In \(X_S\), carbon 1 of propan-2-one is attached to carbon 2 of piperidine. Its side chain is therefore \(\ce{-CH2-C(=O)-CH3}\).

At the stereogenic carbon of \(X_S\), the CIP priorities are:

\[ \text{nitrogen} > \text{side-chain carbon} > \text{ring methylene carbon} > \text{hydrogen}. \]

The two carbon substituents initially tie, but the side-chain path reaches the carbonyl oxygen atoms before the ring path reaches any heteroatom. Natural pelletierine has the specified \(S\) configuration, encoded in CC(=O)C[C@@H]1CCCCN1.

7.2 — Identification of B–G

For A–C, use the nortropane numbering: the bridgeheads are C1 and C5, nitrogen is position 8, and the shorter carbon bridge runs C1–C7–C6–C5. The starting alcohol A is (1S,5R,6S)-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-6-ol, N1[C@H]2CCC[C@@H]1[C@@H](O)C2.

A → B: protection of nitrogen.
Benzyl chloroformate, O=C(Cl)OCc1ccccc1, converts the secondary amine into its Cbz carbamate. Potassium carbonate neutralizes the acid formed. The alcohol remains intact, and all three carbon configurations are retained.

Thus B is the N-Cbz derivative of A.

B → C: Swern oxidation.
The combination of oxalyl chloride, dimethyl sulfoxide and triethylamine oxidizes the secondary alcohol to a ketone.

C6 becomes trigonal planar, so its stereocentre disappears. The configurations at C1 and C5 remain unchanged. Loss of two hydrogen atoms gives the stated formula \(\ce{C15H17NO3}\).

C → D: Baeyer–Villiger oxidation.
The peracid inserts an oxygen atom into a bond adjacent to the ketone. The nitrogen-bearing bridgehead C5 migrates preferentially over the competing methylene carbon C7.

Consequently, the short bridge changes from

\[ C_1-\ce{CH2-C(=O)}-C_5 \]

to

\[ C_1-\ce{CH2-C(=O)-O}-C_5. \]

This gives the ring-expanded bicyclic lactone D, with formula \(\ce{C15H17NO4}\).

Migration occurs with retention of spatial configuration at the migrating carbon. Its CIP descriptor changes because insertion of oxygen changes the priority order; this does not represent inversion. In the numbering of the expanded bicyclic system, D has configuration \((1S,5S)\).

D → E: reductive opening of the lactone bridge.
The lactone contains a carbon bonded to both nitrogen and oxygen—the former C5. Lewis-acid activation followed by hydride delivery replaces its carbon–oxygen bond with a carbon–hydrogen bond.

The bridge opens, and aqueous workup gives the carboxylic acid. The former C5 becomes a methylene group, while the former C1 remains stereogenic. Its configuration is \(S\).

The product is therefore E, the N-Cbz-protected (S)-piperidine-2-acetic acid derivative. The change

\[ \ce{C15H17NO4 ->[reduction] C15H19NO4} \]

expresses the substrate formula change: two hydrogen atoms are added overall.

E → F: formation of a Weinreb amide.
Thionyl chloride activates the carboxylic acid as its acid chloride. Reaction with N,O-dimethylhydroxylamine, CNOC, then produces the N-methoxy-N-methylamide F.

The side chain becomes \(\ce{-CH2-C(=O)-N(CH3)-OCH3}\). Its formula is \(\ce{C17H24N2O4}\), matching the problem. The ring stereocentre remains \(S\).

F → G: selective formation of the methyl ketone.
Methylmagnesium bromide adds a methyl group to the Weinreb amide carbonyl. Coordination of magnesium to the two oxygen atoms stabilizes a five-membered chelated intermediate. This prevents release of the ketone, and hence further addition to it, before aqueous workup.

Hydrolysis gives the side chain \(\ce{-CH2-C(=O)-CH3}\). Thus G is N-Cbz-(S)-pelletierine.

G → \(X_S\): removal of Cbz.
Hydrogenolysis removes the benzyl carbamate without changing the carbon stereocentre. The balanced overall equation is

\[ \ce{C16H21NO3 + H2 -> C8H15NO + C7H8 + CO2}. \]

The products are natural pelletierine \(X_S\), toluene (Cc1ccccc1) and carbon dioxide (O=C=O).

The formulas of C, D, E and F independently obtained from the structures agree with all four formulas printed in the scheme.

7.3 — Number of stereoisomers of A

Ignoring nitrogen chirality, A has three stereogenic carbon atoms: C1, C5 and C6. However, the two bridgehead configurations cannot vary independently: their relative configuration is constrained by the short bridges.

There are two allowed bridgehead configurations, and for each there are two configurations at the alcohol-bearing carbon:

\[ N_{\text{stereoisomers}}=2\times 2=\boxed{4}. \]

For the 8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-6-ol skeleton, these are:

Configuration Isomeric SMILES
\((1S,5R,6S)\), A N1[C@H]2CCC[C@@H]1[C@@H](O)C2
\((1R,5S,6R)\), enantiomer of A N1[C@@H]2CCC[C@H]1[C@H](O)C2
\((1S,5R,6R)\), the C6 epimer of A N1[C@H]2CCC[C@@H]1[C@H](O)C2
\((1R,5S,6S)\), enantiomer of that epimer N1[C@@H]2CCC[C@H]1[C@@H](O)C2

Thus the four structures form two enantiomeric pairs. Alternative conformations do not count as additional stereoisomers.

7.4 — Identification of I–L

Formation of I: condensation followed by asymmetric allylation.
The depicted auxiliary H is (R)-tert-butanesulfinamide, CC(C)(C)[S@](N)=O.

Titanium ethoxide promotes its condensation with 5-bromopentanal, O=CCCCCBr, forming a sulfinimine. Indium-mediated addition of allyl bromide, C=CCBr, introduces the allyl group at the former aldehyde carbon. After workup, I has the connectivity

\[ \ce{Br-(CH2)4-CH(NH-S(=O)-C(CH3)3)-CH2-CH=CH2}. \]

The carbon stereocentre is \(R\), and the sulfur retains its \(R\) configuration. The carbon configuration can also be established directly from the downstream hydrochloride drawn in the problem: neither the intervening cyclization nor auxiliary removal changes the configuration of that carbon.

Counting atoms gives \(\ce{C12H24BrNOS}\), as required.

I → J: intramolecular substitution.
KHMDS removes the sulfinamide proton. The resulting nitrogen nucleophile attacks the terminal carbon bearing bromine by an intramolecular \(S_\mathrm{N}2\) reaction.

The ring contains nitrogen, the stereogenic carbon, and four methylene groups: a six-membered piperidine ring. Substitution occurs at an achiral terminal methylene carbon, so the existing \(R\) carbon centre is retained. Sulfur also retains its configuration.

Thus J is the N-tert-butylsulfinyl-protected (R)-2-allylpiperidine.

J → K: exchange of nitrogen protecting groups.
Methanolic hydrochloric acid cleaves the nitrogen–sulfur bond. It gives the depicted (2R)-2-allylpiperidinium chloride, C=CC[C@H]1CCCC[NH2+]1.[Cl-].

Base releases the amine, and di-tert-butyl dicarbonate introduces Boc protection, giving K. The carbon stereocentre remains \(R\).

K → L: Wacker oxidation.
The palladium/copper system oxidizes the terminal alkene to a methyl ketone:

\[ \ce{-CH2-CH=CH2 ->[oxidation] -CH2-C(=O)-CH3}. \]

Thus L is N-Boc-(R)-pelletierine. The balanced net oxidation, with oxygen as the terminal oxidant, is

\[ \ce{2C13H23NO2 + O2 -> 2C13H23NO3}. \]

No bond at the stereogenic ring carbon is broken, so its configuration remains \(R\).

Finally, hydrochloric acid removes Boc protection, and sodium hydroxide releases (R)-pelletierine, (R)-1-(piperidin-2-yl)propan-2-one, CC(=O)C[C@H]1CCCCN1. This is the enantiomer of natural \(X_S\).

The answers were checked against the official answers published by the organisers.