Efficient and practical access to chiral aminocyclopropanes is secured by the title reaction (see example). Both E and Z enamides undergo the cyclopropanation with high diastereoselectivity (d.r. up to >95:5). The application of this methodology to the synthesis of biologically significant aminocyclopropanes illustrates the potential of chiral enamides as useful building blocks for stereoselective organic synthesis.

A de novo preparation of α-keto-imides via ynamide oxidation is described. With a number of alkyne oxidation conditions screened, a highly efficient RuO2-NaIO4 mediated oxidation and a DMDO oxidation have been identified to tolerate a wide range of ynamide types. In addition to accessing a wide variety of α-keto-imides, the RuO2-NaIO4 protocol provides a novel entry to the vicinal tricarbonyl motif via oxidation of push-pull ynamides, and imido acylsilanes from silyl-substituted ynamides. Chemoselective oxidation of ynamides containing olefins can be achieved using DMDO, while the RuO2-NaIO4 protocol is not effective. These studies provide further support for the synthetic utility of ynamides.

1 H and 13 C NMR chemical shifts were measured for a set of six isomers-the cis and trans 2-, 3-, and 4-methylcyclohexanols. 1 H and 13 C NMR chemical shifts were computed at the B3LYP, WP04, WC04, and PBE1 density functional levels for the same compounds, taking into account the Boltzmann distribution among conformational isomers (chair-chair forms and hydroxyl rotamers). The experimental versus computed chemical shift values for proton and carbon were compared and evaluated (using linear correlation (r 2 ), total absolute error (jDdj T ), and mean unsigned error (MUE) criteria) with respect to the relative ability of each method to distinguish between cis and trans stereoisomers for each of the three constitutional isomers. For 13 C shift data, results from the B3LYP and PBE1 density functionals were not sufficiently accurate to distinguish all three pairs of stereoisomers, while results using the WC04 functional did do so. For 1 H shift data, each of the WP04, B3LYP, and PBE1 methods was sufficiently accurate to make the proper stereochemical distinction for each of the three pairs. Applying a linear correction to the computed data improved both the absolute accuracy and the degree of discrimination for most of the methods. The nature of the cavity definition used for continuum solvation had little effect. Overall, use of proton chemical shift data was more discriminating than use of carbon data.

Cholinergic synaptic transmission often requires extremely rapid hydrolysis of acetylcholine by acetylcholinesterase (AChE). AChE is inactivated by organophosphates (OPs) in chemical warfare nerve agents. The resulting accumulation of acetylcholine disrupts cholinergic synaptic transmission and can lead to death. A potential long-term strategy for preventing AChE inactivation by OPs is based on evidence that OPs must pass through a peripheral site or P-site near the mouth of the AChE active site gorge before reacting with a catalytic serine in an acylation site or A-site at the base of the gorge. An ultimate goal of this strategy is to design compounds that bind tightly at or near the P-site and exclude OPs from the active site while interfering minimally with the passage of acetylcholine. However, to target the AChE P-site with ligands and potential drugs that selectively restrict access, much more information must be gathered about the structure-activity relationships of ligands that bind specifically to the P-site. We apply here an inhibitor competition assay that can correctly determine whether an AChE inhibitor binds to the P-site, the A-site, or both sites. We have used this assay to examine three uncharged, natural product inhibitors of AChE, including aflatoxin B1, dihydrotanshinone I, and territrem B. The first two of these inhibitors are predicted by the competition assay to bind selectively to the P-site, while territrem B is predicted to span both the P- and A-sites. These predictions have recently been confirmed by X-ray crystallography. Dihydrotanshinone I, with an observed binding constant (KI) of 750 nM, provides a good lead compound for the development of high-affinity, uncharged inhibitors with specificity for the P-site.