Synthesis of 4-aminomethyl-tetrahydrofuran-2-carboxylates with 2,4-cis and 2,4-trans relationships

Templated tetrahydrofuran-based γ-azido esters were prepared with the C-2 and C-4 functionalities in cis and trans relative configurations. This was achieved by ring contraction of the suitably protected 2-O-triflates of pentono-1,5-lactones (d-ribose and l-arabinose) with subsequent introduction of the azide via the 4-O-triflate. Access to a corresponding β-azido ester was achieved in good yield. Little elimination product was observed by introduction of the azide via the 3-O-triflate. These azido esters are scaffolds, which may be predisposed to adopt secondary structural motifs, for example, for use as peptidomimetics; they may also be utilised for the preparation of stereodiverse compound libraries.

The efficient synthesis of cyclically rigidified β- and γ-amino acids from carbohydrate starting materials.