Synthesis of Highly Functionalized Cyclopentanes as Precursors of Hydroxylated Azidocarbonucleosides

Abstract

Regio- and stereoisomers of functionalized azido amino alcohols with a cyclopentane skeleton were synthesized in enantiomerically pure forms. Enzymatic ring cleavage of racemic 2-azabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-3-one gave the corresponding amino acid and one enantiomer of the lactam stereospecifically. These were protected by esterification and carbamoylation, and then epoxidized. The resulting oxiranes underwent cleavage by sodium azide with complementary stereoselectivities. The regioisomeric products were easily separated by crystallization or column chromatography.