The accomplishment of the γ-alkylation reaction from β-keto esters of tropinone and the enantioselective aziridine formation from nortropinone is first reported. This opened two new paths to develop tropinone enolate chemistry. One is indirect α-alkylation of tropinone, another is the nucleophilic attack from α-C enolate to the nitrogen atom.<p>Seven interesting chiral amines have been synthesized and applied into the enolate chemistry of two interesting precursors of synthesis of natural products: 1,4- cyclohexanedione monoethylene ketal and tropinone.<p>The aldol reaction between the lithium enolate of 1,4-cyclohexanedione monoethylene ketal and benzaldehyde demonstrated the high diastereoselectivity (up to 98% de) and the moderate to high enantioselectivity (up to 75% ee) induced by those chiral lithium amides. On the other hand, high diastereoselectivity (up to 100% de) and the low enantioselectivity were obtained from the aldol reaction of tropinone enolate with benzaldehyde differentiated by chiral lithium amides with extra electron donor atoms.<p>An analysis method to determine enantioselectivity from racemic α-hydroxytropinone was developed. That will, no doubt, benefit the further enantioselective α-hydroxylation reaction of tropinone.

The accomplishment of the γ-alkylation reaction from β-keto esters of tropinone and the enantioselective aziridine formation from nortropinone is first reported. This opened two new paths to develop tropinone enolate chemistry. One is indirect α-alkylation of tropinone, another is the nucleophilic attack from α-C enolate to the nitrogen atom.<p>Seven interesting chiral amines have been synthesized and applied into the enolate chemistry of two interesting precursors of synthesis of natural products: 1,4- cyclohexanedione monoethylene ketal and tropinone.<p>The aldol reaction between the lithium enolate of 1,4-cyclohexanedione monoethylene ketal and benzaldehyde demonstrated the high diastereoselectivity (up to 98% de) and the moderate to high enantioselectivity (up to 75% ee) induced by those chiral lithium amides. On the other hand, high diastereoselectivity (up to 100% de) and the low enantioselectivity were obtained from the aldol reaction of tropinone enolate with benzaldehyde differentiated by chiral lithium amides with extra electron donor atoms.<p>An analysis method to determine enantioselectivity from racemic α-hydroxytropinone was developed. That will, no doubt, benefit the further enantioselective α-hydroxylation reaction of tropinone.

The thiopyran route to polypropionates is an attractive strategy that involves a stepwise iterative aldol homologation of tetrahydro-4H-thiopyran-4-one (I) with thiopyran aldehyde (II) followed by desulfurization to rapidly assemble stereochemically complex polypropionate synthons. <p>In chapter 1, the thesis is summarized in the context of relevant background research including; a) the basic principle of the thiopyran route; b) dynamic kinetic resolution of -substituted aldehydes; c) previous syntheses of serricornin; iv) previous syntheses of membrenones.<p>In chapter 2, proline-catalyzed enantioselective direct intermolecular aldol reactions of tetrahydro-4H-thiopyran-4-one with various achiral aldehydes were studied. The results provided insights on the behaviour and stereoselectivity profile of thiopyranone (a crucial starting block in the thiopyran design) in the proline-catalyzed aldol reaction.<p>In chapter 3, inspired by the results of the aldol reaction of ketone (I) with achiral aldehydes, we next investigated the proline-catalyzed asymmetric aldol reactions of (I) with racemic thiopyran aldehyde (II) as a strategy to rapidly prepare enantiomerically pure tetrapropionate synthons without any requirement of enantioenriched aldehyde. The reaction occurred with high enantiotopic group selectivity and dynamic kinetic resolution.<p>In chapter 4, a detailed study to ascertain the scope and limitations of the design strategy described in chapter 3 was extended towards other catalysts, aldehydes and ketones. <p>Finally, applications of the above mentioned strategy towards the synthesis of serricornin and membrenones A and B are elaborated in chapters 5 and 6 respectively.

The thiopyran route to polypropionates is an attractive strategy that involves a stepwise iterative aldol homologation of tetrahydro-4H-thiopyran-4-one (I) with thiopyran aldehyde (II) followed by desulfurization to rapidly assemble stereochemically complex polypropionate synthons. <p>In chapter 1, the thesis is summarized in the context of relevant background research including; a) the basic principle of the thiopyran route; b) dynamic kinetic resolution of -substituted aldehydes; c) previous syntheses of serricornin; iv) previous syntheses of membrenones.<p>In chapter 2, proline-catalyzed enantioselective direct intermolecular aldol reactions of tetrahydro-4H-thiopyran-4-one with various achiral aldehydes were studied. The results provided insights on the behaviour and stereoselectivity profile of thiopyranone (a crucial starting block in the thiopyran design) in the proline-catalyzed aldol reaction.<p>In chapter 3, inspired by the results of the aldol reaction of ketone (I) with achiral aldehydes, we next investigated the proline-catalyzed asymmetric aldol reactions of (I) with racemic thiopyran aldehyde (II) as a strategy to rapidly prepare enantiomerically pure tetrapropionate synthons without any requirement of enantioenriched aldehyde. The reaction occurred with high enantiotopic group selectivity and dynamic kinetic resolution.<p>In chapter 4, a detailed study to ascertain the scope and limitations of the design strategy described in chapter 3 was extended towards other catalysts, aldehydes and ketones. <p>Finally, applications of the above mentioned strategy towards the synthesis of serricornin and membrenones A and B are elaborated in chapters 5 and 6 respectively.