A facile stereoselective synthesis of 1,3-dienyl sulfones via Stille coupling reactions of (E)-α-stannylvinyl sulfones with alkenyl iodides

Palladium-catalyzed hydrostannylation of acetylenic sulfones 1 in benzene at room temperature gives stereoselectively (E)-α-stannylvinyl sulfones 2 in good yields. (E)-α-Stannylvinyl sulfones 2 are new difunctional group reagents which undergo Stille coupling reactions with alkenyl iodides 3 to afford stereoselectively 1,3-dienyl sulfones 4 in high yields.     

Synthesis of (E)- and (Z)-α,β-difluorourocanic acid

Horner-Emmons fluoroolefination of an aryl aldehyde followed by introduction of a second fluorine via “FBr” addition provides an original approach to the preparation of 1-alkyl-2-aryl-1,2-difluoroethenes. The utility of this procedure is demonstrated by the preparation of (E and Z)-α,β-difluorourocanic acid.     

Conversion of γ-substituted bicyclo[2.2.1] (Z)-vinylsulfones to the corresponding (E)-allylsulfones

The preparation of bicyclo[2.2.1] (E)-allylsulfones starting from the corresponding (Z)-vinylsulfones is described. Starting from 2,3-bis(phenylsulfonyl)norbornadiene 1, the Michael addition of organometallic reagents followed by the base catalyzed isomerization affords (E)-allylsulfones in high yields. The procedure allows to obtain vinylidenic norbornenes which are characteristic nuclei of valuable biologically active compounds.     

Phosphine-mediated diverse reactivity of γ-substituted allenoates with aldehydes: syntheses of highly functionalized chromans and (E,E)-1,3-dienes

As an extension of our previous studies, the phosphine-mediated diverse reactivity of γ-substituted allenoates with aldehydes has been further investigated. Under the catalysis of tris(p-chlorophenyl)phosphine (20 mol %), ethyl 2,3-pentadienoate, namely ethyl γ-methyl allenoate, readily undergoes a formal [4+2] annulation with dual-functional salicylaldehydes, giving highly functionalized chromans in 47-97% yields. This transformation represents a novel reactivity pattern of electron-deficient allenes with aldehydes. Conversely, when the γ substituent in the allenoate changes from methyl to benzyl or the employed phosphine from weakly nucleophilic triarylphosphine to strongly trialkylphosphine, the phosphine-mediated reactivity of γ-substituted allenoates with aldehydes will be steered to a stoichiometric olefination reaction, leading to the highly stereoselective formation of (E,E)-1,3-dienes. Thus, under the mediation of equivalent PPh₃, ethyl γ-benzyl allenoate readily condenses with salicylaldehydes, affording (E,E)-1,3-dienes in 34-84% yields; with strongly nucleophilic 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane (PTA) used instead of PPh₃, ethyl γ-methyl allenoate also gives the corresponding olefination products in 32-73% yields with reactive aromatic aldehydes. On the basis of our previous studies and current work, these chemical transformations of γ-substituted allenoates with aldehydes, as well as their diverse reactivity, have been mechanistically rationalized.     

SmI2-induced cyclization of optically active (E)- and (Z)-β-alkoxyvinyl sulfoxides with aldehydes

SmI₂-induced reaction of (E)-β-alkoxyvinyl (R)- and (S)-sulfoxides with aldehydes effected a highly stereoselective intramolecular cyclization to give 2,6-anti-2,3-cis- and 2,6-syn-2,3-trans-tetrahydropyran-3-ols, respectively. The reaction of (Z)-(R)-isomer gave 2,6-syn-2,3-cis-tetrahydropyran-3-ol and a ring-opened product, and that of (Z)-(S)-isomer yielded many products.     

Synthesis and hetero-Diels-Alder reactions of (E)-α-perfluoroalkanesulfonyl-α,β-unsaturated ketones

Catalyzed by ammonium acetate, the Knoevenagel reactions of β-keto perfluoroalkanesulfones 1 with aromatic aldehydes 2 afforded α-perfluoroalkanesulfonyl-α,β-unsaturated ketones 4 in moderate to good yields. The possible mechanism for the reactions was proposed. These fluorine-containing α,β-unsaturated ketones, which are electron-poor 1-oxa-1,3-butadienes, could be used in inverse electron demand hetero Diels-Alder (HDA) reaction with electron-rich olefins to give tetrasubstituted dihydropyrans 6 in quantitative yields.     

A practical and efficient synthesis of (E)-β-aryl-α,β-unsaturated amides

In this paper, we report a one-step convergent synthesis of (E)-β-monosubstituted α,β-unsaturated amides 3 from α-sulfonyl acetamide 1 and benzyl bromide derivatives 2.     

Self-supported BINOL-Zn catalysts for heterogeneous enantioselective epoxidation of (E)-α,β-unsaturated ketones

A class of chiral self-supported catalysts prepared from bis-BINOL ligands and diethyl zinc were successfully applied in the hetereogeneous enantioselective epoxidation of a range of (E)-α,β-unsaturated ketones, affording the corresponding epoxy ketones in high enantioselectivity. The self-supported catalysts were easily recovered from the reaction mixture and were reusable for several consecutive runs.     

Facile synthesis of (Z)- and (E)-3-allylidene-β-lactams via thermal β-elimination of trans-3-allyl-3-sulfinyl-β-lactams

A competent synthetic route for the synthesis of novel (Z)- and (E)-3-allylidene-β-lactams is described. The strategy involves oxidation of trans-3-allyl-3-phenylthio-β-lactams 1 using sodium metaperiodate (NaIO₄) to diastereomeric trans-3-allyl-3-phenylsulfinyl-β-lactams 2 and 3, which further undergo thermal β-elimination in refluxing carbon tetrachloride to furnish (Z)- and (E)-3-allylidene-β-lactams 5 and 6 in good to excellent yields. The molecular structure of 3b has been established with the help of single crystal X-ray analysis.     

Solvent-free heterogeneous organocatalysis: stereoselective isomerization of α,β-ynones to (E,E)-α,β-γ,δ-dienones catalyzed by polymer-supported tertiaryphosphines

Stereoselective isomerization of α,β-ynones was catalyzed by polymer-supported tertiaryphosphines under solvent-free conditions. (E,E)-α,β-γ,δ-Dienones were obtained with up to 93% isolated yields when JJ-TPP was employed.     

Heterogeneous gold-catalyzed oxidative cross-coupling of propargylic acetates with arylboronic acids leading to (E)-α-arylenones

An efficient heterogeneous gold-catalyzed oxidative cross-coupling of propargylic acetates with arylboronic acids has been developed that proceeds smoothly in the presence of Selectfluor and provides a general and powerful tool for the preparation of various valuable α-arylenones with moderate to good yields, excellent E-selectivity, and recyclability of the gold catalyst. The reaction is the first example of heterogeneous gold-catalyzed arylative rearrangement of propargylic acetates for construction of complex enones.     

Diels-Alder reaction of optically active (E)-γ-keto-α,β-unsaturated p-tolylsulfoxides with cyclopentadiene

The Diels-Alder reaction of enantiomerically pure (E)-γ-keto-α,β-unsaturated p-tolylsulphoxides 3 with cyclopentadiene give four easily separable diastereomers. The effect of several Lewis acids on the reaction was studied, finding a high endo selectivity with respect to the carbonyl group and moderate π-diastereoselectivity using BF₃·Et₂O as catalyst. The reactivity of compounds 3 as well as their endo selectivity are both higher than those observed for the corresponding (E)-3-sulfinylacrylates.     

Single pot diastereoselective synthesis of six membered cyclic (E)-endo-aldonitrones via intramolecular cyclization of ω-alkenyl oximes

β-Lactam-synthon interceded diastereoselective single pot synthesis of synthetically challenging six-membered cyclic (E)-endo-aldonitrones has been developed via intramolecular cyclization of ω-alkenyl oximes tethered at the C-3 position of 2-azetidinones along with its utilization in 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction with DMAD.     

A general route to α-alkyl (E)-α,β-unsaturated aldehydes

Bis(trimethylsilyl)-tert-butylaldimines 3 react with aldehydes in the presence of zinc bromide at room temperature to give, after hydrolysis, the desired α-alkyl α,β-ethylenic aldehydes in good yield and with very high E stereoselectivity. The reaction was believed to proceed via the α-silyl β-siloxyimines 4.     

Design and synthesis of azobenzene template based sulfonamide for capture of HCAII: dependence of efficiency on E–Z geometry

We report the synthesis of azobenzene template based sulfonamides 1 and 2 for capture of Human Carbonic Anhydrase II (HCAII). Out of these, 1 showed successful capturing of the protein, only when it is photo-isomerized to the Z form thus demonstrating the importance of spatial proximity of the reactive and selective functionalities.     

Asymmetric Michael addition of α-cyano acetates to (E)-1,4-diaryl-2-buten-1,4-diones

An organocatalyzed asymmetric Michael addition of α-cyano acetates to (E)-1,4-diaryl-2-buten-1,4-diones was realized. The reactions afforded various enantioenriched α,α-disubstituted α-cyano acetates with good yields (up to 99%), moderate to good diastereoselectivities (up to 13.3:1) and moderate to good enantioselectivities (up to 94% ee). Furthermore, one of the products was subjected to Paal–Knorr cyclization to provide an α-furanyl-α,α-disubstituted α-cyano acetate in good yield with moderate enantioselectivity. Thus an indirect asymmetric α-heteroarylation of α-cyano acetates has been well established.     

An efficient deprotection method for 5′-[O,O-bis(pivaloyloxymethyl)]-(E)-vinylphosphonate containing oligonucleotides

5′-(E)-Vinylphosphonate (VP) is an effective bioisostere of the natural 5′-monophosphate in small interfering RNAs (siRNAs). Solid-phase synthesis of VP-siRNAs requires the use of appropriately protected VP-phosphoramidites in combination with optimal oligonucleotide deprotection conditions. Addition of 3% (v) neat diethylamine to the standard aqueous ammonia deprotection conditions allows clean and rapid one-step deprotection of 5′-[O,O-bis(pivaloyloxymethyl)] (POM)-protected VP oligonucleotides, minimizing side reactions and impurities, which broadly enhances the scope of VP oligonucleotide synthesis.     

The first asymmetric total synthesis of (R)-tuberolactone, (S)-jasmine lactone and (R)-δ-decalactone

A general synthetic approach has been developed for the first asymmetric total synthesis of tuberolactone 1, jasmine lactone 2 and δ-decalactone 3. The key step is the selective hydrogenation of triple and endocyclic double bonds in the key intermediate 4.     

Enantioselective synthesis of (2R,3R)- and (2S,3S)-β-hydroxyornithine

An efficient and short synthesis of (2R,3R)- and (2S,3S)-β-hydroxyornithine 1a-b is described using Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation and regioselective nucleophilic opening of a cyclic sulfite as the key steps.