Stereoselective synthesis of C15C24 and C25C30 fragments of dolabelides

The stereocontrolled synthesis of a C15C24 fragment of dolabelides is reported. The C19 and C21 hydroxyl-bearing stereocenters were installed using ruthenium-mediated asymmetric hydrogenations of cyclic hemiketal 4 and β-keto ester 7. The C25C30 portion of dolabelides was prepared as well by ring opening of chiral epoxy alcohol 12 to set up the C27 stereogenic center.     

An improved synthesis of the C42–C52 segment of ciguatoxin 3C

In our previously reported method for the construction of the IJKLM-ring of ciguatoxin 3C (CTX3C), the lengthy synthetic process for the intermediate C42–C52 (L-ring) segment was problematic. Therefore, a new and improved procedure for the C42–C52 segment, having modified protecting groups, was developed. The new route includes a chirality transferring Ireland-Claisen rearrangement for the construction of the vicinal dimethyl branching at C47–48, a one-pot cyclization process for the establishment of the stereocenters at C45 and C46 as well as the γ-hydroxy δ-lactone framework corresponding to the L-ring, and Brown’s asymmetric crotylboration for the installation of the stereocenters at C43 and C44. The new C42–C52 segment was successfully coupled with the previously reported C32–C41 (I-ring) segment to produce the IJKLM-ring.     

Synthesis of the C29–C37 segment of spongistatin 1

Starting from racemic 2α-methyl-8-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-6-en-3-one the spongistatin E segment has been prepared in nine steps (2.3 steps per stereogenic center) with umpolung of anomeric reactivity at C37. This 3,5-syn-diol sequence completes our methodology to all stereoisomers of 3,5,7-trihydroxy heptanoic ester building blocks functionalized for α-oxyanion chemistry.     

Synthesis of the C1–C13 fragment of eribulin mesylate

Synthesis of the C1–C13 fragment of eribulin mesylate has been accomplished. It features a highly stereoselective construction of a trans-dihydropyran framework using three key reactions: (1) Sharpless epoxidation, (2) regioselective ring opening, and (3) olefin metathesis.     

Synthesis of the C8–C16 fragment of amphidinolide R

An asymmetric synthesis of the C8–C16 fragment with several stereogenic centers of amphidinolide R, is described. The key reaction, Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation has provided the basis for generation of the required stereocenters. The target fragment was accomplished in a convergent manner in nine steps (longest linear synthesis of the sequence) and 32% overall yield was obtained starting from 2-butene-1,4-diol.     

Stereoselective synthesis of C19–C27 fragment of bryostatin 11

A convergent synthesis of C19–C27 fragment (2) of bryostatin-11 is described. The key steps involved in this approach are kinetic resolution, Grignard reaction, and Sharpless dihydroxylation. AIBN catalyzed radical cyclization strategy has been used for the first time to construct the six-membered pyran system.     

Effect of LET on radiolysis of C6−C8 cycloalkane systems

The - and -radiolysis of cyclohexane, cycloheptane and cyclooctane was investigated in the absence and presence of iodine scavenger. Comparison of the distributions of products formed revealed considerable differences between - and -radiolysis, and the decomposition of strainless cyclohexane and strained cycloheptane and cyclooctane.     

Toward the stereoselective synthesis of C1–C23 fragment of spirastrellolide B

A convergent synthesis of the protected C(1)–C(23) fragment 4 of the targeted natural product spirastrellolide B is described. The key step of the synthesis is cross metathesis (CM) and TBAF promoted oxa-Michael to construct tetrahydropyran moiety.     

Gram scale synthesis of the C(1)–C(9) fragment of amphidinolide C

An allylic cis-epoxide prepared by Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation was transformed in nine steps and 41% overall yield to the cyclization precursor 4 via a key one carbon homologation. Cobalt-catalyzed aerobic oxidative cyclization of 4 gave the trans-THF in 94% yield at gram scale. Subsequent manipulations, including a Still–Gennari olefination, Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation, Corey–Fuchs alkynylation, and Kazmaier hydrostannylation provided the fully functionalized C(1)–C(9) fragment 2 suitable for cross-coupling. The sequence is readily scalable and provides gram quantities of 2.     

Stereoselective synthesis of C3–C17 and C18–C34 subunits of bullatanocin utilizing α-chloro sulfide intermediates

A convergent synthesis of bullatanocin is envisaged by the union of C18–C34, C3–C17 and the butenolide subunits. The synthesis of the C3–C17 and C18–C34 subunits is disclosed that takes advantage of the chirality of tartaric acid for 1,2-asymmetric induction, chloro sulfides for carbon chain elongation and [2,3] sigmatropic shift for the preparation of 1,4-diol moiety via efficient 1,3-chirality transfer. The THF ring is elaborated by intramolecular displacement.     

Stereo selective synthesis of C3–C12 fragment of iriomoteolide-1a

A convergent and flexible synthetic route for the synthesis of C3–C12 fragment of iriomoteolide-1a is described. The key steps are: Mannich reaction, Keck asymmetric allylation, Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation and cross-metathesis protocol.     

Simulation of the random scission of C–C bonds in the initial stage of the thermal degradation of polyethylene

We performed molecular dynamics simulations to analyze the initial stage of the thermal degradation of polyethylene, which is dominated by the random scission reaction. The simulations were initiated from structures that were taken from previously equilibrated snapshots of the amorphous polymer and of a free-standing thin film. Isolated chains were also used for comparison. Our systems were coupled to a thermal heat bath, and the effect of different coupling constants was studied. Rate of random scission increases as the strength of the temperature coupling increases. Rates of reaction are almost similar in thin films and the bulk, whereas the rates are much faster in isolated chains. Expansion of the free-standing thin film accompanies degradation, producing fragments of various sizes. Chains of higher molecular weights than the initial chains can be produced due to recombination of fragments during the expansion of thin films. The polydispersity index of the resulting fragments is higher in thin films compared to the bulk. The bonds at the low density portion of the thin films have a higher probability of being broken.     

New Ruthenium Complexes of Fullerene C60＆C70

The new complexes[Ru(NO)(PPh3)]2(η^2-Cm)(m=60 1 or 70 2)have been prepared by heating a solution of C60(or C70)with[Ru(NO)2(PPh3)2]in toluene.They have been characterized by elemental analysis,IR,UV/VIS,XPS,^13C and ^13P NMR spectroscopy.The photovaltaic effect for the new compounds has been studied.     

Stereoselective synthesis of C12–C21 common fragment of thermolides 1–5

A highly stereoselective synthesis of C12–C21 common fragment of thermolides 1–5 has been described. The salient features of the synthesis are the utilization of desymmetrization protocol, Barton-McCombie reaction, Brown’s asymmetric allylation and Wacker oxidation.     

Formation of active phases of Fe/C,Cr/C and Fe–Cr/C catalysts in oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane

The oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane into ethylene using CO₂ as an oxidant at temperatures of 650–750 °C was carried out over Fe/C, Cr/C and Fe–Cr/C catalysts deposited on a carbon support. Before and after the reaction the catalysts were investigated by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), in situ magnetometry and transmission electron microscopy methods. The correlation between activity of Fe/C, Cr/C and Fe–Cr/C catalytic systems and their phase composition was established.     

Asymmetric Total Syntheses of Di- and Sesquiterpenoids by Catalytic C−C Activation of Cyclopentanones

To show the synthetic utility of the catalytic C−C activation of less strained substrates, described here are the collective and concise syntheses of the natural products (−)-microthecaline A, (−)-leubehanol, (+)-pseudopteroxazole, (+)-seco-pseudopteroxazole, pseudopterosin A–F and G—J aglycones, and (+)-heritonin. The key step in these syntheses involve a Rh-catalyzed C−C/C−H activation cascade of 3-arylcyclopentanones, which provides a rapid and enantioselective route to access the polysubstituted tetrahydronaphthalene cores presented in these natural products. Other important features include 1) the direct C−H amination of the tetralone substrate in the synthesis of (−)-microthecaline A, 2) the use of phosphoric acid to enhance efficiency and regioselectivity for problematic cyclopentanone substrates in the C−C activation reactions, and 3) the direct conversion of serrulatane into amphilectane diterpenes by an allylic cyclodehydrogenation coupling.     

Recent strategic advances for the activation of benzylic C–H bonds for the formation of C–C bonds

Alkylarenes, obtained from abundant hydrocarbon feedstock sources, are an attractive starting material for the formation of complex molecular architectures. Conventional activation strategies of the relatively inert sp³-hybridized benzylic C–H bonds usually require relatively harsh conditions and are difficult to apply to the synthesis of fine chemicals. The present review describes recent strategic advances for the activation of benzylic C–H bonds for the catalytic formation of C–C bonds. In particular, two activation methods, i.e., strategies that generate benzylic radicals or benzyl anions, are discussed.     

Transformations of Aryl Ketones via Ligand-Promoted C−C Bond Activation

The coupling of aromatic electrophiles (aryl halides, aryl ethers, aryl acids, aryl nitriles etc.) with nucleophiles is a core methodology for the synthesis of aryl compounds. Transformations of aryl ketones in an analogous manner via carbon–carbon bond activation could greatly expand the toolbox for the synthesis of aryl compounds due to the abundance of aryl ketones. An exploratory study of this approach is typically based on carbon–carbon cleavage triggered by ring-strain release and chelation assistance, and the products are also limited to a specific structural motif. Here we report a ligand-promoted β-carbon elimination strategy to activate the carbon–carbon bonds, which results in a range of transformations of aryl ketones, leading to useful aryl borates, and also to biaryls, aryl nitriles, and aryl alkenes. The use of a pyridine-oxazoline ligand is crucial for this catalytic transformation. A gram-scale borylation reaction of an aryl ketone via a simple one-pot operation is reported. The potential utility of this strategy is also demonstrated by the late-stage diversification of drug molecules probenecid, adapalene, and desoxyestrone, the fragrance tonalid as well as the natural product apocynin.     

Efficient Selective Formation of C‐C Single Bonds and C˭C Double Bonds by NBS‐Promoted Oxidative Coupling of β‐Keto Esters

Abstract

A new application of NBS, which results in the oxidative coupling of β‐keto esters to selectively form C‐C single and C?C double bonds, can be controlled by the amount of NBS and t‐BuOK employed. This methodology adds a new entry to C‐C single and C?C double‐bond formation between active methylene groups under mild conditions with high selectivity.