Zn(OTf)2-catalyzed cyclization of proparyl alcohols with anilines, phenols, and amides for synthesis of indoles, benzofurans, and oxazoles through different annulation mechanisms

Zn(OTf)2 (10 mol %) catalyzed the cyclization of propargyl alcohols with PhXH (X = O, NH) in hot toluene (100 degrees C) without additive and gave indole and benzofuran products with different structures. In such transformations, alpha-carbonyl intermediates A and C were isolated as reaction intermediates. The 1,2-nitrogen shift in the formation of indole is catalyzed by Zn(OTf)2, and its mechanism has been elucidated. This catalytic cyclization is also applicable to the synthesis of oxazoles through the cyclization of propargyl alcohols and amides without a 1,2-nitrogen shift.     

Studies on taxadiene synthase: interception of the cyclization cascade at the isocembrene stage with GGPP analogues

[reaction: see text] The cyclization of GGPP to taxadiene, catalyzed by taxadiene synthase, has been suggested to proceed through a series of monocyclic isocembrenyl- and bicyclic verticillyl-carbocationic intermediary stages. A set of GGPP analogues with abolished or perturbed pi-nucleophilicity at the delta10 double bond (GGPP numbering) was synthesized and incubated with taxadiene synthase to intercept the cyclization cascade at the monocyclic stage. Each analogue was transformed by taxadiene synthase in vitro to hydrocarbon products in varying yields, and the structures of the major product in each reaction were solved by GCEIMS and one- and two-dimensional (1H and 13C) NMR and found to be 14-membered monocyclic isocembrenyl diterpenes, indicating that the first C-C bond formation catalyzed by taxadiene synthase could be uncoupled from the other subsequent bond formation events by using suitably designed substrate analogues. The formation and isolation of these isocembrenyl diterpene products using taxadiene synthase supports proposals that the isocembrenyl cation is an intermediate in the cyclization of GGPP to taxadiene.     

Strictosidine synthase: mechanism of a Pictet-Spengler catalyzing enzyme

The Pictet-Spengler reaction, which yields either a beta-carboline or a tetrahydroquinoline product from an aromatic amine and an aldehyde, is widely utilized in plant alkaloid biosynthesis. Here we deconvolute the role that the biosynthetic enzyme strictosidine synthase plays in catalyzing the stereoselective synthesis of a beta-carboline product. Notably, the rate-controlling step of the enzyme mechanism, as identified by the appearance of a primary kinetic isotope effect (KIE), is the rearomatization of a positively charged intermediate. The KIE of a nonenzymatic Pictet-Spengler reaction indicates that rearomatization is also rate-controlling in solution, suggesting that the enzyme does not significantly change the mechanism of the reaction. Additionally, the pH dependence of the solution and enzymatic reactions provides evidence for a sequence of acid-base catalysis steps that catalyze the Pictet-Spengler reaction. An additional acid-catalyzed step, most likely protonation of a carbinolamine intermediate, is also significantly rate controlling. We propose that this step is efficiently catalyzed by the enzyme. Structural analysis of a bisubstrate inhibitor bound to the enzyme suggests that the active site is exquisitely tuned to correctly orient the iminium intermediate for productive cyclization to form the diastereoselective product. Furthermore, ab initio calculations suggest the structures of possible productive transition states involved in the mechanism. Importantly, these calculations suggest that a spiroindolenine intermediate, often invoked in the Pictet-Spengler mechanism, does not occur. A detailed mechanism for enzymatic catalysis of the beta-carboline product is proposed from these data.     

PdCl2催化炔酸烯丙酯环化反应的密度泛函研究

用密度泛函方法(DFT)研究了PdCl2催化炔酸烯丙酯环化反应的机理. 在B3LYP/6-311G**水平上优化了各反应中间体和过渡态的结构. 计算结果表明, 反应是放热的, 主要经历了炔键的卤钯化、烯烃对烯基钯的迁移插入以及β-杂原子消除等过程. 烯烃的迁移插入是反应的手性决定步骤, β-杂原子消除是反应的速率控制步骤. 理论预测的主要产物是与实验吻合的(Z,R)-α-亚烷基-γ-丁内酯.     

Rate-accelerating effect by the neighboring-group participation of protecting groups in the dehydrative cyclization of 1,3,5-triketones

Neighboring-group participation of an acyl protecting group efficiently promotes the Br?nsted acid-catalyzed dehydrative cyclization of 1,3,5-triketones to gamma-pyrones, whereas a bulky silyloxy group in the beta-position retards the cyclization. This reaction provides an efficient synthetic route for a common intermediate for the synthesis of gamma-pyrone-containing bioactive natural products.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed cyclization of epoxide with a tethered alkyne: formation of ketene intermediates via oxygen transfer from epoxides to terminal alkynes

Treatment of (o-ethynyl)phenyl epoxides with TpRuPPh(3)(CH(3)CN)(2)PF(6) (10 mol %) in hot toluene (100 degrees C, 3-6 h) gave 2-naphthols or 1-alkylidene-2-indanones very selectively with isolated yields exceeding 72%, depending on the nature of the epoxide substituents. Surprisingly, the reaction intermediate proved to be a ruthenium-pi-ketene species that can be trapped efficiently by alcohol to give an ester compound. This phenomenon indicates a novel oxygen transfer from epoxide to its terminal alkyne catalyzed by a ruthenium complex. A plausible mechanism is proposed on the basis of reaction products and the deuterium-labeling experiment. The 2-naphthol products are thought to derive from 6-endo-dig cyclization of (o-alkenyl)phenyl ketene intermediates, whereas 1-alkylidene-2-indanones are given from the 5-endo-dig cyclization pathway.     

Acid-catalyzed cyclization of epoxyallylsilanes. An unusual rearrangement cyclization process

[reaction: see text]. A new route for the synthesis of epoxyallylsilanes bearing the phenyldimethylsilyl group is reported that involves silylcupration of allene, conjugate addition to enones, and sulfur-ylide-mediated epoxidation. The Lewis acid-catalyzed cyclization of these substrates is presented. The expected normal products derived from 5-exo and/or 6-endo attack are not observed; instead, methylenecyclohexanols resulting from a tandem rearrangement-cyclization process are formed.     

Proposed mechanism for diterpene synthases in the formation of phomactatriene and taxadiene

To obtain insight into how the cyclization pathway is controlled, the mechanism of diterpene synthase reactions (the putative phomactatriene synthase and taxadiene synthases) involving the same intermediate was investigated in detail. The mechanism of the initial transformation of GGDP to verticillen-12-yl cation (A+) was proposed based on the labelling pattern of phomactatriene (9a) obtained in the feeding experiments with 13C-labelled acetates. To obtain information on the reaction pathway of A+ to 9a and taxadiene, reactions of verticillol with various acids were conducted. Structural determination of products allowed us to propose a reaction pathway via cations A+, D+, E+, F+ and G+. Identification of hydrocarbons in mycelial extracts of phomactin-producing fungus supported the proposed reaction mechanism. Based on the results of ab initio calculations for highly flexible cation intermediates, a mechanism is proposed.     

Enzymatic cyclizations of squalene analogs with threo- and erythro-diols at the 6,7- or 10,11-positions by recombinant squalene cyclase. Trapping of carbocation intermediates and mechanistic insights into the product and substrate specificities

In order to trap the carbocation intermediates formed during the squalene cyclization cascade, squalene analogs with threo- and erythro-diols at the 6,7- and 10,11-positions were incubated with the recombinant squalene cyclase from Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius, leading to the construction of the triterpenes with tetrahydropyran, octahydrochromene, decahydronaphthalene with a carbonyl group, dodecahydrobenzo[f]chromene, tetradecahydronaphtho[2,1-b]oxepine and malabaricane skeletons, almost of which are novel compounds. These products indicate that 6-membered monocyclic, 6/6-fused bicyclic and 6/6/5-fused tricyclic cations were involved in the cyclization reaction in addition to acyclic cation. All the trapped cations were the stable tertiary cation, but not the secondary one, indicating that the polycyclization reaction proceeds with a Markovnikov closure. The product profiles revealed that the cyclization reactions proceeded with the product and substrate specificities in addition to enantioselectivity. Mechanistic insight into the observed stereochemical specificities indicated that the pre-organized chair-conformation of squalene-diols is tightly constricted by the cyclase and a free motion or a conformational change is not allowed in the reaction cavity, thus, the substrate and product specificities are dominantly directed by the least motion of the nucleophilic hydroxyl group toward the intermediary carbocation; a small rotation of the hydroxyl group afforded the cyclization products in a good yield, but a large rotation of the hydroxyl group gave a marginal or no detectable amount of products.     

Platinum catalyzed 7-endo cyclization of internal alkynyl amides and its application to synthesis of the caprazamycin core

The scope and limitations of the platinum catalyzed 7-endo cyclization of internal alkynyl amides were investigated. Substitution of the alkyne with an aryl group gave better results, presumably because it stabilized the transition state. Applying the reaction to a secondary amide, the caprazamycin core was successfully synthesized from commercially available material in eight steps.     

Enzymatic cyclization of dioxidosqualene to heterocyclic triterpenes

Oxidosqualene cyclases normally produce triterpenes from 2,3-(S)-oxidosqualene (OS) but also can cyclize its minor companion (3S,22S)-2,3:22,23-dioxidosqualene (DOS). We explored DOS cyclization in plant triterpene synthesis using a recombinant lupeol synthase (LUP1) heterologously expressed in yeast. Incubation of LUP1 with 3S,22S-DOS gave epoxydammaranes epimeric at C20 and a 17,24-epoxybaccharane in a 4:2:3 ratio. The products reflected a new mechanistic paradigm for DOS cyclization. The structures were determined by NMR and GC-MS, and recent errors in the epoxydammarane literature were rectified. Some DOS metabolites are likely candidates for regulating triterpenoid biosynthesis, while others may be precursors of saponin aglycones. Our in vivo experiments in yeast generated substantial amounts of DOS metabolites in a single enzymatic step, suggesting a seminal role for the DOS shunt pathway in the evolution of saponin synthesis. Quantum mechanical calculations revealed oxonium ion intermediates, whose reactivity altered the usual mechanistic patterns of triterpene synthesis. Further analysis indicated that the side chain of the epoxydammarenyl cation intermediate is in an extended conformation. The overall results establish new roles for DOS in triterpene synthesis and exemplify how organisms can increase the diversity of secondary metabolites without constructing new enzymes.     

Formal total synthesis of (±)-fragranol via template catalyzed 4-exo cyclization

A novel approach to the synthesis of (±)-fragranol is described that relies on a radical 4-exo cyclization. This key step is catalyzed by a cationic titanocene complex with a pending amide ligand. In this manner the radical and its acceptor are bound to the titanocene center in a two-point mode. By this interaction the 4-exo cyclization that is not supported by gem-dialkyl substitution is rendered thermodynamically and kinetically favorable. Moreover, the crucial intermediates and transition structures become highly ordered. This results in a good diastereoselectivity of cyclobutane formation. From the key-intermediate, the formal total synthesis of the natural product can be completed in a few steps.     

Evidence that epoxide-opening cascades promoted by water are stepwise and become faster and more selective after the first cyclization

A detailed kinetic study of the endo-selective epoxide-opening cascade reaction of a diepoxy alcohol in neutral water was undertaken using (1)H NMR spectroscopy. The observation of monoepoxide intermediates resulting from initial endo and exo cyclization indicated that the cascade proceeds via a stepwise mechanism rather than through a concerted one. Independent synthesis and cyclization of these monoepoxide intermediates demonstrated that they are chemically and kinetically competent intermediates in the cascade. Analysis of each step of the reaction revealed that both the rate and regioselectivity of cyclization improve as the cascade reaction proceeds. In the second step, cyclization of an epoxy alcohol substrate templated by a fused diad of two tetrahydropyran rings proceeds with exceptionally high regioselectivity (endo:exo = 19:1), the highest we have measured in the opening of a simple trans-disubstituted epoxide. The origins of these observations are discussed.     

Electrophilic cyclization of (Z)-selenoenynes: synthesis and reactivity of 3-iodoselenophenes

We present here our results of the electrophilic cyclization reaction of (Z)-selenoenynes with different electrophiles such as I(2), ICl, PhSeBr, and PhSeCl. The cyclization reaction proceeded cleanly under mild reaction conditions, and 3-substituted selenophenes were formed in moderate to excellent yields. We observed that the nature of solvent and structure of (Z)-selenoenyne were important to the cyclization reaction. In addition, the obtained 3-iodoselenophenes were readily transformed to more complex products using a metal-halogen exchange reaction with n-BuLi and trapping the intermediate formed with aldehydes, furnishing the desired secondary alcohols in good yields. Conversely, using the palladium or copper catalyzed cross-coupling reactions with terminal alkynes or alkyl alcohols, we were able to convert 3-iodoselenophene to Sonogashira or Ullmann type products, respectively, in good yields.     

Balancing kinetic and thermodynamic control: the mechanism of carbocation cyclization by squalene cyclase

Molecular dynamics simulations with a combined quantum mechanical and molecular mechanical (QM/MM) potential have been carried out to investigate the squalene-to-hopene carbocation cyclization mechanism in squalene-hopene cyclase (SHC). The present study is based on free energy simulations by constructing the free energy surface for the cyclization steps along the reaction pathway. The picture that emerges for the carbocation cyclization cascade is a delicate balance of thermodynamic and kinetic control that ultimately favors the formation of the final hopanoids carbon skeleton. A key finding is that the five- to six-membered ring expansion process is not a viable reaction pathway for either C- or D-ring formation in the cyclization reaction. The only significant intermediate is the A/B-bicyclic cyclohexyl cation (III), from which two asynchronous concerted reaction pathways lead to, respectively, the 6,6,6,5-tetracyclic carbon skeleton and the 6,6,6,6,5-pentacyclic hopanoids. Experimentally, these two products are observed to have 1% and 99% yields, respectively, in the wild-type enzyme. We conclude that the product distribution in the wild-type enzyme is dictated by kinetic control of these two reaction pathways.     

Ambient Schmittel cyclization promoted by chemoselective triazole-gold catalyst

The Schmittel cyclization was achieved at room temperature through triazole-gold (TA-Au) catalyzed propargyl vinyl ether rearrangement. Other tested [L-Au](+) catalysts gave complex reaction mixtures under identical conditions with no desired products observed. Importantly, because of the employment of mild conditions, sterically hindered groups (such as t-Bu) on allene termini were no longer required, which allowed successful synthesis of previously challenging substrates.     

乙酰胆碱酯酶催化硫代乙酰胆碱水解反应的量子化学研究

应用量子化学和分子力学方法研究乙酰胆碱酯酶催化疏代乙酰胆碱水解反应中的乙酰化反应,计算了反应物、过渡态、产物及中间体的几何结构-及电子结构.结果表明,乙酰化反应机理是质子化和亲核进攻同时进行的协同机理.     

5-Exocyclic products, 2,3,5-trisubstituted tetrahydrofurans via Prins-type cyclization

[reaction: see text] 5-Exocyclic products, 2,3,5-trisubstituted tetrahydrofurans, were synthesized from homopropargylic alcohols with terminally substituted alkynes and various aldehydes via Prins-type cyclization. It is of interest that the exocyclic vinyl cation generated as a result of Prins-type cyclization could be trapped as a vinyl triflate when CH2Cl2 was used as a solvent, whereas in ethereal solution the vinyl cation underwent hydrolysis to give the corresponding ketone product.     

Transannular cyclization of (4S,5S)-germacrone-4,5-epoxide into guaiane and secoguaiane-type sesquiterpenes

Germacrone (1) and (4S,5S)-germacrone-4,5-epoxide (2) were isolated, along with guaiane and secoguaiane-type sesquiterpenes, from Curcuma aromatica plants. Compound 2 was derived from 1 and cyclized through transannular (T-A) reactions into various guaiane and secoguaiane-type sesquiterpenes in C. aromatica. The cyclization reaction of 2 was initiated by protonation at an epoxide oxygen atom, followed by cleavage of the epoxide ring and the formation of a C-C bond between C-1 and C-5 to give guaiane-type derivatives. Acidic and thermal treatments of 2 produced twelve sesquiterpenes having guaiane and secoguaiane skeletons. The structures of these products were elucidated by spectral methods, including 2D-NMR spectroscopy. Most were identified as sesquiterpenes isolated from C. aromatica as natural products. The T-A cyclization of 2 occurred via two transition states, a cross conformation and a parallel conformation. The mechanism of the T-A cyclization reaction of 2 is discussed.     

Polarizing the Nazarov cyclization: the impact of dienone substitution pattern on reactivity and selectivity

The impact of dienone substitution on the Nazarov cyclization has been examined in detail. Substrates bearing different substituents at each of four positions on the dienone backbone were systematically probed in order to identify trends leading to higher reactivity and better selectivity. Desymmetrization of the pentadienyl cation and oxyallyl cation intermediates through placement of polarizing groups at both the C-2 and C-4 positions was found to be particularly effective. These modifications allowed cyclizations to occur in the presence of catalytic amounts of mild Lewis acids. It was also found that stereoconvergent cyclization of mixtures of E and Z isomers of alkylidene beta-ketoesters occurred via an efficient isomerization process that occurred under the reaction conditions.