Synthesis of Highly Substituted γ‐Butyrolactones by a Gold‐Catalyzed Cascade Reaction of Benzyl Esters

Easily accessible benzylic esters of 3‐butynoic acids in a gold‐catalyzed cyclization/rearrangement cascade reaction provided 3‐propargyl γ‐butyrolactones with the alkene and the carbonyl group not being conjugated. Crossover experiments showed that the formation of the new C?C bond is an intermolecular process. Initially propargylic–benzylic esters were used, but alkyl‐substituted benzylic esters worked equally well. In the case of the propargylic–benzylic products, a simple treatment of the products with aluminum oxide initiated a twofold tautomerization to the allenyl‐substituted γ‐butyrolactones with conjugation of the carbonyl group, the olefin, and the allene. The synthetic sequence can be conducted stepwise or as a one‐pot cascade reaction with similar yields. Even in the presence of the gold catalyst the new allene remains intact.     

Highly Enantioselective Catalytic Kinetic Resolution of α-Branched Aldehydes through Formal Cycloaddition with Homophthalic Anhydrides

A new catalytic methodology was developed to promote an efficient one-pot kinetic resolution of racemic aldehydes with selectivity (s*) of up to 91 (99:1 d.r., >99 % ee) in a cycloaddition reaction with enolizable anhydrides to afford dihydroisocoumarin products (a core prevalent in natural products and molecules of medicinal interest) containing three contiguous stereocentres.     

Schizonticidal antimalarial sesquiterpene lactones from Magnolia champaca (L.) Baill. ex Pierre: microwave-assisted extraction,HPTLC fingerprinting and computational studies

The present study explored the schizonticidal potential of traditionally used Magnolia champaca (L.) Baill. ex. Pierre flowers, identifying constituents of interest. The extraction of phytoconstituents was carried out by microwave-assisted technique, isolated via column chromatography, and characterised by various physicochemical, spectral (IR, 1H-NMR and Mass) and chromatographic (HPTLC) techniques. Both the isolated compounds (parthenolide and costunolide diepoxide) exhibited potent schizonticidal antimalarial activity during primary screening in rodent models, with maximum parasitaemia suppression (85.18% and 83.65%, respectively) at a dose of 20 mg/kg body weight when compared to the standard drugs chloroquine and artesunate. In silico techniques were employed to identify the probable biological target and mechanism of action of these isolated compounds. Molecular docking studies also predicted the binding orientations and multi-targeted action of these compounds, in particular costunolide diepoxide with maximum affinity towards SERCA and DHFR proteins. Additionally, favourable in silico ADMET parameters were envisaged through various computational programmes.     

Stereoselective Cascade Cyclizations with Samarium Diiodide to Tetracyclic Indolines: Precursors of Fluorostrychnines and Brucine

A series of γ-indolylketones with fluorine, cyano or alkoxy substituents at the benzene moiety was prepared and subjected to samarium diiodide-promoted cyclization reactions. The desired dearomatizing ketyl cascade reaction forming two new rings proceeded in all cases with high diastereoselectivity, but with differing product distribution. In most cases, the desired annulated tetracyclic compounds were obtained in moderate to good yields, but as second product tetracyclic spirolactones were isolated in up to 29 % yield. The reaction rate was influenced by the substituents at the benzene moiety of the substrate as expected, with electron-accepting groups accelerating and electron-donating groups decelerating the cyclization process. In case of a difluoro-substituted γ-indolylketone a partial defluorination was observed. The intermediate samarium enolate of the tetracyclic products could be trapped by adding reactive alkylating agents as electrophiles delivering products with quarternary carbons. In the case of a dimethoxy-substituted tetracyclic cyclization product a subsequent reductive amination stereoselectively provided a pentacyclic compound that was subsequently N-protected and subjected to a regioselective elimination. The obtained functionalized pentacyclic product should be convertible into the alkaloid brucine by four well-established steps. Overall, the presented report shows that functionalized tetracyclic compounds with different substituents are rapidly available with the samarium diiodide cascade cyclization as crucial step. Hence, analogues of the landmark alkaloid strychnine, for example, with specific fluorine substitutions, should be easily accessible.     

Synthesis of Seven-Membered Benzolactones by Nickel-Catalyzed C−H Coupling of Benzamides with Oxetanes

A NiCl₂(PEt₃)₂-catalyzed regioselective C−H coupling of 8-aminoquinoline-derived benzamides with oxetanes has been developed. The reaction proceeds with concomitant removal of the 8-aminoquinoline auxiliary to directly form the corresponding seven-membered benzolactones, which frequently occur in natural products and bioactive molecules. Additionally, no stereochemical erosion is observed during the course of the reaction, and the use of enantioenriched and substituted oxetane thus provides a new avenue to the optically active benzolactone.     

Intramolecular Fluorocyclizations of Unsaturated Carboxylic Acids with a Stable Hypervalent Fluoroiodane Reagent

A new class of fluorinated lactones was prepared by the intramolecular fluorocyclizations of unsaturated carboxylic acids by using the stable fluoroiodane reagent in combination with AgBF₄. This unique reaction incorporates a cyclization, an aryl migration, and a fluorination all in one step. The fluoroiodane reagent, prepared easily from fluoride, can also be used without a metal catalyst to give moderate yields within just 1 hour, thus demonstrating that it is a suitable reagent for developing new ¹⁸F‐labelled radiotracers for PET imaging.     

Intermolecular Dynamic Kinetic Resolution Cooperatively Catalyzed by an N‐Heterocyclic Carbene and a Lewis Acid

The ubiquitous structure of δ‐lactones makes the development of new methods for their enantioselective and stereoselective synthesis an important ongoing challenge. The intermolecular dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) of β‐halo‐α‐ketoesters cooperatively catalyzed by an N‐heterocyclic carbene and a Lewis acid generates two contiguous stereocenters with remarkable diastereoselectivity through an oxidation/lactonization sequence.     

Enantiodivergent [4+2] Cycloaddition of Dienolates by Polyfunctional Lewis Acid/Zwitterion Catalysis

Diels–Alder reactions have become established as one of the most effective ways to prepare stereochemically complex six-membered rings. Different catalysis concepts have been reported, including dienophile activation by Lewis acids or H-bond donors and diene activation by bases. Herein we report a new concept, in which an acidic prodiene is acidified by a Lewis acid to facilitate deprotonation by an imidazolium–aryloxide entity within a polyfunctional catalyst. A metal dienolate is thus formed, while an imidazolium–ArOH moiety probably forms hydrogen bonds with the dienophile. The catalyst type, readily prepared in few steps in high overall yield, was applied to 3-hydroxy-2-pyrone and 3-hydroxy-2-pyridone as well as cyclopentenone prodienes. Maleimide, maleic anhydride, and nitroolefin dienophiles were employed. Kinetic, spectroscopic, and control experiments support a cooperative mode of action. High enantioselectivity was observed even with unprecedented TONs of up to 3680.     

Total and Semi‐Syntheses of Antimicrobial Thuggacin Derivatives

The total and semi‐synthesis of 13 new macrolactones derived from thuggacin, which is a secondary metabolite from the myxobacterium Sorangium cellulosum, are reported. The thuggacins have attracted much attention due to their strong antibacterial activity, particularly towards Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This study focuses on 1) thuggacin derivatives that cannot equilibrate by transacylation between the three natural thuggacins A–C, 2) the roles of the thiazole ring, and 3) the hexyl side chain at C2. Semi‐synthetic O‐methylation at C17 suppressed the transacylations without a substantial loss of antibacterial activity. Exchanging the C17–C25 side chain for simplified hydrophobic chains led to complete loss of antibacterial activity. Exchange of the thiazole by an oxazole ring or removal of the hexyl side chain at C2 had no substantial effect on the biological properties.