A rapid synthesis of 2-aryl-5-substituted-2,3-dihydrobenzofurans

[reaction: see text] An effective strategy has been developed for the rapid and efficient one-pot synthesis of 2-aryl-5-substituted-2,3-dihydrobenzofurans from readily available o-nitrotoluenes and aromatic aldehydes. This strategy allows access to a structurally diverse array of products for further manipulation.     

The Mukaiyama-Michael reaction of N-acyl-2,3-dihydro-4-pyridones: regio- and stereoselective synthesis of cis-2,6-disubstituted 1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridines

[formula: see text] A convenient regio- and stereoselective preparation of 1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridines of the type 1 has been developed, starting from readily available N-acyl-2,3-dihydro-4-pyridones 2.     

Synthesis of novel KDR kinase inhibitors through catalytic reductive cyclization of o-nitrobenzylcarbonyl compounds

An efficient synthesis of o-nitrobenzylcarbonyl compounds is demonstrated through the Swern-type oxidation of readily accessible phenethanol analogues. Reductive cyclization of o-nitrobenzylcarbonyl 3 using catalytic Raney nickel gives 1H-indol-2-yl-1H-quinoline 2 in 95% yield. Hydrolysis of 2 affords the KDR kinase inhibitor 1 in quantitative yield. The examination of the reductive cyclization reaction and optimization of conditions is described.     

A general synthesis of N-hydroxyindoles

A general method for the formation of N-hydroxyindoles is demonstrated through a lead-promoted intramolecular reductive cyclization of o-nitrobenzyl ketones and aldehydes under transfer hydrogenation conditions. The N-hydroxyindoles are isolated in high purity and excellent yield (>90%) in an operationally simple procedure. This new method is exemplified by a two-step synthesis of the naturally occurring 1-methoxyindole-3-carboxaldehyde, which is pivotal in many alkaloid total syntheses.     

Diels-Alder reactions of 5-vinyl-1-acyl-2-aryl-2,3-dihydro-4-pyridones: regio- and stereoselective synthesis of octahydroquinolines

[reaction: see text] Readily available 5-vinyldihydropyridones 2 undergo Diels-Alder cyclization with various dienophiles to afford novel octahdroquinolines. The process is highly stereoselective and provides heterocyclic products containing synthetically useful functionality.     

Magnetically driven agitation in a tube mixer affords clog-resistant fast mixing independent of linear velocity

An economical and simple flow mixer based on magnetically driven agitation in a tube (MDAT) is reported. Mixing via MDAT compared favorably to both Tee and multilaminar mixers at low flow and was successfully used to screen and optimize two challenging organometallic reactions at low temperature without clogging or the need for high dilution.     

Synthesis of vaniprevir (MK-7009): lactamization to prepare a 20-membered [corrected] macrocycle

Development of a practical synthesis of MK-7009, a 20-membered [corrected] macrocycle, is described. A variety of ring-closing strategies were evaluated, including ring-closing metathesis, intermolecular palladium-catalyzed cross-couplings, and macrolactamization. Ring closure via macrolactamization was found to give the highest yields under relatively high reaction concentrations. Optimization of the ring formation step and the synthesis of key intermediates en route to MK-7009 are reported.     

Efficient and practical synthesis of (R)-2-methylpyrrolidine

An efficient, practical, and high yielding synthesis of (R)-2-methylpyrrolidine is described. The sequence allows for the scalable preparation of the target compound in just four synthetic steps and proceeds in 83% overall yield and >99% optical purity from readily available starting materials.