Radical Cyclization/ipso‐1,4‐Aryl Migration Cascade: Asymmetric Synthesis of 3,3‐Difluoro‐2‐propanoylbicyclo[3.3.0]octanes

A novel method for the asymmetric synthesis of 3,3‐difluoro‐2‐propanoylbicyclo‐[3.3.0]octanes involves an unprecedented intramolecular radical cyclization/ipso‐1,4‐aryl migration cascade.     

Synthesis of gem-difluoromethylenated bicyclo[m.n.0]alkan-1-ols and their ring-expansion to gem-difluoromethylenated macrocyclic lactones

Fluoride-catalyzed stereoselective nucleophilic addition of PhSCF(2)SiMe(3) (1) to α-carboethoxycycloalkanones 2 followed by intramolecular radical cyclization of the resulting cis-3 adduct afforded the corresponding gem-difluoromethylenated bicyclic compounds 4, which underwent ring-expansion followed by the Baeyer-Villiger-type oxidation of the resulting macrocyclic ketone intermediates to give gem-difluoromethylenated macrocyclic lactones 5.     

The Morita?Baylis?Hillman Reaction of Chiral Highly Oxygenated Cyclopent‐2‐enones

The Morita? Baylis? Hillman (MBH) reactions of (4S,5R,7R,8R)‐ and (4R,5R,7R,8R)‐4‐hydroxy‐7,8‐dimethoxy‐7,8‐dimethyl‐6,9‐dioxaspiro[4.5]dec‐2‐en‐1‐ones ( 2 and 3 , resp.) with aldehydes using various catalysts were studied. A combination of Bu₃P/phenol in THF was found being optimum conditions giving the corresponding MBH adducts with high diastereoisomeric ratios. After separation, each stereomerically pure isomer of the MBH adducts was subjected to hydrolysis employing 1% aq. CF₃COOH (TFA) in a water bath of an ultrasonic cleaner to afford the corresponding polyhydroxylated cyclopentenones in good yields.     

Efficient synthesis of alkyl 2,3-unsaturated glucopyranosides from glycals mediated by ytterbium(III) triflate-trialkyl aluminum

Treatment of glycals with trialkylaluminum in the presence of a catalytic amount of Yb(OTf)₃ leads to the corresponding alkyl 2,3-unsaturated glycosides in good to excellent yields. Reactions of protected glycals are achieved under very mild conditions.     

Synthesis of the five natural cannabis spirans

An efficient route to the $\text{O}$-protected spirenones (2c) and (2d) is described: from these, the five known natural spirans of cannabis, i.e. cannabispiradienone (1a), cannabispirenone-A (2a), cannabispirenone-B (2b), cannabispirone (3a) and cannabispiranol (4a), are synthesised.     

Asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-swainsonine

A concise asymmetric synthesis of (+)-swainsonine (ent-1) is described starting from 2, which was readily prepared from commercially available l-glutamic acid. The method features installation of the indolizidine ring via an intramolecular cyclisation of α-sulfinyl carbanion as a key step. (+)-Swainsonine was obtained in 11.8% overall yield in 10 steps.     

Highly diastereoselective alkylation of vicinal dianions of chiral succinic acid derivatives: a new general strategy to (R)-β-arylmethyl-γ-butyrolactones

The vicinal dianions derived from chiral succinic acid derivatives, 1,4-bis[(4R,5S)-3,4-dimethyl-2-oxo-5-phenylimidazolidin-1-yl]butane-1,4-dione and 1,4-bis[(4S,5R)-3,4-dimethyl-2-oxo-5-phenylimidazolidin-1-yl]butane-1,4-dione react with arylmethyl bromides with high diastereo- and regio-selectivity to provide the corresponding chiral α-arylmethylated succinic acid derivatives; the (R)-products are converted into (R)-β-arylmethyl-γ-butyrolactones and (R)-α-arylmethyl-γ-butyrolactones.     

Highly diastereoselective synthesis of beta-carboxy-gamma-lactams and their ethyl esters via Sc(OTf)(3)-catalyzed imino Mukaiyama-aldol type reaction of 2,5-bis(trimethylsilyloxy)furan with imines

Functionalized gamma-lactams are found to be crucial intermediates in the synthesis of biologically important natural products. We herein described a highly diastereoselective synthesis of beta-carboxy-gamma-lactams and their ethyl ester derivatives, in high yields with high diastereomeric ratio, via the Mukaiyama-aldol type reaction of 2,5-bis(trimethysilyloxy)furan with imines, employing Sc(OTf)(3) as a catalyst.     

A stereoselective approach to bioactive secolignans: synthesis of peperomin C and its analogues

A stereoselective approach to secolignans is described. The key synthetic strategy involves an asymmetric aldol reaction to control the creation of the stereogenic center at the β-carbon of the target secolignans. In the present work, peperomin C and its analogues, i.e., 2,6-didehydropeperomin C and 2-epi-peperomin C were successfully synthesized in good yields with high stereoselectivities.