Synthesis of resveratrol using a direct decarbonylative Heck approach from resorcylic acid

The phytoalexin resveratrol has been made using a decarbonylative Heck reaction. The acid chloride derived from 3,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid was coupled with 4-acetoxystyrene in the presence of palladium acetate and N,N-bis-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)dihydroimidazolium chloride to give the substituted stilbene in 73% yield as the key step.     

Novel synthesis of oxocine derivatives by Wittig olefination and intramolecular Heck reaction via 8-endo trig cyclization

A concise and efficient method for the preparation of oxocine derivatives is described via sequential Wittig and intramolecular Heck reactions. The method is highly regioselective and affords high yields of the products.     

Synthesis of polyhydroxylated ester analogs of the stilbene resveratrol using decarbonylative Heck couplings

Protected 3,5-hydroxy-benzoyl chlorides 3 were coupled with styrenes 4 to give hydroxylated stilbenes, analogs of resveratrol, an important antioxidant disease preventative agent isolated from grape skins and other dietary sources. Levulinate and chloroacetate protecting groups allowed for the selective production of mono- and di-acetate variations under palladium-N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalyzed decarbonylative coupling conditions. Fluorinated analogs were also produced using Heck conditions with bromofluorobenzenes. Human HL-60 cell assays showed the 4′-acetoxy variant 11 to have improved activity (ED₅₀ 17 μM) relative to resveratrol (24 μM).     

Syntheses of furo[3,4-c]coumarins and related furyl coumarin derivatives via intramolecular Wittig reactions

A new and general strategy for highly functional furo[3,4-c]coumarins and related furyl coumarin derivatives has been developed, which is based on an extraordinarily facile intramolecular Wittig reaction, starting from α,β-unsaturated ketones, tributylphosphine, and acyl chlorides. The phosphorus ylides were proposed to be the key intermediates for constructing the crucial furan ring, leading to a wide variety of substituted furyl coumarins in one step.     

One-pot synthesis of polyfunctionalized cyclic urea derivatives

[reaction: see text] Unexpectedly, imidazolidin-2-ones are easily obtained from beta-keto esters upon treatment with tert-butyl nosyloxycarbamate and calcium oxide under mild conditions. The structure of the product was established by X-ray crystallography.     

Synthesis of Nonsymmetric Divinylarenes by a Heck/Wittig Reaction Combination

A protocol for a one-pot Heck reaction/Wittig olefination to divinylarenes has been developed.     

Stereoselective synthesis of (E)-mannosylidene derivatives using the Wittig reaction

Stabilized ylides Bu(3)P=CH(EWG), where EWG is an ester or nitrile group, react with 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzylmannono-1,5-lactone giving high yields of mannosylidene derivatives; in contrast to the glucose and galactose analogues, the (E)-mannosylidenes are predominant (E:Z > 9:1), thus minimizing dipole-dipole repulsions in the Wittig reactions. NMR indicates chair-like conformations for solutions of the (E)-mannopyranosylidenes, but not for those (Z)-isomers where data are available (EWG = CN or CO(2)Et). X-ray crystallography shows an approximately twist-boat conformation for the tetra-O-benzyl-protected (Z)-mannosylideneacetonitrile.     

Syntheses of terminally functionalized polyisobutylene derivatives using diazonium salts

A new strategy for the synthesis of end‐functionalized polyisobutylene (PIB) oligomers is detailed. Commercially available vinyl‐terminated PIB oligomers were modified to form aniline‐terminated PIB via an aromatic electrophilic substitution reaction. The PIB‐bound aryl amines so formed were then converted into diazonium salts using isopentyl nitrite and an acid in methylene chloride. These salts served as versatile intermediates in synthetic reactions affording azo dye‐containing PIB derivatives and other terminally‐functionalized PIB derivatives not readily available by other reactions. The advantages and limitations of various name reactions including diazo couplings, Sandmeyer reactions, dediazoniations, and Heck reactions are discussed. The kinetics of polar substitution reactions at the termini of these nonpolar oligomers and the effects of solvent on these reactions were also examined. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Recent developments in the enantioselective synthesis of polyfunctionalized pyran and chromene derivatives

Recent developments in the synthesis of 4H- and 2H-pyrans as well as structurally related chromene derivatives that have enabled the enantioselective synthesis of these scaffolds have been surveyed. The role of chiral catalysts in orienting initial reactions of active methylenes, methines and methyl ketones, to unsaturated ketones and nitriles in multi-component reactions or Friedel–Craft alkylations of phenols is discussed to show their involvement in transition states leading to end products. Chromene synthesis via [4+2] cycloadditions, [3+3] and [4+2] annulations as well as ring opening and recyclization leading to high enantio- and diasteroselectivity is also demonstrated. The enantioselectivity in such catalytic asymmetric reactions despite starting with non-chiral starting materials is discussed. On the other hand, in surveying ring opening and recyclization, the starting materials are chiral and the chiral center was not part of the reaction leading to the final product.     

Syntheses of tetraoxaquaterene derivatives

Several new dimethyl and tetramethyl tetraoxaquaterenes, 3d and 3e , have been prepared in order to synthesize the oxygen analogues of porphyrin. The reaction between furan and a ketone using an acidic catalyst gave the cyclic tetramer, tetraquaterene, and oligomers. On the other hand, in the case of furan and an aldehyde, only linear oligomers were isolated. The condensation of furan-containing dimers with carbonyl compounds, both ketone and aldehyde, except formaldehyde, gave the tetraoxaquaterene. In the case of formaldehyde, the yield of cyclic tetramer was negligible.     

Syntheses of quinoline derivatives

In order to study the relationship between structure and biological activity we have synthesized 5-alkoxymethyl- and 5-aryloxymethyl-7-bromo-8-quinolinols.For part II, see [1].     

Fast and regioselective Heck couplings with N-acyl-N-vinylamine derivatives

Highly regioselective Heck couplings of aryl triflates with N-acyl-N-vinylamines lacking an N-alkyl substituent were achieved with reaction times of approximately 1 h in yields ranging from 62 to 98% using 1.5 mol % of Pd(2)(dba)(3), 3 mol % of DPPF, and diethylisopropylamine in dioxane. The efficiency of these cross-couplings were studied with several N-vinylamides and an example each of an N-vinylcarbamate and an N-vinylurea. The Heck coupling products easily underwent acidic hydrolysis to the corresponding aryl methyl ketone or in situ hydrogenation in the presence of (Ph(3)P)(3)RhCl under a hydrogen atmosphere to provide the N-acyl derivatives of pharmaceutically relevant benzylic amines. The coupling of a vinyl triflate and more interestingly a vinyl tosylate to N-vinyl acetamide was also studied affording a 2-acylamino-1,3-butadiene with the same high regioselectivity in preference for the alpha-isomer. This result suggests that Heck couplings of electron-rich alkenes with vinyl tosylates also follow a cationic pathway.     

Palladium-catalyzed Heck reactions of styrene derivatives and 2-iodo-p-carborane

p-Carborane has been vinylated on the 2-B-atom in high yields using the Heck reaction. Thus, the reaction between 2-iodo-p-carborane and various styrenes [4-H-, 4-C(6)H(4)-, 4-Cl-, 4-Br-, 4-NO(2)-, 4-CH(3)O-, and 4-CH(3)-] resulted in the production of the corresponding trans-beta-(2-B-p-carboranyl)styrene in DMF solution when reacted in the presence of silver phosphate and the palladacycle Herrmann's catalyst.     

Synthesis of methylated resveratrol and analogues by Heck reactions in organic and aqueous solvents

The Heck reaction under phosphane free conditions using oxime-derived palladacycles or Pd(OAc)₂ as catalysts is a general methodology for the synthesis of methoxylated (E)-stilbene derivatives. Couplings can be performed either with (dicyclohexyl)methylamine as base and TBAB in aqueous DMA or in neat water and with Et₃N as base in DMA in air and under thermal and microwave conditions. The arylation of different styrenes are performed with 3,5-dimethoxyiodobenzene to afford a series of important biologically active (E)-stilbene derivatives containing the 3,5-dimethoxyphenyl moiety, including resveratrol, piceatannol and pinosilvine, which are efficiently prepared with high regioselectivity and total stereoselectivity (TON up to 10⁴).     

Syntheses and reactions of pyrimidine derivatives

By the NMR method, the chemical shifts characterizing the methyl groups in monohydroxymonomethyl derivatives of pyrimidine have been determined. The changes in the chemical shifts and the activities of the methyl groups are symbatic. It has been shown by the NMR method that when 6-hydroxy-2,4-dimethylpyrimidine reacts with benzaldehyde and with p-nitrobenzenediazonium salts reactions take place through the methyl group in position 2. A gradual decrease in the activity of the methyl groups is found in the sequence of 6-hydroxy-, 6-mercapto-, and 6-aminoderivatives of 2,4-dimethylpyrimidine.For part XVII, see [5].     

Synthesis of hydroxystilbenes and their derivatives via Heck reaction

A group of differently substituted acetoxy- and methoxystilbenes were synthesised via Heck reaction. A comparison between the use--as coupling reagents--of iodobenzene derivatives and diazonium salts was performed. A successful microwave-assisted demethylation by pyridine hydrochloride of some methoxystilbenes was carried out.     

Syntheses of racemic diamino-dideoxy-lyxopyranose derivatives using acylnitroso dienophiles (1).

Acylnitroso derivatives, which are obtained by $\text{in situ}$ oxidation of the corresponding hydroxamic acids with tetraalkylammonium iodate, react instantaneously in the presence of dihydropyridine 1 leading to the Diels-Alder adducts 4 and 5. These latter ones were transformed stereospecifically into the racemic diaminodideoxylyxose derivatives 8 and 9.     

Syntheses of new benzoxazole derivatives

2‐(Arylidene)cyanomethylbenzoxazoles have been prepared in water from benzoxazole‐2‐ylacetonitriles. Using multi‐component reactions, a variety of heterocycles containing benzoxazole and nitrile functionality has been prepared. J. Heterocyclic Chem., (2011).     

Syntheses of polymerizable hydroquinone derivatives

Several polymerizable hydroquinone derivatives were prepared by the Williamson synthesis. Thus, hydroquinone mono(p-vinylbenzyl) ether (III-1), hydroquinone methyl p-vinylbenzyl ether (III-4), and hydroquinone benzyl p-vinylbenzyl ether (III-5), tert-butylhydroquinone mono(p-vinylbenzyl) ether (III-2), and 2,5-di-tert-butylhydroquinone mono(p-vinylbenzyl) ether (III-3) were synthesized by the reactions of p-chloromethylstyrene with the corresponding hydroquinone derivatives in alcoholic potassium hydroxide or with their potassium salts in dipolar aprotic solvents. All monomers were found to polymerize by free-radical initiation except III-3, which required a cationic initiator.