Benzyne-induced ring opening reaction of thiiranes. Efficient synthesis of phenyl vinyl sulfides

A series of thiiranes react with benzyne to provide an efficient synthesis of phenyl vinyl sulfides. The reaction is stereospecific, thus producing cis-(phenylthio)-stilbene from cis-2,3-diphenylthiirane and trans-(phenylthio)stilbene from trans-2,3-diphenylthiirane.     

New application of Pictet-Spengler reaction leading to the synthesis of an unusual seven-membered heterocyclic ring system

A novel strategy for the Pictet-Spengler reaction is reported. Our strategy involves reaction of arylamines, linked to the N-1 of disubstituted imidazoles, with aldehydes in the presence of p-TsOH. The iminium ion generated in situ undergoes C-C bond formation with the C-5 of the imidazoles to furnish triazabenzoazulenes as a novel heterosystem. Our strategy differs from conventional Pictet-Spengler reaction since the latter utilizes only aliphatic amines in which the amine functionality is linked to a C instead of N of the activated aromatic moiety.     

Highly selective photoinduced perfluoroalkylation of vinylsilanes and its application to synthesis of water-shedding polysilanes

The functionalization of polysilanes is an important subject in materials science because functionalized polysilanes are expected to exhibit potentially innovative properties. This research aims at the addition of a water-shedding property to polysilanes by introducing perfluoroalkyl groups into their skeleton. The photoinduced iodoperfluoroalkylation of various vinylsilanes takes place successfully upon irradiation with a xenon lamp: vinylmonosilanes undergo iodoperfluoroalkylation with perfluoroalkyl iodides (R_fI) regioselectively, and the corresponding perfluoroalkylated silanes are obtained in moderate to high yields. Detailed optimization of the photoinduced iodoperfluoroalkylation has been investigated to apply this method to the functionalization of polysilanes. Polysilanes having vinyl groups can be synthesized by the reductive coupling of dichlorovinylsilanes with samarium diiodide (SmI₂) and samarium metal (Sm) upon irradiation with visible light. The synthesized vinylpolysilanes and R_fI (about 1.0 mM CHCl₃ solution) are coated on a glass plate sequentially, and then the following photoirradiation with light of a wavelength over 300 nm successfully adds an excellent water-shedding property to the glass plate.     

Formal synthesis of (+)-brefeldin A: application of a zinc-mediated ring expansion reaction

An efficient formal synthesis of (+)-brefeldin A was accomplished through a synthetic approach that relied upon three keys steps. The five-membered ring was generated in a stereocontrolled fashion through application of a tandem conjugate addition-intramolecular cyclization method developed by Toru. Ring-closing metathesis provided access to a twelve-membered beta-keto lactone, which was ring-expanded to the alpha,beta-unsaturated-gamma-keto lactone through a zinc carbenoid-mediated reaction. Conversion of this lactone to (+)-brefeldin A has been reported previously.     

Efficient and selective microwave-assisted copper-catalyzed synthesis of quinazolinone derivatives in aqueous

Microwave-assisted copper-catalyzed cascade reactions between 2-halobenzoic acids and amidines to synthesize quinazolinone derivatives in water are reported. A variety of target products were obtained in good to excellent yields up to 94%. Its application was performed by the synthesis of 4-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-ylthio)-6-methoxypteridine, which displayed significant anti-proliferation effect.     

Highly stereoselective construction of 4,6-cis-substituted quinolizidine ring core: an application to enantioselective total synthesis of the marine alkaloid clavepictines A, B and pictamine

The enantioselective total synthesis of the marine alkaloids clavepictines A, B and pictamine has been achieved through the highly stereocontrolled quinolizidine ring closure of the conformationally constrained piperidine ring system (2), which bears the chiral centers and appropriate functionality needed for the synthesis of target alkaloids. The absolute stereochemistry of clavepictines and pictamine was verified to be 3R, 4S, 6S, 9aS by the present synthesis.     

Highly regio- and stereoselective synthesis of alkenylboronic esters by copper-catalyzed boron additions to disubstituted alkynes

The copper-catalyzed addition of bis(pinacolato)diboron to internal alkynes in the presence of methanol generates alkenylboron compounds with high levels of regio- and stereoselectivities. The catalytic efficiency is increased by using monodentate phosphine ligands, especially P(p-tolyl)(3) and a range of internal alkynes was borylated in good yields.     

Highly selective synthesis and near-infrared photothermal conversion of metalla-Borromean ring and [2]catenane assemblies

Although the selective synthesis of complicated supramolecular architectures has seen significant progress in recent years, the exploration of the properties of these complexes remains a fascinating challenge. Herein, a series of new supramolecular topologies, metalla[2]catenanes and Borromean ring assemblies, were constructed based on appropriate Cp*Rh building blocks and two rigid alkynyl pyridine ligands (L1, L2) via coordination-driven self-assembly. Interestingly, minor differences between the two rigid alkynyl pyridine ligands with/without organic substituents led to products with dramatically different topologies. Careful structural analysis showed that π–π stacking interactions play a crucial role in stabilizing these [2]catenanes and Borromean ring assemblies, while also promoting nonradiative transitions and triggering photothermal conversion in both the solution and the solid states. These results were showcased through comparative studies of the NIR photothermal conversion efficiencies of the Borromean ring assemblies, [2]catenanes and metallarectangles, which exhibited a wide range of photothermal conversion efficiencies (12.64–72.21%). The influence of the different Cp*Rh building blocks on the NIR photothermal conversion efficiencies of their assemblies was investigated. Good photothermal conversion properties of the assemblies were also found in the solid state. This study provides a new strategy to construct valuable half-sandwich-based NIR photothermal conversion materials while also providing promising candidates for the further development of materials science.

The selective synthesis of three kinds of supermolecular topologies, molecular Borromean ring, [2]catenane and metallarectangle based on two alkynyl ligands is presented. Remarkably, the NIR photothermal conversion efficiency was found to improve as the π–π stacking increases.     

Highly regioselective copper-catalyzed cis- and trans-1-propenyl Grignard cleavage of hindered epoxides. application in propionate synthesis

Hindered protected and unprotected epoxy alcohols were regioselectively cleaved using copper-catalyzed cis- and trans-1-propenylmagnesium bromide. The reaction exhibited good yield and excellent regioselectivity in systems where organocuprates and organoalanes failed. The cis Grignard reagent displayed no double-bond isomerization, whereas the trans isomer showed partial trans-to-cis equilibration, which was minimized by controlling the reagent formation conditions. The reaction was shown to be highly useful for the elaboration of the C10-C15 Streptovaricin D ansa chain fragment.     

An efficient and selective synthesis of 2,5-substituted pyrroles by gold-catalysed ring expansion of alkynyl aziridines

A range of substituted alkynyl aziridines undergo a ring expansion to afford 2,5-substituted pyrroles under gold catalysis. While effective conditions can be generated from other gold sources, a combination of Ph₃PAuCl and AgOTs generate a catalyst system that provides extremely clean cycloisomerisation reactions requiring minimal work-up and purification.     

Highly stereoselective synthesis of the indolo[2,3-a]quinolizine ring system and application to indole natural product synthesis

We report a novel, facile and highly stereoselective approach to the indolo[2,3-a]quinolizine ring system from a readily available, non-racemic chiral template. We demonstrate the potential for application of this methodology to natural product synthesis through conversion of the template to a simple indole alkaloid with high enantiomeric purity.     

A new access to dihydrotropones through ring expansion of spirocyclohexadienones: synthesis and mechanism

In this paper we report the rearrangement of spirocyclohexadienones into dihydrotropones in basic conditions as a new method for the preparation of seven-membered ring ketones, which are key building blocks for the synthesis of tropoloalkaloids. DFT calculations and deuterium labeling studies support the mechanism we propose for this rearrangement, involving the ring opening of a spirocyclopropane intermediate followed by successive base-catalyzed 1,3-hydrogen shifts. The X-ray structure of the resulting dihydrotropone shows near-perfect planarity and the conjugation gain is likely to be the driving force of the reaction.     

Highly selective anti-Markovnikov addition of thiols to vinyl ethers under solvent- and catalyst-free conditions

A simple and efficient protocol for the anti-Markovnikov addition of thiols to vinyl ethers under solvent- and catalyst-free conditions has been established. A series of thiol ethers containing oxygen atom were obtained with good to excellent yields.     

A furan ring expansion approach to the synthesis of novel pyridazino-psoralen derivatives

A convenient preparation of the parent tetrahydrobenzodifuran 2 was developed from resorcinol. The oxidation of one or both furan rings of this key intermediate was accomplished with DDQ and the resulting benzodifuran was subsequently reacted with 3,6-dimethoxycarbonyl-1,2,4,5-tetrazine to afford the expected pyridazino-psoralen derivative in good yield. This simple method allowed the efficient preparation of a pyridazino-psoralen derivative with a formyl group at C-7, which was introduced by directed ortho-lithiation in the intermediate 2. An aminoalkyl side-chain was also introduced to the tetracyclic skeleton through the aldehyde functionality in a reductive amination process, which was accompanied by an unprecedented reduction of the pyridazine ring.     

A rapid synthesis of the biotin core through a tandem Michael reaction

A biotin core has been assembled in a short and efficient sequence utilizing a tandem intramolecular Michael reaction/fragmentation/Michael reaction from vinyl sulfoxide and sulfone alcohols (12 and 13).     

General and selective copper-catalyzed reduction of tertiary and secondary phosphine oxides: convenient synthesis of phosphines

Novel catalytic reductions of tertiary and secondary phosphine oxides to phosphines have been developed. Using tetramethyldisiloxane (TMDS) as a mild reducing agent in the presence of copper complexes, PO bonds are selectively reduced in the presence of other reducible functional groups (FGs) such as ketones, esters, and olefins. Based on this transformation, an efficient one pot reduction/phosphination domino sequence allows for the synthesis of a variety of functionalized aromatic and aliphatic phosphines in good yields.