Synthesis of polysubstituted tetrahydrofurans via Pd-catalyzed carboetherification reactions

Pd-catalyzed carboetherifications of 1-, 2-, or 3-substituted γ-hydroxy internal alkenes afford tetrahydrofuran products bearing three stereocenters in good yield with moderate to good stereoselectivity.     

Synthesis of polyhydroxylated bicyclic tetrahydrofurans and tetrahydropyrans via a stereoselective domino cyclization/reduction reaction

A novel reaction cascade involving a Lewis acid-induced migration of an isopropylidene protecting group followed by the formation of a pyranose or furanose ring and subsequent reduction of the hemiacetal is described. Depending on the reaction conditions, as well as, the stereochemistry of the substrate, polyhydroxylated tetrahydrofurans or tetrahydropyrans can be obtained in reasonable yields. The synthons used in this transformation were prepared via a highly stereoselective one-pot tandem reaction, consisting of a 1,4-Michael addition of vinylmagnesium bromide to d-glucose-derived cyclohexenone followed by aldol reaction with 2,3-O-isopropylidene-d-glyceraldehyde.     

Synthesis of benzofurans via Pd-catalyzed oxidative cyclization of 2-allylphenols

Substituted 2-methylbenzofurans were obtained from 2-allylphenols via Pd²⁺-catalyzed oxidative cyclization using Cu(OAc)₂–LiCl as a reoxidant and wet DMF as a solvent.     

Synthesis of 1,2,3-triazole-fused heterocycles via Pd-catalyzed cyclization of 5-iodotriazoles

A convenient approach toward polycyclic frameworks containing fused 1,2,3-triazoles is described. The synthesis consists of a Cu-catalyzed cycloaddition and an intramolecular Pd-catalyzed direct arylation or Heck reaction, and affords the products in good to excellent yields.     

Construction of sterically congested oxindole derivatives via visible-light-induced radical-coupling

The oxindole scaffold represents an important structural feature in many natural products and pharmaceutically relevant molecules. Herein, we report a visible-light-induced modular methodology for the synthesis of complex 3,3′-disubstituted oxindole derivatives. A library of valuable fluoroalkyl-containing highly sterically congested oxindole derivatives can be synthesized by a catalytic three-component radical coupling reaction under mild conditions (metal & photocatalyst free, >80 examples). This strategy shows high functional group tolerance and broad substrate compatibility (including a wide variety of terminal or non-terminal alkenes, conjugated dienes and enynes, and a broad array of polyfluoroalkyl iodide and oxindoles), which enables modular modification of complex drug-like compounds in one chemical step. The success of solar-driven transformation, large-scale synthesis, and the late-stage functionalization of bioactive molecules, as well as promising tumor-suppressing biological activities, highlights the potential for practical applications of this strategy. Mechanistic investigations, including a series of control experiments, UV-vis spectroscopy and DFT calculations, suggest that the reaction underwent a sequential two-step radical-coupling process and the photosensitive perfluoroalkyl benzyl iodides are key intermediates in the transformation.

Simple, modular assembly of complex fluoroalkyl-containing oxindole derivatives with a broad scope and excellent functional group tolerance under mild conditions (metal- and photocatalyst-free). Benzyl iodides were identified as key intermediates.     

Efficient access to cyclic ureas via Pd-catalyzed cyclization

[Structure: see text] An efficient regioselective method for the preparation of structurally diverse imidazopyridinones and benzoimidazolones starting from readily available and economical starting materials is described. High-yielding reductive alkylation of electron-deficient o-haloarylamines followed by treatment with inexpensive N-chlorosulfonyl isocyanate afforded primary ureas in good overall yields. A Pd-catalyzed urea cyclization reaction furnished imidazopyridinones and benzoimidazolones in excellent yields. Overall, the developed chemistry provides rapid access to pharmaceutically important heterocyclic compounds with high efficiency.     

5-Exocyclic products, 2,3,5-trisubstituted tetrahydrofurans via Prins-type cyclization

[reaction: see text] 5-Exocyclic products, 2,3,5-trisubstituted tetrahydrofurans, were synthesized from homopropargylic alcohols with terminally substituted alkynes and various aldehydes via Prins-type cyclization. It is of interest that the exocyclic vinyl cation generated as a result of Prins-type cyclization could be trapped as a vinyl triflate when CH2Cl2 was used as a solvent, whereas in ethereal solution the vinyl cation underwent hydrolysis to give the corresponding ketone product.     

Synthesis of pyrido[2,3-b]indoles and pyrimidoindoles via Pd-catalyzed amidation and cyclization

Biologically and pharmaceutically active core structures containing a new class of 4-hydroxy-α-carbolines, dihydropyrido[2,3-b]indoles, pyrimido[4,5-b] and [5,4-b]indoles have been synthesized in good yields via Pd-catalyzed amidation and cyclizations. The keto-enol tautomerism in 4-hydroxy-α-carbolines has been investigated by DFT calculations and spectroscopic techniques. The fluorescence studies of pyrimido[4,5-b] and [5,4-b]indoles were carried out with good quantum yields.     

Synthesis of isochromenones and oxepines via Pd-catalyzed cascade cyclization of alkynes and benzynes involving C-H activation

A new method for the synthesis of various isochromen-6-ones and phenanthro[1,10-bc]oxepines via a palladium-catalyzed cascade carbocyclization of 2-iodobenzyl-3-phenylpropiolates and 1-iodo-2-(2-(phenylethynyl)benzyloxy)benzenes with arynes is described. The reactions involve interesting biscarbocyclization of alkynes and benzynes and C-H bond activation.     

Synthesis of dihydroindenofuran scaffold via a Pd-catalyzed 5-endo-trig cyclization/enolate O-alkylation cascade

An efficient synthesis of dihydroindenofurans was carried out starting from the Baylis-Hillman adducts via a Pd-catalyzed 5-endo-trig-carbopalladation and enolate O-alkylation cascade as a key step. This is the first example of enolate O-alkylation with a C(sp³)-bound palladium intermediate.     

Synthesis of tricyclic and tetracyclic sultones by Pd-catalyzed intramolecular cyclization

A new efficient synthesis of aromatic six-membered ring sultones by the implementation of ligand-free Pd-catalyzed intramolecular cyclization of aromatic sulfonates derived from various bromo phenols and naphthols is described.     

Stereocontrolled synthesis of bicyclic ureas and sulfamides via Pd-catalyzed alkene carboamination reactions

The synthesis of bicyclic ureas and sulfamides via palladium-catalyzed alkene carboamination reactions between aryl/alkenyl halides/triflates and alkenes bearing pendant cyclic sulfamides and ureas is described. The substrates for these reactions are generated in 3–5 steps from commercially available materials, and products are obtained in good yield with up to >20:1 diastereoselectivity. The stereochemical outcome of the sulfamide alkene addition is consistent with a mechanism involving anti-aminopalladation of the alkene, whereas the stereochemical outcome of the urea alkene addition is consistent with a syn-aminopalladation mechanism.     

A facile synthesis of 2-methylquinolines via Pd-catalyzed aza-wacker oxidative cyclization

A novel Pd-catalyzed Wacker-type oxidative cyclization under air is described. By using this cyclization, a series of 2-methylquinolines are readily prepared with good yields under mild conditions.     

Synthesis of indolo [1,2-a]quinoxalines via a Pd-catalyzed regioselective C-H olefination/cyclization sequence

A highly efficient approach to indolo [1,2-a]quinoxaline derivatives through a Pd-catalyzed regioselective C-H olefination/cyclization sequence has been developed. This transformation has a wide range of substrates with various functional groups, and the corresponding heterocyclic products were obtained in good yields.     

Synthesis of 3-substituted 4-aroylisoquinolines via Pd-catalyzed carbonylative cyclization of 2-(1-alkynyl)benzaldimines

A number of 3-substituted 4-aroylisoquinolines have been prepared in good yields by treating N-tert-butyl-2-(1-alkynyl)benzaldimines with aryl halides in the presence of CO and a palladium catalyst. Synthetically the methodology provides a simple and convenient route to isoquinolines containing an aryl, alkyl, or vinylic group at C-3 and an aroyl group at C-4 of the isoquinoline ring. The reaction is believed to proceed via cyclization of the alkyne containing a proximate nucleophilic center promoted by an acylpalladium complex.     

Synthesis of tetrahydrofurans via silicon promoted Pummerer type reaction

A novel, unprecedented transformation of δ-hydroxysulfoxides into substituted tetrahydrofurans by a silicon promoted Pummerer type reaction is disclosed. The transformation is shown to be general and is brought about under very mild reaction conditions. The products with the sulfide group at the anomeric carbon provide a suitable handle to carry out further transformations.     

Efficient access to 2,5-substituted tetrahydrofurans via a one-pot cyclization of di- and triepoxides

The one-pot addition and cyclization of 1,5-diepoxyhexane with a range of organolithium species provides efficient access to 2,5-substituted tetrahydrofurans (THFs), common structural motifs found in a range of natural products and pharmaceutical ingredients. Extension of this reaction to triepoxides has also been demonstrated to access adjacently linked bis-THF motifs in a single step.     

Synthesis of 3-substituted indazoles and benzoisoxazoles via Pd-catalyzed cyclization reactions: application to the synthesis of nigellicine

Syntheses of 3-substituted indazoles and benzoisoxazoles were efficiently accomplished with the aid of Pd-catalyzed intramolecular carbon-nitrogen and carbon-oxygen bond formations. The catalyst system described herein allows the cyclization to proceed under very mild conditions and thus could be applied to a wide range of substrates with acid- or base-sensitive functional groups. A total synthesis for the indazole ring-containing natural product nigellicine is also described.     

Photolysis of sterically protected bicyclic 1,2,3-selenadiazole

The photolysis of sterically protected 1,2,3-selenadiazole in the presence of olefin was studied. The regioselective cycloadducts were obtained via the initially formed zwitter-ionic intermediate.