A Chiron-based Approach for the Synthesis of Tricyclic Tyrosine Analogue

A chiron approach-based enantioselective synthesis of designed tricyclic tyrosine analogue D-2 was developed. A SmI2-mediated free radical cyclization, an intramolecular Friedel-Crafts reaction and an intramolecular Mannich reaction served as key steps. These key steps were optimized and repeated in good yields. All the stereochemistries in the synthesis were established and confirmed.     

Samarium diiodide induced cyclizations of γ-, δ- and ε-indolyl ketones: reductive coupling, intermolecular trapping, and subsequent transformations of indolines

This comprehensive study describes our results of samarium diiodide induced 5-exo-trig to 8-exo-trig cyclization/alkylation sequences of 3'-acceptor-substituted indolyl ketones. All cyclization precursors were easily prepared by simple N-alkylation or N-acylation of indole derivatives with the corresponding iodo alkanones, acid chlorides, or lactones. After treatment of indolyl ketones with two equivalents of SmI(2), the generated stabilized carbanionic intermediates were trapped with different electrophiles leading to a variety of highly substituted indoline derivatives in good to very good yields. In general, the cyclization products were obtained as single diastereomers bearing a newly generated quaternary center, a common structural motif in various indole alkaloids. The relative configurations of the products were established by NOE experiments and by single-crystal analysis and follow the rules already established. Furthermore, the obtained products were subjected to a series of chemical transformations, such as oxidation, reduction, and metathesis reactions resulting in a range of interesting synthetic building blocks valuable for further applications.     

A concise approach for the total synthesis of pseudolaric acid A

A new strategy for the stereoselective total synthesis of natural product pseudolaric acid A (1) was accomplished in 16 steps from commercially available starting material, featuring a samarium diiodide (SmI(2))-mediated intramolecular alkene-ketyl radical cyclization and a ring-closing metathesis (RCM) reaction to stereoselectively cast the unusual trans-fused [5-7]-bicyclic core of pseudolaric acid A (1).     

Total synthesis of brevetoxin-B

Brevetoxin-B (BTX-B), produced by the red tide organism, Gymnodium breve Davis, is the first member of marine polycyclic ethers to be structurally elucidated and one of the most potent neurotoxins. The structural feature is a trans-fused polycyclic ether ring system with 23 stereocenters. Its unique, complex structure and potent biological activity have attracted the attention of synthetic organic chemists. Total synthesis of BTX-B has been accomplished via the coupling of the ABCDEFG and IJK-ring segments, each ether ring of which was stereoselectively and efficiently constructed on the basis of SmI2-induced intramolecular cyclization, 6-endo-cyclization of hydroxy epoxide, ring-closing olefin metathesis, and SmI2-induced intramolecular Reformatsky-type reaction. Several kinds of double reactions at the left and right sides were efficiently used through the synthesis.     

Reductive cyclization cascades of lactones using SmI2-H2O

Lactones bearing two alkenes or an alkene and an alkyne undergo reductive cyclization cascades upon treatment with SmI(2)-H(2)O, giving decorated azulene motifs in excellent yields with good diastereocontrol.     

Catalytic enantioselective 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of nitrones with propioloylpyrazoles and acryloylpyrazoles induced by chiral π-cation catalysts

A chiral copper(II) complex of 3-(2-naphthyl)-l-alanine amide successfully catalyzes the enantioselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of nitrones with propioloylpyrazole and acryloylpyrazole derivatives. The asymmetric environment created by intramolecular π-cation interaction gives the corresponding adducts in high yields with excellent enantioselectivity. This is the first successful method for the catalytic enantioselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of nitrones with acetylene derivatives. The 1,3-dipolar cycloadducts can be stereoselectively converted to β-lactams via reductive cleavage of the N-O bond using SmI(2).     

Unprecedented SnCl2-mediated cyclization of nitro arenes via N-N bond formation

[reaction: see text] A mild, efficient, one-pot protocol for the cyclization of nitro-aryl substrates using SnCl(2) has been described. The mechanistic course of the reaction suggests the involvement of a hydroxylamine intermediate leading to an intramolecular cyclization via N-N bond formation. The versatility of the methodology has been demonstrated by using two nitro-aryl substrates derived from dihydroisoquinolines and dihydro-beta-carbolines. The intramolecular cyclization led to the formation of indazoles in high yields and purities.     

Radical cyclization by ipso substitution of the methoxy group: considerable effect of HMPA on samarium-mediated cyclization

Alkyl radicals generated by treatment of thiocarbamates of conformationally favorable 3-alkyl-3-arylpropan-1-ols with tris(trimethylsilyl)silane and AIBN efficiently undergo intramolecular ipso substitution of the methoxy group, yielding the corresponding cyclized products. In contrast, either conformationally favorable or flexible 1-arylalkan-3- or 4-ones easily cyclize into five- or six-membered condensed rings by treatment with SmI(2) via ketyl radical intermediates. The addition of HMPA as cosolvent dramatically changes the cyclization mode of the SmI(2)-induced reaction, and the para-cyclization products are exclusively formed. This "HMPA effect" can be rationalized by the strong chelating ability of HMPA with the samarium atom.     

Synthesis of 3-substituted trans-2-oxadecalins and 1-substituted trans-2-oxahydrindanes

A study was carried out of the intramolecular cyclization of trans-1-methoxymethyl-2-(1-hydroxyalkyl)cyclohexanes and trans-1-methoxymethyl-2-(2-hydroxyalkyl)cyclohexanes by the action of acid chlorides of phosphorous, sulfurous and p-toluenesulfonic acids with the formation of 1-substituted trans-2-oxahydrindanes in low yields and 3-substituted trans-2-oxadecalins in high yields. A relationship has been established between the yields of the cyclization products and the nature of the halogenating agent. The cyclization does not proceed via an intermediate oxonium ion, but by means of an intermolecular electronic transition.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 8, pp. 1865–1877, August, 1991.     

Effect of M(CO)3 (M = Cr, Mn+) on aromatic C-Cl BDE in (eta6-ArCl)M(CO)3 complexes

The coordination of Cr(CO)3 to chlorobenzenes significantly reduces the C-Cl bond dissociation energy. Treatment of chloroarene-Cr(CO)3 complexes with SmI2/HMPA at room temperature led to complete dechlorination. Reaction of o-allyloxychlorobenzene-Cr(CO)3 complexes with SmI2 at room temperature resulted in the corresponding dechlorinative cyclization products in good to excellent yields. Competition experiments indicated the following relative reactivities of dehalogenation by SmI2: PhI/PhCl-Cr(CO)3/PhBr/PhCl = 50:1:0.3:<0.001. On the other hand, the coordination of Mn(CO)3(+) to chlorobenzene showed a much smaller activation effect. Density functional theory calculations revealed that the spin delocalization effect of the metal center plays an important role in the C-Cl bond activation.     

Regioselective Synthesis of Aurone Derivatives via PBu3‐Catalyzed Cyclization of 2‐Alkynoylphenols

Aurone derivatives were synthesized in good to high yields by PBu₃‐catalyzed intramolecular 5‐exo cyclization of 2‐alkynoylphenols. The reaction proceeds in high regioselectivity without forming 6‐endo cyclization products.     

Copper-mediated intramolecular aza-Wacker-type cyclization of 2-alkenylanilines toward 3-aryl indoles

A copper-mediated intramolecular aza-Wacker-type cyclization was developed for the direct and efficient synthesis of 3-aryl indoles using 2-alkenylanilines in moderate to good yields with good functional group compatibility. This strategy shows the high efficiency, operational simplicity as well as broad substrate scope.     

Direct transition-metal-free intramolecular C-O bond formation: synthesis of benzoxazole derivatives

A direct base-mediated intramolecular carbon-oxygen bond formation has been developed without a transition-metal catalyst. In the presence of 2.0 equiv of K(2)CO(3) in DMSO at 140 °C, the intramolecular cyclization of o-haloanilides affords benzoxazoles in high yields. A mechanism via an initial formation of a benzyne intermediate followed by nucleophilic addition to form the C-O bond has been proposed.     

Synthesis of (Z)-3-aryloxy-acrylonitriles, (E)-3-aryloxy-acrylonitriles and 3-cyanobenzofurans through the sequential reactions of phenols with propiolonitriles

A Na(2)CO(3)-promoted addition of phenols to propiolonitriles generated (Z)-3-aryloxy-acrylonitriles in nearly quantitative yields with exclusively Z-isomers, and a DABCO-promoted addition reaction of phenols with propiolonitriles afforded mainly (E)-3-aryloxy-acrylonitriles with high yields. The obtained (E)-3-aryloxy-acrylonitriles underwent intramolecular cyclization to give 3-cyanobenzofurans in good yields through palladium-catalyzed direct C-H bond functionalization.     

Synthesis and Acid‐Catalyzed Cyclization of 2‐Alkenylstilbenes: a New Approach to the Substituted Indenes

A base‐catalyzed ring‐opening of 1‐benzylisochromans 1 firstly produced 2‐alkenylstilbenes 2 , which then underwent a mild acid‐catalyzed intramolecular cyclization to furnish 1,2‐disubstituted indenes 3 in high yields. Subsequently, a base‐catalyzed isomerization of the 1,2‐disubstituted indenes 3 afforded the more stable 2,3‐disubstituted indenes 4 in almost quantitative yields.     

Hydroxy-Directed, SmI(2)-Induced Conversion of Carbohydrates into Carbocycles

Polyoxygenated six-membered carbocycles were derived from carbohydrates with complete stereocontrol through hydroxy-directed coupling cyclization induced by SmI(2). For example, the cis-1,3-cyclohexanediol 3 is obtained from the D-glucopyranoside derivative 1 in excellent yield. The coupling cyclization is initiated by single-electron transfer from SmI(2) to the formyl group of the delta-hydroxy aldehyde 2 generated in an equilibrium process.     

Potassium hydroxide/dimethyl sulfoxide promoted intramolecular cyclization for the synthesis of benzimidazol-2-ones

A new protocol for intramolecular N-arylations of ureas to form benzimidazol-2-ones has been developed. The cyclization reaction occurs in the presence of KOH and DMSO at close to ambient temperature. Under these conditions the yields are high and a wide range of functional groups are tolerated.     

l‐Proline: an efficient N,O‐bidentate ligand for copper‐catalyzed intramolecular cyclization reaction of 2‐iodoanilines with nitriles for the synthesis of benzimidazoles

A novel and highly efficient copper‐catalyzed intramolecular cyclization reaction of 2‐iodoanilines with nitriles for the synthesis of benzimidazoles with l ‐proline as the ligand has been developed. A variety of substituted benzimidazole derivatives can be synthesized with high yields using this approach. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Intramolecular Ketone-Olefin Radical Cyclization with Low-Valent Titanium Reagent: Synthesis of Benzopyrans

A novel protocol for intramolecular ketyl-olefin radical cyclization with low-valent titanium reagent is outlined. It allows the formation of the benzopyran nucleus from ortho-allyloxy propiophenones as the sole product in moderate yields via intramolecular radical cyclization.     

Logical design and synthesis of indole-2,3-diones and 2-hydroxy-3(2H)-benzofuranones via one-pot intramolecular cyclization

A novel and attractive protocol to synthesis indole-2,3-diones and 2-hydroxy-3(2H)-benzofuranones and via copper(II) oxide catalyzed intramolecular cyclization is described. This method possesses functional-group compatibility, easy workup procedure, shorter reaction time and high yields.