Enantioselective Synthesis of Arene cis‐Dihydrodiols from 2‐Pyrones

An enantioselective chemical synthesis of arene cis‐dihydrodiols has been realized from 2‐pyrones through sequential ytterbium‐catalyzed asymmetric inverse‐electron‐demand Diels–Alder (IEDDA) reaction of 2‐pyrones and retro‐Diels–Alder extrusion of CO₂. By using this strategy, a series of substituted arene cis‐dihydrodiols can be obtained efficiently with high enantioselectivity (>99 % ee in many cases). Based on this strategy, efficient and concise asymmetric total syntheses of (+)‐MK7607 and 1‐epi‐(+)‐MK7607 were accomplished.     

Total Syntheses of Hyperforin and Papuaforins A–C,and Formal Synthesis of Nemorosone through a Gold(I)‐Catalyzed Carbocyclization

The remarkable biological activities of polyprenylated polycyclic acylphloroglucinols (PPAPs) combined with their highly decorated bicyclo[3.3.1]nonane‐2,4,9‐trione frameworks have inspired synthetic organic chemists over the last decade. The concise total syntheses of four natural products PPAPs; hyperforin and papuaforins A–C, and the formal synthesis of nemorosone are reported. Key to the realization of this strategy is the short and scalable synthesis of densely substituted PPAP scaffolds through a gold(I)‐catalyzed 6‐endo‐dig carbocyclization of cyclic enol ethers for late‐stage functionalization.     

Total Syntheses of Hyperforin and Papuaforins A–C,and Formal Synthesis of Nemorosone through a Gold(I)‐Catalyzed Carbocyclization

The remarkable biological activities of polyprenylated polycyclic acylphloroglucinols (PPAPs) combined with their highly decorated bicyclo[3.3.1]nonane‐2,4,9‐trione frameworks have inspired synthetic organic chemists over the last decade. The concise total syntheses of four natural products PPAPs; hyperforin and papuaforins A–C, and the formal synthesis of nemorosone are reported. Key to the realization of this strategy is the short and scalable synthesis of densely substituted PPAP scaffolds through a gold(I)‐catalyzed 6‐endo‐dig carbocyclization of cyclic enol ethers for late‐stage functionalization.     

Copper‐Catalyzed Aerobic Oxidative Cyclization Cascade to Construct Bridged Skeletons: Total Synthesis of (−)‐Suaveoline

Based on the discovery of copper‐catalyzed cyclopropanol ring‐opening addition to iminium ions, an unprecedented catalytic aerobic C?H oxidation/cyclopropanol cyclization cascade using CuCl₂ as the multifunctional catalyst and air as the oxidant was developed to construct the azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane skeleton, which is widespread in natural products and medicines. Using this method, concise asymmetric total synthesis of the indole alkaloid (?)‐suaveoline was achieved. This study not only provides an efficient, low‐cost, and environmentally benign method for constructing such bridged frameworks, but also enriches the realm of cyclopropanol chemistry and C?H functionalization.     

Asymmetric Total Syntheses of Di‐ and Sesquiterpenoids by Catalytic C−C Activation of Cyclopentanones

To show the synthetic utility of the catalytic C?C activation of less strained substrates, described here are the collective and concise syntheses of the natural products (?)‐microthecaline A, (?)‐leubehanol, (+)‐pseudopteroxazole, (+)‐seco‐pseudopteroxazole, pseudopterosin A–F and G—J aglycones, and (+)‐heritonin. The key step in these syntheses involve a Rh‐catalyzed C?C/C?H activation cascade of 3‐arylcyclopentanones, which provides a rapid and enantioselective route to access the polysubstituted tetrahydronaphthalene cores presented in these natural products. Other important features include 1) the direct C?H amination of the tetralone substrate in the synthesis of (?)‐microthecaline A, 2) the use of phosphoric acid to enhance efficiency and regioselectivity for problematic cyclopentanone substrates in the C?C activation reactions, and 3) the direct conversion of serrulatane into amphilectane diterpenes by an allylic cyclodehydrogenation coupling.     

Asymmetric Total Syntheses of Communesin F and a Putative Member of the Communesin Family

Here we report asymmetric total syntheses of communesin F and a putative member of the communesin family of bis‐aminal alkaloid natural products. The successful strategy featured the invention of an asymmetric organocatalytic reaction to unify two oxindole subunits, a Ti(OⁱPr)₄‐mediated dehydrative skeletal rearrangement, and a late‐stage Pd(OAc)₂‐catalyzed directed CH‐alkenylation reaction. Collectively, the synthetic technologies disclosed herein enabled the preparation of a late‐stage polycyclic intermediate catered for the synthesis of both naturally occurring and designed communesins. More importantly, speculated and yet to be discovered member(s) of the communesin family can now be accessed to facilitate a better understanding of the communesin biosynthetic network.     

Vanadium(IV) tetrachloride catalyzed oxidative homo-coupling of aryl lithium under mild reaction condition

A novel efficient strategy to prepare symmetrical diaryls via VCl₄ catalyzed homo-coupling of aryl lithium has been developed. In which, organometallic reagent n-BuLi was applied as the strong base to form aryl lithium from aryl halogen in anhydrous diethyl ether, then it was followed by the addition of catalytic amount of VCl₄ at room temperature to afford diaryls. All the diaryls have been characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR.     

Short and Divergent Total Synthesis of (+)‐Machaeriol B, (+)‐Machaeriol D, (+)‐Δ8‐THC,and Analogues

Short and highly efficient stereoselective syntheses provide machaeriols and cannabinoids in a divergent approach starting from a common precursor, commercially available (S)‐perillic acid. Key features of the novel strategy are a stereospecific palladium‐catalyzed decarboxylative arylation and a one‐pot sequence comprising a stereoselective hydroboration followed by oxidation or reduction of the corresponding intermediary boranes. The divergent approach is convincingly demonstrated by the five‐step syntheses of (+)‐machaeriol B, (+)‐machaeriol D, and related analogues, and the four‐step synthesis of (+)‐Δ⁸‐THC and an analogue.     

Catalytic Asymmetric Total Synthesis of (−)‐Galanthamine and (−)‐Lycoramine

The catalytic asymmetric total syntheses of (?)‐galanthamine ( 1 ) and (?)‐lycoramine ( 2 ) have been achieved by using a conceptually new strategy featuring two metal‐catalyzed reactions as the key steps. A new method for the construction of 3,4‐fused benzofurans has been developed through a palladium‐catalyzed intramolecular Larock annulation reaction, which was successfully applied to the construction of the ABD tricyclic skeleton of 1 and 2 . To achieve the asymmetric synthesis of 1 and 2 , a Sc^III/N,N′‐dioxide complex was used to catalyze the enantioselective conjugate addition of 3‐alkyl‐substituted benzofuranone to methyl vinyl ketone for the construction of a chiral quaternary carbon center.     

Direct Regiospecific and Highly Enantioselective Intermolecular α‐Allylic Alkylation of Aldehydes by a Combination of Transition‐Metal and Chiral Amine Catalysts

The first direct intermolecular regiospecific and highly enantioselective α‐allylic alkylation of linear aldehydes by a combination of achiral bench‐stable Pd⁰ complexes and simple chiral amines as co‐catalysts is disclosed. The co‐catalytic asymmetric chemoselective and regiospecific α‐allylic alkylation reaction is linked in tandem with in situ reduction to give the corresponding 2‐alkyl alcohols with high enantiomeric ratios (up to 98:2 e.r.; e.r.=enantiomeric ratio). It is also an expeditious entry to valuable 2‐alkyl substituted hemiacetals, 2‐alkyl‐butane‐1,4‐diols, and amines. The concise co‐catalytic asymmetric total syntheses of biologically active natural products (e.g., Arundic acid) are disclosed.     

Synthesis of α‐Chiral Butyrolactones by Highly Stereoselective Radical Transfer or Sequential Asymmetric Alkylations: Concise Preparation of Leupyrrin Moieties

Inspired by the bioactive natural metabolites leupyrrin A₁ and B₁, two novel stereoselective methods for the highly concise synthesis of densely substituted α‐chiral butyrolactones are reported. The first approach relies on an innovative three‐step Ti^III‐catalyzed radical reaction that proceeds with excellent chemo‐, regio‐, and stereoselectivity. The alternative route utilizes sequential asymmetric alkylations and enables asymmetric synthesis of the authentic α‐tetrasubstituted butyrolactone motif of the leupyrrins in only four steps from commercially available substrates.     

Asymmetric Hydrocyanation of Alkenes without HCN

A general and efficient rhodium‐catalyzed asymmetric cyanide‐free hydrocyanation of alkenes has been developed. Based on the asymmetric hydroformylation/condensation/aza‐Cope elimination sequences, a broad scope of substrates including mono‐substituted, 1,2‐, and 1,1‐disubstituted alkenes (involving natural product R‐ and S‐limonene) were employed, and a series of valuable chiral nitriles are prepared with high yields (up to 95 %) and enantioselectivities (up to 98 % ee). Notably, the critical factor to achieve high enantioseletivies is the addition of catalytic amount of benzoic acid. This novel methodology provides an efficient and concise synthetic route to the intermediate of vildagliptin and anagliptin.     

Highly Convergent One‐Pot Four‐Component Regioselective Synthesis of Spiro‐pyranopyrazoles and Oxa‐aza‐[3.3.3]propellanes

A concise and efficient route for the synthesis of spiro‐pyranopyrazoles and oxa‐aza‐[3.3.3]propellanes by simple regioselective multicomponent reaction of ninhydrin, malononitrile, hydrazine derivatives, and β‐keto esters or dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate was developed. This protocol provides an alternative method for combinatorial and parallel syntheses in drug discovery. The value of this method lies in its simplicity, regioselectivity, and good yields. The structures of 3 and 4 were corroborated spectroscopically (IR, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR, and EI‐MS). A plausible mechanism for this type of reaction is proposed (Schemes 2 and 3).     

Concise Stereoselective Total Synthesis of Leiocarpin C

A simple and highly concise strategy has been developed for the stereoselective total synthesis of leiocarpin C starting from commercially available mandelic ester. The strategy utilizes the OsO₄‐catalyzed cis‐hydroxylation and selective reduction with K‐Selectride as key steps.     

Total Synthesis of (−)‐Indoxamycins A and B

The concise total syntheses of (?)‐indoxamycins A and B is reported. The chemistry features a seven‐step preparation of a highly congested [5.5.6] tricyclic advanced common intermediate from a readily available R‐carvone derivative. Key steps involve a Pauson–Khand reaction for the rapid construction of a basic scaffold bearing a quaternary carbon, a copper‐catalyzed Michael addition for the introduction of another adjacent all‐carbon quaternary stereocenter, and a tandem retro‐oxa‐Michael addition/1,2‐addition/oxa‐Michael addition for the installation of a trisubstituted olefin side chain. This synthetic strategy allows for easy access to both enantiomers of this family of natural products and their analogues from cost‐effective starting material through straightforward chemical transformations.     

Enantioselective Syntheses of Strychnos and Chelidonium Alkaloids through Regio‐ and Stereocontrolled Cooperative Catalysis

We describe enantioselective syntheses of strychnos and chelidonium alkaloids. In the first case, indole acetic acid esters were established as excellent partner nucleophiles for enantioselective cooperative isothiourea/Pd catalyzed α‐alkylation. This provides products containing indole‐bearing stereocenters in high yield and with excellent levels of enantioinduction in a manner that is notably independent of the N‐substituent. This led to concise syntheses of (?)‐akuammicine and (?)‐strychnine. In the second case, the poor performance of ortho‐substituted cinnamyl electrophiles in the enantioselective cooperative isothiourea/Ir catalyzed α‐alkylation was overcome by appropriate substituent choice, leading to enantioselective syntheses of (+)‐chelidonine, (+)‐norchelidonine, and (+)‐chelamine.     

Highly Efficient,Convergent, and Enantioselective Synthesis of Phthioceranic Acid

A new strategy for highly concise, convergent, and enantioselective access to polydeoxypropionates has been developed. ZACA‐Pd‐catalyzed vinylation was used to prepare smaller deoxypropionate fragments, and then two key sequential Cu‐catalyzed stereocontrolled sp³–sp³ cross‐coupling reactions allowed convergent assembly of smaller building blocks to build‐up long polydeoxypropionate chains with excellent stereoselectivity. We employed this strategy for the synthesis of phthioceranic acid, a key constituent of the cell‐wall lipid of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, in just 8 longest linear steps with full stereocontrol.     

Highly Efficient,Convergent, and Enantioselective Synthesis of Phthioceranic Acid

A new strategy for highly concise, convergent, and enantioselective access to polydeoxypropionates has been developed. ZACA‐Pd‐catalyzed vinylation was used to prepare smaller deoxypropionate fragments, and then two key sequential Cu‐catalyzed stereocontrolled sp³–sp³ cross‐coupling reactions allowed convergent assembly of smaller building blocks to build‐up long polydeoxypropionate chains with excellent stereoselectivity. We employed this strategy for the synthesis of phthioceranic acid, a key constituent of the cell‐wall lipid of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, in just 8 longest linear steps with full stereocontrol.     

Mechanistic investigation inspired “on water” reaction for hydrobromic acid‐catalyzed Friedel–Crafts–type reaction of β‐naphthol and formaldehyde

The mechanism of the HBr‐catalyzed Friedel‐Crafts‐type reaction between β‐naphthol and HCHO was investigated by DFT to improve this reaction. The HBr‐H₂O co‐catalyzed the preferential pathway undergoes the concerted nucleophilic addition and hydrogen shift, stepwise followed by H₂O elimination and the C C bond formation. The origin of the high catalytic activity of HBr is ascribed to C H···Br⁻ and O H···Br⁻ interactions, which suggest that the active species is Br⁻. Moreover, water molecules efficiently assist in improving the activity of Br⁻. The computational results show that solvent polarity profoundly affects the activation barriers. To our delight, the activation barrier of the rate‐determining step for the favored pathway in water is comparable (0.6 kcal/mol difference) with that in acetonitrile. The experimental observation further confirmed our results and demonstrated that the title reaction can be successfully achieved “on water.” Therefore, we open a new efficient and green strategy for the synthesis of biphenol derivatives. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Coupling of Sterically Hindered Trisubstituted Olefins and Benzocyclobutenones by CC Activation: Total Synthesis and Structural Revision of Cycloinumakiol

The first total syntheses of the proposed structure of cycloinumakiol ( 1 ) and its C5 epimer ( 18 ) are achieved in a concise and efficient fashion. Starting from the known 3‐hydroxybenzocyclobutenone, 1 and 18 are obtained in nine and five steps with overall yields of 15 % and 33 %, respectively. The key for the success of this approach is the use of a catalytic C? C activation strategy for constructing the tetracyclic core of 1 through carboacylation of a sterically hindered trisubstituted olefin with benzocyclobutenone. In addition, the structure of the natural cycloinumakiol was reassigned to 19‐hydroxytotarol ( 7 ) through X‐ray diffraction analysis. This work demonstrates the potential of C? C activation for streamlining complex natural product synthesis.