A highly enantioselective and diastereoselective synthesis of cyclobutanes via boronic esters

[formula: see text] Deprotonation of enantiopure (R,R)-1,2-dicyclohexyl-1,2-ethanediol 1-chloro-4-cyanobutylboronates 5 with LDA followed by treatment with anhydrous magnesium bromide yields (R)-(trans-2-cyanocyclobutyl)boronic esters 7 in high diastereomeric and enantiomeric purity. No cyclobutane formation has been observed in the absence of at least a catalytic amount of magnesium halide.     

Organic-base-catalyzed synthesis of phthalides via highly regioselective intramolecular cyclization reaction

The organic-base-catalyzed 5-exo intramolecular cyclization reaction of o-alkynylbenzoic acid produces the corresponding phthalide regioselectively in good to excellent yields. The method provides a practical access to the phthalides, an important class of biologically active molecules.     

Facile and highly efficient synthesis of fluorinated heterocycles via Prins cyclization in ionic liquid hydrogen fluoride salts

Prins cyclization of homoallylic alcohols, thiols, and amines with various aldehydes in an ionic liquid HF salt (Et(4)NF.5HF) afforded the corresponding 4-fluorinated heterocycles in excellent yields.     

An efficient synthesis of dihydro- and tetrahydropyrans via oxonium-ene cyclization reaction

An efficient method has been developed for the synthesis of 2,3-dihydropyrans and 4-methylenetetrahydropyrans from aldehydes and substituted homoallyl alcohols in benzene mediated by boron trifluoride etherate in good yields. The reaction proceeds via oxonium-ene reaction.     

The synthesis of highly substituted isoxazoles by electrophilic cyclization: an efficient synthesis of valdecoxib

A large number of functionally substituted 2-alkyn-1-one O-methyl oximes have been cyclized under mild reaction conditions in the presence of ICl to give the corresponding 4-iodoisoxazoles in moderate to excellent yields. The resulting 4-iodoisoxazoles undergo various palladium-catalyzed reactions to yield 3,4,5-trisubstituted isoxazoles, including valdecoxib.     

An efficient synthesis of optically active physostigmine from tryptophan via alkylative cyclization

[reaction: see text] A new and efficient synthetic route to physostigmine is described. Corey-Kim reagent reacted with tryptamine or tryptophan carbamates to give 3a-(methylthiomethyl)hexahydropyrrolo[2,3-b]indole skeletons. Formal total synthesis of racemic and chiral physostigmine was accomplished in excellent overall yields, in short steps.     

An efficient synthesis of highly substituted furans via the electrophilic cyclization of 1-(1-alkynyl)-cyclopropyl ketones

The electrophilic cyclization of 1-(1-alkynyl)-cyclopropyl ketones offers an efficient and straightforward route to highly substituted furans under extremely mild reaction conditions. Iodine, NIS, and PhSeBr have proven successful as electrophiles in this process.     

A highly efficient TBAF-promoted intramolecular cyclization of gem-dibromoolefins for the synthesis of 2-bromobenzofurans(thiophenes)

A highly efficient tetra-(n-butyl)ammonium fluoride (TBAF)-promoted intramolecular cyclization of gem-dibromoolefins has been developed for the synthesis of 2-bromobenzofused heterocycles. The reaction provides a convenient approach to 2-bromobenzofurans(thiophenes) from the corresponding readily available gem-dibromovinyl substrates without a metal.     

An efficient approach to the synthesis of 3-vinylidene tetrahydropyrans via Prins-type cyclization

Lewis acid-catalyzed intramolecular reactions of oxocarbenium ions with propargylsilanes are described. The results obtained indicate that trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate (TMSOTf) efficiently catalyses cyclization leading to the corresponding 3-vinylidene tetrahydropyrans in high yield as single isomers.     

A highly efficient enantioselective synthesis of 2-methyl chromans via four sequential palladium-catalyzed reactions

An enantioselective synthesis of substituted 2-methyl chromans was accomplished in four steps using four sequential Pd-catalyzed reactions. A study of the key palladium-catalyzed regioselective aryl ether ring formation of two different substrates was also carried out to better understand the factors which affect the selectivity of the reaction.     

Efficient synthesis of highly substituted Pyrrolin-4-ones via PIFA-mediated cyclization reactions of enaminones

A convenient and efficient synthesis of highly substituted pyrrolin-4-ones is developed via the PIFA-mediated cyclization reactions of readily available enaminones, and a mechanism involving sequential cleavage of N-C bond, formation of new N-C bond, intramolecular addition reaction, and benzilic acid type rearrangement is proposed.     

Enantioselective synthesis of rumphellaone A via epoxy nitrile cyclization

The first enantioselective synthesis of rumphellaone A, a cytotoxic 4,5-seco-caryophyllane derivative incorporating a γ-lactone ring as its structural feature, has been achieved by using base-induced intramolecular cyclization of an epoxy nitrile intermediate to install its cyclobutane skeleton as well as three contiguous stereocenters as the key transformation.     

An efficient approach to the stereoselective synthesis of 2,6-disubstituted dihydropyrans via stannyl-Prins cyclization

A general method has been developed for the stereoselective construction of 2,6-disubstituted dihydropyrans based on the Lewis acid-catalyzed intramolecular reactions of oxocarbenium ions with vinylstannanes. This novel methodology was applied to the enantioselective total synthesis of (−)-centrolobine.     

An efficient synthesis of 6,9-disubstituted purin-8-ones via copper-catalyzed coupling/cyclization

An efficient and novel synthesis of 6,9-disubstituted purin-8-ones has been developed. Starting from dichloropyrimidin-5-ylcarbamate, CuCl/amino acid catalyzed coupling/cyclization reaction with amines was achieved to afford 9-substituted 6-chloropurin-8-ones. Then a microwave-assisted amination procedure was carried out for the synthesis of 6,9-disubstituted purin-8-ones in moderate to good yields.     

A novel and highly efficient synthesis of gem-difluorocyclopropanes

[reaction: see text] A new and highly versatile source of difluorocarbene is reported. Trimethylsilyl fluorosulfonyldifluoroacetate (TFDA) undergoes decomposition in the presence of catalytic fluoride to form difluorocarbene under conditions that allow its addition to relatively electron deficient alkenes in high yield. For example, unprecedented CF2: addition to n-butyl acrylate proceeded in 73% yield.     

A highly efficient general synthesis of phosphine-borane complexes

A general synthesis of phosphine-borane complexes proceeding in high yield in a safe, green process from borane generated in situ from sodium borohydride is described. The procedure also allows simultaneous carbonyl reduction and phosphine-borane formation on air-sensitive bulky phosphine derivatives.     

A highly efficient stereoselective synthesis of β-lactams

An efficient strategy for a one-pot, single step synthesis of β-lactams employing an imidazolidinone based chiral auxiliary with various aldimines via asymmetric Mannich-type reaction has been described.