Construction of highly functionalized diazoacetoacetates via catalytic Mukaiyama-Michael reactions

Functionalized diazo acetoacetates are prepared by an efficient Mukaiyama-Michael reaction between methyl 3-(trialkylsilanoxy)-2-diazo-3-butenoate and alpha,beta-unsaturated enones. Vinyl ether and ketone derivatives are both accessible in good to excellent yield through this methodology. The mild Lewis acid zinc(II) triflate is the optimal catalyst, and its loading can be as low as 0.1 mol %. In addition, zinc triflate was also found to be a superior catalyst for the related Mukaiyama-aldol reaction.     

Stereoselective synthesis of highly functionalized nitrocyclopropanes via organocatalyic conjugate addition to nitroalkenes

A convenient and novel one-pot organocatalytic methodology for the stereoselective synthesis of highly functionalized nitrocyclopropanes is reported. The addition of dimethyl chloromalonate to a variety of nitroolefins catalyzed by tertiary amines leads to a Michael adduct which cyclizes to form the cyclopropane in the presence of DBU under carefully controlled reaction conditions with outstanding diastereoselectivity.     

Convenient methods for the synthesis of highly functionalized and naturally occurring chiral allenes

A convenient two step procedure to access highly functionalized chiral allenes using chiral N-methylcamphanyl piperazine derivatives is described. In this transformation, chiral propargylamines are obtained in 79–96% yields with up to 99:1 dr by the CuBr catalyzed reactions of chiral piperazine derivatives with 1-alkynes and aldehydes containing functional groups, which are converted into chiral allenes in the presence of zinc bromide, affording the chiral allenes in 59–85% yields and with up to 99% ee. The antifungal agent Sapium japonicum and an allene precursor intermediate for the synthesis of the pheromone of the male dried bean beetle 15 are obtained in 72–78% yields and with up to 98% ee following this methodology.     

Catalytic asymmetric addition of thiols to silyl glyoxylates for synthesis of multi-hetero-atom substituted carbon stereocenters

A chiral Lewis acid-catalyzed enantioselective addition of thiols to silyl glyoxylates was developed. The reaction proceeds well with a broad range of thiols and acylsilanes, affording the target tertiary chiral α-silyl–α-sulfydryl alcohols with multi-hetero-atom carbon stereocenters in excellent yields (up to 99%) and enantioselectivities (up to 98% ee). A series of control experiments were conducted to elucidate the reaction mechanism.

Enantioselective addition of thiols to silyl glyoxylates for construction of a multi-hetero-atom substituted carbon stereocenter was described.     

Asymmetric synthesis of highly functionalized tyrosine derivatives for the construction of bistetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloids

A novel and facile synthesis of l-5-hydroxy-2,4-methoxy-3-methylphenylalanine derivatives, which are the key coupling partners for the asymmetric total synthesis of natural bistetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloids, is realized starting from l-tyrosine with 17% overall yield. The synthesis has been carried out on a multigram scale featuring the following key steps: (a) transformation of phenol to dihydroquinone via salcomine-catalyzed oxidation followed by zinc-acetic acid reduction; (b) single TBS-protection of dihydroquinone; (c) Mitsunobu methylation of the newly generated phenolic hydroxyl group.     

Tandem Michael addition/ylide olefination reaction for the synthesis of highly functionalized cyclohexadiene derivatives

A tandem Michael addition/ylide olefination for the rapid creation of highly functionalized cyclohexadiene is developed. The tandem annulation reactions afford versatile cyclohexadienes in good to excellent isolated yields. This method has been successfully applied to the synthesis of three biologically active molecules.     

Tandem Michael addition/ylide epoxidation for the synthesis of highly functionalized cyclohexadiene epoxide derivatives

A highly efficient diastereoselective synthesis of cyclohexadiene epoxide derivatives with a multi-stereocenter has been developed via a tandem ylide Michael addition/epoxidation. By employing a chiral sulfonium ylide, up to 96% ee can be achieved in good yields.     

Halogen-lithium exchange between substituted dihalobenzenes and butyllithium: application to the regioselective synthesis of functionalized bromobenzaldehydes

Halogen-lithium interconversion reactions between unsymmetrically substituted mono- and bifunctional dihalobenzenes C₆H₃XHal₂ and C₆H₂XYHal₂ (Hal=Br, I; X, Y=F, OR, CF₃, CH(OMe)₂) and butyllithium were investigated. The resultant organolithium intermediates were converted into the corresponding benzaldehydes in moderate to good yields. As a rule, bromine atoms in the position ortho to the functional group were replaced preferentially with lithium. Intramolecular competition experiments with bifunctional systems revealed that fluorine is capable of activating the neighboring bromine atom more strongly than methoxy and dimethoxymethyl groups. On the replacement of the non-activated bromine with iodine a complete reversal of this reactivity pattern can be accomplished due to the preferred iodine-lithium exchange.     

Catalytic asymmetric addition of alkylzinc and functionalized alkylzinc reagents to ketones

We describe our full report of the catalytic asymmetric addition of simple and functionalized dialkylzinc reagents to a broad range of saturated ketones and enones. The functionalized organozinc reagents contain esters, silyl ethers, alkyl chlorides, and alkyl bromides. In general, the resulting tertiary alcohol products are isolated with high ee's. With some substrates, yields are low as a result of the formation of aldol byproducts. Most substrates undergo additions with good yields reaching as high as 91%.     

Nucleophilic addition of grignard reagents to 3-acylindoles: stereoselective synthesis of highly substituted indoline scaffolds

3-Acylindoles undergo nucleophilic-type reactions with Grignard reagents to efficiently afford either cis- or trans-substituted indolines, depending on the different quenching procedures. The enolate intermediate could be trapped by aryl acyl chlorides to provide indolines bearing a quaternary carbon center with high stereoselectivity. In contrast, the use of benzyl bromide as an electrophile results in the fragmentation of the indole ring. The indoline products could be easily transformed into indoles through oxidation with DDQ in a one-pot manner.     

Preparation of chiral, highly functionalized cyclopentanes and its application to the synthesis of prostaglandin E1

This paper describes the preparation of the polyfunctionalized cyclopentane ((+/-)-5) by silica gel-catalyzed air-oxidation, and its kinetic resolution by means of microbial reduction with Rhodotorula rubra to afford optically pure (-)-5 (greater than 99% ee). Starting with (-)-5, a new route to prostaglandin E1 was established.     

Preparation of fully substituted anilines for the synthesis of functionalized indoles

A wide range of highly functionalized indoles were prepared by the successive magnesiation of readily available o-alkynyl protected anilines using TMPMgCl.LiCl or LDA, followed by a KH-mediated cyclization reaction.     

Facile synthesis of highly functionalized ethyltrifluoroborates

Organotrifluoroborates are generating increased interest because of their ease of preparation and purification and indefinite shelf life. Herein we report the preparation of organotrifluoroborates bearing functional groups that can be manipulated at different stages of the synthetic route, exploiting the inertness of their carbon-boron bonds. The alkylation of 2,2-dicyanoethyltrifluoroborate with a variety of electrophiles and of (EWG)2CH2 with potassium iodomethyltrifluoroborate resulted in di- and trisubstituted ethyltrifluoroborates in good to excellent yields.     

Phosphine-catalyzed synthesis of highly functionalized coumarins

2-Styrenyl allenoates are converted into cyclopentene-fused dihydrocoumarins through phosphine-catalyzed regio- and diastereoselective [3 + 2] cycloadditions. Remarkably, changing the solvent from THF to benzene promotes the conversion of the 2-(2-nitrostyrenyl) allenoate into a tricyclic nitronate through a previously undocumented mode of phosphine catalysis. This nitronate was subjected to efficient face-, regio-, and exo-selective 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions to provide tetracyclic coumarin derivatives.     

Cyclopentadienones as intermediates for the synthesis of highly functionalized biaryls

A new approach to the synthesis of substituted biaryls, via Diels-Alder reaction between cyclopentadienones and arylacetylenes, is described.     

Intramolecular hetero-Michael addition of beta-hydroxyenones for the preparation of highly substituted tetrahydropyranones

Structurally diverse beta-hydroxyenones are shown to undergo nonoxidative 6-endo-trig ring closure to form highly substituted tetrahydropyranones. Amberlyst-15, Al(ClO(4))(3) x 9 H(2)O and [Pd(MeCN)(4)](BF(4))(2) were found to be suitable catalysts for these intramolecular conjugate additions, preventing side reactions, such as dehydration or retroaldolisation. The use of [Pd(MeCN)(4)](BF(4))(2) is particularly effective, as this palladium-mediated reaction is under kinetic control and generates tri- and tetrasubstituted tetrahydropyranones with high levels of diastereocontrol. In the presence of the Lewis acid Al(ClO(4))(3) x 9 H(2)O, the reaction proceeded with a similar level of diastereocontrol; however, in contrast to [Pd(MeCN)(4)](BF(4))(2), this catalyst can promote enolisation. The palladium-mediated reaction was also found to be compatible with an enantioenriched beta-hydroxyenone substrate, giving no loss of enantiopurity upon ring closure. The most distinctive synthetic development to emerge from this new chemistry is the possibility to access tri- and tetrasubstituted 2,6-anti-tetrahydropyranones from anti-aldol precursors. These compounds are particularly difficult to access by using alternative methodologies. Two modes of activation were envisaged for the ring closure, involving metal coordination to either the C=C or C=O functional groups. Experimental results suggest that C=O coordination was the preferred mode of activation for reactions performed in the presence of Al(ClO(4))(3) x 9 H(2)O or [Pd(MeCN)(4)](BF(4))(2).