Highly chemo- and enantioselective vinylogous aldol/cyclization cascade reaction to construct chiral 5,6-dihydropyran-2-ones

An organocatalytic chemo- and enantioselective vinylogous aldol/cyclization cascade reaction between β,γ-unsaturated amides and β,γ-unsaturated α-keto esters was developed. With 5?mol% of chiral tertiary amine-thiourea catalyst C3, highly functionalized 5,6-dihydropyran-2-ones with a quaternary stereocenter were constructed in a straightforward manner with high yields (up to 99%) and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 98% ee).     

Fluoroallylboration-olefination for the synthesis of (Z)-4,4-difluoropent-2-enoates and 5,5-difluoro-5,6-dihydropyran-2-ones

Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons (HWE) or Still-Gennari olefination of TBS-protected 3,3-difluoro-4-hydroxy-2-ones, derived from the difluoroallylboration of aldehydes, provides the Z-isomer of 4,4,-difluoropent-2-enoates. These, upon hydrolysis, followed by Yamaguchi cyclization, afford 5,5-difluoro-4-methyl-5,6-dihydro-α-pyrones in high yields.     

Unprecedented ‘ring transformation-rearrangement’ of pyran-2-ones into 5,6-dihydropyran-2-ones through insertion of acetol

One-pot efficient synthesis of functionalized 5,6-dihydropyran-2-ones has been delineated by reacting 2H-pyran-2-ones and acetol in the presence of a base at room temperature. The formation of 5,6-dihydropyran-2-ones revealed that the reaction proceeded in a unique ‘ring transformation-rearrangement’ sequence.     

Efficient synthesis of 3-chloromethyl-2(5H)-furanones and 3-chloromethyl-5,6-dihydropyran-2-ones via the PdCl2-catalyzed chlorocyclocarbonylation of 2,3- or 3,4-allenols

A mild and efficient methodology involving PdCl2-catalyzed chlorocyclocarbonylation of 2,3- or 3,4-allenols with CuCl2 for the synthesis of 3-chloromethyl-2(5H)-furanones and 3-chloromethyl-5,6-dihydropyran-2-ones was developed. This reaction proceeded in a highly regioselective manner, i.e., the chlorine atom was introduced to the terminal position of the allene moiety while the lactone linkage was formed between the center carbon atom of the allene moiety and the hydroxyl oxygen, which was established by the X-ray single crystal diffraction study of gamma-lactone 3p. The highly optically active 3-chloromethyl-2(5H)-furanones could be easily prepared from the readily available optically active 2,3-allenols. A mechanism for this reaction was proposed.     

Lewis acid mediated reactions of cyclopropyl aryl ketones with alpha-ketoesters: facile preparation of 5,6-dihydropyran-2-ones

[reaction: see text] A new general method for the synthesis of 5,6-dihydropyran-2-ones from cyclopropyl aryl ketones (monoactivated cyclopropanes) and alpha-ketoesters in good to excellent yields has been developed. The process involves a cascade of reactions, including a nucleophilic ring-opening reaction of monoactivated cyclopropane by H2O, Lewis acid mediated transesterification, and an aldol type reaction.     

Total synthesis of (+)-kalafungin using a tandem Michael-Dieckmann approach

A stereoselective synthesis of the antibiotic kalafungin 1 is reported. A key step involved the tandem Michael-Dieckmann reaction between methyl 2-methoxy-6-methylbenzoate 11 and the α,β-unsaturated lactone (R)-6-(2-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)ethyl)-4-methoxy-5,6-dihydropyran-2-one 10, which was prepared from (S)-aspartic acid. The C5 alkyl substituent was introduced by the use of methylmagnesium bromide and subsequent stereoselective reduction. A sequence of oxidations followed by acid-catalyzed epimerization delivered (+)-kalafungin 1.     

One-pot synthesis of quinolin-2-(1H)-ones via tandem Ugi-Knoevenagel condensations

A new application of the Ugi reaction in the synthesis of heterocyclic compounds is described. Substituted quinolin-2-(1H)-ones are formed in one-pot sequential Ugi four-component condensation and intramolecular Knoevenagel cyclization between o-acylanilines, aldehydes, malonic or tosylacetic acids and cyclohexyl isocyanide.     

A tandem palladium-catalyzed Heck-lactonization through the reaction of ortho-iodophenols with β-substituted acrylates: synthesis of 4,6-substituted coumarins

Coumarins were obtained in one pot through a palladium-catalyzed Heck-lactonization reaction involving ortho-iodophenols and methyl crotonate or a Z-enoate derived from d-mannitol. These reactions were investigated under different conditions and palladium sources. In the more interesting cases, coumarins were prepared in water, using triethylamine as base and 1 mol % of PdCl₂ as catalyst.     

Practical synthesis of 3-bromo-5,6-dihydropyridin-2-ones via β,γ-unsaturated α-bromo-ketene/imine cycloaddition

An approach to 3-bromo-4-alkyl-6-aryl-5,6-dihydropyridin-2-ones and 3-bromo-5-ethyl-6-aryl-5,6-dihydropyridin-2-ones starting from β,γ-unsaturated α-bromoketenes and imines is reported. The presence of a bromine atom on the double bond allows performing aziridination or bromine displacement with an amine. The reaction gave fused bicyclic N-allyl-aziridines or 3-amino-substituted 5,6-dihydropyridin-2-ones, depending on the substituents on the six-membered ring.     

A synthesis of carbasugar-sugar pseudodisaccharides via a cycloaddition-cycloreversion reaction of 2H-pyran-2-ones

Cycloaddition of 3-carbomethoxy-2H-pyran-2-one to a vinylated sugar followed by the loss of bridging CO(2) from the cycloadduct affords a cyclohexadiene which can be manipulated to a carbasugar-sugar pseudodisaccharide.     

Facile synthesis of thiochromanyl-spirooxindoles via K2CO3 catalyzed tandem sulfa-Michael/Aldol reaction

A facile method for the synthesis of thiochromanyl-spirooxindoles via sulfa-Michael/Aldol reaction of 3-ylideneoxindoles with thiosalicylaldehydes has been developed. This tandem reaction, which tolerates a wide variety of functional groups, furnished diverse substituted functional thiochromanyl-spirooxindoles in up to 90% yields with good diastereoselectivities. Furthermore, the reaction system could be promoted to gram-scale efficiently under the mild conditions.     

Efficient access to chiral N-substituted saccharin analogues via the directed ortho-lithiation of 3-N-arylsulfonyloxazolidin-2-ones

Chiral 3-N-arylsulfonyloxazolidin-2-ones 1a-f, prepared from (l)-amino acids, were reacted with lithium diisopropylamide in anhydrous THF and HMPA. The resulting new, optically active benzisothiazolinone 1,1-dioxides 2a-c and naphthisothiazolinone 1,1-dioxides 2d-f were obtained in good yields.     

Facial synthesis of trifluoromethylated xanthenes via tandem reaction of arynes and 2-trifluoroacetylphenols

A tandem insertion-nucleophilic cyclization reaction between arynes and 2-trifluoroacetylphenols has been described, providing trifluoromethylated xanthenes in good to excellent yield.     

One-pot reaction of ortho-acylphenols and terminal alkynoates for synthesis of 2-alkyl-substituted chromanones

A facile synthesis of 2-alkyl-substituted chromanones from ortho-acylphenols and terminal alkynoates is described. The method contains two consecutive processes in one-pot reaction through a DABCO-catalyzed condensation reaction and a KOBu^t-mediated intramolecular cycloaddition to afford the desired products.     

A convenient new route to enantiopure 3-hydroxy-5-oxo esters and 5,6-dihydropyran-2-ones: intricacies of the trithioorthoester protecting group

3-Hydroxy-5-oxo esters are useful precursors to biologically active compounds. An expedient three-step synthesis of 3-hydroxy-5-oxo esters based on dithiane anion chemistry is presented along with the transformation of the 3-hydroxy-5-oxo esters into 5,6-dihydropyran-2-ones.     

Dicobaltoctacarbonyl-mediated synthesis of tricyclic 5,6-diydropyran-2-one derivatives via tandem cycloaddition reaction between cis-epoxyalkynes, a tethered olefin, and carbon monoxide

Cobalt carbonyl complex Co2(CO)8 implemented an intramolecular carbonylation of cis-epoxyalkynes to generate Co2(CO)6-stabilized gamma-lactonyl allene species. For 1,1,2-trisubstituted epoxyalkynes, this Co2(CO)6-allene species reacted with a tethered olefin to give [2+2]-cycloadducts, and with CO and a tethered olefin to produce [2+2+1]-cycloadducts. These resulting cycloadducts have a 5,6-diydropyran-2-one core fused with a cyclobutane and a cyclopentanone ring, respectively. For 1,2-disubstituted cis-epoxyalkyne and 1,1,2-trisubstituted cis-epoxyalkynes bearing a heteroatom constituent, cyclization of the corresponding epoxyalkyne with a tethered alkene is invariably accompanied by incorporation of CO to produce a [2+2+1]-cycloadduct, even in the absence of CO. We have prepared various 1,1,2-trisubstituted and 1,2-disubstituted cis-epoxyalkynes to generalize such cycloaddition pathways. Attempt to use an organic promoter to perform these tandem cycloadditions was unsuccessful because of a competing Pauson-Khand reaction. Cyclization of a 1,2-disubstituted epoxyalkyne with a tethered diene was achieved successfully in one case, but the yield was low (25%).     

Facile synthesis of quinone epoxides and 5,6-epoxy-4-hydroxy-2-cyclohexenones via the retro-diels-alder reaction

From commercially available quinoes, quinone epoxides and 5,6-epoxy-4-hydroxy-2-cyclohexenones were easily prepared through the retro-Diels-Alder reactions under rather mild conditions.     

A convenient method for synthesis of polyfunctional dihydropyrrole spiro-fused oxindole-2-ones via an organocatalytic tandem Michael/cyclization sequence

A new methodology was developed for the synthesis of spirocyclic oxindoles bearing polyfunctional dihydropyrrole units via an organocatalytic tandem Michael/cyclization sequence. Products bearing adjacent quaternary–tertiary stereocenters were smoothly obtained in high yields (up to 97% yield) with excellent diastereoselectivities up to >20/1.     

Effective synthesis of ortho-substituted triphenol amines via reductive amination

An efficient synthesis of ortho-substituted triphenolamines via reductive amination is reported. This approach allows access to this increasingly important class of ligands in a structurally systematic way using either commercially or easily synthesizable building blocks.