Copper-catalyzed addition of diboron reagents to alpha,beta-acetylenic esters: efficient synthesis of beta-boryl-alpha,beta-ethylenic esters

The efficient copper-catalyzed addition reaction of bis(pinacolato)diboron to alpha,beta-acetylenic esters has been developed, which produces the corresponding beta-borylated-alpha,beta-ethylenic esters in high yields under mild reaction conditions.     

Copper-catalyzed cyclization of iodo-tryptophans: a straightforward synthesis of pyrroloindoles

Pyrroloindoles are a key structural motif found in a wide number of biologically active alkaloids. Intramolecular copper-catalyzed coupling of readily accessible 2-iodo-tryptophan derivatives occurs in excellent yield, affording a wide range of polysubstituted, enantioenriched tetrahydropyrrolo[2,3- b]indoles. Diketopiperazines are also suitable substrates for this cyclization reaction, which affords a straightforward entry to tetra- to hepta-polycyclic systems.     

Copper-catalyzed double N-alkenylation of amides: an efficient synthesis of di- or trisubstituted N-acylpyrroles

An efficient copper-catalyzed double alkenylation of amides with (1Z,3Z)-1,4-diiodo-1,3-dienes is reported for the first time. The reactions proceed to afford di- or trisubstituted N-acylpyrroles in good to excellent yields using CuI as the catalyst, Cs2CO3 as the base, and rac-trans-N,N'-dimethylcyclohexane-1,2-diamine as the ligand.     

Copper-catalyzed synthesis of five-membered heterocycles via double C-N bond formation: an efficient synthesis of pyrroles, dihydropyrroles, and carbazoles

An efficient copper-catalyzed double C-N bond forming reaction using diiodides and nitrogen-centered nucleophiles including amides and carbamates is reported. The reactions proceed to afford di- or tri-substituted N-acylpyrroles, dihydropyrroles, and carbazoles in good to excellent yields when different diiodides such as 1,4-diiodo-1,3-butadienes, 1,4-dihalobut-1-enes, and 2,2′-diiodobiphenyls were employed, respectively. It is crucial to use CuI as the catalyst with the assistance of proper base and diamine ligand.     

Sequential copper-catalyzed vinylation/cyclization: an efficient synthesis of functionalized oxazoles

A modular and practical synthesis of highly substituted oxazoles has been developed. The transformation consists of a sequential copper-catalyzed amidation of vinyl halides followed by cyclization promoted by iodine. A wide variety of functionalized oxazoles and polyazoles can be obtained in a selective manner from simple and easily accessible precursors.     

Copper-catalyzed domino intramolecular cyclization: a facile and efficient approach to polycyclic indole derivatives

A mild and efficient Cu(2)O-catalyzed domino intramolecular C-N coupling/C-Y (Y = O, S, N) bond formation was successfully achieved. Thus oxazino[3,2-a]indole, thiazino[3,2-a]indole and indolo[2,1-b]quinazoline derivatives were facilely assembled from readily accessible gem-dibromovinyl systems. The protocol is general and practical, affording a variety of the indole-incorporated products in good to excellent yields even under air atmosphere.     

Copper-catalyzed one-pot N-alkenylation and N-alkylation of amides: an efficient synthesis of substituted 2,3-dihydropyrroles

A novel copper-catalyzed synthesis of substituted 2,3-dihydropyrroles via one-pot N-alkenylation and N-alkylation of amides with 1,4-diiodobut-1-ene derivatives has been developed. The reactions proceed in good to high yields using CuI as the catalyst, K₂CO₃ as the base, and rac-trans-N,N′-dimethylcyclohexane-1,2-diamine as the ligand.     

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.     

Copper-catalyzed selective benzylic C-O cyclization of N-o-tolylbenzamides: synthesis of 4H-3,1-benzoxazines

A novel Selectfluor-mediated copper-catalyzed highly selective benzylic C-O cyclization for the synthesis 4H-3,1-benzoxazines is reported. The predominant selectivity for a benzylic C(sp(3))-H over an aromatic C(sp(2))-H bond in N-o-tolylbenzamides is achieved.     

Copper-catalyzed aerobic oxidative amidation of terminal alkynes: efficient synthesis of ynamides

A copper-catalyzed method for the preparation of ynamides has been identified that proceeds via aerobic oxidative coupling of terminal alkynes with various nitrogen nucleophiles, including cyclic carbamates, amides and ureas, and N-alkyl-arylsulfonamides and indoles.     

Thiophenol-mediated intramolecular radical cyclization: an efficient method for the synthesis of benzoxocine derivatives

A new, efficient, high yielding method for the synthesis of benzoxocine derivatives has been developed via a thiophenol-mediated intramolecular 8-endo radical cyclization. This method allowed the synthesis of the backbone of several sesquiterpenes.     

Short stereoselective synthesis of alpha-substituted gamma-lactams

A concise, stereoselective synthesis of alpha-substituted gamma-lactams is reported. gamma-Lactam scaffolds 2 and 3, possessing an Evans' chiral auxiliary and two types of N substituents, were successfully alkylated with different electrophiles to give alpha-substituted gamma-lactams with reasonable diastereoselectivities. The use of a masked carboxymethyl function off the lactam nitrogen provided a convergent means to alpha-substituted gamma-lactam dipeptide isosteres.     

Copper-catalyzed domino coupling reaction: an efficient method to synthesize oxindoles

An efficient and novel procedure for a copper catalyzed domino coupling reaction has been developed, which afforded various oxindoles in good to excellent yields with tolerance of various substituents. In addition, this method could be applied to synthesize horsfiline and coerulescine in few steps with high total yields.     

Troublesome alkoxythiophenes. A highly efficient synthesis via cyclization of gamma-keto esters.

A variety of alkoxythiophenes have been synthesized that represent ideal subunits for the synthesis of a new class of thermotropic liquid crystals via palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions and organometallic derivatization. The methodology used represents the first highly efficient synthesis of alkoxythiophenes unlike previous pathways that have presented serious synthetic difficulties when the alkoxy chain consisted of more than four carbon atoms. The scope of the new procedure (relative to liquid crystalline intermediates) is presented and is compared and contrasted with the current literature.     

Raney-Co mediated reductive cyclization of an alpha,beta-unsaturated nitrile

An expedient, five step synthesis of caprolactam 1 is reported starting from natural L-homoserine. The key step is a chemoselective reductive cyclization of alpha,beta-unsaturated nitrile 10 mediated by Raney-Co type metals. This hydrogenation is extensively investigated in order to account for the observed product distribution and yields.     

Synthesis of alpha,beta-unsaturated gamma-lactams via asymmetric iridium-catalysed allylic substitution

Syntheses of alpha,beta-unsaturated gamma-lactams are described that are based on ring-closing metathesis in combination with enantioselective Ir-catalysed allylic amination using N-Boc-N-(but-2-enoyl)-amine as a pronucleophile. As an example application, the synthesis of a Baclofen analogue is presented.     

Copper-catalyzed four-component synthesis of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines via sequential reductive amination,condensation, and cyclization

A novel and efficient four-component approach for the synthesis of 2,3-disubstituted imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines is described. The copper-catalyzed reductive amination of 2-bromopyridine by sodium azide followed by sequential condensation and cyclization with aldehydes and isocyanides afforded the corresponding imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines in good yields.