Rapid synthesis of the N-methylwelwitindolinone skeleton

An efficient, convergent synthesis of the core bicyclo[4.3.1]decane ring system of welwitindolinones is described. Key steps in the synthesis include an intramolecular palladium-catalyzed enolate arylation reaction to create the desired bicyclic skeleton and a Curtius rearrangement to install the bridgehead isocyanate unit. [reaction: see text]     

Synthesis of Phenanthrene Derivatives by Intramolecular Cyclization Utilizing the [1,2]‐Phospha‐Brook Rearrangement Catalyzed by a Brønsted Base

The synthesis of functionalized phenanthrene derivatives was achieved by intramolecular cyclization utilizing the [1,2]‐phospha‐Brook rearrangement under Brønsted base catalysis. Treatment of biaryl compounds having an α‐ketoester moiety and an alkyne moiety at the 2 and 2′ positions, respectively, with diisopropyl phosphite in the presence of a catalytic amount of phosphazene base P2‐tBu provides 9,10‐disubstituted phenanthrene derivatives in high yields. This reaction involves the generation of an ester enolate through an umpolung process, that is, addition of diisopropyl phosphite to a keto moiety followed by the [1,2]‐phospha‐Brook rearrangement, the intramolecular addition to an alkyne, and the [3,3] rearrangement of the allylic phosphate moiety in a consecutive fashion.     

New spirocyclic oxindole synthesis based on a hetero Claisen rearrangement

[reaction: see text] A new method for preparing spirocyclic oxindoles is presented. Featuring a [3,3]-sigmatropic enolate rearrangement, the three-step process converts carboxylic acid starting materials to oxidnole products in overall yields of 52-76%. The enolate rearrangement step occurs at -78 degrees C and provides easy access to oxindole products that have previously been difficult to prepare.     

The [1,2]-thio-Wittig rearrangement: evidence for a radical mechanism and its suppression

The lithium enolate formed from methyl S-trityl mercaptoacetate can be C-alkylated in high yield at or below −40 °C, but at higher temperatures the [1,2]-thio-Wittig rearrangement of the enolate is the predominant process; ESR evidence indicates that this rearrangement occurs by a radical mechanism.     

Stereocontrolled synthesis of 3-(trans-2-aminocyclopropyl)alanine,a key component of belactosin A

Herein we report a concise synthesis of 3-(trans-2-aminocyclopropyl)alanine, a component of belactosin A, using asymmetric alkylation of a glycine enolate in the presence of chiral phase-transfer catalysts to control the configuration at C2. Reaction of protected glycidol with triethyl phosphonoacetate (Wadsworth-Emmons cyclopropanation) is used for enantiospecific preparation of an intermediate cyclopropanecarboxylate that is converted to a cyclopropylamine via Curtius rearrangement. [reaction: see text]     

A pericyclic cascade to the stereocontrolled synthesis of 9-cis-retinoids

A domino reaction that is pericyclic in nature is thought to be triggered upon treatment of alkenynol 10 with arylsulfenyl chlorides. The process comprises an ordered sequence of sigmatropic rearrangements: a reversible [2,3]-allyl sulfenate to allyl sulfoxide shift, followed by a [2,3]-propargyl sulfenate to allenyl sulfoxide rearrangement, and last a stereodifferentiating [1,5]-sigmatropic hydrogen migration leading to polyene 13. The occurrence of the C7 to C11 hydrogen migration has been demonstrated by labeling experiments. The double diastereoselection of the [1,5]-sigmatropic hydrogen shift to afford a single isomer of the final polyene 13 is thought to arise from a combination of the electronic effect of the sulfoxide at one terminus, and the steric effect imparted by the bulky trimethylcyclohexenyl substituent at the other terminus. The overall process thus constitutes a stereoselective synthesis of an E,Z,Z-triene fragment from an alkenynol and, in particular, a retinoid with the 7E,9Z,11Z,13E configuration on the conjugated polyenic side chain. Application of this method to the synthesis of retinoids, including labeled analogues, is straightforward.     

Application of the Ester Enolate Claisen Rearrangement in the Synthesis of Amino Acids Containing Quaternary Carbon Centers

Ester enolate Claisen rearrangement of highly substituted amino acid allylic esters 4 allows for the synthesis of sterically demanding amino acids 5 with beta-quaternary carbon centers. Because of enolate fixation by chelation, the rearrangement occurs in a highly diastereoselective fashion. The methodology is suitable not only for glycine derivatives but also for allylic esters of various amino acids. In this case amino acids with two vicinal quaternary carbon centers are created. With unsymmetrically substituted allylic esters like 4k-n the rearrangement proceeds with a high degree of diastereoselectivity.     

Model studies for the synthesis of galbonolide B

The construction of the fourteen membered ring present in galbonolide B 1 is reported. The 10,11-diene system present in the southern portion of has been constructed using an ester enolate rearrangement/silicon mediated fragmentation cascade, whilst the macrocycle has been synthesised following a Johnson rearrangement/mercury assisted ring closure protocol.     

Solid-phase synthesis of pyridones and pyridopyrazines as peptidomimetic scaffolds

[formula: see text] We report the syntheses of peptidomimetic opioids containing the core structure N-alkyl-2-alkyl-2,3-dihydro-4-pyridone. By employing imines bound on a solid support and the Danishefsky diene, this [4 + 2] cyclocondensation reaction facilitates the synthesis of novel complex heterocycles. The central reaction is carried out under mild conditions and employs readily available building blocks. In this study we demonstrate the suitability of N-alkyl-2-alkyl-2,3-dihydro-4-pyridones as a central scaffold for peptidomimetics and establish the scope of this [4 + 2] cyclocondensation reaction with imino acids on a solid phase. We also combine the synthesis of diketopiperazines with the [4 + 2] cyclocondensation reaction to form a 9,9a-dihydro-2H-pyrido-[1,2a]- pyrazine-3,8(1,4-dialkyl)dione, a bicyclic molecule containing a pyridopyrazine core structure.     

Synthesis and antiallergy activity of [1,3,4]thiadiazolo[3,2-a]-1,2,3-triazolo[4,5-d]pyrimidin-9 (3H)-one derivatives. I.

A series of 6-substituted [1,3,4]thiadiazolo[3,2-a]-1,2,3-triazolo[4,5-d]pyrimidin-9(3H)-one derivatives 4a--z were synthesized from 5-substituted 1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-amines 5 by the following consecutive reactions: pyrimidine ring closure with bis(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl) malonate, nitration, chlorination, amination, hydrogenation and diazotization. The structure of 4 was confirmed by an alternate synthesis of 4, involving reaction of 5-substituted 2-azido-1,3,4-thiadiazole 13 with ethyl cyanoacetate, followed by the Dimroth rearrangement and ring closure. The antiallergic activities (anti-passive peritoneal anaphylaxis, anti-passive cutaneous anaphylaxis and anti-slow reacting substance of anaphylaxis activities) of the products were evaluated.     

Synthese des Sesquiterpen-Ketones Shyobunon und seiner Diastereomeren

Synthesis of the Sesquiterpene Ketone Shyobunon and of its Diastereoisomers Shyobunon ( 12 ) and 6-epishyobunon ( 13 ) as well as their epimers 10 and 11 were synthetized in five steps from geranyl- ( 1 ) and nerylsenecionate ( 2 ), respectively. Ester enolate rearrangement [5] of 1 and 2 furnished the key intermediates 3 and 4 in high yield and in about 80% stereoselectivity [6] (Scheme 1). Conversion of the acid mixture 3 / 4 to the cyclohexanone derivatives 7 and 8 succeeded in 35–40% yield by means of cyclization of their acidchlorides with tin tetrachloride to the mixture of 5 and 6 , followed by HCl elimination with diazabicyclononene (DBN) (Scheme 2). Selective reduction of 7 to 10 and 11 , and 8 to 12 and 13 with triphenyltinhydride completed the synthesis. The relative configuration of 10 and 11 as well as of 12 and 13 were deduced from the ¹³C-NMR. spectra (Scheme 4, Table 2). The structure of ‘epishyobunone’ is revised: it has the structure 13 , and not 11 as described earlier [1]. This is discussed in connection with the rearrangement of acoragermacrone ( 16 ) [18] to shyobunone ( 12 ) and 6-epishyobunone ( 13 ) (Scheme 5).     

A formal total synthesis of (+/-)-halichlorine and (+/-)-pinnaic acid

[reaction: see text] A stereocontrolled approach for the preparation of the Danishefsky intermediates has been developed starting with the azaspirobicyclic ketone as a common precursor, representing a formal total synthesis of (+/-)-halichlorine and (+/-)-pinnaic acid. This approach involves the construction of the 1,7-disubstituted 6-azaspiro[4.5]decane with the proper stereochemistry established by olefin hydrogenation followed by C-methylation of the spirotricyclic lactam and the subsequent processes involving lactam ring-opening using methyl triflate and RCM to form the azaspirotricyclic quinolizidine skeleton.     

Prediction on the Origin of Selectivities in Base‐controlled Switchable NHC‐catalyzed Transformations

The base‐controlled mechanisms for N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC)‐catalyzed divergent [3+3] and [3+2] annulation reactions were examined by using the DFT method. The reaction initiates with the complexation of NHC and enal to give the Breslow intermediate, which diverges afterward. Then, the azomethine imine can either react with the Breslow intermediate to give the six‐membered ring product or the β‐carbon protonation occurs for forming the enolate intermediate controlled by different bases. The formed enolate intermediate reacts with azomethine imine to afford the five‐membered ring product. The calculated results show that only the base K₂CO₃ can facilitate the structural transformation between homoenolate and enolate to switch the chemoselectivity; therefore, the [3+3] annulation happens preferentially in the presence of base DBU while the other situation occurs with K₂CO₃ as base. The NCI analysis results reveal that the stereoselectivity is predominately determined by the π???π, C?H???O, and C?H???N interactions. The obtained mechanistic insights should provide valuable clues for the rational design of these kinds of divergent reactions.     

alpha-Substituted acylsilanes via a highly selective [1,4]-Wittig rearrangement of alpha-benzyloxyallylsilane

alpha-Benzyloxyallylsilane undergoes efficient [1,4]-Wittig rearrangement to generate an enolate intermediate that can be trapped with various electrophiles, thereby providing a new synthetic approach to substituted acylsilanes.     

A new synthesis of the linearly fused [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-b]isoquinoline ring. Observation of an unexpected Dimroth rearrangement

A new and general synthesis of the linearly fused [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-b]isoquinoline ring system starting from 2,3-diaminoisoquinolinium salts has been elaborated. Starting compounds bearing an alkyl group in position 4 easily reacted with aldehydes to yield the cyclized products. In the case of a lack of electron donating group in position 4 (e.g., unsubstituted or 4-cyano substituted diamino derivatives) a Dimroth rearrangement took place under the same reaction conditions to yield 3-isoquinolylhydrazones. The mechanism of this unexpected transformation has been verified by isotope labelling experiments. Clarification of the reaction mechanism allowed finding proper reaction conditions to eliminate the rearrangement route, and thus, to perfect successful ring closure to the fused triazoles.     

Diels-alder reactions with ethyl 1-benzofuran-3-carboxylates

Substituted salicylaldehydes reacted with ethyl diazoacetate to give ethyl 1-benzofuran-3-carboxylates containing various substituents in the aromatic ring. The Diels-Alder reaction of these compounds with Danishefsky’s diene was regioselective, and it provided an effective method for the construction of the heterocyclic skeleton of hexahydrodibenzo[b,d]furan-7-one or tetrahydrodibenzo[b,d]furan-7-one. The adducts were found to undergo rearrangement to substituted 4′-hydroxybiphenyl-2-yl methyl carbonates during column chromatography on silica gel.     

Stereocontrolled synthesis of kelsoene by the homo-favorskii rearrangement

[reaction: see text] (+/-)-Kelsoene (4) has been synthesized from 2,5-dihydroanisole in 16 steps in 12.5% overall yield. The key step involves a base-catalyzed reaction of gamma-keto tosylate (5), which effects a homo-Favorskii rearrangement to 16 as well as the corresponding intramolecular S(N)2 product 15 from the enolate of 5. Ketone 15 can efficiently be isomerized to cyclobutanone 17 having the kelsoene carbon skeleton upon acid treatment.     

Radical dearomatization of benzene leading to phenanthridine and phenanthridinone derivatives related to (±)-pancratistatin

The synthesis of the phenanthridinone nucleus common to the Amaryllidaceae series of natural products is achieved by a sequence involving tributylstannane-mediated, benzeneselenol-catalyzed addition of ortho-nitrogen functionalized aryl radicals to benzene, yielding aryl-substituted cyclohexadienes. These cyclohexadienes may be manipulated by oxidative ring closure sequences to generate functionalized phenanthridines. Beginning from 2-hydroxy-6-iodopiperonic acid a key intermediate in the Danishefsky synthesis of (±)-pancratistatin is achieved in two steps.     

Novel molecular rearrangements of 4-hydroxy-2-cyclopentenones

Novel rearrangements of hydroxycyclopentenone derivatives 1 and 24 to 7,9,11 and 31,33,35 are reported. The stereochemistry of the rearrangement is interpreted as the result of synchronous enolate induced [1.5]-sigmatropic rearrangement and stepwise addition-elimination process. Preparation of the various substrates and structural elucidation of new products are also described.     

Asymmetric synthesis of the AB ring system of lactonamycin

[reaction: see text] An enantiospecific synthesis of the AB fragment of lactonamycin (5) is achieved in eight steps from dimethyl D-tartrate. Ester enolate chemistry features prominently in the sequence.