Oxindole Synthesis by Direct Coupling of C?H and C?H Centers

An sp ² /sp ³ get‐together : A novel and efficient method can be used to synthesize 3,3‐disubstitued oxindoles by the direct intramolecular oxidative coupling of an aryl C? H and a C? H center (see scheme; DMF=N,N‐dimethylformamide).

     

1‐(2′‐Anilinyl)prop‐2‐yn‐1‐ol Rearrangement for Oxindole Synthesis

A synthetic method that relies on NIS (N‐iodosuccinimide)‐mediated cycloisomerization reactions of 1‐(2′‐anilinyl)prop‐2‐yn‐1‐ols to gem‐3‐(diiodomethyl)indolin‐2‐ones and 2‐(iodomethylene)indolin‐3‐ones has been developed. The reactions were shown to be chemoselective, with secondary and tertiary alcoholic substrates exclusively giving the 3‐ and 2‐oxindole products, respectively. In the case of the latter, the transformation features an unprecedented double 1,2‐OH and 1,2‐alkyl migration relay. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations based on proposed iodoaminocyclization species provide insight into this unique divergence in product selectivity.     

First radical addition onto ketenimines: a novel synthesis of indoles

A novel radical-mediated synthesis of 2-alkyl indoles is described. The method is a nonchain process based on the intramolecular addition of benzylic radicals onto the central carbon atom of a ketenimine function, resulting in a 5-exo-dig cyclization.     

Tethered α-boryl radical cyclizations of haloalkyl boronates

Boroalkyl radicals readily cyclize onto alkenyl and alkynyl traps tethered via a C---B---O linkage. Oxidative cleavage of the C---B bond of the temporary connection following cyclization affords 1,3-diols in good yields.     

Copper‐Catalyzed Difunctionalization of Activated Alkynes by Radical Oxidation–Tandem Cyclization/Dearomatization to Synthesize 3‐Trifluoromethyl Spiro[4.5]trienones

A copper‐catalyzed difunctionalizing trifluoromethylation of activated alkynes with the cheap reagent sodium trifluoromethanesulfinate (NaSO₂CF₃ or Langlois’ reagent) has been developed incorporating a tandem cyclization/dearomatization process. This strategy affords a straightforward route to synthesis of 3‐(trifluoromethyl)‐spiro[4.5]trienones, and presents an example of difunctionalization of alkynes for simultaneous formation of two carbon–carbon single bonds and one carbon–oxygen double bond.     

Titanocene-catalyzed cascade cyclization of epoxypolyprenes: straightforward synthesis of terpenoids by free-radical chemistry

The titanocene-catalyzed cascade cyclization of epoxypolyenes, which are easily prepared from commercially available polyprenoids, has proven to be a useful procedure for the synthesis of C(10), C(15), C(20), and C(30) terpenoids, including monocyclic, bicyclic, and tricyclic natural products. Both theoretical and experimental evidence suggests that this cyclization takes place in a nonconcerted fashion via discrete carbon-centered radicals. Nevertheless, the termination step of the process seems to be subjected to a kind of water-dependent control, which is unusual in free-radical chemistry. The catalytic cycle is based on the use of the novel combination Me(3)SiCl/2,4,6-collidine to regenerate the titanocene catalyst. In practice this procedure has several advantages: it takes place at room temperature under mild conditions compatible with different functional groups, uses inexpensive reagents, and its end step can easily be controlled to give exocyclic double bonds by simply excluding water from the medium.     

Synthesis of substituted quinolines by the electrophilic cyclization of n-(2-alkynyl)anilines

A wide variety of substituted quinolines are readily synthesized under mild reaction conditions by the 6-endo-dig electrophilic cyclization of N-(2-alkynyl)anilines by ICl, I₂, Br₂, PhSeBr, and p-O₂NC₆H₄SCl. The reaction affords 3-halogen-, selenium- and sulfur-containing quinolines in moderate to good yields in the presence of various functional groups. Analogous quinolines bearing a hydrogen in the 3-position have been synthesized by the Hg(OTf)₂-catalyzed ring closure of these same alkynylanilines.     

Copper‐Catalyzed Double Additions and Radical Cyclization Cascades in the Re‐Engineering of the Antibacterial Pleuromutilin

A general synthetic sequence involving simply prepared starting materials provides rapid access to diverse, novel tricyclic architectures inspired by pleuromutilin. Sm^II‐mediated radical cyclization cascades of dialdehydes, prepared using a new, one‐pot, copper‐catalyzed double organomagnesium addition to β‐chlorocyclohexenone, proceed with complete sequence selectivity and typically with high diastereocontrol to give analogues of the target core. Our expedient approach (ca. 7 steps) allows non‐traditional, de novo synthetic access to analogues of the important antibacterial that can′t be prepared from the natural product by semisynthesis.     

Highly Functionalized Cyclopentane Derivatives by Tandem Michael Addition/Radical Cyclization/Oxygenation Reactions

Densely functionalized cyclopentane derivatives with up to four consecutive stereocenters are assembled by a tandem Michael addition/single‐electron transfer oxidation/radical cyclization/oxygenation strategy mediated by ferrocenium hexafluorophosphate, a recyclable, less toxic single‐electron transfer oxidant. Ester enolates were coupled with α‐benzylidene and α‐alkylidene β‐dicarbonyl compounds with switchable diastereoselectivity. This pivotal steering element subsequently controls the diastereoselectivity of the radical cyclization step. The substitution pattern of the radical cyclization acceptor enables a switch of the cyclization mode from a 5‐exo pattern for terminally substituted olefin units to a 6‐endo mode for internally substituted acceptors. The oxidative anionic/radical strategy also allows efficient termination by oxygenation with the free radical 2,2,6,6‐tetramethyl‐1‐piperidinoxyl, and two C?C bonds and one C?O bond are thus formed in the sequence. A stereochemical model is proposed that accounts for all of the experimental results and allows the prediction of the stereochemical outcome. Further transformations of the synthesized cyclopentanes are reported.