rel-(1R,4R,5S)-5-hydroxy-3-oxo-2-azabicyclo[2.2.0]hexane,a stable synthetic equivalent of 4-(2-oxoethyl)azetidin-2-one

The title compound, a synthetic equivalent of 4-(2-oxoethyl)-azetidin-2-one, has been synthesized as a stable crystalline solid either from 4-($\text{t}$-butyldimethylsilyloxy)- or 4-benzyloxy-2-pyridone $\text{via}$ photopyridone formation, catalytic hydrogenation, and deblocking of the protecting group.     

(E)- and (Z)-1-benzenesulfonyl-4-trimethylsilyl-2-butenes as (E)-1-(1,3-butadienyl) synthons

(E)- and (Z)-1-benzenesulfonyl-4-trimethylsilyl-2-butenes (E/Z=9), prepared from 4-trimethylsilyl-1-buten-3-ol, $\text{n}$-butyllithium and benzenesulfenyl chloride and oxidation of the intermediate (E)- and (Z)-1-benzenesulfinyl-4-trimethylsilyl-2-butenes with hydrogen peroxide, react with $\text{n}$-butyllithium and then primary halides to give 4-benzenesulfonyl-1-trimethylsilyl-2-alkenes which are rapidly 1,4-debenzenesulfonyltrimethylsilated to (E)-1,3-alkadienes by tetra-$\text{n}$-butylammonium fluoride at O°C.     

S(1)-C(2)-secocephems

Preparation of acetylenic-S(1)-C(2)-secocephems from the reaction of Grignard reagents on $\text{cis}$-α-vinylhalo sulfoxides.     

Synthesis of trans-(3S,4S)-dibenzyloxycyclopentanone

The 1-cyano-1-thiophenylcyclopentone derivative $\text{1}$, obtained from (R,R)-(+)-tartaric acid, has been converted into a number of derivatives including the important $\text{trans}$-(3S,4S)-dibenzyloxycyclopentanone $\text{2}$ in 45% overall yield.     

Asymmetric allylsilane-mediated carbocyclization: A highly enantiospecific synthesis of (1S, 2S)-(+)-2-methyl-3-cyclopenten-1-ol

An enantiospecific synthesis of the title compound is described which involves the TiCl₄-promoted cyclization of the chiral allylic silane having formyl group, which was obtained via the Claisen rearrangement of ($\text{R}$, $\text{E}$)-1-trimethylsilyl-1-buten-3-ol.     

Photochemistry of N-aryl-2(1H)-pyrimidin-2-ones

Irradiation of N-aryl-2(1H)-pyrimidin-2-ones ($\text{3a}$-$\text{c}$) in a mixed benzene-alcohol solution afforded the products initiated by Type I cleavage, 1-(3-alkoxycarbonylamino-2-propene)-N-arylimines ($\text{4a}$-$\text{c}$, $\text{5}$, and $\text{6}$) in 45–51% yields.     

Highly stereocontrolled synthesis of (2e,4z)-dienic esters by alumina catalyst

Thermal treatment of β-allenic esters ($\text{2}$) with alumina catalyst in aprotic solvents yielded (2E,4Z)-dienoic esters ($\text{3}$) in 57-58% yield with 91-100% stereoselectivity.     

A synthetic approach to (+)-aldosterone and its relatives (2)- a stereoselective synthesis of (+)-trans-4,5-(4-methoxybenzo)- 1β , 7aβ - ( 2α-methoxymethyl- 5 -oxofuro) hydrindane

A stereoselectivity in an intramolecular cycloaddition of the olefinic $\text{o}$-quinodimethanes 13 and 23 generated $\text{in}$$\text{situ}$ from the thermolysis of optically active 4β-[2-(4-methoxybenzocyclobutenyl)ethyl] -5α-methoxymethyl-3-phenyl-thio-methylenefuran-2-ones 12 and 22, respectively, is studied and a stereoselective synthesis of (+)-$\text{trans}$-4,5-( 4-methoxybenzo) -1β,7aβ-(2α-methoxymethyl-5-oxofuro)hydrindane 1 is also described.     

A short and efficient synthesis of 4-hydroxy-5-(1-hydroxyalkyl)-γ-butyrolactones

The cycloaddition of α,β-epoxyaldehydes or ketones ($\text{2}$) with the ketene acetal MeHC=C(OMe)₂ ($\text{1}$) gives epoxyoxetanes ($\text{3}$) in high yields. Without isolation they can be transformed into 4-hydroxy-5-(1-hydroxyalkyl)-γ-butyrolactones ($\text{6}$) via the epoxy esters $\text{4}$ and trihydroxy esters ($\text{5}$). The lactones $\text{6}$ appear to be valuable precursors for the synthesis of 5-(1-hydroxyalkyl)-3-methyl-2-5H-furanones ($\text{7}$) and 3-methyl-5-ylidene-2-5H-furanones ($\text{8}$)     

Syntheses and thermal reactions of 2-alkyl(or aryl)-1-benzoyl-3,4-dihydro-2-thianaphthalenes

1-Benzoyl-2-methy1-3,4-dihydro-2-thianaphthalene ($\text{4a}$) underwent novel intermolecular 1,4-rearrangement in refluxing toluene to give an enol ether $\text{5a}$, while rearrangement of 2-phenyl derivative $\text{4e}$ proceeded intramolecularly in refluxing xylene to afford a 1,4-rearranged enol ether $\text{5b}$. On the other hand, ylides $\text{4a–e}$ were refluxed in alcohols to afford some ring-opened products $\text{10–12}$.     

(4+2)-cycloaddition of nitroalkenes with ynamines; formation of a 4H-1,2-oxazine 2-oxide derivative

The formation of a thermally unstable (4+2)-cycloadduct, a 4H-1,2-oxazine 2-oxide derivative ($\text{1}$), from the reaction of 1-nitrocyclopentene with 1-phenyl-2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)acetylene has been proven by the structure elucidation of isoxazole derivative $\text{3}$ which results from thermal rearrangement and by the structure determination of the 1,3-dipolar adducts $\text{5}$ of $\text{1}$ with electron-deficient acetylenes.     

An asymmetric synthesis of cis-4-t-butyldimethylsiloxy-2-cyclopenten-1-ol and cis-4-tetrahydropyranyloxy-2-cyclopenten-1-ol,versatile chiral synthetic intermediate for prostanoids

cis-4-t-Butyldimethylsiloxy-2-cyclopenten-1-ol and cis-4-tetrahydropyranyloxy-2-cyclopenten-1-ol were obtained with high enantiomeric excesses (ee) by the reaction of cis-3,4-epoxycyclopentan-1-ol derivatives with chiral lithium amide. An application to the syntheses of both ($\text{S}$)- and ($\text{R}$)-4-hydroxy-2-cyclopentenone was demonstrated.     

Synthesis of 2-isopropylfuro(2,3-b)quinolines-a new synthesis of (±)-lunacrine, (±)-lunasine and (±)-demethoxylunacrine

A new and convenient synthesis of 2-isopropylfuro-(2,3-b)quinolines ($\text{4}$) from 3-(3-methylbut-1-enyl)-2-quinolones ($\text{2}$) is described. A neat synthesis of the alkaloids (±)-lunacrine ($\text{1a}$), (±)-lunasine ($\text{12a}$) and (±)-demethoxylunacrine ($\text{1b}$) is also reported.     

Regioselective synthesis of 4-alkylquinolines from quinoline via 1-ethoxycarbonyl-1, 2-dihydroquinoline-2-phosphonates

1-Ehtoxycarbonyl-1, 2-dihydroquinoline-2-phosphonates ($\text{3}$) were treated with n-butyllithium followed by alkyl halides to afford the corresponding 4-alkylated phosphonates ($\text{7}$) with complete regioselectivity in 67–97% yields. The phosphonates ($\text{7}$) were converted to 4-alkylquinolines ($\text{8}$) in ca. 50% yields by treatment with sodium iodide in HMPA or by alkaline hydrolysis in aqueous ethanol.     

Enantioselective synthesis of C3-C10 fragment (northeastern zone) of maytansinoids with 4-chiral centers (4S,5S,6R,7S)

The major precursor to the maytansinoids containing 4 non-racemic chiral centers has been prepared in gram quantities, suitable for further synthesis. The route to (+)-$\text{1}$ was accomplished in 13 steps including several highly stereocontrolled reactions which precluded resolutions or separations.