Rapid Access to Substituted Indenones through Grignard Reaction and Its Application in the Synthesis of Fluorenones Using Ring Closing Metathesis

An efficient, one-step method has been used to access a variety of substituted indenones in a regiospecific manner by Grignard addition to indene-1,3-dione. This method provides straightforward access to natural products such as neo-lignans and isoampelopsin D analogues. Moreover, diallyl indenones have been synthesized and employed as ring-closing metathesis (RCM) precursors for the facile synthesis of substituted fluorenone derivatives through an RCM-aromatization sequence.     

Diastereoselective synthesis of highly substituted polycyclic scaffolds via a one-pot four-step tandem catalytic process

A rapid and diastereoselective synthesis of highly substituted aminobicyclo[4.3.0]nonanes and bicyclo[4.4.0]decanes from alkyne derived allylic alcohols has been developed using a one-pot multi-bond forming tandem catalytic process. Overman rearrangement of the allylic trichloroacetimidates was followed by a ring closing enyne metathesis/cross metathesis sequence of reactions, in which both steps were catalysed by Grubbs second generation catalyst. The resulting exo-diene was then subjected to a hydrogen bonding directed Diels–Alder reaction forming an endo-adduct as a single diastereomer. Variation of the cross metathesis partner and dienophile allowed examination of the scope of this one-pot process and the preparation of a diverse series of highly substituted polycyclic scaffolds.     

Sequential isomerization and ring-closing metathesis: masked styryl and vinyloxyaryl groups for the synthesis of benzo-fused heterocycles

The use of an aryl allyl ether and an arylallyl group as masked vinyl ether and 1-propenylphenyl groups for ring-closing metathesis (RCM) leading to the synthesis of benzo-fused heterocycles was demonstrated by using a ruthenium-mediated isomerization followed by a ruthenium-mediated RCM reaction. This resulted in the syntheses of a variety of products including two substituted benzo[1,4]dioxins, a naphtho[2,3-b][1,4]dioxin, a 2H-chromene and a benzo[b]furan.     

Facile synthesis of versatile functionalized amino caprolactams using RCM reactions of α-amino acrylamide

We report an efficient synthetic methodology allowing access to functionalized α-amino caprolactams using ring-closing metathesis (RCM). A very high tolerance of α-amino acrylamide RCM precursors toward functional groups is demonstrated. The synthetic pathway is facile, and can be extended to prepare a variety of substituted amino caprolactams in good to excellent yields. These compounds serve as versatile building blocks for the synthesis of some important natural products and their analogues.     

A metathesis-based approach to the synthesis of 2-pyridones and pyridines

The ring-closing metathesis reaction has been successfully employed to form a range of dihydropyridone intermediates, which are in the correct oxidation state to undergo a base-induced elimination to reveal the aromatic 2-pyridone. This mild and novel approach to six-membered heteroaromatic compounds then provides access to a wide variety of substituted pyridines in excellent overall yield.     

Heteroaromatic annulation studies on 2-[bis(methylthio)methylene]-1,3-indanedione: efficient routes to indenofused heterocycles

2-[Bis(methylthio)methylene]-1,3-indanedione has been shown to be a useful three carbon 1,3-dielectrophilic synthon for the highly efficient regiospecific synthesis of a variety of indenofused five- and six-membered heterocycles via heteroaromatic annulation. The methodology has been further elaborated to the corresponding N,S-acetals leading to amino substituted heterocycles, thus providing further point of diversity in the newly synthesized heterocyclic frameworks. Further, the facile access to cytotoxic indeno[2,1-c]quinolin-7-ones and the novel polycyclic heteroaromatics demonstrates the versatility of heteroaromatic annulation protocol via α-oxoketene-S,S-acetal in generating novel biologically important polycyclic heteroaromatics.     

Enyne ring-closing metathesis on heteroaromatic cations

Cationic heteroaromatic enynes have been employed as substrates in enyne ring-closing metathesis, under an atmosphere of ethylene and using the Hoveyda-Grubbs catalyst, for the first time; the reaction affords new 1-vinyl- and 2-vinyl-substituted 3,4-dihydroquinolizinium salts, useful precursors for biologically relevant cations based on the quinolinizium system.     

Palladium-catalyzed coupling of N-tosylhydrazones with ortho substituted aryl halides: synthesis of 4-arylchromenes and related heterocycles

A convenient and efficient procedure for the synthesis of 4-arylchromenes, thiochromenes, and related heterocycles via a four step-sequence has been developed. The first three steps, which involve hydration of alkynes, hydrazones formation, and their Pd-coupling with ortho substituted aryl halides, furnished stereoselectively Z-trisubstituted olefins without any purification of the intermediates generated in each stage. These latter proved to be suitable precursors, in the last step, for the synthesis of the desired heterocycles of biological interest.     

The first total synthesis of the novel triquinane natural products pleurotellol and pleurotellic acid

The first total synthesis of the triquinane based sesquiterpenoid antibiotics (±)-pleurotellol and (±)-pleurotellic acid isolated from the fermentation broth of Pleurotellus hypnophilus have been accomplished. The triquinane based bis-enone system obtained via photo-thermal metathesis in a caged pentacyclic dione has been elaborated to the natural products through carefully crafted functional group transformations.     

An efficient synthesis of fused tricycles with a benzene core via intramolecular double ring-closing enyne metathesis

A double enyne metathesis reaction has been developed for the efficient synthesis of tricyclic products with a benzene core in good yields. By this protocol, bisannulated benzenes with different ring sizes may be simultaneously constructed from the corresponding precursors in just ‘one shot’.     

A diversity oriented synthesis of d-erythro-sphingosine and siblings

An efficient building block-based synthetic protocol has been developed for the synthesis of 3-ketosphingoids with various chain lengths using cross metathesis of a Garner’s aldehyde-derived α,β-unsaturated ketone as the key step. Stereoselective reduction of the biomimetic precursors thus obtained provided d-erythro-sphingosine and truncated anaogues in good overall yields.     

Construction of carbocyclic ring of indoles using ruthenium-catalyzed ring-closing olefin metathesis

The selective synthesis of substituted indoles was achieved by the ring-closing olefin metathesis (RCM)/elimination sequence or the RCM/tautomerization sequence of functionalized pyrrole precursors. The RCM/elimination sequence was also applied to double ring closure to yield a substituted carbazole.     

Room-temperature synthesis of pharmaceutically important carboxylic acids bearing the 1,2,4-oxadiazole moiety

An efficient and mild one-pot protocol has been developed for the synthesis of 1,2,4-oxadiazoles via the reaction of amidoximes with dicarboxylic acid anhydrides in a NaOH/DMSO medium. The method allows the synthesis of diversely substituted carboxylic acids bearing the 1,2,4-oxadiazole motif, – a popular building block for pharmaceutical research, in moderate to excellent yields. The reaction scope includes aromatic and heteroaromatic amidoximes as well as five-, six- and seven-membered anhydrides. The advantages of this procedure are proven gram-scalability and the use of inexpensive starting materials, which from a process chemistry point of view are essential for future industrial applications.     

Concise Stereoselective Synthesis of Oxaspirocycles with 1‐Tosyl‐1,2,3‐triazoles: Application to the Total Syntheses of (±)‐Tuberostemospiroline and (±)‐Stemona‐lactam R

A 4‐substituted‐1‐tosyl‐1,2,3‐triazole‐based stereoselective synthesis of structurally diverse oxaspirocycles is reported. The synthesis involves Rh‐catalyzed loss of nitrogen from 4‐substituted‐1‐tosyl‐1,2,3‐triazoles, Grignard reaction, and a ring‐closing metathesis reaction as key steps. By employing readily available and stable 4‐substituted‐1‐tosyl‐1,2,3‐triazoles as surrogates of diazo compounds and nitrogen sources, two types of oxaspirocycles were obtained. The latter compounds, which contain adjacent nitrogen stereocenters, could serve as the core structures of many natural products. This chemistry has been successfully applied to the total syntheses of (±)‐tuberostemospiroline and (±)‐stemona‐lactam R.     

Sonogashira cross-coupling reaction of organotellurium dichlorides with terminal alkynes

The Sonogashira cross-coupling reaction of vinylic and heteroaromatic tellurium dichlorides has been explored, yielding the corresponding enynes and 2-alkynyl substituted heteroaromatic compounds. The reaction was carried out with PdCl₂/CuI as catalysts and triethylamine as base, using methanol as solvent. The reaction proceeded under mild conditions and the cross-coupled products were obtained in good yields and in a stereoconservative manner.     

Regioselective synthesis of syn disubstituted dibenzo-30-crown-10 ethers

A practical and regioselective synthetic method for the synthesis of syn substituted dibenzo-30-crown-10 ethers is reported. This novel methodology is reported with the syntheses of dibenzo crown ethers bearing nitro, formyl and carbomethoxy groups. The synthesis of macrocyclization precursors was accomplished in three steps and featured an application of para-methoxybenzyl group (PMB) as protecting group of phenol moiety that is orthogonal to NO₂, CHO and COOMe groups. General non-high dilution macrocyclization conditions have been developed that allow for the effective preparation of substituted large crown ethers.     

Concise preparation of 2,2-difluorohomopropargyl carbonyl derivatives. Application to the synthesis of 4,4-difluoroisoquinolinone congeners

A scalable synthesis of 2,2-difluorohomopropargyl esters was achieved using a magnesium-promoted Barbier reaction of substituted difluoropropargyl bromides with alkyl chloroformates. These 2,2-difluorohomopropargyl esters were effective precursors in the synthesis of homopropargylic amides-by aminolysis using AlMe3, as well as of ketones-through the reaction of the corresponding Weinreb amides with Grignard reagents. Ring closing metathesis using difluorinated 1,7-enyne carbonyl compounds furnished six-membered diene products, which were used as susbstrates in a Diels-Alder reaction to afford 4,4-difluoroisoquinolin-3-ones. The [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition of alkynes with fluorinated 1,7-diyne amides gave 4,4-difluoro-1,4-dihydro-3(2H)-isoquinolinone derivatives regioselectively.     

Catalytic trifluoromethylation of aldehyde and potential application for pyrano[4,3-b]quionline synthesis

We have described CsF-catalyzed trifluoromethylation of heteroaromatic aldehydes at room temperature to afford trifluoromethyl group containing alcohols in very good yields. Using catalytic amount of CsF (0.2?eq.) in toluene, trifluoromethylated products were achieved in good yields at rt. The substrate scope has been exemplified by a large number of substrates. As an application, iodo etherification/cyclization has also been demonstrated for the synthesis of trifluoromethyl pyrano[4,3-b]quinoline from o-alkynyltrifluoro methyl alcohol, in very good yield.     

Diversity-oriented approach to biologically relevant molecular frameworks starting with beta-naphthol and using the Claisen rearrangement and olefin metathesis as key steps

A diversity-oriented approach for the synthesis of various structurally different molecular frameworks from readily accessible and common precursors is described. A Claisen rearrangement followed by ring-closing metathesis or ethylene-promoted ring-closing enyne metathesis has been utilized as the key synthetic transformation to generate naphthoxepine derivatives. The ring-closing metathesis approach has also been used to generate spirocyclic compounds and the pleiadene framework.     

Enantioselective total synthesis of iso-cladospolide B, cladospolide C and cladospolide B from tartaric acid

The enantioselective synthesis of the natural products cladospolide B, cladospolide C, and iso-cladospolide B has been accomplished from tartaric acid. Key reactions in the synthetic sequence include the elaboration of a γ-hydroxy amide derived from tartaric acid via alkene cross metathesis, Yamaguchi lactonization, and ring closing metathesis.