Nucleophilic Cyclopropanation Reaction with Bis(iodozincio)methane by 1,4‐Addition to α,β‐Unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds

Treatment of α,β‐unsaturated ketones with an electrophilic site at the γ‐position in the presence of trimethylsilyl cyanide with bis(iodozincio)methane afforded the (Z)‐silyl enol ether of the β‐cyclopropyl substituted ketone in good yields. The reaction proceeds by 1,4‐addition to form an enolate, and its sequential intramolecular nucleophilic attack to an adjacent electrophilic site. The reaction of γ‐ethoxycarbonyl‐α,β‐unsaturated ketone and bis(iodozincio)methane in the presence of trimethylsilyl cyanide afforded 1‐ethoxy‐1‐trimethylsiloxycyclopropane derivatives, which can be regarded as the homoenolate equivalent. Additionally, reaction of the obtained homoenolate equivalents with imines give 1‐(E)‐alkenyl‐2‐(1‐aminoalkyl)alkanols diastereoselectively.     

Synthesis of β‐Keto Sulfones by a Catalyst‐Free Reaction of Aryldiazonium Tetrafluoroborates,Sulfur Dioxide,and Silyl Enol Ethers

A green approach for the generation of β‐keto sulfones through a reaction of aryldiazonium tetrafluoroborates and sulfur dioxide with silyl enol ether under catalyst‐ and additive‐free conditions has been realized. This reaction proceeds efficiently at room temperature and goes to completion in half an hour. During the reaction process, aryldiazonium tetrafluoroborate is treated with DABCO ⋅ (SO₂)₂ (DABCO=1,4‐diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane) to provide a sulfonyl radical as the key intermediate, which then initiates the transformation. Oxidants or metal catalysts are avoided, and the presence of DABCO also plays an important role in the reaction.     

Synthetic Studies on and Mechanistic Insight into [W(CO)5(L)]‐Catalyzed Stereoselective Construction of Functionalized Bicyclo[5.3.0]decane Frameworks

Stereoselective preparation of a variety of synthetically useful functionalized bicyclo[5.3.0]decane derivatives was achieved by tandem cyclization of 3‐siloxy‐1,3,9‐triene‐7‐yne derivatives based on the electrophilic activation of alkynes catalyzed by [W(CO)₅(L)]. The reaction proceeded smoothly under photoirradiation, and various substrates were cyclized to give the corresponding bicyclic compounds with up to four chiral centers stereospecifically. Reactions of siloxydienes with a silyl substituent as an equivalent of a hydroxyl group also proceeded with wide generality to afford silyl‐substituted bicyclo[5.3.0]decanes, which were highly useful as synthetic intermediates. Stereochemical studies concerning the silyl enol ether moiety suggested that two types of reaction pathway for the formation of seven‐membered rings were present. The reaction of (Z)‐enol silyl ethers proceeded through Cope rearrangement of cis‐divinylcyclopropane intermediates, and that of (E)‐enol silyl ethers by 1,4‐addition of the dienyl tungsten species at the position δ to the metal atom. In the reactions of siloxydiene derivatives with silyl substituents, all possible diastereomers could be synthesized stereoselectively by changing the geometry of the silyl enol ether and enyne moieties.     

Chiral Zinc(II)‐Catalyzed Enantioselective Tandem α‐Alkenyl Addition/Proton Shift Reaction of Silyl Enol Ethers with Ketimines

A new catalytic asymmetric tandem α‐alkenyl addition/proton shift reaction of silyl enol ethers with ketimines was serendipitously discovered in the presence of chiral N,N′‐dioxide/Zn^II complexes. The proton shift preferentially proceeded instead of a silyl shift after α‐alkenyl addition of silyl enol ether to the ketimine. A wide range of β‐amino silyl enol ethers were synthesized in high yields with good to excellent ee values. Control experiments suggest that the Mukaiyama–Mannich reaction and tandem α‐alkenyl addition/proton shift reaction are competitive reactions in the current catalytic system. The obtained β‐amino silyl enol ethers were easily transformed into β‐fluoroamines containing two vicinal tetrasubstituted carbon centers.     

Benzo‐Annulated Steroids: Synthesis of Octahydro‐indeno‐phenanthrenes by Formal [3+3] Cyclocondensation Reaction with 1,3‐Bis[(trimethylsilyl)oxy]buta‐1,3‐dienes

Octahydro‐indeno‐phenanthrenes, benzo‐annulated steroids, were prepared by formal [3+3] cyclocondensation reaction of 1,3‐bis[(trimethylsilyl)oxy]buta‐1,3‐dienes with the silyl enol ether of 16‐formylestrone methyl ether.     

Hydroarylation of 2‐Aryloxybut‐1‐en‐3‐ynes via Pd/Acid‐Catalyzed C−H Bond Activation: A Concise Synthesis of 2,3‐Bismethylene‐2,3‐dihydrobenzofurans

An intramolecular exo ‐hydroarylation of 2‐aryloxy‐1,4‐disilylbut‐1‐en‐3‐ynes via ortho ‐C−H bond activation under palladium(0) and acid catalysis was found to give 2,3‐bis(silylmethylidene)‐2,3‐dihydrobenzofurans. The two silyl groups present probably promoted the reaction and played a key role in stabilizing the diene moiety in the product. The products readily led to functionalized condensed cycles by a Diels–Alder reaction.     

Tandem Insertion–[1,3]‐Rearrangement: Highly Enantioselective Construction of α‐Aminoketones

An enantioselective synthesis of α‐aminoketone derivatives were readily available through a tandem insertion–[1,3] O‐to‐C rearrangement reaction. The rhodium salt and chiral N,N′‐dioxide‐indium(III) complex make up relay catalysis, which enables the O?H insertion of benzylic alcohols to N‐sulfonyl‐1,2,3‐triazoles, and asymmetric [1,3]‐rearrangement of amino enol ether intermediates, subsequently. Preliminary mechanistic studies suggested that the [1,3] O‐to‐C rearrangement step proceeded through an ion pair pathway.     

Rhodium‐Catalyzed Dehydrogenative Silylation of Acetophenone Derivatives: Formation of Silyl Enol Ethers versus Silyl Ethers

A series of rhodium–NSiN complexes (NSiN=bis (pyridine‐2‐yloxy)methylsilyl fac‐coordinated) is reported, including the solid‐state structures of [Rh(H)(Cl)(NSiN)(PCy₃)] (Cy=cyclohexane) and [Rh(H)(CF₃SO₃)(NSiN)(coe)] (coe=cis‐cyclooctene). The [Rh(H)(CF₃SO₃)(NSiN)(coe)]‐catalyzed reaction of acetophenone with silanes performed in an open system was studied. Interestingly, in most of the cases the formation of the corresponding silyl enol ether as major reaction product was observed. However, when the catalytic reactions were performed in closed systems, formation of the corresponding silyl ether was favored. Moreover, theoretical calculations on the reaction of [Rh(H)(CF₃SO₃)(NSiN)(coe)] with HSiMe₃ and acetophenone showed that formation of the silyl enol ether is kinetically favored, while the silyl ether is the thermodynamic product. The dehydrogenative silylation entails heterolytic cleavage of the Si?H bond by a metal–ligand cooperative mechanism as the rate‐determining step. Silyl transfer from a coordinated trimethylsilyltriflate molecule to the acetophenone followed by proton transfer from the activated acetophenone to the hydride ligand results in the formation of H₂ and the corresponding silyl enol ether.     

gem‐Dihalocyclopropanes as Building Blocks in Natural‐Product Synthesis: Enantioselective Total Syntheses of ent‐Erythramine and 3‐epi‐Erythramine

ent‐Erythramine ((?)‐ 1 ), the enantiomer of the alkaloid erythramine, was prepared in 15 steps from known compounds. The first of three pivotal bond‐forming steps in the synthesis was a Suzuki–Miyaura cross‐coupling reaction of the starting materials to give a bis‐silyl ether. The second involved silver(I)‐induced electrocyclic ring opening of the gem‐dichlorocyclopropane formed in the next step and trapping of the ensuing π‐allyl cation by the tethered nitrogen atom to give, following cleavage of the allyloxycarbonyl protecting group, an approximately 5:6 mixture of the chromatographically separable diastereoisomeric spirocyclic products. In the third critical bond‐forming reaction, the iodide formed from one of the diastereoisomers underwent a radical‐addition/elimination reaction sequence that led to (?)‐ 1 in 89 % yield. The application of the same sequence of transformations to the other diastereoisomer afforded 3‐epi‐(+)‐erythramine (3‐epi‐(+)‐ 1 ).     

Enantioselective Addition of Cyclic Enol Silyl Ethers to 2‐Alkenoyl‐Pyridine‐N‐Oxides Catalysed by CuII–Bis(oxazoline) Complexes

Asymmetric reactions involving (E)‐3‐aryl‐1‐(pyridin‐2‐yl‐N‐oxide)prop‐2‐en‐1‐ones and cyclic enol silyl ethers show good yields and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99.9 % ee) when catalysed by bis(oxazoline)–Cu^II complexes. Different reaction pathways can be followed by different enol silyl ethers: with 2‐(trimethylsilyloxy)furan, a Mukaiyama–Michael adduct is obtained, whereas a hetero Diels–Alder cycloadduct was formed by using (1,2‐dihydronaphthalen‐4‐yloxy)trimethylsilane. In the latter reaction, the absolute configuration of the product is consistent with a reagent approach to the less hindered Re face of the coordinated substrate in the reactive complex.     

Intramolecular Cooperative CC Bond Cleavage Reaction of 1,3‐Dicarbonyl Compounds with 2‐Iodoanilines to Give o‐(N‐Acylamino)aryl Ketones and Multisubstituted Indoles

A copper‐catalyzed C?C bond cleavage reaction of 1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds with 2‐iodoanilines was developed. In this process, the ortho effect played an important role in the reactivity and a new reaction pathway that involved a (2‐aminophenyl)‐bis‐(1,3‐dicarbonyl) copper species was clearly observed by a time‐course HRMS analysis of the reaction mixture. Unlike the previous reports, both the nucleophilic and electrophilic parts of the 1,3‐dicarbonyl compound were coupled with 2‐iodoaniline by C?C bond cleavage to form o‐(N‐acylamino)aryl ketones, which could be efficiently converted into multisubstituted indoles.     

Iridium(I)‐catalyzed C−H Borylation of α,β‐Unsaturated Esters with Bis(pinacolato)diboron

A new process has been developed for the iridium(I)‐catalyzed vinylic C?H borylation of α,β‐unsaturated esters with bis(pinacolato)diboron (B₂pin₂). These reactions proceeded in octane at temperatures in the range of 80–120 °C to afford the corresponding alkenylboronic compounds in high yields with excellent regio‐ and stereoselectivities. The presence of an aryl ester led to significant improvements in the yields of the acyclic alkenylboronates. Crossover experiments involving deuterated substrates as well as a mixture of stereoisomers confirmed that this reaction proceeds via a 1,4‐addition/β‐hydride elimination mechanism. Notably, this reaction was also used to develop a one‐pot borylation/Suzuki–Miyaura cross‐coupling procedure.     

Total Synthesis of 11‐Saxitoxinethanoic Acid and Evaluation of its Inhibitory Activity on Voltage‐Gated Sodium Channels

11‐Saxitoxinethanoic acid (SEA) is a member of the saxitoxin (STX) family of paralytic shellfish poisons, and contains an unusual C?C bond at the C11 position. Reported herein is a total synthesis of SEA. The key to our synthesis lies in a Mukaiyama aldol condensation reaction of silyl enol ether with glyoxylate in the presence of an anhydrous fluoride reagent, [Bu₄N][Ph₃SnF₂], which directly constructs the crucial C?C bond at the C11 position in SEA. The Na_VCh‐inhibitory activities of SEA and its derivatives were evaluated by means of cell‐based assay. SEA showed an IC₅₀ value of (47±12) nm , which is approximately twice as potent as decarbamoyl‐STX (dcSTX).     

Asymmetric Diels–Alder Reaction of α‐Substituted and β,β‐Disubstituted α,β‐Enals via Diarylprolinol Silyl Ether for the Construction of All‐Carbon Quaternary Stereocenters

The asymmetric Diels–Alder reaction of α‐substituted acrolein proceeds in the presence of the trifluoroacetic acid salt of trifluoromethyl‐substituted diarylprolinol silyl ether to afford the exo‐isomer with both excellent diastereoselectivity and high enantioselectivity. In the Diels–Alder reaction of a β,β‐disubstituted α,β‐unsaturated aldehyde, good exo‐selectivity and excellent enantioselectivity was obtained when the perchloric acid salt of the bulky triisopropyl silyl ether of trifluoromethyl substituted diarylprolinol was employed as an organocatalyst in the presence of water. In both cases, all‐carbon quaternary stereocenters are constructed enantioselectively.     

Interception of Cobalt‐Based Carbene Radicals with α‐Aminoalkyl Radicals: A Tandem Reaction for the Construction of β‐Ester‐γ‐amino Ketones

The interception of cobalt‐based carbene radicals with α‐aminoalkyl radicals was combined with the Kornblum–DeLaMare reaction and provides β‐ester‐γ‐amino ketones, which are otherwise difficult to obtain in high chemoselectivity. Mechanistically, this transformation is an interplay of cobalt‐based carbene radicals, organoradicals, and ionic intermediates and involves the construction of two C? C bonds and one C?O bond in a one‐pot process. The reaction also features a wide substrate scope and is highly efficient and insensitive to moisture and air.     

α‐d‐Glucofuranose and α‐d‐allofuranose diacetonides and silyl ether of α‐d‐glucofuranose diacetonide in dithiophosphorylation reactions

α‐d ‐Glucofuranose and α‐d ‐allofuranose diacetonides react with 2,4‐diorganyl 1,3,2,4‐dithiadiphosphetane‐2,4‐disulfides to form optically active dithiophosphonates in 78–81% yields, which are transformed into the corresponding ammonium salts in 90–97% yields by the treatment of n‐hexadecylamine. The S‐silyldithiophosphonate was prepared in 93% yield by the reaction of 2,4‐bis(butoxyphenyl) 1,3,2,4‐dithiadiphosphetane‐2,4‐disulfide with silyl ether of α‐d ‐glucofuranose diacetonide. One of the salts obtained possesses antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538‐P.     

Gold‐catalyzed Reactions of 3‐Alkynyloxireno[2, 3‐b]chromenones to Form 3(2H)‐Furanones via a Domino Pathway

3(2H)‐Furanones are efficiently generated from 3‐alkynyl oxireno[2,3‐b]chromenones by an Au/DDQ‐catalyzed domino reaction through a pathway composed of cyclization, C? C cleavage, nucleophilic addition, oxidation, and nucleophilic addition. It was found that stoichiometric AuCl₃ or catalytic Au with stoichiometric DDQ can oxidize the benzylic sp³ C? H bond to facilitate nucleophilic addition.     

Preparation of cis-2-aminocyclopropanol: [2+1] cycloaddition reaction of bis(iodozincio)methane with α-ketoimine

A reaction of α-ketoimine with bis(iodozincio)methane gave a cis-2-aminocyclopropanol derivative via [2+1] cycloaddition. The reaction proceeded via a sequential nucleophilic attack of bis(iodozincio)methane to a couple of carbonyl groups in the substrate, which was fixed into s-cis conformation with a couple of zinc atoms in the reagent. The reaction proceeded with high diastereoselectivity.     

Direct Synthesis of Benzofuro[2,3‐b]pyrroles through a Radical Addition/[3,3]‐Sigmatropic Rearrangement/Cyclization/Lactamization Cascade

A straightforward synthetic method for the construction of benzofuro[2,3‐b]pyrrol‐2‐ones by a novel domino reaction through a radical addition/[3,3]‐sigmatropic rearrangement/cyclization/lactamization cascade has been developed. The domino reaction of O‐phenyl‐conjugated oxime ether with an alkyl radical allows the construction of two heterocycles with three stereogenic centers as a result of the formation of two C?C bonds, a C?O bond, and a C?N bond in a single operation, leading to pyrrolidine‐fused dihydrobenzofurans, which are not easily accessible by existing synthetic methods. Furthermore, asymmetric synthesis of benzofuro[2,3‐b]pyrrol‐2‐one derivatives through a diastereoselective radical addition reaction to a chiral oxime ether was also developed.     

Umpolung Reactions of α‐Imino Esters: Useful Methods for the Preparation of α‐Amino Acid Frameworks

This paper summarizes our recent efforts toward the development of tandem reactions utilizing umpolung reactions of α‐imino esters. A highly diastereoselective tandem N‐alkylation–Mannich reaction of α‐imino esters was developed. A tandem N‐alkylation–addition reaction of α‐imino esters derived from ethyl glyoxylate with various aldehydes proceeded to give 1,2‐amino alcohols. The same reaction also proceeded efficiently using a novel flow system comprising two connected microreactors. Novel syntheses of α‐quaternary alkynyl amino esters and allenoates were developed through the use of umpolung N‐addition to β,γ‐alkynyl α‐imino esters, followed by regioselective acylation. In addition, a highly regioselective tandem N‐alkylation–vinylogous aldol reaction of β,γ‐alkenyl α‐imino esters was discovered. N‐Alkylation of α‐iminophosphonates followed by a Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons reaction with aldehydes occurred to afford enamines, which can be used in a four‐component coupling reaction with methyl vinyl ketone. α‐N‐Acyloxyimino esters served as highly efficient substrates for the N,N,C‐trialkylation reaction to introduce various nucleophiles at the imino nitrogen and carbon atoms.