A Pd‐Catalyzed Synthesis of Functionalized Piperidines

A readily available cyclic carbamate 1 functions as a general precursor to a range of functionalized piperidine products via a new Pd‐catalyzed annulation strategy. An asymmetric catalytic variant provides a rapid and efficient means to access these heterocycles with high to excellent levels of enantiocontrol. Finally, these richly functionalized compounds are amenable to further chemoselective elaboration.     

Pd‐Catalyzed Carboamination of Alkylidenecyclopropanes: Synthesis of Congested Pyrrolidines and Piperidines

The synthesis of densely functionalized N‐heterocycles is an ongoing challenge in chemical synthesis. Herein, we report an efficient method for the construction of pyrrolidine and piperidine scaffolds using a palladium‐catalyzed carboamination of alkylidenecyclopropanes.     

Convenient Pd‐Catalyzed Synthesis of Large Unimolecular Star Polyethylene Nanoparticles

A simplistic convenient “arm‐first” catalytic synthesis method is demonstrated to render soft unimolecular star polyethylene nanoparticles. Low‐dispersity polyethylene arms of controllable length and topology are first synthesized via Pd‐catalyzed “living” ethylene poly­merization. The subsequent addition of norbornadiene as a unique cross‐linker renders the block polymer containing a short polynorbornadiene (PNBD) sequence. Efficient and rapid catalytic cross‐linking of the PNBD sequences occurs in the polymer precipitation and drying steps to give rise to star polyethylene nanoparticles. The star polymers are featured with tunable arm length and topology, high molecular weight (as high as 1770 kg mol⁻¹), high arm numbers (as high as 88), and desirable average nano­particle size (29−72 nm).

     

Regio‐ and Enantioselective Synthesis of N‐Allylindoles by Iridium‐Catalyzed Allylic Amination/Transition‐Metal‐Catalyzed Cyclization Reactions

Regio‐ and enantioselective synthesis of N‐allylindoles was realized through an iridium‐catalyzed asymmetric allylic amination reaction with 2‐alkynylanilines and subsequent transition‐metal‐catalyzed cyclization reactions. The highly enantioenriched allylic amines prepared from Ir‐catalysis were treated with catalytic amount of NaAuCl₄ ? 2 H₂O or PdCl₂ providing various substituted N‐allylindoles in excellent yields and enantioselectivities.     

Development and Elucidation of a Pd‐Based Cyclization–Oxygenation Sequence for Natural Product Synthesis

Pd‐catalyzed sequences involving oxidative addition, cyclization, and termination through intermolecular nucleophile capture have tremendous utility. Indeed, they can generate a plethora of different polycyclic structures possessing a diverse range of functionality. However, one area of deficiency for Pd⁰/Pd^II variants is the ability to conclude them with oxygen‐based species. Inspired by the recent discovery of one such reaction in the course of a total synthesis program, we delineate herein that it has significant strength, both in terms of substrate scope as well as the terminating oxygen nucleophile. As a result, the reaction proved critical in achieving total syntheses of two oxygenated natural products, one of which was prone to over‐oxidation. Finally, a mechanistic proposal that accounts for its success is provided.     

Phosphine‐Catalyzed Domino Reactions: A Route to Functionalized Bicyclic Skeletons

A novel strategy that involves phosphine‐catalyzed sequential [2+3] and [3+2] annulation reactions was developed. In this domino reaction, γ‐substituted allenoates were used as novel C₄ synthons, and the bicyclic cyclopenta[b]dihydrofuran derivatives were produced in good to excellent diastereoselectivities and yields under mild conditions. Furthermore, preliminary studies on an asymmetric variant of this reaction proceeded with moderate enantioselectivity.     

Rhodium(I)‐Catalyzed Benzannulation of Heteroaryl Propargylic Esters: Synthesis of Indoles and Related Heterocycles

A de novo synthesis of a benzene ring allows for the preparation of a diverse range of heterocycles including indoles, benzofurans, benzothiophenes, carbazoles, and dibenzofurans from simple heteroaryl propargylic esters using a unified carbonylative benzannulation strategy. Multiple substituents can be easily introduced to the C4–C7 positions of indoles and related heterocycles.     

Enantioselective Synthesis of Multisubstituted Allenes by Cooperative Cu/Pd‐Catalyzed 1,4‐Arylboration of 1,3‐Enynes

A cooperative Cu/Pd‐catalyzed enantioselective synthesis of multisubstituted allenes is established. By employing chiral sulfoxide phosphine (SOP)/Cu and PdCl₂(dppf) complexes as catalysts, the 1,4‐arylboration of 1,3‐enynes provides an efficient approach to trisubstituted chiral allenes with up to 92 % yield and 97:3 er. Furthermore, by using 2‐substituted 1,3‐enynes as substrates, the tetrasubstituted chiral allenes were successfully generated using this strategy. Finally, theoretical calculations indicate that the transmetallation of the allenylcopper species is the rate‐limiting step of this transformation.     

Enantioselective Synthesis of Allylboronates and Allylic Alcohols by Copper‐Catalyzed 1,6‐Boration

Chiral secondary allylboronates are obtained in high enantioselectivities and 1,6:1,4 ratios by the copper‐catalyzed 1,6‐boration of electron‐deficient dienes with bis(pinacolato)diboron (B₂(pin)₂). The reactions proceed efficiently using catalyst loadings as low as 0.0049 mol %. The allylboronates may be oxidized to the allylic alcohols, and can be used in stereoselective aldehyde allylborations. This process was applied to a concise synthesis of atorvastatin, in which the key 1,6‐boration was performed using only a 0.02 mol % catalyst loading.     

Formal Total Synthesis of (−)‐Taxol through Pd‐Catalyzed Eight‐Membered Carbocyclic Ring Formation

A formal total synthesis of (?)‐taxol by a convergent approach utilizing Pd‐catalyzed intramolecular alkenylation is described. Formation of the eight‐membered carbocyclic ring has been a problem in the convergent total synthesis of taxol but it was solved by the Pd‐catalyzed intramolecular alkenylation of a methyl ketone affording the cyclized product in excellent yield (97 %), indicating the high efficiency of the Pd‐catalyzed intramolecular alkenylation. Rearrangement of the epoxy benzyl ether through a 1,5‐hydride shift, generating the C3 stereogenic center and subsequently forming the C1–C2 benzylidene, was discovered and utilized in the preparation of a substrate for the Pd‐catalyzed reaction.     

Gold(I)‐Catalyzed Highly Diastereo‐ and Enantioselective Cyclization–[4+3] Annulation Cascades between 2‐(1‐Alkynyl)‐2‐alken‐1‐ones and Anthranils

This work reports gold‐catalyzed [4+3]‐annulations of 2‐(1‐alkynyl)‐2‐alken‐1‐ones with anthranils to yield epoxybenzoazepine products with excellent exo‐diastereoselectivity (dr>25:1). The utility of this new gold catalysis is manifested by applicable substrates over a broad scope. More importantly, the enantioselective versions of these [4+3]‐cycloadditions have been developed satisfactorily with chiral gold catalysts under ambient conditions (DCM, 0 °C); the ee levels range from 88.0–99.9 %. With DFT calculations, we postulate a stepwise pathway to rationalize the preferable exo‐stereoselection.     

Stereoselective Synthesis of Piperidines by Iridium‐Catalyzed Cyclocondensation

An iridium‐catalyzed cyclocondensation of amino alcohols and aldehydes is reported. Intramolecular allylic substitution by an enamine intermediate and subsequent in situ reduction furnishes 3,4‐disubstituted piperidines with high enantiospecificity and good diastereoselectivity. The modular approach and the broad functional group tolerance provide access to diverse piperidine derivatives, which were further functionalized to give a versatile set of products.