Rhodium-catalyzed formylation of organomercurials: application to efficient polyol synthesis

The rhodium-catalyzed formylation of organomercurials-a new transformation of organomercurials-is reported. The addition of 0.50 equiv of 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) was found to promote the reaction, and it is postulated that the DABCO acts as a ligand for mercury. Several examples are presented to document the scope of the reaction. This reaction was developed in the context of a larger program focused on the development of efficient strategies for the synthesis of polyol-derived natural products, and an efficient (8 steps) synthesis of Tolypothrix pentaether that employs this methodology is reported.     

Novel synthesis of L-ribose from D-mannono-1,4-lactone

[reaction: see text] D-Mannono-1,4-lactone was efficiently converted into L-ribose in eight steps. A key step of this synthesis is the cyclization of a gamma-hydroxyalkoxamate under Mitsunobu conditions. It is noteworthy that the O-alkylation product was obtained in 94% yield and that none of the N-alkylation product was detected in this cyclization.     

Electroreductive synthesis of 1-(bromobenzyl)-isoquinoline derivatives and its application to cularine synthesis

Electrochemical reduction of immonium salts in the presence of bromobenzylbromide derivatives gave 1-(bromobenzyl)-isoquinoline derivatives in moderate yields. This reaction is useful in the synthesis of several natural alkaloids as exemplified in the synthesis of Cularine.     

One-pot synthesis of 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles from nitrobenzenes

A facile synthesis of 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles was achieved from nitrobenzenes and terminal alkynes under mild conditions. The reactions were successful for nitrobenzenes and terminal alkynes bearing various functionalities, from which the 1,2,3-triazole derivatives were smoothly synthesized through a four-step one-pot sequence.     

Electroreductive intramolecular coupling of 1-indolealkanones

The electroreduction of 1-indolealkanones in isopropanol gave five-, six-, and seven-membered trans-cyclized products stereospecifically. On the other hand, the electroreduction of 3-methoxycarbonyl-1-indolealkanones afforded mixtures of two diastereomers of the corresponding trans- and cis-cyclized products. The DFT calculations for the radical anions support that the reductive couplings of 1-indolealkanones and 3-methoxycarbonyl-1-indolealkanones proceed through different reaction mechanisms.     

New synthesis of estradiol from androsta-1,4-diene-3,17-dione

A new method for the aromatization of ring A in androsta-1,4-diene-3,17-dione, available from sterols by means of the microbiological degradation of the side chain, was developed. The method consists of the reduction of androsta-1,4-diene-3,17-dione to the corresponding dienediol followed by double C,O-deprotonation of ring A, accompanied by expulsion of the 19-methyl group and formation of estradiol in a high yield. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 3, pp. 599–601, March, 1999.     

Electroreductive acylation of aromatic imines with acylimidazoles

The intermolecular reductive coupling of aromatic imines with acylimidazoles was effected by electroreduction in the presence of chlorotrimethylsilane and gave α-amino-α-aryl ketones. This method was also effective for the synthesis of α-amino-α-aryl esters using methoxycarbonylimidazole as an electrophile.     

Electroreductive cleavage of carbon-sulphur bonds in dithioacetals

The carbon-sulphur bond in aliphatic diphenyldithio-acetals, α-carbonyldiphenyldithioacetals and α-carbonylketene dimethyldithioacetals can be cleaved cathodlcally on mercury (Hg) or glassy carbon (GC) electrodes.In the presence of tetra-butylammoniumhydrogensulphate (TBAHSO₄) as a proton donor one thio-phenyl- respectively thiomethyl group is substituted by hydrogen to provide the corresponding phenylthioethers (phenylthiomethyl) ketones or methylthiovinylketones in very good yields. At a Hg cathode the electroreduction of α-carbonyldiphenyldi-thioacetals is self-catalyzed.     

Electroreductive intramolecular coupling of phthalimides with aromatic aldehydes: application to the synthesis of lennoxamine

The electroreductive intramolecular coupling of phthalimides with aromatic aldehydes in the presence of chlorotrimethylsilane and triethylamine led to five-, six-, and seven-membered cyclized products (58-84%). The electroreductive cyclization was applied to the total synthesis of lennoxamine.     

Efficient stereodivergent synthesis of 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-iminohexitols from an (S)-glyceraldimine

A stereodivergent synthesis of 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-d-mannitol I and d-allitol III from an (S)-glyceraldimine, which is easily prepared from d-mannitol, has been achieved with overall yields of 62% and 49%, respectively. The synthesis is based on the addition of vinylmagnesium bromide to N-benzylimine 1, derived from readily available (R)-2,3-O-isopropylideneglyceraldehyde, followed by N-allylation or N-acryloylation, ring-closing metathesis and asymmetric dihydroxylation.     

One-pot synthesis of substituted 1,3-benzothiazole and 1,4-benzothiazinone from dibromonitroacrylates

Alkyl 2,3-dibromo-3-nitroacrylates reacted with 2-aminobenzenethiol at 18–20°C in benzene to give alkyl 1,3-benzothiazole-2-carboxylates, whereas in glacial acetic acid 2-nitromethylidene-2H-1,4-benzothiazin-3(4H)-one was obtained.     

Novel synthesis of 2,3-diarylbuta-1,3-dienes from 1,4-dimethoxybutyne-2

It was found that 2,3-diarylbuta-1,3-dienes were readily obtained in good to excellent yields through the S_N-2′ type substitution of 1,4-dimethoxybutyne-2 with aryl Grignard reagents in the presence of a copper(I) salt.