Enantiocontrolled Total Synthesis of (−)‐Mersicarpine

A racemic synthesis of mersicarpine ( 1 ) was achieved by the Mizoroki–Heck reaction and a DIBALH‐mediated reductive ring‐expansion reaction. Based on a first‐generation synthesis, a second‐generation enantiocontrolled total synthesis of (?)‐mersicarpine ( 1 ) was achieved by an 8‐pot/11‐step sequence in 21 % overall yield from commercially available 2‐ethylcyclohexanone. Subjection of a ketoester, which was prepared by an asymmetric Michael addition (according to the protocol by d’Angelo and Desmaële), and phenylhydrazine to modified Fischer indole conditions provided a six‐membered tricyclic indole. Benzylic oxidation and subsequent oxime formation provided a ketoxime, which was treated with diisobutylaluminum hydride (DIBALH) to construct the characteristic azepinoindole skeleton in good yield. In the DIBALH‐mediated reductive ring‐expansion reaction, gradually increasing the reaction temperature and in situ‐protection of the nitrogen in an oxygen‐sensitive azepinoindole with a benzyloxycarbonyl (Cbz) group were crucial for the high‐yielding process. With these methodologies, the short‐step and efficient synthesis of (?)‐mersicarpine was accomplished. Several synthetic efforts are also described.     

Silver Ions in Non‐canonical DNA Base Pairs: Metal‐Mediated Mismatch Stabilization of 2′‐Deoxyadenosine and 7‐Deazapurine Derivatives with 2′‐Deoxycytidine and 2′‐Deoxyguanosine

Novel silver‐mediated dA?dC, dA*?dC, and dA*?dG base pairs were formed in a natural DNA double helix environment (dA* denotes 7‐deaza‐dA, 7‐deaza‐7‐iodo‐dA, and 7‐cyclopropyl‐7‐deaza‐dA). 7‐Deazapurine nucleosides enforce silver ion binding and direct metal‐mediated base pair formation to their Watson–Crick face. New phosphoramidites were prepared from 7‐deaza‐dA, 7‐deaza‐7‐iodo‐dA, and 7‐cyclopropyl‐7‐deaza‐dA, which contain labile isobutyryl protecting groups. Solid‐phase synthesis furnished oligonucleotides that contain mismatches in near central positions. Increased thermal stabilities (higher T_m values) were observed for oligonucleotide duplexes with non‐canonical dA*?dC and dA?dC pairs in the presence of silver ions. The stability of the silver‐mediated base pairs was pH dependent. Silver ion binding was not observed for the dA?dG mismatch but took place when mismatches were formed between 7‐deazaadenine and guanine. The specific binding of silver ions was confirmed by stoichiometric UV titration experiments, which proved that one silver ion is captured by one mismatch. The stability increase of canonical DNA mismatches might have an impact on cellular DNA repair.     

BF3‐OEt2‐Mediated Rearrangement of (4‐Phenylpiperidin‐4‐Yl)‐Arylmethanols

Synthesis of several 4‐benzhydrylidenepiperidine analogs has been established starting from different (4‐phenylpiperidin‐4‐yl)‐arylmethanols via boron trifluoride etherate mediated rearrangement. The possible rearranged mechanism was proposed. Boron trifluoride etherate‐mediated rearrangement of the related derivatives was also examined. It presents a novel rearrangement reaction catalyzed by boron trifluoride etherate and broadens the scope of application.     

Bis(1,3‐dithiol‐2‐ylidene)‐Substituted Subtriazachlorin: A Subphthalocyanine Analogue with Redox Properties

Bis(1,3‐dithiol‐2‐ylidene)‐substituted subtriazachlorin was formed because of an unusual reaction of a 1,3‐dithiole‐2‐one‐fused subphthalocyanine in a triethylphosphite‐mediated tetrathiafulvalene synthesis. In this novel molecule, the bis(1,3‐dithiol‐2‐ylidene)ethane moiety and subtriazachlorin structure are fused, resulting in an electron‐donating ability and broad absorption in the near‐infrared region.     

Recyclable Hypervalent‐Iodine‐Mediated Dehydrogenative α,β′‐Bifunctionalization of β‐Keto Esters Under Metal‐Free Conditions

We have developed a method for recyclable hypervalent‐iodine‐mediated direct dehydrogenative α,β′‐ bifunctionalization of β‐ketoesters and β‐diketones under metal‐free conditions, which affords a straightforward way to synthesize benzo‐fused 2,3‐dihydrofurans. This efficient, mild method, which has a wide substrate scope and good functional‐group tolerance, was used for the multistep synthesis of the protected aglycone of a naturally occurring phenolic glycoside. A mechanism involving Michael addition to an enone intermediate and subsequent oxidative cyclization is proposed.     

A Convenient Synthesis of the Echinacea‐Derived Immunostimulator and HIV‐1 Integrase Inhibitor (−)‐(2R,3R)‐Chicoric Acid

The Echinacea‐derived immunostimulator and HIV‐1 integrase inhibitor (−)‐chicoric acid (=2,3‐bis{[3‐(3,4‐dihydroxyphenyl)‐1‐oxoprop‐2‐enyl]oxy}butanedioic acid; 1a ) was conveniently prepared via a silane‐promoted Pd‐mediated chemoselective hydrogenolysis of its perbenzylated derivative 12a , which was generated from an efficient and reliable carbodiimide‐mediated coupling reaction between the caffeic acid dibenzyl ether derivative 7 and commercially available (+)‐dibenzyl L ‐tartrate ( 9a ). The other naturally occurring dextrorotatory chicoric acid ( 1b ) can be similarly prepared.     

Synthesis of α‐alkenyl‐β‐hydroxy adducts by α‐addition of unprotected 4‐bromocrotonic acid and amides with aldehydes and ketones by chromium(II)‐mediated reactions

The regioselective and diastereoselective chromium(II)‐mediated reactions of 4‐bromocrotonic acid or amides with aldehydes and ketones can proceed without the need to protect protic sites to generate the respective α‐alkenyl‐β‐hydroxy adducts, i.e. formally the addition of the α‐anion of a carboxylic acid or amide to an oxo‐compound is featured. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

LiAlH4‐Induced Selective Ring Rearrangement of 2‐(2‐Cyanoethyl)aziridines toward 2‐(Aminomethyl)pyrrolidines and 3‐Aminopiperidines as Eligible Heterocyclic Building Blocks

2‐(2‐Cyanoethyl)aziridines and 2‐aryl‐3‐(2‐cyanoethyl)aziridines were deployed as substrates for an In(OTf)₃‐mediated regio‐ and stereoselective ring rearrangement upon treatment with LiAlH₄, affording a variety of novel 2‐(aminomethyl)pyrrolidines and 3‐aminopiperidines, respectively. Further synthetic elaboration of the obtained 3‐aminopiperidines resulted in the formation of a peculiar and unexplored conformationally constrained imidazolidinone and diketopiperazine scaffold.     

FeCl3‐Mediated Oxidative Spirocyclization of Difluorenylidene Diarylethanes Leading to Dispiro[fluorene‐9,5′‐indeno[2,1‐a]indene‐10′,9′′‐fluorene]s

A novel FeCl₃‐mediated oxidative spirocyclization for construction of a new class of di‐spirolinked π‐conjugated molecules, dispiro[fluorene‐9,5′‐indeno[2,1‐a]indene‐10′,9′′‐fluorene]s (DSFIIFs), has been reported. The combination of FeCl₃ with FeO(OH) triggered an unprecedented double one‐electron oxidation of difluorenylidene diarylethanes to afford the corresponding dispirocycles in high yields. The highest fluorescence quantum yield was up to 0.94 in solution. This protocol is also applicable to the synthesis of the non‐spirolinked dihydroindenoindenes.     

TiCl3‐Mediated Synthesis of 2,3,3‐Trisubstituted Indolenines: Total Synthesis of (+)‐1,2‐Dehydroaspidospermidine, (+)‐Condyfoline,and (−)‐Tubifoline

2,3,3‐Trisubstituted indolenine constitutes an integral part of many biologically important monoterpene indole alkaloids. We report herein an unprecedented access to this skeleton by a TiCl₃‐mediated reductive cyclization of tetrasubstituted alkenes bearing a 2‐nitrophenyl substituent. The proof of concept is demonstrated firstly by accomplishing a concise total synthesis of (+)‐1,2‐dehydroaspidospermidine featuring a late‐stage application of this key transformation. A sequence of reduction of nitroarene to nitrosoarene followed by 6π‐electron‐5‐atom electrocyclization and a 1,2‐alkyl shift of the resulting nitrone intermediate was proposed to account for the reaction outcome. A subsequent total synthesis of (+)‐condyfoline not only illustrates the generality of the reaction, but also provides a mechanistic insight into the nature of the 1,2‐alkyl shift. The exclusive formation of (+)‐condyfoline indicates that the 1,2‐alkyl migration follows a concerted Wagner–Meerwein pathway, rather than a stepwise retro‐Mannich/Mannich reaction sequence. Conditions for almost quantitative conversion of (+)‐condyfoline to (?)‐tubifoline by way of a retro‐Mannich/1,3‐prototropy/transannular cyclization cascade are also documented.     

Mechanistic Insights on the Iodine(III)‐Mediated α‐Oxidation of Ketones

The synthesis of α‐substituted carbonyl compounds is of great importance due to their ubiquity in both natural and man‐made biologically active compounds. The field of hypervalent iodine chemistry has been a great contributor to access these molecules. For example, the α‐oxidation of carbonyl compounds has been one of the most investigated iodine(III)‐mediated stereoselective transformations. Yet, it is also the transformation that has met the most challenge in terms of achieving high stereoselectivities. The different mechanistic pathways of the iodine(III)‐mediated α‐tosyloxylation of ketones have been investigated. The calculations suggest an unprecedented iodine(III)‐promoted enolization process. Indications that iodonium intermediates could serve as proficient Lewis acids are reported. This concept could have broad impact and foster new developments in the field of hypervalent iodine chemistry.     

Concise and Enantioselective Total Synthesis of (−)‐Mehranine, (−)‐Methylenebismehranine,and Related Aspidosperma Alkaloids

We report an efficient and highly stereoselective strategy for the synthesis of Aspidosperma alkaloids based on the transannular cyclization of a chiral lactam precursor. Three new stereocenters are formed in this key step with excellent diastereoselectivity due to the conformational bias of the cyclization precursor, leading to a versatile pentacyclic intermediate. A subsequent stereoselective epoxidation followed by a mild formamide reduction enabled the first total synthesis of the Aspidosperma alkaloids (?)‐mehranine and (+)‐(6S,7S)‐dihydroxy‐N‐methylaspidospermidine. A late‐stage dimerization of (?)‐mehranine mediated by scandium trifluoromethanesulfonate completed the first total synthesis of (?)‐methylenebismehranine.     

Bioinspired Oxidative Cyclization of the Geissoschizine Skeleton for the Total Synthesis of (−)‐17‐nor‐Excelsinidine

We report the first total synthesis of (?)‐17‐nor‐excelsinidine, a zwitterionic monoterpene indole alkaloid that displays an unusual N4?C16 connection. Inspired by the postulated biosynthesis, we explored an oxidative coupling approach from the geissoschizine framework to forge the key ammonium–acetate connection. Two strategies allowed us to achieve this goal, namely an intramolecular nucleophilic substitution on a 16‐chlorolactam with the N4 nitrogen atom or a direct I₂‐mediated N4?C16 oxidative coupling from the enolate of geissoschizine.     

A Convenient Oxidation of 5‐Substituted Pyrazol‐3(2H)‐Ones Into Methyl 2‐Alkynoates Using Poly[4‐(Diacetoxyiodo)Styrene]

An operationally simple oxidation of 5‐substituted pyrazol‐3(2H)‐ones to the corresponding methyl‐2‐alkynoates in good yields with a mediated poly[4‐(diacetoxyiodo)styrene] system in methanol and acetonitrile at room temperature was carried out. The polymeric reagent can be regenerated and reused as an environmentally benign reagent.     

Diarylprolinol‐Mediated Asymmetric Direct Cross‐Aldol Reaction of α,β‐Unsaturated Aldehyde as an Electrophilic Aldehyde

The diarylprolinol‐mediated asymmetric direct cross‐aldol reaction of α,β‐unsaturated aldehyde as an electrophilic aldehyde was developed. The reaction becomes accelerated by an acid when a carbonyl group is introduced at the γ‐position of the α,β‐unsaturated aldehyde. Synthetically useful γ,δ‐unsaturated β‐hydroxy aldehydes were obtained with high anti‐selectivity and excellent enantioselectivity.     

Total Synthesis of (+)‐MPC1001B

The first total synthesis of an epidithiodiketopiperazine alkaloid, (+)‐MPC1001B, was accomplished. This synthesis features a tetra‐n‐butylammonium fluoride mediated intramolecular aldol reaction for forming the 15‐membered macrolactone ring, and the construction of an epidithiodiketopiperazine substructure through a stepwise sulfenylation reaction involving a novel trityl trisulfide (TrSSS)‐group transfer.     

Total Synthesis of (+)‐Pleuromutilin

The first enantiospecific total synthesis of the antibacterial natural product (+)‐pleuromutilin has been achieved. The approach includes the synthesis of a non‐racemic cyclisation substrate from (+)‐trans‐dihydrocarvone, a highly selective SmI₂‐mediated cyclisation cascade, an electron transfer reduction of a hindered ester, and the first efficient conversion of (+)‐mutilin to the target.     

1‐(2′‐Anilinyl)prop‐2‐yn‐1‐ol Rearrangement for Oxindole Synthesis

A synthetic method that relies on NIS (N‐iodosuccinimide)‐mediated cycloisomerization reactions of 1‐(2′‐anilinyl)prop‐2‐yn‐1‐ols to gem‐3‐(diiodomethyl)indolin‐2‐ones and 2‐(iodomethylene)indolin‐3‐ones has been developed. The reactions were shown to be chemoselective, with secondary and tertiary alcoholic substrates exclusively giving the 3‐ and 2‐oxindole products, respectively. In the case of the latter, the transformation features an unprecedented double 1,2‐OH and 1,2‐alkyl migration relay. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations based on proposed iodoaminocyclization species provide insight into this unique divergence in product selectivity.     

Organocatalytic,Asymmetric Total Synthesis of (−)‐Haliclonin A

The first total synthesis of the alkaloid (−)‐haliclonin A is reported. The asymmetric synthesis relied on a novel organocatalytic asymmetric conjugate addition of nitromethane with 3‐alkenyl cyclohex‐2‐enone to set the stereochemistry of the all‐carbon quaternary stereogenic center. The synthesis also features a Pd‐promoted cyclization to form the 3‐azabicyclo[3,3,1]nonane core, a SmI₂‐mediated intermolecular reductive coupling of enone with aldehyde to form the requisite secondary chiral alcohol, ring‐closing alkene and alkyne metathesis reactions to build the two aza‐macrocyclic ring systems, and an unprecedented direct transformation of enol into enone.     

Asymmetric Total Syntheses of the Akuammiline Alkaloids (−)‐Strictamine and (−)‐Rhazinoline

Strictamine and rhazinoline are representative methanoquinolizidine‐containing akuammiline alkaloids that possess different stereochemistry at the C16 position. A unified approach to the enantioselective total syntheses of these two molecules is described. The key steps in this synthesis include a photocatalytic intra/intermolecular type II radical cascade reaction, a Tsuji–Trost allylation, a palladium‐ or nickel‐mediated cyclization, and a late‐stage intramolecular N‐alkylation reaction.