Stereospecific synthesis of trifluoromethyl-substituted polyfunctionalized cyclopropanes

Treatment of methyl (Z)-2-bromo-4,4,4-trifluoro-2-butenoate 1 with active methylene compounds 2 in the presence of NaH as base affords a stereospecific synthetic route to trifluoromethyl substituted cyclopropanes in good yields.     

Radical reactions of epoxy esters induced by titanocene chloride

The reductive radical cyclizations of several epoxy esters have been achieved using titanocene chloride. The tether length from the initial radical to the carbonyl acceptor is the key of the reactions. We obtained products from radical cyclization onto carbonyl formate and products from formate and hydrogen elimination. The stereochemical outcome of the 5-exo radical cyclization of two diastereomers is reported. A radical cascade cyclization of an unsaturated epoxy formate is also described.     

Unprecedented Barbier-type reactions catalysed by titanocene(III)

Selective Barbier-type allylations, benzylations and propargylations of aldehydes and ketones can be carried out under extremely mild conditions employing titanocene(III) complexes as catalysts. In this way, chiral titanocene catalysts provided yields ranging from 50-80% of optically active products.     

Stereospecific synthesis of highly functionalized tricyclic beta-lactams by radical cyclizations using titanocene monochloride

The reductive opening of epoxyimonobactams 1 with titanoncene (III) chloride gives rise to radicals that can be trapped by intramolecular pi systems (i.e., conjugated alkenes and lactone and amide carbonyls) in a stereospecific way to give new carbocyclic compounds such as tribactam 2.     

Stereospecific synthesis of(E)-furfurylalkenes from alkenyldisiamylboranes and furfuryl chloride

The Pd(PPh_3)_4-catalyzed coupling reaction of alkenyl-disiamylboranes with furfurylchloride in the presence of t-BuOK afforded(E)-furfurylalkenes stereospecifically in good yields.     

Radical promoted cyclizations of aromatic carbonyl compounds to benzopyrans using titanocene(III) chloride

Aromatic carbonyl compounds undergo smooth intramolecular radical cyclization with alkenes or alkynes using titanocene(III) chloride to furnish the corresponding benzopyrans. The radical initiator, Cp₂TiCl, was prepared in situ from commercially available titanocene dichloride (Cp₂TiCl₂) and zinc dust in THF under argon.     

Gold(III) chloride catalysed synthesis of 5-alkylidene-dihydrothiazoles

A two step synthesis of dihydrothiazoles is presented. First, the previously unknown N-propargylic dithiocarboimidates are produced in good yields from easily available, cheap starting materials. The subsequent gold catalysed ring closure is fast and efficient, leading to dihydrothiazoles through a cascade of 5-exo-dig cyclisation and 1,3-alkyl migration. The yields range from 74% to 95%.     

Couplings of benzylic halides mediated by titanocene chloride: synthesis of bibenzyl derivatives

Titanocene monochloride catalyzes the homocoupling of benzylic halides and benzylic gem-dibromides to give the corresponding bibenzyl and stilbenyl systems. Exposure of benzylic bromides to Ti(III) in the presence of aldehydes gave rise to the Barbier-type products. Examples of the utility of the herein described processes are included.     

Free radical-promoted conjugate addition of activated bromo compounds using titanocene(III) chloride as the radical initiator

Free radical-promoted conjugate addition of activated bromo compounds to α,β-unsaturated ketones and reactive α,β-unsaturated esters has been described using titanocene(III) chloride (Cp₂TiCl) as the radical initiator. Cp₂TiCl was prepared in situ from commercially available Cp₂TiCl₂ and activated zinc dust in THF.     

Titanocene (III) chloride mediated radical induced synthesis of (−)-methylenolactocin and (−)-protolichesterinic acid

Enantioselective synthesis of two anti-tumor antibiotics, (−)-methylenolactocin and (−)-protolichesterinic acid, has been achieved through titanocene(III) chloride mediated radical cyclization reaction starting from commercially available d-mannitol. Titanocene(III) chloride (Cp₂TiCl) was prepared in situ from commercially available titanocene dichloride (Cp₂TiCl₂) and zinc dust in THF.     

Synthesis of CDE molecular fragments related to sendanin mediated by titanocene(III)

A practical, brief, and diastereoselective synthesis of limonoid CDE fragments from a readily available starting material is described. The key step was the titanocene(III)-promoted cyclization of unsaturated epoxylactones, readily prepared from α-cyclocitral. In this way, we confirm the viability of our procedure for the synthesis of a limonoid model with different functionalization patterns. We also report the antifeedant activity of epoxylactones 18 and 19, which show significant antifeedant activity against Spodoptera littoralis and Spodoptera frugiperda, two insect species with different feeding ecologies.     

Antimony(III) Halide-Assisted Stereospecific Coordination of Thione

The antimony halide-aided stereospecific coordination of a cyclic thiourea-type of ligand is observed for the first time. The antimony(III) imidazole thione complexes syn-[( L¹ )SbCl₃] ( syn- 1 ) and anti-[( L¹ )SbBr₃] ( anti- 2 ) have been synthesized in very good yield by the reaction between the spatially defined steric impact ligand [(IPaul)S] ( L¹ ) ([(IPaul)S]=1,3-bis(2,4-methyl-6-diphenyl phenyl)imidazole thione) and corresponding antimony halide. The stereoselective formation of complexes syn- 1 and anti- 2 has been confirmed by both NMR and single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. Interestingly the stereospecific nature of syn- 1 and anti- 2 remains intact in solution. Furthermore, the thermal stability of antimony(III) imidazole thione complexes were examined by TGA analysis.     

Stereospecific total synthesis of (±)-strempeliopine

The 18-methylene-1,2-dehydroaspidospermidine (III) was stereospecifically transformed into the schizozygane alkaloid strempeliopine (II) in 16,6 % overall yield.     

7-endo radical cyclizations catalyzed by titanocene(III). Straightforward synthesis of terpenoids with seven-membered carbocycles

We describe a novel procedure for the straightforward synthesis of seven-membered carbocycles via free-radical chemistry, based on titanocene(III)-catalyzed 7-endo-dig and 7-endo-trig cyclizations. This procedure has proved to be useful for the chemical preparation of terpenoids with different skeletons containing cycloheptane rings, including the first total syntheses of dauca-4(11),8-diene (2), barekoxide (3), authentic laukarlaol (81), and a valparane diterpenoid (72), as well as a substantially improved synthesis of karahanaenone (1). We also provide theoretical and experimental evidence in support of a plausible mechanism, which may rationalize the preference for the unusual 7-endo cyclization mode shown by radicals with substitution patterns characteristic of the linalyl, nerolidyl, and geranyl linalyl systems. In light of these chemical findings, we discuss the potential involvement of radical cyclizations in the biosynthesis of some terpenoids containing seven-membered carbocycles.     

Recent advances in iron(III) chloride catalyzed synthesis of heterocycles

Heterocyclic compounds particularly five, six and seven membered ring containing heterocycles are the most abundant which constitute a staggeringly diverse and important class of molecules that occur ubiquitously in a variety of synthetic drugs, bioactive natural products, pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. Owing to the glorious past and impressive present of the biologically active heterocyclic scaffolds, these skeletons have long been a subject of immense interest. Hence, substantial efforts have been made to the development of new and innovative synthetic strategies for the synthesis of these heterocycles involving use of different metal catalysts, organic and inorganic reagents etc. Among the different types of metal catalysts used, iron catalysts are one of the cheap and easily available. In recent time, several new and innovative iron(III) chloride catalyzed synthesis of heterocycles with structural diversity are coming in the forefront of the literature by the scientific community. This review highlights the advancements made so far by iron(III) chloride for the synthesis of different assemblies of small heterocycles covering the year 2014–2018.     

Titanocene(III) chloride mediated radical induced allylation of aldimines: formal synthesis of C-linked 4'-deoxy aza-disaccharide

Titanocene(III) chloride (Cp(2)TiCl) mediated radical induced allylation of aldimines for the preparation of homoallyl amines is described. The radical was generated from the allyl bromide using Cp(2)TiCl as the radical source. Formal synthesis of C(4)-C(5')-linked 4'-deoxy aza-disaccharide is demonstrated and a study toward the bicyclic skeleton of alkaloids was also accomplished. The radical initiator Cp(2)TiCl was prepared in situ from commercially available titanocene dichloride (Cp(2)TiCl(2)) and Zn dust in THF under argon.     

Solvent extraction of gold(III) by octadecyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride (ODMBAC) from chloride solution

The mechanism of solvent extraction of gold(III) in hydrochloric acid media with quaternary ammonium salt octadecyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride dissolved in chloroform was studied. The influences of temperature, NaCl and HCl concentraction on the extraction equilibrium were also investigated. The extraction reaction is exothermic (H° = -28.53±0.15 kJ/mol) and log K _ex = 5.47±0.04.     

On the mechanism and kinetics of radical reactions of epoxyketones and epoxynitriles induced by titanocene chloride

The reactions of a series of epoxynitriles and epoxyketones induced by titanocene chloride have been studied. The kinetics of the decyanogenation of beta,gamma-epoxynitriles with Ti(III) corresponds to a radical reaction (k25 approximately 106 s-1), as demonstrated by competition experiments with H-transfer from 1,4-cyclohexadiene (1,4-CHD) or PhSH or conjugate addition to acrylonitrile. The 5-exo cyclization onto nitrile induced by Ti(III) is a radical reaction (k25 approximately 107 s-1) as seen in competition experiments with H-transfer from PhSH or the titanocene-water complex. The iminyl or alkoxyl radicals generated by 5-exo cyclization onto nitriles or ketones only undergo a reduction with Ti(III). This reaction overwhelms any alternative process, such as tandem cyclization onto alkenes or beta-scission. Iminyl radicals generated by 4-exo cyclizations onto nitriles undergo reduction with Ti(III) and beta-scission reaction in a ratio of 96:4 when the alpha-substituent is CN. Alkoxyl radicals from 4-exo cyclizations onto ketone carbonyls undergo reduction with Ti(III) and beta-scission in a ratio of 60:40 when the alpha-substituent is COOR. In nearly all the reactions studied, the role of Ti(III) is triple: a radical initiator (homolytic cleavage of oxirane), a Lewis acid (coordination to CN or C=O), and a terminator (reduction of iminyl or alkoxyl radicals).