A highly effective catalyst system for the Pd-catalyzed amination of vinyl bromides and chlorides

[reaction: see text] A highly efficient synthesis of enamines and imines by Pd-catalyzed amination of vinyl bromides or chlorides with amines is described using the Pd2(dba)3/P(i-BuNCH2CH2)3N catalyst system.     

[3+2] Cycloaddition of metal-containing azomethine ylides for highly efficient synthesis of mitosene skeleton

Efficient synthesis of tricyclic indole derivatives bearing a substituent at the 3-position of the indole nucleus was achieved by the [3+2] cycloaddition reaction of transition metal-containing azomethine ylides derived from N-(o-alkynylphenyl)imines with vinyl ethers. Third-row transition metal complexes, especially PtCl₂, turned out to be highly efficient for the reaction of internal alkynes and imidate substrates with wide generality. Moreover, as strong support for the reaction mechanism, the intermediate Pt-carbene complex was found to undergo intramolecular C-H bond insertion reaction to give tetracyclic indoline derivatives when benzyl vinyl ether was employed as a dipolarophile. This protocol provided a facile synthesis of highly functionalized tricyclic indole derivatives found as the basic skeleton of the mitosene family, such as mitomycin C.     

Rhodium(III)‐Catalyzed [4+1] Annulation of Aromatic and Vinylic Carboxylic Acids with Allenes: An Efficient Method Towards Vinyl‐Substituted Phthalides and 2‐Furanones

A highly regio‐ and stereoselective synthesis of 3,3‐disubstituted phthalides from aryl carboxylic acids and allenes using a rhodium(III) catalyst has been demonstrated. The reaction features broad functional group tolerance and provides a simple and straightforward route to the synthesis of various 3‐vinyl‐substituted phthalides. Furthermore, the catalytic reaction can also be applied to the synthesis of biologically active 5‐vinyl‐substituted 2‐furanones from α,β‐unsaturated carboxylic acids and allenes. The reactions proceed through a carboxylate‐assisted ortho‐C?H activation and [4+1] annulation. The preliminary mechanistic studies suggest that a C?H cleavage is the rate‐determining step.     

Cyanovinylation of Aldehydes: Organocatalytic Multicomponent Synthesis of Conjugated Cyanomethyl Vinyl Ethers

A novel organocatalytic multicomponent cyanovinylation of aldehydes was designed for the synthesis of conjugated cyanomethyl vinyl ethers. The reaction was implemented for the synthesis of a 3-substituted 3-(cyanomethoxy)acrylates, using aldehydes as substrates, acetone cyanohydrin as the cyanide anion source, and methyl propiolate as the source of the vinyl component. The multicomponent reaction is catalyzed by N-methyl morpholine (2.5 mol%) to deliver the 3-(cyanomethoxy)acrylates in excellent yields and with preponderance of the E-isomer. The multicomponent reaction manifold is highly tolerant to the structure and composition of the aldehyde (aliphatic, aromatic, heteroaromatics), and it is instrumentally simple (one batch, open atmospheres), economic (2.5 mol% catalyst, stoichiometric reagents), environmentally friendly (no toxic waste), and sustainable (easy scalability).     

Total synthesis of the formamicin aglycon,formamicinone

[structure: see text] The total synthesis of formamicinone (2), the aglycone of formamicin (1), has been accomplished via the late-stage Suzuki cross-coupling of fragments 5 and 6, the macrolactonization of seco ester 14, and the Mukaiyama aldol reaction of aldehyde 3 and methyl ketone 4. An efficient and highly stereoselective second generation synthesis of vinyl iodide 6 is also described.     

Rapid biomimetic total synthesis of (±)-rossinone B

A biomimetic total synthesis of (±)-rossinone B has been achieved through a highly efficient strategy featuring a series of rationally designed reactions, including a one-pot allylic rearrangement/oxidation reaction to generate the vinyl quinone 27, an intramolecular vinyl quinone Diels-Alder reaction to construct the linear 6-6-5 tricyclic core of 28, and a double conjugate addition/β-elimination cascade to complete the total synthesis of 1.     

Synthesis of stable 2H-pyran-5-carboxylates via a catalyzed propargyl-Claisen rearrangement/oxa-6pi electrocyclization strategy

[reaction: see text] The application of easily accessed propargyl vinyl ethers for the synthesis of monocyclic 2H-pyrans was achieved. Under the reaction conditions, highly substituted heterocycles were obtained in moderate to excellent yields. The one-pot sequence proceeds via a Ag(I)-catalyzed propargyl-Claisen rearrangement, followed by a base-catalyzed isomerization, and 6pi-oxaelectrocyclization, leading to the formation of stable 2H-pyrans.     

Negishi coupling between alpha-alkyl(aryl)thio vinyl zinc chloride and alpha-bromo vinyl ether: a convergent synthesis of 2-alkoxy-3-alkyl(aryl)thiobuta-1,3-dienes

[reaction: see text] A convergent approach for the stereoselective synthesis of 2-alkoxy-3-alkyl(aryl)thiobuta-1,3-dienes has been developed. It was found that Negishi coupling between alpha-alkyl(aryl)thio vinyl zinc chloride and alpha-bromo vinyl ether or Negishi coupling between alpha-bromo vinyl sulfide and alpha-alkoxy vinyl zinc chloride provided the best yield and stereoselectivity.     

Vinyl quinones as Diels-Alder dienes: concise synthesis of (-)-halenaquinone

A concise asymmetric synthesis of (-)-halenaquinone is described. The synthesis features a diastereoselective Heck cyclization to set a quaternary center as well as a novel intramolecular inverse-electron-demand Diels-Alder reaction involving a vinyl quinone. The synthesis is highly convergent and features a minimal amount of protecting group manipulations.     

Highly enantioselective syntheses of functionalized alpha-methylene-gamma-butyrolactones via Rh(I)-catalyzed intramolecular Alder ene reaction: application to formal synthesis of (+)-pilocarpine

A highly enantioselective Rh(I)-catalyzed intramolecular Alder ene reaction has been developed. The desired products, 3-vinyl, vinyl acetate, and vinyl ether-substitued alpha-methylene-gamma-butyrolactones were formed in high yields. Aldehydes were produced with the formation of gamma-lactones when alcohols were substituted at allylic position in the substrates. All reactions with listed substrates proceeded in over 99% ee. A formal synthesis of (+)-pilocarpine is an excellent example to demonstrate the synthetic utility of this methodology.     

Palladium-catalyzed alkenylation and alkynylation of ortho-C(sp2)-H bonds of benzylamine picolinamides

An efficient functionalization of ortho-C(sp(2))-H bonds of picolinamide (PA)-protected benzylamine substrates with a range of vinyl iodides as well as acetylenic bromide is reported. ortho-Phenyl benzoic acid (oPBA) acts as an effective promoter in this reaction system. This method provides a practical strategy to access highly functionalized benzylamine compounds for organic synthesis.     

Functionalization of octavinylsilsesquioxane by ruthenium-catalyzed silylative coupling versus cross-metathesis

Functionalization of octavinylsilsesquioxane (Vi(8)T(8), 1) by two reactions catalyzed by ruthenium complexes is reported: a silylative coupling reaction catalyzed by [RuHCl(CO)(PCy(3))(2)] (I) and cross-metathesis catalyzed by first- (II) and second-generation (III) Grubbs' catalysts. The two reactions of 1 with styrene take place highly regio- and stereoselectively (the X-ray structure of the product 2 has also been obtained); the cross-metathesis of 1-hexene and allyltrimethylsilane occurs quite effectively, whereas the silylative coupling with these compounds gives a mixture of isomers. Functionalization of 1 with heteroatom-substituted vinyl derivatives (Si, O, N) by silylative coupling reaction has been found to be highly efficient, but cross-metathesis appears to be the more effective method for the synthesis of S-substituted vinyl-silsesquioxane.     

Palladium(II)-catalyzed oxidative transformation of allylic alcohols and vinyl ethers into 2-alkoxytetrahydrofurans: catechol as an activator of catalyst

[chemical reaction: see text]. A highly effective synthesis of 2-alkoxytetrahydrofurans from allylic alcohols and vinyl ethers was achieved by using catalytic amounts of Pd(OAc)2, Cu(OAc)2, and catechol (1:1:2) under O2. The use of catechol as an activator of Pd(II)-Cu(II) catalyst has been unprecedented. The 2-alkoxytetrahydrofurans are formed via oxypalladation of allylic alcohols toward vinyl ethers followed by 5-exo cyclization of the resulting oxypalladation intermediate and subsequent beta-Pd-H elimination. No 6-endo cyclization of the oxypalladation intermediate occurs.     

Diastereoselective Total Synthesis of (±)‐Schindilactone A,Part 3: The Final Phase and Completion

The final phase for the total synthesis of (±)‐schindilactone A ( 1 ) is described herein. Two independent synthetic approaches were developed that featured Pd–thiourea‐catalyzed cascade carbonylative annulation reactions to construct intermediate 3 and a RCM reaction to make intermediate 4 . Other important steps that enabled the completion of the synthesis included: 1) A Ag‐mediated ring‐expansion reaction to form vinyl bromide 17 from dibromocyclopropane 30 ; 2) a Pd‐catalyzed coupling reaction of vinyl bromide 17 with a copper enolate to synthesize ketoester 16 ; 3) a RCM reaction to generate oxabicyclononenol 10 from diene 11 ; 4) a cyclopentenone fragment in substrate 8 was constructed through a Co–thiourea‐catalyzed Pauson–Khand reaction (PKR); 5) a Dieckmann‐type condensation to successfully form the A ring of schindilactone A ( 1 ). The chemistry developed for the total synthesis of schindilactone A ( 1 ) will shed light on the synthesis of other family members of schindilactone A.     

Unexpected Direct Synthesis of N‐Vinyl Amides through Vinyl Azide–Enolate [3+2] Cycloaddition

The unexpected synthesis of industrially important N ‐vinyl amides directly from aldehydes and α,β‐unsaturated N ‐vinyl amides from esters is reported. This reaction probably proceeds through an initial [3+2] azide–enolate cycloaddition involving a vinyl azide generated in situ. A survey of the reaction scope and preliminary mechanistic findings supported by quantum computational analysis are reported, with implications for the future development of atom‐efficient amide synthesis. Intriguingly, this study suggests that (cautious) reevaluation of azidoethene as a synthetic reagent may be warranted.     

Rhodium(I)‐Catalyzed Intermolecular Aza‐[4+3] Cycloaddition of Vinyl Aziridines and Dienes: Atom‐Economical Synthesis of Enantiomerically Enriched Functionalized Azepines

A new synthetic application of vinyl aziridines as N‐containing three‐atom components in a rhodium‐catalyzed [4+3] cycloaddition reaction is described. The reaction proceeds well with various silyl dienol ethers and vinyl aziridines, and enables the efficient synthesis of highly functionalized azepines in an enantioselective manner with net inversion of absolute configuration. The salient features of the transformation include the use of readily available substrates, high selectivity, and mild reaction conditions, as well as the versatile functionalization of the products.     

Synthesis of methoxy-2-quinolones via pummerer-type cyclization of N-aryl-N-methyl-3-(phenylsulfinyl)propionamides

The thionium ions 10 generated by Pummerer reaction of N-aryl-N-methyl-3-(phenylsulfinyl)propionamides 4 caused not only an electrophilic cyclization reaction producing 2-quinolones 8, but also the formation of the vinyl sulfides 5 and 6 in favor of the latter reaction. On the other hand, the treatment of the vinyl sulfides 5 and 6 with p-toluenesulfonic acid induced cyclization to afford the 2-quinolones 8 in excellent to moderate yields, depending on the electronic properties of the aromatic ring, thus providing a convenient method for the synthesis of methoxy-2-quinolones.     

Total synthesis of actinobolin from d-glucose by way of the stereoselective three-component coupling reaction

The total synthesis of (−)-actinobolin 3, an antipode of the natural product, starting from d-glucose is described. A three-component coupling reaction of functionalized cyclohexenone (+)-6 derived from d-glucose by way of Ferrier's carbocyclization reaction, with vinyl cuprate and 2-alkoxypropanal 7 effectively constructed the carbon framework of 3 in a highly stereoselective manner. In an aldol process of the three-component coupling reaction, stereochemical control (chelation and Felkin-Anh conditions) was achieved by the choice of the protecting groups of a hydroxy function in 2-hydroxypropanal and the reaction solvents. The formal synthesis of the natural enantiomer, (+)-actinobolin 1, starting from d-glucose was also accomplished.     

Zinc‐Catalyzed Alkene Cyclopropanation through Zinc Vinyl Carbenoids Generated from Cyclopropenes

The zinc‐catalyzed reaction of cyclopropenes with alkenes leading to vinylcyclopropane derivatives is reported. A broad range of alkenes (including highly substituted or functionalized alkenes) is compatible with this protocol. On the basis of trapping experiments and computational studies, this cyclopropanation reaction is proposed to proceed through initial formation of an electrophilic zinc vinyl carbenoid intermediate, which may be involved in a concerted cyclopropanation reaction. The reported protocol represents an unprecedented and simple strategy for the catalytic generation of zinc vinyl carbenoids, which are promising intermediates in organic synthesis.     

Organocatalytic tandem three-component reaction of aldehyde, alkyl vinyl ketone, and amide: one-pot syntheses of highly functional alkenes

An EtPPh(2)- or PPh(3)-catalyzed tandem three-component reaction of aldehyde, alkyl vinyl ketone, and amide is developed. Its further application in one-pot syntheses of highly functional alkenes starting from aldehydes, alkyl vinyl ketones, and amides is realized. A wide variety of highly functional α,β-unsaturated ketones can be furnished in 68-99% yields with high stereoselectivity (E/Z up to 98 : 2) within overall 3-29.5 h.