A regioselective reduction of gem-disubstituted succinimides

The NaBH₄ reduction of mono- and disubstituted succinimides in the presence of hydrochloric acid leading to ω-carbinol-lactams shows a remarkable regio- and/or stereo-selectivity. The reduction takes place at the most substituted CO in the succinimides. Possible explanations are reviewed. The preparative value of the method is amply illustrated.     

Fluorination of substituted veratroles via regioselective mercuration

A regioselective aromatic ring fluorination of substituted veratroles was achieved via a mercuration-fluorodemercuration reaction.     

Multiple regioselective functionalizations of quinolines via magnesiations

A wide range of polyfunctionalized quinolines was prepared via chemo- and regioselective magnesiation reactions using appropriate Mg reagents, such as i-PrMgCl.LiCl, MesMgBr.LiCl, Mes2Mg.2LiBr, TMPMgCl.LiCl, and TMP2Mg.2LiCl. An application to the total synthesis of the biologically active compound talnetant was performed (six steps, 28%).     

Reduction of tertiary phosphine oxides with DIBAL-H

The reduction of tertiary phosphine oxides (TPOs) and sulfides with diisobutylaluminum hydride (DIBAL-H) has been studied in detail. An extensive solvent screen has revealed that hindered aliphatic ethers, such as MTBE, are optimum for this reaction at ambient temperature. Many TPOs undergo considerable reduction at ambient temperature and then stall due to inhibition. 31P and 13C NMR studies using isotopically labeled substrates as well as competition studies have revealed that the source of this inhibition is tetraisobutyldialuminoxane (TIBAO), which builds up as the reaction proceeds. TIBAO selectively coordinates the TPO starting material, preventing further reduction. Several strategies have been found to circumvent this inhibition and obtain full conversion with this extremely inexpensive reducing agent for the first time. Practical reduction protocols for these critical targets have been developed.     

Structure elucidation of benzopyran-2-ol in solution and in solid state following the reduction of coumarin by DIBAL-H

Lactols are compounds of increasing interest in the synthesis of active pharmaceutical derivatives. Nevertheless, the product obtained by the reduction of the carbonyl group of coumarin has been described only twice, and without definition of its precise chemical structure. Since these studies, doubts have been raised about the existence of a monomeric or dimeric form. Our study has led us to conclude definitely that the single dimeric form exists and to precisely define the spectral properties of the two diastereoisomers.     

Synthesis of Lapatinib via direct regioselective arylation of furfural

A new synthesis of Lapatinib, an orally active drug for breast cancer, is described. The synthesis involves a palladium catalyzed regioselective arylation of furfural with 6-bromo-N-(3-chloro-4-((3-fluorobenzyl)oxy)phenyl)quinazolin-4-amine. This key step replaces an atom inefficient Suzuki cross coupling reaction used in a previously disclosed route and significantly shortens the synthesis.     

Formal total synthesis of (+)-lysergic acid via zinc(II)-mediated regioselective ring-opening reduction of 2-alkynyl-3-indolyloxirane

Asymmetric formal synthesis of (+)-lysergic acid was achieved with a reductive ring-opening reaction of chiral 2-alkynyl-3-indolyloxirane with NaBH(3)CN as the key step. With Zn(OTf)(2) as an additive, the ring-opening reaction proceeded regioselectively at the 3-position to give the corresponding propargyl alcohol, which was a precursor of the allenic amide for palladium-catalyzed domino cyclization to construct the ergot alkaloid core structure.     

Functionalization of a simple dithienylethene via palladium-catalyzed regioselective direct arylation

The direct arylation on the thienyl groups of a diarylethene with various aryl iodides efficiently provided arylated dithienylethenes under palladium catalysis. Unsymmetrically substituted dithienylethenes were also synthesized by this protocol. This procedure allows a rapid access to a variety of aryl-substituted dithienylethenes from a single substrate of a simple dithienylethene.     

A regioselective etherification of pyridoxine via an ortho-pyridinone methide intermediate

The catalyst-free, regioselective synthesis of 4′-O-substituted pyridoxine derivatives under solventless conditions is described. The methodology relies on the highly regioselective formation of the ortho-pyridinone methide from pyridoxine and subsequent oxa-Michael addition of alcohol nucleophiles. This methodology provides good to excellent yields for primary and secondary alcohols and moderate yields for tertiary alcohols.     

Organic-base-catalyzed synthesis of phthalides via highly regioselective intramolecular cyclization reaction

The organic-base-catalyzed 5-exo intramolecular cyclization reaction of o-alkynylbenzoic acid produces the corresponding phthalide regioselectively in good to excellent yields. The method provides a practical access to the phthalides, an important class of biologically active molecules.     

The chemistry of amine-azide interconversion: catalytic diazotransfer and regioselective azide reduction

Azides have proven to be useful precursors to amines in organic syntheses. This report describes an improvement of the diazotransfer reaction and the first example of a regioselective azide reduction of compounds containing multiple azides. The use of a specific ratio of solvents and zinc chloride as a catalyst resulted in a more efficient diazotransfer reaction capable of delivering >90% conversion per amine with shorter reaction times than those previously reported. Azides can be reduced with good regioselectivity in moderate yields by a modification of the Staudinger reaction using trimethylphosphine at low temperatures. Electronic factors determine the selectivity for azide reduction, and the reaction is predictable by NMR analysis of the starting material. Several examples for the diazotransfer and regioselective azide reduction reactions are given, and a mechanistic hypothesis for both is proposed.     

Highly regioselective thiocarbonylation of conjugated dienes via palladium-catalyzed three-component coupling reactions

Three-component coupling reaction of conjugated dienes, thiols, and carbon monoxide affords an atom-economical thiocarbonylation of the dienes to give beta,gamma-unsaturated thioesters as the sole products. A catalyst system based on [Pd(OAc)(2)] and Ph(3)P showed excellent catalytic activity. The thiocarbonylation was performed under an atmosphere of carbon monoxide (400 psi) at 110 degrees C in CH(2)Cl(2) for 60 h. A wide variety of thioesters were synthesized in good to excellent yields from easily accessible starting materials. The reaction is believed to proceed via a eta(3)-allylpalladium intermediate. The thiocarbonylation, which is applicable to a wide variety of conjugated dienes, occurs in high regioselectivity, the latter dependent on the steric characteristics and stability of the eta(3)-allylpalladium complex.     

A regioselective synthesis of 3-benzazepinones via intramolecular hydroamidation of acetylenes

Synthesis of 3-benzazepinones by palladium-catalyzed intramolecular addition of amides to alkynes is achieved. Phenyl acetylenes substituted in the ortho-position with tethered amide functionality were prepared in a few steps from readily available starting materials. It was found that 5% Pd(OAc)₂(PPh₃)₂ and KOH most effectively promoted cyclization. When the tethered group is an acetamide and an alkyl substituent is on the acetylene unit, regioselective 3-benzazepinone synthesis could be achieved in good yields.     

Novel synthesis of o-naphthothiophenequinone derivatives via regioselective Diels-Alder reaction

A novel procedure to construct o-naphthothiophenequinones has been achieved from readily available o-benzothiophenquinones and N-dienes via Diels-Alder reaction-aromatization sequence as key steps. The absolute regioselectivity was established via Diels-Alder reaction of o-benzothiophenquinones with rich electron N-dienes.     

Synthesis of dehydro-beta-amino esters via highly regioselective amination of allylic carbonates

The allylic amination of acetates and carbonates affords dehydro-beta-aminoesters, which are useful precursors of biologically active compounds. The uncatalyzed reaction proceeds via a S(N)2' mechanism. On the other hand, under palladium-catalyzed conditions, the reaction shows a strong solvent-dependent regiocontrol, affording exclusively one of the two possible regioisomers with complete transfer of chirality from the substrates to the products.     

Synthesis of glycolipid analogs via highly regioselective macrolactonization catalyzed by lipase

Highly regioselective lipase catalyzed macrolactonization has been used in synthesizing first feedstock based glycolipid analogs. These macrolides containing common disaccharides maltose (4-O-α-d-glucopyranosyl-β-d-glucose) and melibiose (6-O-α-d-galactopyranosyl-β-d-glucose) were synthesized by employing chemoenzymatic methodologies. Maltose and Melibiose were coupled with methyl 15-hydroxy pentadecanoate and then subjected to a highly regioselective macrolactonization at the C-6″ position using Candida antarctica lipase-B to yield the desired products.     

Iodine-induced regioselective direct alkylation of azoles via in situ formed alkyliodide

We have developed an efficient, metal-free, convenient and relatively cheap method for iodine-induced direct alkylation of azoles via in situ formed alkyliodide. A series of heterocyclic derivatives are readily prepared under mild conditions in moderate to good yields and high regioselectivity.     

Enantioselective total synthesis of (-)-curcuquinone via regioselective chromium-mediated benzannulation

[reaction: see text] A short and efficient, high-yielding enantioselective total synthesis of the marine natural product (-)-curcuquinone 1 is reported involving a regioselective [3 + 2 + 1]-benzannulation reaction as the key step. Additionally, this strategy allows the isolation of curcuhydroquinone monomethyl ether 9 as an intermediate of the benzannulation reaction and its subsequent further protection toward diversified hydroquinones.