A Cyclization Approach toward Five-Membered Heteroaromatic o-Quinodimethanes via Fused-3-Sulfolenes

A general strategy involving the zincation of 4-bromo-3-chloro-2-sulfolene, in situ condensation with an α-heterosubstituted acetaldehyde, and subsequent cyclization reaction as the key steps toward the synthesis of furano- and thieno-3-sulfolenes is described. These fused-3-sulfolenes are demonstrated to be good precursors for the corresponding o-quinodimethanes.     

Dialkylative Cyclization Reactions of 3-(Phenylthio)-3-Sulfolenes

3-(Phenylthio)-3-sulfolene (4) underwent bridged dialkylative cyclization with 2-methylene-1,3-diiodopropane to give the bridged bicyclic 3-sulfolene 23, and spirodialkylation with 1,4-diiodobutane and 1,5-diiodopentane to give the spiro bicyclic 3-sulfolenes 15 as the major product. The reaction of 4 with 1,3-diiodopropane led to the fused bicyclic 2-sulfolene 12. 3-(Phenylthio)-3-sulfolenes bearing an ω-iodoalkyl group at the C-2 position gave the fused bicyclic 2-sulfolenes 28 and/or the spiro bicyclic 3-sulfolene 29 depending on the chain length.     

The synthesis of oxides of sulfolene and some of its methyl derivatives

The synthesis of the oxides of 3-sulfolene, 2-methyl-3-sulfolene, and 3-methyl-3-sulfolene by the reaction of the corresponding 3-sulfolenes with peracetic acid has been described.     

Versatile method for the synthesis of 4-substituted 6-methyl-3-oxabicyclo[3.3.1]non-6-ene-1-methanol derivatives: Prins-type cyclization reaction catalyzed by hafnium triflate

A versatile method for the synthesis of 4-substituted 6-methyl-3-oxabicyclo[3.3.1]non-6-ene-1-methanol derivatives has been developed using Prins-type cyclization reaction between aldehydes and O-protected/unprotected cyclohex-3-ene-1,1-dimethanol. Under optimized reaction conditions using hafnium triflate, various substrates, including functionalized benzaldehydes and heteroaromatic carbaldehydes, afforded cyclization products in high yields.     

Efficient One-pot Synthesis of Pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinoline and Pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoline Derivatives

A one-pot sequential reaction for efficient synthesis of pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinoline and pyrrolo[1,2-a]-quinoline derivatives has been developed. The reaction included firstly the Cu-catalyzed three-component reaction of isoquinoline(quinoline), acetylenedicarboxylate and alkynylbenzene and then Cs₂CO₃-promoted intramolecular cyclization reaction of initially formed 1-alkenyl-2-alkynyl-1,2-dihydroisoquinoline(1,2-dihydroquinoline).     

Pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridines as p38 kinase inhibitors

[reaction: see text] A convergent synthesis of substituted pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridines has been achieved either via a regioselective [3 + 2] cycloaddition of N-aminopyridines with alkynes or by thermal cyclization of disubstituted azirines. Subsequent palladium-catalyzed introduction of pyridines or de novo synthesis of pyrimidines affords inhibitors of p38 kinase.     

Synthesis of 1-Tosyl-4,6-dihydrothieno[3,4-d]pyrazole 5,5-Dioxides as Precursors to Pyrazole Analogue of o-Quinodimethane

A facile synthesis of 3-substituted 1-tosyl-4,6-dihydrothieno[3,4-d]pyrazole 5,5-dioxides from readily prepared 3-(phenylthio)-4-acyl-3-sulfolenes and their use as precursors to o-dimethylene pyrazole in [4 + 2] cycloaddition are described.     

A new strategy toward the total synthesis of stachyflin,a potent anti-influenza A virus agent: concise route to the tetracyclic core structure

[reaction: see text] A new strategy directed toward the total synthesis of stachyflin, a potent and novel anti-influenza A virus agent isolated from a microorganism, has been presented through the enantioselective synthesis of the tetracyclic core structure. The synthetic method features a BF(3) x Et(2)O-induced domino epoxide-opening/rearrangement/cyclization reaction as the key step.     

Application of the Rh(II) cyclization/cycloaddition cascade for the total synthesis of (+/-)-aspidophytine

[Structure: see text] A new strategy for the synthesis of (+/-)-aspidophytine has been developed and is based on a Rh(II)-catalyzed cyclization/dipolar cycloaddition sequence. The resulting [3+2]-cycloadduct undergoes an efficient Lewis acid mediated cascade that rapidly provides the complete skeleton of aspidophytine. The synthesis also features a mild decarbomethoxylation reaction.     

Total Synthesis of Indole Alkaloid Alsmaphorazine D

A concise total synthesis of rac‐alsmaphorazine D has been described for the first time. The efficient synthetic strategy features four key transformations: 1) a catalytic intramolecular oxidative cyclization for the δ‐lactamindole backbone; 2) an oxidative cyclic aminal formation for the hexahydropyrrolo[2,3‐b]pyrrole framework; 3) a transannular radical cyclization for the construction of the diazabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane structure; and 4) a one‐pot desilylation/double epimerization reaction that affirms the relative stereochemistry.     

Stereoselective synthesis of the C(1)-C(19) fragment of tetrafibricin

[reaction: see text] A stereoselective synthesis of the C(1)-C(19) fragment of tetrafibricin has been accomplished via a highly diastereoselective double allylboration reaction of 6-8 and an iodonium ion promoted urethane cyclization for the installation of the C(15) alkoxy function in 3.     

Synthesis of the spirofungin B core by a reductive cyclization strategy

[reaction: see text] A reductive decyanation approach to the synthesis of the core of spirofungin B has been developed. Spirofungin B has only one anomeric stabilization in the spiroacetal and was isolated along with its spiroacetal epimer, spirofungin A. The cyclization precursor was constructed from readily available starting materials. The reductive cyclization reaction was both efficient and stereoselective. The reductive cyclization strategy to spiroacetals is convergent and effective.     

Total synthesis of (+/-)-cytisine via the intramolecular heck cyclization of activated N-alkyl glutarimides

[reaction:see text] A synthesis of racemic cytisine 1 has been developed utilizing an intramolecular Heck cyclization to prepare the bridged tricyclic intermediate 2. The cyclization employs activated glutarimide-derived ketene aminals 3 (X = P(O)OEt(2) or SO(2)CF(3)) and represents the first use of such intermediates in metal-catalyzed processes.     

Efficient oxidative radical cyclizations of ester enolates with carbocation desilylation as termination: synthesis of cyclopentanoid monoterpenes and analogues

[reaction: see text] An efficient oxidative radical cyclization approach for the synthesis of 2-alkenyl cyclopentane or cyclohexane carboxylates from omega-silylallyl ester enolates induced by recyclable SET oxidant ferrocenium hexafluorophosphate has been developed. A new tandem alkoxycarbonylation/oxidative radical cyclization/cationic termination process forms the basis for a five-step synthesis of the cyclopentanoid monoterpene dihydronepetalactone and analogues.     

A study of vinyl radical cyclization using N-alkenyl-7-bromo-substituted hexahydroindolinones

A new method for the synthesis of the octahydropyrrolo[3,2,1-ij]quinoline ring system that possesses the characteristic skeleton of the aspidosperma family of alkaloids has been developed. The method utilizes an intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction of an amido-substituted furan across a tethered indole pi-bond. To apply this strategy to the synthesis of the indole alkaloid spegazzinidine, it was necessary to address the problem of assembling the final D-ring of the pentacyclic skeleton. Radical cyclization of a model N-allyl-7-bromo-3a-methylhexahydroindolinone system was found to preferentially lead to the 6-endo-trig cyclization product, with the best yield being obtained under high dilution conditions. The six-membered cyclized product is generated through two reaction pathways: (a) 6-endo-trig ring closure and (b) rearrangement of an intermediate methylene-cyclopentyl radical obtained by 5-exo-trig cyclization. A number of related 7-bromo-substituted hexahydroindolinones containing tethered olefinic groups were prepared and found to undergo efficient cyclization under both radical and palladium-mediated reaction conditions. Vinyl radical cyclization with several N-butenyl-substituted systems afforded a mixture of 6-exo and 7-endo cyclization products. A protocol to introduce an ethyl substituent into the C20-position of the aspidospermidine skeleton was also developed.     

Investigation of the regioselectivity of the Hurd-Mori reaction for the formation of bicyclic 1,2,3-thiadiazoles

A series of new pyrrolo[d][1,2,3]thiadiazole carboxylates and 5,6-dihydro-4H-cyclopenta[d][1,2,3]thiadiazoles has been synthesized via the Hurd-Mori reaction. The regioselectivity of the cyclization has been studied and trends were established to predict the cyclization direction to afford bicyclic 1,2,3-thiadiazoles. Effects promoting and disfavoring the reaction have also been investigated to guide the synthesis of scaffolds of this type.     

Synthesis of naphthalenes and 2-naphthols by the electrophilic cyclization of alkynes

[reactions: see text] A wide variety of substituted naphthalenes are readily prepared regioselectively under mild reaction conditions by the 6-endo-dig electrophilic cyclization of appropriate arene-containing propargylic alcohols by ICl, I2, Br2, NBS, and PhSeBr. 3-Iodo-2-naphthols have also been prepared in excellent yields by the cyclization of analogous 1-aryl-3-alkyn-2-ones. This methodology readily accommodates various functional groups and has been successfully extended to the synthesis of substituted carbazoles and dibenzothiophenes.     

Substitution Reactions of Sulchemfonylated Sulfolenes with the Carbanion of Dimethyl Malonate

The reactions of 4-alkyl-4-(phenylsulfonyl)-2-sulfolenes with excess carbanion of dimethyl malonate in refluxing THF have been studied. The substitution reaction takes place at the 3-position via an addition-elimination process so that 3,4-disubstituted 2-sulfolenes are obtained. These products are isomerized to the corresponding3-sulfolenes under basic conditions.     

Prins cyclizations in silyl additives with suppression of epimerization: versatile tool in the synthesis of the tetrahydropyran backbone of natural products

[reactions: see text] A catalytic Prins cyclization reaction has been developed. The involvement of trimethylsilyl halides offers a versatile route to the formation of cis-4-halo-2,6-disubstituted tetrahydropyran rings. The problem of epimerization in Prins cyclization has also been addressed in the total synthesis of (-)-centrolobine using this methodology.     

Epoxide-initiated electrophilic cyclization of azides: a novel route for the stereoselective construction of azabicyclic ring systems and total synthesis of (+/-)-indolizidine 167B and 209D

[reaction: see text] A novel and general method for the stereoselective construction of 5-hydroxymethyl azabicyclic ring skeletons based on epoxide initiated electrophilic cyclization of azides has been developed and applied in the synthesis of (+/-)-indolizidine 167B and 209D with an overall yield of 16.5% and 17.8%, respectively. The efficiency of this methodology is further exemplified in the synthesis of azepine skeleton via tandem cation-olefin-azide cyclization.