Towards the development of synthetic routes using theoretical calculations: an application of in silico screening to 2,6-dimethylchroman-4-one

This study describes an attempt to develop a synthetic route using theoretical calculations, i.e., in silico synthesis route development. The KOSP program created four potential synthetic routes for generating 2,6-dimethylchroman-4-one. In silico screening of these four synthetic routes was then performed. In silico screening involves theoretical analysis of synthetic routes prior to actual experimental work. A synthetic route using the Mitsunobu reaction had already been reported by Hoddgets et al. Theoretical investigations were also conducted on two S(N)Ar reactions as well as a Michael reaction before they were examined experimentally. In silico screening using DFT calculations indicated that only the Michael reaction was likely to produce the target. Experimental work confirmed that the target was obtained in a yield of 76.4% using the Michael reaction. The other two routes, except for the Mitsunobu reaction, failed to generate the target. Our results demonstrate that theoretical calculations can be used to narrow down the number of experiments that need to be conducted when developing novel synthetic routes.     

Current applications of organocatalysts in asymmetric aldol reactions: An update

The aldol reaction is one of the most important carbon–carbon bond formations in synthetic organic chemistry. An enantioselective aldol reaction should provide an enantioenriched product. The organocatalytic asymmetric aldol reaction via an in situ generated enamine intermediate is one of the most powerful synthetic tools to achieve enantiomerically pure products. This approach is often used to obtain chiral β-hydroxycarbonyl compounds with excellent enantioselectivity. In this report, we update our previous review regarding the applications of organocatalysts in asymmetric aldol reactions leading to chiral β-hydroxycarbonyl compounds as versatile synthetic motifs frequently found in pharmaceutically desired intermediates and biologically active naturally occurring compounds.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Intermolecular Aryliodination of Internal Alkynes

A completely atom economical palladium‐catalyzed addition reaction has been developed to stereoselectively access functionalized tetrasubstituted alkenyl iodides. The palladium catalyst, which bears an electron‐poor bidentate ligand rarely employed in catalysis, is essential to promote the high yielding and chemoselective intermolecular reaction between equimolar amounts of an alkyne and an aryl iodide. This new carbohalogenation reaction is an attractive alternative to traditional synthetic methods, which rely on multistep synthetic sequences and protecting‐group manipulations.     

计量合成学的产生与发展

对计量合成学的产生与发展及其研究与应用进行了综论，强调了计量化学在合成中的应用，集中在开发有机合成反应的决策及战术方面，通过试验设计对反应体系深入探索及通过自适应建模对试验条件的系统优化和通过综合评价对合成产物的全面考察，将有机反应开发为合成方法，参考文献３５篇。     

Alternative synthetic route to annulated diaminopyrimidines

We report an alternative synthetic approach to annulated diaminopyrimidines based on a one-pot process, in which a Thorpe–Ziegler cyclization of a dinitrile is followed by in situ reaction with a cyanamide under highly concentrated and basic conditions. The total reaction can be carried out as fast as 30 min. The reaction mechanism is discussed. This one-pot synthetic route is universally applicable to a large variety of cyanamides and dinitriles, even natural products, to afford complex annulated diaminopyrimidines.     

A rapid synthetic method of pyridobenzodiazepines

A new one-pot Bischler–Napeiralski type cyclization reaction between pyridine-1,2-diamines and various carboxylic acids with PPA as catalyst to prepare pyridobenzodiazepines is proposed. In the new synthetic route, the reaction time is only one-third of the methods reported. The synthetic strategy provides an efficient way to prepare novel structurally diversified heterocyclic compounds of pyridobenzodiazepine family with potential pharmaceutical or biological activities.     

Transannular Diels-Alder studies on the asymmetric total synthesis of chatancin: the pyranophane approach

[reaction: see text] A pathway is proposed for the biosynthesis of (+)-chatancin and (+)-sarcophytin linking these tetracycles to cembranoids by a pyranophane transannular Diels-Alder reaction. Preliminary synthetic results in this direction to reach macrocyclic dienedione 28 from farnesol are reported. Major synthetic steps include a Prins reaction, two enantioselective hydrogenations, and a macrocyclization via a beta-ketosulfoxide Michael-addition on an enone.     

Fluoride-promoted rearrangement of organo silicon compounds: a new synthesis of 2-(arylmethyl)aldehydes from 1-alkynes

A new approach to 2-(arylmethyl)aldehydes 4 based upon a 1,2-anionotropic rearrangement of an aryl group is presented. The synthetic sequence begins with a silylformylation reaction of terminal acetylenes 5 with aryl and heteroaryl silanes 6, followed by treatment of the products (Z)-1 with TBAF. The optimization of the experimental conditions of the fluoride-promoted step is described, together with the synthetic potentialities of the process. A plausible mechanism of the rearrangement reaction is reported that suggests the addition of the fluoride ion to the arylsilicon moiety of beta-silylalkenals (Z)-1 and the consequent migration of the aryl group to the adjacent carbon atom. Both aryl and heteroaryl substituents can rearrange without any loss of configuration. Bromo-functionalized substrates undergo an intramolecular reaction that affords exclusively carbacyclobenzyl aldehydes, further enhancing the high synthetic value of this method.     

Enantioselective synthesis of (--)-gilbertine via a cationic cascade cyclization

Described is the first enantioselective synthesis of (-)-gilbertine (2), a member of the uleine-type family, and the determination of the absolute configuration of this natural product is reported. The key step employs a cationic cascade reaction for a tetrahydropyrane and piperidine ring formation and the construction of the pentacyclic framework in one step. The synthetic strategy utilizes the Shibasaki reaction to build up the first stereogenic center. A formylation reaction of a 3-substituted cyclohexanone derivative was achieved, giving only the desired regioisomer. The Japp-Klingemann Fischer indole protocol was used successfully as a convergent synthetic approach for the construction of the desired tetrahydrocarbazole (20). Furthermore, an unexpected behavior of this 2,3-disubstituted cyclohexanone derivative during an epimerization process was investigated, resulting in different chemical behavior of the enantiomers and the racemate. The diastereomeric resolution was achieved via the cationic cascade reaction, demonstrating the versatility of this approach. Significantly, the synthetic 17-step sequence was easy to execute, giving (-)-gilbertine in 5.5% overall yield.     

Cu(I)/Chiral Bisoxazoline-Catalyzed Enantioselective Doyle-Kirmse Reaction of Allenyl Sulfides with α-Diazoesters

Herein, a Cu(I)-catalyzed enantioselective Doyle-Kirmse reaction of allenyl sulfides and α-diazoesters is reported, which provides an efficient synthetic route to enantio-enriched chiral tertiary homopropargylic sulfides. This reaction features high enantioselectivities (up to 96 % ee) and good functional group tolerance. The alkyl substituted α-diazoester has also been demonstrated as the efficient substrates in the asymmetric Doyle-Kirmse reaction. Mechanistic studies, including kinetic experiments, were conducted to gain insights into the details of the reaction pathway. The potential synthetic utility of this protocol has also been demonstrated.     

Improved synthesis of functionalized 2,2'-bipyrroles

A series of 2,2'-bipyrroles has been efficiently synthesized using an improved synthetic approach based on Pd(0)-catalyzed homocoupling of various 2-iodopyrroles. This new synthetic approach takes place at room temperature and in the presence of water. Functional groups such as formyl, ester, and nitrile are able to survive these reaction conditions. Solvents are found to play an important role in this reaction.     

Asymmetric Total Synthesis of Propindilactone G,Part 1: Initial Attempts towards the Synthesis of Schiartanes

Our first‐generation synthetic study towards the total synthesis of propindilactone G ( 1 ) and its analogues is reported. The key synthetic steps were an intramolecular Pauson–Khand reaction (PKR) and a vinylogous Mukaiyama reaction (VMAR). The stereoselective synthesis of the CDE ring moiety with an all‐carbon quaternary center through a PKR was difficult, whilst a VMAR afforded a product with the opposite stereochemistry at the C20 position on the side chain. These results led us to redesign our synthetic strategy for the total synthesis of compound 1 .     

Structure elucidation of an unexpected product from dehydration of a beta-hydroxyketone

The structure of an unexpected compound from the dehydration of an aldol addition product has been determined using 1-D and 2-D NMR techniques. This reaction is the last step in a new synthetic approach to the galanthan ring system. Complete 1H and 13C NMR assignments for two synthetic precursors are also reported.     

二芳基脯氨醇衍生物催化的硝基烯参与的多组分不对称串联合成研究进展

硝基烯是一类重要的有机合成子,以硝基烯烃为原料,二芳基脯氨醇衍生物催化的多组分不对称串联反应是构建复杂手性化合物的重要方法,被广泛应用于有机合成和新药开发领域.根据构建的目标化合物类型,较全面地总结了基于二芳基脯氨醇衍生物催化、硝基烯为合成子的多组分不对称串联反应的合成研究,从反应的催化剂体系、反应机理、实验结果、反应优点、存在的问题和局限性等方面进行介绍,并对今后的发展做出展望.     

Diastereoselective Reformatsky reaction of methyl 4-bromocrotonate with 1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-α-d-ribo-hexofuranos-3-ulose: application to novel bicyclic nucleosides

This paper describes an efficient synthetic route for novel bicyclic nucleosides. The stereochemistry of the targeted bicyclic nucleosides was successfully achieved by vinylogous Reformatsky reaction and ring closing metathesis reaction on a carbohydrate backbone.     

Angular hydroxymethyl directed intramolecular Diels-Alder approach for the stereo- and regioselective synthesis of pimaraditerpenes

The stereo- and regioselective synthetic route to pimaraditerpenes, employing an angular hydroxymethyl directed intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction of the decaline intermediate, has been developed. This synthetic approach allows prompt access to both natural pimaraditerpenes and the unnatural regioisomers, which would be potentially new anti-inflammatory pimaraditerpenes.     

Streamlined Synthesis of Diaminopyridines by Pd-Catalyzed Ammonia Coupling with Deactivated Amino-Chloropyridines

An efficient and cost-effective two-step synthesis of diaminopyridines, fundamental building blocks of biologically active compounds, is reported. The advantages over previously reported routes include cost and wider availability of the bromo-chloropyridine starting materials and the straightforward accessibility to an extended array of diaminopyridine regioisomers. The key enabler of this synthetic strategy is the development of an unprecedented palladium-catalyzed coupling reaction of ammonia with chloropyridines deactivated by the presence of an alkylamino substituent. The coupling reaction was accomplished with very low catalyst loadings under remarkably mild reaction conditions, making the system particularly suitable for both academic and industrial applications. The utility of this methodology is exemplified by the application to the synthesis of highly relevant scaffolds, including the synthetic intermediates of the marketed drugs Ribociclib and Palbociclib.     

The preparation of poly(aryl ether ketones) by the use of trifluoromethanesulfonic acid

Two synthetic routes were used for the preparation of aromatic poly(ether ketones): Friedel-Crafts acylation and aromatic nucleophilic substitution. The first route involved the reaction of diphenyl ether and terephthalic acid dichloride in trifluoromethane-sulfonic acid. The addition of trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride or phosphorus pentoxide resulted in increased molecular weights. The second synthetic route involved the synthesis of an amorphous tert -butyl-substituted poly(ether ketone) prepolymer. Subsequently, the tert -butyl groups were removed by a reversed Friedel-Crafts alkylation reaction yielding the crystalline polymer PEEK. The dealkylation reaction was performed in trifluoromethanesulfonic acid. The addition of a tert -butyl group acceptor resulted in high dealkylation conversions.     

Total synthesis of borrelidin

The total synthesis of borrelidin has been achieved. The best feature of our synthetic route is macrocyclization at C11-C12 for the construction of an 18-membered ring after esterification between two segments. A detailed examination of the macrocyclization led us to the samarium(II) iodide-mediated intramolecular Reformatsky-type reaction as the most efficient synthetic approach. The two key segments were synthesized through regioselective methylation, directed hydrogenation, stereoselective Reformatsky-type reaction, and MgBr2.Et2O-mediated chelation-controlled allylation.     

Synthesis of Difluoromethylthioesters from Aldehydes

Difluoromethylthioester compounds are yet another important kind of organofluorine compound and are reported here for the first time. They can be efficiently synthesized from various aldehydes. The synthetic method features mild reaction conditions, good tolerance of functional groups, broad substrate scope, and importantly, no metal is involved in the reaction. The approach has the potential to become an important tool for the late‐stage functionalization of advanced synthetic intermediates, and should have many applications in medicinal chemistry.