Palladium‐Catalyzed Asymmetric [4+3] Cyclization of Trimethylenemethane: Regio‐, Diastereo‐, and Enantioselective Construction of Benzofuro[3,2‐b]azepine Skeletons

The palladium‐catalyzed asymmetric [4+3] cyclization of trimethylenemethane donors with benzofuran‐derived azadienes furnishes chiral benzofuro[3,2‐b]azepine frameworks in high yields (up to 98 %) with exclusive regioselectivities and excellent stereoselectivities (up to >20:1 d.r., >99 % ee). This catalytic asymmetric [4+3] cyclization of Pd‐trimethylenemethane can enrich the arsenal of Pd‐TMM reactions in organic synthesis. In addition, this strategy provides an alternative approach to chiral azepines by a transition‐metal‐catalyzed asymmetric [4+3] cyclization.     

Lyotropic Supramolecular Helical Columnar Phases Formed by C3‐Symmetric and Unsymmetric Rigid Molecules

Unlike thermotropic liquid‐crystalline C₃‐symmetric molecules with flexible chains, the herein‐designed fully rigid three‐armed molecules (C₃‐symmetric and unsymmetric) create a fancy architecture for the formation of lyotropic liquid crystals in water. First, hollow columns with triple‐stranded helices, analogous to helical rosette nanotubes, are spontaneously constructed by self‐organization of the rigid three‐armed molecules. Then, the helical nanotubes arrange into hexagonal liquid‐crystalline phases, which show macroscopic chirality as a result of supramolecular chiral symmetry breaking. Interestingly, the helical nanotubes constructed by the fully rigid molecules are robust and stable over a wide concentration range in water. They are hardly affected by ionic defects at the molecular periphery, that is, further decoration of functional groups on the molecular arms can presumably be realized without changing the helical conformation. In addition, the formed columnar phases can be aligned macroscopically by simple shear and show anisotropic ionic conductivity, which suggests promising applications for low‐dimensional ion‐conductive materials.     

Synthesis of Enantiopure C3‐Symmetric Triangular Molecules

An asymmetric synthesis of C ₃‐symmetric triangular macrocycles is reported. 1‐Methylsulfonyl‐4‐(4‐vinylphenyl)‐1,2,3‐triazole undergoes a rhodium(II)‐catalyzed cyclotrimerization to establish an enantiopure C ₃‐symmetric triangular macrocycle motif. This method can be applied to the synthesis of an enantiopure hydrocarbon, which owes its chirality to asymmetric distribution of H/D atoms on the benzene rings.     

Formal Total Synthesis of (−)‐Apicularen A by a Strategy Based on Ring‐Closing Metathesis and Transannular Cyclization

A formal synthesis of (?)‐apicularen A, a potent antitumor agent with unique biological properties, has been completed in a 15‐step sequence starting from a known, enantiomerically pure hydroxyepoxide, which was generated by using the Jacobsen hydrolytic‐kinetic‐resolution methodology. The 12‐membered macrocyclic lactone in the target was constructed by ring‐closing metathesis, and the trans‐tetrahydropyran ring system was created through the transannular etherification of a hydroxyalkene.     

Diazadithia[7]helicenes: Synthetic Exploration,Solid‐State Structure,and Properties

Diazadithia[7]helicenes were synthesized from the readily available building block ethyl 7‐chloro‐8‐formylthieno[3,2‐f]quinoline‐2‐carboxylate by a Wittig reaction–photocyclization strategy. The helicene core was functionalized by nucleophilic aromatic substitution with a variety of nucleophiles (e.g., O‐, N‐, and C‐centered) and palladium‐catalyzed reactions such as Suzuki coupling and Buchwald–Hartwig amination. Racemization studies confirmed that the enantiopure forms of these [7]helicenes are conformationally stable compared to their lower analogues. The solid‐state structures of the novel diazadithia[7]helicenes were determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The crystal structures of these azathia[7]helicenes show columnar stacking in antiparallel fashion. The HOMO–LUMO gaps of the new compounds were determined on the basis of electrochemical and optical measurements.     

Regioselective Functionalization of 3‐Hydroxy‐pyridine Carboxylates by Neighboring Group Assistance

Regioselective hydrolysis, transesterification, and aminolysis of unactivated, highly substituted pyridine esters were realized under mild conditions by employing neighboring group assisted catalysis. Excellent yields were achieved without active removal of the alcohol byproduct. Regioselective aminolysis had a considerable substrate scope ([hetero]aryl, alkyl and amino acid). A mechanism involving assistance by the deprotonated phenolic OH‐group is suggested for hydrolysis and transesterification.     

Facile Synthesis of 4‐H‐Pyran Derivatives Bearing Indole Skeleton via [3+3] Cyclization of 3‐Indolyl‐3‐oxopropanenitriles with Dialkyl Acetylenedicarboxylates and Isocyanides

An efficient multicomponent reaction of 3‐indolyl‐3‐oxopropanenitriles with dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates and isocyanides under mild conditions leading to highly functionalized 6‐(indol‐3‐yl)‐4H‐pyrans in moderate to good yields has been developed.     

A novel C2 symmetric chiral stationary phase with N‐[(4‐Methylphenyl)sulfonyl]‐l‐leucine as chiral side chains

In this study, a series of chiral stationary phases based on N‐[(4‐methylphenyl)sulfonyl]‐l ‐leucine amide, whose enantiorecognition property has never been studied, were synthesized. Their enantioseparation abilities were chromatographically evaluated by 67 enantiomers. The chiral stationary phase derived from N‐[(4‐methylphenyl)sulfonyl]‐l ‐leucine showed much better enantioselectivities than that based on N‐(4‐methylbenzoyl)‐l ‐leucine amide. The construction of C₂ symmetric chiral structure greatly improved the enantiorecognition performance of the stationary phase. The C₂ symmetric chiral stationary phase exhibited superior enantioresolutions to other chiral stationary phases for most of the chiral analytes, especially for the chiral analytes with C₂ symmetric structures. By comparing the enantioseparations of the enantiomers with similar structures, the importance of hydrogen bond interaction, π–π interaction, and steric hindrance on enantiorecognition was elucidated. The enantiorecognition mechanism of trans‐N,N′‐(1,2‐diphenyl‐1,2‐ethanediyl)bis‐acetamide, which had an excellent separation factor on the C₂ symmetric chiral stationary phase, was investigated by ¹H‐NMR spectroscopy and 2D ¹H‐¹H nuclear overhauser enhancement spectroscopy.     

A New Approach to Enantiopure C3‐Symmetric Molecules

Chiral base chemistry has been used to create three chiral centres in one pot on a C₃‐symmetric substrate. The potential of this new approach to C₃‐symmetric molecules is exemplified by the creation of an enantiopure C_3v‐symmetric triol, triphosphane and tripyridine. A ruthenium complex of the last compound has been studied by X‐ray crystallography.     

Dioxygen‐Triggered Transannular Dearomatization of Benzo[5]helicene Diols: Highly Efficient Synthesis of Chiral π‐Extended Diones

Oxidative dearomatization is a powerful strategy in organic synthesis. However, reports on using dioxygen as the oxidant, as it is environmentally friendly, readily available (air), and easy to handle, are rather limited. Helicene diols can undergo transannular dearomatization triggered by dioxygen to give diones in quantitative yields within several minutes. By virtue of this, the chirality is successfully transferred from helicity to central chirality to form distorted π‐extended diones having two all‐carbon quaternary stereocenters. The optical resolution was achieved by column chromatography, and the structures and the absolute configurations of the chiral diones were determined by X‐ray analysis.     

Organo‐ and Organometallic‐Catalytic Intramolecular [1,5]‐Hydride Transfer/Cyclization Process through C(sp3)–H Bond Activation

The direct functionalization of C(sp³)–H bonds is one of the most synthetically powerful research areas in current organic synthesis. Organocatalytic C(sp³)–H bond activation reactions have recently been developed in addition to the traditional metal‐catalyzed C(sp³)–H activation reactions. In this review, we aim to give a brief overview of organo‐ and organometallic internal redox cascade reactions with respect to the mechanism, the reactivity of hydrogen donors and acceptors, and the migration modes of hydrogen.

     

σ‐Aromaticity‐Induced Stabilization of Heterometallic Supertetrahedral Clusters [Zn6Ge16]4− and [Cd6Ge16]4−

In this work, the largest heterometallic supertetrahedral clusters, [Zn₆Ge₁₆]^4? and [Cd₆Ge₁₆]^4?, were directly self‐assembled through highly‐charged [Ge₄]^4? units and transition metal cations, in which 3‐center–2‐electron σ bonding in Ge₂Zn or Ge₂Cd triangles plays a vital role in the stabilization of the whole structure. The cluster structures have an open framework with a large central cavity of diameter 4.6 Å for Zn and 5.0 Å for Cd, respectively. Time‐dependent HRESI‐MS spectra show that the larger clusters grow from smaller components with a single [Ge₄]^4? and ZnMes₂ units. Calculations performed at the DFT level indicate a very large HOMO–LUMO energy gap in [M₆Ge₁₆]^4? (2.22 eV), suggesting high kinetic stability that may offer opportunities in materials science. These observations offer a new strategy for the assembly of heterometallic clusters with high symmetry.     

Triggering Gel Formation and Luminescence through Donor–Acceptor Interactions in a C3‐Symmetric Tris(pyrene) System

Straightforward modulation of the gelation, absorption and luminescent properties of a tris(pyrene) organogelator containing a C₃‐symmetric benzene‐1,3,5‐tricarboxamide central unit functionalized by three 3,3′‐diamino‐2,2′‐bipyridine fragments is achieved through donor–acceptor interactions in the presence of tetracyanoquinodimethane.     

5-雄烯-3β, 7α, 17β-三醇和5-雄烯-3β, 7β, 17β-三醇的合成

以5-雄烯二醇为原料,用微生物转化的方法合成了两个重要的神经甾体5-雄烯-3β, 7α, 17β-三醇和5-雄烯-3β, 7β, 17β-三醇。所用菌种总枝毛霉为我们自己筛选,并首次应用于5-雄烯-3β, 7α, 17β-三醇和5-雄烯-3β, 7β, 17β-三醇的合成中。     

From Racemic Compound to Spontaneous Resolution: A Linker‐Imposed Evolution of Chiral [MnMo9O32]6−‐Based Polyoxometalate Compounds

Five compounds based on [MnMo₉O₃₂]^6?: (Himi)₆[MnMo₉O₃₂] ( 1 ) (imi=imidazole), Na₂(Himi)₄[MnMo₉O₃₂] ? 2 H₂O ( 2 ), Na₃(Himi)₃[MnMo₉O₃₂] ( 3 ), D ‐NH₄Mn_2.5[MnMo₉O₃₂] ? 11 H₂O ( 4 a ), and L ‐NH₄Mn_2.5[MnMo₉O₃₂] ? 11 H₂O ( 4 b ) were prepared and characterized. X‐ray crystallographic analysis revealed that compounds 1 and 2 with imidazole molecules as linkers are racemic compounds; compound 3 is a racemic solid solution of Na⁺ cations and the polyoxoanion [MnMo₉O₃₂]^6?; and compounds 4 a and 4 b are enantiomers. In compound 4 , the homochiral polyoxoanions [MnMo₉O₃₂]^6? are connected by Mn²⁺ cations to form a unique (4⁵ ? 6)(4⁷ ? 6⁸) topology net framework. By adjusting the linkers from imidazole molecules to Na⁺ and finally Mn²⁺ cations, the chiral polyoxoanions [MnMo₉O₃₂]^6? were changed from a racemic compound to a conglomerate. This means that spontaneous resolution can be efficiently realized by connecting homochiral polyoxoanions into one‐dimensional (1D), 2D, and 3D structures, with an emphasis on using appropriate linkers with substantial interaction strength, directionality, and enantioselectivity.     

Reaction of 1,1′‐Divinyl Ferrocene with One‐Electron Oxidants: Entry into Functionalised [4]Ferrocenophanes and Observation of an Isotope‐Dependent Chemoselectivity Effect

1,1′‐Divinyl ferrocene ( 2 ) reacts with K₃[Fe(CN)₆] under basic biphasic conditions to give a [4]ferrocenophane ( 4 ) in good yield. Incorporating deuterium labels into the internal positions of the vinyl groups of 2 affects the chemoselectivity of the reaction; thus under identical reaction conditions, [D₂]‐ 2 reacts to provide a diol‐functionalised [4]ferrocenophane, [D₂]‐D /L ‐ 6 in addition to the expected keto‐alcohol, [D₁]‐ 4 . Variants on this one‐electron oxidative cyclisation methodology can be used to give other [4]ferrocenophanes; thus, the reaction of 2 with CuCl₂ in MeOH or iPrOH leads to dialkoxy [4]ferrocenophanes 19 and 20 , respectively, whereas the reaction of 2 with benzyl carbamate in the presence of tBuOCl gives a bis(carbamate)[4]ferrocenophane, 21 . Mechanisms to account for the formation of the products, the stereoselectivity, and the unusual isotope‐dependent chemoselectivity in the reaction of 2 and [D₂]‐ 2 with K₃[Fe(CN)₆] are proposed.