Total synthesis of aristolactams via a one-pot suzuki-miyaura coupling/aldol condensation cascade reaction

A direct one-pot synthesis of phenanthrene lactams, which employs a Suzuki-Miyaura coupling/aldol condensation cascade reaction of isoindolin-1-one with 2-formylphenylboronic acid, has been developed. The approach is used to efficiently produce a number of natural aristolactams, such as aristolactam BII (cepharanone B), aristolactam BIII, aristolactam FI (piperolactam A), N-methyl piperolactam A, and sauristolactam.     

Stereocontrolled synthesis of fully functionalized D-glucosamine monosaccharides via a domino nitro-Michael/Henry reaction

A diastereoselective domino nitro-Michael/Henry reaction involving a beta-hydroxyaldehyde and a nitroalkene provides direct access to fully functionalized D-glucosamine monosaccharides.     

Total synthesis of (−)-diospongin A and (+)-cryptofolione via asymmetric aldol reaction

Stereoselective synthesis of two distinctive pyranone skeletons diospongin A and cryptofolione has been described based on an asymmetric aldol reaction starting from Chan’s diene. The synthetic strategy involves the enantioselective Mukaiyama aldol, diastereoselective reduction of δ-hydroxy-β-keto ester, a tandem sequence of deprotection, and intramolecular oxa-Michael reaction to obtain diospongin A and an asymmetric allylation and lactone formation using ring-closing metathesis reaction to obtain cryptofolione.     

Direct one-pot synthesis of phenanthrenes via Suzuki-Miyaura coupling/aldol condensation cascade reaction

We have developed an efficient cascade reaction, a Suzuki-Miyaura coupling followed by an aldol condensation, for the construction of phenanthrene derivatives using microwave irradiation. For example, the reaction of methyl 2-bromophenylacetamide with 2-formylphenylboronic acid in the presence of a palladium catalyst and a base provided a biaryl intermediate, which underwent in situ cyclization to afford the corresponding phenanthrene in high yield.     

Total synthesis of gabosines via an iron-catalyzed intramolecular tandem aldol process

Several gabosines, belonging to polyhydroxy-cyclohexenone and cyclohexanone class of natural products, are synthesized in various stereoforms using an intramolecular iron-catalyzed tandem aldol process. The reaction, which starts from vinylic pyranoses, is compatible with two different OH protecting groups (acetyl and benzyl). Further, like the Ferrier carbocyclisation, it is not sensitive to the stereochemistry of sugar molecules used as precursors: six different gabosine-type molecules have been prepared by this route starting from d-Glucose, d-Mannose, and d-Galactose derivatives.     

Total synthesis of khafrefungin using highly stereoselective vinylogous Mukaiyama aldol reaction

[structure: see text] A convergent total synthesis of khafrefungin was accomplished on the basis of (1) the highly stereoselective TiCl4-mediated vinylogous Mukaiyama aldol reaction using vinylketene silyl N,O-acetal and (2) syn-selective aldol reaction of enal 5a and ethyl ketone 6 followed by anti-dehydration under Mitsunobu conditions.     

Total synthesis of buergerinin F via effective construction of the asymmetric quaternary carbons using an enantioselective aldol reaction

An efficient method for the synthesis of (+)-buergerinin F is established via the enantioselective aldol reaction of a tetra-substituted ketene silyl acetal with crotonaldehyde, followed by intramolecular Wacker-type ketalization.     

Total synthesis of anthocyanidins via Heck reaction

Anthocyanidin moiety was obtained by cyclization of a 2-hydroxychalcone prepared by the Heck approach to the synthesis of flavonoids. 1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-prop-2-en-1-one has been used as a coupling partner along with o-acetoxyiodobenzene in the Heck reaction.     

Facile synthesis of oxaspirobicyclic butenolides via a domino Michael addition/aldol reaction/γ-lactonization sequence

A three-component domino reaction approach between a primary amine, a dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylate, and 1,3-dimethylalloxan that affords novel oxaspirobicyclic γ-butenolidobarbiturate derivatives is reported. The reaction sequence consists of an initial Michael-addition of primary amines to dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates, followed by aldol-like reaction with 1,3-dimethylalloxan, and then γ-lactonization to afford the products. This cascade reaction sequence represents a rapid and unprecedented route to the described biologically interesting molecules.     

Total synthesis of (+/-)-taiwaniaquinol B via a domino intramolecular friedel-crafts acylation/carbonyl alpha-tert-alkylation reaction

The first synthesis of taiwaniaquinol B, a 6-nor-5(6-->7)abeoabietane-type diterpenoid exhibiting the uncommon fused 6-5-6 tricyclic carbon skeleton, was accomplished in 15 steps. A Lewis acid-promoted tandem intramolecular Friedel-Crafts/carbonyl alpha-tert-alkylation reaction was exploited as the core strategy for the synthesis of the sterically congested 1-indanone-containing tricyclic structure. This multiple carbon-carbon bond forming reaction exploits the unique reactivity of Meldrum's acid. The facile precursor synthesis makes this a useful methodology for the expedient modification and assembly of sterically congested 1-indanone-containing ring systems.     

Asymmetric aldol reaction via memory of chirality

Asymmetric aldol reactions of α-amino acid derivatives via memory of chirality were developed. Chiral oxazolidones with contiguous tetra- and trisubstituted chiral centers were obtained in 78-94% ee by the asymmetric aldol reaction followed by intramolecular acylation.     

Toward the synthesis of (+)-peloruside A via an intramolecular vinylogous aldol reaction

The use of the intramolecular vinylogous aldol reaction for the preparation of an advanced intermediate for the synthesis of peloruside A is described. The reaction was applied to compound 19 and proceeds in high yield and good levels of diastereoselectivity. Application of the Achmatowicz reaction to this intermediate provided the corresponding pyranone, a late stage intermediate well positioned for conversion to the natural product.     

Concise enantioselective synthesis of duloxetine via direct catalytic asymmetric aldol reaction of thioamide

Direct catalytic asymmetric aldol reaction of thioamide offers a new entry to the concise enantioselective synthesis of duloxetine. The direct aldol protocol was scalable (>20 g) to afford the aldol product in 92% ee after LiAlH(4) reduction, and 84% of the chiral ligand was recovered after recrystallization. The following four steps of transformation delivered duloxetine.     

Construction of polyheterocyclic spirotetrahydrothiophene derivatives via sulfa-Michael/aldol cascade reaction

A series of polyheterocyclic spirotetrahydrothiophene derivatives were obtained in moderate to excellent yields via a catalyst-free sulfa-Michael/aldol cascade reaction of chalcones 1 and commercially available 1,4-dithiane-2,5-diol 2 under mild conditions. We also present the first asymmetric sulfa-Michael/aldol cascade reaction of chalcones 1 and commercially available 1,4-dithiane-2,5-diol 2 with moderate to good enantioselectivities catalyzed by readily available chiral phase-transfer catalysts (PTCs).     

Total synthesis of spirotryprostatin B via diastereoselective prenylation

Spirotryprostatin B was synthesized in eight steps, utilizing an efficient palladium-catalyzed prenylation reaction to construct the quaternary C3 stereocenter. The decarboxylation-alkylation of a series of substituted beta-keto esters is described, demonstrating the broad scope of this class of pronucleophiles and allylating agents.     

Total synthesis of (+)-cassaine via transannular Diels-Alder reaction

A full account of the total synthesis of (+)-cassaine ( 1) using the transannular Diels-Alder (TADA) reaction as the pivotal construction is described. The strategy began from Evans' oxazolidine 8, the only chiral source used for the total stereochemical outcome of the target molecule. The key intermediate 3 was obtained from 8 in 10 steps in 40% overall yield. Following extensive optimization, the coupling of 3 on both ends with another densely functional partner 2 followed by TADA reaction on macrocycle 4 cleanly furnished the tricycle 5. The stereochemical outcome in 5 was expected via a least-energetic transition state T4. A stereoselective reduction, hydroboration, and methyl cuprate 1,4-addition along with a few other functional interconversions transformed 5 into the key intermediate 37. Final tethering of dimethylaminoethyloxycarbonyl along with epimerization at C8 and alcohol deprotection at C3 yielded the natural product 1.     

Total synthesis of calothrixins A and B via oxidative radical reaction of cyclohexenone with aminophenanthridinedione

Bioactive indolo[3,2-j]phenanthridine alkaloids, calothrixin B and its N-oxide derivative calothrixin A have been synthesized via an oxidative free radical reaction. Calothrixin B is generated from the commercially available 2,4,5-trimethoxybenzaldehyde in only seven steps. The key step in this synthesis is the Mn(OAc)₃ mediated oxidative free radical reaction of 9-(benzylamino)phenanthridine-7,10-dione with cyclohexenone to form 12-benzyl-12H-indolo[3,2-j]phenanthridine-7,13-dione.     

A solvent-free protocol for the synthesis of 3-formyl-2H-chromenes via domino oxa Michael/aldol reaction

A new solvent-free, TBD-catalyzed protocol for the synthesis of 3-formyl-2H-chromenes is presented. Substituted salicylaldehydes 1 and 3-methyl-2-butenal 2 in the presence of 10 mol % of TBD underwent a domino oxa Michael/aldol reaction to effectively yield the corresponding 2H-chromene derivatives 3. The methodology represents an improvement either in terms of efficiency and sustainability as a small amount of catalyst is required and the work-up procedure is simple and straightforward.     

Total synthesis of biologically important amino sugars via thenitroaldol reaction

Aldol condensation between $\text{O}$-benzyl D-or L-lactaldehyde and alkyl 3-nitropropionates in the presence of various catalysts leads to stereoisomeric nitroaldol products which can be transformed into aminodeoxy hexoses in the D- or L-series.     

Total synthesis of caerulomycin C via the halogen dance reaction

[reaction: see text] The total synthesis of caerulomycin C is described. Key steps in this synthesis utilize 1,2-, 1,3-, and 1,4-halogen dance reactions for the functionalization of the pyridine ring.