Combined directed ortho-metalation, remote metalation, and Stille cross-coupling strategies. Concise stereoselective synthesis of polysubstituted 9H-fluoren-9-ones

The new sequential stereoselective synthesis of diversely substituted 9H-fluoren-9-ones by ortho-lithiation/Bu₃SnCl quench of unprotected benzoic acids followed by Stille cross-coupling reaction and remote metalation is reported.     

Preparation of (E)-1-aryl-3,3,3-trifluoro-1,2-di(trimethylsilyl)-1-propenes via stereoselective bissilylation of trifluoromethyl aryl acetylenes and electrophilic substitution of its TMS groups

Preparations and reactions of (E)-1-aryl-3,3,3-trifluoro-1,2-di(trimethylsilyl)-1-propenes are described. (E)-1-Aryl-3,3,3-trifluoro-1,2-di(trimethylsilyl)-1-propene was prepared from aryl trifluoromethyl acetylenes via reductive bissilylation by TMSCl/Mg in good yields. The silyl groups of (E)-3,3,3-trifluoro-1,2-di(trimethylsilyl)-1-phenyl-1-propene were substituted by electrophiles in both a stepwise and stereoselective (and/or stereospecific) manner. This compound could be a building block for preparations of substituted trifluoropropenes.     

One-pot sequential cross-metathesis/hydride reduction: highly stereoselective synthesis of primary (E)-allylic alcohols from terminal olefins

Several di- and trisubstituted primary (E)-allylic alcohols have been prepared from the corresponding terminal olefins in a highly stereoselective manner (>20:1 E/Z) by sequencing olefin cross-metathesis (CM) with hydride reduction (DIBAL-H) in good yields utilizing only commercially available reagents in a one-pot fashion. The method is a reliable alternative to the direct CM of terminal olefins with allyl alcohol, which is not always stereoselective but rather highly substrate dependent.     

Stereoselective total synthesis of almorexant

A highly stereoselective synthesis of almorexant has been achieved using (R)-tert-butanesulfinamide as a chiral source. The chiral tetrahydroisoquinoline core was constructed through allylation of chiral N-sulfinyl imine followed by ring closure of the secondary amide with a tethered halide. The chiral α-phenyl amide was introduced by means of S_N2 substitution of (S)-methyl 2-phenyl-2-(tosyloxy)acetate with chiral tetrahydroisoquinoline.     

Gold(I)-catalyzed [4+2] cycloaddition of N-(hex-5-enynyl) tert-butyloxycarbamates

A study concerning the gold(I)-catalyzed transformation of N-(hex-5-enynyl) tert-butyloxycarbamates is described. The mild conditions employed allow the moderately efficient but stereoselective synthesis of a range of bicyclic carbamates following a formal [4+2] cycloaddition process.     

A highly stereocontrolled and efficient synthesis of α- and β-pseudouridines

A five-step practical and stereocontrolled synthesis of α- and β-pseudouridines from d-ribonolactone is described. The key step involves a highly stereoselective reduction of a hemiketal C-nucleoside intermediate in each case. Multi-gram quantities of β-pseudouridine can now be made available.     

Stereoselective synthesis of 1,2-cis galactosides: synthesis of a glycolipid containing Galα1-6Gal component from Zygomycetes species

An α-selective galactosylation was demonstrated under various conditions. Among these α-galactoside approaches, high α-selectivity was achieved by the virtue of 4,6-O-di-tert-butylsilylene (DTBS) group. Yield was further improved by the influence of a 2-O-benzylated donor compared to 2-O-benzoylated donor. This method was then applied to the first highly stereoselective synthesis of a newly found trisaccharide glycosphingolipid in Zygomycetes species.     

Stereoselective synthesis of belactosin C and its derivatives using a catalytic proline catalyzed crossed-aldol reaction

A highly practical and concise stereoselective total synthesis of belactosin C and synthetic variants was achieved using an S-proline catalyzed crossed-aldol reaction as the key step.     

Palladium-catalyzed synthesis of 4-alkoxycarbonyl-3,4-dihydroisoquinolin-1(2H)-ones

Palladium-catalyzed intermolecular cyclocarbonylation of diethyl (2-iodoaryl)malonates with N-tosylimines produces 4-ethoxycarbonyl-3,4-dihydroisoquinolin-1(2H)-ones in moderate to good yields. This reaction is highly stereoselective. This protocol involves Mannich addition, and subsequent cyclocarbonylation.     

Metal triflate catalyzed highly regio- and stereoselective 1,2-bromoazidation of alkenes using NBS and TMSN3 as the bromine and azide sources

Metal triflate catalyzed 1,2-bromoazidation of alkenes was performed using N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) and trimethylsilyl azide (TMSN₃) as the bromine and azide sources, respectively. Among the metal triflates, Zn(OTf)₂ was found to be the best catalyst. This catalytic process represents a highly regioselective, stereoselective and high yielding method for the synthesis of anti-1,2-bromoazides from a variety of alkenes including α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds.     

Synthesis, structural characterization, and skeletal rearrangement of dibenzo tricyclo[3.3.0.0]-1,2,5,6-tetrasubstituted octanes

Dibenzo tricyclo[3.3.0.0^2,6]-1,2,5,6-tetrasubstituted octanes, the ‘twisted’ highly strained valence isomers of substituted dibenzo[a,e]cyclooctatetraenes, were synthesized and their structure characterized by single-crystal X-ray analysis. Their skeletal rearrangement was experimentally observed.     

Facile access to (Z)-alkene-containing diketopiperazine mimetics utilizing organocopper-mediated anti-SN2′ reactions

Regio- and stereoselective anti-S_N2′ alkylation of γ-phosphoryloxy-α,β-unsaturated-δ-lactams with organocopper reagents allowing the preparation of N-alkylated-α,δ-substituted-β,γ-unsaturated-δ-lactams as highly functionalized diketopiperazine mimetics is presented.     

Synthesis of C-glycosyl β-amino acids by asymmetric Mannich-type three-component reactions

C-Galactosyl and C-ribosyl β-amino acids were prepared by one-pot InCl₃-catalyzed Mannich-type three-component condensation (3CC) by combining the corresponding formyl C-glycoside, p-methoxybenzyl amine, and a ketene silyl acetal. In each case the reaction was highly stereoselective and afforded only one single product in good to excellent yields.     

Stereoselective synthesis of (+)-(8R,8aR)-perhydro-8-indolizidinol

A highly stereoselective total synthesis of (+)-(8R,8aR)-perhydro-8-indolizidinol is described. Key steps involved in this synthesis are diastereoselective zinc allylation, azido-olefin cyclization and reductive amination followed by cyclization which effectively constructed the indolizidine ring. This contributes a unique approach to the synthesis of indolizidine alkaloids that offers the advantages of brevity and relatively high overall yields.     

Silver-promoted trans-hydrofluorination of ynamides: a regio- and stereoselective approach to (Z)-α-fluoroenamides

A highly regio- and stereoselective trans-hydrofluorination of N-sulfonyl ynamides has been realized with AgF as the fluorination reagent, affording (Z)-α-fluoroenamides in good to excellent yields. The reaction proceeds under mild reaction conditions and shows good functional group compatibility.     

First total synthesis of (+)-crassalactone A

A simple and highly efficient first total synthesis of cytotoxic (+)-crassalactone A starting from (R)-mandelic acid is described. The strategy involves the osmium tetroxide-catalyzed cis-hydroxylation and the stereoselective addition of ethyl lithiopropiolate to a chiral aldehyde intermediate as key steps.     

Intermolecular cycloaddition of nonstabilized azomethine ylides generated from 1,3-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acids: synthesis of 5,7a-dihydro-1H,3H-pyrrolo[1,2-c]thiazoles

The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate with nonstabilized azomethine ylides, generated via the decarboxylative condensation of 1,3-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acids with aldehydes, afforded 5,7a-dihydro-1H,3H-pyrrolo[1,2-c]thiazole derivatives. 2-Substituted-1,3-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acids led to the stereoselective formation of 5,7a-dihydro-1H,3H-pyrrolo[1,2-c]thiazoles. Quantum-chemistry calculations were carried out allowing the rationalization of the observed stereoselective formation of the anti-dipole.     

Transition-metal-free synthesis of (Z)-3-ylidenephthalides from 2-acyl-benzoic acids

We report a highly efficient method for the synthesis of (Z)-3-ylidenephthalides via intramolecular cyclization of readily available 2-acyl-benzoic acids mediated by TSTU at room temperature. Using this method, diversely substituted (Z)-3-ylidenephthalides have been generated in good to excellent yields. The application of the method is highlighted by gram-scale preparation of the antiplatelet drug n-butylphthalide.     

Stereoselective synthesis of α-hydroxy-β-amino acid derivatives from β-hydroxy-γ,δ-unsaturated sulfilimine

The first report on the use of N-sulfinyl benzylcarbamate for the preparation of N-Cbz sulfilimine from the corresponding sulfoxide is reported. The sulfilimine moiety is utilized as an intramolecular nucleophile for the regio- and stereoselective heterofunctionalization of an alkene to furnish a bromo carbamate which is used as a key advanced intermediate in the synthesis of representative α-hydroxy-β-amino acid derivatives.     

Facile stereoselective synthesis of (E)- and (Z)-α-substituted cinnamates: stereospecific dehydration reaction with 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide (EDC) and copper(II) chloride

A highly stereoselective method for the synthesis of (E)- and (Z)-α-substituted cinnamates in good yield has been achieved by dehydration reaction of anti- and syn-α-substituted-β-hydroxyphenylpropiolate using EDC. This facile method has been used to synthesize various (E)- and (Z)-α-substituted cinnamates and (E)- and (Z)-α-alkylidene-γ-butyrolactones. The reaction mechanism of this highly stereospecific dehydration using EDC can be elucidated by the ω-dimethylamino group of EDC, which is believed to facilitate the deprotonation step.