Synthetic Studies on and Mechanistic Insight into [W(CO)5(L)]‐Catalyzed Stereoselective Construction of Functionalized Bicyclo[5.3.0]decane Frameworks

Stereoselective preparation of a variety of synthetically useful functionalized bicyclo[5.3.0]decane derivatives was achieved by tandem cyclization of 3‐siloxy‐1,3,9‐triene‐7‐yne derivatives based on the electrophilic activation of alkynes catalyzed by [W(CO)₅(L)]. The reaction proceeded smoothly under photoirradiation, and various substrates were cyclized to give the corresponding bicyclic compounds with up to four chiral centers stereospecifically. Reactions of siloxydienes with a silyl substituent as an equivalent of a hydroxyl group also proceeded with wide generality to afford silyl‐substituted bicyclo[5.3.0]decanes, which were highly useful as synthetic intermediates. Stereochemical studies concerning the silyl enol ether moiety suggested that two types of reaction pathway for the formation of seven‐membered rings were present. The reaction of (Z)‐enol silyl ethers proceeded through Cope rearrangement of cis‐divinylcyclopropane intermediates, and that of (E)‐enol silyl ethers by 1,4‐addition of the dienyl tungsten species at the position δ to the metal atom. In the reactions of siloxydiene derivatives with silyl substituents, all possible diastereomers could be synthesized stereoselectively by changing the geometry of the silyl enol ether and enyne moieties.     

Synthesis of a chiral steroid ring D precursor starting from carvone

A chiral five-membered, silyl enol ether containing, steroid ring D precursor has been synthesized from carvone. This silyl enol ether has been applied in the synthesis of a chiral C17 functionalized steroid skeleton using the addition of a carbocation, generated with ZnBr₂ from a Torgov reagent, followed by cyclization of the adduct by treatment with acid.     

Coupling Reaction of Enol Derivatives with Silyl Ketene Acetals Catalyzed by Gallium Trihalides

A cross‐coupling reaction between enol derivatives and silyl ketene acetals catalyzed by GaBr₃ took place to give the corresponding α‐alkenyl esters. GaBr₃ showed the most effective catalytic ability, whereas other metal salts such as BF₃?OEt₂, AlCl₃, PdCl₂, and lanthanide triflates were not effective. Various types of enol ethers and vinyl carboxylates as enol derivatives are amenable to this coupling. The scope of the reaction with silyl ketene acetals was also broad. We successfully observed an alkylgallium intermediate by using NMR spectroscopy, suggesting a mechanism involving anti‐carbogallation among GaBr₃, an enol derivative, and a silyl ketene acetal, followed by syn‐β‐alkoxy elimination from the alkylgallium. Based on kinetic studies, the turnover‐limiting step of the reaction using a vinyl ether and a vinyl carboxylate involved syn‐β‐alkoxy elimination and anti‐carbogallation, respectively. Therefore, the leaving group had a significant effect on the progress of the reaction. Theoretical calculations analysis suggest that the moderate Lewis acidity of gallium would contribute to a flexible conformational change of the alkylgallium intermediate and to the cleavage of the carbon?oxygen bond in the β‐alkoxy elimination process, which is the turnover‐limiting step in the reaction between a vinyl ether and a silyl ketene acetal.     

A new approach toward the synthesis of C,D-cis coupled steroid and C,D-cis coupled d-homosteroid skeletons

A short and efficient procedure has been developed for the synthesis of C,D-cis coupled steroid and d-homo steroid skeletons. A Mukaiyama reaction with transfer of the silyl group of the starting silyl enol ether to the enol of the adduct followed by addition of vinyl magnesium bromide to the unprotected carbonyl group leads to adducts which can be cyclized with ZnBr₂. The synthesis of functionalized steroid skeletons in overall yields of about 50% in four steps can be achieved in this way.     

Bio‐Inspired Formal Synthesis of Hirsutellones A–C Featuring an Electrophilic Cyclization Triggered by Remote Lewis Acid‐Activation

A bio‐inspired strategy was used to complete the formal synthesis of the antitubercular hirsutellone B and congeners A and C, through construction of its decahydrofluorene core from a linear polyene strand activated at both ends by a silyl enol ether and an allyl acetate. Our synthesis features a key electrophilic cyclization, starting with the remote activation (by [Yb(OTf)₃] or BF₃ ? OEt₂) of the allyl acetate and stereoselectively affording the C ring. This was followed by an intramolecular Diels–Alder reaction to get the tricyclic core of the natural product. The stereoselective reduction of the resulting ketone towards the formal intermediate was critical to the success of this strategy.     

New approaches toward the synthesis of (D-homo) steroid skeletons using Mukaiyama reactions

New, short, and flexible procedures have been developed for syntheses of steroid and D-homo steroid skeletons. A Mukaiyama reaction between the silyl enol ether of 6-methoxytetralone and 2-methyl-2-cyclopentenone or carvone, with transfer of the silyl group to the receiving enone, gave a second silyl enol ether. Addition of a carbocation, generated under Lewis acid conditions from 3-methoxy-2-butenol, 3-ethoxy-3-phenyl-2-propenol or 3-methoxy-2-propenol to this second silyl enol ether gave adducts, which could not be cyclized by aldol condensation to (D-homo) steroid skeletons. The Mukaiyama-Michael reaction of the silyl enol ether of 6-methoxy tetralone with 2-methyl-2-cylopentenone gave a second silyl enol ether, which reacted in high yield with a carbocation generated from 3-hydroxy-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)propene. Ozonolysis of the double bond in this adduct gave a tricarbonyl compound (Zieglers triketone), which has been used before in the synthesis of 9,11-dehydroestrone methyl ether. A second synthesis of C17 substituted CD-trans coupled (D-homo) steroid skeletons has been developed via addition of a carbocation, generated with ZnBr₂ from a Torgov reagent, to a silyl enol ether containing ring D precursor. The obtained seco steroids have been cyclized under formation of the 8-14 bond by treatment with acid. The double bonds in one of the cyclized products have been reduced to a C17-substituted all trans steroid skeleton.     

Quenching of metal‐catalyzed living radical polymerization with silyl enol ethers

Various silyl enol ethers were employed as quenchers for the living radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate with the R Cl/RuCl₂(PPh₃)₃/Al(Oi–Pr)₃ initiating system. The most effective quencher was a silyl enol ether with an electron‐donating phenyl group conjugated with its double bond [CH₂C(OSiMe₃)(4‐MeOPh) ( 2a )] that afforded a halogen‐free polymer with a ketone terminal at a high end functionality [F̄_n ∼ 1]. Such silyl compounds reacted with the growing radical generated from the dormant chloride terminal and the ruthenium complex to give the ketone terminal via the release of the silyl group along with the chlorine that originated from the dormant terminal. In contrast, less conjugated silyl enol ethers such as CH₂C(OSiMe₃)Me were less effective in quenching the polymerization. The reactivity of the silyl compounds to the poly(methyl methacrylate) radical can be explained by the reactivity of their double bonds, namely, the monomer reactivity ratios of their model vinyl monomers without the silyloxyl groups. The lifetime of the living polymer terminal was also estimated by the quenching reaction mediated with 2a . © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 4735–4748, 2000     

Rhodium‐Catalyzed Dehydrogenative Silylation of Acetophenone Derivatives: Formation of Silyl Enol Ethers versus Silyl Ethers

A series of rhodium–NSiN complexes (NSiN=bis (pyridine‐2‐yloxy)methylsilyl fac‐coordinated) is reported, including the solid‐state structures of [Rh(H)(Cl)(NSiN)(PCy₃)] (Cy=cyclohexane) and [Rh(H)(CF₃SO₃)(NSiN)(coe)] (coe=cis‐cyclooctene). The [Rh(H)(CF₃SO₃)(NSiN)(coe)]‐catalyzed reaction of acetophenone with silanes performed in an open system was studied. Interestingly, in most of the cases the formation of the corresponding silyl enol ether as major reaction product was observed. However, when the catalytic reactions were performed in closed systems, formation of the corresponding silyl ether was favored. Moreover, theoretical calculations on the reaction of [Rh(H)(CF₃SO₃)(NSiN)(coe)] with HSiMe₃ and acetophenone showed that formation of the silyl enol ether is kinetically favored, while the silyl ether is the thermodynamic product. The dehydrogenative silylation entails heterolytic cleavage of the Si?H bond by a metal–ligand cooperative mechanism as the rate‐determining step. Silyl transfer from a coordinated trimethylsilyltriflate molecule to the acetophenone followed by proton transfer from the activated acetophenone to the hydride ligand results in the formation of H₂ and the corresponding silyl enol ether.     

Functionalization of the Methyl Ketone Fragment in 1-[(1S,3R)-2,2-Dimethyl-3-(2-methoxymethyloxyethyl)cyclopropyl]-2-propanone

Deprotonation of 1-[(1S,3R)-2,2-dimethyl-3-(2-methoxymethyloxyethyl)cyclopropyl]-2-propanone with lithium diisopropylamide in THF at -78°C and subsequent treatment of the resulting enolate with Me₃SiCl yielded mainly the corresponding terminal silyl enol ether. The condensation of intermediate enolate with benzaldehyde regioselectively afforded a mixture of the corresponding aldol and its dehydration product. The reactions of the title ketone with NBS, as well as of the silyl enol ethers derived therefrom with I₂, led to formation of mixtures of products via opening of the cyclopropane ring.     

Chiral Zinc(II)‐Catalyzed Enantioselective Tandem α‐Alkenyl Addition/Proton Shift Reaction of Silyl Enol Ethers with Ketimines

A new catalytic asymmetric tandem α‐alkenyl addition/proton shift reaction of silyl enol ethers with ketimines was serendipitously discovered in the presence of chiral N,N′‐dioxide/Zn^II complexes. The proton shift preferentially proceeded instead of a silyl shift after α‐alkenyl addition of silyl enol ether to the ketimine. A wide range of β‐amino silyl enol ethers were synthesized in high yields with good to excellent ee values. Control experiments suggest that the Mukaiyama–Mannich reaction and tandem α‐alkenyl addition/proton shift reaction are competitive reactions in the current catalytic system. The obtained β‐amino silyl enol ethers were easily transformed into β‐fluoroamines containing two vicinal tetrasubstituted carbon centers.     

Cyclooctanone synthesis via a formal [6+2] cycloaddition reaction of a dicobalt acetylene complex

An efficient formal [6+2] cycloaddition reaction of a new six-carbon unit with enol silyl ether was developed on the basis of a dicobalt hexacarbonyl propargyl cation species. Under the influence of EtAlCl₂, 6-benzoyloxy-2-(triisopropylsilyloxy)-1-hexen-4-yne-dicobalthexacarbonyl reacted with enol triisopropylsilyl ethers to yield 7-(triisopropylsilyloxy)-3-cyclooctyn-1-one-dicobalthexacarbonyl derivatives in good yield. The reactions with cyclic enol silyl ethers as well as acyclic enol silyl ethers exhibited remarkably high diastereoselectivity.     

Total Synthesis of 11‐Saxitoxinethanoic Acid and Evaluation of its Inhibitory Activity on Voltage‐Gated Sodium Channels

11‐Saxitoxinethanoic acid (SEA) is a member of the saxitoxin (STX) family of paralytic shellfish poisons, and contains an unusual C?C bond at the C11 position. Reported herein is a total synthesis of SEA. The key to our synthesis lies in a Mukaiyama aldol condensation reaction of silyl enol ether with glyoxylate in the presence of an anhydrous fluoride reagent, [Bu₄N][Ph₃SnF₂], which directly constructs the crucial C?C bond at the C11 position in SEA. The Na_VCh‐inhibitory activities of SEA and its derivatives were evaluated by means of cell‐based assay. SEA showed an IC₅₀ value of (47±12) nm , which is approximately twice as potent as decarbamoyl‐STX (dcSTX).     

Acid anhydrides as alternatives to acid chlorides in the palladium‐catalyzed reaction with silacyclobutanes

The palladium‐catalyzed reaction of acid anhydrides with silacyclobutane gives a mixture of cyclic silyl enol ether, carboxy(propyl)silane, and 3‐(carboxysilyl)ketone. In the presence of N,N‐dicyclohexylcarbodiimido (DCC), the reaction preferentially provides a cyclic silyl enol ether in a good yield. In addition, the palladium‐catalyzed reaction of benzoic acid with silacyclobutane in the presence of two equivalents of DCC also affords a cyclic silyl enol ether in a moderate yield. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A new flexible synthesis of (D-homo) steroids

A short, flexible and efficient procedure has been developed for the synthesis of C17 substituted steroid skeletons and D-homo steroid skeletons using a ZnBr₂ catalysed coupling of a silyl enol ether containing ring D precursor with a Torgov type reagent, followed by acid catalysed cyclisation of the adducts to (D-homo) steroid skeletons.     

Photocatalytic Dehydrogenative Cross‐Coupling of Alkenes with Alcohols or Azoles without External Oxidant

Direct cross‐coupling between alkenes/R‐H or alkenes/RXH is a dream reaction, especially without external oxidants. Inputting energy by photocatalysis and employing a cobalt catalyst as a two‐electron acceptor, a direct C−H/X−H cross‐coupling with H₂ evolution has been achieved for C−O and C−N bond formation. A new radical alkenylation using alkene as the redox compound is presented. A wide range of aliphatic alcohols—even long chain alcohols—are tolerated well in this system, providing a new route to multi‐substituted enol ether derivatives using simple alkenes. Additionally, this protocol can also be used for N ‐vinylazole synthesis. Mechanistic insights reveal that the cobalt catalyst oxidizes the photocatalyst to revive the photocatalytic cycle.     

Synthesis of BINOL derived phosphorodithioic acids as new chiral Brønsted acids and an improved synthesis of 3,3′-disubstituted H8-BINOL derivatives

Original phosphorodithioic acid diesters were prepared according to an improved synthesis of 3,3′-disubstituted H₈-BINOL derivatives. In preliminary experiments, these new Brønsted acids were tested as organocatalysts in three reactions. They promoted the Nazarov cyclisation with mixed selectivities, the Mannich reaction with good enantioselectivity and they catalyzed efficiently the alkylation of N-acyliminium with enol silyl ether.     

Simultaneous construction of a polyether backbone and a variety of keto side chains by three‐component polycondensation: An improved method for the use of a variety of silyl enol ethers

For the synthesis of polyethers with a variety of keto side chains in a one‐step reaction, the three‐component polycondensation of dialdehydes, diol disilyl ethers, and silyl enol ethers of ketones was investigated. The method of monomer addition strongly affected the molecular weight of polymers and was optimized to yield high molecular weight polymers by model reactions. A variety of dialdehydes, diol disilyl ethers, and silyl enol ethers were polymerized in the presence of a catalytic amount of triphenylmethyl (trityl) perchlorate in CH₂Cl₂ at −78 °C according to the method of monomer addition. This polymer synthesis was unusual in that it concurrently constructed both the polyether backbone and the keto side chains from three starting compounds. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 179–188, 2000     

One‐Pot Synthesis of (−)‐Oseltamivir and Mechanistic Insights into the Organocatalyzed Michael Reaction

The one‐pot sequential synthesis of (?)‐oseltamivir has been achieved without evaporation or solvent exchange in 36 % yield over seven reactions. The key step was the asymmetric Michael reaction of pentan‐3‐yloxyacetaldehyde with (Z)‐N‐2‐nitroethenylacetamide, catalyzed by a diphenylprolinol silyl ether. The use of a bulky O‐silyl‐substituted diphenylprolinol catalyst, chlorobenzene as a solvent, and HCO₂H as an acid additive, were key to produce the first Michael adduct in both excellent yield and excellent diastereo‐ and enantioselectivity. Investigation into the effect of acid demonstrated that an acid additive accelerates not only the E–Z isomerization of the enamines derived from pentan‐3‐yloxyacetaldehyde with diphenylprolinol silyl ether, but also ring opening of the cyclobutane intermediate and the addition reaction of the enamine to (Z)‐N‐2‐nitroethenylacetamide. The transition‐state model for the Michael reaction of pentan‐3‐yloxyacetaldehyde with (Z)‐N‐2‐nitroethenylacetamide was proposed by consideration of the absolute configuration of the major and minor isomers of the Michael product with the results of the Michael reaction of pentan‐3‐yloxyacetaldehyde with phenylmaleimide and naphthoquinone.     

Total Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of (+)‐Gambieric Acid A and Its Analogues

In this study, we report the first total synthesis and complete stereostructure of gambieric acid A, a potent antifungal polycyclic ether metabolite, in detail. The A/B‐ring exocyclic enol ether 32 was prepared through a Suzuki–Miyaura coupling of the B‐ring vinyl iodide 18 and the alkylborate 33 and subsequent closure of the A‐ring by using diastereoselective bromoetherification as the key transformation. Suzuki–Miyaura coupling of 32 with acetate‐derived enol phosphate 49 , followed by ring‐closing metathesis of the derived diene, produced the D‐ring. Subsequent closure of the C‐ring through a mixed thioacetalization completed the synthesis of the A/BCD‐ring fragment 8 . The A/BCD‐ and F′GHIJ‐ring fragments (i.e., 8 and 9 ) were assembled through Suzuki–Miyaura coupling. The C25 stereogenic center was elaborated by exploiting the intrinsic conformational property of the seven‐membered F′‐ring. After the oxidative cleavage of the F′‐ring, the E‐ring was formed as a cyclic mixed thioacetal (i.e., 70 ) and then stereoselectively allylated by using glycosylation chemistry. Ring‐closing metathesis of the diene 3 thus obtained closed the F‐ring and completed the polycyclic ether skeleton. Finally, the J‐ring side chain was introduced by using a Julia–Kocienski olefination in the presence of CeCl₃ to complete the total synthesis of gambieric acid A ( 1 ), thereby unambiguously establishing its complete stereostructure. The present total synthesis enabled us to evaluate the antifungal and antiproliferative activities of 1 and several synthetic analogues.     

Domino Mukaiyama-Michael reactions in the synthesis of polycyclic systems

Good results were obtained in the Mukaiyama-Michael reaction of the silyl enol ether of cyclohexanone with 2-methyl-2-cyclopentenone and carvone, with transfer of the silyl group to the receiving enone and with TrSbCl₆ as catalyst. A second Mukaiyama-Michael reaction of this new silyl enol ether with methyl vinyl ketone and cyclization of the resulting adduct leads to tricyclic compounds in one-pot domino sequences. The scope and limitations of this domino reaction have been investigated.