Total synthesis of rhein and diacerhein via a directed ortho metalation of an aromatic substrate

An efficient total synthesis of rhein and diacerhein has been accomplished by relying on a remarkable regioselective directed ortho metalation (DOM) followed by a one-pot two step addition-cyclization reaction, generating phthalide 5 intermediate efficiently.     

Asymmetric synthesis of dihydroquinazolinones via directed ortho metalation and addition to tert-butanesulfinyl imines

An asymmetric route to dihydroquinazolinones via the addition of ortho metalated substrates to tert-butanesulfinyl imines is reported. The scope of the nucleophile and electrophile components and the absolute stereochemical outcome are presented.     

Lithiation of 2-(chloroaryl)-2-methyl-1,3-dioxolanes and application in synthesis of new ortho-functionalized acetophenone derivatives

2-(4-Chlorophenyl)-2-methyl-1,3-dioxolane 2a was lithiated ortho to the ketal group by treatment with butyllithium in THF at 0°C. Related 2-aryl-2-methyl-1,3-dioxolanes possessing a chlorine substituent at the meta position of the aryl group 2b,c were lithiated with butyllithium in THF at −78°C at the position between the two directing groups. The lithio species thus generated were treated with various electrophiles to give ortho-functionalized acetophenone derivatives.     

Application of directed metalation in synthesis. Part 8: Interesting example of chemoselectivity in the synthesis of thioaurones and hydroxy ketones and a novel anionic ortho-Fries rearrangement used as a tool in the synthesis of thienopyranones and thiafluorenones

Chemoselective synthesis of thioaurones or 3-hydroxy benzo[b]thiophen-2-aryl ketones, 1-hydroxy naphtho[2,1-b]thiophen-2-aryl ketones and chalcones from N,N-diethyl-ortho-methyl sulfanyl aryl amides were described. (Benzo[b]thiophen-2-yl) alkylates and (naphtho[2,1-b]thiophen-2-yl) alkylates undergo a novel anionic ortho-Fries rearrangement leading to (3-hydroxy benzo[b]thiophen-2-yl) and (1-hydroxy naphtho[2,1-b]thiophen-2-yl) alkyl ketones. The hydroxy ketones were used as intermediates in the synthesis of wide range of benzothienopyranones and thiafluorenones.     

1,4-Addition reaction of ethyl bromodifluoroacetate to Michael acceptors in the presence of copper powder: Improvement of the reaction using TMEDA as an additive

Reaction of ethyl bromodifluoroacetate with a variety of Michael acceptors was tremendously improved by the addition of TMEDA. Using this additive, 1,4-adducts were formed exclusively, and any 1,2-adducts or radical adducts were not obtained. THF or other low boiling solvents can be used as a solvent. This simplifies the work-up of the reaction effectively.     

2-Ethoxy-3-pyridylboronic acid: a versatile reagent for the synthesis of highly-functionalised 3-aryl/heteroaryl-pyridines via Suzuki cross-coupling reactions

This paper describes the commercially-viable synthesis and isolation of 2-ethoxy-3-pyridylboronic acid on a ca. 70 g scale via a directed ortho-metalation reaction on readily-available 2-ethoxypyridine. A range of efficient cross-coupling reactions of 2-ethoxy-3-pyridylboronic acid with selected aryl/heteroaryl halides under palladium-catalysed Suzuki-Miyaura conditions yield novel 2-ethoxy-3-aryl/heteroaryl-pyridines in high yield (heteroaryl=pyridyl, pyrimidyl, pyrazyl). The X-ray crystal structure of 2-ethoxy-3-pyridylboronic acid reveals that the boronic acid group takes part in an intramolecular O-H?O bond with the adjacent ethoxy substituent, and an intermolecular O-H?N bond.     

Stereoselective synthesis of (−)-microcarpalide

A highly convergent and efficient synthesis of (−)-microcarpalide, a 10-membered lactone displaying remarkable microfilament disrupting activity is described. Ring-closing metathesis and Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylations are the key steps. Our strategy highlights the application of novel hydroxy lactone precursors for the stereoselective synthesis of (−)-microcarpalide.     

Reactions of 2-(trifluoromethyl)chromones with cyanoacetamides, ethyl cyanoacetate and diethyl malonate. Unexpected synthesis of benzo[c]coumarin derivatives

While 2-(trifluoromethyl)chromones react with cyanoacetamides in the presence of sodium ethoxide to produce 6-(2-hydroxyaryl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)-2-oxo-1,2-dihydropyridine-3-carbonitriles, their reactions with ethyl cyanoacetate and diethyl malonate under the same conditions took an entirely different course and gave novel functionalized derivatives of 6H-benzo[c]chromen-6-one.     

Stabilization of ortho-quinone methides by a bis(sulfonium ylide) derived from 2,5-dihydroxy-[1,4]benzoquinone

The zwitterionic intermediates (2a) in the oxidation of ortho-alkylphenols (1) and bis(sulfonium ylide) 3 form reasonably stable 2:1-complexes (4), in which the ortho-quinone methide (oQM) moieties are not present in quinoid form with the exocyclic in-plane methylene group, but as zwitterionic, aromatic conformer having an out-of-plane exocyclic methylene group. The complex 7 derived from the α-tocopherol model compound PMC (5) was comprehensively characterized. As exemplarily demonstrated, the adducts can be advantageously employed in organic synthesis as ‘stabilized oQMs’.     

Facile synthesis of substituted dihydro-1,4-dithiins and -1,4-dithiepins from α-oxo ketene cyclic dithioacetals

A novel and facile synthesis of substituted 2,3-dihydro-1,4-dithiins and 6,7-dihydro-5H-1,4-dithiepins based on the reactions of α-bromo/hydroxy ketones with α-oxo ketene cyclic dithioacetals has been developed. A general mechanism for the reactions is proposed.     

Total synthesis of (±)-hyrtiazepine

The total synthesis of the azepinoindole alkaloid, (±)-hyrtiazepine, was achieved. Construction of the azepinoindole core structure was carried out by C-4 selective α-hydroxyalkylation of 5-hydroxyindole, introduction of serine at C-3 of the indole moiety, and intramolecular imination.     

Lewis acid-catalyzed reactions of N′-(2-alkynylbenzylidene)hydrazides with diethyl phosphite

Lewis acid catalyst-tuned reactions of N′-(2-alkynylbenzylidene)hydrazides with diethyl phosphite are described. Isoquinolin-1-ylphosphonate is generated when copper triflate is utilized as catalyst, while 2-amino-1,2-dihydroisoquinolin-1-ylphosphonate is obtained in the presence of palladium acetate.     

Synthesis of the end-capped 5-(N,N-dimethylamino)naphthyl-1-ethynyl derivatives and their 1,4-di[5-(N,N-dimethylamino)naphthyl]-1,3-butadiynes: anti rotamer structure

A new family of the end-capped 5-(N,N-dimethylamino)naphthylethynyl chains were synthesized, as terminal acetylenes or poly(yne) structures, by heterocoupling between 5-iodo-N,N-dimethylnaphthalen-1-amine and 2-methyl-3-butyn-2-ol or 4-(5-iodo-1-naphthyl)-2-methyl-3-butyn-2-ol, catalyzed by the palladium-copper system. Catalytic homocoupling of the terminal acetylenes, affords to 1,4-dinaphthyl-1,3-butadiyne nanostructures. X-ray diffraction analysis of 1,4-di(α-naphthyl)-1,3-butadiyne shows that the naphthalene rings are in the anti configuration along the acetylene axis. All the conjugated compounds show an important fluorescent emission radiation.     

Total synthesis of (±)-lantalucratins A and B by CAN-mediated oxidative cyclization

The first total synthesis of (±)-lantalucratins A and B is described. Introduction of an alkyl side chain at the 6-position was proceeded by directed ortho-lithiation and subsequent alkylation reaction to afford 6-alkyl-5,7,8-trimethoxy-1-naphthol as a synthetically important intermediate for (±)-lantalucratins A and B in excellent yield with complete regioselectivity. The 1,2-naphthoquinone fused five-membered cyclic ether framework was constructed directly from 3-hydroxyalkyl-naphthalenes by oxidative intramolecular cyclization reaction with diammonium cerium(IV) nitrate. (±)-Lantalucratins A and B were obtained in 69% and 45% overall yields, respectively.     

Efficient syntheses of ethyl 4-cyano-5-hydroxy-2-methyl-1H-pyrrole-3-carboxylate and ethyl (2Z)-(4-cyano-5-oxopyrrolidin-2-ylidene)ethanoate

Ethyl 2-chloroacetoacetate and its 4-chloro isomer react with cyanoacetamide in the presence of the mild, nonnucleophilic base, triethylamine under stoichiometric conditions to give high yields of ethyl 4-cyano-2-hydroxy-2-methyl-5-oxopyrrolidine-3-carboxylate and ethyl (4-cyano-2-hydroxy-5-oxopyrrolidin-2-yl)acetate, respectively. These, under acid-catalyzed dehydration conditions, afforded ethyl 4-cyano-5-hydroxy-2-methyl-1H-pyrrole-3-carboxylate and ethyl (2Z)-(4-cyano-5-oxopyrrolidin-2-ylidene)ethanoate, respectively. Similarly, the 4-chloro isomer reacted with ethyl cyanoacetate to give the novel product, diethyl 2-cyano-4-oxohexanedioate. The use of triethylamine enables access to a whole new library of pyrrole derivatives from easily accessible, commercially available starting materials. The reactions described in this Letter enable access to libraries of important pyrrole systems in any of the isotopically enriched forms.     

A short route to 3-alkynyl-4-bromo(chloro)cinnolines by Richter-type cyclization of ortho-(dodeca-1,3-diynyl)aryltriaz-1-enes

Cleavage of ortho-(dodeca-1,3-diynyl)triazenes in HCl or HBr medium and subsequent cyclization of the resulting diazonium salts is investigated. In the absence of a strong electron-withdrawing substituent, the reaction affords 3-alkynyl-4-bromo(chloro)cinnolines as the only product. A methoxycarbonyl group promotes hydrolysis of 4-halocinnolines which results in the formation of by-products: furo[3,2-c]cinnoline and cinnolinone. Substitution of bromine in 3-(alk-1-ynyl)-4-bromocinnolines is achieved with methylamine, Na₂S and ethynylbenzene affording pyrrolo[3,2-c]cinnoline, thieno[3,2-c]cinnoline and 3,4-diethynylcinnoline, respectively.     

1,3-Dimethyl-2-(3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-2-pyrrolidin-1-yl-1,3,2-diazaphospholidinium hexafluorophosphate (MNTP): a powerful condensing reagent for phosphate and phosphonate esters

A novel phosphonium-type condensing reagent, 1,3-dimethyl-2-(3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-2-pyrrolidin-1-yl-1,3,2-diazaphospholidinium hexafluorophosphate (MNTP), was designed and synthesized. A ³¹P NMR study on the condensation reactions of phosphate, alkylphosphonate, boranophosphate, and H-phosphonate derivatives with an alcohol in the presence of MNTP demonstrated the versatility and the enhanced activity of the new condensing reagent, compared to the previously reported phosphonium-type condensing reagents. The mechanism of the condensation reactions mediated by MNTP is discussed on the basis of the ³¹P NMR studies and theoretical calculations.     

Control of electron demand in the cycloadditions of 2(H)-1,4-oxazin-2-ones

3-Methoxy-5-chloro-6-methyl-2(H)-1,4-oxazin-2-one 4, 3-methoxy-5-chloro-6-phenyl-2(H)-1,4-oxazin-2-one 5, 3-phenylsulfenyl-5-chloro-6-methyl-2(H)-1,4-oxazin-2-one 6, and 3-phenylsulfenyl-5-chloro-6-phenyl-2(H)-1,4-oxazin-2-one 7, are ambident dienes and undergo Diels-Alder cycloadditions with electron neutral, rich and deficient dienophiles.