Facile synthesis of 4,5,6a,7-tetrahydrodibenzo[de,g]chromene heterocycles and their transformation to phenanthrene alkaloids

Oxa-Pictet–Spengler cyclization and microwave-assisted C–H arylation have been implemented as key steps in the synthesis of new isochroman heterocycles containing a 4,5,6a,7-tetrahydrodibenzo[de,g]chromene motif. These isochromans may be easily transformed to phenanthrene alkaloids via acidic cleavage of the isochroman ring and standard synthetic manipulations thereafter. The route described is attractive in that it provides access to two biologically interesting scaffolds in simple and high yielding synthetic steps.     

Rhodium(III)-Catalyzed Asymmetric Access to Spirocycles through C−H Activation and Axial-to-Central Chirality Transfer

Axial-to-central chirality transfer is an important strategy to construct chiral centers, where the axially chiral reagents are mostly limited to atropomerically stable ones. Reported herein is a Rh^III-catalyzed enantioselective spiroannulative synthesis of nitrones. The coupling proceeds via C−H arylation to give an atropomerically metastable biaryl, followed by intramolecular dearomative trapping under oxidative conditions with high degree of chirality transfer.     

Rhodium(III)‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Access to Spirocycles through C−H Activation and Axial‐to‐Central Chirality Transfer

Axial‐to‐central chirality transfer is an important strategy to construct chiral centers, where the axially chiral reagents are mostly limited to atropomerically stable ones. Reported herein is a Rh^III‐catalyzed enantioselective spiroannulative synthesis of nitrones. The coupling proceeds via C?H arylation to give an atropomerically metastable biaryl, followed by intramolecular dearomative trapping under oxidative conditions with high degree of chirality transfer.     

An efficient synthesis of an 8-phenoxy aporphine derivative utilizing mono-ligated palladium ortho-phenol arylation

8-Aryloxy aporphines are a structurally diverse subset of alkaloids that display an array of biological activities. An efficient synthesis of an 8-phenoxy aporphine model compound has been developed utilizing Pictet-Spengler cyclization followed by biaryl bond formation using Pd-XPhos catalyzed ortho-phenol arylation. Biaryl bond formation using direct arylation is also compared. Finally, the stability of the 8-phenoxy aporphine model compound is discussed with potential implications for the isolation, structure elucidation and pharmacognosy of 7-dehydroaporphine natural products.     

Semi-synthesis of neomangiferin from mangiferin

Neomangiferin, a natural xanthone derivative bearing both O- and C-glucosides, was isolated from the leaves of Gentiana asclepiadea L. and has shown potential anti-diabetic activity. We describe herein the first semi-synthesis of neomangiferin from the natural C-glucoside mangiferin and glucose. The developed synthesis presents a facile protection strategy using Jurd’s method to distinguish the different phenolic hydroxyl groups. Following this strategy, the regioselective protection of 1,3,6-hydroxyl groups was accomplished and neomangiferin was prepared by glycosylation under the phase-transfer catalysis conditions.     

One-pot,solvent-free Pd(II)-catalyzed direct β-C-H arylation of carboxamides involving anhydrides as substrates via in situ installation of directing group

A one-pot, multicomponent-type, solvent-free Pd(II)-catalyzed direct β-C-H activation/arylation of carboxamides involving anhydrides as substrates via in situ installation of directing group (DG) is reported. Typically, the DG-assisted β-C-H activation/arylation of carboxamides is a two-step process comprising the installation of DG and Pd(II)-catalyzed CH arylation. We attempted a multicomponent-type reaction comprising an anhydride, a DG (e.g. 8-aminoquinoline), an aryl iodide in the presence of the Pd(II) catalyst and an appropriate additive. Different anhydrides, DGs, aryl iodides, catalysts and additives were screened to reveal the scope of this multicomponent-type CH arylation reaction process and various β-C-H arylated carboxamides were obtained in satisfactory to good yields.     

Cascade reaction for the synthesis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons via transient directing group strategy

A Pd(II)-catalyzed cascade synthesis of diverse polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons via transient directing group strategy has been developed, involving the consecutive arylation, cyclization and aromatization. The efficiency and practicality were demonstrated by wide substrate range, concise synthetic pathway and mild reaction conditions. The subsequent transformations of the benz[a]anthracene core accessed natural bioactive PAH molecules.     

A facile synthesis of (Z)-1, 6-disubstituted-7H-benzo[b][1,5]diazonin-7-one derivatives via arylation-allylation-RCM pathway of anthranilamide and isatoic anhydride

A facile and efficient method has been developed for the synthesis of (Z)-6-allyl-1-phenyl-1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-7H-benzo[b][1,5]diazonin-7-one and (Z)-1,6-diphenyl-1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-7H-benzo[b][1,5]diazonin-7-one from anthranilamide via N-arylation/N-allylation and from isatoic anhydride via ring opening/N-arylation/N-allylation followed by ring closing metathesis using Grubbs-II catalyst as a key step. Grubbs-II catalyst was found to be superior over Grubbs-I catalyst in terms of reaction time and yield of the product, and the routes developed were suitable to synthesize benzo fused nine membered nitrogen heterocycles. The requirement of diallylated substrates with protected amine and amide nitrogen is suitable for RCM has been established for the synthesis of diazoninone derivatives.     

Palladium-mediated intramolecular O-arylation: a simple route for the synthesis of quino[2,3-c] and quino[3,2-b]carbazoles

A simple route for the synthesis of quinocarbazoles in good yields via palladium-mediated intramolecular arylation involving ortho C-H activation is reported.     

A one-pot stereoselective synthesis of trans-1-aryl-2-aminotetralins from 2-arylethyl styrenes

An efficient stereoselective synthesis of trans-1-aryl-2-aminotetralins has been achieved via Cu(OTf)₂ catalyzed one-pot aziridination and regioselective intramolecular arylation of in situ generated aziridines from 2-arylethyl styrenes and PhINSO₂(4-NO₂C₆H₄) [PhINNs]. Reaction of a mixture of E/Z-styrenes (?85:15) provided trans-N-protected-1-aryl-2-aminotetralins with high diastereoselectivity (dr > 95:5), which are important synthons for many artificial pharmaceuticals.     

Synthesis of the C17-C25 subunit of lasonolide A utilizing a Tsuchihashi-Yamamoto type rearrangement

An efficient synthesis of the C₁₇-C₂₅ subunit resident in (−)-lasonolide A is reported herein. The key reaction features that were utilized include a Tsuchihashi-Yamamoto type rearrangement and Molander-Reformatsky SmI₂ mediated intramolecular aldol reaction sequence. Lastly, a diastereoselective target oriented β-C-glycoside formation sequence via an oxocarbenium reduction completed the stereochemistry required for the completion of the C₁₇-C₂₅ segment of (−)-lasonolide A.     

Asymmetric synthesis of all the stereoisomers of tarchonanthuslactone

We describe herein an efficient synthesis of all the four stereoisomers of tarchonanthuslactone from (R)-3-hydroxy butanoate, easily prepared from l-threonine. The approach involves the use of a β,γ-unsaturated δ-lactone as an intermediate, obtained via a Kulinkovich reaction followed by a ring-closing metathesis strategy.     

Construction of functionalized B/C/D ring system of C19-diterpenoid alkaloids via intramolecular Diels–Alder reaction followed by Wagner–Meerwein rearrangement

A concise strategy for construction of B/C/D ring system of C₁₉-diterpenoid alkaloids was described, which features a highly diastereoselective intramolecular Diels–Alder reaction of masked o-benzoquinone and an efficient Wagner–Meerwein 1,2-shift rearrangement. The functional group transformations of rearrangement product 19 demonstrate a potential for stereoselective installation of oxygen functions on D-ring of many type of C₁₉-diterpenoid alkaloids.     

Vinyltetrazoles: IV. Microwave activation of metal-catalyzed arylation of C- and N-vinyltetrazoles

Microwave-assisted Heck arylation of C- and N-vinyltetrazoles has been accomplished for the first time. Microwave irradiation has been shown to considerably promote the arylation of tetrazoles.     

Unified approach to prenylated indole alkaloids: total syntheses of (–)-17-hydroxy-citrinalin B, (+)-stephacidin A,and (+)-notoamide I

A unified strategy for the synthesis of congeners of the prenylated indole alkaloids is presented. This strategy has yielded the first synthesis of the natural product (–)-17-hydroxy-citrinalin B as well as syntheses of (+)-stephacidin A and (+)-notoamide I. An enolate addition to an in situ generated isocyanate was utilized in forging a key bicyclo[2.2.2]diazaoctane moiety, and in this way connected the two structural classes of the prenylated indole alkaloids through synthesis.     

A highly efficient protocol for the synthesis of N-aryl nucleobases using zinc oxide in ionic liquids

A highly efficient and simple method for the synthesis of N-aryl derivatives of pyrimidine and purine nucleobases via Narylation of nucleobases using zinc oxide in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([bmim]Br) under microwave as well as thermal conditions is described. In both conditions, the title compounds were produced in high to excellent yields and in short reaction times.     

Rapid access to the core skeleton of the [3 + 2]-type dimeric pyrrole–imidazole alkaloids by triplet ketone-mediated C–H functionalization

The ability of triplet ketones to abstract a hydrogen atom from hydrocarbons is reminiscent of that of the high-spin metal-oxo complexes in C–H oxidation enzymes. In practice, the reactivity of triplet ketones is easier to control and applicable to promoting a wider range of reactions. We demonstrate herein the synthetic utility of triplet ketone-mediated C-addition of methanol to cyclopentenone derivatives with an expedient synthesis of the core skeleton of the [3 + 2]-type dimeric pyrrole–imidazole alkaloids. Remarkably, this photochemical C–H functionalization reaction is highly regioselective and can tolerate a good range of functional groups.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-Propylphthalimide-substituted bis-(NHC)PdX<Subscript>2</Subscript> complexes: synthesis,characterization and catalytic activity in direct arylation reactions

Palladium-catalyzed direct arylation of heteroaromatics has become a popular method for producing carbon–carbon bonds via C–H bond activation. A wide diversity of heteroaromatics such as furan, thiophenes and thiazoles can be used for this reaction. This paper reports the synthesis of N-propylphthalimide-substituted bis-(NHC)PdX₂ complexes (NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene), and their catalytic activity in direct arylation reactions. The complexes have been prepared from Ag(I)NHC precursors by transmetallation and characterized by spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The bis-(NHC)PdX₂ complexes show excellent activity as catalysts in the direct arylation reactions of 2-n-butylfuran, 2-n-butylthiophene and 2-isopropylthiazole.     

Palladium-catalyzed intramolecular arylation of pyrimidines: a novel and expedient avenue to benzannulated pyridopyrimidines

A new efficient protocol for the synthesis of benzannulated pyrido[2,3-d]- and pyrido[3,2-d]pyrimidines has been successfully accomplished via the palladium-catalyzed intramolecular arylation of C-H bond of pyrimidine moiety. The methodology has also been extended to the synthesis of pyrimido[5,4,-c]isoquinoline-2,4,6(1H,3H,5H)-trione derivatives in excellent yields.     

Direct intramolecular arylation of unactivated arenes: application to the synthesis of aporphine alkaloids

The direct intramolecular C-H arylation of unactivated arenes is a viable strategy for the synthesis of aporphine alkaloids. These reactions occur with 3 to 5 mol% catalyst and generate the aporphine skeleton in up to 99% yield.