First Stereoselective Total Synthesis of a Dimeric Naphthoquinonopyrano‐γ‐lactone: (+)‐γ‐Actinorhodin

We have accomplished the first total synthesis of an isomerically pure naphthoquinonopyrano‐γ‐lactone dimer, γ‐actinorhodin, in eleven steps. Two steps exploit pairs of peri‐MeO groups as unusual selectivity controls. The respective MeO groups convey the steric bulk of a bromo or iodo substituent located ortho to one MeO group as steric hindrance into the vicinity of the second MeO group. This relay effect was indispensable for exerting regiocontrol in an aromatic bromination and diastereocontrol in an oxa‐Pictet–Spengler cyclization. The absolute configuration of our target compound was established in an asymmetric Sharpless dihydroxylation of a β,γ‐unsaturated ester, which was synthesized in a Heck coupling of a bromoiodonaphthalene with ethyl vinylacetate. The dihydroxylation provided the γ‐hydroxylactone moiety of the bromonaphthalene that was used as the substrate in the oxa‐Pictet–Spengler cyclization. Dimerization to the core of γ‐actinorhodin occurred by two Suzuki couplings.     

Total Synthesis of Actinorhodin

The enantioselective total synthesis of actinorhodin ( 1 ) is described. The synthesis features 1) dual benzyne reactions en route to the monomer, 2) the trans‐selective installation of the side chain, and 3) a regioselective oxidative dimerization.     

Tandem IBX‐Promoted Primary Alcohol Oxidation/Opening of Intermediate β,γ‐Diolcarbonate Aldehydes to (E)‐γ‐Hydroxy‐α,β‐enals

A tandem IBX‐promoted oxidation of primary alcohol to aldehyde and opening of intermediate β,γ‐diolcarbonate aldehyde to (E)‐γ‐hydroxy‐α,β‐enal has been developed. Remarkably, the carbonate opening delivered exclusively (E)‐olefin and no over‐oxidation of γ‐hydroxy was observed. The method developed has been extended to complete the stereoselective total synthesis of both (S)‐ and (R)‐coriolides and d ‐xylo‐ and d ‐arabino‐C‐20 guggultetrols.     

Synthesis of β‐Arylacyl/β‐Heteroarylacyl‐β‐alkylidene Malonates and Their Application in Substituted Pyridone Synthesis

A novel approach has been developed for the synthesis of β‐arylacyl/β‐heteroarylacyl‐β‐alkylidine malonates in moderate to good yields by the reaction of Stork aryl and heteroaryl enamine with β‐chloroalkylidene malonates. The reaction involves conjugate (Michael) addition of Stork enamine on β‐chloroalkylidene malonates and elimination of chloride ion. These Michael adducts were utilized as intermediates for the synthesis of highly substituted 1,4‐dialkyl‐2‐oxo‐6‐aryl/hetreoaryl‐1,2‐dihydro‐pyridine‐3‐carboxylic acid ethyl esters via 5 + 1 ring annulation protocol.     

TBAF‐Mediated Dimerization Reaction of β,γ‐Unsaturated Arylketones

A simple and high‐yield method for the synthesis of several 1,5‐diaryl‐1,5‐dicarbonyl compounds has been established starting from TBAF‐mediated isomerization and dimerization reaction of β,γ‐unsaturated arylketones (allyl arylketones) with mono‐, di‐, and tri‐methoxy groups, which is derived from allylation of commercially available different benzaldehydes and followed by oxidation of the resulting secondary alcohols.     

Efficient Synthesis of α‐Benzylidene‐γ‐methyl‐γ‐butyrolactones

A concise synthesis of α‐benzylidene‐γ‐methyl‐γ‐butyrolactones 5a – g from substituted benzaldehydes is described. Compounds 1a – g on reaction with phosphorane 2 , provide the pentenoates 3a – g , which can be hydrolyzed to the acids 4a – g . The latter are cyclized to the corresponding butyrolactones 5a – g in excellent yields. The pentenoates 3a – g , on acid catalyzed cyclization, also provide 5a – g in very high yields.     

Synthesis of new optically active α,α′,β‐trisubstituted‐β‐lactones as monomers for stereoregular biopolyesters

Various optically active (4R)‐alkyloxycarbonyl‐3,3‐dialkyl‐2‐oxetanones as monomers were synthesized from L‐(S)‐malic acid in six steps to prepare a new family of stereopolyesters for biomedical applications. The synthesis began with an esterification followed of a dialkylation in the aim to introduce hydrophobic groups as methyl or reactive group as allyl. Then, a saponification has permitted to obtain the corresponding diacids that reacted with appropriate alcohols to furnish different monoesters. The last and most important step was activation of hydroxyl group of monoesters with the asymmetric carbon configuration inversion according to the Mitsunobu reaction. Thus, this reaction has provided lactones from monoesters with 100% enantiomeric excess which was confirmed by ¹H NMR and by the synthesis of corresponding isotactic and semicrystalline homopolyesters. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 2586–2597     

Recyclable Hypervalent‐Iodine‐Mediated Dehydrogenative α,β′‐Bifunctionalization of β‐Keto Esters Under Metal‐Free Conditions

We have developed a method for recyclable hypervalent‐iodine‐mediated direct dehydrogenative α,β′‐ bifunctionalization of β‐ketoesters and β‐diketones under metal‐free conditions, which affords a straightforward way to synthesize benzo‐fused 2,3‐dihydrofurans. This efficient, mild method, which has a wide substrate scope and good functional‐group tolerance, was used for the multistep synthesis of the protected aglycone of a naturally occurring phenolic glycoside. A mechanism involving Michael addition to an enone intermediate and subsequent oxidative cyclization is proposed.     

PPh3⋅HBr‐DMSO Mediated Expedient Synthesis of γ‐Substituted β,γ‐Unsaturated α‐Ketomethylthioesters and α‐Bromo Enals: Application to the Synthesis of 2‐Methylsulfanyl‐3(2 H)‐furanones

An efficient chemoselective general procedure for the synthesis of γ‐substituted β,γ‐unsaturated α‐ketomethylthioesters from α,β‐unsaturated ketones has been achieved through an unprecedented PPh₃?HBr‐DMSO mediated oxidative bromination and Kornblum oxidation sequence. The newly developed reagent system serves admirably for the synthesis of α‐bromoenals from enals. Furthermore, AuCl₃‐catalyzed efficient access to 3(2H)‐furanones from the above intermediates under extremely mild conditions are described.     

Asymmetric Disulfonimide‐Catalyzed Synthesis of δ‐Amino‐β‐Ketoester Derivatives by Vinylogous Mukaiyama–Mannich Reactions

An organocatalytic asymmetric synthesis of δ‐amino‐β‐ketoester derivatives has been developed. A chiral disulfonimide (DSI) serves as a highly efficient precatalyst for a vinylogous Mukaiyama–Mannich reaction of readily available dioxinone‐derived silyloxydienes with N‐Boc‐protected imines, delivering products in excellent yields and enantioselectivities. The synthetic utility of this reaction is illustrated in various transformations, including a new C? C bond‐forming reaction, which provide useful enantioenriched building blocks. The methodology is applied in a formal synthesis of (?)‐lasubin.     

First Synthesis of （＋）-2,14-Deoxyalatol from α-Santonin

A novel and general approach for synthesis of the multi-oxygenated dihydrofuran sesquiterpenes has been developed starting from santonin. The key steps involve: the strategic acid-catalyzed double-bond shifting affording 4, the novel base-promoted epoxide rearrangement of 5 generating two key functionals (the C5-OH and the Δ^7,11 double bond), and the stereoselective cyclization of tetrahydrofuran ring without pre-controlling the stereochemistry of C-7. As an example of this approach, synthesis of ( )-2,14-deoxyalatol was described in detail.     

Catalytic Asymmetric 1,3‐Dipolar Cycloaddition of β‐Fluoroalkylated α,β‐Unsaturated 2‐Pyridylsulfones with Nitrones for Chiral Fluoroalkylated Isoxazolidines and γ‐Amino Alcohols

2‐Pyridylsulfone‐ and fluoroalkylated group‐activated olefins underwent highly efficient diastereo‐ and enantioselective 1,3‐dipolar cycloadditions across various aromatic and aliphatic nitrones in the presence of a chiral Ni^II/bis(oxazoline) catalyst. The process was tuned by 4 Å molecular sieves, chiral bis(oxazoline) ligands, reaction solvents, and temperature. A wide array of optically pure fluoroalkylated isoxazolidines were obtained, thus facilitating the asymmetric synthesis of an enantioenriched α‐trifluoromethylated γ‐amino alcohol in gram‐scale and a trifluoromethylated derivative of 1,3‐oxazinan‐2‐one with potential pharmaceutical interest. A stereochemical model, based on the absolute configuration of one adduct and some control experiments, was postulated to account for the observed endo‐ and enantioselectivity.     

α‐Amino Acid‐Isosteric α‐Amino Tetrazoles

The synthesis of all 20 common natural proteinogenic and 4 otherα‐amino acid‐isosteric α‐amino tetrazoles has been accomplished, whereby the carboxyl group is replaced by the isosteric 5‐tetrazolyl group. The short process involves the use of the key Ugi tetrazole reaction followed by deprotection chemistries. The tetrazole group is bioisosteric to the carboxylic acid and is widely used in medicinal chemistry and drug design. Surprisingly, several of the common α‐amino acid‐isosteric α‐amino tetrazoles are unknown up to now. Therefore a rapid synthetic access to this compound class and non‐natural derivatives is of high interest to advance the field.     

Asymmetric Construction of Pyrrolidines Bearing a Trifluoromethylated Quaternary Stereogenic Center via CuI‐Catalyzed 1,3‐Dipolar Cycloaddition of Azomethine Ylides with β‐CF3‐β,β‐Disubstituted Nitroalkenes

A direct and convenient method has been developed for the synthesis of optically active pyrrolidines bearing a quaternary stereogenic center containing a CF₃ group at the C‐3 position of the pyrrolidine ring. The synthesis system, Cu^I/Si‐FOXAP‐catalyzed exo‐selective 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides with β‐CF₃‐β,β‐disubstituted nitroalkenes, provides pyrrolidines with high diastereoselectivities (up to >98:2 d.r.) and excellent enantioselectivities (up to >99.9 ee) and performs well for a broad scope of substrates under mild conditions.     

Concise Synthesis of α‐Methylene‐β‐hydroxy‐γ‐carboxy‐γ‐lactams

A concise protocol for the synthesis of α‐methylene‐β‐hydroxy‐γ‐carboxy‐γ‐lactams has been described via alkylation of amino acid derived iminoesters with α‐bromomethylmethacrylate, followed by allylic hydroxylation. All the synthesized compounds have been evaluated for their cytotoxicity on multiple myeloma cancer cell lines.     

An Expeditious Access to Enantiomerically Pure cis‐Dialkyl‐Substituted γ‐ and δ‐Lactones

A facile general route to enantiomerically pure 3,4‐cis‐dialkyl‐substituted γ‐lactones and 4,5‐cis‐dialkyl‐substituted δ‐lactones by TiCl₄‐mediated Evans asymmetric aldolization as the key step is exemplified by synthesis of cis‐(3R,4R)‐3‐methyldecan‐4‐olide and (4R,5R)‐aerangis lactone.     

5-雄烯-3β, 7α, 17β-三醇和5-雄烯-3β, 7β, 17β-三醇的合成

以5-雄烯二醇为原料,用微生物转化的方法合成了两个重要的神经甾体5-雄烯-3β, 7α, 17β-三醇和5-雄烯-3β, 7β, 17β-三醇。所用菌种总枝毛霉为我们自己筛选,并首次应用于5-雄烯-3β, 7α, 17β-三醇和5-雄烯-3β, 7β, 17β-三醇的合成中。     

A Facile One‐pot Synthesis of α‐Halo,α‐allylic Aldehydes from α,α‐Dihalo Ketones Utilizing Allylic Zinc Bromide

An efficient synthesis of various α‐halo,α‐allylic aldehydes from α,α‐dihalo ketones using both cyclic (3‐bromocyclohex‐1‐ene zinc bromide and (Z)‐3‐bromocyclobut‐1‐ene zinc bromide) and acyclic (allylzinc bromide and cinnamylzinc bromide) type of allylic organozinc bromide with DMF as base is described. A possible reaction mechanism is also proposed.     

Two‐Step Synthesis of Multifunctional γ‐Lactams from γ‐Lactone

We present herein an efficient and rapid method for the synthesis of N,1‐dialkyl‐4‐(2‐hydroxyethyl)‐5‐oxopyrrolidine‐3‐carboxamides based on the conversion of γ‐lactone to γ‐lactam via the conjugate addition of primary amines to an ethyl α‐functionalized acrylate followed by intramolecular cyclization.     

Copper‐Catalyzed 1,2‐Addition of α‐Carbonyl Iodides to Alkynes

β,γ‐Unsaturated ketones are an important class of organic molecules. Herein, copper catalysis has been developed for the synthesis of β‐γ‐unsaturated ketones through 1,2‐addition of α‐carbonyl iodides to alkynes. The reactions exhibit wide substrate scope and high functional group tolerance. The reaction products are versatile synthetic intermediates to complex small molecules. The method was applied for the formal synthesis of (±)‐trichostatin A, a histone deacetylase inhibitor.