Transesterification catalyzed by samarium tri-2-propoxide

A facile method for transesterification was reported. Under catalysis by samarium tri-2-propoxide the yields of transesterification are good to excellent, and this reaction has surprising selectivity and mildness due to the neutral condition during the reaction.     

Ketyl-allene cyclizations promoted by samarium(II) iodide

[reaction: see text] Samarium(II) iodide has proven to be an effective reagent for intramolecular reductive coupling reactions. Previous investigations of intramolecular ketyl-olefin coupling reactions provided carbocycles in excellent yield and good diastereoselectivity. This method has been extended to ketyl cyclizations with allenes. Substrates leading to both carbocycles and heterocycles in a selective manner are explored.     

Reductive cyclizations of allenic ketones by dissolving metals

The dissolving metal reductions of certain allenic carbonyl compounds leads to the formation of cyclic alcohols with high regioselectivity.     

三异丙氧钐催化下醇的选择性乙酰化反应

本文报道了三异丙氧钐(5%)催化下，以乙酸乙酯为乙酰化试剂醇的选择性乙酰化反应。此法操作简便，产率良好。     

Stereoselective formation of Bis(alpha-hydroxy ketones) via enzymatic carboligation

The enzymatic approach to a novel class of chiral bis(alpha-hydroxy ketones) of type 5 and 8, which enable the synthesis of new multidentate ligands for asymmetric transition metal catalysis, is described. The key step is the second benzoylformate decarboxylase catalyzed C-C-bond formation between an aromatic dialdehyde and acetaldehyde, which proceeds with complete stereocontrol. Transformation of enantiomerically enriched monoadduct (S)-4 (ee 88%) and (S)-7 (ee 79%) resulted in optical pure (S,S)-5 and (S,S)-8 besides minor amounts of the corresponding diastereomeric meso-forms.     

三异丙氧钐催化下β-酮酸烯丙酯的合成

在甲苯中，以Sm(i-PrO)~3(10%)为催化剂，β-酮酸乙酯与烯丙醇进行酯交换反应得到中等产率的β-酮酸烯丙酯。     

Stereoselective Nazarov cyclizations of bridged bicyclic dienones

[reaction: see text] Bridged bicyclic dienones underwent silyl-directed Nazarov cyclization with generally very high diastereoselectivity. In most cases, a strong preference for cyclization to the product with an exo-disposed cyclopentenone was seen. However, the presence of additional unsaturation in the three-carbon bridge of a bicyclo[3.2.1]octadiene system caused complete reversal in selectivity with exclusive formation of the endo-cyclopentenone. The observed selectivities are believed to result from a combination of steric and electronic effects.     

Indium-catalyzed homo-Nazarov cyclizations of alkenyl cyclopropyl ketones

Herein, an efficient Lewis acid catalyzed protocol for the homo-Nazarov cyclizations of alkenyl cyclopropyl ketones is reported. Alkenes bearing β-hydrogens (or silyl groups) provide 1.5:1 mixtures of methylene cyclohexenols and cyclohexenones. When no β-hydrogens (or silyl groups) are present, only cyclohexenones are observed. Products are rapidly formed in good to high yields (up to 93%) under mild conditions and could be readily derivatized.     

Stereoselective synthesis of spirocyclic ketones by Nazarov reaction

[reaction: see text] The Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction between alpha-ethoxydienyl boronates and lactone-derived vinyl triflates affords functionalized 6-(1-ethoxy-1,3-butadienyl)dihydropyran derivatives that undergo a Nazarov electrocyclic reaction under mild acidic conditions to give functionalized spirocyclic ketones. The product distribution and the stereoselectivity of the process are strongly dependent on the substitution of both the alpha-ethoxydiene and dihydropyran moieties. High stereoselectivity is observed in the presence of a C2-substituent on the dihydropyran moiety. The results are explained in terms of transition state geometries.     

Chemoselective cyclizations of divinyl ketones to cyclohexenones mediated by Lewis acid and base

[reaction: see text] Chemoselective cyclizations of divinyl ketones to cyclohexenones mediated by a sterically demanding Lewis acid and an amine base have been accomplished under mild reaction conditions. The extension of this methodology to the synthesis of eight-membered rings is also demonstrated.     

酮存在下烷氧基钐催化选择性还原醛

本文报道了一种选择性Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley(MPV)型还原体系。在Sm(OCH2R)3(5%)/RCH2OH/4A molecular sieves(MS 4A) (R=CH3, CH3CH2)催化下, 该体系对醛、酮羰基具有优良的选择性还原能力, 能够选择性的还原醛羰基, 而对酮羰基的还原呈惰性。     

Rhodium(II) mediated cyclizations of diazo alkynyl ketones

The rhodium(II)-catalyzed reaction of -diazo ketones bearing tethered alkyne units represents a new and useful method for the construction of a variety of substituted cyclopentenones. The process proceeds by addition of the rhodium-stabilized carbenoid onto the acetylenic π-bond to give a vinyl carbenoid intermediate. The resulting rhodium complex undergoes a wide assortment of reactions including cyclopropanation, 1,2-hydrogen migration, CH-insertion, addition to tethered alkynes and ylide formation. The exact pathway followed is dependent on the specific metal/ligand employed and is also influenced by the nature of the solvent. Sulfonium ylide formation occurred both intra and intermolecularly when the reaction was carried out in the presence of a sulfide. In the case where an ether oxygen was present on the backbone of the vinyl carbenoid, cyclization afforded an oxonium ylide which underwent a [1,2] or [2,3]-sigmatropic shift to give a rearranged product. These cyclic metallocarbenoids were also found to interact with a neighboring carbonyl π-bond to produce carbonyl ylide dipoles that could be trapped with added dipolarophiles. The domino transformation was also performed intramolecularly by attaching an alkene directly to the carbonyl group. When 2-alkynyl-2-diazo-3-oxobutanoates were treated with a Rh(II)-catalyst, furo[3,4-c]furans were formed in excellent yield. The 1,5-electrocyclization process involved in furan formation has also been utilized to produce indeno[1,2-c]furans. Rotamer population was found to play a significant role in the cyclization of -diazo amide systems containing tethered alkynes. In this account, an overview of our work in this area is presented.     

Stereoselective olefination of unfunctionalized ketones via ynolates

Ynolates react with ketones at room temperature to afford alpha,beta,beta-trisubstituted acrylates (tetrasubstituted olefins) with 2:1-8:1 geometrical selectivities. This can be regarded as a new olefination reaction of ketones giving tetrasubstituted olefins in good yield, even in the case of sterically hindered substrates. The reaction mechanism involves cycloaddition of ynolates with a carbonyl group and subsequent thermal electrocyclic ring-opening of the resulting beta-lactone enolates. The stereoselectivity is determined in the ring-opening, which is regulated by torquoselectivity. In this paper, we describe the scope and limitations of olefination of ketones via ynolates and discuss the stereocontrol mechanism.     

Novel stereoselective syntheses of highly functionalized benzannulated pyrrolizidines and indolizidines by samarium diiodide induced cyclizations of indole derivatives

[reaction: see text] Suitably substituted heteroaromatic compounds such as indole and pyrrole derivatives are excellent acceptor units for intramolecular couplings of samarium ketyls. They furnish highly functionalized indole derivatives with very good diastereoselectivities additionally. Intermediate samarium enolates can be trapped by electrophiles, allowing efficient tandem reactions.