Regioselective 5‐endo‐dig Electrophilic Iodocyclization of Enediynes: A Convenient Route to Iodo‐substituted Indenes and Cyclopenta‐Fused Arenes

An efficient iodine‐mediated regioselective tandem approach for the synthesis of symmetric and asymmetric iodo‐substituted indenes and stereoselective cyclopenta [b]pyridine/thiophenes from easily accessible enediynes that proceeds by in situ formation of an iodonium intermediate followed by a regioselective 5‐endo‐dig cyclization has been described. The intramolecular electrophilic iodocyclization was selectively triggered by a distribution of electronic density along the alkyne bond. Subsequently, the iodo‐substituted indenes were diversified by employing palladium‐catalyzed cross‐coupling reactions and the coupled products were further confirmed by X‐ray crystallographic studies.     

Heteroacene Synthesis through C−S Cross‐Coupling/5‐endo‐dig Cyclization

Highly efficient, one‐step synthesis of sulfur‐containing heteroacenes was achieved through palladium‐catalyzed C?S cross‐coupling of bis‐alkynes with thioacetate as hydrogen sulfide surrogate. Heteroacenes consisting of three, five, and seven fused aromatic rings were obtained in a single catalytic step by four‐, six‐, and eightfold C?S bond formation.     

Frustrated Lewis Pair‐Catalyzed Cycloisomerization of 1,5‐Enynes via a 5‐endo‐dig Cyclization/Protodeborylation Sequence

The first frustrated Lewis pair‐catalyzed cycloisomerization of a series of 1,5‐enynes was developed. The reaction proceeds via the π‐activation of the alkyne and subsequent 5‐endo‐dig cyclization with the adjacent alkene. The presence of PPh₃ was of utmost importance on the one hand to prevent side reactions (for example, 1,1‐carboboration) and on the other hand for the efficient protodeborylation to achieve the catalytic turnover. The mechanism is explained on the basis of quantum‐chemical calculations, which are in full agreement with the experimental observations.     

A Novel Synthesis of Isoflavones via Copper(I)‐Catalyzed Intramolecular Cyclization Reaction

Isoflavone derivatives were synthesized via intramolecular cyclization of 3‐(2‐bromophenyl)‐3‐oxopropanal derivatives, using CuI as the catalyst, 2‐picolinic acid (=pyridine‐2‐carboxylic acid) as the ligand, K₂CO₃ as the base, and DMF as the solvent, in up to 96% yield. The synthesis is functional group‐tolerant.     

A Simple Synthesis of 5‐(2‐Aminophenyl)‐1H‐pyrazoles

A four‐step synthesis of 1‐substituted 5‐(2‐aminophenyl)‐1H‐pyrazoles 5 as a novel type of histamine analogs and versatile building blocks for further transformations was developed. The synthesis starts from commercially available 2‐nitroacetophenone ( 12 ), which is converted into the enamino ketone 13 as the key intermediate. Cyclization of the key intermediate 13 with monosubstituted hydrazines 14a – 14l afforded the 5‐(2‐nitrophenyl)‐1H‐pyrazoles 17a – 17l . Finally, catalytic hydrogenation of the nitro compounds 17a, 17c – 17e , and 17g – 17j furnished the title compounds 5a, 5c – 5e , and 5g – 5j , respectively, in good yields. As demonstrated by some further transformations, additional functionalization of compounds 17 and 5 is feasible, either by electrophilic substitution at C(4) of the pyrazole ring, or at the NH₂ group.     

Total Synthesis of Ascospiroketal A Through a AgI‐Promoted Cyclization Cascade

The total synthesis of four candidate stereostructures for the marine octaketide ascospiroketal A have been achieved. These concise and highly stereocontrolled syntheses feature a unique Ag^I‐promoted cyclization cascade involving an oxetanyl ketochlorohydrin to access the entire tricyclic core of the natural product in one step. These syntheses also establish the full stereochemistry for the ascospiroketal natural products.     

Synthesis of 3,5‐Diarylcyclohex‐2‐enones by NH4Cl/HCl‐Catalyzed Cyclization and Deacetylation of 4‐Acetylhexane‐1,5‐diones

A new route for the synthesis of 3,5‐diarylcyclohex‐2‐enones is reported. The 4‐acetyl‐1,3‐diarylhexane‐1,5‐diones were obtained by the addition of pentane‐2,4‐dione to chalcones. The reaction of 4‐acetyl‐1,3‐diarylhexane‐1,5‐diones with NH₄Cl/HCl in EtOH under reflux conditions gave the 3,5‐diarylcyclohex‐2‐enones in good yields. All synthesized compounds were characterized by spectroscopic methods (¹H‐, ¹³C‐NMR, and IR), and elemental analyses.     

Synthesis of 3‐Carbamoyl β‐Lactams via Manganese(III)‐Promoted Cyclization of N‐Alkenylmalonamides

Manganese(III)‐promoted cyclization of N‐alkenylmalonamides (=N‐alkenylpropanediamides) gave 3‐(aryl/(alkylamino)carbonyl) β‐lactams as well as 3‐(aryl/(alkylamino)thiocarbonyl) β‐lactams. The relative configuration of the obtained products was unambiguously determined by X‐ray crystallography. The proposed method is very useful for the one‐pot synthesis of a number of 3‐(aryl/(alkylamino)carbonyl) β‐lactams, especially those containing an amino(thiocarbonyl) moiety, which are not selectively accessible by other methods.     

Cyclization vs. Elimination Reactions of 5‐Aryl‐5‐hydroxy 1,3‐Diones: One‐Pot Synthesis of 2‐Aryl‐2,3‐dihydro‐4H‐pyran‐4‐ones

2‐Aryl‐2,3‐dihydro‐4H‐pyran‐4‐ones were prepared in one step by cyclocondensation of 1,3‐diketone dianions with aldehydes. The use of HCl (10%) for the aqueous workup proved to be very important to avoid elimination reactions of the 5‐aryl‐5‐hydroxy 1,3‐diones formed as intermediates. The TiCl₄‐mediated cyclization of a 2‐aryl‐2,3‐dihydro‐4H‐pyran‐4‐one with 1,3‐silyloxybuta‐1,3‐diene resulted in cleavage of the pyranone moiety and formation of a highly functionalized benzene derivative.     

Radical Cyclization of Fluorinated 1,3‐Dicarbonyl Compounds with Dienes Using Manganese(III) Acetate and Synthesis of Fluoroacylated 4,5‐Dihydrofurans

Radical cyclizations of fluorinated 1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds with dienes mediated by Mn(OAc)₃ afforded 4,5‐dihydrofurans containing difluoroacetyl, trifluoroacetyl, or heptafluorobutanoyl groups in good‐to‐excellent yields. Additionally, 2‐(difluoromethyl)‐4,5‐dihydrofurans and a 4,7‐dihydrooxepin derivative were obtained as unexpected products in the reaction of 4,4‐difluoro‐1‐phenylbutane‐1,3‐dione with 1,3‐diphenylbuta‐1,3‐diene. The radical cyclization of symmetrical dienes such as 2,3‐dimethylbuta‐1,3‐diene and 1,4‐diphenylbuta‐1,3‐diene with 1,3‐diketones furnished the corresponding products in low yields. However, treatment of 1‐phenylbuta‐1,3‐diene with 1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds afforded 4,5‐dihydrofurans containing fluoroacyl groups. The radical cyclizations with 3‐methyl‐1‐phenylbuta‐1,3‐diene and 1,3‐diphenylbuta‐1,3‐diene led to 4,5‐dihydrofurans in good yields, since Me and Ph groups at C(3) of these dienes increase the stability of the radical intermediate.     

Copper(I)‐Catalyzed Interrupted Click Reaction: Synthesis of Diverse 5‐Hetero‐Functionalized Triazoles

The 5‐heterofunctionalized triazoles are important scaffolds in bioactive compounds, but current click reactions (CuAAC) cannot produce these core structures. A copper(I)‐catalyzed interrupted click reaction to access diverse 5‐functionalized triazoles is reported. Various 5‐amino‐, thio‐, and selenotriazoles were readily assembled in one step in high yields. The reaction proceeds under mild conditions with complete regioselectivity. It also features a broad substrate scope and good functional group compatibility.     

Regioselective [3+3] Cyclization of 1,3‐Bis(silyloxy)buta‐1,3‐dienes with 1,1,1‐Trifluoro‐4‐(silyloxy)alk‐3‐en‐2‐ones: New and Convenient Synthesis of Functionalized 5‐Alkyl‐3‐(trifluoromethyl)phenols

Functionalized 5‐alkyl‐3‐(trifluoromethyl)phenols were prepared by formal [3+3] cyclization of 1,3‐bis(silyloxy)buta‐1,3‐dienes with 1,1,1‐trifluoro‐4‐(silyloxy)alk‐3‐en‐2‐ones derived from 1,1,1‐trifluoroalkane‐2,4‐diones. The latter were prepared by condensation of the dianion of 1,1,1‐trifluoropentane‐2,4‐dione with alkyl halides.     

Two New Modes of Pd-Catalyzed Domino-Tetracyclization of Bromodienynes—5-exo-trig Cyclization Wins over β-Hydride Elimination

Remarkable increases of molecular complexity in a single procedural step are achieved with the title reaction. Only a slight modification in the substitution pattern on the acyclic precursor 2 can change the mode of tetracyclization to either yield skeletons of type 1 or 3 exclusively.     

A Novel and Regiospecific Synthesis of 1‐Aryl‐1H‐benzotriazoles via Copper(I)‐Catalyzed Intramolecular Cyclization Reaction

1‐Aryl‐1H‐benzotriazole derivatives were synthesized via intramolecular cyclization of easily obtained triazenes, using CuI as the catalyst, DMSO as the solvent, t‐BuONa as the base, and 1,10‐phenanthroline as the ligand, in up to 97% yield. The synthesis is regiospecific and functional group‐tolerant.     

Stepwise Mechanism of Hydroxide Ion Catalyzed Cyclization of Uridine 3′‐Thiophosphates

Diastereoisomeric isopropyl‐, 2‐ethoxyethyl‐, 2,2‐dichloroethyl‐ and 2,2,2‐trichloroethyl uridine 3′‐thiomonophosphates, 1a – 1d , respectively, have been synthesized, and their hydrolyses in aqueous alkali at 25° have been followed by HPLC. According to the time‐dependent product distributions obtained, the alkyl phosphorothioates 1a – 1d undergo cleavage to uridine 2′‐ and 3′‐thiophosphates, 7a and 7b , respectively, via a uridine 2′,3′‐cyclic thiophosphate ( 6 ). The rate of the hydroxide ion‐catalyzed cyclization of both (R_P)‐ and (S_P)‐diastereoisomer is highly dependent on the polar nature of the leaving group, the β_lg values being ?1.23±0.03 and ?1.24±0.03, respectively. Brønsted dependence of the second‐order rate constants (k_OH [dm³ mol^?1 s^?1]) on the pK_a values of the leaving alcohols shows a convex breakpoint on going from alkyl esters 1a – 1d to aryl esters studied earlier. This may be considered as a strong evidence for a stepwise mechanism, where the formation and breakdown of the phosphorane intermediate is the rate‐limiting step with aryl and alkyl esters, respectively.