First synthesis of (±)-bis-homosarkomycin ethyl ester

A five step synthesis of (±)-bis-homosarkomycin ethyl ester 6 has been achieved starting from commercially available ethyl phosphonoacetate and ethyl 5-bromovalerate. The successful synthetic approach to 6 uses α-methylene pimelate 3 as a key intermediate.     

A stereocontrolled total synthesis of methyl (±)-O-methylpodocarpate

A stereocontrolled total synthesis of methyl (±)-O-methyl podocarpate (4) has been successfully accomplished using the trans-fused diester 21 as a key intermediate. Intramolecular Michael reaction of the enone-diester 18 afforded the cis-fused keto-diester 19 in high yield which was stereoselectively converted into 21 via the enone 20.     

Total synthesis of (±)-antofine

An efficient preparation of (±)-antofine is described. The main steps involved in this synthesis are the Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons reaction, the intramolecular Schmidt reaction of an azido aldehyde, and the one-pot deprotection of the N-formyl group, followed by Pictet–Spengler cyclization. The asymmetric hydrogenation of the trisubstituted α,β-unsaturated ester is also explored, however only moderate enantio-control (55% ee) is obtained. Finally, (±)-antofine is prepared in six steps from the phenanthryl aldehyde 5 with an overall yield of 35%.     

A formal total synthesis of (±)-9-isocyanoneopupukeanane

A formal total synthesis of the marine sesquiterpene (±)-9-isocyanoneopupukeanane starting from the readily available monoterpene carvone has been accomplished employing a combination of intermolecular Michael addition-intramolecular Michael addition reaction and an intramolecular rhodium carbenoid C-H insertion reaction as key steps, and identifying the isopropenyl group as a masked hydroxy group.     

Stereoselectivity in the organoiron-mediated synthesis of (±)-mesembrine

The preparation and structural characterisation of a 1-aryl-substituted electrophilic η⁵-cyclohexadienyliron complex with the correct functionalisation as a ‘C₁₂ building block’ for the synthesis of (±)-mesembrine establishes the accessibility of a flattened conformation to allow nucleophile addition ipso to the arene. The chirality relay in quaternary centre formation by nucleophile addition has been confirmed, and the product has been converted into the Sceletium alkaloid mesembrine.     

An efficient synthesis of (±)-β-herbertenol by a 1,3-cyclopentadione annelation strategy

A simple and efficient synthesis of sesquiterpene (±)-β-herebertenol is described. The formation of cyclopentadione onto the aromatic moiety is the key feature of this protocol.     

Stereoselective conjugate addition of lactams to nitroalkenes and formal total synthesis of indolizidine 167B

Optically active 5-substituted pyrrolidin-2-ones underwent conjugate addition to nitroalkenes to give the corresponding adducts in a diastereoselective manner. The presence of 18-crown-6 was crucial to achieve good stereoselective addition. Addition of 6-substituted piperidin-2-ones also gave the corresponding adduct in a stereoselective manner. The adduct was readily converted into a bicyclic lactam through intramolecular nitroaldol reaction, and the formal synthesis of indolizidine 167B was achieved.     

A simple and efficient synthesis of new cyclic ureas

A facile access to a wide range of original saturated N-heterocyclic ureas is described using, as a key step, a Michael-type reaction involving isocyanates or amines on a piperidine framework possessing an α,β-unsaturated ester functionality.     

Synthesis of Novel Nucleoside Analog （3R）-2,3-Dideoxy-3-（N-hydroxy-N-methylamino）-L-arabinofuranosyl Uracil

The synthesis of novel nucleoside analog (3R)-2,3-dideoxy-3-(N-hydroxy-N-methylamino)-L-arabinofuranosyl uracil was studied. A twelve-step synthetic route, started from L-ascorbic acid, was designed, and the final product was obtained in 20.8% yield.     

An efficient synthesis of indoloquinoline alkaloid—neocryptolepine (cryptotackieine)

A short and convenient method for the synthesis of neocryptolepine (cryptotackieine) is described using Wittig reaction and one-pot reduction-cyclization-dehydration approach as the key steps.     

A concise diastereoselective approach to (+)-dexoxadrol, (−)-epi-dexoxadrol, (−)-conhydrine and (+)-lentiginosine from (−)-pipecolinic acid

A new diastereoselective pathway for the total synthesis of (+)-dexoxadrol, first asymmetric synthesis of (−)-epi-dexoxadrol and formal synthesis of conhydrine and (+)-lentiginosine is presented using commercially available (−)-pipecolinic acid. The key reactions utilized are Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation and Wittig reaction. The paper further describes the study of effect of protecting groups on dihydroxylation of a terminal olefin in piperidine ring system.     

Host (nanocavity of zeolite-Y)–guest (molybdophosphoric acid) nanocomposite materials: An efficient catalyst for solvent-free synthesis and deprotection of 1,l-diacetates

In the present work, a mild and efficient method has been developed for the synthesis of acylals from aldehydes with acetic anhydride in the presence of molybdophosphoric acid encapsulated into dealuminated zeolite Y (MPA-DAZY) as a catalyst under solvent-free conditions at 45–55 °C in good to excellent yield. The deprotection of acylals has also been attained using this catalyst in acetonitrile. The catalyst was reused several times without efficient loss of its catalytic activity.     

Mixed catechol-hydroxamate and catechol-(o-hydroxy)phenacyl siderophores: synthesis and uptake studies with receptor-deficient Escherichia coli mutants

Biscatechol-hydroxamate and catechol-bishydroxamate chelators of similar architecture were synthesized by a small set of acylation reactions, Michael additions, and domino Wittig alkenations and they were tested for siderophoric activity in various receptor-deficient mutants of Escherichia coli under iron starvation. Growth promotion occurred only in mutants featuring catecholate recognizing receptors. Simplified mimics of the natural siderophores parabactin and agrobactin, carrying an o-hydroxybenzamide instead of the 2-(o-hydroxyphenyl)oxazoline ligand, were prepared analogously. Unlike the originals these mimics are fully functional siderophores in E. coli.     

An efficient synthesis of 4-chromanones

A two step efficient and practical synthesis of a variety of 4-chromanones is described. Phenols undergo a Michael addition to acrylonitriles in the presence of catalytic amounts of potassium carbonate and tert-butanol to generate the corresponding 3-aryloxypropanenitriles in 50-93% yields. Treatment of the resulting aryloxypropionitriles with 1.5 equiv of TfOH and 5 equiv of TFA, followed by an aqueous work up afforded 4-chromanones in moderate to excellent yields.     

A new method of synthesising (±)-thalictroidine and (±)-hygrine

A new route to synthesise (±)-thalictroidine and (±)-hygrine by tandem S_N2-Micheal reaction is described.     

A novel and efficient total synthesis of (±)-physostigmine

Application of the Wittig olefination-Claisen rearrangement protocol for the total synthesis of (±)-physostigmine.     

Palladium(0) nanoparticles: an efficient catalyst for the one-pot synthesis of polyhydroquinolines

A mild, concise, and efficient protocol for the synthesis of polyhydroquinoline via four component reaction of aromatic aldehydes, dimedone, ethyl acetoacetate or ethyl cyanoacetate, and ammonium acetate using Pd-nanoparticles is described. The same phenomenon was observed in the case of arylmethylene bis(3-hydroxy-2-cyclohexene-1-ones), ethyl acetoacetate, ammonium acetate, and Pd-nanoparticles in one-pot. The present method also allows us to synthesize highly functionalized title compounds from simple and readily available inputs.     

A stereoselective total synthesis of (±)-tormesol

A general strategy for the synthesis of both trans/syn- and trans/anti-sphenolobane diterpenes has been developed, which utilizes an intramolecular ester enolate alkylation (IEEA) as a key step. A stereoselective total synthesis of (±)-tormesol (1), an unusual trans/syn-sphenolobane diterpene, was accomplished in 18 steps in 4.1% overall yield from readily available aldehyde 16.     

A simple and efficient approach to the synthesis of highly functionalized fused benzochromenes

Protonation of the reactive intermediates produced in the reaction between tert-butyl isocyanide and dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate or dibenzoylacetylene, by 1-naphthol, 2-naphthol, 2,3-dihydroxynaphthalene, 2,7-dihydroxynaphthalene or 4-methyl-8-hydroxycoumarin leads to vinylnitrilium cations, which undergo carbon-centered Michael type addition with the conjugate base of the naphthols to produce highly functionalized benzochromenes.     

Straightforward synthesis of indolizidine alkaloid 167B

The synthetic access to indolizidines, substituted in C-5 position, was reported with good diastereoselectivity. The strategy developed was based on a key step of Michael addition associated with a Clauson-Kaas condensation.