A new class of non-racemic chiral macrocycles: a conformational and synthetic study

Amino alcohols have been used to introduce non-racemic chirality into macrocycles using a modular approach that relies on a Heck macrocyclisation reaction. A wide variety of macrocycles have been synthesised, and their structures studied using X-ray crystallography and molecular modelling. A fragmentation reaction encountered during the use of (S)-1,1-dimethylvalinol revealed that carboxylic acids generate acylals under reaction conditions often used for Heck reactions.     

Access to a Stereoisomer Library of Solomonamide Macrocycles

In an attempt towards understanding stereo‐structure activity relationships (SSARs), we have prepared eight possible stereoisomers of solomonamide macrocycles, in particular, by changing the stereochemical pattern of non‐peptide fragment AHMOA. Here, we have demonstrated different ways to construct three contiguous chiral centers present in solomonamide B macrocycle using substrate/reagent‐controlled methods. These methods involve Brown crotylation, NHK reaction and Evans aldol addition as key steps to synthesize key non‐peptide fragment. Further, these non‐peptide fragments were converted to their corresponding macrocycles via ligand‐free intramolecular Heck reaction.     

Novel Carbazole‐Based N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Ligands to Access Synthetically Relevant Stilbenes in Pd‐Catalyzed Coupling Processes

A series of new carbazole‐based N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands have been synthesized in a simple and facile synthetic route and subsequently used in a Pd/carbazole‐based NHC catalytic system, which was found to be effective in catalyzing Heck reactions to provide substituted stilbene derivatives in good yields. Several bioactive stilbenes, including pterostilbene, pinosylvin, trimethoxy resveratrol, and resveratrol, were synthesized in good yields, and a 10 mmol scale‐up was also performed for trimethoxy resveratrol. The synthetic application was also extended by performing a double‐tandem chemoselective Heck reaction followed by Miyaura borylation in a one‐pot procedure to give single‐step access to synthetically useful stilbenyl boronate esters. Similarly, a unique triple‐tandem protocol of a chemoselective Heck reaction/Miyaura borylation/Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reaction sequence was performed for the one‐pot modification of biologically relevant molecules.     

The synthesis of non‐symmetrical stilbene analogs of trans‐resveratrol using the same Pd catalyst in a sequential double‐Heck arylation of ethylene

We have developed a sequential and selective Pd‐catalyzed double‐Heck arylation of ethylene that results in non‐symmetrical nitro‐stilbene analogs of trans‐resveratrol at excellent yields. A catalytic system consisting of Pd(OAc)₂ and P(o‐tolyl)₃ permitted us to carry out the two consecutive Heck arylations without losing activity from the first to the second Heck reaction. After the first Heck arylation of ethylene, no isolation or additional catalyst loading is required for the second Heck arylation reaction. This protocol was applied to the synthesis of methylated trans‐resveratrol, which was obtained at a 65% overall yield. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Novel isoxazoline ligand with ferrocene backbone: preparation and application in Heck reaction with water as solvent

Two novel isoxazoline N,N‐bidentate ligands with ferrocene backbone have been synthesized and employed for the palladium‐catalyzed Heck coupling reaction. Among them, 1,3‐bis‐(5‐ferrocenylisoxazoline‐3‐yl)benzene was found to be thermally stable and a highly effective ligand for Heck coupling reaction in neat water without N₂ protection, affording the desired coupling products in good to excellent yield with high diastereoselectivity. The developed catalytic system was also well workable for 1,2‐disubstituted alkenes, which were less involved in the Heck reaction for its larger steric hindrance. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Palladaphosphacyclobutenes as catalysts in Heck and Suzuki reactions

Heck reactions of aryl halides with various olefins and Suzuki reactions of aryl halides with phenylboronic acid catalyzed by palladaphosphacyclobutene have been investigated. The scope of the Heck reaction has been investigated in N,N‐dimethylacetamide at 140 °C using NaOAc as base. Using 0.1% molar ratio of palladaphosphacyclobuyenes, aryl bromides were converted into 1,2‐substitutedethene products in good to high yields through coupling with both vinylarenes and acrylates. Actived aryl chloride reacted with styrene to afford 1,2‐substitutedethene products in moderate yields. The scope of the Suzuki reaction has been conducted in toluene at 110 °C using Cs₂CO₃ as base. Using 0.1% molar ratio of palladaphosphacyclobutene, aryl bromides reacted with phenylboronic acid to afford diaryl derivatives in excellent yield. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Heck‐Type Reactions of Imine Derivatives: A DFT Study

The mechanism of a recently discovered intramolecular Heck‐type coupling of oximes with aryl halides (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2007 , 46, 6325) was systematically studied by using density functional methods enhanced with a polarized continuum solvation model. The overall catalytic cycle of the reaction was found to consist of four steps: oxidative addition, migratory insertion, β‐H elimination, and catalyst regeneration, whereas an alternative base‐promoted C? H activation pathway was determined to be less favorable. Migratory insertion was found to be the rate determining step in the catalytic cycle. The apparent activation barrier of migratory insertion of the (E)‐oxime was +20.5 kcal mol^?1, whereas the barrier of (Z)‐oxime was as high as +32.7 kcal mol^?1. However, (Z)‐oxime could isomerize to form the more active (E)‐oxime with the assistance of K₂CO₃, so that both the (E)‐ and (Z)‐oxime substrates could be transformed to the desired product. Our calculations also indicated that the Z product was predominant in the equilibrium of the isomerization of the imine double bond, which constituted the reason for the good Z‐selectivity observed for the reaction. Furthermore, we examined the difference between the intermolecular Heck‐type reactions of imines and of olefins. It was found that in the intermolecular Heck‐type coupling of imines, the apparent activation barrier of migratory insertion was as high as +35 kcal mol^?1, which should be the main obstacle of the reaction. The analysis also revealed the main problem for the intermolecular Heck‐type reactions of imines, which was that the breaking of a C?N π bond was much more difficult than the breaking of a C?C π bond. After systematic examination of a series of substituted imines, (Z)‐N‐amino imine and N‐acetyl imine were found to have relatively low barriers of migratory insertion, so that they might be possible substrates for intermolecular Heck‐type coupling.     

Application of N,N‐bis(diphenylphosphino)aniline palladium(II) complexes as pre‐catalysts in Heck coupling reactions

Palladium(II) complexes with N,N‐bis(diphenylphosphino)aniline ligands catalyse the Heck reaction between styrene and aryl bromides, affording stilbenes in good yield. The structures of two of the complexes used as pre‐catalysts have been determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Efficient access to new chemical space through flow--construction of druglike macrocycles through copper-surface-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition reactions

A series of 12‐ to 22‐membered macrocycles, with druglike functionality and properties, have been generated by using a simple and efficient copper‐catalyzed azide–acetylene cycloaddition reaction, conducted in flow in high‐temperature copper tubing, under environmentally friendly conditions. The triazole‐containing macrocycles have been generated in up to 90 % yield in a 5 min reaction, without resorting to the high‐dilution conditions typical of macrocyclization reactions. This approach represents a very efficient method for constructing this important class of molecules, in terms of yield, concentration, and environmental considerations.     

Enantioselective Synthesis of Chromenes via a Palladium‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Redox‐Relay Heck Reaction

A palladium‐catalyzed asymmetric redox‐relay Heck reaction of 4H ‐chromenes and arylboronic acids has been successfully developed. The reaction proceeded in moderate to good yields with good to high enantioselectivities. The resulting product is an advanced intermediate of bio‐active compound BW683C.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Enantioselective Heck Carbonylation with a Monodentate Phosphoramidite Ligand: Asymmetric Synthesis of (+)‐Physostigmine, (+)‐Physovenine,and (+)‐Folicanthine

Reported herein is the development of the first enantioselective monodentate ligand assisted Pd‐catalyzed domino Heck carbonylation reaction with CO. The highly enantioselective domino Heck carbonylation of N‐aryl acrylamides and various nucleophiles, including arylboronic acids, anilines, and alcohols, in the presence of CO was achieved. A novel monodentate phosphoramidite ligand, Xida‐Phos, has been developed for this reaction and it displays excellent reactivity and enantioselectivity. The reaction employs readily available starting materials, tolerates a wide range of functional groups, and provides straightforward access to a diverse array of enantioenriched oxindoles having β‐carbonyl‐substituted all‐carbon quaternary stereocenters, thus providing a facile and complementary method for the asymmetric synthesis of bioactive hexahydropyrroloindole and its dimeric alkaloids.     

Nickel‐Catalyzed Mizoroki–Heck Reaction of Aryl Sulfonates and Chlorides with Electronically Unbiased Terminal Olefins: High Selectivity for Branched Products

Achieving high selectivity in the Heck reaction of electronically unbiased alkenes has been a longstanding challenge. Using a nickel‐catalyzed cationic Heck reaction, we were able to achieve excellent selectivity for branched products (≥19:1 in all cases) over a wide range of aryl electrophiles and aliphatic olefins. A bidentate ligand with a suitable bite angle and steric profile was key to obtaining high branched/linear selectivity, whereas the appropriate base suppressed alkene isomerization of the product. Although aryl triflates are traditionally used to access the cationic Heck pathway, we have shown that, by using triethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate, we can effect a counterion exchange of the catalytic nickel complex, such that cheaper and more stable aryl chlorides, mesylates, tosylates, and sulfamates can be used to yield the same branched products with high selectivity.     

Asararenes—A Family of Large Aromatic Macrocycles

We announce the establishment of a new family of macrocycles—the asararenes, which are based on para‐methylene linked “asarol methyl ether” (1,2,4,5‐tetramethoxybenzene) units. Macrocycles with 6–12 aromatic units have been synthesized and isolated in a single step from asarol methyl ether and paraformaldehyde. Even larger rings, with up to 15 asarol methyl ether units, have been observed by high‐resolution mass spectrometry. Single‐crystal X‐ray structures of asar[6]‐, asar[7]‐, asar[8]‐, asar[9]‐, asar[10]‐ and asar[11]arene highlight the diverse structural features of this family of macrocycles. While the cavities of the asar[6–8]arene macrocycles are mostly filled with methoxyl groups, the asar[9]‐ and asar[10]arene rings contain accessible cavities and self‐assemble into infinite channels filled with solvent molecules in the solid state. These solid‐state structures highlight the potential of this family of macrocycles for a wide range of potential applications.     

Direct Carbocyclizations of Benzoic Acids: Catalyst‐Controlled Synthesis of Cyclic Ketones and the Development of Tandem aHH (acyl Heck–Heck) Reactions

The formation of exo‐methylene indanones and indenones from simple ortho‐allyl benzoic acid derivatives has been developed. Selective formation of the indanone or indenone products in these reactions is controlled by choice of ancillary ligand. This new process has a low environmental footprint as the products are formed in high yields using low catalyst loadings, while the only stoichiometric chemical waste generated from the reactants in the transformation is acetic acid. The conversion of the active cyclization catalyst into the Hermman–Beller palladacycle was exploited in a one‐pot tandem acyl Heck–Heck (aHH) reaction, and utilized in the synthesis of donepezil.     

Synthesis of (‐)‐herbertenediol and (aR,aS)‐mastigophorenes A via asymmetric intramolecular heck coupling reaction

Total enantioselective synthesis of the natural (‐)‐Herbertenediol (1) was accomplished in eleven steps with an overall yield of 15% starting from the 2‐methoxy‐4‐methyl‐phenol. The total synthesis features asymmetric intramolecular Heck reaction and Wolff‐Kishner‐Huang reduction. (aR, aS)‐Mastigophorenes A was also synthesized through the oxidative coupling reaction.     

Synthesis and Evaluation of Imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine Analogues of the ZSTK474 Class of Phosphatidylinositol 3‐Kinase Inhibitors

Using a scaffold‐hopping approach, imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine analogues of the ZSTK474 (benzimidazole) class of phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3K) inhibitors have been synthesized for biological evaluation. Compounds were prepared using a heteroaryl Heck reaction procedure, involving the palladium‐catalysed coupling of 2‐(difluoromethyl)imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridines with chloro, iodo or trifluoromethanesulfonyloxy (trifloxy) substituted 1,3,5‐triazines or pyrimidines, with the iodo intermediates being preferred in terms of higher yields and milder reaction conditions. The new compounds maintain the PI3K isoform selectivity of their benzimidazole analogues, but in general show less potency.     

Intramolecular Formal anti‐Carbopalladation/Heck Reaction: Facile Domino Access to Carbo‐ and Heterooligocyclic Dienes

An intramolecular domino process consisting of a formal anti‐carbopalladation followed by Heck reaction is realized. Complex oligo(hetero)cyclic scaffolds are efficiently obtained in one synthetic step from easily obtainable enyne precursors. In contrast to common syn‐carbopalladation reactions of alkyne units, the carbopalladation employed here is designed to afford an anti‐arrangement of the two new substituents across the emerging double bond. A prerequisite is that the residues next to the alkyne should lack any β‐hydrogen atoms. The method paves the way to tri‐ and tetrasubstituted double‐bond systems that have not been accessible by conventional Pd catalysis.     

Room‐Temperature,Ligand‐ and Base‐Free Heck Reactions of Aryl Diazonium Salts at Low Palladium Loading: Sustainable Preparation of Substituted Stilbene Derivatives

The Pd(OAc)₂‐catalyzed Heck reaction of aryl diazonium salts with 2‐arylacrylates led to cis‐stilbenes with good to excellent stereoselectivity. The environmentally friendly protocol developed in this work features low palladium loading in technical‐grade methanol at room temperature under base‐, additive‐, and ligand‐free conditions. The same protocol applied to simple Heck coupling of aryl diazonium salts with methyl acrylate allows astonishingly low palladium loading, down to 0.005 mol %. The stereoselectivity experimentally observed for the synthesis of cis‐stilbenes has been rationalized by DFT calculations. Moreover, the role of methanol in promoting the reaction has been clarified by a computational study.     

[Au]/[Pd] Multicatalytic Processes: Direct One‐Pot Access to Benzo[c]chromenes and Benzo[b]furans

A new synthetic protocol that combines the advantages offered by eco‐friendly solvent‐free reactions and sequential transformations is reported. This strategy offers straightforward access to benzo[c]chromenes and benzo[b]furans from commercially available starting materials. This two‐step, one‐pot strategy consists of an Au‐catalyzed hydrophenoxylation process followed by Pd‐catalyzed C?H activation or Mizoroki–Heck reactions. The selectivity of the process towards C?H activation or Mizoroki–Heck reaction can be easily tuned.     

Stereoselective Synthesis of Aryl Cyclopentene Scaffolds by Heck–Matsuda Desymmetrization of 3‐Cyclopentenol

A new enantioselective Heck–Matsuda desymmetrization reaction was accomplished by using 3‐cyclopentenol to produce chiral five‐membered 4‐aryl cyclopentenol scaffolds in good yields and high ee’s, together with some 3‐aryl‐cyclopentanones as minor products. Mechanistically, the hydroxyl group of 3‐cyclopentenol acts as a directing group and is responsible for the cis‐ arrangement in the formation of the 4‐aryl‐cyclopentenols.