Recent advances in the transition-metal catalyzed synthesis of multisubstituted pentenolides and related pyranones

This digest focuses on the transition-metal catalyzed syntheses of variously substituted pentenolides, published recently. The review is based on methodologies for the synthesis of pentenolides rather than isolated examples, and covers post-2007 publications reported on this subject. Brief discussion of the strategies, strengths and drawbacks of the syntheses is also included.     

Incorporation of biotinylated manganese-salen complexes into streptavidin: New artificial metalloenzymes for enantioselective sulfoxidation

Incorporation of achiral biotinylated manganese-salen complexes into streptavidin yields artificial metalloenzymes for aqueous sulfoxidation using hydrogen peroxide. Four biotinylated salen ligands were synthesized and their manganese complexes were tested in combination with several streptavidin mutants, yielding moderate conversions (up to 56%) and low enantioselectivities (maximum of 13% ee) for the sulfoxidation of thioanisole.     

“Isocyanide-less” Ugi/Intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural

The one-pot, three-step, four-component Ugi-IMDAF reaction with 5-hydroxymethylfurfural provides simple access to hydroxymethyl-substituted epoxyisoindolones in a diastereoselective and stereospecific manner. The protocol avoids the transfer or isolation of isocyanides, and the broad scope was illustrated by the synthesis of 22 different compounds bearing various substituents on the heterocyclic core.     

Recent developments in the enantioselective synthesis of polyfunctionalized pyran and chromene derivatives

Recent developments in the synthesis of 4H- and 2H-pyrans as well as structurally related chromene derivatives that have enabled the enantioselective synthesis of these scaffolds have been surveyed. The role of chiral catalysts in orienting initial reactions of active methylenes, methines and methyl ketones, to unsaturated ketones and nitriles in multi-component reactions or Friedel–Craft alkylations of phenols is discussed to show their involvement in transition states leading to end products. Chromene synthesis via [4+2] cycloadditions, [3+3] and [4+2] annulations as well as ring opening and recyclization leading to high enantio- and diasteroselectivity is also demonstrated. The enantioselectivity in such catalytic asymmetric reactions despite starting with non-chiral starting materials is discussed. On the other hand, in surveying ring opening and recyclization, the starting materials are chiral and the chiral center was not part of the reaction leading to the final product.     

Recent advances in Gomberg-Backmann biaryl synthesis

The Gomberg-Bachmann reaction is an intermolecular aryl-aryl cross-coupling reaction using an arenediazonium salt and an arene. This digest review surveys recent advances in the Gomberg-Bachmann reaction. More specifically, it focuses on reaction systems that include 1) transition-metal-induced systems, 2) organic promoter-induced systems, 3) electrolytic systems, 4) photoreaction systems, and 5) hybrid systems consisted of a photoredox and a transition-metal catalyst.     

Formal synthesis of brivaracetam: A key to construct the pyrrolidone scaffold using Pd-catalyzed oxidative cyclization and ring-closing metathesis reaction

A short and efficient synthetic approach for brivaracetam has been accomplished via two different routes which utilize Pd-catalyzed oxidative cyclization and ring-closing metathesis (RCM) as the key reaction. These two routes are novel, simple, scalable and rely on (E)-pent-2-en-1-ol and valeraldehyde as a commercially available starting material to yield brivaracetam with good overall yield.     

Stereocontrolled concise synthesis of (±)-halosaline through intramolecular C-H amination

Total synthesis of 2-(2-hydroxyalkyl)-piperidine alkaloid (±)-halosaline is described from 7-octen-4-ol using a Rh-catalyzed chemo- and diastereo-selective intramolecular CH amination of sulfamate ester, ring-closing metathesis, and S_N2 displacement reaction of the six-membered ring sulfamidate as the key steps.     

Application of ring-rearrangement metathesis in organic synthesis: A grand design

In this report, we compiled various strategies involving a ring-rearrangement metathesis as a key step to assemble diverse molecules. Popular name reactions such as Grignard reaction, Overman rearrangement, Fischer indolization, Beckmann rearrangement and Diels–Alder reaction were used in combination with ring-rearrangement metathesis to construct complex targets. Additionally, CH activation and RRM strategy has been used to assemble azacycles. In some instances, the ring-rearrangement metathesis was expected to occur; however, ring-opening metathesis products were realized. These methods were included in the miscellaneous section. We anticipate that the lessons learned here are useful in designing complex polycyclic and heterocyclic targets suitable for biological and material science applications. Beside our work, we have also included others work as a background information.     

A masked-alkene metathesis-based synthesis of isopulo’upone

A metathesis-based formal synthesis of (±)-isopulo’upone has been completed featuring a masked olefin metathesis/elimination sequence followed by an intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction to construct the 5,6-fused bicyclic core.     

Recent progress on catalytic Heck carbonylations using carbon monoxide surrogates

Ongoing efforts toward the development of carbon monoxide (CO) surrogates have changed the way in which carbonylative transformations are conducted. For synthesizing carboxylic acid derivatives, Heck carbonylation using CO surrogates in slight excess has become a more efficient and practical method than the conventional one using large excess of CO gas. To supply CO for the reaction, both in-situ and ex-situ methods has been considered. Herein, we summarize recent progress in catalytic Heck carbonylation using CO surrogates, including discussion of the mechanism for CO generation from recently developed CO surrogates.     

Divergent total synthesis of penaresidin B and its straight side chain analogue

The divergent synthesis of penaresidin B and its straight side chain analogue was accomplished by constructing an azetidine ring via S_N2 type cyclization of protected 2,3-syn-3,4-syn-4-amino-1,3-dihydroxyhept-6-en-2-yl mesylate and late-stage introduction of an alkyl side chain via olefin cross-metathesis of 4-allylazetidine with readily available terminal alkenes. This synthetic route would be useful to synthesize penaresidin side chain analogues.     

Recent developments on artificial switchable catalysis

This Digest letter aims to stimulate the readers with some recent developments in the field of artificial switchable catalysis achieved during the last couple of years. The significance of this young but burgeoning field was emphasized with the help of these latest examples.     

Olefin metathesis polymerization: Some recent developments in the precise polymerizations for synthesis of advanced materials (by ROMP,ADMET)

Recent results for synthesis of end-functionalized polymers (EFP) by using olefin metathesis polymerization have been introduced including basic characteristics in ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of cyclic olefins and acyclic diene metathesis (ADMET) polymerization for synthesis of conjugated polymers. Several approaches were demonstrated for synthesis of EFP by living ROMP using molybdenum (exclusive coupling with aldehyde) and ruthenium catalysts (sacrificial ROMP, chain transfer). Cis specific (Z selective) ROMPs were achieved by molybdenum, ruthenium, and vanadium catalysts by the ligand modification. The catalytic synthesis of EFP with high cis selectivity has been achieved by combined ROMP with chain transfer by V(CHSiMe₃)(N-2,6-Cl₂C₆H₃)[OC(CF₃)₃](PMe₃)₂. The ADMET polymerization using molybdenum and ruthenium catalysts afforded defect-free, high molecular weight poly(arylene vinylene)s containing all trans olefinic double bonds. The methods for precise synthesis of EFPs, exhibiting unique optical properties combined with the end groups, were developed. The catalytic one-pot syntheses for EFPs have also been developed.     

An efficient Darzens reaction promoted by 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU)

An efficient DBU promoted Darzens reaction utilising α-haloketones containing an enolizable α′-hydrogen is reported. This method diastereoselectively afforded the corresponding α,β-epoxy ketones good to excellent yields in an one-pot reaction without using any transition metals or additives. Furthermore, haloketones without an α′-hydrogen are also applicable in this reaction.     

A silica-gel accelerated [4 + 2] cycloaddition-based biomimetic approach towards the first total synthesis of magterpenoid C

The first total synthesis of magterpenoid C has been realized via a silica gel accelerated biomimetic Diels-Alder reaction between β-myrcene and randaiol derived quinone. However, application of similar strategy towards magterpenoid B via a protective Diels-Alder reaction failed to deliver the natural product.     

Preparation of peptide-like bicyclic lactams via a sequential Ugi reaction--olefin metathesis approach

Bicyclic lactams, suitable for incorporation into conformationally restricted peptide mimics, can be synthesized by using olefinic starting materials for the Ugi multicomponent reaction, setting up an olefin metathesis reaction, that is easily carried out with the Grubbs catalyst. The influence of the different starting materials is evaluated. In addition, the utilization of chiral, nonracemic amines is described.     

Aqueous oxidation of alcohols catalyzed by artificial metalloenzymes based on the biotin-avidin technology

Based on the incorporation of biotinylated organometallic catalyst precursors within (strept)avidin, we have developed artificial metalloenzymes for the oxidation of secondary alcohols using tert-butylhydroperoxide as oxidizing agent. In the presence of avidin as host protein, the biotinylated aminosulfonamide ruthenium piano stool complex 1 (0.4 mol%) catalyzes the oxidation of sec-phenethyl alcohol at room temperature within 90 h in over 90% yield. Gel electrophoretic analysis of the reaction mixture suggests that the host protein is not oxidatively degraded during catalysis.     

Artificial metalloenzymes for enantioselective catalysis: the phenomenon of protein accelerated catalysis

We report on the phenomenon of protein-accelerated catalysis in the field of artificial metalloenzymes based on the non-covalent incorporation of biotinylated rhodium-diphosphine complexes in (strept)avidin as host proteins. By incrementally varying the [Rh(COD)(Biot-1)]⁺ vs. (strept)avidin ratio, we show that the enantiomeric excess of the produced acetamidoalanine decreases slowly. This suggests that the catalyst inside (strept)avidin is more active than the catalyst outside the host protein. Both avidin and streptavidin display protein-accelerated catalysis as the protein embedded catalyst display 12.0- and 3.0-fold acceleration over the background reaction with a catalyst devoid of protein. Thus, these artificial metalloenzymes display an increase both in activity and in selectivity for the reduction of acetamidoacrylic acid.     

Synergic effect of hydrogen bonding and dipole repulsion in the ring-closing metathesis of N-homoallyl-2-(hydroxymethyl)acrylamides

This study reveals that the Ru-catalyzed ring-closing metathesis of N-homoallyl-2-(hydroxymethyl)acrylamides is promoted by substrate-catalyst hydrogen bonding as well as dipole repulsion between the electron-rich side-chain and the carbonyl group, providing clues for designing effective synthetic routes towards 5,6-dihydro-2(1H)-pyridinones.