Synthesis of α‐(Fluorophenyl)pyridine by Palladium‐Catalyzed Cross‐Coupling Reaction

A series of α‐(fluoro‐substituted phenyl)pyridines have been synthesized by means of a palladium‐catalyzed cross‐coupling reaction between fluoro‐substituted phenylboronic acid and 2‐bromopyridine or its derivatives. The reactivities of the phenylboronic acids containing di‐ and tri‐fluoro substituents with α‐pyridyl bromide were investigated in different catalyst systems. Unsuccessful results were observed in the Pd/C and PPh₃ catalyst system due to phenylboronic acid containing electron‐withdrawing F atom(s). For the catalyst system of Pd(OAc)₂/PPh₃, the reactions gave moderate yields of 55% –80%, meanwhile, affording 10% –20% of dimerisation (self‐coupling) by‐products, but trace products were obtained in coupling with 2,4‐difluorophenylboronic acids because of steric hinderance. Pd(PPh₃)₄ was more reactive for boronic acids with sterically hindering F atom(s), and the coupling reactions gave good yields of 90% and 91% without any self‐coupling by‐product.     

A Chemoenzymatic and Fully Stereocontrolled Total Synthesis of the Antibacterial Natural Product (−)‐Platencin

The natural product (?)‐platencin is a potent antibacterial agent that exerts its effects through a novel mode of action. As such, it is an important lead in the development of next‐generation antibacterials that are urgently needed because of the rapidly developing resistance to current therapies. The work reported here concerns the development of a convergent and chemoenzymatic total synthesis of (?)‐platencin by methods that should provide access to a range of biologically relevant analogues. The key step involves a thermally promoted and facially selective intramolecular Diels–Alder (IMDA) cycloaddition reaction to give an adduct that embodies the tricarbocyclic core of (?)‐platencin. This adduct was elaborated over thirteen steps to the natural product. The substrate for the IMDA reaction was prepared by Stille cross‐coupling of a Z‐configured alkenylstannane with an iodinated diene obtained in an enantiomerically pure form through the whole‐cell biotransformation of iodobenzene.     

Convergent Synthesis of (−)‐Quinocarcin Based on the Combination of Sonogashira Coupling and Gold(I)‐Catalyzed 6‐endo‐dig Hydroamination

The total synthesis of the pentacyclic tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloid quinocarcin, which possesses intriguing structural and biological features, has been achieved through a gold(I)‐catalyzed regioselective hydroamination reaction. It is noteworthy that the regioselectivity of the intramolecular hydroamination of an unsymmetrical alkyne could be completely switched through substrate control. Other key features of this synthesis include the highly stereoselective synthesis of 2,5‐cis‐pyrrolidine through the intramolecular amination of the bromoallene and the Lewis acid mediated ring opening of dihydrobenzofuran.     

Catalytic Asymmetric Total Synthesis of (−)‐Galanthamine and (−)‐Lycoramine

The catalytic asymmetric total syntheses of (?)‐galanthamine ( 1 ) and (?)‐lycoramine ( 2 ) have been achieved by using a conceptually new strategy featuring two metal‐catalyzed reactions as the key steps. A new method for the construction of 3,4‐fused benzofurans has been developed through a palladium‐catalyzed intramolecular Larock annulation reaction, which was successfully applied to the construction of the ABD tricyclic skeleton of 1 and 2 . To achieve the asymmetric synthesis of 1 and 2 , a Sc^III/N,N′‐dioxide complex was used to catalyze the enantioselective conjugate addition of 3‐alkyl‐substituted benzofuranone to methyl vinyl ketone for the construction of a chiral quaternary carbon center.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Decarbonylative Dehydration for the Synthesis of α‐Vinyl Carbonyl Compounds and Total Synthesis of (−)‐Aspewentins A,B, and C

The direct α‐vinylation of carbonyl compounds to form a quaternary stereocenter is a challenging transformation. It was discovered that δ‐oxocarboxylic acids can serve as masked vinyl compounds and be unveiled by palladium‐catalyzed decarbonylative dehydration. The carboxylic acids are readily available through enantioselective acrylate addition or asymmetric allylic alkylation. A variety of α‐vinyl quaternary carbonyl compounds are obtained in good yields, and an application in the first enantioselective total synthesis of (?)‐aspewentins A, B, and C is demonstrated.     

Density Functional Theory Investigation of the Alkyl–Alkyl Negishi Cross‐Coupling Reaction Catalyzed by N‐Heterocyclic Carbene (NHC)–Pd Complexes

Why bigger is better : A “steric wall” created by the N‐(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl) substituent on the bulky NHC ligand IPr (1,3‐bis(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)imidazol‐2‐ylidene) guides the reactants to and from the Pd center through weak, fleeting (IPr)H–Pd interactions that help the oxidative addition intermediate escape “the anti‐trap”. The alternative “side” approach leads to transmetalation (the rate‐limiting step) for which a novel Pd–Zn interaction was identified.

     

Total Synthesis of Resveratrol‐Based Natural Products Using a Palladium‐Catalyzed Decarboxylative Arylation and an Oxidative Heck Reaction

Controlled access to resveratrol‐based natural products is offered by a novel, modular concept. A common building block readily available on a large scale serves as the starting material for the introduction of structurally important aryl groups by a Pd‐catalyzed decarboxylative arylation and an oxidative Heck reaction with good yields and high stereoselectivity. The modular approach is convincingly documented by the successful synthesis of three racemic resveratrol‐based natural products (quadrangularin A, ampelopsin D, and pallidol).     

Total Synthesis of (−)‐Morphine

We have developed an efficient total synthesis of (?)‐morphine in 5 % overall yield with the longest linear sequence consisting of 17 steps from 2‐cyclohexen‐1‐one. The cyclohexenol unit was prepared by means of an enzymatic resolution and a Suzuki–Miyaura coupling as key steps. Construction of the morphinan core features an intramolecular aldol reaction and an intramolecular 1,6‐addition. Furthermore, mild deprotection conditions to remove the 2,4‐dinitrobenzenesulfonyl (DNs) group enabled the facile construction of the morphinan skeleton. We have also established an efficient synthetic route to a cyclohexenol unit containing an N‐methyl‐DNs‐amide moiety.     

Formal Total Synthesis of (−)‐Taxol through Pd‐Catalyzed Eight‐Membered Carbocyclic Ring Formation

A formal total synthesis of (?)‐taxol by a convergent approach utilizing Pd‐catalyzed intramolecular alkenylation is described. Formation of the eight‐membered carbocyclic ring has been a problem in the convergent total synthesis of taxol but it was solved by the Pd‐catalyzed intramolecular alkenylation of a methyl ketone affording the cyclized product in excellent yield (97 %), indicating the high efficiency of the Pd‐catalyzed intramolecular alkenylation. Rearrangement of the epoxy benzyl ether through a 1,5‐hydride shift, generating the C3 stereogenic center and subsequently forming the C1–C2 benzylidene, was discovered and utilized in the preparation of a substrate for the Pd‐catalyzed reaction.     

Total Synthesis of Marine Eicosanoid (−)‐Hybridalactone

(?)‐Hybridalactone ( 1 ) is a marine eicosanoid isolated from the red alga Laurencia hybrida. This natural product contains cyclopropane, cyclopentane, 13‐membered macrolactone and epoxide ring systems incorporating seven stereogenic centers. Moreover, this compound has an acid‐labile skipped Z,Z‐diene motif. In this paper, we report on the total synthesis of (?)‐hybridalactone ( 1 ). The unique eicosanoid (?)‐hybridalactone ( 1 ) was synthesized starting from optically active γ‐butyrolactone 2 in a linear sequence comprising 21 steps with an overall yield of 21.9 %. A key step in the synthesis of (?)‐hybridalactone ( 1 ) is the methyl phenylsulfonylacetate‐mediated one‐pot synthesis of the cis‐cyclopropane‐γ‐lactone derivative. This reaction provided an efficient and stereoselective access to cis‐cyclopropane‐γ‐lactone 12 . Further elaboration of the latter compounds through desulfonylation, epoxidation, oxidation, Wittig olefination and Shiina macrolactonization afforded (?)‐hybridalactone.     

Stereospecific Pd‐Catalyzed Intermolecular C(sp3)–C(sp) Cross‐Coupling of Diarylmethyl Carbonates and Terminal Alkynes Under Base‐Free Conditions

A palladium‐catalyzed intermolecular decarboxylative C(sp³)–C(sp) coupling of diarylmethyl carbonates and terminal alkynes has been developed. The reaction proceeds smoothly under external base‐free conditions to deliver the corresponding alkynylated diarylmethanes with the liberation of CO₂ and MeOH as the sole byproducts. Moreover, enantioenriched diarylmethyl carbonates are stereospecifically converted to optically active cross‐coupling products with inversion of configuration. Thus, the stereospecific palladium catalysis can provide new and unique access to the alkynylated chiral tertiary stereocenters, which are relatively difficult to construct by conventional methods.     

An Ugi Reaction in the Total Synthesis of (−)‐Dysibetaine

(?)‐Dysibetaine has been synthesized in 11 steps from readily available L ‐malic acid (see scheme). The key step is a unique Ugi 4‐center‐3‐component cyclization reaction, where an ester group acts as the carboxylic acid component. The use of 1,1,1,3,3,3‐hexamethyldisilazane as an ammonia equivalent and a specially designed isocyanide leads to an expeditious synthesis.

     

Protecting‐Group‐Free Enantioselective Synthesis of (−)‐Pallavicinin and (+)‐Neopallavicinin

The first enantioselective synthesis of (?)‐pallavicinin and (+)‐neopallavicinin has been achieved in 15 steps. The described synthesis avoids protecting‐group manipulations by synthesis designs predicated on highly chemo‐ and stereoselective transformations. Highlights of the synthesis include a palladium‐catalyzed enantioselective decarboxylative allylation to form the chiral all‐carbon quaternary stereocenter, a palladium‐catalyzed oxidative cyclization to assemble the [3.2.1]‐bicyclic moiety, and an unprecedented LiBHEt₃‐induced fragmentation/protonation of an α‐hydroxy epoxide to form the α‐furan ketone with the desired configuration.     

Total Synthesis of Diaporthichalasin by Using the Intramolecular Diels–Alder Reaction of an α,β‐Unsaturated γ‐Hydroxylactam in Aqueous Media

The first total synthesis of diaporthichalasin has been successfully achieved and complete structure elucidation, including the absolute configuration, was also accomplished. The intramolecular Diels–Alder (IMDA) reaction between the diene side chain on the decalin skeleton and α,β‐unsaturated γ‐hydroxy‐γ‐lactam in aqueous media was effectively employed as the key step. From this synthetic study, we found that α,β‐unsaturated γ‐hydroxy‐γ‐lactam is an essential precursor for the construction of the diaporthichalasin‐type pentacyclic skeleton. This important finding strongly suggests that this route is involved in the biosynthetic pathway for diaporthichalasin.     

Collective Synthesis of 4‐Hydroxy‐2‐pyridone Alkaloids and Their Antiproliferation Activities

A collective synthesis of 4‐hydroxy‐2‐pyridone alkaloids—specifically, pretenellin B, prebassianin B, farinosone A, militarione D, pyridovericin, and torrubiellone C—has been achieved. Key steps include using a strategic convergent method to synthesize the densely substituted pyridone key intermediate by Suzuki–Miyaura cross‐coupling reaction, a divergent synthesis approach of target molecules by aldol condensation of pyridone intermediate with homologous aldehydes, and an iterative synthesis of homologous aldehydes with all‐trans‐polyene backbones. Interestingly, among the six tumor cell lines investigated, torrubiellone C was found to induce potent and apoptotic inhibitory activities on Jurkat T cells with IC₅₀ values of 7.05 μM . Hence, this approach could potentially contribute to the synthesis of bioactive small‐molecule libraries as well as drug discovery.