Asymmetric Total Synthesis of Hispidanin A

Asymmetric total synthesis of the dimeric diterpenoid hispidanin A was accomplished by non-catalytic Diels–Alder cycloaddition at room temperature. The synthesis relies on iron-catalyzed coupling to construct a Z-configured trisubstituted alkene, an iron-catalyzed radical cascade to generate a labdane-type diene, and both Yamamoto cationic polyene cyclization and palladium-catalyzed Stille coupling to generate a totarane-type dienophile.     

Fullerene‐Catalyzed Reduction of Azo Derivatives in Water under UV Irradiation

Metal‐free fullerene (C₆₀) was found to be an effective catalyst for the reduction of azo groups in basic aqueous solution under UV irradiation in the presence of NaBH₄. Use of NaBH₄ by itself is not sufficient to reduce the azo dyes without the assistance of a metal catalyst such as Pd and Ag. Experimental and theoretical results suggest that C₆₀ catalyzes this reaction by using its vacant orbital to accept the electron in the bonding orbital of azo dyes, which leads to the activation of the N?N bond. UV irradiation increases the ability of C₆₀ to interact with electron‐donor moieties in azo dyes.