Synthesis of C3-Symmetric star-shaped molecules containing 1,3-azoles via hetero-aryl Heck coupling

We have demonstrated a useful synthetic strategy to assemble star-shaped C₃-symmetric molecules containing 1,3-azole moieties at the periphery. To generate these C₃-symmetric heterocycles, we have employed the Pd/Cu-based coupling reactions. To this end, we have used benzoxazole, benzothiazole, and benzimidazole as coupling partners to generate the corresponding hetero-aryl Heck coupling products.     

InCl3 catalyzed three-component synthesis of α-benzylamino coumarins and diketones

A convenient and practical InCl₃ catalyzed three-component reaction of 4-hydroxy coumarin/1,3 diones, aromatic aldehyde, and secondary amine for the synthesis of α-benzylamino coumarins and diketones in good yields has been reported.     

A convenient approach to total synthesis of synargentolide-B from l-ascorbic acid and d-ribose

A convenient and practical approach for the total synthesis of naturally occurring lactone synargentolide-B has been accomplished in 14 steps from the commercially available l-ascorbic acid and d-ribose involving Bestmann–Ohira reaction, zinc mediated allylation, ring closing-metathesis, and cross-metathesis reactions. The highlight of our strategy describes a one-pot reaction involving stereoselective addition of allylzinc reagent and selective reduction of terminal alkyne to obtain the key advanced intermediates.     

Synthesis of C1–C11 eribulin fragment and its diastereomeric analogues

A practical stereoselective synthesis of the central C1–C10 fragment of eribulin and its two diastereomeric analogues is developed. Our approach relied on the use of l-ascorbic acid as the starting material which allowed accessing a key intermediate with a syn diol moiety (C9 and C10 of eribulin) and a carboxylic ester group. A functionalized six membered lactone having several required hydroxyl groups was then obtained. In a number of steps, the lactone was converted to an intermediate for our key oxa-Michael reaction. A regio- and stereocontrolled intramolecular oxa-Michael reaction completed the synthesis of the C1–11 fragment having a trans-fused tetrahydropyrans with the exact stereochemistry of various hydroxyl groups, as in eribulin.     

Synthetic Approaches to Star‐Shaped Molecules with 1,3,5‐Trisubstituted Aromatic Cores

Herein, we summarize the synthetic approaches that have been developed for the synthesis of star‐shaped molecules. Typically, to design such highly functionalized molecules, simple building blocks are first assembled through trimerization reactions, starting from commercially available starting materials. Then, these building blocks are synthetically manipulated to generate extended star‐shaped molecules. We also discuss the syntheses of star‐shaped molecules that contain 2,4,6‐trisubstituted 1,3,5‐triazine or 1,3,5‐trisubstituted benzene rings as a central core and diverse substituted styrene, phenyl, and fluorene derivatives at their periphery, which endows these molecules with extended conjugation. A variety of metal‐catalyzed reactions, such as Suzuki, Buchwald–Hartwig, Sonogashira, Heck, and Negishi cross‐coupling reactions, as well as metathesis, have been employed to functionalize a range of star‐shaped molecules. The methods described herein will be helpful for designing a wide range of intricate compounds that are highly valuable in the fields of supramolecular chemistry and materials science. Owing to space limitations, we will not cover all of the publications on this topic. Instead, we will focus on examples that were reported by our research group and other relevant recent literature. Apart from the trimerization sequence, this Minireview has been structured based on the key reactions that were used to prepare the star‐shaped molecules and other higher analogues. Finally, some examples that do not fit into this classification are discussed.     

An umpolung strategy for intermolecular [2 + 2 + 1] cycloaddition of aryl aldehydes and nitriles: a facile access to 2,4,5-trisubstituted oxazoles

We have described the first example of an umpolung strategy for intermolecular [2 + 2 + 1] cycloaddition between two aryl aldehydes and a nitrile under the influence of TMSOTf that proceeds through the formation of N–C, O–C and C–C bonds providing a simple synthetic protocol for obtaining 2,4,5-trisubstituted oxazoles.

An unprecedented intermolecular [2 + 2 + 1] cycloaddition strategy between two aryl aldehydes and a nitrile, wherein one of the aryl aldehydes serves as a carbanion (or equivalent) in the presence of TMSOTf for obtaining oxazole framework is presented.     

Synthesis of star-shaped pyrrole-based C3-symmetric molecules via ring-closing metathesis,Buchwald–Hartwig cross-coupling and Clauson–Kaas pyrrole synthesis as key steps

We have demonstrated three contrasting synthetic strategies to assemble pyrrole-based C₃-symmetric molecule. Here, ring-closing metathesis (RCM), Buchwald–Hartwig cross-coupling and Clauson–Kaas pyrrole synthesis have been used as key steps. Interestingly, readily available starting materials such as 4-aminoacetophenone, 4-bromo acetophenone and 4-nitro acetophenone have been used as starting materials. Grubbs’ first generation catalyst (G-I) is useful for one-pot RCM and aromatization sequence without the involvement of additional reagents. We also report photophysical properties of these star-shaped molecules.     

Interfacial tension model for catalytically driven nanorods

We present an analysis of the interfacial tension model for the movement of the catalytically driven nanorod. The model considers the convective reaction-diffusion equation for the production and diffusion of oxygen around the bimetallic nanorod. We solve the equation and find the concentration difference, which drives the nanorod. We use our expression to calculate the force on the nanorod and find that the result is within 20% of the results found earlier [W. Paxton et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 128, 14881 (2006)] by an approximate method. Unlike the earlier results, our results are valid from short to long lengths of the nanorod.