Synthesis of the LMN-ring fragment of the Caribbean ciguatoxin C-CTX-1

Ciguatoxin C-CTX-1 was isolated as a principal causative toxin of ciguatera seafood poisoning in the Caribbean Sea, and is structurally classified as a ladder-shaped polycyclic ether. In this Letter, we report the synthesis of the tricyclic LMN-ring system of C-CTX-1. SmI₂-mediated reductive cyclization efficiently constructed the seven-membered M-ring with the axially oriented 1,3-dimethyl structure.     

4-Aminobicyclo[2.2.2]octanone Derivatives with Antiprotozoal Activities

Summary.  4-Aminobicyclo[2.2.2]octanones which were prepared in one-pot-reactions from benzylidene acetone and dialkylammonium rhodanides were reduced stereoselectively to their corresponding alcohols. The activities of the bicyclic compounds against causative organisms of tropical deseases were examined. The 4-aminobicyclo[2.2.2]octan-2-ols were in general more active against Trypanosoma b. rhodesiense and Plasmodium falciparum than the corresponding keto compounds. Corresponding author. E-mail: robert.weis@uni-graz.at Received November 27, 2002; accepted December 2, 2002 Published online May 2, 2003     

Synthesis of functionalized acetophenones by [3 + 3] cyclizations of 1,3-bis-silyl enol ethers with 2-acetyl-3-silyloxyalk-2-en-1-ones

The TiCl₄ mediated cyclization of 1,3-bis-silyl enol ethers with 2-acetyl-1-silyloxybut-1-en-3-one and 3-acetyl-4-silyloxypent-3-en-2-one, readily prepared from 3-formyl(acetylacetone) and triacetylmethane, afforded a variety of functionalized acetophenones.     

Synthesis of natural pulvinic acids based on a ‘[3+2] cyclization-Suzuki cross-coupling’ strategy

A number of pulvinic acid natural products were prepared based on Suzuki cross coupling reactions of α-hydroxy-γ-alkylidenebutenolides which are readily available by cyclization of 1,3-bis-silyl enol ethers with oxalyl chloride. The formal total synthesis of pulvinic acid, atromentic acid, gomphidic acid and of 4-hydroxypulvinic acid, 4′-hydroxypulvinic acid and iso-gomphidic acid are reported. In addition, total syntheses of pinastric acid, xerocomic acid and variegatic acid were accomplished.     

Synthesis of 6-(perfluoroalkyl)salicylates by [3+3] cyclization of 1,3-bis(silyl enol ethers) with 3-ethoxy-1-(perfluoroalkyl)prop-2-en-1-ones

6-(Perfluoroalkyl)salicylates were prepared by [3+3] cyclization of 1,3-bis(silyl enol ethers) with 3-ethoxy-1-(perfluoroalkyl)prop-2-en-1-ones.     

Synthesis and the reactions of trifluoromethylated 1,2,3-triketones 2-(het)arylhydrazones and 4,7-dihydroazolo[5,1-c]triazines

The coupling of trifluoromethylated 1,3-diketones with (het)aryldiazonium chlorides results mainly in the formation of 1,2,3-triketones 2-(het)arylhydrazones while using hetarylamine with a NH-group at the α-position of the heterocycle as the diazonium component gives 4,7-dihydroazolo[5,1-c]triazines due to cyclization at the trifluoroacetyl fragment. Trifluoromethylated 1,2,3-triketones 2-(het)arylhydrazones and 7-hydroxy-4,7-dihydroazolo[5,1-c]triazines react regio-selectively with methyl hydrazine and phenyl hydrazine to form 3-CF₃-pyrazoles. The long-range coupling constants (J_F-H) of 1-methylpyrazoles and the chemical shifts of trifluoromethyl groups in the ¹⁹F NMR spectra can be used for the determination of regio-isomeric structures of mono(trifluoromethyl)-substituted pyrazoles. 2-(Het)arylhydrazones and 4,7-dihydroazolo[5,1-c]triazines with two trifluoromethyl substituents afford the mixtures of cis- and trans-azopyrazoles in the reactions with hydrazines.     

Environment friendly organic synthesis using bismuth compounds. An efficient method for carbonyl-ene reactions catalyzed by bismuth triflate

Bismuth triflate (0.1 mol %) is a highly efficient catalyst for the cyclization of citronellal 1, a reaction that yields a ratio of 80:20 of isopulegol 2 and neoisopulegol 3. This methodology has also been extended to the synthesis of substituted piperidines. The bismuth triflate catalyzed ene reaction of aldehyde 4 gives a 70:30 mixture of piperidines 5 and 6. The advantages of these methods include the use of a highly efficient catalyst that is relatively nontoxic, cheap and easy to handle.     

A Convenient Synthesis of 1-Benzyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines by Combined Strecker/Bruylants Reaction

Summary. Strecker reaction of iodophenethylamines with phenylacetaldehydes afforded the corresponding -aminonitriles, which on treatment with i-propyl magnesium chloride underwent a Bruylants reaction to give the title compounds. Their structures were deduced by NMR and by an independent preparation starting from papaverine. The educts were easily available by standard procedures.     

Synthesis and reactions of hydroxyspiro[5.2]cyclooctenones based on the cyclization of the dianions of acetone and diethyl 2-oxopropylphosphonate with 1,1-diacylcyclopropanes

The cyclization of the dianions of diethyl 2-oxopropylphosphonate and of acetone with 1,1-diacylopropanes afforded hydroxyspiro[5.2]cyclooctenones which were transformed, by homo-Michael reactions with tetrabutylammonium halides, into various functionalized phenols or their dimers.     

Synthesis of functionalized triarylmethanes by combination of FeCl3-catalyzed benzylations of acetylacetone with [3+3] cyclocondensations

Functionalized triarylmethanes are prepared in two steps by FeCl₃-catalyzed benzylation of acetylacetone to give 3-(diarylmethyl)pentane-2,4-diones and subsequent formal [3+3] cyclization of the latter with 1,3-bis(trimethylsilyloxy)-1,3-dienes.