From ynamides to highly substituted benzo[b]furans: gold(I)-catalyzed 5-endo-dig-cyclization/rearrangement of alkylic oxonium intermediates

Electron transfer-induced coupling of haloarenes to styrenes and 1,1-diphenylethenes triggered by diketopiperazines and Potassium tert-butoxide

The coupling of haloarenes to styrenes and 1,1-diarylethenes has been achieved with potassium tert-butoxide in the presence of N,N'-dialkyldiketopiperazines. In contrast to previously reported reactions where phenanthroline has been used to mediate the reactions, the use of diketopiperazines can lead to either 1,1,2-triarylethenes or 1,1,2-triarylethanes, depending on the conditions used.

ortho-(Methyltosylaminoethynyl)benzyl glycosides as new glycosyl donors for latent-active glycosylation

A new glycosylation protocol with ortho-(methyltosylaminoethynyl)benzyl glycosides as donors is disclosed.

Gold(I)-catalyzed 1,2-acyloxy migration/[3+2] cycloaddition of 1,6-diynes with an ynamide propargyl ester moiety: highly efficient synthesis of functionalized cyclopenta[b]indoles

A gold-catalyzed cycloisomerization of 1,6-diynes containing an ynamide propargyl ester or carbonate moiety has been developed that provides an attractive route to a diverse-substituted 3-acyloxy-1,4-dihydrocyclopenta[b]indoles. Mechanistic studies indicate that the reaction likely proceeds through a competitive 1,2-OAc migration followed by [3+2] cycloaddition of the vinyl gold-carbenoid intermediate with the pendant triple bond. The synthetic utility of the obtained cyclopenta[b]indole products was demonstrated by their efficient transformations by deprotection or double-bond isomerization reactions.

1,2-N-migration in a gold-catalysed synthesis of functionalised indenes by the 1,1-carboalkoxylation of ynamides

Unique α-hemiaminal ether gold carbene intermediates were accessed by a gold-catalysed 1,1-carboalkoxylation strategy and evolved through a highly selective 1,2-N-migration. This skeletal rearrangement gave functionalised indenes, and isotopic labelling confirmed the rare C–N bond cleavage of the ynamide moiety. The effect of substituents on the migration has been explored, and a model is proposed to rationalise the observed selectivity.

Alkoxyboration: ring-closing addition of B-O σ bonds across alkynes

For nearly 70 years, the addition of boron–X σ bonds to carbon–carbon multiple bonds has been employed in the preparation of organoboron reagents. However, the significantly higher strength of boron–oxygen bonds has thus far precluded their activation for addition, preventing a direct route to access a potentially valuable class of oxygen-containing organoboron reagents for divergent synthesis. We herein report the realization of an alkoxyboration reaction, the addition of boron–oxygen σ bonds to alkynes. Functionalized O-heterocyclic boronic acid derivatives are produced using this transformation, which is mild and exhibits broad functional group compatibility. Our results demonstrate activation of this boron–O σ bond using a gold catalysis strategy that is fundamentally different from that used previously for other boron addition reactions.