Asymmetric [4 + 3] cycloadditions between vinylcarbenoids and dienes: application to the total synthesis of the natural product (-)-5-epi-vibsanin E

Computationally guided stereocontrol of the combined C-H functionalization/Cope rearrangement

Diastereoselectivity in control

The combined C—H functionalization/Cope rearrangement (CHCR) is a highly diastereoselective process that typically proceeds through a chair transition state. A recent computational study of a model system for the CHCR reaction revealed that a boat transition state was only slightly less favored than a chair transition state. Guided by these computational results, this study describes the design of substrates that would react by means of a boat transition state. The resulting C—H functionalization products are the opposite diastereomeric series to what had been previously obtained with this chemistry.

Asymmetric Synthesis of Highly Functionalized Cyclopentanes by a Rhodium- and Scandium-Catalyzed Five-Step Domino Sequence

A domino sequence has been developed between vinyldiazoacetates and racemic allyl alcohols, involving five distinct steps. The sequence generates highly functionalized cyclopentanes with four new stereogenic centers as single diastereomers in 64-92% ee. The first step is a rhodium-catalyzed oxygen ylide formation, which is then followed by a [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement, an oxy-Cope rearrangement, a keto/enol tautomerization, and then finally a carbonyl ene reaction. With appropriate substrates, a further silyl deprotection and a 6-exo-trig cyclization can be added to the domino process.

Sequential rhodium-, silver-, and gold-catalyzed synthesis of fused dihydrofurans

A triple cascade process was developed for the rapid synthesis of polycyclic benzo-fused dihydrofurans. The first step is a rhodium-catalyzed cyclopropanation of α-aryldiazoketones with alkenes. This is followed by a silver-catalyzed ring expansion to dihydrofurans, which then undergo a gold-catalyzed cyclization to form benzo-fused dihydrofurans.

Catalyst-controlled formal [4 + 3] cycloaddition applied to the total synthesis of (+)-barekoxide and (-)-barekol

The tandem cyclopropanation/Cope rearrangement between bicyclic dienes and siloxyvinyldiazoacetate, catalyzed by the dirhodium catalyst Rh(2)(R-PTAD)(4), effectively accomplishes enantiodivergent [4 + 3] cycloadditions. The reaction proceeds by a cyclopropanation followed by a Cope rearrangement of the resulting divinylcyclopropane. This methodology was applied to the synthesis of (+)-barekoxide (1) and (-)-barekol (2).

Controlling factors for C-H functionalization versus cyclopropanation of dihydronaphthalenes

Rhodium(II)-catalyzed reactions of vinyldiazoacetates with dihydronaphthalenes were systematically studied. These substrates underwent cyclopropanantion and/or the combined C-H activation/Cope rearrangement in good overall yield and with good diastereo- and enantiocontrol. The selectivity of these reactions was profoundly influenced by the nature of the chiral catalyst, the vinyldiazoacetate, and the dihydronaphthalene. The best combinations for achieving the highest selectivity in the cyclopropanation and the combined C-H activation/Cope rearrangement of 1,2-dihydronaphthalenes are methyl 2-diazopent-3-enoate (2a)/Rh(2)(S-DOSP)(4) and methyl 3-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-2-diazopent-3-enoate (2b)/Rh(2)(S-PTAD)(4). These combinations are very effective at enantiodivergent reactions of 1-methyl-1,2-dihydronaphthalenes.

Enantioselective C-C bond formation by rhodium-catalyzed tandem ylide formation/[2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement between donor/acceptor carbenoids and allylic alcohols

The rhodium-catalyzed reaction of racemic allyl alcohols with methyl phenyldiazoacetate or methyl styryldiazoacetate results in a two-step process, an initial oxonium ylide formation followed by a [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement. This process competes favorably with the more conventional O-H insertion chemistry as long as donor/acceptor carbenoids and highly substituted allyl alcohols are used as substrates. When the reactions are catalyzed by Rh(2)(S-DOSP)(4), tertiary alpha-hydroxycarboxylate derivatives with two adjacent quaternary centers are produced with high enantioselectivity (85-98% ee).

N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed generation of alpha,beta-unsaturated acyl imidazoliums: synthesis of dihydropyranones by their reaction with enolates

Catalytic generation of alpha,beta-unsaturated acyl imidazolium cations and enolates has been achieved, and their involvement in a Michael addition acylation sequence exploited, to provide a range of dihydropyranones. alpha,beta-Unsaturated enol esters, or alpha,beta-unsaturated acid fluorides in association with TMS enol ethers, serve as appropriate substrates for this reaction. The transformation can also be achieved enantioselectively using catalysts derived from chiral triazolium salts.

Application of donor/acceptor-carbenoids to the synthesis of natural products

The metal catalyzed reactions of diazo compounds have been broadly used in organic synthesis. The resulting metal-carbenoid intermediates are capable of undergoing a range of unconventional reactions, and due to their high energy, they are ideal for initiating cascade sequences leading to the rapid generation of structural complexity. This tutorial review will give an overview of the most versatile reactions of donor/acceptor carbenoids, an exciting class of intermediates capable of highly selective reactions. This will include cyclopropanation, [4 + 3] cycloaddition, and C-H functionalization methodologies. The application of this chemistry to the synthesis of a range of natural products will be described.

Total Synthesis of (±)-Vibsanin E

Vibsanin E (1), a structurally rare complex diterpene, consisting of a compact 3-oxatricyclo[6.3.2.05,10] tridecane core and an unprecedented 3,3-dimethylacroyl enol ester functional group, formulate a considerable synthetic challenge. Williams and Davies failed to independently synthesize this nemesis, however, a ‘two heads are better than one’ approach delivered the first total synthesis of the molecule, since its diamond aniversary isolation.