Total synthesis of (+)-gliocladin C enabled by visible-light photoredox catalysis

Endoperoxide synthesis by photocatalytic aerobic [2 + 2 + 2] cycloadditions

Structurally novel endoperoxides can be sythesized by the photocatalytic cyclotrimerization of bis(styrene) substrates with molecular oxygen. The optimal catalyst for this process is Ru(bpz)(3)(2+), which is a markedly more efficient catalyst for these photooxygention reactions than conventional organic photosensitizers. The 1,2-dioxolane products are amenable to synthetic manipulation and can be easily processed to 1,4-diols and γ-hydroxyketones. An initial screen of the biological activity of these compounds reveals promising inhibition of cancer cell growth.

A concise total synthesis of (±)-trigonoliimine B

Trigonoliimine B, a hexacyclic alkaloid, is synthesized in seven steps from simple starting materials. The synthesis features the use of an α-isocyanoacetate as a glycine template for the preparation of an α,α-disubstituted α-amino ester that is appropriately functionalized for the construction of C, D, and E rings. Sulfolane was found to be the solvent of choice for the unprecedented Bischler-Napieralski reaction implemented for the construction of a seven-membered ring with concurrent formation of an exo-imine function.

Visible light-induced oxidative coupling reaction: easy access to Mannich-type products

An efficient methodology for the functionalization of sp(3) C-H bond adjacent to nitrogen has been developed utilizing visible light-induced photoredox catalysis. Through optimization of solvent and light source, the reaction can be rapidly achieved to provide the desired product under mild reaction conditions.

Concise Total Synthesis of (+)-Gliocladins B and C

The first total synthesis of (+)-gliocladin B is described. Our concise and enantioselective synthesis takes advantage of a new regioselective Friedel-Crafts-based strategy to provide an efficient multigram-scale access to the C3-(3'-indolyl)hexahydropyrroloindole substructure, a molecular foundation present in a significant subset of epipolythiodiketopiperazine natural alkaloids. Our first-generation solution to (+)-gliocladin B involved the stereoselective formation of (+)-12-deoxybionectin A, a plausible biosynthetic precursor. Our synthesis clarified the C15 stereochemistry of (+)-gliocladin B and allowed its full structure confirmation. Further studies of a versatile dihydroxylated diketopiperazine provided a concise and efficient synthesis of (+)-gliocladin B as well as access to (+)-gliocladin C.

The palladium catalyzed asymmetric addition of oxindoles and allenes: an atom-economical versatile method for the construction of chiral indole alkaloids

The Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation (AAA) is one of the most useful and versatile methods for asymmetric synthesis known in organometallic chemistry. Development of this reaction over the past 30 years has typically relied on the use of an allylic electrophile bearing an appropriate leaving group to access the reactive Pd(π-allyl) intermediate that goes on to the desired coupling product after attack by the nucleophile present in the reaction. Our group has been interested in developing alternative approaches to access the reactive Pd(π-allyl) intermediate that does not require the use of an activated electrophile, which ultimately generates a stoichiometric byproduct in the reaction that is derived from the leftover leaving group. Along these lines, we have demonstrated that allenes can be used to generate the reactive Pd(π-allyl) intermediate in the presence of an acid cocatalyst, and this system is compatible with nucleophiles to allow for formation of formal AAA products by Pd-catalyzed additions to allenes. This article describes our work regarding the use of oxindoles as carbon-based nucleophiles in a Pd-catalyzed asymmetric addition of oxindoles to allenes (Pd-catalyzed hydrocarbonation of allenes). By using the chiral standard Trost ligand (L1) and 3-aryloxindoles as nucleophiles, this hydrocarbonation reaction provides products with two vicinal stereocenters, with one being quaternary, in excellent chemo-, regio-, diastereo-, and enantioselectivities in high chemical yields.

Thiolation of symmetrical and unsymmetrical diketopiperazines

The introduction of sulfur units into a variety of symmetrical and unsymmetrical diketopiperazines (DKPs) is described. We investigated different thiolation methods utilizing several bases and electrophilic sulfur reagents, leading to monomethylthio-, bis(methylthio)-, and epithio-DKPs. Their formation proceeded diastereoselectively, facilitating the application in total syntheses of many thiodiketopiperazine (TDKP) natural products. Furthermore, possible side reactions as well as mechanistic studies and stereochemical structural assignments of the obtained products are given.

Functionally diverse nucleophilic trapping of iminium intermediates generated utilizing visible light

Our previous studies into visible-light-mediated aza-Henry reactions demonstrated that molecular oxygen played a vital role in catalyst turnover as well as the production of base to facilitate the nucleophilic addition of nitroalkanes. Herein, improved conditions for the generation of iminium ions from tetrahydroisoquinolines that allow for versatile nucleophilic trapping are reported. The new conditions provide access to a diverse range of functionality under mild, anaerobic reaction conditions as well as mechanistic insights into the photoredox cycle.

Radical cation Diels-Alder cycloadditions by visible light photocatalysis

Ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes promote the efficient radical cation Diels-Alder cycloaddition of electron-rich dienophiles upon irradiation with visible light. These reactions enable facile [4 + 2] cycloadditions that would be electronically mismatched under thermal conditions. Key to the success of this methodology is the availability of ligand-modified ruthenium complexes that enable rational tuning of the electrochemical properties of the catalyst without significantly perturbing the overall photophysical properties of the system.