Samarium(II)-Iodide-Mediated Cyclizations in Natural Product Synthesis

SmI2-H2O-mediated 5-exo/6-exo lactone radical cyclisation cascades

The SmI2-H2O reagent system mediates challenging 5-exo/6-exo lactone radical cascade cyclisations that deliver carbo[5.4.0]bicyclic motifs in a diastereoselective, one-pot process that establish two new carbocyclic rings and four stereocentres.

Reductive umpolung reactions with low-valent titanium catalysts

The coupling of similarly polarized carbon fragments can be achieved by a reductive umpolung strategy. This gives access to compounds with functional groups in even bond distances, which are difficult to synthesize by other means. Low-valent titanium catalysts enable such couplings under mild conditions. This account covers the recent progress on this topic with a focus on the development of cross-selective coupling reactions and stereoselective examples.

Total synthesis of aplykurodinone-1

The concise total synthesis of aplykurodinone-1 with an unusual cis-fused hydrindane moiety has been accomplished without the need for any protecting group chemistry using a unique SmI2 mediated reductive cascade cyclization reaction and a direct cuprate mediated 1,4-addition. This work represents the first example of the use of a SmI2-mediated intramolecular cascade cyclization reaction between "halide, alkene and aldehyde" groups.

Total synthesis of jiadifenolide

As a potent neurotrophic agent, the sesquiterpenoid jiadifenolide represents a valuable small-molecule lead for the potential therapeutic treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. A stereocontrolled total synthesis of this densely functionalized natural product is reported, central to which is an adventurous samarium-mediated cyclization reaction to establish the tricyclic core and the adjacent C5 and C6 quaternary stereocenters.

Solar synthesis: prospects in visible light photocatalysis

Chemists have long aspired to synthesize molecules the way that plants do-using sunlight to facilitate the construction of complex molecular architectures. Nevertheless, the use of visible light in photochemical synthesis is fundamentally challenging because organic molecules tend not to interact with the wavelengths of visible light that are most strongly emitted in the solar spectrum. Recent research has begun to leverage the ability of visible light-absorbing transition metal complexes to catalyze a broad range of synthetically valuable reactions. In this review, we highlight how an understanding of the mechanisms of photocatalytic activation available to these transition metal complexes, and of the general reactivity patterns of the intermediates accessible via visible light photocatalysis, has accelerated the development of this diverse suite of reactions.

On the role of pre- and post-electron-transfer steps in the SmI2 /amine/H(2)O-mediated reduction of esters: new mechanistic insights and kinetic studies

The mechanism of the SmI2 -mediated reduction of unactivated esters has been studied using a combination of kinetic, radical clocks and reactivity experiments. The kinetic data indicate that all reaction components (SmI2 , amine, H2 O) are involved in the rate equation and that electron transfer is facilitated by Brønsted base assisted deprotonation of water in the transition state. The use of validated cyclopropyl-containing radical clocks demonstrates that the reaction occurs via fast, reversible first electron transfer, and that the electron transfer from simple Sm(II) complexes to aliphatic esters is rapid. Notably, the mechanistic details presented herein indicate that complexation between SmI2 , H2 O and amines affords a new class of structurally diverse, thermodynamically powerful reductants for efficient electron transfer to carboxylic acid derivatives as an attractive alternative to the classical hydride-mediated reductions and as a source of acyl-radical equivalents for CC bond forming processes.

Expedient construction of the ABEF azatetracyclic ring systems of lycoctonine-type and 7,17-seco-type C₁₉-diterpenoid alkaloids

A synthetic strategy for the modeling construction of the highly bridged azatetracyclic ABEF ring system of numerous lycoctonine-type C19-diterpenoid alkaloids bearing a characteristic oxygenated quaternary center at C-7 has been successfully developed. The tetracyclic core was constructed rapidly from a readily prepared 6,7-bicyclic AB ring precursor through a 13-step sequence via an advanced tetracyclic N,O-acetal intermediate, which belong to another core structure of natural 7,17-seco-type alkaloids. The key step involves an SmI2-promoted intramolecular radical coupling reaction of an N,O-acetal with a carbonyl group, mimicking a plausible biogenetic transformation.

Electron transfer reduction of nitriles using SmI2-Et3N-H2O: synthetic utility and mechanism

The first general reduction of nitriles to primary amines under single electron transfer conditions is demonstrated using SmI2 (Kagan's reagent) activated with Lewis bases. The reaction features excellent functional group tolerance and represents an attractive alternative to the use of pyrophoric alkali metal hydrides. Notably, the electron transfer from Sm(II) to CN functional groups generates imidoyl-type radicals from bench stable nitrile precursors.

Neurotrophic natural products: chemistry and biology

Neurodegenerative diseases and spinal cord injury affect approximately 50 million people worldwide, bringing the total healthcare cost to over 600 billion dollars per year. Nervous system growth factors, that is, neurotrophins, are a potential solution to these disorders, since they could promote nerve regeneration. An average of 500 publications per year attests to the significance of neurotrophins in biomedical sciences and underlines their potential for therapeutic applications. Nonetheless, the poor pharmacokinetic profile of neurotrophins severely restricts their clinical use. On the other hand, small molecules that modulate neurotrophic activity offer a promising therapeutic approach against neurological disorders. Nature has provided an impressive array of natural products that have potent neurotrophic activities. This Review highlights the current synthetic strategies toward these compounds and summarizes their ability to induce neuronal growth and rehabilitation. It is anticipated that neurotrophic natural products could be used not only as starting points in drug design but also as tools to study the next frontier in biomedical sciences: the brain activity map project.

A practical and catalytic reductive olefin coupling

A redox-economic method for the direct coupling of olefins that uses an inexpensive iron catalyst and a silane reducing agent is reported. Thus, unactivated olefins can be joined directly to electron-deficient olefins in both intra- and intermolecular settings to generate hindered bicyclic systems, vicinal quaternary centers, and even cyclopropanes in good yield. The reaction is not sensitive to oxygen or moisture and has been performed on gram-scale. Most importantly, it allows access to many compounds that would be difficult or perhaps impossible to access using other methods.

Total synthesis of maoecrystal V: early-stage C-H functionalization and lactone assembly by radical cyclization

A total synthesis of the unusual ent-kaurane maoecrystal V is described. The synthesis strategy features a counterintuitive early disconnection of the lactone subunit to a polycyclic enol ether intermediate in order to preserve the central tetrahydrofuran ring until the beginning stages of the synthesis. This strategy enables an application of C-H functionalization at the early phase of the synthesis during the construction of a dihydrobenzofuran intermediate.

Development of an additive-controlled, SmI2-mediated stereoselective sequence: Telescoped spirocyclisation, lactone reduction and Peterson elimination

Studies on SmI₂-mediated spirocyclisation and lactone reduction culminate in a telescoped sequence in which additives are used to “switch on” individual steps mediated by the electron transfer reagent. The sequence involves the use of two activated SmI₂ reagent systems and a silicon stereocontrol element that exerts complete diastereocontrol over the cyclisation and is removed during the final stage of the sequence by Peterson elimination. The approach allows functionalised cyclopentanols containing two vicinal quaternary stereocentres to be conveniently prepared from simple starting materials.

Catalytic ketyl-olefin cyclizations enabled by proton-coupled electron transfer

Concerted proton-coupled electron transfer is a key mechanism of substrate activation in biological redox catalysis. However, its applications in organic synthesis remain largely unexplored. Herein, we report the development of a new catalytic protocol for ketyl-olefin coupling and present evidence to support concerted proton-coupled electron transfer being the operative mechanism of ketyl formation. Notably, reaction outcomes were correctly predicted by a simple thermodynamic formalism relating the oxidation potentials and pKa values of specific Brønsted acid/reductant combinations to their capacity to act jointly as a formal hydrogen atom donor.