Recent developments in the field of oxa-Michael reactions

Gold (III) Chloride-Catalyzed 6-endo-trig Oxa-Michael Addition Reactions for Diastereoselective Synthesis of Fused Tetrahydropyranones

Alkynones were treated with boron trifluoride diethyl etherate to generate β-iodoallenolates, which underwent intramolecular aldol reactions to produce cycloalkenyl alcohols. Diastereoselective oxa-Michael ring closure could then be induced by treatment with a catalytic amount of gold(III) chloride, affording highly functionalized tetrahydropyran-containing ring systems.

Enantioselective synthesis of hindered cyclic dialkyl ethers via catalytic oxa-Michael/Michael desymmetrization

An asymmetric oxa-Michael/Michael cascade reaction of p-quinols and α,β-unsaturated aldehydes provides access to hindered dialkyl ethers. A highly enantioselective oxa-Michael addition of a tertiary alcohol precedes an intramolecular cyclohexadienone desymmetrization, which allows for the concomitant formation of four contiguous stereocenters in a single step. The highly functionalized bicyclic frameworks are rapidly obtained from simple starting materials with good diastereoselection and serve as valuable precursors for further manipulation.

A versatile and efficient approach for the synthesis of chiral 1,3-nitroamines and 1,3-diamines via conjugate addition to new (S,E)-γ-aminated nitroalkenes derived from L-α-amino acids

New chiral (S,E)-γ-N,N-dibenzylated nitroalkenes 2a-c were synthesized from natural L-(α)-amino acids in five steps with overall yields of 68-88%. The conjugate addition of hydride, methoxide, nitronate and azide nucleophiles to 2a-c led to the corresponding chiral 1,3-nitroamines in 74-90% yield. The conjugate addition of cyanide anion to 2a,b was followed by HNO2 elimination affording chiral aminated acrylonitriles (73-98%). On the other hand, the azide anion reacted with 2a, in acetonitrile, via a [3 + 2]-cycloaddition in which HNO2 was lost, providing the corresponding 1,2,3-triazole derivative. Direct reduction of 1,3-nitroamine derivatives 9a,b produced the corresponding 1,3-diamines in good yields.

Concise synthesis and biological assessment of (+)-neopeltolide and a 16-member stereoisomer library of 8,9-dehydroneopeltolide: identification of pharmacophoric elements

We describe herein a concise synthesis of (+)-neopeltolide, a marine macrolide natural product that elicits a highly potent antiproliferative activity against several human cancer cell lines. Our synthesis exploited the powerful bond-forming ability and high functional group compatibility of olefin metathesis and esterification reactions to minimize manipulations of oxygen functionalities and to maximize synthetic convergency. Our findings include a chemoselective olefin cross-metathesis reaction directed by H-bonding, and a ring-closing metathesis conducted under non-high dilution conditions. Moreover, we developed a 16-member stereoisomer library of 8,9-dehydroneopeltolide to systematically explore the stereostructure-activity relationships. Assessment of the antiproliferative activity of the stereoisomers against A549 human lung adenocarcinoma, MCF-7 human breast adenocarcinoma, HT-1080 human fibrosarcoma, and P388 murine leukemia cell lines has revealed marked differences in potency between the stereoisomers. This study provides comprehensive insights into the structure-activity relationship of this important antiproliferative agent, leading to the identification of the pharmacophoric structural elements and the development of truncated analogues with nanomolar potency.

Tandem catalysis in domino olefin cross-metathesis/intramolecular oxa-conjugate cyclization: concise synthesis of 2,6-cis-substituted tetrahydropyran derivatives

Herein, we describe the concise synthesis of 2,6-cis-substituted tetrahydropyran derivatives based on a domino olefin cross-metathesis/intramolecular oxa-conjugate cyclization (CM/IOCC) reaction. We have found that the domino CM/IOCC of δ-hydroxy olefins with α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds (e.g., trans-crotonaldehyde or N-acryloyl-2,5-dimethylpyrrole) could be efficiently achieved in the presence of the second-generation Hoveyda-Grubbs catalyst under elevated temperature conditions, directly affording 2,6-cis-substituted tetrahydropyrans in excellent yields with synthetically useful diastereoselectivity ("auto-tandem catalysis"). In addition, we have found that the domino CM/IOCC of δ-hydroxy olefins with α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds could be achieved simply by performing CM in the presence of a Brønsted acid in CH(2)Cl(2) at 25-35 °C, which delivered 2,6-cis-substituted tetrahydropyrans in good yields with excellent diastereoselectivity ("orthogonal-tandem catalysis"). To understand the mechanism of auto-tandem catalysis in the domino CM/IOCC reaction, we have investigated the role of ruthenium hydride complexes in the IOCC of a ζ-hydroxy α,β-unsaturated ketone as a model case.

Synthesis of a Library of 1,5,2-Dithiazepine 1,1-Dioxides. Part 1: A One-Pot Sulfonylation/Thia-Michael Protocol

A novel one-pot sulfonylation/intramolecular thia-Michael protocol is reported for the synthesis of 1,5,2-dithiazepine 1,1-dioxides. Sulfonylation between cysteine ethyl ester/cysteamine and 2-chloroethanesulfonyl chloride, followed by in situ intramolecular thia-Michael addition, was achieved and afforded the titled 1,5,2-dithiazepine-1,1-dioxide scaffolds. Diversification was demonstrated for future library synthesis.

Diastereoselective multicomponent cascade reaction leading to [3.2.0]-heterobicyclic compounds

A general three-component triple cascade reaction through an iminium-enamine-iminium sequential activation initiated by a hetero-Michael addition to α,β-unsaturated aldehydes affords [3.2.0]heterobicycles in high diastereoselectivity. The rate and diastereoselectivity of the reaction depended on the (E)-4-heterocrotonate and size of the secondary amine. The enantiomers of the major diastereoisomer of oxa- and azabicyclo[3.2.0]heptane derivatives were separated by enzymatic kinetic resolution with immobilized Candida antarctica Lipase B (CALB), with E values up to 153. The absolute configuration of the nonacylated enantiomer of oxabicyclo[3.2.0]heptane was determined by single crystal X-ray analysis.

An asymmetric synthesis of 1,2,4-trioxane anticancer agents via desymmetrization of peroxyquinols through a Brønsted acid catalysis cascade

The desymmetrization of p-peroxyquinols using a Brønsted acid-catalyzed acetalization/oxa-Michael cascade was achieved in high yields and selectivities for a variety of aliphatic and aryl aldehydes. Mechanistic studies suggest that the reaction proceeds through a dynamic kinetic resolution of the peroxy hemiacetal intermediate. The resulting 1,2,4-trioxane products were derivatized and show potent cancer cell-growth inhibition.

DNA-based catalytic enantioselective intermolecular oxa-Michael addition reactions

Using the DNA-based catalysis concept, a novel Cu(ii) catalyzed enantioselective oxa-Michael addition of alcohols to enones is reported. Enantioselectivities of up to 86% were obtained. The presence of water is important for the reactivity, possibly by reverting unwanted side reactions such as 1,2-additions.