Synthetic Application of Sequential Palladium-Catalyzed Allylic Acetate Alkylation and Michael Addition Carbocyclization: Synthesis of (±)-Dihydroerythramine

Spokewise Total Syntheses of Four Erythrina Alkaloids and Telescoped Syntheses of Six Additional Alkaloids

Based on rich sulfur-involving chemical transformations, a novel spokewise synthetic strategy, a subclass of the collective strategies, has been developed to concisely synthesize four erythrina alkaloids through a single-step transformation from a common synthetic precursor. Moreover, six additional erythrina alkaloids have also been synthesized by subsequent 1-2 steps chemical transformations. The current synthetic approaches provide a valuable platform for collective total syntheses of erythrina alkaloids and pseudo-natural erythrina alkaloids.

Cu(OTf)2-Catalyzed Pummerer Coupling of β-Ketosulfoxides

The copper(II) trifluoromethanesulfonate-catalyzed Pummerer reaction of β-ketosulfoxides with 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds or π-nucleophiles such as phenols, arenes, and tetraallylsilane is reported. The mild conditions provide an efficient entry to a novel class of polysubstituted 3-alkylthiofuran and polysubstituted 3-thiobenzofuran heterocycles from readily available materials.

Beta-phenylethylamines and the isoquinoline alkaloids

This review covers beta-phenylethylamines and isoquinoline alkaloids and compounds derived from them, including further products of oxidation, condensation with formaldehyde and rearrangement, some of which do not contain an isoquinoline system, together with naphthylisoquinoline alkaloids, which have a different biogenetic origin. The occurrence of the alkaloids, with the structures of new bases, together with their reactions, syntheses and biological activities are reported. The literature from July 2001 to June 2002 is reviewed, with 581 references cited.