Gold/Acid-Cocatalyzed Regiodivergent Preparation of Bridged Ketals via Direct Bis-Oxycyclization of Alkynic Acetonides

Transition-metal-free intramolecular double hydrofunctionalization of alkyne to access 6/7/5-fused heterocyclic skeletons

We describe a novel intramolecular double hydrofunctionalization cyclization of alkyne with nitrogen and oxygen nucleophilic groups to construct valuable 6/7/5-fused heterocyclic products. This post-Groebke-Blackburn-Bienaymé (GBB) reaction introduces a new class of functionalized isocyanides. Transition-metal-free cyclization, broad substrate scope, and high atom economy were some features of the present protocol.

Cycloisomerization of π-Coupled Heteroatom Nucleophiles by Gold Catalysis: En Route to Regiochemically Defined Heterocycles

Since the dawn of millennium, catalytic gold chemistry is at the forefront to set off diverse organic reactions via unique activation of π-bonded molecules. Within this purview, cycloisomerization of heteroatom nucleophiles linked to a π-system is one of the well recognized chemistry for the construction of numerous heterocyclic cores. Though the rudimentary aspects of this transformation are reviewed by several groups in different timeline, a holistic view on regiochemistry of such reactions went largely overlooked. Hence, this account emphasizes the gold catalyzed regioselective cycloisomerization of structurally distinctive π-connected hetero-nucleophiles leading to different heterocycles documented in the last two decades. From an application perspective, this account also highlights those methodologies which find a role in the total synthesis of natural products. Wherever appropriate, mechanistic details and contributing factors for selectivity are also discussed.

[Development of Gold-catalyzed Reaction Utilizing Electron Acceptability of Z-type Ligand]

The interaction between transition metals and ligands is important for catalytic reactions. The ligands are largely dominated by the covalent X-type (hydride, alkyl and halogen) and/or dative L-type ligands (e.g., P, N, CO, olefin, etc.). Therefore, the interaction of the Z-type ligands (B, Al and Si, etc.) with transition metals is emerging as a new concept for the reactivity of the metal center. Recently, we developed the synthesis of the gold complex Au(DPB)X (DPB=diphosphine-borane) featuring the Z-type ligand, and their catalytic reaction. The gold catalysts showed a high activity compared to the general catalysts (without Z-ligand) for the various cyclization reactions due to the electron-withdrawing effect of the Z-ligand on the coordinating gold center. In this review, first the structure analysis of the synthesized Au→Z complex is introduced in detail, and second, the catalytic reactions based on the alkyne activation are described.

Construction of Bridged Polycyclic Skeletons via Transition-Metal Catalyzed Carbon-Carbon Bond-Forming Reactions

Transition-metal catalysis has become one of most important methods for constructing molecules with diverse architectures. Bridged polycyclic skeletons are often considered one of most challenging structures in organic synthesis. This Minireview summarizes the recent progress on synthesis of bridged polycyclic skeletons by transition-metal-catalyzed carbon-carbon bond-forming reaction. Four main ring-forming strategies including connection via olefin or carbonyl functionality, enolate intermediacy, C-H functionality, and aryl functionality are detailed and some effective methods are discussed with particular emphasis on reaction design and mechanism.

Gold-catalyzed π-directed regioselective cyclization of bis(o-alkynyl benzyl alcohols): rapid access to dihydroisobenzofuran derivatives

A tandem alkyne/alkene-directed 5-exo-dig cyclization and a Prins-type cyclization for the synthesis of dihydroisobenzofurans are described.

Gold-catalyzed cyclization reactions of allenol and alkynol derivatives

Although gold is chemically inert as a bulk metal, the landmark discovery that gold nanoparticles can be effective catalysts has opened up new and exciting research opportunities in the field. In recent years, there has been growth in the number of reactions catalyzed by gold complexes [gold(I) and gold(III)], usually as homogeneous catalysts, because they are soft Lewis acids. In addition, alkynes and allenes have interesting reactivities and selectivities, notably their ability to produce complex structures in very few steps. In this Account, we describe our work in gold catalysis with a focus on the formation of C-C and C-O bonds using allenes and alkynes as starting materials. Of these, oxa- and carbo-cyclizations are perhaps the best known and most frequently studied. We have divided those contributions into sections arranged according to the nature of the starting material (allene versus alkyne). Gold-catalyzed carbocyclizations in allenyl C2-linked indoles, allenyl-β-lactams, and allenyl sugars follow different mechanistic pathways. The cyclization of indole-tethered allenols results in the efficient synthesis of carbazole derivatives, for example. However, the compound produced from gold-catalyzed 9-endo carbocyclization of (aryloxy)allenyl-tethered 2-azetidinones is in noticeable contrast to the 5-exo hydroalkylation product that results from allenyl sugars. We have illustrated the unusual preference for the 4-exo-dig cyclization in allene chemistry, as well as the rare β-hydride elimination reaction, in gold catalysis from readily available α-allenols. We have also observed in γ-allenols that a (methoxymethyl)oxy protecting group not only masks a hydroxyl functionality but also exerts directing effects as a controlling unit in a gold-catalyzed regioselectivity reversal. Our recent work has also led to a combined experimental and computational study on regioselective gold-catalyzed synthetic routes to 1,3-oxazinan-2-ones (kinetically controlled products) and 1,3-oxazin-2-one derivatives (thermodynamically favored) from easily accessible allenic carbamates. In addition, we discuss the direct gold-catalyzed cycloketalization of alkynyldioxolanes, as well as aminoketalization of alkynyloxazolidines. We performed labeling studies and density functional calculations to gain insight into the mechanisms of the bis-heterocyclization reactions. We also describe the controlled gold-catalyzed reactions of primary and secondary propargylic hydroperoxides with a variety of nucleophiles including alcohols and phenols, allowing the direct synthesis of β-functionalized ketones. Through computations and (18)O-labeling experiments, we discovered various aspects of the controlled reactivity of propargylic hydroperoxides with external nucleophiles under gold catalysis. The mechanism resembles a Meyer-Schuster rearrangement, but notably, the presence and geometry characteristics of the OOH functional group allow a new pathway to happen, which cannot apply to propargylic alcohols.

Gold catalysis: regio- and stereoselective total synthesis of xyloketals D and G and the related natural product alboatrin

A new and efficient one-pot desilylation-gold-catalyzed cycloisomerization of alkynes containing a silyl-protected phenolic -OH and a free alcoholic -OH unit leads selectively to the formation of tetrahydrofuranobenzopyran ring system. This approach has been used for the regio- and stereoselective synthesis of xyloketal D, xyloketal G, and the related natural product alboatrin.

Regio- and diastereoselective synthesis of β-lactam-triazole hybrids via Passerini/CuAAC sequence

Passerini (P-3CR) and Passerini-Smiles reactions were investigated in azetidine-2,3-diones, affording the corresponding 3,3-disubstituted-β-lactams with complete diastereoselectivity in high yields. The study has been carried out using different isocyanides, carboxylic acids, and phenols showing the scope of both reactions. In addition, the regioselective synthesis of highly functionalized β-lactam-triazole hybrids has been developed via a Passerini/CuAAC sequence. Interestingly, the use of dialkynes/diazides or trialkynes/triazides as linkers in the CuAAC step has allowed the synthesis of C(2) and C(3) symmetric β-lactam-triazole hybrids, respectively.

Gold-catalyzed heterocyclizations in alkynyl- and allenyl-β-lactams

New gold-catalyzed methods using the β-lactam scaffold have been recently developed for the synthesis of different sized heterocycles. This overview focuses on heterocyclization reactions of allenic and alkynic β-lactams which rely on the activation of the allene and alkyne component. The mechanism as well as the regio- and stereoselectivity of the cyclizations are also discussed.