Synthesis of 2,4- and 2,5-Disubstituted Oxazoles via Metal- Catalyzed Cross-Coupling Reactions

Oxazole Synthesis by Sequential Asmic-Ester Condensations and Sulfanyl-Lithium Exchange-Trapping

Oxazoles are rapidly assembled through a sequential deprotonation-condensation of Asmic, anisylsulfanylmethylisocyanide, with esters followed by sulfanyl-lithium exchange-trapping. Deprotonating Asmic affords a metalated isocyanide that efficiently traps esters to afford oxazoles bearing a versatile C-4 anisylsulfanyl substituent. Interchange of the anisylsulfanyl substituent is readily achieved through a first-in-class sulfur-lithium exchange-electrophilic trapping sequence whose versatility is illustrated in the three-step synthesis of the bioactive natural product streptochlorin.

Synthesis and Photooxidation of the Trisubstituted Oxazole Fragment of the Marine Natural Product Salarin C

The eastern section of the macrocyclic marine natural product salarin C from the sponge Fascaplysinopsis sp. was synthesized employing a halogen dance reaction to assemble the trisubstituted oxazole moiety. The synthesis was inspired by Kashman's hypothesis on the biomimetic oxidation of salarin C to salarin A. Clean conversion to the triacylamine partial structure of salarin A occurred on treatment with photochemically generated singlet oxygen. Thus, a Wasserman-type oxidative rearrangement is chemically possible in this case.

Catalytic hetero-ene reactions of 5-methyleneoxazolines: highly enantioselective synthesis of 2,5-disubstituted oxazole derivatives

An efficient catalytic asymmetric hetero-ene reaction of 5-methyleneoxazolines with 1,2-dicarbonyl compounds (including α-ketoesters and glyoxal derivatives) was realized using Ni(II)-N,N'-dioxide complexes as the catalysts. It provides a rapid, high yielding (up to 99%) route for the preparation of 2,5-disubstituted oxazole derivatives in a highly enantioenriched form (up to >99% ee) under mild conditions.

A method for the reductive scission of heterocyclic thioethers

A mild, chemoselective, and generally high-yielding method for the reductive scission of heterocyclic thioethers is described. Suitable heterocycles have a thioether substituent at the 2-position relative to a ring heteroatom. The convenient and straightforward method is demonstrated with reactants which are not compatible with the standard Raney nickel conditions such as sulfides, sulfones, and thiophenes. In addition, benzyl esters, benzyl amides, and benzyl carbamates are tolerated by the reductive reaction conditions.