Prostaglandin-Synthesen durch Dreikomponenten-Kupplung

C-H activation: a complementary tool in the total synthesis of complex natural products

The recent advent of transition-metal mediated C-H activation is revolutionizing the synthetic field and gradually infusing a "C-H activation mind-set" in both students and practitioners of organic synthesis. As a powerful testament of this emerging synthetic tool, applications of C-H activation in the context of total synthesis of complex natural products are beginning to blossom. Herein, recently completed total syntheses showcasing creative and ingenious incorporation of C-H activation as a strategic manoeuver are compared with their "non-C-H activation" counterparts, illuminating a new paradigm in strategic synthetic design.

Efficient oxidations and photooxidations with molecular oxygen using metal phthalocyanines as catalysts and photocatalysts

Metal phthalocyanines can be very efficient as catalysts and photocatalysts in oxidation reactions using molecular oxygen as oxidant. Different types of soluble low molecular weight or oligomeric and insoluble heterogeneous catalysts and photocatalysts were developed. The heterogeneous metal phthalocyanines exist either impregnated on SiO 2, Al 2 O 3, charcoal and TiO 2 or covalently and coordinatively bound on SiO 2 and organic polymers or ionically bound on an organic ion exchanger. The catalytic oxidations of toxic sulfide and thiol derivative are studied. In addition, toxic phenols were employed as substrates for the photooxidation. Heterogeneous catalysts can exhibit higher activities then low molecular weight phthalocyanines. These systems exhibit a good stability for re-use. Photooxidations are more efficient than oxidations. A Si(IV) phthalocyanine derivative on a polymer ion exchanger is most active and stable. Also some examples for photooxidations in the direction of photochemical synthesis are given.

Radical and radical-ionic multicomponent processes

All in one pot! Radical, radical-ionic, and radical-organometallic MCR are highly convergent processes, representing a useful pathway to molecular and structural diversity (see scheme). This concept article highlights recent developments in the field and shows the potential of the strategy for the economical elaboration of various kinds of organic substrates.Progress in multicomponent reactions (MCRs) based on ionic and organometallic processes has recently allowed the synthesis, with high efficiency, of large collections of drug-like molecules. In contrast, MCRs based on cascade radical reactions appear to have attracted, so far, much less interest. This concept article highlights the latest progress in the field and underlines the potential of such an approach. The collected examples demonstrate that radical and radical-ionic MCRs are highly convergent processes leading to useful structural diversity.

Spirodionic acid, a novel metabolite from Streptomyces sp., part 2: total synthesis through a twofold michael addition as a selective spiroannelation strategy

To elucidate the structure of the new natural product spirodionic acid, which has three stereogenic centers of hitherto unknown configuration, two 4-ethenylspiro[4.5]dec-6-en-1,8-diones with opposite relative configuration at C4 and C5 were prepared. The first access involved the synthesis of 3-ethenyl-2-formylcyclopentanone (8) using a three-component coupling process. A sequence of Michael addition to penten-3-one (7) and intramolecular aldol condensation then led to the highly selective formation of the 4S*,5S*-configured spirocycle 5. In contrast, a selective spiroannelation of a cyclohexenone ring was accomplished by a novel type of twofold Michael addition to the dialkenyl ketone 11 with subsequent dehydrogenation to furnish the 4S*,5R*-configured spirocycle 25. Diastereoselective methylation and oxidative degradation then completed a highly efficient synthesis of the natural product as prerequisite for the assignment of its absolute configuration.

Metathesis reactions in total synthesis

With the exception of palladium-catalyzed cross-couplings, no other group of reactions has had such a profound impact on the formation of carbon-carbon bonds and the art of total synthesis in the last quarter of a century than the metathesis reactions of olefins, enynes, and alkynes. Herein, we highlight a number of selected examples of total syntheses in which such processes played a crucial role and which imparted to these endeavors certain elements of novelty, elegance, and efficiency. Judging from their short but impressive history, the influence of these reactions in chemical synthesis is destined to increase.