Total Synthesis of Jiadifenolide

Fragment Coupling Reactions in Total Synthesis That Form Carbon-Carbon Bonds via Carbanionic or Free Radical Intermediates

Fragment coupling reactions that form carbon-carbon bonds are valuable transformations in synthetic design. Advances in metal-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions in the early 2000s brought a high level of predictability and reliability to carbon-carbon bond constructions involving the union of unsaturated fragments. By comparison, recent years have witnessed an increase in fragment couplings proceeding via carbanionic and open-shell (free radical) intermediates. The latter has been driven by advances in methods to generate and utilize carbon-centered radicals under mild conditions. In this Review, we survey a selection of recent syntheses that have implemented carbanion- or radical-based fragment couplings to form carbon-carbon bonds. We aim to highlight the strategic value of these disconnections in their respective settings and to identify extensible lessons from each example that might be instructive to students.

Synthesis of Bio-Based Methylcyclopentadiene from 2,5-Hexanedione: A Sustainable Route to High Energy Density Jet Fuels

The sustainable, bio-based, platform chemical, 2,5-hexanedione [HD (1)], was efficiently converted to methylcyclopentadiene [MCPD (4)] through a three-step process consisting of intramolecular aldol condensation, catalytic chemoselective hydrogenation, and dehydration. Base-catalyzed aldol condensation of 1 resulted in the formation of 3-methyl-2-cyclopenten-1-one [MCO (2)], which was then converted to 3-methyl-2-cyclopenten-1-ol [MCP (3)] by chemoselective reduction with a ternary Ru catalyst system [RuCl₂ (PPh₃ )₃ /NH₂ (CH₂ )₂ NH₂ /KOH]. The hydrogenation proceeded with 96 % chemoselectivity. 3 was then dehydrated over AlPO₄ /MgSO₄ at 70 °C under reduced pressure to yield 4, which can undergo an ambient temperature [4+2]-Diels-Alder cyclization to generate dimethyldicyclopentadiene (DMDCPD), a commodity chemical useful for the preparation of high-performance fuels and polymers. Through this approach, advanced jet fuels and materials can be conveniently produced from sustainable cellulosic feedstocks.