Accelerating spirocyclic polyketide synthesis using flow chemistry

Cascade Sequence of Photooxygenation-Epoxidation for the Flow Synthesis of Epoxy Alcohols

A photooxygenation-epoxidation cascade sequence converting alkenes to epoxy alcohols was developed and evaluated in batch and continuous-flow systems. In the batch system, the undesired interactions between the photooxygenation and epoxidation catalysts resulted in suboptimal yields, whereas the fine control of reaction parameters in the flow system allowed the allyl hydroperoxides produced through photooxygenation of alkenes to be rapidly converted to epoxy alcohols in yields of up to 93%. The developed procedure allows one to avoid an important synthetic bottleneck, works well where traditional batch synthesis fails, and can be scaled up to meet the needs of industrial production, thus presenting a valuable addition to the toolbox of practicing organic chemists.

Total Synthesis of the Proposed Structure of Neaumycin B

The total synthesis of the proposed structure of anti-glioblastoma natural product neaumycin B was achieved in 22 steps (longest linear sequence). The synthesis features HCl-mediated [6,6]-spiroketalization, a combination of Krische iridium-catalyzed crotylation, Marshall palladium-catalyzed propargylation, Fürstner nickel-catalyzed regio- and enantioselective vicinal monoprotected diol formation, Brown crotylation and asymmetric halide-aldehyde cycloaddition, so as to establish the challenging contiguous stereocenters.

Development of a Fully Continuous-Flow Approach Towards Asymmetric Total Synthesis of Tetrahydroprotoberberine Natural Alkaloids

Continuous flow synthetic technologies had been widely applied in the total synthesis in the past few decades. Fully continuous flow synthesis is still extremely focused on multi-step synthesis of complex natural pharmaceutical molecules. Thus, the development of fully continuous flow total synthesis of natural products is in demand but challenging. Herein, we demonstrated the first fully continuous flow approach towards asymmetric total synthesis of natural tetrahydroprotoberberine alkaloids, (-)-isocanadine, (-)-tetrahydropseudocoptisine, (-)-stylopine and (-)-nandinine. This method features a concise linear sequence involving four chemical transformations and three on-line work-up processing in an integrated flow platform, without any intermediate purification. The overall yield and enantioselectivity of this four-step continuous flow chemistry were up to 50 % and 92 %ee, respectively, in a total residence time of 32.5 min, corresponding to a throughput of 145 mg/h.

Enantioselective Synthesis of the Sex Pheromone of Lichen Moth, Miltochrista calamine, and Its Diastereomer

The synthesis of a Miltochrista calamine sex pheromone and its diastereomer has been developed. The key steps of the synthetic approach involved Evans’ chiral auxiliaries and the addition of alkyne to aldehyde, which were firstly applied to prepare this sex pheromone and its diastereomer. The synthetic sex pheromone could be used to trap insects and study physiological and ecological questions of the lichen moth.

Flow-Assisted Synthesis of Alkyl Citrate Natural Products

The development of a flow-assisted synthesis of alkyl citrate natural products is described. The flow route harnesses a number of steps including the generation of ketene silyl acetal, a formal [2 + 2] cycloaddition, and a methanolysis cascade to efficiently generate a highly substituted, and stereodefined tetrahydrofuran intermediate. A heterogeneous pseudo-Finkelstein reaction and zinc-mediated elimination furnish a key alkene alkyl citrate fragment in high yield over a multistep sequence that provides direct entry to compounds such as (-)-CJ-13982 (1), (-)-CJ-13,981 (2), L-731,120 (3), and related natural products. The flow methodology developed in this study enables a new machine-assisted approach toward the efficient and scalable synthesis of the alkyl citrate family of natural products.

Chemistry and biology of spiroacetals from myxobacteria

This review details the isolation, biosynthesis, biological activity and synthesis of spiroacetals from the myxobacterium Sorangium cellulosum. The strategies utilised to access the challenging structures and stereochemistry of these natural products are highlighted.

Flow biocatalysis 101: design, development and applications

Flow biocatalysis: where to start? This tutorial review aims to guide and inspire new-comers to the field to boost the potential of flow biocatalysis.

Accelerating gas-liquid chemical reactions in flow

Over the past decade, continuous flow reactors have emerged as a powerful tool for accelerated fundamental and applied studies of gas-liquid reactions, offering facile gas delivery and process intensification. In particular, unique features of highly gas-permeable tubular membranes in flow reactors (i.e., tube-in-tube flow reactor configuration) have been exploited as (i) an efficient analytic tool for gas-liquid solubility and diffusivity measurements and (ii) reliable gas delivery/generation strategy, providing versatile adaptability for a wide range of gas-liquid processes. The tube-in-tube flow reactors have been successfully adopted for rapid exploration of a wide range of gas-liquid reactions (e.g., amination, carboxylation, carbonylation, hydrogenation, ethylenation, oxygenation) using gaseous species both as the reactant and the product, safely handling toxic and flammable gases or unstable intermediate compounds. In this highlight, we present an overview of recent developments in the utilization of such intensified flow reactors within modular flow chemistry platforms for different gas-liquid processes involving carbon dioxide, oxygen, and other gases. We provide a detailed step-by-step guideline for robust assembly and safe operation of tube-in-tube flow reactors. We also discuss the current challenges and potential future directions for further development and utilization of tubular membrane-based flow reactors for gas-liquid processes.

Integrated Batch and Continuous Flow Process for the Synthesis of Goniothalamin

An integrated batch and continuous flow process has been developed for the gram-scale synthesis of goniothalamin. The synthetic route hinges upon a telescoped continuous flow Grignard addition followed by an acylation reaction capable of delivering a racemic goniothalamin precursor (16) (20.9 g prepared over 3 h), with a productivity of 7 g·h^-1. An asymmetric Brown allylation protocol was also evaluated under continuous flow conditions. This approach employing (-)-Ipc₂B(allyl) provided an (S)-goniothalamin intermediate in 98% yield and 91.5% enantiomeric excess (ee) with a productivity of 1.8 g·h^-1. For the final step, a ring-closing metathesis reaction was explored under several conditions in both batch and flow regimes. In a batch operation, the Grubbs second-generation was shown to be effective and highly selective for the desired ring closure product over those arising from other modes of reactivity, and the reaction was complete in 1.5 h. In a flow operation, reactivity and selectivity were attenuated relative to the batch mode; however, after further optimization, the residence time could be reduced to 16 min with good selectivity and good yield of the target product. A tube-in-tube reactor was investigated for in-situ ethylene removal to favor ring-closing over cross-metathesis, in this context. These results provide further evidence of the utility of flow chemistry for organometallic processing and reaction telescoping. Using the developed integrated batch and flow methods, a total of 7.75 g of goniothalamin (1) was synthesized.

Au(I)-Catalyzed Cyclization of Epoxyalkynes to Allylic Alcohol Containing Spiroketals and Application to the Total Synthesis of (-)-Alotaketal A

A gold-catalyzed tandem spiroketalization of epoxyalkynes accompanied by epoxide rearrangement into the corresponding allylic alcohol was developed for the construction of functionalized spiroketals. This new synthetic methodology for unsaturated spiroketals warranted a facile total synthesis of alotaketal A from carvone via a corresponding epoxyalkyne precursor.

Reaction Cycling for Kinetic Analysis in Flow

A reactor capable of efficiently collecting kinetic data in flow is presented. Conversion over time data is obtained by cycling a discrete reaction slug back and forth between two residence coils, with analysis performed each time the solution is passed between the two. In contrast to a traditional steady-state continuous flow system, which requires upward of 5× the total reaction time to obtain reaction progress data, this design achieves much higher efficiency by collecting all data during a single reaction. In combination with minimal material consumption (reactions performed in 300 μL slugs), this represents an improvement in efficiency for typical kinetic experimentation in batch as well. Application to kinetic analysis of a wide variety of transformations (acylation, S_NAr, silylation, solvolysis, Pd catalyzed C-S cross-coupling and cycloadditions) is demonstrated, highlighting both the versatility of the reactor and the benefits of performing kinetic analysis as a routine part of reaction optimization/development. Extension to the monitoring of multiple reactions simultaneously is also realized by operating the reactor with multiple reaction slugs at the same time.

Transition-metal-free C(sp3)-H/C(sp3)-H dehydrogenative coupling of saturated heterocycles with N-benzyl imines

A unique C(sp3)-H/C(sp3)-H dehydrocoupling of N-benzylimines with saturated heterocycles is described. Using super electron donor (SED) 2-azaallyl anions and aryl iodides as electron acceptors, single-electron-transfer (SET) generates an aryl radical. Hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) from saturated heterocycles or toluenes to the aryl radical generates alkyl radicals or benzylic radicals, respectively. The newly formed alkyl radicals and benzylic radicals couple with the 2-azaallyl radicals with formation of new C-C bonds. Experimental evidence supports the key hydrogen-abstraction by the aryl radical, which determines the chemoselectivity of the radical-radical coupling reaction. It is noteworthy that this procedure avoids the use of traditional strong oxidants and transition metals.

Enhanced Controllability of Fries Rearrangements Using High-Resolution 3D-Printed Metal Microreactor with Circular Channel

High-resolution 3D-printed stainless steel metal microreactors (3D-PMRs) with different cross-sectional geometry are fabricated to control ultrafast intramolecular rearrangement reactions in a comparative manner. The 3D-PMR with circular channel demonstrates the improved controllability in rapid Fries-type rearrangement reactions, because of the superior mixing efficiency to rectangular cross-section channels (250 µm × 125 µm) which is confirmed based on the computational flow dynamics simulation. Even in case of very rapid intramolecular rearrangement of sterically small acetyl group occurring in 333 µs of reaction time, the desired intermolecular reaction can outpace to the undesired intramolecular rearrangement using 3D-PMR to result in high conversion and yield.

Reconfigurable Flow Platform for Automated Reagent Screening and Autonomous Optimization for Bioinspired Lignans Synthesis

Naturally occurring benzoxanthenones, which belong to the vast family of lignans, are promising biologically relevant targets. They are biosynthetically produced by the oxidative dimerization of 2-propenyl phenols. In this manuscript, we disclose a powerful automated flow-based strategy for identifying and optimizing a cobalt-catalyzed oxidizing system for the bioinspired dimerization of 2-propenyl phenols. We designed a reconfigurable flow reactor associating online monitoring and process control instrumentation. Our machine was first configured as an automated screening platform to evaluate a matrix of 4 catalysts (plus the blank) and 5 oxidants (plus the blank) at two different temperatures, resulting in an array of 50 reactions. The automated screening was conducted on micromole scale at a rate of one fully characterized reaction every 26 min. After having identified the most promising cobalt-catalyzed oxidizing system, the automated screening platform was straightforwardly reconfigured to an autonomous self-optimizing flow reactor by implementation of an optimization algorithm in the closed-loop system. The optimization campaign allowed the determination of very effective experimental conditions in a limited number of experiments, which allowed us to prepare the natural products carpanone and polemannone B as well as synthetic analogues.

Integrating continuous flow synthesis with in-line analysis and data generation

Continuous flow synthesis of fine chemicals has successfully advanced from an academic niche area to a rapidly growing field of its own that directly impacts developments and applications in industrial settings. Whilst the numerous advantages of flow over batch processing are widely recognised and have led to a wider uptake of continuous flow synthesis within the community, we have reached a point where continuous flow synthesis has to transition from a stand-alone enabling technology to a readily integrated synthesis concept. Thus it is paramount to embrace a multitude of in-line analysis and purification techniques to not only allow for efficiently telescoped multi-step sequences but ultimately generate bioactivity data concomitantly on newly synthesised entities. This short review summarises the state of the art in this field and presents both challenges and opportunities that arise from this ambitious endeavour.

Continuous flow chemistry: where are we now? Recent applications, challenges and limitations

A general outlook of the changing face of chemical synthesis is provided in this article through recent applications of continuous flow processing in both industry and academia. The benefits, major challenges and limitations associated with the use of this mode of processing are also given due attention as an attempt to put into perspective the current position of continuous flow processing, either as an alternative or potential combinatory technology for batch processing.

Across-the-World Automated Optimization and Continuous-Flow Synthesis of Pharmaceutical Agents Operating Through a Cloud-Based Server

The power of the Cloud has been harnessed for pharmaceutical compound production with remote servers based in Tokyo, Japan being left to autonomously find optimal synthesis conditions for three active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in laboratories in Cambridge, UK. A researcher located in Los Angeles, USA controlled the entire process via an internet connection. The constituent synthetic steps for Tramadol, Lidocaine, and Bupropion were thus optimized with minimal intervention from operators within hours, yielding conditions satisfying customizable evaluation functions for all examples.

Mild and selective reduction of aldehydes utilising sodium dithionite under flow conditions

We recently reported a novel hybrid batch–flow synthesis of the antipsychotic drug clozapine in which the reduction of a nitroaryl group is described under flow conditions using sodium dithionite. We now report the expansion of this method to include the reduction of aldehydes. The method developed affords yields which are comparable to those under batch conditions, has a reduced reaction time and improved space-time productivity. Furthermore, the approach allows the selective reduction of aldehydes in the presence of ketones and has been demonstrated as a continuous process.

The Molecular Industrial Revolution: Automated Synthesis of Small Molecules

Today we are poised for a transition from the highly customized crafting of specific molecular targets by hand to the increasingly general and automated assembly of different types of molecules with the push of a button. Creating machines that are capable of making many different types of small molecules on demand, akin to that which has been achieved on the macroscale with 3D printers, is challenging. Yet important progress is being made toward this objective with two complementary approaches: 1) Automation of customized synthesis routes to different targets by machines that enable the use of many reactions and starting materials, and 2) automation of generalized platforms that make many different targets using common coupling chemistry and building blocks. Continued progress in these directions has the potential to shift the bottleneck in molecular innovation from synthesis to imagination, and thereby help drive a new industrial revolution on the molecular scale.

Multi-step continuous-flow synthesis

Organic chemistry is continually evolving to improve the syntheses of value added and bioactive compounds. Through this progression, a concomitant advancement in laboratory technology has occurred. Many researchers now choose to mediate transformations in continuous-flow systems given the many benefits over round bottom flasks. Furthermore, reaction scale up is often less problematic as this is addressed at the inception of the science. Although single-step transformations in continuous-flow systems are common, multi-step transformations are more valuable. In these systems, molecular complexity is accrued through sequential transformations to a mobile scaffold, much like an in vitro version of Nature's polyketide synthases. Utilizing this methodology, multi-step continuous-flow systems have improved the syntheses of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), natural products, and commodity chemicals. This Review details these advancements while highlighting the rapid progress, benefits, and diversification of this expanding field.

In-line separation of multicomponent reaction mixtures using a new semi-continuous supercritical fluid chromatography system

A new bespoke semi-continuous parallel column supercritical fluid chromatography unit has been developed that solves the problem of effective separation of continuous, multicomponent reaction mixtures.

A multi-step continuous flow synthesis of the cystic fibrosis medicine ivacaftor

A continuous flow ozonolysis method combined with a multi-step flow sequence is developed for the synthesis of the drug ivacaftor for the first time.

Control of tandem isomerizations: flow-assisted reactions of o-lithiated aryl benzyl ethers

We report a flow microreactor platform for controlling tandem isomerizations of o-lithiated aryl benzyl ethers based on precise residence time control.

Recent progress in the isolation, bioactivity, biosynthesis, and total synthesis of natural spiroketals

The isolation, bioactivity, biosynthesis, and total synthesis of natural spiroketals from 2011 to July 2017 have been summarized in this review.

Automating drug discovery

Small-molecule drug discovery can be viewed as a challenging multidimensional problem in which various characteristics of compounds - including efficacy, pharmacokinetics and safety - need to be optimized in parallel to provide drug candidates. Recent advances in areas such as microfluidics-assisted chemical synthesis and biological testing, as well as artificial intelligence systems that improve a design hypothesis through feedback analysis, are now providing a basis for the introduction of greater automation into aspects of this process. This could potentially accelerate time frames for compound discovery and optimization and enable more effective searches of chemical space. However, such approaches also raise considerable conceptual, technical and organizational challenges, as well as scepticism about the current hype around them. This article aims to identify the approaches and technologies that could be implemented robustly by medicinal chemists in the near future and to critically analyse the opportunities and challenges for their more widespread application.