Knoevenagel Adducts as Trimethylenemethane Dipole Surrogates

Catalytic Asymmetric Cyanoalkylation of Electron-Deficient Olefins with Potassium Cyanide and Alkyl Halides

The stereoselective cyanoalkylation of electron-deficient olefins with potassium cyanide and alkyl halides was developed based on the utilization of modular chiral 1,2,3-triazolium salts featuring a hydrogen bond-donor ability as catalysts. The reaction involving multiple carbon-carbon bond formations proceeds via the enantioselective conjugate addition of a cyanide ion and the consecutive catalyst-controlled diastereoselective alkylation of intermediary chiral triazolium enolates. Control experiments revealed that the use of a properly tuned chiral triazolium ion as a catalyst and the presence of the cyano functionality in the intermediary enolate are of crucial importance for achieving high levels of acyclic absolute and relative stereocontrol.

Function-Oriented and Modular (+/-)-cis-Pseudoguaianolide Synthesis: Discovery of New Nrf2 Activators and NF-κB Inhibitors

Described herein is a function-oriented synthesis route and biological evaluation of pseudoguaianolide analogues. The 10-step synthetic route developed retains the topological complexity of the natural product, installs functional handles for late-stage diversification, and forges the key bioactive Michael acceptors early in the synthesis. The analogues were found to be low-micromolar Nrf2 activators and micromolar NF-κB inhibitors and dependent on the local environment of the Michael acceptor moieties.

Selective ring-rearrangement or ring-closing metathesis of bicyclo[3.2.1]octenes

Explored was the competitive ring-closing metathesis vs. ring-rearrangement metathesis of bicyclo[3.2.1]octenes prepared by a simple and convergent synthesis from bicyclic alkylidenemalono-nitriles and allylic electrophiles. It was uncovered that ring-closing metathesis occurs exclusively on the tetraene-variant, yielding unique, stereochemically and functionally rich polycyclic bridged frameworks, whereas the reduced version (a triene) undergoes ring-rearrangement metathesis to 5-6-5 fused ring systems resembling the isoryanodane core.

Formation of Zn-Zn and Zn-Pd Bonded Complexes by Reactions of Terminal Zinc Hydrides with Pd(II) Species

Divalent palladium-induced homocoupling of terminal zinc hydrides to zinc-zinc bonded complexes was achieved herein. Reactions of zinc hydrides [LZnH] (L = CH₃C(2,6-ⁱPr₂C₆H₃N)CHC(CH₃)(N(CH₂)_nCH₂PPh₂); 1a: n = 1; 1b: n = 2) with 0.5 equiv of allyl(cyclopentadienyl)palladium(II) afforded heterotrinuclear [Zn₂Pd] complexes 3 containing direct Zn-Zn and Zn-Pd bonds, with concomitant elimination of propylene and cyclopentadiene. Complexes 3 were also accessed by the reactions of zinc hydrides 1 with allylpalladium(II) chloride with release of propylene and hydrogen chloride. Treatment of zinc hydrides 1 with 1 equiv of allyl(cyclopentadienyl)palladium(II) gave Zn-Pd bonded complex 5 by elimination of propylene, which can be transformed into heterotrinuclear complex 3 by further reaction with one additional molar equivalent of zinc hydrides. Heterobimetallic Zn-Pd complex 5b was found to be an effective catalyst in the hydrosilylation of benzaldehyde and its derivatives. Reaction of 5b with silane reagent Ph₂SiH₂ produced [Pd₂Si₂H₂] complex 8 with cleavage of the Pd-Zn bond, which served as an initiating species in the catalytic reaction. Complexes 4b, 5, and 8 in this study were characterized by X-ray diffraction.

Promoting Thermodynamically Unfavorable [3,3] Rearrangements by Chemoselective Reduction

Herein described is a strategy for promoting thermodynamically unfavorable [3,3] Cope rearrangements. 3,3-Dicyano-1,5-dienes that are resistant to the thermal rearrangement can be promoted under reductive conditions. The reduced Cope products are versatile, bifunctional building blocks.

Transient [3,3] Cope rearrangement of 3,3-dicyano-1,5-dienes: computational analysis and 2-step synthesis of arylcycloheptanes

A simple and modular route to arylcycloheptene scaffolds is reported. The two-step route from Knoevenagel adducts and allylic electrophiles is made possible through the design of a Cope rearrangement that utilizes a "traceless" activating group to promote an otherwise thermodynamically unfavorable transformation. Experimentally, the [3,3] rearrangement occurrs transiently at room temperature with a computed barrier of 19.5 kcal mol-1, which ultimately allows for three-component bis-allylation. Ring-closing metathesis delivers the arylcycloheptane and removes the activating group. This report describes the design and optimization of the methodology, scope and mechanistic studies, and computational analysis.

Factors Governing and Application of the Cope Rearrangement of 3,3-Dicyano-1,5-dienes and Related Studies

Cope and co-workers reported the [3,3] rearrangement of 3,3-dicyano-1,5-dienes in the early 1940s ("The Cope rearrangement"). However, these original substrates have remained largely unstudied until recently. Herein we explore styrene-deconjugating Cope rearrangements, a diastereoselective Cope rearrangement/deconjugative α-allylation sequence, and factors governing α- vs γ-allylation regioselectivity of Knoevenagel adduct allyl anions. Ultimately, these studies result in the synthesis of diverse and functionally dense polycycloalkane frameworks from abundant reagents using simple chemistry.

Deconjugative alkylation/Heck reaction as a simple platform for dihydronaphthalene synthesis

A simple platform for carbocycle synthesis by Knoevenagel adduct deconjugative alkylation/“pairing” reaction is described.