Acid catalyzed ring closure reactions of electrophilic alkenes

Iodine-Catalyzed Synthesis of Substituted Furans and Pyrans: Reaction Scope and Mechanistic Insights

Substituted pyrans and furans are core structures found in a wide variety of natural products and biologically active compounds. Herein, we report a practical and mild catalytic method for the synthesis of substituted pyrans and furans using molecular iodine, a simple and inexpensive catalyst. The method described is performed under solvent-free conditions at an ambient temperature and atmosphere, thus offering a facile and practical alternative to currently available reaction protocols. A combination of experimental studies and density functional theory calculations revealed interesting mechanistic insights into this seemingly simple reaction.

Retrosynthetic Analysis of α-Alkenyl-β-Diketones: Regio- and Stereoselective Two-Step Synthesis of Highly Arylated Representatives from Acetylenes, Ketones, and Acyl Chlorides

Highly arylated α-alkenyl-β-diketones are synthesized via a two-step sequence consisting of (i) potassium tert-butoxide/DMSO-catalyzed (E)-stereoselective C-H functionalization of ketones with acetylenes followed by (ii) magnesium bromide etherate/DIPEA-soft enolization of the formed β,γ-unsaturated ketones and regioselective acylation with acyl chlorides. The method is compatible with a broad range of substrates and shown to be applicable as an intermediate stage in the construction of polyarylated heterocycles.

Domino construction of a bullataketal core via double bond cleavage in activated dihydrofurans

A new rapid approach to structurally challenging and biologically relevant methanobenzodioxepines was developed via a Brønsted acid-triggered domino transformation of 3-carbonyl-4,5-dihydrofurans, substituted with MOM-protected o-hydroxyaryls at the C4 atom.

Sc(OTf)3-catalyzed cyclization of α-allylated 1,3-dicarbonyls: an efficient access to 2,2-disubstituted 2,3-dihydrofuran derivatives

A Sc(OTf)₃-catalyzed cyclization of α-allylated 1,3-dicarbonyls is reported. By the reaction, a variety of 2,2-disubstituted 2,3-dihydrofurans were obtained in good yields.

Synthesis of β- and β,β-substituted Morita–Baylis–Hillman adducts using a two-step protocol

The synthesis of a large number of β- and β,β-substituted keto esters was successful by the use of the Knoevenagel condensation reaction. The stereoselectivity of these reactions was improved by alteration of various substituent groups. Although there were few examples of complete Z selectivity, the use of tert-butyl acetoacetate with either aromatic or aliphatic aldehydes afforded Z selectivity. The selective reductions of these substituted keto esters was successfully achieved by using a combination of NaBH4 and CeCl3·7H2O or Yb(OTf)3, which allowed a facile synthesis of a large number of stereochemically pure substituted Morita–Baylis–Hillman adducts, including β,β-substituted adducts.

Mechanistic and synthetic aspects of the reaction of gamma-halogeno-alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones and esters with simple trialkyl phosphites

Phosphorylation of different gamma-halogeno-alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones, ketoesters and diesters 11a-h with simple trialkyl phosphites gives 1,3-dienylphosphates 14, cyclopropylphosphonates 15, ketovinylphosphonates 17 and other products depending on the nature and number of activating groups and halogen atoms in the substrate. Most likely the reaction proceeds via oxaphospholene 23 which is in equilibrium with pseudorotamer 24 and an open, dipolar form 22. Dipolar form 33 is a likely intermediate when two activating groups are present.