Intramolecular free radical cyclizations using acylsilanes as radicalphiles

Radical-mediated rearrangements: past, present, and future

Rearrangement reactions, one of the most significant transformations in organic chemistry, play an irreplaceable role in improving synthetic efficiency and molecular complexity. Concomitant cleavage and reconstruction of chemical bonds can display the great artistry and the glamour of synthetic chemistry. Over the past century, ionic rearrangement reactions, in particular those involving cationic pathways, have represented most of the research. Alongside the renaissance of radical chemistry, radical-mediated rearrangements have recently seen a rapid increase of attention from the chemical community. Many new radical rearrangements that extensively reveal the migratory behaviour of functional groups have been unveiled in the last decade. This Review provides a comprehensive perspective on the area from the past to present achievements, and brings up the prospects that may inspire colleagues to develop more useful synthetic tools based on radical rearrangements.

Total synthesis studies on macrocyclic pipecolic acid natural products: FK506, the antascomicins and rapamycin

This chapter derives its inspiration from the challenges presented to total synthesis chemists, by a particular group of macrocyclic pipecolic acid natural products. Although there is considerable emphasis on the completed syntheses of the main characters (FK506 (1), the antascomycins (4 and 5) and rapamycin (7)), the overall complexity of the molecular problem has stimulated a wealth of new knowledge, including the development of novel strategies and the invention of new synthetic methods. The ingenious and innovative approaches to these targets have enabled new generations of analogues, and provided material to further probe the biology of these fascinating molecules. With pharmaceutical application as an immunosuppressant, as well as potential use for the treatment of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, this family of natural products continues to inspire new and interesting science while providing solutions to healthcare problems of the world.

Consecutive carbon-carbon bond formation approach in tandem cyclization reactions

The conventional tandem cyclization reactions involve the formation of alternating carbon-carbon bonds, whereas the newly developed cyclization reactions involve the formation of consecutive carbon-carbon bonds, in which N-aziridinylimines have been utilized as geminal radical acceptor and donor equivalents in a single operation. This unprecedented tandem cyclization approach becomes feasible by the successful generation of 5- and 6-membered ring radicals by radical cyclizations of N-aziridinylimines. The same notion can be applied to the anionic cyclizations of N-aziridinylimines, thereby allowing anionic consecutive carbon-carbon bond formation. This approach has great synthetic potential, particularly for the construction of quaternary carbon centers, and it provides highly efficient routes for the synthesis of natural products.

Reductions, Reductive Alkylations, and Intramolecular Cyclizations of Acyl Silanes with Samarium Diiodide or Tributyltin Hydride

A series of acyl silanes including aliphatic-, aromatic-, and bis-acyl silanes, as well as the acyl silanes bearing other substituents such as a bromine atom and alkenyl, succinimide, and carbonyl groups, were prepared, and their reactions with samarium diiodide or tributylstannane were studied. The reactions of acyl silanes occurred in various manners such as reductions, reductive alkylations, intramolecular radical cyclizations, pinacol couplings, aldol reactions, and Tishchenko reactions, depending on the nature of substrates and reaction conditions. Acyl silanes were generally reduced to give the corresponding alpha-silyl alcohols without transfer of silyl groups. Intramolecular radical cyclizations of 5-hexenoyl silanes and 1-silyl-1,5-pentanedione were realized to give alpha-silyl cyclopentanols and 1,2-cyclopentanediol derivatives, respectively. On treatment with samarium diiodide in tetrahydrofuran, 1-(trimethylsilyl)-1,6-hexanedione underwent a pinacol coupling reaction in the presence of t-BuOH, whereas it underwent a Tishchenko reaction in the presence of MeOH. The Tishchenko reaction of 1-silyl-1,5-pentanedione gave a delta-silyl-delta-lactone. On treating with samarium diiodide, 1-(trimethylsilyl)-1,5-hexanedione and 1,5-bis(trimethylsilyl)-1,6-hexanedione, underwent, respectively, intramolecular aldol reactions.