Ether-directed palladium(II)-catalysed aza-Claisen rearrangements: studies on the origin of the directing effect

Synthesis of enantioenriched α-heteroatom functionalised aldehydes by chiral organocatalysis and their synthetic applications

Asymmetric organocatalysis is a versatile method for the enantioselective α-functionalisation of aldehydes. The synthetic scope for chiral α-heteroatom substituted aldehydes is examined including their applications in synthesis.

Sulfinyl-Mediated Stereoselective Overman Rearrangements and Diels-Alder Cycloadditions

Sulfinyl trichloroacetamides are readily obtained in excellent yields through a highly stereoselective Overman rearrangement. Related bis-allylic substrates lead to amido 2-sulfinyl butadiene derivatives in excellent yields, with total chemo- and diastereoselectivity. These amido dienyl sulfoxides undergo highly selective Diels-Alder cycloadditions with N-phenylmaleimide with remarkable stereocontrol by the sulfoxide moiety.

Preparation of anti-vicinal amino alcohols: asymmetric synthesis of D-erythro-sphinganine, (+)-spisulosine, and D-ribo-phytosphingosine

Two variations of the Overman rearrangement have been developed for the highly selective synthesis of anti-vicinal amino alcohol natural products. A MOM ether-directed palladium(II)-catalyzed rearrangement of an allylic trichloroacetimidate was used as the key step for the preparation of the protein kinase C inhibitor D-erythro-sphinganine and the antitumor agent (+)-spisulosine, whereas the Overman rearrangement of chiral allylic trichloroacetimidates generated by the asymmetric reduction of an α,β-unsaturated methyl ketone allowed rapid access both to D-ribo-phytosphingosine and L-arabino-phytosphingosine.

Ether-Directed, Stereoselective Aza-Claisen Rearrangements: Synthesis of the Piperidine Alkaloid, α-Conhydrine

[reaction: see text] A new approach for the stereoselective synthesis of the piperidine alkaloid (+)-alpha-conhydrine and its pyrrolidine derivative has been developed using a palladium(II)-catalyzed, MOM-ether-directed aza-Claisen rearrangement and ring-closing metathesis to effect the key steps.