Co- and homocyclotrimerization reactions of protected 1-alkynyl-2-deoxyribofuranose. Synthesis of C-nucleosides, C-di- and C-trisaccharide analogues

Cross-metathesis reaction of α- and β-vinyl C-glycosides with alkenes

Cross-metathesis of α- and β-vinyl C-deoxyribosides and α-vinyl C-galactoside with various terminal alkenes under different conditions was studied. The cross-metathesis of the former proceeded with good yields of the corresponding products in ClCH2CH2Cl the latter required the presence of CuI in CH2Cl2 to achieve good yields of the products. A simple method for the preparation of α- and β-vinyl C-deoxyribosides was also developed. In addition, feasibility of deprotection and further transformations were briefly explored.

Alpha (α-) and beta (β-carboranyl-C-deoxyribosides: syntheses, structures and biological evaluation

The syntheses of the unprotected neutral closo-carboranyl-C-deoxyriboses, starting from anomeric mixture of 1-ethynyldeoxyriboses, and their corresponding open-cage nido-derivatives have been described. The structures of both the α- and β-anomers were confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. While limited water solubility of the neutral closo-anomers led to high cytotoxicity, their cesium salts (nido-species) exhibited higher water solubility leading to lower cytotoxicity. However, in vitro boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) investigation using the murine squamous cell carcinoma (SCCVII) cell lines showed that there are no significant differences between the survival fractions of the two species.

Synthesis of aromatic compounds by catalytic C-C bond activation of biphenylene or angular [3]phenylene

Substituted phenanthrenes and picenes were easily prepared by reaction of biphenylene or angular [3]phenylene with various alkynes in the presence of a catalytic amount of [IrCl(cod)](2) /dppe (cod=1,5-cyclooctadiene, dppe=1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane). The reaction is based on C-C bond activation of the cyclobutane ring. The reaction tolerates the presence of bulky groups on the alkyne, such as the ferrocene moiety. In addition, a catalytic system based on [RhCl(cod)](2)/dppe enabled the, hitherto unreported, reaction of biphenylene with nitriles to provide phenanthridines.

Microwave-assisted syntheses of nucleosides and their precursors

In recent decades, nucleosides analogs have been the cornerstone in the treatment of various diseases, such as AIDS, herpes and hepatitis. More than 40 modified nucleosides are officially approved by the US FDA and represent the major compound class for inhibition of viral replication. By comparison with traditional conditions, microwave irradiation offers a powerful tool that can increase yields and decrease reaction time, with simple manipulation and an environmentally friendly way. Here, we report the latest progress in nucleoside synthesis using microwave irradiation.

Ene-yne cross-metathesis with ruthenium carbene catalysts

Conjugated 1,3-dienes are important building blocks in organic and polymer chemistry. Enyne metathesis is a powerful catalytic reaction to access such structural domains. Recent advances and developments in ene–yne cross-metathesis (EYCM) leading to various compounds of interest and their intermediates, that can directly be transformed in tandem procedures, are reviewed in this article. In addition, the use of bio-resourced olefinic substrates is presented.

Intramolecular rhodium-catalyzed [2+2+2] cyclizations of diynes with enones

The Rh(I)-catalyzed inter- and intramolecular [2+2+2] cyclization of diynes with alpha,beta-unsaturated enones proceeds with microwave promotion in good yields. This chemistry was applied to the synthesis of (-)-alcyopterosin I.

The quest for alternative routes to racemic and nonracemic azahelicene derivatives

A series of diverse aromatic azadienetriyne and azatriynes was synthesised. These compounds were subjected to transition metal-mediated [2+2+2] cycloisomerisation to form pentacyclic or hexacyclic helically chiral azahelicene or azahelicene-like structures mostly in moderate yields. Introducing stereogenic centre(s) into selected azatriynes, cyclisation proceeded in a stereoselective fashion providing aza[5]helicenes or aza[6]helicene-like compounds in up to a 100:0 diastereomeric ratio. Gibbs energy differences between corresponding pairs of diastereomers (calculated at the DFT(B3LYP)/TZV+P level) were in good agreement with the experimental data and allowed for the prediction of the stereochemical outcome of the reaction. This study presents for the first time asymmetric synthesis of azahelicene derivatives in high optical purities.