Cationic cyclization of keto-epoxides mediated by zirconium(IV) tetrachloride: diastereoselective synthesis of cis-decalinols

A triple cascade approach towards the diastereoselective synthesis of spiro trans-decalinol scaffolds

A [2+2+2] annulation reaction between cyclohexanone, β-nitrostyrene and 2-arylidene-1,3-indanedione afforded multisubstituted spiro trans-decalinol derivatives in high chemical yields (up to 75%) and excellent diastereoselectivity (up to >20 : 1) at room temperature. This one-pot three-component system follows a triple cascade sequence via the Michael/nitro-Michael/Aldol process, resulting in the formation of three C-C bonds, five contiguous stereocenters as well as a spiro quaternary carbon center.

Neighboring Effect of Intramolecular Chlorine Atoms on Epoxide Opening Reaction by Chloride Anions

We investigated the diastereoselectivity of ring openings for chloro vinyl epoxides with various chlorination reagents. In the chlorinolysis reactions using vinyl epoxides having an allyl alcohol, inversion:retention ratios varied depending on the chloride sources. In limited cases, the increase in retention ratio was consistent with the intervention of chloronium ions. In contrast, all vinyl epoxides bearing an α,β-unsaturated ester gave only the inversion products. These results suggest the electron-withdrawing property suppressed the chloronium ions.

Iron-Catalyzed Synthesis of Tetrahydronaphthalenes via 3,4-Dihydro-2H-pyran Intermediates

The development of an iron(III)-catalyzed synthetic strategy toward functionalized tetrahydronaphthalenes is described. This approach is characterized by its operational simplicity and is distinct from currently available procedures that rely on [4 + 2]-cycloadditions. Our strategy takes advantage of the divergent reactivity observed for simple aryl ketone precursors to gain exclusive access to tetrahydronaphthalene products (23 examples). Detailed mechanistic investigations identified pyrans as reactive intermediates that afford the desired tetrahydronaphthalenes in high yields upon iron(III)-catalyzed Friedel-Crafts alkylation.

Catalytic, enantioselective, intramolecular carbosulfenylation of olefins. Preparative and stereochemical aspects

The first catalytic, enantioselective, intramolecular carbosulfenylation of isolated alkenes with aromatic nucleophiles is described. The combination of N-phenylsulfenylphthalimide, a chiral selenophosphoramide derived from BINAM, and ethanesulfonic acid as a cocatalytic Brønsted acid induced an efficient and selective cyclofunctionalization of various alkenes (aliphatic and aromatic) tethered to a 3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl ring. Under these conditions, 6-phenylthio-5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthalenes are formed diastereospecifically in good yields (50-92%) and high enantioselectivities (71:29-97:3 er). E-Alkenes reacted much more rapidly and with much higher selectivity than Z-alkenes, whereas electron-rich alkenes reacted more rapidly but with comparable selectivity to electron-neutral alkenes and electron-deficient alkenes. The Brønsted acid played a critical role in effecting reproducible enantioselectivity. A model for the origin of enantioselectivity and the dependence of rate and selectivity on alkene structure is proposed along with a rationale for the site selectivity in reactions with monoactivated arene nucleophiles.