Synthesis of bicyclic γ-butyrolactone derivatives by rhodium catalyzed intramolecular C–H insertion of α-dizao α-phosphoryl cycloalkyl esters

Synthesis of α-exo-Methylene-γ-butyrolactones: Recent Developments and Applications in Natural Product Synthesis

The α-exo-methylene-γ-butyrolactone moiety is present in a vast array of structurally diverse natural products and is often central to their biological activity. In this short review, we summarize new approaches to α-exo-methylene-γ-butyrolactones developed over the past decade as well as their applications in total synthesis.

1 Introduction

2 Approaches to α-exo-Methylene-γ-butyrolactones

2.1 Enantioselective Synthesis via Lactonization Approaches

2.2 Enantioselective Halolactonizations

2.3 Enantioselective Barbier-Type Allylation

2.4 C–H Insertion/Olefination Sequences

2.5 Alkene Cyclization

2.6 Strain-Driven Dyotropic Rearrangement

3 β-(Hydroxymethylalkyl)-α-exo-methylene-γ-butyrolactones

4 Applications in Total Synthesis

4.1 Sesquiterpene Lactones

4.2 Lignans

4.3 Other Monocyclic Natural Products

4.4 Choice of Methodology in Recent Total Syntheses

5 Summary and Outlook

Rhodium-catalyzed cyclization of acceptor-substituted biphenyl α-diazoketones: a study of the substitution effect on chemoselectivity

A range of biphenyl α-diazoketones containing different α-electron withdrawing groups exhibits divergent chemoselectivity toward rhodium(ii) catalysis, delivering phenanthrols, benz[α]azulenones, aromatic ketones and/or 1,2-diketones in varying ratios.

α-Alkylidene-γ-butyrolactone Formation via Bi(OTf)3-Catalyzed, Dehydrative, Ring-Opening Cyclizations of Cyclopropyl Carbinols: Understanding Substituent Effects and Predicting E/Z Selectivity

A Bi(OTf)₃-catalyzed ring-opening cyclization of (hetero)aryl cyclopropyl carbinols to form α-alkylidene-γ-butyrolactones (ABLs) is reported. This transformation represents different chemoselectivity from previous reports that demonstrated formation of (hetero)aryl-fused cyclohexa-1,3-dienes upon acid-promoted cyclopropyl carbinol ring opening. ABLs are obtained in up to 89% yield with a general preference for the E-isomers. Mechanistically, Bi(OTf)₃ serves as a stable and easy to handle precursor to TfOH. TfOH then catalyzes the formation of cyclopropyl carbinyl cations, which undergo ring opening, intramolecular trapping by the neighboring ester group, subsequent hydrolysis, and loss of methanol resulting in the formation of the ABLs. The nature and relative positioning of the substituents on both the carbinol and the cyclopropane determine both chemo- and stereoselective outcomes. Carbinol substituents determine the extent of cyclopropyl carbinyl cation formation. The cyclopropane donor substituents determine the overall reaction chemoselectivity. Weakly stabilizing or electron-poor donor groups provide better yields of the ABL products. In contrast, copious amounts of competing products are observed with highly stabilizing cyclopropane donor substituents. Finally, a predictive model for E/Z selectivity was developed using DFT calculations.

Phosphorylated cyclopropanes in the synthesis of α-alkylidene-γ-butyrolactones: total synthesis of (±)-savinin, (±)-gadain and (±)-peperomin E

A novel telescoped cyclopropanation/reductive ring-opening/olefination sequence is reported for the synthesis of α-alkylidene-γ-butyrolactone natural products.