Iridium-catalyzed enantioselective synthesis of (−)- and (+)-aurantioclavine

Electrophilic Aminating Agents in Total Synthesis

Classical amination methods involve the reaction of a nitrogen nucleophile with an electrophilic carbon center; however, in recent years, umpoled strategies have gained traction where the nitrogen source acts as an electrophile. A wide range of electrophilic aminating agents are now available, and these underpin a range of powerful C-N bond-forming processes. In this Review, we highlight the strategic use of electrophilic aminating agents in total synthesis.

Access to Polycyclic Azepino[5,4,3-cd]indoles via a Gold-Catalyzed Post-Ugi Dearomatization Cascade

The development of a rapid and diverse access to complex natural product-like 3,4-fused indole scaffolds has always attracted considerable attention from synthetic and medicinal communities. We herein disclose a modular and straightforward protocol to prepare the densely substituted polycyclic azepino[5,4,3-cd]indole scaffolds. This synthetic process involves an Ugi four-component reaction from easily available starting materials and a gold-catalyzed post-Ugi domino dearomatization/Michael addition sequence, enabling facile access to the highly functionalized azepino[5,4,3-cd]indole core with excellent chemo-, regio-, and diastereoselectivity.

Iridium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Allylic Substitution Reactions

In this review, we summarize the origin and advancements of iridium-catalyzed asymmetric allylic substitution reactions during the past two decades. Since the first report in 1997, Ir-catalyzed asymmetric allylic substitution reactions have attracted intense attention due to their exceptionally high regio- and enantioselectivities. Ir-catalyzed asymmetric allylic substitution reactions have been significantly developed in recent years in many respects, including ligand development, mechanistic understanding, substrate scope, and application in the synthesis of complex functional molecules. In this review, an explicit outline of ligands, mechanism, scope of nucleophiles, and applications is presented.

Non-monoterpenoid azepinoindole alkaloids

This review discusses various biological and chemical aspects of the non-monoterpenoid azepinoindole class of alkaloids, including their isolation, biosynthesis and total synthesis.

Total synthesis of natural productsviairidium catalysis

An overview of the highlights in total synthesis of natural products using iridium as a catalyst is given.

Recent advances on the total synthesis of alkaloids in mainland China

Alkaloids are a large family of natural products that mostly contain basic nitrogen atoms. Because of their intriguing structures and important functions, they have long been popular targets for synthetic organic chemists. China's chemists have made significant progress in the area of alkaloid synthesis over past decades. In this article, selected total syntheses of alkaloids from research groups in mainland China during the period 2011–16 are highlighted.

Total synthesis, biosynthesis and biological profiles of clavine alkaloids

This review highlights noteworthy synthetic and biological aspects of the clavine subfamily of ergot alkaloids. Recent biosynthetic insights have laid the groundwork for a better understanding of the diverse biological pathways leading to these indole derivatives. Ergot alkaloids were among the first fungal-derived natural products identified, inspiring pharmaceutical applications in CNS disorders, migraine, infective diseases, and cancer. Pergolide, for example, is a semi-synthetic clavine alkaloid that has been used to treat Parkinson's disease. Synthetic activities have been particularly valuable to facilitate access to rare members of the Clavine family and empower medicinal chemistry research. Improved molecular target identification tools and a better understanding of signaling pathways can now be deployed to further extend the biological and medical utility of Clavine alkaloids.

A simple, modular synthesis of C4-substituted tryptophan derivatives

A straightforward, rapid, versatile, regio- and chemoselective approach for the synthesis of C4-substituted tryptophan derivatives is reported.