Acetal formation by solvolysis of glucal-derived donor–acceptor cyclopropanes

Lewis acid triggered N-alkylation of sulfoximines through nucleophilic ring-opening of donor-acceptor cyclopropanes: synthesis of γ-sulfoximino malonic diesters

Scandium triflate (Sc(OTf)₃) catalyzed, mild, and regioselective ring-opening reaction of donor-acceptor (D-A) cyclopropanes has been developed using sulfoximines for the synthesis of γ-sulfoximino malonic diesters. This protocol allows the synthesis of different N-alkyl sulfoximines in good to excellent yields (up to 94%) with broad functional group tolerance. In this process, N-H and C-C bonds are cleaved to form new C-N and C-H bonds. The feasibility of this method is supported by a gram-scale reaction and synthetic elaboration of the obtained product.

Strategies for the synthesis of furo-pyranones and their application in the total synthesis of related natural products

The furo-pyranone framework is widely present in the molecular structure of various biologically potent natural products and un-natural small molecules, and it represents a valuable target in synthetic organic chemistry and medicinal chemistry.

Uncovering the Neglected Similarities of Arynes and Donor-Acceptor Cyclopropanes

Arynes and donor-acceptor (D-A) cyclopropanes are two classes of strained systems having the potential for numerous applications in organic synthesis. The last two decades have witnessed a renaissance of interest in the chemistry of these species primarily because of the mild and robust methods for their generation or activation. Commonly, arynes as easily polarizable systems result in 1,2-disubstitution, whereas D-A cyclopropanes as polarized systems lead to 1,3-bisfunctionalization thereby showing striking similarities. Transformations with 1,2- and 1,3-dipoles afford cyclic structures. With arynes, emerging four-membered rings as intermediates might react further, whereas the analogous five-membered rings obtained from D-A cyclopropanes are most often the final products. However, there are a few cases where these intermediates behave surprisingly differently. This Minireview highlights the parallels in reactivity between arynes and D-A cyclopropanes thereby shedding light on the neglected similarities of these two reactive species.

Asymmetric ring-opening of cyclopropyl ketones with β-naphthols catalyzed by a chiral N,N′-dioxide–scandium(iii) complex

An efficient asymmetric ring-opening reaction of cyclopropyl ketones with 2-naphthols has been realized using a chiral N,N′-dioxide–Sc^III complex catalyst. A variety of chiral β-naphthol derivatives were obtained in excellent outcomes (up to 99% yield, 97% ee).

Visible-Light-Induced Acetalization of Aldehydes with Alcohols

In this work, we have achieved a simple and general method for acetalization of aldehydes by means of a photochemical reaction under low-energy visible light irradiation. A broad range of aromatic, heteroaromatic, and aliphatic aldehydes have been protected under neutral conditions in good to excellent yields using a catalytic amount of Eosin Y as the photocatalyst. Our visible light mediated acetalization strategies are successful for more challenging acid-sensitive aldehydes and sterically hindered aldehydes. Notably, this protocol is chemoselective to aldehydes, while ketones remain intact.

Catalytic asymmetric [3 + 3] annulation of cyclopropanes with mercaptoacetaldehyde

A highly diastereo- and enantioselective [3 + 3] annulation of donor–acceptor cyclopropanes with mercaptoacetaldehyde has been developed.

A one-pot septanoside formation and glycosylation of acyclic dithioacetals derived from 1,2-cyclopropanated sugars

A one-pot septanoside formation and glycosylation of acyclic dithioacetals derived from 1,2-cyclopropanated sugars is reported.

Highly regio- and stereoselective one-pot synthesis of carbohydrate-based butyrolactones

The use of manganese(III) acetate allows the direct synthesis of diverse arrays of [4.3.0] bicyclic carbohydrate-based γ-lactone building blocks from glycals. A mechanism to explain the high regio- and stereoselectivity is proposed. The new reaction has the potential to generate libraries for biological screening.

A Powerful New Strategy for Diversity-Oriented Synthesis of Pyrroles from Donor−Acceptor Cyclopropanes and Nitriles

Lewis acid activated donor-acceptor cyclopropanes react with aliphatic, aromatic, and alpha,beta-unsaturated nitriles in a novel cascade [3 + 2] dipolar cycloaddition, dehydration, and tautomerization sequence to afford pyrroles in moderate to excellent overall yield. This cost-effective and regiospecific method is ideally suited for the preparation of combinatorial libraries. [reaction: see text]