Aryl and vinyl cyclopropanes through the in situ generation of B-cyclopropyl-9-BBN and its Suzuki–Miyaura coupling

Metal-catalysed C-C bond formation at cyclopropanes

Cyclopropanes are important substructures in natural products and pharmaceuticals. Although traditional methods for their incorporation rely on cyclopropanation of an existing scaffold, the advent of transition-metal catalysis has enabled installation of functionalized cyclopropanes using cross-coupling reactions. The unique bonding and structural properties of cyclopropane render it more easily functionalized in transition-metal-catalysed cross-couplings than other C(sp³) substrates. The cyclopropane coupling partner can participate in polar cross-coupling reactions either as a nucleophile (organometallic reagents) or as an electrophile (cyclopropyl halides). More recently, single-electron transformations featuring cyclopropyl radicals have emerged. This Review will provide an overview of transition-metal-catalysed C-C bond formation reactions at cyclopropane, covering both traditional and current strategies, and the benefits and limitations of each.

Development of Enantiospecific Coupling of Secondary and Tertiary Boronic Esters with Aromatic Compounds

The stereospecific cross-coupling of secondary boronic esters with sp² electrophiles (Suzuki–Miyaura reaction) is a long-standing problem in synthesis, but progress has been achieved in specific cases using palladium catalysis. However, related couplings with tertiary boronic esters are not currently achievable. To address this general problem, we have focused on an alternative method exploiting the reactivity of a boronate complex formed between an aryl lithium and a boronic ester. We reasoned that subsequent addition of an oxidant or an electrophile would remove an electron from the aromatic ring or react in a Friedel–Crafts-type manner, respectively, generating a cationic species, which would trigger 1,2-migration of the boron substituent, creating the new C–C bond. Elimination (preceded by further oxidation in the former case) would result in rearomatization giving the coupled product stereospecifically. Initial work was examined with 2-furyllithium. Although the oxidants tested were unsuccessful, electrophiles, particularly NBS, enabled the coupling reaction to occur in good yield with a broad range of secondary and tertiary boronic esters, bearing different steric demands and functional groups (esters, azides, nitriles, alcohols, and ethers). The reaction also worked well with other electron-rich heteroaromatics and 6-membered ring aromatics provided they had donor groups in the meta position. Conditions were also found under which the B(pin)- moiety could be retained in the product, ortho to the boron substituent. This protocol, which created a new C(sp²)–C(sp³) and an adjacent C–B bond, was again applicable to a range of secondary and tertiary boronic esters. In all cases, the coupling reaction occurred with complete stereospecificity. Computational studies verified the competing processes involved and were in close agreement with the experimental observations.

Chiral cyclopentadienylruthenium sulfoxide catalysts for asymmetric redox bicycloisomerization

A full account of our efforts toward an asymmetric redox bicycloisomerization reaction is presented in this article. Cyclopentadienylruthenium (CpRu) complexes containing tethered chiral sulfoxides were synthesized via an oxidative [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction between an alkyne and an allylruthenium complex. Sulfoxide complex 1 containing a p-anisole moiety on its sulfoxide proved to be the most efficient and selective catalyst for the asymmetric redox bicycloisomerization of 1,6- and 1,7-enynes. This complex was used to synthesize a broad array of [3.1.0] and [4.1.0] bicycles. Sulfonamide- and phosphoramidate-containing products could be deprotected under reducing conditions. Catalysis performed with enantiomerically enriched propargyl alcohols revealed a matched/mismatched effect that was strongly dependent on the nature of the solvent.

Stereospecific couplings of secondary and tertiary boronic esters

This Minireview highlights advances in the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling of secondary boron reagents for the creation of C-C bonds with control of stereochemistry. It also includes non-transition-metal coupling of secondary and tertiary boronic esters to electron-rich aromatics.

Synthesis and biological activities of 2-functionalized purine nucleosides

Novel purine nucleosides functionalized at the 2-position have been prepared using new applications of synthetic methodology. The target molecules were designed as potential inhibitors (as their monophosphates) of the enzyme, inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH), and representative inhibition data are presented. Antiviral data of the compounds are discussed.