Furans as versatile synthons for target-oriented and diversity-oriented synthesis

Regio- and Stereoselective Synthesis of Functionalized Dihydropyridines, Pyridines, and 2H-Pyrans: Heck Coupling of Monocyclopropanated Heterocycles

A palladium-catalyzed coupling between aryl halides and monocyclopropanated pyrroles or furans has been developed, leading to valuable six-membered N- and O-heterocycles. As the key step, a selective cleavage of the non-activated endocyclic C-C bond of the 2-heterobicyclo-[3.1.0]hexane framework is achieved. The developed method offers access to highly functionalized piperidines, pyridines, and pyrans that are challenging to access by traditional methods.

Chiral phosphoric acid-catalyzed asymmetric C(sp3)–H functionalization of biomass-derived 2,5-dimethylfuran via two sequential Cope-type rearrangements

The first organocatalytic asymmetric C(sp³)–H functionalization of biomass-derived 2,5-dimethylfuran with alcohols to afford enantioenriched furan-derived 3,3′-disubstituted oxindoles in high enantioselectivity.

Electrochemical strategies for C-H functionalization and C-N bond formation

Conventional methods for carrying out carbon-hydrogen functionalization and carbon-nitrogen bond formation are typically conducted at elevated temperatures, and rely on expensive catalysts as well as the use of stoichiometric, and perhaps toxic, oxidants. In this regard, electrochemical synthesis has recently been recognized as a sustainable and scalable strategy for the construction of challenging carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bonds. Here, electrosynthesis has proven to be an environmentally benign, highly effective and versatile platform for achieving a wide range of nonclassical bond disconnections via generation of radical intermediates under mild reaction conditions. This review provides an overview on the use of anodic electrochemical methods for expediting the development of carbon-hydrogen functionalization and carbon-nitrogen bond formation strategies. Emphasis is placed on methodology development and mechanistic insight and aims to provide inspiration for future synthetic applications in the field of electrosynthesis.

A distinctive transformation based diversity oriented synthesis of small ring carbocycles and heterocycles from biocatalytically derived enantiopure α-substituted-β-hydroxyesters

A series of structurally novel small ring carbocyclic and heterocyclic molecules were accessed in an enantiopure fashion.

Enantioselective carbonyl allylation, crotylation, and tert-prenylation of furan methanols and furfurals via iridium-catalyzed transfer hydrogenation

5-Substituted-2-furan methanols 1a-c are subject to enantioselective carbonyl allylation, crotylation and tert-prenylation upon exposure to allyl acetate, alpha-methyl allyl acetate, or 1,1-dimethylallene in the presence of an ortho-cyclometalated iridium catalyst modified by (R)-Cl,MeO-BIPHEP, (R)-C3-TUNEPHOS, and (R)-C3-SEGPHOS, respectively. In the presence of 2-propanol, but under otherwise identical conditions, the corresponding substituted furfurals 2a-c are converted to identical products of allylation, crotylation, and tert-prenylation. Optically enriched products of carbonyl allylation, crotylation, and reverse prenylation 3b, 4b, and 5b were subjected to Achmatowicz rearrangement to furnish the corresponding gamma-hydroxy-beta-pyrones 6a-c, respectively, with negligible erosion of enantiomeric excess.