One-Pot Reductive Alkylation of 2,4-Dihydroxy Quinolines and Pyridines

Rhodium-Catalyzed Difunctionalization of Alkenes Using Cyclic 1,3-Dicarbonyl-Derived Iodonium Ylides

Herein, we introduce an iodonium ylide strategy to achieve novel α-alkylation of cyclic 1,3-dicarbonyls through harnessing C(sp3)-Rh species generated from 5-exo-trig cyclization to provide rapid access to molecular hybridization of medically important isoindolin-1-ones and cyclic 1,3-dicarbonyls from readily available substrates. This approach features mild conditions, good yield, excellent functional group tolerance, and the simultaneous formation of two new chemical bonds and one stereogenic center. Moreover, the hydroxyl group of resulting product provides a good handle for downstream transformations. Importantly, we also demonstrate this strategy can be achieved in a one-pot manner. A C(sp3)-Rh complex was prepared and proved to be the key intermediate.

Two-step, high-yielding total synthesis of antibiotic pyrones

A simple two-step dialkylation protocol was developed to synthesize biologically active antibiotics photopyrones, pseudopyronines, and violapyrones from bio-renewable triacetate lactone in excellent yields. These pyrones are functionally modified into another set of pyrone natural products by a single O-methylation reaction. The high-yielding gram scale synthesis of four natural products [pseudopyronine A, photopyrone A, pseudopyronine B and photopyrone C] demonstrated the viability for industrial applications.