Yb(OTf)3-Catalyzed Alkyne–Carbonyl Metathesis–Oxa-Michael Addition Relay for Diastereoselective Synthesis of Functionalized Naphtho[2,1-b]furans

Multicomponent Synthesis of 3(2H)-Furanones Initiated by Copper(II)-Catalyzed Alkyne-Carbonyl Cross Metathesis

The cooperative Lewis and Brønsted acid catalysis makes convergent synthesis of 3(2H)-furanones through a three-component coupling of 1,3-diynes, alkyl glyoxylates and water. Control experiments support that Lewis acid-catalyzed highly chemo-, regio- and stereoselective alkyne-carbonyl metathesis of 1,3-diynes and alkyl glyoxylates might be the initial step of this multicomponent annulation. Further chemo- and regioselective hydration of the alkyne-carbonyl metathesis product and subsequent oxa-Michael addition promoted by Brønsted acid results in the formation of two C-O bonds of the five-membered oxygen heterocycle.

Zinc-Catalyzed Cyclization of Alkynyl Derivatives: Substrate Scope and Mechanistic Insights

Novel alkyl zinc complexes supported by acetamidate/thioacetamidate heteroscorpionate ligands have been successfully synthesized and characterized. These complexes exhibited different coordination modes depending on the electronic and steric effects of the acetamidate/thioacetamidate moiety. Their catalytic activity has been tested toward the hydroelementation reactions of alkynyl alcohol/acid substrates, affording the corresponding enol ether/unsaturated lactone products under mild reaction conditions. Kinetic studies have been performed and confirmed that reactions are first-order in [catalyst] and zero-order in [alkynyl substrate]. DFT calculations supported a reaction mechanism through the formation of the catalytically active species, an alkoxide-zinc intermediate, by a protonolysis reaction of the Zn-alkyl bond with the alcohol group of the substrate. Based on the experimental and theoretical results, a catalytic cycle has been proposed.

Ru- and Co-Catalyzed Intermolecular Carbonyl-Alkyne Metathesis Reactions of 1H-Indene-1,2,3-triones with Internal Alkynes

The catalyst-dependent intermolecular carbonyl-alkyne metathesis (CAM) reaction of 1H-indene-1,2,3-triones with internal alkynes was realized using Ru and Co catalysts. 2-(2-Oxo-1,2-diphenylethylidene)-1H-indene-1,3(2H)-dione derivatives were obtained using a Ru catalyst, whereas S-alkyl 2-(1,3-dioxo-1,3-dihydro-2H-inden-2-ylidene)-2-phenylethanethioates were prepared using a Co catalyst. These transformations led to the synthesis of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds with a broad substrate scope, excellent regiocontrol, and gram-scale amenability. This catalytic strategy using a Co or Ru catalyst has rarely been described for other established CAM catalysts.

Gold(I)-Catalyzed Ring-Closing Alkyne-Carbonyl Metathesis for the Synthesis of Butenolides

Alkyne-carbonyl metathesis is a type of carbon-carbon forming reaction involving the construction a carbon-carbon double bond and a carbonyl group in one transformation. Herein, a Au(I)-catalyzed ring-closing alkyne-carbonyl metathesis protocol has been developed to make densely substituted γ-butenolides from propargyl α-ketoesters. It features 100 % atom economy, excellent substrate flexibility and benign functional group tolerance. Mechanistic studies demonstrate that the coordinative interaction between the gold catalyst and the alkyne might initiate the transfer of an oxygen atom and the formation of the carbon-carbon double bond. By using this gold-catalyzed ring-closing alkyne-carbonyl metathesis as a key step reaction, four naturally occurring butenolide-type compounds including decumbic acid (45 % yield for 3 steps), deoxyisosporothric acid (32 % yield for 5 steps), lichesterinic acid (34 % yield for 5 steps) and isomuronic acid (6 % yield for 8 steps) have been synthesized starting from commercially available starting materials.

Copper (I) Chloride-Catalyzed Photoredox Synthesis of Multifunctionalized Compounds at Room Temperature and Their Antifungal Activities

A simple visible-light-induced CuCl-catalyzed synthesis was developed for highly functionalized carbon-centered compounds (α-alk/aryloxy-α-diaryl/alkylaryl-acetaldehydes/ketones) at room temperature using benzoquinone, alkyl/aryl alcohol, and alkyl/aryl terminal/internal alkynes. Late-stage functionalized compounds show good antifungal activities, especially against Candida krusei fungal strain, in in vitro experiments (the Broth microdilution method). Moreover, toxicity tests (zebrafish egg model experiments) indicated that these compounds had negligible cytotoxicity. The green chemistry metrics (E-factor value is 7.3) and eco-scale (eco-scale value is 58.8) evaluations show that the method is simple, mild, highly efficient, eco-friendly, and environmentally feasible.

Construction of 4-Acyl-2-quinolones through Sc(OTf)3-Catalyzed Ring-Closing Alkyne-Carbonyl Metathesis

An atom-economical protocol to construct densely substituted 4-acyl-2-quinolones from N-(2-alkynylphenyl)-α-ketoamides has been developed through Sc(OTf)₃-catalyzed ring-closing alkyne-carbonyl metathesis. Mechanistic experimental studies support that coordinative interaction between Sc(OTf))₃ and the substrate, the formation of an oxetene intermediate, and an electrocyclic ring-opening of the oxetene might be involved.

Synthesis of imidazo[1,2-a]benzoazepines by alkyne-carbonyl-metathesis

Imidazo[1,2-a]benzoazepines were prepared in good yields by combination of Pd catalyzed cross coupling reactions with alkyne-carbonyl metathesis (ACM).

Synthesis of aryl-fused 1,4-oxathiepines from pyridinium 1,4-zwitterionic thiolates and vinylidene ortho-quinone methides

Synthesis of aryl-fused 1,4-oxathiepines from pyridinium 1,4-zwitterionic thiolates with vinylidene ortho-quinone methides generated in situ via a formal (3 + 4) pathway.

Iron-catalyzed alkyne-carbonyl metathesis for the synthesis of 6,7-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[c,e]azonines

The synthesis of nine-membered rings via alkyne-carbonyl metathesis is reported. The alkyne and acetal units contained in a biaryl substrate undergo the intramolecular alkyne-carbonyl metathesis reaction under FeCl₃-catalysis to furnish the unexplored 6,7-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[c,e]azonines. The method provides an alternative to existing routes to nine-membered rings with cheap, non-toxic iron catalysts and milder conditions.

Synthesis of Dibenzotropones by Alkyne-Carbonyl Metathesis

Dibenzocycloheptanones (dibenzotropones) were prepared by Brønsted acid mediated intramolecular alkyne-carbonyl metathesis (ACM) reactions. The cyclization precursors are readily available by Sonogashira reaction of 2-bromobenzoyl chloride with terminal alkynes, followed by Suzuki reactions with benzaldehydes. The ACM reactions are highly modular and atom economic and allow for the construction of two regioisomeric series of dibenzotropones.

Visible Light-Mediated In Situ Generation of δ,δ-Disubstituted p-Quinone Methides: Construction of a Sterically Congested Quaternary Stereocenter

An unprecedented visible light-assisted and zinc triflate-catalyzed construction of a diaryl-substituted quaternary stereocenter is reported. 2-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)-substituted aldehydes and ketones have been prepared in moderate to high yields via multicomponent reaction of acetylene, benzoquinone (BQ), and indole/aniline/thiol. The reaction is believed to proceed via in situ generation of p-quinone methide through a [2+2] cycloaddition-retroelectrocyclization of BQ and acetylene in blue light followed by a zinc triflate-catalyzed vinylogous Michael addition reaction with nucleophiles.

Diastereoselective Synthesis of 1,2-Dihydrobenzofuro[3,2-b]pyridines via a Carbon-Carbon Double-Bond Cleavage/Rearrangement Cascade

A new Lewis acid-catalyzed [2 + 2] cycloaddition/retroelectrocyclization (CA-RE)/1,6-addition relay of aurone-derived 1-azadienes and 1-alkynylnaphthalen-2-ols has been reported, leading to the regio- and diastereoselective synthesis of 1,2-dihydrobenzofuro[3,2-b]pyridine with a chiral carbon center and an axial chirality in good yields. This protocol enables the C-C double-bond scission/recombination to rapidly construct aza-heterocyclic architectures and features 100% atom utilization, a wide substrate scope, good compatibility with substituents, and excellent diastereoselectivity.

Gold-Catalyzed Tandem Annulations of Pyridylhomopropargylic Alcohols with Propargyl Alcohols

A gold-catalyzed tandem annulation of propargylic alcohols and pyridylhomopropargylic alcohols is achieved, providing an atom-economical approach to a diverse set of polycyclic dihydrobenzofurans in good yields. The reaction proceeds via the 5-endo-dig cyclization/Meyer-Schuster rearrangement/Friedel-Crafts-type pathway. In this way, three C-C bonds and one C-O bond form to give a polycyclic skeleton in a one-pot process. Moreover, the products exhibit unique optical properties, which reveal their potential application value.

The oxa-Michael reaction in the synthesis of 5- and 6-membered oxygen-containing heterocycles

In this review, we provide an updated account on the recent advances and applications of oxa-Michael reaction in the synthesis 5- and 6-membered monocyclic oxygen-containing heterocyclic compounds published in the literature since 2013 to date.

Synthesis of C3-alkylated benzofurans via palladium-catalyzed regiocontrolled hydro-furanization of unactivated alkenes

A new chelation-controlled hydrofuranization of unactivated olefins with α-alkynyl arylols is reported for the first time, and used to produce a wide range of C₃-alkylated benzofurans with generally good yields under mild conditions.

Synthesis of polycyclic indoles via organocatalytic bicyclization of α-alkynylnaphthalen-2-ols with nitrones

A new organocatalytic bicyclization of α-alkynylnaphthalen-2-ols with nitrones was first reported, leading to the convergent synthesis of polycyclic indoles with substantial substitution diversity in generally good yields through scission of the N-O bond of nitrones via [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement. This transformation showcases the use of a quinine catalyst in a complicated cascade system that has been shown to effectively construct polycyclic heterocycles via alkyne difunctionalization.