Rearrangements of α-Diazo-β-hydroxyketones for the Synthesis of Bicyclo[m.n.1]alkanones

A micelle-mediated approach enables facile access to bridged oxabicyclo[n.3.1]alkene scaffolds

Oxabicyclo[n.3.1]alkene scaffolds present in a diverse range of complex natural products have been accessed by reacting 2-cycloalkenones with 1,3-cycloalkadiones in a micellar medium. This reaction occurring in a micellar confinement environment operates through a Michael addition/enolization/oxygen addition cascade to furnish highly functionalized constructs using a sustainable organic synthesis protocol. NMR analysis confirms that the locus of the solubilizates is within the palisade and stern regions of the micellar cavity.

Preparation and Synthetic Applications of Five-to-Seven-Membered Cyclic α-Diazo Monocarbonyl Compounds

The reactivity of cyclic α-diazo monocarbonyl compounds differs from that of their acyclic counterparts. In this review, we summarize the current literature available on the synthesis and synthetic applications of three major classes of cyclic α-diazo monocarbonyl compounds: α-diazo ketones, α-diazo lactones and α-diazo lactams.

Copper-Catalyzed Asymmetric Synthesis of Bicyclo[3.n.1]alkenones

A series of highly strained bicyclo[3.n.1]alkenones have been successfully constructed in good-to-excellent enantioselectivities and moderate-to-good yields via copper-catalyzed formal [3+3] cycloaddition. The versatile chiral cycloadducts could be selectively converted into various valuable bridge systems, which hold considerable potential for the construction of natural and bioactive compounds containing a [3.n.1] moiety.

Synthetic applications of type II intramolecular cycloadditions

Type II intramolecular cycloadditions ([4+2], [4+3], [4+4] and [5+2]) have emerged recently as an efficient and powerful strategy for the construction of bridged ring systems. In general, type II cycloadditions provide access to a wide range of bridged bicyclo[m.n.1] ring systems with high regio- and diastereoselectivity in an easy and straightforward manner. In each section of this review, an overview of the corresponding type II cycloadditions is presented, which is followed by highlights of method development and synthetic applications in natural product synthesis. The goal of this review is to provide a survey of recent advances in the field covering literature up to 2020. The review will serve as a useful reference for organic chemists engaged in the total synthesis of natural products containing bridged bicyclo[m.n.1] ring systems and provide strong stimulus for invention and further advances in this exciting research field.

Total Synthesis of Natural Products with Bridged Bicyclo[m.n.1] Ring Systems via Type II [5 + 2] Cycloaddition

Natural products containing bridged ring systems are widely identified and show significant biological activity. The development of efficient synthesis reactions and strategies to construct bridged ring systems is a long-standing but very significant challenge in organic chemistry. In 2014, our group developed a unique type II [5 + 2] cycloaddition reaction that provides a facile and direct methodology for constructing highly functionalized bridged bicyclo[4.3.1], bicyclo[4.4.1], bicyclo[5.4.1], bicyclo[6.4.1], and other bicyclo[m.n.1] systems containing a strained bridgehead double bond. In this Account, we summarize the methodology development and report the results of application of our unique strategy for the total synthesis of several natural products with bridged ring systems (i.e., cyclocitrinol, cerorubenic acid-III, and vinigrol) during the past 5 years in our laboratory. In the first part, we introduce the logic behind the design and discovery of type II [5 + 2] cycloadditions. The substrates can be easily synthesized by a modular approach, followed by base-promoted group elimination under heat to form an oxidopyrylium ylide, which can undergo cycloaddition under relatively mild conditions with a variety of double bonds to generate bridged bicyclo[m.n.1] frameworks in high yield. The diastereocontrol and unique endo selectivity of this methodology are favorable for further application to the synthesis of complex natural products. In the second part, we highlight our endeavors in the total synthesis of several different types of molecules bearing bridged ring systems using our methodology. The bridged bicyclo[4.4.1] system is the core structure of two different types of natural products, cyclocitrinol and cerorubenic acid-III, that can be efficiently constructed by type II [5 + 2] cycloadditions. The development of suitable strategies and methods for site-selective cleavage of the C-O bond of the oxa-[3.2.1] ring system in the products of type II [5 + 2] cycloadditions is also discussed and highlighted during the syntheses. Moreover, the bridged bicyclo[5.3.1] system is the core structure of vinigrol, which can be constructed through a novel ring contraction sequence of the bicyclo[5.4.1] system formed by a type II [5 + 2] cycloaddition. By combining with a ring contraction cascade, we believe that type II [5 + 2] cycloadditions have the potential to be used as a unified approach to constructing natural products containing bridged bicyclo[m.n.1] frameworks.

Synthesis of cis-hydrindan-2,4-diones bearing an all-carbon quaternary center by a Danheiser annulation

A straightforward synthetic entry to functionalized hydrindane compounds based on a rapid assembly of the core nucleus by a Danheiser cycloaddition is reported. Valuable bicyclic building blocks containing the fused five and six-membered carbocyclic ring system can be achieved in only four steps from a simple acyclic β-keto ester.

An Approach to the Welwistatin Core via a Diazoketone Rearrangement-Ring Expansion Strategy

The rhodium-catalyzed decomposition of fused bicyclic α-diazo-β-hydroxyketone 16 and rearrangement to 17 is featured in an approach to the bridged bicyclic core of welwistatin. The bicyclic [4.3.1] core of 25 is furnished from a subsequent cyclopropanation to generate 23, followed by its ring expansion.