A Rh(I)-catalyzed cycloisomerization of homo- and bis-homopropargylic alcohols

Rhodium-catalyzed intramolecular cyclization for synthesizing thiodihydropyrans

Addressing the challenge of constructing multi-substituted dihydropyrans, we present an efficient synthesis method for oxygen-containing heterocycles. Using thiones and metal carbenes, we employed xanthate and triazole to intramolecularly synthesize dihydropyran or dihydrofuran compounds. 1,2-Hydride migration was inhibited, and thiodihydropyrans were obtained in excellent yields. A mechanism proceeding through a Rh-carbene intermediate is proposed for the multi-substituted dihydropyrans synthesis.

Synthetic Study toward Saccharomicin Based upon Asymmetric Metal Catalysis

Here, we report a de novo metal-catalyzed approach toward the stereoselective glycosidic bond formation in saccharomicin. The signature step is highlighted by the Pd-catalyzed asymmetric coupling of ene-alkoxyallenes and highly functionalized alcohol substrates. The reaction showed high chemo-, regio-, and ligand-driven diastereoselectivity. In combination with the ring-closing metathesis and late-stage functionalization, this method led to highly efficient synthesis of saccharosamine-rhamnose and rhamnose-fucose fragments.

Convergent Synthesis of Tetrasaccharide Fragment of Cervimycin K

A new synthetic approach toward oligosaccharides consisting only of 2,3,6-trideoxypyranoglycosides is reported. The key feature is highlighted by the convergent approach that allows the introduction of the aglycon moiety in the late stage of the synthesis. As an illustrative example, the tetrasaccharide portion of cervimycin K was prepared as cyclohexyl glycoside.

A Practical, Component-Based Synthetic Route to Methylthiolincosamine Permitting Facile Northern-Half Diversification of Lincosamide Antibiotics

The development of a flexible, component-based synthetic route to the amino sugar fragment of the lincosamide antibiotics is described. This route hinges on the application and extension of nitroaldol chemistry to forge strategic bonds within complex amino sugar targets and employs a glycal epoxide as a versatile glycosyl donor for the installation of anomeric groups. Through building-block exchange and late-stage functionalization, this route affords access to a host of rationally designed lincosamides otherwise inaccessible by semisynthesis and underpins a platform for the discovery of new lincosamide antibiotics.

Nickel Catalyzed Vinylidene Insertions into O-H Bonds

A (pybox)Ni catalyst (pybox = pyridine-bis(oxazoline)) promotes the reductive cyclization of β-hydroxy 1,1-dichloroalkenes to form 2,3-dihydrofurans. The substrates for this reaction are conveniently prepared by an aldol addition followed by one-carbon homologation. Chiral substrates are accessible in highly enantioenriched form, allowing for the synthesis of stereochemically complex 2,3,4-trisubstituted products. Mechanistic studies support a vinylidene O-H insertion pathway rather than C-O cross-coupling followed by reductive dechlorination.

Ethyl 5-[(ethoxycarbonyl)oxy]-5,5-diphenylpent-2-ynoate

The title compound, C22H22O5, crystallizes with two molecules in the asymmetric unit, one of which shows disorder of its ethyl acetate group over two sets of sites in a 0.880 (2):0.120 (2) ratio. The C[triple-bond]C distances in the two molecules are almost the same [1.1939 (16) and 1.199 (2) Å], but the Csp 3—C[triple-bond]C angles differ somewhat [175.92 (12) and 172.53 (16)°]. In the crystal, several weak C—H...O interactions are seen.

Gold-Catalyzed Hydroalkoxylation/Povarov Reaction Cascade of Alkynols with N-Aryl Imines: Synthesis of Tetrahydroquinolines

A one-pot gold-catalyzed hydroalkoxylation/Povarov reaction cascade of alkynols with N-aryl imines or in situ generated iminium has been developed. The protocol provides a facile access to a series of fused tricyclic tetrahydroquinolines with a broad substrate scope using readily available materials under mild conditions. The unique mechanistic feature is the dual function of the gold catalyst, which first catalyzed the intramolecular hydroalkoxylation of alkynols, and upon the formation of dihydrofuran species, promoted the following Povarov reaction with high stereoselectivity.

Transition Metal Vinylidene- and Allenylidene-Mediated Catalysis in Organic Synthesis

With their mechanistic novelty and various modalities of reactivity, transition metal unsaturated carbene (alkenylidene) complexes have emerged as versatile intermediates for new reaction discovery. In particular, the past decade has witnessed remarkable advances in the chemistry of metal vinylidenes and allenylidenes, leading to the evolution of a diverse array of new catalytic transformations that are mechanistically distinct from those developed in the previous two decades. This review aims to provide a survey of the recent achievements in the development of organic reactions that make use of transition metal alkenylidenes as catalytic intermediates and their applications to organic synthesis.

1,1-Diphenyl-4-(thiophen-2-yl)but-3-yn-1-ol

The asymmetric unit of the title homopropargyl alcohol, C20H16OS, contains two independent molecules comprising a hydroxy group, a 3-(2-thiophenyl)propargylic moiety and two aromatic rings linked to a central carbon atom. The two unique molecules are linked into a dimer by an O—H...O hydrogen bond. In one molecule, the thiophene ring is disordered over two orientations rotated by 180° with a refined occupancy ratio of 0.575 (4):0.425 (4). The crystal structure is stabilized by O—H...π and C—H...π hydrogen-bond interactions. The crystal studied was a two-component non-merohedral twin, the refined ratio of the twin components being 0.575 (4):0.425 (4).

Homopropargyl alcohol 1,1-diphenylbut-3-yn-1-ol

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C16H14O, contains one molecule with a central carbon atom having a distorted tetrahedral geometry made of a propargylic fragment, a hydroxy group and two aromatic rings. Directional interactions such as unusual O—H...π contacts are observed between the molecules in the crystal.

Enantioselective and Divergent Syntheses of Alstoscholarisines A, E and Their Enantiomers

Concise, enantioselective, and divergent syntheses of alstoscholarisines A and E are presented in 8 and 9 steps, respectively; alstoscholarisine E has never been accessed before. A boron-mediated aldol reaction and Rh-catalyzed cycloisomerization were exploited to access stereoisomers 8 and 9 as key intermediates. The challenging sterically congested alstoscholarisine core was furnished by a reductive transannular cyclization in the final steps. This strategy was also used for the syntheses of enantiomers of alstoscholarisines A and E.

Palladium-Catalyzed One-Pot Conversion of Aldehydes and Ketones into 4-Substituted Homopropargyl Alcohols and 5-En-3-yn-1-ols †

Sequential treatment of 2,3-dichloropropene with magnesium and n-BuLi generated the equivalent of 1,3-dilithiopropyne, which adds regiospecifically to aldehydes and ketones to produce homopropargyl alcohols. The lithium acetylide intermediate formed in this protocol can be further reacted with aromatic and vinyl halides, under palladium catalysis, to produce 4-substituted homopropargyl alcohols and 5-en-3-yn-1-ols, respectively, in one-pot with good overall yields.

Mechanistic Investigation of RhI-Catalyzed Cycloisomerization of Benzylallene-Internal Alkynes via C-H Activation

Treatment of the benzylallene-internal alkynes with [RhCl(CO)₂]₂ effected a cycloisomerization via a C_sp2-H bond activation to produce the tricyclo[9.4.0.0^3,8]pentadecapentaene skeleton. The reaction mechanism via formation of the rhodabicyclo[4.3.0] intermediates and σ-bond metathesis between the C_sp2-H bond on the benzene ring and the C_sp2-Rh^III bond was proposed. In addition, a plausible alternative mechanism for the previously reported cycloisomerization of the benzylallene-terminal alkynes could also be proposed.

Homogeneous rhodium(i)-catalysis in de novo heterocycle syntheses

Rh(i)-catalysed reactions often employ mild reaction conditions and offer excellent functional group tolerance, making them ideal transformations for the preparation of complex molecules. This review surveys examples of these synthetically useful transformations as applied to the synthesis of various heterocycles.

Efficient and practical synthesis of enantioenriched 2,3-dihydropyrroles through gold-catalyzed anti-Markovnikov hydroamination of chiral homopropargyl sulfonamides

A direct gold-catalyzed anti-Markovnikov hydroamination of chiral homopropargyl sulfonamides has been developed. A range of enantioenriched 2,3-dihydropyrroles are readily accessed by utilizing this approach.

A complete switch of the directional selectivity in the annulation of 2-hydroxybenzaldehydes with alkynes

Controlling reaction selectivity is an eternal pursuit for chemists working in chemical synthesis. As part of this endeavor, our group has been exploring the possibility of constructing different natural product skeletons from the same simple starting materials by using different catalytic systems. In our previous work, an isoflavanone skeleton was obtained from the annulation of a salicylaldehyde and an alkyne when a gold catalyst was employed. In this paper, it is shown that a coumarin skeleton can be efficiently obtained through an annulation reaction with the same starting materials, that is, terminal alkynes and salicylaldehydes, by simply switching to a rhodium catalyst. A plausible reaction mechanism is proposed for this new annulation based on isotopic substitution experiments.

Asymmetric synthesis of highly functionalized tetrahydropyran DPP-4 inhibitor

A practical synthesis of a highly functionalized tetrahydropyran DPP-4 inhibitor is described. The asymmetric synthesis relies on three back-to-back Ru-catalyzed reactions. A Ru-catalyzed dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) reduction establishes two contiguous stereogenic centers in one operation. A unique dihydropyran ring is efficiently constructed through a preferred Ru-catalyzed cycloisomerization. Hydroboration followed by a Ru-catalyzed oxidation affords the desired functionalized pyranone core scaffold. Finally, stereoselective reductive amination and subsequent acidic deprotection afford the desired, potent DPP-4 inhibitor in 25% overall yield.

A Ru-catalyzed one-pot synthesis of homopropargylic amines from alkyl azides under photolytic conditions

A new synthetic method for homopropargylic amines from alkyl azides is presented.

Total synthesis of laulimalide: synthesis of the northern and southern fragments

The first stage in the development of a synthetic route for the total synthesis of laulimalide (1) is described. Our retrosynthetic analysis envisioned a novel macrocyclization route to the natural product by using a Ru-catalyzed alkene-alkyne coupling. This would be preceded by an esterification of the C19 hydroxyl group, joining together two equally sized synthons, the northern fragment 7 and the southern fragment 8. Our first generation approach to the northern fragment entailed a key sequential Ru/Pd coupling sequence to assemble the dihydropyran. The key reactions proceeded smoothly, but the inability to achieve a key olefin migration led to the development of an alternative route based on an asymmetric dinuclear Zn-catalyzed aldol reaction of a hydroxyl acylpyrrole. This key reaction led to the desired diol adduct 66 with excellent syn/anti selectivity (10:1), and allowed for the successful completion of the northern fragment 7. The key step for the synthesis of the southern fragment was a chemoselective Rh-catalyzed cycloisomerization reaction to form the dihydropyran ring from a diyne precursor. This reaction proved to be selective for the formation of a six-membered ring, over a seven. The use of an electron-deficient bidentate phosphine allowed for the reaction to proceed with a reduced catalyst loading.

Asymmetric propargylation of ketones using allenylboronates catalyzed by chiral biphenols

Chiral biphenols catalyze the enantioselective asymmetric propargylation of ketones using allenylboronates. The reaction uses 10 mol % of 3,3'-Br(2)-BINOL as the catalyst and allenyldioxoborolane as the nucleophile, in the absence of solvent, and under microwave irradiation to afford the homopropargylic alcohol. The reaction products are obtained in good yields (60-98%) and high enantiomeric ratios (3:1-99:1). Diastereoselective propargylations using chiral racemic allenylboronates result in good diastereoselectivities (dr >86:14) and enantioselectivities (er >92:8) under the catalytic conditions.

Ligand-accelerated enantioselective propargylation of aldehydes via allenylzinc reagents

An enantioselective propargylation of aldehydes using an allenylzinc reagent generated in situ via a zinc-iodine exchange reaction is described. The enantioselectivity is controlled by addition of a catalytic amount of readily accessible and highly tunable amino alcohol ligand L13. A wide range of aldehydes can be propargylated to afford valuable and versatile homopropargyl alcohols in good to excellent yields with high levels of enantiopurity.