Stereospecific Synthesis of (+)- and (−)-Cyclooctenone Derivatives Using a Ring Expansion Reaction with Me3SiSnBu3 and CsF

Semirational Engineering of a Thermostable Carbonyl Reductase for the Precision Synthesis of (2R,3R)-2-Methyl-2-benzyl-3-hydroxycyclopentanone and Its Analogues

2,2-Disubstituted-3-hydroxycyclopentanones are important chiral intermediates for natural products and pharmaceuticals. Through semirational engineering of a thermostable carbonyl reductase CBCR from Cupriavidus sp. BIS7, a mutant L91C/F93I was obtained. Mutant L91C/F93I showed 4- to 36-fold enhanced activities toward 2-methyl-2-benzyl-1,3-cyclopentanedione and its analogues, affording the (2R,3R)-stereoisomers with >99% ee and >99% de. Enzyme-substrate docking studies were performed to reveal the molecular basis for the activity and stereoselectivity improvements.

Palladium-catalyzed [2+1+1] annulation of norbornenes with (z)-bromostyrenes: synthesis of bismethylenecyclobutanes via twofold C(sp2)–H bond activation

A Pd(0)-catalyzed domino bismethylenecyclobutanation reaction was established. The [2+1+1] cycloaddition involves twofold C(sp²)–H bond activation and formation of three carbon–carbon bonds.

Efficient Catalytic Insertion of Acetylenes into a Carbon−Carbon Single Bond of Nonstrained Cyclic Compounds under Mild Conditions

A rhenium complex, [ReBr(CO)3(thf)]2, catalyzes the reaction of a 1,3-dicarbonyl cyclic compound with an acetylene to give a medium-sized cyclic compound in excellent yield. By using isocyanide as an additive, the catalytic activity of the rhenium complex changes dramatically, and the insertion of acetylenes into a carbon-carbon single bond occurs under mild conditions. A plausible mechanism is that the reaction proceeds via the formation of a rhenacyclopentene intermediate, ring opening by a retro-aldol reaction, isomerization, and reductive elimination.

[Development of new synthetic method using organometallic complexes and an application toward natural product synthesis]

Recently, many organometallic complexes, such as palladium, nickel, ruthenium, titanium complexes and others, were used for synthetic organic chemistry. We have developed many novel synthetic methods using these organometallic complexes for synthetic organic chemistry. As the organometallic complexes, nickel, chromium, molybdenum, ruthenium, zirconium, titanium, and palladium complexes, were used. Furthermore, bimetallic complexes having silicon-tin and silicon-zirconium bonds were investigated. On the other hand, utilization of gases in synthetic organic chemistry has been also developed. 1 atm pressure of gases such as CO, CO(2), N(2), ethylene and acetylene, could be used and the reaction procedure is very simple, that a balloon filled with a gas is connected on the top of the flask. Using our novel synthetic methods, we have synthesized many natural products and biologically active substances, such as cephalotaxin, mesembrine, tubifoline, strychnine, stemoamide, lycopodine, pumiliotoxin C, beta-lactam, carbapenam and benzodiazepinone derivatives.

Isolation and Characterization of Silyl Enol Ether Intermediates in the Synthesis of 5,6,9,10–Tetrahydro-7,8-benzocyclooctenedione

The 5,6,9,10-tetrahydro-7,8-benzocyclooctenedione 4 has been synthesized through fragmentation of a bicyclo[4.2.0]octane system using an acyloin reaction on the trans-2,3-dicarboethoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene 1 in the presence of trimethyl-chlorosilane (TMCS). The two intermediates of this reaction, bis(trimethylsiloxy) derivatives 2 and 3, have been isolated and characterized.

Approaches to the synthesis of (+/-)-strychnine via the cobalt-mediated [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition: rapid assembly of a classic framework

Five synthetic approaches to racemic strychnine (1), with the cobalt-mediated [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition of alkynes to indoles as the key step, are described. These include the generation and attempted cyclization of macrocycle 8 and the synthesis of dihydrocarbazoles 15, 22, and 26 and their elaboration to pentacyclic structures via a conjugate addition, dipolar cycloaddition, and propellane-to-spirofused skeletal rearrangement, respectively. Finally, the successful total synthesis of 1 is discussed. The development of a short, highly convergent route (14 steps in the longest linear sequence) is highlighted by the cyclization of enynoylindole 40 with acetylene and the formal intramolecular 1,8-conjugate addition of amine 49 to form pentacycle 50. Numerous attempts toward the formation of the piperidine ring of 1 from vinyl iodide 56 were made and its successful formation via palladium-, nickel-, and radical-mediated processes is described.