α-Sulfinyl Benzoates as Precursors to Li and Mg Carbenoids for the Stereoselective Iterative Homologation of Boronic Esters

Enzymatic Resolution and Decarboxylative Functionalization of α-Sulfinyl Esters

α-Sulfinyl esters can be readily prepared through thiol substitution of α-bromo esters followed by oxidation to the sulfoxide. Enzymatic resolution with lipoprotein lipase provides both the unreacted esters and corresponding α-sulfinyl carboxylic acids in high yields and enantiomeric ratios. Subsequent decarboxylative halogenation, dihalogenation, trihalogenation and cross-coupling gives rise to functionalized sulfoxides. The method has been applied to the asymmetric synthesis of a potent inhibitor of 15-prostaglandin dehydrogenase.

One-pot cascade synthesis of dibenzothiophene-based heterobiaryls from dibenzothiophene-5-oxide

A sulfoxide directed C-H metalation/boration/B2Pin2 mediated reduction/Suzuki coupling process to synthesize 4-substituted dibenzothiophene (DBT) in one-pot from dibenzothiophene-5-oxide (DBTO) was developed. A variety of DBT-based heterobiaryls were prepared in satisfactory to good yields. A mechanism was proposed. The application of this methodology was demonstrated by synthesizing a luminescent material.

Sparteine-Free, Highly Stereoselective Construction of Complex Allylic Alcohols Using 1,2-Metallate Rearrangements

Stereotriads bearing allylic alcohols are privileged structures in natural products, and new methods accessing these in a stereoselective fashion are highly sought after. Toward this goal, we found that the use of chiral polyketide fragments allows for performing the Hoppe-Matteson-Aggarwal rearrangement in the absence of sparteine with high yields and diastereoselectivities, rendering this protocol a highly valuable alternative to the Nozaki-Hiyama-Takai-Kishi reaction. The switch of directing groups in most cases resulted in the reversed stereochemical outcome, which could be explained by conformational analysis on density functional theory level and a Felkin-like model.

Conformationally Controlled sp3 -Hydrocarbon-Based α-Helix Mimetics

With over 60 % of protein-protein interfaces featuring an α-helix, the use of α-helix mimetics as inhibitors of these interactions is a prevalent therapeutic strategy. However, methods to control the conformation of mimetics, thus enabling maximum efficacy, can be restrictive. Alternatively, conformation can be controlled through the introduction of destabilizing syn-pentane interactions. This tactic, which is often adopted by Nature, is not a common feature of lead optimization owing to the significant synthetic effort required. Through assembly-line synthesis with NMR and computational analysis, we have shown that alternating syn-anti configured contiguously substituted hydrocarbons, by avoiding syn-pentane interactions, adopt well-defined conformations that present functional groups in an arrangement that mimics the α-helix. The design of a p53 mimetic that binds to Mdm2 with moderate to good affinity, demonstrates the therapeutic promise of these scaffolds.

Iterative synthesis of 1,3-polyboronic esters with high stereocontrol and application to the synthesis of bahamaolide A

Polyketide natural products often contain common repeat motifs, for example, propionate, acetate and deoxypropionate, and so can be synthesized by iterative processes. We report here a highly efficient iterative strategy for the synthesis of polyacetates based on boronic ester homologation that does not require functional group manipulation between iterations. This process involves sequential asymmetric diboration of a terminal alkene, forming a 1,2-bis(boronic ester), followed by regio- and stereoselective homologation of the primary boronic ester with a butenyl metallated carbenoid to generate a 1,3-bis(boronic ester). Each transformation independently controls the stereochemical configuration, making the process highly versatile, and the sequence can be iterated prior to stereospecific oxidation of the 1,3-polyboronic ester to yield the 1,3-polyol. This methodology has been applied to a 14-step synthesis of the oxopolyene macrolide bahamaolide A, and the versatility of the 1,3-polyboronic esters has been demonstrated in various stereospecific transformations, leading to polyalkenes, -alkynes, -ketones and -aromatics with full stereocontrol.

Stereocontrolled Total Synthesis of Bastimolide B Using Iterative Homologation of Boronic Esters

Bastimolide B is a polyhydroxy macrolide isolated from marine cyanobacteria displaying antimalarial activity. It features a dense array of hydroxylated stereogenic centers with 1,5-relationships along a hydrocarbon chain. These 1,5-polyols represent a particularly challenging motif for synthesis, as the remote position of the stereocenters hampers stereocontrol. Herein, we present a strategy for 1,5-polyol stereocontrolled synthesis based on iterative boronic ester homologation with enantiopure magnesium carbenoids. By merging boronic ester homologation and transition-metal-catalyzed alkene hydroboration and diboration, the acyclic backbone of bastimolide B was rapidly assembled from readily available building blocks with full control over the remote stereocenters, enabling the total synthesis to be completed in 16 steps (LLS).

Automated iterative Csp3-C bond formation

Fully automated synthetic chemistry would substantially change the field by providing broad on-demand access to small molecules. However, the reactions that can be run autonomously are still limited. Automating the stereospecific assembly of Csp3-C bonds would expand access to many important types of functional organic molecules1. Previously, methyliminodiacetic acid (MIDA) boronates were used to orchestrate the formation of Csp2-Csp2 bonds and were effective building blocks for automating the synthesis of many small molecules2, but they are incompatible with stereospecific Csp3-Csp2 and Csp3-Csp3 bond-forming reactions3-10. Here we report that hyperconjugative and steric tuning provide a new class of tetramethyl N-methyliminodiacetic acid (TIDA) boronates that are stable to these conditions. Charge density analysis11-13 revealed that redistribution of electron density increases covalency of the N-B bond and thereby attenuates its hydrolysis. Complementary steric shielding of carbonyl π-faces decreases reactivity towards nucleophilic reagents. The unique features of the iminodiacetic acid cage2, which are essential for generalized automated synthesis, are retained by TIDA boronates. This enabled Csp3 boronate building blocks to be assembled using automated synthesis, including the preparation of natural products through automated stereospecific Csp3-Csp2 and Csp3-Csp3 bond formation. These findings will enable increasingly complex Csp3-rich small molecules to be accessed via automated assembly.

A DFT examination of the role of proximal boron functionalities in the S-alkylation of sulfenic acid anions

Sulfenic acid anions represent an emerging nucleophile for the preparation of sulfoxides. Their S-functionalization chemistry can often be influenced by a nearby group that interacts with the component atoms of the sulfenate through non-bonding interactions. This study uses DFT methods to assess the importance of proximal boron-containing functional groups to direct S-alkylation chemistry of selected sulfenate anions. Several structural variations were modelled at the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) level, with the boron species positioned 3 to 5 carbons away from the alkylation site. Transition state free energies of S-alkylation transition states were located with and without sulfenate oxygen precomplexing to the nearby boron atom. The outcomes suggest that an ortho-substituted boronate ester on benzyl bromide can direct and accelerate an alkylation reaction principally due to a reduction of the entropic barrier. It was also determined that an intermolecular precomplex imparts too much stabilization to the sulfenate, thereby reducing its reactivity. The modelling suggests a possible aryl migration of the boronate/sulfenate complex is not competitive with S-alkylation.

Consecutive and Selective Double Methylene Insertion of Lithium Carbenoids to Isothiocyanates: A Direct Assembly of Four-Membered Sulfur-Containing Cycles

A formal CH₂−CH₂ homologation conducted with C1 carbenoids on a carbon electrophile for the obtainment of a four‐membered cycle is reported. The logic proposes the consecutive delivery of two single nucleophilic CH₂ units to an isothiocyanate—as competent electrophilic partner—resulting in the assembling of a rare imino‐thietane cluster. The single synthetic operation procedure documents genuine chemocontrol, as indicated by the tolerance to various reactive elements decorating the starting materials. Significantly, the double homologation protocol is accomplished directly on a carbon electrophile, thus not requiring the installation of heteroatom‐centered manifolds (e.g. boron).

Saturated Boronic Acids, Boronates, and Trifluoroborates: An Update on Their Synthetic and Medicinal Chemistry

This review discusses recent advances in the chemistry of saturated boronic acids, boronates, and trifluoroborates. Applications of the title compounds in the design of boron-containing drugs are surveyed, with special emphasis on α-amino boronic derivatives. A general overview of saturated boronic compounds as modern tools to construct C(sp³ )-C and C(sp³ )-heteroatom bonds is given, including recent developments in the Suzuki-Miyaura and Chan-Lam cross-couplings, single-electron-transfer processes including metallo- and organocatalytic photoredox reactions, and transformations of boron "ate" complexes. Finally, an attempt to summarize the current state of the art in the synthesis of saturated boronic acids, boronates, and trifluoroborates is made, with a brief mention of the "classical" methods (transmetallation of organolithium/magnesium reagents with boron species, anti-Markovnikov hydroboration of alkenes, and the modification of alkenyl boron compounds) and a special focus on recent methodologies (boronation of alkyl (pseudo)halides, derivatives of carboxylic acids, alcohols, and primary amines, boronative C-H activation, novel approaches to alkene hydroboration, and 1,2-metallate-type rearrangements).

Conformationally Controlled Linear and Helical Hydrocarbons Bearing Extended Side Chains

Conformationally controlled flexible molecules are ideal for applications in medicine and materials, where shape matters but an ability to adapt to multiple and changing environments is often required. The conformation of flexible hydrocarbon chains bearing contiguous methyl substituents is controlled through the avoidance of syn-pentane interactions: alternating syn-anti isomers adopt a linear conformation while all-syn isomers adopt a helical conformation. From a simple diamond lattice analysis, larger substituents, which would be required for most potential applications, result in significant and unavoidable syn-pentane interactions, suggesting substantially reduced conformational control. Through a combination of computation, synthesis, and NMR analysis, we have identified a selection of substitution patterns that allow large groups to be incorporated on conformationally controlled linear and helical hydrocarbon chains. Surprisingly, when the methyl substituents of alternating syn-anti hydrocarbons are replaced with acetoxyethyl groups, the main chain of almost 95% of the population of molecules adopt a linear conformation. Here, the side chains adopt nonideal eclipsed conformations with the main chain, thus minimizing syn-pentane interactions. In the case of all-syn hydrocarbons, concurrent removal of some methyl groups on the main chain adjacent to the large substituents is required to maintain a high population of molecules adopting a helical conformation. This information can now be used to design flexible hydrocarbon chains displaying functional groups in a defined relative orientation for multivalent binding or cooperative reactivity, for example, in targeting the interfaces defined by disease-relevant protein-protein interactions.

Aza-Matteson Reactions via Controlled Mono- and Double-Methylene Insertions into Nitrogen-Boron Bonds

Boron-homologation reactions represent an efficient and programmable approach to prepare alkylboronates, which are valuable and versatile synthetic intermediates. The typical boron-homologation reaction, also known as the Matteson reaction, involves formal carbenoid insertions into C-B bonds. Here we report the development of aza-Matteson reactions via carbenoid insertions into the N-B bonds of aminoboranes. By changing the leaving groups of the carbenoids and altering Lewis acid activators, selective mono- and double-methylene insertions can be realized to access various α- and β-boron-substituted tertiary amines, respectively, from common secondary amines. The derivatization of complex amine-containing bioactive molecules, diverse functionalization of the boronate products, and sequential insertions of different carbenoids have also been achieved.

Light-Mediated Sulfur-Boron Exchange

Interaction of sulfides bearing a tetrafluoropyridinyl group with bis(catecholato)diboron followed by treatment with pinacol and triethylamine affording pinacol boronic esters is described. The reaction is promoted by an organic photocatalyst (3DPA2FBN) under irradiation with 400 nm light, and works with primary, secondary, and tertiary sulfides. The electron depleting character of the fluorinated pyridine fragment plays an important role in generating alkyl radicals.

Taking advantage of lithium monohalocarbenoid intrinsic α-elimination in 2-MeTHF: controlled epoxide ring-opening en route to halohydrins

The intrinsic degradative α-elimination of Li carbenoids somehow complicates their use in synthesis as C1-synthons. Nevertheless, we herein report how boosting such an α-elimination is a straightforward strategy for accomplishing controlled ring-opening of epoxides to furnish the corresponding β-halohydrins. Crucial for the development of the method is the use of the eco-friendly solvent 2-MeTHF, which forces the degradation of the incipient monohalolithium, due to the very limited stabilizing effect of this solvent on the chemical integrity of the carbenoid. With this approach, high yields of the targeted compounds are consistently obtained under very high regiocontrol and, despite the basic nature of the reagents, no racemization of enantiopure materials is observed.

Computational and Experimental Study of Turbo-Organomagnesium Amide Reagents: Cubane Aggregates as Reactive Intermediates in Pummerer Coupling

The dynamic equilibria of organomagnesium reagents are known to be very complex, and the relative reactivity of their components is poorly understood. Herein, a combination of DFT calculations and kinetic experiments is employed to investigate the detailed reaction mechanism of the Pummerer coupling between sulfoxides and turbo-organomagnesium amides. Among the various aggregates studied, unprecedented heterometallic open cubane structures are demonstrated to yield favorable barriers through a concerted anion-anion coupling/ S-O cleavage step. Beyond a structural curiosity, these results introduce open cubane organometallics as key reactive intermediates in turbo-organomagnesium amide mixtures.

Difunctionalization of C-C σ-Bonds Enabled by the Reaction of Bicyclo[1.1.0]butyl Boronate Complexes with Electrophiles: Reaction Development, Scope, and Stereochemical Origins

Difunctionalization reactions of C-C σ-bonds have the potential to streamline access to molecules that would otherwise be difficult to prepare. However, the development of such reactions is challenging because C-C σ-bonds are typically unreactive. Exploiting the high ring-strain energy of polycyclic carbocycles is a common strategy to weaken and facilitate the reaction of C-C σ-bonds, but there are limited examples of highly strained C-C σ-bonds being used in difunctionalization reactions. We demonstrate that highly strained bicyclo[1.1.0]butyl boronate complexes (strain energy ca. 65 kcal/mol), which were prepared by reacting boronic esters with bicyclo[1.1.0]butyl lithium, react with electrophiles to achieve the diastereoselective difunctionalization of the strained central C-C σ-bond of the bicyclo[1.1.0]butyl unit. The reaction shows broad substrate scope, with a range of different electrophiles and boronic esters being successfully employed to form a diverse set of 1,1,3-trisubstituted cyclobutanes (>50 examples) with high diastereoselectivity. The high diastereoselectivity observed has been rationalized based on a combination of experimental data and DFT calculations, which suggests that separate concerted and stepwise reaction mechanisms are operating, depending upon the migrating substituent and electrophile used.

Transition metal-free synthesis of alkyl pinacol boronates

This review systematically outlined the research in the area of transition metal free synthesis of alkyl pinacol boronates, which are versatile and important scaffolds to construct diverse organic compounds.

Vinylidene Homologation of Boronic Esters and its Application to the Synthesis of the Proposed Structure of Machillene

Alkenyl boronic esters are important reagents in organic synthesis. Herein, we report that these valuable products can be accessed by the homologation of boronic esters with lithiated epoxysilanes. Aliphatic and electron-rich aromatic boronic esters provided vinylidene boronic esters in moderate to high yields, while electron-deficient aromatic and vinyl boronic esters were found to give the corresponding vinyl silane products. Through DFT calculations, this divergence in mechanistic pathway has been rationalized by considering the stabilization of negative charge in the C-Si and C-B bond breaking transition states. This vinylidene homologation was used in a short six-step stereoselective synthesis of the proposed structure of machillene, however, synthetic and reported data were found to be inconsistent.

Bond-Forming and -Breaking Reactions at Sulfur(IV): Sulfoxides, Sulfonium Salts, Sulfur Ylides, and Sulfinate Salts

Organosulfur compounds have long played a vital role in organic chemistry and in the development of novel chemical structures and architectures. Prominent among these organosulfur compounds are those involving a sulfur(IV) center, which have been the subject of countless investigations over more than a hundred years. In addition to a long list of textbook sulfur-based reactions, there has been a sustained interest in the chemistry of organosulfur(IV) compounds in recent years. Of particular interest within organosulfur chemistry is the ease with which the synthetic chemist can effect a wide range of transformations through either bond formation or bond cleavage at sulfur. This review aims to cover the developments of the past decade in the chemistry of organic sulfur(IV) molecules and provide insight into both the wide range of reactions which critically rely on this versatile element and the diverse scaffolds that can thereby be synthesized.

Organoboron synthesis via ring opening coupling reactions

One of the most atom economical synthesis reactions of organoboron compounds can be achieved by addition reactions of boron reagents to unsaturated substrates. However, when the addition reaction takes place via carbanions promoting ring opening coupling reactions, the selective cleavage of the inherent bonds and the generation of new C-C bonds warrant the selective synthesis of organoboron systems with total efficiency. Here we describe new trends towards the selective synthesis of organoboron compounds where boron reagents and cyclic substrates participate in the generation of carbanions, in the presence of stoichiometric amounts of main-group metals or catalytic amounts of transition metal complexes, via ring opening coupling transformations. The generality and limitations of these new protocols are discussed.