Efficient synthesis of functionalized furans via ruthenium-catalyzed cyclization of epoxyalkyne derivatives

Palladium-catalyzed tandem reaction of epoxynitriles with arylboronic acids in aqueous medium: divergent synthesis of furans and pyrroles

A palladium-catalyzed controllable divergent synthesis of furans and pyrroles through a cascade reaction of epoxynitriles with arylboronic acids has been developed in the aqueous phase.

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.

Cyclization Reactions of Aryl Propargyl Acetates with Tethered Epoxide Induced by Ruthenium Complex

Reactions of the ruthenium complex [Ru]Cl ([Ru]=Cp(PPh₃ )₂ Ru; Cp=η⁵ -C₅ H₅ ) with several aryl propargyl acetates, each with an ortho-substituted chain of various length containing an epoxide on the aromatic ring and with or without methyl substitutents on the epoxide ring, bring about novel cyclizations. The cyclization reactions of HC≡CCH(OAc)(C₆ H₄ )CH₂ (RC₂ H₂ O) (R=H, 6 a; R=CH₃ , 6 b, where RC₂ H₂ O is an epoxide ring) in MeOH give the vinylidene complexes 5 a-b, respectively, each with the Cβ integrated into a tetrahydro-5H-benzo[7]annulen-6-ol ring. A C-C bond formation takes place between the propargyl acetate and the less substituted carbon of the epoxide ring. Further cyclizations of 5 a-b induced by HBF₄ give the corresponding vinylidene complexes 8 a-b each with a new 8-oxabicyclo-[3.2.1]octane ring by removal of a methanol molecule in high yield. For similar aryl propargyl acetates with a shorter epoxide chain, the cyclization gives a mixture of a vinylidene complex with a tetrahydronaphthalen-1-ol ring and a carbene complex with a tricyclic indeno-furan ring. For the cyclization of 18, with a longer epoxide chain, opening of the epoxide is required to afford the vicinal bromohydrin 22, then tandem cyclization occurs in one pot. Products are characterized by spectroscopic methods as well as by XRD analysis.

Copper/P(tBu)3 -Mediated Regiospecific Synthesis of Fused Furans and Naphthofurans

A novel [3+2] cycloaddition between a variety of cyclic ketones and diverse olefins or alkynes can be effectively promoted by copper in combination with the tri-tert-butylphosphine [P(tBu)₃ ] ligand. This protocol exhibits excellent selectivity and provides an exemplary set of fused heterocycles in good to excellent yields. Present strategy also represents an extremely simple and atom-economic way to construct substituted fused furans and naphthofurans from readily available starting materials under mild reaction conditions. The utility of the method is further demonstrated by the synthesis of chiral furans from (R)-(-)-carvone and (S)-(+)-carvone. A plausible mechanism involving the oxidative radical cyclization has been suggested based on experimental observations.

Inhibitory effects of constituents of an endophytic fungus Hypoxylon investiens on nitric oxide and interleukin-6 production in RAW264.7 macrophages

Three new compounds, hypoxyloamide (1), 8-methoxynaphthalene-1,7-diol (2), and hypoxylonol (3), together with seven compounds isolated from nature for the first time, investiamide (4), hypoxypropanamide (5), hypoxylonol A (6), investienol (7), 2-heptylfuran (8), (3S)-5-methyl-8-O-methylmellein (9), (4R)-O-methylsclerone (10), along with 19 known compounds, 11-29, were isolated from the culture broth of Hypoxylon investiens BCRC 10F0115, a fungal endophyte residing in the stems of an endemic Formosan plant Litsea akoensis var. chitouchiaoensis. The structures of the new compounds were established by spectroscopic methods, including UV, IR, HR-ESI-MS, and extensive 1D- and 2D-NMR techniques. Of these isolates, 2, 8-methoxynaphthalen-1-ol (15), and 1,8-dimethoxynaphthalene (16) showed nitric oxide (NO) inhibitory activity with IC50 values of 11.8±0.9, 17.8±1.1, and 13.3±0.5 μM, respectively, stronger than the positive control quercetin (IC50 36.8±1.3 μM). Compounds 2, 15, and 16 also showed interleukin-6 (IL-6) inhibitory activity with IC50 values of 9.2±1.7, 18.0±0.6, and 2.0±0.1 μM, stronger than the positive control quercetin (IC50 31.3±1.6 μM). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on guaiane sesquiterpene metabolites, 3, 6, and 7, from the genus Hypoxylon.

Understanding the high reactivity of carbonyl compounds towards nucleophilic carbenoid intermediates generated from carbene isocyanides

The high nucleophilic character of the carbenoid intermediate cis-IN together with the specific approach mode of acetone make the formation of the C–C single bond with a very low activation free energy, possible.

Three-Component Reaction between alkyl(aryl) Isocyanides and Dialkyl Acetylenedicarboxylates in the Presence of Ethyl Trifluoroacetate

The 1:1 intermediate generated by the addition of alkyl(aryl) isocyanides to dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates is trapped by ethyl trifluoroacetate in the absence of a catalyst to form highly functionalized dialkyl 5-[alkyl(aryl)imino]-2-ethoxy-2-(trifluoromethyl)-2,5-dihydrofuran–-3,4-dicarboxylates in good yields.

Metal vinylidenes as catalytic species in organic reactions

Organic vinylidene species have found limited use in organic synthesis owing to their inaccessibility. In contrast, metal vinylidenes are much more stable and may be readily accessed through transition-metal activation of terminal alkynes. These electrophilic species may be trapped by a number of nucleophiles. Additionally, metal vinylidenes can participate in pericyclic reactions and processes that involve migration of a metal ligand to the vinylidene species. This Focus Review addresses the reactions and applications of metal vinylidenes in organic synthesis.

Metal-catalyzed 1,2-shift of diverse migrating groups in allenyl systems as a new paradigm toward densely functionalized heterocycles

A general, mild, and efficient 1,2-migration/cycloisomerization methodology toward multisubstituted 3-thio-, seleno-, halo-, aryl-, and alkyl-furans and pyrroles, as well as fused heterocycles, valuable building blocks for synthetic chemistry, has been developed. Moreover, regiodivergent conditions have been identified for C-4 bromo- and thio-substituted allenones and alkynones for the assembly of regioisomeric 2-hetero substituted furans selectively. It was demonstrated that, depending on reaction conditions, ambident substrates can be selectively transformed into furan products, as well as undergo selective 6-exo-dig or Nazarov cyclizations. Our mechanistic investigations have revealed that the transformation proceeds via allenylcarbonyl or allenylimine intermediates followed by 1,2-group migration to the allenyl sp carbon during cycloisomerization. It was found that 1,2-migration of chalcogens and halogens predominantly proceeds via formation of irenium intermediates. Analogous intermediate can also be proposed for 1,2-aryl shift. Furthermore, it was shown that the cycloisomerization cascade can be catalyzed by Brønsted acids, albeit less efficiently, and commonly observed reactivity of Lewis acid catalysts cannot be attributed to the eventual formation of proton. Undoubtedly, thermally induced or Lewis acid-catalyzed transformations proceed via intramolecular Michael addition or activation of the enone moiety pathways, whereas certain carbophilic metals trigger carbenoid/oxonium type pathway. However, a facile cycloisomerization in the presence of cationic complexes, as well as observed migratory aptitude in the cycloisomerization of unsymmetrically disubstituted aryl- and alkylallenes, strongly supports electrophilic nature for this transformation. Full mechanistic details, as well as the scope of this transformation, are discussed.

Control of Skeletal Connectivity in Indium Promoted Reactions: 1,2-Additions and Cope Rearrangements En Route to Lactol Formation

Indium promoted coupling reactions between propargyl aldehydes (3) and allyl halides under aqueous and organic conditions are reported. Coupling reactions under aqueous conditions occur via 1,2-addition with excellent yields to afford 4-hydroxy-1-ene-5-ynes (8). Coupling reactions under organic conditions also add in a 1,2-fashion, but the initial products can be induced to undergo oxy-Cope rearrangements giving 2,5-hexadienals (9). Oxy-Cope rearrangement of 8 followed by a secondary addition step under highly basic conditions leads to lactol formation (10) in good to excellent yields. This paper reveals the versatility and control of product formation which may be attained when working with propargyl aldehyde (3) and allyl halide systems under indium promoted coupling conditions.

Ruthenium-catalyzed reactions--a treasure trove of atom-economic transformations

The demand for new chemicals spanning the fields of health care to materials science combined with the pressure to produce these substances in an environmentally benign fashion pose great challenges to the synthetic chemical community. The maximization of synthetic efficiency by the conversion of simple building blocks into complex targets remains a fundamental goal. In this context, ruthenium complexes catalyze a number of non-metathesis conversions and allow the rapid assembly of complex molecules with high selectivity and atom economy. These complexes often exhibit unusual reactivity. Careful consideration of the mechanistic underpinnings of the transformations can lead to the design of new reactions and the discovery of new reactivity.

Metal Vinylidenes and Allenylidenes in Catalysis: Applications in Anti-Markovnikov Additions to Terminal Alkynes and Alkene Metathesis

The involvement of a catalytic metal vinylidene species was proposed for the first time in 1986 to explain the regioselective formation of vinyl carbamates directly from terminal alkynes, carbon dioxide, and amines. Since this initial report, various metal vinylidenes and allenylidenes, which are key activation intermediates, have proved extremely useful for many alkyne transformations. They have contributed to the rational design of new catalytic reactions. This 20th anniversary is a suitable occasion to present the advancement of organometallic vinylidenes and allenylidenes in catalysis.

Solvent-Dependent Chemoselectivity in Ruthenium-Catalyzed Cyclization of Iodoalkyne−Epoxide Functionalities

[reaction: see text] Treatment of 1-(2'-iodoethynylphenyl)-2-propyloxirane (3) with TpRuPPh(3)(CH(3)CN)(2)PF(6) catalyst (10 mol %) produced 1-iodo-2-naphthol (3a) exclusively in DMF, but gave 2-iodobenzo[d]oxepin (3b) efficiently in benzene. Such a solvent-dependent chemoselectivity suggests a solution equilibrium between ruthenium-pi-iodoalkyne and ruthenium-2-iodovinylidene intermediates.

Palladium-Catalyzed Oxidative Alkoxylation of α-Alkenyl β-Diketones To Form Functionalized Furans

Treatment of 4-allyl-2,6-dimethyl-3,5-heptanedione with a catalytic amount of PdCl(2)(CH(3)CN)(2) (5 mol %) and a stoichiometric amount of CuCl(2) (2.2 equiv) in dioxane at 60 degrees C for 12 h formed 3-isobutyryl-2-isopropyl-5-methylfuran in 77% isolated yield. A number of alpha-alkenyl beta-diketones underwent oxidative alkoxylation under these conditions to form 2,3,5-trisubsituted furans in moderate to good yield.