Features and Applications of [Rh(CO)2Cl]2-Catalyzed Alkylations of Unsymmetrical Allylic Substrates

Supported Ionic Liquid Phase (SILP) Allylic Alkylation of Amines in Continuous Flow

We present the use of Pd-complex-containing supported ionic liquid phases (SILPs) as a novel approach for continuous-flow allylic alkylation of N-nucleophiles. This immobilization strategy gave simple access to air-tolerating catalyst frameworks, providing rapid and convenient access to various achiral and chiral N-allylation products. Under optimized conditions, the flow-reaction could be maintained for 3.5 hours with constant product output; meanwhile, only a marginal 0.7 wt % of ionic liquid leaching and no detectable palladium-complex leaching could be observed.

Probing the Ca2+ mobilizing properties on primary cortical neurons of a new stable cADPR mimic

Cyclic adenosine diphosphate ribose (cADPR) is a second messenger involved in the Ca²⁺ homeostasis. Its chemical instability prompted researchers to tune point by point its structure, obtaining stable analogues featuring interesting biological properties. One of the most challenging derivatives is the cyclic inosine diphosphate ribose (cIDPR), in which the hypoxanthine isosterically replaces the adenine. As our research focuses on the synthesis of N1 substituted inosines, in the last few years we have produced new flexible cIDPR analogues, where the northern ribose has been replaced by alkyl chains. Interestingly, some of them mobilized Ca²⁺ ions in PC12 cells. To extend our SAR studies, herein we report on the synthesis of a new stable cIDPR derivative which contains the 2″S,3″R dihydroxypentyl chain instead of the northern ribose. Interestingly, the new cyclic derivative and its open precursor induced an increase in intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i) with the same efficacy of the endogenous cADPR in rat primary cortical neurons.

Regio- and Diastereoselective Rhodium-Catalyzed Allylic Substitution with Unstabilized Benzyl Nucleophiles

We have developed a highly regio- and diastereoselective rhodium-catalyzed allylic substitution of challenging alkyl-substituted secondary allylic carbonates with benzylzinc reagents, which are prepared from widely available benzyl halides. This process utilizes rhodium(III) chloride as a commercially available, high-oxidation state and bench-stable pre-catalyst to provide a rare example of a regio- and diastereoselective allylic substitution in the absence of an exogenous ligand. This reaction tolerates electronically diverse benzylzinc nucleophiles and an array of functionalized and/or challenging aliphatic allylic electrophiles. Finally, the configurational fluxionality of the rhodium-allyl intermediate is exploited to develop a novel diastereoselective process for the construction of vicinal acyclic ternary/ternary stereogenic centers, in addition to a cyclic ternary/quaternary derivative.

Cycloaddition of cyclopropanes for the elaboration of medium-sized carbocycles

The stereocontrolled formation of medium-sized carbocycles is a major goal in modern organic chemistry due to their widespread occurrence in natural products and pharmaceutically active ingredients. One approach consists in the use of cycloaddition reactions which notably results in high selectivities and atom-economy. To this end, cyclopropanes are ideal substrates since they can provide readily functionalized three- or five-carbon synthons. Herein we report advances made in cycloaddition reactions of cyclopropanes towards the synthesis of medium-sized carbocycles via transition metal catalysis or Lewis acid catalysis.

Heterogeneous Supported Palladium Catalysts for Liquid-Phase Allylation of Nucleophiles

In recent years, palladium-catalyzed allylation has become the focus of much research. However, conventional homogeneous Pd catalysts face problems regarding their recovery, reuse, and cost, especially with respect to green chemistry principles. Herein, we present an overview of the development of catalytic allylation with various heterogeneous Pd catalysts, because they can be easily and conveniently recovered and reused. We also emphasize the use of different solid supports such as polymers, silica, and other hybrid supports to inspire future research in this promising field. Moreover, the unique effects of support surfaces for enhancing catalysis by immobilized heterogeneous Pd species are introduced.

Natural Products and Their Mimics as Targets of Opportunity for Discovery

Diverse structural types of natural products and their mimics have served as targets of opportunity in our laboratory to inspire the discovery and development of new methods and strategies to assemble polyfunctional and polycyclic molecular architectures. Furthermore, our efforts toward identifying novel compounds having useful biological properties led to the creation of new targets, many of which posed synthetic challenges that required the invention of new methodology. In this Perspective, selected examples of how we have exploited a diverse range of natural products and their mimics to create, explore, and solve a variety of problems in chemistry and biology will be discussed. The journey was not without its twists and turns, but the unexpected often led to new revelations and insights. Indeed, in our recent excursion into applications of synthetic organic chemistry to neuroscience, avoiding the more-traveled paths was richly rewarding.

Non-stabilized enolates – versatile nucleophiles in transition metal-catalysed allylic alkylations

This review covers new developments in the transition metal-catalyzed allylic alkylations of non-stabilized enolates, preferentially generated from ketone, esters or amides.

Rh-catalyzed (5+2) cycloadditions of 3-acyloxy-1,4-enynes and alkynes: computational study of mechanism, reactivity, and regioselectivity

The mechanism of Rh-catalyzed (5+2) cycloadditions of 3-acyloxy-1,4-enyne (ACE) and alkynes is investigated using density functional theory calculations. The catalytic cycle involves 1,2-acyloxy migration, alkyne insertion, and reductive elimination to form the cycloheptatriene product. In contrast to the (5+2) cycloadditions with vinylcyclopropanes (VCPs), in which alkyne inserts into a rhodium-allyl bond, alkyne insertion into a Rh-C(sp(2)) bond is preferred. The 1,2-acyloxy migration is found to be the rate-determining step of the catalytic cycle. The electron-rich p-dimethylaminobenzoate substrate promotes 1,2-acyloxy migration and significantly increases the reactivity. In the regioselectivity-determining alkyne insertion step, the alkyne substituent prefers to be distal to the forming C-C bond and thus distal to the OAc group in the product.

Pt-catalyzed hydrative cyclization of 2-enynylbenzaldehydes and its application to faveline synthesis

Various 2-[6-en-1-ynyl]benzaldehydes and their analogues were successfully cyclized via Huisgen-type [3+2] cycloaddition to the tetracyclic platinum-carbene complex, which would subsequently undergo hydration to afford the tricyclic products in good yields with excellent stereoselectivities. This hydrative cyclization was also applied to the faveline synthesis.

First X-ray structure analyses of rhodium(III) eta1-allyl complexes and a mechanism for allylic isomerization reactions

Metal-to-metal allyl transfer: Using the first structurally characterized rhodium eta(1)-allyl complexes it is shown that the sigma-bound allyl substituent can be transferred from the Rh(III) complex to a Rh(I) complex in a fast equilibrium. This process may account for the decrease in regioselectivity observed in allylic alkylation reactions in which complex 1 is used as a catalyst.

The Pauson-Khand Reaction as a New Entry to the Synthesis of Bridged Bicyclic Heterocycles: Application to the Enantioselective Total Synthesis of (-)-Alstonerine

The first application of the Pauson-Khand reaction (PKR) to the synthesis of azabridged bicyclic structures is described. Compounds containing azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane and azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane rings fused to cyclopentenones were efficiently constructed via the PKR of cis-2,6-disubstituted N-acyl piperidine enyne substrates, many of which can be readily prepared from 4-methoxypyridine in a few steps. Moreover, the PKR of cis-2,6-disubstituted piperazine enynes allowed the preparation of diazabicyclo[3.3.1]nonanes fused to cyclopentenones. This new strategy for the synthesis of azabridged bicyclic frameworks was exploited as a key step in a concise, enantioselective total synthesis of the macroline alklaoid (-)-alstonerine.