Oxidative synthesis of cyclic acyl aminals through carbon-carbon sigma-bond activation

Nitrogen Heterocycle Synthesis through Hydride Abstraction of Acyclic Carbamates and Related Species: Scope, Mechanism, Stereoselectivity, and Product Conformation Studies

Acyliminium ions and related species are potent electrophiles that can be quite valuable in the synthesis of nitrogen-containing molecules. This manuscript describes a protocol to form these intermediates through hydride abstractions of easily accessible allylic carbamates, amides, and sulfonamides that avoids the reversibility that is possible in classical condensation-based routes. These intermediates are used in the preparation of a range of nitrogen-containing heterocycles, and in many cases high levels of stereocontrol are observed. Specifically areas of investigation include the impact of chemical structure on oxidation efficiency, the geometry of the intermediate iminium ions, the impact of a substrate stereocenter on stereocontrol, and an examination of transition state geometry.

Cerium(IV) ammonium nitrate mediated three-component α-allylation of imine surrogates

A general and practical CAN-mediated oxidative radical α-coupling reaction of various imine surrogates with allylsilanes has been described. This multicomponent process affords β-allylated α-carbamido ethers as stable imine precursors in respectable yields under mild conditions.

Total synthesis and biological evaluation of pederin, psymberin, and highly potent analogs

The potent cytotoxins pederin and psymberin have been prepared through concise synthetic routes (10 and 14 steps in the longest linear sequences, respectively) that proceed via a late-stage multicomponent approach to construct the N-acyl aminal linkages. This route allowed for the facile preparation of a number of analogs that were designed to explore the importance of the alkoxy group in the N-acyl aminal and functional groups in the two major subunits on biological activity. These analogs, including a pederin/psymberin chimera, were analyzed for their growth inhibitory effects, revealing several new potent cytotoxins and leading to postulates regarding the molecular conformational and hydrogen bonding patterns that are required for biological activity. Second generation analogs have been prepared based on the results of the initial assays and a structure-based model for the binding of these compounds to the ribosome. The growth inhibitory properties of these compounds are reported. These studies show the profound role that organic chemistry in general and specifically late-stage multicomponent reactions can play in the development of unique and potent effectors for biological responses.

Preparation of β-Aminoketone by 2,3-Dichloro-5,6-Dicyanobenzoquinone Catalysed Three-Component Mannich Reaction

2,3-Dichloro-5,6-dicyanobenzoquinone (DDQ) was used as an efficient catalysts for a one-pot, three-component Mannich reaction of cyclohexanone or acetophenone with aromatic aldehydes and aromatic amines under solvent free condition. This protocol has the advantage of high yield, mild reaction conditions, lower catalyst loading and simple work up procedure.

Total synthesis of theopederin D

The total synthesis of the potent cytotoxin theopederin D has been achieved through the use of an oxidative carbon–carbon bond cleavage reaction to form an acyliminium ion in the presence of acid labile acetal groups Other key transformations include an acid mediated functionalization of a tetrahydrofuranyl alcohol in the presence of a tetrahydropyranyl alcohol, a syn -selective glycal epoxide opening, and a catalytic asymmetric aldehyde-acid chloride condensation.

Intramolecular Electron Transfer Initiated Cation and Radical Formation through Carbon−Carbon Bond Activation

Radical cations can be formed in a spatially and temporally controlled manner by appending a sacrificial photooxidant to an easily oxidized substrate, leading to intramolecular electron transfer upon irradiation. The anthraquinone carboxyl group is an effective photooxidant that can promote single electron oxidation from an appended arene. The resulting intermediates undergo a cleavage reaction through carbon-carbon bond activation to provide either cations or radicals that react to form a range of products.

DDQ-Mediated Direct Cross-Dehydrogenative-Coupling (CDC) between Benzyl Ethers and Simple Ketones

A direct Cross-Dehydrogenative-Coupling (CDC) between benzyl ethers and simple ketones was developed without using any metal catalyst. By using DDQ, various benzyl ethers and simples ketones were coupled together directly to form beta-alkoxyl ketones efficiently. A mechanism in which the DDQ serves the double roles of an oxidizing agent and an organomediator was proposed.

Structure-reactivity relationships in oxidative carbon-carbon bond forming reactions: a mild and efficient approach to stereoselective syntheses of 2,6-disubstituted tetrahydropyrones

Homobenzylic ethers with pendent enol acetate nucleophiles undergo highly efficient cleavage reactions followed by 6-endo cyclizations to form 2,6-disubstituted tetrahydropyrones with excellent stereocontrol at room temperature in the presence of the mild oxidant ceric ammonium nitrate. Cyclizations proceed through either stabilized or nonstabilized oxocarbenium ions. Structure-reactivity relationships are presented to provide a predictive guide for the design of radical cation cleavage processes. Unique sequences for preparing cyclization substrates based on stereoselective Lewis acid mediated acetal openings have been developed for the synthesis of complex substrates that are suitable for applications to the synthesis of biologically active natural products.

Tandem polar/radical crossover sequences for the formation of fused and bridged bicyclic nitrogen heterocycles involving radical ionic chain reactions, and alkene radical cation intermediates, performed under reducing conditions: scope and limitations

It is demonstrated that phosphorylated forms of beta-nitro alcohols provide an excellent means of entry into beta-(phosphatoxy)alkyl radicals on exposure to tributyltin hydride and AIBN in benzene at reflux. These radicals then undergo heterolytic cleavage of the phosphate group to yield alkene radical cation/phosphate anion contact ion pairs which are trapped intramolecularly in a tandem polar/radical crossover sequence involving radical ionic chain reactions by allylic and propargylic amines. The substitution pattern of the alkene radical cation dictates the cyclization mode, and this may be engineered to form fused ring systems by an initial exo-mode nucleophilic cyclization or bridged bicyclic systems when the nucleophilic attack takes place in the endo-mode.

beta-Fragmentation of primary alkoxyl radicals versus hydrogen abstraction: synthesis of polyols and alpha,omega-differently substituted cyclic ethers from carbohydrates

The beta-fragmentation of primary alkoxyl radicals, described in many cases as low-yielding and plagued by side reactions, can proceed in satisfactory yields using carbohydrate substrates. The only reaction that can compete significantly with the beta-scission is the intramolecular hydrogen abstraction. The ratio of beta-fragmentation to hydrogen abstraction can be varied according to the reaction conditions, the stereochemistry of the substituents (e.g., alpha- or beta-anomeric substituents), and the protecting groups chosen. The carbohydrate substrates are easily prepared, and the mild reaction conditions are compatible with most functional groups. The beta-scission reaction provides an expedient way toward shorter and less common sugar series and also toward alpha,omega-differently substituted cyclic ethers. These units are useful building blocks and are present in many natural products with interesting biological activity.

An oxidative entry into the amido trioxadecalin ring system

The amido trioxadecalin ring system is a key structural component of the architecturally interesting anticancer and immunosuppressive agents of the mycalamide, theopederin, and onnamide families of natural products. We report a new entry into this structure in which a mixed acetal serves as a surrogate for a formaldehyde hemiacetal in an addition to an oxidatively generated acyliminium ion. The stereochemical outcome of this process can be explained by the conformational preferences of the product ring system. [reaction: see text]

Tuning reactivity and chemoselectivity in electron transfer initiated cyclization reactions: applications to carbon-carbon bond formation

In this communication, we demonstrate that the scope of our electron transfer initiated cyclization reaction can be significantly broadened by exploiting the relationship between the oxidation potentials of homobenzylic ethers and the mesolytic benzylic carbon-carbon bond dissociation energies of their radical cations. By lowering the oxidation potential of the electrophore and the benzylic carbon-carbon bond dissociation energy, we can initiate reactions under mild, nonphotochemical conditions. The selectivity of the arene oxidation and the mild reaction conditions allow a variety of electron-rich olefins to serve as nucleophilic groups to form carbon-carbon bonds with excellent efficiency.