Synthesis of Electron Deficient 5,6-Aryloxy Spiroketals

Diastereoselective synthesis of chroman bearing spirobenzofuranone scaffolds via oxa-Michael/1,6-conjugated addition of para-quinone methides with benzofuranone-type olefins

A simple and convenient cyclization of ortho-hydroxyphenyl-substituted para-quinone methides with benzofuran-2-one type active olefins via oxa-Michael/1,6-conjugated addition has been developed, which afforded an easy access to enriched functionalized chroman-spirobenzofuran-2-one scaffolds with good to excellent yields (up to 90%) and diastereoselectivities (up to >19 : 1 dr). This reaction provided an efficient method for constructing desired spirocyclic compounds combining both well-known heterocyclic pharmacophores chroman and benzofuran-2-one.

Highly diastereoselective synthesis of spirocyclic compounds combining both well-known heterocyclic pharmacophores chroman and benzofuran-2-one.

BF3·OEt2-catalyzed synthesis of 2,2′-spirobi-2H-1-benzopyrans from 2H-chromenes

A new approach was developed for the construction of 2,2′-spirobi-2H-1-benzopyrancarboxylates by reacting ethyl 2-(chloromethyl)-2-hydroxy-2H-chromene-3-carboxylates with salicylaldehydes through the formation of C–C and C–O bonds in one pot.

Facile Stereoselective Approach to Diverse Spiroheterocyclic Tetrahydropyrans: Concise Synthesis of (+)-Broussonetine G and H

A highly diastereoselective copper-catalyzed multicomponent cyclization of exocyclic enol ethers/enamines with methylene malonate and aldehydes has been developed to furnish spiroheterocyclic tetrahydropyrans in high yields with greater than 95:5 d.r. This method is practical, in that 36 examples, including a range of aldehydes and exo-vinyl heterocycles, are presented. By applying the newly developed method, the total synthesis of (+)-broussonetine G and formal synthesis of (+)-broussonetine H were achieved in a concise way.

Reactivity of arynes toward functionalized alkenes: intermolecular Alder-ene vs. addition reactions

The selectivity between two different manifolds of reactions of arynes reacting with functionalized alkenes is described.

Formation of meta-Substituted Phenols by Transition Metal-Free Aromatization: Use of 2-Bromocyclohex-2-en-1-ones

Addition of Grignard or other organometallic reagents to 2-halocyclohex-2-en-1-ones bearing an alkyl or aryl group at C-5, followed by mild acid treatment and exposure to 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) at room temperature, generates meta-substituted phenols in which the newly introduced meta substituent originates from the Grignard reagent. The range of effective organometallic reagents includes alkyl, allyl, alkynyl, aryl, and heteroaryl compounds including those with fluorine substituents. The initial halocyclohexenone can be deprotonated at C-6 and reacted with carbon, fluorine, or sulfur electrophiles before the Grignard addition so as to generate highly substituted phenols.

A tandem Prins spirocyclization for the stereoselective synthesis of tetrahydrospiro[chroman-2,4′-pyran] derivatives

A novel cascade process has been developed for the synthesis of tetrahydrospiro[chroman-2,4′-pyran] derivatives by condensation of aldehydes with 2-(5-hydroxy-3-methylenepentyl)phenols using BF₃·OEt₂ under mild reaction conditions.

Isolation, biological activity, biosynthesis and synthetic studies towards the rubromycin family of natural products

The rubromycins are a unique family of natural products. This review covers their isolation, biological activity, biosynthesis and a detailed discussion of the diverse chemistry employed for total synthesis.

Solvent-dependent divergent functions of Sc(OTf)₃ in stereoselective epoxide-opening spiroketalizations

A stereocontrolled synthesis of benzannulated spiroketals has been developed using solvent-dependent Sc(OTf)₃-mediated spirocyclizations of exo-glycal epoxides having alcohol side chains. In THF, the reaction proceeds via Lewis acid catalysis under kinetic control with inversion of configuration at the anomeric carbon. In contrast, in CH₂Cl₂, Brønsted acid catalysis under thermodynamic control leads to retention of configuration. The reactions accommodate a variety of aryl substituents and ring sizes and provide stereochemically diverse spiroketals.

2-Methylenetetrahydropyrans: efficient partners in the carbonyl ene reaction

The carbonyl ene reaction of 2-methylenetetrahydropyrans provides a rapid, high yielding route for the preparation of β-hydroxydihydropyrans under mild conditions. This process provides a new entry for the synthesis of 2-substituted tetrahydropyrans and for the direct introduction of oxygen heterocycles into molecular frameworks.

Enantioselective synthesis of spiroacetals via silver(I)-promoted alkylation of hemiacetals: total synthesis of cephalosporolides E and F

A silver(I)-promoted intramolecular hemiacetal alkylation has been developed that converts readily available keto-chlorodiols into functionalized spiroacetals containing 5,5-, 5,6-, and 5,7-membered ring systems. The efficiency of this process is demonstrated in a concise total synthesis of the fungal metabolites cephalosporolides E and F.

New strategies for natural products containing chroman spiroketals

Two cycloaddition strategies are described that lead to various chroman spiroketals from assorted exocyclic enol ethers. Unlike conventional thermodynamic ketalization strategies, the stereochemical outcome for this approach is determined by a kinetic cycloaddition reaction. Thus, the stereochemical outcome reflects the olefin geometry of the starting materials along with the orientation of the associated transition state. However, the initial kinetic product can also be equilibrated by acid catalysis and reconstituted into a thermodynamic stereochemical arrangement. Thus, these strategies uniquely enable synthetic access to either the thermodynamic or kinetic conformation of the spiroketal stereocenter itself. Applications of these strategies in the syntheses of berkelic acid, β-rubromycin, and paecilospirone are presented along with the use of a chroman spiroketal for the construction of heliespirones A and C.

Alternative spiroketalization methods toward purpuromycin: a hemiketal conjugate addition strategy and use of an electron-rich isocoumarin precursor

Two methods are presented that were designed to circumvent the persistent problem of benzofuran formation and instead yield a spiroketal of the rubromycin family type. First, using an alternative disconnection, a hemiketal conjugate addition to a naphthaquinone electrophile was investigated. Synthesis of the requisite electrophile provided insight into the selective oxidation and functionalization of the naphthalene portion. Second, the electronic features of the isocoumarin ring system were adjusted, and the corresponding reactivity further supports the hypothesis that electron-rich isocoumarins are capable of spiroketalization. Robust, flexible syntheses from simple precursors were developed that allowed multiple reduced isocoumarins to be generated. Combined, the data presented herein give insight into the sensitivities of this family and illuminate other potential methods of spiroketalization. In addition, the convergent assembly of substrates containing different naphthaquinone and isocoumarin subunits highlights the utility of our 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition approach to generate analogs of these structures for SAR, as well as chemical reactivity studies.

New reactions of 2-methylenetetrahydropyrans. A three component coupling protocol for the synthesis of tetrahydropyranyl ketides

Three component coupling of a 2-methylenetetrahydropyran, an activated aldehyde or ketone and a secondary nucleophile provides an efficient preparation of tetrahydropyranyl ketides, a unit common to many complex natural products.

Stereoselective synthesis of benzannulated spiroketals: influence of the aromatic ring on reactivity and conformation

A systematic stereocontrolled synthesis of benzannulated spiroketals has been developed, using kinetic spirocyclization reactions of glycal epoxides, leading to a new AcOH-induced cyclization and valuable insights into the reactivity and conformations of these systems. One stereochemical series accommodates axial positioning of the aromatic ring while another adopts an alternative (1)C(4) chair conformation to avoid it. Equatorial aromatic rings also participate in nonobvious steric interactions that impact thermodynamic stability. A discovery library of 68 benzannulated spiroketals with systematic variations in stereochemistry, ring size, and positioning of the aromatic substituent has been synthesized for broad biological evaluation.

Diastereoselective syntheses of chroman spiroketals via [4 + 2] cycloaddition of enol ethers and o-quinone methides

A variety of chroman spiroketals are synthesized via inverse-demand [4 + 2] cycloaddition of enol ethers and ortho-quinone methides (o-QMs). Low temperature o-QM generation in situ allows for the kinetic, diastereoselective construction of these motifs, providing entry to a number of unusual chroman spiroketal natural products.

Facile synthesis of naphthoquinone spiroketals by diastereoselective oxidative [3 + 2] cycloaddition

A highly selective oxidative [3 + 2] cycloaddition of chiral enol ethers and hydroxynaphthoquinone is described. This convergent strategy is amenable to an enantioselective synthesis of beta-rubromycin and related naphthoquinone spiroketals. Several compounds were found to inhibit DNA-polymerase and telomerase in a manner resembling alpha-rubromycin and beta-rubromycin.