Hg(OTf)2-Catalyzed Arylene Cyclization

Copper(II)-Catalyzed Three-Component Arylation/Hydroamination Cascade from Allyl Alcohol: Access to 1-Aryl-2-sulfonylamino-propanes

A new straightforward approach to 1-aryl-2-aminopropanes using easily accessible substrates has been developed. Simple allyl alcohol is shown to be an ideal synthetic equivalent of the C3 propane-1,2-diylium bis-cation synthon in three-component cascade reactions with arenes and sulfonamide nucleophiles to regioselectively afford 1-aryl-2-aminopropanes. The reaction is catalyzed by Cu(OTf)2 and is expected to involve a Friedel-Crafts-type allylation of the arene, followed by hydroamination.

Advances in mercury(II)-salt-mediated cyclization reactions of unsaturated bonds

The synthesis of complex cyclic compounds is extremely challenging for organic chemists. Many transition-metal-salt-mediated cyclizations are reported in literature. Hg(II) salts have been successfully employed in cyclizations to form complex heterocyclic and carbocyclic structures that are impossible to synthesize with other transition metal salts. In this review, we have summarized cyclization reactions that are performed with Hg(II) salts. These salts are also successfully applied in stoichiometric or catalytic amounts to form complex cyclic structures and natural products.

In(OTf)3-catalyzed intramolecular hydroarylation of α-phenylallyl β-ketosulfones – synthesis of sulfonyl 1-benzosuberones and 1-tetralones

In(OTf)₃-catalyzed intramolecular hydroarylation of α-phenylallyl β-ketosulfones provides sulfonyl 1-benzosuberones and 1-tetralones in moderate to good yields in refluxing (CH₂Cl)₂ under open-vessel and easy-operation reaction conditions. A plausible mechanism is proposed and discussed. This highly regioselective protocol provides an atom-economic ring-closure route.

In(OTf)₃-catalyzed intramolecular hydroarylation of α-phenylallyl β-ketosulfones provides sulfonyl 1-benzosuberones and 1-tetralones in moderate to good yields in refluxing (CH₂Cl)₂ under open-vessel and easy-operation reaction conditions.

Acid-catalyzed chirality-transferring intramolecular Friedel–Crafts cyclization of α-hydroxy-α-alkenylsilanes

Acid-catalyzed intramolecular Friedel–Crafts cyclization of optically active α-hydroxy-α-alkenylsilanes possessing a benzene ring (>99% ee) with TMSOTf as a Lewis acid gave enantio-enriched tetrahydronaphthalenes (up to 98% ee).

A highly efficient Hg(OTf)2-mediated Sakurai–Hosomi allylation of N-tert-butyloxycarbonylamino sulfones, aldehydes, fluoroalkyl ketones and α,β-unsaturated enones using allyltrimethylsilane

The cheap and easily available Hg(OTf)₂ can efficiently mediate the Sakurai–Hosomi reaction of N-Boc amino sulfones, aldehydes, α-fluoroalkyl ketones and α,β-unsaturated enones using allyltrimethylsilane with the catalyst loading down to 0.5–5.0 mol%.

Stereocontrolled Construction of 1-Vinylindanes via Intramolecular Cyclization of o-Cinnamyl Chalcones

In this paper, a concise route for the synthesis of 1-vinylindanes is described, including (i) NaBH₄-mediated reduction of o-cinnamyl chalcones and (ii) sequential BF₃·OEt₂-mediated intramolecular annulation of the resulting alkenols. The plausible mechanism is proposed and discussed herein. This protocol provides highly effective stereocontrolled cinnamyl-enone cross-coupling to construct three contiguous trans- trans stereocenters and one ( E)-configured alkenyl or styryl group.

Intramolecular etherification and polyene cyclization of π-activated alcohols promoted by hot water

Hot water, acting as a mildly acidic catalyst, efficiently promoted intramolecular direct nucleophilic substitution reactions of unsaturated alcohols with heteroatom or carbon nucleophiles. In a mixed solvent of water and 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFIP), polyene cyclizations using allylic alcohols as initiators gave the desired cyclized products, and in neat HFIP, a tricyclization reaction gave a tetracyclic product in 51% chemical yield.

A heterogeneous mercury salt catalyst stabilized by m-carbaborane

A novel hetergeneous mercury salt catalyst stabilized by m-carbaborane can be used and reused for various chemical reactions without leaching the metal.

Total synthesis of viridicatumtoxin B and analogues thereof: strategy evolution, structural revision, and biological evaluation

The details of the total synthesis of viridicatumtoxin B (1) are described. Initial synthetic strategies toward this intriguing tetracycline antibiotic resulted in the development of key alkylation and Lewis acid-mediated spirocyclization reactions to form the hindered EF spirojunction, as well as Michael-Dieckmann reactions to set the A and C rings. The use of an aromatic A-ring substrate, however, was found to be unsuitable for the introduction of the requisite hydroxyl groups at carbons 4a and 12a. Applying these previous tactics, we developed stepwise approaches to oxidize carbons 12a and 4a based on enol- and enolate-based oxidations, respectively, the latter of which was accomplished after systematic investigations that revealed critical reactivity patterns. The herein described synthetic strategy resulted in the total synthesis of viridicatumtoxin B (1), which, in turn, formed the basis for the revision of its originally assigned structure. The developed chemistry facilitated the synthesis of a series of viridicatumtoxin analogues, which were evaluated against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains, including drug-resistant pathogens, revealing the first structure-activity relationships within this structural type.

Enantioselective functionalization of indoles and pyrroles via an in situ-formed spiro intermediate

Herein we report a highly enantioselective synthesis of polycyclic indoles and pyrroles with up to 99% ee by an iridium catalyst system consisting of a commercially available iridium precursor and a readily accessible ligand. Investigation of the reaction mechanism led to the discovery of an unprecedented dearomatized spiro intermediate and its in situ migration phenomenon. The new reaction mode features switching of the substituent from the indole C-3 position to the C-2 position (from the C-2 position to the C-3 position in the case of pyrrole) without loss of the enantiomeric purity, providing a novel concept in designing the asymmetric construction of enantiopure polycyclic indoles and pyrroles.

Toward the total synthesis of elisapterosin B: A Hg(OTf)(2)-promoted diastereoselective intramolecular Friedel-Crafts alkylation reaction

As part of an approach to the synthesis of the antitubercular agent elisapterosin B, we prepared two different chiral, non-racemic olefinic substrates and examined their diastereoselective ring closure using mercury salts. The effort yielded potential precurors to elisapterosin B in good yield with good to excellent diastereocontrol.

A review of new developments in the Friedel-Crafts alkylation - From green chemistry to asymmetric catalysis

The development of efficient Friedel-Crafts alkylations of arenes and heteroarenes using only catalytic amounts of a Lewis acid has gained much attention over the last decade. The new catalytic approaches described in this review are favoured over classical Friedel-Crafts conditions as benzyl-, propargyl- and allyl alcohols, or styrenes, can be used instead of toxic benzyl halides. Additionally, only low catalyst loadings are needed to provide a wide range of products. Following a short introduction about the origin and classical definition of the Friedel-Crafts reaction, the review will describe the different environmentally benign substrates which can be applied today as an approach towards greener processes. Additionally, the first diastereoselective and enantioselective Friedel-Crafts-type alkylations will be highlighted.

Toward palau'amine: Hg(OTf)2-catalyzed synthesis of the cyclopentane core

Catalytic cyclization: The Hg(OTf)2‐catalyzed N‐selective cyclization of amide carbonyl moieties for the construction of a quaternary carbon center was developed. The Hg(OTf)2‐catalyzed cyclization of cyclopentylidene alcohol with acylhydrazide afforded the desired cyclopenta[c]pyridazinone in good yield. The subsequent eight steps gave the functionalized cyclopentane with the correct stereochemistry that corresponds to the E ring of palau′amine (see scheme).magnified image