A novel, tandem construction of C–N and C–C bonds: facile and one-pot transformation of the Baylis–Hillman adducts into 2-benzazepines

Cu-Catalyzed Tandem C-N and C-C Bond Formation Leading to 4(1H)-Quinolones: A Scaffold with Diverse Biological Properties from Totally New Raw Materials in a Single Step

A novel Cu-catalyzed tandem C-N and C-C bond-formation reaction has been developed to furnish 2-substituted-4-(1H)-quinolones. 4-(1H)-quinolones play an important role in medicinal chemistry. Many 2-aryl(alkyl)-4(1H)-quinolones are found to exhibit diverse biological properties. While traditional methods have inherent issues [like starting materials with incompatible functional groups (NH2 and keto groups)], many modern methods either require activated starting materials (like Ynones) or employ expensive metals (Pd, Rh, Au, etc.) involving carbonylation using CO or metal complexes. Our protocol presents an environmentally friendly one-step method for the construction of these useful 2-substituted-4-(1H)-quinolones from easily available aryl boronic acid (or pinacolate ester) and nitriles as new raw materials, using a cheap Cu-catalyst and O2 (air) as a green oxidant. We further extended its application to the synthesis of various natural products, including the first formal total synthesis of punarnavine. A plausible mechanism involving an aryl nitrilium ion (formed due to the intermolecular C-N bond-forming coupling between aryl boron species and the nitrile group) followed by tandem intramolecular C-C bond formation has been proposed.

The Baylis–Hillman reaction: a new continent in organic chemistry – our philosophy, vision and over three decades of research

This mini review describes in brief the way in which our research has contributed towards the development of the Baylis–Hillman reaction as a powerful tool in synthetic chemistry, offering unending opportunities and intellectual challenges to understand and address the present day requirements in the area of organic chemistry.

Pd-catalyzed decarboxylative allylic coupling of acetates of Baylis–Hillman alcohols with propiolic acids: a highly regio- and stereoselective synthesis of 1,5-diarylpent-1-en-4-yne derivatives

Pd-catalyzed decarboxylative allylic coupling of acetates of Baylis–Hillman alcohols with alkynyl carboxylic acids leading to the formation of 1,5-diarylpent-1-en-4-ynes in a highly regio- and stereoselective manner has been developed.

The Baylis–Hillman acetates in organic synthesis: Unprecedented sodium nitrite induced intramolecular Friedel–Crafts cyclization of secondary nitro compounds

Unprecedented sodium nitrite mediated intramolecular Friedel–Crafts cyclization of alkyl (E)-2-arylidene-4-nitroalkanoates and (E)-3-arylidene-5-nitroalkan-2-ones derived from Baylis–Hillman acetates has been described.

Enantioselective synthesis of β2-amino acids using rhodium-catalyzed hydrogenation

A series of protected beta2-dehydroamino acids has been prepared in three steps from commercially available starting materials in good yields. These were used as substrates in rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation applying a mixed ligand system of monodentate phosphoramidites and phosphines. Optimization of the catalyst structure was achieved by high throughput experimentation. High enantioselectivities were obtained (up to 91%) with full conversion for a number of beta-amino acids.

TiCl4 catalyzed tandem construction of C–C and C–O bonds: a simple and one-pot atom-economical stereoselective synthesis of spiro-oxindoles

An atom-economical stereoselective synthesis of [{1-acetyl-5-methyl-6,8-dioxabicyclo(3.2.1)octane}-7-spiro-3'-(indolin-2'-one)] derivatives, containing both the oxindole and 6,8-dioxabicyclo(3.2.1)octane moieties via TiCl(4) catalyzed coupling of 2-acetyl-6-methyl-2,3-dihydro-4H-pyran with isatin derivatives is described.

Simple, Facile, and One-Pot Conversion of the Baylis−Hillman Adducts into Functionalized 1,2,3,4-Tetrahydroacridines and Cyclopenta[b]quinolines

A simple, facile, and one-pot synthesis of functionalized 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroacridines and cyclopenta[b]quinolines from the Baylis-Hillman alcohols, i.e., 2-[hydroxy(2-nitroaryl)methyl]cycloalk-2-enones, is described.