MgI2-catalyzed halo aldol reaction: a practical approach to (E)-beta-iodovinyl-beta'-hydroxyketones

Total synthesis and absolute stereochemical assignment of kibdelone C

Kibdelones are hexacyclic tetrahydroxanthones and potent anticancer agents isolated from an Australian microbe. Herein, we describe the synthesis of a chiral, nonracemic iodocyclohexene carboxylate EF ring fragment of the kibdelones employing an intramolecular iodo halo-Michael aldol reaction and its merger with an ABCD ring fragment to afford the congener kibdelone C.

Synthesis of 6- and 7-membered cyclic enaminones: scope and mechanism

Six- and seven-membered cyclic enaminones can be prepared using common, environmentally benign reagents. Amino acids are used as synthetic precursors allowing diversification and the incorporation of chirality. The key reaction in this multistep process involves deprotection of Boc-amino ynones and subsequent treatment with methanolic K(2)CO(3) to induce cyclization. A β-amino elimination side reaction was identified in a few labile substrates that led to either loss of stereochemical purity or degradation. This process can be mitigated in specific cases using mild deprotection conditions. NMR and deuterium-labeling experiments provided valuable insight into the workings and limitations of this reaction. Although disguised as a 6-endo-dig cyclization, the reagents employed in the transformation play a direct role in bond-making and bond-breaking, thus changing the mode of addition to a 6-endo-trig cyclization. This method can be used to construct an array of monocyclic and bicyclic scaffolds, many of which are found in well-known natural products (e.g., indolizidine, quinolizidine, and Stemona alkaloids).

Novel approach to multifunctionalized homoallylic alcohols via regioselective ring opening of aryl oxiranes with 3-iodo allenoates

[reaction: see text] 3-Iodo allenoates were generated in situ and utilized, for the first time, in the ring opening of oxiranes in a regioselective fashion. This simple one-pot three-component reaction protocol provides easy access to highly functionalized homoallylic alcohols in good yields and moderate to very good (Z/E) selectivity. The two functional groups (ester and halogen) can be further subjected to many synthetic transformations.

Multiple Component Approaches to C-Glycosyl β-Amino Acids by Complementary One-Pot Mannich-Type and Reformatsky-Type Reactions

The development of new methods for the preparation of C-glycosyl beta-amino acid libraries with chemical and stereochemical diversity levels was investigated and the results are described herein. Two complementary one-pot three-component Mannich-type and Reformatsky-type synthetic strategies have been developed for the construction of chiral 3-amino propanoate fragments (eventually bis-substituted at C-2) directly linked to the anomeric carbon of pyranose and furanose residues. Both methods involved as the initial step the coupling of a sugar aldehyde to p-methoxybenzylamine but differed in the nucleophile (a d(2) synthon equivalent) which was successively added: a ketene silyl acetal (Mannich route) or a bromozinc enolate (Reformatsky route). Individual C-glycosyl beta-amino esters were isolated as single 3R diastereoisomers in fair to excellent yield (60-90%) and their structure assigned by NMR spectroscopy (Riguera protocol) supported by X-ray crystallography. A tentative explanation of the observed stereochemical outcome based on transition-state models is provided. A preliminary study on the synthesis of alpha,alpha-difluoro C-glycosyl beta-amino acids via a more traditional Reformatsky route is also reported.