Phosphine/palladium-catalyzed syntheses of alkylidene phthalans, 3-deoxyisoochracinic acid, isoochracinic acid, and isoochracinol

In this study we used sequential catalysis-PPh(3)--catalyzed nucleophilic addition followed by Pd(0)-catalyzed Heck cyclization--to construct complex functionalized alkylidene phthalans rapidly, in high yields, and with good stereoselectivities (E/Z ratios of up to 1:22). The scope of this Michael-Heck reaction includes substrates bearing various substituents around the alkylidene phthalan backbone. Applying this efficient sequential catalysis, we accomplished concise total syntheses of 3-deoxyisoochacinic acid, isoochracinic acid, and isoochracinol.