Photoinduced reductive Reformatsky reaction of α-haloesters and aldehydes or ketones by cooperative dual-metal catalysis

A photoinduced reductive Reformatsky reaction by cooperative dual-metal catalysis is described. This methodology enables the implementation of this venerable reaction in environmentally friendly conditions, obviating the need for a stoichiometric amount of metals. A broad range of synthetically useful β-hydroxy esters can be efficiently prepared in moderate to high yields using this protocol.

O-Acetyl 1,3-Propanediol as an Acrolein Proelectrophile in Enantioselective Iridium-Catalyzed Carbonyl Allylation

O-Acetyl 1,3-propanediol serves as an acrolein proelectrophile in π-allyliridium-C,O-benzoate-catalyzed carbonyl allylations mediated by racemic α-substituted allylic acetates. Using the iridium catalyst modified by (R)-SEGPHOS, a variety of 3-hydroxy-1,5-hexadienes are formed with uniformly high levels of regio-, anti-diastereo-, and enantioselectivity.

Allyl Alcohol as an Acrolein Equivalent in Enantioselective C-C Coupling: Total Synthesis of Amphidinolides R, J, and S

The first systematic study of catalytic enantioselective 1,2-additions to acrolein is described. Specifically, using allyl alcohol as a tractable, inexpensive acrolein proelectrophile, iridium-catalyzed acrolein allylation is achieved with high levels of regio-, anti-diastereo-, and enantioselectivity. This process delivers 3-hydroxy-1,5-hexadienes, a useful compound class that is otherwise challenging to access via enantioselective catalysis. Two-fold use of this method unlocks concise total syntheses of amphidinolide R (9 vs 23 steps, LLS) and amphidinolide J (9 vs 23 or 26 steps, LLS), which are prepared in fewer than half the steps previously possible, and the first total synthesis of amphidinolide S (10 steps, LLS).

Stereoselective Total Synthesis of (±)-Pleurospiroketals A and B

A full account of our efforts toward the stereoselective total synthesis of sesquiterpenoid-derived natural products (±)-pleurospiroketals A and B is described. Commercially available 3-methyl-2-cyclohexenone and 2,2-dimethyloxirane were used as key building blocks, and the substrate-controlled stereoselection was exploited to access the entire stereochemistry of these natural products. Initially, a planned synthetic route involving a [6,5]-bicyclic lactone intermediate was found to be insurmountable, and the later strategy comprising OsO₄-NMO-mediated dihydroxylation of 3-methyl-2-cyclohexenone, followed by Luche reduction, Eschenmoser methylenation, and Brønsted acid-induced spiroketalization steps, was ultimately identified as the reliable strategy.

Benzannulated 5,5-spiroketal sesquiterpenes from the roots of Angelica Pubescens

Two new tetrahydrobenzannulated 5,5-spiroketal sesquiterpenes (1 and 2) and three novel benzannulated 5,5-spiroketal sesquiterpenes (3-5) namely angepubesins A-E, together with a new heliannane-type benzannulated sesquiterpene namely angepubesin F (6) and two known monoterpenes (7 and 8), were isolated from the roots of Angelica Pubescens. Their structures were identified by various spectroscopic analyses (NMR, MS, UV, IR), in combination with ¹³C NMR calculation as well as MAE, CMAE, DP4 + and MAE_ΔΔδ values analyses. The absolute configurations of 1-6 were determined by modified Mosher's method, ECD calculation and single-crystal X-ray diffraction (Cu Kα). Furthermore, the inhibitory activities of these isolated compounds against nitric oxide (NO) production induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in RAW264.7 macrophage cells were evaluated. The results showed that compounds 2-4, 6 and 7, especially 6, displayed markedly inhibitory effects on NO production in a concentration-dependent manner. Mechanical study revealed that compound 6 could significantly inhibit the expression of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) protein at a concentration of 10 μM. In addition, compound 6 suppressed the activation of JAK-STAT and NF-κB pathways.

Samarium Iodide-Promoted Asymmetric Reformatsky Reaction of 3-(2-Haloacyl)-2-oxazolidinones with Enals

3-(2-Haloacyl)-2-oxazolidinones were shown to react with enals in an asymmetric SmI₂-promoted Reformatsky reaction to give stereochemically well-defined 3-hydroxy-4-alkenyl- and 3-hydroxy-2-methyl-4-alkenyl imides. Chirality transfer of the Evans (S)-oxazolidinone unit via a Zimmerman-Traxler-like transition state resulted in Reformatsky products with a relative syn-configuration. The absolute configuration of compounds obtained is opposite to the corresponding products obtained via aldol addition of boron enolates to enals using the same Evans oxazolidinones.