Catalytic, selective, and stereocontrolled construction of C4 quaternary and homobenzylic dihydroisoquinolones by sp3 C-H benzylation

Harnessing the 1,3-azadiene-anhydride reaction for the regioselective and stereocontrolled synthesis of lactam-fused bromotetrahydropyrans by bromoetherification of lactam-tethered trisubstituted tertiary alkenols

Halo-cycloetherification of lactam-tethered alkenols enables the construction of oxygen-heterocycles that are fused to nitrogen heterocycles via intramolecular halonium-induced nucleophilic addition. Specifically, tetrahydropyrans (THPs) that are fused to a nitrogen heterocycle constitute the core of several bioactive molecules, including tachykinin receptor antagonists and alpha-1 adrenergic antagonists. Although the literature is replete with successful examples of the halo-cycloetherification of simple mono- or disubstituted primary alkenols, methods for the modular, efficient, regioselective, and stereocontrolled intramolecular haloetherification of sterically encumbered trisubstituted tertiary alkenols are rare. Here, we describe a simple intramolecular bromoetherification strategy that meets these benchmarks and proceeds with exclusive 6-endo regioselectivity. The transformation employs mild and water-tolerant conditions, which bodes well for late-stage diversification. The hindered ethers contain four contiguous stereocenters as well as one halogen-bearing tetrasubstituted stereocenter.

Revisiting the 1,3-azadiene-succinic anhydride annulation reaction for the stereocontrolled synthesis of allylic 2-oxopyrrolidines bearing up to four contiguous stereocenters

Polysubstituted 2-oxopyrrolidines bearing at least two contiguous stereocenters constitute the core of several pharmaceuticals, including clausenamide (antidementia). Here, we describe a flexible annulation strategy, which unites succinic anhydride and 1,3-azadienes to produce allylic 2-oxopyrrolidines bearing contiguous stereocenters. The approach is chemoselective, efficient, modular, scalable, and diastereoselective. The scalable nature of the reactions offers the opportunity for post-diversification, leading to incorporation of motifs with either known pharmaceutical value or that permit subsequent conversion to medicinally relevant entities.

Diastereospecific arylation and cascade deconstructive amidation/thioesterification of readily available lactam-fused bromolactones

An intrinsic goal when designing synthetic methodology is to identify approaches whereby readily accessible precursors are converted into an array of products, which efficiently tap into new 3D-chemical space. In these studies, readily available bicyclic lactam-bromolactones have been interrogated in several fragment growth protocols by utilizing the halogen and lactone motifs as versatile linchpins for strategic construction of C-C, C-N, C-O, and C-S bonds. Diastereospecific C(sp3)-C(sp2) Kumada coupling of sterically imposing [5,5]-bicyclic lactam-bromolactones with several aryl Grignard reagents, under palladium catalysis, furnishes diarylmethane-tethered lactam-lactones in synthetically attractive yields, stereoinvertive fashion, and with a tolerance for many functional groups. When [5,6]-bicyclic lactam-bromolactones, which are prone to β-hydride elimination are employed, efficient arylation is observed only under Co(acac)3-catalyzed conditions. Importantly, these [5,6]-bicyclic lactam-bromolactones undergo retentive arylation, independent of the transition metal catalyst. A base-mediated cascade deconstructive amidation of the [5,6]-bicyclic lactam-bromolactones with primary aliphatic amines proceeds efficiently to afford epoxide-tethered lactam carboxamides, which bear four contiguous stereocenters. Furthermore, an unusual route to homoallylic thioesters has been uncovered through deconstructive contra-thermodynamic thioesterification of the lactam-fused bromolactone precursors.

Regiodivergent synthesis of sulfone-tethered lactam-lactones bearing four contiguous stereocenters

Sulfone-tethered lactones/amides/amines display a diverse spectrum of biological activities, including anti-psychotic and anti-hypertensive. Sulfones are also widely present in functional materials and fragrances. We therefore reasoned that a regiodivergent and stereocontrolled strategy that merges the sulfone, lactone, and lactam motifs would likely lead to the discovery of new pharmacophores and functional materials. Here, we report mild conditions for the sulfonyllactonization of γ-lactam-tethered 5-aryl-4(E)-pentenoic acids. The annulation is highly modular, chemoselective, and diastereoselective. With respect to regioselectivity, trisubstituted alkenoic acids display a preference for 5-exo-trig cyclization whereas disubstituted alkenoic acids undergo exclusive 6-endo-trig cyclization. The lactam-fused sulfonyllactones bear angular quaternary as well as four contiguous stereocenters. The products are post-modifiable, especially through a newly developed Co-catalyzed reductive cross-coupling protocol.

Contra-thermodynamic halolactonization of lactam-tethered 5-aryl-4(E)-pentenoic acids for the flexible and stereocontrolled synthesis of fused lactam-halolactones

Halolactonization of alkenoic acids enables the construction of oxygen-heterocycles via intramolecular halonium-induced nucleophilic addition. Although the literature is currently inundated with halolactonizations of 5-aryl-4(E)-pentenoic acids that predictably afford the 6-endo cyclization adducts, methods that reliably alter the innate regioselectivity bias to instead deliver the thermodynamically less favored 5-exo cyclization products are relatively rare. Here, we attempt to bridge this gap and have found mild conditions for contra-thermodynamic halolactonization of lactam-tethered 5-aryl-4(E)-pentenoic acids that lead to the formation of trans-fused lactam-γ-lactones. The natural proclivity for these 5-aryl-4(E)-pentenoic acids to undergo 6-endo cyclization is overridden and 5-exo-trig cyclization predominates. The success of the approach hinges on the use of N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) as the solvent and N-methylmorpholine oxide as the catalyst. The lactam-lactone products are synthesized in high diastereoselectivity, modularity, and chemoselectivity. Notably, most of the bicycles contain one benzylic quaternary stereocenter as well as an α-alkoxy quaternary stereocenter.

The contra-thermodynamic halolactonization of lactam-tethered 5-aryl-4(E)-pentenoic acids, under solvent- and catalyst-controlled conditions, has facilitated the efficient and stereocontrolled synthesis of halogenated fused γ-lactone-lactams.

Stereocontrolled access to δ-lactone-fused-γ-lactams bearing angular benzylic quaternary stereocenters

C-fused γ-lactam-lactones are resident in several bioactive molecules, including anticancer agents such as omuralide. In this embodiment, we report mild conditions for the catalytic halolactonization of lactam-tethered 5-aryl-4(E)-pentenoic acids. The use of dichloromethane as the solvent and Ph₃P Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019 ]]> S as the catalyst led to predominant 6-endo-trig cyclization and furnished the trans-fused-γ-lactam-δ-lactones. The transformation is modular, regioselective, chemoselective, and diastereoselective. The γ-lactam-δ-lactones bear angular quaternary benzylic stereocenters, which is noteworthy since the presence of a quaternary carbon in bioactive small molecules often promotes an element of conformational restriction that imparts potency, selectivity, and metabolic stability. The generated halogen and lactone motifs are important functional handles for late-stage diversification.

The catalytic halolactonization of readily affordable γ-lactam-tethered alkenoic acids has facilitated the site-selective, efficient, and stereocontrolled synthesis of halogenated fused γ-lactam-δ-lactones.

Site-selective, catalytic, and diastereoselective sp3 C–H hydroxylation and alkoxylation of vicinally functionalized lactams

The C–H bond functionalization of sp³ carbon centres presents a significant challenge due to the inert nature of hydrocarbons as well as the need to selectively functionalize one of the numerous aliphatic C–H bonds embodied in organic molecules. Here, we describe catalytic, diastereoselective, and site-selective sp³ C–H hydroxylation/alkoxylation protocols featuring dihydroisoquinolones, γ-, and δ-lactams, which bear vicinal stereocenters. The hydroxylation strategy utilizes oxygen, a waste-free oxidant and affords attractive fragments for potential drug discovery. Fe-catalyzed dehydrative coupling of the resulting tertiary alcohols with simple primary alcohols has led to the construction of highly versatile unsymmetrical dialkyl ethers.

Catalytic, diastereoselective, and site-selective sp³ C–H hydroxylation and alkoxylation protocols featuring lactams that bear vicinal stereocenters, is described.