Total Synthesis of Dragocins A-C through Electrochemical Cyclization

The first total synthesis of dragocins A-C, remarkable natural products containing an unusual C4' oxidized ribose architecture bridged by a polyhydroxylated pyrrolidine, is presented through a route featuring a number of uncommon maneuvers. Several generations towards the target molecules are presented, including the spectacular failure of a key C-H oxidation on a late-stage intermediate. The final route features rapid, stereocontrolled access to a densely functionalized pyrrolidine and an unprecedented diastereoselective oxidative electrochemical cyclization to forge the hallmark 9-membered ring. Preliminary studies suggest this electrochemical oxidation protocol is generally useful.

Photochemical Radical Bicyclization of 1,5-Enynes: Divergent Synthesis of Fluorenes and Azepinones

A dual nickel- and iridium-photocatalyzed radical cascade bicyclization reaction for the synthesis of highly complex molecular structures in an atom- and step-economic manner has been described. A series of radical precursors are utilized for the divergent synthesis of diversely substituted fluorenes and indenoazepinones bearing quaternary carbons by using cascade cyclization reactions of 1,5-enynes. This reaction is characterized by its mild conditions, broad substrate scope, excellent selectivity, and satisfactory yield including facile scale-up synthesis.

Bicyclic N-dihalocyclopropylamide derivatives as precursors of nitrogen-containing fused polycyclic systems

Examples of carbon-carbon bond-forming cyclisation reactions, involving allyl cations generated by the thermal ring-opening of halocyclopropanes, have been scarcely reported. In this contribution, we are describing the results of a study conducted with N-dihalocyclopropylamide substrates, designed as precursors of cyclic iminium intermediates that were aimed at participating in intramolecular reactions with electron-rich aromatic groups. Competitive side-reactions were identified, and access to the desired polycyclic products was carefully evaluated. The results were found to be strongly dependent on the substitution pattern of the nucleophilic aromatic moieties, as well as on the sizes of the rings of the target products. In spite of the rather moderate yields generally obtained, this approach represents a particularly short and inexpensive route to various interesting nitrogen-containing polycyclic systems, namely benzoindolizidine, benzoquinolizidine, piperidinobenzoazepane and azepanoisoquinoline compounds.

Synthesis, C-H bond functionalisation and cycloadditions of 6-styryl-1,2-oxathiine 2,2-dioxides

A series of 6-styryl-1,2-oxathiine 2,2-dioxides have been efficiently obtained by a two-step protocol from readily available (1E,4E)-1-(dimethylamino)-5-arylpenta-1,4-dien-3-ones involving a regioselective sulfene addition and subsequent Cope elimination. Pd-Mediated direct C-H bond functionalisation of the 6-styryl-1,2-oxathiine 2,2-dioxides and a wider selection of 5,6-diaryl substituted 1,2-oxathiine 2,2-dioxides proceeded smoothly to afford C-3 (hetero)aryl substituted analogues and the results are contrasted with those of a complementary bromination - Suzuki cross-coupling sequence. Whilst the cycloaddition of benzyne, derived from in situ fluoride initiated decomposition of 2-(trimethylsilyl)phenyl trifluoromethanesulfonate, to the substituted 1,2-oxathiine 2,2-dioxides resulted in low yields of substituted naphthalenes, the addition of 4-phenyl-1,2,4-triazoline-3,5-dione to the 6-styryl-1,2-oxathiine 2,2-dioxides afforded novel 5,9-dihydro-1H-[1,2]oxathiino[5,6-c][1,2,4]triazolo[1,2-a]pyridazine-1,3(2H)-dione 8,8-dioxides through a silica-mediated isomerisation of the initial [4 + 2] adducts.