A Computational Investigation of the Ligand-Controlled Cu-Catalyzed Site-Selective Propargylation and Allenylation of Carbonyl Compounds

A copper-catalyzed site-selective propargylation/allenylation reaction toward carbonyl compounds has been mechanistically investigated using a computational approach. Different reaction pathways and catalytic cycles were investigated. Control of the site selectivity arises from a destabilizing interaction introduced by the phenyl-substituted ligand.

Zinc diiodide-promoted synthesis of trisubstituted allenes from propargylic amines

Zinc diiodide has been identified as an effective reagent for the efficient synthesis of trisubstituted allenes from propargylic amines.

A hybrid approach to new molecular scaffolds

Our various efforts toward the synthesis of a set of novel sugar hybrid scaffolds of several biologically active natural products such as taxol, steroids, β-lactams, and otteliones are presented. We have shown the application of the hybrid approach to design and rapidly generate a library of novel natural product-like compounds, which may have interesting biological features, using metathesis and/or cycloaddition reactions as key steps.

Stereocontrolled total synthesis of polygalolide A

The total synthesis of polygalolide A, a secondary metabolite that was isolated from a Chinese medicinal plant, is reported. A key issue in this synthesis was construction of an oxabicyclo[3.2.1] skeleton, which was solved by the development of an intramolecular Ferrier-type C-glycosylation of a glucal with siloxyfuran as an internal nucleophile. The substrate was prepared from D-glucal by the introduction of trimethylsilylacetylene and siloxyfuran groups. Although C-glycosylation did not occur under the conditions found from model experiments, further examination revealed that the combination of trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate (TMSOTf) and 2,4,6-collidine successfully afforded the desired product as a single diastereomer. The siloxy group at the C3 position played a crucial role in the stereocontrol of this reaction. The product was further transformed into a tetracyclic compound as follows: The vinyl ether and acetylenic moieties were reduced and the siloxy group was removed with a Barton-McCombie reaction. The construction of the six-membered ether and the γ-lactone provided the tetracyclic compound. Finally, a phenolic moiety was introduced by using a Mukaiyama aldol reaction to furnish polygalolide A.

How easy are the syntheses of allenes?

This short review highlights some of the recent important developments on the synthesis of allenes and its applications on the synthesis of some allenic natural products and allenic-based optoelectronic materials.

Synthesis of spirocyclic C-arylglycosides and -ribosides by ruthenium-catalyzed cycloaddition

Spirocyclic C-arylglycosides were synthesized from the appropriately protected delta-gluconolactones. Addition of lithium acetylide followed by glycosylation with 3-(trimethylsilyl)propargyl alcohol converted the delta-gluconolactones into silylated diynes. After desilylation, subsequent ruthenium-catalyzed cycloaddition of the resultant diynes with alkynes or chloroacetonitrile gave spirocyclic C-arylglycosides in good yields and selectivity. This strategy was also extended to the synthesis of spirocyclic C-arylribosides from the known gamma-ribonolactone derivative. Moreover, silver-catalyzed iodination of the sugar diynes followed by ruthenium-catalyzed cycloaddition with acetylene delivered spirocyclic C-iodophenylglycosides and -ribosides, which were subjected to palladium-catalyzed C-C bond-forming reactions and copper-catalyzed coupling with nitrogen heterocycles to lead to various derivatives.