Synthetic Entry to Polyfunctionalized Molecules through the [3+2]-Cycloaddition of Thiocarbonyl Ylides.

Here we present a comprehensive study on the [3+2]-cycloaddition of thiocarbonyl ylides with a wide variety of alkenes and alkynes. The obtained dihydro- and tetrahydrothiophene products serve as exceptionally versatile intermediates providing access to thiophenes, dienes, dendralenes, and vic-quarternary carbon centers. The use of high-pressure conditions enables thermally unstable, sterically encumbered or moderately reactive substrates to undergo the cycloaddition under mild conditions, thereby increasing the yield by up to 58%. In addition, we showcase its utility by the formal syntheses of the pharmaceuticals NGB 4420 and tenilapine.

Mechanistically Guided Design of Ligands That Significantly Improve the Efficiency of CuH-Catalyzed Hydroamination Reactions.

Using a mechanically guided ligand design approach, a new ligand (SEGFAST) for the CuH-catalyzed hydroamination reaction of unactivated terminal olefins has been developed, providing a 62-fold rate increase over reactions compared to DTBM-SEGPHOS, the previous optimal ligand. Combining the respective strengths of computational chemistry and experimental kinetic measurements, we were able to quickly identify potential modifications that lead to more effective ligands, thus avoiding synthesizing and testing a large library of ligands. By optimizing the combination of attractive, noncovalent ligand-substrate interactions and the stability of the catalyst under the reaction conditions, we were able to identify a finely tuned hybrid ligand that greatly enables accelerated hydrocupration rates with unactivated alkenes. Moreover, a modular and robust synthetic sequence was devised, which allowed for the practical, gram-scale synthesis of these novel hybrid ligand structures.

A modular synthesis of tetracyclic meroterpenoid antibiotics.

Stachyflin, aureol, smenoqualone, strongylin A, and cyclosmenospongine belong to a family of tetracyclic meroterpenoids, which, by nature of their unique molecular structures and various biological properties, have attracted synthetic and medicinal chemists alike. Despite their obvious biosynthetic relationship, only scattered reports on the synthesis and biological investigation of individual meroterpenoids have appeared so far. Herein, we report a highly modular synthetic strategy that enabled the synthesis of each of these natural products and 15 non-natural derivatives. The route employs an auxiliary-controlled Diels-Alder reaction to enable the enantioselective construction of the decalin subunit, which is connected to variously substituted arenes by either carbonyl addition chemistry or sterically demanding sp2-sp3 cross-coupling reactions. The selective installation of either the cis- or trans-decalin stereochemistry is accomplished by an acid-mediated cyclization/isomerization reaction. Biological profiling reveals that strongylin A and a simplified derivative thereof have potent antibiotic activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Evolution of a Polyene Cyclization Cascade for the Total Synthesis of (-)-Cyclosmenospongine.

We report a full account on the development of a unique cationic polyene cyclization for the total synthesis of the tetracyclic meroterpenoid (-)-cyclosmenospongine. A highly convergent three-component coupling strategy enabled rapid access to individual cyclization precursors that were tested for their reactivity. The successful transformation generates three rings and sets four consecutive stereocenters in a single operation proceeding in a highly efficient manner to give exclusively the trans-decalin framework. In addition, we found that the enol ether geometry and the relative configuration of C3 and C8 are crucial for the success of the polyene cyclization.

Convergent Assembly of the Tetracyclic Meroterpenoid (-)-Cyclosmenospongine by a Non-Biomimetic Polyene Cyclization.

The cationic cyclization of polyenes constitutes a powerful and elegant transformation, which has been utilized by nature's biosynthetic machinery for the construction of complex polycyclic terpenoids. Previous studies by chemists to mimic this cyclization in the laboratory were limited to different modes of activation using biosynthetic-like precursors, which accommodate only simple methyl-derived substituents. Here we describe the development of an unprecedented and highly efficient polyene cyclization of an aryl enol ether containing substrate. The cyclization was shown to proceed in a stepwise manner to generate three rings and three consecutive stereocenters, two of which are tetrasubstituted, in a single flask. The developed transformation is of great synthetic value and has enabled the convergent assembly of the tetracyclic meroterpenoid (-)-cyclosmenospongine.

Sequential O-H/C-H bond insertion of phenols initiated by the gold(I)-catalyzed cyclization of 1-bromo-1,5-enynes.

The development of a sequential O-H/C-H bond functionalization of phenols initiated by the cationic gold(I)-catalyzed cyclization of 1-bromo-1,5-enynes to produce (2-bromocyclopent-2-en-1-yl)phenols is reported. This unprecedented domino transformation efficiently proceeds under mild conditions (5 mol % of (t-Bu)3PAuNTf2, CH2Cl2, 0-23 °C) via an intermediate aryl alkyl ether which collapses at ambient temperature to undergo a 1,2-hydride shift followed by C-H insertion of the phenol.

Large yet flexible N-heterocyclic carbene ligands for palladium catalysis.

A straightforward and scalable eight-step synthesis of new N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) has been developed from inexpensive and readily available 2-nitro-m-xylene. This process allows for the preparation of a novel class of NHCs coined ITent ("Tent" for "tentacular") of which the well-known IMes (N,N'-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene), IPr (N,N'-bis(2,6-di(2-propyl)phenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene) and IPent (N,N'-bis(2,6-di(3-pentyl)phenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene) NHCs are the simplest and already known congeners. The synthetic route was successfully used for the preparation of three members of the ITent family: IPent (N,N'-bis(2,6-di(3-pentyl)phenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene), IHept (N,N'-bis(2,6-di(4-heptyl)phenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene) and INon (N,N'-bis(2,6-di(5-nonyl)phenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene). The electronic and steric properties of each NHC were studied through the preparation of both nickel and palladium complexes. Finally the effect of these new ITent ligands in Pd-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura and Buchwald-Hartwig cross-couplings was investigated.

The chemistry of isoindole natural products.

This review highlights the chemical and biological aspects of natural products containing an oxidized or reduced isoindole skeleton. This motif is found in its intact or modified form in indolocarbazoles, macrocyclic polyketides (cytochalasan alkaloids), the aporhoeadane alkaloids, meroterpenoids from Stachybotrys species and anthraquinone-type alkaloids. Concerning their biological activity, molecular structure and synthesis, we have limited this review to the most inspiring examples. Within different congeners, we have selected a few members and discussed the synthetic routes in more detail. The putative biosynthetic pathways of the presented isoindole alkaloids are described as well.