Biomacromolecule-Assisted Screening for Reaction Discovery and Catalyst Optimization.

Reaction discovery and catalyst screening lie at the heart of synthetic organic chemistry. While there are efforts at de novo catalyst design using computation/artificial intelligence, at its core, synthetic chemistry is an experimental science. This review overviews biomacromolecule-assisted screening methods and the follow-on elaboration of chemistry so discovered. All three types of biomacromolecules discussed─enzymes, antibodies, and nucleic acids─have been used as "sensors" to provide a readout on product chirality exploiting their native chirality. Enzymatic sensing methods yield both UV-spectrophotometric and visible, colorimetric readouts. Antibody sensors provide direct fluorescent readout upon analyte binding in some cases or provide for cat-ELISA (Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay)-type readouts. DNA biomacromolecule-assisted screening allows for templation to facilitate reaction discovery, driving bimolecular reactions into a pseudo-unimolecular format. In addition, the ability to use DNA-encoded libraries permits the barcoding of reactants. All three types of biomacromolecule-based screens afford high sensitivity and selectivity. Among the chemical transformations discovered by enzymatic screening methods are the first Ni(0)-mediated asymmetric allylic amination and a new thiocyanopalladation/carbocyclization transformation in which both C-SCN and C-C bonds are fashioned sequentially. Cat-ELISA screening has identified new classes of sydnone-alkyne cycloadditions, and DNA-encoded screening has been exploited to uncover interesting oxidative Pd-mediated amido-alkyne/alkene coupling reactions.

Highly Stereospecific Cyclizations of Homoallylic Silanols.

We demonstrate that di-tert-butylsilanols are competent nucleophiles for the intramolecular interception of palladium π-allyl species. In these reactions, allyl ethyl carbonates are the best precursors for the formation of palladium π-allyl intermediates, and [(Cinnamyl)PdCl]2/BINAP is superior to other Pd salt/ligand framework combinations. Our optimized protocol is compatible with a variety of silanol substrates. Importantly, the cyclization is perfectly stereospecific, proceeding via an anti-syn mechanism, which stands in contrast to reported analogous reactions of alcohols and phenols, known to proceed via an anti-anti mechanism. The alkenes in the product dioxasilinanes serve as blank slates for further functionalization.

Tethered Silanoxyiodination of Alkenes.

We present the first examples of tethered silanoxyiodination reactions of allylic alcohols. The products are useful silanediol organoiodide synthons and are formed with high regioselectivity and diastereocontrol. The reaction is scalable greater than 10-fold without loss of yield or selectivity. Furthermore, the products are starting materials for further transformations, including deiodination, C-N bond installation, epoxide synthesis, and desilylation. DFT calculations provide a basis for understanding the exquisite 6-endo selectivity of this silanoxyiodination reaction and show that the observed products are both kinetically and thermodynamically preferred.

A Formal Rearrangement of Allylic Silanols.

We show that 1M aqueous HCl/THF or NaBH4/DMF allows for demercurative ring-opening of cyclic organomercurial synthons into secondary silanol products bearing terminal alkenes. We had previously demonstrated that primary allylic silanols are readily transformed into cyclic organomercurials using Hg(OTf)2/NaHCO3 in THF. Overall, this amounts to a facile two-step protocol for the rearrangement of primary allylic silanol substrates. Computational investigations suggest that this rearrangement is under thermodynamic control and that the di-tert-butylsilanol protecting group is essential for product selectivity.

Diversity-Oriented Synthesis of Spiroannulated Benzofuran-3-one Scaffold of Leptosphaerin C and Congeners via Aryne Insertion.

A concise synthesis of functionalized cyclohexenone-fused spirobenzofuran-3-ones under mild reaction conditions was developed. The reaction proceeds via insertion of aryne into the C-O bond followed by a regioselective intramolecular conjugate addition. The use of silyl-protected acid was crucial for the transformation. This protocol was successfully applied for the synthesis of leptosphaerin C core and its novel analogues.

Unusual Rearrangement-Remercuration Reactions of Allylic Silanols.

We present the first examples of rearrangement reactions of allylic silanol substrates into linear ketone and 5-membered cyclic silanediol organomercurial products. Both reactions are mediated by Hg(OTf)2 but differ in the use of base, solvent, and temperature. The substrate scope of both transformations was explored, and the product organomercurials were shown to be valuable synthons. Mechanistic studies suggest that both products are the result of a series of transformations, cascading in one pot. DFT analysis provides a basis for understanding the rearrangement of a 6-endo intermediate into the 5-exo cyclic silanediol product.

Nucleophilic Nitration of Arynes by Sodium Nitrite and its Multicomponent Reaction Leading to Double-Functionalized Arenes.

An unusual nucleophilic nitration of arynes by NaNO2 in the presence of water has been developed, and the concept was further demonstrated to accomplish a double functionalization of arynes using a multicomponent reaction protocol to synthesize pharmaceutically important (2-nitrophenyl)methanol derivatives. Such substitution ortho to -NO2 is difficult by other means. The reaction conditions are mild and avoid the use of strong acids, expensive transition metal catalysts, and additives.

P-arylation: arynes to aryl-phosphonates, -phosphinates, and -phosphine oxides.

Synthesis of organo-phosphorus compounds and their application in organic synthesis and life sciences has been a topic of contemporary interest. Michaelis-Arbuzov reaction is the most extensively utilized method for their preparation, which works well only with aliphatic halides. Hence, relatively harsh reaction conditions using transition-metal-catalyzed P-arylation (Arbuzov/Hirao reaction) are used for the preparation of aryl-phosphorus compounds. Presented herein is a competent process for the synthesis of aryl-phosphonates, -phosphinates, and -phosphine oxides by making an efficient use of arynes for C-P bond construction.

Transition-metal-free C-arylation at room temperature by arynes.

A facile, fluoride-induced transition-metal-free chemoselective α-arylation of ß-dicarbonyl compounds (malonamide esters) at room temperature using aryne intermediates has been demonstrated. Selective mono- or diarylation and generation of a quaternary benzylic stereocenter have also been achieved. The methodology will be highly useful for the synthesis of a library of CNS depressant barbiturate drugs like Phenobarbital.