Synthesis and Use of Bicyclo[1.1.1]pentylaldehyde Building Blocks.

The bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane (BCP) motif is an emerging scaffold in medicinal chemistry because of its bioisosterism to 1,4-phenylene and 1,2-alkynyl functions. The current drawback of its use is the lack of stable versatile synthetic building blocks. Aldehydes are among the most useful functionalities in organic chemistry. In this paper, a simple one-pot procedure from aryl-halides and [1.1.1]propellane is described. Preparation of various BCP molecules is conducted to showcase the versatility of these stable intermediates.

Catalytic Activation of Trimethylsilylacetylenes: A One-Pot Route to Unsymmetrical Acetylenes and Heterocycles.

For the synthesis of unsymmetrical acetylenes, a Sonogashira coupling-deprotection-Sonogashira coupling reaction sequence is often used. Removal of protecting groups requires harsh conditions or an excess of difficult to handle and expensive reagents. Herein, we disclose a novel catalytic method for the selective deprotection of trimethylsilylacetylenes in Sonogashira reaction. The reagent hexafluorosilicic acid, an inexpensive nontoxic compound, was used to promote the selective desilylation. This method enables the efficient synthesis of unsymmetric acetylenes with other silylated functional groups present. Further possibilities of the method were explored by synthesis of heterocycles.

Efficient O-Functionalization of Carbohydrates with Electrophilic Reagents.

Novel methodology for O-functionalization of carbohydrate derivatives has been established using bench-stable and easily prepared iodonium(III) reagents. Both electron-withdrawing and electron-donating aryl groups were introduced under ambient conditions and without precautions to exclude air or moisture. Furthermore, the approach was extended both to full arylation of cyclodextrin, and to trifluoroethylation of carbohydrate derivatives. This is the first general approach to introduce traditionally non-electrophilic groups into any of the OH groups around the sugar backbone. The methodology will be useful both in synthetic organic chemistry and biochemistry, as important functional groups can be incorporated under simple and robust reaction conditions in a fast and efficient manner.

Gold-catalyzed direct alkynylation of tryptophan in peptides using TIPS-EBX.

The selective functionalization of peptides containing only natural amino acids is important for the modification of biomolecules. In particular, the installation of an alkyne as a useful handle for bioconjugation is highly attractive, but the use of a carbon linker is usually required. Herein, we report the gold-catalyzed direct alkynylation of tryptophan in peptides using the hypervalent iodine reagent TIPS-EBX (1-[(triisopropylsilyl)ethynyl]-1,2-benziodoxol-3(1H)-one). The reaction proceeded in 50-78% yield under mild conditions and could be applied to peptides containing other nucleophilic and aromatic amino acids, such as serine, phenylalanine or tyrosine.

Photoinduced Decarboxylative Borylation of N-Hydroxyphthalimide Esters with Hypoboric Acid.

We developed a visible-light-driven photochemical transformation in which activated primary, secondary, and tertiary alkylcarboxylic acids were converted into the corresponding boronic esters in the absence of catechol and any added photocatalyst. The procedure relies on the utilization of hypoboric acid and redox-active esters of alkylcarboxylic acids to ensure a simple and economic procedure. Quantum chemical calculations and mechanistic considerations provide deeper insights into the mechanism of photochemical borylation reactions.

Copper-Catalyzed Ring Opening of [1.1.1]Propellane with Alkynes: Synthesis of Exocyclic Allenic Cyclobutanes.

Despite the long history and interesting properties of propellanes, these compounds still have tremendous potential to be exploited in synthetic organic chemistry. Herein we disclose an experimentally simple procedure to achieve cyclobutane-containing allenes and alkynes through a copper-catalyzed ring opening of [1.1.1]propellane and subsequent reaction with ethynes.

Gold-Catalyzed Direct Alkynylation of Azulenes.

A novel catalytic method for the direct C-H alkynylation of azulenes is developed. The gold catalyzed functionalization of this special carbacycle is achieved with hypervalent iodonium reagent TIPS-EBX under mild reaction conditions. With the aid of the developed procedure, several TIPS alkynylated azulene derivatives were synthesized bearing important functional groups for further functionalization.

Efficient direct 2,2,2-trifluoroethylation of indoles via C-H functionalization.

A novel highly C3 selective metal free trifluoroethylation of indoles using 2,2,2-trifuoroethyl(mesityl)-iodonium triflate was developed. The methodology enables the introduction of a trifluoroethyl group in a fast and efficient reaction under mild conditions with high functional group tolerance. Beyond the synthetic developments, quantum chemical calculations provide a deeper understanding of the transformation.

C2-selective direct alkynylation of indoles.

The first C2-selective alkynylation of indoles using the hypervalent iodine reagent triisopropylsilylethynyl-1,2-benziodoxol-3(1H)-one (TIPS-EBX) with Pd(II) as a catalyst is described. This convenient and robust method gives a single-step access to substituted alkynyl indoles with very high C2 selectivity. The reaction is orthogonal to classical Pd(0) cross-coupling reactions, as it is tolerant to bromide and iodide substituents. The used silyl protecting group can be easily removed to give terminal acetylenes.