Decarboxylative Negishi Coupling of Redox-Active Aliphatic Esters by Cobalt Catalysis.

A cobalt-catalyzed decarboxylative Negishi coupling reaction of redox-active aliphatic esters with organozinc reagents was developed. The method enabled efficient alkyl-aryl, alkyl-alkenyl, and alkyl-alkynyl coupling reactions under mild reaction conditions with no external ligand or additive needed. The success of an in situ activation protocol and the facile synthesis of the drug molecule (±)-preclamol highlight the synthetic potential of this method. Mechanistic studies indicated that a radical mechanism is involved.

Experimental and Theoretical Studies on Rhodium-Catalyzed Coupling of Benzamides with 2,2-Difluorovinyl Tosylate: Diverse Synthesis of Fluorinated Heterocycles.

Fluorinated heterocycles play an important role in pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries. Herein, we report on the synthesis of four types of fluorinated heterocycles via rhodium(III)-catalyzed C-H activation of arenes/alkenes and versatile coupling with 2,2-difluorovinyl tosylate. With N-OMe benzamide being a directing group (DG), the reaction delivered a monofluorinated alkene with the retention of the tosylate functionality. Subsequent one-pot acid treatment allowed the efficient synthesis of 4-fluoroisoquinolin-1(2H)-ones and 5-fluoropyridin-2(1H)-ones. When N-OPiv benzamides were used, however, [4 + 2] cyclization occurred to provide gem-difluorinated dihydroisoquinolin-1(2H)-ones. Synthetic applications have been demonstrated and the ready availability of both the arene and the coupling partner highlighted the synthetic potentials of these protocols. Mechanistically, these two processes share a common process involving N-H deprotonation, C-H activation, and olefin insertion to form a 7-membered rhodacycle. Thereafter, different reaction pathways featuring ß-F elimination and C-N bond formation are followed on the basis of density functional theory (DFT) studies. These two pathways are DG-dependent and led to the open chain and cyclization products, respectively. The mechanistic rationale was supported by detailed DFT studies. In particular, the origins of the intriguing selectivity in the competing ß-F elimination versus C-N bond formation were elucidated. It was found that ß-F elimination is a facile event and proceeds via a syn-coplanar transition state with a low energy barrier. The C-N bond formation proceeds via a facile migratory insertion of the Rh-C(alkyl) into the Rh(V) amido species. In both reactions, the migratory insertion of the alkene is turnover-limiting, which stays in good agreement with the experimental studies.

Total synthesis of (±)-ganocins B and C.

The first total synthesis of structurally unique polycyclic phenolic meroterpenoids, ganocins B and C is reported. The synthesis features gold-catalyzed intramolecular cascade cyclization to construct the C/D ring bearing an angular methyl group, diastereoselective Michael addition, and acid-mediated one-pot Robinson cyclization/deprotection/isomerization.

Psiguajadials A-K: Unusual Psidium Meroterpenoids as Phosphodiesterase-4 Inhibitors from the Leaves of Psidium guajava.

Bioassay-guided fractionation of the ethanolic extract of the leaves of Psidium guajava led to the isolation of 11 new Psidium meroterpenoids, psiguajadials A-K (1-11), along with 17 known ones (12-28). Their structures and absolute configurations were elucidated by spectroscopic methods and comparison of experimental and calculated ECD. Compounds 1 and 2 represent two unprecedented skeletons of 3,5-diformyl-benzyl phloroglucinol-coupled sesquiterpenoid, while 3 is the first example of Psidium meroterpenoids coupling via an oxepane ring. Putative biosynthetic pathways towards 1 and 2 are proposed. Compounds 1-13 and 16-26 exhibited moderate inhibitory activities against phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4), a drug target for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, with IC50 values in the range of 1.34-7.26 µM.

Regioselective Synthesis of 5-Aminooxazoles via Cp*Co(III)-Catalyzed Formal [3 + 2] Cycloaddition of N-(Pivaloyloxy)amides with Ynamides.

A simple and efficient protocol for the regioselective synthesis of 5-aminooxazoles is disclosed. The reaction, catalyzed by a cheap Cp*Co(III) catalyst, starts from easily accessible N-(pivaloyloxy)amides and ynamides. Mild reaction conditions, a broad substrate scope, good functional group tolerance, and good to excellent yields were observed.

Three-Component Catalytic Carboxygenation of Activated Alkenes Enabled by Bimetallic Rh(III)/Cu(II) Catalysis.

A novel cascade Cp*Rh(III)-catalyzed C-H alkylation/Cu(II)-promoted α-oxygenation which enabled a three-component carboxygenation of activated alkene is reported. Mild reaction conditions, broad substrate scope, and good functional group tolerance were observed. The synthetic utility of the protocol was showcased by the facile transformations of the product to a variety of structurally diverse molecules. Preliminary mechanistic studies were conducted.