Two-step, high-yielding total synthesis of antibiotic pyrones.

A simple two-step dialkylation protocol was developed to synthesize biologically active antibiotics photopyrones, pseudopyronines, and violapyrones from bio-renewable triacetate lactone in excellent yields. These pyrones are functionally modified into another set of pyrone natural products by a single O-methylation reaction. The high-yielding gram scale synthesis of four natural products [pseudopyronine A, photopyrone A, pseudopyronine B and photopyrone C] demonstrated the viability for industrial applications.

Direct Organocatalytic Chemoselective Reductive Alkylation of Chiral 2-Aroylcyclopropanecarbaldehydes: Scope and Applications.

We developed a simple and practically feasible protocol for the chemoselective coupling of optically active functionally rich 2-aroylcyclopropanecarbaldehydes with various CH acids or active methylene compounds under 10 mol % of (s)-proline in the presence of Hantzsch ester as a hydrogen source through a three-component reductive alkylation reaction. The metal-free, organocatalytic selective reductive C-C coupling method has wide advantages/applications like no epimerization, no ring opening, high carbonyl control, and large substrate scope, generating only monoalkylated 2-aroylcyclopropanes, and the resulting chiral products can be synthons in medicinal to material chemistry. We have also shown the synthetic applications of chiral CH-acid-containing 2-aroylcyclopropanes 5 by transforming them into the interesting molecules of pyrimidine analogues 8, dimethyl cyclopropane-malonates 9, functionally rich dihydropyran 10, cyclopropane-alcohols 11, and cyclopropane-olefins 12/13. Many of these chiral products 5-13 can serve as excellent building blocks for the synthesis of value-added small molecules, natural products, pharmaceuticals, and their analogues.

Organocatalytic Reductive Amination of the Chiral Formylcyclopropanes: Scope and Applications.

We developed a sustainable three-component reductive amination protocol for the chemoselective coupling of optically active functionally rich donor-acceptor carbonyl-cyclopropanes with various amines under 10 mol % of diphenyl phosphate in the presence of Hantzsch ester as a hydride source. The catalytic selective reductive C-N coupling has wide advantages like no epimerization, no ring opening, large substrate scope, generating only mono N-alkylation products and simultaneously resulting in chiral cyclopropane-containing amines possessing many applications in the medicinal chemistry. In this article, we have shown the synthetic applications of reductive C-N coupling reaction to make chiral α-carbonyl-cyclopropane containing amines 8, double C-N coupled cyclopropane-amines 10, unusual C-N/C-C coupled cyclopropane-amines 12, chiral tert-butylsulfinamide containing cyclopropanes 14/15, and functionally rich chiral cyclopropane-fused N-heterocycles 16/18/19. Many of these chiral cyclopropane-amines 5-19 can serve as building blocks for the synthesis of drug-like small molecules, natural products, pharmaceuticals, and their analogues.

Direct organocatalytic transfer hydrogenation and C-H oxidation: high-yielding synthesis of 3-hydroxy-3-alkyloxindoles.

Readily available 3-alkylideneoxindoles were effectively reduced to 3-alkyloxindoles through transfer hydrogenation using Hantzsch ester as a reducing agent at ambient temperature and the greenness/sustainability of this protocol was assessed by correlation with Pd/C-mediated hydrogenation with hydrogen gas. Furthermore, an organocatalytic method was developed to access drug-like 3-alkyl-3-hydroxyoxindoles by C-H oxidation of 3-alkyl-indolin-2-one, using a catalytic amount of 1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidine (TMG) as an organic base and dissolved oxygen in THF as an oxidant at room temperature. Key reaction intermediates were observed by controlled on-line ESI-HRMS experiments and identified by their corresponding mass (m/z) analysis. This two-step high-yielding transfer hydrogenation/C-H oxidation protocol was used for the total synthesis of medicinally important 3-cyanomethyl-3-hydroxyoxindole and formal total synthesis of (±)-alline and (±)-CPC-I in very good overall yields compared to previous methods.

Direct Organocatalytic Reductive Alkylation of Syncarpic Acid: Scope and Applications.

Biologically important 4-alkylsyncarpic acids, which resemble the core structure of many natural products, were synthesized in one-pot through the organocatalytic three-component reductive alkylation with excellent yields and C-selectivity. Synthetic applications of 4-alkylsyncarpic acids were demonstrated by converting into the functionally rich molecules through different reactions like Michael, retro-Michael, reduction, and oxidation reactions. In a continuation, formal total synthesis of (±)-triumphalone, (±)-isotriumphalone, and monomeric phloroglucinol derivatives was reported in a few steps starting from 4-alkylsyncarpic acids in overall very good yields. Further showcasing the importance of C-alkylated products, 4-benzylsyncarpic acid and its Michael adduct with methyl vinyl ketone were synthesized in a gram scale without compromising rate/yields.

The seven-step, one-pot regioselective synthesis of biologically important 3-aryllawsones: scope and applications.

3-Aryllawsones are well known for their wide range of applications in medicinal chemistry, but their synthesis has always remained challenging as no comprehensive protocol has been outlined to date. Owing to their structural importance, we synthesized various 3-aryllawsones with high regioselectivity from simple lawsone and aldehydes in a seven-step double-cascade one-pot reaction through the combination of organocatalytic Ramachary reductive coupling and Hooker oxidation reactions. The commercial availability of the starting materials, diverse substrate scope, possibility of a one- or two-pot approach, regioselectivity of alkyl transfer (with mechanistic proof provided via X-ray crystal structure analysis), and numerous medicinal applications of 3-aryllawsones are the key attractions of this work.

Catalytic Asymmetric Synthesis of Benzobicyclo[3.2.1]octanes.

Lawsone aldehydes were directly transformed into the biologically important, unique carbon skeleton of chiral methanobenzo[f]azulenes/methanodibenzo[a,d][7]annulenes in high dr and ee and in very good yields by using quinine-thiourea-catalyzed tandem Wittig/intramolecular Michael/intramolecular aldol reactions. This asymmetric catalytic tandem protocol will be highly useful because these final molecules are basic skeletons of important antibiotics.

Parts-per-Million-Level, Catalytic [3+2]-Annulations for the Asymmetric Synthesis of Methanobenzo[7]annulenes.

3-Alkyl-lawsones selectively reacted with α-alkyl-nitroethylenes under 500 parts-per-million (ppm) quinine-NH-thiourea-catalysis to furnish the chiral methanobenzo[7]annulenes in up to >99 % ee with >20 : 1 dr and TON up to 1820 through tandem Michael/Henry [3+2]-annulations. These asymmetric ppm-level, catalytic tandem [3+2]-annulations would be highly inspirational for the design of many more ppm-level organocatalytic reactions, and at the same time these final molecules are basic skeletons of antibiotics.

Organocatalytic Enantiospecific Total Synthesis of Butenolides.

Biologically important, chiral natural products of butenolides, (-)-blastmycinolactol, (+)-blastmycinone, (-)-NFX-2, (+)-antimycinone, lipid metabolites, (+)-ancepsenolide, (+)-homoancepsenolide, mosquito larvicidal butenolide and their analogues were synthesized in very good yields in a sequential one-pot manner by using an organocatalytic reductive coupling and palladium-mediated reductive deoxygenation or organocatalytic reductive coupling and silica-mediated reductive deamination as the key steps.

Organocatalytic Selective [3 + 2] Cycloadditions: Synthesis of Functionalized 5-Arylthiomethyl-1,2,3-triazoles and 4-Arylthio-1,2,3-triazoles.

An organocatalytic azide-ketone [3 + 2] cycloaddition (OrgAKC) of a variety of 1-aryl-3-(arylthio)propan-2-ones and 1-alkyl-3-(arylthio)propan-2-ones with different aryl/vinyl/alkyl azides is reported under ambient conditions to furnish the medicinally important 1,4-disubstituted-5-arylthiomethyl-1,2,3-triazoles and 1,5-disubstituted-4-arylthio-1,2,3-triazoles, respectively, in a regioselective manner with high yields/rates. With controlled and online NMR experiments, we proved that the reaction path is following the organocatalytic enolization through selective deprotonation followed by a [1,3]-H shift. Surprisingly, the [3 + 2] cycloaddition of aryl/vinyl/alkyl azides with the in situ-generated equilibrated thermodynamic ↔ kinetic enolates furnished the highly regioselective functionally rich 1,2,3-triazoles by discriminating their reactivities. This is the first report on the investigation of a selective OrgAKC with the regiomers of enolates generated in situ from the unsymmetrical carbonyl compounds. The reaction sustainability is explained with a few controlled experiments, mechanistic studies, and applications.

Organocatalytic enone-azide [3 + 2]-cycloaddition: synthesis of functionally rich C/N-double vinyl 1,2,3-triazoles.

An enolate-mediated organocatalytic [3 + 2]-cycloaddition of enones with less reactive vinyl/alkyl/aryl azides is reported at room temperature for short reaction times. The metal-free amine-mediated catalytic conditions of this [3 + 2]-cycloaddition allowed us to synthesize a collection of C/N-double vinyl-1,2,3-triazoles and C-vinyl-1,2,3-triazoles through functionalized enones as quality azidophiles with various azides. It is an efficient catalytic [3 + 2]-cycloaddition for the synthesis of biologically important fully decorated C/N-double vinyl-1,2,3-triazoles with excellent outcomes with reference to the reaction rate, selectivity, operation simplicity, substrate scope, yields, and synthetic applications as demonstrated in the paper. Herein, we illustrated the importance of enolate reactivity with azides compared to enamines by correlation with previous enamine-mediated click reactions in the reaction mechanism section.

Organocatalytic Formal Intramolecular [3+2]-Cycloaddition to Acquire Biologically Important Methanodibenzo[a,f]azulenes and Methanobenzo[f]azulenes.

Lawsones were transformed into the functionally rich framework of methanodibenzo[a,f]azulenes and methanobenzo[f]azulenes in a single- or two-pot operation through five organocatalytic sequential reactions in very good yields with excellent selectivities. These resultant molecules are basic skeletons of important antibiotics, which highlights the value of this formal intramolecular [3+2]-cycloaddition as a key protocol.

Stereoselective Insertion of Benzynes into Lawsones: Synthesis of Biologically Important Benzannulated Bicyclo[3.3.0]octanes.

An ideal stereoselective insertion of in situ generated benzynes into lawsones through domino formal [2+2]-cycloaddition followed by rearrangement is disclosed. The reaction allowed for the preparation of biologically important benzannulated bicyclo[3.3.0]octanes in good yields and with excellent selectivities by using simple substrates and conditions.

Organocatalytic Reductive Propargylation: Scope and Applications.

An amino acid-catalyzed three-component reductive coupling protocol has been developed for the selective high-yielding synthesis of nearly fifty examples of propargylated cyclic/acyclic systems from the various propargyl aldehydes, cyclic/acyclic CH acids, and Hantzsch ester under ambient conditions. It is an economical, efficient, catalytic, metal-free protocol for the quick gram-scale synthesis of propargylated cyclic/acyclic compounds, and many of these coupling compounds were purified by a simple precipitation-filtration technique instead of column chromatography. Functionally rich propargylated cyclic-1,3-diketones were specifically transformed into dihydropyrans found in natural products and drugs through an annulative etherification reaction by using Lewis-acid (AgOTf) catalysis. Further, we developed the C-methylation reactions on propargylated cyclic-1,3-diketones, which are prolific synthons in natural products and medicinal chemistry.

Modular Access to Chiral 2,3-Dihydrofurans and 3,4-Dihydro-2 H-pyrans by Stereospecific Activation of Formylcyclopropanes through Combination of Organocatalytic Reductive Coupling and Lewis-Acid-Catalyzed Annulative Ring-Opening Reactions.

An organocatalytic reductive coupling and Lewis-acid-catalyzed annulative ring-opening strategy is developed as a two-step protocol for the stereoselective synthesis of dihydropyrans as the major products from the chiral formylcyclopropanes, CH acids, and Hantzsch ester. It is an efficient, catalytic, two-step protocol for the chiral synthesis of dihydropyrans and dihydrofurans. Structurally important and challenging functionally rich cyclopropanes containing cyclic-1,3-diones were synthesized in very good yields with excellent chemo-, enantio-, and diastereoselectivities from the readily available starting materials, chiral formylcyclopropanes, cyclic-1,3-diones, or CH acids and Hantzsch ester through an organocatalytic reductive coupling reaction at ambient conditions, especially without harming the cyclopropane ring. Chiral cyclopropanes containing cyclic-1,3-diones were stereospecifically transformed into dihydropyrans and dihydrofurans found in many bioactive natural products and drugs through an annulative ring-opening reaction by using Lewis-acid (BF3·OEt2) or cesium carbonate (Cs2CO3) catalysis. Highly diastereo- and regioselective ring opening of cyclopropanes was explained through a stereospecific intimate ion pair pathway.

Organocatalytic umpolung annulative dimerization of ynones for the synthesis of 5-alkylidene-2-cyclopentenones.

A novel phosphine-catalyzed umpolung [3 + 2]-annulative dimerization of ynones was developed to furnish functionally rich 5-alkylidene-2-cyclopentenones. In this protocol, ynone acts as both C2 and C3 synthons, which undergo [3 + 2]-annulative dimerization.

Organocatalytic Asymmetric Formal [3+2] Cycloaddition as a Versatile Platform to Access Methanobenzo[7]annulenes.

Pharmaceutically and structurally important methanobenzo[7]annulenes were synthesized in very good yields with excellent enantio- and diastereoselectivities through an unprecedented organocatalytic formal [3+2] cycloaddition from readily available 2-alkyl-3-hydroxynaphthalene-1,4-diones and alkyl vinyl ketones.

A Brønsted Acid-Amino Acid as a Synergistic Catalyst for Asymmetric List-Lerner-Barbas Aldol Reactions.

Herein, for the first time, a combination of L-amino acid, (R)-5,5-dimethyl thiazolidinium-4-carboxylate (L-DMTC) with simple Brønsted acid TFA is reported as the suitable synergistic catalyst for the List-Lerner-Barbas aldol (LLB-A) reaction of less reactive 2-azidobenzaldehydes with various ketones at ambient temperature to furnish the optically active functionalized (2-azidophenyl)alcohols with very good yields, dr's, and ee's. This method gives first time access to the novel azido-containing multifunctional compounds, which are applicable in material to medicinal chemistry. Chiral functionalized (2-azidophenyl)alcohols were transformed into different molecular scaffolds in good yields with high selectivity through Lewis acid mediated NaBH4 reduction, aza-Wittig and Staudinger reaction (azide reduction), followed by oxidative cyclizations, allenone synthesis, and click reaction, respectively. Chiral LLB-A products might become suitable starting materials for the total synthesis of natural products, ingredients, and inhibitors in medicinal chemistry. The mechanistic synergy of L-DMTC with TFA to increase the rate and selectivity of LLB-A reaction in DMSO-D6 is explained with the controlled and online NMR experiments.

Organocatalytic azomethine imine-olefin click reaction: high-yielding stereoselective synthesis of spiroindane-1,3-dione-pyrazolidinones.

In search of developing new useful "click reactions", herein we report the organocatalytic azomethine imine-olefin [3 + 2]-cycloaddition as a new click reaction for the synthesis of drug-like spiroindane-1,3-dione-pyrazolidinones from indane-1,3-diones, aldehydes and N,N-cyclic azomethine imines through amino acid-catalysis. The scope of this new click reaction is demonstrated using many examples with high reactivity, selectivity and yields.

Stereoselective synthesis of cyclopentanone-fused benzosultams through Tomita zipper cyclization.

A powerful intermolecular version of the Tomita zipper-cyclization (TZC) reaction was developed to provide functionalized drug-like cyclopentanone-fused benzosultams in good yields with excellent stereoselectivities using organophosphine-catalysis.