General access to cubanes as benzene bioisosteres.

The replacement of benzene rings with sp3-hybridized bioisosteres in drug candidates generally improves pharmacokinetic properties while retaining biological activity1-5. Rigid, strained frameworks such as bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane and cubane are particularly well suited as the ring strain imparts high bond strength and thus metabolic stability on their C-H bonds. Cubane is the ideal bioisostere as it provides the closest geometric match to benzene6,7. At present, however, all cubanes in drug design, like almost all benzene bioisosteres, act solely as substitutes for mono- or para-substituted benzene rings1-7. This is owing to the difficulty of accessing 1,3- and 1,2-disubstituted cubane precursors. The adoption of cubane in drug design has been further hindered by the poor compatibility of cross-coupling reactions with the cubane scaffold, owing to a competing metal-catalysed valence isomerization8-11. Here we report expedient routes to 1,3- and 1,2-disubstituted cubane building blocks using a convenient cyclobutadiene precursor and a photolytic C-H carboxylation reaction, respectively. Moreover, we leverage the slow oxidative addition and rapid reductive elimination of copper to develop C-N, C-C(sp3), C-C(sp2) and C-CF3 cross-coupling protocols12,13. Our research enables facile elaboration of all cubane isomers into drug candidates, thus enabling ideal bioisosteric replacement of ortho-, meta- and para-substituted benzenes.

Preparation and Synthetic Applications of Phototropone.

An optimized multigram-scale route to phototropone (bicyclo[3.2.0]hepta-2,6-dien-7-one) is reported via the 4-π-photocyclization of tropone complexed to Lewis acid. Phototropone is a highly versatile molecular building block, and its conversion into 18 novel derivatives using standard transformations is demonstrated, allowing access to a variety of rigid bicyclic scaffolds.

Enantioselective template-directed [2+2] photocycloadditions of isoquinolones: scope, mechanism and synthetic applications.

A strategy for the enantioselective [2+2] photocycloaddition of isoquinolones with alkenes is presented, in which the formation of a supramolecular complex between a chiral template and the substrate ensures high enantioface differentiation by shielding one face of the substrate. Fifteen different electron-deficient alkenes and ten different substituted isoquinolones undergo efficient photocycloaddition, yielding the cyclobutane products in excellent yields and with outstanding regio-, diastereo- and enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee). The mechanism of the reaction is investigated by means of triplet sensitization/quenching and radical clock experiments, the results of which are consistent with the involvement of a triplet excited state and a 1,4-biradical intermediate. The variety of functionalized cyclobutanes obtained using this approach can be further increased by straightforward synthetic transformations of the photoadducts, allowing rapid access to libraries of compounds for various applications.

Enantioselective intermolecular [2+2] photocycloadditions of isoquinolone mediated by a chiral hydrogen-bonding template.

The first examples of enantioselective intermolecular [2+2] photocycloadditions of isoquinolone with alkenes are reported. Photoreactions were carried out at low temperature in the presence of a chiral hydrogen-bonding template, which effectively shields one face of the substrate through formation of a hydrogen-bonded supramolecular complex. Functionalized cyclobutane products were obtained in excellent yields (86-98%) and with outstanding regio-, diastereo-, and enantioselectivity (88-99% ee).

Synthesis of functionalized spirocyclic oxetanes through Paternò-Büchi reactions of cyclic ketones and maleic acid derivatives.

A telescoped three-step sequence to functionalised spirocyclic oxetanes is reported, involving Paternò-Büchi reactions between maleic acid derivatives and cyclic ketones. p-Xylene suppresses the competing alkene dimerization that has plagued previous work, allowing access to 35 novel spirocyclic oxetanes that cannot be prepared using existing methodologies, and which represent versatile intermediates for further elaboration.

A practical synthesis of 1,3-disubstituted cubane derivatives.

A robust multigram-scale synthesis of 1,3-disubstituted cubanes (previously only available on milligram-scale) is reported. The approach exploits a readily available enone intermediate previously used for the synthesis of 1,4-disubstituted cubanes, by introducing a novel Wharton transposition to access useful quantities of 1,3-disubstituted cubanes for diverse applications.

Exploiting Sm(II) and Sm(III) in SmI2-initiated reaction cascades: application in a tag removal-cyclisation approach to spirooxindole scaffolds.

A tag removal-cyclisation sequence is described that is initiated by reduction using a Sm(II) species and completed by a Sm(III) Lewis acid that is formed in an earlier stage. Therefore, the reaction cascade utilises both oxidation states of a samarium reagent in discrete steps and allows access to privileged, pyrrolidinyl-spirooxindole scaffolds and analogues inspired by the anti-cancer natural product spirotryprostatin A.

Beyond the Pummerer reaction: recent developments in thionium ion chemistry.

Since the early 1960s the Pummerer reaction has evolved to become an indispensable tool for synthesis, and continues to serve as a source of inspiration for organic chemists. In recent years, many exciting advances have demonstrated the broad scope and synthetic utility of Pummerer methodology and the versatility of thionium ion intermediates.

4-π-Photocyclization of 1,2-Dihydropyridazines: An Approach to Bicyclic 1,2-Diazetidines with Rich Synthetic Potential.

The 4-π-photocyclization of a range of 1,2-dihydropyridazines is described, generating bicyclic 1,2-diazetidines in high yields on multigram scale. The key bicyclic 1,2-diazetidines are versatile synthetic intermediates and were easily converted into a range of novel derivatives, including functionalized 1,2-diazetidines, cyclobutenes, cyclobutanes, and 1,3-dienes.

Expedient approach to chiral cyclobutanones: asymmetric synthesis of cyclobut-G.

An efficient one-pot asymmetric synthesis of cyclobutanones from chiral enol ethers is described. The approach is illustrated with alkyl- and functionalized alkyl-substituted enol ethers (nine examples). A new enantioselective synthesis of cyclobut-G (Lobucavir) could thus be achieved.

Organolithium-mediated conversion of beta-alkoxy aziridines into allylic sulfonamides: effect of the N-sulfonyl group and a formal synthesis of (+/-)-perhydrohistrionicotoxin.

In 18 out of 20 examples of the organolithium-mediated conversion of beta-alkoxy aziridines into substituted allylic sulfonamides, use of a Bus (Bus = t-BuSO2) substituent on the nitrogen gave higher yields compared to the analogous N-Ts compounds. The success with the N-Bus aziridines facilitated the development of a new route to the spirocyclic core of the histrionicotoxins and completion of a formal synthesis of (+/-)-perhydrohistrionicotoxin.

Stereoselective aziridination of cyclic allylic alcohols using chloramine-T.

The stereoselective aziridination of a range of cyclic allylic alcohols using two different chloramine salts (4-MeC(6)H(4)SO(2)NClNa, TsNClNa and t-BuSO(2)NClNa, BusNClNa) has been explored. The stereoselectivity of these reactions was highly dependent on the structure of the allylic alcohol and the chloramine salt. Generally, mixtures of cis- and trans-hydroxy aziridines were obtained, in which the major diastereomer was the cis-hydroxy aziridine, whilst complete cis-diastereoselectivity was observed in the aziridination of 1,3-disubstituted allylic alcohols. In each case studied, aziridination using BusNClNa gave higher cis-stereoselectivity than that observed for the same reaction using TsNClNa. Unexpectedly, application of the aziridination conditions to 1-substituted cyclopen-2-en-1-ols did not generate the aziridines. Instead, epoxy sulfonamides were obtained.

New route to azaspirocycles via the organolithium-mediated conversion of beta-alkoxy aziridines into cyclopentenyl amines.

A new three-step route to azaspirocycles involving the organolithium-mediated conversion of beta-alkoxy aziridines into substituted cyclopentenyl amines, hydroboration, and cyclization has been developed. The methodology is utilized in the construction of the pentacyclic ring system of cephalotaxine. [reaction: see text]

Reductive alkylation of beta-alkoxy aziridines: new route to substituted allylic amines.

[reaction: see text] A new route to substituted cyclic allylic amines via the reductive alkylation of beta-alkoxy aziridines using excess alkyllithium reagents is described.

Phase tag-assisted synthesis of benzo[b]carbazole end-capped oligothiophenes.

The introduction and removal of a phase tag have been used to trigger cyclization events in a new synthesis of benzo[b]carbazoles. The approach has been exploited in a tag-assisted approach to new benzo[b]carbazole end-capped oligothiophenes for preliminary evaluation as semiconductors.