Inhibition of (dppf)nickel-catalysed Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions by α-halo-N-heterocycles.

A nickel/dppf catalyst system was found to successfully achieve the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions of 3- and 4-chloropyridine and of 6-chloroquinoline but not of 2-chloropyridine or of other α-halo-N-heterocycles. Further investigations revealed that chloropyridines undergo rapid oxidative addition to [Ni(COD)(dppf)] but that α-halo-N-heterocycles lead to the formation of stable dimeric nickel species that are catalytically inactive in Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions. However, the corresponding Kumada-Tamao-Corriu reactions all proceed readily, which is attributed to more rapid transmetalation of Grignard reagents.

Aldehydes and ketones influence reactivity and selectivity in nickel-catalysed Suzuki-Miyaura reactions.

The energetically-favorable coordination of aldehydes and ketones - but not esters or amides - to Ni0 during Suzuki-Miyaura reactions can lead either to exquisite selectivity and enhanced reactivity, or to inhibition of the reaction. Aryl halides where the C-X bond is connected to the same π-system as an aldehyde or ketone undergo unexpectedly rapid oxidative addition to [Ni(COD)(dppf)] (1), and are selectively cross-coupled during competition reactions. When aldehydes and ketones are present in the form of exogenous additives, the cross-coupling reaction is inhibited to an extent that depends on the strength of the coordination of the pendant carbonyl group to Ni0. This work advances our understanding of how common functional groups interact with Ni0 catalysts and how these interactions affect workhorse catalytic reactions in academia and industry.

Catalytic Chan-Lam coupling using a 'tube-in-tube' reactor to deliver molecular oxygen as an oxidant.

A flow system to perform Chan-Lam coupling reactions of various amines and arylboronic acids has been realised employing molecular oxygen as an oxidant for the re-oxidation of the copper catalyst enabling a catalytic process. A tube-in-tube gas reactor has been used to simplify the delivery of the oxygen accelerating the optimisation phase and allowing easy access to elevated pressures. A small exemplification library of heteroaromatic products has been prepared and the process has been shown to be robust over extended reaction times.

Sultones and Sultines via a Julia-Kocienski Reaction of Epoxides.

The development of the homologous Julia-Kocienski reaction has led to the discovery of two new reaction modes of epoxides with sulfones. These pathways allow rapid and direct access to a range of γ-sultones and γ-sultines.

Synthetic studies toward the brasilinolides: controlled assembly of a protected C1-C38 polyol based on fragment union by complex aldol reactions.

The brasilinolides are an architecturally complex family of 32-membered macrolides, characterised by potent immunosuppressant and antifungal properties, which represent challenging synthetic targets. By adopting a highly convergent strategy, a range of asymmetric aldol/reduction sequences and catalytic protocols were employed to assemble a series of increasingly elaborate fragments. The controlled preparation of suitable C1-C19 and C20-C38 acyclic fragments 5 and 6, containing seven and 12 stereocentres respectively, was first achieved. An adventurous C19-C20 fragment union was then explored to construct the entire carbon chain of the brasilinolides. This pivotal coupling step could be performed in a complex boron-mediated aldol reaction to install the required C19 hydroxyl stereocentre when alternative Mukaiyama-type aldol protocols proved unrewarding. A protected C1-C38 polyol 93 was subsequently prepared, setting the stage for future late-stage diversification toward the various brasilinolide congeners. Throughout this work, asymmetric boron-mediated aldol reactions of chiral ketones with aldehydes proved effective both for controlled fragment assembly and coupling with predictable stereoinduction from the enolate component.

Palladium-catalyzed benzylic arylation of 2-methyl azaarenes.

A palladium-catalyzed benzylic sp(3) direct arylation of electron-deficient heterocycles is reported. The method described enables the introduction of electron-rich and -poor aromatics at the benzylic position of heterocycles without the need for preactivation or the use of directing groups.

Toward the total synthesis of the brasilinolides: construction of a differentially protected C20-C38 segment.

An efficient, convergent synthesis of a differentially protected C20-C38 segment of the brasilinolides is described. Iterative 1,4-syn aldol additions and ketone reductions were employed to construct the two related stereotetrads, while a sequence of Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons (HWE) coupling, CBS reduction, and Sharpless AE installed the epoxy alcohol functionality.

Toward the total synthesis of the brasilinolides: stereocontrolled assembly of a C1-C19 polyol segment.

Two highly convergent syntheses of a fully protected C1-C19 polyol subunit of the brasilinolide family of immunosuppressive macrolides are described, exploiting boron-mediated 1,5-anti aldol couplings to form the C8-C9 and C13-C14 bonds.