Palladium/Norbornene-Catalyzed Decarbonylative Difunctionalization of Thioesters.

The transition-metal-catalyzed decarboxylation of aryl carboxylic acids has drawn significant attention as an efficient and practical tool for the synthesis of substituted arenes. However, the decarboxylative construction of polysubstituted arenes with different contiguous substituents has not been widely reported. Herein, we describe a novel decarbonylative Catellani reaction via palladium-catalyzed, norbornene (NBE)-mediated polyfunctionalization of aromatic thioesters, which serve as readily available carboxylic acid derivatives. A variety of alkenyl, alkyl, aryl, and sulfur moieties could be conveniently introduced into the ipso-positions of the aromatic thioesters. By combining carboxyl-directed C-H functionalization and the classical Catellani reaction, our protocol allows for the construction of 1,2,3-trisubstituted and 1,2,3,4-tetrasubstituted arenes from simple aromatic acids. Furthermore, the late-stage functionalization of a series of drug molecules highlights the potential utility of the reaction.

C3-Arylation of indoles with aryl ketones via C-C/C-H activations.

C3-Arylation of indoles with aryl ketones is accomplished via palladium-catalyzed ligand-promoted Ar-C(O) cleavage and subsequent C-H arylation of indole. Various (hetero)aryl ketones are compatible in this reaction, affording the corresponding 3-arylindoles in moderate to good yields. Further introduction of an indole moiety into the natural products desoxyestrone and evodiamine demonstrate the synthetic utility of this protocol.

Asymmetric Synthesis of the C15⁻C32 Fragment of Alotamide and Determination of the Relative Stereochemistry.

Alotamide is a cyclic depsipetide isolated from a marine cyanobacterium and possesses a unique activation of calcium influx in murine cerebrocortical neurons (EC50 4.18 µM). Due to its limited source, the three stereocenters (C19, C28, and C30) in its polyketide fragment remain undetermined. In this study, the first asymmetric synthesis of its polyketide fragment was achieved. Four relative possible diastereomers were constructed with a boron-mediated enantioselective aldol reaction and Julia⁻Kocienski olefination as the key steps. Comparison of 13C NMR spectra revealed the relative structure of fragment C15⁻C32 of alotamide.