Streamlined Synthesis of Varied Heteroarene-Condensed Benzofuran Derivatives via [4 + 2] Annulation of Benzofuran-Derived Azadienes and N-Alkyl Quinolinium Salts.

Herein we have pioneered an innovative synthetic strategy for the efficient assembly of various heteroarene-condensed benzofuran derivatives, utilizing benzofuran-derived azadienes (BDAs) and quinolines as the starting materials. This method functions with transition-metal catalysis and uses cost-effective formic acid as the reducing agent. Mechanistic investigations indicate that this transformation would involve a [4 + 2] annulation cascade process. This approach demonstrates a high tolerance to various functional groups and yields excellent results.

Copper-catalyzed one-pot [3 + 2] cycloadditions of ethynyl indoloxazolidones with 1,3-cyclohexanediones.

Fused furans are commonly found units in natural products and medicinal molecules, and methods for their introduction are of fundamental importance. Here we report one-pot cycloadditions of ethynyl indoloxazolidones with 1,3-cyclohexanediones enabled by copper catalysis, leading to a series of functionalized furan derivatives in good yields. This method features mild reaction conditions, high efficiency, and wide substrate scope.

Brønsted acid-mediated tandem cyclization of triarylphosphines and in situ generated ortho-alkynyl quinone methides: access to heterocyclic quaternary phosphonium salts.

Heterocyclic Quaternary Phosphonium Salts (HQPS) have emerged as promising chemicals for organic synthesis and medicinal chemistry. However, the present synthetic methodology of this type of compound is still limited. Here, we report a deconstructive reorganization strategy based on Brønsted acid-mediated tandem 1,4 addition/intramolecular cyclization of triphenylphosphine derivatives and in situ generated o-AQMs for the first time. This protocol provides a novel approach to heterocyclic quaternary phosphonium salts. The method also features a non-metal catalyst, mild reaction conditions, high efficiency and wide substrate scope. Moreover, a series of obtained heterocyclic phosphonium salts can be converted to isotopically labelled 2-benzofuran compounds directly by simple deuteration reactions.

Catalytic Enantioselective 6π Photocyclization of Acrylanilides.

Controlling absolute stereochemistry in catalytic photochemical reactions is generally challenging owing to high rates of background reactivity. Successful strategies broadly rely on selective excitation of the reaction substrate when associated with a chiral catalyst. Recent studies have demonstrated that chiral Lewis acid complexes can enable selective energy transfer from a photosensitizer to facilitate enantioselective triplet state reactions. Here, we apply this approach to the enantioselective catalysis of a 6π photocyclization through the design of an iridium photosensitizer optimized to undergo energy transfer to a reaction substrate only in the presence of a chiral Lewis acid complex. Among a group of iridium(III) sensitizers, enantioselectivity and yield closely correlate with photocatalyst triplet energy within a narrow window enabled by a modest reduction in substrate triplet energy upon binding a scandium/ligand complex. These results demonstrate that photocatalyst tuning offers a means to suppress background reactivity and improve enantioselectivity in photochemical reactions.

Visible-Light-Induced Difunctionalization of Alkenyl Ketones with α-Carbonyl Alkyl Bromide: Concomitant Installation of C-C Bonds.

The visible-light-promoted difunctionalization of alkenyl ketones has been developed for easy access of various tetralones, cyclopropane, or alkenyl migration compounds. With fac-[Ir(ppy)3] as the photocatalyst, alkenyl ketones captured the α-carbonyl alkyl radical and evolved through intramolecular cyclization and the elimination of a proton to give the difunctionalized products. This strategy is characterized by good yields, mild reaction conditions, and outstanding functional group tolerance.

Counterion-Mediated Enantioconvergent Synthesis of Axially Chiral Medium Rings.

There are few enantioconvergent reactions in which racemic substrates bearing multiple stereochemical features are converted into products with high levels of diastereo- and enantiocontrol. Here, we disclose a process for the highly enantio- and diastereoselective syntheses of medium ring lactams via an intramolecular counterion-directed C-alkylation reaction. The treatment of racemic biaryl anilides that exist as a complex mixture of enantiomers and diastereoisomeric conformers by virtue of multiple axes of restricted rotation with a quinidine-derived ammonium salt under basic conditions affords medium ring lactams bearing elements of both axial and point chirality via an enolate-driven configurational relaxation process. Thermal equilibration of the syn- and anti-product diasteroisomers has demonstrated that the barriers to bowl inversion are >124 kJ mol-1. We propose that the chiral ammonium salt differentiates between a complex and rapidly equilibrating mixture of enolate and rotational isomers, ultimately leading to highly enantioselective alkylative ring closure. This dynamic and enantioconvergent process offers an operationally simple approach to the synthesis of valuable chiral medium ring lactams for which there are few catalytic and enantioselective approaches.

Brønsted Acid-Catalyzed Formal (3+3)-Annulation of Propargylic (Aza)-para-Quinone Methides with 4-Hydroxycoumarins and 1,3-Dicarbonyl Compounds.

Herein, we describe a highly effective 1,8-conjugate-addition-mediated formal (3+3)-annulation of (aza)-para-quinone methides in situ generated from propargylic alcohols with 4-hydroxycoumarins and 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds under the catalysis of a Brønsted acid. This methodology affords efficient and practical access to synthetically important and highly functionalized pyranocoumarins and pyrans in excellent yields under mild conditions. Importantly, these products exhibit impressive inhibitory activity toward α-glucosidase.

Synthesis of Naphthopyrans via Formal (3+3)-Annulation of Propargylic (Aza)-para-Quinone Methides with Naphthols.

Herein, we report an efficient Brønsted acid-catalyzed formal (3+3)-annulation of (aza)-para-quinone methides generated in situ from propargylic alcohols with naphthol derivatives, which involves a 1,8-conjugate addition/6-endo annulation process. This protocol provides an effective method for preparing important functionalized pyranocoumarins under mild conditions.

Diastereoselective Synthesis of Cycloheptannelated Indoles via Lewis-Acid-Catalyzed (4 + 3)-Cyclization of Donor-Acceptor Cyclopropanes.

An efficient and straightforward Lewis-acid-mediated stereoselective (4 + 3)-cyclization of indole-substituted alkylidene malonates and donor-acceptor cyclopropanes has been developed involving the Friedel-Crafts/Michael addition cyclization cascade. This reaction provides a mild and effective method for the construction of synthetically and structurally interesting functionalized cycloheptannelated indoles.

Visible-Light-Promoted Cascade Radical Cyclization: Synthesis of Chroman-4-ones and Dihydroquinolin-4-ones.

A novel visible-light photoredox catalysis protocol for the effective and efficient synthesis of 3-substituted chroman-4-ones and 2,3-dihydroquinolin-4(1H)-ones via tandem radical addition/cyclization of alkenyl aldehydes has been described. This reaction features a broad substrate scope, mild reaction conditions, and good functional group tolerance character.

Copper-catalyzed asymmetric silyl addition to alkenyl-substituted N-heteroarenes.

Asymmetric conjugate addition of PhMe2SiBPin to a wide range of N-heteroaryl alkenes proceeded in the presence of a copper catalyst coordinated with an easily accessible chiral phosphoramidite ligand to afford useful ß-silyl N-heteroarenes in high yields (up to 96%) and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 97% ee).

Asymmetric Catalytic [4+5] Annulation of ortho-Quinone Methides with Vinylethylene Carbonates and its Extension to Stereoselective Tandem Rearrangement.

Palladium-catalyzed asymmetric [4+5] annulation of ortho-quinone methides (o-QMs) with substituted vinylethylene carbonates (VECs) is described for the first time, giving a novel enantioselective approach to chiral nine-membered benzoheterocycles. Based on this designed [4+5] annulation, an unprecedented silica gel-promoted tandem rearrangement reaction featuring a unique asymmetric aromatic Claisen rearrangement is explored at room temperature, offering a new method for asymmetric construction of all-carbon quaternary stereocenters embedded in chiral functionalized homoallylic alcohols.

Lewis Base-Catalyzed [4 + 3] Annulation of ortho-Quinone Methides and MBH Carbonates: Synthesis of Functionalized Benzo[ b]oxepines Bearing Oxindole Scaffolds.

A novel Lewis base-catalyzed [4 + 3] annulation process for the construction of benzo[ b]oxepine scaffolds has been developed. 1,4-Diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) promotes the union of o-QMs and Morita-Baylis-Hillman carbonates in reasonable to excellent yields and good stereoselectivities (dr > 20:1). This straightforward, catalytic approach offers access to a variety of synthetically useful benzo[ b]oxepine derivatives bearing oxindole scaffolds containing all-carbon spiro-quaternary stereocenters.

Lewis Acid Catalyzed Tandem 1,4-Conjugate Addition/Cyclization of in Situ Generated Alkynyl o-Quinone Methides and Electron-Rich Phenols: Synthesis of Dioxabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane Skeletons.

A versatile Lewis acid catalyzed tandem cyclization of in situ generated alkynyl o-quinone methides ( o-AQMs) with electron-rich phenols has been developed on the basis of the mode involving an intermolecular 1,4-conjugate addition/6-endo cyclization/1,3-aryl shift/intramolecular 1,4-conjugate addition cascade. This reaction provides a new method for expeditious assembly of synthetically and biologically interesting tetracyclic bridged dioxabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane skeletons featuring a congested bridgehead oxa-quaternary stereocenter.

Metal-Free One-Pot Synthesis of 3-Phosphinoylbenzofurans via Phospha-Michael Addition/Cyclization of H-Phosphine Oxides and in Situ Generated ortho-Quinone Methides.

A novel metal-free one-pot protocol for the effective and efficient synthesis of 3-phosphinoylbenzofurans via a phospha-Michael addition/cyclization of H-phosphine oxides and in situ generated ortho-quinone methides is described. Based on the expeditious construction of C(sp2)-P bonds, asymmetric synthesis of optically pure 3-phosphinoylbenzofurans containing chiral P-stereogenic center has also been probed by using chiral RP-(-)-menthyl phenylphosphine oxide.

Au-Catalyzed [2 + 3] Annulation of Enamides with Propargyl Esters: Total Synthesis of Cephalotaxine and Cephalezomine H.

A novel Au-catalyzed [2 + 3] annulation reaction of enamides with propargyl esters has been developed, providing a new method for expeditious assembly of synthetically useful functionalized 1-azaspiro[4.4]nonane building blocks. Based on this key annulation, strategic installation of the pivotal azaspirocyclic core, followed by constructing the benzazepine unit via Witkop cyclization, led to the divergent total syntheses of cephalotaxine and cephalezomine H.

Total Synthesis of (±)-Lycojaponicumin D and Lycodoline-Type Lycopodium Alkaloids.

Lycopodium alkaloids with structural diversity and biological significance have been stimulating an increasing interest in the synthetic and medicinal communities, in which inspiration and exploration of their related biogenetic relationship generally constitute one of the major concerns. Driven by the plausible biogenetic entry to lycojaponicumin D as the first member of Lycopodium alkaloids having a structurally unusual C3-C13-linked scaffold, a new connection with lycodoline has been proposed and discovered on the basis of the design of an unprecedented bioinspired tandem fragmentation/Mannich reaction. Initiated by expeditious assembly of bridgehead heterofunctionalization in the [3.3.1] bicyclic system of lycodoline, a novel tandem palladium-mediated oxidative dehydrogenation/hetero-Michael reaction has been developed for the strain-driven formation of the C-heteroatom bond, leading to a new approach to conformationally rigid bridgehead heteroquaternary carbons. The present unified strategy provides a scenario for the divergent total syntheses of nine natural Lycopodium alkaloids and four unnatural C12 epimers, wherein (±)-lycojaponicumin D and six lycodoline-type alkaloids have been synthetically achieved for the first time.

Total Synthesis of Lycopodium Alkaloids Palhinine A and Palhinine D.

The first total syntheses of Lycopodium alkaloids palhinine A, palhinine D, and their C3-epimers have been divergently achieved through the use of a connective transform to access a pivotal hexacyclic isoxazolidine precursor. A microwave-assisted regio- and stereoselective intramolecular nitrone-alkene cycloaddition was tactically orchestrated as a key step to install the crucial 10-oxa-1-azabicyclo[5.2.1]decane moiety embedded in the conformationally rigid isotwistane framework, demonstrating the feasibility of constructing the highly strained medium-sized ring by introduction of an oxygen bridging linker to relieve the transannular strain in the polycyclic scaffold. Subsequent N-O bond cleavage provided the synthetically challenging nine-membered azonane ring system bearing the requisite C3 hydroxyl group. Late-stage transformations featuring a chemo- and stereoselective reduction of the pentacyclic ß-diketone secured the availability of our target molecules.

Bifunctional tertiary amine-squaramide catalyzed asymmetric catalytic 1,6-conjugate addition/aromatization of para-quinone methides with oxindoles.

The asymmetric catalytic 1,6-addition of p-QMs with racemic oxindoles under the bifunctional catalysis of C2-symmetric dimeric Cinchona-derived squaramide is described. This tertiary amine-squaramide catalyzed reaction provides a diastereoselective and enantioselective approach to the effective assembly of diverse diarylmethine-substituted oxindoles having vicinal tertiary and quaternary stereocenters.

Spirocyclopropanation Reaction of para-Quinone Methides with Sulfonium Salts: The Synthesis of Spirocyclopropanyl para-Dienones.

A novel DBU-mediated stereoselective spirocyclopropanation of para-quinone methides with sulfonium salts has been developed on the basis of the mode involving a 1,6-conjugate addition/intramolecular dearomatizing cyclization cascade. This reaction provides a mild and effective method for the assembly of synthetically and structurally interesting spirocyclopropanyl para-dienones. The feasibility for the enantioselective access to such functionalized para-dienones has also been explored by using the axially chiral sulfonium salt. Importantly, the regioselective ring openings of the related spirocyclopropanyl para-dienones have been achieved divergently.