Ti(II) and Rh(I) Complexes as Reagents toward a Thapsigargin Core.

A novel approach toward the [5-7]fused bicyclic core of thapsigargin, a subnanomolar inhibitor of the endo/sarcoplasmic calcium ATPase (SERCA), is presented. The synthetic route includes an original Ti(II)-mediated hydroxy-directed reductive coupling of an enantiomerically enriched propargylic alcohol and an intramolecular Rh(I)-catalyzed cyclocarbonylation reaction as key steps. Interestingly, through the first experiments of titanocene-mediated reductive cyclization of a 1,8-enyne, a seven-membered cycle was isolated as a unique product with a total diastereoselectivity.

Enolizable Carbonyls and N,O-Acetals: A Rational Approach for Room-Temperature Lewis Superacid-Catalyzed Direct α-Amidoalkylation of Ketones and Aldehydes.

An efficient catalytic room-temperature direct α-amidoalkylation of carbonyl donors, that is, ketones and aldehydes with unbiased N,O-acetals, is described. Sn(NTf2 )4 is an optimal catalyst to promote this challenging transformation at low loading and the reaction shows promising scope. A comprehensive and rational evaluation of this reaction has led to the establishment of an empirical scale of nucleophilic reactivity for a broad set of ketones that should be helpful in the synthetic design and development of carbonyl α-functionalization methods.

N-trialkylsilyl bistrifluoromethanesulfonimides (R3SiNTf2) are powerful catalysts for the highly efficient alpha-amido alkylation reactions of silicon-based nucleophiles.

[reaction: see text] In situ formed N-trialkylsilyl bistrifluoromethanesulfonimides (R3SiNTf2) species have been shown to efficiently catalyze the nucleophilic substitution reactions of chiral 5-oxypyrrolidin-2-ones by silicon-based nucleophiles. The reaction rates were significantly accelerated in comparison to the cases where the usual triflate catalysts are used. Adducts were obtained in high yields and usual stereoselectivities within short reaction times, and the process was compatible with a semipreparative scale.

Toward improving the chemistry of N-acyliminium ions: nucleophilic substitution reactions of pyrrolidinone derivatives with trialkylsilyl nucleophiles catalyzed by triisopropylsilyltrifluoromethane sulfonate (TIPSOTf).

[reaction: see text] Nucleophilic substitution reactions of racemic and chiral 5-acetoxy-, 5-ethoxy-, and 5-methoxypyrrolidin-2-ones by silicon-based nucleophiles were efficiently catalyzed by TIPSOTf. This process was found to be general and accommodates a broad range of substrate-nucleophile combinations.