Comparative genomics of the niche-specific plant pathogen Streptomyces ipomoeae reveal novel genome content and organization.

IMPORTANCE: While most plant-pathogenic Streptomyces species cause scab disease on a variety of plant hosts, Streptomyces ipomoeae is the sole causative agent of soil rot disease of sweet potato and closely related plant species. Here, genome sequencing of virulent and avirulent S. ipomoeae strains coupled with comparative genomic analyses has identified genome content and organization features unique to this streptomycete plant pathogen. The results here will enable future research into the mechanisms used by S. ipomoeae to cause disease and to persist in its niche environment.

Directing the Stereoselectivity of the Claisen Rearrangement to Form Cyclic Ketones with Full Substitution at the α-Positions.

We report an enantioselective synthesis of cyclic ketones with full substitutions at the α-positions in a highly diastereoselective manner. Our method is achieved by subjecting substrate motifs in 2-allyloxyenones to chiral organomagnesium reagents, which trigger the Claisen rearrangement upon direct 1,2-carbonyl addition. The observed diastereoselectivity of the allyl migration is proposed to originate from the intramolecular chelation of the magnesium alkoxide to the allyloxy moiety.

Copper(I)-Catalyzed Synthesis of Unsymmetrical All-Carbon Bis-Quaternary Centers at the Opposing α-Carbons of Cyclohexanones.

We describe a new synthetic reaction that generates all-carbon bis-quaternary centers at the opposing side of α-carbons in cyclohexanone with four different substituents in a controlled manner. Catalyzed by Cu(MeCN)4BF4 salt, this chemistry is proposed to proceed via an intermediacy of unsymmetrical O-allyl oxyallyl cations, which undergo a sequence of regioselective nucleophilic addition with substituted indoles and diastereoselective Claisen rearrangement in a single synthetic operation. The stereochemical outcome of the products features the cis diastereorelationship between the two aryl groups at the α,α'-positions.

Recent Advancements in Pyrrole Synthesis.

This review article features selected examples on the synthesis of functionalized pyrroles that were reported between 2014 and 2019. Pyrrole is an important nitrogen-containing aromatic heterocycle that can be found in numerous compounds of biological and material significance. Given its vast importance, pyrrole continues to be an attractive target for the development of new synthetic reactions. The contents of this article are organized by the starting materials, which can be broadly classified into four different types: substrates bearing π-systems, substrates bearing carbonyl and other polar groups, and substrates bearing heterocyclic motifs. Brief discussions on plausible reaction mechanisms for most transformations are also presented.

Correction: Synthesis of functionalized tetrahydropyrans via cascade cycloaddition involving silyloxyallyl cation intermediates.

Correction for 'Synthesis of functionalized tetrahydropyrans via cascade cycloaddition involving silyloxyallyl cation intermediates' by Fatimat O. Badmus et al., Chem. Commun., 2020, 56, 5034-5037, DOI: .

Synthesis of functionalized tetrahydropyrans via cascade cycloaddition involving silyloxyallyl cation intermediates.

An expedient synthesis of highly substituted tetrahydrobenzofuran via an unsymmetrical silyloxyallyl cation is reported. Conveniently generated under catalytic Brønsted acid conditions, nucleophilic capture of this reactive intermediate by silylenolate, followed by Paal-Knorr cascade cyclization in the presence of tosic acid monohydrate effectively constructed the tetrahydrobenzofuran core in a single synthetic step.

A decade review of triphosgene and its applications in organic reactions.

This review article highlights selected advances in triphosgene-enabled organic synthetic reactions that were reported in the decade of 2010-2019. Triphosgene is a versatile reagent in organic synthesis. It serves as a convenient substitute for the toxic phosgene gas. Despite its first known preparation in the late 19th interestingly began only three decades ago. Despite the relatively short history, triphosgene has been proven to be very useful in facilitating the preparation of a vast scope of value-added compounds, such as organohalides, acid chlorides, isocyanates, carbonyl addition adducts, heterocycles, among others. Furthermore, applications of triphosgene in complex molecules synthesis, polymer synthesis, and other techniques, such as flow chemistry and solid phase synthesis, have also emerged in the literature.

Triphosgene and DMAP as Mild Reagents for Chemoselective Dehydration of Tertiary Alcohols.

The utility of triphosgene and DMAP as mild reagents for chemoselective dehydration of tertiary alcohols is reported. Performed in dichloromethane at room temperature, this reaction is readily tolerated by a broad scope of substrates, yielding alkenes preferentially with the (E)-geometry. While formation of the Hofmann products is generally favored, a dramatic change in alkene selectivity toward the Zaitzev products is observed when the reaction is carried out in dichloroethane at reflux.

Mechanistic Perspectives in the Regioselective Indole Addition to Unsymmetrical Silyloxyallyl Cations.

Our investigations on the reaction mechanism to account for regioselectivity on the addition of indoles to unsymmetrical silyloxyallyl cations are reported. Using both experimental and computational methods, we confirmed the significance of steric effects from the silyl ether group toward directing the inward approach of indoles, leading to nucleophilic attack at the less substituted electrophilic α'-carbon. The role of residual water toward accelerating the rate of reaction is established through stabilization of the participating silyloxyallyl cation.

Brønsted Acid-Catalyzed Formal [2 + 2 + 1] Annulation for the Modular Synthesis of Tetrahydroindoles and Tetrahydrocyclopenta[ b]pyrroles.

An expedient synthesis of tetrahydroindoles and tetrahydrocyclopenta[ b]pyrroles, highlighted by Brønsted acid catalyzed formal [2 + 2 + 1] annulation reaction, is reported. Using three readily accessible reaction components, i.e., an electrophilic species in silyloxyallyl cations and two distinct nucleophiles in silylenol ethers and amines, our chemistry enables the assembly and functionalization of these biologically important N-heterocycles in a highly modular manner.

Enantioselective Functionalization of Enamides at the ß-Carbon Center with Indoles.

We report an enantioconvergent approach for the functionalization of enamides at the ß-carbon atom, which involves a chiral Brønsted acid induced tautomerization of 2-amidoallyl into 1-amidoallyl cations. These putative reactive intermediates were produced by ionization of racemic α-hydroxy enamides with a chiral Brønsted acid and captured with substituted indoles in a highly regio- and enantioselective manner.

Synthesis of Vicinal Dichlorides via Activation of Aliphatic Terminal Epoxides with Triphosgene and Pyridine.

Herein we report a novel synthetic reaction to convert unactivated terminal aliphatic epoxide to alkyl vicinal dichloride based on triphosgene-pyridine activation. Our methodology is operationally simple and readily tolerated by a broad of scope of substrates as well as protecting groups. Furthermore, these mild conditions generally yield clean reaction mixtures that are free of byproducts upon aqueous workup.

Brønsted Acid Catalyzed Synthesis of Functionalized 1,4- and 1,6-Dicarbonyl Monosilyl Enol Ethers under Operationally Practical Conditions.

Herein, we report an improved protocol for the concise synthesis of functionalized 1,4- and 1,6-dicarbonyl-derived monosilyl enol ethers via ionization of α'-hydroxy silyl enol ethers to generate unsymmetrical silyloxyallyl cations that were subsequently captured by TBS silyl enolates. These transformations were efficiently performed in acetonitrile at room temperature by employing pyridinium triflate as a catalyst. Our new reaction conditions are operationally more practical and broaden the accessibility of various 1,4- and 1,6-dicarbonyl groups, which include diketone, ketoester, and ketothioester functionalities.

Regioselective Functionalization of Enamides at the α-Carbon via Unsymmetrical 2-Amidoallyl Cations.

A new method to functionalize enamides via an intermediacy of unsymmetrical 2-amidoallyl cations is reported. Generated under mild Brønsted acid catalysis, these reactive species were found to undergo addition with various nucleophiles at the less substituted α-carbon to produce highly substituted enamides in high yields with complete control of regioselectivity.

Effects of Solvent and Residual Water on Enhancing the Reactivity of Six-Membered Silyloxyallyl Cations toward Nucleophilic Addition.

A new strategy for the generation of six-membered unsymmetrical silyloxyallyl cations using catalytic mild Brønsted acid is reported. These reactive intermediates were found to readily undergo direct nucleophilic addition with a broad range of nucleophiles to produce various α,α'-disubstituted silyl enol ether structural motifs. The findings also highlight the significance of the solvent effect and residual water in enhancing the reaction rate.

Carbazole Annulation via Cascade Nucleophilic Addition-Cyclization Involving 2-(Silyloxy)pentadienyl Cation.

We report a new strategy toward the synthesis of highly functionalized carbazoles via 2-(silyloxy)pentadienyl cation intermediates, which were generated upon ionization of vinyl-substituted α-hydroxy silyl enol ethers under Brønsted acid catalysis. These electrophilic species were found to readily undergo cascade reactions with substituted indoles to generate carbazole molecular scaffolds in good yields via a sequence of regioselective nucleophilic addition, followed by intramolecular dehydrative cyclization.

Functionalization of Silyldienol Ethers at the γ-Position via 2-Silyloxypentadienyl Cations.

This report describes Brønsted acid catalyzed de novo synthesis of silyldienol ethers bearing tetrasubstituted double bonds via an intermediacy of 2-silyloxypentadienyl cations. The reactivity of these novel cationic intermediates could be modulated and harnessed toward direct nucleophilic additions regioselectively at the γ-position to produce highly functionalized silyldienol ethers with tunable control of the resulting double bond geometry.

An expedient synthesis of functionalized 1,4-diketone-derived compounds via silyloxyallyl cation intermediates.

Herein we describe a new method, enabling the synthesis of highly functionalized 1,4-diketones that are readily differentiated as monosilylenol ethers under Brønsted acid catalysis. This synthetically useful chemistry exploited an intermediacy of unsymmetrical silyloxyallyl cations, which were directly captured by silyl enolates to create the targeted α,α carbon-carbon linkages in a regioselective manner. Our reaction conditions proved to be mild, rendering the silylenol ether functionalities intact.

Peptidines: glycine-amidine-based oligomers for solution- and solid-phase synthesis.

Efforts to emulate biological oligomers have given rise to a host of useful technologies, ranging from solid-phase peptide and nucleic acid synthesis to various peptidomimetic platforms. Herein we introduce a novel class of peptide-like oligomers called "peptidines" wherein each carbonyl O-atom within poly-N-alkyl glycine oligomers is replaced with a functionalized N-atom. Compared to peptoids or peptides, the presence of this amidine N-substituent in peptidines effectively doubles the number of diversification sites per monomeric unit, and can decrease their overall conformational flexibility. We have developed iterative solution- and solid-phase protocols for the straightforward assembly of peptidines containing diverse backbone and amidine substituents, derived from readily available primary and secondary amines. We have also performed crystallographic and computational studies, which demonstrate a strong preference for the trans (E) amidine geometry. Given their straightforward synthetic preparation and high functional group density, peptidines have the potential to serve as useful tools for library generation, peptide mimicry, and the identification of biologically active small molecules.

Triphosgene-pyridine mediated stereoselective chlorination of acyclic aliphatic 1,3-diols.

We describe a strategy to chlorinate stereocomplementary acyclic aliphatic 1,3-diols using a mixture of triphosgene and pyridine. While 1,3-anti diols readily led to 1,3-anti dichlorides, 1,3-syn diols must be converted to 1,3-syn diol monosilylethers to access the corresponding 1,3-syn dichlorides. These dichlorination protocols were operationally simple, very mild, and readily tolerated by advanced synthetic intermediates.