Alkanethiol-Mediated Cyclization of o-Alkynylisocyanobenzenes: Synthesis of Bis-Thiolated Indole Derivatives.

Reactions of o-alkynylisocyanobenzenes with a variety of alkanethiols (Alk-SH) provide the corresponding bis-thiolated indole derivatives. The advantages of the reaction include metal-free, room-temperature, mild reaction conditions and broad functional group compatibility. The reaction proceeds via nucleophilic addition of an alkanethiol to an isonitrile moiety, 5-exo cyclization, followed by nucleophilic addition of an alkanethiol to a 3-alkylidene indole intermediate. Density functional calculations on the electronic structures and relative free energies of 5-exo and 6-endo cyclization pathways support that the 5-exo cyclization is preferable.

Synthesis of Indolo- and Benzothieno[2,3-b]quinolines by a Cascade Cyclization of o-Alkynylisocyanobenzene Derivatives.

A new synthetic approach for the synthesis of indolo[2,3-b]quinolines and benzothieno[2,3-b]quinolines has been developed by employing the freshly prepared o-alkynylisocyanobenzenes derived from o-alkynylformamide derivatives as substrates. The synthetic transformations involved chloride-ion-triggered 6-endo cyclization of o-alkynylisocyanobenzenes to generate 2-chloroquinolines in situ, which further cyclized intramolecularly with nitrogen or sulfur atom via a cascade process to provide the corresponding indolo[2,3-b]quinolines and benzothieno[2,3-b]quinolines, respectively, in moderate to excellent yields.

Synthesis of C2-Symmetric gem-Difluoromethylenated Angular Triquinanes.

A synthesis of symmetrical gem-difluoromethylenated angular triquinanes is described. The synthetic strategy involved sequential fluoride-catalyzed nucleophilic addition of PhSCF2SiMe3 (1) to 2,2-diallylated or 2,2-dipropargylated indane-1,3-diones 2 followed by stereoselective radical cyclization of the resulting adducts 3 to provide the cyclized gem-difluoromethylenated diquinanes 4 as a mixture of stereoisomers. Repeated addition of 1 to 4 followed by cyclization resulted in the stereoselective synthesis of the desired C2-symmetric gem-difluoromethylenated angular triquinanes 6 in good yields with high stereoselectivity.

Bioinspired Asymmetric Synthesis of (-)-Gymnothelignan V.

A bioinspired asymmetric total synthesis of a structurally unique subtype of lignan, namely, (-)-gymnothelignan V, was achieved. The key synthetic sequences involved reduction of the eupomatilone skeleton leading to (-)-gymnothelignan J followed by the formation of the corresponding oxocarbenium ion and stereoselective intramolecular Friedel-Crafts reaction. Our synthetic approach provides the information to support the plausible biosynthetic pathway of this structurally unusual lignan. On a similar basis, other structurally related natural and non-natural gymnothelignans including (-)-gymnothelignan D, 6,9-bis- epi-gymnothelignan V, and 5- epi-gymnothelignans D and J were readily prepared.

Oxidative Difluoromethylation of Tetrahydroisoquinolines Using TMSCF2SPh: Synthesis of Fluorinated Pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines and Benzo[a]quinolizidines.

An efficient C1-difluoromethylation of tetrahydroisoquinolenes was achieved using TMSCF2SPh as a difluoromethylating agent and 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxoammonium tetrafluoroborate (TEMPO+BF4-) as an oxidant. The process provides an access to a variety of C1-difluoro(phenylsulfanyl)methylated tetrahydroisoquinoline adducts in good yields. These adducts were employed as key precursors for preparing fluorinated pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinoline and benzo[a]quinolizidines.

Sulfinates and thiocyanates triggered 6-endo cyclization of o-alkynylisocyanobenzenes.

Diverse 2-sulfonyl- and 2-thiocyanato-3-substituted quinolines were synthesized from o-alkynylisocyanobenzenes by nucleophilic addition of the respective sulfinate sodium salts and ammonium thiocyanate to the isocyanide moiety followed by cyclization. The salient features of the methodology include metal-free, ambient temperature and mild reaction conditions, ease of reagent handling, and broad functional group tolerance.

Synthesis of 3-substituted quinolin-2(1H)-ones via the cyclization of o-alkynylisocyanobenzenes.

A facile synthesis of various functionalized 3-substituted quinolin-2(1H)-ones through Ag(i) nitrate-catalyzed cyclization of o-alkynylisocyanobenzenes is described. The reaction allows rapid and convenient access to 3-substituted quinolin-2(1H)-one scaffolds in moderate to good yields.

Asymmetric synthesis of ent-fragransin C1.

The first asymmetric synthesis of ent-fragransin C1 was reported. The key step involves an intramolecular C-O bond formation (furan ring formation) via chemoselective generation of the benzylic carbocation leading to the 2,3-anti-3,4-syn-4,5-anti-tetrahydrofuran moiety as a single diastereomer in good yield. Our synthesis confirms that ent-fragransin C1 possesses 2R,3R,4S,5S configurations.

Synthesis of N-alkyl-3-sulfonylindoles and N-alkyl-3-sulfanylindoles by cascade annulation of 2-alkynyl-N,N-dialkylanilines.

An efficient and metal-free approach to N-alkyl-3-sulfonylindoles and N-alkyl-3-sulfanylindoles from 2-alkynyl-N,N-dialkylanilines has been developed. In the presence of iodine and tert-butylhydroperoxide (TBHP), a variety of 2-alkynyl-N,N-dialkylanilines underwent a cascade radical annulation to yield 3-arylsulfonylindoles. In contrast, 3-arylsulfanylindoles were conveniently prepared by iodine mediated electrophilic annulation reactions. The present protocol uses the economical and environmentally friendly I2-TBHP or I2 system, and potentially bioactive N-alkyl-3-sulfonylindoles and N-alkyl-3-sulfanylindoles with various functional groups were successfully synthesized in moderate to good yields.

Iodine-catalyzed Sulfonylation of Arylacetylenic Acids and Arylacetylenes with Sodium Sulfinates: Synthesis of Arylacetylenic Sulfones.

A highly efficient and generally applicable iodine-catalyzed reaction of arylacetylenic acids and arylacetylenes with sodium sulfinates for the synthesis of arylacetylenic sulfones was developed. The methodology has the advantages of a metal-free strategy, easy to handle reagents, functional group tolerance, a wide range of arylacetylenic acids and arylacetylenes, and easy access to arylacetylenic sulfones.

Stereoselective Synthesis of 1-Fluoro-exo,exo-2,6-diaryl-3,7-dioxabicyclo[3.3.0]octanes: Synthesis of (±)-1-Fluoromembrine.

Stereoselective synthesis of 1-fluoro-exo,exo-2,6-diaryl-3,7-dioxabicyclo[3.3.0]octanes is described. The synthetic strategy involves stereoselective fluorination of 3,4-trans-4,5-cis-3-aroyl-5-arylparaconic esters using Selectfluor to afford the corresponding fluorinated paraconic esters in good yields as a single isomer, which are subjected to reduction employing LiAlH4 or DIBALH followed by furofuran formation under acidic or Lewis acid conditions to afford a series of 1-fluoro-exo,exo-furofurans in moderate yields. The synthetic protocol also provides an access to (±)-1-fluoromembrine.

Intramolecular Conjugate Ene Reaction of γ-Difluoromethyl- and γ-Trifluoromethyl-α,ß-Unsaturated γ-Butyrolactones.

A general synthetic strategy to cis-fused bicyclic γ-butyrolactones via the retro-Diels-Alder reaction/intramolecular conjugate ene cascade (RDA/ICE) reaction under the flash-vacuum pyrolysis of maleic anhydride adducts is developed. The reaction gave high yields of products with high stereoselectivity. The existence of the difluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl group at the γ-position of the in situ-generated homoalkenyl- or homoalkynyl-α,ß-unsaturated γ-butyrolactones was found to accelerate the rate of the intramolecular conjugate ene reaction leading to γ-difluoromethylated and γ-trifluoromethylated cis-fused bicyclic γ-butyrolactones.

Synthesis of gem-difluoromethylenated polycyclic cage compounds.

The synthesis of gem-difluoromethylenated polycyclic cage compounds, utilizing PhSCF2SiMe3 as a gem-difluoromethylene building block, is described. The fluoride-catalyzed nucleophilic addition of PhSCF2SiMe3 to both maleic anhydride-cyclopentadiene and maleic anhydride-cyclohexadiene adducts was accomplished with high stereoselectivity to provide the corresponding adducts that were treated with Grignard reagents, followed by acid-catalyzed lactonization to afford the corresponding γ-butyrolactones, each as a single isomer. These γ-butyrolactones underwent intramolecular radical cyclization to give the corresponding tetracyclic cage γ-butyrolactones, which were employed as precursors for the synthesis of gem-difluoromethylenated tetracyclic cage lactols or tetracyclic cage furans, upon treatment with Grignard reagents.

Asymmetric synthesis of gem-difluoromethylenated linear triquinanes via cascade gem-difluoroalkyl radical cyclization.

An asymmetric synthesis of gem-difluoromethylenated linear triquinanes is described exploiting the synthetic utilities of PhSCF2TMS (5) as a "(•)CF2(-)'' building block. The strategy involves fluoride-catalyzed nucleophilic addition of PhSCF2TMS (5) to chiral ketocyclopentenes 6 to provide silylated adducts 9 or alcohol derivatives 10 and 11. Subsequent cascade radical cyclization of the gem-difluoroalkyl radical generated from silylated adducts 9 or alcohols 10 and 11 afforded gem-difluoromethylenated linear triquinanes 16 as an approximate 1:1 mixture of two diastereomers (16A and 16B). Alternatively, a convenient asymmetric synthesis of gem-difluoromethylenated linear triquinanes 16A can be accomplished by oxidation of 16a (R = H) to provide ketotriquinane 17 followed by a highly stereoselective nucleophilic addition to 17 employing DIBAL, NaBH4, and various Grignard reagents.

Convenient synthesis of α,ß-unsaturated γ-butyrolactones and γ-butyrolactams via decarboxylative iodination of paraconic acids and ß-carboxyl-γ-butyrolactams using 1,3-diiodo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin.

A convenient synthetic approach to α,ß-unsaturated γ-butyrolactones and α,ß-unsaturated γ-butyrolactams is developed. The reaction proceeds via decarboxylative iodination of paraconic acids and ß-carboxyl-γ-butyrolactams, employing 1,3-diiodo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin (DIH) under irradiation, followed by dehydroiodination of ß-iodo-γ-butyrolactones and γ-butyrolactams providing good yields of α,ß-unsaturated γ-butyrolactones and γ-butyrolactams, which are synthetically useful building blocks in organic synthesis.

PhI(OAc)2 mediated decarboxylative sulfonylation of ß-aryl-α,ß-unsaturated carboxylic acids: a synthesis of (E)-vinyl sulfones.

A highly efficient metal-free decarboxylative sulfonylation protocol for the preparation of (E)-vinyl sulfones from of ß-aryl-α,ß-unsaturated carboxylic acids using sodium sulfinates and (diacetoxyiodo)benzene (PhI(OAc)2) was developed. This strategy offers a simple and expedient synthesis of (E)-vinyl sulfones bearing a wide variety of functional groups. A radical-based pathway has been proposed for this decarboxylative sulfonylation reaction.

Regioselective C2 sulfonylation of indoles mediated by molecular iodine.

A facile and general method for regioselective C2 sulfonylation reaction of indoles mediated by iodine is described. The 2-sulfonylated products were obtained up to 96% yield under mild reaction conditions (room temperature, 2 h).

Formal synthesis of (+)-3-epi-eupomatilone-6 and the 3,5-bis-epimer.

The formal synthesis of (+)-3-epi-eupomatilone-6 () and the 3,5-bis-epimer () has been accomplished. The key synthetic strategy involved the stereoselective construction of (3R,4S,5R)- and (3R,4S,5S)-trisubstituted γ-butyrolactones and from (2R,3R)-2,3-dimethyl-4-pentenoic acid derivative , which was readily obtained via stereoselective conjugate addition of vinylmagnesium chloride to a chiral α,ß-unsaturated N-acyl oxazolidinone (Evans' auxiliary) followed by α-methylation.

Radical cyclization/ipso-1,4-aryl migration cascade: asymmetric synthesis of 3,3-difluoro-2-propanoylbicyclo[3.3.0]octanes.

A novel method for the asymmetric synthesis of 3,3-difluoro-2-propanoylbicyclo-[3.3.0]octanes involves an unprecedented intramolecular radical cyclization/ipso-1,4-aryl migration cascade.

A synthesis of γ-trifluoromethyl α,ß-unsaturated γ-butyrolactones using CF(3)SiMe(3) as a trifluoromethylating agent.

A general synthesis of γ-trifluoromethyl α,ß-unsaturated γ-butyrolactones is described. The fluoride-catalyzed nucleophilic addition of a trifluoromethyl (CF3) group generated from (trifluoromethyl)trimethylsilane (CF3SiMe3, Ruppert-Prakash reagent) to a masked maleic anhydride 1 (cyclopentadiene-maleic anhydride adduct) provides the corresponding adducts 2 with high stereoselectivity. The γ-trifluoromethyl α,ß-unsaturated γ-butyrolactones 4 were obtained after treatment of the adducts 2 with Grignard reagents, followed by flash-vacuum pyrolysis.