Palladium-Catalyzed Sequential Heck Reactions of Olefin-Tethered Aryl Iodides with Alkenes.

An efficient approach to functionalized (E)-3-cinnamyl-3-methyl-2,3-dihydrobenzofurans and (E)-(3-methyl-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran-3-yl)but-2-enones has been developed through a Pd-catalyzed one-pot cascade process involving two sequential Heck reactions, that is, an intramolecular Heck reaction of olefin-tethered aryl iodides and an intermolecular Heck reaction with substituted styrenes and α,ß-unsaturated ketones. As a result, a series of desired products were obtained in moderate to good yields and with exclusive E-form selectivities.

AgNTf2-Catalyzed Regioselective C-H Alkenylation of N,N-Dialkylanilines with Ynamides.

Regioselective C-H alkenylation of N,N-dialkylanilines with ynamides was developed using AgNTf2 as a catalyst. This approach represents a facile hydroarylation of ynamides, allowing for the introduction of an alkenyl group exclusively at the para position of aniline derivatives. As a result, a series of 4-alkenyl N,N-dialkylanilines were synthesized with excellent regioselectivities.

Synthesis of Functionalized Bicyclo[2.2.2]octan-2-ones Skeleton via Tandem Process of Amino Acid Involved Formal [4 + 2] and Decarboxylative-Mannich Sequence.

An efficient approach to a functionalized bicyclo[2.2.2]octan-2-one scaffold has been developed through a one-pot cascade process including amino acid involved successive Michael addition and decarboxylative-Mannich sequence. Starting from α,ß-unsaturated ketones and amino acids, a series of desired products 7a-7m and 8a-8o were obtained with moderate yields. In addition, the tandem process was reasonably explained by the results of DFT calculations.

Synthesis of Amide Enol Carbamates and Carbonates through Cu(OTf)2-Catalyzed Reactions of Ynamides with t-Butyl Carbamates/Carbonates.

A highly regioselective approach to access amide enol carbamates and carbonates 5a-5c', 7a-7h, and 9 was developed through Cu(OTf)2-catalyzed reactions of ynamides 4 with t-butyl carbamates 2 and 8 and t-butyl carbonates 6. Moreover, this strategy was successfully applied to generate amide enol carbamates 11a-11s and 14a-14f from imides 10 and 13 with ynamides through an N-Boc cleavage-addition ring-opening process. A range of substituents was amenable to this transformation, and the desired amide enol carbamates and carbonates were obtained in moderate to good yields.

Approach to Tertiary-Type ß-Hydroxyl Carboxamides Through Sc(OTf)3-Catalyzed Addition of Ynamides and Ketones.

An efficient approach to access functionalized tertiary-type ß-hydroxyl carboxamides has been developed through Sc(OTf)3-catalyzed addition of ynamides and substituted ketones. Water was found to be an important reaction substrate, and the solvent was not needed in this process. A broad range of substituted ynamides and ketones was well applicable to the reaction with excellent chemical selectivities. Moreover, several chiral ß-hydroxyl carboxamides 3j-3r were prepared with excellent regioselectivities and outstanding diastereoselectivities.

Stereoselective Synthesis of Pyrido- and Pyrrolo[1,2- c][1,3]oxazin-1-ones via a Nucleophilic Addition-Cyclization Process of N, O-Acetal with Ynamides.

An efficient asymmetric approach to access functionalized pyrido- and pyrrolo[1,2- c][1,3]oxazin-1-ones has been developed through a nucleophilic addition-cyclization process of N, O-acetal with ynamides. A number of substituted ynamides 8a-8o and 3-silyloxypyrrolidine or piperidine N, O-acetals 6a, 7 were amenable to this transformation, and the desired products 9a-9o, 10a-10m were obtained with excellent regioselectivities and outstanding diastereoselectivities. Moreover, chiral ynamides 14a-14f could also experience this addition-cyclization process to afford products 15a-15f in excellent yields.

Divergent Synthesis of Revised Apratoxin E, 30-epi-Apratoxin E, and 30S/30R-Oxoapratoxin E.

In this report, originally proposed apratoxin E (30S-7), revised apratoxin E (30R-7), and (30S)/(30R)-oxoapratoxin E (30S)-38/(30R)-38 were efficiently prepared by two synthetic methods. The chiral lactone 10, recycled from the degradation of saponin glycosides, was utilized to prepare the key nonpeptide fragment 9. Our alternative convergent assembly strategy was applied to the divergent synthesis of revised apratoxin E and its three analogues. Moreover, ring-closing metathesis (RCM) was for the first time found to be an efficient strategy for the macrocyclization of apratoxins.

An efficient approach to trans-4-hydroxy-5-substituted 2-pyrrolidinones through a stereoselective tandem Barbier process: divergent syntheses of (3R,4S)-statines, (+)-preussin and (-)-hapalosin.

A diastereoselective approach to trans-4-hydroxy-5-substituted 2-pyrrolidinones 1 (P1 = TBS, P2 = H) has been developed through a stereoselective tandem Barbier process of (R,SRS)-8 with alkyl and aryl bromide. The stereochemistry at the C-5 stereogenic center of the trans-4-hydroxy-5-substituted 2-pyrrolidinones was solely controlled by α-alkoxy substitution. This effective approach was successfully used to prepare a variety of substituted (3R,4S)-statines 2. In addition, two bioactive natural products of (+)-preussin 4 and hapalosin 5 were effectively synthesized through this stereoselective tandem Barbier process.

Asymmetric Synthesis of Apratoxin E.

An efficient method for asymmetric synthesis of apratoxin E 2 is described in this report. The chiral lactone 8, recycled from the degradation of saponin glycosides, was utilized to prepare the non-peptide fragment 6. In addition to this "from nature to nature" strategy, olefin cross-metathesis (CM) was applied as an alternative approach for the formation of the double bond. Moreover, pentafluorophenyl diphenylphosphinate was found to be an efficient condensation reagent for the macrocyclization.

Asymmetric syntheses of epohelmins A and B by In-mediated allylation.

A diastereoselective new approach for the synthesis of trans-4-hydroxy-5-allyl-2-pyrrolidinone 9 has been developed through In-mediated allylation of α-chiral aldimine 8 with allyl bromide. The stereochemistry at the C-2 stereogenic center of 9 was controlled by both the α-OTBS substitution and the sulfinamide moiety. The utility of this asymmetric allylation is demonstrated by the asymmetric syntheses of epohelmins A (4) and B (10).

Divergent Method to trans-5-Hydroxy-6-alkynyl/alkenyl-2-piperidinones: Syntheses of (-)-Epiquinamide and (+)-Swainsonine.

An efficient diastereoselective approach to access trans-5-hydroxy-6-alkynyl/alkenyl-2-piperidinones has been developed through nucleophilic addition of α-chiral aldimines using alkynyl/alkenyl Grignard reagents. The diastereoselectivity of alkenyl in C-6 position of 2-piperidinone was controlled by α-alkoxy substitution, while the alkynyl was controlled by the coordination of the α-alkoxy substitution and stereochemistry of sulfinamide. The utility of this straightforward cascade process is demonstrated by the asymmetric synthesis of the (-)-epiquinamide and (+)-swainsonine.

Cu(OTf)2 catalyzed Ugi-type reaction of N,O-acetals with isocyanides for the synthesis of pyrrolidinyl and piperidinyl 2-carboxamides.

The Cu(OTf)2 catalyzed Ugi-type reactions of N,O-acetals with isocyanides have been described for the synthesis of pyrrolidinyl and piperidinyl 2-carboxamides. 4-Hydroxy-5-substituted-prolinamides can be obtained in high diastereoselectivities (2,4-cis/trans > 19 : 1) and a stereoselective model was proposed for 2,4-cis selectivity. Moreover, 4-F-VH 032, a novel analog of the VHL ligand, was conveniently obtained by utilizing the present method.

Divergent synthesis of N-heterocyclic 1,6-enynes through a zinc-catalyzed decarboxylative A3 reaction.

A zinc-catalyzed decarboxylative A3 reaction of cyclic amino acids, α,ß-unsaturated aldehydes and terminal alkynes has been developed. A series of functionalized N-heterocyclic 1,6-enynes have been successfully obtained with excellent regioselectivities through this novel approach. In addition, the utility of this straightforward process is demonstrated by the preparation of a polycyclic nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compound.

Regio- and Stereoselective Cascades via Aldol Condensation and 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition for Construction of Functional Pyrrolizidine Derivatives.

An efficient and step-economical approach to access functionalized pyrrolizidine derivatives by a one-pot tandem sequence, including an aldol condensation and subsequent 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition process, has been developed, starting from acetone, aldehyde, and proline. A number of substituted aromatic aldehydes were amenable to this transformation, and the desired products, racemic 7a-7w and chiral 9a-9m, were obtained with excellent regioselectivities and outstanding diastereoselectivities. Moreover, in situ NMR studies revealed MgSO4 could effectively promote the aldol condensation pathway in this tandem process.

Synthesis and Structure Revision of Symplocin A.

Symplocin A, a linear peptide possessing N-terminal N,N-dimethylisoleucine, statine, and valic acid residues, has been synthesized for the first time employing our previously established 'one-pot intramolecular tandem protocol'. Moreover, the stereochemistry of natural symplocin A was unambiguously revised through the confirmation by 1D NMR, 2D NMR, and HPLC comparisons with authentic natural product.