Recent advances in iron-catalysed coupling reactions for the construction of the C(sp2)-C(sp2) bond.

The advancement of transition-metal-catalyzed coupling reactions has been demonstrated as a highly effective strategy for the formation of carbon-carbon bonds, which serve as the fundamental basis for organic synthetic chemistry. Given that iron represents one of the most economical and ecologically sustainable metallic elements available, the exploration and enhancement of iron-catalysed coupling reactions have garnered increasing interest within the scientific community. In recent years, numerous iron-catalysed reactions have been reported, showcasing their efficacy in establishing C-C bonds. In this minireview, we present a systematic analysis of C(sp2)-C(sp2) bond formation via iron-catalysed coupling reactions as documented in the extant literature.

Total Syntheses of (-)-Deoxoapodine, (-)-Kopsifoline D, and (-)-Beninine.

The total syntheses of Aspidosperma and Kopsia alkaloids (-)-deoxoapodine, (-)-kopsifoline D, and (-)-beninine are described through a domino deprotection-Michael addition-nucleophilic substitution protocol to assemble the core framework in efficient steps. Corey-Bakshi-Shibata reduction was employed to afford the enantioenriched intermediate for the total syntheses of the aforementioned alkaloids. The chirality was shown to completely transfer to the backbone using Johnson-Claisen rearrangement. The enantioselective total syntheses of (-)-kopsifoline D and (-)-beninine were accomplished for the first time. Our strategy opens up practical avenues for the total synthesis of structurally similar alkaloids.

Visible-Light-Driven Difluoromethylation of Isocyanides with S-(Difluoromethyl)diarylsulfonium Salt: Access to a Wide Variety of Difluoromethylated Phenanthridines and Isoquinolines.

A highly efficient approach of visible-light-driven radical difluoromethylation of isocyanides to access a wide variety of difluoromethylated phenanthridines and isoquinolines is herein described. Electrophilic S-(difluoromethyl)diarylsulfonium salt proved to be a good difluoromethyl radical precursor under photoredox catalysis. A broad range of isocyanides were tolerated to furnish the corresponding difluoromethylated phenanthridines, isoquinolines, furo[3,2-c]pyridine, and pyrido[3,4-b]indole in moderate to excellent yields under mild conditions. A plausible mechanism was also proposed.

Total Synthesis of Cryptotrione.

The total synthesis of cryptotrione (1) was enabled by substrate-controlled diastereoselective construction of the bicyclo[3.1.0]hexene framework through platinum-catalyzed enyne cycloisomerization and Lewis acid induced polyene cyclization to construct the abietane-type tricyclic diterpene skeleton. The stereogenic tertiary carbon center in the side chain was installed in a diastereodivergent manner by conjugate addition reactions.

Difluoromethylation of Phenols and Thiophenols with the S-(Difluo-romethyl)sulfonium Salt: Reaction, Scope, and Mechanistic Study.

A facile and practical approach for the difluoromethylation of phenols and thiophenols was described. Making use of the recently developed bench-stable S-(difluoromethyl)sulfonium salt as the difluorocarbene precursor, a wide variety of diversely functionalized phenols and thiophenols were readily converted to their corresponding aryl difluoromethyl ethers in good to excellent yields in the presence of lithium hydroxide. Chemoselectivity of various O,S-nucleophiles toward difluorocarbene was systematically studied, suggesting the reactivity order ArS- > RS-, ArO- > ROH > RO-, ArSH, ArOH, RSH.

Ligand-Free Iron-Catalyzed Carbon(sp2)-Carbon(sp2) Cross-Coupling of Alkenyllithium with Vinyl Halides.

An efficient ligand-free iron-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction involving alkenyllithium and vinyl iodides was developed to form diene species in moderate to good yields. This new iron-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction provides a mild, inexpensive, and environmentally friendly avenue toward synthesis of diversified diene derivatives.

Gold(I)-Catalyzed Tandem Cycloisomerization of 1,5-Enyne Ethers by Hydride Transfer.

A novel gold-catalyzed tandem protocol, initiated by hydride transfer in the presence of catalytic (C6 F5 )3 PAuCl/AgSbF6 , for the formation of fused polycyclic ring systems has been achieved. This tandem reaction provides rapid access to various fused polycyclic species in a single chemical operation, leading to stereospecific formation of two carbon-carbon bonds and three rings.

Asymmetric Darzens Reaction of Isatins with Diazoacetamides Catalyzed by Chiral BINOL-Titanium Complex.

An efficient catalytic asymmetric Darzens reaction of N-protected isatins with diazoacetamides using a chiral BINOL/Ti(OiPr)4 complex as the catalyst has been developed. This reaction is a straightforward method for the synthesis of spiro-epoxyoxindoles in 40-95% yields, up to >20:1 dr and up to >99% ee. A gram-scale reaction was also achieved in 95% yield with excellent stereoselectivity and enantioselectivity (>20:1 dr, >99% ee).

Our expedition in eight-membered ring compounds: from planar dehydrocyclooctenes to tub-shaped chiral tetraphenylenes.

Our research focus for almost forty years concerning eight-membered ring compounds is herein summarized. The design and preparation of these structurally unique compounds featuring a central cyclooctene ring are described in the context of their planar or tub-shaped conformations. Furthermore, their intrinsic properties and potential applications are also presented.

Asymmetric synthesis of 3,3,5,5-tetrasubstituted 1,2-dioxolanes: total synthesis of epiplakinic acid F.

The first enantioselective total synthesis of epiplakinic acid F (1) was achieved through a pivotal step involving a radical-mediated asymmetric peroxidation of vinylcyclopropanes with molecular oxygen to construct highly substituted 1,2-dioxolanes. Subsequent conversions of the chiral 1,2-dioxolanes led to total synthesis of epiplakinic acid F (1) and the confirmation of its absolute configuration. The enantiomer of epiplakinic acid F methyl ester (2) was also prepared.

Enantiomeric recognition of amino acid salts by macrocyclic crown ethers derived from enantiomerically pure 1,8,9,16-tetrahydroxytetraphenylenes.

Asymmetric synthesis of (R,R)- and (S,S)-1,8,9,16-tetrahydroxytetraphenylenes was achieved from starting material (2R,3R)-butane-2,3-diol and (2S,3S)-butane-2,3-diol respectively by utilizing a center-to-axis strategy. A series of crown ether compounds 20, 24, and 25 and their corresponding enantiomers derived from chiral tetrahydroxytetraphenylene were synthesized in enantiomerically pure forms. Enantiomeric recognition properties of these hosts toward l- and d-amino acid methyl ester hydrochloride were studied by the UV spectroscopy titration. The tetramer hosts (S,S,S,S,S,S,S,S)-20 and (R,R,R,R,R,R,R,R)-20 exhibited the best enantioselectivities toward L- and D-alanine methyl ester hydrochloride salt with K(L)/K(D) = 4.1 and KD/KL = 3.9, respectively. The new chiral macrocyclic hosts would further enrich the host-guest chemistry.

Sustainable and practical formation of carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bonds employing organo-alkali metal reagents.

Metal-catalysed cross-coupling reactions are amongst the most widely used methods to directly construct new bonds. In this connection, sustainable and practical protocols, especially transition metal-catalysed cross-coupling reactions, have become the focus in many aspects of synthetic chemistry due to their high efficiency and atom economy. This review summarises recent advances from 2012 to 2022 in the formation of carbon-carbon bonds and carbon-heteroatom bonds by employing organo-alkali metal reagents.

Optical resolution of 1,16-dihydroxytetraphenylene by chiral gold(iii) complexation and its applications as chiral ligands in asymmetric catalysis.

We report herein a novel approach involving optical resolution of (±)-1,16-dihydroxytetraphenylene (DHTP) by chiral gold(iii) complexation. This method features several key advantages, i.e., recyclability of chiral resolution reagents, feasibility of scaling up to gram quantities, and operational simplicity. On the basis of this method, which led to optically pure DHTP, a library of 2,15-diaryl (S)-DHTPs and several (S)-DHTP-derived phosphoramidite ligands were synthesized. Finally, the superior performance of a (S)-DHTP phosphoramidite ligand was demonstrated by efficient iridium-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkynylation reactions.

Palladium-Catalyzed Asymmetric (3 + 2) Cycloaddition of Vinyl Epoxides with Substituted Propiolates. Enantioselective Formation of 2,3,4-Trisubstituted 2,3-Dihydrofurans.

Alkynyl esters are viable dipolarophiles for the palladium-catalyzed asymmetric (3 + 2) cycloaddition with vinyl epoxides. The chiral dihydrofurans are obtained in high yields and high ee values. The use of a chiral benzylic substituted P,N-ligand is essential. The usefulness of the synthetic method has been demonstrated; 2,3-cis-tetrahydrofuran was also provided.

Iridium-catalyzed enantioselective alkynylation and kinetic resolution of alkyl allylic alcohols.

Herein, we report an efficient kinetic resolution of alkyl allylic alcohols enabled by an iridium-catalyzed enantioselective alkynylation of alkyl allylic alcohols with potassium alkynyltrifluoroborates. A wide range of chiral 1,4-enynes bearing various functional groups and unreacted enantioenriched allylic alcohols were obtained with excellent enantioselectivities and high kinetic resolution performance (s-factor up to 922). Additionally, this method is particularly effective for preparing some useful optically pure alkyl allylic alcohols, such as the key components towards the synthesis of prostaglandins and naturally occurring matsutakeols, which are difficult to access via other asymmetric reactions. Mechanistic studies revealed that the efficient kinetic resolution might be due to the significant distinction of the η 2-coordination between the (R)- and (S)-allylic alcohols with the iridium/(phosphoramidite, olefin) complex.

Total synthesis of plakortide E and biomimetic synthesis of plakortone B.

The total synthesis of plakortide E (1a) is reported. A novel palladium-catalyzed approach towards 1,2-dioxolanes as well as an alternative substrate-controlled route leading exclusively to cis-highly substituted 1,2-dioxolanes have been developed. A lipase-catalyzed kinetic resolution was employed to provide optically pure 1,2-dioxolane central cores. Coupling of the central cores and side chains was achieved by a modified Negishi reaction. All four isomeric structures of plakortide E methyl ester, namely, 26a-d were synthesized. One of the structures, 26d, was shown to be identical with the natural plakortide E methyl ester on the basis of (1)H, (13)C NMR spectra and specific rotation comparisons. With the plakortide E methyl ester (4S,6R,10R)-(-)-cis-26d and its other three isomers in hand, we successfully converted them into (3S,4S,6R,10R)-plakortone B (2a), and its isomers ent-2a, 2b and ent-2b via an intramolecular oxa-Michael addition/lactonization cascade reaction. Finally, saponification converted 1,2-dioxolane 26d into plakortide E (1a) whose absolute configuration (4S,6R,10R) was confirmed by comparison of spectral and physical data with those reported.

Stereospecific Iron-Catalyzed Carbon (sp2)-Carbon (sp2) Cross-Coupling of Aryllithium with Vinyl Halides.

We present herein an efficient synthetic protocol involving iron-catalyzed cross-coupling of organolithium compounds with vinyl halides as key coupling partners. More than 30 examples were obtained with moderate to good yields and high stereoselectivities. The practicality of this method is evidenced by a gram-scale synthesis. In addition, a preliminary mechanistic investigation was also performed.

Synthesis and photophysical studies of chiral helical macrocyclic scaffolds via coordination-driven self-assembly of 1,8,9,16-tetraethynyltetraphenylene. formation of monometallic platinum(II) and dimetallic platinum(II)-ruthenium(II) complexes.

This paper is concerned with the synthesis and reactions of enantiopure 1,8,9,16-tetraethynyltetraphenylene (3). We obtained 3 in 34% yield through four steps starting from 1,8,9,16-tetrahydroxytetraphenylene (2a) via a functional group interconversion strategy. On the basis of this chiral "helical" building block, three rigid helical macrocycles 14, 15, and 22 were designed. Complexes 14 and 15 were constructed via coordination-driven self-assembly with platinum(II) complexes 8 and 9b, while 22 cannot be obtained successfully. Then macrocycle 28 was designed on the structural basis of 22 to which octyl chains were introduced, in the hope of improving the solubility of the complex. Macrocycle 28 was finally formed and was characterized by NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and electrospray mass spectrometry. For the enantiopure 15 and 28, circular dichroism (CD) spectra also exhibited chiral properties. Complexes 27 and 28 both exhibited an intense emission band at 621 nm in acetonitrile at 298 K upon excitation at λ > 420 nm.

Total synthesis of plakortone B.

Plakortone B is a naturally occurring bicyclic[3.3.0]furanolactone compound with attractive bioactivities. Although the relative configuration of plakortone B's central core had been established by NMR spectroscopic methods, the absolute configuration of its four stereocenters remained unknown. In the present paper, all four possible isomers of plakortone B were synthesized and one of these molecules was found to be identical with the natural plakortone B on the basis of (1)H, (13)C NMR spectra and specific rotation comparisons. Thus, the absolute configuration of the natural plakortone B was determined to be (3S,4S,6R,10R).

To flip or not to flip? Assessing the inversion barrier of the tetraphenylene framework with enantiopure 2,15-dideuteriotetraphenylene and 2,7-dimethyltetraphenylene.

Two chiral tetraphenylenes, 2,15-dideuteriotetraphenylene (7) and 2,7-dimethyltetraphenylene (15) were synthesized and resolved to address the tetraphenylene inversion barrier problem. Neutron diffraction investigation of enantiopure 7 showed that the molecule retained its chirality integrity during its synthesis from enantiopure precursors and therefore rules out the possibility of the tetraphenylene framework possessing a low-energy barrier to inversion. Thermal study on 15 and tetraphenylene 1 further revealed that their inversion barriers were not overcome up to 600 degrees C, at which temperature these compounds underwent skeletal contraction into triphenylene with activation energies of 62.8 and 58.2 kcal/mol, respectively. This result is supported by computational studies which yielded an inversion barrier of 135 kcal/mol for tetraphenylene as a consequence of the peri-hydrogen repulsions at its planar conformation.