Carbonylative N-Heterocyclization via Nitrogen-Directed C-C Bond Activation of Nonactivated Cyclopropanes.

Under Rh-catalyzed conditions, secondary amines and anilines function as directing groups to facilitate regioselective C-C bond activation of nonactivated cyclopropanes. The resulting amino-stabilized rhodacycles undergo carbonylative C-N bond formation en route to challenging seven- and eight-membered lactams. The processes represent rare examples where C-C bond oxidative addition of nonactivated cyclopropanes is exploited in reaction design.

Domino Pd0 -Catalyzed C(sp3 )-H Arylation/Electrocyclic Reactions via Benzazetidine Intermediates.

The Pd0 -catalyzed C(sp3 )-H arylation of 2-bromo-N-methylanilides leads to unstable benzazetidine intermediates that rearrange to benzoxazines through 4π electrocyclic ring-opening and 6π electrocyclization. The introduction of a bulky, non-activatable amide group on the nitrogen atom was key to favor the challenging reductive elimination step and disfavor undesired reaction pathways.

Synthesis of ß-Lactams by Palladium(0)-Catalyzed C(sp3 )-H Carbamoylation.

A general and user-friendly synthesis of ß-lactams is reported that makes use of Pd0 -catalyzed carbamoylation of C(sp3 )-H bonds, and operates under stoichiometric carbon monoxide in a two-chamber reactor. This reaction is compatible with a range of primary, secondary and activated tertiary C-H bonds, in contrast to previous methods based on C(sp3 )-H activation. In addition, the feasibility of an enantioselective version using a chiral phosphonite ligand is demonstrated. Finally, this method can be employed to synthesize valuable enantiopure free ß-lactams and ß-amino acids.

Synthesis of Strained γ-Lactams by Palladium(0)-Catalyzed C(sp(3) )-H Alkenylation and Application to Alkaloid Synthesis.

A variety of strained α-alkylidene-γ-lactams were synthesized by palladium(0)-catalyzed intramolecular C(sp(3) )-H alkenylation from easily accessible acyclic and monocyclic bromoalkene precursors. These lactams are valuable intermediates for accessing various classes of mono- and bicylic alkaloids containing a pyrrolidine ring, as illustrated with the synthesis of an advanced model of the marine natural product plakoridine A and of the indolizidine alkaloid δ-coniceine.

Divergent Synthesis of Aeruginosins Based on a C(sp(3))-H Activation Strategy.

A general and scalable access to the aeruginosin family of marine natural products, exhibiting potent inhibitory activity against serine proteases, is reported. This was enabled by the strategic use of two recently implemented Pd-catalyzed C(sp(3))-H activation reactions. The first method allowed us to obtain the common 2-carboxy-6-hydroxyoctahydroindole (Choi) core of the target molecules on a large scale, whereas the second method provided a rapid and divergent access to various hydroxyphenyllactic (Hpla) subunits, including halogenated ones. This unique strategy, together with an optimization of the fragment coupling sequence allowed the synthesis of four aeruginosins, that is, 98A-C and 298A from the chiral pool. Among them, aeruginosin 298A was synthesized on an unprecedentedly large scale. In addition, halogenated aeruginosins 98A and 98C were synthesized for the first time, thanks to a fine-tuning of the final hydrogenation step.

A general and scalable synthesis of aeruginosin marine natural products based on two strategic C(sp³)-H activation reactions.

An efficient and scalable access to the aeruginosin family of marine natural products, which exhibit potent inhibitory activity against serine proteases, is reported. This synthesis was enabled by the strategic use of two different, recently implemented C(sp(3))-H activation reactions. The first method led to the common 2-carboxy-6-hydroxyoctahydroindole (Choi) core of the target molecules on a large scale, whereas the second one provided rapid and divergent access to the various hydroxyphenyllactic (Hpla) subunits. This strategy allowed the synthesis of the aeruginosins 98B and 298A, with the latter being obtained in unprecedentedly large quantities.

Ligand-controlled α- and ß-arylation of acyclic N-Boc amines.

The palladium-catalyzed ligand-controlled arylation of α-zincated acyclic amines, obtained by directed α-lithiation and transmetalation, is described. Whereas PtBu3 gave rise to α-arylated Boc-protected amines, more flexible N-phenylazole-based phosphine ligands induced major ß-arylation through migrative cross-coupling.

Novel fidaxomicin antibiotics through site-selective catalysis.

Fidaxomicin (FDX) is a marketed antibiotic for the treatment of Clostridioides difficile infections (CDI). Fidaxomicin displays antibacterial properties against many Gram-positive bacteria, yet the application of this antibiotic is currently limited to treatment of CDI. Semisynthetic modifications present a promising strategy to improve its pharmacokinetic properties and also circumvent resistance development by broadening the structural diversity of the derivatives. Here, based on a rational design using cryo-EM structural analysis, we implement two strategic site-selective catalytic reactions with a special emphasis to study the role of the carbohydrate units. Site-selective introduction of various ester moieties on the noviose as well as a Tsuji-Trost type rhamnose cleavage allow the synthesis of novel fidaxomicin analogs with promising antibacterial activities against C. difficile and Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

A Four-Step Synthesis of (±)-γ-Lycorane via Pd0-Catalyzed Double C(sp2)-H/C(sp3)-H Arylation.

An expedient synthesis of lycorine alkaloids is reported using a palladium(0)-catalyzed double C-X/C-H arylation as the key step. The selectivity of this reaction was controlled through the judicious choice of the two halogen atoms, and its generality was demonstrated through the construction of various substituted pyrrolophenanthridinones. A selective arene hydrogenation allowed for the completion of the synthesis of (±)-γ-lycorane in just four steps from commercially available precursors.