Bisketene Equivalents as Diels-Alder Dienes.

2,5-Bis(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)furans are established as vicinal bisketene equivalents for application as dienes in the Diels-Alder reaction. Cycloaddition with olefinic dienophiles, under exceptionally mild conditions, enables convergent access to highly substituted para-hydroquinones in unprotected form via a one-pot Diels-Alder/ring-opening/tautomerization sequence. The synthesis of para-benzoquinones from acetylenic dienophiles, including benzynes, is also demonstrated, and 2,5-bis(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)pyrroles are established as competent dienes for the synthesis of para-iminoquinones. Application in natural product synthesis enables gram-scale access to the neuroprotective agent (±)-indanostatin.

A Broad-Spectrum Synthesis of Tetravinylethylenes.

The first general synthesis of compounds of the tetravinylethylene (TVE) family is reported. Ramirez-type dibromo-olefination of readily accessible penta-1,4-dien-3-ones generates 3,3-dibromo[3]dendralenes, which undergo twofold Negishi, Suzuki-Miyaura or Mizoroki-Heck reactions with a wide variety of olefinic coupling partners. This route delivers a broad range of unsymmetrically substituted tetravinylethylenes with up to three different alkenyl substituents attached to the central C=C bond. The extensive scope of the approach is demonstrated by the preparation of the first higher order oligo-alkenic through-conjugated/cross-conjugated hybrid compounds. An unsymmetrically substituted TVE is shown to undergo a domino electrocyclization-cycloaddition with high site-selectivity and diastereoselectivity, thereby demonstrating the substantial synthetic potential of substituted TVEs for controlled, rapid structural complexity generation.

Catalytic Enantioselective Transformations Involving C-H Bond Cleavage by Transition-Metal Complexes.

The development of new methods for the direct functionalization of unactivated C-H bonds is ushering in a paradigm shift in the field of retrosynthetic analysis. In particular, the catalytic enantioselective functionalization of C-H bonds represents a highly atom- and step-economic approach toward the generation of structural complexity. However, as a result of their ubiquity and low reactivity, controlling both the chemo- and stereoselectivity of such processes constitutes a significant challenge. Herein we comprehensively review all asymmetric transition-metal-catalyzed methodologies that are believed to proceed via an inner-sphere-type mechanism, with an emphasis on the nature of stereochemistry generation. Our analysis serves to document the considerable and rapid progress within in the field, while also highlighting limitations of current methods.

Visible-Light Photoredox Catalysis Enables the Biomimetic Synthesis of Nyingchinoids†A, B, and D, and Rasumatranin†D.

The total synthesis of nyingchinoids A and B has been achieved through successive rearrangements of a 1,2-dioxane intermediate that was assembled using a visible-light photoredox-catalysed aerobic [2+2+2] cycloaddition. Nyingchinoid D was synthesised with a competing [2+2] cycloaddition. Based on NMR data and biosynthetic speculation, we proposed a structure revision of the related natural product rasumatranin D, which was confirmed through total synthesis. Under photoredox conditions, we observed the conversion of a cyclobutane into a 1,2-dioxane through retro-[2+2] cycloaddition followed by aerobic [2+2+2] cycloaddition.

Axially Chiral Dibenzazepinones by a Palladium(0)-Catalyzed Atropo-enantioselective C-H Arylation.

Atropo-enantioselective C-H functionalization reactions are largely limited to the dynamic kinetic resolution of biaryl substrates through the introduction of steric bulk proximal to the axis of chirality. Reported herein is a highly atropo-enantioselective palladium(0)-catalyzed methodology that forges the axis of chirality during the C-H functionalization process, enabling the synthesis of axially chiral dibenzazepinones. Computational investigations support experimentally determined racemization barriers, while also indicating C-H functionalization proceeds by an enantio-determining CMD to yield configurationally stable eight-membered palladacycles.

One-Step Multigram-Scale Biomimetic Synthesis of Psiguadial†B.

A gram-scale synthesis of psiguadial B, a purported inhibitor of human hepatoma cell growth, has been achieved in one step by a biomimetic three-component coupling of caryophyllene, benzaldehyde, and diformylphloroglucinol. This cascade reaction is catalyzed by N,N'-dimethylethylenediamine, and proceeds at ambient temperature to generate four stereocenters, two rings, one C-O bond, and three C-C bonds. Combined computational and experimental investigations suggest the biosynthesis of the natural product is non-enzyme mediated, and is the result of a Michael addition between caryophyllene and a reactive ortho-quinone methide, followed by two sequential intramolecular cationic cyclization events.

Asymmetric Catalysis Powered by Chiral Cyclopentadienyl Ligands.

Application of chiral derivatives of the versatile and ubiquitous cyclopentadienyl ligand has long remained an underdeveloped area in asymmetric catalysis. In this Perspective we highlight recent exciting results that demonstrate their enormous potential. In particular, we provide a comparative analysis of the available ligand families, an overview of their complexation chemistry, and an examination of their application in catalytic enantioselective reactions. We also discuss current limitations and speculate on the developments that are necessary to advance the field further.

[5]Radialene.

The [n]radialenes are a unique family of fundamental [n]-membered carbocyclic structures with radiating alkenes, which have attracted significant synthetic and theoretical attention. Whereas [3]-, [4]-, and [6]radialenes have been prepared and studied, all efforts to synthesize the five-membered ring compound have thus far met with failure. Here we describe the first synthesis of the fundamental hydrocarbon [5]radialene, C10H10. Our approach was a departure from previous radialene syntheses in that it utilized a low-temperature decomplexation of a stable organometallic compound, rather than high-temperature elimination or rearrangement. Our strategy was guided by analysis of previous radialene syntheses, which indicated rapid decomposition in oxygen, and ab initio calculations, which revealed an extraordinary susceptibility of [5]radialene to undergo Diels-Alder dimerization/polymerization. The origin of this susceptibility was traced to a small distortion energy associated with the formation of the transition structure geometry from the relaxed reactant monomers and to a narrow HOMO-LUMO gap.

Total synthesis of the pseudopterosin aglycones.

The pseudopterosin natural products have been the focus of a substantial number of synthetic studies since the first members were isolated almost 30 years ago. Herein we review all total and formal syntheses of this family of glycosylated diterpenes, with an emphasis on the synthetic strategies employed.

The anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and tuberculostatic activities of a series of 6,7-substituted-5,8-quinolinequinones.

A variety of 6,7-substituted-5,8-quinolinequinones were synthesised and assessed for their anti-tumour and anti-inflammatory activities, and their ability to inhibit the growth of Mycobacterium bovis BCG. In particular, the introduction of a sulfur group at the 7-position of the quinolinequinone led to the discovery of two compounds, 6-methylamino-7-methylsulfanyl-5,8-quinolinequinone (10a) and 6-amino-7-methylsulfonyl-5,8-quinolinequinone (12), that exhibited selectivity for leukemic cells over T-cells, a highly desirable property for an anti-cancer drug. A number of anti-inflammatory (AI) compounds were also identified, with 6,7-bis-methylsulfanyl-5,8-quinolinequinone (18a) exhibiting the highest AI activity (0.11 microM), while 6,7-dichloro-5,8-quinolinequinone (7a), 6,7-dichloro-2-methyl-5,8-quinolinequinone (7b), and 6,7-bis-phenylsulfanyl-quinoline-5,8-diol (19) also exhibited good AI activity and specificity. Several quinolinequinone TB-drug candidates were identified. Of these, 6-amino-7-chloro-5,8-quinolinequinone (11) and 6-amino-7-methanesulfinyl-5,8-quinolinequinone (14), exhibited low MICs (1.56-3.13 microg/mL) for the 100% growth inhibition of M. Bovis BCG. Some general trends pertaining to the functional group substitution of the quinolinequinone core and biological activity were also identified.

Network Analysis of Substituted Bullvalenes.

Substituted bullvalenes are dynamic shape-shifting molecules that exist within complex reaction networks. Herein, we report the synthesis of di- and trisubstituted bullvalenes and investigate their dynamic properties. Trisubstituted bullvalenes share a common major isomer which shows kinetic metastability. A survey of the thermodynamic and kinetic landscapes through computational analysis together with kinetic simulation provides a map of the internal dynamics of these systems.

Pseudopterosin synthesis from a chiral cross-conjugated hydrocarbon through a series of cycloadditions.

The pseudopterosins are a family of diterpene marine natural products, which, by virtue of their interesting anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, have attracted the attentions of many synthetic chemists. The most efficient syntheses reported to date are 14 and 20 steps in the longest linear sequence for chiral pool and enantioselective approaches, respectively, and all start with precursors that are easily mapped onto the natural product structure. Here, we describe an unconventional approach in which a chiral cross-conjugated hydrocarbon is used as the starting material for a series of three cycloadditions. Our approach has led to a significant reduction in the step count required to access these interesting natural products (10 steps chiral pool and 11 steps enantioselective). Furthermore it demonstrates that cross-conjugated hydrocarbons, erroneously considered by many to be too unstable and difficult to handle, are viable precursors for natural product synthesis.

Outsourcing lead optimisation--the quiet revolution.

The outsourcing of lead optimisation services is a relatively new but growing market. Historically, pharmaceutical companies have been hesitant to outsource activities at the lead optimisation stage of the drug discovery process, but more recently this reticence has largely been put aside. As a result, a growing number of companies with diverse backgrounds and geographical locations are now competing to offer services in this sector. Currently, a particularly significant trend is the move towards 'off-shoring', which promises to drive further changes in this rapidly evolving market in the near future.