Facile access to functionalized indenes and fused quinolines by regioselective 5-enolexo-dig Michael addition and cyclization reactions.

Herein we report a facile approach to synthesise multi-substituted indenes and cyclopenta[b]quinolines under mild conditions. The reaction proceeds via Michael addition between commercially available cyanoacetate/malonic esters and α,ß-unsaturated ketones. The synthetic methodology involves enolate mediated regio- and stereoselective intramolecular 5-enolexo-dig cyclization promoted by a catalytic base. The products stereoselectively form cis-isomers for indenes and trans-isomers for cyclopenta[b]quinolines, albeit with the presence of steric hindrance at a quaternary carbon substituted by active methylene compounds. The reaction pathway was investigated by isolating the reaction intermediate. This synthetic transformation was achieved with various aromatic and heteroaromatic Michael acceptors and the desired products were obtained in high to excellent yields. The reaction is scalable up to gram level with only 10 mol% of base.

Regioselective synthesis of functionalized dihydroisoquinolines from o-alkynylarylaldimines via the Reformatsky reaction.

A novel approach for the synthesis of functionalized 1,2-dihydroisoquinolines from o-alkynylarylaldimines via the Reformatsky reaction without the aid of an external Lewis acid has been described. The chemistry involves the dual role of the Reformatsky reagent which has been generated in situ in the reaction. We propose that one molecule of the Reformatsky reagent is being utilised for the activation of alkynes, whereas the second molecule acts as a nucleophile on the iminium carbon. This synthetic pathway has high functional group tolerance, and can be utilized on a gram scale. The proposed mechanistic pathway is well supported by the control experiments. The 1,2-dihydroisoquinoline derivatives showed up to 90% inhibition of the strand transfer activity of the HIV integrase enzyme.

An expedient approach to 1,2-dihydroisoquinoline derivatives via cobalt catalysed 6-endo dig cyclization followed by Mannich condensation of o-alkynylarylaldimines.

A highly effective 6-endo dig cyclisation of o-alkynylaldimines to 1,2-dihydroisoquinolines has been described via direct and nitro Mannich condensation using inexpensive and readily available cobalt chloride as catalyst. This strategy provides an effective procedure for the synthesis of substituted 1,2-dihydroisoquinolines derivatives in moderate to high yields. An addition of pronucleophiles, such as nitromethane, acetone and α-hydroxyacetone, to o-alkynylarylaldimines has been achieved via isoquinolinium intermediate.

Halocarbocyclization entry into the oxabicyclo[4.3.1]decyl exomethylene-δ-lactone cores of linearifolin and zaluzanin A: exploiting combinatorial catalysis.

A streamlined entry into the sesquiterpene lactone (SQL) cores of linearifolin and zaluzanin A is described. Stereochemistry is controlled through transformations uncovered by ISES (In Situ Enzymatic Screening). Absolute stereochemistry derives from kinetic resolution of 5-benzyloxypentene-1,2-oxide, utilizing a ß-pinene-derived-Co(III)-salen. Relative stereochemistry (1,3-cis-fusion) is set via formal halometalation/carbocyclization, mediated by [Rh(O(2)CC(3)F(7))(2)](2)/LiBr. Subsequent ring-closing metathesis (RCM-Grubbs II) yields the title exomethylene-δ-lactone SQL cores. In complementary fashion, RCM with Grubbs-I catalyst provides the oxabicyclo[3.3.1]nonyl core of xerophilusin R and zinagrandinolide.

Enantioselective Henry reaction catalyzed by a C2-symmetric bis(oxazoline)-Cu(OAc)2.H2O complex.

A C(2)-symmetric diethyl (i)Pr-bis(oxazoline)-Cu(OAc)(2).H(2)O was found to be an efficient catalyst for catalyzing an enantioselective Henry reaction between nitromethane and various aldehydes to provide beta-hydroxy nitroalkanes with high chemical yields (up to 95%) and enantiomeric excesses (up to 97%).

Studies on enantioselective allylic oxidation of olefins using peresters catalyzed by Cu(I)-complexes of chiral pybox ligands.

Enantioselective allylic oxidation of olefins with various peresters, using a catalytic amount of Cu(I)-pybox complex, can be tuned to achieve high asymmetric induction (up to 98% ee) by choosing a unique combination of a ligand and a perester at room temperature. The asymmetric induction in the reaction strongly depends on the nature of the substituents attached to the aryl ring of peresters. The presence of a gem-diphenyl group at C-5 and secondary or tertiary alkyl substituents at the chiral center (C-4) of the oxazoline rings is crucial for high enantioselectivity. A pi-pi stacking model has been proposed and discussed to explain the stereochemical outcome of the reaction.

Highly enantioselective direct aldol reaction catalyzed by organic molecules.

We have demonstrated that a new class of l-proline-based organic compounds catalyzed the direct aldol reaction between aldehydes and acetone to provide beta-hydroxy ketones in good yields. The reaction is efficient, and 5-10 mol % of the catalyst and excellent enantioselectivities (97-99% ee) were obtained in both aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes. The presence of a gem-diphenyl group at the beta-carbon is necessary for high enantioselectivity.

Efficient oxidizing methods for the synthesis of oxandrolone intermediates.

Mild, efficient and eco-friendly oxidation of 17alpha-methylandrostan-3beta-17beta-diol (1) has been studied with three different reagents viz. pentavalent iodine reagent 2-iodoxy benzoic acid (IBX) in DMSO at 65 degrees C, sodium hypochlorite and H2O2/Na2WO4 under phase transfer conditions to give 17beta-hydroxy-17alpha-methylandrostan-3-one (mestanolone 2), a drug intermediate as oxidized product. The H2O2/Na2WO4/PTC gave mestanolone in high yield and purity whereas sodium hypochlorite/PTC system yielded some chlorinated material along with the mestanolone. However, 1 with 2.5 equivalent of IBX gave 17beta-hydroxy-17alpha-methyl-Delta1-androsten-3-one (3) under the similar reaction conditions in good yield and single step reaction.