ABSTRACT
We here present a highly efficient and high yielding procedure for the preparation of 2-vinyl tetrahydrofurans starting from α-hydroxymethyl tetrahydrofurans. Best results for this dehydration were achieved using Burgess' reagent in dioxane under microwave irradiation. A range of functional groups as well as different cyclic and bicyclic frameworks were found to be compatible with the reaction conditions. The desired products were obtained within minutes in good to high yields and excellent regioselectivity.
ABSTRACT
An asymmetric synthesis of the C11-homoterpenoid (+)-Greek tobacco lactone is developed starting from readily available (R)-linalool. The synthesis is comprised of four operations and features a diastereoablative epoxidation and an oxidative tetrahydropyran formation using vanadium-, palladium-, and selenium-catalyzed cyclizations.
ABSTRACT
The direct oxidative cyclization of 1,5-dienes is a valuable synthetic method for the (dia)stereoselective preparation of substituted tetrahydrofurans. Closely related reactions start from 5,6-dihydroxy or 5-hydroxyalkenes to generate similar products in a mechanistically analogous manner. After a brief overview on the history of this group of transformations and a survey on mechanistic and stereochemical aspects, this review article provides a summary on applications in natural product synthesis. Moreover, current limitations and future directions in this area of chemistry are discussed.
ABSTRACT
Very high diastereoselectivity can be achieved by 1,3-chelation-controlled allylation of aldehydes that possess a non-chelating α-ether substituent, even if the α-position is a quaternary centre and/or a spiro-epoxide. This reaction was used as a key step in an enantioselective synthesis of the angiogenesis inhibitor luminacinâ D.