Five-Step Total Synthesis of (±)-Aspidospermidine by a Lactam Strategy via an Azomethine Ylide.

A five-step total synthesis of (±)-aspidospermidine (1) based on a lactam strategy is reported. Our synthesis features an iridium-catalyzed reductive Michael addition/[3+2] cycloaddition cascade to give a tricyclic ketone intermediate from a simple lactam via an azomethine ylide. The developed strategy enables easily available lactams to be used as stable surrogates of multisubstituted amines and would be applicable to a unified total synthesis of complex Aspidosperma alkaloids.

Copper-Catalyzed Electrophilic Etherification of Arylboronic Esters with Isoxazolidines.

A copper-catalyzed electrophilic etherification of arylboronic esters is reported. Isoxazolidines are utilized as easily available and stable [RO]+ surrogates to give 1,3-amino aryl ethers. The O-selective arylation of isoxazolidines takes place without causing competitive N-arylation. In contrast to previously reported anionic conditions, our copper-catalyzed conditions are mild enough to achieve high functional group tolerance. Preliminary mechanistic studies and DFT calculations support that the reaction proceeds via a transmetalation/oxidative addition pathway, followed by a Lewis acid-promoted reductive elimination to induce the crucial O-selectivity.

An Iridium-Catalyzed Reductive Approach to Nitrones from N-Hydroxyamides.

An Ir-catalyzed reductive formation of functionalized nitrones from N-hydroxyamides was reported. The reaction took place through two types of iridium-catalyzed reactions including dehydrosilylation and hydrosilylation. The method showed high chemoselectivity in the presence of sensitive functional groups, such as methyl esters, and was successfully applied to the synthesis of cyclic and macrocyclic nitrones, which are known to be challenging compounds to access by conventional methods. (1)H NMR studies strongly supported generation of an N-siloxyamide and an N,O-acetal as the actual intermediates.