CycloSiFA: The Next Generation of Silicon-Based Fluoride Acceptors for Positron Emission Tomography (PET).

The ring-opening Si-fluorination of a variety of azasilole derivatives cyclo-1-(iPr2 Si)-4-X-C6 H3 -2-CH2 NR (4: R=2,6-iPr2 C6 H3 , X=H; 4 a: R=2,4,6-Me3 C6 H2 , X=H; 9: R=2,6-iPr2 C6 H3 , X=tBuMe2 SiO; 10: R=2,6-iPr2 C6 H3 , X=OH; 13: R=2,6-iPr2 C6 H3 , X=HCCCH2 O; 22: R=2,6-iPr2 C6 H3 , X=tBuMe2 SiCH2 O) with different 19 F-fluoride sources was studied, optimized and the experience gained was used in a translational approach to create a straightforward 18 F-labelling protocol for the azasilole derivatives [18 F]6 and [18 F]14. The latter constitutes a potential clickable CycloSiFA prosthetic group which might be used in PET tracer development using Cu-catalysed triazole formation. Based on our findings, CycloSiFA has the potential to become a new entry into non-canonical labelling methodologies for radioactive PET tracer development.

Exploration of a Au(i)-mediated three-component reaction for the synthesis of DNA-tagged highly substituted spiroheterocycles.

We demonstrate a Au(i)-mediated three-component reaction to DNA-tagged highly substituted 6-oxa-1,2-diazaspiro[4.4]nonanes from either DNA-coupled aldehydes, hydrazides, or alkynols. The choice of the starting material coupled to the DNA tag was critial for the purity of the product as the DNA-aldehyde conjugate yielded the purest products, whereas the alkynol- and hydrazide conjugates returned complex product mixtures. The reaction was compatible with thymine-, cytosine-, and, surprisingly, with adenine-DNA, while guanine-containing DNA strands were degraded under the reaction conditions.

Gold-catalyzed three-component spirocyclization: a one-pot approach to functionalized pyrazolidines.

An efficient, highly atom economic synthesis of hitherto unknown spirocyclic pyrazolidines in a one-pot process was developed. The gold-catalyzed three-component coupling of alkynols, hydrazines and aldehydes or ketones likely proceeds via cycloisomerization of the alkynol to an exocyclic enol ether and subsequent [3 + 2]-cycloaddition of an azomethine ylide. A library of 29 derivatives with a wide range of functional groups was synthesized in up to 97% yield. With this new method, every position in the final product can be substituted which renders the method ideal for applications in combinatorial or medicinal chemistry.

Smaller, faster, better: modular synthesis of unsymmetrical ammonium salt-tagged NHC-gold(I) complexes and their application as recyclable catalysts in water.

Facile access towards a small library of unsymmetrical ammonium salt-tagged N-heterocyclic carbene gold(i) complexes is described, and their application as recyclable catalysts in cyclization reactions of acetylenic carboxylic acids and amides to lactones and lactams, respectively, in aqueous media is demonstrated. Catalyst was applied in the synthesis of 2-epi-clausemarine A ().

Gold-catalyzed allene cycloisomerization for pyrrole synthesis: towards highly fluorinated BODIPY dyes.

A novel synthetic strategy toward highly fluorinated BODIPY dyes with exceptional photostabilities relying on sustainable gold catalysis has been developed. A key to the tailored pyrrole precursors is the gold catalysis performed in ionic liquids as the reaction medium, allowing a facile recycling of the catalysts. The dyes prepared are well-matching with the spectral windows of popular rhodamine dyes and possess high brightness while showing a distinctly higher photostability than the rhodamines especially in aprotic solvents.

Leveraging the micellar effect: gold-catalyzed dehydrative cyclizations in water at room temperature.

The first examples of gold-catalyzed cyclizations of diols and triols to the corresponding hetero- or spirocycles in an aqueous medium are presented. These reactions take place within nanomicelles, where the hydrophobic effect is operating, thereby driving the dehydrations, notwithstanding the surrounding water. By the addition of simple salts such as sodium chloride, reaction times and catalyst loadings can be significantly decreased.

An approach towards azafuranomycin analogs by gold-catalyzed cycloisomerization of allenes: synthesis of (αS,2R)-(2,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)glycine.

The synthesis of (αS,2R)-(2,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)glycine (22, normethylazafuranomycin) by the gold-catalyzed cycloisomerization of α-aminoallene 17 is described. The target molecule was synthesized in 13 linear steps from Cbz-protected Garner aldehyde (R)-2 in an overall yield of 2.4%. The approach was first examined in model studies, which afforded the alkylated azafuranomycin derivative 13a in 2.9% yield over 12 steps.

Iron-catalyzed ring-opening azidation and allylation of O-heterocycles.

We have established the first catalytic C-C and C-N bond formation reactions of O-heterocycles (e.g., tetrahydrofuran, phthalane, and lactone derivatives) using iron trichloride as a catalyst in the presence of TMSN3 or allylsilanes accompanied by the ring opening of O-heterocycles. The reactions smoothly proceeded at room temperature to give the corresponding primary saturated alcohols from the 2-substituted tetrahydrofurans, ortho-substituted benzyl alcohols from phthalanes, and saturated carboxylic acids from lactones in high yields.

Combined coinage metal catalysis in natural product synthesis: total synthesis of (+)-varitriol and seven analogs.

A modular total synthesis of the natural product (+)-varitriol (1) and seven analogs was achieved by using combined coinage metal catalysis. Starting from enynol 13, reagent-controlled introduction of stereogenic centers and efficient center-to-axis-to-center chirality transfer viaα-hydroxyallene 5 afforded (+)-varitriol with 6.4% yield over 10 steps.

Rhodium- and palladium-catalyzed 1,5-substitution reactions of 2-en-4-yne acetates and carbonates with organoboronic acids.

Two methods involving the rhodium-catalyzed reaction of 2-en-4-yne acetates and the palladium-catalyzed reaction of 2-en-4-yne carbonates with organoboronic acids were investigated; both afforded exclusively the (E)-configured vinylallenes. The coordinative interaction of the rhodium with the acetate group promoted the δ-elimination of Rh(I)-OAc from the alkenylrhodium intermediate II in both syn and anti modes, with the syn-elimination being the major path. DFT calculations revealed that a conformer of this intermediate (II), which can lead to the (E)-configured vinylallene product via the syn-elimination mode, is energetically the most favorable conformer. The rhodium-catalyzed procedure is not applicable to reactions involving (E)-configured enyne acetates, because the geometry of the alkenylrhodium intermediate that is derived from the corresponding (E)-enyne acetate would not allow such coordinative interaction to occur. The palladium-catalyzed method, which proceeds through formation of the σ-vinylallenylpalladium intermediate, B, is suitable for both the (E)- and (Z)-configured enyne carbonates and appears to have a wider scope for both organoboronic acids and enyne substrates. The palladium-catalyzed reaction of an enantiomerically enriched enyne carbonate proceeded with racemization.

Cycloisomerization of bifunctionalized allenes: synthesis of 3(2H)-furanones in water.

A simple protocol for the efficient synthesis of 3(2H)-furanones by cycloisomerization of allenic hydroxyketones is described. This transformation is achieved in water and in the absence of any expensive metal catalysts.

Highly regioselective gold-catalyzed ring-opening allylation and azidation of dihydrofurans.

The ring-opening allylation and azidation of 2,5-dihydrofurans has been accomplished with allyltrimethylsilane or Me(3)SiN(3) in the presence of catalytic amounts of HAuCl(4) x 3 H(2)O. Whereas the allylation proceeds regioselectively in the 2-position to afford 2,6-dien-1-ols, the azidation takes place in the 4-position exclusively.

(NHC)CuH-catalyzed entry to allenes via propargylic carbonate S(N)2'-reductions.

The copper hydride-catalyzed S(N)2'-reduction of propargylic carbonates provides an efficient route to functionalized allenes. The method takes advantage of the stabilizing effect of NHC ligands on CuH and combines high reactivity and stereoselectivity with excellent tolerance toward reactive functionalities.

Stereoselective synthesis of syn-configured alpha-allenols by rhodium-catalyzed reaction of alkynyl oxiranes with arylboronic acids.

A rhodium-catalyzed reaction of alkynyl oxiranes with arylboronic acids affords syn-configured alpha-allenols with high diastereoselectivity. The reaction is initiated by addition of an arylrhodium(I) species onto the alkyne moiety of the alkynyl oxirane. The resulting alkenylrhodium(I) intermediate undergoes beta-oxygen elimination to open the oxirane ring in a syn-selective fashion. Protonolysis of the rhodium(I) alkoxide with arylboronic acid releases the corresponding alpha-allenol along with the rhodium(I) boronate, which undergoes beta-aryl elimination to regenerate the arylrhodium(I) species. The utility of this method is demonstrated by an application to a concise synthesis of (+/-)-Boivinianin B.

Gold-catalyzed cycloisomerization of alk-4-yn-1-ones.

Depending on the substitution pattern and the solvent, the gold-catalyzed cyclization of alk-4-yn-1-ones affords different oxygen heterocycles under mild reaction conditions. Alkynones with one substituent at C-3 undergo a 5-exo-dig cycloisomerization to substituted furans , whereas a 6-endo-dig cyclization to 4H-pyrans is observed with substrates bearing two substituents at C-3. In alcoholic solvents, alkylidene/benzylidene-substituted tetrahydrofuranyl ethers are formed in a tandem nucleophilic addition/cycloisomerization.