Effective In Situ Alkoxide Trapping by TMSX in the Presence of TPP Catalyst in Glycidol Acetal Rearrangements.

This study demonstrates a nucleophile-catalyzed, trimethylsilyl halide-promoted rearrangement reaction of glycidol acetals to form halogenated cyclic acetals. The acetal group has been activated selectively in the presence of trimethylsilyl cation, which is used as in situ-generated alkoxide trapping reagent. Nucleophilic chloride and bromide ions participate in addition reactions with epoxides predominantly via SN1-type epoxide opening, while non-nucleophilic iodide and triflate ions induce a positive charge at the epoxide carbon. A systematic investigation of acetal-initiated polyene cyclization of epoxy polyenes has been conducted using bicyclic epoxonium ions as transient intermediates. Unfavorable orbital orientation and other stereoelectronic factors hinder the much-anticipated polyene cyclizations. The potential of this method has been showcased through its application in the total synthesis of parvistone A, a chlorinated styryllactone.

TMSCl Promoted Direct Conversion of Cyclic Anhydrides to (Un)Symmetric-Diesters/Amide Esters.

We present a mild, efficient, and one-pot method for the silyl-promoted transformation of cyclic anhydrides into homo- and hetero-dicarboxylic acid diesters and amide esters. This versatile reaction operates under ambient conditions, on a gram scale, and accommodates a wide range of alcohols, amines, and cyclic anhydrides. The one-pot process involves a two-step sequence, starting with the nucleophilic opening of anhydride by an amine or alcohol, followed by esterification. TMSCl serves a dual role, acting as a sacrificial reagent to remove in situ water and as a Lewis acid to promote the anhydride opening. The reaction proceeds successfully in the absence and presence of a base, as confirmed by NMR and crossover experiments, which validated the formation of dicarboxylic acid monoester and alkyl silyl mixed diester respectively. Controlled experiments have shown that the one-pot process yields higher efficiencies when compared to the same reaction conducted using a two-step process. This is the first comprehensive study demonstrating a broad substrate scope for the conversion of cyclic anhydride into diesters and amide esters. The method finds application in the synthesis of various commercial plasticizers.

Phosphonium Ion-Tethered Secondary Amines for Chemospecific 5-Enolexo Aldol Condensations of 6-Ketoaldehydes.

A novel and highly selective 5-enolexo-exo-trig aldol condensation of 6-ketoaldehydes is presented using a proline-based alkylphosphonium ion catalyst. Bulky and oxophilic phosphonium ion plays a vital role in facilitating kinetic aldenamine formation and activating keto groups for aldol addition. This innovative approach exclusively targets five-membered carbo- and heterocyclic aldehydes, involving unusual aldehydes as donors and ketones as acceptors. Especially, enolizable aryl keto aldehydes and heteroatom-embedded ketoaldehydes exclusively produced cyclized products with our new catalyst, while other catalysts provided predominantly self-aldol or decomposed products. The scope and diversity of the method demonstrated by synthesizing different carboxaldehydes, including cyclopentene, indene, dihydrofuran, benzofuran, dihydropyrrole, indole, thiofuran, dihydrothiofuran, and benzothiofurans.

Highly Regio- and Stereoselective Intramolecular Rearrangement of Glycidol Acetal to Alkoxy Cyclic Acetals.

A new class of highly regio- and stereoselective intramolecular rearrangements of glycidol acetals to produce alkoxylated 1,3-dioxolane/1,3-dioxane is demonstrated. Selective Lewis acid activation of acetal generates an oxocarbenium ion that initiates the epoxide ring-opening event, giving the bicyclic [3,1,0]epoxonium ion intermediate that undergoes exo/endo-selective opening by a tethered alkoxide. Mechanistic insights into preferential acetal activation over the epoxide were obtained by crossover experiments. The method was applied in the total synthesis of parvistone B and its 8-ethoxy analogue.

The influence of α-coordinating groups of aldehydes on E/Z-selectivity and the use of quaternary ammonium counter ions for enhanced E-selectivity in the Julia-Kocienski reaction.

Modified reaction conditions for improved E-selectivity of olefins in the Julia-Kocienski reaction of aldehydes having α-coordinating substituents are demonstrated. The chelating groups in aldehydes are expected to stabilize the syn-transition state with metal ions, whereas the weakly coordinating quaternary ammonium ions are devoid of all possible chelating interactions to enhance E-selectivity. A systematic investigation is presented to study the size of the neighbouring protecting groups of aldehydes and their chelation effect on E/Z-selectivity in the Julia-Kocienski reaction.

Stereoselective Total Synthesis of (-)-(2S,4R)-3'-Methoxyl Citreochlorol: Preparation and Use of New Proline-Based Auxiliary for Asymmetric Acetate Aldol Reaction.

The first stereoselective total synthesis of (-)-(2S,4R)-3'-methoxy citreochlorol and (-)-(2S,4S)-3'-methoxy citreochlorol is demonstrated. A proline-based imidazolidinone was synthesized and used as chiral auxiliary for asymmetric acetate aldol reaction to generate initial chirality in the targeted molecule. Geminal dichloromethane functionality was introduced by the addition of in situ generated dichloromethyllithium to Weinreb's amide functional group.

A Method for the Preparation of ß-Amino-α,ß-unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds: Study of Solvent Effect and Mechanism.

An efficient method for the preparation of ß-amino-α,ß-unsaturated carbonyl compounds is demonstrated. Bench-stable sodium 3-oxo-enolates were prepared from carbonyl compounds, and reacted with amines in the presence of an acid and a desiccant. DFT studies revealed contrasting mechanisms toward the reactivity of aliphatic amines in protic solvents and aromatic amines in aprotic solvents. While the former proceeds through the formation of an imine, the latter passes through the Michael addition-elimination mechanism.

A systematic study of functionalized oxiranes as initiating groups for cationic polycyclization reactions.

Three different methods have been developed that effectively utilize chiral oxiranes derived from Katsuki-Sharpless epoxidation of allylic alcohols as initiating groups for cationic cyclization of unsaturated substrates to form chiral polycycles. This type of transformation has previously been problematic. These employ either epoxy-methoximes, vinyl-substituted oxiranes, or hydroxymethyl oxiranes. All three approaches are described in detail. In addition, this research has led to possible explanations for previously encountered difficulties in this area and provided two new insights into the Lewis acid activation of oxiranes. The methodology described herein constitutes a valuable link between two powerful synthetic constructions, enantioselective Katsuki-Sharpless epoxidation and cationic polycyclization reactions.

Useful catalytic enantioselective cationic double annulation reactions initiated at an internal π-bond: method and applications.

The 1:1 complex of o,o'-dichloro-R-BINOL and SbCl5 initiates the enantioselective cationic polycyclization of polyunsaturated substrates at a predictable π-bond which may be either terminal or, as shown herein, internal. The extension of this powerful construction to internal π-bonds expands the scope of this method and opens up very short pathways to numerous chiral polycyclic molecules, including natural products and their analogues. Especially simple synthetic routes are disclosed that provide access to dysideapalaunic acid, dehydroabietic acid, and epipodocarpic acid and illustrate the value of this enantioselective approach.

Total synthesis of nhatrangin A.

A concise and stereoselective approach for the synthesis of key intermediates for aplysiatoxins, oscillatoxins, and nhatrangins and their utility for the total synthesis of nhatrangin A has been demonstrated. The advanced intermediates aromatic aldehyde 11 and dihydroxy acid 12 were synthesized in eight steps (44% overall yield) and three steps (55% overall yield), respectively. An asymmetric Michael addition, CBS reduction, and proline-catalyzed crossed-aldol reactions were utilized as key steps for the generation of all the chirality of main chain hydroxyaldehyde, while the appended side-chain-protected 3,4-dihydroxypentanoic acid was achieved in a shortest route, using Sharpless dihydroxylation, diol protection, and RuO4-catalyzed aromatic over-oxidation reactions. Synthesis of nhatrangin A was accomplished by coupling of dihydroxy acid 12 with ß-hydroxyallyl ester (obtained from 11) under Yamaguchi reaction conditions followed by a one-pot deprotection of all protecting groups.