Synthesis of substituted anilines via a gold-catalyzed three-component reaction.

A three-component reaction for the synthesis of substituted anilines by a gold(i)-catalyzed domino reaction was developed. Cationic gold catalysts selectively and sequentially activated two different alkynes, which were involved in pyrrole synthesis and subsequent Diels-Alder reaction. The sequential formal (3 + 2) annulation/Diels-Alder reaction of three components provided a variety of substituted anilines in a modular fashion. Moreover, utility of the aniline products was demonstrated by derivatization to substituted benzoxazines, which are pharmaceutically important heterocycles.

Synthesis of Propargylic Ethers by Gold-Mediated Reaction of Terminal Alkynes with Acetals.

A gold-catalyzed introduction of various terminal alkynes to acetals was investigated. Extensive optimization of the reaction conditions revealed that thermally stable cationic gold catalysts bearing bulky ligands such as 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene 3-1H-benzo[d][1,2,3]triazolyl gold trifluoromethanesulfonate (IPrAu(BTZ-H)OTf) were particularly suitable for the reaction. Additionally, significant solvent effects were observed. Ether solvents such as tetrahydrofuran (THF), cyclo pentyl methyl ether (CPME), and 1,4-dioxane were effective for the reaction. Studies on the scope of substrates and alkynes indicated that various alkynes and acetals were feasible to provide a wide range of propargylic ethers.

Discovery of Novel Pyrazole-Based Selective Aldosterone Synthase (CYP11B2) Inhibitors: A New Template to Coordinate the Heme-Iron Motif of CYP11B2.

It is necessary for aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2) inhibitors to have both high potency and high selectivity over 11ß-hydroxylase (CYP11B1), a critical enzyme for cortisol synthesis. Previous studies have reported a number of CYP11B2 inhibitors, most of which have an imidazole or pyridine ring to coordinate the heme-iron motif of CYP11B2; however, highly selective inhibitors of human CYP11B2 are still needed. To expand the selectivity in humans, we explored alternative templates and found that pyrazoles were suitable templates for CYP11B2 inhibitors. Investigation of pyrazoles, especially N-alkyl pyrazoles, as a new template to coordinate the heme-iron motif led to a potent and highly selective CYP11B2 inhibitor 28 with an aldosterone-lowering effect at 1 mg/kg dosing in cynomolgus monkeys.

Convergent Synthesis of 2-Aryl-Substituted Quinolines by Gold-Catalyzed Cascade Reaction.

Gold-catalyzed auto-tandem catalysis has been developed for synthesizing 2-aryl-substituted quinolines. The reaction of an aniline bearing an acetal moiety with an aryl alkyne proceeded via formal [4+2]-cycloaddition, which involved the addition of gold acetylide to an oxonium ion to give amino alkyne intermediate and sequential 6-endo-dig cyclization of amino alkyne intermediate by attacking of nitrogen to alkyne moiety activated by gold catalyst. The cationic gold catalyst promoted two different processes by enhancing the nucleophilicity and electrophilicity of alkyne. This convergent synthetic methodology enabled the synthesis of a variety of 2-aryl-substituted quinolines.

Total syntheses of codonopsinine and 4-epi-codonopsinine via gold-mediated tandem-catalyzed pyrrole synthesis.

The total syntheses of codonopsinine (1) and 4-epi-codonopsinine (2) were accomplished. The key substituted pyrrole intermediate was constructed via gold-catalyzed addition-cyclization cascade of an aminoacetaldehyde acetal derivative and a terminal alkyne. After diastereoselective reduction of the pyrrole intermediate to the corresponding 3-pyrroline derivative with zinc dust and sulfonic acid, the total synthesis of 4-epi-codonopsinine (2) was achieved via stereoselective construction of the diol by dihydroxylation. In addition, the total synthesis of codonopsinine (1) was completed through stereochemical inversion of the hydroxyl group via epoxide and subsequent ring cleavage under the acidic aqueous condition.

Autotandem catalysis: synthesis of pyrroles by gold-catalyzed cascade reaction.

A novel synthesis of substituted pyrroles by a gold(I)-catalyzed cascade reaction has been developed. The reaction proceeded with an autotandem catalysis consisting of an initial addition of gold-acetylide to an acetal moiety and was followed by gold-catalyzed 5-endo-dig cyclization and aromatization. Gold catalysts play a dual role in activating nucleophilicity or electrophilicity of terminal acetylenes by forming gold-acetylides or by π-coordination. The formal (3 + 2) annulation of two components provided a variety of substituted pyrroles in a modular fashion.