Reductive Reformatsky-Honda Reaction of α,β-Unsaturated Esters: Facile Formation of 1,3-Dicarbonyl Compounds and β-Hydroxy Esters

Synthesis of β-Lactams through Carbonylation of Diazo Compounds Followed by the [2 + 2] Cycloaddition Reaction

Reporting an efficient method for the synthesis of β-lactams by the carbonylation of diazo compounds, using [Co2(CO)8] to corresponding ketenes, followed by [2 + 2] cycloaddition with imines. The newly developed strategy was successfully applied to electronically and structurally diverse substrates to produce the corresponding β-lactams under mild reaction conditions. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was employed to monitor ketene formation and the transformation of ketene into β-lactam. All the products were fully characterized by using various analytical and spectroscopic techniques.

Rhodium-catalyzed intramolecular reductive aldol-type cyclization: Application for the synthesis of a chiral necic acid lactone

A rhodium-catalyzed intramolecular reductive aldol-type cyclization is described to give β-hydroxylactones with high diastereoselectivities. The stereoselectivity of this cyclization is highly solvent dependent and can give syn- or anti-β-hydroxylactones with high diastereoselectivity. This methodology was also applied to the synthesis of a chiral necic acid lactone which is a structural component of the pyrrolizidine alkaloid monocrotaline.

Rh-Catalyzed reductive Mannich-type reaction and its application towards the synthesis of (±)-ezetimibe

An effective synthesis for syn-β-lactams was achieved using a Rh-catalyzed reductive Mannich-type reaction. A rhodium–hydride complex (Rh–H) derived from diethylzinc (Et₂Zn) and a Rh catalyst was used for the 1,4-reduction of an α,β-unsaturated ester to give a Reformatsky-type reagent, which in turn, reacted with an imine to give the syn-β-lactam. Additionally, the reaction was applied to the synthesis of (±)-ezetimibe, a potent β-lactamic cholesterol absorption inhibitor.

Diastereoselective Synthesis of syn-β-Lactams Using Rh-Catalyzed Reductive Mannich-Type Reaction of α,β-Unsaturated Esters

The combination of Et2Zn and RhCl(PPh3)3 led to the facile generation of a rhodium-hydride complex (Rh-H) that catalyzed the 1,4-reduction of α,β-unsaturated esters. The resulting rhodium enolate performed as a Reformatsky-type reagent and reacted with various imines to give syn-β-lactams in good to excellent yields with high diastereoselectivity.

Csp3-csp3 homocoupling reaction of benzyl halides catalyzed by rhodium

A highly reactive alkylrhodium complex was formed from Me(2)Zn and RhCl(PPh(3))(3) and effectively catalyzed a Csp(3)-Csp(3) homocoupling reaction of benzyl halides. A Csp(3)-Csp(3) coupling reaction using Rh catalyst has not been reported up to now. The reaction proceeded under very mild conditions and gave the corresponding homocoupling products even if they had reactive substituents such as an uncovered formyl or hydroxymethyl group.