Visible-Light-Promoted Catalytic Ring-Opening Isomerization of 1,2-Disubstituted Cyclopropanols to Linear Ketones

Synthesis and biological activity of 21,22-cyclosteroids and their derivatives

Synthesis of 21,22-cyclosteroids has been achieved starting from pregnenolone acetate. The key transformation was the Kulinkovich reaction of 17-vinyl steroids with esters. The resulting cyclopropanols were further subjected to three-membered ring-opening under various conditions including to base-, palladium or visible light-promoted isomerization and cross-coupling reaction. A number of steroidal Δ2-6-ketones and 3β-hydroxy-Δ5-enes with functional groups at C-21 - C-23 have been synthesized via the 21,22-cyclosteroids. The antiproliferative and antihormonal activity of the obtained compounds on the cell lines of prostate (22Rv1) and breast (MCF-7) cancer was studied. The androgen receptor activity was assessed by reporter assay when the expression of signalling proteins was evaluated by immunoblotting. (20S,22R)-22-Acetoxy-21,22-cyclo-5α-cholest-5-ene with the moderate antiandrogenic potency revealed IC50 values of 18.4 ± 1.2 and 14.6 ± 1.4 µM against MCF-7 and 22Rv1 cells, respectively, and its effects on the expression of AR-V7, cyclin D1 and BCL2 were explored.

Photocatalytic redox-neutral arylation of cyclopropanols with cyanoarenes via radical-mediated C–C and C–CN bond cleavage

β-arylated ketones widely exist in many biologically active molecules and natural products. Herein, we disrcibled a photocatalytic redox-neutral arylation of cyclopropanols with cyanoarenes via radical-mediated C–C and C–CN bond cleavage...

Asymmetric β-Arylation of Cyclopropanols Enabled by Photoredox and Nickel Dual Catalysis

The enantioselective functionalization and transformation of readily available cyclopropyl compounds are synthetically appealing yet challenging topics in organic synthesis. Here we report an asymmetric β-arylation of cyclopropanols with aryl bromides...

Iron-Catalyzed Ring Opening of Cyclopropanols and Their 1,6-Conjugate Addition to p-Quinone Methides

A novel iron-catalyzed ring opening of cyclopropanols and their 1,6-conjugate addition to p-quinone methides for accessing substituted phenols is disclosed. In this protocol, various cyclopropanols are converted to alkyl radicals and undergo 1,6-conjugate addition to p-quinone methides toward C-C bond formation. The salient features of this methodology include operationally simple and mild reaction conditions, environmentally benign protocol, high efficiency, inexpensive catalyst, good to excellent yield, and a wide range of substrate scope.

Ti(OiPr)4-Enabled Dual Photoredox and Nickel-Catalyzed Arylation and Alkenylation of Cyclopropanols

Readily available from esters or ketones, cyclopropanols are inclined to undergo diverse ring-opening transformations. Their one-electron oxidation is a conventional way to β-carbonyl radicals. However, despite this fact, their application as a coupling partner in dual photoredox and nickel-catalyzed reactions with organic halides remains underdeveloped. Here, we report that the Ti(OiPr)₄ additive enables this elusive cross-coupling with aryl and alkenyl bromides leading to β-substituted ketones.

Photocatalytic Stoichiometric Oxidant-Free Synthesis of Linear Unsaturated Ketones from 1,2-Disubstituted Cyclopropanols

A one-step catalytic oxidant-free synthesis of unsaturated ketones from 1,2-disubstituted cyclopropanols is reported. Previously for this transformation, only two- and three-step protocols have been developed. The reaction proceeds under irradiation with visible light in the presence of catalytic amounts of both an acridinium photocatalyst and a cobaloxime complex. 2-Aryl-substituted cyclopropanols react giving α,β-unsaturated ketones, while dehydrogenative ring opening of 2-alkyl-substituted substrates affords mixtures of α,β- and β,γ-enones. The reaction starts with one-electron oxidation of a cyclopropanol to cyclopropyloxy radical, presumably, by the photoexcited acridinium catalyst. We also found that Co(dmgBF2)2(MeCN)2 complex under an air atmosphere and irradiation with blue LEDs or upon heating can serve as a hydroxycyclopropane oxidant.