Organocatalytic selective benzoylation of alcohols with trichloromethyl phenyl ketone: inverse selectivity in benzoylation of alcohols containing phenol or aromatic amine functionality

Practical Chemoselective Acylation: Organocatalytic Chemodivergent Esterification and Amidation of Amino Alcohols with N-Carbonylimidazoles

Chemoselective transformations are a cornerstone of efficient organic synthesis; however, achieving this goal for even simple transformations like acylations is often a challenge. We report that N -carbonylimidazoles undergo catalytic chemodivergent acylations of anilines or alcohols in the presence of pyridinium ions or DBU (1,8-Diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene), respectively. Both of these acylations display simultaneously high and broad chemoselectivity for the target group. Unprecedented levels of chemoselectivity were achieved in the DBU-catalyzed esterification: a single esterification product was obtained from a molecule containing primary aniline, alcohol, phenol, secondary amide, and N- H indole groups. These acylations are highly practical as they involve only readily available, inexpensive, and relatively safe reagents; can be performed at the multigram scale; and can be used on carboxylic acids directly via in situ formation of the acylimidazole electrophile. Reaction discovery, scope, assessment of practicality, and preliminary mechanistic investigations are discussed.

Changing stereoselectivity and regioselectivity in copper(i)-catalyzed 5-exo cyclization by chelation and rigidity in aminoalkyl radicals: synthesis towards diverse bioactive N-heterocycles

Chelation, rigidity and carbon-radical positions in aminoalkyl precursors disturb the usual 2,4-trans diastereoselectivity and 5-exo mode in Cu(i)-catalyzed ATRC.

Highly selective acylation of polyamines and aminoglycosides by 5-acyl-5-phenyl-1,5-dihydro-4H-pyrazol-4-ones

5-Acyl-5-phenyl-1,5-dihydro-4H-pyrazol-4-ones, accessible from arylpropargyl phenyldiazoacetates, are highly selective acyl transfer reagents for di- and polyamines, as well as aminoalcohols and aminothiols. As reagents with a carbon-based leaving group, they have been applied for benzoyl transfer with a broad selection of substrates containing aliphatic amino in combination with other competing nucleophilic functional groups. The substrate scope and levels of selectivity for direct benzoyl transfer exceed those of known benzoylating reagents. With exceptional selectivity for acylation between primary amines bound to primary and secondary carbons, these new reagents have been used in direct site-selective monobenzoylation of aminoglycoside antibiotics.

Exploitation of a Multienzymatic Stereoselective Cascade Process in the Synthesis of 2-Methyl-3-Substituted Tetrahydrofuran Precursors

Enantiopure 2-methyl-3-substituted tetrahydrofurans are key precursors of several biologically active products (drugs, flavors, and agrochemicals). Thus, a stereocontrolled and efficient methodology for the obtainment of these synthons is highly desirable. We exploited a two-step multienzymatic stereoselective cascade reduction of α-bromo-α,β-unsaturated ketones to give the corresponding bromohydrins in good yields, with high ee and de values. The cascade process is catalyzed by an ene-reductase and an alcohol dehydrogenase. Further manipulations of these bromohydrins, by two diastereodivergent routes, allowed the preparation of the tetrahydrofuran synthons. One route is based on a lipase catalyzed cleavage of the protecting group. The second route is characterized by a camphor sulfonic acid mediated isomerization of a β-hydroxyepoxide to give the tetrahydrofuran-2-ol. Finally, the synthesis of the most odorous and pleasant stereoisomer of the roasted meat aroma, i.e., (2S,3R)-2-methyl-3-thioacetate tetrahydrofuran, is reported as well.

Chemical constituents from Piper hainanense and their cytotoxicities

Two new compounds, (Z,R)-1-phenylethylcinnamate (1) and (1R,2R,3R,6S)-pipoxide (2) were isolated from the aerial part of Piper hainanense, along with 12 known compounds, including nine benzene derivatives (4-11), one isobutylamide (12), and two polyoxygenated cyclohexene derivatives (13-14). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of the HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic analyses, and ECD in cases of 2 and 3. The absolute configuration of ellipeiopsol B (3) was determined for the first time. All these compounds 1-14 were reported from the titled plant for the first time. Most of the isolates were tested for their cytotoxicities against five human cancer cell lines. Four of which, 2, 3, 9, 14 showed moderate bioactivities. Among them, the new compound 2 showed potential cytotoxicity against SMMC-7721, MCF-7, and SW-480 with IC50 values of 9.7, 15.0, and 13.2 μM, respectively.

Cu-catalyzed aerobic oxygenation of 2-phenoxyacetophenones to alkyloxy acetophenones

Cu-catalyzed aerobic oxygenation of 2-phenoxyacetophenones in alcohols was achieved, producing alkyl benzoates, alkyloxy acetophenones and phenols in high yields.

Synthesis of 3-alkylbenzoxazolones from N-alkyl-N-arylhydroxylamines by contiguous O-trichloroacetylation, trichloroacetoxy ortho-shift, and cyclization sequence

Benzoxazolone pharmacophore is present in clinical pharmaceuticals, drug candidates, and many compounds having a wide spectrum of biological activities. The methods available for the synthesis of benzoxazolones have limited diversity due to problems in accessibility and air-sensitivity of diversely substituted o-aminophenols from which they are generally prepared by cyclocarbonylation with phosgene or its equivalents. The present paper describes a mild method for the synthesis of 3-alkylbenzoxazolones from easily accessible and air-stable nitroarenes. Nitroarenes were converted to N-alkyl-N-arylhydroxylamines in two steps involving partial reduction to arylhydroxylamines followed by selective N-alkylation. Treatment of N-alkyl-N-arylhydroxylamines with trichloroacetyl chloride and triethylamine afforded 3-alkylbenzoxazolones generally in good yields through an uninterrupted three-step sequence involving O-trichloroacetylation, N→C(ortho) trichloroacetoxy shift, and cyclization in a single pot at ambient temperatures. The present method is mild, wide in scope, economical, and regioselective. Many sensitive groups like alkyl and aryl esters, amide, cyano, and the carbon-carbon double bond survive the reaction.

Combining oxidative N-heterocyclic carbene catalysis with click chemistry: a facile one-pot approach to 1,2,3-triazole derivatives

A combination of the oxidative N-heterocyclic carbene catalysis and click chemistry has been explored for the direct, one-pot synthesis of 1,2,3-triazole derivatives from aromatic aldehydes. This procedure was found to be very efficient and a variety of 1,2,3-triazole derivatives could be accessed through their corresponding propargyl esters in moderate-to-good yields under mild conditions.