Nickel-Catalyzed Carbonylation of Cyclopropanol with Benzyl Bromide for Multisubstituted Cyclopentenone Synthesis

Ten-Step Total Synthesis of (±)-Phaeocaulisin A Enabled by Cyclopropanol Ring-Opening Carbonylation

We report an efficient total synthesis of (±)-phaeocaulisin A, a guaianolide sesquiterpene natural product possessing a complex tetracyclic skeleton embedded with an oxaspirolactone and a fused bicyclic lactone, four oxygen-containing stereocenters, and an 8-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane core. Our synthesis features a novel palladium-catalyzed cyclopropanol ring-opening carbonylation to access a key γ-ketoester, a chemo- and stereoselective aldol cyclization to form the seven-membered carbocycle, and a cascade ketalization-lactonization to construct the desired tetracyclic skeleton. With these strategically important C-C and C-O bond formation transformations, a 10-step total synthesis of (±)-phaeocaulisin A was achieved. We further developed the cyclopropanol ring-opening carbonylation chemistry to provide an alternative approach to prepare γ-ketoesters. Biologically, the penultimate intermediate with an α-methylene γ-butyrolactone moiety was identified as a promising lead compound with anticancer proliferation activity against a panel of triple-negative or HER2+ breast cancer cell lines.

Synthesis of Vicinal anti-Amino Alcohols from N-tert-Butanesulfinyl Aldimines and Cyclopropanols

The stereoselective synthesis of vicinal amino alcohols derivatives from 1-substituted cyclopropanols and chiral N-tert-butanesulfinyl imines is described. Cyclopropanols are easily prepared from carboxylic esters upon reaction with ethylmagnesium bromide in the presence of titanium tetraisopropoxide and undergo carbon-carbon bond cleavage by means of diethylzinc to produce, upon base deprotonation, enolized zinc homoenolates, which react with chiral sulfinyl imines in a highly regio- and stereoselective manner.

A Synthesis of α-Alkyl Cycloenones by Pd-Catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura Coupling with Cyclic Morita-Baylis-Hillman Adducts

We herein disclose a Pd-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura coupling of cyclic Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts with organoboronic acids under mild conditions, which allows for a rapid access to diverse α-alkyl substituted cycloenones. The advantage of this method resides in the employment of functionalized allyl alcohols as the unprecedented electrophilic partners in the absence of external activators.

Nickel-Catalyzed Carbonylative Negishi Cross-Coupling of Unactivated Secondary Alkyl Electrophiles with 1 atm CO Gas

We describe a nickel-catalyzed carbonylative cross-coupling of unactivated secondary alkyl electrophiles with the organozinc reagent at atmospheric CO gas, thus allowing the expedient construction of unsymmetric dialkyl ketones with broad functional group tolerance. The leverage of a newly developed NN2-pincer type ligand enables the chemoselective three-component carbonylation by overcoming the competing Negishi coupling, the undesired β-hydride elimination, and dehalogenation of alkyl iodides side pathways. Both alkyl iodides and alkyl tosylates are compatible in the single electron transfer involved mechanism.

Nickel-Catalyzed Deaminative Alkyl-Alkyl Cross-Coupling of Katritzky Salts with Cyclopropanols: Merging C-N and C-C Bond Activation

Herein, we report a general and practical nickel-catalyzed deaminative alkylation of Katritzky salts with cyclopropyl alcohols via merging C-N and C-C bond activation. This protocol enables the formation of an alkyl-alkyl bond along with the generation of a versatile ketone functional group in a single operation, thus providing a convenient approach for accessing β-alkyl ketones. This reaction is distinguished by its high functional group tolerance, broad substrate scope, and efficient late-stage derivatization of complex bioactive molecules.

Nickel-catalyzed acylzincation of allenes with organozincs and CO

Transition metal-catalyzed carbonylative reaction with CO gas are among the central task in organic synthesis, enabling the construction of highly valuable carbonyl compound. Here, we show an earth-abundant nickel-catalyzed three-component tandem acylzincation/cyclization sequence of allene and alkylzinc reagent with 1 atm of CO under mild conditions. This protocol is featured by broad functional group tolerance with high reaction selectivity, providing a rapid and convenient synthetic method for the construction of diverse fully substituted benzotropone derivatives. Mechanistic studies reveal that the installation of a cyano group tethered to allene moiety enables the high regio- and stereoselectivity of this acylzincation of allene, allowing the selective formation of three consecutive C-C bonds in a highly efficient manner.

Lewis Acid-Catalyzed Remote Site-Selective Ring Deconstruction of Cyclobuteno[a]naphthalene-4-ones to Access Unsymmetric 1,1-Diarylated Olefins

A catalytic site-selective ring deconstruction of cyclobuteno[a]naphthalene-4-ones with alcohols is reported, enabling the direct production of a wide range of unsymmetric 1,1-diarylated olefins with good yields and complete regioselectivity. The late-stage application of these resulting terminal olefins demonstrates great possibilities to apply this strategy to complex molecules. The protocol features good functional group compatibility, broad substrate scope, and controllable site selectivity.

Nickel-Catalyzed Aminocarbonylation of Aryl Iodides with 1 atm CO

Reported here is a nickel-catalyzed aminocarbonylation of aromatic iodides with (hetero)aryl anilines and alkyl amines under atmospheric CO pressure. The reaction features with broad substrate scope with excellent functional group tolerance, providing an expedient method for the construction of amide analogues. Notably, amino alcohols can be selectively transformed into the corresponding amides successfully without interfering the hydroxyl group under the current standard conditions.

Nickel-Catalyzed Carbonylative Synthesis of α,β-Unsaturated Thioesters from Vinyl Triflates and Arylsulfonyl Chlorides

A straightforward and efficient synthesis of α,β-unsaturated thioesters has been developed via a nickel-catalyzed thiocarbonylation reaction of vinyl triflates with arylsulfonyl chlorides. With Mo(CO)₆ as both CO source and reductant, a variety of α,β-unsaturated thioesters were obtained in moderate to good yields with very good functional group compatibility. It is noteworthy that the present method is the first example on nickel-catalyzed carbonylative synthesis of α,β-unsaturated thioesters by using arylsulfonyl chlorides as the coupling partner.