Strain-Driven Direct Cross-Aldol and -Ketol Reactions of Four-Membered Heterocyclic Ketones

Strain-Release-Driven Modular Synthesis of Oxetane-Based Amide Bioisosteres: Concise, Robust and Scalable Approach

Amide bioisoterism is a widely used strategy in drug development to fine-tune physicochemical, pharmacokinetic, and metabolic properties, eliminate toxicity and gain intellectual property rights in uncharted chemical space. Of these, oxetane-amines offer particularly exciting possibilities as bioisosteres, although they are less frequently investigated than warranted due to the lack of simple and widely applicable synthetic methods. Herein, we report a two-step, practical, modular, robust, and scalable method for the construction of oxetane-containing amide bioisosteres that relies on the readily available oxetan-3-one. This operationally simple procedure exploits the enhanced reactivity of the keto group of the commercially available oxetan-3-one to form amine-benzotriazole intermediates, which springloaded adducts are then reacted with various aliphatic and aromatic organometallic reagents under mild conditions to afford various amino-oxetanes in good to high yields. The simplicity and broad applicability of the method greatly facilitates the synthesis of derivatives that were previously difficult or impossible to produce. The usefulness of this method in the field medicinal chemistry was also demonstrated by eliminating the well-known metabolic problem of ketoconazole.

Modular Access to Functionalized Oxetanes as Benzoyl Bioisosteres

Bioisosterism is a valuable principle exploited in drug discovery to fine-tune physicochemical properties of bioactive compounds. Functionalized 3-aryl oxetanes, as an important class of bioisosteres for benzoyl groups (highly prevalent structures in approved drugs), have been rarely utilized in agrochemicals and pharmaceuticals due to significant synthetic challenges. Here, we present a modular synthetic strategy based on the unexplored yet readily available reagents, oxetanyl trichloroacetimidates, inspired by Schmidt glycosylation, enabling easy access to a library of functionalized oxetanes. This operationally simple protocol leverages the vast existing libraries of aryl halides and various nucleophiles. The power and generality of this approach is demonstrated by late-stage functionalization of complex molecules, as well as the rapid synthesis of oxetane analogues of bioactive molecules and marketed drugs. Preliminary mechanistic study suggests that the oxygen atom in the oxetane ring plays a crucial role in stabilizing the carbocation intermediates.

Concise and collective total syntheses of 2,4-disubstituted furan-derived natural products from hydroxyoxetanyl ketones

The furan moiety, prevalent in bioactive natural products and essential drugs, presents intriguing structural features that have spurred our exploration into streamlined chemical synthesis routes for related natural products. In this study, we demonstrate the concise total synthesis of eight 2,4-disubstituted furan-derived natural products (including methylfuroic acid, rabdoketones A and B, paleofurans A and B, tournefolin C, and shikonofurans A and B). Our methodology revolves around the utilization of hydroxyoxetanyl ketones as pivotal intermediates. The approach encompasses transformations such as selective organo-catalyzed cross-ketol addition, synthesis of hydroxymethyl-tethered furans through Bi(OTf)3 catalyzed dehydrative cycloisomerization of α-hydroxyoxetanyl ketones, and a hydrogen atom transfer (HAT)-mediated oxidation of primary alcohols into the corresponding acids. This comprehensive synthetic strategy highlights the versatility of hydroxyoxetanyl ketones as invaluable building blocks in the synthesis of furan-containing natural products.

Strain and Complexity, Passerini and Ugi Reactions of Four-Membered Heterocycles and Further Elaboration of TOSMIC Product

Straightforward and general Passerini and Ugi procedures have been developed to incorporate four-membered heterocycles into highly functionalized scaffolds. Additionally, toslymethyl isocyanide (TosMIC)-derived Ugi adducts have been prepared, showcasing the prospect of the multicomponent reaction.

Late-Stage Formal Double C-H Oxidation of Prenylated Molecules to Alkylidene Oxetanes and Azetidines by Strain-Enabled Cross-Metathesis

Prenylation is a ubiquitous late-stage modification in nature that often confers significantly improved bioactivity for secondary metabolites. While this lipophilic modification renders enhanced potency, the lipophilic tag(s) can diminish bioavailability and adversely alter drug transportation and metabolism. Thus, a functional-group-tolerant, mild, and selective late-stage C-H functionalization of prenyl tags would present a great potential in drug discovery programs but could also impact other fields, such as agrochemistry and chemical biology. Herein we report an exocyclic-strain-driven cross-metathesis reaction of prenyl tags, a formal double C-H oxidation protocol, that can be used for the selective late-stage derivatization of prenylated compounds and natural products. This methodology avoids the need for prefunctionalization of target molecules and affords ready access to an unprecedented library of oxo- and aza-prenylated complex molecules. Thus, in a broader context, this methodology extends late-stage functionalization beyond that available to nature.

Chiral α-Stereogenic Oxetanols and Azetidinols via Alcohol-Mediated Reductive Coupling of Allylic Acetates: Enantiotopic π-Facial Selection in Symmetric Ketone Addition

Iridium-tol-BINAP-catalyzed reductive coupling of allylic acetates with oxetanones and azetidinones mediated by 2-propanol provides chiral α-stereogenic oxetanols and azetidinols. As illustrated in 50 examples, complex, nitrogen-rich substituents that incorporate the top 10 N-heterocycles found in FDA-approved drugs are tolerated. In addition to 2-propanol-mediated reductive couplings, oxetanols and azetidinols may serve dually as reductant and ketone proelectrophiles in redox-neutral C-C couplings via hydrogen auto-transfer, as demonstrated by the conversion of dihydro-1a and dihydro-1b to adducts 3a and 4a, respectively. The present method delivers hitherto inaccessible chiral oxetanols and azetidinols, which are important bioisosteres.

Asymmetric Synthesis of 2-Substituted Azetidin-3-ones via Metalated SAMP/RAMP Hydrazones

2-Substituted azetidin-3-ones can be prepared in good yields and enantioselectivities (up to 85% ee) by a one-pot procedure involving the metalation of the SAMP/RAMP hydrazones of N-Boc-azetidin-3-one, reaction with a wide range of electrophiles, including alkyl, allyl, and benzyl halides and carbonyl compounds, followed by hydrolysis using oxalic acid.