Gold-Catalyzed 1,2-Acyloxy Migration/Coupling Cascade of Propargyl Diazoacetates: Synthesis of Isomycin Derivatives

PPh3-Mediated Cascade Reaction of 2-Alkynylnitrobenzenes and Thioureas for the Construction of Imidazo[4,5-b]indole-2-thiones

A simple method for the preparation of imidazo[4,5-b]indole-2-thiones from 2-alkynylnitrobenzenes and thioureas is described. In the reaction, a Wittig-like process was triggered by PPh₃ and followed by a cyclization step. The products were afforded in yields of 70-98% under mild conditions. Additionally, the 2-alkynylnitrobenzenes were stable and could be prepared via a simple coupling step.

Dodging the Conventional Reactivity of o-Alkynylanilines under Gold Catalysis for Distal 7-endo-dig Cyclization

A direct ring-closing strategy involving a less facile 7-endo-dig carbacyclization of o-alkynylaniline derivatives for the synthesis of benzo[b]azepines has been presented. The trivial well-documented 5-endo-dig cyclization in o-alkynylaniline derivatives due to high nucleophilicity of nitrogen has been overcome by using their vinylogous amides under gold catalysis to access a wide array of benzo[b]azepines in an atom economical way with excellent functional group compatibility. Deuterium scrambling experiments and DFT studies favor a mechanism involving stabilizing conformational change of the initially formed seven-membered vinyl gold intermediate through a key cyclopropyl gold carbene intermediate and its subsequent protodeauration mediated by the counter anion.

Gold(I)-Catalyzed Oxidative Amination of β-Amino-ynones to Quaternary Ammonium-olate Salts: The Benefit of a P,N-Bidentate Ligand

A novel P,N-bidentate ligand-assisted gold-catalyzed oxidative amination of β-amino-ynones has been developed, allowing the simple and efficient construction of various quaternary ammonium-olate salts in good to excellent yields. These unprecedented quaternary ammonium-olate salts can be isolated and purified via simple suction filtration. The broad substrate scope, easy purification, easy further transformation, and mild conditions make it a viable alternative for the synthesis of various quaternary ammonium-olate salts.

Recent reports on the synthesis of γ-butenolide, γ-alkylidenebutenolide frameworks, and related natural products

γ-Butenolides are fundamental frameworks found in many naturally occurring compounds, and they exhibit tremendous biological activities. γ-Butenolides also have proven their potential as useful synthetic intermediates in the total synthesis of natural compounds. Over the years, many γ-butenolide natural products have been isolated, having exocyclic γ-δ unsaturation in their structure. These natural products are collectively referred to as γ-alkylidenebutenolides. Considering the different biological profiles and wide-ranging structural diversity of the optically active γ-butenolide, the development of synthetic strategies for assembling such challenging scaffolds has attracted significant attention from synthetic chemists in recent times. In this report, a brief discussion will be provided to address isolation, biogenesis, and current state-of-the-art synthetic protocols for such molecules. This report aims to focus on synthetic strategies for γ-butenolides from 2010-2020 with a particular emphasis on γ-alkylidenebutenolides and related molecules. Metal-mediated catalytic transformation and organocatalysis are the two main reaction types that have been widely used to access such molecules. Mechanistic considerations, enantioselective synthesis, and practical applications of the reported procedures are also taken into consideration.

(Z)-γ-Alkylidenebutenolide Synthesis through Au(I)-Catalyzed 1,3-Acyloxy Migration and the Carbonyl-Ene Reaction

A bimetallic protocol has been developed to construct (Z)-γ-alkylidenebutenolide compounds from readily available propargyl α-ketoesters. It involves a gold-catalyzed 1,3-acyloxy migration of propargyl α-ketoesters and a carbonyl-ene cyclization of in situ generated allenyl esters. DFT calculations suggest that the copper salt might play dual roles as both chloride abstractor facilitating the generation of highly active gold catalyst and Lewis acid promoting the stepwise intramolecular carbonyl-ene reaction.

Evaluation of gem-Diacetates as Alternative Reagents for Enzymatic Regio- and Stereoselective Acylation of Alcohols

Geminal diacetates have been used as sustainable acyl donors for enzymatic acylation of chiral and nonchiral alcohols. Especially, it was revealed that geminal diacetates showed higher reactivity than vinyl acetate for hydrolases that are sensitive to acetaldehyde. Under optimized conditions for enzymatic acylation, several synthetically relevant saturated and unsaturated acetates of various primary alcohols were obtained in very high yields up to 98% without E/Z isomerization of the double bond. Subsequently, the acyl donor was recreated from the resulting aldehyde and reused constantly in acylation. Therefore, the developed process is characterized by high atomic efficiency. Moreover, it was shown that acylation using geminal diacetates resulted in remarkable regioselectivity by discriminating among the primary and secondary hydroxyl groups in 1-phenyl-1,3-propanediol providing exclusively 3-acetoxy-1-phenyl-propan-1-ol in good yield. Further, enzymatic kinetic resolution (EKR) and chemoenzymatic dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) protocols were developed using geminal diacetate as an acylating agent, resulting in chiral acetates in high yields up to 94% with enantiomeric excesses exceeding 99%.

Tunable Synthesis of Indeno[1,2-c]furans and 3-Benzoylindenones via FeCl3-Catalyzed Carbene/Alkyne Metathesis Reaction of o-Alkynylbenzoyl Diazoacetates

An efficient synthesis of indeno[1,2-c]furan and 3-benzoylindenone derivatives through a FeCl₃-catalyzed carbene/alkyne metathesis reaction of o-alkynylbenzoyl diazoacetates is presented. Mechanistically, the key intermediate, vinyl iron carbene, is formed by 5-exo-dig carbocyclization and terminated with a formal [3 + 2] cycloaddition or carbonylation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example in which FeCl₃ is used as a catalyst for a carbene/alkyne metathesis reaction. Finally, derivatization reactions were carried out to showcase the value of the products.

Catalyst-free synthesis of oxazol-2(3H)-ones from sulfilimines and diazo compounds through a tandem rearrangement/aziridination/ring-expansion reaction

Oxazol-2(3H)-ones play a significant role in the fields of organic synthesis and drug development.

Synthesis of Bridged Azacycles and Propellanes via Nitrene/Alkyne Cascades

A nitrene/alkyne cascade reaction terminating in C-H bond insertion to form functionalized bridged azacycles from carbonazidates is presented. Due to an initial Huisgen cyclization, all carbonazidates reacted with the alkyne in an exo mode in contrast to the use of sulfamate esters, which react predominately in an endo mode. Substrates with different ring sizes as well as different aryl and heteroaryl groups were also explored. Variation of the nitrene tether showed that 7-membered rings were the maximum ring size to be formed by nitrene attack on the alkyne. Examples incorporating stereocenters on the carbonazidate's tether induced diasteroselectivity in the formation of the bridged ring and two new stereocenters. Additionally, propellanes containing aminals, hemiaminals, and thioaminals formed from the bridged azacycles in the same reaction via an acid-promoted rearrangement.

Gold Catalysed 1,4-Enyne Acetate Strategy for the Synthesis of 1H-Indenes and Partially Hydrogenated Methanonaphtho[1,2-c]furan-1,3(4H)-diones

A synthetic method to prepare 1H-indenes and partially hydrogenated methanonaphtho[1,2-c]furan-1,3(4H)-diones from gold(i)-catalysed 1,4-enyne acetate cycloisomerisation and oxidation or Diels–Alder reaction with maleic anhydride is described. The proposed mechanism involves Rautenstrauch rearrangement of the 1,4-enyne motif to give an insitu formed 1,3-cyclopentadiene intermediate. This is followed by 6-endo-dig cyclisation of the cyclic adduct and oxidation to give the aromatic carbocycle or Diels–Alder reaction with maleic anhydride to afford the bridged furan product.

Gold-Catalyzed Hydroalkoxylation/Povarov Reaction Cascade of Alkynols with N-Aryl Imines: Synthesis of Tetrahydroquinolines

A one-pot gold-catalyzed hydroalkoxylation/Povarov reaction cascade of alkynols with N-aryl imines or in situ generated iminium has been developed. The protocol provides a facile access to a series of fused tricyclic tetrahydroquinolines with a broad substrate scope using readily available materials under mild conditions. The unique mechanistic feature is the dual function of the gold catalyst, which first catalyzed the intramolecular hydroalkoxylation of alkynols, and upon the formation of dihydrofuran species, promoted the following Povarov reaction with high stereoselectivity.

Gold-Catalysed Oxidative Cycloisomerisation of 1,6-Diyne Acetates to 1-Naphthyl Ketones

A synthetic method to prepare 1-naphthyl ketones from gold(i)-catalysed oxidative cycloisomerisation of 1,6-diyne acetates is described. The proposed mechanism involves cyclopropenation–cycloreversion of the 1,6-diyne motif initiated by a 1,2-acyloxy migration. This is followed by nucleophilic attack of the ensuing gold carbenoid species by a molecule of water and autoxidation to give the aromatic product.