Gold-Catalyzed Access to 1H-Isochromenes: Reaction Development and Mechanistic Insight

Advancements in Gold-Catalyzed Cascade Reactions to Access Carbocycles and Heterocycles: An Overview

This review summarizes recent developments (from 2006 to 2022) in numerous important and efficient carbo- and heterocycle generations using gold-catalyzed cascade protocols. Herein, methodologies involve selectivity, cost-effectiveness, and ease of product formation being controlled by the ligand as well as the counter anion, catalyst, substrate, and reaction conditions. Gold-catalyzed cascade reactions covered different strategies through the compilation of various approaches such as cyclization, hydroarylation, intermolecular and intramolecular cascade reactions, etc. This entitled reaction is also useful for the synthesis of spiro, fused, bridged carbo- and heterocycles.

Selectivity, Speciation, and Substrate Control in the Gold-Catalyzed Coupling of Indoles and Alkynes

A convenient and mild protocol for the gold-catalyzed intermolecular coupling of substituted indoles with carbonyl-functionalized alkynes to give vinyl indoles is reported. This reaction affords 3-substituted indoles in high yield, and in contrast to the analogous reactions with simple alkynes which give bisindolemethanes, only a single indole is added to the alkyne. The protocol is robust and tolerates substitution at a range of positions of the indole and the use of ester-, amide-, and ketone-substituted alkynes. The use of 3-substituted indoles as substrates results in the introduction of the vinyl substituent at the 2-position of the ring. A combined experimental and computational mechanistic study has revealed that the gold catalyst has a greater affinity to the indole than the alkyne, despite the carbon–carbon bond formation step proceeding through an η²(π)-alkyne complex, which helps to explain the stark differences between the intra- and intermolecular variants of the reaction. This study also demonstrated that the addition of a second indole to the carbonyl-containing vinyl indole products is both kinetically and thermodynamically less favored than in the case of more simple alkynes, providing an explanation for the observed selectivity. Finally, a highly unusual gold-promoted alkyne dimerization reaction to form a substituted gold pyrylium salt has been identified and studied in detail.

Gold-Catalyzed Domino Cycloisomerization/Alkoxylation: An Entry to 3,4-Dihydro-1H-[1,4]oxazino[4,3-a]indole

A novel and mild synthetic route for the preparation of functionalized polycyclic indole skeletons via a gold-mediated cycloisomerization/alkoxylation of 1,6-aldehyde-yne has been developed. This atom-economical catalytic process that associates IPrAu(MeCN)BF₄ and an alcohol demonstrated remarkable selectivity in accessing functionalized 3,4-dihydro-1H-[1,4]oxazino[4,3-a]indole derivatives of high synthetic utility (21 examples, yields of ≤96%) and could be optimized under asymmetric conditions with an enantiomeric excess of ≤86%.

Gold-Catalyzed Reactions Towards Diversity: From Simple Substrates to Functionalized Carbo- and Heterocycles

The field of gold catalysis has been in constant expansion during the last twenty years. Based on the precept of π-activation of unsaturated simple substrates, several new rearrangements have been discovered, implying aryl, alkyne, alkene or keto derivatives as key partners. In this personal account, the main contributions in the field of gold catalysis from our group will be highlighted, emphasizing the recent reports, starting from 1,6- and 1,5-enynes and then moving to keto-ynes derivatives. The gold-catalyzed reactions will be presented starting from classical skeletal rearrangements (cycloisomerization) and then domino processes. In each part, the presentation of asymmetric versions will be highlighted.

Cycloisomerization of π-Coupled Heteroatom Nucleophiles by Gold Catalysis: En Route to Regiochemically Defined Heterocycles

Since the dawn of millennium, catalytic gold chemistry is at the forefront to set off diverse organic reactions via unique activation of π-bonded molecules. Within this purview, cycloisomerization of heteroatom nucleophiles linked to a π-system is one of the well recognized chemistry for the construction of numerous heterocyclic cores. Though the rudimentary aspects of this transformation are reviewed by several groups in different timeline, a holistic view on regiochemistry of such reactions went largely overlooked. Hence, this account emphasizes the gold catalyzed regioselective cycloisomerization of structurally distinctive π-connected hetero-nucleophiles leading to different heterocycles documented in the last two decades. From an application perspective, this account also highlights those methodologies which find a role in the total synthesis of natural products. Wherever appropriate, mechanistic details and contributing factors for selectivity are also discussed.

Indium-Catalyzed Cycloisomerization of 1,6-Cyclohexenylalkynes

Efficient four- and five-step routes to access functionalized bicyclo[3.2.1]oct-2-ene and bicyclo[3.3.1]nonadiene via indium-mediated cycloisomerization of 1,6-enynes has been developed. This atom-economical catalytic process was optimized and relied on the efficiency of InCl3 leading to the preparation of functionalized bicyclic adducts in up to 99% isolated yield. The cyclization occurred on two different processes (5-exo versus 6-endo pathway) and were influenced by the substitution of the alkynyl moiety. The exo process was favored for non-substituted alkynes whereas the endo pathway was generally observed for substituted alkynes. Then, the presence of electron-withdrawing groups on the aryl substituted alkyne increased the ratio of the exo isomer. DFT calculations were performed on stability of intermediates and corroborated the intervention of InCl3.

The synthesis of indeno[de]isochromene derivatives from arylvinyl epoxides and carbonyl compounds via tandem Nazarov and oxa-Pictet–Spengler cyclizations

The conversion of aryl vinyl epoxides and carbonyl compounds in the presence of a catalytic amount of BF3·OEt2 to indeno[de]isochromenes via tandem Nazarov and oxa-Pictet–Spengler cyclizations is described.

Gold-catalyzed synthesis of 1H-isochromene-4-carbaldehydes via oxidative cascade cyclization

An efficient gold-catalyzed formation of indenylidene-derived 1H-isochromene-4-carbaldehydes from substituted 1,5,10-triyne-O-silanes was developed under mild reaction conditions. In this reaction, gold-catalyzed selective oxidation, 1,2-migration, nucleophilic addition and then 5-endo-dig cyclization took place regioselectively. The indenylidene-derived isochromene-4-carbaldehydes were synthesized in moderate to very good yields via the formation of new C-C and C-O bonds in one pot.

Gold-Catalyzed Cycloisomerization of 1,6-Cyclohexenylalkyne: An Efficient Entry to Bicyclo[3.2.1]oct-2-ene and Bicyclo[3.3.1]nonadiene

An efficient and mild synthetic route for the preparation of functionalized bicyclo[3.2.1]oct-2-ene and bicyclo[3.3.1]nonadiene via gold-mediated cycloisomerization of 1,6-enynes has been developed. This atom-economical catalytic process was optimized and relied on the efficiency of IPrAuNTf₂ allowing the formation of functionalized bicyclic adducts in 55-91% isolated yields (18 products). The reliable access to bicyclic derivatives was demonstrated on a 3 g scale with a low catalyst loading. The process occurred on a 5-exo versus 6-endo pathway depending on the substitution of the alkynyl moiety. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed on the stability of intermediates, and this study corroborated the endo/exo ratio and the mechanistic pathway with key intermediates. Reduction of the ester moiety and hydrogenation of the exo-methylene double bond of the bicyclo[3.2.1]oct-2-ene adduct illustrated the potential postfunctionalization of bicyclic derivatives.

Ruthenium Metathesis: A Key Step To Access a New Cyclic Tetrasubstituted Olefin Platform

An rapid and mild synthetic route for the preparation of cyclic tetrasubstituted platforms via ruthenium-catalyzed ring-closing metathesis (RCM) has been developed. This process tolerates a wide range of functionalities such as nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, silicon, and carbon tethered groups, as well as very challenging fluorine and boron atoms (36 derivatives, up to 96%). This diversity-oriented method was further demonstrated by the postfunctionalization reactions, such as Pd-couplings, N-substitution, and reductive amination introducing a morpholine moiety.

When Gold Meets Perfumes: Synthesis of Olfactive Compounds via Gold-Catalyzed Cycloisomerization Reactions

An efficient, and mild synthetic route for the preparation of functionalized volatile oxa-bicyclo[4.1.0]-hept-4-ene (29 compounds, 44-98% isolated yields) has been developed relying on the association of IPrAuCl with NaBArF. The remarkable selectivity was demonstrated on a 1 g and 25 g scale with low catalyst loadings. The synthetic utility of these low-molecular-weight enols was further demonstrated by the derivatization of some adducts and by the unprecedented olfactory evaluation of all bicyclic derivatives.

Gold-Catalyzed Intramolecular Dearomatization Reactions of Indoles for the Synthesis of Spiroindolenines and Spiroindolines

A gold-catalyzed dearomatization reaction of indole derivatives was realized in the presence of JohnPhosAuCl/AgOMs to afford a series of spiroindolenines in excellent yields (≤99%). In addition, when the Hantzsch ester was used as the hydrogen transfer reagent, various spiroindolines were obtained in a cascade fashion starting from readily available indole derivatives in modest to good yields (≤79%). Both reactions feature readily available substrates, mild conditions, and good functional group tolerance.

Nucleophile-assisted cyclization of β-propargylamino acrylic compounds catalyzed by gold(i): a rapid construction of multisubstituted tetrahydropyridines and their fused derivatives

A variety of medicinally important multisubstituted tetrahydropyridines, 4-aryl piperidines, isoquinolines and fused pyridines were prepared in 1–3 step sequences via nucleophile-assisted Au(i)-catalyzed cyclizations of easily available azaenynes.

Juniperanol: First total synthesis and evaluation in Type 2 Diabetes disease

The first total synthesis of juniperanol, the tricyclic sesquiterpenoid enantiomer of α-cedrol is described. The synthesis relies on stereoselective gold-catalyzed Ohloff-type propargylic ester rearrangement performed on a 10 g scale, and a carbocationic cascade in the presence of acetyl methanesulfonate. The ability of juniperanol to interfere in glucose processes in different cell types is described.

Selective oxymetalation of terminal alkynes via 6-endo cyclization: mechanistic investigation and application to the efficient synthesis of 4-substituted isocoumarins

The cyclization of heteroatom-containing alkynes with π acidic metal salts is an attractive method to prepare heterocycles because the starting materials are readily available and the organometallic compounds are useful synthetic intermediates. A new organometallic species in the heterocyclization provides an opportunity to synthesize heterocycles that are difficult to obtain. Herein, we describe a novel cyclic oxymetalation of 2-alkynylbenzoate with indium or gallium salts that proceeds with an unusual regioselectivity to give isocoumarins bearing a carbon-metal bond at the 4-position. This new type of metalated isocoumarin provided 3-unsubstituted isocoumarins that have seldom been investigated despite their important pharmacological properties. Indium and gallium salts showed high performance in the selective 6-endo cyclization of terminal alkynes while boron or other metals such as Al, Au, and Ag caused 5-exo cyclization or decomposition of terminal alkynes, respectively. The metalated isocoumarin and its reaction intermediate were unambiguously identified by X-ray crystallographic analysis. The theoretical calculation of potential energy profiles showed that oxyindation could proceed via 6-endo cyclization under thermodynamic control while previously reported oxyboration would give a 5-membered ring under kinetic control. The investigation of electrostatic potential maps suggested that the differences in the atomic characters of indium, boron and their ligands would contribute to such a regioselective switch. The metalated isocoumarins were applied to organic synthetic reactions. The halogenation of metalated isocoumarins proceeded to afford 4-halogenated isocoumarins bearing various functional groups. The palladium-catalyzed cross coupling of organometallic species with organic halides gave various 4-substituted isocoumarins. A formal total synthesis of oosponol, which exhibits strong antifungal activity, was accomplished.

Donor- and acceptor-enynals/enynones

Three kinds of transformations based on benzo-fused donor- and acceptor-enynals/enynones, including reactions with alkenes, alkynes, and H₂O, were discussed.

Indium-Catalyzed Intramolecular Hydroamidation of Alkynes: An Exo-Dig Cyclization for the Synthesis of Pyranoquinolines through Post-Transformational Reaction

An efficient approach for the synthesis of pyranoquinolines through the indium-catalyzed activation of alkynes is reported. Intramolecular hydroamidation of alkynes can proceed through alkyne activation by indium(III) and then 6-exo-dig cyclization, leading to a fused pyran ring with high selectivity, high atom economy, and good to excellent yields. The cyclization was accomplished through the oxygen, not the nitrogen, of the amide functional group.