Acid-Mediated Ring Expansion of 2,2-Disubstituted Azetidine Carbamates to 6,6-Disubstituted 1,3-Oxazinan-2-ones

The ring expansion of 2-ester-2-arylazetidine carbamates can be achieved using Brønsted acids to form 6,6-disubstituted 1,3-oxazinan-2-ones. The reaction is rapid at room temperature with Boc or Cbz derivatives and proceeds with excellent yield (up to 96%) and broad substrate scope. Derivatives of drug compounds and natural products are incorporated. The combination of this ring expansion in a three-step N-H insertion/cyclization/expansion sequence is applied to directly access medicinally relevant scaffolds from acyclic precursors.

Silica gel mediated oxidative C–O coupling of β-dicarbonyl compounds with malonyl peroxides in solvent-free conditions

For the first time silica gel was observed to activate peroxides in oxidative coupling reactions. Here we report silica gel mediated oxidative C–O coupling of β-dicarbonyl compounds with cyclic diacyl peroxides affording α-acyloxy derivatives with 100% atom efficiency. The highest yields of coupling products were achieved in solvent free conditions. C–O coupling products were prepared in yields up to 86%.

A Rh-catalyzed 1,2-sulfur migration/aza-Diels–Alder cascade initiated by aza-vinyl carbenoids from sulfur-tethered N-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles

A novel Rh(ii) catalyzed intramolecular 1,2-sulfur migration/intermolecular aza-Diels–Alder cascade of sulfur-tethered N-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles has been developed, efficiently affording sulfur-containing tetrahydropyridine derivatives.

Stereoselective synthesis of 2,3-difunctionalised thioesters using nucleophilic epoxidation of 1-arylthio-1-nitroalkenes

Stereoselective nucleophilic epoxidation of protected 3-amino and 3-hydroxy-substituted 1-arylthio-1-nitroalkenes, followed by intramolecular capture involving the amino and hydroxyl protecting groups, has led to the formation of isomeric oxazolidinones 5 and 7, and a cyclic carbonate 11. Together with the oxazolidinone precursor anti-alpha-bromo thioester 15a, the absolute and relative stereochemistry of these compounds has been determined by X-ray crystallography.

Selective five- and six-membered cyclic amine syntheses via capture of episulfonium ions

Amide nitrogens open episulfonium ions to form pyrrolidines or piperidines selectively, depending on the nitrogen substituent, in either reversible or irreversible reactions.

Synthesis of enantiomerically pure 2,2,3,4,5-pentasubstituted pyrrolidines by phenylsulfanyl migration

[reaction: see text] Enantiomerically pure 2,2,3,4,5-pentasubstituted pyrrolidines can be prepared, in high overall yield, from alpha,beta-unsaturated esters. Asymmetry is introduced via a Michael addition, and additional stereogenic centers are introduced by an aldol reaction. A novel stereospecific ring-forming reaction, proceeding via a thiiranium (episulfonium) ion, yields pyrrolidines from beta-hydroxy sulfides. In this manner, 2,2,3,4,5-pentasubstituted pyrrolidines, containing three contiguous stereogenic centers around the ring, can be prepared in 44% overall yield from ethyl crotonate.