Synthesis of Diastereomeric Hydrobenzofurans and Hydronaphthofurans via an Iodine Reagent-Promoted Intramolecular Dearomatization Reaction

The first metal- and base-free construction of diastereomeric hydrobenzofurans and hydronaphthofurans, which were capable of further transformations to achieve natural product frameworks, was achieved by the intramolecular oxidized dearomatization of phenol or naphthol derivatives via the promotion of iodine reagents. Enantioselective products were obtained through chiral substrates or iodine catalysts. This step-economical protocol built multiple chiral centers with extensive tolerance of various substrates, which resulted in a potential molecular library for developing functional polycyclic scaffolds.

Electrochemical Dichlorinative Cyclization of 1,n-Enynes by 4-Iodotoluene Catalysis

An electrochemical approach for the indirect oxidative generation of hypervalent iodoarene as a reaction catalyst has been reported. The reaction proceeds first from the generation of active Cl species by electro-oxidation, followed by oxidative transfer to generate ArICl2, which subsequently reacts with enynes to achieve cyclization. This protocol provides a simple and green method for accessing dichlorinative cyclization products in high yields with good selectivity.

Ruthenium and Iodine Anion Cocatalyzed Cascade Dihalogenation and Cyclization of Internal Alkyne-Tethered Cyclohexadienones with 1,2-Dihaloethanes

We have established an efficient ruthenium(II) and iodine anion cocatalyzed dihalogenation and cascade cyclization of internal alkyne-tethered cyclohexadienones, which stereoselectively afforded numerous dihalogenation products with a bioactive hydrobenzofuran skeleton in high yields under mild conditions. In this transformation, the reaction pathway was determined by the concentration of electrophilic iodine reagent, which also provided a strategy for control of the reaction selectivity. Furthermore, this method features the use of 1,2-dihaloroethane as the halogen source via iodine anion catalyst.

Pd(0)-Catalyzed Asymmetric Cyclization/Coupling Cascade of Alkyne-Tethered Unsaturated Carbonyls: Development and Mechanism Elucidation

While the Pd(0)-catalyzed cyclization of alkyne-tethered unsaturated carbonyl substrates has been reported, the mechanism has not been well elucidated, and the potential asymmetric version remains to be developed. Here, we disclose that a chiral Pd(0) complex can efficiently promote the desymmetrizative cyclization of alkyne-tethered cyclohexadienones in CH3OH, and the resultant Pd(II) intermediates further undergo an array of tandem coupling reactions, including Suzuki, Sonogashira, and even chemoselective reduction by CH3OH in the absence of additional coupling partners. As a result, a broad spectrum of hydrobenzofuran derivatives, having a tetra- or trisubstituted exo-alkene motif, is constructed with moderate to outstanding enantioselectivity in an exclusive cis-difunctionalization pattern. In addition, this enantioselective protocol can be well expanded to linear alkyne-tethered unsaturated carbonyls, and a new desymmetrizative and asymmetric cyclization/coupling cascade of bis-alkyne-tethered enones is further realized efficiently, furnishing diversely structured frameworks with high stereoselectivity. Moreover, kinetic transformation for various racemic alkyne-tethered enones can be accomplished under similar catalytic conditions, and unusual kinetic reactions by chemoselectively undertaking Suzuki or Sonogashira coupling, or reduction by CH3OH, occur sequentially, finally yielding two types of chiral products, both with high enantioselectivity via either ligand- or substrate-based control. The experimental results demonstrate that the current Pd(0)-based strategy is superior to the classical Pd(II)-catalyzed carbopalladation/cyclization process of the identical substrates with regard to enantioselectivity and synthetic versatility. Moreover, density functional theory calculations are conducted to rationalize the Pd(0)-catalyzed oxidative cyclometalation pathway in the key cyclization step, which leads to the observed cis-difunctionalized products exclusively.

Polycyclic Pyrazoles from Alkynyl Cyclohexadienones and Nonstabilized Diazoalkanes via [3 + 2]-Cycloaddition/[1,5]-Sigmatropic Rearrangement/Aza-Michael Reaction Cascade

An efficient method for the stereoselective synthesis of "all center substituted" polycyclic pyrazoles from alkynyl cyclohexa-2,5-dienones and nonstabilized diazoalkanes via sequential [3 + 2]-cycloaddition/[1,5]-sigmatropic rearrangement and aza-Michael reactions is reported. The developed process is highly regioselective and stereoselective. It employs a wide substrate scope to furnish structurally diverse linear and bridged [4.4.n.0] ring-fused pyrazoles in moderate to good yields. One-pot and gram-scale syntheses and synthetic transformations have also been showcased.

Construction of 5-methyleneoxazolidine-2,4-diones bearing modifiable halogen groups through a halopalladation strategy

Based on a halopalladation strategy, we successfully developed a haloesterification reaction of propargylic amides to synthesize a diverse range of 5-(halomethylene)oxazolidine-2,4-diones. This reaction demonstrates good yield and compatibility with various functional groups. Notably, the halogen atoms present in the resulting products can be readily substituted by other functional groups, highlighting the versatility and appeal of this method. Additionally, we have achieved the successful cyclizative dimerization of propargylic amides to produce bisoxazolidine-2,4-dione derivatives.

Regio- and Stereoselective Hydrochlorination/Cyclization of 1,n-Enynes by FeCl3 Catalysis

A highly regio- and stereoselective hydrochlorination/cyclization of enynes has been reported by FeCl₃ catalysis. A variety of enynes undergo this cyclization transformation with acetic chloride as the chlorine source and H₂O providing protons via a cationic pathway. This protocol provides a cheap, simple, stereospecific, and effective cyclization to afford heterocyclic alkenyl chloride compounds as Z isomers with high yields (≤98%) and regioselectivity.

Catalyst-Controlled Diastereoselective Synthesis of Bridged [3.3.1] Bis(Indolyl)-Oxanes and Oxepanes via Desymmetrization of Bis(Indolyl)-Cyclohexadienones

A catalyst-controlled divergent synthesis of bridged [3.3.1] bis(indolyl)-oxanes and cis-[6.7] fused bis(indolyl) oxepanes via diastereoselective desymmetrization of bis(indolyl)-cyclohexadienones is presented for the first time. The reaction is highly atom- and step-economic, furnishing sp³-rich functionalized bis(indolyl) derivatives in good to excellent yields with wide substrate scope. The reaction proceeds through Friedel-Crafts alkylation followed by catalyst-controlled selective C-C bond formation/rearrangement. Gram scale synthesis and synthetic utility to generate bis(indolyl) alkaloid-like molecular diversity were also illustrated.

Diphenyl Ditelluride: An Unconventional Reducing Agent in the Sulfonylative Cascade of Alkynyl Cyclohexadienones

Herein, we report a reductive hydrazo-sulfonylative difunctionalization cascade of alkynyl cyclohexadienones employing PhTeTePh as an uncommon reducing agent. Diphenyl ditelluride is a commercially available solid with a good solubility profile in most organic solvents, and this is the first report illustrating it as a reducing agent. The protocol afforded a variety of difunctionalized dihydrochromenones and dihydrobenzofuranones in good yields under relatively mild conditions. The reactions were scalable, and mechanistic studies were conducted to probe the reaction mechanism. Additionally, photophysical studies of the products were carried out, which revealed that they had significant absorption (400-450 nm) and emission (520-570 nm) in the visible region.

Catalytic Friedel-Crafts Alkylative Desymmetrization of Cyclohexa-2,5-dienones: Access to Linear and Bridged Polycyclic Pyrroles and 3-Arylpyrroles

A catalytic [3 + 2]-cycloaddition/Friedel-Crafts alkylative desymmetrization strategy has been developed for the stereoselective construction of linear and bridged polycyclic pyrroles from alkynylcyclohexa-2,5-dienones. This strategy was further explored for the synthesis of 3-arylpyrroles under Brønsted acid catalysis. Reaction is highly chemo-, regio-, and stereoselective and is compatible with wide range of functionalized cyclohexa-2,5-dienones/pyrroles (>51 examples, ≤98% yields). Gram-scale synthesis and synthetic utility of the products have also been demonstrated to showcase the robustness of present method.

A metal-free four-component sulfonylation, Giese cyclization, selenylation cascade via insertion of sulfur dioxide

We hereby report a highly regio- and diastereoselective arylsulfonylation-radical cyclization-selenylation cascade of alkynyl cyclohexadienones for the facile synthesis of highly functionalized dihydrochromenones. The protocol utilizes aryldiazonium salts as aryl partners and DABSO as a benign SO₂ source and also as a redox mediator. Additionally, we also developed a visible light mediated protocol wherein diaryliodonium salts were used as the aryl partners at room temperature.

Steric- and Electronic-Controlled Intramolecular [2 + 2]-Cycloaddition of Cyclohexadienone-Containing 1,7-Enynes

Herein we have developed the silver-catalyzed electronic- and steric-controlled intramolecular formal [2 + 2]-cycloaddition of alkyne-tethered cyclohexadienones. Substrates with electron-rich alkynes and a less hindered quaternary carbon center afford tricyclic fused cyclobutenes through 1,7-enyne cyclization. In contrast, the formation of dihydrofurans was observed from electron-deficient alkynes via proton abstraction/C-O bond cleavage. The synthetic potential of this method was also broadened with a gram-scale reaction and various transformations on cyclobutene.

Transition-Metal Catalyzed Stereoselective Desymmetrization of Prochiral Cyclohexadienones

The development of transition-metal catalyzed enantioselective and diastereoselective transformations has contributed many advances in the field of synthetic organic chemistry. Particularly, stereoselective desymmetrization of prochiral cyclohexadienones represents a powerful strategy for accessing highly functionalized and stereochemically enriched scaffolds, which are often found in biologically active compounds and natural products. In recent years, several research groups including our group have made a significant progress on transition-metal catalyzed stereoselective desymmetrizations of 2,5-cyclohexadienones. In this account, we will provide an overview of the recent developments in this area employing Pd, Cu, Rh, Au, Ag, Ni, Co, and Mn-catalysts.

PhI(OAc)2-Mediated Dihalogenative Cyclization of 1,6-Enyne with Lithium Halide

The dihalogenative cyclization of 1,6-enyne with the assistance of PhI(OAc)₂ and lithium halide is presented. A plausible radical mechanism is proposed, which consists of addition of halogen radical to alkene, 5-exo-dig radical cyclization of enyne and halogenation via radical coupling. The alkenyl- and alkyl-halide groups in the resulted pyrrolidine products have been demonstrated to be facile handles for further transformations.

Synthesis of Highly Conjugated Functionalized 2-Pyridones by Palladium-Catalyzed Aerobic Oxidative Dicarbonation Reactions of N-(Furan-2-ylmethyl) Alkyne Amides and Alkenes as Coupling Partners

A mild, step-economical method for the synthesis of highly conjugated functionalized 2-pyridones from N-(furan-2-ylmethyl) alkyne amides is reported. This method involves Pd-catalyzed aerobic oxidative dicarbonation reactions of alkynes with carbon nucleophiles of a furan ring and an acrylate or styrene as coupling partners. The UV-vis absorption spectra of some of the 2-pyridones indicated that they absorbed shortwave radiation, suggesting their potential utility for filtration of such radiation.