Ir(III)-Catalyzed Tandem Annulation of Aromatic Amides with 1,6-Diynes via Dual C-H Bond Activation

An Ir(III)-catalyzed annulation of aryl amides with 1,6-diynes via ortho- as well as meta-dual C-H bond activation reaction is reported. The scope of the annulation reaction was examined with various substituted aryl amides, as well as 1,6-diynes. In this protocol, 1,6-diynes exhibit diverse reactivity compared with internal alkynes. It is important to note that the three C-C bond formation takes place consecutively via ortho followed by meta-dual C-H bond annulation by using a weak chelating group in one pot. A possible catalytic reaction mechanism was proposed to account for the annulation reaction.

Co(III)-catalyzed regioselective benzannulation of substituted pyridones with 1,6-diynes via dual C-H bond activation

A Co(III)-catalyzed site-selective C5 and C6 benzannulation of substituted pyridones with 1,6-diynes via dual C-H bond activation has been reported. The scope of the benzannulation reaction was examined with various substituted 2-pyridyl pyridones and 1,6-diynes. The combination of cuprous acetate and silver carbonate plays a crucial role in the success of the reaction. A plausible reaction mechanism was proposed and supported by deuterium labelling studies and radical trapping experiments.

Triple Nucleophilic Head-to-Tail Cascade Polycyclization of Diazodienals via Combination Catalysis: Direct Access to Cyclopentane Fused Aza-Polycycles with Six-Contiguous Stereocenters

Reported herein are the bench stable (2E,4E)-diazohexa-2,4-dienals (diazodienals) and their unprecedented polycyclization with aldimine and arylamines enabled by Rh(II)/Brønsted acid relay catalysis. This scalable and atom-economical reaction provides direct access to the biologically important azatricyclo[6.2.1.04,11]undecane fused polycycles having six-contiguous stereocenters. Mechanistic studies revealed that polycyclization proceeds through an unusual triple-nucleophilic cascade initiated by aldimine attack on remote Rh-carbenoid, 6π-electrocyclization of aza-trienyl azomethine ylide, stereoselective aza-Michael addition via iminium activation, and inverse electron-demand intramolecular aza Diels-Alder reaction. The π-π secondary interactions play a crucial role in the preorganization of reactive intermediates for the pericyclic reactions and, hence, the overall efficiency of the polycyclization.

Titanium-Mediated Dehydroxylative Cross-Coupling of Allylic Alcohols with Electron-Deficient Olefins

Herein we report a Ti(III)-mediated dehydroxylative cross-coupling reaction of allylic alcohols with electron-deficient olefins. This reaction is amenable to various synthetically versatile allylic alcohols, including geraniol and farnesol, providing a general method for dehydroxylative C-C bond formation. We demonstrated the reaction's utility by simplifying the syntheses of eight useful building blocks that are otherwise laborious to prepare.

Carbonyl Olefin Metathesis and Dehydrogenative Cyclization of Aromatic Ketones and gem-Difluoroalkenes

The beauty of one-pot cascade reaction lies in the efficient disconnection and construction of several bonds in a single reaction flask, without the isolation of any intermediates. Herein, we report the first photoinduced thermally promoted cascade reactions of readily available aromatic ketones and aromatic gem-difluoroalkenes for the synthesis of phenanthrenes which possess potential utility in drug design and materials science. The reaction combines carbonyl-olefin metathesis (cascade photoinduced [2+2] cyclization and thermally controlled retro [2+2] cyclization) and dehydrogenative cyclization (cascade photoinduced conrotatory 6π electrocyclization and collidine-promoted dehydrogenative aromatization) together in one pot. The oxidant-free, acid-free and metal-free reaction shows broad substrate scope and wide functional group tolerance.

Catalytic Asymmetric Polycyclization of Tertiary Enamides with Silyl Enol Ethers: Total Synthesis of (-)-Cephalocyclidin A

A catalytic enantioselective polycyclization of tertiary enamides with terminal silyl enol ethers has been developed by virtue of Cu(OTf)2 catalysis with a novel spiropyrroline-derived oxazole (SPDO) ligand. This tandem reaction offers an effective approach to assemble bicyclic and tricyclic N-heterocycles bearing both aza- and oxa-quaternary stereogenic centers, which are primal subunits in a range of natural alkaloids. Strategic application of this methodology and a late-stage radical cyclization as key steps have been showcased in the concise total synthesis of (-)-cephalocyclidin A.

Synthesis of Fused Tricyclic Amines Bearing Tetrasubstituted Carbons Using an Alkylation-Cyclization-Isomerization-3-aza-Cope Cascade Reaction

A new cascade reaction sequence that involves alkylation, cyclization, isomerization, and 3-aza-Cope rearrangement was discovered. The stereogenic centers of the starting piperidines were transferred to the bicyclic enamine products, and a range of electron-withdrawing groups on the alkyne moieties, from ketones to amides, were tolerated under the reaction conditions. The bicyclic enamines underwent trifluoroacetic acid (TFA)-mediated cyclization to form tricyclic amines bearing tetrasubstituted carbons.

Switchable multipath cascade cyclization to synthesize bicyclic lactams and succinimides via chemodivergent reaction

Herein, a novel switchable multipath cascade cyclization via chemodivergent reaction between readily available ketoamides and deconjugated butenolides was developed to efficiently synthesize γ-lactone fused γ-lactams and succinimide fused hemiketals. The Aldol/aza-Michael reaction and Aldol/imidation/hemiketalization reaction were enabled by catalytic amounts of two bases, namely tetramethyl guanidine and NaOAc. A wide range of substrate scope with diverse functional group compatibility was demonstrated to deliver the corresponding products with good yield and excellent diastereoselectivity (>60 examples).

Radical-Based Route to Functionalized Tetralin: Formal Total Synthesis of (±)-Hamigeran B

A formal synthetic route to hamigeran B, an antiviral marine natural product with a unique tricyclic molecular architecture, has been developed. The key chemical transformations in the present route include a novel zinc(II)porphyrin-catalyzed photoredox radical cascade cyclization to access a functionalized tetralin, a catalyst-free benzylic radical bromination with NBS by visible-light irradiation, and a samarium(II)-induced cyclization of brominated tetralone possibly via an orthoquinodimethane-like intermediate.

A Diastereoselective Cascade Annulation Approach to Bridged Polycyclic Heterocycles Involving an Unexpected Rearrangement

A diastereoselective cascade annulation between allenoates and in-situ generated isoquinoline N-oxides generating sp³-rich bridged polycyclic heterocycles is disclosed. The reaction proceeds through an unprecedented non-rearomatized rearrangement and allows access to a broad range of bridged heterocycles in 38-93% yields with excellent functional group tolerance and high diastereoselectivity. Density functional theory calculations provided key insights into the possible reaction pathway and the stereoselectivity of this procedure.

Stereoselective Cyclization Cascade of Dihydroquinoxalinones by Visible-Light Photocatalysis: Access to the Polycyclic Quinoxalin-2(1H)-ones

An intriguing stereoselective visible-light photocatalysis of dihydroquinoxalinone derivatives has been realized via cyclization with or without the solvolysis cascade. The reactions provided the polycyclic ring structures with efficient formation of multiple bonds and with high stereoselectivity. X-ray crystallography unequivocally determined the structures of five polycyclic products.

Asymmetric Total Syntheses of Cephalotane-Type Diterpenoids Cephanolides A-D

Cephanolides A-D are cephalotane-type diterpenoids featuring a novel 6/6/6/5 tetracyclic core embedded with a bridged δ-lactone. The asymmetric and divergent total syntheses of cephanolides A-D have been accomplished, proceeding in 11-14 steps from a known alcohol. The salient features of the present work include (i) a substrate-controlled diastereoselective intermolecular Diels-Alder reaction to form the 6-6 cis-fused rings, (ii) a palladium-catalyzed formal bimolecular [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction via a partially intermolecular cascade reaction sequence involving multiple carbometalations to rapidly install the key tetracyclic skeleton, and (iii) lactonization and late-stage oxidative diversification to complete total syntheses of the four benzenoid cephanolides.

Facile access to fused 2D/3D rings via intermolecular cascade dearomative [2 + 2] cycloaddition/rearrangement reactions of quinolines with alkenes

Hybrid fused two-dimensional/three-dimensional (2D/3D) rings are important pharmacophores in drugs owing to their unique structural and physicochemical properties. Preparation of these strained ring systems often requires elaborate synthetic effort and exhibits low efficiency, thus representing a limiting factor in drug discovery. Here, we report two types of energy-transfer-mediated cascade dearomative [2 + 2] cycloaddition/rearrangement reactions of quinoline derivatives with alkenes, which provide a straightforward avenue to 2D/3D pyridine-fused 6−5−4−3- and 6−4−6-membered ring systems. Notably, this energy-transfer-mediated strategy features excellent diastereoselectivity that bypasses the general reactivity and selectivity issues of photochemical [2 + 2] cycloaddition of various other aromatics. Tuning the aza-arene substitutions enabled selective diversion of the iridium photocatalysed energy transfer manifold towards either cyclopropanation or cyclobutane-rearrangement products. Density functional theory calculations revealed a cascade energy transfer scenario to be operative.

An Approach toward 17-Arylsubstituted Marginatafuran-Type Isospongian Diterpenoids via a Palladium-Catalyzed Heck-Suzuki Cascade Reaction of 16-Bromolambertianic Acid

Isospongian diterpenes are a small but growing family of natural tetracyclic secondary metabolites isolated from marine organisms, primarily sponges and nudibranchs. A palladium-catalyzed domino Heck–Suzuki reaction sequence for the synthesis of the tetracyclic skeleton of marginatafuran-type isospongian diterpenoids with a wide variety of substituents in the C-17 position is reported. The proposed approach was based on selective transformations of the accessible plant diterpenoid lambertianic acid and includes an intramolecular Heck reaction of 16-bromolambertianic and arylation of the palladium intermediate with arylboronic acid. The influence of the nature of the substituent both in arylboronic acids and in the furan ring of 16-bromolambertianic acid on the direction and chemoselectivity of the reaction has been studied. The described derivatization of natural furanolabdanoid lambertianic acid produced new functionalized molecules for biological study and gave novel insights into the reactivity of complex molecular structures.

Enantioselective construction of spiro-tetrahydroquinoline scaffolds through asymmetric catalytic cascade reactions

An efficient and concise strategy has been successfully developed for merging spiro-tetrahydroquinoline with spiro-benzofuranone into a single new skeleton through asymmetric catalytic cascade reactions catalyzed by quinine-derived chiral bifunctional squaramide organocatalysts. In this approach, differently substituted spiro-tetrahydroquinoline derivatives were smoothly obtained with high yields, and excellent diastereoselectivities and enantioselectivities (up to 99% yield, up to >20 : 1 dr, up to >99% ee, 40 examples) under mild reaction conditions.

Cascade aryne insertion/vinylogous aldol reaction of vinyl-substituted β-keto/enol carbonyls

Cyclic and acyclic vinyl substituted β-keto/enol carbonyl substrates, on reaction with arynes, result in differentially substituted naphthyl carbocycles, hitherto difficult to synthesize with existing protocols. While the substitutions on the arynes have no role, the ring size of the cyclic β-keto/enol esters has a profound influence on the product formation.

Electrophilic amidomethylation of arenes with DMSO/MeCN reagents

An efficient electrophilic amidomethylation of aromatics was described with DMSO as the CH2 source and nitrile as the nitrogen source.

Stannyl radical-mediated synthesis of 6H-1,3-oxazin-6-ones from 2-acyloxyazirines or whether free radicals can open the azirine ring?

A fundamentally new radical cascade reaction of 2-acyloxyazirines underlays an effective one-step method for the preparation of 5-hydroxy-6H-1,3-oxazin-6-ones from methyl 2-acyloxy-2H-azirine-2-carboxylates using Bu3SnH/ACHN system as a source of stannyl radicals....

Synthesis of tetracyclic spiroindolines by an interrupted Bischler-Napieralski reaction: total synthesis of akuammicine

Judicious substrate design allows interruption of the classical Bischler–Napieralski reaction, providing access to a range of diversely substituted tetracyclic spiroindolines. These complex polycyclic scaffolds are valuable building blocks for the construction of indole alkaloids, as showcased in a concise total synthesis of (±)-akuammicine.

The interrupted Bischler–Napieralski reaction of β,γ-unsaturated tryptamides affords tetracyclic spiro pyrroloindolines, which can be used in the total synthesis of the Strychnos alkaloid, akuammicine.

An Alternative Route to Complex Allenes or Cyclooctatrienes via a Suzuki Cyclocarbopalladation Cascade

The 4-exo-dig cyclocarbopalladation of vinyl bromides substituted with a triple or double bond resulted in impressive cascade reactions leading to different compounds under Suzuki cross-coupling conditions upon a slight modification of the starting material. When the starting compound carries a triple bond, a single cascade occurs providing a structure containing an allene, a tetrasubstituted cyclopropane, and a cyclobutene with complete stereoselectivity. When the related starting material possessing a double bond is reacted under the same conditions in the presence of various vinyl boronic esters or acids, an efficient 8π-electrocyclization provides tricyclic systems comprised of a cyclobutene unit, as well as a cyclooctatriene. Five carbons of the latter can be selectively decorated with different substituents depending on the choice of the starting material and the boronic coupling partner.

Direct Photoexcitation of Ethynylbenziodoxolones: An Alternative to Photocatalysis for Alkynylation Reactions*

Ethynylbenziodoxolones (EBXs) are commonly used as radical traps in photocatalytic alkynylations. Herein, we report that aryl-substituted EBX reagents can be directly activated by visible light irradiation. They act as both oxidants and radical traps, alleviating the need for a photocatalyst in several reported EBX-mediated processes, including decarboxylative and deboronative alkynylations, the oxyalkynylation of enamides and the C-H alkynylation of THF. Furthermore, the method could be applied to the synthesis of alkynylated quaternary centers from tertiary alcohols via stable oxalate salts and from tertiary amines via aryl imines. A photocatalytic process using 4CzIPN as an organic dye was also developed for the deoxyalkynylation of oxalates.

Gold(I)-Catalyzed Cyclization-3-Aza-Cope-Mannich Cascade and Its Application to the Synthesis of Cephalotaxine

The discovery of a new gold(I)-catalyzed cascade reaction involving cyclization onto a vinylammonium, 3-aza-Cope rearrangement, and Mannich cyclization is reported. A variety of fused nitrogen heterocycles were prepared from simple cyclic tertiary amines using 1-5 mol % of a AuCl(PPh₃)/Ag[C₅(CN)₅] cocatalyst system. The developed reaction was used in a study aimed at synthesizing cephalotaxine. A five-step operation from norhydrastinine provided demethylcephalotaxinone in 39.1% overall yield, which was transformed to (-)-cephalotaxine in two steps.

Visible Light-Induced Pericyclic Cascade Reaction for the Synthesis of Quinolinone Derivatives with an Oxabicyclo[4.2.0]octene Skeleton

A photoinduced pericyclic cascade reaction has been developed to afford oxabicyclo[4.2.0]octenes. Mechanistic studies show that this reaction undergoes [2 + 2]-photocycloaddition, base-promoted elimination, retro-4π-electrocyclization, [1,5]-H shift, and 4π-electrocyclization procedures. This reaction features wide substrate scope, good functional group tolerance, and excellent diastereoselectivity.

Beyond the Isoprene Pattern: Bifunctional Polyene Cyclizations

Polyene cyclizations are capable of producing molecular complexity in a single step. While classical systems are limited to simple alkyl substitution patterns only, bifunctional polyenes take advantage of the unique reactivity of higher‐functionalized alkenes. Here, we highlight the potential of these variants for the synthesis of structurally complex polycycles involving unprecedented termination steps. We also want to provide a stimulus for the development of novel modes of cyclization that involve bifunctional units to enable efficient synthesis of yet inaccessible natural products.

Sequential condensation/biannulation reactions of β-(2-aminophenyl)-α,β-ynones with 1,3-dicarbonyls

A divergent domino condensation/biannulation reaction of β-(2-aminophenyl) α,β-ynones with 1,3-dicarbonyls to construct a polycyclic 4H-pyrano[3,4-c]quinoline core has been developed. The p-TsOH·H2O catalyzed reaction of β-(2-aminophenyl) α,β-ynones with β-ketoesters in ethanol proceeds with good to excellent yields to provide a simple and effective method for the synthesis of functionalized 4H-pyrano[3,4-c]quinolinones. Further elaboration of these latter derivatives with an excess of 20% NH4OH in EtOH at 50 °C helps achieve the synthesis of the perlodinine analogues benzo[c][2,7]naphthyridin-4(3H)-one derivatives in high yields. Moreover, the p-TsOH·H2O mediated reaction of β-(2-aminophenyl) α,β-ynones with β-di-ketones leads to the formation of a variety of structurally diverse 4H-pyrano[3,4-c]quinoline polycyclic ketals by the incorporation of an alcohol solvent molecule in a cascade fashion.

Synthesis of functionalized diarylbenzofurans via Ru-catalyzed C–H activation and cyclization under air: rapid access to the polycyclic scaffold of diptoindonesin G

A method was developed for rapid assembly of 2,3-diarylbenzofuran-4-carboxylic acids from m-hydroxybenzoic acids and alkynes via Ru-catalyzed C–H alkenylation and cyclization, which was successfully applied for total synthesis of diptoindonesin G.