A Novel Reductive Cyclization of Imides

Remote Control of Diastereoselectivity in Intramolecular Reactions of Chiral Allylsilanes

During investigations of cyclization reactions between chiral allylsilanes and N-acyliminium ions, it was discovered that a suitably positioned benzyloxy group on the allylsilane component caused a reversal in the diastereoselectivity of these reactions relative to that normally observed with alkyl-substituted allylsilanes. This effect was subsequently observed in two other reaction types. Investigations into this effect led to the proposal of product formation through thermodynamic control facilitated by neighboring group interactions with a transient cationic species. This hypothesis was experimentally supported by the isolation of an intermediate in the proposed mechanistic pathway.

An asymmetric synthesis of aza analogues of the tricyclic skeleton of daphnane and the ABC ring system of phorbol

An asymmetric synthesis of aza analogues of the ABC ring system of phorbol and related compounds containing the 5-7-6-fused framework of daphnane involved construction of the central seven-membered ring by a regioselective reduction of a chiral imide and cyclization with trifluoromethanesulfonic acid. Subsequent demethylation and oxidative dearomatization of ring C afforded an enantiopure dienone 20 with the same relative and absolute configuration at the 9- and 10-positions of the phorbol skeleton.