Total Synthesis of (±)-Furanether A

The first total synthesis of (±)-furanether A, which exhibits good antifeedant activity, has been concisely achieved in 13 linear steps. Notably, the key rigid tetracyclic skeleton containing a 1-methyl-8-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane moiety with two vicinal quaternary carbon centers was rapidly constructed in one step through a unique tandem C-H oxidation/oxa-[3,3] Cope rearrangement/aldol cyclization sequence.

Recent development on the [5+2] cycloadditions and their application in natural product synthesis

The recent developments on the [5+2] cycloadditions and their application in the synthesis of complex natural products are discussed.

Expedient synthesis of a symmetric cycloheptyne-Co2(CO)6 complex for orthogonal Huisgen cycloadditions

A cycloheptyne dicobalt-carbonyl complex with a terminal alkyne was synthesized by a short procedure, and was able to react selectively in Strain Promoted Alkyne Azide Cycloaddition (SPAAC) or Copper Catalysed Alkyne Azide Cycloaddition (CuAAC) depending on the conditions.

Synthesis of 2,6-disubstituted tetrahydroazulene derivatives

Synthesis of hydroazulene derivatives has been carried out through a ring-enlargement route by using carbene adduct intermediates. The protocol can be applied for the construction of functionalized hydroazulene skeletons as key components of many natural products as well as the core system of novel liquid-crystalline materials.

Construction of cyclopentanol derivatives via three-component coupling of silyl glyoxylates, acetylides, and nitroalkenes

The three-component coupling of Mg acetylides, silyl glyoxylates, and nitroalkenes results in a highly diastereoselective Kuwajima-Reich/vinylogous Michael cascade that provides tetrasubstituted silyloxyallene products. The regio- and diastereoselectivity were studied using DFT calculations. These silyloxyallenes were converted to cyclopentenols and cyclopentitols via a unique Lewis acid assisted Henry cyclization. The alkene functionality present in the cyclopentanol products can be elaborated using diastereoselective ketohydroxylation reactions.