Synlett

A novel dimerization of 3-chlorooxindoles promoted by potassium ethylxanthate to access isoindigo derivatives is described. The reactions proceeded readily at room temperature in short reaction times. A mechanistic study revealed that the 3-chlorooxindole is initially converted into O-ethyl S-(2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-indol-3-yl) dithiocarbonate, which subsequently undergoes dimerization with elimination of carbon disulfide. In almost all cases, analytically pure isoindigos were isolated in moderate to good yields without a requirement for chromatographic purification.

A facile and convenient reaction of o-alkynylisocyanobenzenes with various active-methylene compounds, including 1,3-diesters, 1,3-diketones, β-keto esters, and β-keto amides, under Brønsted basic conditions, has been developed. Diethyl malonate reacted smoothly with a collection of o-alkynylisocyanobenzenes to provide the corresponding 2-quinolin-2-yl malonates in excellent yields. Acetylacetone gave a mixture of quinolin-4-yl and quinolin-2-yl derivatives. Acetoacetate esters and acetoacetyl amide derivative initially gave 2-quinolin-2-yl adducts that underwent partial deacetylation under the reaction conditions.

By starting from two simple building blocks, benzannulated cyclooctenones were obtained in three steps. Subsequent Grignard/aryl lithium addition to the ketone yielded the corresponding tertiary alcohols that underwent stereoselective acid-catalyzed transannular cyclization to provide a cis-fused 5/5 bicyclic indanylindane framework exclusively. Subsequent stereoselective nucleophilic addition to the indanyl cation by hydride, water, or electron-rich aromatics furnished the 4b-aryltetrahydroindano[1,2-a]indenes in good to excellent yields (up to 92%) in the trans-C9–C9a form in up to a >99:1 diastereomeric ratio.

A method for assembling chalcones, glycine ethyl ester hydrochloride, and elemental sulfur toward a synthesis of 4,5-disubstituted thiazoles is reported. The transformation presumably proceeds via a sequence of β-C–H amination, annulation, and dealkoxycarbonylation. This tactic represents a rare example of a method for obtaining such disubstituted thiazoles directly from chalcone C–H bonds.

A visible-light-mediated C-3 formylation of indole catalyzed by eosin Y has been developed using tetramethylethylenediamine as a carbon source and air as an oxidant. This protocol shows high tolerance to a large quantity of functional groups under mild conditions and provides 3-formylated indoles with good yields. This method is a highly attractive alternative to the approach of traditional formylation.

The regioselectivity of the intramolecular cyclization of bifunctional α-phenyl alkenes can be controlled simply by the choice of the organic chromophore as the photocatalyst. The central photoredox catalytic reaction in both cases is a nucleophilic addition of the hydroxy function to the olefin function of the substrates. N,N-(4-Diisobutylaminophenyl)phenothiazine catalyzes exo-trig cyclizations, whereas 1,7-dicyanoperylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic acid bisimides catalyze endo-trig additions to products with anti-Markovnikov regioselectivity. We preliminarily report the photoredox catalytic conversions of 11 representative substrates into 20 oxaheterocycles in order to demonstrate the similarity, but also the complementarity, of these two variants in this photoredox catalytic toolbox.

A mild and convenient method for the synthesis of 2,2-dihaloketones and gem-dihalolactols has been developed. For the synthesis of 2,2-dihaloketones, alkynes were employed as substrates to react with halogenating agents, Cl2 or ClBr, that were generated in situ from aqueous HCl and NCS or NBS, respectively. On the other hand, gem-dihalolactols could be prepared from alkynol substrates by using the same reaction conditions. This method could be applied to a broad range of substrates to give the corresponding products in low to good yields.

Unsymmetrical 1,1,2-triacylalkenes were conveniently prepared by the oxidative coupling of 1,3-keto esters with terminal alkynes by employing 4.0 equivalents of inexpensive ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) as the oxidant in acetonitrile as the solvent at 0 °C. The method is milder than previously reported methods and can be conducted under air, thereby demonstrating its practicality and versatility for preparing these useful building blocks. The reaction is believed to occur by a single-electron-transfer process of the 1,3-keto ester substrate initiated by CAN to generate an α-radical species that quickly adds to the terminal alkyne partner in the reaction. Subsequent oxidation of the resulting vinyl radical by air and CAN then leads to the formation of the triacylalkene product as a mixture of E- and Z-isomers. The reaction was shown to be general, with 27 illustrative examples of the formation of the desired products in up to quantitative yield and with moderate to excellent alkene geometrical selectivities.

Here we present our work on a Kiyooka aldol protocol for the stereoselective synthesis of tertiary alcohols. In the obtained products, three oxygenated carbon atoms that could further be differentiated flank the chiral tertiary alcohol. This methodology can be applied to simple aromatic or aliphatic aldehydes and more complex substrates bearing a chiral center in the α- and/or β-position. For complex substrates, an unexpected dependency between stereoselectivity and double-bond geometry of the ketene acetal was observed. Furthermore, applications in or towards the synthesis of natural products are presented.1 Introduction2 Scope of the Reaction3 Synthetic Applications4 Conclusion

The palladium(II)-catalyzed carbonylation of alkenes presents one of most efficient methods for the synthesis of alkyl-substituted carbonyls and has received much attention. In this Account, we summarize our recent studies on the palladium-catalyzed intermolecular carbonylation-based 1,2-difunctionalization of alkenes, in which two strategies were involved: (1) a cooperative strategy involves the sequential iodine(III)-mediated alkene activation and palladium-catalyzed carbonylation, leading to the intermolecular β-oxy-, fluoro-, and azidocarbonylation of alkenes; (2) the classic strategy initiated by intermolecular nucleopalladation and carbonylation, including the asymmetric oxycarbonylation of alkenes. These methods provide a series of efficient approaches to synthesize β-functionalized aliphatic carboxylic derivatives.1 Introduction2 A Cooperative Strategy Involving Iodine(III)-Mediated Alkene Activation and Palladium-Catalyzed Carbonylation2.1 Intermolecular Oxycarbonylation of Alkenes2.2 Intermolecular Fluorocarbonylation of Alkenes2.3 Intermolecular Azidocarbonylation of Alkenes3 Intermolecular Aminocarbonylation of Alkenes Initiated by Aminopalladation4 Intermolecular Arylcarbonylation of Alkenes Initiated by Arylpalladation5 Intermolecular Enantioselective Oxycarbonylation of Alkenes Initiated by Oxypalladation6 Conclusion