Structural features and reactivity of (sparteine)PdCl_2: a model for selectivity in the oxidative kinetic resolution of secondary alcohols

The chiral ligand (−)-sparteine and PdCl_2 catalyze the enantioselective oxidation of secondary alcohols to ketones and thus effect a kinetic resolution. The structural features of sparteine that led to the selectivity observed in the reaction were not clear. Substitution experiments with pyridine derivatives and structural studies of the complexes generated were carried out on (sparteine)PdCl2 and indicated that the C1 symmetry of (−)-sparteine is essential to the location of substitution at the metal center. Palladium alkoxides were synthesized from secondary alcohols that are relevant steric models for the kinetic resolution. The solid-state structures of the alkoxides also confirmed the results from the pyridine derivative substitution studies. A model for enantioinduction was developed with C1 symmetry and Cl− as key features. Further studies of the diastereomers of (−)-sparteine, (−)-α-iso- and (+)-β-isosparteine, in the kinetic resolution showed that these C_2-symmetric counterparts are inferior ligands in this stereoablative reactio

2-Diazoacetoacetic acid, an efficient and convenient reagent for the synthesis of alpha-diazo-beta-ketoesters

The formation of various alpha-diazo acetoacetic esters can be obtained in a single transformation with good to excellent yields using readily available 2-diazoacetoacetic acid

A Palladium-Catalyzed Vinylcyclopropane (3 + 2) Cycloaddition Approach to the Melodinus Alkaloids

A palladium-catalyzed (3 + 2) cycloaddition of a vinylcyclopropane and a β-nitrostyrene is employed to rapidly assemble the cyclopentane core of the Melodinus alkaloids. The ABCD ring system of the natural product family is prepared in six steps from commercially available materials

Progress toward the Synthesis of the Basiliolides and Transtaganolides: An Intramolecular Pyrone Diels−Alder Entry into a Novel Class of Natural Products

Efforts directed toward the synthesis of a basiliolide/transtaganolide model system are disclosed. A highly endo-selective intramolecular pyrone Diels−Alder (IMPDA) cycloaddition rapidly constructs the tricyclic core of the basiliolides and transtaganolides

A rapid and convergent synthesis of the integrastatin core

The tetracyclic core of the integrastatin natural products has been prepared in a convergent and rapidmanner. Our strategy relies upon a palladium(II)-catalyzed oxidative cyclization to form the central [3.3.1]-dioxabicycle of the natural product core. Overall, the core has been completed in only 4 linear steps from known compounds

Catalytic C−H Bond Functionalization with Palladium(II): Aerobic Oxidative Annulations of Indoles

A palladium-catalyzed aerobic oxidative annulation of indoles is described. We have demonstrated that a variety of factors influence these cyclizations, and in particular the electronic nature of the pyridine ligand is crucial. It is also remarkable that these oxidative cyclizations can proceed in good yield despite background oxidative decomposition pathways, testament to the facile nature with which molecular oxygen can serve as the direct oxidant for Pd(0). We have also shown that the mechanism most likely involves initial indole palladation (formal C−H bond activation) followed by migratory insertion and β-hydrogen elimination

Palladium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Conjugate Addition of Arylboronic Acids to Five-, Six-, and Seven-Membered β-Substituted Cyclic Enones: Enantioselective Construction of All-Carbon Quaternary Stereocenters

The first enantioselective Pd-catalyzed construction of all-carbon quaternary stereocenters via 1,4-addition of arylboronic acids to β-substituted cyclic enones is reported. Reaction of a wide range of arylboronic acids and cyclic enones using a catalyst prepared from Pd(OCOCF_3)_2 and a chiral pyridinooxazoline ligand yields enantioenriched products bearing benzylic stereocenters. Notably, this transformation is tolerant to air and moisture, providing a practical and operationally simple method of synthesizing enantioenriched all-carbon quaternary stereocenters

Development of a catalytic enantioselective synthesis of the guanacastepene and heptemerone tricyclic core

For nearly two decades, synthetic chemists have been fascinated by the structural complexity and synthetic challenges afforded by the guanacastepene and heptemerone diterpenoids. Numerous synthetic approaches to these compounds have been reported, but to date the application of enantioselective catalysis to this problem has not been realized. Herein we report an enantioselective synthesis of an advanced intermediate corresponding to the tricyclic core common to the guanacastepenes and heptemerones. Highlights of this work include sequential Pd-catalyzed decarboxylative allylic alkylation reactions to generate the two all carbon quaternary stereocenters, the use of ring-closing metathesis to close the A ring in the presence of a distal allyl sidechain, and a regio- and diastereoselective oxidation of a trienol ether to introduce oxygenation on the A ring