Copper-Catalyst-Controlled Site-Selective Allenylation of Ketones and Aldehydes with Propargyl Boronates

A practical and highly site-selective copper-PhBPE-catalyst-controlled allenylation with propargyl boronates has been developed. The methodology has shown to be tolerant of diverse ketones and aldehydes providing the allenyl adducts in high selectivity. The BPE ligand and boronate substituents were shown to direct the site selectivity for which either propargyl or allenyl adducts can be acquired in high selectivity. A model is proposed that explains the origin of the site selectivity

General and Rapid Pyrimidine Condensation by Addressing the Rate Limiting Aromatization

The rate limiting aromatization within the condensation approach toward pyrimidines utilizing amidines and activated olefins was addressed to provide for a general and rapid process. A strong solvent effect was elucidated to affect the rate for the initial alkoxide elimination from the intermediate Michael adduct wherein polar aprotic solvents demonstrate an addition controlled aromatization. Spectroscopic studies support a solvent dependent equilibrium between the amidine and alkoxide base wherein the rate for aromatization is optimal when the equilibrium toward the amidine anion was strongly favored

A Computational Investigation of the Ligand-Controlled Cu-Catalyzed Site-Selective Propargylation and Allenylation of Carbonyl Compounds

A copper-catalyzed site-selective propargylation/allenylation reaction toward carbonyl compounds has been mechanistically investigated using a computational approach. Different reaction pathways and catalytic cycles were investigated. Control of the site selectivity arises from a destabilizing interaction introduced by the phenyl-substituted ligand

Atom-Economical Cross-Coupling of Internal and Terminal Alkynes to Access 1,3-Enynes

Selective carbon–carbon (C–C) bond formation in chemical synthesis generally requires pre-functionalized building blocks. However, the requisite pre-functionalization steps undermine the efficiency of multi-step synthetic sequences, which is particularly problematic in large-scale applications, such as in the commercial production of pharmaceuticals. Herein, we describe a selective and catalytic method for synthesizing 1,3-enynes without pre-functionalized building blocks. This method is facilitated by a tailored P,N-ligand that enables regioselective coupling and suppresses secondary E/Z-isomerization of the product. The transformation enables several classes of unactivated internal acceptor alkynes to be coupled with terminal donor alkynes to deliver 1,3-enynes in a highly regio- and stereoselective manner. The scope of compatible acceptor alkynes includes propargyl alcohols, (homo)propargyl amine derivatives, and (homo)propargyl carboxamides. The reaction is scalable and can operate effectively with 0.5 mol% catalyst loading. The products are versatile intermediates that can participate in various downstream transformations. We also present preliminary mechanistic experiments that are consistent with a redox-neutral Pd(II) catalytic cycle

Distal Stereocontrol Using Guanidinylated Peptides as Multifunctional Ligands: Desymmetrization of Diarylmethanes via Ullman Cross-Coupling

We report the development of a new class of guanidine-containing peptides as multifunctional ligands for transition-metal catalysis and its application in the remote desymmetrization of diarylmethanes via copper-catalyzed Ullman cross-coupling. Through design of these peptides, high levels of enantioinduction and good isolated yields were achieved in the long-range asymmetric cross-coupling (up to 93:7 er and 76% yield) between aryl bromides and malonates. Our mechanistic studies suggest that distal stereocontrol is achieved through a Cs-bridged interaction between the Lewis-basic <i>C</i>-terminal carboxylate of the peptides with the distal arene of the substrate

Total Synthesis of (−)-Lasonolide A

The lasonolides are novel polyketides that have displayed remarkable biological activity in vitro against a variety of cancer cell lines. Herein we describe our first-generation approach to the formal synthesis of lasonolide A. The key findings from these studies ultimately allowed us to go on and complete a total synthesis of lasonolide A. The convergent approach unites two highly complex fragments utilizing a Ru-catalyzed alkene–alkyne coupling. This type of coupling typically generates branched products; however, through a detailed investigation, we are now able to demonstrate that subtle structural changes to the substrates can alter the selectivity to favor the formation of the linear product. The synthesis of the fragments features a number of atom-economical transformations which are highlighted by the discovery of an engineered enzyme to perform a dynamic kinetic reduction of a β-ketoester to establish the absolute stereochemistry of the southern tetrahydropyran ring with high levels of enantio­selectivity

Copper-Catalyzed Asymmetric Propargylation of Cyclic Aldimines

The copper-catalyzed asymmetric propargylation of cyclic aldimines is reported. The influence of the imine trimer to inhibit the reaction was identified, and equilibrium constants between the monomer and trimer were determined for general classes of imines. Asymmetric propargylation of a diverse series of <i>N</i>-alkyl and <i>N</i>-aryl aldimines was achieved with good to high asymmetric induction. The utility was demonstrated by a titanium catalyzed hydroamination and reduction to generate the chiral indolizidines (−)-crispine A and (−)-harmicine