The Enantioselective Tsuji Allylation

The first catalytic enantioselective examples of the Tsuji allylation using enol carbonates and enol silanes are described. The products possess a quaternary stereogenic center and are useful building blocks for synthetic chemistry

The Enantioselective Tsuji Allylation

The first catalytic enantioselective examples of the Tsuji allylation using enol carbonates and enol silanes are described. The products possess a quaternary stereogenic center and are useful building blocks for synthetic chemistry

Catalytic Enantioselective Decarboxylative Protonation

We report a highly enantioselective, general catalytic system for the facile synthesis of tertiary stereocenters by protonation adjacent to cyclic ketones. The method relies on catalytic decarboxylative protonation of readily accessible racemic quaternary β-ketoesters. A range of substituted cycloalkanone compounds can be accessed through this process with high levels of enantioselectivity

The Enantioselective Tsuji Allylation

The first catalytic enantioselective examples of the Tsuji allylation using enol carbonates and enol silanes are described. The products possess a quaternary stereogenic center and are useful building blocks for synthetic chemistry

A Facile and Modular Synthesis of Phosphinooxazoline Ligands

The copper(I) iodide catalyzed phosphine/aryl halide coupling procedure of Buchwald et al. provides modular, robust, and scaleable access to phosphinooxazoline (PHOX) ligands. The advantages of this method are highlighted by the convenient synthesis of PHOX ligands with varied steric and electronic properties, which would be challenging to synthesize by other protocols

Enantioselective Synthesis of Caprolactam and Enone Precursors to the Heterocyclic DEFG Ring System of Zoanthenol

The enantioselective synthesis of both caprolactam and enone synthons for the DEFG ring system of zoanthenol are described. The evolution of this approach proceeds first through a synthesis using the chiral pool as a starting point. Challenges in protecting-group strategy led to the modification of this approach beginning with (±)-glycidol. Ultimately, an efficient approach was developed by employing an asymmetric hetero-Diels–Alder reaction. The caprolactam building block can be converted by an interesting selective Grignard addition into the corresponding enone synthon. Addition of a model alkyne provides support for the late-stage addition of a hindered alkyne to the caprolactam building block

Expanding Insight into Asymmetric Palladium-Catalyzed Allylic Alkylation of N-Heterocyclic Molecules and Cyclic Ketones

Eeny, meeny, miny … enaminones! Lactams and imides have been shown to consistently provide enantioselectivities substantially higher than other substrate classes previously investigated in the palladium-catalyzed asymmetric decarboxylative allylic alkylation. Several new substrates have been designed to probe the contributions of electronic, steric, and stereoelectronic factors that distinguish the lactam/imide series as superior alkylation substrates (see scheme). These studies culminated in marked improvements on carbocyclic allylic alkylation substrates

Unexpected decarbonylation during an acid-mediated cyclization to access the carbocyclic core of zoanthenol

An unusual loss of CO was observed during a key cyclization event in efforts toward the total synthesis of zoanthenol. The synthesis of the cyclization precursor and a proposed mechanism for decarbonylation are detailed