Concise and stereocontrolled synthesis of the southern gamma-butyrolactone subunit of polycavernoside A

The southern gamma -butyrolactone subunit 8 of polycavernoside A was readily assembled by a novel and connective methodology involving an initial ene-reaction followed by an intramolecular oxidative cyclisation. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd

On the role of triflic acid in the metal triflate-catalysed acylation of alcohols

The acylation of alcohols by anhydrides, catalysed by a wide range of metal triflates, is a powerful and mild method for the preparation of a variety of esters. Mechanistic insights demonstrate that triflic acid is generated under these reaction conditions and that, at least, two competing catalytic cycles are operating at the same time: a rapid one involving triflic acid and a slower one involving the metal triflate. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Efficient and connective synthesis of substituted butyrolactones and exo-methylene butyrolactones

A variety of alpha-(trimethylsilylmethyl)- substituted butyrolactones are readily accessed by a novel tandem ene-reaction/oxidative desilylation of a range of aldehydes, Subsequent functionalisation led to an efficient methodology for the preparation of exo-methylene butyrolactones. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd

Tandem ene-reaction/intramolecular Sakurai Cyclisation (IMSC): A novel access to polysubstituted tetrahydropyrans and gamma-butyrolactones using a unique allylation strategy

The ene-reaction between a variety of aldehydes and allylsilane 22 generates highly functionalised homoallylic alcohols 23. These adducts undergo a subsequent Intramolecular Sakurai Cyclisation (IMSC), affording in good yields polysubstituted tetrahydropyran derivatives. Furthermore, oxidative desilylation of 23 provides an efficient, connective access to a range of gamma-butyrolactones and alpha-methylene-gamma-butyrolactones

Neutral, non-racemising, catalytic aerobic oxidation of alcohols

A novel procedure for the catalytic aerobic oxidation of alcohols into carbonyl derivatives under neutral, non-racemising conditions, is reported. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved

Using toluates as simple and versatile radical precursors

The electrolysis of toluate esters leads smoothly to the formation of the radical of the alkyl fragment. This property has been used to develop a new electrochemical deoxygenation reaction