A three-step synthesis of benzo[c]thiophenes is presented in which the key transformation is the gold-catalyzed 5-exo-dig migratory cycloisomerization of a diallyl thioacetal. It was shown that a small amount of in situ generated HAuCl4 from AuCl3 is the active catalytic species. A mechanism was proposed.

The Au(I)-catalyzed reactions of (2-alkynyl)phenylsulfonyl azetidines bearing terminal and non-terminal alkynes in the presence methanol as protic nucleophile to form benzosultams derivatives were studied by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Our study highlights that gold(I) catalyzed nucleophilic addition nitrogen on alkyne is favored over direct ring opening azetidine methanol, co...

Gold-promoted cyclizations of 2,2-diaryl substituted γ-allenoic acids were found to give three isomeric lactone products, each of which could be obtained selectively by exploiting Brønsted acid/base and ligand effects. Simple 5-exo-trig cyclization products were favored by strong donor ligands or base additives, whereas weak donor ligands and a Brønsted acid additive gave isomeric enelactones r...

Arylidene-Δ2-pyrrolin-4-ones undergo organocatalyzed annulation with malononitrile, furnishing dihydropyrano[3,2-b]pyrroles (18 examples, 0–77% ee in dichloromethane, 11–44% methanol). The products could be enantiomerically enriched by trituration (11 95–99% ee). Enantioselectivity was dependent on the nature of substrate and conformation catalyst, which turn solvent-controlled. reaction mechan...

The aryne [3 + 2] cycloaddition process with pyridinium imides breaks the aromaticity of the pyridine ring. By equipping the imide nitrogen with a sulfonyl group, the intermediate readily eliminates a sulfinate anion to restore the aromaticity, leading to the formation of pyrido[1,2-b]indazoles. The scope and limitation of this reaction are discussed. As an extension of this chemistry, N-tosyli...

This Article describes an enantioselective synthesis of cephalostatin 1. Key steps of this synthesis are a unique methyl group selective allylic oxidation, directed C-H hydroxylation of a sterol at C12, Au(I)-catalyzed 5-endo-dig cyclization, and a kinetic spiroketalization.

The synthesis of the alleged natural product pochonin J is presented. Key steps of this convergent synthesis include a chemoselective Wacker oxidation, and an Evans' anti-reduction of the resulting ketone. Upon ozonolysis, this intermediate undergoes a 6-exo-trig cyclization to give a hemiketal intermediate, the key oxocarbenium precursor. The construction of the α-C-glycoside subunit is highli...

Palladium-catalyzed oxidative cyclization of alkenols provides a convenient entry into cyclic ethers but typically proceeds with little or no diastereoselectivity for cyclization of trisubstituted olefins to form tetrahydrofurans due to the similar energies of competing 5-membered transition-state conformations. Herein, a new variant of this reaction has been developed in which a PdCl2/1,4-benz...

Six- and seven-membered cyclic enaminones can be prepared using common, environmentally benign reagents. Amino acids are used as synthetic precursors allowing diversification and the incorporation of chirality. The key reaction in this multistep process involves deprotection of Boc-amino ynones and subsequent treatment with methanolic K(2)CO(3) to induce cyclization. A β-amino elimination side ...