The first total syntheses of (-)-trichorabdal A and (-)-longikaurin E are reported. A unified synthetic strategy is employed that relies on a Pd-mediated oxidative cyclization of a silyl ketene acetal to generate an all-carbon quaternary center and build the bicyclo[3.2.1]octane framework. These studies, taken together with our previous synthesis of (-)-maoecrystal Z, demonstrate that three arc...

The first enantioselective total synthesis of the cytotoxic natural product (+)-psiguadial B is reported. Key features of the synthesis include (1) the enantioselective preparation of a key cyclobutane intermediate by a tandem Wolff rearrangement/asymmetric ketene addition, (2) a directed C(sp(3))-H alkenylation reaction to strategically forge the C1-C2 bond, and (3) a ring-closing metathesis t...

The first asymmetric total synthesis and revision of the relative configuration of the 12-membered taumycin A macrocycle is described. Key to the success of this work was a novel α-keto ketene macrocyclization that provided an efficient means by which to access two diastereomers of the desired macrolide without the need to employ additional coupling agents or unnecessary oxidation state adjustm...

The heterocyclic ring-opening dynamics of thiophenone and furanone dissolved in CH3CN have been probed by ultrafast transient infrared spectroscopy. Following irradiation at 267 nm (thiophenone) or 225 nm (furanone), prompt (τ < 1 ps) ring-opening is confirmed by the appearance of a characteristic antisymmetric ketene stretching feature around 2150 cm(-1). The ring-opened product molecules are ...

An efficient and convenient method to synthesize highly functionalized 3,7'-bisindole derivatives has been developed via a Michael addition and cyclic condensation reaction of heterocyclic ketene aminals (HKAs) with 2-(1H-indol-3-yl)cyclohexa-2,5-diene-1,4-dione derivatives in ethanol-based solvents at room temperature. This strategy provides an efficient, environmentally friendly approach for ...

A highly efficient and straightforward three-component cascade reaction was developed to synthesize benzo[g]imidazo[1,2-a]quinolinedione derivatives from heterocyclic ketene aminals (HKAs), aldehydes, and 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (HNQ) via Et(3)N-catalyzed tandem [3 + 2 + 1] annulation under solvent-free conditions. The reactions were very mild, convenient and highly regioselective to form ...

The reaction of trifluoroacetaldehyde N,O-acetal derivatives with 2 molar equivalents of alkyllithium reagents proceeded viabeta-elimination of fluoride followed by alkyl transfer from excess alkyllithium to the generated ketene N,O-acetal intermediate at the beta-carbon of fluorine groups.

Lewis acid catalyzed inverse-electron-demand Diels-Alder reaction of tropone derivatives was developed. Up to 97% ee was obtained for the chiral dinucleus BINOL-aluminum complex catalyzed reaction between tropones and ketene diethyl acetal to give bicyclo[3.2.2] ring structures, which opens up a unique way of making chiral seven-membered rings.