Described herein are the first total syntheses of (±)-dracocephalone A (1) and (±)-dracocequinones (4) B (5). The synthesis was initially envisioned as proceeding through an intramolecular isobenzofuran Diels–Alder reaction, a strategy that eventually evolved into Lewis acid-promoted spirocyclization. This highly diastereoselective transformation set stage for trans-decalin formation late-stage...

A novel migratory dynamic kinetic resolution based on the interplay between an enzyme acylation catalyst and a heterogeneous Brønsted acid as an isomerization/racemization catalyst gives rise to carbocyclic allylic esters with excellent stereoselectivity from readily available tertiary carbinols. An easy-to-use teabag setup combining resin-bound catalysts, a biphasic isooctane-water solvent sys...

Reductive catalytic fractionation of biomass has recently emerged as a powerful lignin extraction and depolymerization method to produce monomeric aromatic oxygenates in high yields. Here, bifunctional molybdenum-based polyoxometalates supported on titania (POM/TiO2 ) are shown to promote tandem hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) and alkylation reactions, converting lignin-derived oxygenated aromatics in...

We disclose herein a highly enantioselective protocol for the Brønsted acid-catalyzed addition of indoles and phenols to in situ-generated ortho-quinone methides which deliver broadly substituted diarylindolylmethanes and triarylmethanes, respectively, in a one-pot reaction under very mild conditions. A chiral phosphoric acid catalyst has been developed for this process serving to convert the s...

Glucose Conversion Article 2200403 by Supawadee Namuangruk, Chularat Wattanakit, and co-workers demonstrates direct conversion of glucose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural as an essential pathway in biorefineries. Bifunctional hafnium (Hf)-substituted Beta zeolites containing isolated Hf species Lewis acid sites the simultaneous presence fine-tuning Brønsted sites, enable superior catalytic activity s...

An efficient synthesis of novel 1-aryl-3-(indole-3-yl)-3-(2-aryl-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)propan-1-ones from indoles and 1-aryl-3-(2-aryl-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)propan-1-one using a Brønsted acid ionic liquid [Sbmim][HSO4] as catalyst is described. Satisfactory results with excellent yields and short reaction time were obtained in the experiments. The catalyst could be recovered conveniently and reused e...

H/D exchange observed between bridging hydroxyl groups in acidic zeolite ZSM-5 and adsorbed acetone (acetone-d6/H-ZSM-5 and 13C-2-acetone/D-ZSM-5) indicates a concerted catalytic function of Brønsted acid sites and neighbouring framework oxygen atoms acting as Lewis base sites.

A little cooperation goes a long way: The cooperative Brønsted/Lewis acid-base supramolecular catalysts formed in situ from simple chiral magnesium(II) binaphtholate aqua complexes promoted the highly enantioselective 1,4-hydrophosphinylation of α,β-unsaturated esters with diaryl phosphine oxides and 1,2-hydrophosphonylation of α,β-unsaturated ketones with dialkyl phosphites (see scheme).