We report here the ribosomal synthesis of methyllanthionine-containing cyclic peptides involving a site-specific incorporation of vinylglycine under the reprogrammed genetic code, followed by the isomerization of the vinylglycine to dehydrobutyrine, and the subsequent intramolecular Michael addition of a cysteine residue placed at a downstream position of the vinylglycine.

An efficient base catalysed approach to the synthesis of thiochromans/chromenes from allenylphosphonates (and an allenoate) and substrates having SH/OH and CHO groups at appropriate positions has been developed. Several azo-linked chromenes that are bright red pigments are also synthesized. This methodology involves the domino reactions of Michael addition and subsequent cyclisation by intramol...

A stereoselective methodology was developed for the construction of C-spiro-glycosides in two steps involving bromonium ion activated solvolytic ring opening of sugar derived 1,2-cyclopropanecarboxylates followed by a one-pot dehydrohalogenation, intramolecular hetero-Michael addition (IHMA) and ester hydrolysis. The obtained spirocyclic lactols were further converted to enantiomerically pure s...

A novel method of enantioselective 1,3-dioxane construction via a hemiacetalization/intramolecular oxy-Michael addition cascade by a chiral phosphoric acid catalyst was developed. The product was successfully transformed into an optically active 1,3-polyol motif, indicating that the proposed reaction can provide useful chiral building blocks for the de novo synthesis of polyketides.

Thermal decomposition of a series of diazodicarbonyl compounds in the presence of α,β-unsaturated δ-amino esters and sodium hydride gives rise to a variety of nitrogenous heterocycles. The direction of these processes is highly dependent on the structure of the initial reagents giving rise to the formation of multi-functionalized 2-oxopiperidines, 5,6-dihydropyridin-2(1H)-ones or tetrahydroisoq...

The use of domino and multicomponent reactions in asymmetric synthesis is constantly increasing nowadays. This allows for the synthesis of complex molecules in a single synthetic sequence, usually with high atom economy. Herein, we report three examples of new asymmetric tandem reactions recently developed in our laboratories, giving rise to new families of enantiomerically enriched fluorinated...

We report the development of a multicatalytic, one-pot, asymmetric Michael/Stetter reaction between salicylaldehydes and electron-deficient alkynes. The cascade proceeds via amine-mediated Michael addition followed by an N-heterocyclic carbene-promoted intramolecular Stetter reaction. A variety of salicylaldehydes, doubly activated alkynes, and terminal, electrophilic allenes participate in a o...

A ruthenium-catalyzed hydrative cyclization of enynes has been developed. The reaction converts a range of 1,5-enynes bearing terminal alkyne and Michael acceptor moieties into cyclopentanone derivatives. From extensive catalyst screening experiments, a trinuclear ruthenium complex, [Ru3(dppm)3Cl5]PF6, has been identified to be an effective catalyst in mediating the 1,1-difunctionalization of a...

The enantioselective Michael addition using water as both nucleophile and solvent has to date proved beyond the ability of synthetic chemists. Herein, the direct, enantioselective Michael addition of water in water to prepare important β-hydroxy carbonyl compounds using whole cells of Rhodococcus strains is described. Good yields and excellent enantioselectivities were achieved with this method...

The six-pots synthesis of latanoprost has been accomplished with excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivities through an organocatalyst-mediated Michael reaction, a substrate-controlled intramolecular Mukaiyama aldol reaction as key steps.