A synthetic approach to palau'amine is described that exploits veiled symmetry in the structure. Bis-alkylidenes i have been prepared and found susceptible to halogenative desymmetrization using t-BuOCl. This oxidation forms the imbedded spirocyclopentane motif observed in the natural product. A host of atypical reactions and processes developed during these studies are discussed, as are plans ...

A gold(I)-catalyzed enantioselective desymmetrization of 1,3-diols was achieved by intramolecular hydroalkoxylation of allenes. The catalyst system 3-F-dppe(AuCl)2/(R)-C8-TRIPAg proved to be specifically efficient to promote the desymmetrizing cyclization of 2-aryl-1,3-diols, which have proven challenging substrates in previous reports. Multisubstituted tetrahydrofurans were prepared in good yi...

The effects of ligand and substrate choice on the Pd-catalyzed cyclization of alkyne-tethered cyclohexadienones were examined. In the presence of a chiral ligand, the enantioselectivity of the desymmetrization is remarkably sensitive to structural changes in both the ligand and the substrate. Additionally, the regioselectivity of the reaction (5- vs. 6-membered ring formation) is dependent on t...

For the first time, chiral sulfoximine derivatives have been applied as asymmetric organocatalysts. In combination with a thiourea-type backbone the sulfonimidoyl moiety leads to organocatalysts showing good reactivity in the catalytic desymmetrization of a cyclic meso-anhydride and moderate enantioselectivity in the catalytic asymmetric Biginelli reaction. Straightforward synthetic routes prov...

Desymmetrization of 7-silylcycloheptatriene through consecutive dihydroxylation and acyl-nitroso cycloaddition of the resulting diene moiety is described. Dihydroxylation occurred anti relative to the resident silicon group in line with previous observations made in the cyclohexadiene series. In contrast, the subsequent acyl-nitroso cycloaddition occurred with poor regiocontrol but good level o...

In the presence of (R)-DTBM-SEGPHOS-Pd(OAc)2 catalyst, treatment of various 3-(2,6-dibromophenyl)quinazolin-4-ones with NaBH4 gave optically active N-C axially chiral quinazolinone (mebroqualone) derivatives through reductive asymmetric desymmetrization (enantioselective monohydrodebromination) followed by kinetic resolution of the resulting monobromophenyl products (up to 99% ee). The enantios...

Symmetric organic compounds are generally obtained inexpensively, and therefore they can be attractive building blocks for the total synthesis of various pharmaceuticals natural products. The drawback is that discriminating identical functional groups in symmetric difficult. Water most environmentally benign inexpensive solvent. However, successful reactions water rather limited due to hydropho...

Reported herein is a light-triggered organocatalytic strategy for the desymmetrization of achiral 2-fluoro-substituted cyclopentane-1,3-diketones. The chemistry is based on an intermolecular aldol reaction of photochemically generated hydroxy-o-quinodimethanes and simultaneously forges two adjacent fully substituted carbon stereocenters, with one bearing a stereogenic carbon-fluorine unit. The ...