A highly enantioselective Friedel-Crafts alkylation of electron-rich aromatic nucleophiles catalyzed by scandium(III) triflate-pyridyl(bis)oxazoline complexes has been accomplished. The reaction involves alpha,beta-unsaturated acyl phosphonates as electrophiles and primarily substituted indoles as nucleophiles. The reactive acyl phosphonate product is converted to the corresponding ester or ami...

An effective synthesis for syn-β-lactams was achieved using a Rh-catalyzed reductive Mannich-type reaction. A rhodium-hydride complex (Rh-H) derived from diethylzinc (Et2Zn) and a Rh catalyst was used for the 1,4-reduction of an α,β-unsaturated ester to give a Reformatsky-type reagent, which in turn, reacted with an imine to give the syn-β-lactam. Additionally, the reaction was applied to the s...

The asymmetric synthesis of gymnastatin H has been achieved by using the photoisomerisation of a conjugated ester to its β,γ-unsaturated isomer through the protonation of a in situ generated dienol as key step. Thanks to diacetone D-glucose used as a chiral alkoxy group, the protonation occurred well onto one of the two diastereotopic faces with very high yields and selectivities. Moreover, by ...

A convergent asymmetric synthesis of the antitumor antibiotic macbecin I has been achieved. Six of the seven stereogenic centers within the target structure were controlled using asymmetric aldol methodology, while the final stereogenic center was established through internal asymmetric induction. Fragment coupling was accomplished using a mild, titanium tetrachloride mediated aldol reaction. T...

[reaction: see text] The scope and limitations of the conjugate addition of 2- and the first 4-pyridyl Gilman homocuprates to various alpha,beta-unsaturated Michael acceptors are delineated. The conjugate addition of the cuprate of 2-bromo-3-methylpyridine to (E)-methyl crotonate then diastereoselective enolate alkylation and lipase-mediated enantioselective ester hydrolysis have enabled an eff...