Regioselective Synthesis of the Tetrahydrocarbazole Core of Alkaloids via Palladium-Catalyzed Intramolecular Arylation Reaction.

Tetrahydrocarbazole is the central core for several biologically active alkaloids, and regioselective synthesis of this core is a challenging task. Herein, we report an efficient strategy for the synthesis of this core involving palladium-catalyzed intramolecular arylation reaction with excellent regioselectivity (>99%) starting from -phenyl-bromoalkene without having any relocation of double bonds via competitive palladium-catalyzed isomerization reaction. Broad functional group tolerance and exclusive regioselectivity have been observed for meta-substituted halide substrates.

Design and Synthesis of Co-initiators via Base-Catalysed Sequential Conjugate Addition: Application in Photoinduced Radical Polymerisation Reaction.

Applications of photochemistry are becoming very popular in modern-day life due to its operational simplicity, environmentally friendly and economically sustainable nature in comparison to thermochemistry. In particular photoinduced radical polymerisation (PRP) reactions are finding more biological applications and especially in the areas of dental restoration processes, tissue engineering and artificial bone generation. A type-II photoinitiator and co-initiator-promoted PRP turned out to be a cost-effective protocol, and herein we report the design and synthesis of a new efficient co-initiator for a PRP reaction via a barrierless sequential conjugate addition reaction.

Studies Directed towards the Synthesis of the Acridone Family of Natural Products: Total Synthesis of Acronycines and Atalaphyllidines.

A modular and flexible three-step synthetic strategy has been developed for the synthesis of acridone natural products of biological significance. The tetracyclic core of acridone derivatives has been achieved efficiently in high yield from commercially available anthranilic acid and phenol derivatives via condensation reaction, followed by regioselective annulation. Acridone alkaloids acronycine and noracronycine are synthesized in improved overall yields in fewer steps than the previously reported approaches.

Stereoselective and Stereospecific Triflate-Mediated Intramolecular Schmidt Reaction: Ready Access to Alkaloid Skeletons*.

The stereoselectivity and stereospecificity of the triflate-mediated intramolecular Schmidt reaction of substituted 3-(1-azidocyclohexyl)propanol derivatives leading to octahydro-1H-pyrrolo[1,2-a]azepine, the structural skeleton of several important families of alkaloids such as the Stemona alkaloids, has been examined. The reaction involves an initial intramolecular S 2 reaction between the azide moiety and the triflate affording an intermediate spirocyclic aminodiazonoium salt that undergoes the expected 1,2-shift/N -elimination followed by hydride-mediated iminium salt reduction. Remarkably, chiral alcohols are converted to the azabicyclic derivative with no or limited racemization.

-Olefins through intramolecular radical relocation.

Full control over the selectivity of carbon-carbon double-bond migrations would enable access to stereochemically defined olefins that are central to the pharmaceutical, food, fragrance, materials, and petrochemical arenas. The vast majority of double-bond migrations investigated over the past 60 years capitalize on precious-metal hydrides that are frequently associated with reversible equilibria, hydrogen scrambling, incomplete stereoselection, and/or high cost. Here, we report a fundamentally different, radical-based approach.

Factors That Control C-C Cleavage versus C-H Bond Hydroxylation in Copper-Catalyzed Oxidations of Ketones with O2.

The Cu-catalyzed oxidation of ketones with O2 has recently been extensively utilized to cleave the α-C-C bond. This report examines the selective aerobic hydroxylation of tertiary α-C-H bonds in ketones without C-C cleavage. We set out to understand the underlying mechanisms of these two possible reactivity modes.

Transition-metal-free hydration of nitriles using potassium tert-butoxide under anhydrous conditions.

Potassium tert-butoxide acts as a nucleophilic oxygen source during the hydration of nitriles to give the corresponding amides under anhydrous conditions. The reaction proceeds smoothly for a broad range of substrates under mild conditions, providing an efficient and economically affordable synthetic route to the amides in excellent yields. This protocol does not need any transition-metal catalyst or any special experimental setup and is easily scalable to bulk scale synthesis.

A radical procedure for the anti-Markovnikov hydroazidation of alkenes.

A one-pot procedure for the efficient hydroazidation of alkenes involving hydroboration with catecholborane followed by reaction with benzenesulfonyl azide in the presence of a radical initiator is described. The regioselectivity is controlled by the hydroboration step and corresponds in most cases to an anti-Markovnikov regioselectivity. This procedure is applicable to a wide range of alkenes and gives excellent results with 1,2-disubstituted and trisubstituted alkenes.

Intramolecular Schmidt reaction involving primary azidoalcohols under nonacidic conditions: synthesis of indolizidine (-)-167B.

A powerful intramolecular Schmidt reaction starting from primary azidoalcohols is reported. This approach involves a nonacidic activation of the alcohol via triflation. The synthetic potential offered by the mild reaction conditions is demonstrated by a highly selective synthesis of (-)-indolizidine 167B.

Synthesis of crispine A analogues via an intramolecular Schmidt reaction.

An intramolecular Schmidt reaction strategy for the synthesis of various derivatives of crispine A using azido-ketone as a key intermediate is described.