Formation of an Endoperoxide upon Chromium-Catalyzed Allylic Oxidation of a Triterpene by Oxygen.

The chromium-catalyzed allylic oxidation of triterpene 1 with O2 and N-hydroxyphthalimide (NHPI, 5 equiv) formed endoperoxide 2 in 76% yield at ambient temperature. Unlike standard allylic oxidations, this oxidation is catalytic in chromium because oxygen, not the chromium reagent, is the oxidant. This oxidation is sensitive to the precise structure of the substrate.

Synthesis and reactivity of 1,2-dioxolanes from β,γ-epoxy ketones.

Five-membered ring peroxides were prepared in one step in 31-86% yield from readily accessible β,γ-epoxy ketones and H2O2. The reaction proceeded via a tetrahydrofuran, which was converted to the thermodynamically favored 1,2-dioxolane. The product contains a leaving group, which can be displaced to synthesize analogues of the plakinic acid natural products.

Olefination of α,α'-divinyl ketones through catalytic Meyer-Schuster rearrangement.

The direct olefination of 1,4-dien-3-ones remains a synthetic challenge. A two-step protocol, employing acetylide addition followed by catalytic Meyer-Schuster rearrangement has been developed for the olefination of 1,4-pentadien-3-ones to afford [3]dendralenes. Many of the traditional methods for the Meyer-Schuster rearrangement of alkynyl carbinols are not suitable with these highly unsaturated substrates because of their acid sensitivity.

Interrupting the Nazarov reaction: domino and cascade processes utilizing cyclopentenyl cations.

The Nazarov reaction entails the electrocyclic closure of a conjugated pentadienyl cation to furnish a cyclopentenyl cation. In its conventional protocol, this intermediate is allowed to undergo elimination through loss of an adjacent proton, providing cyclopentenone products. This feature article describes a relatively new class of domino and cascade processes in which the mechanistic course of the Nazarov reaction is diverted at the point of the cyclopentenyl cation intermediate, collectively referred to as "interrupted Nazarov reactions.

Cyclization of cross-conjugated trienes: the vinylogous Nazarov reaction.

Cross-conjugated trienoates can be readily prepared from 1,4-pentadien-3-one precursors via a 2-step process: 1,2-addition of lithiated ethynyl ethyl ether followed by rearrangement of the resulting propargylic alcohol with catalytic VO(acac)(2). Treatment of the trienoates with stoichometric (TiCl(4)) or catalytic (Sc(OTf)(3)) Lewis acid provided conjugated alkylidenecyclopentenes via an apparent vinylogous Nazarov cyclization.

Construction of aryl-substituted triquinanes through the interrupted Nazarov reaction.

The first examples of intermolecular trapping of Nazarov cyclopentenyl cation intermediates by simple arenes to furnish alpha-arylcyclopentanones are described.