Total synthesis of hematoporphyrin and protoporphyrin; a conceptually new approach.

The total synthesis of protoporphyrin IX and its disodium salt using a new alternative method to the classical MacDonald condensation is reported. The key step is the reaction of the new unsymmetrical diiodo dipyrrylmethane 1 with the known dipyrrylmethane 2. Coupling of the two fragments leads directly to porphyrin 3 without the need of an oxidizing agent.

Scalable synthesis of enantiomerically pure bicyclo[2.2.2]octadiene ligands.

An operationally simple and scalable synthesis of enantiomerically pure bicyclo[2.2.2]octadiene (bod*) ligands relying on an organocatalytic one-pot Michael addition-aldol reaction with cheap 2-cyclohexenone and phenylacetaldehyde is presented.

Nickel-BINAP catalyzed enantioselective alpha-arylation of alpha-substituted gamma-butyrolactones.

A Ni(0)-BINAP system is utilized for the highly enantioselective alpha-arylation of alpha-substituted gamma-butyrolactones with aryl chlorides and bromides. alpha-Quaternization is achieved in moderate to excellent yields. Furthermore, the rate accelerating effect caused by the addition of Zn(II) salts is investigated.