Sequential Photocatalytic Reactions for the Diastereoselective Synthesis of Cyclobutane Scaffolds.

The synthesis of densely functionalized cyclobutanes containing all-carbon quaternary stereocenters in high regio- and diastereoselectivity remains synthetically challenging. Herein, we show that this can be achieved by using a sequential photocatalysis strategy, wherein 3-chloromaleimides undergo triplet sensitized [2 + 2] photocycloadditions with alkynes or alkenes followed by photoredox-catalyzed dechlorinative C-C bond forming reactions to install quaternary stereocenters. This allows the rapid assembly of structurally complex and sterically congested 3-azabicyclo[3.

New approaches to ondansetron and alosetron inspire a versatile, flow photochemical method for indole synthesis.

An oxidative photocyclisation of -arylenaminones to indoles is described, that mirrors the Fischer indole synthesis but uses anilines in place of arylhydrazines. Its value is exemplified with new approaches to the WHO-listed APIs ondansetron and alosetron.

Pd-Catalyzed Cascade Reactions of Aziridines: One-Step Access to Complex Tetracyclic Amines.

The combination of palladium catalysis and thermal cycloaddition is shown to transform tricyclic aziridines into complex, stereodefined tetracyclic products in a single step. This highly unusual cascade process involves a diverted Tsuji-Trost sequence leading to a surprisingly facile intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction. The starting materials are accessible on multigram scales from the photochemical rearrangement of simple pyrroles.

Diastereoselective Photoredox-Catalyzed [3 + 2] Cycloadditions of -Sulfonyl Cyclopropylamines with Electron-Deficient Olefins.

A highly diastereoselective, visible-light-induced [3 + 2] cycloaddition between -sulfonyl cyclopropylamines and electron-deficient olefins is reported. The reactions proceed via the oxidation of a sulfonamide aza-anion by an organic photocatalyst to generate a nitrogen-centered radical. Strain-induced ring opening and intermolecular addition to the olefin generate an intermediate carbon-centered radical that is reduced to an anion prior to 5-exo cyclization.

Escaping from Flatland: Antimalarial Activity of sp-Rich Bridged Pyrrolidine Derivatives.

We utilized synthetic photochemistry to generate novel sp-rich scaffolds and report the design, synthesis, and biological testing of a diverse series of amides based on the 1-(amino-methyl)-2-benzyl-2-aza-bicyclo[2.1.1]hexane scaffold.