Two-directional elaboration of hydroxyacetone under thermodynamically controlled conditions: allylation or 2-propynylation and aldol reaction.

Enolate generated from O-(tetrahydropyran-2-yl)hydroxyacetone under thermodynamically controlled conditions (1.3 equiv of NaH, THF, 0 degrees C to rt) was allylated at the carbon bearing the protected hydroxy group with very high regioselectively. When tert-BuOH, equivalent to the excessive portion of initially added NaH, was introduced into the mixture followed by addition of aldehyde, aldol reaction took place on the methyl group to give 1-substituted 4-hydroxy-(1E),6-heptadien-3-one in acceptable yields after acidic treatment of the mixture for dehydration and deprotection.

Efficient synthesis of 1,3,5-trisubstituted (pyrrol-2-yl)acetic acid esters via dual nucleophilic reactions of sulfonamides or carbamate with 4-trimethyl-siloxy-(5E)-hexen-2-ynoates: Lewis acid catalyzed SN1 and intramolecular Michael addition.

[reaction: see text] Carbamates or sulfonamides have proven to regioselectively attack 2-propynyl-allyl hybrid cations, generated by the action of TMSOTf on 4-(trimethylsioxy)hex-5-en-2-ynoates, to afford conjugated 6-aminohex-4-en-2-ynoates in which an intramolecular amino-Michael reaction took place, leading to pyrrole frameworks. In particular, the sulfonamides gave 1-sulfonylpyrroles in one pot.

Intramolecular catalytic Friedel-Crafts reactions with allenyl cations for the synthesis of quinolines and their analogues.

[reaction: see text] This paper describes a novel method to synthesize a quinoline backbone by incorporating allenyl cations into a catalytic intramolecular Friedel-Crafts reaction. The initial products were isomerized and aromatized upon treatment with acid and base, respectively, to give quinolines. The basic concept also proved to be promising for 1-benzazepine, 1-benzazocine, or isoquinoline synthesis.

Diastereoselective allylations of allyl-propargyl hybrid cations: synthesis of conjugated 1,5-dien-7-yne frameworks bearing C(4)-stereogenic centers.

[reaction: see text] Chiral C(4)-substituted (E)- or (Z)-1-alkynyl-1-trimethylsilyloxy-2-butene systems provide anti-(Z) or syn-(Z) conjugated dienyne, with a very high level of stereocontrol, on treatment with BF(3).OEt(2) in CH(2)Cl(2) at -50 degrees C in the presence of allyltrimethylsilane. The Cieplak conformation for (E)-substrates and neighboring-group participation for (Z)-substrates are considered to be responsible for the stereochemical consequences.

Catalytic alkynylation of ketones and aldehydes using quaternary ammonium hydroxide base.

Catalytic alkynylation of diverse ketones and aldehydes using nonmetallic benzyltrimethylammonium hydroxide or a basic resin of the hydroxide type in DMSO is described. Aliphatic or alicyclic carbonyl partners gave satisfactory results, whereas aromatic ones afforded products with low yields. When aromatic aldehydes were reacted with phenylacetylene, enones such as chalcone derivatives were obtained in place of ynols.

Lewis acid-catalyzed nucleophilic substitutions of propargylic and allylic silyl ethers with enol silyl ethers.

Nucleophilic reactions of various enol silyl ethers with carbocation species generated from propargyl silyl ethers by the action of a Lewis acid have been developed. The present method is highly useful for the introduction of allenic or enyne functionalities into the alpha-position of substituted ketones. [reaction--see text]