No abstract

A simple domino process for the construction of the tricyclic core present in the spiro-pseudoindoxyl natural products has been developed. This involves two intramolecular events: the Au-catalyzed nitroalkyne redox leading to isatogen and its subsequent [3 + 2]-cycloaddition with a suitably positioned olefin. The option to modulate the size of the spiro-annulated ring, which is an important variable in this class of natural products, has been explored. Overall, this process molds a linear precursor into a tricyclic system with complete step, atom, and redox economy.

A novel metal-catalyzed oxygen atom transfer reaction onto olefins is reported. By taking isatogens as substrates, a one-pot [3 + 2]-cycloaddition of nitrone with olefins followed by the Ru-catalyzed redox-neutral N-O bond cleavage of intermediate isoxazolidine has been executed as a simple method for the synthesis of 2,2-disubstituted pseudoindoxyls.

A strategy directed towards the total synthesis of isatisine A that involves several late-stage metal-catalyzed transformations that address the key carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bond formations has been developed. As a part of this strategy, methods for the addition of indoles to isatogens that lead selectively to either 2,2-disubstituted N-hydroxyindolin-3-one or 2,2-disubstituted indolin-3-one compounds have been developed by employing InCl(3) as a catalyst or as the reagent. The present methods provide the first examples of the additions of indoles to the isatogen nucleus. To demonstrate its viability, the synthesis of 13-deoxy-isatisine A has been completed in ten steps from a known and easily available lactone.

The versatile isocyanide building block Asmic, anisylsulfanylmethylisocyanide, reacts with aldehydes and ketones in a BF 3 •OEt 2 -mediated condensation to afford thioimidoyl-substituted 2,5-dihydrooxazoles. The condensation is distinguished from related base and transition-metal-catalyzed [3 + 2] processes in proceeding via the condensation of aldehydes and ketones with 2 equiv of an isocyanide followed by a molecular rearrangement that installs four new bonds. BF 3 •OEt 2 mediates an analogous condensation of Asmic with imines to generate N-substituted dihydroimidazoles. Mechanistically, BF 3 • OEt 2 activates the isocyanide to facilitate deprotonation evolving to a zwitterion that traps π-electrophiles in a formal [3 + 2] process. A second deprotonation−condensation with Asmic initiates a structural rearrangement involving a sulfanyl elimination− addition transposition sequence. The resulting dihydrooxazoles and dihydroimidazoles contain a thioimidate that serves as a diversification point for further elaboration.