A visible-light-mediated hydrotrifluoromethylation of unactivated alkenes that uses the Umemoto reagent as the CF(3) source and MeOH as the reductant is disclosed. This effective transformation operates at room temperature in the presence of 5 mol % Ru(bpy)(3)Cl(2); the process is characterized by its operational simplicity and functional group tolerance.

As an especially unique target for chemical synthesis, diazonamide A has the potential to be constructed through a plethora of synthetic routes, each attended by different challenges and opportunities for discovery. In this article, we detail our second total synthesis of diazonamide A through a sequence entirely distinct from that employed in our first campaign, one whose success required the development of several special strategies and tactics. We also disclose our complete studies regarding the chemical biology of diazonamide A and its structural congeners, and more fully delineate the scope of our protocol for Robinson-Gabriel cyclodehydration using pyridine-buffered POCl(3).

A general, cost-effective and sustainable replacement for silver in palladium catalysed direct arylations of C(sp2)–H and C(sp3)–H bonds.

This review concentrates on success stories from the synthesis of approved medicines and drug candidates using epoxide chemistry in the development of robust and efficient syntheses at large scale. The focus is on those parts of each synthesis related to the substrate-controlled/diastereoselective and catalytic asymmetric synthesis of epoxide intermediates and their subsequent ring-opening reactions with various nucleophiles. These are described in the form of case studies of high profile pharmaceuticals spanning a diverse range of indications and molecular scaffolds such as heterocycles, terpenes, steroids, peptidomimetics, alkaloids and main stream small molecules. Representative examples include, but are not limited to the antihypertensive diltiazem, the antidepressant reboxetine, the HIV protease inhibitors atazanavir and indinavir, efinaconazole and related triazole antifungals, tasimelteon for sleep disorders, the anticancer agent carfilzomib, the anticoagulant rivaroxaban the antibiotic linezolid and the antiviral oseltamivir. Emphasis is given on aspects of catalytic asymmetric epoxidation employing metals with chiral ligands particularly with the Sharpless and Jacobsen–Katsuki methods as well as organocatalysts such as the chiral ketones of Shi and Yang, Pages’s chiral iminium salts and typical chiral phase transfer agents.