The ring-opening addition of methyl 2,3-dimethoxy-6-iodobenzoate to oxabenzonorbornadienes followed by cyclization in the presence of NiBr2(dppe) and Zn metal powder in acetonitrile at 80 degrees C to give the corresponding benzocoumarin derivatives is described. This methodology was then applied to the synthesis of natural product arnottin I, first isolated from Xanthoxylum arnottianum Maxim, using protecting group chemistry. After deprotection and subsequent ring closure, arnottin I was obtained in 21% overall yield after six steps starting from catechol.

No abstract

Alkylation of O-silylated N-alkylmalonylhydroxamic acids provides a method for the synthesis of 2-substituted N-alkylmalonyl hydroxamic acids. The substituent at C-2 does not materially change the chemistry of the alpha-lactam intermediates produced from them. They can be converted to unsymmetric ureas and hydantoins in high yields. The addition of unsaturated substituents at C-2 is used to produce cyclic ureas containing medium rings via RCM reactions.

No abstract

An efficient method for the synthesis of 2-alkyl- and 2-aryl pyrrolidines, piperidines, and azepanes from lactams, in either racemic or enantiopure form, is presented. The lactam nitrogens are acylated with either Boc anhydride or trans-cumylcyclohexyl (TCC) chloroformate. Selective reduction of the lactam carbonyl to the carbinolamide is followed by treatment with benzotriazole. Substitution of the benzotriazole is accomplished by treatment with organometallics, yielding the 2-substituted heterocycles. With TCC, up to 90% diastereoselectivity is achieved. After diastereomer purification, reductive removal of the auxiliary affords enantiopure 2-substituted heterocycles. A mechanistic hypothesis is presented that details the conformational equilibria of the key step.