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[3+2] cycloadditions of nitroolefins have emerged as a selective and catalyst-free alternative for the synthesis of 1,2,3-triazoles from azides. We describe mechanistic studies into the cycloaddition/rearomatization reaction sequence. DFT calculations revealed a rate-limiting cycloaddition step proceeding via an asynchronous TS with high kinetic selectivity for the 1,5-triazole. Kinetic studies reveal a second-order rate law, and 13 C kinetic isotopic effects at natural abundance were measured with a significant normal effect at the conjugated olefinic centers of 1.0158 and 1.0216 at the α and β-carbons of β-nitrostyrene. Distortion/interaction-activation strain and energy decomposition analyses revealed that the major regioisomeric pathway benefits from an earlier and less-distorted TS, while intermolecular interaction terms dominate the preference for 1,5- over 1,4-cycloadducts. In addition, the major regioisomer also has more favorable electrostatic and dispersion terms. Additionally, while static DFT calculations suggest a concerted but highly asynchronous Ei-type HNO 2 elimination mechanism, quasiclassical direct-dynamics calculations reveal the existence of a dynamic intermediate., (© 2022 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

1,2-Dithio-1-alkenes are biologically active compounds widely implemented throughout organic synthesis, functional materials, coordination chemistry, and pharmaceuticals. Traditional methods for accessing 1,2-dithio-1-alkenes often demand transition metal catalysts, specialized or air-sensitive ligands, high temperatures, and disulfides (R 2 S 2 ). Herein, a general and efficient strategy utilizing ethynylbenziodoxolone (EBX) reagents and thiols is presented that results in the formation of 1,2-dithio-1-alkenes with excellent regioselectivity and stereoselectivity through unprecedented reactivity between the EBX and the thiol. This operationally simple procedure utilizes mild conditions, which result in a broad substrate scope and high functional-group tolerance. The observed unexpected reactivity has been rationalized through both experimental results and DFT calculations., (© 2019 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Chiral amines bearing a stereocenter in the α position are ubiquitous compounds with many applications in the pharmaceutical and agrochemical sectors, as well as in catalysis. Catalytic asymmetric Mannich additions represent a valuable method to access such compounds in enantioenriched form. This work reports the first enantio- and diastereoselective addition of commercially available p-toluenesulfonylmethyl isocyanide (TosMIC) to ketimines, affording 2-imidazolines bearing two contiguous stereocenters, one of which is fully-substituted, with high yields and excellent stereocontrol. The reaction, catalyzed by silver oxide and a dihydroquinine-derived N,P-ligand, is broad in scope, operationally simple, and scalable. Derivatization of the products provides enantioenriched vicinal diamines, precursors to NHC ligands and sp 3 -rich heterocyclic scaffolds. Computations are used to understand catalysis and rationalize stereoselectivity., (© 2018 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Substrate-controlled asymmetric total syntheses and structure confirmation of (+)-(3E)- and (-)-(3Z)-chlorofucin [(E)-1 a and (Z)-1 a], and (+)-(3E)- and (-)-(3Z)-bromofucin [(E)-1 b and (Z)-1 b] were accomplished. Our syntheses feature as key steps haloetherification (either 'conventional' or 'one-pot organoselenium-mediated') of α,α'-trans-γ,δ-unsaturated oxocene alcohol 9 and our (E)- and (Z)-selective cross-metathesis (CM) protocols. More importantly, a rationale is provided for the strikingly different pathways followed by α,α'-trans-γ,δ-unsaturated oxocene alcohol 9 and its α,α'-cis isomer 9' in the presence of different electrophiles during the intramolecular electrophilic addition reactions., (© 2018 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Heteroaromatic nitriles are important compounds in drug discovery, both for their prevalence in the clinic and due to the diverse range of transformations they can undergo. As such, efficient and reliable methods to access them have the potential for far-reaching impact across synthetic chemistry and the biomedical sciences. Herein, we report an approach to heteroaromatic C-H cyanation through triflic anhydride activation, nucleophilic addition of cyanide, followed by elimination of trifluoromethanesulfinate to regenerate the cyanated heteroaromatic ring. This one-pot protocol is simple to perform, is applicable to a broad range of decorated 6-ring N-containing heterocycles, and has been shown to be suitable for late-stage functionalization of complex drug-like architectures., (© 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Invited for the cover of this issue is the group of Robert S. Paton at the University of Oxford and his collaborators from Brazil and the Czech Republic. The image depicts histone-enzyme complexation and the chemical interactions inside the active site that define the mode of action. Read the full text of the article at 10.1002/chem.201502983., (© 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

JMJD2A catalyses the demethylation of di- and trimethylated lysine residues in histone tails and is a target for the development of new anticancer medicines. Mechanistic details of demethylation are yet to be elucidated and are important for the understanding of epigenetic processes. We have evaluated the initial step of histone demethylation by JMJD2A and demonstrate the dramatic effect of the protein environment upon oxygen binding using quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) calculations. The changes in electronic structure have been studied for possible spin states and different conformations of O2 , using a combination of quantum and classical simulations. O2 binding to this histone demethylase is computed to occur preferentially as an end-on superoxo radical bound to a high-spin ferric centre, yielding an overall quintet ground state. The favourability of binding is strongly influenced by the surrounding protein: we have quantified this effect using an energy decomposition scheme into electrostatic and dispersion contributions. His182 and the methylated lysine assist while Glu184 and the oxoglutarate cofactor are deleterious for O2 binding. Charge separation in the superoxo-intermediate benefits from the electrostatic stabilization provided by the surrounding residues, stabilizing the binding process significantly. This work demonstrates the importance of the extended protein environment in oxygen binding, and the role of energy decomposition in understanding the physical origin of binding/recognition., (© 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Substrate-controlled asymmetric total syntheses of (+)-microcladallenes A, B, and C have been accomplished based on the proposed structures. The syntheses of microcladallenes A and B confirmed the structures and absolute configurations of both natural products. However, the synthesis of microcladallene C, which includes seven stereogenic centers and an (R)-bromoallene in its compact C15 framework, brought the realization that its proposed structure must be revised. The introduction of C12-bromine into these natural products with retention of configuration relied on TiBr4 -mediated nucleophile-assisting leaving group brominations, the stereochemical outcome of which could be attributed, at least in part, to an oxonium or halonium ion formation-fragmentation sequence through intricate neighboring group participation. In addition, the pivotal β-oriented vicinal cis-dichloride function in microcladallene C was elaborated through a novel tandem Cl2 -induced electrophilic cyclization/imidate chlorination process. The positive rotations of these natural products with an (R)-bromoallene constitute exceptions to Lowe's rule for reasons yet to be determined., (© 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

A hydrogen bond acceptor plays an important role in the catalytic cycle of organo-enamine catalysis. It can effectively influence the rate of reaction through hydrogen bonding interaction with enammonium (N-protonated enamine intermediate). Our findings are supported by both kinetic experiments and quantum chemical calculations., (© 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

A cascade reaction that generates pyrrolo- and pyridoindoline motifs from isocyanide precursors under phase-transfer conditions is described. This transformation proceeds at room temperature in the presence of a quaternary ammonium catalyst and base to generate functionalized products containing an all-carbon quaternary stereocentre. Quantum chemical calculations demonstrated that intramolecular general acid catalysis plays a key accelerating role through stabilization of developing charge in the transition state, and that the reaction is best described as a 5-endo dig cyclization, rather than an anionic 6π electrocyclization. Investigations employing chiral phase-transfer catalysts have given promising selectivities to date., (© 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

The enantioselective Conia-ene cyclization of alkyne-tethered β-ketoesters is efficiently catalyzed by the combination of cinchona-derived amino-urea pre-catalysts and copper(I) salts. The reaction scope is broad and a series of substrates can be efficiently cyclized with high yields and enantioselectivities. Herein, we present a detailed mechanistic study based on experimental considerations and quantum mechanical calculations. Several variables, such as the nature of the organic pre-catalyst and the metal-ion source, have been thoroughly investigated. Kinetic studies, as well as kinetic isotope effects and deuterium labeling experiments have been used to gain further insights into the mechanism and prove the cooperative nature of the catalytic system. Our studies suggest that the rate-limiting step for the reaction involves the β-ketoester deprotonation and that the active species responsible for the enantiodeterming step is monomeric in amino-urea pre-catalyst. Computational studies provide a quantitative understanding of the observed stereoinduction and identify hydrogen bonding from the urea group as a crucial factor in determining the observed enantioselectivity., (Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

The originally assigned stereostructures of laurefurenynes A and B have been reassigned on the basis of DFT calculations of NMR chemical shifts, synthesis of model compounds and total synthesis of laurefurenyne B, demonstrating the power of this combined approach for stereostructure elucidation/confirmation., (© 2013 The Authors. Published by Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.)

The gold-catalyzed intramolecular oxygen-transfer reactions of 2-alkynyl-1,5-diketones or 2-alkynyl-5-ketoesters-obtained from tetra-n-butylammonium fluoride mediated Michael addition of activated allenes to electron-deficient olefins-furnished cyclopentenyl ketones under very mild conditions. These reactions proceeded much easier and faster than similar reactions reported in literature, and the corresponding products were obtained in very good yields. Mechanistic investigations on the cycloisomerization were carried out by means of both (18) O isotopic experiments and quantum chemical calculations. The results from both, the designed isotopic experiments and theoretical calculations, satisfactorily supported the novel proposed intramolecular [4+2] cycloaddition of a gold-containing furanium intermediate to a carbonyl group, instead of the previous well-accepted [2+2] pathway., (Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)