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The alkyne functional group is found in many bioactive natural products and is the key to many important chemical transformations developed over recent years. Moreover, allenes have recently gained relevance as versatile reagents in organic synthesis. Mild, catalytic methods to enable the selective introduction of either alkyne or allene motifs into organic molecules are very valuable but, as yet, quite scarce. We describe an extremely mild and selective method for either the propargylation or allenylation of carbonyl compounds catalyzed by the abundant, safe, and inexpensive metal titanium. These reactions can selectively provide homopropargylic alcohols from aldehydes and ketones or α-hydroxy-allenes from aldehydes. The mechanisms involved were also investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In nature there are several terpenoids with a characteristic γ-dioxygenated system on the A ring, and many of them show interesting pharmacological properties. We have developed a novel strategy for the synthesis of these terpenoids involving three stages: (a) the selective epoxidation of commercial polyenes, (b) titanium(III)-catalyzed cyclization of the epoxypolyprenes thus obtained, and (c) Pd-mediated remote functionalization of the equatorial methyl group attached at C-4 on ring A of the cyclic terpenoid thus formed. This strategy has proved to be useful for the synthesis of the natural labdane rostratone (1) and related terpenoids, as well as for advanced synthetic approaches toward the pharmacologically active products aphidicolin (2) and pyripyropene A (3). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present results, which indicate that Pd-mediated C–H bond activation can be used under mild conditions for the remote functionalization of C-4 methyl groups of molecules with different terpenoid-like skeletons containing six- or seven-membered A rings. This procedure has allowed us to complete a novel strategy for the synthesis of γ-dioxygenated terpenoids in three stages: (i) selective epoxidation of commercial polyenes, (ii) titanium(III)-catalyzed cyclization of epoxypolyprenes, and (iii) Pd-mediated remote functionalization of equatorial methyl groups. This strategy has proved to be useful for the synthesis of the natural labdane rostratone (1). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The half‐sandwich titanocene reagent CpTiIIICl2, obtained by in situ reduction of commercial CpTiCl3 with manganese, is an excellent system for the Barbier‐type reaction between aldehydes and propargylic halides, leading to homopropargylic alcohols and α‐allenols. An efficient and straightforward methodology for the conversion of aldehydes into 2,5‐dihydrofurans involving a two‐step sequence (TiIII addition‐AgI cyclization) is presented. The usefulness of the method is proved by the preparation of a Natural Product: a dihydrofuranic labdane, isolated from the leaves of Mikania sp. nov. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The essential oils of Cistus ladaniferus L. var. maculatus Dun. and Cistus monspeliensis L., harvested from northern Morocco, have been analyzed by GC-FID, GC/MS, and NMR techniques. The main components of C. ladaniferus were bornyl acetate, pinocarveol, and viridiflorol, whereas the main component from C. monspeliensis was the oxygenated labdane diterpenoid 13-epi-manoyl oxide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The essential oil from the seeds of Abies marocana Trabut (Pinaceae), collected in northern Morocco, has been analyzed by GC-FID, GC/MS and NMR techniques. The main component was the monoterpene (-)-limonene (more than 70% of the oil) plus lesser quantities of numerous sesquiterpenoids, accounting in all for more than 90% of the total oil composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years solid evidence of HAT reactions involving water as hydrogen atom source have been presented. In this work we demonstrate that the efficiency of titanocene(III) aqua complexes as an unique class of HAT reagents is based on two key features: (a) excellent binding capabilities of water toward titanocene(III) complexes and (b) a low activation energy for the HAT step. The theory has predictive capabilities fitting well with the experimental results and may aid to find more examples of this remarkable radical reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The formation of either deoxygenation products or allylic alcohols from epoxides is observed when these substrates are treated with Cp2TiCl under anhydrous conditions. It seems that processes via trisubstituted radicals give allylic alcohols whereas processes via disubstituted radicals may give deoxygenation products or allylic alcohols depending on the structure of the original epoxide. This method allows a controlled access to these functional groups, providing a useful tool in organic synthesis. A mechanistic discussion for these transformations is reported. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We present a divergent strategy for the stereoselective synthesis of both eudesmanolides (+)-tuberiferine and (+)-brachylaenolide starting from the accessible germacrolide (+)-costunolide. The key steps of these syntheses are the Ti-catalyzed transannular cyclization of a 1,4-epoxygermacrolide in the presence or absence of water, respectively. The catalytic cycle operating in the presence of water probably involves the reduction of a tertiary radical by H-atom transfer from aquacomplex Cp2TiIII(OH2)Cl. The catalytic cycle under anhydrous conditions presumably occurs through mixed disproportionation between a tertiary radical and Cp2TiIIICl. Synthetic (+)-tuberiferine and (+)-brachylaenolide displayed an antifungal potency against Phycomyces blakesleeanus comparable or even higher than amphotericin B, the gold standard for antifungal therapy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: An improved synthesis of 1 and 2 is described that allows access to these complexes in multigram quantities necessary for catalytic applications. The crystal structures of 1 and 2 are compared and the conformational preferences of the ligands, that are important for catalytic applications, are discussed. Complex 2 was evaluated as a catalyst for carbomagnesation reactions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We report here a novel procedure for the reduction of ketones to secondary alcohols using catalytic quantities of commercially available Cp2TiCl2, inexpensive Zn dust and water as proton source. Mechanistically the reaction presumably proceeds via titanoxy radicals. In practice this reduction process has significant advantages: it shows an interesting selectivity pattern, takes place under mild conditions using safe, cheap reagents and does not require anhydrous solvents. The proton-donor activity of water under these conditions avoids the use of the frequently poisonous hydrogen-atom donors generally required to reduce free radicals. This procedure is also highly convenient for synthesising deuterium-labelled alcohols employing relatively inexpensive D2O as deuterium source. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Described herein is a straightforward synthesis of the monocyclic triterpene achilleol A using as key step titanium(III) chemistry. This synthesis confirms the previously described structure based on spectroscopic methods. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Cover Feature: Impact of Pore Size and Defects on the Selective Adsorption of Acetylene in Alkyne-Functionalized Nickel(II)-Pyrazolate-Based MOFs (Chem. Eur. J. 46/2021) Keywords: breakthrough curves; carbon capture; gas separation; computational modelling; temperature swing adsorption EN breakthrough curves carbon capture gas separation computational modelling temperature swing adsorption 11747 11747 1 08/19/21 20210816 NES 210816 B As a consequence of specific interactions b between acetylene molecules and alkyne, aromatic and hydroxide residues of metal clusters, two isoreticular nickel(II) pyrazolate-based metal-organic frameworks bearing alkyne moieties on the ligand backbones are suitable for the selective separation of the challenging acetylene over CO SB 2 sb gas mixture. Breakthrough curves, carbon capture, gas separation, computational modelling, temperature swing adsorption. [Extracted from the article]

C 2 H 2 /CO 2 separation is a highly challenging process as a consequence of their similar physicochemical properties. In this work we have explored, by static and dynamic gas sorption techniques and computational modelling, the suitability of a series of two isoreticular robust Ni(II)pyrazolate-based MOFs, bearing alkyne moieties on the ligand backbones, for C 2 H 2 /CO 2 separation. The results are consistent with high adsorption capacity and selectivity of the essayed systems towards C 2 H 2 molecules. Furthermore, a post-synthetic treatment with KOH ethanolic solution gives rise to linker vacancy defects and incorporation of extraframework potassium ions. Creation of defects is responsible for increased adsorption capacity for both gases, however, strong interactions of the cluster basic sites and extraframework potassium cations with CO 2 molecules are responsible for a lowering of C 2 H 2 over CO 2 selectivity., (© 2021 The Authors. Chemistry - A European Journal published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

A novel concept for the synthesis of halogenated, conjugated dienes is disclosed: the CpTiCl 2 -catalyzed coupling of keto-alkynes, in the presence of Me 3 SiBr/Et 3 N⋅HBr. This reaction provided five-, six-, and seven-membered carbocycles, nitrogenated heterocycles, as well as six-membered oxygenated heterocycles leading to a brominated conjugate diene. These products showed high reactivity in the Diels-Alder, Suzuki, and Sonogashira reactions, giving complex chemical structures in only three steps from the corresponding acyclic keto-alkyne. Hopefully, this strategy will pave the way towards the synthesis of bioactive natural products and new materials., (© 2020 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

This review highlights recent developments in the field of hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) reagents that circumvent the disadvantages of classical group 14 reagents, such as Bu₃SnH. Special emphasis is laid on the lowering of bond dissociation energies (BDEs) of molecules that could, as yet, not be used as HAT reagents and on the use of organometallic HAT reagents.

The highly porous and robust [Ni(8)(OH)(4)(OH(2))(2)(4,4'-(buta-1,3-diyne-1,4-diyl)bispyrazolato)(6)](n) MOF can be used as a proof of concept for the incorporation and release of the non-conventional [Ru(p-cymene)Cl(2)(pta)] RAPTA-C metallodrug., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2011)

Titanocene(III) complexes, easily generated in situ from commercial Ti(IV) precursors, catalyze Barbier-type allylations, intramolecular crotylations (cyclizations), and prenylations of a wide range of aldehydes and ketones. The reaction displays surprising and unprecedented mechanistic subtleties. In cyclizations a fast and irreversible addition of an allyl radical to a Ti(III)-coordinated carbonyl group seems to occur. Intermolecular additions to conjugated aldehydes proceed through a coupling of a Ti(IV)-bound ketyl radical with an allyl radical. Reactions of ketones with allylic halides take place by the classical addition of an allylic organometallic reagent. The radical coupling processes enable transformations such as the highly regioselective alpha-prenylation that are otherwise difficult to achieve. The mild reaction conditions and the possibility to employ titanocene complexes in only catalytic quantities are highly attractive features of our protocol. These unusual properties have been taken advantage of for the straightforward synthesis of the natural products rosiridol, shikalkin, and 12-hydroxysqualene.

We describe how alkenes and alkynes can be hydrogenated under mild conditions by hydrogen transfer from water mediated by titanocene(III) and a substoichiometric quantity of one of the late transition metals usually employed as hydrogenation catalysts. This process proceeds presumably by H-atom transfer from TiIII-coordinated water to the late transition metal partner (depicted in the drawing above), a mechanism in support of which we provide theoretical and experimental evidence.

In nature there are several terpenoids with a characteristic gamma-dioxygenated system on the A ring, and many of them show interesting pharmacological properties. We have developed a novel strategy for the synthesis of these terpenoids involving three stages: (a) the selective epoxidation of commercial polyenes, (b) titanium(III)-catalyzed cyclization of the epoxypolyprenes thus obtained, and (c) Pd-mediated remote functionalization of the equatorial methyl group attached at C-4 on ring A of the cyclic terpenoid thus formed. This strategy has proved to be useful for the synthesis of the natural labdane rostratone (1) and related terpenoids, as well as for advanced synthetic approaches toward the pharmacologically active products aphidicolin (2) and pyripyropene A (3).

We have established the chemical structure of (+)-bassianolone (3), the antimicrobial compound precursor of cephalosporolides E and F, and that of the furan metabolite 4 from the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana.

We describe a novel convergent procedure that has proved useful in the synthesis of a wide range of meroterpenoid-related structures containing a mono-, sesqui-, or diterpenoid moiety linked to a nonfused aromatic subunit with various substitution patterns. The key steps were the Stille-type coupling of aryl stannanes and allylic carbonates, followed by the titanocene-catalyzed domino cyclization of aryl epoxypolyprenes. The coupling reaction was perfectly compatible with preformed epoxides, while the sequential cyclization, which presumably proceeded via alkyl radicals inert to benzene derivatives, selectively provided exocyclic alkenes., (Copyright 2004 American Chemical Society)

The titanocene-catalyzed cascade cyclization of epoxypolyenes, which are easily prepared from commercially available polyprenoids, has proven to be a useful procedure for the synthesis of C(10), C(15), C(20), and C(30) terpenoids, including monocyclic, bicyclic, and tricyclic natural products. Both theoretical and experimental evidence suggests that this cyclization takes place in a nonconcerted fashion via discrete carbon-centered radicals. Nevertheless, the termination step of the process seems to be subjected to a kind of water-dependent control, which is unusual in free-radical chemistry. The catalytic cycle is based on the use of the novel combination Me(3)SiCl/2,4,6-collidine to regenerate the titanocene catalyst. In practice this procedure has several advantages: it takes place at room temperature under mild conditions compatible with different functional groups, uses inexpensive reagents, and its end step can easily be controlled to give exocyclic double bonds by simply excluding water from the medium.

The title compounds are interesting candidates for antifungal screening. This paper describes the enantiospecific synthesis of these compounds starting from (+)-costunolide isolated from a commercially available extract. We used two novel reactions as key synthetic steps in this work: the acid-induced cyclization of an delta,epsilon-epoxy ester, which stereoselectively gave a hydroxymethyl-substituted delta-lactone, with the hydroxyalkyl group in the desired beta-equatorial disposition, and a reaction cascade, initiated by a base-promoted sulfene elimination, which led to a 10-oxiranyl-2-oxa-cis-decalin from the mesylate of a trans-fused delta-lactone. We also found that the reaction between selenium dioxide and the 1,5-diene system of elemanolides gave selenadecalins analogous to natural eudesmanolides. Our results prove that the synthetic strategy employed, on the basis of biomimetic concepts, is a useful procedure for the enantiospecific preparation of (+)-vernolepin-related compounds from accessible germacrolides.

The Cp(2)TiCl-mediated rearrangement of 1,10-epoxy-11beta,13-dihydrocostunolide (4) was carried out using different solvents and additives to develop an expeditious procedure for the synthesis of natural eudesmanolides via free-radical chemistry. In the nonhalogenated solvents THF, benzene, and toluene the transannular cyclization, initiated by the homolytic opening of the oxirane ring, selectively led to the desired exocyclic alkene 5. When water was added to THF, however, the main product was reduced eudesmanolide 8. Experiments with D(2)O confirmed that the H-4 of 8 comes from water. To rationalize these results, a mechanistic hypothesis based on a water-solvated Cp(2)TiCl complex is proposed. Finally, the usefulness of Cp(2)TiCl for the synthesis of natural eudesmanolides has been proved using this reagent in the key step for the chemical preparation of (+)-3alpha-hydroxyreynosin (1) and (+)-reynosin (17). These syntheses confirmed the chemical structure of 1 and established the absolute stereochemistry of the natural products 1 and 17. The results obtained suggest that the combination of the biomimetic strategy employed, with Ti(III)-mediated free-radical chemistry, may come to represent a general method for the enantiospecific synthesis of more than 170 natural eudesmanolides containing an exocyclic double bond between C-4 and C-15.

Phycomyces is a fungal producer of beta-carotene and other beneficial metabolites. Several erg mutants of Phycomyces, originally selected to study the effects of membrane alteration on physiological responses, have now been used to gain information about sterol biosynthesis in filamentous fungi. One mutant, H23, and its progeny were found to be blocked at episterol C-5 dehydrogenase and did not produce ergosterol or any other sterol with a conjugated Delta(5,7) diene system. This mutant showed abnormal phototropism, which was correlated with the altered sterol composition. Another mutant, H25, seems to be a regulatory mutant. All analyzed mutants synthesized ergosta-7,22,24(28)-trien-3beta-ol, demonstrating for the first time that the sterol C-22 dehydrogenase of Phycomyces is capable of recognizing sterols with a 24(28) unsaturated side chain. New evidence regarding the biogenesis of neoergosterol and phycomysterols, the potential sparking function of cholesterol, as well as the regulation of sterol biosynthesis in this fungus is also reported. Given these results, a pathway for sterol biosynthesis in Phycomyces is proposed.