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Herein we report on the umpolung of Morita-Baylis-Hillman type intermediates and application to the α-functionalization of enone C-H bonds. This reaction gives direct access to α-chloro-enones, 1,2-diketones and α-tosyloxy-enones. The latter are important intermediates for cross-coupling reaction and, to the best of our knowledge, cannot be made in a single step from enones in any other way. The proposed mechanism is supported by spectroscopic studies. The key initial step involves conjugate attack of an amine (DABCO or pyridine), likely assisted by hypervalent iodine acting as a Lewis acid leading to formation of an electrophilic β-ammonium-enolonium species. Nucleophilic attack by acetate, tosylate, or chloride anion is followed by base induced elimination of the ammonium species to give the noted products. Hydrolysis of α-acetoxy-enones lead to formation of 1,2-diketones. The α-tosyl-enones participate in Negishi coupling reactions under standard conditions.

Vinyl azides react with boron trifluoride activated Koser's hypervalent iodine reagent to afford azido-enolonium species. These previously unknown azido-enolonium species react efficiently with aromatic compounds, allyltrimethylsilane, and azoles under mild conditions, with no need for a transition-metal catalyst, forming C-C and C-N bonds to give a variety of α-functionalized ketones. The intermediacy of the proposed azido-enolonium species is supported by spectroscopic studies.

Nitroxides, as persistent organic radicals, have found numerous applications in organic synthesis due to their unique redox properties and reactivity. Over the years, a myriad of protocols has been developed using nitroxide to mediate or catalyze various chemical transformations. They have been proven to be an efficient, safe, mild and green alternative to transition metal catalysts. This chapter is intended to provide a comprehensive survey of the diverse applications of nitroxides, including carbon heteroatom oxidations and C–C bond forming reactions, in both homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis.

We report a visible-light-mediated benzylic C-H oxygenation reaction. The reaction is initiated by solar light or the blue LED activation of 9,10-dibromoanthracene in a reaction with oxygen and takes place at ambient temperature and air pressure. Secondary benzylic positions are oxygenated to ketones, while tertiary benzylic carbons are oxygenated to give hydroperoxides. Notably, cumene hydroperoxide is produced in a higher yield and at milder conditions than the currently employed industrial conditions.

Due to their closely matched reactivity, the coupling of two dissimilar ketone enolates to form a 1,4-diketone remains a challenge in organic synthesis. We herein report that umpolung of a ketone trimethylsilyl enol ether (1 equiv) to form a discrete enolonium species, followed by addition of as little as 1.2–1.4 equivalents of a second trimethylsilyl enol ether, provides an attractive solution to this problem. A wide array of enolates may be used to form the 1,4-diketone products in 38 to 74% yield. Due to the use of two TMS enol ethers as precursors, an optimization of the cross-coupling should include investigating the order of addition.

Enolonium species, resulting from the umpolung of ketone enolates by Koser's hypervalent iodine reagents activated by boron trifluoride, react with a variety of nitrogen heterocycles to form α-aminated ketones. The reactions are mild and complete in 4-5 h. Additionally, α-azidation of the enolonium species takes place using trimethylsilyl azide as a convenient source of azide nucleophile.

Herein it is shown, for the first time, that enolonium species are powerful electrophiles capable of reacting with aromatic compounds in an intermolecular manner to afford α-arylated ketones. The reaction is compatible with a variety of functional groups, is of wide scope with respect to aromatic compounds and ketone, and even works for polymerization-prone substrates such as substituted pyrroles, thiophenes, and furans. Only 1.6 to 5 equiv of the commodity aromatic substrates is needed.

Enolonium species/iodo(III)enolates of carbonyl compounds have been suggested to be intermediates in a wide variety of hypervalent iodine induced chemical transformations of ketones, including α-C-O, α-C-N, α-C-C, and α-carbon-halide bond formation, but they have never been characterized. We report that these elusive umpoled enolates may be made as discrete species that are stable for several minutes at -78 °C, and report the first spectroscopic identification of such species. It is shown that enolonium species are direct intermediates in C-O, C-N, C-Cl, and C-C bond forming reactions. Our results open up chemical space for designing a variety of new transformations. We showcase the ability of enolonium species to react with prenyl, crotyl, cinnamyl, and allyl silanes with absolute regioselectivity in up to 92 % yield.

Herein is reported the first preparation of stable α-deuterium nitroxides of the IAPNO family. The confirmation and characteristics of the α-deuterium nitroxides and their α-hydrogen analogues are compared and analyzed. Such α-deuterium nitroxides may find use in biology, medicine and physical chemistry.

Identifying the mechanism of a catalytic reaction is paramount for designing new and improved catalysts. Several alternative catalytic cycles for the copper/2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl (TEMPO)-catalyzed aerobic oxidation of alcohols to the corresponding aldehydes or ketones were examined using DFT at the SMD(CH3CN)-RIJCOSX-DSD-PBEB95/def2-TZVP//DF-PBED3BJ/def2-SVP level of theory. A catalytic cycle in which TEMPO remains coordinated to copper throughout was identified as the most likely mechanism. There are three components to the catalytic cycle: 1) hydrogen transfer from the alkoxyl ligand to coordinated TEMPO, 2) oxygen activation with formation of a peroxo complex, and 3) alcohol activation with transfer of the OH proton to the peroxo ligand. The oxidation takes place via a six-membered intramolecular hydrogen-transfer transition state. Importantly, this is not the rate-determining step, which instead involves oxygen activation and/or the initial alcohol activation.

Systemic fungal infections are an increasingly prevalent health problem, especially among immunocompromised patients. Antifungal drug development lags far behind in comparison to other types of antimicrobial drugs. Current commercially available antifungals are limited by their insufficient potency, side effects, drug-drug interactions, developing drug-resistance, and narrow formulation options. Here, we report the preparation and evaluation of two novel PEG amide conjugates of amphotericin B (AMB (1)): AB1 (4) and AM2 (5). These compounds are nonlabile, they are prepared in only two and three synthetic steps, respectively, and they show antifungal activity against a wide range of clinical fungal isolates. Their toxicity is significantly lower, and their water solubility is up to 5000-fold higher than that of AMB (1). In vivo efficacy studies in a mouse model of systemic candidiasis showed that AM2 (5) successfully cured all the mice at concentrations above 3.5 mg/kg body weight. In conclusion, these properties make AB1 (4) and AM2 (5) promising candidates for clinical use.

α-Functionalization of ketones via umpolung of enolates by hypervalent iodine reagents is an important concept in synthetic organic chemistry. Recently, we have developed a two-step strategy for ketone enolate umpolung that has enabled the development of methods for chlorination, azidation, and amination using azoles. In addition, we have developed C-C bond-forming arylation and allylation reactions. At the heart of these methods is the preparation of the intermediate and highly reactive enolonium species prior to addition of a reactive nucleophile. This strategy is thus reminiscent of the preparation and use of metal enolates in classical synthetic chemistry. This strategy allows the use of nucleophiles that would otherwise be incompatible with the strongly oxidizing hypervalent iodine reagents. In this paper we present a detailed protocol for chlorination, azidation, N-heteroarylation, arylation, and allylation. The products include motifs prevalent in medicinally active products. This article will greatly assist others in using these methods.

Amine-tetrachloromethane charge-transfer complexes have recently been shown to be useful intermediates in transition-metal free solar light-assisted organic synthetic chemistry. Of particular promise is the complex of 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) which may serve as a starting point for several potential reactions involving oxidation of organic compounds. Here we disclose the crystal structure of the [DABCO•••CCl4] complex, and computational studies of two possible complex structures in their ground state, as well as in their first singlet and first triplet excited states.

Conditions for the oxidation of primary aliphatic, benzylic, allylic, and propargylic alcohols and secondary benzylic alcohols including benzoin in the presence of newly developed stable α-hydrogen nitroxyl radicals as the catalyst are elaborated.

A fluorinated and a non-fluorinated axially chiral 1,8-diarylnaphthalene ligand have been synthesized through an Ullmann and Suzuki coupling reaction based strategy. A practical methodology for the successful chiral resolution of the newly synthesized catechol based moiety is presented. We also disclose the preliminary application of these axially chiral molecules as ligands in asymmetric transformation reactions.

We disclose a hypervalent iodine mediated α-alkylative umpolung reaction of carbonyl compounds with dialkylzinc as the alkyl source. The reaction is applicable to all common classes of ketones including 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds and regular ketones via their lithium enolates. The α-alkylated carbonyl products are formed in up to 93% yield. An ionic mechanism is inferred based on meticulous analysis, NMR studies, trapping and crossover experiments, and computational studies.

We report on the use of charge-transfer complexes between amines and carbon tetrachloride, as a novel way to activate the amine for photochemical reactions. This principle is demonstrated in a mild, transition metal free, visible light assisted, dealkylative amide formation from feedstock carboxylic acids and amines. The low absorption coefficient of the complex allows deep light penetration and thus scale up to a gram scale.

The salen μ-oxo complex of aluminum 1 catalyzes the asymmetric 1,4-addition of the novel ammonia equivalent 3,4,5,6-tetrafluorophthalimide to unsaturated ketones. All of the reagents are inexpensive and are readily available. The products are formed in up to 89% yield and up to 96% ee. The tetrafluorophthalimide group is removed under mild chemoselective conditions and in high yields to afford the free primary amines. Mechanistic studies suggest that the reaction occurs through a dual activation mechanism. A pre-equilibrium formation of a 1:1 complex between tetrafluorophthalimide and the catalyst is observed. The rate-determining step is the addition of tetrafluorophthalimide catalyst complex to the catalyst activated enone. These mechanistic studies provide important clues for the further development of catalytic asymmetric reactions.

2,2,6,6-Tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO) catalyzes the direct oxidation of primary alkyl alcohols to symmetric ­esters at 1–2 mol% loadings. These rapid reactions take place at room temperature to afford the products in yields of 55–99%.

The systematic modification of natural products through diverted total synthesis is a powerful concept for the systematic modification of natural products with the aim of studying mechanistic aspects of their biological activity. This concept offers far-reaching opportunities for discovery at the interface of biology and chemistry. It is underpinned by the power of chemical synthesis, which manifests itself in the ability to modify structure at will. Its implementation, when combined with innovative design, enables the preparation of unique mechanistic probes that can be decisive in differentiating and validating biological hypotheses at the molecular level. This Review assembles a collection of classic and current cases that illustrate and underscore the scientific possibilities for practitioners of chemical synthesis.

Die systematische Modifizierung von Naturstoffen durch umgelenkte Totalsynthese ist ein leistungsfahiges Konzept mit dem Ziel, mechanistische Aspekte biologischer Aktivitat zu studieren. Dieses Konzept offnet die Tur fur weitreichende Entdeckungen im Grenzbereich zwischen Biologie und Chemie. Es grundet auf der Leistungsstarke der chemischen Synthese, die sich durch die Fahigkeit auszeichnet, chemische Strukturen nahezu nach Belieben zu modifizieren. In Kombination mit innovativem Design ermoglicht seine Anwendung, einzigartige mechanistische Untersuchungen auszufuhren, die entscheidend bei der Differenzierung und Validierung biologischer Hypothesen auf molekularer Ebene sein konnen. Dieser Aufsatz stellt klassische und aktuelle Falle zusammen, die die vielversprechenden Perspektiven fur den Synthetiker aufzeigen.

The use of molecular editing in the elucidation of the mechanism of action of amphotericin B is presented. A modular strategy for the synthesis of amphotericin B and its designed analogues is developed, which relies on an efficient gram-scale synthesis of various subunits of amphotericin B. A novel method for the coupling of the mycosamine to the aglycone was identified. The implementation of the approach has enabled the preparation of 35-deoxy amphotericin B methyl ester. Investigation of the antifungal activity and efflux-inducing ability of this amphotericin B congener provided new clues to the role of the 35-hydroxy group and is consistent with the involvement of double barrel ion channels in causing electrolyte efflux.

Nitroxides (nitroxyl radicals) hold a unique place in science due to their stable radical nature. We have recently reported the first design concept providing a general solution to the problem of designing and preparing monocyclic α-hydrogen nitroxides. The initial studies were limited to aryl derivatives. We now report a wider study showing that alkyl substituents may be employed as well. In addition, we report several additional examples of aryl substituents and reveal some of the structural limitations with regard to nitroxide stability as a function of the α-carbon substituent.

Conditions for the oxidation of primary aliphatic, benzylic, allylic, and propargylic alcohols and secondary benzylic alcohols including benzoin in the presence of newly developed stable α-hydrogen nitroxyl radicals as the catalyst are elaborated.

Umpolung alkylation of Evans’ auxiliary substituted β-ketoimides affords the diastereomerically pure products in yields ranging from 40 to 80%. The reaction itself proceeds with diastereoselectivities between 3 : 1 and 18 : 1. Dialkylzinc serves as the nucleophile and umpolung of the β-keto-imide enolate is achieved by the action of Koser's reagent.

A variety of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds and the lithium enolates of simple ketones are submitted to a hypervalent iodine-mediated Umpolung-reaction using dialkyl zinc as the alkylating agent.

Umpolung alkylation of Evans’ auxiliary substituted β-ketoimides affords the diastereomerically pure products in yields ranging from 40 to 80%. The reaction itself proceeds with diastereoselectivities between 3 : 1 and 18 : 1. Dialkylzinc serves as the nucleophile and umpolung of the β-keto-imide enolate is achieved by the action of Koser's reagent.

Mycosamine is a dideoxyaminosugar found in medicinally relevant macrolides, including amphotericin B and nystatin. Herein we report a reliable, high yielding, scalable synthesis of a mycosamine donor. A major goal of our approach was to minimize purifications via judicious selection of protecting groups; the inherent properties of the allose framework created some deprotection obstacles that were ultimately solved.

The syntheses and in vitro antimalarial screening of 50 bridged, bicyclic endoperoxides of types 9-13 are reported. In contrast to antimalarial trioxanes of the artemisinin family, but like yingzhaosu A and arteflene, the peroxide function of compounds 9-13 is contained in a 2,3-dioxabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane system 6. Peroxides 9 and 10 (R(1) = OH) are readily available through a multicomponent, sequential, free-radical reaction involving thiol-monoterpenes co-oxygenation (a TOCO reaction). beta-Sulfenyl peroxides 9 and 10 (R(1) = OH) are converted into beta-sulfinyl and beta-sulfonyl peroxides of types 11-13 by controlled S-oxidation and manipulation of the tert-hydroxyl group through acylation, alkylation, or dehydration followed by selective hydrogenation. Ten enantiopure beta-sulfonyl peroxides of types 12 and 13 exhibit in vitro antimalarial activity comparable to that of artemisinin (IC(50) = 6-24 nM against Plasmodium falciparum NF54). In vivo testing of a few selected peroxides against Plasmodium berghei N indicates that the antimalarial efficacies of beta-sulfonyl peroxides 39a, 46a, 46b, and 50a are comparable to those of some of the best antimalarial drugs and are higher than artemisinin against chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium yoelii ssp. NS. In view of the nontoxicity of beta-sulfonyl peroxides 39a, 46a, and 46b in mice, at high dosing, these compounds are regarded as promising antimalarial drug candidates.

Synthesis of β-sulfenyl endoperoxides 9 was achieved by a four component sequential free radical reaction based on the application of the thiol-olefin-co-oxygenation reaction to monoterpenes, followed by in situ treatment with triphenylphosphine. β-Sulfenyl endoperoxides 9 were oxidized with m-CPBA to β-sulfonyl endoperoxides 10 . This process provides an efficient method for the preparation of peroxides containing the 2,3-dioxabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane system ( 2 ) characteristic of antimalarial agents of the yingzhaosu A ( 3 ) family. A simple NMR diagnostic tool for the identification of stereoisomers is described.

Stable nitroxides (nitroxyl radicals) have many essential and unique applications in chemistry, biology and medicine. However, the factors influencing their stability are still under investigation, and this hinders the design and development of new nitroxides. Nitroxides with tertiary alkyl groups are generally stable but obviously highly encumbered. In contrast, α-hydrogen-substituted nitroxides are generally inherently unstable and rapidly decompose. Herein, a novel, concept for the design of stable cyclic α-hydrogen nitroxides is described, and a proof-of-concept in the form of the facile synthesis and characterization of two diverse series of stable α-hydrogen nitroxides is presented. The stability of these unique α-hydrogen nitroxides is attributed to a combination of steric and stereoelectronic effects by which disproportionation is kinetically precluded. These stabilizing effects are achieved by the use of a nitroxide co-planar substituent in the γ-position of the backbone of the nitroxide. This premise is supported by a computational study, which provides insight into the disproportionation pathways of α-hydrogen nitroxides.

Reactions of antimalarial beta-sulfonyl endoperoxides 9 and 10, which, like yingzhaosu A (2), derive from the 2,3-dioxabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane system 3, with iron(II) salts were studied. Product analysis of the iron(II)-induced degradations provided evidence for the intermediacy of carbon-centered cyclohexyl radicals 20 and 31 and their possible oxidation to the corresponding carbocations 21 and 32. It is conceivable that the antimalarial activity of beta-sulfonyl endoperoxides of type 5 may derive from alkylation of vital intraparasitic biomolecules by free radicals and/or carbocations, generated within the malaria parasite through a similar iron(II)-induced degradation process.

TEMPO catalyzes the direct oxidation of aldehydes (I) to mixed anhydrides in the presence of pivalic acid.

The process is generally efficient under conditions A), where for the diols (V) formation of lactones is observed.

The systematic modification of natural products through diverted total synthesis is a powerful concept for the systematic modification of natural products with the aim of studying mechanistic aspects of their biological activity. This concept offers far-reaching opportunities for discovery at the interface of biology and chemistry. It is underpinned by the power of chemical synthesis, which manifests itself in the ability to modify structure at will. Its implementation, when combined with innovative design, enables the preparation of unique mechanistic probes that can be decisive in differentiating and validating biological hypotheses at the molecular level. This Review assembles a collection of classic and current cases that illustrate and underscore the scientific possibilities for practitioners of chemical synthesis.

Covering: 1955 to 2009 The preparation and biological properties of various AmB analogs and conjugates that have been studied since the introduction of AmB into the clinic over 50 years ago are reviewed. Amphotericin B (AmB) analogs prepared by semi-synthetic modifications as well as those produced via genetic modification of the AmB polyketide synthase cluster are discussed, thereby highlighting the complementary approaches. In addition, the review includes the synthesis of AmB conjugated to biomolecules such as sterols and reactive markers such as fluorescent dyes, as well as their application to further understand the mechanism of action of the parent compound.

Covering: 1955 to 2009 The preparation and biological properties of various AmB analogs and conjugates that have been studied since the introduction of AmB into the clinic over 50 years ago are reviewed. Amphotericin B (AmB) analogs prepared by semi-synthetic modifications as well as those produced via genetic modification of the AmB polyketide synthase cluster are discussed, thereby highlighting the complementary approaches. In addition, the review includes the synthesis of AmB conjugated to biomolecules such as sterols and reactive markers such as fluorescent dyes, as well as their application to further understand the mechanism of action of the parent compound.

Synthesis of β-sulfenyl endoperoxides 9 was achieved by a four component sequential free radical reaction based on the application of the thiol-olefin-co-oxygenation reaction to monoterpenes, followed by in situ treatment with triphenylphosphine. β-Sulfenyl endoperoxides 9 were oxidized with m-CPBA to β-sulfonyl endoperoxides 10 . This process provides an efficient method for the preparation of peroxides containing the 2,3-dioxabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane system ( 2 ) characteristic of antimalarial agents of the yingzhaosu A ( 3 ) family. A simple NMR diagnostic tool for the identification of stereoisomers is described.