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A hitherto unknown class of C4‐symmetric Caryl−Cβ (C3, C8, C13, C18) axially chiral porphyrins has been synthesized and the application of their iridium (Ir) complexes in catalytic asymmetric C(sp3)−H functionalization is documented. Cyclotetramerization of enantioenriched axially chiral 2‐hydroxymethyl‐3‐naphthyl pyrroles under mild acidic conditions affords, after oxidation with 2,3‐dichloro‐5,6‐dicyano‐1,4‐benzoquinone (DDQ), the C4‐symmetric α,α,α,α‐atropenantiomer as an only isolable diastereomer. Both regioisomeric Ir(Por*)(CO)(Cl) complexes catalyze the carbene C−H insertion reaction affording the same enantiomer, albeit with slight difference in enantioselectivity. With the optimum Ir‐complex 3 e, the 2‐substituted arylacetic acid derivatives were generated from diazo compounds and cyclohexadiene in excellent yields and enantioselectivities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The generation of benzylic radicals through hydrogen atom abstraction (HAT) has been a recent research focus and various C(sp3)−H bond functionalization protocols have been developed relying on this elementary step. We report herein copper‐ and iron‐catalyzed C(sp3)−H benzylic azidation reactions using mCPBA and NFSI as oxidant, respectively, and TMSN3 as azide source. The reaction is thought to be initiated via intermolecular abstraction of benzylic hydrogen by the in situ generated heteroatom‐centered radicals. The Fe(OTf)3‐catalyzed azidation protocol displays good chemoselectivity as it takes place preferentially at the secondary and tertiary benzylic C(sp3)−H bonds over the primary benzylic and tertiary aliphatic carbons. Efforts on the development of catalytic enantioselective processes are also documented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report in this paper a Pd(II)‐catalyzed migratory gem‐fluorolactonization of ene‐carboxylic acids. Reaction of 4‐methylenealkanoic acid derivatives with Selectfluor in the presence of Pd(OAc)2 (1.0 mol %) at room temperature affords fluorolactones in good to excellent yields. 2‐(2‐Methylenecycloalkanyl)acetic acids are transformed to bridged fluorolactones under identical conditions. One C−C, one C−O and one tertiary C−F bond were generated along the gem‐disubstituted carbon‐carbon double bond in this operationally simple transformation. Trapping experiments indicates that the reaction is initiated by a 5‐exo‐trig oxypalladation followed by Pd oxidation, regioselective ring‐enlarging 1,2‐alkyl/Pd(IV) dyotropic rearrangement and C−F bond forming reductive elimination cascade. Post‐transformations of these fluorolactones taking advantage of the electrophilicity of the 1‐fluoroalkylcarboxylate function are also documented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A divergent asymmetric total synthesis of voacafricines A and B, hexacyclic monoterpene indole alkaloids, has been accomplished featuring the following key steps: a) a catalyst‐controlled asymmetric Pictet–Spengler reaction of 6‐methoxytryptamine with a chiral α‐ketoester affording a 1,1‐disubstituted tetrahydro‐β‐carboline in excellent yield and diastereoselectivity; b) oxidative cleavage of a 3,5‐disubstituted cyclopentene furnishing a dialdehyde intermediate, which was effectively differentiated through spontaneous cyclization with the neighboring hydroxy and secondary amine functions; c) intramolecular nucleophilic addition of a tertiary amino nitrogen atom to the in situ generated oxonium species generating stereoselectively an unprecedented 8‐alkyl octahydro‐2H‐5,8‐methanofuro[2,3‐b]azepin‐8‐ium motif bearing five contiguous stereocenters. The synthesis confirmed the absolute configuration of these two natural products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]