Pauson-Khand Research Articles

Asymmetric Total Synthesis of (-)-Spirochensilide A, Part 1: Diastereoselective Synthesis of the ABCD Ring and Stereoselective Total Synthesis of 13(R)-Demethyl Spirochensilide A.

A concise and diastereoselective construction of the ABCD ring system of spirochensilide A is described. The key steps of this synthesis are a semipinacol rearrangement reaction to stereoselectively construct the AB ring system bearing two vicinal quaternary chiral centers and a Co-mediated Pauson-Khand reaction to form the spiro-based bicyclic CD ring system. This chemistry leads to the stereoselective synthesis of 13(R)-demethyl spirochensilide A, paving the way for the first asymmetric total synthesis of (-)-spirochensilide A.

Multilabel Classification Models for the Prediction of Cross-Coupling Reaction Conditions.

Machine-learned ranking models have been developed for the prediction of substrate-specific cross-coupling reaction conditions. Data sets of published reactions were curated for Suzuki, Negishi, and C-N couplings, as well as Pauson-Khand reactions. String, descriptor, and graph encodings were tested as input representations, and models were trained to predict the set of conditions used in a reaction as a binary vector. Unique reagent dictionaries categorized by expert-crafted reaction roles were constructed for each data set, leading to context-aware predictions. We find that relational graph convolutional networks and gradient-boosting machines are very effective for this learning task, and we disclose a novel reaction-level graph attention operation in the top-performing model.

Navigating the Pauson-Khand Reaction in Total Syntheses of Complex Natural Products.

"Total synthesis endeavors provide wonderful opportunities to discover and invent new synthetic reactions as a means to advance organic synthesis in general. Such discoveries and inventions can occur when the practitioner faces intransigent problems that cannot be solved by known methods and/or when method improvements are desired in terms of elegance, efficiency, cost-effectiveness, practicality, or environmental friendliness" (K. C. Nicolaou et al. from their review in CCS Chem. 2019, 1, 3-37). To date tens of thousands of bioactive compounds have been isolated from plants, microbes, marine invertebrates, and other sources. These chemical structures have been studied by chemists who scanned the breadth of natural diversity toward drug discovery efforts. Drug-likeness of natural products often possesses common features including molecular complexity, protein-binding ability, structural rigidity, and three-dimensionality. Considering certain biologically important natural products are scarce from natural supply, total synthesis may provide an alternative solution to generating these compounds and their derivatives for the purpose of probing their biological functions. Natural products bearing quaternary carbon stereocenters represent a group of biologically important natural entities that are lead compounds in the development of pharmacological agents and biological probes. However, the stereocontrolled introduction of quaternary carbons, with vicinal patterns that substantially expand the complexity of molecular architectures and chemical space in particular, presents distinct challenges because of the high steric repulsion between substituents. Though remarkable advance has been seen for quaternary carbon stereocenter generation, the process remains a daunting challenge given that the formation of highly congested stereocenters increases the difficulty in achieving orbital overlap.In the past two decades, our group has initiated a program to develop synthetic strategies and methods with the aim of advancing the frontiers of the total syntheses of biologically important complex natural products bearing all-carbon quaternary stereogenic centers. Typical endeavors have involved the use of a Pauson-Khand (PK) reaction as a key step in constructing core structures with all-carbon quaternary stereogenic center(s), with the aid of well-orchestrated thiourea-Co- and thiourea-Pd-catalyzed PK reactions. These methodological advances have enabled us to achieve total syntheses of a series of topologically complex natural products with diverse structural features. These methods will enable the assembly of molecules with improved biological functions and provide tool compounds for elucidation of mechanism of action or identification of potential cellular targets.

Application of Pauson-Khand reaction in the total synthesis of terpenes.

The Pauson–Khand reaction (PKR) is a formal [2 + 2 + 1] cycloaddition involving an alkyne, an alkene and carbon monoxide mediated by a hexacarbonyldicobaltalkyne complex to yield cyclopentenones in a single step. This versatile reaction has become a method of choice for the synthesis of cyclopentenone and its derivatives since its discovery in the early seventies. The aim of this review is to point out the applications of PKR in the total synthesis of terpenes.

New insights into the biphasic “CO-free” Pauson–Khand cyclisation reaction through combined in situ spectroscopy and multiple linear regression modelling

Multiple linear regression modelling is used to analyse in situ Raman spectra recorded during a “CO-free” Pauson–Khand type cyclisation which enables a knowledge-driven optimisation protocol.

Cobalt-catalyzed carbonylative cycloaddition of substituted diynes to access complexed polycyclic compounds

A cobalt-catalyzed domino Pauson–Khand and [4 + 2] cycloaddition of substituted diynes has been developed for the rapid construction of complexed polycyclic ring systems.

Mechanism and Origins of Enantioselectivity in the Rh(I)-Catalyzed Pauson–Khand Reaction: Comparison of Bidentate and Monodentate Chiral Ligands

The narrow substrate scope of the asymmetric Pauson–Khand reaction (PKR) presently limits its synthetic utility. We recently reported an example of an enantioselective PKR with a precursor not comp...

Total Syntheses of (+)-Waihoensene

Key words (+)-waihoensene - diterpene - Pauson–Khand reaction - Conia-ene reaction - radical cyclization - decarboxylative allylation

Total Synthesis of the Diterpene Waihoensene

AbstractA racemic and scalable enantioselective total synthesis of (+)‐waihoensene was accomplished. (+)‐Waihoensene belongs to the diterpene natural product family, and it features an angular triquinane substructure motif. Its tetracyclic [6.5.5.5]backbone is all‐cis‐fused, containing six contiguous stereocenters, four of which are quaternary. These structural features were efficiently installed by means of a diastereoselective radical cyclization, followed by an intramolecular Pauson–Khand reaction, a diastereoselective α‐alkylation, and a diastereoselective 1,4‐addition reaction. Enantioselectivity was introduced at an early stage, by an asymmetric palladium catalyzed decarboxylative allylation reaction on gram scale.

Total Synthesis of the Diterpene Waihoensene.

A racemic and scalable enantioselective total synthesis of (+)‐waihoensene was accomplished. (+)‐Waihoensene belongs to the diterpene natural product family, and it features an angular triquinane substructure motif. Its tetracyclic [6.5.5.5]backbone is all‐cis‐fused, containing six contiguous stereocenters, four of which are quaternary. These structural features were efficiently installed by means of a diastereoselective radical cyclization, followed by an intramolecular Pauson–Khand reaction, a diastereoselective α‐alkylation, and a diastereoselective 1,4‐addition reaction. Enantioselectivity was introduced at an early stage, by an asymmetric palladium catalyzed decarboxylative allylation reaction on gram scale.

Advances in the cobalt-catalysed Pauson-Khand reaction: Development of a sulfide-promoted, microwave-assisted protocol

The development of a sulfide-promoted, microwave-assisted Pauson-Khand reaction has enabled the formation of fused cyclopentenones using sub-stoichiometric quantities of a cobalt mediator over rapid reaction times and with no requirement for an external source of toxic carbon monoxide gas. This protocol displays applicability to both intra- and intermolecular Pauson-Khand reaction examples.

Synthesis of Guaianolide Analogues with a Tunable α-Methylene-γ-lactam Electrophile and Correlating Bioactivity with Thiol Reactivity.

α-Methylene-γ-lactones are present in ∼3% of known natural products, and compounds comprising this motif display a range of biological activities. However, this reactive lactone limits informed structure-activity relationships for these bioactive molecules. Herein, we describe chemically tuning the electrophilicity of the α-methylene-γ-lactone by replacement with an α-methylene-γ-lactam. Guaianolide analogues having α-methylene-γ-lactams are synthesized using the allenic Pauson-Khand reaction. Substitution of the lactam nitrogen with electronically different groups affords diverse thiol reactivity. Cellular NF-κB inhibition assays for these lactams were benchmarked against parthenolide and a synthetic α-methylene-γ-lactone showing a positive correlation between thiol reactivity and bioactivity. Cytotoxicity assays show good correlation at the outer limits of thiol reactivity but less so for compounds with intermediate reactivity. A La assay to detect reactive molecules by nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry peptide sequencing assays with the La antigen protein demonstrate that lactam analogues with muted nonspecific thiol reactivities constitute a better electrophile for rational chemical probe and therapeutic molecule design.

Total Synthesis of (+)-Haperforin G.

A concise chemical synthesis of (+)-haperforin G in 20 steps from commercially available starting materials is achieved with the integration of the Co-catalyzed intramolecular Pauson-Khand reaction for the stereoselective construction of cyclopentanone bearing an all-carbon quaternary stereogenic center at the bridge-head position and the light-initiated photocatalysis for convergent and asymmetric cross-coupling of the unstabilized C(sp3)-radical with an enone. The developed chemistry paves the way to synthesizing structurally diverse analogs of haperforin G (6).

Synthesis of Cyclopentenones with Reverse Pauson-Khand Regiocontrol via Ni-Catalyzed C-C Activation of Cyclopropanone.

A formal [3 + 2] cycloaddition between cyclopropanone and alkynes via Ni-catalyzed C-C bond activation has been developed, where 1-sulfonylcyclopropanols are employed as key precursors of cyclopropanone in the presence of trimethylaluminum. The transformation provides access to 2,3-disubstituted cyclopentenones with complete regiocontrol, favoring reverse Pauson-Khand products, where the large substituent is located at the 3-position of the ring. In the process, the trimethylaluminum additive is thought to play multiple roles, including as a Brønsted base triggering the equilibration to cyclopropanone and liberation of methane, as well as a source of Lewis acid to activate the carbonyl group toward Ni-catalyzed C-C activation.

Titanium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Pauson–Khand Type Reaction

Key words titanium catalysis - Pauson–Khand type reaction - asymmetric synthesis - bicyclic cyclopentenones

Evolution of Pauson-Khand Reaction: Strategic Applications in Total Syntheses of Architecturally Complex Natural Products (2016–2020)

Metal-mediated cyclizations are important transformations in a natural product total synthesis. The Pauson-Khand reaction, particularly powerful for establishing cyclopentenone-containing structures, is distinguished as one of the most attractive annulation processes routinely employed in synthesis campaigns. This review covers Co, Rh, and Pd catalyzed Pauson-Khand reaction and summarizes its strategic applications in total syntheses of structurally complex natural products in the last five years. Additionally, the hetero-Pauson-Khand reaction in the synthesis of heterocycles will also be discussed. Focusing on the panorama of organic synthesis, this review highlights the strategically developed Pauson-Khand reaction in fulfilling total synthetic tasks and its synthetic attractiveness is aimed to be illustrated.

Synthesis of Cyclic Compounds Containing Aminobenzenesulfonamide

This review, based on my research work, introduces and summarizes the synthesis and characterization of novel cyclic compounds containing aminobenzenesulfonamide. The review discusses the (1) development of sequential Nicholas and Pauson-Khand reactions for the synthesis of unique polyheterocyclic compounds, (2) production of 2-aminobenzenesulfonamide-containing cyclononyne (ABSACN) as a multifunctional click cycloalkyne agent, and (3) improvement of the intramolecular Pauson-Khand reaction of the nitroarene-enyne substrate for the synthesis of cyclopenta[c]piperidine alkaloids. This research work will facilitate the discovery of sulfonamide or sultam-based functional molecules and pharmaceuticals. Thus, I believe that aminobenzenesulfonamide derivatives are versatile and valuable chemical moieties not only in organic syntheses but also in the pharmaceutical industry. If you are interested in the details of this topic, please refer to the original papers.

Pauson-Khand reaction of fluorinated compounds.

The Pauson–Khand reaction (PKR) is one of the key methods for the construction of cyclopentenone derivatives, which can in turn undergo diverse chemical transformations to yield more complex biologically active molecules. Despite the increasing availability of fluorinated building blocks and methodologies to incorporate fluorine in compounds with biological interest, there have been few significant advances focused on the fluoro-Pauson–Khand reaction, both in the inter- and intramolecular versions. Furthermore, the use of vinyl fluorides as olefinic counterparts had been completely overlooked. In this review, we collect the advances both on the stoichiometric and catalytic intermolecular and intramolecular fluoro-Pauson–Khand reaction, with special attention to the PKR of enynes containing a fluoride moiety.

Total Syntheses of (−)‐Conidiogenone B, (−)‐Conidiogenone, and (−)‐Conidiogenol

AbstractCyclopianes are novel diterpenes featuring a highly strained 6/5/5/5 tetracyclic core embedded with 6–8 consecutive stereocenters. The concise total syntheses of (−)‐conidiogenone B, (−)‐conidiogenone, and (−)‐conidiogenol have been accomplished in 14–17 steps. The present work features a HAT‐mediated alkene–nitrile cyclization to access the cis‐biquinane, a Nicholas/Pauson–Khand reaction to construct the linear triquinane, and a Danheiser annulation to afford the congested angular triquinane skeleton.

Asymmetric Total Synthesis of Bufospirostenin A.

The first and asymmetric total synthesis of bioactive bufospirostenin A, an unusual spirostanol with rearranged A/B rings, was accomplished. The synthetically challenging [5-7-6-5] tetracyclic ring system, found in bufospirostenin A and some other natural products, was efficiently constructed by the unique intramolecular rhodium-catalyzed Pauson-Khand reaction of an alkoxyallene-yne. The 11 stereocenters in the final product, including the 10 contiguous stereocenters, were installed diastereoselectively.