An Au(I)-catalyzed cyclization/1,2-rearrangement/aromatization cascade of 3-yne-1,2-diols has been successfully realized. This reaction not only provides a new and efficient strategy for the synthesis of substituted cycloalka[b]furan compounds as well as their derivatives, but might also facilitate related biological studies.

A Zn(OTf)2-promoted cyclization reaction of tosylhydrazones with 2-(dimethylamino)malononitrile has been successfully developed providing an efficient strategy for the synthesis of substituted 1-tosyl-1H-pyrazoles.

An unprecedented nucleophilic addition/cyclization/aromatization cascade of basic chemicals, i.e., aromatic alkenes/alkynes, trimethylsilyl cyanide and N,N-disubstituted formamide, has been developed to give a series of multisubstituted pyrroles in moderate to good yields with high regioselectivities. This reaction not only reveals a new reaction mode for α-aminonitriles, but also provides a new and efficient cyclization pattern for the synthesis of multisubstituted pyrroles as well as their derivatives, which might facilitate related biological studies.

A radical-participated addition/dearomatization–cyclization/decarboxylation cascade between aryl 3-arylpropiolate and ethers (cycloalkane) has been developed to give a series of 1,1,2-trisubstituted ethylenes in moderate to good yields.

2-Substituted-1,4,5,6-tetrahydrocyclopenta[b]pyrrole, a key structural moiety exiting in many bioactive molecules, has been shown to have excellent selective activity on COX-2. In the present study, the anti-inflammatory activity and the underlying molecular mechanism of 2-substituted-1,4,5,6-tetrahydrocyclopenta[b]pyrrole on skin inflammation were assessed by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced skin inflammation in mice. Most of the compounds showed anti-inflammatory activity on TPA-induced skin inflammation. The anti-inflammatory activity of compound 4 showed higher anti-inflammatory activity than celecoxib (3.2-fold). Compound 4 pretreatment resulted in markedly suppression of TPA-induced IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and COX-2, respectively. Furthermore, the mechanical study indicated that the anti-inflammatory activity of compound 4 was associated with its ability to inhibit activation of factor kappa-κB (NF-κB) by blocking IκB kinase (IKK) activities. Accordingly, compound 4 could be used as a potential anti-inflammatory agent for skin inflammation.Download high-res image (80KB)Download full-size image

An Au(I)-catalyzed tandem reaction for the synthesis of 2-phenyl-1,4,5,6-tetrahydrocyclopenta[b]pyrrole derivatives from 1-(1-hydroxy-3-phenylprop-2-yn-1-yl)cyclobutanol and primary amines or NH4OAc has been developed to afford a series of polysubstituted pyrroles in moderate to good yields.

A novel SnCl4-promoted tandem reaction toward multisubstituted indenes via a sequential C–O bond cleavage/Nazarov cyclization/nucleophilic addition reaction has been developed to afford a series of multisubstituted indenes with an all-carbon quaternary center in moderate to good yields.

A copper-catalyzed dicyanation of N,N-disubstituted formamide with trimethylsilyl cyanide (TMSCN) has been successfully developed to give a series of dialkylamino-malononitriles in moderate to good yields. This novel method might provide versatile synthetically useful intermediates for the construction of α-amino acids and various kinds of structurally diverse nitrogen heterocycles.

A copper-catalyzed Markovnikov-type intermolecular azidocyanation of aryl alkenes has been developed to give a series of α-azido-propanenitriles in moderate to good yields. This method may provide a potential strategy for the synthesis of corresponding 3-amino-2-arylpropanoic acid.

(+)-Alopecuridine, (+)-sieboldine A, and (−)-lycojapodine A, three structurally unique and related lycopodium alkaloids, have been synthesized in enantiomeric forms through an efficient strategy. The main synthetic approach for (+)-alopecuridine features a semipinacol rearrangement of hydroxyl epoxide to construct the spiro 6,9-azacarbocycles with an all-carbon quaternary center and a late-stage SmI2-mediated intramolecular coupling to form the 5-membered ring. Subsequently, the biomimetic synthesis of (+)-sieboldine A and (−)-lycojapodine A was accomplished successfully through two different bioinspired oxidations after a wide search for the oxidation methods. As a result, (+)-sieboldine A was derived from (+)-alopecuridine through an N-oxidation/nitrone formation process and (−)-lycojapodine A through an interesting cyclic hemiketal formation/oxidative diol cleavage pathway. These results confirmed the biogenetic relationship among the three alkaloids.

A novel palladium-catalyzed cascade allylic amination/intramolecular hydroamination/isomerization process of protected enynol 1 and primary amine 2 has been explored, which constructs the important 1,2,5-trisubstituted pyrroles. This transformation offers an alternative synthetic methodology capable of generating substituted pyrroles in a straightforward way.

An Au(I)-catalyzed cyclization/1,2-rearrangement/aromatization cascade of 3-yne-1,2-diols has been successfully realized. This reaction not only provides a new and efficient strategy for the synthesis of substituted cycloalka[b]furan compounds as well as their derivatives, but might also facilitate related biological studies.

A copper-catalyzed Markovnikov-type intermolecular azidocyanation of aryl alkenes has been developed to give a series of α-azido-propanenitriles in moderate to good yields. This method may provide a potential strategy for the synthesis of corresponding 3-amino-2-arylpropanoic acid.

A Zn(OTf)2-promoted cyclization reaction of tosylhydrazones with 2-(dimethylamino)malononitrile has been successfully developed providing an efficient strategy for the synthesis of substituted 1-tosyl-1H-pyrazoles.

An Au(I)-catalyzed tandem reaction for the synthesis of 2-phenyl-1,4,5,6-tetrahydrocyclopenta[b]pyrrole derivatives from 1-(1-hydroxy-3-phenylprop-2-yn-1-yl)cyclobutanol and primary amines or NH4OAc has been developed to afford a series of polysubstituted pyrroles in moderate to good yields.