Gold(I)-catalyzed coupling reactions for the synthesis of diverse small molecules using the build/couple/pair strategy.

J Am Chem Soc
Authors
Keywords
Abstract

The build/couple/pair strategy has yielded small molecules with stereochemical and skeletal diversity by using short reaction sequences. Subsequent screening has shown that these compounds can achieve biological tasks considered challenging if not impossible ('undruggable') for small molecules. We have developed gold(I)-catalyzed cascade reactions of easily prepared propargyl propiolates as a means to achieve effective intermolecular coupling reactions for this strategy. Sequential alkyne activation of propargyl propiolates by a cationic gold(I) catalyst yields an oxocarbenium ion that we previously showed is trapped by C-based nucleophiles at an extrannular site to yield alpha-pyrones. Here, we report O-based nucleophiles react by ring opening to afford a novel polyfunctional product. In addition, by coupling suitable building blocks, we subsequently performed intramolecular pairing reactions that yield diverse and complex skeletons. These pairing reactions include one based on a novel aza-Wittig-6pi-electrocyclization sequence and others based on ring-closing metathesis reactions.

Year of Publication
2009
Journal
J Am Chem Soc
Volume
131
Issue
15
Pages
5667-74
Date Published
2009 Apr 22
ISSN
1520-5126
DOI
10.1021/ja900414s
PubMed ID
19331418
PubMed Central ID
PMC2669759
Links
Grant list
P50 GM069721 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States
Howard Hughes Medical Institute / United States