10.1016/S0040-4020(01)81902-5
The study explores the efficient hydration of nitriles using the RuH2(PPh3)4 catalyst, converting them into corresponding amides under neutral conditions with only 1-2 equivalents of water. This method is advantageous due to its simplicity, high efficiency, and mild reaction conditions. The study extends this principle to transform ?-ketonitriles into ene-lactams, which are versatile intermediates for synthesizing piperidine and hydroquinoline ring systems. The efficiency of these reactions is demonstrated through the short-step synthesis of (-)-pumiliotoxin C, a toxic skin alkaloid produced by Central American frogs. The study also investigates the catalytic activities of various metal complexes in these transformations, finding RuH2(PPh3)4 to be the most effective. Additionally, the study explores the conversion of ene-lactams into ?-dioxylactams and further into ?-substituted lactams using different nucleophiles in the presence of TiCl4, providing a useful method for the stereoselective synthesis of cyclic amines.
10.1021/jo902172r
The research focuses on the synthesis of (+-)-2-epi-pumiliotoxin C using oxazolone cycloadducts as heterocyclic scaffolds. The study employs an intramolecular Diels-Alder cycloaddition of N-substituted oxazolone triene to directly access the functionalized octahydroquinoline framework. Key chemicals involved in the research include divinyl carbinol, heptadienal, oxazolidine-2,4-dione, and diethylzinc. The synthesis process involves several steps, such as Saucy-type rearrangement, Grignard reaction, Mitsunobu reaction, cyclopropanation, and hydrogenolysis, ultimately leading to the final product (+-)-2-epi-pumiliotoxin C. The research demonstrates the utility of oxazolone IMDA cycloadducts as valuable scaffolds for alkaloid construction and provides a direct incorporation approach to synthesizing complex natural products.