Synthesis of Alkoxycarbonyldifluoromethyl-Substituted Semisquarates and Their Transformations

A novel EtO2CCF2-substituted semisquarate is synthesized from diisopropyl squarate by selective 1,2-addition of the Reformatsky reagent derived from BrCF2CO2Et and subsequent rhenium-catalyzed allylic alcohol rearrangement. The compatibility of the highly reactive EtO2CCF2 group in ring transformations of the obtained semisquarate is investigated. Various EtO2CCF2-substituted, highly functionalized compounds, such as quinones, tetronates, cyclopentenones and a bicyclo-[3.2.0]heptenone, are successfully synthesized by ring transformations of the EtO2CCF2-substituted semisquarate. Also, an allylO2CCF2-substituted semisquarate is prepared and converted into the corresponding tetronate. Subsequent palladium-catalyzed deallylation followed by condensation of the resulting carboxylic acid with several amines under mild conditions affords the corresponding α,α-difluoroamides in good yields.

Preparation of Benzene Derivatives: The Yu/Baran Synthesis of (+)-Hongoquercin A

Lutz Ackermann of the Georg-August-Universität Göttingen oxidized (Org. Lett. 2013, 15, 3484) the anisole derivative 1 to the phenol 2. Melanie S. Sanford of the University of Michigan devised (Org. Lett. 2013, 15, 5428) complementary condi­tions for either para acetoxylation of 3, illustrated, to give 4, or meta acetoxylation. Lukas J. Goossen of the Technische Universität Kaiserlautern developed (Synthesis 2013, 45, 2387) conditions for the cascade alkoxylation/decarboxylation of 5 to give 6. Cheol-Hong Cheon of Korea University showed (J. Org. Chem. 2013, 78, 12154) that the boronic acid of 7 could act as a blocking group during electrophilic aromatic substitution or, as illustrated, as an ortho directing group. It could then be removed by protodeboronation, leading to 8. Jun Wu of Zhejiang University coupled (Synlett 2013, 24, 1448) the phenol 9 with the bromo amide 10 to give an ether that, on exposure to KOH at elevated temperature, rearranged to the intermediate amide, that was then hydrolyzed to 11. Dong-Shoo Shin of Changwon National University reported (Tetrahedron Lett. 2013, 54, 5151) a similar protocol (not illustrated) to prepare unsubsti­tuted anilines. Guangbin Dong of the University of Texas, Austin used (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2013, 135, 18350) a variation on the Catellani reaction to add 13 to the ortho bromide 12 to give the meta amine 14. Kei Manabe of the University of Shizuoka found (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2013, 52, 8611) that the crystalline N-for­myl saccharin 16 was a suitable CO donor for the carbonylation of the bromide 15 to the aldehyde 17. John F. Hartwig of the University of California, Berkeley described (J. Org. Chem. 2013, 78, 8250) the coupling of the zinc enolate of an ester (Reformatsky reagent), either preformed or generated in situ, with an aryl bromide 18 to give 19. Olafs Daugulis of the University of Houston developed (Org. Lett. 2013, 15, 5842) conditions for the directed ortho phenoxylation of 20 with 21 to give 22. Yao Fu of the University of Science and Technology of China effected (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2013, 135, 10630) directed ortho cyanation of 23 with 24 to give 25.

Novel One-Pot Cyclization of the Blaise Reaction Intermediate and Arylglyoxals: The Synthesis of Substituted NH-Pyrroles

A novel tandem Blaise reaction for the one-pot synthesis of substituted NH-pyrroles was described. The Blaise reaction intermediate, generated in situ from Reformatsky reagent and nitrile, reacted with arylglyoxals chemoselectively to afford a wide variety of substituted NH-pyrroles in good yields.