In 1893, P. Biginelli reported the synthesis of functionalized 3, 4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-ones (DHPMs) via three-component condensation reaction of an aromatic aldehyde, urea, and ethyl acetoacetate. In the past decade, this long-neglected multicomponent reaction has experienced a remarkable revival, mainly due to the interesting pharmacological properties associated with this dihydropyrimidine scaffold. In this Account, we highlight recent developments in the Biginelli reaction in areas such as solid-phase synthesis, combinatorial chemistry, and natural product synthesis.

/pdf/recent-advances-in-the-biginelli-dihydropyrimidine-synthesis-4gx0pyv934.pdf

Recent advances in the Biginelli dihydropyrimidine synthesis. New tricks from an old dog.

The recent advent of transition-metal mediated CH activation is revolutionizing the synthetic field and gradually infusing a “CH activation mind-set” in both students and practitioners of organic synthesis. As a powerful testament of this emerging synthetic tool, applications of CH activation in the context of total synthesis of complex natural products are beginning to blossom. Herein, recently completed total syntheses showcasing creative and ingenious incorporation of CH activation as a strategic manoeuver are compared with their “non-CH activation” counterparts, illuminating a new paradigm in strategic synthetic design.

C-H activation: a complementary tool in the total synthesis of complex natural products.

H. Tanino

Papers

A stereospecific total synthesis of d,l-saxitoxin.

A stereospecific total synthesis of dl-saxitoxin