The design and implementation of cascade reactions is a challenging facet of organic chemistry, yet one that can impart striking novelty, elegance, and efficiency to synthetic strategies. The application of cascade reactions to natural products synthesis represents a particularly demanding task, but the results can be both stunning and instructive. This Review highlights selected examples of cascade reactions in total synthesis, with particular emphasis on recent applications therein. The examples discussed herein illustrate the power of these processes in the construction of complex molecules and underscore their future potential in chemical synthesis.

Cascade reactions in total synthesis.

http://aether.cmi.ua.ac.be/artikels/Artikels%20Gitte/Artikels/Reviews/Trans.%20Metal.%20catal.%20reactions%20Chem.%20rev.%20042127.pdf

Transition-Metal-Catalyzed Reactions in Heterocyclic Synthesis

Enantioselective catalytic aziridinations and asymmetric nitrene insertions into CH bonds.

Heterocycles constitute the largest and the most diverse family of organic compounds Among them, aromatic heterocycles represent structural motifs found in a great number of biologically active natural and synthetic compounds, drugs, and agrochemicals Moreover, aromatic heterocycles are widely used for synthesis of dyes and polymeric materials of high value 1 There are numerous reports on employment of aromatic heterocycles as intermediates in organic synthesis 2

Although, a variety of highly efficient methodologies for synthesis of aromatic heterocycles and their derivatives have been reported in the past, the development of novel methodologies is in cuntinious demand Particlularly, development of new synthetic approaches toward heterocycles, aiming at achieving greater levels of molecular complexity and better functional group compatibilities in a convergent and atom economical fashions from readily accessible starting materials and under mild reaction conditions, is one of a major research endeavor in modern synthetic organic chemistry Transition metal-catalyzed transformations, which often help to meet the above criteria, are among the most attractive synthetic tools

Several excellent reviews dealing with transition metal-catalyzed synthesis of heterocyclic compounds have been published in literature during recent years Many of them highlighted the use of a particular transition metal, such as gold,3 silver,4 palladium,5 copper,6 cobalt,7 ruthenium,8 iron,9 mercury,10 rare-earth metals,11 and others Another array of reviews described the use of a specific kind of transformation, for instance, intramolecular nucleophilic attack of heteroatom at multiple C–C bonds,12 Sonogashira reaction,13 cycloaddition reactions,14 cycloisomerization reactions,15 C–H bond activation processes,16 metathesis reactions,17 etc Reviews devoted to an application of a particular type of starting materials have also been published Thus, for example, applications of isocyanides,18 diazocompounds,19 or azides20 have been discussed In addition, a significant attention was given to transition metal-catalyzed multicomponent syntheses of heterocycles21 Finally, syntheses of heterocycles featuring formation of intermediates, such as nitrenes,22 vinylidenes,23 carbenes, and carbenoids24 have also been reviewed

The main focus of the present review is a transition metal-catalyzed synthesis of aromatic monocyclic heterocycles The organization of the review is rather classical and is based on a heterocycle, categorized in the following order: (a) ring size of heterocycle, (b) number of heteroatoms, (c) type of heterocycle, and (d) a class of transformation involved A brief mechanistic discussion is given to provide information about a possible reaction pathway when necessary The review mostly discusses recent literature, starting from 200425 until the end of 2011, however, some earlier parent transformations are discussed when needed

Transition Metal-Mediated Synthesis of Monocyclic Aromatic Heterocycles

Catalytic C-H amination: recent progress and future directions.

Several unsaturated sulfonamides underwent intramolecular aziridination when treated with PhI(OAc)(2), MgO, and catalytic Rh(2)(OAc)(4) to give bicyclic aziridines in excellent yield. Treatment of the resulting azabicyclic sulfonamides in methanol in the presence of p-TsOH resulted in exclusive opening of the aziridine ring at the most substituted position affording six- and seven-membered ring products in high yield. In contrast, the intramolecular aziridination of several cycloalkenyl-substituted carbamates did not require a Rh(II) catalyst and proceeded via an iminoiodinane intermediate. The resulting tricyclic aziridines underwent ring opening when treated with various nucleophiles to give anti-derived products as expected for nucleophilic attack at the three-membered ring. The iodine(III)-mediated reaction of a 3-indolyl-substituted carbamate, however, required a Rh(II) catalyst. The expected aziridine was not observed, but rather simultaneous spirocyclization of C(3) and stereoselective syn-acylation at C(2) occurred to give compound 41, whose structure was unequivocally established by an X-ray crystallographic study. The reaction proceeds in a stepwise manner via a metal-free zwitterionic intermediate which is attacked by a nucleophilic reagent on the same side of the amide anion. Related reactions occurred with both a 2-indolyl- and 3-benzofuranyl-substituted carbamate but with lower stereoselectivity.

Rhodium(II)-catalyzed aziridination of allyl-substituted sulfonamides and carbamates.

Stereochemical aspects of the iodine(III)-mediated aziridination reaction of some cyclic allylic carbamates.

Transition metal catalyzed ring opening reactions of 2-phenyl-3-vinyl substituted 2H-azirines

/pdf/rhodium-ii-catalyzed-aziridination-of-allyl-substituted-3scexqji1k.pdf

Rhodium(II)‐Catalyzed Aziridination of Allyl‐Substituted Sulfonamides and Carbamates.

[reaction: see text] The iodine(III)-mediated aziridination reaction of an indolyl-substituted carbamate requires a Rh(II) catalyst and proceeds by a metallonitrene intermediate. Stepwise addition across the indole pi-bond followed by Rh(II) detachment generates a metal-free zwitterion, which ultimately leads to the observed products. In contrast, intramolecular aziridination of several cycloalkenyl carbamates does not require a Rh(II) catalyst and occurs via an iminoiodinane intermediate.

Thomas Stengel

Papers

Rhodium(II)-catalyzed aziridination of allyl-substituted sulfonamides and carbamates.

Stereochemical aspects of the iodine(III)-mediated aziridination reaction of some cyclic allylic carbamates.

Transition metal catalyzed ring opening reactions of 2-phenyl-3-vinyl substituted 2H-azirines

Rhodium(II)‐Catalyzed Aziridination of Allyl‐Substituted Sulfonamides and Carbamates.

Stereochemical Aspects of the Iodine(III)‐Mediated Aziridination Reaction of Some Cyclic Allylic Carbamates.