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An efficient 3-step synthesis of bicyclo[1.1.0]butanes from monoprotected 1,2-butenediols is described. The product can be converted to cyclobutanes upon electrophilic activation.

A practical access to cyclopropylamines from the corresponding amides is disclosed, according to an electro-induced Hofmann rearrangement. In an undivided cell under galvanostatic conditions, a panel of cyclopropyl amides was readily converted into the corresponding amines (17 examples, 23% to 94% yield). This reaction allowed an easy access to the versatile cyclopropylamines and is complementary to the existing methods.

A total synthesis of the naturally occurring 1,3,6-trigalloyl-β-d-glucose is reported. The highlights of the synthesis include a regioselective benzylation of levoglucosan, followed by a 1,6-ring opening via acetolysis. Galloyl substituents were introduced via esterification, and the mixture of anomers obtained could be fully converted into the targeted β-anomer via selective hydrazinolysis followed by activation of the anomeric position by a trichloroacetimidate of the 1′-anomeric hydroxyl group. 1,3,6-Trigalloyl-β-d-glucose and its synthetic α-anomer were obtained in an overall yield of 31% and 22%, respectively, from levoglucosan or in an overall yield of 37% of the β-isomer exclusively by recycling the α-isomer.

Fluorine-containing cyclopropanes are a subclass of cyclopropane derivatives that have generated considerable interest in medicinal chemistry for several decades. The replacement of a cyclopropane C-H or C-CH3 bond with fluorine or a fluorinated group (such as CF3 or CF2H) can lead sometimes to synergistic effects in terms of biological activity and improved metabolic profile of a cyclopropane containing bioactive compound. In this context, the preparation of fluoro-, difluoromethyl-, or trifluoromethyl-cyclopropane is particularly attractive and important but quite challenging considering the unique electronic properties that result from the incorporation of a fluorine atom into a substrate or a reagent. In the past decade, we have sought to develop new routes for the stereoselective synthesis of these building blocks using the most reliable cyclopropanation methods and convenient and readily available starting materials. The challenge that had to be undertaken was how we could use the unique properties of the fluorine atom to improve upon the efficiency of a given process rather than shutting it down. This could be overcome by defining new substrate/reagent reactivity guidelines and carefully selecting whether the fluorinated group was introduced on the electrophilic or nucleophilic partner for a given reaction. In this Account, we describe our contributions in this area that take advantage of diazo-derived rhodium carbenes, zinc carbenoids, ring closure processes, and biocatalytic methods to access these important potential drug subunits. Our initial investigation relied on the development of a Michael-initiated ring closure reaction using the Reformatsky enolate derived from readily available ethyl dibromofluoroacetate and α,β-unsaturated electrophiles. The reaction proceeded extremely well but with modest to good diastereoselectivities with ester acrylates. Further extension to various fluorinated nucleophiles such as oxazolidinone based and DABCO ylides led to similar selectivities.In order to access enantioenriched fluorocyclopropanes, we then investigated the chiral dioxaborolane mediated zinc carbenoid based approaches using the fluoroiodomethylzinc carbenoid/allylic alcohol combination or the iodomethylzinc carbenoid/fluoroallylic alcohol combination. Quite surprisingly, both approaches were equally successful at providing the corresponding fluorocyclopropanes with excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivities.To broaden the scope of fluorinated cyclopropane building blocks that could be prepared with good enantiocontrol, we then investigated the rhodium-catalyzed cyclopropanation of fluoro-, difluoromethyl-, and trifluoromethyl-substituted alkenes with acceptor-acceptor and donor-acceptor diazo reagents. Depending on the substrate/reagent combination, Hashimoto's Rh2((S)-TCPTTL)4 or Davies' Rh2((S)-BTPCP)4 catalyst proved be the most efficient catalysts providing the cyclopropane derivatives with the highest enantioselectivities.More recently, a collaboration with Fasan's group led to the use of engineered myoglobins to catalyze the reaction of ethyl diazoacetate and difluoromethyl-substituted alkenes. This biocatalyzed process led to high turnover number and high enantioselectivities.Although our work has significantly increased the number of tools in the organic chemist's toolbox, continuous efforts in this area would be beneficial to the development of diastereo- and enantioselective approaches to allow the preparation of any elusive isomers of these valuable chiral building blocks.

The first diastereo- and enantioselective cyclopropanation reactions of electron-deficient allenes with donor-acceptor and diacceptor diazo reagents are described. The desired enantioenriched alkylidenecyclopropanes (ACPs) were obtained in high yields with high diastereo- and enantioselectivities in the presence of Rh

Flow science was implemented in the curriculum at UdeM though the NSERC CREATE grant in Continuous Flow Science. The training program involved both interpersonal and technical skills development. Examples include new practical laboratory experiments and traditional course material incorporated in the context of a course on Green Chemistry. A series of value-added training acitivities brought together students from various fields that intersect within flow chemistry, broadening horizons and providing a unique perspective on an emerging technology. As a whole, implementing flow chemistry in a chemistry curriculum benefits from a multipronged approach involving hands-on training, course work, and workshops.

This Minireview describes recent advances toward the synthesis of fluoro-, monofluoromethyl-, difluoromethyl-, and trifluoromethyl-substituted three-membered rings such as cyclopropanes, aziridines, epoxides, episulfides, cyclopropenes, and 2 H-azirines. The main synthetic methodologies since 2016 for cyclopropanes and since 2010 for the other three-membered rings are reported.

Cyclopropanation reactions using zinc carbenoids are a powerful means to access cyclopropanes. Described herein is an enantioselective version of the reaction using zinc reagents and a chiral dioxaborolane ligand in the generation of fluorocyclopropanes. Readily available 2- and 3-fluoroallylic alcohols were efficiently cyclopropanated in high yields and excellent enantioselectivities. This method provides access to a variety of structurally diverse chiral fluorocyclopropanes that can be used as useful chiral building blocks.

In this communication, we describe the synthesis of novel hexahydroazepinone derivatives starting from two simple building blocks in presence of a readily available palladium catalyst. The reaction proceeds through a selective C(sp

The cyclopropane ring is present in a large number of bio­active molecules as its incorporation often greatly alters their physiochemical properties. The synthesis of such motif is therefore of interest. Diazo compounds are versatile and powerful reagents that can be used in a broad range of reactions, including cyclopropanation processes. However, in case of unstable diazo reagents such as the donor-substituted­ variants, their inherent toxicity and instability have hampered their effective synthesis and utilization. Herein, we report the recent­ advances devoted to the safe and facile production of these potentially hazardous species and their subsequent application in cyclopropanation reactions, allowing the synthesis of more complex cyclopropylated motifs.1 Introduction2 Halomethylmetal-Mediated Cyclopropanations3 Cyclopropanations through Metallic- or Free Carbenes3.1 Transition-Metal-Catalyzed Decomposition of Diazo Compounds3.2 Metal-Free Decomposition of Diazo Compounds4 Michael Induced Ring Closure (MIRC) Reactions4.1 Sulfur Ylides4.2 1,3-Dipolar Cycloadditions5 Conclusion

International audience; The catalytic asymmetric synthesis of α,α-difluoromethylated tertiary alcohols is described, using an asymmetric dihydroxylation reaction. This protocol using either the AD-mix-α or AD-mix-β allowed an easy access to these valuable fluorinated chiral building blocks, which have been obtained with excellent yields and er. In addition, the reaction was extended to the α-fluoromethylated analogues.

An enantioselective and non-oxidative methodology was developed to obtain enantioenriched cyclopropyl boronates using a diethanolamine-promoted selective decomplexation of dioxaborolane. The non-oxidative decomplexation of the dioxaborolane ligand from the cyclopropylmethoxide species formed in the dioxaborolane-mediated Simmons–Smith cyclopropanation reaction provided the enantio­enriched CIDA-based (CIDA = N-cyclohexyliminodiacetic acid) boro­cyclopropane in 92% yield and 95.6:4.4 er. A robustness screen has shown diethanolamine to be compatible with esters, carbamates and N-heterocycles, providing a tool to access enantioenriched cyclopropanes carrying not only base-sensitive but oxidizable functional groups as well. Diethanolamine was found to be compatible with the modified zinco-cyclopropanation reaction of allyl alcohol to remove residual dioxaborolane from the corresponding cis-N-heterocycle cyclopropylmethanol, thereby leading to improved yields.

The bisphosphine monoxide ( R, R)-BozPhos enables enantioselective C-H functionalization of cyclopropanes in a palladium-catalyzed cyclization. The synthesis of a broad spectrum of dihydroisoquinolones and dihydroquinolones in good yields and high enantiomeric excess was achieved through the use of this hemilabile ligand. Furthermore, the isolation of an intermediary palladium(II)-BozPhos complex after oxidative addition was successful and a second complex provided further insight into bond length and angles through a crystal structure.

International audience; Herein, we report the catalytic asymmetric synthesis of functionalized fluorocyclopropanes from α-fluoroacrylates. The method using Rh2((S)-TCPTTL)4 allowed the difficult reaction of an in situ-generated electrophilic Rh-carbene with an electron-poor α-fluoroacrylate. The desired fluorocyclopropanes were obtained in good yields, excellent dr and ee. Finally, the mechanism of this transformation was studied by density functional theory (DFT) calculations to explain the particular reactivity of the donor–acceptor diazo compounds with electron-deficient α-fluoroacrylates.

Electron-rich alkyl diazo compounds are powerful reagents in organic synthesis, but the risks associated with their toxicity and instability often limit their uses. Herein we describe an efficient, easy-to-handle and safe batch protocol for the in situ generation and cyclopropanation of these highly reactive non-stabilized diazoalkanes through the oxidation of free hydrazones using iodosylbenzene. Numerous substituted cyclopropanes have been synthesized using this methodology, including various gem-dimethylcyclopropanes of particular interest in medicinal chemistry.

A simple continuous flow synthesis of alkenyl chlorides from the corresponding readily available alkenyl iodides in a copper reactor tubing is described. A variety of alkenyl chlorides were obtained in good to excellent yields with full retention of the double bond geometry. The reaction time was reduced by a factor of 24 to 48 compared to the batch process., SCOPUS: ar.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Herein, we report a user-friendly and metal-free UV-A light mediated borocyclopropanation of styrenes using continuous flow technology. A broad range of styrene derivatives can be cyclopropanated in good yields within 1 h residence time to produce highly valuable cyclopropylboronate esters with modest to good diastereoselectivities. The reaction is also applicable to α-substituted styrenes. Mechanistic studies support a photoredox process during which xanthone, a well-known organic photosensitizer, can easily reach a photoexcited state that is available for both an oxidative and a reductive quenching.

The modular synthesis of a variety of trans 1,2-disubstituted cyclopropanes in a safe and user-friendly one-pot iron-catalyzed cyclopropanation reaction is described. Easily synthesized N-nosylhydrazones are used as diazo precursors, allowing the in situ generation of electron-rich diazo compounds under mild reaction conditions and their direct participation in the cyclopropanation reaction.

Microbial transglutaminase (MTG) is a practical tool to enzymatically form isopeptide bonds between peptide or protein substrates. This natural approach to crosslinking the side-chains of reactive glutamine and lysine residues is solidly rooted in food and textile processing. More recently, MTG's tolerance for various primary amines in lieu of lysine have revealed its potential for site-specific protein labeling with aminated compounds, including fluorophores. Importantly, MTG can label glutamines at accessible positions in the body of a target protein, setting it apart from most labeling enzymes that react exclusively at protein termini. To expand its applicability as a labeling tool, we engineered the B1 domain of Protein G (GB1) to probe the selectivity and enhance the reactivity of MTG toward its glutamine substrate. We built a GB1 library where each variant contained a single glutamine at positions covering all secondary structure elements. The most reactive and selective variants displayed a >100-fold increase in incorporation of a recently developed aminated benzo[a]imidazo[2,1,5-cd]indolizine-type fluorophore, relative to native GB1. None of the variants were destabilized. Our results demonstrate that MTG can react readily with glutamines in α-helical, β-sheet, and unstructured loop elements and does not favor one type of secondary structure. Introducing point mutations within MTG's active site further increased reactivity toward the most reactive substrate variant, I6Q-GB1, enhancing MTG's capacity to fluorescently label an engineered, highly reactive glutamine substrate. This work demonstrates that MTG-reactive glutamines can be readily introduced into a protein domain for fluorescent labeling.

International audience; We report herein the development of two efficient synthetic routes for the preparation of a key fragment required for the synthesis of potent drug candidates of Hepatitis B virus. The ethyl 3-fluoro-1-H-pyrrole-2-carboxylate scaffold was synthesized from readily available starting materials in good overall yields. The scalability of one of the developed routes was demonstrated and afforded the desired target in good yield and excellent purity (99%).

A borocyclopropanation of (E)- and (Z)-allylic ethers and styrene derivatives via the Simmons-Smith reaction using a novel boromethylzinc carbenoid is described. The carbenoid precursor is prepared via a 3-step sequence from inexpensive and commercially available starting materials. This methodology allows for the preparation of 1,2,3-substituted borocyclopropanes in high yields and diastereoselectivities. Several postfunctionalization reactions were also performed to illustrate the versatility of these building blocks.

International audience; This Minireview describes recent advances toward the synthesis of trifluoromethyl‐ and difluoromethyl‐substituted cyclopropanes. Synthetic methodologies using [2+1] cycloaddition, ring‐contraction, and ring‐closure cyclopropanations since 2010 are reported.

A simple procedure for amide bond formation using diphenylsilane as a coupling reagent is described. This methodology enables the direct coupling of carboxylic acids with primary and secondary amines, releasing only hydrogen and a siloxane as by-products. Only one equivalent of each partner is needed, providing a more sustainable amidation method producing minimal wastes. This methodology was also extended to the synthesis of peptides and lactams by addition of Hunig's base (DIPEA) and 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP).

Electron-rich diazo compounds, such as aryldiazomethanes, are powerful reagents for the synthesis of complex structures, but the risks associated with their toxicity and instability often limit their use. Flow chemistry techniques make these issues avoidable, as the hazardous intermediate can be used as it is produced, avoiding accumulation and handling. Unfortunately, the produced stream is often contaminated with other reagents and by-products, making it incompatible with many applications, especially in catalysis. Herein is reported a metal-free continuous flow method for the production of aryldiazomethane solutions in a non-coordinating solvent from easily prepared, bench-stable sulfonylhydrazones. All by-products are removed by an in-line aqueous wash, leaving a clean, base-free diazo stream. Three successful sensitive metal-catalyzed transformations demonstrated the value of the method.

A fundamentally simple, mild, and practical procedure for peptide bond formation is reported that employs a stoichiometric amount of easy-to-access 9-silafluorenyl dichlorides as the coupling agent. Without initial preactivation or elaboration of the carboxylic acid or amine termini of the amino acids, the developed reagent is proposed to act through an unprecedented chemical ligation mechanism, bringing the two coupling partners together before being subsequently eliminated. The desired amides or peptide bonds are thus furnished in good yields and with low to no epimerization.

3-Aminoimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines are rapidly synthesized via a facile and mild cyclodehydration-aromatization reaction starting from readily available amides. The cyclodehydration step is mediated by the activation of N-Boc-protected 2-aminopyridine-containing amides by triflic anhydride (Tf2O) in the presence of 2-methoxypyridine (2-MeO-Py). Subsequently, the addition of K2CO3 in THF ensured a clean deprotection-aromatization sequence to afford the desired heterocycle. A wide variety of functional groups and substitution patterns were tolerated under the optimized procedure, and good to excellent yields were obtained for the fused bicyclic 3-aza-heterocycles. In addition, the reaction was found to be scalable to gram-scale and could be performed with unprotected acyclic amide precursors. We also found that the resulting products were valuable intermediates for both Pd- and Ru-catalyzed C–H arylation reactions, allowing for the elaboration to diversely functionalized building blocks.

The first in-flow difluorocarbene generation and addition to alkenes and alkynes is reported. The application of continuous flow technology allowed for the controlled generation of difluorocarbene from TMSCF3 and a catalytic quantity of NaI. The in situ generated electrophilic carbene reacts smoothly with a broad range of alkenes and alkynes, allowing the synthesis of the corresponding difluorocyclopropanes and difluorocyclopropenes. The reaction is complete within a 10 min residence time at high reaction concentrations. With a production flow rate of 1 mmol/min, continuous flow chemistry enables scale up of this process in a green, atom-economic, and safe manner.

The formation of the d-homocyclopamine ring system in IPI-926 is the key step in its semisynthesis and proceeds via a chemoselective cyclopropanation followed by a stereoselective acid-catalyzed carbocation rearrangement. In order to perform large-scale cyclopropanation reactions, we developed new iodomethylzinc bis(aryl)phosphate reagents that were found to be both effective and safe. These soluble reagents can be prepared under mild conditions and are stable during the course of the reaction. Importantly, they have favorable energetics relative to other cyclopropanating agents such as EtZnCH2I. Herein, we describe the process optimization studies that led to successful large-scale production of the d-homocyclopamine core necessary for IPI-926.

International audience; An efficient catalytic enantioselective access to chiral functionalized trifluoromethyl cyclopropanes from two classes of diazo compounds and α‐trifluoromethyl styrenes using Rh2((S)‐BTPCP)4 as a catalyst is described. This method provides an efficient and practical strategy for the synthesis of highly functionalized CF3‐cyclopropanes with excellent diastereoselectivities (up to 20:1) and enantioselectivities (up to 99 % ee). The depicted methodology represents, to date, the most efficient catalytic enantioselective method to access highly decorated chiral CF3‐cyclopropanes. Extension to chiral monohalomethyl cyclopropanes in high ee is also reported.

Intramolecular Pd-catalyzed functionalization of cyclopropyl α-amino acid-derived benzamides proceeds without silver or pivalate additives. Both electronically and sterically diverse ethyl 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolone-3-carboxylates were accessible in good to excellent yields.

A stereoselective bromocyclopropanation of allylic alcohols using dibromomethylzinc bromide is described. Spectroscopic studies to monitor the formation of transient intermediates not only led to the development of a more-atom-economical halocyclopropanation reaction, but also highlighted the unique role of ether additives in the process. The desired bromo-substituted cyclopropanes were isolated in high yields and excellent diastereo- as well as enantioselectivities using readily available reagents.

Chiral fluorocyclopropyl carbinols were synthesized in high diastereoselectivities via a zinc mediated cyclopropanation reaction, using sec-allylic alcohols as simple building blocks. An enantioselective version of this transformation was achieved through in situ formation of chiral allylic zinc sec-alkoxides from the requisite aldehydes using Walsh's protocol.

A two-step synthesis of structurally diverse 3-aminoindazoles from readily available starting materials was developed. This sequence includes a one-pot synthesis of aminohydrazones through chemoselective Tf2O-mediated activation of tertiary amides and subsequent addition of nucleophilic hydrazides. These precursors then participate in an intramolecular ligand-free Pd-catalyzed C-H amination reaction. The azaheterocycles synthesized via this approach were further diversified through subsequent deprotection/functionalization reactions.

Despite the high synthetic potential of nonstabilized diazo compounds, their utilization has always been hampered by stability, toxicity, and safety issues. The present method opens up access to the most reactive nonstabilized diazoalkanes. Among diazo compounds, nonstabilized alkyl diazo compounds are the least represented because of their propensity to degrade during preparation. The continuous flow oxidation process of hydrazones on a silver oxide column afforded an output stream of base- and metal-free pure diazo solution in dichloromethane. Starting from innocuous ketones and aldehydes, this methodology allows the production of a broad range of unprecedented diazoalkanes compounds in excellent yields, while highlighting their synthetic potential and the possibility of safe large-scale diazo production.

A straightforward synthesis of a tetraarylphosphonium (TAP)-supported Noyori–Ikariya catalyst is described. The TAP-supported ruthenium precatalyst provided good conversions and high enantioselectivities for the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of ketones in water. In addition the catalyst was easily recovered and used in multiple catalytic cycles.

Herein is described an improved synthetic route to enantio- and diastereoenriched iodocyclopropylmethanols using (diiodomethyl)zinc iodide etherate as the active species. The products obtained by this methodology were successfully functionalized by Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reactions. A Buchwald-type palladium precatalyst allowed access to highly substituted and stereo-enriched cyclopropanes without requiring a protecting group.

International audience; The first catalytic asymmetric synthesis of highly functionalized difluoromethylated cyclopropanes is described. The method, based on a rhodium‐catalyzed cyclopropanation of difluoromethylated olefins, gives access to a broad range of cyclopropanes bearing ester, ketone, or nitro functional groups. By using Rh2((S)‐BTPCP)4 as a catalyst, the corresponding products were obtained in high yields and high diastereo‐ and enantioselectivities (up 20:1 d.r. and 99 % ee). This methodology allowed preparation of enantioenriched difluoromethylcyclopropanes for the first time.

Microbial transglutaminase (MTG) is a practical tool to enzymatically form isopeptide bonds between peptide or protein substrates. This natural approach to crosslinking the side‐chains of reactive glutamine and lysine residues is solidly rooted in food and textile processing. More recently, MTG's tolerance for various primary amines in lieu of lysine have revealed its potential for site‐specific protein labeling with aminated compounds, including fluorophores. Importantly, MTG can label glutamines at accessible positions in the body of a target protein, setting it apart from most labeling enzymes that react exclusively at protein termini. To expand its applicability as a labeling tool, we engineered the B1 domain of Protein G (GB1) to probe the selectivity and enhance the reactivity of MTG toward its glutamine substrate. We built a GB1 library where each variant contained a single glutamine at positions covering all secondary structure elements. The most reactive and selective variants displayed a >100‐fold increase in incorporation of a recently developed aminated benzo[a]imidazo[2,1,5‐cd]indolizine‐type fluorophore, relative to native GB1. None of the variants were destabilized. Our results demonstrate that MTG can react readily with glutamines in α‐helical, β‐sheet, and unstructured loop elements and does not favor one type of secondary structure. Introducing point mutations within MTG's active site further increased reactivity toward the most reactive substrate variant, I6Q‐GB1, enhancing MTG's capacity to fluorescently label an engineered, highly reactive glutamine substrate. This work demonstrates that MTG‐reactive glutamines can be readily introduced into a protein domain for fluorescent labeling.

Herein we report the discovery of the benzo[a]imidazo[2,1,5-c,d]indolizine motif displaying tunable emission covering most of the visible spectrum. The polycyclic core is obtained from readily available amides via a chemoselective process involving Tf2O-mediated amide cyclodehydration, followed by intramolecular C–H arylation. Additionally, these fluorescent heterocycles are easily functionalized using electrophilic reagents, enabling divergent access to varied substitution. The effects of said substitution on the compounds’ photophysical properties were rationalized by density functional theory calculations. For some compounds, emission wavelengths are directly correlated to the substituent’s Hammett constants. Easily introduced nonconjugated reactive functional groups allow the labeling of biomolecules without modification of emissive properties. This work provides a straightforward platform for the synthesis of new moderately bright fluorescent dyes remarkable for their chemical stability, predictabili...