Victor Snieckus

Two new smectic C* mesogens containing a hexyloxy side chain and an azafluorenone (3a) or azafluorenol (3b) core were synthesized using a combined directed ortho metalation-directed remote metalation–Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling strategy. 3b was formed in 10 steps and 25% overall yield based on starting benzamide 1a. 3a forms a nematic phase, while 3b forms a smectic A phase. The large temperature range of the smectic phase for the azafluorenol 3b is indicative of mesophase stabilization by intermolecular hydrogen bonding between the hydroxyl group and pyridine nitrogen oafff neighbouring 3b molecules.

Mono- and dianion species of 1,8-naphthalene diamide 2 were generated under sec-BuLi/TMEDA conditions and trapped with a variety of electrophiles to give 2- and 2,7- substituted products 3 and 4. Using Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling, mono- and di-iodinated products were converted into the corresponding 2-aryl (5) and 2,7-diaryl (6) products, respectively. The amide–amide rotation barrier of 2 was established by VT NMR, and the structure of fluorenone structure 9, obtained by remote metalation, was secured.

The linked directed ortho and remote metalation (DoM and DreM) and cross-coupling reactions of aryl phosphorodiamidates (Ar-OP(O)(NEt₂)₂) is reported. The o-iodo and o-boronato aryl tetraethylphosphorodiamidates 3, prepared by DoM, undergo orthogonal Ni- and Pd-catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura cross coupling to furnish biaryls 4 and 5 in good to excellent yields. Silicon group protection of biaryl 4 via DoM followed by previously unobserved DreM phospha anionic Fries rearrangement affords biaryls 11 which, under acidic conditions, furnish oxaphosphorine oxides 12.

The general synthesis of diversely substituted dibenzoxepinones by a combined Pd‐catalyzed α‐arylation and S_NAr strategy is reported and applied to the synthesis of Manske's ketone, a key intermediate en route to the total synthesis of cularine alkaloids. In the course of this work, an unanticipated ring contraction reaction to a xanthone was observed and serves as a caveat for the conditions of the widely used α‐arylation reaction.

We report on the tetraethylphosphorodiamidate (−OP(O)(NEt₂)₂) group as an effective directed metalation group (DMG). Lithiation-electrophile quench of 1 provides a general synthesis of ortho-substituted aryl and naphthyl phosphorodiamidates 4–8. We also describe the phospha anionic ortho-Fries (AoF) rearrangement of the phosphorodiamidates 1a,1b → 2 or 3 and its vinylogous counterpart to the ortho-tolyl phosphorodiamidates 5b → 13. Intermolecular competition experiments demonstrate the approximately equal DMG strength of the −OP(O)(NEt₂)₂ and the most powerful OCONEt₂ groups.

Prodiginines and tambjamines are related families of bioactive alkaloid natural products with pharmaceutical potential. Both compound families result from a convergent biosynthetic pathway ending in the condensation of a conserved bipyrrole core with a variable partner. This reaction is performed by unique condensation enzymes, and has the potential to be manipulated to produce new pyrrolic compounds. We have purified and reconstituted the in vitro activity of the condensation enzymes PigC and TamQ from Pseudoalteromonas sp., which are involved, respectively, in the prodiginine and tambjamine biosynthetic pathways. Kinetic analysis confirmed a Uni Uni Bi Uni ping‐pong reaction sequence with competitive and uncompetitive substrate inhibition for PigC and TamQ respectively. The kinetic parameters of each enzyme provide insight into their differing substrate scope, and suggest that TamQ may have evolved a wide substrate tolerance that can be used for the production of novel prodiginines and tambjamines.

Reported is the synthesis of carboxylic acids, symmetrical ketones, and unsymmetrical ketones with selectivity achieved by exploiting the differential reactivity of sodium methyl carbonate with Grignard and organolithium reagents.

The regioselective functionalization of 7‐azaindole by controlled annular isomerism employing a directed metalation‐group migration is reported. The N7 carbamoyl azaindoles undergo regioselective metalation and quenching with an electrophile to furnish C6‐substituted derivatives which, in the presence of a catalytic amount of ClCONR₂ promotes a carbamoyl group shift or dance from N7 to N1. A second directed metalation/electrophile quench sequence leads to 2,6‐substituted azaindoles. Optimization of the metalation conditions for C2 and C6, separately and iteratively, is presented. Using the directed metalation group dance strategy, a late‐stage deuteration of an antipsychotic drug is described. Overall, the controlled migration of the carbamoyl directing group allows multiple functionalization events of the bioactive azaindole scaffold.

The regioselective functionalization of 7‐azaindole by controlled annular isomerism employing a directed metalation‐group migration is reported. The N7 carbamoyl azaindoles undergo regioselective metalation and quenching with an electrophile to furnish C6‐substituted derivatives which, in the presence of a catalytic amount of ClCONR₂ promotes a carbamoyl group shift or dance from N7 to N1. A second directed metalation/electrophile quench sequence leads to 2,6‐substituted azaindoles. Optimization of the metalation conditions for C2 and C6, separately and iteratively, is presented. Using the directed metalation group dance strategy, a late‐stage deuteration of an antipsychotic drug is described. Overall, the controlled migration of the carbamoyl directing group allows multiple functionalization events of the bioactive azaindole scaffold.