Herein we report the first enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-dichroanone, confirming the absolute configuration of the natural product. This protecting group-free route features the first application of our enantioselective Tsuji allylation in the context of a natural product total synthesis. Additionally, this 11-step preparation of the molecule from commercial material features a novel ...

Synthesis of a new methoxy dibenzofluorene through alkylation, cyclodehydration and aromatization in a one-pot operation is achieved for the first time. Using this hydrocarbon, a few derivatives are prepared through aromatic nitration, catalytic hydrogenation, coupling reaction with a side chain and reduction. The benzylic position of this hydrocarbon with the side chain is oxidized and reduced...

The one-pot synthesis of benzo[f]quinolin-3-ones and benzo[a]phenanthridein-5-ones was achieved by the inter- and intramolecular photoannulation of 6-chloropyridin-2-ones and 3-chloroisoquinolin-1-ones with phenylacetylene or tethered phenylacetylene. The reactions were proceeded by photoaddition of 6-chloropyridin-2-ones and 3-chloroisoquinolin-1-ones to phenylacetylene to give the chlorine-su...

Putative precursors in pseudopterosin biosynthesis, the hydrocarbons isoelisabethatriene (10) and erogorgiaene (11), have been identified from an extract of Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae collected in the Florida Keys. Biosynthetic experiments designed to test the utilization of these compounds in pseudopterosin production revealed that erogorgiaene is transformed to pseudopterosins A-D. Togethe...

Tanshinones are abietane-type norditerpenoid quinone natural products that are the bioactive components of the Chinese medicinal herb Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge. The initial results from a functional genomics-based investigation of tanshinone biosynthesis, specifically the functional identification of the relevant diterpene synthases from S. miltiorrhiza, are reported. The cyclohexa-1,4-diene ar...

We have developed a new method of iodocyclization based on reagent-controlled oxidative aromatization. Our strategy takes advantage of the dual nature of iodine as both an iodinating and an oxidizing agent. This approach enabled "product switch" and enhanced the flexibility of the synthetic pathway toward pyrazoles and isoxazoles. In addition, the iodo moiety of the cyclized product could creat...

A series of β,β'-bicyclo-3,5-diaryl-BODIPYs were synthesized from the corresponding β,β'-bicyclo-3,5-diiodo-BODIPYs (1a,b) via Pd(0)-mediated Suzuki cross-coupling reactions in 82-92% yields. Subsequent aromatization with DDQ afforded the corresponding β,β'-dibenzo-aryl-BODIPYs, which showed red-shifted absorptions and emissions in the near-IR range. The dibenzo-appended BODIPYs showed characte...