Hao-Yuan Wang

Iridium‐Catalyzed Dynamic Kinetic Isomerization: Expedient Synthesis of Carbohydrates from Achmatowicz Rearrangement Products

A highly stereoselective dynamic kinetic isomerization of Achmatowicz rearrangement products was discovered. This new internal redox isomerization provided ready access to key intermediates for the enantio- and diastereoselective synthesis of a series of naturally occurring sugars. The nature of the de novo synthesis also enables the preparation of both enantiomers.

Chiral Catalyst-Directed Dynamic Kinetic Diastereoselective Acylation of Lactols for De Novo Synthesis of Carbohydrate.

The control of the stereochemistry at the anomeric position is still one of the major challenges of synthetic carbohydrate chemistry. We have developed a new strategy consisting of a chiral catalyst-directed acylation followed by a palladium-catalyzed glycosidation to achieve high α- and β-stereoselectivity on the anomeric position. The former process involves a dynamic kinetic diastereoselective acylation of lactols derived from Achmatowicz rearrangement, while the latter is a stereospecific palladium-catalyzed allylic alkylation.

Rhodium(I)-Catalyzed Benzannulation of Heteroaryl Propargylic Esters: Synthesis of Indoles and Related Heterocycles.

A de novo synthesis of a benzene ring allows for the preparation of a diverse range of heterocycles including indoles, benzofurans, benzothiophenes, carbazoles, and dibenzofurans from simple heteroaryl propargylic esters using a unified carbonylative benzannulation strategy. Multiple substituents can be easily introduced to the C4-C7 positions of indoles and related heterocycles.

Chiral Catalyst-Directed Dynamic Kinetic Diastereoselective Acylation of Anomeric Hydroxyl Groups and a Controlled Reduction of the Glycosyl Ester Products

A catalytic method is developed for the diastereoselective acylation of the anomeric hydroxyl group in diverse carbohydrates to form either α- or β-anomeric esters. While exclusive formation of the β-isomer was observed in most sugar substrates with one enantiomer of the chiral catalyst, moderate to high α-selectivity was obtained by using the other enantiomer of the chiral catalyst. The resulting α- and β-anomeric esters have very different reactivity toward a reduction reaction.

Isoquinoline‐1‐Carboxylate as a Traceless Leaving Group for Chelation‐Assisted Glycosylation under Mild and Neutral Reaction Conditions

Glycosyl isoquinoline-1-carboxylate was developed as a novel benchtop stable and readily available glycosyl donor. The glycosylation reaction was promoted by the inexpensive Cu(OTf)2 salt under mild reaction conditions. The copper isoquinoline-1-carboxylate salt was precipitated from the solution and thus rendered a traceless leaving group. Surprisingly, the proton from the acceptor was absorbed by the precipitated metal complex and the reaction mixture remained at neutral pH. The copper-promoted glycosylation was also proven to be completely orthogonal to the gold-promoted glycosylation, and an iterative synthesis of oligosaccharides from benchtop stable anomeric ester building blocks becomes possible under mild reaction conditions.

Stereoselective Halocyclization of Alkenes With N‐Acyl Hemiaminal Nucleophiles

Halocyclization of alkenes was realized using N-acylhemiaminal nucleophiles. High diastereoselectivity could be achieved for the formation of three stereogenic centers in this halogen-mediated cyclization reaction. We also demonstrated that enantioselective bromocyclization of alkenes using N-acylhemiaminal nucleophiles was possible.

Intermolecular bromoesterification of conjugated enynes: an efficient synthesis of bromoallenes

We have discovered that bromine electrophile and carboxylate nucleophile can be added to conjugated enynes intermolecularly in a 1,4-fashion with high diastereoselectivity. Highly functionalized bromoallenes with an adjacent stereogenic centre were prepared from readily available conjugated 1,3-enynes.