Hsing-Jang Liu

Reductive cleavage of benzyl ethers with lithium naphthalenide. A convenient method for debenzylation

Abstract An operationally simple, high-yielding and highly chemoselective procedure has been developed for the conversion of benzyl ethers to the corresponding alcohols, using lithium naphthalenide as the reagent.

Lithium naphthalenide induced reductive alkylation of α-cyano ketones. A general method for regiocontrol of α, α-dialkylation of ketones

Abstract An efficient general method for the consecutive introduction of two alkyl groups to the α carbon of a ketone carbonyl has been developed, making use of the lithium naphthalenide induced reductive alkylation of an α-cyano ketone system as a key operation.

A convenient new procedure for the construction of highly substituted acetates. Reductive alkylation of α-cyano esters

Abstract A convenient, highly efficient general method for the preparation of highly substituted acetates has been developed, making use of reductive alkylation of α-cyano esters as a key operation.

Total synthesis of α- and β-himachalene by an intermolecular Diels–Alder approach

A total synthesis of α-himachalene (2) and β-himachalene (3) has been achieved in eleven steps and in an effective overall yield of 21% from 4,4-dimethyl-2-cyclohexenone (4). The synthesis involves keto ester 7 as a key intermediate which is conveniently prepared by the Diels–Alder addition of dienone ester 6 to isoprene.

A modified robinson annulation process to α, α-disubstituted-β, γ-unsaturated cyclohexanone system. Application to the total synthesis of nanaimoal

4-Cyano-2-cyclohexenones were found to be susceptible to reductive alkylation reactions, giving the corresponding 2,2-disubstituted-3-cyclohexenone derivatives in a completely regioselective manner. This newly developed methodology has been successfully applied towards the total synthesis, in racemic form, of the marine natural product nanaimoal.

A Cavaet on the Swern Oxidation

Abstract The Swern oxidation of structurally diverse alcohols (3,4,7, and11) employing the oxalyl chloride-DMSO protocol unexpectedly gave rise to products resulting from concomitant electrophilic chlorination. This potential problem can be avoided either by using the reagents in stoichiometric amount or by employing trifluoroacetic anhydride-DMSO or acetic anhydride-DMSO.

A new procedure for dethioacetalization

Abstract A simple procedure has been developed for the conversion ofthioacetals to the corresponding carbonyl compounds using the combination of phenyl dichlorophosphate, dimethylformamide and sodium iodide.

Formation and efficient addition of cerium(III) derivative of acetonitrile to ketones

Abstract The cerium(III) derivative of acetonitrile undergoes addition with ketones efficiently. It adds effectively to hindered ketones and gives 1,2-adduct exclusively with conjugated enones.

Reductive cleavage of N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylphosphorodiamidates with lithium naphthalenide. A convenient procedure for deoxygenation of alcohols

Abstract A simple, effective alternative procedure has been developed for the reductive cleavage of the N,N,N′,N′ -tetramethylphosphorodiamidate group, using lithium naphthalenide as the reagent.

Synthetic studies on clerodane diterpenoids. 4. The total synthesis of (±)-6β-acetoxy-2-oxokolavenool

Abstract The first total synthesis of the title compound in racemic form has been accomplished from ketone 4, a readily accessible compound via an intermolecular Diels-Alder approach developed previously for the synthesis of clerodane diterpenoids.