LIGAND-CONTROLLED DIVERGENT DEHYDROGENATIVE REACTIONS OF ALIPHATIC ACIDS

Abstract

Disclosed herein are palladium-catalyzed dehydrogenation processes of carboxylic acids to make ?, ?-unsaturated carboxylic acids or ?-alkylidene butenolides. The processes allow the chemoselective dehydrogenation of carboxylic acids in the presence of other enolizable functionalities such as ketones, providing reactivity that is inaccessible with existing carbonyl desaturation protocols.

Claims

1. A process for making a compound of formula (2): ##STR00341## comprising contacting a compound of formula (1): ##STR00342## with a source of Pd(II), optionally in the presence of an oxidant, and a ligand of formula (L-1): ##STR00343## whereby the compound of formula (2) is formed, wherein: Y is N or CH; R.sup.1A and R.sup.1B are independently selected from the group consisting of H, C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl, C.sub.3-C.sub.20-cycloalkyl, C.sub.6-C.sub.10-aryl, 3- to 14-membered heterocycloalkyl and (C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl)-(3- to 14-membered heterocycloalkyl) (wherein 1-4 ring members are independently selected from N, O, and S), 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl and (C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl)-(5- to 10-membered heteroaryl) (wherein 1-4 heteroaryl members are independently selected from N, O, and S); or R.sup.1A and R.sup.1B, together with the carbon atoms to which they are bound, form a 5- to 6-membered carbocyclic ring; wherein R.sup.1A and R.sup.1B, or the carbocyclic ring that they form, are independently and optionally substituted with one to five substituents selected from the group consisting of halo, C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.6-haloalkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkoxy, S(C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl), C.sub.6-C.sub.10-aryloxy, O(C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl)(C.sub.6-C.sub.10-aryl), S(O).sub.0-2(C.sub.6-C.sub.10-aryl) (optionally substituted with C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl), C(O)NR.sup.AR.sup.B, NR.sup.AC(O)O(C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl), C(O)(C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl), C(O)O(C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl), C(O)(C.sub.6-C.sub.10-aryl), and C(O)O(C.sub.6-C.sub.10-aryl); m1 is selected from 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4; n1 is selected from 0, 1, 2, and 3; R.sup.1-L1 and R.sup.2-L1 are independently selected from the group consisting of CN, halo, NR.sup.AR.sup.B, C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.6-haloalkyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.6-alkenyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.6-alkynyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkoxy, C.sub.1-C.sub.6-haloalkoxy, C(O)C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl, C(O)NR.sup.AR.sup.B, S(O)NR.sup.AR.sup.B, S(O).sub.2NR.sup.AR.sup.B, C.sub.3-C.sub.14-cycloalkyl, C.sub.6-C.sub.10-aryl, C.sub.6-C.sub.10-aryloxy, 3- to 14-membered heterocycloalkyl and (C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl)-(3- to 14-membered heterocycloalkyl) (wherein 1-4 ring members are independently selected from N, O, and S), and 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl (wherein 1-4 heteroaryl members are independently selected from N, O, and S), wherein each alkyl, aryl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, and heteroaryl moiety is optionally substituted with one to four substituents selected from the group consisting of halo, oxo, C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.6-haloalkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkoxy, C(O)NR.sup.AR.sup.B, C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkoxy, C.sub.6-C.sub.10-aryl (optionally substituted by one to three halo and C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl), and 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl (wherein 1-4 heteroaryl members are independently selected from N, O, and S; optionally substituted by one to three substituents selected from C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl and 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl); R.sup.A and R.sup.B are independently selected from the group consisting of H, C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.6-haloalkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl-C.sub.6-C.sub.10-aryl, C(O)C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl, C(O)C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl-C.sub.6-C.sub.10-aryl, C(O)OC.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl, C.sub.6-C.sub.10-aryl (optionally fused to C.sub.3-C.sub.14-cycloalkyl that is optionally substituted by one to four halo and C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl), wherein each aryl is optionally substituted with one to three substituents selected from C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl, halo, C.sub.1-C.sub.6-haloalkyl, and 3- to 14-membered heterocycloalkyl (wherein 1-4 ring members are independently selected from N, O, and S); each alkyl is optionally substituted with one to three substituents selected from halo, NRR (wherein R and R are independently selected from H, C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl, C(O)C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl, and C(O)C.sub.6-C.sub.10-aryl); or, optionally, when m1 is 2, then two adjacent R.sup.1-L1 together with the ring carbon atoms to which they are bound form a fused phenyl ring that is optionally substituted with one to three substituents selected the group consisting of halo, C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.6-haloalkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkoxy, and C.sub.1-C.sub.6-haloalkoxy.

2. The process according to claim 1, wherein R.sup.1B is H and R.sup.1A is other than H.

3. The process according to claim 1, wherein the compound of formula (1) is one selected from the following table: TABLE-US-00019 1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 1f 1g 1h 1i 1j 1k 1l 1m 1n 1o 1p 1q 1r 1s 1t 1u 1v 1w 1x 1y 1z 1aa 1ab 1ac 1ad 1ae 1af 1ag 1ah 1ai

4. The process according any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein Y is CH.

5. The process according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein n1 is 0.

6. The process according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein m1 is 0, 1, or 2.

7. The process according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein R.sup.1-L1 is selected from the group consisting of halo, C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.6-haloalkyl, and C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkoxy.

8. The process according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein m1 is 2, and two adjacent R.sup.1-L1 together with the ring carbon atoms to which they are bound form an optionally substituted fused phenyl ring.

9. The process according any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein L-1 is one selected from the following table: TABLE-US-00020 L8 L9 L10 L11 L12 L13 L14 L15 L16 L17 L18 L19

10. A process for making a compound of formula (5) or (7): ##STR00391## comprising contacting a compound of formula (3) or (6), respectively: ##STR00392## with a source of Pd(II), a ligand of formula (L-2), optionally in the presence of an oxidant: ##STR00393## and a compound of formula (A): ##STR00394## whereby the compound of formula (5) or (7) is formed, wherein the dotted lines represent optional single bonds, and when they are present, then p is 1, 2, 3, or 4; and R.sup.4 is CH.sub.2, wherein the resulting 5- to 8-membered ring is cycloalkyl or heterocycloalkyl (wherein 1-2 ring members are independently selected from N, O, and S), wherein the ring is optionally substituted with one to three substituents selected from halo, C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.6-haloalkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkoxy, S(O).sub.0-2(C.sub.6-C.sub.10-aryl) (optionally substituted with C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl), and C.sub.6-C.sub.10-aryl (optionally and independently substituted by one to three halo, C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl, and C.sub.1-C.sub.6-haloalkyl); when the bonds are not present, then R.sup.4 is selected from the group consisting of C.sub.1-C.sub.20-alkyl, C.sub.3-C.sub.14-cycloalkyl, (C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl)-(C.sub.3-C.sub.14-cycloalkyl), C.sub.6-C.sub.10-aryl, (C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl)-(C.sub.6-C.sub.10-aryl), 3- to 14-membered heterocycloalkyl and (C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl)-(3- to 14-membered heterocycloalkyl) (wherein 1-4 ring members are independently selected from N, O, and S), 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl and (C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl)-(5- to 10-membered heteroaryl) (wherein 1-4 heteroaryl members are independently selected from N, O, and S), wherein R.sup.4 or the ring in which R.sup.4 is a member is independently and optionally substituted with one to five substituents selected from the group consisting of halo, C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.6-haloalkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkoxy, S(C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl), C.sub.6-C.sub.10-aryloxy, O(C1-C6-alkyl)(C.sub.6-C.sub.10-aryl), S(O).sub.0-2(C.sub.6-C.sub.10-aryl) (optionally substituted with C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl), C(O)NR.sup.AR.sup.B, NR.sup.AC(O)O(C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl), C(O)(C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl), C(O)O(C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl), C(O)(C.sub.6-C.sub.10-aryl), and C(O)O(C.sub.6-C.sub.10-aryl); R.sup.5 is selected from the group consisting of SiR.sub.3 and CH(OSiR.sub.3)R, wherein each R and R is independently selected from the group consisting of C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkoxy, C.sub.1-C.sub.6-haloalkyl, and C.sub.3-C.sub.14-cycloalkyl; Ar is ##STR00395## and is optionally substituted with one to three substituents selected from the group consisting of halo, C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl, and C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkoxy; R.sup.3-L2 and R.sup.4-L2 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, OH, halo, C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.6-haloalkyl, C.sub.3-C.sub.14-cycloalkyl, (C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl)-(C.sub.3-C.sub.14-cycloalkyl), C.sub.6-C.sub.10-aryl, and (C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl)-(C.sub.6-C.sub.10-aryl), or R.sup.3-L2 and R.sup.4-L2, together with the carbon atom to which they are bound, form a 5- or 6-membered cycloalkyl, or one of R.sup.3-L2 and R.sup.4-L2, together with the 3-pyridyl carbon when Ar is pyridyl, form a 5- to 6-membered cycloalkyl fused to the pyridyl; wherein R.sup.3-L2 and R.sup.4-L2, or a ring in which either is a member, are independently and optionally substituted by one to three substituents selected from the group consisting of halo, C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.6-haloalkyl, and C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkoxy.

11. The process according to claim 10, wherein the contacting is between a compound of formula (3), source of Pd(II), ligand of formula (L-2), and compound of formula (A).

12. The process according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the optional bonds are absent.

13. The process according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the optional bonds are present.

14. The process according to any one of claims 10, 11, and 13, wherein p is 1 or 2.

15. The process according to any one of claims 10 to 14, wherein the compound of formula (3) is one selected from the following table: TABLE-US-00021 3a 3b 3c 3d 3e 3f 3g 3h 3i 3j 3k 3l 3m 3n 3o 3p 3q 3r 3s 3t 3u 3v 3w 3x 3y 3z

16. The process according to claim 10, wherein the contacting is between a compound of formula (6), source of Pd(II), ligand of formula (L-2), and compound of formula (A).

17. The process according to any one of claims 10 to 16, wherein the compound of formula (6) is one selected from the following table: TABLE-US-00022 6a 6b 6c 6d 6e 6f 6g 6h 6i 6j

18. The process according to any one of claims 10 to 17, wherein Ar is optionally substituted ##STR00432##

19. The process according to any one of claims 10 to 17, wherein Ar is optionally substituted ##STR00433##

20. The process according to any one of claims 10 to 19, wherein R.sup.3-L2 and R.sup.4-L2 are independently selected from optionally substituted C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl and (C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl)-(C.sub.6-C.sub.10-aryl).

21. The process according to any one of claims 10 to 20, wherein the ligand of formula (L-2) is one selected from the following table: TABLE-US-00023 L20 L5 L21 L22 L23 L24 L25 L26 L27 L28 L29 L30 L31 L32 L33 L34 L35 L36 L37 L38 L39

22. The process according to any one of claims 10 to 21, wherein R.sup.5 is SiR.sub.3.

23. The process according to any one of claims 10 to 22, wherein R is C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl.

24. The process according to any one of claims 10 to 23, wherein X is Br.

25. The process according to any one of claims 1 to 24, wherein the source of Pd(II) is a Pd(II) salt.

26. The process according to any one of claims 1 to 25, wherein the oxidant is present and is a silver salt, an organic peroxide, organic hydroperoxide, O.sub.2, or combination thereof.

27. The process according to any one of claims 1 to 26, wherein the oxidant is a silver salt.

28. The process according to claim 27, wherein the silver salt is at least one selected from the group consisting of Ag.sub.2CO.sub.3, AgOAc, silver pivalate (AgOPiv), and Ag.sub.2O.

29. The process according to claim 27 or 28, wherein the silver salt is Ag.sub.2CO.sub.3.

30. The process according to any one of claims 1 to 26, wherein the oxidant is O.sub.2.

31. The process according to any one of claims 1 to 26, wherein the oxidant is an organic peroxide or organic hydroperoxide of the formula R?OOR, wherein R and R are chosen from H, C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl, (C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl)-(C.sub.6-C.sub.10-aryl), C(O)(C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl), and C(O)(C.sub.6-C.sub.10-aryl).

32. The process according to claim 31, wherein one of R and R is H.

33. The process according to any one of claims 1 to 26, wherein the oxidant is selected from the group consisting of tert-butylhydroperoxide (TBHP), cumene hydroperoxide (CMHP), acetyl-tert-butylperoxide (AcOOtBu), benzoyl tert-butylperoxide (BzOOtBu), dibenzoylperoxide (BzOOBz), and di-tertbutyl peroxide (tBuOOtBu).

34. The process according to any one of claims 1 to 26, wherein the oxidant is tert-butylhydroperoxide (TBHP).

35. The process according to any one of claims 1 to 34, wherein the contacting further occurs in the presence of at least one non-nucleophilic base.

36. The process according to claim 34, wherein the non-nucleophilic base is at least one selected from the group consisting of KOAc, NaOAc, NaHCO.sub.3, Na.sub.2CO.sub.3, NaH.sub.2PO.sub.4, Na.sub.2HPO.sub.4, Na.sub.3PO.sub.4, Li.sub.2CO.sub.3, LiOAc, Li.sub.3PO.sub.4, KOAc, KHCO.sub.3, K.sub.2CO.sub.3, K.sub.3PO.sub.4, K.sub.2HPO.sub.4, KH.sub.2PO.sub.4, and CsOAc.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] The processes disclosed herein are ligand-enabled Pd(II)-catalyzed divergent dehydrogenation reactions useful for directly converting a wide range of aliphatic carboxylic acids into ?,?-unsaturated acids or ?-alkylidene butenolides via activation of either methylene or methyl CH bonds. The processes overcome the problem of product inhibition by use of ligands with different bite angles resulting in either the prevention of vinyl CH activation of the typically more reactive ?,?-unsaturated acids, or providing a tandem vinyl CH activation/alkynyl bromide coupling leading to butenolides that mask the carboxylic acid moiety from further reactions. The directed nature of the processes allows chemoselective dehydrogenation of carboxylic acids in the presence of other enolizable functionalities such as ketones, providing reactivity that is inaccessible with existing carbonyl desaturation protocols.

Definitions

[0029] Alkyl refers to straight or branched chain hydrocarbyl including from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms. For instance, an alkyl can have from 1 to 10 carbon atoms or 1 to 6 carbon atoms. Exemplary alkyl includes straight chain alkyl groups such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, and the like, and also includes branched chain isomers of straight chain alkyl groups, for example without limitation, CH(CH.sub.3).sub.2, CH(CH.sub.3)(CH.sub.2CH.sub.3), CH(CH.sub.2CH.sub.3).sub.2, C(CH.sub.3).sub.3, C(CH.sub.2CH.sub.3).sub.3, CH.sub.2CH(CH.sub.3).sub.2, CH.sub.2CH(CH.sub.3)(CH.sub.2CH.sub.3), CH.sub.2CH(CH.sub.2CH.sub.3).sub.2, CH.sub.2C(CH.sub.3).sub.3, CH.sub.2C(CH.sub.2CH.sub.3).sub.3, CH(CH.sub.3)CH(CH.sub.3)(CH.sub.2CH.sub.3), CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH(CH.sub.3).sub.2, CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH(CH.sub.3)(CH.sub.2CH.sub.3), CH.sub.2CH.sub.2C H(CH.sub.2CH.sub.3).sub.2, CH.sub.2CH.sub.2C(CH.sub.3).sub.3, CH.sub.2CH.sub.2C(CH.sub.2CH.sub.3).sub.3, CH(CH.sub.3)CH.sub.2CH(CH.sub.3).sub.2, CH(CH.sub.3) CH(CH.sub.3)CH(CH.sub.3).sub.2, and the like. Thus, alkyl groups include primary alkyl groups, secondary alkyl groups, and tertiary alkyl groups. An alkyl group can be unsubstituted or optionally substituted with one or more substituents as described herein.

[0030] Each of the terms halogen, halide, and halo refers to F or fluoro, Cl or chloro, Br or bromo, or I or iodo.

[0031] The term alkenyl refers to straight or branched chain hydrocarbyl groups including from 2 to about 20 carbon atoms having 1-3, 1-2, or at least one carbon to carbon double bond. An alkenyl group can be unsubstituted or optionally substituted with one or more substituents as described herein.

[0032] Alkyne or alkynyl refers to a straight or branched chain unsaturated hydrocarbon having the indicated number of carbon atoms and at least one triple bond. Examples include a (C.sub.2-C.sub.8)alkynyl group, such as acetylene, propyne, 1-butyne, 2-butyne, 1-pentyne, 2-pentyne, 1-hexyne, 2-hexyne, 3-hexyne, 1-heptyne, 2-heptyne, 3-heptyne, 1-octyne, 2-octyne, 3-octyne and 4-octyne. An alkynyl group can be unsubstituted or optionally substituted with one or more substituents as described herein.

[0033] The term alkoxy or alkoxyl refers to an O-alkyl group having the indicated number of carbon atoms. For example, a (C.sub.1-C.sub.6)-alkoxy group includes O-methyl, O-ethyl, O-propyl, O-isopropyl, O-butyl, O-sec-butyl, O-tert-butyl, O-pentyl, O-isopentyl, O neopentyl, O-hexyl, O-isohexyl, and O-neohexyl.

[0034] The term cycloalkyl refers to a saturated monocyclic, bicyclic, tricyclic, or polycyclic, 3- to 20-membered ring system, such as a C.sub.3-C.sub.20-cycloalkyl or C.sub.3-C.sub.8-cycloalkyl. The cycloalkyl may be attached via any atom. Representative examples of cycloalkyl include, but are not limited to cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, and cyclohexyl. Polycyclic cycloalkyl includes rings that can be fused, bridged, and/or spiro-fused. A cycloalkyl group can be unsubstituted or optionally substituted with one or more substituents as described herein.

[0035] Aryl when used alone or as part of another term means a carbocyclic aromatic group whether or not fused having the number of carbon atoms designated or if no number is designated, up to 14 carbon atoms, such as a C.sub.6-C.sub.10-aryl or C.sub.6-C.sub.14-aryl. Examples of aryl groups include phenyl, naphthyl, biphenyl, phenanthrenyl, naphthacenyl, and the like (see e.g. Lang's Handbook of Chemistry (Dean, J. A., ed) 13.sup.th ed. Table 7-2 [1985]). Aryl also contemplates an aryl ring that is part of a fused polycyclic system, such as aryl fused to cycloalkyl as defined herein. An exemplary aryl is phenyl. An aryl group can be unsubstituted or optionally substituted with one or more substituents as described herein.

[0036] The term heteroatom refers to N, O, and S. Compounds of the present disclosure that contain N or S atoms can be optionally oxidized to the corresponding N-oxide, sulfoxide, or sulfone compounds.

[0037] Heteroaryl, alone or in combination with any other moiety described herein, is a monocyclic aromatic ring structure containing 5 to 10, such as 5 or 6 ring atoms, or a bicyclic aromatic group having 8 to 10 atoms, containing one or more, such as 1-4, 1-3, or 1-2, heteroatoms independently selected from the group consisting of O, S, and N. Heteroaryl is also intended to include oxidized S or N, such as sulfinyl, sulfonyl and N-oxide of a tertiary ring nitrogen. A carbon or heteroatom is the point of attachment of the heteroaryl ring structure such that a stable compound is produced. Examples of heteroaryl groups include, but are not limited to, pyridinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrazinyl, quinaoxalyl, indolizinyl, benzo[b]thienyl, quinazolinyl, purinyl, indolyl, quinolinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrrolyl, pyrazolyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, thienyl, isoxazolyl, oxathiadiazolyl, isothiazolyl, tetrazolyl, imidazolyl, triazolyl, furanyl, benzofuryl, and indolyl. A heteroaryl group can be unsubstituted or optionally substituted with one or more substituents as described herein.

[0038] Heterocycloalkyl is a saturated or partially unsaturated non-aromatic monocyclic, bicyclic, tricyclic or polycyclic ring system that has from 3 to 14, such as 3 to 6, atoms in which 1 to 3 carbon atoms in the ring are replaced by heteroatoms of O, S or N. Polycyclic heterocycloalkyl includes rings that can be fused, bridged, and/or spiro-fused. In addition, a heterocycloalkyl is optionally fused with aryl or heteroaryl of 5-6 ring members, and includes oxidized S or N, such as sulfinyl, sulfonyl and N-oxide of a tertiary ring nitrogen. The point of attachment of the heterocycloalkyl ring is at a carbon or heteroatom such that a stable ring is retained. Examples of heterocycloalkyl groups include without limitation morpholino, tetrahydrofuranyl, dihydropyridinyl, piperidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, piperazinyl, dihydrobenzofuryl, and dihydroindolyl. A heterocycloalkyl group can be unsubstituted or optionally substituted with one or more substituents as described herein.

[0039] The term nitrile or cyano can be used interchangeably and refers to a CN group.

[0040] The term oxo refers to a ?O atom bound to an atom that is part of a saturated or unsaturated moiety. Thus, the ?O atom can be bound to a carbon, sulfur, or nitrogen atom that is part of a cyclic or acyclic moiety.

[0041] A hydroxyl or hydroxy refers to an OH group.

[0042] Compounds described herein can exist in various isomeric forms, including configurational, geometric, and conformational isomers, including, for example, cis- or trans-conformations. The compounds may also exist in one or more tautomeric forms, including both single tautomers and mixtures of tautomers. An illustration of tautomerism includes the following:

##STR00009##

[0043] The term isomer is intended to encompass all isomeric forms of a compound of this disclosure, including tautomeric forms of the compound. The compounds of the present disclosure may also exist in open-chain or cyclized forms. In some cases, one or more of the cyclized forms may result from the loss of water. The specific composition of the open-chain and cyclized forms may be dependent on how the compound is isolated, stored or administered. For example, the compound may exist primarily in an open-chained form under acidic conditions but cyclize under neutral conditions. All forms are included in the disclosure.

[0044] Some compounds described herein can have asymmetric centers and therefore exist in different enantiomeric and diastereomeric forms. A compound as described herein can be in the form of an optical isomer or a diastereomer. Accordingly, the disclosure encompasses compounds and their uses as described herein in the form of their optical isomers, diastereoisomers and mixtures thereof, including a racemic mixture. Optical isomers of the compounds of the disclosure can be obtained by known techniques such as asymmetric synthesis, chiral chromatography, simulated moving bed technology or via chemical separation of stereoisomers through the employment of optically active resolving agents.

[0045] Unless otherwise indicated, the term stereoisomer means one stereoisomer of a compound that is substantially free of other stereoisomers of that compound. Thus, a stereomerically pure compound having one chiral center will be substantially free of the opposite enantiomer of the compound. A stereomerically pure compound having two chiral centers will be substantially free of other diastereomers of the compound. A typical stereomerically pure compound comprises greater than about 80% by weight of one stereoisomer of the compound and less than about 20% by weight of other stereoisomers of the compound, for example greater than about 90% by weight of one stereoisomer of the compound and less than about 10% by weight of the other stereoisomers of the compound, or greater than about 95% by weight of one stereoisomer of the compound and less than about 5% by weight of the other stereoisomers of the compound, or greater than about 97% by weight of one stereoisomer of the compound and less than about 3% by weight of the other stereoisomers of the compound, or greater than about 99% by weight of one stereoisomer of the compound and less than about 1% by weight of the other stereoisomers of the compound. The stereoisomer as described above can be viewed as composition comprising two stereoisomers that are present in their respective weight percentages described herein.

[0046] If there is a discrepancy between a depicted structure and a name given to that structure, then the depicted structure controls. Additionally, if the stereochemistry of a structure or a portion of a structure is not indicated with, for example, bold or dashed lines, the structure or portion of the structure is to be interpreted as encompassing all stereoisomers of it. In some cases, however, where more than one chiral center exists, the structures and names may be represented as single enantiomers to help describe the relative stereochemistry. Those skilled in the art of organic synthesis will know if the compounds are prepared as single enantiomers from the methods used to prepare them.

[0047] As summarized above, the present disclosure provides in an embodiment a process for making a compound of formula (2):

##STR00010##

[0048] The process comprises contacting a compound of formula (1):

##STR00011##

with a source of Pd(II), optionally in the presence of an oxidant, and a ligand of formula (L-1):

##STR00012##

whereby the compound of formula (2) is formed.

[0049] In some embodiments, R.sup.B is H and R.sup.1A is other than H as defined herein. Examples of compounds of formula (1) are illustrated in the following table.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE Specific examples of compounds of formula (1). 1a [00013] 1b [00014] 1c [00015] 1d [00016] 1e [00017] 1f [00018] 1g [00019] 1h [00020] 1i [00021] 1j [00022] 1k [00023] 1l [00024] 1m [00025] 1n [00026] 1o [00027] 1p [00028] 1q [00029] 1r [00030] 1s [00031] 1t [00032] 1u [00033] 1v [00034] 1w [00035] 1x [00036] 1y [00037] 1z [00038] 1aa [00039] 1ab [00040] 1ac [00041] 1ad [00042] 1ae [00043] 1af [00044] 1ag [00045] 1ah [00046] lai [00047]

[0050] In various embodiments, Y in formula (L-1) is CH. In other embodiments, Y is N.

[0051] In additional embodiments, n1 is 0. Optionally in combination with any other embodiment described herein, another embodiment provides ligands of formula (L-1) wherein m1 is 0, 1, or 2.

[0052] In formula (L-1), in accordance with various embodiments, R.sup.1-L1 is selected from the group consisting of halo, C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.6-haloalkyl, and C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkoxy.

[0053] In other embodiments, m1 is 2. Where two adjacent R.sup.1-L1 exist, they, together with the ring carbon atoms to which they are bound, form a fused phenyl ring that is optionally substituted as described herein.

[0054] The amount of ligand (L-1) can vary between about 1 and 25 mol % (based upon formula (1)). In various embodiments, the amount is between about 2 and 20 mol %, 3 and 18 mol %, 5 and 15 mol %, or 8 and 12 mol %. Illustrative amounts of ligand include about 5, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, and 25 mol %.

[0055] In illustrative embodiments, the present disclosure provides ligands of formula (L-1) selected from the table below.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE Specific examples of ligands of formula (L-1). L8 [00048] L9 [00049] L10 [00050] L11 [00051] L12 [00052] L13 [00053] L14 [00054] L15 [00055] L16 [00056] L17 [00057] L18 [00058] L19 [00059]

[0056] The present disclosure also provides in another embodiment, as summarized above, a process for making a compound of formula (5) or (7):

##STR00060##

[0057] The process comprises contacting a compound of formula (3) or (6), respectively:

##STR00061##

with a source of Pd(II), a ligand of formula (L-2):

##STR00062##

and a compound of formula (A):

##STR00063##

whereby the compound of formula (5) or (7) is formed.

[0058] In an embodiment, the contacting is between a compound of formula (3), source of Pd(II), ligand of formula (L-2), and compound of formula (A), whereby the compound of formula (5) is formed. In some embodiments, the optional bonds are absent.

[0059] In other embodiments, the bonds are present. In these embodiments, the fused ring represented by the bonds and R.sup.4 can vary in size, as prescribed by subscript p. An exemplary ring is a 5- or 6-membered ring, wherein p is 1 or 2, respectively.

[0060] Illustrative compounds of formula (3), in yet additional embodiments, are shown in the table below.

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE Specific examples of compounds of formula (3). 3a [00064] 3b [00065] 3c [00066] 3d [00067] 3e [00068] 3f [00069] 3g [00070] 3h [00071] 3i [00072] 3j [00073] 3k [00074] 3l [00075] 3m [00076] 3n [00077] 3o [00078] 3p [00079] 3q [00080] 3r [00081] 3s [00082] 3t [00083] 3u [00084] 3v [00085] 3w [00086] 3x [00087] 3y [00088] 3z [00089]

[0061] In another embodiment, the contacting is between a compound of formula (6), source of Pd(II), ligand of formula (L-2), and compound of formula (A). Examples of formula (6) compounds, per various embodiments, include those in the following table.

TABLE-US-00004 TABLE Specific examples of compounds of formula (6). 6a [00090] 6b [00091] 6c [00092] 6d [00093] 6e [00094] 6f [00095] 6g [00096] 6h [00097] 6i [00098] 6j [00099]

[0062] In the ligand of formula (L-2), concerning the process for making a compound of formula (5) or (7), according to an embodiment, Ar is

##STR00100##

that is optionally substituted as described herein. In another embodiment, Ar is

##STR00101##

that is optionally substituted as described herein.

[0063] In still further embodiments, R.sup.3-L2 and R.sup.4-L2 are independently selected from optionally substituted C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl and (C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl)-(C.sub.6-C.sub.10-aryl). Illustrating these and other structural features of the ligand of formula (L-2) are examples in the table below.

TABLE-US-00005 TABLE Specific examples of ligands of formula (L-2). L20 [00102] L5 [00103] L21 [00104] L22 [00105] L23 [00106] L24 [00107] L25 [00108] L26 [00109] L27 [00110] L28 [00111] L29 [00112] L30 [00113] L31 [00114] L32 [00115] L33 [00116] L34 [00117] L35 [00118] L36 [00119] L37 [00120] L38 [00121] L39 [00122]

[0064] The amount of ligand (L-2) can vary between about 1 and 25 mol % (based upon formula (3) or (6)). In various embodiments, the amount is between about 2 and 20 mol %, 3 and 18 mol %, 5 and 15 mol %, or 8 and 12 mol %. Illustrative amounts of ligand include about 5, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, and 25 mol %.

[0065] In various embodiments of the process for making a compound of formula (5) or (7), the halo-alkyne compound of formula (A) is one wherein R.sup.5 is SiR.sub.3. Various silyl groups SiR.sub.3 are known in the art and suitable for use in the process. Examples include those wherein each R is independently a straight or branched C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl and iso-propyl, and butyl and tert-butyl. A specific example is Si(Pr).sub.3 (TIPS). In various embodiments, X in formula (A) is Br. An illustrative halo-alkyne of formula (A) is TIPS-CCBr.

[0066] The cascade process for making compounds of formula (5) or formula (7) was possible using well-documented bromoalkynes as coupling partners to form complex 7-alkylidene butenolides (25). The development of synthetic methods for the construction of such scaffold has been ongoing for decades given the ubiquity of butenolides in natural products and bioactive molecules (26-29). Yet existing methods invariably require multiple synthetic steps consequential from conventional retrosynthetic approaches. The process described herein, based on an unconventional CH dehydrogenation-alkynylation-cyclization cascade with aliphatic carboxylic acids, offers a novel retrosynthetic disconnection for the one-step construction of 7-alkylidene butenolides.

[0067] In the processes described herein, the contacting step utilizes a source of Pd(II), typically at catalytic loadings in various embodiments. Sources of palladium (II) can arise via reagents known in the art or commercially available. For example, one convenient source of palladium (II), per an embodiment, is Pd(OAc).sub.2. In additional embodiments, the source is Pd(CH.sub.3CN).sub.4(BF.sub.4).sub.2, PdCl.sub.2, Pd(TFA).sub.2, Pd(CH.sub.3CN).sub.2Cl.sub.2, [Pd(allyl)Cl].sub.2, or Pd(PPh.sub.3).sub.2Cl.sub.2.

[0068] Palladium (II) loading can vary in accordance with factors known to those skilled in the art, such as overall reaction kinetics. Thus, in various embodiments, the source of palladium (II) is present in an amount of about 1 to about 15 mol % based upon the amount of compound of formula (2). In other embodiments, the amount is from about 7 to about 12 mol %. Exemplary amounts include 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 mol %. In an embodiment, the amount is 10 mol %.

[0069] In various embodiments of the processes of the present disclosure, optionally in combination with any other embodiment described herein, the contacting step occurs in the presence of an oxidant or combination of oxidants described herein. In some embodiments, the oxidant is O.sub.2. In other embodiments, the oxidant is an organic peroxide or organic hydroperoxide of general formula ROOR, wherein R and R are chosen from H, C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl, (C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl)-(C.sub.6-C.sub.10-aryl), C(O)(C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl), and C(O)(C.sub.6-C.sub.10-aryl). Many useful organic peroxides are known in the organic chemistry art, and some are illustrated throughout the examples herein. They include tert-butylhydroperoxide (TBHP), cumene hydroperoxide (CMHP), acetyl-tert-butylperoxide (AcOOtBu), benzoyl tert-butylperoxide (BzOOtBu), dibenzoylperoxide (BzOOBz), and di-tertbutyl peroxide (tBuOOtBu). An exemplary oxidant is tert-butylhydroperoxide (TBHP) or O.sub.2.

[0070] In some embodiments, the oxidant is at least one silver salt. Examples of suitable silver salts include but are not limited to Ag.sub.2CO.sub.3, AgOAc, silver pivalate (AgOPiv), and Ag.sub.2O. An illustrative silver salt, per one embodiment, is Ag.sub.2CO.sub.3. Amounts of the silver salt An exemplary amount is 2 eq.

[0071] Amounts of the oxidant, according to various embodiments can vary, such as between 0.2 and 5 equivalents (eq), or between 1 and 4 eq., based upon the compound of formula (1), (3), or (6). In various embodiments, the oxidant is present in 0.5 equivalent (eq), 1 eq., 1.5 eq., 2 eq., 2.5 eq., or 3 eq. In embodiments wherein the oxidant is O.sub.2, the processes can be carried out under 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, or 3.0 atmospheres O.sub.2.

[0072] In some embodiments, the oxidant is a combination of two, three, or four oxidants described herein. In this context, an additional oxidant, per some embodiments, is 1,4-benzoquinone (BQ). Various oxidant combinations are contemplated with any other embodiment herein. Illustrative oxidant combinations include TBHP/BQ and O.sub.2/BQ.

[0073] In still further embodiments, the contacting step of the processes disclosed herein further occurs in the presence of at least one non-nucleophilic base. Some embodiments entail the use of two or three bases in combination. Exemplary non-nucleophilic bases are selected from the group consisting of KOAc, NaOAc, NaHCO.sub.3, Na.sub.2CO.sub.3, NaH.sub.2PO.sub.4, Na.sub.2HPO.sub.4, Na.sub.3PO.sub.4, Li.sub.2CO.sub.3, LiOAc, Li.sub.3PO.sub.4, KOAc, KHCO.sub.3, K.sub.2CO.sub.3, K.sub.3PO.sub.4, K.sub.2IPO.sub.4, KH.sub.2PO.sub.4, and CsOAc. In various embodiments, the contacting step occurs in the presence of Ag.sub.2CO.sub.3 and at least one non-nucleophilic base. These combinations include Ag.sub.2CO.sub.3 and NaOAc; Ag.sub.2CO.sub.3 and Li.sub.2CO.sub.3; and Ag.sub.2CO.sub.3, NaOAc, and Li.sub.2CO.sub.3. The amount of non-nucleophilic base can vary, such as between 1 and 5 equivalents (eq.) based upon the compound of formula (1), (3), or (6). Exemplary amounts in illustrative embodiments include 1, 2, 3, and 4 eq.

[0074] In some embodiments, the processes described herein are performed at elevated temperature. Useful temperatures include those between about 50 and 120 C, about 70 and 115 C, and about 80 and 110 C. Exemplary process temperatures include about 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, and 110 C.

EXAMPLES

[0075] Additional embodiments of the disclosure include the following non-limiting examples.

[0076] General Information. Pd(OAc).sub.2 was purchased from Strem. Solvents were obtained from Sigma-Aldrich, Alfa-Aesar, and Acros, and used directly without further purification. Other reagents were purchased at the highest commercial quality and used without further purification, unless otherwise stated. Analytical thin layer chromatography was performed on 0.25 mm silica gel 60-F254 or Merck pre-coated aluminium-backed silica gel F254 plates. .sup.1H NMR spectra were recorded on Bruker AMX-400, Bruker AV-500, or Bruker DRX-600 instruments. The following abbreviations (or combinations thereof) were used to explain multiplicities: s=singlet, d=doublet, t=triplet, q=quartet, m=multiplet, br=broad. Coupling constants, J, were reported in Hertz unit (Hz). .sup.13C NMR spectra were recorded on Bruker DRX-600 and were fully decoupled by broad band proton decoupling. Chemical shifts were referenced to the appropriate residual solvent peaks. Column chromatography was performed using E. Merck silica (60, particle size 0.043-0.063 mm), and pTLC was performed on Merck silica plates (60F-254). Reversed-phase chromatography was carried out automated using Biotage Isolera? one with Biotage SNAP Samplet (C18) or SiliaSep Flash Cartridges (C18). High-resolution mass spectra (HRMS) were recorded on an Agilent Mass spectrometer using ESI-TOF (electrospray ionization-time of flight).

Scheme for Preparing Bidentate Pyridine-Pyridone Ligands L8-L19 of Formula (L-1)

[0077] ##STR00123##

Synthesis of Formula (L-1) Intermediate Compounds

[0078] Synthesis of 2-bromo-6-((4-methoxybenzyl)oxy)pyridine. A stirred mixture of 2,6-dibromopyridine (11.7 g, 50 mmol, 1.0 equiv), 4-methoxybenzyl alcohol (14.7 g, 50 mmol, 1.0 equiv), potassium hydroxide (3.37 g, 60 mmol, 1.2 equiv), 18-crown-6 (1.32 g, 5 mmol, 0.1 equiv) and toluene (200 mL) was heated under reflux for 12 hours. The cooled solution was evaporated under vacuum before 200 mL DCM was added. The organic layer was washed with brine twice and dried over anhydrous Na.sub.2SO.sub.4. A white solid was collected without further purification after evaporation of the solvent.

[0079] Synthesis of 2-((4-methoxybenzyl)oxy)-6-(tributylstannyl)pyridine. To a solution of 2-bromo-6-((4-methoxybenzyl)oxy)pyridine (14.6 g, 50 mmol, 1.0 equiv) in THE (200 mL) was added n-BuLi (22 mL, 55 mmol, 1.1 equiv) and the mixture was stirred at ?78? C. for 30 min under nitrogen atmosphere. Then n-Bu.sub.3SnCl (19.5 g, 60 mmol, 1.2 equiv) was added and the mixture was stirred at the same temperature for another 2 h. Saturated ammonium chloride solution (150 mL) was added to the solution and extracted with ethyl acetate (150 mL?3). The combined organic layers were dried over Na.sub.2SO.sub.4, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The crude product was briefly purified by flash chromatography (hexane:ethyl acetate=10:1) to afford 2-((4-methoxybenzyl)oxy)-6-(tributylstannyl)pyridine (18.2 g, 72% over 2 steps) as a colorless oil.

2-((4-methoxybenzyl)oxy)-6-(tributylstannyl)pyridine

[0080] ##STR00124##

[0081] Colorless oil, .sup.1H NMR (500 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 7.43-7.40 (m, 3H), 7.01 (dd, J=6.8, 1.0 Hz, 1H), 6.92-6.89 (m, 2H), 6.61 (dd, J=8.4, 1.0 Hz, 1H), 5.37 (s, 2H), 3.82 (s, 3H), 1.64-1.57 (m, 6H), 1.40-1.34 (m, 6H), 1.14-1.08 (m, 6H), 0.91 (t, J=7.4 Hz, 9H).

Synthesis of Ligands L8-L19

[0082] General procedure: a mixture of 2-((4-methoxybenzyl)oxy)-6-(tributylstannyl)pyridine (10 mmol), corresponding 2-bromo-pyridine or 2-chloro-pyridine (10 mmol), and tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)-palladium(0) (1.15 g, 1.0 mmol) in 20 mL of toluene was refluxed under nitrogen for 48 h. The resulting brown mixture was evaporated in vacuo, and the dark mixture was purified over flash chromatography (hexane/EA) to afford the corresponding bipyridine compound. The corresponding bipyridine was dissolved in DCM and 1 mL of trifluoroacetic acid was added. The mixture was stirred under room temperature for 1 hour before 10 mL of saturated NaHCO.sub.3 was added. The mixture was extracted with CHCl.sub.3 (30 mL?3) and the organic layers were combined and concentrated under vacuum. The corresponding pyridine-pyridone ligand was purified by flash chromatography (EA:methanol=10:1).

Example 1: Optimized Procedure for the Preparation of 6-(quinolin-2-yl)pyridin-2(1H)-one L8

[0083] ##STR00125##

[0084] To a stirred solution of freshly bought 2-aminobenzaldehyde (2.4 g, 20 mmol) in EtOH (150 mL) at 25? C. was added 1-(6-bromopyridin-2-yl)ethan-1-one (1.0 equiv, 4.0 g, 20 mmol) and KOH (0.6 eq, 0.7 g, 12 mmol). The reaction mixture was stirred at 85? C. for 12 h. After cooling to room temperature, the mixture was evaporated under reduced pressure. Depending on the quality of 2-aminobenzaldehyde, the product 2-(6-bromopyridin-2-yl)quinoline can be used for the next step without further purification if >90% conversion is observed. Flash chromatography (hexane:ethyl acetate=10:1 to 4:1) gives a white solid if purification is needed.

[0085] A stirred mixture of 2-(6-bromopyridin-2-yl)quinoline (5.6 g, 20 mmol), 4-methoxybenzyl alcohol (2.8 g, 20 mmol, 1.0 equiv), potassium hydroxide (1.3 g, 24 mmol, 1.2 equiv), 18-crown-6 (0.5 g, 2 mmol, 0.1 equiv) and toluene (100 mL) was heated under reflux for 12 hours. The cooled solution was evaporated under vacuum before 200 mL DCM was added. The organic layer was washed with brine twice and dried over anhydrous Na.sub.2SO.sub.4. The combined DCM solution was then transferred into a flask and 2 mL of trifluoroacetic acid was added. The mixture was stirred under room temperature for 1 hour before 60 mL of saturated NaHCO.sub.3 was added. The mixture was extracted with CHCl.sub.3 (60 mL?3) and the organic layers were combined and concentrated under vacuum. L8 is purified by flash chromatography (EA:methanol=20:1) to afford a pale-yellow compound (71% over 3 steps).

[0086] This reaction procedure is adapted and optimized from a reported synthesis. (30)

##STR00126##

[0087] Yellow solid, .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Methanol-d.sub.4) ? 8.41 (d, J=8.7 Hz, 1H), 8.14 (d, J=8.7 Hz, 1H), 8.09 (d, J=8.7 Hz, 1H), 7.94 (d, J=8.2 Hz, 1H), 7.81 (t, J=7.6 Hz, 1H), 7.74 (t, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.71-7.60 (m, 1H), 7.30 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 1H), 6.67 (d, J=9.2 Hz, 1H). .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, MeOD) ? 163.92, 147.45, 147.00, 142.18, 137.89, 130.40, 129.05, 128.43, 127.66, 127.54, 120.84, 117.10, 105.96. HRMS (ESI-TOF) Calcd for C.sub.10H.sub.9N.sub.2O [M+H].sup.+: 221.0715; found: 221.0717.

Example 2: [2,2-bipyridin]-6(1H-one (L9)

[0088] ##STR00127##

[0089] Yellow solid, .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Methanol-d4) ? 8.72 (dt, J=4.9, 1.3 Hz, 1H), 8.08 (dd, J=7.9, 1.3 Hz, 1H), 7.96 (td, J=7.8, 1.8 Hz, 1H), 7.73 (dd, J=9.1, 7.0 Hz, 1H), 7.49 (ddd, J=7.6, 4.9, 1.1 Hz, 1H), 7.18 (d, J=7.0 Hz, 1H), 6.65 (d, J=9.1 Hz, 1H). .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, MeOD) ? 163.53, 148.71, 147.59, 142.18, 141.76, 137.22, 124.35, 119.92, 119.52, 104.25. HRMS (ESI-TOF) Calcd for C.sub.10H.sub.9N.sub.2O [M+H].sup.+: 173.0715; found: 173.0717.

Example 3: 5-fluoro-[2,2-bipyridin]-6(1H)-one (L10)

[0090] ##STR00128##

[0091] Yellow solid, .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Methanol-d.sub.4) ? 8.63 (d, J=2.9 Hz, 1H), 8.15 (dd, J=8.9, 4.2 Hz, 1H), 7.81-7.75 (m, 1H), 7.74-7.70 (m, 1H), 7.15 (d, J=7.1 Hz, 1H), 6.63 (d, J=9.0 Hz, 1H). .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, Methanol-d.sub.4) ? 163.58, 159.77 (d, J=258.6 Hz), 144.30, 141.69, 137.05, 136.88, 123.96 (d, J=19.3 Hz), 121.64 (d, J=5.3 Hz), 119.33, 104.24. HRMS (ESI-TOF) Calcd for C.sub.10H.sub.8FN.sub.2O [M+H].sup.+: 191.0621; found: 191.0623.

Example 4: 5-(trifluoromethyl)-[2,2-bipyridin]-6(1H)-one (L11)

[0092] ##STR00129##

[0093] Yellow solid, .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Methanol-d.sub.4) ? 9.03 (m, 1H), 8.26 (m, 2H), 7.74 (t, J=8.1 Hz, 1H), 7.29 (d, J=7.1 Hz, 1H), 6.70 (d, J=9.1 Hz, 1H). .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, Methanol-d.sub.4) ? 163.43, 151.49, 145.54 (q, J=4.2 Hz), 141.32, 138.52, 134.46 (q, J=3.4 Hz), 126.27 (q, J=33.3 Hz), 122.97 (q, J=271.5 Hz), 120.80, 119.99, 105.90. HRMS (ESI-TOF) Calcd for C.sub.11H.sub.8F.sub.3N.sub.2O [M+H].sup.+: 241.0589; found: 241.0589.

Example 5: 4-fluoro-[2,2-bipyridin]-6(1H)-one (L12)

[0094] ##STR00130##

[0095] Yellow solid, .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Methanol-d.sub.4) ? 8.72 (dd, J=8.3, 5.6 Hz, 1H), 7.93 (dd, J=10.0, 2.4 Hz, 1H), 7.72 (dd, J=9.1, 7.0 Hz, 1H), 7.31 (ddd, J=8.2, 5.6, 2.4 Hz, 1H), 7.21 (d, J=7.1 Hz, 1H), 6.66 (d, J=9.0 Hz, 1H). .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, Methanol-d.sub.4) ? 169.32 (d, J=261.4 Hz), 163.38, 151.46 (d, J=7.9 Hz), 151.30, 141.51, 138.43, 120.20, 111.89 (d, J=17.3 Hz), 107.77 (d, J=20.0 Hz), 105.03. HRMS (ESI-TOF) Calcd for C.sub.10H.sub.8FN.sub.2O [M+H].sup.+: 191.0621; found: 191.0623.

Example 6: 6-chloro-[2,2-bipyridin]-6(1H)-one (L13)

[0096] ##STR00131##

[0097] Yellow solid, .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Methanol-d.sub.4) ? 8.03 (d, J=7.8 Hz, 1H), 7.95 (t, J=7.9 Hz, 1H), 7.71 (t, J=8.1 Hz, 1H), 7.54 (d, J=7.9 Hz, 1H), 7.19 (d, J=7.0 Hz, 1H), 6.65 (d, J=9.1 Hz, 1H). .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, MeOD) ? 163.47, 150.62, 148.77, 141.49, 140.13, 124.75, 120.09, 118.67, 105.27. HRMS (ESI-TOF) Calcd for C.sub.10H.sub.8ClN.sub.2O [M+H].sup.+: 207.0325; found: 207.0330.

Example 7: 4-(trifluoromethyl)-[2,2-bipyridin]-6(1H)-one (L14)

[0098] ##STR00132##

[0099] Yellow solid, .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Methanol-d.sub.4) ? 8.92 (d, J=5.2 Hz, 1H), 8.36 (s, 1H), 7.75 (dd, J=5.1, 1.5 Hz, 1H), 7.71 (dd, J=9.1, 7.0 Hz, 1H), 7.32 (d, J=7.1 Hz, 1H), 6.67 (d, J=9.1 Hz, 1H). .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, Methanol-d.sub.4) ? 163.42, 150.11, 149.75, 141.40, 139.11 (q, J=34.2 Hz), 122.29 (q, J=272.7 Hz), 120.28, 119.53 (q, J=3.4 Hz), 115.72 (q, J=3.8 Hz), 105.64. HRMS (ESI-TOF) Calcd for C.sub.11H.sub.8F.sub.3N.sub.2O [M+H].sup.+: 241.0589; found: 241.0591.

Example 8: 4-methoxy-[2,2-bipyridin]-6(1H)-one (L15)

[0100] ##STR00133##

[0101] Yellow solid, .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Methanol-d.sub.4) ? 8.50 (d, J=5.8 Hz, 1H), 7.69 (dd, J=9.1, 7.0 Hz, 1H), 7.57 (d, J=2.5 Hz, 1H), 7.16 (d, J=7.1 Hz, 1H), 7.04 (dd, J=5.8, 2.4 Hz, 1H), 6.61 (d, J=9.0 Hz, 1H), 3.95 (s, 3H). .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, MeOD) ? 166.90, 163.51, 149.92, 149.37, 142.36, 141.70, 119.35, 110.30, 106.14, 104.38, 54.49. HRMS (ESI-TOF) Calcd for C.sub.11H.sub.11N.sub.2O.sub.2[M+H].sup.+: 203.0821; found: 203.0819.

Example 9: 6-(pyrimidin-2-yl)pyridin-2(1H)-one (L16)

[0102] ##STR00134##

[0103] Yellow solid, .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Methanol-d.sub.4) ? 8.90 (d, J=5.0 Hz, 2H), 7.72 (dd, J=9.1, 6.9 Hz, 1H), 7.52 (dd, J=7.0, 1.1 Hz, 1H), 7.48 (t, J=4.9 Hz, 1H), 6.70 (dd, J=9.1, 1.1 Hz, 1H). .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, MeOD) ? 163.35, 157.19, 156.61, 141.46, 140.82, 121.85, 120.82, 106.66. HRMS (ESI-TOF) Calcd for C.sub.9H.sub.8N.sub.3O [M+H].sup.+: 174.0667; found: 174.0668.

Example 10: 6-(isoquinolin-1-yl)pyridin-2(1H)-one (L17)

[0104] ##STR00135##

[0105] Yellow solid, .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Methanol-d.sub.4) ? 8.36 (d, J=5.7 Hz, 1H), 7.98 (d, J=8.5 Hz, 1H), 7.83 (d, J=8.3 Hz, 1H), 7.71 (d, J=5.7 Hz, 1H), 7.62 (t, J=7.6 Hz, 1H), 7.57-7.48 (m, 2H), 6.54 (d, J=6.8 Hz, 1H), 6.48 (d, J=9.2 Hz, 1H). .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, MeOD) ? 164.57, 152.16, 143.85, 141.54, 141.19, 137.18, 130.93, 128.44, 127.21, 126.26, 125.55, 122.27, 119.63, 109.37. HRMS (ESI-TOF) Calcd for C.sub.14H.sub.11N.sub.2O [M+H].sup.+: 223.0871; found: 223.0877.

Example 11: 6-(isoquinolin-3-yl)pyridin-2(1H)-one (L18)

[0106] ##STR00136##

[0107] Yellow solid, .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Methanol-d.sub.4) ? 9.29 (s, 1H), 8.42 (s, 1H), 8.09 (d, J=8.2 Hz, 1H), 7.99 (d, J=8.2 Hz, 1H), 7.80 (ddd, J=8.1, 6.8, 1.3 Hz, 1H), 7.73-7.68 (m, 2H), 7.22 (d, J=7.1 Hz, 1H), 6.58 (d, J=8.9 Hz, 1H). .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, MeOD) ? 164.04, 152.20, 143.37, 142.39, 141.53, 136.16, 131.31, 128.94, 128.69, 127.62, 127.17, 118.88, 117.73, 104.21. HRMS (ESI-TOF) Calcd for C.sub.14H.sub.11N.sub.2O [M+H].sup.+: 223.0871; found: 223.0877.

Example 12: 5-methoxy-[2,2-bipyridin]-6(1H)-one (L19)

[0108] ##STR00137##

[0109] Yellow solid, .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Methanol-d.sub.4) ? 8.65-8.58 (m, 1H), 7.96-7.83 (m, 2H), 7.40-7.29 (m, 1H), 7.12-7.01 (m, 2H), 3.88 (s, 3H). .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, MeOD) ? 157.94, 150.20, 148.40, 147.95, 136.94, 132.69, 123.00, 118.66, 114.16, 104.18, 54.73. HRMS (ESI-TOF) Calcd for C.sub.11H.sub.11N.sub.2O.sub.2[M+H].sup.+: 203.0821; found: 203.0824.

Scheme for Preparing Bidentate Pyridine-Pyridone Ligands L20-L39 of Formula (L-2)

[0110] ##STR00138##

Synthesis of Formula (L-2) Intermediate Compounds

[0111] Synthesis of La. To a solution of R.sub.1 substituted 2-picoline (50 mmol, 1.0 equiv.) in anhydrous THF (80 mL) at ?78? C. was added n-butyllithium (2.5 M in hexanes, 50 mmol, 20.0 mL, 1.0 equiv.) dropwise. The resulting solution was stirred for 1 hour at ?78? C. before 2,6-difluoropyridine (5.75 g, 50 mmol, 1.0 equiv.) was added in a single batch. The reaction mixture was warmed to room temperature gradually and stirred for 3 hours. Upon completion, saturated aqueous NH.sub.4Cl solution was added and extracted with DCM three times. The combined extracts were washed with brine, dried over anhydrous Na.sub.2SO.sub.4, and concentrated under vacuum. Flash chromatography (eluent: ethyl acetate/hexanes=1/10 to 1/4) gave La (40%?50% yield).

[0112] Synthesis of Lb and Lc. To a solution of La (20 mmol, 1.0 equiv) in anhydrous THF (50 mL) at 0? C. was added NaH (60% in mineral oil, 1.20 g, 30 mmol, 1.5 equiv.). The resulting solution was stirred for 1 h at 0? C. before alkyl iodide R.sub.2I (30 mmol, 1.5 equiv.) was added dropwise. The reaction mixture was warmed to room temperature gradually and stirred for 5 hours. Upon completion, saturated aqueous NH.sub.4Cl solution was added and extracted with DCM three times. The combined extracts were washed with brine, dried over anhydrous Na.sub.2SO.sub.4, and concentrated under vacuum to give Lb, which was used for next step without purification.

[0113] To a solution of Lb in anhydrous THF (50 mL) at 0? C. was added n-butyllithium (2.5 M in hexanes, 30 mmol, 12 mL, 1.5 equiv.) dropwise. The resulting solution was stirred for 1 hour at ?78? C. before alkyl iodide or alkyl bromide (R.sub.3I or R.sub.3Br) (30 mmol, 1.5 equiv.) was added. The reaction mixture was warmed to 0? C. and stirred for 3 hours. Upon completion, the reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature. Water was added to the mixture and extracted three times with dichloromethane. The combined organic layers were washed with brine, dried over anhydrous Na.sub.2SO.sub.4, and concentrated under vacuum. The residue was purified by flash chromatography (eluent: ethyl acetate/hexanes=1/6 to 1/3), affording the pure product (Lc).

Synthesis of Ligands L20-L39

[0114] General procedure: a suspension of Lc in 4N HCl in water (15 mL) was refluxed for 12 hours. Upon completion (determined by TLC monitoring), the reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature and quenched with saturated aqueous NaHCO.sub.3 solution to neutral pH. The aqueous phase was extracted three times with dichloromethane. The combined organic layers were washed with brine, dried over anhydrous Na.sub.2SO.sub.4, and concentrated under vacuum. The residue was purified by flash chromatography (eluent: ethyl acetate/methanol=100/1 to 10/1) to give the pure product (L20-L39).

Example 13: Optimized Procedure for the Preparation of Ligands L33 and L39

[0115] ##STR00139##

[0116] Synthesis of Ld. To a solution of 5-chloro-2-methylpyridine (6.34 g, 50 mmol, 1.0 equiv.) in anhydrous THE (100 mL) at 0? C. was added freshly prepared LDA (50 mmol, 1.0 equiv.) slowly. The resulting solution was stirred for 20 minutes at 0? C. before 2,6-difluoropyridine (5.75 g, 50 mmol, 1.0 equiv.) was added in a single batch. The reaction mixture was kept at 0? C. and stirred for 30 minutes. Upon completion, saturated aqueous NH.sub.4Cl solution was added and extracted with DCM three times. The combined extracts were washed with brine, dried over anhydrous Na.sub.2SO.sub.4, and concentrated under vacuum. Flash chromatography (eluent: ethyl acetate/hexanes=1/10) gave Ld (8.0 g, 72% yield).

[0117] Synthesis of Le. To a solution of Ld (4.4 g, 20 mmol, 1.0 equiv) in anhydrous THE (50 mL) at room temperature was added potassium tert-butoxide (2.24 g, 20 mmol, 1.0 equiv.) under N.sub.2. The resulting solution was stirred for 30 minutes before methyl iodide (20 mmol, 1.0 equiv.) was added dropwise. The reaction mixture was stirred for 1 hour. Next, potassium tert-butoxide (2.24 g, 20 mmol, 1.0 equiv.) was added for a second time under N.sub.2. The resulting solution was stirred for 30 minutes before methyl iodide or benzyl bromide (20 mmol, 1.0 equiv.) was added dropwise. The reaction mixture was stirred for another 1 hour. Upon completion, saturated aqueous NH.sub.4Cl solution was added and extracted with DCM three times. The combined extracts were washed with brine, dried over anhydrous Na.sub.2SO.sub.4, and concentrated under vacuum to give Le, which was used for next step without purification.

[0118] Synthesis of L33 or L39. A suspension of Le in 4N HCl in water (15 mL) was refluxed for 12 hours. Upon completion, the reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature and quenched with saturated aqueous NaHCO.sub.3 solution to neutral pH. The aqueous phase was extracted three times with dichloromethane. The combined organic layers were washed with brine, dried over anhydrous Na.sub.2SO.sub.4, and concentrated under vacuum. The residue was purified by flash chromatography (eluent: ethyl acetate/methanol=100/1 to 10/1) to give the pure product (L33 or L39).

Example 14: 6-(2-(5-methylpyridin-2-yl)-1-phenylpropan-2-yl)pyridin-2(1H)-one (L6)

[0119] ##STR00140##

[0120] Yellow solid, .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 11.26 (brs, 1H), 8.59 (s, 1H), 7.45 (dd, J=8.2, 2.3 Hz, 1H), 7.24 (dd, J=9.2, 7.0 Hz, 1H), 7.16-7.10 (m, 4H), 6.75 (d, J=7.8 Hz, 2H), 6.40 (d, J=9.2 Hz, 1H), 5.96 (d, J=6.9 Hz, 1H), 3.45-3.34 (m, 2H), 2.35 (s, 3H), 1.57 (s, 3H). .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 163.79, 159.32, 151.90, 149.51, 140.67, 137.87, 136.95, 132.14, 130.33, 127.95, 126.75, 120.64, 118.77, 102.91, 48.91, 46.48, 21.12, 18.15. HRMS (ESI-TOF) Calcd for C.sub.20H.sub.21N.sub.2O [M+H].sup.+: 305.1654; found: 305.1657.

Example 15: 6-(1-Cyclohexyl-1-(5-methylpyridin-2-yl)ethyl)pyridin-2(11)-one (L7)

[0121] ##STR00141##

[0122] Yellow solid, .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 11.59 (brs, 1H), 8.52 (d, J=2.4 Hz, 1H), 7.44 (dd, J=8.1, 2.4 Hz, 1H), 7.29-7.20 (m, 2H), 6.34 (dd, J=9.1, 2.0 Hz, 1H), 6.10 (dd, J=7.1, 1.8 Hz, 1H), 2.57-2.52 (m, 1H), 2.31 (s, 3H), 1.70-1.60 (m, 3H), 1.58 (s, 3H), 1.26-1.18 (m, 2H), 1.16-0.95 (m, 3H), 0.91-0.88 (m, 2H). .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 163.41, 158.97, 151.76, 148.98, 139.72, 136.90, 130.95, 120.14, 117.66, 102.47, 48.03, 47.76, 27.46, 27.07, 26.41, 26.29, 26.06, 17.45, 14.87. HRMS (ESI-TOF) Calcd for C.sub.19H.sub.25N.sub.2O [M+H].sup.+: 297.1967; found: 297.1970.

Example 16: 6-(1-(quinolin-2-yl)ethyl)pyridin-2-ol (L20)

[0123] ##STR00142##

[0124] Yellow solid, .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 8.16 (dd, J=8.5, 1.0 Hz, 1H), 8.12 (dd, J=8.5, 0.8 Hz, 1H), 7.79 (dd, J=8.1, 1.4 Hz, 1H), 7.73 (ddd, J=8.4, 6.9, 1.5 Hz, 1H), 7.53 (ddd, J=8.1, 6.9, 1.2 Hz, 1H), 7.35 (d, J=8.4 Hz, 1H), 7.32 (dd, J=9.2, 6.8 Hz, 1H), 6.40 (dd, J=9.2, 1.0 Hz, 1H), 6.15 (dd, J=6.8, 1.1 Hz, 1H), 4.22 (q, J=7.2 Hz, 1H), 1.77 (d, J=7.2 Hz, 3H); .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 164.08, 160.70, 150.19, 147.66, 141.18, 137.47, 129.97, 129.39, 127.49, 127.16, 126.67, 120.61, 118.60, 103.86, 45.04, 21.27. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z Calcd for C.sub.16H.sub.15N.sub.2O [M+H].sup.+ 251.1184, found 251.1189.

Example 17: 6-(2-(quinolin-2-yl)propan-2-yl)pyridin-2-ol (L5)

[0125] ##STR00143##

[0126] Yellow solid, .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 8.16 (dq, J=8.5, 0.9 Hz, 1H), 8.10 (dd, J=8.6, 0.9 Hz, 1H), 7.78 (dd, J=8.2, 1.4 Hz, 1H), 7.73 (ddd, J=8.4, 6.9, 1.4 Hz, 1H), 7.54 (ddd, J=8.1, 6.9, 1.2 Hz, 1H), 7.38 (d, J=8.6 Hz, 1H), 7.31 (dd, J=9.2, 7.0 Hz, 1H), 6.32 (dd, J=9.2, 1.0 Hz, 1H), 6.22 (dd, J=7.0, 1.0 Hz, 1H), 1.85 (s, 6H); .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 163.62, 163.11, 153.35, 147.22, 140.82, 137.25, 129.93, 129.58, 127.30, 126.83, 126.79, 118.54, 118.31, 101.73, 44.23, 27.52. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z Calcd for C.sub.17H.sub.17N.sub.2O.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 265.1341, found 265.1341.

Example 18: 6-(2-(quinolin-2-yl)butan-2-yl)pyridin-2-ol (L21)

[0127] ##STR00144##

[0128] Yellow solid, .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 8.19 (dd, J=8.5, 2.7 Hz, 1H), 8.12 (dd, J=8.7, 2.6 Hz, 1H), 7.79 (dt, J=8.1, 2.0 Hz, 1H), 7.76-7.71 (m, 1H), 7.55 (tq, J=6.9, 2.5, 1.9 Hz, 1H), 7.40 (dd, J=8.6, 2.6 Hz, 1H), 7.33 (ddd, J=9.5, 7.1, 2.6 Hz, 1H), 6.36 (dd, J=9.3, 2.7 Hz, 1H), 6.23 (dd, J=7.2, 2.6 Hz, 1H), 2.33 (qd, J=7.5, 2.5 Hz, 2H), 1.80 (s, 3H), 0.80 (td, J=7.6, 2.5 Hz, 3H); .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 163.57, 162.55, 152.27, 147.18, 140.62, 137.25, 129.99, 129.61, 127.29, 126.90, 126.75, 118.77, 118.56, 102.64, 47.52, 34.17, 21.53, 8.89. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z Calcd for C.sub.18H.sub.19N.sub.2O [M+H].sup.+ 279.1497, found 279.1499.

Example 19: 6-(1-phenyl-2-(quinolin-2-yl)propan-2-yl)pyridin-2-ol (L22)

[0129] ##STR00145##

[0130] Yellow solid, .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 8.30 (dq, J=8.5, 0.9 Hz, 1H), 8.14 (dd, J=8.7, 0.9 Hz, 1H), 7.85-7.78 (m, 2H), 7.59 (ddd, J=8.1, 6.9, 1.2 Hz, 1H), 7.39 (d, J=8.6 Hz, 1H), 7.26-7.24 (m, 1H), 7.17-7.11 (m, 3H), 6.84-6.81 (m, 2H), 6.40 (dd, J=9.1, 1.0 Hz, 1H), 6.01 (dd, J=7.0, 0.9 Hz, 1H), 3.65 (d, J=13.6 Hz, 1H), 3.58 (d, J=13.5 Hz, 1H), 1.71 (s, 3H); .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 163.53, 162.33, 151.22, 146.98, 140.50, 137.51, 136.89, 130.31, 130.26, 129.59, 127.90, 127.37, 127.11, 126.86, 118.88, 118.86, 103.26, 48.18, 47.73, 21.52. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z Calcd for C.sub.23H.sub.21N.sub.2O.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 341.1654, found 341.1649.

Example 20: 6-(1-phenyl-2-(quinolin-2-yl)butan-2-yl)pyridin-2-ol (L23)

[0131] ##STR00146##

[0132] Yellow solid, .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 8.16 (dq, J=9.2, 0.8 Hz, 1H), 8.11 (dd, J=8.6, 0.8 Hz, 1H), 7.81 (dd, J=8.1, 1.4 Hz, 1H), 7.76 (ddd, J=8.4, 6.9, 1.5 Hz, 1H), 7.59 (ddd, J=8.1, 6.9, 1.2 Hz, 1H), 7.29 (dd, J=9.2, 7.0 Hz, 1H), 7.22-7.27 (m, 1H), 7.17-7.11 (m, 3H), 6.81-6.77 (m, 2H), 6.39 (dd, J=9.2, 0.9 Hz, 1H), 6.04 (dd, J=7.1, 1.0 Hz, 1H), 3.71 (d, J=14.1 Hz, 1H), 3.60 (d, J=14.1 Hz, 1H), 2.13 (dp, J=21.5, 7.2 Hz, 2H), 0.86 (t, J=7.4 Hz, 3H); .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 163.36, 161.41, 151.45, 147.14, 140.62, 137.05, 130.02, 129.92, 129.72, 127.95, 127.38, 127.09, 126.83, 126.64, 120.10, 118.61, 104.68, 53.21, 41.31, 26.64, 8.54. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z Calcd for C.sub.24H.sub.23N.sub.2O.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 355.1810, found 355.1812.

Example 21: 6-(1,3-diphenyl-2-(quinolin-2-yl)propan-2-yl)pyridin-2-ol (L24)

[0133] ##STR00147##

[0134] Yellow solid, .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Methanol-d.sub.4) ? 8.99 (d, J=8.8 Hz, 1H), 8.88 (d, J=8.8 Hz, 1H), 8.30 (d, J=7.2 Hz, 1H), 8.23-8.21 (m, 1H), 8.18 (d, J=8.7 Hz, 1H), 8.12 (d, J=2.7 Hz, 1H), 8.02-8.00 (m, 1H), 7.98-7.96 (m, 1H), 7.89 (td, J=7.5, 6.9, 1.0 Hz, 1H), 7.71 (d, J=7.9 Hz, 1H), 7.12 (d, J=1.9 Hz, 3H), 7.00-7.05 (m, 2H), 6.91 (d, J=6.9 Hz, 2H), 6.73 (s, 2H), 3.87 (d, J=13.7 Hz, 2H), 3.78 (d, J=13.7 Hz, 2H); .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 163.99, 163.64, 163.02, 162.94, 162.05, 153.05, 142.05, 142.00, 141.13, 118.75, 117.95, 117.93, 108.37, 108.13, 102.61, 44.16, 27.31. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z Calcd for C.sub.29H.sub.25N.sub.2O.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 417.1967, found 417.1961.

Example 22: 6-(1-(3,5-dibromophenyl)-2-(quinolin-2-yl)propan-2-yl)pyridin-2-ol (L25)

[0135] ##STR00148##

[0136] Yellow solid, .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 8.28 (dd, J=8.4, 1.1 Hz, 1H), 8.15 (dd, J=8.8, 0.8 Hz, 1H), 7.84-7.79 (m, 2H), 7.60 (ddd, J=8.1, 6.9, 1.2 Hz, 1H), 7.38 (d, J=8.6 Hz, 1H), 7.29 (ddd, J=8.3, 2.2, 1.2 Hz, 1H), 7.03 (t, J=1.8 Hz, 1H), 6.97 (t, J=7.8 Hz, 1H), 6.70 (dt, J=7.9, 1.3 Hz, 1H), 6.39 (dd, J=9.2, 0.9 Hz, 1H), 6.00 (dd, J=7.0, 1.0 Hz, 1H), 3.63 (d, J=13.5 Hz, 1H), 3.53 (d, J=13.5 Hz, 1H), 1.70 (s, 3H); .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 163.52, 161.95, 150.73, 146.96, 140.44, 139.28, 137.64, 133.39, 130.35, 129.82, 129.51, 129.43, 128.79, 127.40, 127.21, 126.89, 121.92, 119.10, 118.82, 103.44, 47.72, 47.50, 21.56. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z Calcd for C.sub.23H.sub.19Br.sub.2N.sub.2O.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 496.9864, found 496.9872.

Example 23: 6-(1-(3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)-2-(quinolin-2-yl)propan-2-yl)pyridin-2-ol (L26)

[0137] ##STR00149##

[0138] Yellow solid, .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 8.32 (dt, J=8.5, 1.0 Hz, 1H), 8.14-8.10 (m, 1H), 7.83-7.76 (m, 2H), 7.58 (ddd, J=8.2, 6.9, 1.3 Hz, 1H), 7.38 (dd, J=8.6, 1.2 Hz, 1H), 7.29-7.26 (m, 1H), 7.17 (t, J=1.8 Hz, 1H), 6.63 (d, J=1.8 Hz, 2H), 6.41 (dd, J=9.1, 1.0 Hz, 1H), 6.03 (dd, J=7.1, 1.0 Hz, 1H), 3.60 (d, J=13.4 Hz, 1H), 3.54 (d, J=13.4 Hz, 1H), 1.70 (s, 3H), 1.13 (s, 18H); .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 163.59, 162.53, 151.59, 150.05, 146.97, 140.60, 137.35, 135.64, 130.22, 129.54, 127.27, 127.06, 126.82, 124.63, 120.34, 118.94, 118.71, 103.30, 49.09, 47.74, 34.54, 31.32, 21.48. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z Calcd for C.sub.31H.sub.37N.sub.2O.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 453.2906, found 453.2906.

Example 24: 6-(4-(tert-butyl)-1-(quinolin-2-yl)cyclohexyl)pyridin-2-ol

[0139] ##STR00150##

[0140] Yellow solid, .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 8.06 (s, 2H), 7.74 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.65-7.69 (m, 1H), 7.62-7.52 (m, 1H), 7.49 (t, J=7.2 Hz, 1H), 7.35-7.39 (m, 1H), 6.54 (m, 1H), 2.09-1.99 (m, 2H), 1.86 (s, 2H), 1.24 (d, J=17.9 Hz, 4H), 0.83 (s, 9H); .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 163.45, 147.31, 137.15, 129.74, 129.45, 127.27, 126.79, 126.60, 117.89, 47.74, 35.01, 32.34, 29.73, 27.39, 23.72. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z Calcd for C.sub.24H.sub.29N.sub.2O.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 361.2280, found 361.2280.

Example 25: 6-(8-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroquinolin-8-yl)pyridin-2-ol (L28)

[0141] ##STR00151##

[0142] Yellow solid, .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 8.55-8.49 (m, 1H), 7.46-7.42 (m, 1H), 7.33 (dd, J=9.1, 7.0 Hz, 1H), 7.14 (dd, J=7.7, 4.7 Hz, 1H), 6.37 (dd, J=9.1, 0.9 Hz, 1H), 6.14 (dd, J=7.1, 1.0 Hz, 1H), 2.90-2.76 (m, 2H), 2.51-2.42 (m, 1H), 1.96-1.84 (m, 3H), 1.68 (s, 3H); .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 163.87, 158.25, 153.47, 147.29, 140.85, 137.87, 132.75, 122.17, 118.10, 101.67, 42.60, 35.16, 31.29, 29.61, 19.16. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z Calcd for C.sub.15H.sub.17N.sub.2O.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 241.1341, found 241.1345.

Example 26: 6-(1-(quinolin-2-yl)cyclopentyl)pyridin-2-ol (L29)

[0143] ##STR00152##

[0144] Yellow solid, .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 8.14 (dd, J=8.4, 1.2 Hz, 1H), 8.08 (d, J=8.6 Hz, 1H), 7.77 (dd, J=8.1, 1.4 Hz, 1H), 7.73 (ddd, J=8.4, 6.9, 1.4 Hz, 1H), 7.54 (ddd, J=8.1, 6.9, 1.2 Hz, 1H), 7.37 (d, J=8.6 Hz, 1H), 7.31 (dd, J=9.2, 7.0 Hz, 1H), 6.32 (dd, J=9.2, 1.0 Hz, 1H), 6.25 (dd, J=7.0, 1.0 Hz, 1H), 2.71 (dddd, J=12.8, 7.3, 5.5, 2.2 Hz, 2H), 2.39-2.25 (m, 2H), 1.85-1.78 (m, 2H), 1.77-1.69 (m, 2H); .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 161.91, 151.60, 147.37, 140.78, 137.24, 129.85, 129.66, 127.30, 126.83, 126.83, 118.88, 101.90, 57.13, 36.32, 23.04. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z Calcd for C.sub.19H.sub.19N.sub.2O.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 291.1497, found 291.1501.

Example 27: 6-(1-hydroxy-2-(naphthalen-2-yl)-1-(quinolin-2-yl)ethyl)pyridin-2-ol (L30)

[0145] ##STR00153##

[0146] Yellow solid, .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Methanol-d.sub.4) ? 8.26 (dd, J=8.7, 0.8 Hz, 1H), 8.20-8.17 (m, 1H), 8.00 (d, J=8.5 Hz, 1H), 7.90-7.87 (m, 1H), 7.85 (d, J=8.5 Hz, 1H), 7.78 (ddd, J=8.4, 6.9, 1.4 Hz, 1H), 7.74-7.71 (m, 1H), 7.66 (d, J=8.1 Hz, 1H), 7.60 (ddd, J=8.1, 6.9, 1.2 Hz, 1H), 7.47 (dd, J=9.0, 7.1 Hz, 1H), 7.32 (ddd, J=8.1, 6.8, 1.2 Hz, 1H), 7.29-7.25 (m, 1H), 7.20 (dd, J=8.1, 7.1 Hz, 1H), 7.15 (dd, J=7.2, 1.3 Hz, 1H), 6.70 (d, J=7.1 Hz, 1H), 6.36 (dd, J=9.0, 1.0 Hz, 1H), 4.21 (d, J=14.3 Hz, 1H), 4.04 (d, J=14.3 Hz, 1H); .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, MeOD) ? 163.81, 161.74, 146.05, 142.06, 137.61, 133.67, 133.12, 131.53, 129.98, 128.89, 128.67, 128.03, 127.43, 127.38, 127.35, 126.94, 125.11, 124.86, 124.48, 124.28, 118.30, 117.32, 105.23, 76.50, 43.96. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z Calcd for C.sub.26H.sub.21N.sub.2O.sub.2.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 393.1603, found 393.1609.

Example 28: 3,5-diiodo-6-(2-(quinolin-2-yl)propan-2-yl)pyridin-2-ol (L31)

[0147] ##STR00154##

[0148] Yellow solid, .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 8.24 (s, 1H), 8.11 (dd, J=8.6, 0.8 Hz, 1H), 8.02 (dd, J=8.5, 1.0 Hz, 1H), 7.81 (dd, J=8.2, 1.4 Hz, 1H), 7.71 (ddd, J=8.4, 6.9, 1.4 Hz, 1H), 7.54 (ddd, J=8.1, 6.9, 1.2 Hz, 1H), 7.23 (d, J=8.6 Hz, 1H), 1.91 (s, 6H); .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 163.15, 160.57, 159.96, 147.54, 136.91, 129.67, 129.48, 127.46, 126.74, 126.58, 119.38, 49.12, 26.66. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z Calcd for C.sub.17H.sub.15I.sub.2N.sub.2O.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 516.9274, found 516.9271.

Example 29: 3-chloro-6-(2-(quinolin-2-yl)propan-2-yl)pyridin-2-ol (L32)

[0149] ##STR00155##

[0150] Yellow solid, .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 8.09 (d, J=8.6 Hz, 1H), 8.05-8.00 (m, 1H), 7.79 (dd, J=8.2, 1.5 Hz, 1H), 7.70 (ddd, J=8.4, 6.9, 1.5 Hz, 1H), 7.52 (ddd, J=8.1, 6.8, 1.2 Hz, 1H), 7.27 (d, J=9.5 Hz, 1H), 7.25 (s, 1H), 6.48 (d, J=9.5 Hz, 1H), 1.88 (s, 6H); .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 177.28, 175.91, 163.77, 162.03, 147.52, 144.77, 136.77, 129.56, 129.45, 127.41, 126.70, 126.40, 118.55, 118.38, 47.37, 26.21. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z Calcd for C.sub.17H.sub.16ClN.sub.2O.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 299.0951, found 299.0950.

Example 30: 6-(2-(5-chloropyridin-2-yl)propan-2-yl)pyridin-2-ol (L33)

[0151] ##STR00156##

[0152] Yellow solid, .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 8.61-8.56 (m, 1H), 7.63 (ddd, J=8.5, 2.5, 0.8 Hz, 1H), 7.33 (ddd, J=9.3, 7.0, 0.8 Hz, 1H), 7.26 (d, J=5.5 Hz, 1H), 6.37 (dt, J=9.2, 0.9 Hz, 1H), 6.17 (dd, J=7.0, 1.0 Hz, 1H), 1.72 (s, 6H); .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 163.62, 161.51, 152.82, 148.07, 140.87, 136.77, 130.81, 121.11, 118.70, 101.72, 43.24, 27.53. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z Calcd for C.sub.13H.sub.14ClN.sub.2O.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 249.0795, found 249.0797.

Example 31: 6-(2-(6-fluoropyridin-2-yl)propan-2-yl)pyridin-2-ol (L34)

[0153] ##STR00157##

[0154] Yellow solid, .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 7.74 (q, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.35 (dd, J=9.2, 7.0 Hz, 1H), 7.13 (dd, J=7.6, 2.4 Hz, 1H), 6.81 (dd, J=8.2, 3.0 Hz, 1H), 6.37 (dd, J=9.2, 1.0 Hz, 1H), 6.18 (dd, J=7.0, 1.0 Hz, 1H), 1.72 (s, 6H); .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 163.87, 162.86 (d, J=12.08 Hz), 162.72 (d, J=241.60 Hz), 152.93, 141.91 (d, J=7.55 Hz), 141.01, 118.63, 117.82 (d, J=4.53 Hz), 108.13 (d, J=37.75 Hz), 102.49, 44.03, 27.19. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z Calcd for C.sub.13H.sub.14FN.sub.2O.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 233.1090, found 233.1092.

Example 32: 6-(2-(3-methylpyridin-2-yl)propan-2-yl)pyridin-2-ol (L35)

[0155] ##STR00158##

[0156] Yellow solid, .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 8.46 (dd, J=4.7, 1.9 Hz, 1H), 7.47-7.37 (m, 2H), 7.17 (dd, J=7.6, 4.7 Hz, 1H), 6.39 (d, J=9.2 Hz, 1H), 6.24 (d, J=7.0 Hz, 1H), 2.04 (s, 3H), 1.71 (s, 6H); .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 159.90, 154.94, 146.23, 141.38, 140.46, 132.10, 122.89, 101.96, 46.25, 27.74, 19.57. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m z Calcd for C.sub.14H.sub.17N.sub.2O.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 229.1341, found 229.1344.

Example 33: 6-(2-(6-methylpyridin-2-yl)propan-2-yl)pyridin-2-ol (L36)

[0157] ##STR00159##

[0158] Yellow solid, .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 7.54 (t, J=7.8 Hz, 1H), 7.32 (dd, J=9.1, 7.0 Hz, 1H), 7.12 (d, J=7.9 Hz, 1H), 7.05 (d, J=7.7 Hz, 1H), 6.37 (d, J=9.1 Hz, 1H), 6.17 (d, J=7.0 Hz, 1H), 2.62 (s, 3H), 1.72 (s, 6H); .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 163.61, 162.34, 158.11, 153.55, 140.82, 137.32, 121.77, 118.37, 116.83, 101.18, 42.58, 27.72, 24.64. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z Calcd for C.sub.14H.sub.17N.sub.2O.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 229.1341, found 229.1340.

Example 34: 6-(2-(4-methylpyridin-2-yl)propan-2-yl)pyridin-2-ol (L37)

[0159] ##STR00160##

[0160] Yellow solid, .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 8.49 (dd, J=5.0, 0.8 Hz, 1H), 7.33 (dd, J=9.2, 7.0 Hz, 1H), 7.13 (s, 1H), 7.02 (ddd, J=5.0, 1.6, 0.9 Hz, 1H), 6.37 (dd, J=9.2, 1.0 Hz, 1H), 6.19 (dd, J=7.0, 1.0 Hz, 1H), 2.34 (s, 3H), 1.72 (s, 6H); .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 163.58, 162.93, 153.55, 148.92, 148.41, 140.87, 123.12, 120.99, 118.47, 101.29, 42.93, 27.67, 21.34. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z Calcd for C.sub.14H.sub.17N.sub.2O.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 229.1341, found 229.1339.

Example 35: 6-(2-(4-methoxypyridin-2-yl)propan-2-yl)pyridin-2-ol (L38)

[0161] ##STR00161##

[0162] Yellow solid, .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 8.47 (d, J=5.8 Hz, 1H), 7.32 (dd, J=9.2, 7.0 Hz, 1H), 6.85 (d, J=2.4 Hz, 1H), 6.72 (dd, J=5.7, 2.4 Hz, 1H), 6.37 (dd, J=9.1, 0.9 Hz, 1H), 6.18 (dd, J=6.9, 1.0 Hz, 1H), 3.84 (s, 3H), 1.71 (s, 6H); .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 166.60, 164.76, 163.61, 153.41, 150.57, 140.83, 118.51, 107*.48, 107.19, 101.29, 55.24, 42.95, 27.59. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z Calcd for C.sub.14H.sub.17N.sub.2O.sub.2.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 245.1290, found 245.1291.

Example 36: 6-(2-(5-chloropyridin-2-yl)-1-phenylpropan-2-yl)pyridin-2-ol (L39)

[0163] ##STR00162##

[0164] Yellow solid, .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 8.72 (dd, J=2.6, 0.8 Hz, 1H), 7.64 (dd, J=8.5, 2.6 Hz, 1H), 7.25 (d, J=7.6 Hz, 1H), 7.22-7.20 (m, 1H), 7.19-7.12 (m, 3H), 6.81-6.73 (m, 2H), 6.42 (dd, J=9.2, 0.9 Hz, 1H), 5.98 (dd, J=7.0, 1.0 Hz, 1H), 3.41 (q, J=13.4 Hz, 2H), 1.59 (s, 3H); .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 163.57, 160.39, 158.10, 150.90, 147.89, 140.58, 136.98, 136.31, 130.18, 127.98, 126.85, 122.09, 118.97, 103.15, 48.12, 46.85, 21.39. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z Calcd for C.sub.19H.sub.18ClN.sub.2O.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 325.1108, found 325.1112.

Process for Making Compounds of Formula (2)

Example 37: Ligand Effect on Dehydrogenation of Free Carboxylic Acid

[0165] The purpose of this example is to demonstrate the use of ligands (L-1) in an illustrative embodiment of the process for making a compound of formula (2):

##STR00163##

[0166] Reaction conditions were as follows: 1b (0.1 mmol), Pd(OAc).sub.2 (10 mol %), Ligand (12 mol %), Ag.sub.2CO.sub.3 (2.0 equiv), Li.sub.2CO.sub.3 (2.0 equiv), NaOAc (0.5 equiv), 1,4-dioxane (1.0 mL), 100? C., N.sub.2, 24 h. The yields were determined by .sup.1H NMR using dibromomethane as internal standard (Table 1).

TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 1 Effect of Ligand L-1 on Yield of 2b Ligand Structure Yield (%) L1 [00164] 0 L2 [00165] 0 L3 [00166] 0 L4 [00167] 0 L5 [00168] 15 L6 [00169] 6 L7 [00170] 4 L8 [00171] 71 L9 [00172] 35 L10 [00173] 32 L11 [00174] 41 L12 [00175] 28 L13 [00176] 64 L14 [00177] 65 L15 [00178] 32 L16 [00179] 30 L17 [00180] 67 L18 [00181] 22 L19 [00182] 23

Example 38: Ligand Loading Effects

[0167] The purpose of this example is to demonstrate the effect of ligand (L-1) loading in an illustrative embodiment of the process for making a compound of formula (2):

##STR00183##

[0168] Reaction conditions were as follows: 1b (0.1 mmol), Pd(OAc).sub.2 (10 mol %), L8, Ag.sub.2CO.sub.3 (2.0 equiv), Li.sub.2CO.sub.3 (2.0 equiv), NaOAc (0.5 equiv), 1,4-dioxane (1.0 mL), 100? C., N.sub.2, 24 h. The yields were determined by .sup.1H NMR using dibromomethane as internal standard (Table 2)

TABLE-US-00007 TABLE 2 Effect of Ligand (L-1) loading on Yield of 2b Entry Ligand amount (mol %) Yield (%) 1 10 68 2 11 72 3 13 60 4 16 58 5 19 38 6 22 36 7 none 0

Example 39: Palladium Loading Effects

[0169] The purpose of this example is to demonstrate the effect of palladium (II) source loading in an illustrative embodiment of the process for making a compound of formula (2):

##STR00184##

[0170] Reaction conditions were as follows: 1b (0.1 mmol), Pd(OAc).sub.2 (10 mol %), L8 (1.1 equiv. relative to Pd), Ag.sub.2CO.sub.3 (2.0 equiv), Li.sub.2CO.sub.3 (2.0 equiv), NaOAc (0.5 equiv), 1,4-dioxane (1.0 mL), 100? C., N.sub.2, 24 h. The yields determined by .sup.1H NMR using dibromomethane as internal standard (Table 3).

TABLE-US-00008 TABLE 3 Palladium Loading Effects Entry Pd amount (mol %) Yield (%) 1 10 72 2 3 60 3 2 47 4 1 44

Example 40: Solvent Effects

[0171] The purpose of this example is to demonstrate the effect of solvent in an illustrative embodiment of the process for making a compound of formula (2):

##STR00185##

[0172] Reaction conditions were as follows: 1b (0.1 mmol), Pd(OAc).sub.2 (2 mol %), L8 (2.2 mol %), Ag.sub.2CO.sub.3 (2.0 equiv), Li.sub.2CO.sub.3 (2.0 equiv), NaOAc (0.5 equiv), solvent, 110? C., N.sub.2, 24 h. The yields determined by .sup.1H NMR using dibromomethane as internal standard (Table 4).

TABLE-US-00009 TABLE 4 Solvent Effects Entry Solvent Yield (%) 1 1.0 mL Dioxane 49 2 0.2 mL Dioxane + 0.8 mL t-Amyl-OH 70 3 0.2 mL Dioxane + 0.2 mL t-Amyl-OH 47 4 0.5 mL Dioxane + 0.5 mL t-Amyl-OH 61 5 0.2 mL Dioxane + 0.8 mL t-BuOH 53 6 0.2 mL Dioxane + 0.2 mL t-BuOH 49 7 0.5 mL Dioxane + 0.5 mL t-BuOH 50

Example 41: Base Amount Effects

[0173] The purpose of this example is to demonstrate the effect of amount of base in an illustrative embodiment of the process for making a compound of formula (2):

##STR00186##

[0174] Reaction conditions were as follows: 1b (0.1 mmol), Pd(OAc).sub.2 (2 mol %), L8 (2.2 mol %), Ag.sub.2CO.sub.3 (2.0 equiv), Base, 1,4-dioxane (0.2 mL), t-Amyl-OH (0.8 mL), 110? C., N.sub.2, 24 h. The yields determined by H NMR using dibromomethane as internal standard (Table 5).

TABLE-US-00010 TABLE 5 Effect of Base on Yield of 2b. Entry Base Yield (%) 1 1.0 eq Li.sub.2CO.sub.3 + 0.25 eq NaOAc 46 2 1.0 eq Li.sub.2CO.sub.3 + 0.50 eq NaOAc 20 3 1.0 eq Li.sub.2CO.sub.3 + 1.00 eq NaOAc 65 4 2.0 eq Li.sub.2CO.sub.3 + 0.25 eq NaOAc 25 5 2.0 eq Li.sub.2CO.sub.3 + 0.50 eq NaOAc 70 6 2.0 eq Li.sub.2CO.sub.3 + 1.00 eq NaOAc 55 7 4.0 eq Li.sub.2CO.sub.3 + 0.25 eq NaOAc 38 8 4.0 eq Li.sub.2CO.sub.3 + 0.50 eq NaOAc 58 9 4.0 eq Li.sub.2CO.sub.3 + 1.00 eq NaOAc 44

Example 42A: Effects of Oxidant

[0175] The purpose of this example is to demonstrate the effect of oxidant in an illustrative embodiment of the process for making a compound of formula (2):

##STR00187##

[0176] Reaction conditions were as follows: 1b (0.1 mmol), Pd(OAc).sub.2 (4 mol %), L8 (4.4 mol %), oxidants, Li.sub.2CO.sub.3 (2.0 equiv), NaOAc (0.5 equiv), 1,4-dioxane (0.2 mL), t-Amyl-OH (0.8 mL), 110? C., 24 h. The yields were determined by .sup.1H NMR using dibromomethane as internal standard. (Table 6A).

TABLE-US-00011 TABLE 6A Effect of Oxidant on Yield of 2b. Entry Oxidant(s) Yield (%) 1 TBHP in water, 2 eq..sup. 60 2 CMHP in water, 2 eq. 56 3 AcOOtBu, 2 eq. 30 4 BzOOtBu, 2 eq. 26 5 BzOOBz, 2 eq. 0 6 lauroyl peroxide, 2 eq. <5 7 tBuOOtBu, 2 eq. 0 8 O.sub.2 (1 atm), BQ (1 eq.).sup.? 25 9 O.sub.2 (1 atm), 2,5-di-tBuBQ (1 eq.).sup.? 37 10 O.sub.2 (1 atm), BQ (1 eq.), CuBr (0.1 eq.).sup.? 61 11 O.sub.2 (3 atm), BQ (1 eq.), CuBr (0.1 eq.)** 71 12 O.sub.2 (1 atm), BQ (1 eq.), CuBr (0.5 eq.).sup.? 45 13 O.sub.2 (1 atm), BQ (1 eq.), CuCl (0.1 eq.).sup.? 59 14 O.sub.2 (1 atm), BQ (1 eq.), CuCl.sub.2 (0.1 eq.).sup.? 52 15 O.sub.2 (1 atm), BQ (1 eq.), CuI (0.1 eq.).sup.? 21 .sup.at 80? C. .sup.?1 atm O.sub.2 is used. BQ (1,4-benzoquinone, 1.0 equiv.), CuBr (0.1 equiv.) and DMF (dimethylformamide, 0.8 mL) are added, 8 hours. **In a pressurized vessel, 1.0 mmol scale, 3 atm O.sub.2 is used. BQ (1,4-benzoquinone, 1.0 equiv.), CuBr (0.1 equiv.) and DMF (dimethylformamide, 8.0 mL) are added, 8 hours.

Example 42B: Effects Temperature and Reaction Time

[0177] The purpose of this example is to demonstrate the scope of compounds of formula (2) that were made from compounds of formula (1), respectively, in an exemplary reaction comparing effects of temperature and reaction times

##STR00188##

[0178] Reaction conditions were as follows: 1b (0.1 mmol), Pd(OAc).sub.2 (4 mol %), L8 (4.4 mol %), Ag.sub.2CO.sub.3 (2.0 equiv), Li.sub.2CO.sub.3 (2.0 equiv), NaOAc (0.5 equiv), 1,4-dioxane (0.2 mL), t-Amyl-OH (0.8 mL), under N.sub.2. The yields were determined by 1H NMR using dibromomethane as internal standard (Table 6B).

TABLE-US-00012 TABLE 6B Effect of Temperature and Reaction Time on Yield of 2b. Entry Conditions Yield (%) 1 80 C., 14 h 71 2 80 C., 20 h 79 3 80 C., 26 h 77 4 100 C., 8 h 76 5 100 C., 16 h 82 6 100 C., 24 h 72 7 110 C., 2 h 67 8 110 C., 4 h 79 9 110 C., 7 h 78

Example 43: Substrate Scope for Dehydrogenation Reaction

[0179] The purpose of this example is to demonstrate the scope of compounds of formula (2) that were made from compounds of formula (1), respectively, in an exemplary reaction comparing the use of Ag.sub.2CO.sub.3 and TBHP as oxidants:

##STR00189##

[0180] General Procedure for ?-C(sp.sup.3)-H Dehydrogenation: In a sealed tube equipped with a magnetic stir bar was charged with the appropriate carboxylic acid substrate (0.10 mmol), Ag.sub.2CO.sub.3 (55.0 mg, 0.2 mmol), Li.sub.2CO.sub.3 (14.8 mg, 0.2 mmol) and NaOAc (4.1 mg, 0.05 mmol). A solution of Pd(OAc).sub.2 (0.9 mg, 4 mol %) and L8 (1.0 mg, 4.4 mol %) in 1,4-dioxane (0.2 mL) was premixed added to the tube. t-Amyl-OH (0.8 ml) was then added before the tube was briefly flushed with nitrogen. Subsequently the vial was capped and closed tightly. The reaction mixture was then stirred at the rate of 300 rpm at 110? C. for 24 h. After being allowed to cool to room temperature, the mixture was acidified with 20 ?L of formic acid and sonicated for 30 seconds. The mixture was passed through a pad of Celite with a solvent mixture (methanol:formicacid:DCM=5:5:90) as the eluent to remove any insoluble precipitate. The resulting solutions was concentrated, and the residual mixture was purified using reverse phase chromatography (H.sub.2O:acetonitrile=10:1 to 1:4). Results are summarized in the table below.

TABLE-US-00013 TABLE Synthesis of Compounds of Formula (2). Yield (%) Product Structure Ag.sub.2CO.sub.3 THBP O.sub.2 2a [00190] 78 54 62.sup. 2b [00191] 81 60 71.sup. 2c [00192] 80 58 58.sup. 2d [00193] 76 52 56.sup. 2e [00194] 82 2f [00195] 77 2g [00196] 81 2h [00197] 72 2i [00198] 77 2j [00199] 87 2k [00200] 74.sup.? 2l [00201] 79 2m [00202] 71 2n [00203] 77 2o [00204] 67 2p [00205] 68 2q [00206] 82 57* 67.sup. 2r [00207] 85 61* 59.sup. 2s [00208] 80 53* 52.sup. 2t [00209] 65.sup.? 2u [00210] 42 2v [00211] 76.sup.? 2w [00212] 71.sup.? 2x [00213] 65 2y [00214] 51 2z [00215] 42.sup.? 2aa [00216] 54.sup.? 2ab [00217] 56.sup.? 2ac [00218] 43.sup.? 2ad [00219] 56.sup.? 39 2ae [00220] 59.sup.? 2af [00221] 54 2ag [00222] 62 40* 2ah [00223] 75 59* 2ai [00224] 67 47* 53.sup. 2aj [00225] 41** *2 equiv. of TBHP in water was used as oxidant instead of Ag.sub.2CO.sub.3; 80? C. .sup.1 atm O.sub.2 is used instead of Ag.sub.2CO.sub.3; BQ (1,4-benzoquinone, 1.0 equiv.), CuBr (0.1 equiv.) and DMF (dimethylformamide, 0.8 mL) are added; 8 h. .sup.In a pressurized vessel, 1.0 mmol scale, 3 atm O.sub.2 is used instead of Ag.sub.2CO.sub.3; BQ (1,4-benzoquinone, 1.0 equiv.), CuBr (0.1 equiv.) and DMF (dimethylformamide, 8.0 mL) are added; 8 h. .sup.?at 110? C. **Benzyl acrylate (2.0 equiv.) is added; HFIP (hexafluoro-2-propanol, 0.8 mL) is used as co-solvent instead of tert-amyl alcohol.

Example 44: (E)-but-2-enoic acid (2a)

[0181] ##STR00226##

[0182] Following General Procedure on 0.1 mmol scale. Due to the volatility of the product, the yield was determined by .sup.1H NMR analysis of the crude product using CH.sub.2Br.sub.2 (0.1 mmol, 7 ?L) as the internal standard (78% yield). .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 7.10 (dd, J=15.5, 6.9 Hz, 1H), 5.86 (dd, J=15.6, 1.8 Hz, 1H), 1.92 (dd, J=7.0, 1.8 Hz, 3H). .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl3) ? 172.19, 147.55, 122.23, 18.12. The NMR data matches the reported data (31).

Example 45: (E)-hex-2-enoic acid (2b)

[0183] ##STR00227##

[0184] Following General Procedure on 0.1 mmol scale. Purification by reverse phase column (water:acetonitrile=10:1 to 1:4) afforded the title compound (colorless oil, 9.3 mg, 81% yield). .sup.1H NMR (500 MHz, Chloroform-d) 67.08 (dt, J=15.6, 7.0 Hz, 1H), 5.83 (dt, J=15.6, 1.6 Hz, 1H), 2.22 (qd, J=7.2, 1.6 Hz, 2H), 1.51 (h, J=7.4 Hz, 2H), 0.95 (t, J=7.4 Hz, 3H). .sup.13C NMR (126 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 171.65, 152.37, 120.77, 34.45, 21.30, 13.79. HRMS (ESI-TOF) Calcd for C.sub.6H.sub.11O.sub.2[M+H].sup.+: 115.0754; found: 115.0755.

Example 46: (E)-hept-2-enoic acid (2c)

[0185] ##STR00228##

[0186] Following General Procedure on 0.1 mmol scale. Purification by reverse phase column (water:acetonitrile=10:1 to 1:4) afforded the title compound (colorless oil, 10.3 mg, 80% yield). .sup.1H NMR (500 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 7.08 (dt, J=15.6, 7.0 Hz, 1H), 5.83 (d, J=15.6 Hz, 1H), 2.24 (qd, J=7.1, 1.6 Hz, 2H), 1.50-1.41 (m, 2H), 1.39-1.34 (m, 2H), 0.92 (t, J=7.3 Hz, 3H). .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 171.22, 152.45, 120.40, 32.02, 29.97, 22.22, 13.81. HRMS (ESI-TOF) Calcd for C.sub.7H.sub.13O.sub.2[M+H].sup.+: 129.0910; found: 129.0909.

Example 47: (E)-oct-2-enoic acid (2d)

[0187] ##STR00229##

[0188] Following General Procedure on 0.1 mmol scale. Purification by reverse phase column (water:acetonitrile=10:1 to 1:4) afforded the title compound (white solid, 10.8 mg, 76% yield). .sup.1H NMR (400 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 7.09 (dt, J=15.6, 7.0 Hz, 1H), 5.83 (dt, J=15.6, 1.7 Hz, 1H), 2.23 (qd, J=7.2, 1.6 Hz, 2H), 1.47 (td, J=11.5, 9.4, 4.9 Hz, 2H), 1.33-1.28 (m, 4H), 0.93-0.86 (m, 3H). .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 171.72, 152.51, 120.52, 32.29, 31.31, 27.56, 22.42, 13.96. HRMS (ESI-TOF) Calcd for C.sub.8H.sub.15O.sub.2[M+H].sup.+: 143.1067; found: 143.1062.

Example 48: (E)-5-methylhex-2-enoic acid (2e)

[0189] ##STR00230##

[0190] Following General Procedure on 0.1 mmol scale. Purification by reverse phase column (water:acetonitrile=10:1 to 1:4) afforded the title compound (colorless oil, 10.5 mg, 82% yield). .sup.1H NMR (500 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 7.06 (dt, J=15.3, 7.5 Hz, 1H), 5.82 (d, J=15.5 Hz, 1H), 2.12 (t, J=7.2 Hz, 2H), 1.78 (dt, J=13.4, 6.7 Hz, 1H), 0.93 (d, J=6.7 Hz, 6H). .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 172.28, 151.45, 121.82, 41.66, 27.90, 22.48. HRMS (ESI-TOF) Calcd for C.sub.7H.sub.13O.sub.2[M+H].sup.+: 129.0910; found: 129.0905.

Example 49: (E)-4-methyloct-2-enoic acid (2f)

[0191] ##STR00231##

[0192] Following General Procedure on 0.1 mmol scale. Purification by reverse phase column (water:acetonitrile=10:1 to 1:4) afforded the title compound (white solid, 12.0 mg, 77% yield). .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 9.50 (br s, 1H), 6.95 (dd, J=15.6, 7.9 Hz, 1H), 5.78 (d, J=15.6 Hz, 1H), 2.31 (hept, J=6.9 Hz, 1H), 1.43-1.19 (m, 6H), 1.04 (d, J=6.8 Hz, 3H), 0.88 (t, J=7.1 Hz, 3H). .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 172.57, 157.22, 119.59, 36.74, 35.80, 29.51, 22.85, 19.43, 14.13. HRMS (ESI-TOF) Calcd for C.sub.9H.sub.15O.sub.2[M?H].sup.?: 155.1072; found: 155.1078.

Example 50: (E)-3-cyclopropylacrylic acid (2g)

[0193] ##STR00232##

[0194] Following General Procedure on 0.1 mmol scale. Purification by reverse phase column (water:acetonitrile=10:1 to 1:4) afforded the title compound (colorless oil, 9.1 mg, 81% yield). .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 6.55 (dd, J=15.4, 10.2 Hz, 1H), 5.92 (d, J=15.4 Hz, 1H), 1.63 (dtt, J=12.5, 8.3, 4.2 Hz, 1H), 1.04-0.98 (m, 3H), 0.74-0.67 (m, 3H). .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 172.02, 157.29, 117.52, 14.79, 9.16. HRMS (ESI-TOF) Calcd for C.sub.6H.sub.9O.sub.2 [M+H].sup.+: 113.0597; found: 113.0598.

Example 51: (E)-3-cyclopentylacrylic acid (2h)

[0195] ##STR00233##

[0196] Following General Procedure on 0.1 mmol scale. Purification by reverse phase column (water:acetonitrile=10:1 to 1:4) afforded the title compound (white solid, 10.1 mg, 72% yield). .sup.1H NMR (500 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 11.62 (br s, 1H), 7.05 (dd, J=15.5, 8.0 Hz, 1H), 5.80 (d, J=15.5 Hz, 1H), 2.62 (h, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 1.85 (dq, J=12.3, 6.7 Hz, 2H), 1.70 (qd, J=10.7, 9.7, 5.9 Hz, 2H), 1.62 (qd, J=8.9, 7.3, 5.3 Hz, 2H), 1.41 (dq, J=12.5, 7.8 Hz, 2H). .sup.13C NMR (126 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 172.71, 156.57, 118.97, 43.04, 32.46, 25.40. HRMS (ESI-TOF) Calcd for C.sub.8H.sub.13O.sub.2[M+H].sup.+: 141.0910; found: 141.0907.

Example 52: (E)-3-cyclohexylacrylic acid (2i)

[0197] ##STR00234##

[0198] Following General Procedure on 0.1 mmol scale. Purification by reverse phase column (water:acetonitrile=10:1 to 1:4) afforded the title compound (white solid, 11.8 mg, 77% yield). .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 9.93 (br s, 1H), 7.01 (dd, J=15.9, 6.8 Hz, 1H), 5.77 (d, J=15.8 Hz, 1H), 2.16 (q, J=9.7, 9.3 Hz, 1H), 1.83-1.72 (m, 4H), 1.72-1.64 (m, 1H), 1.36-1.23 (m, 2H), 1.24-1.10 (m, 3H). .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 172.79, 157.07, 118.65, 40.64, 31.68, 26.03, 25.80. HRMS (ESI-TOF) Calcd for C.sub.9H.sub.14O.sub.2 [M+H].sup.+: 155.1067; found: 155.1065.

Example 53: (E)-4-cyclohexylbut-2-enoic acid (2j)

[0199] ##STR00235##

[0200] Following General Procedure on 0.1 mmol scale. Purification by reverse phase column (water:acetonitrile=10:1 to 1:4) afforded the title compound (white solid, 14.6 mg, 87% yield). 1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 7.07 (dt, J=15.3, 7.5 Hz, 1H), 5.81 (d, J=15.6 Hz, 1H), 2.13 (td, J=7.1, 1.5 Hz, 2H), 1.72-1.63 (m, 5H), 1.45 (dddd, J=14.8, 11.3, 5.8, 3.4 Hz, 1H), 1.25-1.11 (m, 3H), 0.98-0.89 (m, 2H). 13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl3) ? 172.20, 151.36, 121.58, 40.24, 37.21, 33.12, 26.31, 26.18. HRMS (ESI-TOF) Calcd for C10H17O2 [M+H]+: 169.1223; found: 169.1218.

Example 54: (E)-5-cyclohexylpent-2-enoic acid (2k)

[0201] ##STR00236##

[0202] Following General Procedure on 0.1 mmol scale. Purification by reverse phase column (water:acetonitrile=10:1 to 1:4) afforded the title compound (white solid, 13.4 mg, 74% yield). .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 7.09 (dt, J=15.5, 6.9 Hz, 1H), 5.82 (d, J=15.6 Hz, 1H), 2.24 (q, J=7.4, 6.8 Hz, 2H), 1.74-1.60 (m, 5H), 1.35 (q, J=7.3 Hz, 2H), 1.28-1.07 (m, 4H), 0.89 (qd, J=14.0, 12.9, 3.7 Hz, 2H). .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 172.05, 152.87, 120.40, 37.09, 35.46, 33.14, 29.74, 26.59, 26.26. HRMS (ESI-TOF) Calcd for C.sub.11H.sub.17O.sub.2[M?H].sup.?: 181.1229; found: 181.1236.

Example 55: (E)-3-(1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)piperidin-4-yl)acrylic acid (21)

[0203] ##STR00237##

[0204] Following General Procedure on 0.1 mmol scale. Purification by reverse phase column (water:acetonitrile=10:1 to 1:4) afforded the title compound (white solid, 21.8 mg, 79% yield). .sup.1H NMR (500 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 9.17 (br s, 1H), 6.85 (d, J=10.4 Hz, 1H), 5.78 (d, J=14.3 Hz, 1H), 4.27-3.92 (m, 2H), 2.90-2.51 (m, 2H), 2.37-2.17 (m, 1H), 1.76-1.63 (m, 2H), 1.44 (s, 9H), 1.34-1.28 (m, 2H). .sup.13C NMR (126 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 172.23, 154.91, 152.38, 121.38, 79.78, 43.71, 38.68, 30.76, 28.58. HRMS (ESI-TOF) Calcd for C.sub.13H.sub.21NO.sub.4Na [M+Na].sup.+: 278.1363; found: 278.1364.

Example 56: benzyl (E)-4-(1-tosylpiperidin-4-yl)but-2-enoate (2m)

[0205] ##STR00238##

[0206] Following General Procedure on 0.1 mmol scale. The product was protected using benzyl alcohol for the ease of isolation. Purification by preparative TLC (hexane:ethyl acetate=4:1) afforded the title compound (white solid, 29.3 mg, 71% yield). .sup.1H NMR (500 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 7.65-7.58 (m, 2H), 7.36 (d, J=3.9 Hz, 4H), 7.34-7.30 (m, 3H), 6.88 (dt, J=15.4, 7.5 Hz, 1H), 5.85 (dt, J=15.6, 1.4 Hz, 1H), 5.16 (s, 2H), 3.76 (dq, J=13.0, 2.9, 2.4 Hz, 2H), 2.43 (s, 3H), 2.21 (td, J=11.4, 2.6 Hz, 2H), 2.12 (td, J=6.0, 3.0 Hz, 2H), 1.78-1.68 (m, 2H), 1.39-1.28 (m, 3H). .sup.13C NMR (126 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 166.08, 146.91, 143.46, 135.99, 133.14, 129.61, 128.57, 128.25, 127.72, 122.82, 66.17, 46.26, 38.66, 34.71, 31.28, 21.53. HRMS (ESI-TOF) Calcd for C.sub.23H.sub.28NO.sub.4S [M+H].sup.+: 414.1734; found: 414.1734.

Example 57: (E)-4-(benzyloxy)but-2-enoic acid (2n)

[0207] ##STR00239##

[0208] Following General Procedure on 0.1 mmol scale. Purification by reverse phase column (water:acetonitrile=10:1 to 1:4) afforded the title compound (white solid, 14.7 mg, 77% yield). .sup.1H NMR (500 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 11.17 (br s, 1H), 7.40-7.28 (m, 5H), 7.10 (d, J=15.6 Hz, 1H), 6.17 (d, J=15.6 Hz, 1H), 4.59 (s, 2H), 4.22 (s, 2H). .sup.13C NMR (126 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 171.79, 147.17, 137.70, 128.64, 128.03, 127.79, 120.75, 73.00, 68.61. HRMS (ESI-TOF) Calcd for C.sub.11H.sub.12O.sub.3Na [M+Na].sup.+: 215.0678; found: 215.0673.

Example 58: (E)-4-methoxybut-2-enoic acid (20)

[0209] ##STR00240##

[0210] Following General Procedure on 0.1 mmol scale. Purification by reverse phase column (water:acetonitrile=10:1 to 1:4) afforded the title compound (colorless oil, 7.8 mg, 67% yield). .sup.1H NMR (500 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 7.06 (dt, J=15.8, 4.1 Hz, 1H), 6.08 (dt, J=15.9, 2.2 Hz, 1H), 4.12 (dd, J=4.3, 2.1 Hz, 2H), 3.41 (s, 3H). .sup.13C NMR (126 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 171.29, 147.11, 120.51, 71.13, 58.91. HRMS (ESI-TOF) Calcd for C.sub.5H.sub.7O.sub.3 [M?H].sup.?: 115.0400; found: 115.0398.

Example 59: (E)-4-phenoxybut-2-enoic acid (2p)

[0211] ##STR00241##

[0212] Following General Procedure on 0.1 mmol scale. Purification by reverse phase column (water:acetonitrile=10:1 to 1:4) afforded the title compound (white solid, 12.1 mg, 68% yield). .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 7.30 (t, J=8.0 Hz, 2H), 7.20 (dt, J=15.7, 3.9 Hz, 1H), 6.99 (t, J=7.4 Hz, 1H), 6.92 (d, J=8.1 Hz, 2H), 6.24 (dd, J=15.7, 2.4 Hz, 1H), 4.74 (dd, J=3.9, 2.1 Hz, 2H). .sup.13C NMR (126 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 171.21, 158.07, 145.47, 129.76, 121.61, 121.22, 114.78, 66.40. HRMS (ESI-TOF) Calcd for C.sub.10H.sub.9O.sub.3 [M?H].sup.?: 177.0557; found: 177.0558.

Example 60: cinnamic acid (2q)

[0213] ##STR00242##

[0214] Following General Procedure on 0.1 mmol scale. Purification by reverse phase column (water:acetonitrile=10:1 to 1:4) afforded the title compound (white solid, 12.1 mg, 82% yield). .sup.1H NMR (500 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 12.39 (br s, 1H), 7.82 (d, J=16.0 Hz, 1H), 7.59-7.53 (m, 2H), 7.44-7.40 (m, 3H), 6.47 (d, J=16.0 Hz, 1H). .sup.13C NMR (126 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 172.83, 147.28, 134.17, 130.90, 129.11, 128.53, 117.48. HRMS (ESI-TOF) Calcd for C.sub.9H.sub.9O.sub.2 [M+H].sup.+: 149.0597; found: 149.0596.

Example 61: (E)-3-(4-bromophenyl)acrylic acid (2r)

[0215] ##STR00243##

[0216] Following General Procedure on 0.1 mmol scale. Purification by reverse phase column (water:acetonitrile=10:1 to 1:4) afforded the title compound (white solid, 19.1 mg, 85% yield). .sup.1H NMR (400 MHz, Acetone-d.sub.6) ? 7.71-7.60 (m, 5H), 6.58 (d, J=16.1 Hz, 1H). .sup.13C NMR (126 MHz, Acetone-d.sub.6) ? 166.64, 143.09, 133.89, 132.03, 129.91, 119.40, 116.77. HRMS (ESI-TOF) Calcd for C.sub.9H.sub.6BrO.sub.2 [M?H].sup.?: 224.9556; found: 224.9558.

Example 62: (E)-3-(4-chlorophenyl)acrylic acid (2s)

[0217] ##STR00244##

[0218] Following General Procedure on 0.1 mmol scale. Purification by reverse phase column (water:acetonitrile=10:1 to 1:4) afforded the title compound (white solid, 14.5 mg, 80% yield). .sup.1H NMR (500 MHz, Methanol-d.sub.4) ? 7.62 (d, J=16.0 Hz, 1H), 7.59-7.55 (m, 2H), 7.41-7.35 (m, 2H), 6.47 (d, J=16.0 Hz, 1H). .sup.13C NMR (126 MHz, Methanol-d.sub.4) ? 168.62, 143.32, 135.73, 133.24, 129.24, 128.77, 118.86. HRMS (ESI-TOF) Calcd for C.sub.9H.sub.6ClO.sub.2 [M?H].sup.?: 181.0062; found: 181.0063.

Example 63: (E)-3-(4-(methylthio)phenyl)acrylic acid (2t)

[0219] ##STR00245##

[0220] Following General Procedure on 0.1 mmol scale. Purification by reverse phase column (water:acetonitrile=10:1 to 1:4) afforded the title compound (white solid, 12.6 mg, 65% yield). .sup.1H NMR (500 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 7.73 (d, J=15.9 Hz, 1H), 7.49-7.43 (m, 2H), 7.25 (d, J=5.3 Hz, 2H), 6.39 (d, J=15.9 Hz, 1H), 2.51 (s, 3H). .sup.13C NMR (126 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 172.18, 146.62, 142.82, 128.85, 127.30, 126.08, 116.17, 15.23. HRMS (ESI-TOF) Calcd for C.sub.10H.sub.9O.sub.2S [M?H].sup.?: 193.0323; found: 193.0330.

Example 64: (E)-3-(4-((tert-butoxycarbonyl)amino)phenyl)acrylic acid (2u)

[0221] ##STR00246##

[0222] Following General Procedure on 0.1 mmol scale. Purification by reverse phase column (water:acetonitrile=10:1 to 1:4) afforded the title compound (white solid, 11.0 mg, 42% yield). .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Methanol-d.sub.4) ? 7.61 (d, J=15.9 Hz, 1H), 7.50 (d, J=8.8 Hz, 2H), 7.46 (d, J=8.7 Hz, 2H), 6.36 (d, J=15.9 Hz, 1H), 1.52 (s, 9H). .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, Methanol-d.sub.4) ? 169.41, 153.47, 144.66, 141.55, 128.64, 128.53, 118.11, 115.81, 79.77, 27.25.

[0223] HRMS (ESI-TOF) Calcd for C.sub.14H.sub.16NO.sub.4 [M?H].sup.?: 262.1079; found: 262.1077.

Example 65: (E)-3-(6-(trifluoromethyl)pyridin-3-yl)acrylic acid (2v)

[0224] ##STR00247##

[0225] Following General Procedure on 0.1 mmol scale. Purification by reverse phase column (water:acetonitrile=10:1 to 1:4) afforded the title compound (white solid, 16.4 mg, 76% yield). .sup.1H NMR (500 MHz, Methanol-d.sub.4) ? 8.90 (d, J=2.2 Hz, 1H), 8.29 (dd, J=8.1, 2.2 Hz, 1H), 7.84 (d, J=8.2 Hz, 1H), 7.74 (d, J=16.1 Hz, 1H), 6.75 (d, J=16.1 Hz, 1H). .sup.13C NMR (126 MHz, Methanol-d.sub.4) ? 167.87, 149.35, 147.92 (q, J=34.7 Hz), 138.96, 136.23, 133.77, 123.53, 121.49 (q, J=273.1 Hz), 120.53. HRMS (ESI-TOF) Calcd for C.sub.9H.sub.5F.sub.3NO.sub.2 [M+H].sup.+: 216.0272; found: 216.0273.

Example 66: (E)-5-phenylpent-2-enoic acid (2w)

[0226] ##STR00248##

[0227] Following General Procedure on 0.1 mmol scale. Purification by reverse phase column (water:acetonitrile=10:1 to 1:4) afforded the title compound (white solid, 12.4 mg, 71% yield). .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 7.30 (t, J=7.6 Hz, 2H), 7.23-7.16 (m, 3H), 7.11 (dt, J=15.5, 6.9 Hz, 1H), 5.85 (dt, J=15.7, 1.6 Hz, 1H), 2.79 (t, J=7.7 Hz, 2H), 2.60-2.52 (m, 2H). .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 171.40, 150.91, 140.59, 128.54, 128.34, 126.26, 121.21, 34.20, 34.00. HRMS (ESI-TOF) Calcd for C.sub.11H.sub.11O.sub.2[M+H].sup.+: 175.0759; found: 175.0757.

Example 67: (E)-2-phenylbut-2-enoic acid (2x)

[0228] ##STR00249##

[0229] Following General Procedure on 0.1 mmol scale. Purification by reverse phase column (water:acetonitrile=10:1 to 1:4) afforded the title compound (white solid, 10.6 mg, 65% yield). .sup.1H NMR (500 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 7.33-7.26 (m, 2H), 7.27-7.21 (m, 1H), 7.14-7.07 (m, 3H), 1.68 (d, J=7.0 Hz, 3H). .sup.13C NMR (126 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 172.88, 140.74, 135.49, 129.95, 128.49, 128.04, 127.34, 15.73. HRMS (ESI-TOF) Calcd for C.sub.10H.sub.9O.sub.2 [M+H].sup.+: 163.0754; found: 163.0752. Olefin geometry determined using 2D-NOE and by comparing to known literature (32).

Example 68: (E/Z)-2-ethylbut-2-enoic acid (2y)

[0230] ##STR00250##

[0231] Following General Procedure on 0.1 mmol scale. Due to the volatility of the product, the yield was determined by .sup.1H NMR analysis of the crude product using CH.sub.2Br.sub.2 (0.1 mmol, 7 ?L) as the internal standard (51% yield). HRMS (ESI-TOF) Calcd for C.sub.6H.sub.11O.sub.2 [M+H].sup.+: 115.0754; found: 115.0757.

[0232] Major (E-isomer): .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 6.98 (q, J=7.4 Hz, 1H), 2.32 (q, J=7.9 Hz, 2H), 1.86-1.80 (m, 3H), 1.02 (td, J=7.5, 2.2 Hz, 3H). .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 173.55, 139.84, 134.39, 19.50, 14.36, 13.57.

[0233] Minor (Z-isomer): .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 6.16 (q, J=7.5 Hz, 1H), 2.28 (q, J=7.6 Hz, 2H), 2.03 (d, J=7.3 Hz, 3H), 1.06 (t, J=7.4 Hz, 3H). The olefin geometry is determined by comparing to reported data (33).

Example 69: Methacrylic Acid (2z)

[0234] ##STR00251##

[0235] Following General Procedure on 0.1 mmol scale. Due to the volatility of the product, the yield was determined by .sup.1H NMR analysis of the crude product using CH.sub.2Br.sub.2 (0.1 mmol, 7 ?L) as the internal standard (42% yield). .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 6.28-6.23 (m, 1H), 5.69 (t, J=1.6 Hz, 1H), 1.98-1.93 (m, 3H). .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 172.87, 135.69, 127.87, 17.87. HRMS (ESI-TOF) Calcd for C.sub.4H.sub.5O.sub.2 [M+H].sup.+: 85.0295; found: 85.0296.

Example 70: (Z)-2-methylhept-2-enoic acid (2aa)

[0236] ##STR00252##

[0237] Following General Procedure on 0.1 mmol scale. Purification by reverse phase column (water:acetonitrile=10:1 to 1:4) afforded the title compound (white solid, 5.5 mg, 39% yield). .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 6.92 (t, J=7.5 Hz, 1H), 2.20 (q, J=7.4 Hz, 2H), 1.84 (s, 3H), 1.47-1.41 (m, 2H), 1.38-1.33 (m, 2H), 0.92 (t, J=7.3 Hz, 3H). .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 173.17, 145.45, 126.85, 30.55, 28.61, 22.44, 13.88, 11.99. HRMS (ESI-TOF) Calcd for C.sub.8H.sub.13O.sub.2[M?H].sup.?: 141.0916; found: 141.0916. Minor product identified by .sup.1H NMR spectrum.

Example 71: 4-(tert-butyl)cyclohex-1-ene-1-carboxylic acid (2ab)

[0238] ##STR00253##

[0239] The substrate for this reaction is cis-4-(tert-butyl)cyclohexanecarboxylic acid. Following General Procedure on 0.1 mmol scale. Purification by reverse phase column (water:acetonitrile=10:1 to 1:4) afforded the title compound (white solid, 10.2 mg, 56% yield). .sup.1H NMR (500 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 7.13 (dt, J=5.3, 2.5 Hz, 1H), 2.50 (ddt, J=17.6, 4.8, 2.2 Hz, 1H), 2.28 (dtt, J=19.3, 5.1, 2.2 Hz, 1H), 2.12 (dddd, J=19.9, 10.3, 5.1, 2.5 Hz, 1H), 2.03-1.86 (m, 2H), 1.32-1.26 (m, 1H), 1.14 (qd, J=12.4, 5.0 Hz, 1H), 0.89 (s, 9H). .sup.13C NMR (126 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 173.03, 143.14, 129.76, 43.33, 32.27, 27.89, 27.25, 25.36, 23.63. HRMS (ESI-TOF) Calcd for C.sub.11H.sub.17O.sub.2[M?H].sup.?: 181.1229; found: 181.1232.

Example 72: cyclopent-1-ene-1-carboxylic acid (2ac)

[0240] ##STR00254##

[0241] Following General Procedure on 0.1 mmol scale. Purification by reverse phase column (water:acetonitrile=10:1 to 1:4) afforded the title compound (white solid, 4.8 mg, 43% yield). .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 6.93 (p, J=2.3 Hz, 1H), 2.62-2.49 (m, 4H), 2.04-1.94 (m, 2H). .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 170.31, 146.98, 136.09, 33.77, 31.15, 23.30. HRMS (ESI-TOF) Calcd for C.sub.6H.sub.9O.sub.2 [M+H].sup.+: 113.0597; found: 113.0601.

Example 73: (R,E)-4-((3R,5R,8R,9S,10S,13R,14S,17R)-3-acetoxy-10,13-dimethylhexadecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-17-yl)pent-2-enoic acid (2ad)

[0242] ##STR00255##

[0243] Following General Procedure on 0.1 mmol scale. Purification by reverse phase column (pure acetonitrile) afforded the title compound (white solid, 23.3 mg, 56% yield). .sup.1H NMR (500 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 6.94 (dd, J=15.6, 9.0 Hz, 1H), 5.74 (d, J=15.9 Hz, 1H), 4.72 (tt, J=11.3, 4.7 Hz, 1H), 2.29 (dt, J=14.8, 6.6 Hz, 1H), 2.03 (s, 3H), 1.97-1.93 (m, 1H), 1.88-1.78 (m, 3H), 1.69 (dd, J=10.2, 5.7 Hz, 2H), 1.60-1.50 (m, 2H), 1.48-1.36 (m, 6H), 1.29-1.17 (m, 5H), 1.13-0.99 (m, 7H), 0.97-0.91 (m, 4H), 0.68 (s, 3H). .sup.13C NMR (126 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 172.10, 170.71, 157.45, 118.37, 74.38, 56.30, 55.06, 43.10, 41.87, 40.47, 40.00, 39.83, 35.81, 35.05, 34.61, 32.25, 28.16, 26.99, 26.63, 26.31, 24.24, 23.33, 21.48, 20.82, 19.06, 12.30. HRMS (ESI-TOF) Calcd for C.sub.26H.sub.40O.sub.4Na [M+Na].sup.+: 439.2819; found: 439.2818.

Example 74: (E)-7-oxo-7-phenylhept-2-enoic acid (2ae)

[0244] ##STR00256##

[0245] Following General Procedure on 0.1 mmol scale. Purification by reverse phase column (water:acetonitrile=10:1 to 1:4) afforded the title compound (white solid, 12.9 mg, 59% yield). .sup.1H NMR (500 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 7.97-7.91 (m, 2H), 7.61-7.53 (m, 1H), 7.47 (dd, J=8.3, 7.2 Hz, 2H), 7.09 (dt, J=15.6, 6.9 Hz, 1H), 5.88 (dt, J=15.6, 1.6 Hz, 1H), 3.01 (t, J=7.2 Hz, 2H), 2.35 (qd, J=7.2, 1.6 Hz, 2H), 1.95 (p, J=7.3 Hz, 2H). .sup.13C NMR (126 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 199.59, 171.14, 151.16, 136.98, 133.28, 128.79, 128.14, 121.46, 37.60, 31.77, 22.36. HRMS (ESI-TOF) Calcd for C.sub.13H.sub.15O.sub.3[M+H].sup.+: 219.1016; found: 219.1014. Assignment supported by 2D HMBC spectrum.

Example 75: (E)-6-oxohept-2-enoic acid (2af)

[0246] ##STR00257##

[0247] Following General Procedure on 0.1 mmol scale. Purification by reverse phase column (water:acetonitrile=10:1 to 1:4) afforded the title compound (white solid, 7.6 mg, 54% yield). .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 7.03 (dt, J=15.1, 6.7 Hz, 1H), 5.83 (d, J=15.6 Hz, 1H), 2.62 (t, J=7.2 Hz, 2H), 2.50 (t, J=7.1 Hz, 2H), 2.17 (d, J=1.5 Hz, 3H). .sup.13C NMR (126 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 206.85, 171.79, 150.25, 121.59, 41.41, 30.06, 26.14. Assignment supported by 2D HMBC spectrum.

Example 76: (E)-7-oxooct-2-enoic acid (2ag)

[0248] ##STR00258##

[0249] Following General Procedure on 0.1 mmol scale. Purification by reverse phase column (water:acetonitrile=10:1 to 1:4) afforded the title compound (white solid, 9.6 mg, 62% yield). .sup.1H NMR (500 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 7.03 (dt, J=15.6, 7.0 Hz, 1H), 5.84 (dt, J=15.6, 1.6 Hz, 1H), 2.47 (t, J=7.3 Hz, 2H), 2.29-2.22 (m, 2H), 2.14 (s, 3H), 1.77 (p, J=7.3 Hz, 2H). .sup.13C NMR (126 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 208.06, 170.49, 150.93, 121.13, 42.52, 31.43, 30.01, 21.71. .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 173.84, 173.25, 150.49, 122.17, 60.59, 33.63, 31.61, 23.31, 14.36. HRMS (ESI-TOF) Calcd for C.sub.8H.sub.11O.sub.3.sup.? [M?H].sup.?: 155.0713; found: 155.0719. Assignment supported by 2D HMBC spectrum.

Example 77: (E)-6-methoxy-6-oxohex-2-enoic acid (2ah)

[0250] ##STR00259##

[0251] Following General Procedure on 0.1 mmol scale. Purification by reverse phase column (water:acetonitrile=10:1 to 1:4) afforded the title compound (white solid, 11.8 mg, 75% yield). .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 7.05 (dt, J=15.7, 6.6 Hz, 1H), 5.86 (dt, J=15.6, 1.6 Hz, 1H), 3.69 (s, 3H), 2.56 (dtt, J=8.0, 6.6, 1.4 Hz, 2H), 2.50 (ddd, J=8.1, 6.7, 1.3 Hz, 2H). .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 172.78, 171.57, 149.53, 121.78, 51.99, 32.22, 27.41. HRMS (ESI-TOF) Calcd for C.sub.7H.sub.9O.sub.4.sup.? [M?H].sup.?: 157.0506; found: 157.0507. Assignment supported by 2D HMBC spectrum.

Example 78A: (E)-7-ethoxy-7-oxohept-2-enoic acid (2ai)

[0252] ##STR00260##

[0253] Following General Procedure on 0.1 mmol scale. Purification by reverse phase column (water:acetonitrile=10:1 to 1:4) afforded the title compound (white solid, 12.4 mg, 67% yield). .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 7.12-6.87 (m, 1H), 6.04-5.73 (m, 1H), 4.13 (q, J=7.1 Hz, 2H), 2.38-2.20 (m, 4H), 1.81 (p, J=7.4 Hz, 2H), 1.26 (t, J=7.1 Hz, 3H). .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 173.84, 173.25, 150.49, 122.17, 60.59, 33.63, 31.61, 23.31, 14.36. HRMS (ESI-TOF) Calcd for C.sub.9H.sub.15O.sub.4.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+: 187.0965; found: 187.0963.

Example 78B: benzyl 2-(3-oxo-3a-propyl-1,3,3a,4,5,6-hexahydroisobenzofuran-1-yl)acetate (2aj)

[0254] ##STR00261##

[0255] The reaction is conducted following the General Procedure using 1-propylcyclohexane-1-carboxylic acid as substrate, 0.8 mL HFIP is used instead of 0.8 mL of t-Amyl-OH, with the addition of 2.0 equiv. of benzyl acrylate. The product is isolated using Prep-TLC (hexane:ethyl acetate=8:1) as a white solid (14.2 mg, 41%). 1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 7.42-7.36 (m, 5H), 5.61-5.57 (m, 1H), 5.46-5.42 (m, 1H), 5.24-5.15 (m, 2H), 2.89 (dd, J=16.4, 4.6 Hz, 1H), 2.75 (dd, J=16.4, 7.5 Hz, 1H), 2.21-2.14 (m, 1H), 2.04 (dddd, J=13.9, 10.3, 6.7, 4.0 Hz, 2H), 1.75-1.62 (m, 4H), 1.50-1.38 (m, 2H), 1.33 (td, J=13.1, 4.8 Hz, 1H), 0.93 (t, J=7.3 Hz, 3H). 13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl3) ? 178.78, 169.93, 139.72, 135.57, 128.75, 128.64, 128.56, 120.91, 67.01, 45.27, 38.40, 38.21, 29.83, 26.56, 23.76, 17.87, 16.84, 14.44. HRMS (ESI-TOF) Calcd for C20H25O4+ [M+H]+: 349.2557; found: 349.2560. Assignment supported by 2D HSQC and 2D-NOE spectrum.

Process for Making Compounds of Formula (5) and Formula (7)

Example 79: Ligand Effect on Butenolide Formation Reaction

[0256] The purpose of this example is to demonstrate the use of ligands (L-2) in an illustrative embodiment of the process for making a compound of formula (5) or formula (7):

##STR00262##

[0257] Reaction conditions were as follows: 3a (0.1 mmol), 4 (2.0 equiv), Pd(OAc).sub.2 (10 mol %), L (18 mol %), Ag.sub.2CO.sub.3 (2.0 equiv), Li.sub.2CO.sub.3 (2.0 equiv), NaOAc (0.5 equiv), 1,4-dioxane (0.2 mL), t-BuOH (0.8 mL), 100? C., 16 h. Yields were determined by .sup.1H NMR using dibromomethane as internal standard. Results are shown in Table 7 below.

TABLE-US-00014 TABLE 7 Ligand (L-2) Effect on Butenolide Formation Reaction. Ligand Structure Yield (%) No 0 ligand [00263] 0 [00264] 0 L9 [00265] 0 L10 [00266] 0 L15 [00267] 0 L8 [00268] 0 L20 [00269] <5 L5 [00270] 38 L21 [00271] 32 L22 [00272] 54 L23 [00273] 29 L24 [00274] 21 L25 [00275] 48 L26 [00276] 51 L27 [00277] 15 L28 [00278] 23 L29 [00279] 39 L30 [00280] 16 L31 [00281] 8 L32 [00282] 31 L33 [00283] 68 L34 [00284] 17 L35 [00285] 41 L36 [00286] 32 L37 [00287] 29 L38 [00288] 17 L39 [00289] 57

Example 80: Effect of Ag Salts and Pd Source

[0258] The purpose of this example is to illustrate use of various silver salts and sources of palladium (II) on a representative reaction:

##STR00290##

[0259] Reaction conditions were as follows: 3r (0.1 mmol), 4 (2.0 equiv), Pd(OAc).sub.2 (10 mol %), L22 (18 mol %), Ag.sub.2CO.sub.3 (2.0 equiv), Li.sub.2CO.sub.3 (2.0 equiv), NaOAc (0.5 equiv), Dioxane (0.2 ml), t-BuOH (0.8 mL), 100? C., 16 h. Yields determined by .sup.1H NMR using dibromomethane as internal standard (Table 8).

TABLE-US-00015 TABLE 8 Effects of Ag Salt and Pd(II) Source Ag Salt Yield (%) Pd Source Yield (%) Ag.sub.2CO.sub.3 52 PdCl.sub.2 34 AgOAc 36 Pd(TFA).sub.2 21 AgOPiv 15 Pd(MeCN).sub.4(BF.sub.4).sub.2 17 AgTFA No reaction (NR) Pd(MeCN).sub.2Cl.sub.2 36 AgF NR Pd(PhCN).sub.2Cl.sub.2 30 Ag.sub.2O 45 [Pd(allyl)Cl].sub.2 24 Pd(PPh.sub.3).sub.2Cl.sub.2 19

Example 81: Effects of Solvent and Temperature

[0260] The purpose of this example is to illustrate the effects of solvent and temperature in a representative reaction:

##STR00291##

[0261] Reaction conditions were as follows: 3r (0.1 mmol), 4 (2.0 equiv), Pd(OAc).sub.2 (10 mol %), L22 (18 mol %), Ag.sub.2CO.sub.3 (2.0 equiv), Li.sub.2CO.sub.3 (2.0 equiv), NaOAc (0.5 equiv), solvents, 100? C., 16 h. Yields were determined by .sup.1H NMR using dibromomethane as internal standard (Table 9).

TABLE-US-00016 TABLE 9 Effects of Solvent and Temperature Entry Solvent Temperature (C.) Yield (%) 1 t-BuOH 100 32 2 t-AmylOH 100 30 3 THF 100 10 4 Dioxane 100 45 5 HFIP 100 NR 6 Dioxane/t-BuOH (4:1) 100 50 7 Dioxane/t-BuOH (1:4) 100 52 8 Dioxane/t-BuOH (1:4) 80 22 9 Dioxane/t-BuOH (1:4) 100 46

Example 82: Effect of Base

[0262] The purpose of this example is to illustrate the effects of base in a representative reaction:

##STR00292##

[0263] Reaction conditions were as follows: 1r (0.1 mmol), 2a (2.0 equiv), Pd(OAc).sub.2 (10 mol %), L10 (18 mol %), Ag.sub.2CO.sub.3 (2.0 equiv), Base (2.0 equiv), Dioxane (0.2 ml), t-BuOH (0.8 mL), 100? C., 16 h. Yields were determined by .sup.1H NMR using dibromomethane as internal standard (Table 10).

TABLE-US-00017 TABLE 10 Effect of Base. Base Yield (%) Base Yield (%) None NR LIF NR NaOAc 42 KOAc 10 NaHCO.sub.3 21 KHCO.sub.3 <5 Na.sub.2CO.sub.3 24 K.sub.2CO.sub.3 12 NaH.sub.2PO.sub.4 20 KH.sub.2PO.sub.4 <5 Na.sub.2HPO.sub.4 15 Li.sub.2CO.sub.3/NaOAc (4:1) 52 Na.sub.3PO.sub.4 10 Li.sub.2CO.sub.3/NaOAc (2:1) 47 Li.sub.2CO.sub.3 44 Li.sub.2CO.sub.3/NaOAc (1:1) 44 LiOAc 35 Cs.sub.2CO.sub.3 NR Li.sub.3PO.sub.4 26 CsOAc NR

Example 83: Effect of Loading of Compound of Formula (3)

[0264] The purpose of this example is to demonstrate the effect on reaction yield based upon varying amounts of reagents in a representative reaction:

##STR00293##

[0265] Reaction conditions were as follows: 3r (0.1 mmol), 4 (2.0 equiv), Pd(OAc).sub.2 (10 mol %), L22 (18 mol %), Ag.sub.2CO.sub.3 (2.0 equiv), Li.sub.2CO.sub.3 (2.0 equiv), NaOAc (0.5 equiv), Dioxane (0.2 ml), t-BuOH (0.8 mL), 100? C., 16 h. Yields determined by .sup.1H NMR using dibromomethane as internal standard (Table 11).

TABLE-US-00018 TABLE 11 Reagent Loading Effects Change Yield (%) Base Yield (%) None 52 Ag.sub.2CO.sub.3 (1.0 eq.) 25 Li.sub.2CO.sub.3/NaOAc (4:1) 48 Ag.sub.2CO.sub.3 (2.0 eq.) 52 (2.0 eq.) Li.sub.2CO.sub.3/NaOAc (4:1) 46 TIPSCCBr 30 (3.0 eq.) (1.0 eq.) Li.sub.2CO.sub.3/NaOAc (4:1) 32 TIPSCCBr 45 (4.0 eq.) (1.5 eq.)

Example 84: Substrate Scope for Butenolide Formation Reaction

[0266] The purpose of the following examples is to demonstrate compounds of formula (5) that are made from compounds of formula (3) by the following representative procedure:

##STR00294##

[0267] General procedure for methylene CH activation cascade reaction: A 2-dram vial equipped with a magnetic stir bar was charged with Pd(OAc).sub.2 (2.2 mg, 10 mol %) and L33 (4.5 mg, 18 mol %), the appropriate carboxylic acid substrate (0.10 mmol), bromoalkyne 4 (0.2 mmol), Ag.sub.2CO.sub.3 (55.0 mg, 0.2 mmol), Li.sub.2CO.sub.3 (14.8 mg, 0.2 mmol), NaOAc (4.1 mg, 0.05 mmol) was then added in t-BuOH (0.8 mL) and 1,4-dioxane (0.2 mL) under glove box. Subsequently the vial was capped and closed tightly. The reaction mixture was then stirred at the rate of 500 rpm at room temperature for 5 minutes before it was heated under 100? C. for 16 h. After being allowed to cool to room temperature, the mixture was diluted with ethyl acetate. The mixture was passed through a pad of Celite with ethyl acetate as the eluent to remove any insoluble precipitate. The resulting solution was concentrated, and the residual mixture was dissolved with a minimal amount of acetone and loaded onto a preparative TLC plate. The pure product was then isolated using preparative TLC with ethyl acetate and hexane (1/15) as the eluent.

Example 85: (Z)-4-propyl-5-((triisopropylsilyl)methylene)furan-2(5H)-one (5a)

[0268] ##STR00295##

[0269] Substrate 3a was alkynylated following the general alkynylation procedure (eluent: hexane/ethyl acetate=15/1). The product was obtained as a white solid (19.9 mg, 68% yield). .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 5.96 (q, J=1.3 Hz, 1H), 5.28 (d, J=1.0 Hz, 1H), 2.47 (ddd, J=8.0, 7.2, 1.4 Hz, 2H), 1.67 (h, J=7.4 Hz, 2H), 1.36-1.27 (m, 3H), 1.08 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 18H), 1.02 (t, J=7.4 Hz, 3H); .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 170.10, 160.83, 158.66, 116.00, 105.51, 28.33, 21.49, 18.75, 13.81, 11.55. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z Calcd for C.sub.17H.sub.31O.sub.2Si.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 295.2093, found 295.2098.

Example 86: (Z)-4-methyl-5-((triisopropylsilyl)methylene)furan-2(5H)-one (5b)

[0270] ##STR00296##

[0271] Substrate 3b was alkynylated following the general alkynylation procedure (eluent: hexane/ethyl acetate=15/1). The product was obtained as a white solid (16.0 mg, 60% yield). .sup.1H NMR (500 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 5.98 (p, J=1.4 Hz, 1H), 5.27 (d, J=1.1 Hz, 1H), 2.18 (d, J=1.4 Hz, 3H), 1.31 (ddd, J=15.0, 8.0, 7.0 Hz, 3H), 1.08 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 18H); .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 169.90, 161.36, 154.13, 117.27, 105.71, 18.73, 12.22, 11.53. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z Calcd for C.sub.15H.sub.27O.sub.2Si.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 267.1780, found 267.1786.

Example 87: (Z)-4-ethyl-5-((triisopropylsilyl)methylene)furan-2(5H)-one (5c)

[0272] ##STR00297##

[0273] Substrate 3c was alkynylated following the general alkynylation procedure (eluent: hexane/ethyl acetate=15/1). The product was obtained as a white solid (17.4 mg, 62% yield). .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 6.00-5.98 (m, 1H), 5.30 (d, J=1.0 Hz, 1H), 2.55 (qd, J=7.4, 1.6 Hz, 2H), 1.33 (dt, J=15.0, 7.4 Hz, 3H), 1.28 (t, J=7.4 Hz, 3H), 1.10 (d, J=7.4 Hz, 18H); .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 170.08, 160.62, 160.22, 115.45, 105.22, 19.76, 18.74, 12.14, 11.54. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z Calcd for C.sub.16H.sub.29O.sub.2Si.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 281.1937, found 281.1942.

Example 88: (Z)-4-butyl-5-((triisopropylsilyl)methylene)furan-2(5H)-one (5d)

[0274] ##STR00298##

[0275] Substrate 3d was alkynylated following the general alkynylation procedure (eluent: hexane/ethyl acetate=15/1). The product was obtained as a white solid (19.4 mg, 63% yield). .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 5.96 (d, J=1.2 Hz, 1H), 5.28 (d, J=1.0 Hz, 1H), 2.51-2.46 (m, 2H), 1.64-1.59 (m, 2H), 1.46-1.39 (m, 2H), 1.31 (dt, J=14.9, 7.4 Hz, 3H), 1.08 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 18H), 0.97 (t, J=7.4 Hz, 3H); .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 170.10, 160.81, 158.91, 115.92, 105.44, 30.22, 26.05, 22.35, 18.75, 13.79, 11.55. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z Calcd for C.sub.18H.sub.33O.sub.2Si.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 309.2250, found 309.2249.

Example 89: (Z)-4-pentyl-5-((triisopropylsilyl)methylene)furan-2(5H)-one (5e)

[0276] ##STR00299##

[0277] Substrate 3e was alkynylated following the general alkynylation procedure (eluent: hexane/ethyl acetate=15/1). The product was obtained as a white solid (19.3 mg, 60% yield). .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 5.96 (d, J=1.2 Hz, 1H), 5.28 (d, J=1.0 Hz, 1H), 2.48 (td, J=7.7, 1.5 Hz, 2H), 1.66-1.61 (m, 2H), 1.37 (ddd, J=7.2, 4.3, 3.1 Hz, 4H), 1.31 (tt, J=8.2, 7.1 Hz, 3H), 1.08 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 18H), 0.94-0.90 (m, 3H); .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 170.11, 160.82, 158.94, 115.93, 105.46, 31.39, 27.83, 26.32, 22.35, 18.75, 13.92, 11.55. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z Calcd for C.sub.19H.sub.35O.sub.2Si.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 323.2406, found 323.2406.

Example 90: (Z)-5-((triisopropylsilyl)methylene)-4-undecylfuran-2(5H)-one (5f)

[0278] ##STR00300##

[0279] Substrate 3f was alkynylated following the general alkynylation procedure (eluent: hexane/ethyl acetate=15/1). The product was obtained as a white solid (24.0 mg, 59% yield). .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 5.95 (d, J=1.2 Hz, 1H), 5.28 (d, J=1.0 Hz, 1H), 2.48 (ddd, J=8.3, 7.1, 1.4 Hz, 2H), 1.65-1.59 (m, 2H), 1.41-1.36 (m, 2H), 1.34-1.25 (m, 17H), 1.08 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 18H), 0.88 (t, J=7.0 Hz, 3H); .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 170.12, 160.83, 158.95, 115.93, 105.47, 31.91, 29.61, 29.60, 29.48, 29.24, 28.17, 26.36, 22.69, 18.75, 14.13, 11.55. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z Calcd for C.sub.25H.sub.47O.sub.2Si.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 407.3345, found 407.3338.

Example 91: (Z)-4-cyclopentyl-5-((triisopropylsilyl)methylene)furan-2(5H)-one (5g)

[0280] ##STR00301##

[0281] Substrate 3g was alkynylated following the general alkynylation procedure (eluent: hexane/ethyl acetate=15/1). The product was obtained as a white solid (13.4 mg, 42% yield). .sup.1H NMR (500 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 5.91 (t, J=1.1 Hz, 1H), 5.32 (d, J=1.1 Hz, 1H), 2.99-2.92 (m, 1H), 2.10-2.02 (m, 2H), 1.80-1.70 (m, 3H), 1.58 (dt, J=12.3, 3.5 Hz, 3H), 1.35-1.28 (m, 3H), 1.08 (d, J=7.4 Hz, 18H); .sup.13C NMR (126 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 170.24, 163.34, 160.69, 113.76, 105.95, 37.06, 33.01, 25.37, 18.76, 11.56. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z Calcd for C.sub.19H.sub.33O.sub.2Si.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 321.2250, found 321.2256.

Example 92: (Z)-4-cyclohexyl-5-((triisopropylsilyl)methylene)furan-2(5H)-one (5h)

[0282] ##STR00302##

[0283] Substrate 3h was alkynylated following the general alkynylation procedure (eluent: hexane/ethyl acetate=15/1). The product was obtained as a white solid (10.3 mg, 31% yield). .sup.1H NMR (500 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 5.90 (t, J=1.1 Hz, 1H), 5.29 (d, J=1.1 Hz, 1H), 2.46 (tt, J=11.8, 3.5 Hz, 1H), 1.94-1.83 (m, 4H), 1.81-1.74 (m, 1H), 1.43-1.26 (m, 8H), 1.08 (d, J=7.4 Hz, 18H); .sup.13C NMR (126 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 170.28, 163.83, 159.89, 114.21, 105.40, 35.98, 33.05, 26.14, 25.86, 18.78, 11.60. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z Calcd for C.sub.20H.sub.35O.sub.2Si.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 335.2406, found 335.2410.

Example 93: (Z)-4-benzyl-5-((triisopropylsilyl)methylene)furan-2(5H)-one (5i)

[0284] ##STR00303##

[0285] Substrate 3i was alkynylated following the general alkynylation procedure (eluent: hexane/ethyl acetate=15/1). The product was obtained as a white solid (24.0 mg, 70% yield). .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 7.34 (dd, J=8.1, 6.8 Hz, 2H), 7.28 (d, J=7.4 Hz, 1H), 7.22-7.19 (m, 2H), 5.81 (q, J=1.3 Hz, 1H), 5.31 (d, J=1.0 Hz, 1H), 3.83 (d, J=1.4 Hz, 2H), 1.29 (dt, J=14.8, 7.4 Hz, 3H), 1.05 (d, J=7.4 Hz, 18H); .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 169.60, 160.21, 157.43, 136.44, 128.93, 128.75, 127.22, 117.69, 106.83, 33.02, 18.71, 11.51. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z Calcd for C.sub.21H.sub.31O.sub.2Si.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 343.2093, found 343.2099.

Example 94: (Z)-4-phenethyl-5-((triisopropylsilyl)methylene)furan-2(5H)-one (5j)

[0286] ##STR00304##

[0287] Substrate 3j was alkynylated following the general alkynylation procedure (eluent: hexane/ethyl acetate=15/1). The product was obtained as a white solid (22.8 mg, 64% yield). .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 7.33-7.30 (m, 2H), 7.25-7.22 (m, 1H), 7.20-7.18 (m, 2H), 5.94 (d, J=1.2 Hz, 1H), 5.27 (d, J=1.0 Hz, 1H), 2.95 (dd, J=8.5, 7.0 Hz, 2H), 2.81 (tt, J=7.8, 0.9 Hz, 2H), 1.32-1.27 (m, 3H), 1.06 (d, J=7.4 Hz, 18H); .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 169.87, 160.54, 157.59, 139.91, 128.22, 116.47, 116.36, 105.92, 105.83, 34.27, 28.25, 18.72, 11.55. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z Calcd for C.sub.22H.sub.33O.sub.2Si.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 357.2250, found 357.2249.

Example 95: methyl (Z)-5-(5-oxo-2-((triisopropylsilyl)methylene)-2,5-dihydrofuran-3-yl)pentanoate (5k)

[0288] ##STR00305##

[0289] Substrate 3k was alkynylated following the general alkynylation procedure (eluent: hexane/ethyl acetate=15/1). The product was obtained as a white solid (24.5 mg, 67% yield). .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 5.98 (d, J=1.2 Hz, 1H), 5.28 (d, J=1.0 Hz, 1H), 3.68 (s, 3H), 2.53-2.48 (m, 2H), 2.38 (t, J=7.2 Hz, 2H), 1.76-1.71 (m, 2H), 1.70-1.65 (m, 2H), 1.31 (dt, J=14.9, 7.4 Hz, 3H), 1.07 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 18H); .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 173.57, 169.90, 160.62, 158.11, 116.10, 105.68, 51.65, 33.58, 27.46, 26.08, 24.48, 18.74, 11.54. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z Calcd for C.sub.20H.sub.35O.sub.4Si.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 367.2305, found 367.2303.

Example 96: methyl (Z)-6-(5-oxo-2-((triisopropylsilyl)methylene)-2,5-dihydrofuran-3-yl)hexanoate (51)

[0290] ##STR00306##

[0291] Substrate 31 was alkynylated following the general alkynylation procedure (eluent: hexane/ethyl acetate=15/1). The product was obtained as a white solid (25.1 mg, 66% yield). .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 5.96 (d, J=1.2 Hz, 1H), 5.27 (d, J=1.0 Hz, 1H), 3.68 (s, 3H), 2.52-2.47 (m, 2H), 2.34 (t, J=7.4 Hz, 2H), 1.66 (dq, J=19.4, 7.7 Hz, 4H), 1.47-1.40 (m, 2H), 1.35-1.28 (m, 3H), 1.07 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 18H); .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 173.91, 169.98, 160.70, 158.50, 116.02, 105.63, 51.58, 33.80, 28.71, 27.76, 26.14, 24.55, 18.75, 11.55. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z Calcd for C.sub.21H.sub.37O.sub.4Si.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 381.2461, found 381.2462.

Example 97: (Z)-4-isobutyl-5-((triisopropylsilyl)methylene)furan-2(5H)-one (5m)

[0292] ##STR00307##

[0293] Substrate 3m was alkynylated following the general alkynylation procedure (eluent: hexane/ethyl acetate=15/1). The product was obtained as a white solid (16.0 mg, 52% yield). .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 5.96 (q, J=1.1 Hz, 1H), 5.29 (d, J=1.0 Hz, 1H), 2.38 (dd, J=7.1, 1.2 Hz, 2H), 1.92 (dt, J=13.5, 6.8 Hz, 1H), 1.31 (ddd, J=15.0, 7.9, 7.1 Hz, 3H), 1.08 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 18H), 0.99 (d, J=6.6 Hz, 6H); .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 170.08, 161.16, 157.60, 116.70, 106.06, 35.38, 28.45, 22.56, 18.75, 11.56. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z Calcd for C.sub.18H.sub.33O.sub.2Si.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 309.2250, found 309.2260.

Example 98: (Z)-4-(cyclohexylmethyl)-5-((triisopropylsilyl)methylene)furan-2(5H)-one (5n)

[0294] ##STR00308##

[0295] Substrate 3n was alkynylated following the general alkynylation procedure (eluent: hexane/ethyl acetate=15/1). The product was obtained as a white solid (17.1 mg, 49% yield). .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 5.94 (d, J=1.1 Hz, 1H), 5.28 (d, J=1.0 Hz, 1H), 2.37 (dd, J=7.0, 1.2 Hz, 2H), 1.74 (tdd, J=9.7, 5.5, 2.4 Hz, 4H), 1.69-1.64 (m, 1H), 1.56 (ddd, J=11.1, 7.5, 3.7 Hz, 1H), 1.31 (dt, J=14.9, 7.4 Hz, 3H), 1.26-1.23 (m, 1H), 1.20-1.14 (m, 2H), 1.08 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 18H), 1.00-0.95 (m, 2H); .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 170.10, 161.24, 157.45, 116.65, 106.05, 37.97, 34.04, 33.31, 26.18, 26.11, 18.75, 11.56. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z Calcd for C.sub.21H.sub.37O.sub.2Si.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 349.2563, found 349.2567.

Example 99: (Z)-4-(2-cyclohexylethyl)-5-((triisopropylsilyl)methylene)furan-2(5H)-one (5o)

[0296] ##STR00309##

[0297] Substrate 3o was alkynylated following the general alkynylation procedure (eluent: hexane/ethyl acetate=15/1). The product was obtained as a white solid (19.2 mg, 53% yield). .sup.1H NMR (500 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 5.95 (q, J=1.2 Hz, 1H), 5.28 (d, J=1.1 Hz, 1H), 2.52-2.46 (m, 2H), 1.73 (q, J=13.7, 13.3 Hz, 6H), 1.54-1.49 (m, 2H), 1.34-1.24 (m, 6H), 1.08 (d, J=7.4 Hz, 18H), 0.95 (d, J=11.4 Hz, 2H); .sup.13C NMR (126 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 170.13, 160.80, 159.29, 115.83, 105.35, 37.32, 35.76, 33.16, 26.48, 26.22, 23.83, 18.75, 11.55. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z Calcd for C.sub.22H.sub.39O.sub.2Si.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 363.2719, found 363.2714.

Example 100: (Z)-4-(4-oxo-4-phenylbutyl)-5-((triisopropylsilyl)methylene)furan-2(5H)-one (5p)

[0298] ##STR00310##

[0299] Substrate 3p was alkynylated following the general alkynylation procedure (eluent: hexane/ethyl acetate=15/1). The product was obtained as a white solid (22.3 mg, 56% yield). .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 7.97-7.94 (m, 2H), 7.60-7.56 (m, 1H), 7.50-7.46 (m, 2H), 6.02 (d, J=1.3 Hz, 1H), 5.35 (d, J=1.0 Hz, 1H), 3.10 (t, J=6.8 Hz, 2H), 2.65-2.57 (m, 2H), 2.10 (dq, J=8.4, 6.9 Hz, 2H), 1.30 (dt, J=14.9, 7.5 Hz, 3H), 1.07 (d, J=7.4 Hz, 18H); .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 198.90, 169.90, 160.56, 158.07, 136.66, 133.34, 128.72, 127.98, 116.24, 106.07, 37.26, 25.75, 22.35, 18.75, 11.54. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z Calcd for C.sub.24H.sub.35O.sub.3Si.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 399.2355, found 399.2355.

Example 101: (Z)-4-((1-tosylpiperidin-4-yl)methyl)-5-((triisopropylsilyl)methylene)furan-2(5H)-one (5q)

[0300] ##STR00311##

[0301] Substrate 3q was alkynylated following the general alkynylation procedure (eluent: hexane/ethyl acetate=15/1). The product was obtained as a white solid (23.1 mg, 46% yield). .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 7.66-7.62 (m, 2H), 7.33 (dt, J=8.0, 0.8 Hz, 2H), 5.90 (q, J=1.0 Hz, 1H), 5.25 (d, J=1.0 Hz, 1H), 3.81 (dt, J=11.5, 2.5 Hz, 2H), 2.44 (s, 3H), 2.41 (dd, J=6.9, 1.2 Hz, 2H), 2.23 (td, J=11.9, 2.5 Hz, 2H), 1.79-1.74 (m, 2H), 1.51-1.45 (m, 1H), 1.41 (td, J=12.5, 4.0 Hz, 2H), 1.30 (ddd, J=14.8, 7.9, 7.0 Hz, 3H), 1.06 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 18H); .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 169.54, 160.82, 155.94, 143.62, 133.04, 129.68, 116.89, 106.71, 46.17, 35.47, 32.61, 31.51, 30.95, 21.54, 18.74, 11.52. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z Calcd for C.sub.27H.sub.42NO.sub.4SSi.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 504.2604, found 504.2599.

Example 102: (Z)-4-pentadecyl-5-((triisopropylsilyl)methylene)furan-2(51)-one (5r)

[0302] ##STR00312##

[0303] Substrate 3x was alkynylated following the general alkynylation procedure (eluent: hexane/ethyl acetate=15/1). The product was obtained as a white solid (25.0 mg, 54% yield). .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 5.95 (d, J=1.2 Hz, 1H), 5.28 (d, J=1.0 Hz, 1H), 2.50-2.44 (m, 2H), 1.62 (p, J=7.6 Hz, 2H), 1.38 (td, J=8.5, 8.0, 4.8 Hz, 2H), 1.33-1.25 (m, 25H), 1.09-1.06 (m, 18H), 0.90-0.86 (m, 3H); .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 170.12, 160.83, 158.96, 115.93, 105.47, 31.94, 29.70, 29.70, 29.68, 29.66, 29.60, 29.49, 29.37, 29.30, 29.24, 28.17, 26.36, 22.71, 18.75, 14.14, 11.55. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m z Calcd for C.sub.29H.sub.55O.sub.2Si.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 463.3971, found 463.3969.

Example 103: tert-butyl (Z)-15-(5-oxo-2-((triisopropylsilyl)methylene)-2,5-dihydrofuran-3-yl)pentadecanoate (5s)

[0304] ##STR00313##

[0305] Substrate 3y was alkynylated following the general alkynylation procedure (eluent: hexane/ethyl acetate=15/1). The product was obtained as a white solid (25.8 mg, 47% yield). .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 5.96 (d, J=4.2 Hz, 1H), 5.28 (d, J=3.4 Hz, 1H), 2.48 (q, J=7.6, 5.9 Hz, 2H), 2.20 (t, J=7.5 Hz, 2H), 1.64-1.55 (m, 6H), 1.44 (s, 9H), 1.32-1.25 (m, 21H), 1.08 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 18H); .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 173.38, 170.12, 160.83, 158.96, 115.93, 105.46, 79.90, 35.64, 29.64, 29.63, 29.61, 29.60, 29.49, 29.32, 29.31, 29.25, 29.11, 28.17, 28.13, 26.36, 25.12, 18.75, 11.55. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m z Calcd for C.sub.33H.sub.61O.sub.4Si.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 549.4339, found 549.4341.

Example 104: (Z)-3-((triisopropylsilyl)methylene)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydroisobenzofuran-1(3H)-one (5t)

[0306] ##STR00314##

[0307] Substrate 3r was alkynylated following the general alkynylation procedure (eluent: hexane/ethyl acetate=15/1). The product was obtained as a white solid (19.6 mg, 64% yield). .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 5.04 (s, 1H), 2.42 (tt, J=6.1, 2.3 Hz, 2H), 2.32 (td, J=5.8, 2.7 Hz, 2H), 1.82-1.73 (m, 4H), 1.30 (dt, J=14.9, 7.4 Hz, 3H), 1.07 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 18H); .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 170.44, 159.96, 150.75, 128.44, 102.45, 21.55, 21.52, 21.34, 20.05, 18.76, 11.57. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z Calcd for C.sub.18H.sub.31O.sub.2Si.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 307.2093, found 307.2095. The Z/E isomer assignment is supported by 2D-NOE spectrum.

Example 105: (Z)-6-methoxy-3-((triisopropylsilyl)methylene)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydroisobenzofuran-1(3H)-one (5u)

[0308] ##STR00315##

[0309] Substrate 3s was alkynylated following the general alkynylation procedure (eluent: hexane/ethyl acetate=15/1). The product was obtained as a white solid (20.5 mg, 61% yield). .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 5.08 (s, 1H), 3.72 (ddd, J=7.3, 4.8, 2.6 Hz, 1H), 3.39 (s, 3H), 2.58 (dtd, J=16.0, 4.2, 2.6 Hz, 2H), 2.45 (dddd, J=16.1, 8.3, 4.5, 1.8 Hz, 2H), 2.05-1.99 (m, 1H), 1.90-1.85 (m, 1H), 1.30 (dt, J=14.9, 7.5 Hz, 3H), 1.07 (dd, J=7.6, 1.2 Hz, 18H); .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 170.08, 159.42, 150.29, 126.04, 103.46, 73.90, 56.25, 26.05, 25.68, 18.74, 18.42, 11.56. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z Calcd for C.sub.19H.sub.33O.sub.3Si.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 337.2199, found 337.2202.

Example 106: (Z)-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-((triisopropylsilyl)methylene)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydroisobenzofuran-1(3H)-one (5v)

[0310] ##STR00316##

[0311] Substrate 3t was alkynylated following the general alkynylation procedure (eluent: hexane/ethyl acetate=15/1). The product was obtained as a white solid (25.8 mg, 62% yield). .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 7.32 (d, J=8.4 Hz, 2H), 7.19 (d, J=8.4 Hz, 2H), 5.07 (s, 1H), 2.93 (dddd, J=13.1, 11.1, 5.1, 2.7 Hz, 1H), 2.81-2.73 (m, 1H), 2.57 (ddt, J=20.6, 4.7, 2.0 Hz, 1H), 2.50-2.36 (m, 2H), 2.15-2.06 (m, 1H), 1.82 (dddd, J=13.3, 12.2, 10.8, 5.5 Hz, 1H), 1.35-1.24 (m, 3H), 1.07 (d, J=7.6 Hz, 18H); .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 169.87, 159.31, 150.27, 143.27, 132.51, 128.89, 128.20, 128.18, 103.32, 39.24, 29.40, 29.11, 20.66, 18.75, 11.55. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z Calcd for C.sub.24H.sub.34ClO.sub.2Si.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 417.2017, found 417.2018.

Example 107: (Z)-3-((triisopropylsilyl)methylene)-3,4,5,6,7,8-hexahydro-1H-cyclohepta[c]furan-1-one (5w)

[0312] ##STR00317##

[0313] Substrate 3u was alkynylated following the general alkynylation procedure (eluent: hexane/ethyl acetate=15/1). The product was obtained as a white solid (18.2 mg, 57% yield). .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 5.20 (s, 1H), 2.58-2.54 (m, 2H), 2.52-2.47 (m, 2H), 1.83 (qd, J=5.7, 4.5, 1.5 Hz, 2H), 1.72 (dd, J=7.9, 3.4 Hz, 2H), 1.66 (td, J=6.8, 6.1, 3.6 Hz, 2H), 1.33-1.28 (m, 3H), 1.07 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 18H); .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 171.02, 159.92, 152.29, 130.81, 102.78, 30.65, 29.72, 26.62, 26.41, 24.74, 18.79, 11.60. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z Calcd for C.sub.19H.sub.33O.sub.2Si.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 321.2250, found 321.2251.

Example 108: (Z)-3-((triisopropylsilyl)methylene)-6,7-dihydro-3H-furo[3,4-c]pyran-1(4H)-one (5x)

[0314] ##STR00318##

[0315] Substrate 3v was alkynylated following the general alkynylation procedure (eluent: hexane/ethyl acetate=15/1). The product was obtained as a white solid (18.2 mg, 59% yield). .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 4.95 (s, 1H), 4.56 (t, J=2.4 Hz, 2H), 3.88 (t, J=5.4 Hz, 2H), 2.47 (dqd, J=5.4, 2.4, 1.2 Hz, 2H), 1.30 (ddd, J=14.8, 7.9, 7.1 Hz, 3H), 1.07 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 18H); .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 168.93, 156.68, 149.15, 126.33, 105.16, 63.74, 62.19, 20.91, 18.72, 11.55. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z Calcd for C.sub.17H.sub.29O.sub.3Si.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 309.1886, found 309.1889.

Example 109: (Z)-5-tosyl-3-((triisopropylsilyl)methylene)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrofuro[3,4-c]pyridin-1(3H)-one (5y)

[0316] ##STR00319##

[0317] Substrate 3w was alkynylated following the general alkynylation procedure (eluent: hexane/ethyl acetate=15/1). The product was obtained as a white solid (20.4 mg, 48% yield). .sup.1H NMR (500 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 7.73 (d, J=8.3 Hz, 2H), 7.36 (d, J=7.9 Hz, 2H), 5.06 (s, 1H), 4.10 (d, J=2.4 Hz, 2H), 3.36 (t, J=5.7 Hz, 2H), 2.52-2.48 (m, 2H), 2.44 (s, 3H), 1.31-1.26 (m, 3H), 1.06 (d, J=7.4 Hz, 18H); .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 168.23, 156.62, 145.80, 144.35, 133.51, 130.05, 127.51, 126.77, 105.67, 42.52, 41.98, 21.58, 20.75, 18.71, 11.54. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z Calcd for C.sub.24H.sub.36NO.sub.4SSi.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 426.2134, found 426.2143.

Example 110: (Z)-5-((tert-butyldiphenylsilyl)methylene)-4-propylfuran-2(5H)-one (5z)

[0318] ##STR00320##

[0319] Substrate 3a was alkynylated following the general alkynylation procedure (eluent: hexane/ethyl acetate=15/1). The product was obtained as a white solid (17.7 mg, 47% yield). .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 7.63 (dt, J=6.8, 1.5 Hz, 4H), 7.41-7.38 (m, 2H), 7.37-7.33 (m, 4H), 5.97 (d, J=1.2 Hz, 1H), 5.65 (d, J=1.0 Hz, 1H), 2.53 (ddd, J=8.0, 7.2, 1.4 Hz, 2H), 1.71 (h, J=7.4 Hz, 2H), 1.13 (s, 9H), 1.05 (t, J=7.4 Hz, 3H); .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 169.34, 161.67, 158.73, 135.92, 133.72, 129.42, 127.70, 116.67, 103.52, 28.34, 27.77, 21.37, 18.53, 13.86. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z Calcd for C.sub.24H.sub.29O.sub.2Si.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 377.1937, found 377.1941.

Example 111: (Z)-5-((1-((tert-butyldimethylsilyl)oxy)cyclohexyl)methylene)-4-propylfuran-2(5H)-one (5aa)

[0320] ##STR00321##

[0321] Substrate 3a was alkynylated following the general alkynylation procedure (eluent: hexane/ethyl acetate=15/1). The product was obtained as a white solid (14.7 mg, 42% yield). .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 5.92-5.88 (m, 1H), 5.29 (s, 1H), 2.42-2.37 (m, 2H), 1.90-1.85 (m, 3H), 1.79 (d, J=13.4 Hz, 3H), 1.69-1.65 (m, 6H), 1.02 (dd, J=8.0, 6.7 Hz, 3H), 0.90 (s, 9H), 0.05 (s, 6H); .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 169.48, 160.57, 129.78, 118.94, 114.73, 76.81, 74.04, 40.77, 38.58, 28.14, 25.89, 25.81, 25.64, 25.37, 22.16, 21.34, 18.35, 13.81. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z Calcd for C.sub.14H.sub.19O.sub.2 [M-OTBS].sup.+ 219.1380, found 219.1384.

Example 112: Substrate Scope of the Methyl CH Activation Cascade Reaction

[0322] The purpose of the following examples is to demonstrate compounds of formula (7) that are made from compounds of formula (6) by the following representative procedure:

##STR00322##

[0323] General procedure for methyl CH activation cascade reaction: A 2-dram vial equipped with a magnetic stir bar was charged with Pd(OAc).sub.2 (2.2 mg, 10 mol %) and L39 (5.8 mg, 18 mol %). Then the appropriate carboxylic acid substrate (0.10 mmol), bromoalkyne 4 (0.2 mmol), Ag.sub.2CO.sub.3 (55.0 mg, 0.2 mmol), Li.sub.2CO.sub.3 (14.8 mg, 0.2 mmol), NaOAc (4.1 mg, 0.05 mmol), t-BuOH (0.8 mL), and 1,4-dioxane (0.2 mL) were then added in the glove box. Subsequently the vial was capped and closed tightly. The reaction mixture was then stirred at the rate of 500 rpm at room temperature for 5 minutes before it was heated under 100? C. for 16 h. After being allowed to cool to room temperature, the mixture was diluted with ethyl acetate. The mixture was passed through a pad of Celite with ethyl acetate as the eluent to remove any insoluble precipitate. The resulting solution was concentrated, and the residual mixture was dissolved with a minimal amount of acetone and loaded onto a preparative TLC plate. The pure product was then isolated using preparative TLC with ethyl acetate and hexane (1/15) as the eluent.

Example 112: (Z)-3-methyl-5-((triisopropylsilyl)methylene)furan-2(5H)-one (7a)

[0324] ##STR00323##

[0325] Substrate 6a was alkynylated following the general alkynylation procedure (eluent: hexane/ethyl acetate=15/1). The product was obtained as a white solid (21.8 mg, 82% yield). .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 6.95 (d, J=1.6 Hz, 1H), 5.11 (s, 1H), 2.02-1.99 (m, 3H), 1.33-1.24 (m, 3H), 1.07 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 18H); .sup.13C NMR (126 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 171.79, 158.77, 138.22, 130.92, 108.05, 18.72, 11.54, 10.45. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z Calcd for C.sub.15H.sub.27O.sub.2Si.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 267.1780, found 267.1783.

Example 113: (Z)-3-ethyl-5-((triisopropylsilyl)methylene)furan-2(5H)-one (7b)

[0326] ##STR00324##

[0327] Substrate 6b was alkynylated following the general alkynylation procedure (eluent: hexane/ethyl acetate=15/1). The product was obtained as a white solid (15.4 mg, 55% yield). .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 6.93 (t, J=1.7 Hz, 1H), 5.12 (d, J=0.6 Hz, 1H), 2.40 (qd, J=7.5, 1.7 Hz, 2H), 1.29 (ddd, J=14.9, 7.8, 6.7 Hz, 3H), 1.21 (t, J=7.4 Hz, 3H), 1.07 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 18H); .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 171.30, 158.97, 136.95, 136.69, 107.99, 18.73, 18.54, 11.76, 11.54. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z Calcd for C.sub.15H.sub.29O.sub.2Si.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 281.1937, found 281.1940.

Example 114: (Z)-3,4-dimethyl-5-((triisopropylsilyl)methylene)furan-2(5H)-one (7b)

[0328] ##STR00325##

[0329] Substrate 6b was alkynylated following the general alkynylation procedure (eluent: hexane/ethyl acetate=15/1). The product was obtained as a white solid (4.7 mg, 17% yield). .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 5.15 (s, 1H), 2.06 (d, J=1.1 Hz, 3H), 1.92 (s, 3H), 1.33-1.27 (m, 3H), 1.07 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 18H); .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 171.37, 160.79, 146.50, 125.54, 102.69, 18.76, 11.58, 10.33, 8.85. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z Calcd for C.sub.15H.sub.29O.sub.2Si.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 281.1937, found 281.1940

Example 115: (Z)-3-(tert-butyl)-5-((triisopropylsilyl)methylene)furan-2(5H)-one (7c)

[0330] ##STR00326##

[0331] Substrate 6c was alkynylated following the general alkynylation procedure (eluent: hexane/ethyl acetate=15/1). The product was obtained as a white solid (19.7 mg, 64% yield). .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 6.87 (s, 1H), 5.08 (s, 1H), 1.25-1.30 (m, 12H), 1.07 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 18H); .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 169.49, 158.35, 143.46, 135.51, 107.71, 31.65, 28.27, 18.75, 11.54. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z Calcd for C.sub.18H.sub.33O.sub.2Si.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 309.2250, found 309.2255.

Example 116: (Z)-3-(5-chloropentyl)-5-((triisopropylsilyl)methylene)furan-2(5H)-one (7d)

[0332] ##STR00327##

[0333] Substrate 6d was alkynylated following the general alkynylation procedure (eluent: hexane/ethyl acetate=15/1). The major product was obtained as a white solid (12.1 mg, 34% yield). .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 6.94 (t, J=1.5 Hz, 1H), 5.13 (s, 1H), 3.55 (t, J=6.6 Hz, 2H), 2.42-2.36 (m, 2H), 1.85-1.79 (m, 2H), 1.66-1.60 (m, 2H), 1.54-1.49 (m, 2H), 1.32-1.27 (m, 3H), 1.07 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 18H); .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 171.33, 158.82, 137.41, 135.02, 108.45, 44.81, 32.17, 26.80, 26.46, 24.98, 18.73, 11.54. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z Calcd for C.sub.19H.sub.34ClO.sub.2Si.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 357.2017, found 357.2018.

Example 117: (Z)-3-(4-chlorobenzyl)-5-((triisopropylsilyl)methylene)furan-2(5H)-one (7e)

[0334] ##STR00328##

[0335] Substrate 6e was alkynylated following the general alkynylation procedure (eluent: hexane/ethyl acetate=15/1). The major product was obtained as a white solid. (23.3 mg, 62% yield). .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 7.31 (d, J=8.4 Hz, 2H), 7.19 (d, J=8.4 Hz, 2H), 6.73 (t, J=1.7 Hz, 1H), 5.13 (s, 1H), 3.65 (d, J=1.5 Hz, 2H), 1.32-1.24 (m, 3H), 1.05 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 18H); .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 170.75, 158.58, 138.39, 135.48, 134.37, 132.90, 130.37, 129.00, 109.83, 30.99, 18.70, 11.51. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m z Calcd for C.sub.21H.sub.30ClO.sub.2Si.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 377.1704, found 377.1697.

Example 118: (Z)-3-(4-fluorophenethyl)-5-((triisopropylsilyl)methylene)furan-2(5H)-one (7f)

[0336] ##STR00329##

[0337] Substrate 6f was alkynylated following the general alkynylation procedure (eluent: hexane/ethyl acetate=15/1). The major product was obtained as a white solid (18.0 mg, 48% yield). .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 7.16-7.12 (m, 2H), 7.00-6.96 (m, 2H), 6.83 (t, J=1.4 Hz, 1H), 5.12 (s, 1H), 2.89 (t, J=7.8 Hz, 2H), 2.68 (dd, J=8.2, 1.4 Hz, 2H), 1.32-1.26 (m, 3H), 1.07 (d, J=7.4 Hz, 18H); .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 171.16, 161.52 (d, J=243.00 Hz), 158.68, 137.92, 136.06 (d, J=3.00 Hz), 134.03, 129.74 (d, J=7.50 Hz), 115.32 (d, J=21.00 Hz), 108.93, 32.75, 26.95, 18.72, 11.53; .sup.19F NMR (376 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? ?119.50. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z Calcd for C.sub.22H.sub.32FO.sub.2Si.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 375.2156, found 375.2160.

Example 119: (Z)-3-(3-phenylpropyl)-5-((triisopropylsilyl)methylene)furan-2(5H)-one (7g)

[0338] ##STR00330##

[0339] Substrate 6g was alkynylated following the general alkynylation procedure (eluent: hexane/ethyl acetate=15/1). The major product was obtained as a white solid. (15.5 mg, 42% yield). .sup.1H NMR (500 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 7.29 (t, J=7.5 Hz, 2H), 7.19 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 3H), 6.91 (d, J=1.5 Hz, 1H), 5.11 (s, 1H), 2.69 (t, J=7.6 Hz, 2H), 2.40 (t, J=7.8 Hz, 2H), 1.93 (p, J=7.7 Hz, 2H), 1.29 (dt, J=15.1, 7.6 Hz, 3H), 1.06 (d, J=7.4 Hz, 18H); .sup.13C NMR (126 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 171.30, 158.86, 141.41, 137.35, 135.12, 128.45, 128.43, 126.05, 108.32, 35.43, 29.07, 24.69, 18.73, 11.54. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z Calcd for C.sub.23H.sub.34O.sub.2Si.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 371.2406, found 371.2413.

Example 120: (Z)-3-(2-phenoxyethyl)-5-((triisopropylsilyl)methylene)furan-2(5H)-one (7h)

[0340] ##STR00331##

[0341] Substrate 6h was alkynylated following the general alkynylation procedure (eluent: hexane/ethyl acetate=15/1). The major product was obtained as a white solid. (14.9 mg, 40% yield). .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 7.30 (dd, J=8.3, 7.0 Hz, 2H), 7.23-7.17 (m, 3H), 6.84 (t, J=1.3 Hz, 1H), 5.10 (s, 1H), 2.92 (t, J=7.8 Hz, 2H), 2.70 (ddd, J=8.9, 7.0, 1.4 Hz, 2H), 1.29 (dt, J=14.9, 7.4 Hz, 3H), 1.06 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 18H); .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 171.24, 158.77, 140.44, 137.83, 134.34, 128.54, 128.35, 126.35, 108.66, 33.53, 26.76, 18.72, 11.53. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z Calcd for C.sub.22H.sub.33O.sub.3Si.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 373.2199, found 373.2187.

Example 121: (Z)-4-(2-oxo-5-((triisopropylsilyl)methylene)-2,5-dihydrofuran-3-yl)butyl benzoate (7i)

[0342] ##STR00332##

[0343] Substrate 6i was alkynylated following the general alkynylation procedure (eluent: hexane/ethyl acetate=15/1). The major product was obtained as a mixture of Z/E isomers. (16.3 mg, 38% yield). .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 8.08-8.00 (m, 2H), 7.58-7.53 (m, 1H), 7.48-7.41 (m, 2H), 6.97-6.95 (m, 1H), 5.13 (s, 1H), 4.36 (t, J=6.4 Hz, 2H), 2.52-2.42 (m, 2H), 1.88-1.81 (m, 2H), 1.80-1.73 (m, 2H), 1.33-1.26 (m, 3H), 1.07 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 18H). .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 171.26, 166.62, 158.78, 137.55, 134.81, 132.96, 129.56, 128.39, 108.64, 64.45, 28.42, 24.82, 24.18, 18.73, 11.54. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z Calcd for C.sub.25H.sub.37O.sub.4Si.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 429.2461, found 429.2459.

Example 122: tert-butyl (Z)-3-((2-oxo-5-((triisopropylsilyl)methylene)-2,5-dihydrofuran-3-yl)methyl)pyrrolidine-1-carboxylate (7j)

[0344] ##STR00333##

[0345] Substrate 6j was alkynylated following the general alkynylation procedure (eluent: hexane/ethyl acetate=15/1). The major product was obtained as a mixture of Z/E isomers. (26.5 mg, 61% yield). .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 6.94 (t, J=1.0 Hz, 1H), 5.15 (s, 1H), 4.09 (s, 2H), 2.69 (s, 2H), 2.32 (d, J=7.0 Hz, 2H), 1.79 (th, J=11.0, 3.6 Hz, 1H), 1.67 (d, J=13.5 Hz, 2H), 1.60-1.52 (m, 2H), 1.45 (s, 9H), 1.29 (dt, J=15.0, 7.5 Hz, 3H), 1.07 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 18H); .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 171.37, 158.61, 154.82, 138.71, 132.89, 108.96, 79.40, 34.72, 31.99, 28.46, 18.74, 18.56, 11.53. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z Calcd for C.sub.24H.sub.42NO.sub.4Si.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 436.2883, found 436.2880.

Application to Bioactive Products

[0346] Because butenolide natural products are often bioactive, the process disclosed herein for the construction of ?-alkylidene butenolides from aliphatic carboxylic acids can allow late-stage introduction of butenolide moieties into complex natural products and drug molecules, and thus provide access to hitherto unknown hybrid molecules with potential biological activities. To illustrate such introduction, as shown in the examples below, the anti-asthmatic drug seratrodast was subjected to the standard reaction conditions and the corresponding butenolide hybrid 5ab was obtained in 42% yield. The success with two more examples 71 and 7m further demonstrates the compatibility of this reaction with complex molecules.

Example 123: (Z)-2,3,5-trimethyl-6-(4-(5-oxo-2-((triisopropylsilyl)methylene)-2,5-dihydrofuran-3-yl)-1-phenylbutyl)cyclohexa-2,5-diene-1,4-dione (5ab)

[0347] ##STR00334##

[0348] Substrate 3ab was alkynylated following the general alkynylation procedure (eluent: hexane/ethyl acetate=10/1). The product was obtained as a white solid (22.3 mg, 42% yield). .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 7.28 (d, J=5.8 Hz, 4H), 7.19 (ddd, J=6.5, 5.7, 2.7 Hz, 1H), 5.92 (d, J=1.3 Hz, 1H), 5.24 (d, J=1.0 Hz, 1H), 4.32 (dd, J=8.6, 6.9 Hz, 1H), 2.57-2.51 (m, 2H), 2.36-2.29 (m, 1H), 2.21 (ddd, J=11.2, 5.2, 2.5 Hz, 1H), 2.00 (s, 3H), 1.97 (s, 3H), 1.70-1.62 (m, 1H), 1.55 (s, 4H), 1.29 (p, J=7.5 Hz, 3H), 1.05 (d, J=7.4 Hz, 18H); .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 187.67, 187.11, 169.84, 160.59, 158.07, 145.16, 141.70, 141.52, 140.83, 140.44, 128.46, 127.87, 126.50, 116.18, 105.76, 43.38, 31.53, 29.29, 27.05, 26.47, 18.73, 12.59, 12.46, 11.53. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z Calcd for C.sub.33H.sub.45O.sub.4Si.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 533.3087, found 533.3094.

Example 124: (Z)-3-(4-((1-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-methyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)methoxy)-3,5-difluorobenzyl)-5-((triisopropylsilyl)methylene)furan-2(5H)-one (71)

[0349] ##STR00335##

[0350] Substrate 61 was alkynylated following the general alkynylation procedure (eluent: hexane/ethyl acetate=10/1). The product was obtained as two inseparable isomers resulted from ?-methyl and ?-methylene activation. (30.5 mg, 51% combined yield). .sup.1H NMR (400 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 7.72-7.64 (m, 2H), 7.50-7.42 (m, 2H), 6.86-6.82 (m, 3H), 6.29 (s, 1H), 5.22 (s, 1H), 5.05 (s, 2H), 3.64 (s, 2H), 2.34 (s, 3H), 1.33-1.28 (m, 3H), 1.09 (d, J=7.7 Hz, 18H); .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 170.65, 158.50, 156.26 (d, J=256.7 Hz), 149.60, 138.76, 137.99, 137.86, 133.71 (t, J=9.0 Hz), 133.60, 133.31, 129.45, 125.86, 112.96 (dd, J=18.2, 4.8 Hz), 110.82, 110.31, 65.19, 31.04, 18.84, 13.65, 11.64. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z Calcd for C.sub.32H.sub.38ClF.sub.2N.sub.2O.sub.3Si.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 599.2308, found 599.2319.

Example 125: (Z)-3-((Z)-5-((1R,2S,3S,4S)-3-((hexyloxy)methyl)-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-yl)pent-3-en-1-yl)-5-((triisopropylsilyl)methylene)furan-2(5H)-one (7m)

[0351] ##STR00336##

[0352] Substrate 6m was alkynylated following the general alkynylation procedure (eluent: hexane/ethyl acetate=10/1). The product was obtained as a white solid (20.7 mg, 39% yield). .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 6.96 (d, J=1.5 Hz, 1H), 5.46-5.35 (m, 2H), 5.14 (s, 1H), 4.41 (d, J=2.1 Hz, 1H), 4.20-4.16 (m, 1H), 3.44-3.28 (m, 4H), 2.48-2.31 (m, 3H), 2.04 (ddd, J=24.2, 11.4, 7.1 Hz, 3H), 1.83 (ddd, J=11.6, 8.4, 5.8 Hz, 1H), 1.69 (dt, J=7.1, 2.4 Hz, 2H), 1.62-1.26 (m, 14H), 1.07 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 18H), 0.89 (t, J=6.8 Hz, 3H). .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl3) ? 171.29, 158.86, 137.61, 134.66, 130.71, 128.74, 108.43, 79.99, 79.38, 71.33, 69.89, 46.86, 46.36, 31.70, 29.71, 29.44, 25.91, 25.82, 25.32, 25.03, 22.64, 18.73, 14.07, 12.34, 11.54. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z Calcd for C.sub.32H.sub.55O.sub.4Si.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 531.2870, found 531.3874.

Further Derivatizations of Butenolide Products

[0353] The following examples illustrate derivatizations butenolide compounds described above to give additional compounds useful in synthesis.

Example 126: 3-methylene-4,5,6,7-tetrahydroisobenzofuran-1(3H)-one (8)

[0354] ##STR00337##

[0355] To a solution of 5r (0.1 mmol) in THE (1.0 mL) was added TBAF (3.0 eq), H.sub.2O (10.0 eq), then the mixture was stirred at room temperature until TLC showed that the 3r was fully consumed. The reaction mixture was followed by filtration through a pad of celite, and the solvent was removed under vacuum. The residue was purified by column chromatography to afford 8 (9.9 mg, 66%). .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 5.03 (d, J=2.6 Hz, 1H), 4.72 (d, J=2.6 Hz, 1H), 2.44-2.39 (m, 2H), 2.34-2.29 (m, 2H), 1.81-1.74 (m, 4H); .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 169.63, 154.91, 150.94, 129.30, 91.90, 21.45, 21.35, 21.04, 20.07. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z Calcd for C.sub.9H.sub.11O.sub.2.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 151.0759, found 151.0752.

Example 127: (Z)-3-(iodomethylene)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydroisobenzofuran-1(3H)-one (9)

[0356] ##STR00338##

[0357] To a solution of 5r (0.1 mmol) in HFIP (0.5 mL) was added NIS (1.3 eq), Ag.sub.2CO.sub.3 (1.0 eq), then the mixture was stirred at ?7? C. until TLC showed that the 5r was fully consumed. The reaction mixture was followed by filtration through a pad of celite, and the solvent was removed under vacuum. The residue was purified by column chromatography to afford 9 (20.0 mg, 73%). The product was obtained following the general procedure (eluent: hexane/ethyl acetate=20/1). The product was obtained as a white solid (73% yield). .sup.1H NMR (500 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 5.95 (s, 1H), 2.41 (td, J=6.0, 3.0 Hz, 2H), 2.29-2.23 (m, 2H), 1.81-1.72 (m, 4H); .sup.13C NMR (126 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 168.40, 156.46, 149.54, 129.71, 56.89, 21.29, 21.27, 21.12, 20.25. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z Calcd for C.sub.9H.sub.10IO.sub.2.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 321.2362, found 321.2367.

Example 128: 2-(2-(triisopropylsilyl)acetyl)cyclohex-1-ene-1-carboxylic acid (10)

[0358] ##STR00339##

[0359] To a solution of 5r (0.1 mmol) in EtOH/H.sub.2O (0.5/0.5 mL) was added NaOH (4.0 eq), then the mixture was heated to reflux until TLC showed that the 5r was fully consumed. The reaction mixture was cooled down to room temperature, and 1M HCl was added until the pH was about 3, followed by filtration through a pad of celite, and the solvent was removed under vacuum. The residue was purified by column chromatography to afford 10 (21.4 mg, 66%). .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Chloroform-d) ? 2.39 (d, J=12.8 Hz, 1H), 2.33 (dd, J=6.2, 3.1 Hz, 2H), 2.23-2.19 (m, 1H), 2.17-2.14 (m, 1H), 2.00 (ddt, J=13.5, 6.3, 3.7 Hz, 1H), 1.86 (ddq, J=13.9, 7.2, 3.3 Hz, 1H), 1.64-1.50 (m, 3H), 1.21-1.16 (m, 3H), 1.08 (d, J=7.3 Hz, 18H); .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) ? 210.54, 170.39, 144.28, 128.54, 48.31, 26.90, 25.70, 18.78, 18.76, 18.67, 11.50. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z Calcd for C.sub.18H.sub.33O.sub.3Si.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 325.2199, found 325.2198.

Example 129: 4-((triisopropylsilyl)methyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrophthalazin-1-ol (11)

[0360] ##STR00340##

[0361] To a solution of 5r (0.1 mmol) in MeOH (1.0 mL) was added aqueous N.sub.2H.sub.4 (2.0 equiv.), the mixture was stirred for 8 hours under room temperature and the solvent was removed under vacuum. The residue was purified by column chromatography to afford 11 (25.9 mg, 81%). The product was obtained following the general procedure (eluent: hexane/ethyl acetate=15/1 to 3/1). The product was obtained as a white solid (81% yield). .sup.1H NMR (600 MHz, Methanol-d.sub.4) ? 4.88 (s, 2H), 2.61 (tt, J=6.2, 2.0 Hz, 2H), 2.54 (tt, J=6.2, 2.0 Hz, 2H), 1.86-1.74 (m, 4H), 1.24-1.15 (m, 3H), 1.07 (d, J=7.4 Hz, 18H); .sup.13C NMR (151 MHz, MeOD) ? 161.86, 149.29, 141.72, 136.30, 26.53, 22.69, 21.28, 20.52, 17.86, 17.85, 12.85, 11.41. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z Calcd for C.sub.18H.sub.33N.sub.2OSi.sup.+ [M+H].sup.+ 321.2362, found 321.2367.

[0362] Enumerated references cited in the present disclosure are as follows: [0363] 1. K. M. Engle, T.-S. Mei, M. Wasa, J.-Q. Yu, Weak Coordination as Powerful Means for Developing Broadly Useful CH Functionalization Reactions. Acc. Chem. Res. 45, 788-802 (2012). [0364] 2. O. Daugulis, J. Roane, L. D. Tran, Bidentate, monoanionic auxiliary-directed functionalization of carbon-hydrogen bonds. Acc. Chem. Res. 48, 1053-1064 (2015). [0365] 3. P. Shen, L. Hu, Q. Shao, K. Hong, J.-Q. Yu, Pd(II)Catalyzed Enantioselective C(sp.sup.3)-H Arylation of Free Carboxylic Acids. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 140, 6545-6549 (2018). [0366] 4. S. Gnaim, J. C. Vantourout, F. Serpier, P.-G. Echeverria, P. S. Baran, Carbonyl Desaturation: Where Does Catalysis Stand? ACS Catal. 11, 883-892 (2021). [0367] 5. K. B. Sharpless, R. F. Lauer, A. Y. Teranishi, Electrophilic and nucleophilic organoselenium reagents. New routes to ?,?-unsaturated carbonyl compounds. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 95, 6137-6139 (1973). [0368] 6. H. J. 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[0396] All patent documents and publications cited in this disclosure are incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth.