Development of new synthetic methodologies

The development of new methodologies that allow the selective and efficient synthesis of complex molecules from simple reagents is one of the fundamental objectives of Organic Chemistry. Within this broad field of work, our research group focuses its interest on the following strategies: 1) applications of tosylmethylisonitrile (TosMIC) as a fundamental reagent in the formation of six-member nitrogenous heterocycles, 2) processes of C-X bond formation catalyzed by palladium complexes and 3) cycloisomerization of unsaturated systems (enines, alkynes, allenes…) by means of catalytic processes or halocylation reactions initiated by electrophilic activation of multiple C-C bonds.

• Use of TosMIC in the synthesis of nitrogenous heterocycles

Due to the interesting properties of Tosilmetilisonitrilo (TosMIC) from a synthetic point of view, our group has taken advantage of it for the formation of six-member nitrogenous heterocycles, an aspect that, in contrast to the synthesis of five-member heterocycles, has been little studied. As major achievements in this line, we have developed new methodologies for the synthesis of isoquinolines and γ-carbolines and these have been used in the total synthesis of Variolin B, Mansouramicin B and Cassiarin A alkaloids.

Recent publications:

• Development of catalytic processes of C-X bond formation

The most recent contribution in this field is the development of a general, efficient and functional group-tolerant methodology for the preparation of alkyl thioethers through the cross-coupling of alkyl halides and pseudo-halides with thiols.

Recent publications:

– General Synthesis of Alkenyl Sulfides by Palladium-Catalyzed Thioetherification of Alkenyl Halides and Tosylates.
N. Velasco, C. Virumbrales, R. Sanz, S. Suárez-Pantiga, M. A. Fernández-Rodríguez
Org. Lett. 2018, 20, 2848-2852. DOI

• Cycloisomerization processes of unsaturated systems promoted by electrophilic activation

In this area in recent years we have described, in collaboration with Prof. E. Aguilar of the University of Oviedo and R. Sanz of the University of Burgos, the selective synthesis of various (hetero)cyclic compounds by processes initiated by the intramolecular nucleophilic addition of olefins or heteronucleophils on alkynes activated by gold(I) complexes or electrophilic iodine reagents.

Recent publications: