Mechanism of a Diels-Alderase Enzyme

Paul Race and co-workers from the University of Bristol have reported in JACS on the details of how an enzyme catalyzes a Diels-Alder reaction using crystal structures and enzyme assays. The enzyme is called spirotetronate cyclase AbyU and is key in forming the macrocyclic structure of abyssomicin C.

 

JACS paper

Gracilamine formal synthesis

Scott Snyder and co-workers at the University of Chicago have reported in ACIE on a formal synthesis of gracilamine.

ACIE paper

3 Diels-Alder reactions in 1 go

Michael Sherburn and co-workers from the Australian National University reported in JOC on a Diels-Alder cascade sequence.

JOC paper

 

Here’s an interesting related ACIE paper by the same group.

Fusarisetin A synthesis

Yandong Zhang and co-workers at Xiamen University have reported in Organic Letters on a synthesis of fusarisetin A using a one pot intramolecular Diels-Alder/Mukaiyama aldol reaction cascade sequence.

OL paper

Hetero-Diels-Alder/Oxy-Michael cascade

John Gao and co-workers from UT San Antonio have reported in ACIE on the use of modularly designed organocatalysts (MDO) to effect a hetero-Diels-Alder/oxy-Michael cascade reaction.

 

ACIE paper

Sanggenons C and O syntheses

John Porco and co-workers at Boston University have reported in JACS on the syntheses of sanggenons C and O.

 

JACS paper

Diels-Alder back to back

Xuegong She and co-workers from Lanzhou University have reported in Chemical Communications on a domino Diels-Alder transformation to form a polycyclic scaffold.

Chemical Communications paper

Atisane-type diterpenoids

Bo Liu and co-workers at Sichuan University have reported in JACS on the synthesis of atisane-type diterpenoids.

JACS paper

Paracaseolide A synthesis

Thomas Hoye and colleague at the University of Minnesota have reported in Nature Chemistry on a Diels-Alder reaction to access paracaseolide.

Nature Chemistry paper

Leucoridine synthesis

Rodrigo Andrade and co-workers from Temple University have reported in ACIE on the synthesis of

ACIE paper