New Gold-Catalyzed Reactions and Applications for the Synthesis of Alkaloids, 2013
Springer Theses Series

Ana Escribano Cuesta's thesis presents a detailed study of the inter- and intramolecular reactions of carbonyl compounds with 1,6-enynes using gold (I) complexes. An important part of the work involved streamlining the variables that allow the selective synthesis of different products such as tricyclic compounds, dihydropyrans, 1,3-dienes or cyclobutenes. The second chapter highlights the importance and difficulties in synthesising a cyclobutene subunit and the author includes a detailed description of how the products were prepared. The final chapter outlines the synthesis of lundurines using methodology developed by the author's research group for intramolecular gold-catalyzed cyclization of indoles with alkynes. The lundurine products developed in this work show significant in vitro cytoxicity toward B16 melanoma cells. The work in this thesis has led to a number of publications in high-profile chemistry journals.

Introduction.- General Objectives.- Gold(I)-Catalyzed Reactions of 1,6-Enynes with Aldehydes: Cycloaddition versus Metathesis-Type Reactions.- Formation of Cyclobutene Compounds via Gold(I)-Catalyzed Cycloisomerization of 1,n-Enynes.- Approach Toward the Total Synthesis of Lundurines.

Nominated as an outstanding Ph.D. thesis by the Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia, ICIQ A number of important publications in high profile chemistry journals have derived from this work The lundurine products developed in this work show significant in vitro cytoxicity toward B16 melanoma cells Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras