Anodic Oxidation of Phenols: A Key Step for the Synthesis of Natural Products

• Published in: Chemical record Vol. 21; no. 9; pp. 2254 - 2268
• Main Authors: Yamamoto, Takashi, Saitoh, Tsuyoshi, Einaga, Yasuaki, Nishiyama, Shigeru
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.09.2021
• Subjects: Anodic oxidation; Anodizing; Biosynthesis; Chemical reactions; Chemical synthesis; Diaryl ether; Drug development; Drug discovery; Electrochemistry; Electrolysis; Natural products; Organic chemistry; Oxidation; Phenol; Phenols; Research projects; Spiro compounds; Substrates; Anodic oxidation; Phenol; Diaryl ether; Natural products; Spiro compounds
• ISSN: 1527-8999; 1528-0691
• DOI: 10.1002/tcr.202100032

Natural products have played a significant role not only in discovery of drugs but also in development of organic chemistry by providing the synthetic challenges. Inspired by biosynthesis where enzymes catalyze a multi‐step reaction, we have investigated the natural product synthesis utilizing electrochemical reactions as the key step. Electrochemical organic synthesis, so‐called electro‐organic synthesis, enables to control the reactivity of substrates simply by tuning electrolysis conditions. In this Personal Account, we overview the recent progress of our research projects about natural product synthesis, in which anodic oxidation of phenol compounds affords the important frameworks such as diaryl ether, spirodienone, and spiroisoxazoline. Natural products have played a significant role not only in discovery of drugs but also in development of organic chemistry by providing the synthetic challenges. Inspired by biosynthesis, we have investigated the natural product synthesis utilizing electrochemical reactions as the key step, in which anodic oxidation of phenol compounds afford the important frameworks such as diaryl ether, spirodienone, and spiroisoxazoline.