A Catalyst That Multitasks To Make Complex Molecules Organic Synthesis: Method leads to complex, biologically relevant molecules on gram scale

A copper catalyst guides this multicomponent reaction. 

A new synthetic strategy that relies on a multitasking copper catalyst allows chemists to construct useful molecules faster and with higher yield. Experts say it promises to fast-track complicated syntheses.

Fewer steps in a chemical synthesis often translate to a better yield of the final product. Chemists therefore prize so-called multicomponent reactions that orchestrate the assembly of multiple building blocks into a complex structure in a single stroke.

Boston College chemists Amir H. Hoveyda, Fanke Meng, and Kevin P. McGrath demonstrate their virtuosity in this regard by using an inexpensive copper catalyst that puts together complex molecules from an allene, a diboron reagent, and an allylic phosphate. The resulting products contain a stereogenic carbon center, a monosubstituted alkene, and a tough-to-synthesize Z-trisubstituted alkenylboron (Nature 2014, DOI: 10.1038/nature13735).

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http://cen.acs.org/articles/92/i38/Catalyst-Multitasks-Make-Complex-Molecules.html