The Wittig olefination–Claisen rearrangement protocol was applied to the total synthesis of (±)‐physovenine. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)

A zeolite-catalyzed, simple, one-pot, solvent-free, cost effective, and environmentally benign process for the synthesis of dihydropyrimidones is described. This reaction is scaleable to multigram scale and the catalyst is recyclable. This methodology has resulted in an efficient synthesis of monastrol, a potent inhibitor of kinesin Eg5.

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Pt complexes were used in the presence of phosphane ligands, SnCl2, and H2 for coupling reactions of alkynes with electrophiles under environmentally benign hydrogenation conditions, providing five‐ and six‐membered cycloreduction products in moderate to good yield. Deuterium labeling studies suggested the occurrence of a catalytic cycle including the diploar intermediate derived from hydrometalation of a platinum–hydride complex to the alkyne. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)

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