Mechanism and diastereoselectivity of aziridine formation from sulfur ylides and imines: a computational study

A computational investigation of the title reaction involving semistabilized (R = Ph) and stabilized (R = CO2Me) sulfur ylides has been performed using DFT methods including a continuum model of solvent. Our results provide support for the generally accepted mechanism and are in very good agreement with observed cis/trans selectivities. This study shows that betaine formation is nonreversible, and that selectivity is thereby determined at the initial addition step, in the case of semistabilized ylides. Our analysis indicates moreover that addition TS structures are governed by the steric strain induced by the N-sulfonyl group, which favors the transoid approach in the case of syn betaine formation and the cisoid mode of addition in anti TSs. The observed low trans selectivity is accounted for by the favorable Coulombic interactions and stabilization by C-H...O hydrogen bonding allowed in the cisoid anti addition TS. In the case of stabilized ylides, the endothermicity of betaine formation combined with the high barrier to ring closure render the elimination step rate- and selectivity-determining. Accordingly, the low cis selectivity observed in stabilized ylide reactions is explained by the lower steric strain in the elimination step generated by the formation of the cis aziridine (as compared to the trans case).     

Experimental demonstration of base-catalyzed interconversion of isomeric betaine intermediates in the Corey-Chaykovsky epoxidation

The collapse of hydroxysulfonium salts has been examined as a model for the epoxidation of aldehydes. The anti diastereomer reacted with retention of stereochemistry and no crossover, while the syn diastereomer gave crossover products along with cis and trans epoxides. Deprotonation and reprotonation on the carbon of the alpha-hydroxy sulfonium ylide is presumed responsible for production of the trans epoxide. This reaction pathway has been proposed to explain losses of enantioselectivity but never directly observed.     

Synthesis of 5-fluoro- and 5-hydroxymethanoprolines via lithiation of N-BOC-methanopyrrolidines. Constrained Cγ-exo and Cγ-endo Flp and Hyp conformer mimics

Proline derivatives with a C(γ)-exo pucker typically display a high amide bond trans/cis (K(T/C)) ratio. This pucker enhances n→π* overlap of the amide oxygen and ester carbonyl carbon, which favors a trans amide bond. If there were no difference in n→π* interaction between the ring puckers, then the correlation between ring pucker and K(T/C) might be broken. To explore this possibility, proline conformations were constrained using a methylene bridge. We synthesized discrete gauche and anti 5-fluoro- and 5-hydroxy-N-acetylmethanoproline methyl esters from 3-syn and 3-anti fluoro- and hydroxymethanopyrrolidines using directed α-metalation to introduce the α-ester group. NBO calculations reveal minimal n→π* orbital interactions, so contributions from other forces might be of greater importance in determining K(T/C) for the methanoprolines. Consistent with this hypothesis, greater trans amide preferences were found in CDCl(3) for anti isomers en-MetFlp and en-MetHyp (72-78% trans) than for the syn stereoisomers ex-MetFlp and ex-MetHyp (54-67% trans). These, and other, K(T/C) results that we report here indicate how substituents on proline analogues can affect amide preferences by pathways other than ring puckering and n→π* overlap and suggest that caution should be exercised in assigning enhanced pyrrolidine C(γ)-exo ring puckering based solely on enhanced trans amide preference.     

Gauche effect in 1,2-difluoroethane. Hyperconjugation, bent bonds, steric repulsion

Natural bond orbital deletion calculations show that whereas the gauche preference arises from vicinal hyperconjugative interaction between anti C-H bonds and C-F* antibonds, the cis C-H/C-F* interactions are substantial (approximately 25% of the anti interaction). The established significantly >60 degrees FCCF dihedral angle for the equilibrium conformer can then be rationalized in terms of the hyperconjugation model alone by taking into account both anti interactions that maximize near 60 degrees and the smaller cis interactions that maximize at a much larger dihedral angle. This explanation does not invoke repulsive forces to rationalize the 72 degrees equilibrium conformer angle. The relative minimum energy for the trans conformer is the consequence of a balance between decreasing hyperconjugative stabilization and decreasing steric destabilization as the FCCF torsional angle approaches 180 degrees . The torsional coordinate is predicted to be strongly contaminated by CCF bending, with the result that approximately half of the trans --> gauche stabilization energy stems from mode coupling.     

First-principle computational study on the full conformational space of L-threonine diamide, the energetic stability of cis and trans isomers

First-principle computations were carried out on the conformational space of trans and cis peptide bond isomers of HCO-Thr-NH2. Using the concept of multidimensional conformational analysis (MDCA), geometry optimizations were performed at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level of theory, and single-point energies as well as thermodynamic functions were calculated at the G3MP2B3 level of theory for the corresponding optimized structures. Two backbone Ramachandran-type potential energy surfaces (PESs) were computed, one each for the cis and trans isomers, keeping the side chain at the fully extended orientation (chi1=chi2=anti). Similarly, two side chain PESs for the cis and trans isomers were generated for the (phi=psi=anti) orientation corresponding to approximately the betaL backbone conformation. Besides correlating the relative Gibbs free energy of the various stable conformations with the number of stabilizing hydrogen bonds, the process of trans-->cis isomerization is discussed in terms of intrinsic stabilities as measured by the computed thermodynamic functions.     

Formal anti‐Carbopalladation Reactions of Non‐Activated Alkynes: Requirements,Mechanistic Insights,and Applications

Formal anti‐carbopalladation reactions of C? C triple bonds are uncommon, but highly useful transformations. Alkynes can be designed to give anti‐carbopalladation products. Prerequisite is the exclusion of other reaction pathways to provoke the cis–trans isomerization of the syn‐carbopalladation intermediate. Detailed mechanistic studies of this crucial step by experimental and computational means were performed. Application of an intramolecular version for the synthesis of oligocyclic compounds and substituted dibenzofurans is also described.     

Synthesis and stereochemistry of benzo[a]cyclohexano[f]quinolizidines of the 8-aza-D-homoestrane series

A mixture of trans,anti, cis- and cis,anti,cis-quinolizidines in a ratio of 14, respectively, was obtained (in 10% yield) in the thermal condensation of 4-methyl-4-acetylcyclohex-2-en-1-one with 3,4-dihydroisoquinoline.Translated from Khlmiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 12, pp. 1662–1668, December, 1981.     

Stereochemistry in functionalized macrocycle complexes: control of hydroxyl substituent orientation

Use of a hydroxyl-functionalized open chain tetramine in a template reaction based on its Cu(II) complex leads, after reduction, to a new tetraaza macrocycle with both amino and hydroxyl substituents. The macrocycle is formed predominantly as its trans (anti) isomer, though the cis form is detectable and both have been structurally characterized in the form of their metal complexes. Although both the Cu(II) and the Co(III) complexes of the tetramine precursor ligand have the hydroxyl group in an axial position of a chair six-membered chelate ring, the trans macrocycle forms Co(III) complexes with this substituent in both equatorial and axial positions.     

Definition of Several Control Elements Relevant to the Stereodefined Serial Elaboration of Belted Poly(spirotetrahydrofurans) Fitted with a Cyclohexane Core

The stereochemistry of the condensations of 2-cyclohexenones, alpha-arylidenecyclohexanones, and alpha-(tert-butyldimethylsiloxy)cyclohexanones carrying one or two (both syn and anti) spirotetrahydrofuran units adjacent to the carbonyl with allyl organometallics (especially indium) and with the Normant reagent (ClMgO(CH(2))(3)MgCl) is described. Good levels of anti stereoselection are observed in the alpha-arylidene series. Subsequent cyclization generates a second (or third) tetrahydrofuran ring possessing trans vicinal oxygens. Useful levels of matched and mismatched diastereoselection are also attainable by prior alpha-oxygenation. The intrinsic differences in diastereomer production between indium and magnesium organometallics are highlighted. A clear distinction regarding the anticipated direction of stereoselectivity is made on the grounds of chelation capabilities and the intra- or intermolecularity of carbon-carbon bond formation. Finally, the two protocols that are described in detail are shown to be iterative, a feature that augurs well for ultimately accessing the eight possible hexaspirocyclohexanes in an efficient and stereocontrolled manner.     

Anti-selective glycolate aldol additions with an oxapyrone boron enolate

The boron enolate of pyrone 2 undergoes asymmetric aldol reactions with aldehydes to give protected anti 1,2-diols 3. The pyrone is readily available from trans stilbene using asymmetric dihydroxylation. Yields for the aldol reaction range from 62 to 92% and the selectivities from 6:1 to >20:1 for the anti isomers. Protection and hydrogenolysis of the products can be used to remove the pyrone, giving differentially protected diol intermediates 12 that are amenable to multistep synthesis.     

Enantioselective Synthesis of a Polyfunctionalized Tetracycle Related to Pentacyclic Triterpenes by Using an Anionic Cycloaddition Reaction

Herein we report a convergent enantioselective synthesis of a polyfunctionalized ABCD tetracycle by using an anionic cycloaddition reaction between a chiral bicyclic CD Nazarov intermediate (see 6 ), derived from the (?)‐Weiland–Mischer ketone, and an achiral cyclohexenone (see 5 ) adequately functionalized to furnish the ring A of pentacyclic triterpenes (Scheme 5). The chiral bicyclic CD Nazarov intermediate forms ring B upon cycloaddition with the achiral cyclohexenone to yield an ABCD tetracycle with a cis‐anti‐trans‐anti‐trans configuration (see 4 ). Further transformations on this adduct allowed reduction of the angular aldehyde function at C(10) to a Me group (→ 17 ) and introduction of an unsaturation at C(5)? C(6) by using the ketone function at C(7) (→ 3 ; Scheme 6).     

Radical and Heck cyclizations of diastereomeric o-haloanilide atropisomers

The outcomes of radical cyclizations and Heck reactions of N-(cyclohex-2-enyl)-N-(2-iodophenyl)acetamides depend critically on the configurations of the chiral axis and the stereocenter. In substrates without an ortho-methyl group, the diastereomeric precursors interconvert slowly at ambient temperatures. Cyclization of enriched mixtures of diastereomers provided similar yields of acetyl tetrahydrocarbazoles or dihydrocarbazoles, suggesting that interconversion of the radical or organometallic intermediates also occurs. Diastereomers of N-(cyclohex-2-enyl)-N-(2-iodo-4,6-dimethylphenyl)acetamides with an additional ortho-methyl group did not interconvert at ambient temperatures and were readily resolved. In radical cyclizations, syn diastereomers were prone to cyclize, while anti isomers were not. Strikingly, Heck reactions gave the opposite result; anti isomers were prone to cyclization and syn isomers were not. Heck reactions of allylic acetates occur with β-hydride elimination when acetate is trans to palladium and with β-acetoxy elimination when acetate is cis. This is surprising because prior studies have suggested that a trans relationship of palladium and acetoxy is essential for acetate elimination. Analyses of the results provide insights into mechanisms for radical cyclization and for insertion and elimination in the Heck reaction.     

Unusual temperature dependence in the cis/trans-oxetane formation discloses competitive syn versus anti attack for the Paternò-Büchi reaction of triplet-excited ketones with cis- and trans-cylooctenes. Conformational control of diastereoselectivity in the cyclization and cleavage of preoxetane diradicals

Toluene-d(8) solutions of cis- and trans-cyclooctene (cis- and trans-1a) as well as (Z)- and (E)-1-methylcyclooctene (cis- and trans-1b) have been irradiated at temperatures between -95 and +110 degrees C in the presence of benzophenone (BP) to afford mixtures of the cis- and trans-configured oxetanes 2a,b and the regioisomeric 2b'. Correspondingly, benzoquinone (BQ) gave with cis- and trans-1a the cycloadducts cis- and trans-3a. The cis/trans diastereomeric ratios of the [2 + 2]-cycloadducts 2 and 3 display a strong temperature dependence; with cis- and trans-1a or cis-1b as starting materials, the diastereoselectivity of the oxetane formation is high at low temperature, under preservation of the initial cyclooctene configuration. With increasing temperature, the cis diastereoselectivity decreases continuously for the cis-cyclooctenes; in the case of the cis-1a, the diastereoselectivity is even switched to trans (cis/trans ca. 20:80) at very high temperatures. For the strained trans-1a, the trans-oxetanes are strongly preferred over the entire temperature range, with only minor leakage (up to 10%) to the cis-oxetanes at very high temperatures. Oxetane formation is accompanied by nonthermal trans-to-cis isomerization of the cyclooctene. The methyl-substituted trans-1b constitutes an exceptional substrate; it displays cis diastereoselectivity in the [2 + 2] photocycloaddition at low temperatures for both regioisomers 2b and 2b', and the trans selectivity increases at moderate temperature (cis/trans = 4:96), to decrease again at high temperature, especially for the minor regioisomer 2b'. This complex temperature behavior of the cis/trans diastereoselectivity may be rationalized in terms of the triplet-diradical mechanism of the Paternò-Büchi reaction. We propose that the cyclooctene may be competitively attacked by the triplet-excited ketone from the higher (syn) or the less (anti) substituted side; such syn and anti trajectories have hitherto not been considered. To account for the unusual temperature behavior in the diastereoselectivity of the present [2 + 2] photocycloaddition, we suggest that temperature-dependent conformational changes of the resulting triplet preoxetane diradicals compete with their cyclization to the cis/trans-oxetane diastereomers and retro cleavage to the cis-cyclooctene.     

Stereocontrolled Preparation of Spirocyclic Ethers by Intramolecular Trapping of Oxonium Ions with Allylsilanes

The stereoselectivity of the spontaneous intramolecular cyclization of 2-(benzenesulfonyl)-2-(4-((trimethylsilyl)methyl)-4-pentenyl)tetrahydropyrans substituted by alkyl groups at various ring positions has been examined. For the 4- and 6-methyl derivatives, formation of the spirocyclic center occurs exclusively anti to the methyl. The outcome in the 5-methyl example is a 3.7:1 syn/anti split. For the trans-4,6-dimethyl derivative, the substituents act in a reinforcing manner and direct cyclization uniquely in one direction. Both the cis and trans bicyclic ethers ring close on that pi-surface of the intermediate oxonium ion syn to the angular hydrogen. The results are rationalized in terms of the predilection of the associated oxonium ions for nucleophilic capture via a chairlike or twist-boat transition state.     

A new NMR approach for the assignment of symmetric isomers

Irradiation of the (13)C satellite (1% natural abundance) of the NMR (1)H signals yields NOE effects on the spatially close hydrogens of the same isotopomer but not on the hydrogens of the 99% isotopomer having only (12)C atoms. In a DPFGSE-NOE sequence, the latter signals are completely canceled, and it is possible, therefore, to detect NOE effects experienced by isochronous lines that would not be otherwise observable. This allows the structural assignments of symmetric isomers to be unambiguously obtained. Examples are reported for the cases of the cis and trans dimethylstilbene, cis and trans stilbeneoxide, 2,5- and 3,4-dimethylthiophene, 1,8- and 1,5-dimethylnaphthalene, syn and anti 1,2-bis(2-methyl-1-naphthyl)benzene, 1,3-cyclooctadiene, and cycloheptatriene.     

Syn- and anti-selective Prins cyclizations of delta,epsilon-unsaturated ketones to 1,3-halohydrins with Lewis acids

Ten acyclic and monocyclic delta,epsilon-unsaturated ketones, with and without methyl substituents on the double bond, underwent halide-terminated Prins (halo-Prins) cyclizations under anhydrous conditions in the presence of Lewis acids. TiCl4, TiBr4, BCl3, and BBr3 promoted syn-selective cyclizations to sterically congested chloro- and bromohydrins, while SnCl4, SnBr4, InCl3, ZrCl4, and several other Lewis acids effected highly anti-selective reactions to furnish the corresponding trans halohydrins. The stronger Lewis acids (TiX4 and BX3) favor the syn process that involves axial delivery of a halide ligand. Competition experiments showed that substitution at the delta carbon (methallyl enones) led to increased rates (40-50-fold), while substitution at the epsilon position (cis and trans crotyl enones) retarded the rate and eroded the selectivity of the cyclizations. The trends in syn vs anti selectivity, reactivity, and effects of different Lewis acidic metal halides are rationalized by competitive reaction pathways proceeding through syn carbocation-halide ion pairs and a higher order transition state that leads to inversion of configuration and formation of trans halohydrins, along with cyclic olefins arising from proton elimination.     

Saturated nitrogen-containing heterocycles. 15. Catalytic synthesis and isomerization of 9-substituted10-methylperhydroacridines

In the catalytic hydromethylamination of 8-substituted 2-hydroxytricyclo[7.3.1.0^2,7]tridecane-13-ones they are converted into 9-substituted 10-methyl-^9,9a-dodecahydroacridines and 10-methylperhydroacridines with trans,anti,cis- and cis,syn,cis-conformation. The ability of the latter to isomerize into the trans,cis,tans-form has been established.For Communication 14, see [1].Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 2, pp. 200–204, February, 1992.     

Conformational restraint in thermal rearrangements of a cyclobutane: 3,4-dicyanotricyclo[4.2.2.0(2,5)]decane

There being no study of a cyclobutane so fused to another cyclic system that an antiperiplanar conformation of the related diradical be precluded, the system in the title has been synthesized and studied for its thermal behavior. In comparison to the thermal behavior of unconstrained 1,2-dicyanocyclobutane in stereomutation and fragmentation to acrylonitrile, the constrained system shows a approximately 10-fold higher ratio of stereomutation to fragmentation to the three cis-1,4-bis-beta-cyanovinylcyclohexanes. In these diolefins, a stereochemical correlation between the two olefinic fragmentation products is preserved. Revealed in the thermal rearrangement of isomer trans-1 is a surprising excess (78%) of cis-1-cis-beta-cyanovinyl-4-trans-beta-cyanovinylcyclohexane, cis,trans-2, the result of zero internal rotations within the diradical-in-caldera prior to fragmentation (retention of configuration). Similarly, to a comparably striking extent, anti,cis-1 gives trans,trans-2 as its major product (71%), again by zero internal rotations.     

Aromaticity and Möbius antiaromaticity in monocyclic [11]annulenium cations

Monocyclic [11]annulenium cations, which are experimentally unknown, have been studied primarily via DFT methods but also with some CCSD(T) validation. We have located six minima: two doubly trans (26, 27), one triply trans (28), one singly trans (29), one quintuply trans (trannulene-type, 33), and one all-cis (31). The first three are aromatic, 33 is modestly aromatic, 29 is nonaromatic, and the last is a M?bius antiaromatic species. We also investigated the fusion of various numbers of three-membered rings (3MRs) to the central 11-membered ring (11MR). We found several planar, all-cis-[11]annulenium ion derivatives as well as another M?bius antiaromatic species (52b); for comparison, we also found planar, antiaromatic all-cis-[12]annulene (60) and [15]annulenium cation (61) derivatives. The (anti)aromatic characterization of these compounds is based mainly on calculated magnetic data for the ground singlet and vertical triplet states, although aromatic stabilization energies (ASE) are also considered. Data for optimized triplets, several of which are M?bius aromatic systems (31t, 52t, 63t, 64t), are also included. Several of these cations are reasonable synthetic targets.     

COMPARISON OF THE SOLID-MATRIX LUMINESCENCE PROPERTIES OF BENZO(a)PYRENE-DNA ADDUCTS ON α-CYCLODEXTRIN/NaCl and TREHALOSE/NaCl MATRICES

Abstract— The solid-matrix luminescence properties of (±)- trans -7,8-dihydroxy-anti-9,10-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo(a)pyrene-DNA ([±]-anti-BPDE-DNA) adducts were compared on α-cyclo-dextrin (CD)/NaCl and trehalose/NaCl solid matrices. Both the optimum composition for the solid matrices and the best solvent system were obtained experimentally for acquiring the maximum room-temperature fluorescence (RTF) and room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) signals for the (±)- anti -BPDE-DNA. Most of the solid-matrix RTF and RTP data were obtained at 296 K and 93 K for (±)-anti-BPDE-DNA adducts adsorbed on 1%α-CD/NaCl and 80% trehalose/NaCl. The RTF signals were strong for (±)-BPDE-DNA adducts on both solid matrices, but RTP was only obtained on the trehalose/NaCl solid matrices with the 80% trehalose yielding the strongest RTP signal for (±)-anti-BPDE-DNA. The fluorescence lifetime data for (±)-anti-BPDE-DNA gave two components on 1 %α-CD/NaCl. For 80% trehalose/NaCl, three components were revealed, but two components were obtained with 80% trehalose/NaCl after ether extraction of the solid matrix. The third component was ascribed to the formation of the tetrols from (±)- anti -BPDE-DNA adducts during the drying step in the sample preparation of 80% trehalose/NaCl. The results give the first reported data on the solid-matrix luminescence of the (±)- anti -BPDE-DNA adducts. These results should be of considerable interest not only from an analytical viewpoint but as a new means of studying the luminescence characteristics of the adducts.