Dual behavior of masked o-benzoquinones in intermolecular Diels-Alder reactions with acyclic dienes: a rapid entry to polyfunctionalized bicyclo[2.2.2]oct-5-en-2-ones and cis-decalins

The potentiality of the masked o-benzoquinones, i.e., 6,6-dimethoxy-2,4-cyclohexadienones 5-8, to react both as dienes and dienophiles in their intermolecular reactions has been demonstrated. The masked o-benzoquinones (MOBs) 5-8 generated in situ from 2-methoxyphenols 1-4 underwent intermolecular Diels-Alder cycloadditions with acyclic 1,3-dienes 9a-e to provide bicyclo[2.2.2]octenones 10a-f-13a-f along with cis-decalin derivatives 14a-f-17a-f with regio- and stereoselectivity, except in the case of MOB 8. The formation of cis-decalins in these Diels-Alder reactions illustrates the dienophilic character of MOBs, in addition to their general behavior as dienes. The ratio of the two cycloadducts obtained in each reaction as a result of the dual character of MOBs depends on the nature and/or position of the substituents on both the cyclohexadienone moiety and the added conjugated acyclic diene. All of the cycloadducts resulted from the diene property of MOBs in intermolecular Diels-Alder reactions smoothly underwent Cope rearrangement to furnish cis-decalins as sole products in excellent to quantitative yields.     

Intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions of brominated masked o-benzoquinones. A detour method to synthesize highly functionalized oxatricyclic [m.3.1.0] ring systems from 2-methoxyphenols

Intramolecular Diels-Alder (IMDA) reactions of masked o-benzoquinones (MOBs) 5a-d to 7a-d and 17a-d to 19a-d generated in situ from 2-methoxyphenols 2-4 and 14-16, respectively, in the presence of alkenols 1a-d, resulting in highly functionalized oxatricyclic [m.3.1.0] ring systems are described. The MOBs 5a-d to 7a-d underwent the IMDA reactions to furnish the adducts 8a-d, 10a-d, and 12a-d (direct method) in poor yields with the concomitant formation of considerable amounts of unexpected byproducts 9a-d, 11a-d, and 13a-d, respectively. To avoid the formation of byproducts and to improve the yields of the desired cycloadducts, a detour method comprising sequential bromination of 2-methoxyphenols 2-4, tandem oxidative acetalization-Diels-Alder reaction, and debromination has been developed. The oxidation of bromophenols 14-16 in the presence of alkenols 1a-d produced the corresponding MOBs 17a-d to 19a-d, which underwent cycloaddition to afford the cycloadducts 20a-d to 22a-d, respectively, as sole products in good to high yields in a highly regio- and stereoselective manner. Treatment of the bromoadducts 20a-d to 22a-d with tributylammonium formate-palladium reagent produced the corresponding debrominated products 8a-d, 10a-d, and 12a-d in high to excellent yields. In general, the latter oxatricycles were obtained in higher overall yields via the detour method than those via the direct method.     

Intermolecular Diels-Alder reactions of brominated masked o-benzoquinones with electron-deficient dienophiles. A detour method to synthesize bicyclo[2.2.2]octenones from 2-methoxyphenols

Intermolecular Diels-Alder reactions of masked o-benzoquinones, i.e., 6,6-dimethoxy-2,4-cyclohexadienones 5-7 and 21-24 generated from 2-methoxyphenols 1-3 and 17-20, respectively, with electron-deficient dienophiles leading to highly functionalized bicyclo[2.2.2]octenones are described. The masked o-benzoquinones (MOBs) 5-7 underwent Diels-Alder cycloadditions with methyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, and methyl vinyl ketone to provide bicyclo[2.2.2]octenones 13a-c to 15a-c (direct method) in low to moderate yields with the concomitant formation of considerable amounts of dimers 9-11. To retard dimerization and to improve the yields of the requisite bicyclo[2.2.2]octenones, a detour method comprised of sequential bromination of 2-methoxyphenols 1-4, oxidation and Diels-Alder reaction, and debromination has been developed. The oxidation of bromophenols 17-20 produced MOBs 21-24 which are stable enough to be isolated. The MOBs 21-24 underwent cycloaddition with electron-deficient dienophiles in a very efficient manner to afford the corresponding cycloadducts 25a-c to 28a-c in good to high yields without self-dimerization. When the cycloadducts 25a-c to 28a-c were treated with either Bu(3)SnH/AIBN or tributylammonium formate-palladium reagent, the corresponding debrominated products 13a-cto 16a-c were obtained in high to excellent yields. In general, the cycloadducts 13a-c to 15a-c were obtained in 20-40% higher yields via the detour method than those via the direct method. In both routes, the Diels-Alder reactions proceeded in a highly regio- and stereoselective manner to furnish a single cycloadduct in each case.     

Intramolecular Diels-Alder Reactions of Thio-Substituted Dienes with Enones

Thio-substituted dienes bearing an enone moiety were readily prepared from 3-sulfolenes, and their intramolecular Diels-Alder (IMDA) reactions were studied. Octahydronaphthalenones were produced in good yield with high stereoselectivity. Hexahydroindenones were also obtained, but the stereoselectivity was lower.     

Controlling cis/trans-selectivity in intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions of benzo-tethered, ester linked 1,3,9-decatrienes

Predictions from DFT (B3LYP/6-31 G(d))-computed stereoisomer product distributions for intramolecular Diels-Alder (IMDA) reactions have been successfully replicated in the laboratory. Benzo-tethered hexadienyl acrylates generally undergo moderately trans-selective IMDA reactions which, as suggested by DFT calculation, arise from two opposing transition structure (TS) features: stabilising secondary orbital interactions, which are stronger in the cis-TSs, and stabilising pi-conjugative interactions between the benzo moiety and the 1,3-diene component - which are stronger in trans-TSs. Substrates carrying a removable substituent (i.e. Br or TMS) at C3 of the diene or C12 of the aromatic ring are predicted to undergo highly cis-selective thermal IMDA reactions by steric destabilisation of the trans-TS. A substrate carrying a two atom tether between C3 and C12 is predicted to undergo a highly trans-selective intramolecular cycloaddition by destabilisation of the cis-TS. These calculations are borne out experimentally.     

Lewis acid catalyzed intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions of acyclic (Z)-substituted 1,3-dienes

Lewis acid catalyzed intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions of trienes (E,E,Z)-1a-d, (E,E,Z)-4a-d, and (E,Z,Z)-7a,b are described. Trienes containing enal or enone dienophiles cyclize in excellent yield under mild conditions using substoichiometric amounts of MeAlCl(2), in most cases with high levels of diastereoselectivity. The thermal IMDA reactions of 1a, 4a, and 7a require forcing conditions and proceed in low yield with reversed stereoselectivity in the cases of 1a and 4a.     

Intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions of ester-linked 1,3,8-nonatrienes

[structures: see text] Penta-1,3-dienyl acrylates undergo kinetically controlled intramolecular Diels-Alder (IMDA) reactions and DFT calculations (B3LYP/6-31+G(d)) predict stereoselectivities that are in very good agreement with the experimental values. The nature of the diene C1 substituent has virtually no influence upon reactivity or trans/cis-stereoselectivity whereas terminal C9 dienophile substituents have a substantial effect on both the reactivity and stereoselectivity of these IMDA reactions. The TSs highlight contributions from strain in the developing tether-containing ring, and steric and electronic effects between tether and dienophile substituents, thus providing insight into the origins of IMDA reactivity and stereoselectivity.     

Diels-Alder reactions of nitrobenzofurans: a simple dibenzofuran Synthesis. Theoretical studies using DFT methods

2- and 3-nitrobenzofurans are studied in polar thermal Diels-Alder reactions with normal electron demand using several structurally different dienes. A very strong electron-acceptor group, such as the nitro group, pushes the dienophilic character of these heterocyclic compounds. Since this substituent is easily extruded under thermal conditions, this reaction sequence becomes a simple method for the preparation of families of organic compounds with heteroatom rings. Part of this work is specifically concerned with theoretical studies using DFT methods. The global and local electrophilicity and nucleophilicity indices were calculated for the dienophiles and dienes used in this study. When 2-nitrobenzofuran and 3-nitrobenzofuran were reacted with isoprene, 1-trimethylsilyloxy-1,3-butadiene and Danishesfky’s diene, under different thermal reaction conditions they showed their dienophilic character taking part in normal-demand polar DA cycloaddition reactions.     

Intramolecular Cyclization Strategies Toward the Synthesis of Zoanthamine Alkaloids

Stabilized 2-amino-1,3-dienes can participate in intramolecular Diels-Alder (IMDA) reactions with pendant dienophiles. We found that these dienes can be readily prepared via standard palladium-mediated coupling reactions and have comparable reactivity to 2-oxodienes. Application of these substrates to the synthesis of tetracyclic model systems representing the ABCE motif of the zoanthamines is presented.     

Intramolecular Diels-Alder Reactions of Furans with Allenyl Ethers. Formation of Indanone and Tetralone

The intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions of the furans 3 , 11a and 11b produced indanone 6 and tetralones 14a and 14b respectively, presumably via the corresponding allenyl ethers 4 , 12a and 12b and the intramolecular cycloadducts 5 , 13a and 13b .     

Diels-Alder reactions of 4-triflyloxy-2,6,6-trimethyl-2,4-cyclohexadienone. An expedient methodology for the synthesis of bicyclo[2.2.2]oct-5-en-2-ones and bicyclo[2.2.2]octa-5,7-dien-2-ones

The synthesis of 4-triflyloxy-2,6,6-trimethyl-2,4-cyclohexadienone (13), bicyclo[2.2.2]octenones 1a-j and 15a-j, and bicyclo[2.2.2]octadienones 2a-f, 6a-d, and 11a-f is described. The 2,4-cyclohexadienones 4 and 13 were used for the first time as nondimerizing and easily accessible alternatives to 2,6,6-trimethyl-2,4-cyclohexadienone 12 in Diels-Alder reactions with acetylene derivatives 5a-d to prepare the adducts 6a-d and 11a-e in excellent yields. Compounds 11a-d were initially prepared by the alcoholysis of 6a-d to afford bicyclo[2.2.2]octene-2,5-diones 7a-dfollowed by treatment of 7a-d with N-phenyltriflimide in the presence of LHMDS at -78 degrees C. Diels-Alder reaction of 13 with an acetylene equivalent, phenyl vinyl sulfoxide, was also studied. A detailed study of the Diels-Alder reactions of various olefinic dienophiles 14a-j with 13 has been carried out to furnish cycloadducts 15a-j in high yields. Reductive removal of triflyloxy group of vinyl triflates 11a-f and 15a-j was performed in the presence of [Pd(PPh(3))(2)Cl(2)-Bu(3)N-HCO(2)H] to obtain the desired bicyclo[2.2.2]octadienones 2a-f and bicyclo[2.2.2]octenones 1a-j, respectively, in good overall yields.     

Synthetic studies of GKK1032s: the asymmetric synthesis of the decahydrofluorene skeleton via a novel cyclization of silyl enol ether and sequential retro Diels-Alder and intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions

GKK1032s, which were isolated from the culture broth of Penicillium sp. GKK1032, exhibit antitumor activity. We constructed the fully elaborated decahydrofluorene skeleton of GKK1032s. The C-ring was constructed by intramolecular cyclization reaction between a chiral epoxide and silyl enol ether, and the dienophile moiety was introduced concurrently. In addition, the AB-rings were stereoselectively constructed using novel sequential retro Diels-Alder (DA) and intramolecular Diels-Alder (IMDA) reactions. Several further modifications of the IMDA adduct were carried out, leading to the asymmetric synthesis of the desired hydroxyester including nine stereo centers.     

Cyclic vinyl p-tolyl sulfilimines as chiral dienophiles: Diels-Alder reactions with furan and acyclic dienes

The dienophilic behavior of the sulfilimine 2, synthesized from (Z)-3-p-tolylsulfinylacrylonitrile 1, in its Diels-Alder reactions with furan and acyclic dienes has been investigated. A complete pi-facial selectivity for 2, opposite to that observed from its precursor 1, is the main feature of all these cycloadditions. Moreover, the high exo selectivity observed in reactions of 2 with furan (not observed for 1) contrasts with the almost complete endo selectivity with other cyclic and acyclic dienes. Additionally, the opposite regioselectivities obtained for 2 with Dane's diene and 1-substituted butadienes (not observed for 1) are also noteworthy. This behavior allows dienophiles 1 and 2 to be considered as complementary precursors from a synthetic point of view.     

Synthesis of 4-aryl- and 4-alkyl-2-silyl-1,3-butadienes and their Diels-Alder/cross-coupling reactions

An ene-yne cross methasis of silyl-substituted alkynes and alkenes has been developed as a route to 4-aryl- and 4-alkyl-2-silyl-substituted 1,3-dienes. The dienes prepared were used to affect highly diastereoselective Diels-Alder reactions and then the silicon-substituted Diels-Alder cycloadducts were used in Hiyama cross-coupling reactions. The cross-coupling reactions enable these silicon dienes to be used as synthons for a variety of other dienes one might prepare and need access to. Two of the silicon-substituted Diels-Alder cycloadducts and one of the Hiyama cross-coupling products were also characterized by X-ray crystallography.     

Characterization of the switch in the mechanism of an intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction

Changing the dienophile moiety of an intramolecular Diels-Alder (IMDA) cycloaddition from an allyl ether to an allenyl ether can dramatically change the regioselectivity. We hereby show by density functional theory computations that such unprecedented divergence is produced by an underlying change in the mechanism of the reaction. The allyl ether yields a fused tetrahydrofuran through a classical Diels-Alder reaction, whereas the allenyl ether yields a (methylidene)tetrahydropyran through a stepwise process. The latter reaction involves an extreme asynchronism in the bond-forming events with a diradicaloid intermediate that is stabilized by conjugation and synergistic (captodative) effects. Comparison with intermolecular model D-A reactions, which are concerted processes with various degrees of asynchrony, helps explain the change in regioselectivity for the IMDA reaction of allyl systems and the shift in mechanism for the IMDA reaction of the allenyl derivatives studied.     

Diels-Alder reactions of masked o-benzoquinones: new experimental findings and a theoretical study of the inverse electron demand case

Diels-Alder reactions of the masked o-benzoquinone (MOB) 2 with vinylene carbonate (3), the bicyclic derivatives 4, 5, and 6, and the intramolecular version of the 2-hydroxymethylfuran-MOB Diels-Alder reaction are described. In addition, a theoretical study of the Diels-Alder reactions of MOBs with enol and thioenol ethers is presented.     

Racemic and asymmetric Diels-Alder reactions of 1-(2-oxazolidinon-3-yl)-3-siloxy-1,3-butadienes

Achiral and chiral 1-(2-oxazolidinon-3-yl)-3-siloxy-1,3-butadienes were prepared from readily available starting materials. Although more stable than the parent 1-amino-3-siloxy dienes, the 1-(2-oxazolidinon-3-yl)-3-siloxy-1,3-butadienes are still very reactive in Diels-Alder reactions, somewhat more than 1,3-dialkoxy-1, 3-butadienes (e.g., Danishefsky's diene). The cycloadditions of the achiral and chiral dienes with several different dienophiles were examined. The reactions proceeded in good yield, with modest to high endo selectivity. The chiral dienes exhibited excellent facial selectivity in cycloadditions with alpha-substituted acroleins, maleic anhydride and N-phenylmaleimide. Upon reduction and hydrolysis of the cycloadducts, substituted cyclohexenones were obtained with ee's ranging from 22% to >98%.     

Intramolecular cycloadditions of cyclobutadiene with dienes: experimental and computational studies of the competing (2 + 2) and (4 + 2) modes of reaction

Highly functionalized, cyclobutene-containing adducts are afforded through intramolecular cycloadditions between cyclobutadiene and tethered dienes. The cycloaddition displays the following reactivity trend: cyclobutadiene serves as a dienophile in intramolecular reactions when it is connected to the diene through a four-atom tether. In cases where a three-atom linker separates the two reaction partners, the cyclobutadiene can function as both a diene and dienophile, affording a mixture of vinylcyclobutane (2 + 2) and cyclohexene-containing cycloadducts (4 + 2). Theoretical studies provide insight into the factors influencing the various pericyclic pathways operative in this system. In cases where cyclobutadiene functions as a diene to generate vinylcyclobutanes, these (2 + 2) adducts can be converted into the corresponding (4 + 2) cyclohexenyl products through a [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement.     

Regioselectivities of Diels-Alder cycloadditions to methoxy-substituted quinones

Diels-Alder cycloadducts of unsymmetrical electron-rich dienes and methoxybenzoquinones or naphthoquinones produce adducts in which the more nucleophilic diene terminus becomes bonded to the non-methoxylated carbon. These results support the “secondary orbital”, but not the “schizophrenic”, model for donor substituent effects on regioselectivity.     

Intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions of ester linked 1,3,9-decatrienes: cis/trans selectivity in thermal and Lewis acid promoted reactions of ethylene-tethered and benzo-tethered systems

High cis (i.e., endo) diastereoselectivities are witnessed in heat-promoted intramolecular Diels-Alder (IMDA) reactions of ethylene-tethered hexadienyl acrylates. The cis stereoselectivity is improved by promotion with Et2AlCl. The first examples of Et2AlCl catalyzed intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions of ester-activated dienophiles are reported. In contrast, the corresponding benzo-tethered hexadienyl acrylates undergo moderately trans (i.e., exo) selective IMDA reactions. Very high trans stereoselection is obtained upon promotion with ATPH. The outcomes of these reactions are essentially insensitive to dienophile (C10) geometry and substitution. DFT (B3LYP/6-31+G(d)) computed cis/trans product distributions-based on Boltzmann transition structure populations-are in good agreement with the experimental results. These computational investigations provide useful insights into the origins of stereoselection in these systems. The stereoselectivity exhibited by the ethylene-tethered hexadienyl acrylates is ascribed to stabilizing secondary orbital interactions at play in the cis-transition structures (TSs). In the benzo-tethered series, this effect is overridden by stabilizing pi-conjugative interactions, between the benzo moiety and the 1,3-diene component, which are stronger in trans TSs, compared to the cis TSs. The computed TS geometries generally exhibit advanced peripheral bond forming asynchronicity, with the tether carbonyl group in conjugation with the dienophile. Such TS features significantly weaken the stereodirecting influence of terminal dienophile substituents.