Heteroatom‐Guided Torquoselective Olefination of α‐Oxy and α‐Amino Ketones via Ynolates

Ynolates were found to react with α‐alkoxy‐, α‐siloxy‐, and α‐aryloxyketones at room temperature to afford tetrasubstituted olefins with high Z selectivity. Since the geometrical selectivity was determined in the ring opening of the β‐lactone enolate intermediates, the torquoselectivity was controlled by the ethereal oxygen atoms. From experimental and theoretical studies, the high Z selectivity is induced by orbital and steric interactions rather than by chelation. In a similar manner, α‐dialkylamino ketones provided olefins with excellent Z selectivity. These products can be easily converted into multisubstituted butenolides and γ‐butyrolactams in good yield.     

Chiral Phosphoric Acid Dual‐Function Catalysis: Asymmetric Allylation with α‐Vinyl Allylboron Reagents

We report a dual function asymmetric catalysis by a chiral phosphoric acid catalyst that controls both enantioselective addition of an achiral α‐vinyl allylboronate to aldehydes and pseudo‐axial orientation of the α‐vinyl group in the transition state. The reaction produces dienyl homoallylic alcohols with high Z‐selectivities and enantioselectivities. Computational studies revealed that minimization of steric interactions between the alkyl groups of the diol on boron and the chiral phosphoric acid catalyst influence the orientation of α‐vinyl substituent of the allylboronate reagent to occupy a pseudo‐axial position in the transition state.     

Asymmetric and Geometry‐Selective α‐Alkenylation of α‐Amino Acids

Both E‐ and Z‐N′‐alkenyl urea derivatives of imidazolidinones may be formed selectively from enantiopure α‐amino acids. Generation of their enolate derivatives in the presence of K⁺ and [18]crown‐6 induces intramolecular migration of the alkenyl group from N′ to Cα with retention of double bond geometry. DFT calculations indicate a partially concerted substitution mechanism. Hydrolysis of the enantiopure products under acid conditions reveals quaternary α‐alkenyl amino acids with stereodivergent control of both absolute configuration and double bond geometry.     

Photoinduced and thermal reactions of α‐cyano‐β‐bromomethylcinnamide with 1‐benzyl‐1,4‐dihydronicotinamide

The photoinduced reaction of a mixture of (Z)‐α‐cyano‐β‐bromomethylcinnamide (1) and (E)‐α‐cyano‐β‐bromomethylcinnamide (2) with 1‐benzyl‐1, 4‐dihydronicotinamide produces a mixture of the (E)‐ and (Z)‐ isomers of α‐cyano‐β‐methylcinnamide (3 and 4). Using spin‐trapping technique for monitoring reactive intermediate, it is shown that the reaction proceeds via electron transfer‐debromination‐H abstraction mechanism. The thermal reaction of the same substrate with BNAH at 60°C in the dark gives three products: the (E)‐ and (Z)‐isomers of α‐cyano‐β‐methylcinnamide and a dehydrodimeric product; 2, 7‐dicyano‐3, 6‐diphenylocta‐2, 4, 6‐trien‐1, 8‐dioic amide (7). Based on product analysis, scavenger experiment and cyclic voltammetry, an electron transfer‐debromination‐disproportionation mechanism is proposed.     

C?H···N and C?H···O intramolecular hydrogen bonding effects in the 1H, 13C and 15 N NMR spectra of the configurational isomers of 1‐vinylpyrrole‐2‐carbaldehyde oxime substantiated by DFT calculations

According to the ¹H, ¹³C and ¹⁵N NMR spectroscopic data and DFT calculations, the E‐isomer of 1‐vinylpyrrole‐2‐carbaldehyde adopts preferable conformation with the anti‐orientation of the vinyl group relative to the carbaldehyde oxime group and with the syn‐arrangement of the carbaldehyde oxime group with reference to the pyrrole ring. This conformation is stabilized by the C? H···N intramolecular hydrogen bond between the α‐hydrogen of the vinyl group and the oxime group nitrogen, which causes a pronounced high‐frequency shift of the α‐hydrogen signal in ¹H NMR (～0.5 ppm) and an increase in the corresponding one‐bond ¹³C–¹H coupling constant (ca 4 Hz). In the Z‐isomer, the carbaldehyde oxime group turns to the anti‐position with respect to the pyrrole ring. The C? H···O intramolecular hydrogen bond between the H‐3 hydrogen of the pyrrole ring and the oxime group oxygen is realized in this case. Due to such hydrogen bonding, the H‐3 hydrogen resonance is shifted to a higher frequency by about 1 ppm and the one‐bond ¹³C–¹H coupling constant for this proton increases by ～5 Hz. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Stereodivergent Alkyne Hydrofluorination Using Protic Tetrafluoroborates as Tunable Reagents

The discovery of safe, general, and practical procedures to prepare vinyl fluorides from readily available precursors remains a synthetic challenge. The metal‐free hydrofluorination of alkynes constitutes an attractive though elusive strategy for their preparation. Introduced here is an inexpensive and easily handled reagent that enables the development of simple and scalable protocols for the regioselective hydrofluorination of alkynes to access both the E and Z isomers of vinyl fluorides. These reaction conditions were suitable for a diverse collection of alkynes, including several highly functionalized pharmaceutical derivatives. Computational and experimental mechanistic studies support C?F bond formation through vinyl cation intermediates, with the E‐ and Z‐hydrofluorination products forming under kinetic and thermodynamic control, respectively.     

Catalytic Asymmetric Mannich‐Type Reaction Enabled by Efficient Dienolization of α,β‐Unsaturated Pyrazoleamides†

(E)‐α,β‐Unsaturated pyrazoleamides undergo facile dienolization to furnish copper(I)‐(1Z,3Z)‐dienolates as the major in the presence of a copper(I)‐(R)‐DTBM‐SEGPHOS catalyst and Et₃N, which react with aldimines to afford syn‐vinylogous products as the major diastereoisomers in high regio‐ and enantioselectivities. In some cases, the diastereoselectivity is low, possibly due to the low ratio of copper(I)‐(1Z,3Z)‐dienolates to copper(I)‐(1Z,3E)‐dienolates. (Z)‐Allylcopper(I) species is proposed as effective intermediates, which may form an equilibrium with copper(I)‐(1Z,3Z)‐dienolates. Interestingly, the present methodology is a nice complement to our previous report, in which (E)‐β,γ‐unsaturated pyrazoleamides were employed as the prenucleophiles in the copper(I)‐catalyzed asymmetric vinylogous Mannich‐Type reaction and anti‐vinylogous products were obtained. In the previous reaction, copper(I)‐ (1Z,3E)‐dienolates were generated through α‐deprotonation, which might form an equilibrium with (E)‐allylcopper(I) species. Therefore, it is realized in the presence of a copper(I) catalyst that (E)‐α,β‐unsaturated pyrazoleamides lead to syn‐products and (E)‐β,γ‐unsaturated pyrazoleamides lead to anti‐products. Finally, by use of (E)‐β,γ‐unsaturated pyrazoleamide, (E)‐α,β‐unsaturated pyrazoleamide, (R)‐DTBM‐SEGPHOS, and (S)‐DTBM‐SEGPHOS, the stereodivergent synthesis of all four stereoisomers is successfully carried out. Then by following a three‐step reaction sequence, all four stereoisomers of N‐Boc‐2‐Ph‐3‐Me‐piperidine are synthesized in good yields, which potentially serve as common structure units in pharmaceutically active compounds.     

Hydroalumination of selenoacetylenes: a versatile generation and reactions of α-aluminate vinyl selenide intermediates in the highly regio and stereoselective synthesis of telluro(seleno)ketene acetals

The hydroalumination of butylseleno acetylenes with DIBAL-H followed by addition of n-butyllithium generated in situ the (Z)-butylseleno vinyl alanates intermediates which were captured with C₄H₉TeBr furnishing the (E)-telluro(seleno)ketene acetals exclusively. The isomers with opposite stereochemistry (Z)-telluro(seleno)ketene acetals were obtained by the reduction of phenylseleno acetylenes with lithium di-(isobutyl)-n-butyl aluminate hydride (Zweifel’s reagent) followed by reaction of (E)-phenylseleno vinyl alanates intermediates with C₄H₉TeBr.     

(E)‐2‐[2‐(1‐Naphthyl)­vinyl]‐3‐tosyl‐2,3‐di­hydro‐1,3‐benzo­thia­zole

The title compound, C₂₆H₂₁NO₂S₂, which consists of a benzo­thia­zole skeleton with α‐naphthyl­vinyl and tosyl groups at positions 2 and 3, respectively, was prepared by palladium–copper‐catalyzed heteroannulation. The E configuration of the mol­ecule about the vinyl C=C bond is established by the benzothiazole–naphthyl C—C—C—C torsion angle of 177.5 (4)°. The five‐membered heterocyclic ring adopts an envelope conformation with the Csp³ atom 0.380 (6) Å from the C₂NS plane. The two S—C [1.751 (4) and 1.838 (4) Å] and two N—C [1.426 (5) and 1.482 (5) Å] bond lengths in the thia­zole ring differ significantly.     

A New Monomer for π‐Conjugated Polymers — Synthesis and Characterization of Bis((Z)‐5‐phenyl‐2‐phenylmethylidene‐1, 3‐dithiole‐4‐yl)monosulfane

Bis((Z)‐5‐phenyl‐2‐phenylmethylidene‐1, 3‐dithiole‐4‐yl)monosulfane ( 6 ), a molecule consisting of two diphenyldithiafulvene units connected by a sulfur bridge, was synthesized by the selective lithiation of (Z)‐4‐phenyl‐2‐phenylmethylidene‐1, 3‐dithiole ( 7a ) at the endocyclic double bond and by subsequent reaction of the lithiated intermediate with bis(phenylsulfonyl)sulfane. Since this reaction sequence proceeded with retention of configuration, of three possible isomers (E, E, Z, E, and Z, Z) only the Z, Z form was obtained. On the basis of the X‐ray structure analysis and the NMR‐spectroscopic characterization of 6 supplemented by the NMR parameters of (E)‐ and (Z)‐4‐phenyl‐2‐phenylmethylidene‐1, 3‐dithiole, it was demonstrated that two characteristic ⁵J coupling constants of the proton at the exocyclic double bond indicate the configuration (Z or E) of disubstituted dithiafuvene derivatives.     

1,2‐Bis(trifluoromethyl)ethene‐1,2‐dicarbonitrile and Vinyl Ethers: Cyclic Ketene Imines on the Pathway to 1 : 2 Cycloadducts

(E)‐ and (Z)‐1,2‐bis(trifluoromethyl)ethene‐1,2‐dicarbonitrile (BTE; (=E)‐ and (Z)‐1,2‐bis(trifluoromethyl)but‐2‐enedinitrile) were reacted with an excess of methyl vinyl ether, used as solvent, and furnished 1 : 2 adducts 6 (54%) and cyclobutanes 3 as 1 : 1 adducts (41%). The four diastereoisomeric bis‐adducts 6 (different ratios from (E)‐ and (Z)‐BTE) are derivatives of 1‐azabicyclo[4.2.0]oct‐5‐ene; X‐ray analyses and ¹⁹F‐NMR spectra revealed their structures. Since the cyclobutanes 3 are resistant to vinyl ether, the pathways leading to mono‐ and bis‐adducts must compete on the level of the intermediate l,4‐zwitterions 1 and 2 . The latter either cyclize to the cyclobutanes 3 or to six‐membered cyclic ketene imines 8 which accept a second molecule of vinyl ether to yield the bis‐adducts 6 . The occurrence of the highly strained ketene imines 8 gains credibility by comparison to stable seven‐membered cyclic ketene imines recently reported.     

Stereodivergent Alkyne Hydrofluorination Using Protic Tetrafluoroborates as Tunable Reagents

The discovery of safe, general, and practical procedures to prepare vinyl fluorides from readily available precursors remains a synthetic challenge. The metal-free hydrofluorination of alkynes constitutes an attractive though elusive strategy for their preparation. Introduced here is an inexpensive and easily handled reagent that enables the development of simple and scalable protocols for the regioselective hydrofluorination of alkynes to access both the E and Z isomers of vinyl fluorides. These reaction conditions were suitable for a diverse collection of alkynes, including several highly functionalized pharmaceutical derivatives. Computational and experimental mechanistic studies support C−F bond formation through vinyl cation intermediates, with the E- and Z-hydrofluorination products forming under kinetic and thermodynamic control, respectively.     

1,2‐Bis(trifluoromethyl)ethene‐1,2‐dicarbonitrile: Enol Ethers and Ketene Acetals as Cycloaddition Partners

(E)‐ and (Z)‐1,2‐bis(trifluoromethyl)ethene‐1,2‐dicarbonitrile ((E)‐ and (Z)‐BTE, resp., =(E)‐ and (Z)‐2,3‐bis(trifluoromethyl)but‐2‐enedinitrile) were used as a stereochemical probe in studying (2+2) cycloadditions of acceptor with donor alkenes. The additions to methyl (E)‐ and (Z)‐propenyl ether gave rise to the eight conceivable cyclobutanes 8 , although in different ratios in reactions of (E)‐ and (Z)‐BTE. The ¹⁹F‐NMR data served the structural assignment and the quantitative analysis. The mechanistic discussion is based on rotations and ring closures of the assumed 1,4‐zwitterionic intermediates. Dimethylketene dimethyl acetal, methylketene dimethyl acetal, and ketene diethyl acetal show an increasing rate in their reactions with BTE as well as in the equilibration of the cycloadducts.     

A highly efficient synthesis of (Z)‐1‐aryl‐2‐silyl‐1‐ stannylethenes and their conversion to (E)‐2‐ arylethenyl‐, (Z)‐2‐(2‐pyridyl)ethenyl‐ and allenyl‐silanes

A Pd(dba)₂–P(OEt)₃ combination allowed the silastannation of arylacetylenes, 1‐hexyne or propargyl alcohols with tributyl(trimethylsilyl)stannane to take place at room temperature, producing (Z)‐2‐silyl‐1‐stannyl‐1‐substituted ethenes in high yields. Novel silyl(stannyl)ethenes were fully characterized by ¹H‐, ¹³C‐, ²⁹Si‐ and ¹¹⁹Sn‐NMR as well as infrared and mass analyses. Treatment of a series of (Z)‐1‐aryl‐2‐silyl‐1‐stannylethenes and (Z)‐1‐(3‐pyridyl)‐2‐silyl‐1‐stannylethene with hydrochloric acid or hydroiodic acid in the presence of tetraethylammonium chloride (TEACl) or tetrabutylammonium iodide (TBAI) led to the exclusive formation of (E)‐trimethyl(2‐arylethenyl)silanes with high stereoselectivity. A similar reaction of (Z)‐1‐(2‐anisyl)‐2‐silyl‐1‐stannylethene also produced E‐type trimethyl[2‐(2‐anisyl)ethenyl]silane, while (Z)‐trimethyl [2‐(2‐pyridyl)ethenyl]silane was produced exclusively from (Z)‐1‐(2‐pyridyl)‐2‐silyl‐1‐stannylethene. Protodestannylation of (Z)‐1‐[hydroxy(phenyl)methyl]‐2‐silyl‐1‐stannylethene with trifluoroacetic acid took place via the β‐elimination of hydroxystannane, providing trimethyl(3‐phenylpropa‐1,2‐dienyl)silane quite easily. The destannylation products were also fully characterized. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

1,2‐Bis(trifluoromethyl)ethene‐1,2‐dicarbonitrile: (2+2) Cycloadditions with Vinyl Ethers

The title compound (short version: BTE) occurs in (E)‐ and (Z)‐isomers (both with b.p. of ca. 100°) which equilibrate with nucleophilic catalysts. Both undergo (2+2) cycloadditions with methyl vinyl ether at 25°. Three stereogenic centers in the cyclobutanes led to four rac‐diastereoisomers, which were obtained in pure and crystalline state. The structures were elucidated by ¹⁹F‐NMR spectroscopy and confirmed by two X‐ray analyses. The cycloadditions were not stereospecific: e.g., (E)‐BTE furnished 73% trans‐adducts (with respect to the CF₃ groups) and 27% cis‐adducts. The loss of stereochemical integrity occurs in the intermediate gauche‐zwitterions which can cyclize or rotate, but not dissociate. Under extreme conditions (2M LiClO₄ in Et₂O, 70°, 3 months), the thermodynamic equilibrium of the four cyclobutanes was achieved. Considerations of Coulombic attraction and conformational strain in the zwitterionic intermediates allow us to rationalize the observed proportions of diastereoisomeric cyclobutanes. Ethyl vinyl ether and butyl vinyl ether furnished cyclobutanes in similar diastereoisomer ratios.     

Solvent‐Dependent Asymmetric Synthesis of Alkynyl and Monofluoroalkenyl Isoindolinones by CpRhIII‐Catalyzed C−H Activation

The asymmetric synthesis of alkynyl and monofluoroalkenyl isoindolinones from N‐methoxy benzamides and α,α‐difluoromethylene alkynes is enabled by C?H activation with a chiral CpRh^III catalyst. Remarkably, product formation is solvent‐dependent; alkynyl isoindolinones are afforded in MeOH (up to 86 % yield, 99.6 % ee) whereas monofluoroalkenyl isoindolinones are generated in ⁱPrCN (up to 98:2 Z/E, 93 % yield, 86 % ee). Mechanistic studies revealed chiral allene and E‐configured alkenyl rhodium species as reaction intermediates. The latter is transformed into the corresponding Z‐configured monofluoroalkene upon protonation in the ⁱPrCN system and into an alkyne by an unusual anti β‐F elimination in the MeOH system. Notably, kinetic resolution processes occur in this reaction. Despite the moderate enantiocontrol for the formation of the chiral allene, the Z‐monofluoroalkenyl isoindolinones and alkynyl isoindolinones were obtained in good enantiopurities by one or two sequential kinetic resolution processes.     

Dual Catalysis with Copper and Rhenium for Trifluoromethylation of Propargylic Alcohols: Efficient Synthesis of α‐Trifluoromethylated Enones

Trifluoromethylation of propargylic alcohols to provide (Z)‐α‐trifluoromethylated enones and β‐unsubstituted α‐trifluoromethylated enones proceeded with high yield and selectivity in the presence of CuI/Re₂O₇. The Z isomer was formed under kinetic control, though it is less stable than the E isomer in terms of steric repulsion.     

Z and E rotamers of N‐formyl‐1‐bromo‐4‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxymorphinan‐6‐one and their interconversion as studied by 1H/13C NMR spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations

N‐Formyl‐1‐bromo‐4‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxymorphinan‐6‐one (compound 2 ), an important intermediate in the NIH Opiate Total Synthesis, presumably exists as a mixture of two rotamers (Z and E) in both CHCl₃ and DMSO at room temperature due to the hindered rotation of its N‐C18 bond in the amide moiety. By comparing the experimental ¹H and ¹³C chemical shifts of a single rotamer and the mixture of compound 2 in CDCl₃ with the calculated chemical shifts of the geometry optimized Z and E rotamers utilizing density functional theory, the crystalline rotamer of compound 2 was characterized as having the E configuration. The energy barrier between the two rotamers was also determined with the temperature dependence of ¹H and ¹³C NMR coalescence experiments, and then compared with that from the reaction path for the interconversion of the two rotamers calculated at the level of B3LYP/6‐31G*. Detailed geometry of the ground state and the transition states of both rotamers are given and discussed. Copyright © 2012 This article is a US Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.     

Transition‐Metal‐Free Cross‐Coupling of Benzothiophenes and Styrenes in a Stereoselective Synthesis of Substituted (E,Z)‐1,3‐Dienes

A transition metal‐free one‐pot stereoselective approach to substituted (E,Z)‐1,3‐dienes was developed by using an interrupted Pummerer reaction/ligand‐coupling strategy. Readily available benzothiophene S‐oxides, which can be conveniently prepared by oxidation of the parent benzothiophenes, undergo Pummerer coupling with styrenes. Reaction of the resultant sulfonium salts with alkyllithium/magnesium reagents generates underexploited hypervalent sulfurane intermediates that undergo selective ligand coupling, resulting in dismantling of the benzothiophene motif and the formation of decorated (E,Z)‐1,3‐dienes.     

Synthesis and NMR-Spectroscopic Structure Determination of Novel 7,7′-Diphenyl-7,7′-diapocarotenoids

Wittig reaction of crocetindial ( 1 ) and benzylidenetripenylphosphorane ( 2 ) gave (7E, 7′Z)-7,7′-diphenyl-7-7′-diapocarotene ( 3 ), instead of the previously reported (7E, 7′E)-isomer. Similar reaction of 8,9-didehydrocrocetindial ( 4 ) with 2 yielded the three acetylenic isomers 5a–c which differ in the configuration of the terminal double bonds. Structures were established by 1D- and 2D-NMR studies. Illustrative spectra and their interpretation are presented. Most chemical shifts of corresponding protons in 3 and 5 and nearly identical, but ¹³C shifts differ considerably.