Mechanistic Investigation of the Ring Opening in the Staudinger Cycloaddition Involving Ketenes with Electron‐Withdrawing Substituents

The cycloaddition of ketenes and imines (Staudinger cycloaddition) is a general method for the synthesis of various β‐lactams. However, reactions of imines and ketenes with electron‐withdrawing substituents produce α,β‐unsaturated alkenamides, ring‐opening products of the intermediates generated from imines and the ketenes, even as sole products, besides the desired β‐lactams. The mechanism of the formation of α,β‐unsaturated alkenamides was investigated. The results indicate that the α,β‐unsaturated alkenamides are generated via a base‐induced C?C bond isomerization followed by electrocyclic ring opening of the formed azacyclobutenes (=1,2‐dihydroazetes; cf. Scheme 3).     

An Efficient Synthesis of 1,5-Benzodiazepine Derivatives by Lanthanide Trichloride-catalyzed Condensation of o-Phenylenediamine with α,β-Unsaturated Ketone under Mild Conditions

三氯化稀土有效地催化了邻苯二胺与一系列α,β-不饱和酮的反应,在温和条件下以中等到高的收率生成1,5-苯并二氮杂卓。     

(+)‐Tartaric Acid‐Catalyzed High Regio‐ and Stereoselective Aminobromination of Olefins

(+)‐Tartaric acid‐catalyzed aminobromination of α,β‐unsaturated ketones, α,β‐unsaturated esters and simple olefins utilizing TsNH₂/NBS as the nitrogen/halogen sources at room temperature without protection of inert gases achieved good yields (up to 92% yield) of vicinal haloamino products with excellent regio‐ and stereoselectivity, even just 10% of (+)‐tartaric acid was used as catalyst. The regio‐ and stereochemistry was unambiguously confirmed by X‐ray structural analysis of products 2b and 12c . The electron‐rich and deficient olefins show significant differences in activity to the aminobromination reaction and give the opposite regioselectivities. The 21 cases have been investigated which indicated that our protocol has the advantage of a large scope of olefins. Additionally, tartaric acid as catalyst has the advantage of avoiding any hazardous metals retained in products.     

Synthesis of Halogenated α,β‐Unsaturated γ‐Butyrolactone Derivatives by Triphenylphosphine‐Catalyzed Cyclization of α‐Halogeno Ketones with Dialkyl Acetylenedicarboxylates (=Dialkyl But‐2‐ynedioates)

A Ph₃P‐catalyzed cyclization of α‐halogeno ketones 2 with dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates (=dialkyl but‐2‐ynedioates) 3 produced halogenated α,β‐unsaturated γ‐butyrolactone derivatives 4 in good yields (Scheme 1, Table). The presence of electron‐withdrawing groups such as halogen atoms at the α‐position of the ketones was necessary in this reaction. Cyclization of α‐chloro ketones resulted in higher yields than that of the corresponding α‐bromo ketones. Dihalogeno ketones similarly afforded the expected γ‐butyrolactone derivatives in high yields.     

Silica‐supported Perchloric Acid Catalyzed One‐pot Synthesis of 1,4‐Dihydropyridines

An environmentally friendly and highly efficient procedure for the preparation of 1,4‐dihydropyridines by the reaction between α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes, aromatic amines and β‐keto esters in the presence of silica supported perchloric acid is described.     

过无溶剂、无催化的aza-Michael加成反应合成b氨基酸衍生物

本文报道一种安全,环境有好,经济实用的合成b氨基酸衍生物的新方法。利用α,β不饱和化合物和脂肪族胺,通过无溶剂、无催化的aza-Michael加成反应,高产率的合成b氨基酸衍生物。     

金属参与的N-酰基腙的偕二氟烯丙基化反应：高效合成偕二氟高烯丙基胺

金属铟参与醛衍生的N-酰基腙 1a-1q,4a-4g与3-溴-3,3-二氟丙烯 2 的反应,分别高效得到α, α-二氟高烯丙基肼 3a-3q,5a-5g。该反应条件温和,操作简便。硝基,酚羟基,苄氧基,α, β-不饱和醛的碳-碳双键等官能团对该反应具有良好的官能团兼容性。通过用锌粉代替铟粉, 酮衍生的N-酰基腙 6a-6d 也能发生偕二氟烯丙基化反应,以中等产率得到α, α-二氟高烯丙基肼 7a-7d。裂解肼3a的 N-N键顺利得到偕二氟高烯丙基胺 8,化合物 8 经丙烯酰化,随后进行RCM关环反应,可以方便的转化为偕二氟-γ-取代α, β-不饱和内酰胺 11。     

Hydrocyanation of Unsaturated Imines Using Potassium Hexacyanoferrate(II) as a Cyanide Source

An efficient method for the hydrocyanation of unsaturated imines to synthesize β,γ‐unsaturated α‐aminonitriles by a one‐pot two‐step procedure using potassium hexacyanoferrate(II) as a cyanide source and benzoyl chloride as a promoter under catalyst‐free condition is described. The advantages of this protocol are the use of a nontoxic, nonvolatile and inexpensive cyanating agent, no use of transition metal catalysts, high yield and simple work‐up procedure.     

First Synthesis of a C‐Homosteroid from Pregn‐4‐ene‐3,11,20‐trione

(3α,5α)‐3‐Hydroxy‐C‐homopregnane‐11,20‐dione ( 3 ) was prepared in eleven steps from the commercially available pregn‐4‐ene‐3,11,20‐trione ( 4 ) via the 11‐oxo‐13‐formyl‐12,13‐secopregnane intermediate 11 (Scheme 2). Subjection of this secopregnane to an intramolecular aldol condensation afforded the α,β‐unsaturated key intermediate C‐homopregn‐12‐en‐11‐one 12 .     

Verticillane‐Type Diterpenoids and an Eudesmanolide‐Type Sesquiterpene from the Formosan Soft Coral Cespitularia hypotentaculata

Four new diterpenes, cespihypotins W–Z ( 1 – 4 ), having the verticillane skeleton and characterized by an α,β‐unsaturated γ‐hydroxycyclopentanone moiety, and a new eudesmanolide‐type sesquiterpene, cespilactam A ( 5 ), containing an α,β‐unsaturated γ‐lactam residue, were isolated from the AcOEt‐soluble fraction of the Taiwanese soft coral Cespitularia hypotentaculata. The structure and relative configuration of these metabolites was elucidated through extensive interpretation of MS, COSY, HSQC, HMBC, and NOESY experiments and by comparison of their NMR data with those of related compounds.     

Rhodium Fluoroapatite Catalyzed Conjugate Addition of Arylboronic Acids to α,β‐Unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds

Rhodium fluoroapatite (RhFAP) is an efficient catalyst for conjugate addition of organoboron reagents to α,β‐unsaturated carbonyl compounds. A variety of arylboronic acids and α,β‐unsaturated carbonyl compounds were converted to the corresponding conjugate‐addition products, demonstrating the versatility of the reaction. The reaction is highly selective. RhFAP was recovered quantitatively by simple filtration, and reused for four cycles.     

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometric analysis of newly synthesized α,β‐unsaturated γ‐lactones fused to sugars

Knowledge of the fragmentation mechanisms of lactones and their behaviour under electrospray ionization (ESI) conditions can be extended to larger and more complex natural products that contain an α,β‐unsaturated γ‐lactone moiety in their structure. Moreover, little is known about the gas‐phase behaviour of α,β‐unsaturated γ‐lactones linked or fused to sugars. Therefore, five α,β‐unsaturated γ‐lactones (butenolides) fused to a pyranose ring, recently synthesized compounds with potential relevance regarding their biological properties, were investigated using ESI‐MS and ESI‐MS/MS in both positive and negative ion modes. Their fragmentation mechanisms and product ion structures were compared. It was observed that two isomers could be unambiguously distinguished in the negative ion mode by the fragmentation pathways of their deprotonated molecules as well as in the positive ion mode by the fragmentation pathways of either the protonated or the sodiated molecule. Fragmentation mechanisms are proposed taking into account the MS/MS data and semi‐empirical calculations using the PM6 Hamiltonean. The semi‐empirical calculations were also very useful in determining the most probable protonation and cationization sites. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On the Reactivity of (−)‐(R)‐Carvone and (−)‐4aα,7α,7aβ‐Nepetalactone: Synthesis of New Heterocycles

The 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition of 4‐chlorobenzonitrile oxide to the unsaturated system of (?)‐(R)‐carvone occurred exclusively at C(8) to give a new isoxazoline derivative. This derivative reacts with NH₂OH to yield a new heterocycle, observed for the first time. On the other hand, the addition of 4‐chlorobenzonitrile oxide to the unsaturated lactone (?)‐4aα,7α,7aβ‐nepetalactone gave, in a good yield, also a new heterocycle, again obtained for the first time. The terpenoid (?)‐(R)‐carvone and iridoid (?)‐4aα,7α,7aβ‐nepetalactone were isolated from Moroccan species Mentha viridis (L.) and Nepeta tuberosa (L.), respectively. The new heterocycles obtained were identified by combination of chromatographic and spectroscopic methods.     

Catalytic,Conjugate Reduction‐Aldol Addition Reaction of β′‐Oxoalkyl α,β‐Unsaturated Carboxylates

Intramolecular conjugate reduction‐aldol addition reactions of β′‐oxoalkyl α,β‐unsaturated carboxylates were performed in the presence of copper catalysts generated in situ from copper salts, phosphine ligands and silanes. Moderate to good yields and high diastereoselectivities were obtained in 15 min to 3 h using bis[(2‐diphenylphosphino)phenyl] ether as the ligand.     

β‐Alanine‐DBU: A Highly Efficient Catalytic System for Knoevenagel‐Doebner Reaction under Mild Conditions

A mild and efficient Knoevenagel‐Doebner reaction from malonic acid and a wide range of aldehydes was catalyzed by a catalytic system consisting of β‐alanine and 1,8‐diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec‐7‐ene (DBU), affording the corresponding (E)‐α,β‐unsaturated carboxylic acids in good to excellent yields and with high stereoselectivity. The advantage of the method is that the reaction could proceed smoothly at ambient temperature so that it can tolerate a variety of functional groups and avoid unnecessary side reactions.     

无金属和未催化的Hantzsch酯还原 a, b-不饱和酮反应

Hantzsch酯和 a, b-不饱和酮在氩气保护下,直接在二甲苯中回流可以得到相应的饱和酮,整个过程不需要加入任何金属或有机催化剂。     

Diastereoselective addition of trimethylsilyl cyanide to chiral O‐, S‐ and N‐heterocyclic aldimines

Systematic investigation of asymmetric trimethylsilylcyanation of heterocyclic azomethines has been realized. The addition of trimethylsilyl cyanide to optically active furan, thiophene and pyridine aldimines, derived from (R)‐ and (S)‐1‐phenylethylamine, was studied in the presence of Lewis acids, and a series of the corresponding α‐amino nitriles was obtained in fair to good yields (up to 91%). Unsaturated nitriles were also formed from pyridine imines. The sense of asymmetric induction and the degree of diastereoselectivity in the synthesis of α‐amino nitriles were determined by means of ¹H NMR. The stereochemical outcome is a result of the same sense of asymmetric induction: Re face attack to the (S)‐imines and Si face addition to the (R)‐imines took place. The (R,R)‐ (up to 81%) or (S,S)‐ (up to 87%) α‐amino nitriles predominated in the products obtained from the all furan, thiophene and pyridine (R)‐ or (S)‐imines respectively. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Copper(I)‐Catalyzed Asymmetric [3+2]‐Cycloaddition of α‐Substituted Iminoesters with α‐Trifluoromethyl α,β‐Unsaturated Esters

Reported herein is an example of highly regio‐, diastereo‐ and enantioselective Cu(I)‐catalyzed intermolecular [3+2] cycloaddition reaction of α‐substituted iminoesters with α‐trifluoromethyl α,β‐unsaturated esters. This novel strategy provided a facile access to pyrrolidines with two skipped (aza)quaternary stereocenters including a CF₃ all‐carbon quaternary stereocenter. A broad substrate scope was observed and high yields (up to 94%) with excellent diastereoselectivity (up to >20 : 1 d.r.) and enantioselectivity (up to 98% ee) were obtained.     

The Baylis–Hillman Adducts as Valuable Source for One‐Pot Multi‐Step Synthesis: A Facile Synthesis of Substituted Piperidin‐2‐ones

A facile, convenient, and one‐pot multi‐step synthesis of substituted piperidin‐2‐ones from the Baylis–Hillman alcohols derived from various aldehydes and acrylonitrile, involving Johnson–Claisen rearrangement, reduction of an α,β‐unsaturated nitrile moiety into the saturated amine‐skeleton, followed by cyclization, in an operationally simple procedure, is described.     

An efficient synthesis of ring‐fused indoles via copper‐catalyzed tandem reaction of N‐(o‐alkynylphenyl)imines

A copper‐catalyzed tandem intramolecular cyclization‐addition reaction of N‐(o‐alkynylphenyl)imines is disclosed. This strategy offers a simple and promising method for accessing ring‐fused indoles. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.