Allenyl azide cycloaddition chemistry. Synthesis of annelated indoles from 2-(allenyl)phenyl azide substrates

[reaction: see text] Thermolysis of 2-(allenyl)phenyl azides leads to a cascade cyclization sequence furnishing both C(2)-C(3) and N-C(2) cyclopentannelated indoles.     

Interrupting the Nazarov cyclization with indoles

A carbon-terminated interrupted Nazarov reaction is described. The trimethylsilyl enol ethers derived from propargyl vinyl ketones undergo selective proton transfer at the distal acetylenic carbon atom to provide allenyl vinyl ketones as transient intermediates. In the presence of indoles, a cascade of reactions is initiated that converts the initially formed pentadienyl cations to cyclopentenones bearing a quaternary alpha carbon atom.     

Catalytic one-pot synthesis of cyclic amidines by virtue of tandem reactions involving intramolecular hydroamination under mild conditions

A new synthetic methodology for the generation of cyclic amidines has been developed by the reaction of 1,n-aminoalkynes with electron-deficient azides using a ruthenium catalyst at ambient temperature. The reaction proceeds most likely via a tandem sequence of intramolecular hydroamination of aminoalkynes, cycloaddition of azides with the resulting enamines, and rearrangement of triazoline intermediates. It demonstrates, as the proof-of-principle, that an equilibria cascade sequence can be favorably driven by an irreversible step, thus enabling a facile one-pot synthetic route to deliver molecular complexity under unprecedented mild conditions without relying on the traditional linear approaches.     

Direct α‐Vinylidenation of Aldehydes and Subsequent Cascade: Gold and Amine Catalysts Work Synergistically

Carbonyl‐substituted allenes are highly important synthetic intermediates for a number of heterocycles and strained‐ring systems. However, chemistry of allenyl aldehydes has not been explored as extensively as their ketone, ester, or amide analogues because of a lack of general synthetic methods. Described herein is the first direct α‐vinylidenation of aldehydes and an α‐vinylidenation/γ‐functionalization cascade to access tri‐ and tetrasubstituted allenyl aldehydes using a combination of a gold catalyst and an secondary amine. The reactive enamine intermediate of an aldehyde reacts with the gold‐activated hypervalent silylethynyl benziodoxolone to selectively generate the corresponding trisubstituted allenyl aldehyde. The allenyl aldehyde can further react with another equivalent of the alkynylation reagent or other electrophiles to afford tetrasubstituted allenes bearing an aldehyde group, an acetylene, and a halogen functionality. This method enables rapid access to polysubstituted furans from aldehydes.     

Dual Gold‐Catalyzed Cycloaromatization of Unconjugated (E)‐Enediynes

A synthesis of unconjugated (E)‐enediynes from allenyl amino alcohols is reported and their gold‐catalyzed cascade cycloaromatization to a broad range of enantioenriched substituted isoindolinones has been developed. Experimental and computational studies support the reaction proceeding via a dual‐gold σ,π‐activation mode, involving a key gold‐vinylidene‐ and allenyl‐gold‐containing intermediate.     

Direct synthesis of 1,5-disubstituted-4-magnesio-1,2,3-triazoles, revisited

After revisiting earlier works reporting the regioselective synthesis of 1,5-disubstituted-1,2,3-triazoles via the addition of bromomagnesium acetylides to azides, much improved yields of the products were obtained for a wide array of azides and alkynes. The intermediates of that reaction can be trapped with different electrophiles to regioselectively form 1,4,5-trisubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles. [reaction: see text]     

Direct catalytic azidation of allylic alcohols

A direct catalytic azidation of primary, secondary, and tertiary allylic alcohols has been developed. This new azidation reaction affords the corresponding allylic azides in high to excellent yields and regioselectivities. The reaction provides straightforward access to allylic azides that are valuable intermediates in organic synthesis, including the preparation of primary amines or 1,2,3-triazole derivatives.     

Synthesis of polysubstituted N-H pyrroles from vinyl azides and 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds

Two synthetic methods for tetra- and trisubstituted N-H pyrroles are presented: (i) the thermal pyrrole formation by the reaction of vinyl azides with 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds via the 1,2-addition of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds to 2H-azirine intermediates generated in situ from vinyl azides; (ii) the Cu(II)-catalyzed synthesis of pyrroles from alpha-ethoxycarbonyl vinyl azides and ethyl acetoacetate through the 1,4-addition reaction of the acetoacetate to the vinyl azides. By applying these two methods, regioisomeric pyrroles can be prepared selectively starting from the same vinyl azides.     

Gold and platinum catalyzed cascade reaction of propargyl acetates bearing terminal alkynes or methyl ketones

A gold (III)-catalyzed cascade reaction of propargyl acetates bearing an extra terminal alkyne (1) afforded γ-keto esters 3 and lactones 4. These products should be generated through allenyl ketone intermediate B via a 1,2-acyloxy cyclization/fragmentation/cycloisomerization/hydrolysis sequence. On the other hand, the cascade reaction of α-acetoxy ketones bearing terminal alkynes 5 afforded lactone 6 via allenyl ketone intermediate A. This reaction involves a [3,3]-sigmatropic acyloxy rearrangement/cycloisomerization/hydrolysis sequence.     

From azides to nitro compounds in a few seconds using HOF.CH3CN

HOF.CH3CN, a very efficient oxygen-transfer agent, was reacted with various azides to form the corresponding nitro compounds in excellent yields and in very short reaction times. The respective nitroso derivatives were found to be intermediates in this reaction. When the azides were reacted with MCPBA or DMDO, no reaction took place, and the starting materials were fully recovered.     

Allenyl azide cycloaddition chemistry: application to the total synthesis of (±)-meloscine

The pentacyclic alkaloid (±)-meloscine was prepared in 19 steps through a reaction sequence that features a putative azatrimethylenemethane intermediate, generated through cascade cyclization of an allenyl azide substrate, to deliver the core azabicyclo[3.3.0]octadiene substructure. Subsequent manipulation of the peripheral functionality then delivered (±)-meloscine.     

Allenyl azide cycloaddition chemistry. photochemical initiation and CuI mediation leads to improved regioselectivity

Irradiation of 2-(3-alkenyl)allenylphenyl azides in the presence of excess CuI furnished functionalized 2,3-cyclopentenylindoles in good yield with only trace amounts of competitive C-N-bonded regioisomeric products. These results represent a significant departure from the modest-to-nonexistent regioselectivity that attended thermal cyclization of these allenyl azide substrates.     

Highly stereoselective palladium-catalyzed dithiocarbonylation of propargylic mesylates with thiols and carbon monoxide

Highly stereoselective dithiocarbonylation of propargylic mesylates with thiols and carbon monoxide has been developed by the use of tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) as the catalyst at 90 degrees C in THF. The reaction affords the corresponding dithioesters in good to excellent yields. For some secondary and tertiary propargylic alcohols with a terminal or internal triple bond, the reaction stereoselectively produces E-dithioesters as products. The dithiocarbonylation is believed to proceed via allenylpalladium and allenyl ester intermediates, and the high stereoselectivity might be rationalized by a mechanism where nucleophilic attack of a Pd(0)L(n) species on the allenyl sp carbon occurs from the less hindered side of an alkyl substituent.     

New cascade reaction of azides with malononitrile dimer to polyfunctional [1,2,3]triazolo[4,5-b]pyridine

A new cascade reaction of azides with malononitrile dimer yielding polyfunctional [1,2,3]triazolo[4,5-b]pyridine was found. It was established that during the reaction of aryl azides with malononitrile dimer, under base catalysis, the formed intermediate triazole underwent spontaneous cyclization leading to the pyridine ring annulation. The obtained products have provided a new entry to [1,2,3]triazolo[4,5-b]pyridine.     

Mechanistic studies on the Cu-catalyzed three-component reactions of sulfonyl azides, 1-alkynes and amines, alcohols, or water: dichotomy via a common pathway

Combined analyses of experimental and computational studies on the Cu-catalyzed three-component reactions of sulfonyl azides, terminal alkynes and amines, alcohols, or water are described. A range of experimental data including product distribution ratio and trapping of key intermediates support the validity of a common pathway in the reaction of 1-alkynes and two distinct types of azides substituted with sulfonyl and aryl(alkyl) groups. The proposal that bimolecular cycloaddition reactions take place initially between triple bonds and sulfonyl azides to give N-sulfonyl triazolyl copper intermediates was verified by a trapping experiment. The main reason for the different outcome from reactions between sulfonyl and aryl(alkyl) azides is attributed to the lability of the N-sulfonyl triazolyl copper intermediates. These species are readily rearranged to another key intermediate, ketenimine, into which various nucleophiles such as amines, alcohols, or water add to afford the three-component coupled products: amidines, imidates, or amides, respectively. In addition, the proposed mechanistic framework is in good agreement with the obtained kinetics and competition studies. A computational study (B3LYP/LACV3P*+) was also performed confirming the proposed mechanistic pathway that the triazolyl copper intermediate plays as a branching point to dictate the product distribution.     

Intramolecular carbostannation reaction of active methine compounds with an unactivated C-C pi-bond mediated by SnCl(4)-Et(3)N

In the presence of SnCl(4) and Et(3)N, intramolecular carbostannation reaction of various active methine compounds having an unactivated alkenyl, alkynyl, or allenyl group proceeds in good yields with complete regioselectivity. The subsequent reaction of the resulting Sn intermediates with some electrophiles provides functionalized cyclopentane and cyclohexane derivatives.     

Mechanism of thio acid/azide amidation

A combined experimental and computational mechanistic study of amide formation from thio acids and azides is described. The data support two distinct mechanistic pathways dependent on the electronic character of the azide component. Relatively electron-rich azides undergo bimolecular coupling with thiocarboxylates via an anion-accelerated [3+2] cycloaddition to give a thiatriazoline. Highly electron-poor azides couple via bimolecular union of the terminal nitrogen of the azide with sulfur of the thiocarboxylate to give a linear adduct. Cyclization of this intermediate gives a thiatriazoline. Decomposition to amide is found to proceed via retro-[3+2] cycloaddition of the neutral thiatriazoline intermediates. Computational analysis (DFT, 6-31+G(d)) identified pathways by which both classes of azide undergo [3+2] cycloaddition with thio acid to give thiatriazoline intermediates, although these paths are higher in energy than the thiocarboxylate amidations. These studies also establish that the reaction profile of electron-poor azides is attributable to a prior capture mechanism followed by intramolecular acylation.     

Phosphine-mediated cascade reaction of azides with MBH-acetates of acetylenic aldehydes to substituted pyrroles: a facile access to N-fused pyrrolo-heterocycles

One-pot synthesis of substituted pyrroles by a cascade reaction of azides with Morita-Baylis-Hillman acetates of acetylenic aldehydes is described and the reaction is efficiently mediated by triphenyl phosphine at room temperature. Sodium azide is successfully used to provide N-unsubstituted pyrroles, while alkyl azides afforded the corresponding N-alkylated pyrroles through a sequence of allylic substitution/azide reduction/cycloisomerization reactions. The obtained products have provided a new entry to indolizino indoles, pyrrolo isoquinolines and 8-oxo-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroindolizine.     

Direct electrochemical imidation of aliphatic amines via anodic oxidation

Direct electrochemical synthesis of sulfonyl amidines from aliphatic amines and sulfonyl azides was realized with good to excellent yields. Traditional tertiary amine substrates were broadened to secondary and primary amines. The reaction intermediates were observed and a reaction mechanism was proposed and discussed.     

An interesting issue of Diels-Alder selectivity discovered en route to 11-O-debenzoyltashironin

The hypervalent iodine-mediated oxidative dearomatization/Diels-Alder cascade was examined in the context of the natural product 11-O-debenzoyltashironin. Interestingly, the regioselectivity of the Diels-Alder reaction can be completely switched by changing the dienophile. Trapping of allyl alcohols during the oxidative dearomatization gives rise to the five-membered acetal, while trapping of allenyl alcohols results in the six-membered acetal. [reaction: see text]