Ruthenium-Lewis acid catalyzed asymmetric Diels-Alder reactions between dienes and alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones

The complex [Ru(Cp)(R,R-BIPHOP-F)(acetone)][SbF(6)], (R,R)-1 a, was used as catalyst for asymmetric Diels-Alder reactions between dienes (cyclopentadiene, methylcyclopentadiene, isoprene, 2,3-dimethylbutadiene) and alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones (methyl vinyl ketone (MVK), ethyl vinyl ketone, divinyl ketone, alpha-bromovinyl methyl ketone and alpha-chlorovinyl methyl ketone). The cycloaddition products were obtained in yields of 50-90 % and with enantioselectivities up to 96 % ee. Ethyl vinyl ketone, divinyl ketone and the halogenated vinyl ketones worked best and their reactions with acyclic dienes consistently provided products with >90 % ee. alpha-Chlorovinyl methyl ketone performed better than alpha-bromovinyl methyl ketone. The reaction also provided a [4.3.1]bicyclic ring system in 95 % ee through an intramolecular cycloaddition reaction. Crystal structure determinations of [Ru(Cp)((S,S)-BIPHOP-F)(mvk)][SbF(6)], (S,S)-1 b, and [Ru(Cp)((R,R)-Me(4)BIPHOP-F)(acrolein)][SbF(6)], (R,R)-2 b, provided the basis for a rationalization of the asymmetric induction.     

Reactivity of N-Phenyl-1-Aza-2-Cyano-1,3-Butadienes in the Diels-Alder Reaction

It is found that N-phenyl-2-cyano-1-azadiene 4, prepared via a two-step, one-pot, sequence from acrylanilide, undergoes efficient [4 + 2] cycloaddition with a complete range of electron rich, electron poor, and neutral dienophiles under remarkably mild thermal conditions (90-120 degrees C for 20-48 h). Regiospecific formation of the alpha-cycloadduct wherein the dienophile substituent is alpha to nitrogen is observed for vinyl ethers and styrene, whereas the Diels-Alder reactions with methyl acrylate and methyl vinyl ketone (MVK) produce alpha/beta mixtures in which the alpha-cycloadduct is the major regioisomer (approximately 4-5:1). An essentially identical reaction pattern was observed in the Diels-Alder reaction of N-(p-methoxyphenyl)-2-cyano-1-azadiene 18 and the 4-methyl-substituted azadiene 27. For compound 19 derived from cycloaddition of 18 with ethyl vinyl ether, facile conversion to the dihydropyridine 21 through loss of EtOH on brief acid treatment was also noted. The 2,4-cis-disubstitution pattern confirmed by X-ray diffraction for the major cycloadduct 29 isolated from the reaction of 27 with styrene provides evidence for the endo mode of cycloaddition in the Diels-Alder reaction of N-phenyl(aryl)-2-cyano-1-azadienes. Calculation of the frontier orbital energies and coefficients, as well as the transition state geometries for the [4 + 2] cycloaddition of N-phenyl-2-cyano-1-azadiene 4 with methyl vinyl ether, styrene, and MVK were carried out at the RHF AM1 level (MOPAC, Version 5.0). The FMO treatment indicates that the reaction of 4 with methyl vinyl ether occurs under LUMO(diene) control, whereas in contrast, the corresponding cycloaddition with MVK occurs preferably under HOMO(diene) control. A high degree of asynchronicity is observed in the calculated transition states for reaction of 4 with the three representative dienophiles. In all cases the transition states leading to the alpha-cycloadducts are lower in energy than those giving the beta-products. However, at the AM1 level the exo cycloaddition mode is found to be the preferred, this result contrasting with experimental results for azadiene 27.     

Highly stereoselective hydroxy-directed Diels-Alder reaction

The successful stereocontrol of the Diels-Alder reaction of semicyclic dienes possessing a secondary and tertiary allylic magnesium alkoxide alcohol functionality and activated dienophiles such as methyl acrylate, methacrolein, acrolein, and N-phenylmaleimide is described.     

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.     

Spirodialkylation of 3-(Phenylthio)-3-Sulfolene and Subsequent Synthetic Transformations

3-(Phenylthio)-3-sulfolene (1) underwent spirodialkylation to give products 2 which were desulfonylated to afford the dienes 3. The Diels-Alder reaction of 3 was achieved for some reactive dienophiles to yield spiro compounds. Compounds 2 were also converted to sulfonyldienes 9 which reacted as Michael acceptors.     

Stereoselective Synthesis and Diels-Alder Reactions of (Z)- and (E)-1,2-bis(Phenylthio)-1,3-Butadiene

Bromination of 3-phenylthio-2-sulfolene (2) with N-bromosuccinimide gave 2-bromo-3-phenylthio-2-sulfolene (3) which was converted mainly to 2,3-bis(phenylthio)-2-sulfolene (4) by treatment with sodium phenylthiolate. Thermal desulfonylation of 4 at different temperatures in the presence of a base (DBU) yielded stereoselectively the (Z)- and (E)-1,2-bis(phenylthio)-1,3-butadiene (6). These two geometric isomers could be thermally interconverted. The Diels-Alder reactions of 6 were also investigated. Only the (Z)-diene 6a could undergo the Diels-Alder reaction; the (E)-diene 6b was in situ converted to the Z isomer before undergoing (he Diels-Alder reaction. The reaction of 6a with N-phenylmaleimide gave the cycloaddition product 7 with complete endo selectivity, but under daylight or during chromatography it readily underwent a thioallylic rearrangement to yield 8 with inversion of configuration. The cycloaddition of 6a with methyl acrylate proceeded regiospecifically, but generating a mixture of endo and exo isomers. The endo/exo ratio could be increased by using ZnCl₂ as the catalyst.     

Synthesis of polycyclic structures by the Diels-Alder reaction of inner-outer-ring 1,3-bis(trimethylsilyloxy)dienes

A Diels-Alder reaction of novel inner-outer-ring 1,3-silyloxydienes 5-8 with a variety of dienophiles to afford highly functionalized polycyclic structures is reported. The inner-outer-ring 1,3-silyloxydienes 5-8 containing five- to seven-membered carbocyclic and heterocyclic rings were prepared in a single reaction vessel from 2-acetylcyclocarbonyls in quantitative yields. The Diels-Alder reaction with 1,4-benzoquinone (BQ), dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (DMAD), and methyl vinyl ketone (MVK) proceeded smoothly at room temperature, affording functionalized polycyclic naphthols, phenols, and enones with high regioselectivity and good yields (39-75%). Moreover, dienes 5-8 also reacted in a hetero-Diels-Alder reaction with benzaldehyde (BA) and N-benzylideneaniline (NBA) in the presence of catalytic amounts of ZnCl2, affording substituted polycyclic pyranones and pyridinones in good yields (40-93%). Overall, our synthetic strategy provides straightforward access to an interesting set of polycyclic structures useful for natural and nonnatural product synthesis.     

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%.     

[4+2] Cycloaddition reactions of 4-sulfur-substituted 2-pyridones with electron-deficient dienophiles

[4+2] Cycloaddition reactions of 4-(phenylthio)-1-tosyl-2-pyridone (6a) and 4-(phenylsulfonyl)-1-tosyl-2-pyridone (6b) with electron-deficient dienophiles 7 (N-methylmaleimide, N-phenylmaleimide, and methyl acrylate) gave new isoquinuclidine products 8-10. The N-tosyl group of 6a and 6b was also efficiently converted to N-alkyl derivatives 6c-f, which showed different stereoselectivity toward reactions with dienophiles 7. Several other dienophiles 15 (dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate, methyl vinyl ketone, ethyl vinyl ether, and methyl methacrylate) were found not to react with 6a or 6b, but led to the formation of tosyl migration products 4-(phenylthio)-O-tosyl-pyridinol (16a) and 4-(phenylsulfonyl)-O-tosyl-2-pyridinol (16b), respectively. The reactivity, regioselectivity, and stereoselectivity of the cycloaddition reactions were also compared with semi-empirical calculations.     

A direct route to fluostatin C by a fascinating Diels-Alder reaction

The Diels-Alder reactions between vinylindenes (5 or 6) as the dienes with quinoneketals (7 or 8) or with methacrolein as the dienophiles were investigated. The remarkable regioselectivities of these Diels-Alder adducts suggested that the regiopreferences of these dienes and dienophiles in these cases are not a fixed property of each component of the cycloaddition but are mutually contigent. This paper shows how the Diels-Alder reaction between 6 and 8 was applied to the inaugural total syntheses of fluostatin C and E.     

A new highly efficient three-component domino Heck-Diels-Alder reaction with bicyclopropylidene: rapid access to spiro[2.5]oct-4-ene derivatives

Bicyclopropylidene (1) was found to surpass even methyl acrylate (17 a) in its rate of undergoing carbopalladation with aryl- or alkenylpalladium species, leading to substituted allylidenecyclopropanes 5, 7 and 10, mostly in high yields (37-78 %). These dienes and cross-conjugated trienes react in a Diels-Alder mode with dienophiles to give spiro[2.5]octenes 18 a-Ph, 18 b-Ph and 18 a-Vin, respectively, in good yields (89, 69 and 65 %). The overall transformation can be achieved as a one-pot three-component reaction with a variety of dienophiles to furnish the domino Heck-Diels-Alder products 18 regioselectively in most cases in good to very high yields (49-100 %). The reaction of 1 with iodobenzene (2-Ph) and 17 a gave 18 a-Ph in virtually quantitative yield-also on a gram scale-using only 1 mol % of catalyst, and even bromobenzene (22) gave 18 a-Ph in 59 % yield. Bicyclopropylidene (1), in the presence of palladium acetate/triphenylphosphane underwent rearrangement to allylidenecyclopropane (5-H), which in turn dimerized (73 %) in the absence of other reaction partners, or could be trapped by diethyl fumarate (17 c) to give the Diels-Alder adduct 18 c-H in 45 % yield. The coupling of oligoiodobenzenes with 1 and subsequent cycloaddition could be extended to a multicomponent reaction. In this way, 1,4-diiodobenzene (37), 1 and an alkyl acrylate gave the products 38 of a twofold Heck-Diels-Alder reaction in up to 87 % yield, 1,3,5-triiodobenzene (39) reacted in up to 72 % yield and ultimately 1,2,4,5-tetraiodobenzene (41) gave the fourfold domino Heck-Diels-Alder product 42 in 47 % isolated yield, in a single operation in which 12 new carbon-carbon bonds were formed.     

Tandem Pummerer-Diels-Alder Reaction Sequence. A Novel Cascade Process for the Preparation of 1-Arylnaphthalene Lignans

The alpha-thiocarbocation generated from the Pummerer reaction of an o-benzoyl-substituted sulfoxide is intercepted by the adjacent keto group to produce an alpha-thio isobenzofuran as a transient intermediate which undergoes a subsequent Diels-Alder cycloaddition with added dienophiles. Acid-catalyzed ring-opening of the cycloadduct followed by aromatization gave an arylnaphthalene derivative. With acetylenic dienophiles, the tandem cyclization-cycloaddition sequence provided tetralones which result from a pinacol-type rearrangement of the primary cycloadducts. The versatility of the approach is highlighted through the synthesis of taiwanin C and E and justicidin E. The alpha-thiocarbocation generated from the Pummerer reaction of benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-yl-[6-[(ethylsulfinyl)methyl]benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-yl)methanone is intercepted by the adjacent keto group to produce an alpha-thioisobenzofuran as a transient intermediate which undergoes a subsequent Diels-Alder cycloaddition with dimethyl maleate. The initially formed Diels-Alder cycloadduct was readily converted to 5-benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-yl-8-(ethylthio)naphtho[2,3-d][1,3]dioxole-6,7-dicarboxylic acid dimethyl ester by loss of water on treatment with p-toluenesulfonic acid. Desulfurization of the thionaphthalene with Ra/Ni followed by hydrolysis of the less hindered methyl ester afforded 5-benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-ylnaphtho[2,3-d][1,3]dioxole-6,7-dicarboxylic acid 6-methyl ester which was further transformed into taiwanin C and justicidin E in good yield. Oxidation of the initial Diels-Alder cycloadduct with NaIO(4) in the presence of RuCl(3) followed by extrusion of ethyl sulfinate gave a naphthol derivative which can be converted into taiwanin E.     

Preparation of 1,3-dienyl organotrifluoroborates and their Diels-Alder/cross-coupling reactions

2-BF₃-substituted 1,3-butadienes with potassium and tetrabutyl ammonium counterions have been prepared in gram quantities from chloroprene via a simple synthetic procedure. The potassium salt of this new main group element substituted diene has been characterized by ¹H, ¹³C, ¹¹B, and ¹⁹F NMR and the tetra n-butyl ammonium salt was also characterized by X-ray crystallography. Diels-Alder reactions of these dienes with dienophiles such as ethyl acrylate, methyl vinyl ketone, and N-phenylmaleimide are reported as well as subsequent Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of those Diels-Alder adducts. 4-Phenyl-2-BF₃-substituted 1,3-diene was prepared by magnesium-halogen exchange from the corresponding 2-bromo and iodo dienes. The 4-phenyl-2-bromo-1,3-butadiene was also characterized by X-ray crystallography. 4-Phenyl-2-BF₃-1,3-butadiene was used in Diels-Alder/cross-coupling reactions and the product of a Diels-Alder reaction with N-phenylmaleimide followed by cross-coupling with 4-bromo-benzonitrile was also characterized by X-ray crystallography.     

Complete pi-facial diastereoselectivity in Diels-Alder reactions of dissymmetric 2,4-cyclohexadienones

[reaction: see text] The studies in the Diels-Alder reactions of 5-methoxy-masked o-benzoquinone (1a, R = OMe) and simple dissymmetric 2,4-cyclohexadienones 1b-e with methyl vinyl ketone, styrene, and benzyl vinyl ether are described. The dienones 1b-e reacted with dienophiles to form syn adducts (dienophile approach is syn to allylic methoxy group) exclusively.     

Diels-Alder reaction of α-tropolone and electron-deficient dienophiles prompted by Et3N or silica gel: a new synthetic method of highly functionalized homobarrelenone derivatives

A Diels-Alder reaction of α-tropolone and electron-deficient dienophiles prompted by Et₃N or silica gel was performed. Reaction with the highly reactive dienophile, N-methylmaleimide, proceeded smoothly in the presence of Et₃N or silica gel to yield adducts as a mixture of endo and exo isomers. Both catalysts accelerated endo/exo isomerization of the product, and detailed examination of the reaction using hinokitiol and N-methylmaleimide revealed that isomerization proceeds via an intramolecular path without retro Diels-Alder reaction. Successful cycloaddition reactions were established with six other dienophiles: acrylonitrile, methyl acrylate, ethyl vinyl ketone, dimethyl fumalate, dimethyl malate, and dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate, and the corresponding adducts were obtained in good to moderate yields.     

Oxazaborolidinone-catalyzed enantioselective Diels-Alder reaction of acyclic alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones

allo-Threonine-derived O-acyl-B-phenyl-oxazaborolidinones are demonstrated to be powerful and highly enantioselective Lewis acid catalysts for the Diels-Alder reaction of simple acyclic enone dienophiles, expanding the scope of ketone dienophiles and dienes. With 10 to 20 mol % of catalyst, the Diels-Alder adducts are obtained in 76-98% ee with high endo-selectivity. The catalyst exhibits high activity for the reaction with the less reactive beta-substituted dienophiles and the less reactive 1,3-cycohexadiene and 1,3-butadiene derivatives. The application of the catalysts to the Diels-Alder reaction of furan is also described.     

Intramolecular Photocycloaddition of Unsaturated Isoquinuclidines. Synthesis of 2-Azatetracyclo[4.0.0.(4,9)0(7,10)]decanes and 3-Azatetracyclo[6.1.1.0.(2,7)0(5,9)]decanes

2-Azabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-5-enes bearing an endo alkenyl substituent were synthesized by Diels-Alder addition of methyl vinyl ketone to a 1,6-dihydropyridine derived from methyl nicotinate. Although 1,5-dienes with this skeleton were unreactive under thermal conditions, they were photochemically reactive. Irradiation of these dienes through a Corex filter resulted in intramolecular [2 + 2] cycloaddition to give "parallel" and "crossed" photoadducts along with small amounts of a hexahydroisoquinoline. The latter is thought to represent leakage of a diradical intermediate responsible for the parallel photoadduct. The new 2-azatetracyclo[4.4.0.0.(4,9)0(7,10)]decane and 3-azatetracyclo[6.1.1.0.(2,7)0(5,9)]decane structures formed in the photochemical reactions are thermally stable.     

Competitive thermal ene reaction and Diels-Alder reactions of 2-[N-(alk-2-enyl)benzylamino]-3-vinylpyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidin-4(4H)-ones

Thermal reaction of 2-[N-(alk-2-enyl)benzylamino]-3-(2-substituted and 2,2-disubstituted)vinylpyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidin-4(4H)-ones gave azepine, the desired ene products, and/or pyran derivatives. The formation of the latter was responsible for the [4+2] cycloaddition reaction between the α,β-unsaturated ester carbonyl moiety as a diene part and the alkenylamino moiety as an ene one. The reaction features depended upon the kinds of substituents both on the vinyl and alkenyl counterparts; strongly electron-withdrawing substituents on the vinyl moiety or an electron-donating substituent on the alkenyl one changed the reaction feature from the ene reaction to the hetero Diels-Alder reaction.     

Preparation of 2-BF3-substituted 1,3-dienes and their Diels-Alder/cross-coupling reactions

[reaction: see text] 2-BF3-substituted 1,3-butadienes with potassium and tetrabutylammonium counterions have been prepared in gram quantities from chloroprene via a simple synthetic procedure. The potassium salt of this new main group element substituted diene has been characterized by 1H, 13C, 11B, and 19F NMR. Diels-Alder reactions of these dienes with ethyl acrylate and methyl vinyl ketone are reported, as well as subsequent Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of those Diels-Alder adducts.     

Studies on cardiac ingredients of plants. VII: Chemical transformation of proscillaridin by means of the Diels-Alder reaction and biological activities of its derivatives.

The Diels-Alder reactions of a cardiac glycoside, proscillaridin (1), with some dienophiles were investigated. The reaction of 1 with alkenes such as methyl vinyl ketone and methyl acrylate afforded 3-oxo-2-oxabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-7-enes (2-5) and para-substituted benzene derivatives (6 and 7), while 1 reacted with alkynes (3-butyn-2-one, methyl propiolate) to yield para- or meta-substituted benzene derivatives (6-9). The biological activities of the resulting derivatives were evaluated by the use of isolated guinea-pig papillary muscle preparations and Na+,K(+)-adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) preparation from dog kidney. Among the proscillaridin derivatives, compounds 4 and 7 moderately inhibited Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity. Furthermore, the concentration range of 7 over which its positive inotropic effect on guinea-pig papillary muscle preparations, increased from 5% to 95% of maximum was broader than that of 1, i.e., concentration dependency was maintained over a greater range of concentration.