Rh(I)-catalyzed ring-closing reaction of allenynes: selective construction of cycloheptene, bicyclo[5.3.0]decadienone, and bicyclo[5.2.0]nonene frameworks

Highly selective formation of cycloheptene, bicyclo[5.3.0]decadienone, and bicyclo[5.2.0]nonene skeletons from tri- and tetrasubstituted allenynes has been achieved via a Rh(I)-catalyzed ring-closing reaction and proper choice of substrate and/or reaction conditions.     

Opening the [4 + 2 + 2] cycloadducts of bicyclo[2.2.1]hepta-2,5-dienes (norbornadienes) to cis-fused bicyclo[5.3.0]decanes

Tetracyclo[5.4.0.0.(2,4)0(3,7)]undec-9-enes, prepared by the transition-metal-catalyzed [4 + 2 + 2] homo-Diels-Alder reactions of norbornadiene and 1,3-butadienes, can be opened using either acid-promoted or Zeise's dimer-mediated cyclopropane ring cleavage, ultimately leading to cis-fused bicyclo[5.3.0]decanes (perhydroazulenes). Stereoselective functionalization of the olefin unit in the tetracycloundecenes to an alcohol or diol prior to ring opening is tolerated by the Zeise's dimer ([Pt(C(2)H(4))Cl(2)](2)) catalyst to yield highly functionalized bicyclo[5.3.0]decanes, which form the core structure of numerous sesquiterpenes.     

Photo-Induced diels-alder reaction. A novel route to trans fused benzobicyclo-[5.3.O]decanes and [5.4.O]undecanes

Photoisomerization of $\text{cis}$-benzocycloheptenone to $\text{trans}$ benzocycloheptenone and its [4 + 2] cycloaddition with selected dienes is reported for the synthesis of $\text{trans}$ fused benzobicyclo[5.3.0]decanes 10, 12 and benzobicyclo [5.4.0]undecanes 13, 15.     

New approach to bicyclo[5.3.0]decanes: stereoselective guaiane synthesis

[reaction: see text] A conceptually new and highly versatile approach to bicyclo[5.3.0]decanes, based on dichloroketene cycloaddition-diazoalkane ring expansion, is disclosed, and its relevance to natural product synthesis is demonstrated through the preparation of three guaiane sesquiterpenes. A concise total synthesis of a guaian-8,12-olide, 6-deoxygeigerin, highlights the effectiveness of the new methodology.     

Lewis acid-mediated generation of bicyclo[5.3.0]decanes and bicyclo[4.3.0]nonanes

[reactions: see text] Fragmentation of the cyclobutane-containing adducts generated from intramolecular cycloadditions of cyclobutadiene with olefins provides rapid entry into bicyclo[5.3.0]decane and bicyclo[4.3.0]nonane ring systems. Whereas earlier studies featured thermal methods to achieve the desired rearrangements, a mild, Lewis acid-mediated fragmentation has been identified for substrates with appropriate functionality adjacent to the strained ring system. The substrate scope and stereochemical outcome of the acid-mediated fragmentation are complementary to the thermal ring expansions, particularly in the case of the bicyclo[5.3.0]decanes.     

W(CO)5(L)-catalyzed tandem intramolecular cyclopropanation/cope rearrangement for the stereoselective construction of bicyclo[5.3.0]decane framework

Utilizing the biscarbene character of electrophilically activated alkynes, a novel tandem intramolecular cyclopropanation/Cope rearrangement of 3-siloxy-1,3,9-trien-7-ynes catalyzed by W(CO)5(L) for the stereoselective construction of bicyclo[5.3.0]decane framework is achieved. When 3-siloxy-1,3,9-trien-7-ynes were treated with a catalytic amount of W(CO)6 under photoirradiation, bicyclo[5.3.0]decanes were obtained in good yield stereoselectively. In this reaction, the Cope rearrangement of the divinylcyclopropane intermediates, generated by the intramolecular cyclopropanation of 3-siloxy-1,3,9-trien-7-ynes based on the W(CO)5(L)-catalyzed electrophilic activation of alkynes, occurs to give synthetically useful functionalized bicyclo[5.3.0]decane derivatives stereoselectively.     

Intramolecular [2 + 2] photocycloaddition of alkenes incorporated in a carbohydrate template. Synthesis of enantiopure bicyclo[3.2.0]heptanes and -[6.3.0]undecanes

Intramolecular [2 + 2] photocycloaddition of alkenes with a furano sugar placed between them have been investigated under both copper(I)-catalyzed and sensitized conditions. The copper(I)-catalyzed photocycloaddition of the dienes 4a, 4b, and 4c led to unexpected formation of the thermodynamically less stable cis-syn-cis 4-5-5 tricyclic adducts 5a, 5b, and 5c, respectively. The sensitized photocycloaddition of the diene 14 also gave the cis-syn-cis adduct 15 showing that the copper(I) catalyst does not have any influence on the stereochemical course through coordination with the anomeric ring oxygen of the furano sugar. The identical stereochemical course observed under both catalyzed and sensitized photoaddition reactions have been attributed to be of steric origin. Bis(dienes) 25a and 25b, which gave an intractable mixture on copper(I)-catalyzed irradiation, underwent smooth photocycloaddition in the presence of benzophenone, and the resulting 1,2-divinyl cyclobutanes underwent spontaneous [3.3]-rearrangement at room temperature to produce bicyclo[6.3.0]undecanes 30a and 30b, respectively. This investigation provides an approach for the construction of enantiopure bicyclo[3.2.0]heptanes and -[6.3.0]undecanes.     

PtCl2-Promoted cyclopropane opening in [4+2+2] homo Diels-Alder cycloadducts

A new and readily available catalytic system has been developed to open the cyclopropane ring in [4+2+2] homo Diels-Alder cycloadducts formed by reaction of norbornadienes and 1,3-butadiene. The cobalt-mediated homo Diels-Alder reaction followed by this PtCl₂-promoted isomerization is a key step in the efficient route to bicyclo[5.3.0]decanes, core of numerous natural products.     

Rh(I)-catalyzed allenic Pauson-Khand reaction: first construction of the bicyclo[6.3.0]undecadienone ring system

The Rh(I)-catalyzed Pauson-Khand reaction of allenynes afforded the bicyclo[6.3.0]undecadienones as well as their benzo and furo derivatives. In addition, a novel [RhCl(CO)₂]₂-catalyzed [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement of the sulfinic ester species of propargyl alcohols was developed.     

Rearrangements of the [2+2]-cycloadducts of DDQ and 2-ethynylpyrroles

The [2+2]-cycloadducts of DDQ and 2-ethynylpyrroles, upon ethanolysis (reflux, 15 min or room temperature, 24 h), rearrange from bicyclo[4.2.0]octadienediones to bicyclo[3.2.0]heptadienone- and cyclobutenyl-dihydrofuranone moieties in 55-83% yields, the former rearrangement being the major direction. Benzoquinone ring cleavage is regioselective to afford mostly bicyclo[3.2.0]heptadienone-pyrrole ensembles (85-90% selectivity) in 39-78% yields. The only exception is when the starting compounds contain an ethoxycarbonyl substituent and the pyrrole counterpart is a 4,5,6,7-tetrahydroindole fragment. In this case, the ratio of the rearrangement products is 1:1.2 in a total yield of 83%. An important feature of the dihydrofuranone pathway rearrangement is its 100% diastereoselectivity.     

A novel synthesis of bicyclo[3.3.0]oct-1-en-3-ones from cyclobutanones through [chloro(p-tolylsulfinyl)methylidene]cyclobutanes with ring expansion

Treatment of [chloro(p-tolylsulfinyl)methylidene]cyclobutanes, which were synthesized from cyclobutanones and chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide in three steps in high overall yields, with excess cyanomethyllithium gave enaminonitriles in high yields. Heating of these enaminonitriles with H₃PO₄ in acetic acid gave 2-cyanobicyclo[3.3.0]oct-1-en-3-ones in good yield. On the other hand, treatment of the [chloro(p-tolylsulfinyl)methylidene]cyclobutanes with cyanomethyllithium followed by lithium carbanion of the homologues of acetonitrile afforded enaminonitriles having a substituent at the 3-position. Heating of the enaminonitriles with H₃PO₄ in acetic acid gave 2-substituted bicyclo[3.3.0]oct-1-en-3-ones in good to high yields. This method offers a novel and versatile procedure for synthesis of 2-substituted bicyclo[3.3.0]oct-1-en-3-ones from cyclobutanones in good overall yields.     

Memory of chirality in the transannular cyclization of cyclodecenyl radicals

The transannular cyclization of an enantioenriched cyclodecenyl radical proceeds in a 5-exo fashion to produce scalemic bicyclo[5.3.0]decanes. This cyclization is notable because it demonstrates chirality transfer through conformational memory of an unstabilized secondary radical. [reaction: see text]     

Synthesis of Carbocycles via Intramolecular Conjugate Additions: Another Solution to the Terpenoid Side Chain Stereochemistry Problem

Intramolecular conjugate additions of keto esters 7-11, mediated by pyrrolidine-acetic acid, provide perhydroindans or bicyclo[6.3.0]undecanes with high levels of diastereoselectivity at the acyclic stereogenic center. Levels of acyclic diastereoselection depend on starting unsaturated ester olefin geometry.     

Synthesis of Bicyclo[n.1.0]alkanes by a Cobalt‐Catalyzed Multiple C(sp3)−H Activation Strategy

A cobalt‐catalyzed dual C(sp³)−H activation strategy has been developed and it provides a novel strategy for the synthesis of bicyclo[4.1.0]heptanes and bicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes. A key to the success of this reaction is the conformation‐induced methylene C(sp³)−H activation of the resulting cobaltabicyclo[4.n.1] intermediate. In addition, the synthesis of bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane from pivalamide, by a triple C(sp³)−H activation, has also been demonstrated.     

Retro-Diels-Alder reaction using bicyclo[2.2.2]octatriene-fused pyrrole during porphyrin synthesis

Porphyrin synthesis using 4,7-etheno-4,7-dihydro-2H-isoindole and tripyrranedicarbaldehyde gave a porphyrin derivative bearing no bicyclo[2.2.2]octatriene moiety as well as the targeted bicyclo[2.2.2]octatriene-fused porphyrin.     

Total Synthesis of (±)‐Boonein

A total synthesis of (±)‐boonein ( 8 ) from bicyclo[2.2.1]ketone 9 is described. Bicyclo[3.2.1]lactone 10 is the key intermediate.     

Synthesis of 8-substituted bicyclo[3.2.1]octane-6-carboxylic acids and anti-convulsant properties of the corresponding amides

Novel 8-substituted bicyclo[3.2.1]octane-6-carboxylic acids have been made via [3+2]cycloaddition to alkyne 2. A number of the corresponding amides are anti-convulsant in mice.     

Bicyclo[3.2.1]octenones as Building Blocks in Natural Product Synthesis (IV): Formal Synthesis of (±)-Hydroxyloganin Aglucone

A formal synthesis of (±)-hydroxyloganin aglucone from bicyclo[3.2.1]octenone 1 is described. Ring opening of syn-8-(methanesulfonyloxy)-1-phenylthiotricyclo[4.2.1.0^3,7]non-4-en-2-one 14 with potassium hydroxide is the key reaction.     

Concise synthesis of the core bicyclo[2.2.2]diazaoctane ring common to asperparaline, paraherquamide, and stephacidin alkaloids

A versatile synthesis of the bicyclo[2.2.2]diazaoctane core structure of asperparaline, brevianamide, paraherquamide, and stephacidin natural products is demonstrated. This convergent synthesis relies on an intramolecular hetero Diels-Alder reaction to construct the key tetracycle from a diketopiperazine derived azadiene; which in turn was formed from prolinamide and a pyruvic acid derivative. The stereochemical outcome of the Diels-Alder reaction was found to favor the brevianamide stereochemistry.     

Enantioselective Synthesis of Bicyclo[3.2.1]octadienes via Palladium-Catalyzed Intramolecular Alkene-Alkyne Coupling Reaction

Bicyclo[3.2.1]octadiene compounds and derivatives exist in a number of natural products and bioactive compounds. Nevertheless, catalytic enantioselective protocols for the synthesis of these skeletons have not been disclosed. Herein we reported a palladium-catalyzed asymmetric intramolecular alkene-alkyne coupling of alkyne-tethered cyclopentenes, affording a library of enantionenriched bicyclo[3.2.1]octadienes in excellent yields and enantioselectivities (mostly >99 % ee). Moreover, the products could undergo an unusual iodination-induced 1,2-acyl migration, forming iodinated bicyclo[3.2.1]octadienes with three vicinal stereocenters. The enone and isolated olefin motifs embedded in the products provide useful handles for downstream elaboration.