Ru-catalyzed intermolecular [3+2+1] cycloaddition of alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones with silylacetylenes and carbon monoxide leading to alpha-pyrones

Ruthenium catalyzes a carbonylative [3+2+1] cycloaddition, using silylacetylenes, alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones, and CO as the starting materials, providing the new method for the synthesis of tetrasubstituted alpha-pyrones. In this reaction, the carbonyl group and alpha-carbon of vinyl ketones are incorporated as a three-atom assembling unit. [reaction: see text].     

Novel [2 + 2 + 2 + 1] cycloaddition of enediynes catalyzed by rhodium complexes

[reaction: see text] The first Rh-catalyzed intramolecular [2 + 2 + 2 + 1] cycloaddition reaction of enediynes and CO is reported. This novel higher order cycloaddition process gives the corresponding 5-7-5 ring systems in high yield and selectivity. This process is another significant addition to the arsenal of cycloaddition-based synthetic methods, which provide powerful tools for rapid and efficient construction of complex polycyclic systems.     

Rhodium(I)-catalyzed intramolecular pauson-khand-type [2 + 2 + 1] cycloaddition of allenenes

[reaction: see text] The novel [RhCl(CO)(2)](2)-catalyzed [2 + 2 + 1] cycloaddition of allenenes leading to the bicyclo[4.3.0]non-1(9)-en-8-one as well as the bicyclo[5.3.0]dec-1(10)-en-9-one skeletons has been developed. This method also provides a new procedure for the construction of the bicyclo[4.3.0]non-1(9)-en-8-one skeleton having an alkyl appendage at the ring juncture, which was hardly attained in a satisfactory yield by the Pauson-Khand reaction of the corresponding enynes.     

Silicon-initiated carbonylative carbotricyclization and [2+2+2+1] cycloaddition of enediynes catalyzed by rhodium complexes

The reaction of dodec-11-ene-1,6-diynes or their heteroatom congeners with a hydrosilane catalyzed by Rh(acac)(CO)2 at ambient temperature and pressure of CO gives the corresponding fused 5-7-5 tricyclic products, 5-oxo-1,3a,4,5,7,9-hexahydro-3H-cyclopenta[e]azulenes or their heteroatom congeners, in excellent yields through a unique silicon-initiated cascade carbonylative carbotricyclization (CO-SiCaT) process. It has also been found that the 5-7-5 fused tricyclic products can be obtained from the same type of enediynes and CO through a novel intramolecular [2+2+2+1] cycloaddition process. The characteristics of these two tricyclization processes and the fundamental differences in their reaction mechanisms are discussed. This novel higher-order cycloaddition reaction has also been successfully applied to the tricyclization of undeca-5,10-diyn-1-als, affording the corresponding 5-7-5 fused-ring products bearing a seven-membered lactone moiety. Related [2+2+2] tricyclizations of enediyne and diynal substrates are also discussed. These newly discovered reactions can construct multiple bonds all at once, converting linear starting materials to polycyclic compounds in a single step. Thus, these new processes provide innovative routes to functionalized polycyclic compounds that are useful for the syntheses of natural and unnatural products.     

Theoretical study of the [2+2+2+1] cycloaddition mechanism of enediynes and carbon monoxide catalyzed by rhodium

The [2+2+2+1] cycloaddition mechanism of enediynes and carbon monoxide catalyzed by the [Rh(CO)2Cl]2 rhodium dimer has been studied using density functional theory, comparing this multistep process with the two-step reaction in the absence of a catalyst. According to our results, the multistep mechanism agrees with that previously suggested. The great selectivity of this reaction and the influence of the chosen solvent in this selectivity were also analyzed.     

A new Co(2)(CO8-mediated tandem [5 + 1]/[2 + 2 + 1]-cycloaddition reaction: a one-pot synthesis of tricyclic delta-lactones from cis-epoxy ene-ynes

In the presence of Co2(CO)8 and CO, cis-epoxyalkynes bearing a tether olefin undergo a tandem [5 + 1]/[2 + 2 + 1]-cycloaddition to give tricyclic delta-lactones efficiently in a one-pot operation. The reaction mechanism is proposed to involve a cobalt-coordinated cyclic allene species.     

Multicomponent cycloadditions: the four-component [5+1+2+1] cycloaddition of vinylcyclopropanes, alkynes, and CO

Prompted by the view that intermediates of transition metal-catalyzed reactions could be intercepted by one or more additional components, studies in our laboratory have led to the design and development of new three-component [5+2+1], [4+2+1], and [2+2+1] cycloadditions. These continuing studies have now led to the identification of a fundamentally new four-component [5+1+2+1] cycloaddition reaction of vinylcyclopropanes, alkynes and CO, yielding hydroxyindanone products in generally good yields. Terminal alkynes bearing aryl or alkyl groups are tolerated well. Substitution at any position of the VCP leads predictably to substituted hydroxyindanone products. Using a bis-alkynyl substrate, the reaction can be carried out bi-directionally, forming 10 C-C bonds and four new rings from seven components in a single, operationally simple process.     

Synthesis of tri- or tetrasubstituted pyrimidine derivatives through the [5+1] annulation of enamidines with either N,N-dimethylformamide dialkyl acetals or orthoesters and their application in a ring transformation of pyrimidines to pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidin-5-one derivatives

The [5+1] annulation of enamidines, which were prepared from functionalized silanes, organolithium compounds and two nitriles, with N,N-dimethylformamide dialkyl acetals as the C1 unit is described, leading to the synthesis of tri- and tetrasubstituted pyrimidine derivatives under catalyst- and solvent-free reaction conditions. Furthermore, the [5+1] annulation of enamidines by using orthoesters as the C1 unit is described, in which catalytic amounts of ZnBr(2) catalyze the annulation to produce polysubstituted pyrimidines under toluene or xylene reflux conditions. Moreover, the combination of a reductive ring-opening reaction with [Mo(CO)(6)] and a subsequent intramolecular cyclization with tBuOK effectively causes a skeletal transformation from the pyrimidines containing an isoxazolyl and an ethoxy substituent to form pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidin-5-one frameworks in excellent yield.     

Transition metal-catalyzed intermolecular [5+2] and [5+2+1] cycloadditions of allenes and vinylcyclopropanes

Initial examples of the intermolecular Rh(I)-catalyzed [5+2] cycloaddition reaction of bifunctional allenes and vinylcyclopropanes are described. The reactions proceed with facility and in yields of up to 99% with a variety of alkyne-, ester-, styrene-, or cyano-substituents on the allene to afford the corresponding cycloadducts. In the presence of CO, the reaction proceeds to an eight-membered ring cycloadduct and its transannularly closed product, providing the first example of a three-component [5+2+1] cycloaddition with allenes.     

Rhodium(I)-Catalyzed Three-Component [4+2+1] Cycloaddition of Two Vinylallenes and CO

Transition metal-catalyzed [4+2+1] reactions of dienes (or diene derivatives such as vinylallenes), alkynes/alkenes, and CO (or carbenes) are expected to be the most straightforward approach to synthesize challenging seven-membered ring compounds, but so far only limited successes have been realized. Here, an unexpected three-component [4+2+1] reaction between two vinylallenes and CO was discovered to give highly functionalized tropone derivatives under mild conditions, where one vinylallene acts as a C₄ synthon, the other vinylallene as a C₂ synthon, and CO as a C₁ synthon. It was proposed that this reaction occurred via oxidative cyclization of the diene part of one vinylallene molecule, followed by insertion of the terminal alkene part of the allene moiety in another vinylallene, into the Rh−C bond of five-membered rhodacycle. Then, CO insertion and reductive elimination gave the [4+2+1] cycloadduct. Further experimental exploration of why ene/yne-vinylallenes and CO gave monocyclic tropone derivatives instead of 6/7-bicyclic ring products were reported here.     

Ni‐Catalyzed Synthesis of Fluoroarenes via [2+2+2] Cycloaddition Involving α‐Fluorine Elimination

A method for direct synthesis of tetrasubstituted fluoroarenes via nickel‐catalyzed [2+2+2] cycloaddition is presented. The reaction combines one molecule of 1,1‐difluoroethylene with two molecules of alkynes and involves sequential cleavage of the C?F and C?H bonds in difluoroethylene. The catalytic cycle is established by reduction of the intermediary Ni^II fluoride with a triethylborane‐based borate.     

Rhodium(I)-catalyzed [2+2+1] cycloadditions of 1,3-dienes, alkenes, and CO

Initial examples of a Rh(I)-catalyzed [2+2+1] reaction of diene-enes and CO are described. This method allows for the facile, efficient, and diastereoselective construction of a variety of alkenyl cyclopentanones in good to excellent yields. Control studies show that the diene moiety is required for this process as bis-enes do not give the [2+2+1] products under the same conditions.     

Asymmetric synthesis of pyrrolo[1,2-a]indoles via organocatalytic[3 + 2] annulation of substituted 2-vinylindoles with azlactones

The chiral phosphoric acid catalyzed asymmetric[3+2]annulation of substituted 2-vinylindoles with azlactones has been established.This reaction represented a practical approach for the synthesis of structurally diverse pyrrolo[1,2-a]indoles with two vicinal stereocenters including one tetrasubstituted stereocenter in good yields and good stereoselectivities under mild conditions.     

Rh(I)-catalyzed formal [5 + 1]/[2 + 2 + 1] cycloaddition of 1-yne-vinylcyclopropanes and two CO units: one-step construction of multifunctional angular tricyclic 5/5/6 compounds

A novel Rh(I)-catalyzed formal [5 + 1]/[2 + 2 + 1] cycloaddition of 1-yne-vinylcyclopropanes and two CO units for the construction of multifunctional angular tricyclic 5/5/6 skeletons with one or two adjacent bridgehead quaternary all-carbon stereocenters in one step has been developed. Preliminary density functional theory calculations have been carried out to investigate the reaction mechanism and the substituent effects.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed [2 + 2 + 1] cocyclization of isocyanates, alkynes, and CO enables the rapid synthesis of polysubstituted maleimides

Intermolecular [2 + 2 + 1] cocyclization of isocyanates, alkynes, and CO (1 atm) proceeded smoothly in the presence of a catalytic amount of Ru3(CO)12 (3.3 mol %) in mesitylene at 130 degrees C for 3 approximately 42 h to give a variety of polysubstituted maleimides in excellent yields with high selectivity. The reaction may involve an azaruthenacyclopentenone intermediate derived from oxidative cyclization of an isocyanate and an alkyne on an active ruthenium species.     

Transition metal-mediated intramolecular [2+2+2] cycloisomerizations of cyclic triynes and enediynes

[reaction: see text] Nitrogen-containing 15-membered triacetylenic macrocycles known as 1,6,11-tris(arylsulfonyl)-1,6,11-triazacyclopentadeca-3,8,13-triynes (1) and enediynic macrocycles called 1,6,11-tris(arylsulfonyl)-1,6,11-triazacyclopentadeca-3-ene-8,13-diynes (4 and 5) were satisfactorily prepared. [2+2+2] cycloisomerization processes catalyzed by transition metals were tested in the above-mentioned macrocycles. Readily available and familiar cyclotrimerization precatalysts were examined for efficiency. Among them, the RhCl(CO)(PPh(3))(2) complex was found to catalyze the cycloisomerization reaction giving the desired cycloadducts in high yields.     

New iridacyclohexadienes and iridabenzenes by [2+2+1] cyclotrimerization of alkynes and facile interconversion between iridacyclohexadienes and iridabenzenes

Iridabenzenes [Ir[=CHCH=CHCH=C(CH2R)](CH3CN)2(PPh3)2]2+ (R=Ph 4 a, R=p-C6H4CH3 4 b) are obtained from the reactions of H+ with iridacyclohexadienes [Ir[-CH=CHCH=CHC(=CH-p-C6H4R')](CO)(PPh3)2]+ (R'=H 3 a, R'=CH3 3 b), which are prepared from [2+2+1] cyclotrimerization of alkynes in the reactions of [Ir(CH3CN)(CO)(PPh3)2]+ with HC[triple chemical bond]CH and HC[triple chemical bond]CR. Iridabenzenes 4 react with CO and CH3CN in the presence of NEt3 to give iridacyclohexadienes [Ir[-CH=CHCH=CHC(=CHR)](CO)2(PPh3)2]+ (6) and [Ir[-CH=CHCH=CHC(=CHR)](CH3CN)2(PPh3)2]+ (7), respectively. Iridacyclohexadienes 6 and 7 also convert to iridabenzenes 4 by the reactions with H+ in the presence of CH3CN. Alkynyl iridacyclohexadienes [Ir[-CH=CHCH=CHC(=CH-p-C6H4R')](-C[triple chemical bond]CH)(PPh3)2] (8) undergo a cleavage of C[triple chemical bond]C bond by H+/H2O to produce [Ir[-CH=CHCH=CHC(=CH-p-C6H4R')](-CH3)(CO)(PPh3)2] (10) via facile inter-conversion between iridacyclohexadienes and iridabenzenes.     

Recent advances in radical-mediated [2+2+m] annulation of 1,n-enynes

1,n-Enynes are a versatile class of unsaturated hydrocarbons that found broad applications in the synthetic community of natural products, biologically active structures and functional materials. Typical methods for the transformations of 1,n-enynes include the radical-mediated [2+2+m] annulation reaction as they are particularly efficient accesses to functionalized polycyclic compounds. We herein highlighted recent process in the radical-mediated [2+2+m] annulation of 1,n-enynes, including [2+2+1] and[2+2+2] modes, for the construction of five-to six-membered-ring-fused polycyclic scaffolds. Meanwhile, the mechanisms for these transformations were described.     

Dimerization of Dimethyl 2‐(Naphthalen‐1‐yl)cyclopropane‐1,1‐dicarboxylate in the Presence of GaCl3 to [3+2], [3+3], [3+4], and Spiroannulation Products

In the presence of a catalytic amount of GaCl₃, dimethyl 2‐(naphthalen‐1‐yl)cyclopropane‐1,1‐dicarboxylate 5 undergoes selective [3+2]‐annulation‐type dimerization to give a polysubstituted cyclopentane containing two naphthalenyl substituents in the vicinal position (Scheme 2). Treatment of the same cyclopropane with an equimolar amount of GaCl₃?THF results in dimerization with electrophilic attack on each of the benzene rings to give [3+3] and [3+4] annulation products. The latter represent a new type of dimerization of donor? acceptor cyclopropanes. Finally, under conditions of double catalysis with GaCl₃, 3,3,5,5‐tetrasubstituted 4,5‐dihydropyrazole, this cyclopropane‐dicarboxylate undergoes stereospecific dimerization as a result of electrophilic ipso‐attack to give a tetracyclic pentaleno[6a,1‐a]naphthalene derivative (Scheme 5). Possible reaction mechanisms are proposed.     

N-Functionalized 1-Alkynylamides: New Building Blocks for Transition Metal Mediated Inter- and Intramolecular [2+2+1] Cycloadditions

A conceptually new, stereoselective approach to compounds such as 1 and 2 is expected from the so far unknown class of N-functionalized 1-alkynylamides. Building blocks of the type I and II can be applied to inter- and intramolecular, regio- and stereoselective [Co₂(CO)₈]-mediated [2+2+1] cycloadditions.