Suzuki coupling reactions of 2,4,6-trialkoxyphenylboronic acids with enol triflates: asymmetric synthesis of a lactone template for calyxin assemblage

Suzuki coupling reactions between 2,4,6-trialkoxyphenylboronic acids and enol triflates have been found to occur in excellent yield, while the use of an enol tosylate failed to give any of the desired product. This coupling reaction has led to the synthesis of a lactone which could serve as a precursor to several calyxin analogues.     

Oxovanadium(V)-Catalyzed Deoxygenative Coupling Reaction of Alcohols with Trimethylsilyl Enol Ethers in the Presence of MS3A

Oxovanadium(V)-catalyzed deoxygenative coupling reaction of allyl alcohols with trimethylsilyl enol ethers was demonstrated to afford γ,δ-unsaturated carbonyl compounds in one-step. The catalytic deoxygenative coupling reaction of allyl alcohols proceeded smoothly with both aromatic and aliphatic trimethylsilyl enol ethers. This catalytic deoxygenative coupling system could be applied to the deoxygenative coupling reaction of benzyl alcohols with trimethylsilyl enol ethers, providing the corresponding carbonyl compounds. Furthermore, a gram-scale catalytic synthesis of the γ,δ-unsaturated carbonyl compound was successfully performed to validate the scalability of this catalytic deoxygenative coupling reaction.     

alpha-Nitration of Ketones via Enol Silyl Ethers. Radical Cations as Reactive Intermediates in Thermal and Photochemical Processes

Highly colored (red) solutions of various enol silyl ethers and tetranitromethane (TNM) are readily bleached to afford good yields of alpha-nitro ketones in the dark at room temperature or below. Spectral analysis show the red colors to be associated with the intermolecular 1:1 electron donor-acceptor (EDA) complexes between the enol silyl ether and TNM. The formation of similar vividly colored EDA complexes with other electron acceptors (such as chloranil, tetracyanobenzene, tetracyanoquinodimethane, etc.) readily establish enol silyl ethers to be excellent electron donors. The deliberate irradiation of the diagnostic (red) charge-transfer absorption bands of the EDA complexes of enol silyl ethers and TNM at -40 degrees C affords directly the same alpha-nitro ketones, under conditions in which the thermal reaction is too slow to compete. A common pathway is discussed in which the electron transfer from the enol silyl ether (ESE) to TNM results in the radical ion triad [ESE(*)(+), NO(2)(*), C(NO(2))(3)(-)]. A subsequent fast homolytic coupling of the cation radical of the enol silyl ether with NO(2)(*)() leads to the alpha-nitro ketones. The use of time-resolved spectroscopy and the disparate behavior of the isomeric enol silyl ethers of alpha- and beta-tetralones as well as of 2-methylcyclohexanone strongly support cation radicals (ESE(*)(+)) as the critical intermediate in thermal and photoinduced electron-transfer as described in Schemes 1 and 2, respectively.     

Coupling of propargylsilanes with Fischer carbene chromium complexes: a new synthesis of conjugated dienes

The reaction of propargylsilanes with Fischer carbene complexes has been examined. If the silane-containing carbon is secondary the predominant pathway involves formation of conjugated dienes through a 1,2-silicon shift process of the initially formed vinylcarbene complex intermediate. If a primary propargylsilane is employed, the silicon does not shift and normal alkyne-Fischer carbene coupling processes are observed. The process is moderately stereoselective, resulting in the E enol ether and Z alkenylsilane.     

Coupling Reaction of Enol Derivatives with Silyl Ketene Acetals Catalyzed by Gallium Trihalides

A cross‐coupling reaction between enol derivatives and silyl ketene acetals catalyzed by GaBr₃ took place to give the corresponding α‐alkenyl esters. GaBr₃ showed the most effective catalytic ability, whereas other metal salts such as BF₃?OEt₂, AlCl₃, PdCl₂, and lanthanide triflates were not effective. Various types of enol ethers and vinyl carboxylates as enol derivatives are amenable to this coupling. The scope of the reaction with silyl ketene acetals was also broad. We successfully observed an alkylgallium intermediate by using NMR spectroscopy, suggesting a mechanism involving anti‐carbogallation among GaBr₃, an enol derivative, and a silyl ketene acetal, followed by syn‐β‐alkoxy elimination from the alkylgallium. Based on kinetic studies, the turnover‐limiting step of the reaction using a vinyl ether and a vinyl carboxylate involved syn‐β‐alkoxy elimination and anti‐carbogallation, respectively. Therefore, the leaving group had a significant effect on the progress of the reaction. Theoretical calculations analysis suggest that the moderate Lewis acidity of gallium would contribute to a flexible conformational change of the alkylgallium intermediate and to the cleavage of the carbon?oxygen bond in the β‐alkoxy elimination process, which is the turnover‐limiting step in the reaction between a vinyl ether and a silyl ketene acetal.     

Reaction of enol ethers with alkynes catalyzed by transition metals: 5-exo-dig versus 6-endo-dig cyclizations via cyclopropyl platinum or gold carbene complexes

The intramolecular reaction of enol ethers with alkynes in methanol is catalyzed by electrophilic Pt(II), Pd(II), and Au(III) chlorides and by a Cu(I) complex to give five- or six-membered rings bearing dimethyl acetals. The reaction takes place by an anti addition of the enol ether and the metal to the alkyne. The possible involvement of vinylidene complexes in this reaction is excluded. In addition to the usual 5-exo-dig (or 6-exo-dig) pathways, a 6-endo-dig pathway has also been found to take place with certain enynes. One case of 5-endo-dig cyclization has also been found. A general scheme for the alkoxycyclization of enynes catalyzed by transition metals based on DFT calculation of PtCl(2) and AuCl(3) complexes that includes exo and endo cyclizations is presented.     

Dichloroketene-chiral olefin-based approach to pyrrolizidines: highly stereocontrolled synthesis of (+)-amphorogynine A

[reaction: see text] A highly stereoselective route to (+)-amphorogynine A, a novel pyrrolizidine recently isolated from the New Caledonian plant Amphorogynine spicata, has been realized. The key step in the approach is a diastereoselective [2 + 2] dichloroketene-chiral enol ether cycloaddition (dr >or= 93:7) to access a dichlorocyclobutanone intermediate, which is converted into the alkaloid natural product via a pyrrolidinone derivative.     

A versatile route to 3-(pyrimidin-4-yl)-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines and 3-(pyrimidin-4-yl)-pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridines

A two-step synthesis of 3-(2-chloropyrimidin-4-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines is presented. The late stage elaboration of the imidazopyridine through a cyclocondensation allows a rapid access to a variety of substitution patterns. The intermediate enol ethers were obtained from inexpensive reagents in a ligand-free Heck coupling. This methodology has been extended to the formation of pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridines via a formal 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition.     

Palladium-catalyzed amidation of enol triflates: a new synthesis of enamides

[reaction: see text] The palladium-catalyzed coupling of a range of enol triflates with amides, carbamates, and sulfonamides has been developed. This offers a simple and widely applicable synthesis of enamides, which may not be readily available by other means.     

Facile synthesis of pyrroles via Rh(II)-catalyzed transannulation of 1-tosyl-1,2,3-triazoles with silyl or alkyl enol ethers

A novel Rh(II)-catalyzed transannulation of 1-tosyl-1,2,3-triazoles with silyl or alkyl enol ethers has been developed, which enables the facile synthesis of substituted pyrroles in a regiocontrollable manner. Moreover, the methodology could be extended to access 3-pyrrolin-2-one derivatives with silyl ketene acetals used as the reaction partner.     

Transition metal- and oxidant-free sulfonylation of 1-sulfonyl-1H-1,2,3-triazoles to enols for the synthesis of sulfonate derivatives

A novel and convenient protocol for the synthesis of sulfonate derivatives via DABCO-catalyzed direct sulfonylation of 1-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles to different enols has been established. This synthetic route could effectively avoid the use of transition metal catalysts and extra oxidants, and the target products could be obtained in good to excellent yields (75–86%) with wide substrate scope under mild conditions at low-catalyst loadings, which would provide a facile and practical access to enol sulfonates. Furthermore, the use of the resulting enol sulfonates for the C–C bond formation has been demonstrated via Suzuki-Miyaura, Sonogashira, and Heck cross-coupling reaction.     

Enantioselective Addition of Cyclic Enol Silyl Ethers to 2‐Alkenoyl‐Pyridine‐N‐Oxides Catalysed by CuII–Bis(oxazoline) Complexes

Asymmetric reactions involving (E)‐3‐aryl‐1‐(pyridin‐2‐yl‐N‐oxide)prop‐2‐en‐1‐ones and cyclic enol silyl ethers show good yields and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99.9 % ee) when catalysed by bis(oxazoline)–Cu^II complexes. Different reaction pathways can be followed by different enol silyl ethers: with 2‐(trimethylsilyloxy)furan, a Mukaiyama–Michael adduct is obtained, whereas a hetero Diels–Alder cycloadduct was formed by using (1,2‐dihydronaphthalen‐4‐yloxy)trimethylsilane. In the latter reaction, the absolute configuration of the product is consistent with a reagent approach to the less hindered Re face of the coordinated substrate in the reactive complex.     

Lewis Acid-Mediated Decarboxylative Allylation of Enol Carbonates

A homoallylic ketone can be transformed and functionalized by various synthetic reactions, and thus, is regarded as one of the representative building blocks in organic chemistry. An additional route to access homoallylic ketones, namely, a Lewis acid-mediated decarboxylative allylation of cyclic enol carbonates, prepared by fixation of carbon dioxide onto propargyl alcohols, was developed in this work. The treatment of a cyclic enol carbonate with a Lewis acid in the presence of an allylsilane resulted in the formation of a homoallylic ketone. It was found that the title reaction proceeded well by the combined use of zirconium tetrachloride with allyltrimethylsilane. The allylation occurred with high regioselectivity and the corresponding homoallylic ketones were obtained in good-to-high yields. A reaction mechanism involving the decarboxylative formation of an oxyallyl cation equivalent is proposed.     

Ester hydrolysis and enol nitrosation reactions of ethyl cyclohexanone-2-carboxylate inhibited by beta-cyclodextrin

Both the ester hydrolysis and the nitrosation reactions of the enol tautomer of ethyl cyclohexanone-2-carboxylate (ECHC) are investigated in the absence and presence of beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD). The ester hydrolysis reaction is studied in dilute H2O and D2O solutions of hydrochloric acid and in aqueous buffered solutions of carboxylic acids (acetic acid and its chloro derivatives). The pseudo-first-order rate constant increases with both the [H+] and the total buffer concentration, indicating that the hydrolysis is subject to acid and general base catalysis. Substantial solvent isotope effects in the normal direction (kH/kD > 1) for the acid-catalyzed hydrolysis was observed. Addition of beta-CD strongly slows the hydrolysis reaction. The variation of the observed rate constant (k(o)) with [beta-CD] exhibits saturation behavior, consistent with 1:1 binding between the enol of ECHC and beta-CD. The binding is quite strong, and bound ECHC-enol is unreactive. The nitrosation reaction of ECHC in aqueous acid medium, using sodium nitrite in great excess over the concentration of ECHC, yields perfect first-order kinetics, indicating that the slow step is the nitrosation of the enol tautomer. This finding suggests that a great percentage of the total ECHC concentration must exist in the enol form. The nitrosation reaction is of first order in [nitrite] and is catalyzed by the presence of Cl-, Br-, or SCN- ions, which indicates that the attack of the nitrosating agent is the slow step. The nitrosation reaction is also strongly inhibited by the presence of beta-CD because of the formation of unreactive inclusion complexes between the host, beta-CD, and the guest, the enol of ECHC. In alkaline medium, the formation of the enolate ion is observed, which absorbs at higher wavelengths (lambda(max) = 256 nm in acid medium shifts to lambda(max) = 288 nm in alkaline medium). This anion also undergoes ester hydrolysis spontaneously, but shows neither specific basic catalysis nor appreciable effect by the presence of beta-CD. From kinetic and spectroscopic measurements the pKa of the enol of ECHC has been determined as 12.35.     

Indium Tribromide Catalyzed Coupling Reaction of Enol Ethers with Silyl Ketene Imines toward the Synthesis of β,γ‐Unsaturated Nitriles

Herein, a coupling reaction of enol ethers with silyl ketene imines in the presence of catalytic amounts of InBr₃ and Me₃SiBr is described. Kinetic studies have revealed that an indium catalyst and Me₃SiBr accelerated the coupling process and the regeneration of the catalyst, respectively. Various types of enol ethers and silyl ketene imines are applicable. In addition, a formal synthesis of verapamil was achieved by using this novel coupling reaction.     

Enantioselective decarboxylative alkylation reactions: catalyst development, substrate scope, and mechanistic studies

α-Quaternary ketones are accessed through novel enantioselective alkylations of allyl and propargyl electrophiles by unstabilized prochiral enolate nucleophiles in the presence of palladium complexes with various phosphinooxazoline (PHOX) ligands. Excellent yields and high enantiomeric excesses are obtained from three classes of enolate precursor: enol carbonates, enol silanes, and racemic β-ketoesters. Each of these substrate classes functions with nearly identical efficiency in terms of yield and enantioselectivity. Catalyst discovery and development, the optimization of reaction conditions, the exploration of reaction scope, and applications in target-directed synthesis are reported. Experimental observations suggest that these alkylation reactions occur through an unusual inner-sphere mechanism involving binding of the prochiral enolate nucleophile directly to the palladium center.     

Regioselective synthesis of substituted o-alkoxyphenol derivatives through thermal benzannulation of Fischer (alkenylcyclobutenyl)carbene complexes

A convenient, regioselective, and general synthetic method for producing highly substituted o-phenol-containing polycycles from Fischer (alkenylcyclobutenyl)carbene complexes has been described. The starting complexes have been synthesized by means of the [2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of (alkenylethynyl)carbene complexes and a range of enol ethers, and in most cases, they have proven to be stable at room temperature and therefore isolable. The key step of the synthesis consists of the thermal benzannulation reaction of these novel pentacarbonyl dienyl Fischer complexes, which is an unprecedented transformation for these kinds of complexes. The unexpected behavior of (alkenylcyclobutenyl)carbene complexes has been rationalized in terms of their geometries.     

Metal-Free Hydrosilylation of Ketenes with Silicon Electrophiles: Access to Fully Substituted Aldehyde-Derived Silyl Enol Ethers

Little-explored hydrosilylation of ketenes promoted by main-group catalysts is reported. The boron Lewis acid tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane accelerates the slow uncatalyzed reaction of ketenes and hydrosilanes, thereby providing a convenient access to the new class of β,β-di- and β-monoaryl-substituted aldehyde-derived silyl enol ethers. Yields are moderate to high, and Z configuration is preferred. The corresponding silyl bis-enol ethers are also available when using dihydrosilanes. The related trityl-cation-initiated hydrosilylation involving self-regeneration of silylium ions is far less effective.     

Enantioselective Addition of Cyclic Enol Silyl Ethers to 2-Alkenoyl-Pyridine-N-Oxides Catalysed by Cu(II) -Bis(oxazoline) Complexes

Asymmetric reactions involving (E)-3-aryl-1-(pyridin-2-yl-N-oxide)prop-2-en-1-ones and cyclic enol silyl ethers show good yields and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99.9?% ee) when catalysed by bis(oxazoline)-Cu(II) complexes. Different reaction pathways can be followed by different enol silyl ethers: with 2-(trimethylsilyloxy)furan, a Mukaiyama-Michael adduct is obtained, whereas a hetero Diels-Alder cycloadduct was formed by using (1,2-dihydronaphthalen-4-yloxy)trimethylsilane. In the latter reaction, the absolute configuration of the product is consistent with a reagent approach to the less hindered Re face of the coordinated substrate in the reactive complex.     

Development of the scope of a co-mediated O-->C rearrangement reaction

[reaction: see text] In this paper we describe an Al-promoted, Co-mediated O-->C rearrangement reaction of cyclic enol ethers. This process delivers functionalized cyclohexanones with good to excellent levels of diastereocontrol, whereby the product stereochemistry is dependent on the E/Z-stereochemistry of the starting enol ether. The rearrangement process also permits access to highly substituted alpha-spirocyclic cyclohexanones as well as cyclopentanones. The latter rearrangement appears to proceed via an unusual 5-(enolendo)-exo-trig cyclization process.