New synthesis of multisubstituted cyanocyclopropanes by the intramolecular SN2 alkylation and 1,3-CC insertion reaction of magnesium carbenoids as the key reactions

Addition reaction of 1-chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides derived from ketones and aldehydes with lithium α-cyano carbanions gave nitrile adducts in high to quantitative yields. Treatment of the nitrile adducts derived from acetonitrile with excess i-PrMgCl in THF resulted in the formation of cyanocyclopropanes via the intramolecular S_N2 alkylation of the generated magnesium carbenoids. The intermediate of this reaction was proved to be a cyclopropylmagnesium chloride and was reactive with electrophiles to give multisubstituted cyanocyclopropanes. On the other hand, the reaction of the nitrile adducts derived from arylacetonitriles with i-PrMgCl resulted in the formation of 2-arylcyanocyclopropanes by the 1,3-carbon–carbon (1,3-CC) insertion reaction of the generated magnesium carbenoid intermediates. This reaction was found to proceed in a highly stereospecific manner. The key reactions, intramolecular S_N2 alkylation and 1,3-CC insertion reaction of the magnesium carbenoids, are the first examples for the reaction of the magnesium carbenoids bearing a nitrile functional group.     

Synthesis of conjugated enynes by assembly of three components, ketones, chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide, and acetylenes, with the magnesium carbenoid 1,2-CC insertion as the key reaction

The reaction of 1-chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides, which were derived from ketones and chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide, with lithium acetylides gave adducts in moderate to good yields. Treatment of the adducts with Grignard reagents resulted in the formation of magnesium carbenoids by the sulfoxide-magnesium exchange reaction. 1,2-Carbon-carbon insertion (1,2-CC insertion) reaction of the generated magnesium carbenoids took place to afford conjugated enynes in good to high yields. This procedure provides a good method for the synthesis of multi-substituted conjugated enynes.     

A new synthesis, including asymmetric synthesis, of alkylidenecyclopropanes by 1,2-CC insertion of cyclobutylmagnesium carbenoides as the key reaction

Treatment of 1-chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides, derived from ketones and chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide, with lithium enolate of carboxylic acid tert-butyl esters gave adducts in high yields. The adducts were converted to 1-chlorocyclobutyl p-tolyl sulfoxides in four steps in high overall yields. Treatment of the 1-chlorocyclobutyl p-tolyl sulfoxides with cyclopentylmagnesium chloride in THF at −40 °C resulted in the formation of cyclobutylmagnesium carbenoids. The magnesium carbenoid 1,2-CC insertion reaction took place smoothly from the cyclobutylmagnesium carbenoids to afford alkylidenecyclopropanes in good to high yields. An asymmetric synthesis of optically active alkylidenecyclopropane was successfully achieved starting from optically active 1-chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxide.     

The first example of regiospecific magnesium carbenoid 1,3-CH insertion: its mechanism and stereochemistry

Addition reaction of two geometrical isomers of 1-chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides, derived from unsymmetrical ketones and chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide, with lithium enolate of tert-butyl acetate gave single isomers of the adduct, respectively. Treatment of each diastereomer with i-PrMgCl resulted in the formation of magnesium carbenoids. Highly regiospecific 1,3-CH insertion reaction was found to take place from the magnesium carbenoids to afford cyclopropanes in high yields. Stereochemistry of the adducts, reaction mechanism, and origin of the regiospecificity are discussed.     

Synthesis of 2-azabicyclo[2.1.0]pentanes by the intramolecular nucleophilic substitution of cyclopropylmagnesium carbenoids with magnesium anilide

A variety of 2-azabicyclo[2.1.0]pentanes were synthesized by the intramolecular nucleophilic substitution of cyclopropylmagnesium carbenoids with magnesium anilide. The 1-chlorocyclopropyl p-tolyl sulfoxides possessing an N-aryl-substituted aminomethyl group were prepared from dichloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide, α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid esters, and anilines in four steps. The deprotonation of the amine with t-BuMgCl followed by sulfoxide/magnesium exchange of the sulfoxides with i-PrMgCl led to the generation of the cyclopropylmagnesium carbenoids possessing a magnesium anilide moiety. Subsequent intramolecular nucleophilic substitution of the cyclopropylmagnesium carbenoids occurred in a 4-exo-tet manner to give the 2-azabicyclo[2.1.0]pentanes. The optically active 2-azabicyclo[2.1.0]pentane was synthesized using a p-tolylsulfinyl group as a chiral auxiliary.     

Asymmetric synthesis of bicyclo[n.1.0]alkanes by the enantioselective 1,3-CH insertion reaction of chiral magnesium carbenoids

Treatment of enantiomerically pure 1-chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides, derived from cyclic ketones and (R)-chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide, with the lithium enolate of tert-butyl carboxylates gave adducts in quantitative yields as single diastereomers. The adducts were treated with i-PrMgCl in toluene to afford optically active bicyclo[n.1.0]alkanes bearing a tert-butyl carboxylate moiety in up to 99% enantiomeric excess through the enantioselective 1,3-CH insertion reaction of the generated chiral magnesium carbenoids. This is the first example of the enantioselective 1,3-CH insertion reaction of magnesium carbenoid.     

A new synthesis of β,γ-unsaturated esters from three components, aldehydes, chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide, and tert-butyl acetate, via magnesium carbenoid 1,2-CH and 1,2-CC insertion as the key reaction

Addition reaction of 1-chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides, which were derived from various aldehydes, with lithium enolate of tert-butyl acetate at −78 °C in THF gave adducts in high yields. Magnesium carbenoids were generated by treatment of these adducts with Grignard reagents via the sulfoxide-magnesium exchange reaction. When the adducts were derived from alkyl aldehydes or electron-deficient aromatic aldehydes, carbenoid 1,2-CH insertion reaction took place from the magnesium carbenoids to afford β,γ-unsaturated butyric esters having a substituent at the β-position. On the contrary, when the adducts were derived from electron-rich aromatic aldehydes, carbenoid 1,2-CC insertion reaction took place from the magnesium carbenoids to give β,γ-unsaturated butyric esters having the aromatic group at the γ-position. Highly stereospecific 1,2-CC insertion reactions were observed in the latter reactions. This procedure provides a good way for a synthesis of β,γ-unsaturated esters from aldehydes with two carbon-carbon bond-formations.     

Synthesis,including asymmetric synthesis,of 3-oxabicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes and bicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes by the 1,5-CH insertion of cyclopropylmagnesium carbenoids as the key reaction

The addition reactions of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds with dichloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide in the presence of NaHMDS or LDA resulted in the formation of adducts, 1-chlorocyclopropyl p-tolyl sulfoxides bearing a carbonyl group at the 2-position, in almost quantitative yields. The carbonyl group of the adducts was transformed to various ether groups to give 1-chlorocyclopropyl p-tolyl sulfoxides bearing an ether functional group at the 2-position in short steps. Treatment of these products with i-PrMgCl at low temperature afforded cyclopropylmagnesium carbenoids via the sulfoxide-magnesium exchange reaction. 1,5-Carbon–hydrogen insertion (1,5-CH insertion) reaction of the generated magnesium carbenoid intermediates took place to give 3-oxabicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes or bicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes bearing an ether group at the 4-position in moderate to good yields. When this procedure was carried out starting with enantiopure dichloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide, enantiopure 3-oxabicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes were obtained in good overall yields. These procedures provide a good way for the synthesis, including asymmetric synthesis, of multisubstituted 3-oxabicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes and bicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes from α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds and dichloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide in short steps.     

Alkenylation of thiophenes and furans at the 2-position and a synthesis of allenes conjugated with α,β-unsaturated ester with magnesium alkylidene carbenoids

The reaction of 1-chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides, derived from ketones and chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide, with i-PrMgCl at −78 °C gave magnesium alkylidene carbenoids. Treatment of the magnesium carbenoids with 2-lithiothiophenes and 2-lithiofurans resulted in the formation of 2-alkenylated thiophenes and furans, respectively, in good to high yields. The intermediates of these reactions were found to be alkenylmagnesium, which could be trapped with several electrophiles to afford thiophenes and furans bearing a fully substituted alkene at the 2-position. Treatment of the magnesium alkylidene carbenoids with 2-lithio-5-methoxyfuran afforded allenes conjugated with α,β-unsaturated methyl ester in moderate yields. These procedures offer a new and versatile one-pot synthesis of 2-alkenylthiophenes, 2-alkenylfurans, and allenes conjugated with α,β-unsaturated methyl ester from 1-chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides.     

A synthesis of di- and tri-substituted β,γ-unsaturated esters from aldehydes by the magnesium carbenoid 1,2-CH and 1,2-CC insertion as the key reaction

Addition reaction of 1-chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides, which were derived from aldehydes, with lithium enolate of tert-butyl acetate at −78 °C in THF gave adducts in high yields. Treatment of these adducts with Grignard reagents resulted in the formation of magnesium carbenoids via the sulfoxide-magnesium exchange reaction. When the adducts were derived from alkyl aldehydes or electron-deficient aromatic aldehydes, carbenoid 1,2-CH insertion reaction took place from the magnesium carbenoids to afford β,γ-unsaturated butyric esters having a substituent at the β-position. On the other hand, when the adducts were derived from electron-rich aromatic aldehydes, carbenoid 1,2-CC insertion reaction took place from the magnesium carbenoids to give β,γ-unsaturated butyric esters having the aromatic group at the γ-position. Highly stereospecific 1,2-CC insertion reactions were observed in the latter reactions. When the addition reactions were quenched with iodoalkanes, the alkylated adducts were obtained in quantitative yields. Tri-substituted β,γ-unsaturated esters, or in some case γ,δ-unsaturated esters, were obtained by the treatment of the alkylated adducts with EtMgCl. These procedures provide a good way for a new synthesis of di- and tri-substituted β,γ-unsaturated esters from aldehydes with two or three carbon-carbon bond-formations.     

One-carbon ring-expansion of 2-substituted cyclohexanones via lithium- and magnesium β-oxido carbenoid rearrangement: a new synthesis of 2,7-disubstituted and 2,2,7-trisubstituted cycloheptanones

Lithium α-sulfinyl carbanion of 1-chloroethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide was reacted with 2-substituted cyclohexanones to afford adducts in good yields. The adducts were treated with LDA or t-BuMgCl to give lithium or magnesium alkoxides, which were treated with t-BuLi or i-PrMgCl to afford one-carbon ring-expanded 2,7-disubstituted cycloheptanones through β-oxido carbenoids. Interestingly, 2,3-disubstituted cycloheptanones were obtained in a trace amount or were not obtained at all. The enolate intermediates of this reaction were found to be able to get trapped with electrophiles to give 2,2,7-trisubstituted cycloheptanones in moderate to good yields. This method is very useful for the synthesis of 2,7-disubstituted cycloheptanones and 2,2,7-trisubstituted cycloheptanones from 2-substituted cyclohexanones in only two steps.     

Reaction of magnesium alkylidene carbenoids with lithium acetylides and lithium thiolates: a novel synthesis of conjugated enynes and vinyl sulfides

Magnesium alkylidene carbenoids were generated from 1-chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides with i-PrMgCl at −78 °C in THF or toluene via the sulfoxide-magnesium exchange reaction. Reaction of the generated magnesium alkylidene carbenoids with lithium acetylides or lithium thiolates gave conjugated enynes or vinyl sulfides, respectively, in moderate to good yields. The intermediate of this reaction was found to be the alkenyl anion and it could be trapped with some electrophiles to give tetra-substituted conjugated enynes and vinyl sulfides.     

Synthesis of cyclopropane-fused α-chlorolactones utilizing the nucleophilicity of cyclopropylmagnesium carbenoids

A novel method for the synthesis of cyclopropane-fused α-chloro-γ-lactones was developed utilizing the nucleophilicity of cyclopropylmagnesium carbenoids. Cyclopropylmagnesium carbenoids were generated from i-PrMgCl and 1-chlorocyclopropyl p-tolyl sulfoxides with a [(phenoxycarbonyl)oxy]methyl group at the 2-position of the cyclopropane ring. The resulting cyclopropylmagnesium carbenoids reacted with an intramolecular carbonate unit to give 1-chloro-3-oxabicyclo[3.1.0]hexan-2-ones in moderate to good yields. The asymmetric synthesis of 1-chloro-3-oxabicyclo[3.1.0]hexan-2-one was achieved using optically active dichloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide as a starting material.     

Synthesis, including asymmetric synthesis, of 1-substituted cyclopentenes from cyclobutanones with one-carbon ring-expansion by 1,2-carbon-carbon insertion of magnesium carbenoids

Treatment of 1-chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides, which were derived from cyclobutanones and chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide, with lithium enolate of tert-butyl carboxylates, amides, lithium α-sulfonyl carbanions, and lithium α-carbanion of acetonitrile gave adducts in high to quantitative yields. The adducts were treated with Grignard regents, such as i-PrMgCl and EtMgCl in toluene to afford 1-substituted cyclopentenes in good to high yields with one-carbon ring-expansion via 1,2-carbon-carbon (1,2-CC) insertion reaction of the generated magnesium carbenoid intermediates. The magnesium carbenoid 1,2-CC insertion was found to be highly stereospecific. When optically pure chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide was used in this procedure, optically active 1-substituted cyclopentenes were obtained in high optical purity.     

A new synthesis of α,α-disubstituted carbonyl compounds from carbonyl compounds with one-carbon homologation

Lithium α-sulfinyl carbanions of 1-chloroalkyl p-tolyl sulfoxides were reacted with carbonyl compounds to afford adducts in high to quantitative yields. The adducts were treated with t-BuMgCl or LDA to give magnesium or lithium alkoxides, which were treated with i-PrMgCl or t-BuLi to afford the enolate with one-carbon elongation through β-oxido carbenoids. The enolate intermediates were found to be able to be trapped with electrophiles to give α,α-disubstituted carbonyl compounds in moderate to good yields. As a whole, this procedure offers a new and good method for synthesis of α,α-disubstituted carbonyl compounds from carbonyl compounds with one-carbon homologation in only two synthetic steps.     

Synthesis of conjugated enynes from ketones and aldehydes by 1,2-CC insertion and 1,2-CH insertion of carbenoids as the key reactions

The addition reactions of 1-chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides, which were derived from ketones and chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide, with lithium acetylides gave adducts in moderate to good yields. Treatment of the adducts with Grignard reagents resulted in the formation of conjugated enynes in good to high yields via the 1,2-carbon-carbon insertion (1,2-CC insertion) reaction of the generated magnesium carbenoid intermediates. On the other hand, the addition reactions of 1-chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides derived from aldehydes with lithium acetylides directly gave conjugated enynes bearing a p-tolyl sulfinyl group at the 1-position through the 1,2-carbon-hydrogen insertion (1,2-CH insertion) reaction of the generated lithium carbenoid intermediates. These procedures provide a good way for the synthesis of multi-substituted conjugated enynes from ketones and aldehydes.     

Direct N- and C-alkenylation of nitrogen-containing heterocycles with magnesium alkylidene carbenoids

Treatment of magnesium alkylidene carbenoids, which were generated from 1-chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides with isopropylmagnesium chloride at −78 °C in toluene, with N-lithio nitrogen-containing heterocycles gave N-alkenylated products in moderate to good yields. Also, the reaction of C-lithio indoles, which were generated from N-protected indoles, with magnesium alkylidene carbenoids gave C-2 or C-3 alkenylated products, corresponding to the protective group. The intermediate of these reactions were found to be the alkenyl anion, which could be trapped with electrophiles to give the heterocycles having fully substituted alkenes.     

A synthesis of esters, amides, and sulfones bearing a 1-cyclopentenyl group at the α-position from cyclobutanones with one-carbon ring-expansion

Treatment of 1-chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides, derived from cyclobutanones and chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide, with lithium enolate of carboxylic acid tert-butyl esters, lithium enolate of carboxylic acid N,N-dimethylamides, or lithium α-carbanion of alkyl phenyl sulfones gave adducts in high yields. The adducts were treated with isopropylmagnesium chloride or ethylmagnesium chloride in dry toluene to give esters, amides, and sulfones bearing a 1-cyclopentenyl group at the α-position in moderate to good yields with one-carbon ring-expansion via magnesium carbenoid 1,2-CC insertion reaction. The magnesium carbenoid 1,2-CC insertion reaction proved to be highly stereospecific. The reaction mechanism and origin of the specificity are described.     

A versatile synthesis, including asymmetric synthesis, of bicyclo[n.1.0]alkanes from cyclic ketones via the magnesium carbenoid 1,3-CH insertion as a key reaction

Treatment of 1-chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides, which were synthesized from various cyclic ketones and chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide in three steps, in high yields, with lithium enolate of tert-butyl acetate or its homologues gave the adducts in quantitative yields. The adducts were treated with isopropylmagnesium chloride in ether in dry toluene as the reaction solvent to afford bicyclo[n.1.0]alkanes in high to quantitative yields via magnesium carbenoid 1,3-CH insertion. When this method was carried out starting from unsymmetrical cyclic ketones and (R)-chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide, an asymmetric synthesis of bicyclo[n.1.0]alkane was realized.     

Direct alkenylation of arylamines at the ortho-position

Treatment of magnesium alkylidene carbenoids, which were generated from 1-chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides with isopropylmagnesium chloride at −78 °C in toluene, with N-lithio arylamines gave ortho-alkenylated arylamines in moderate to good yields. The reaction was found to proceed in a highly stereospecific manner at the carbenoid carbon. This reaction offers a quite novel and direct alkenylation of arylamines at the ortho-position of the aromatic ring.