Functionalized cyclobutenes via multicomponent thermal [2 + 2] cycloaddition reactions

[reaction: see text] Enamine [2 + 2] cycloadditions can be achieved in useful yields simply by stirring a mixture of an aldehyde, diethylamine, a dialkyl fumarate, and potassium carbonate in acetonitrile at 25 degrees C, conditions that are compatible with the presence of a potential leaving group on the beta-position of the intermediate enamine. Methylation and elimination of the product cyclobutanes completes a mild nonphotochemical route to functionalized cyclobutenes.     

A nonconcerted cycloaddition of fused 2-vinylthiophenes with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate

Fused thiopyrans along with products of subsequent reactions of the primary adducts of the title compounds are obtained by nonconcerted [4π + 2π] processes. The course of the reactions and formation of all products discussed.     

Rh-catalyzed intermolecular and enantioselective [4 + 2] cycloaddition of 1,3-dienes with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate

A Rh-BINAP complex catalyzed an intermolecular and enantioselective [4 + 2] cycloaddition of 1-monosubstituted, 1,1- or 1,2-disubstituted buta-1,3-dienes with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate to give chiral cyclohexa-1,4-dienes.     

Cycloaddition of dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate to indoles. Isolation of a [2 + 2] adduct

Thermal reaction of 1,2,3-trimethylindole (1) and 1,3-dimethylindole (5) with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate in the presence of boron trifluoride etherate gave cyclobutene derivatives 2 and 7 that were isolated for the first time in good yields under themal conditions. In a polar solvent and with an excess of catalyst, 4-methoxy-2,4a-dihydro-4a,9-dimethyl-2-oxacarbazole 4 was obtained in yields up to 72%.     

[4+2]Cycloadditions of organometallic-substituted siloles with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate and tetracyanoethylene

1-Sila-2,4-cyclopentadienes (siloles) bearing five organyl groups and a diethylboryl group in 3-position (3), four organyl groups, a trimethylstannyl and a diethylboryl group in 2,4-positions (4), four organyl groups, a diethylboryl group in 3-position and a hydrido function at the silicon atom (5) react by [4+2]cycloaddition with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate, MeOC(O)CCC(O)OMe (1), and tetracycanoethylene, (NC)₂CC(CN)₂ (2), to give 7-silanorbornadienes (6–8) and 7-silanorbornenes (10–12), respectively. The silole 5 is converted into isomers 8 and 8′, and 12 and 12′, in which the SiMe group in each major isomer (8 and 12) occupies the syn-position with respect to the C(2)C(3) bond. The molecular structure of 10a was determined by X-ray analysis. The 7-silanorbornadiene (7) rearranges into a benzene derivative by formation of an SiO bond and 1,3-migration of the trimethylstannyl group. All products were characterised in solution by multinuclear magnetic resonance (¹H-, ¹¹B-, ¹³C-, ²⁹Si-, ¹¹⁹Sn-NMR spectroscopy). The geometries of 1,4,7,7-tetramethyl-7-silanorbornadiene, -7-silanobornene, and -7-silanorbornane were optimised by ab initio MO calculations (RHF/6-311+G(d,p) and chemical shifts δ²⁹Si were calculated (GIAO-RHF/6-311+G(d,p)).     

Annulation of furan-bridged 10-membered rings on N-heterocycles through [8+2] cycloaddition of dienylazaisobenzofurans and dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate

One-pot three-component coupling of o-alkynylheteroaryl carbonyl derivatives with α,β-unsaturated Fischer carbene complexes and dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate leading to the synthesis of heterocyclic analogues of furanophane derivatives has been explored. This involves the generation of conformationally flexible dienylazaisobenzofuran intermediate as transient intermediates, which undergo [8+2] cycloaddition reaction with dienophile. In some cases, this intermediate undergoes twofold Diels-Alder reaction to afford heterolignan derivatives in a single step.     

Synthesis of cycl[3.2.2]azine and benzo[g]cycl[3.2.2]azine derivatives by use of the [2 + 8] cycloaddition reaction of indolizines and dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate

The reaction of 1-ethoxycarbonylmethylpyridinium bromides 5a-k with nitro ketene dithioacetal, 1,1-bis-(methylthio)-2-nitroethylene ( 2 ), in the presence of triethylamine in ethanol gave the desired ethyl 2-methyl-thioindolizine-3-carboxylates 3a-k in good yields, along with ethyl 2-methylthio-1-nitroindolizine-3-carboxyl-ates 4a-d . Deesterification of 3 using sodium hydroxide in methanol followed by treatment with polyphosphoric acid gave the corresponding 2-methylthioindolizines 5a-d in good yields. The desulfurization of 5 with Raney-nickel in ethanol occurs smoothly to give the 1,2,3-unsubstituted indolizines 6a-c (a , parent indolizine; b , 8-methylindolzine; c , 6,8-dimethylindolizine). Similarly, pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinoline ( 19 ) was also synthesized. These indolizine and pyrrolo[1,2-a]isoquinoline derivatives were allowed to react with dimethyl acetylene to give the corresponding cycl[3.2.2]azine and benzo[g]cycl[3.2.2]azine derivatives in good results.     

Photochemically catalyzed ring opening of oxiranecarbonitriles and [3+2] cycloaddition with olefins: synthesis of polysubstituted tetrahydrofurans

Photoinduced electron transfer catalyzed ring opening of aryl-substituted oxiranecarbonitriles via C_β-O bond cleavage was achieved using 2,4,6-triphenylpyrylium tetrafluoroborate (TPT) as a sensitizer and subsequent [3+2] cycloaddition reaction with electron-rich olefins afforded polysubstituted tetrahydrofurans in good to moderate yields.     

Catalytic [2+2+2] and thermal [4+2] cycloaddition of 1,2-bis(arylpropiolyl)benzenes

We have determined that a cationic rhodium(I)/Segphos complex catalyzes an enantio- and diastereoselective intermolecular [2+2+2] cycloaddition of 1,2-bis(arylpropiolyl)benzenes with various monoalkynes at room temperature to give axially chiral 1,4-teraryls possessing an anthraquinone structure in good yields with good enantio- and diastereoselectivities. We have also determined that a thermal intramolecular [4+2] cycloaddition of 1,2-bis(arylpropiolyl)benzenes proceeds at 60 degrees C to give aryl-substituted naphthacenediones in moderate to good yields.     

Exploitation of sugar ring flipping for a hinge-type tether assisting a [2 + 2] cycloaddition

Methyl 3-O-p-methoxybenzyl-beta-D-xylopyranoside (2) was exploited as a novel hinge-type tether for the [2 + 2] cycloaddition of cinnamate. The major ring conformation occupied by the 2,4-dicinnamate derivative of 2 was 4C1, which extends two cinnamates along a diequatorial orientation. However, 3-O-deprotected dicinnamate 5, when in a non-polar solvent, favours the 1C4 conformation, which assists the approach of two cinnamates with the 1,3-diaxial scaffold. Photoirradiation of compound at 313 nm in CHCl3 afforded the intramolecular cycloaddition of cinnamates to give methyl beta-, delta-, and xi-truxinates in a 86 : 8 : 6 ratio after transesterification with methanol. The regio- and stereoselectivities are comparable to those reported by others for tethered cinnamates. The per-deuterated dicinnamate derivative of 5 facilitated the conformation analyses of the pyranoside rings by 1H NMR, indicating that all the products of photoirradiation had 1C4-fixed pyranosides. Excellent beta-selectivity was achieved when m-bromocinnamate was subjected to hinge-tethered [2 + 2] cycloaddition.     

Construction of C-nucleosides diversified by [3+2] cycloaddition from a sugar-based mesoionic ring

A mesoionic acyclic C-nucleoside (4), serves as the starting chiron to construct highly functionalized 2-aza-7-thiabicyclo[2.2.1]heptanes and heptenes by means of a [3+2] cycloaddition with acetylenic and olefinic dipolarophiles. Further elimination of either sulfur or hydrogen sulfide leads to acyclic C-nucleosides bearing a heterocyclic moiety of 2-pyridone.     

Mechanistic twist of the [8+2] cycloadditions of dienylisobenzofurans and dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate: stepwise [8+2] versus [4+2]/[1,5]-vinyl shift mechanisms revealed through a theoretical and experimental study

Recently, it was reported that both dienylfurans and dienylisobenzofurans could react with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (DMAD) to give [8+2] cycloadducts. Understanding these [8+2] reactions will aid the design of additional [8+2] reactions, which have the potential for the synthesis of 10-membered and larger carbocycles. The present Article is aimed to understand the detailed mechanisms of the originally reported [8+2] cycloaddition reaction between dienylisobenzofurans and alkynes at the molecular level through the joint forces of computation and experiment. Density functional theory calculations at the (U)B3LYP/6-31+G(d) level suggest that the concerted [8+2] pathway between dienylisobenzofurans and alkynes is not favored. A stepwise reaction pathway involving formation of a zwitterionic intermediate for the [8+2] reactions between dienylisobenzofurans that contain electron-donating methoxy groups present in their diene moieties and DMAD has been predicted computationally. This pathway is in competition with a Diels-Alder [4+2] reaction between the furan moieties of dienylisobenzofurans and DMAD. When there is no electron-donating group present in the diene moieties of dienylisobenzofurans, the [8+2] reaction occurs through an alternative mechanism involving a [4+2] reaction between the furan moiety of the tetraene and DMAD, followed by a [1,5]-vinyl shift. This computationally predicted novel mechanism was supported experimentally.     

Concerted, highly asynchronous, enzyme-catalyzed [4 + 2] cycloaddition in the biosynthesis of spinosyn A; computational evidence

A theoretical study has been carried out on model systems to study a recently reported, (Nature, 2011, 473, 109) biosynthetic, [4 + 2] cycloaddition catalyzed by a stand-alone enzyme (the cyclase SpnF). It was suggested in this paper that SpnF is the first known example of a Diels-Alderase (DA). In the present study, for a model system of the substrate a transition structure was found with density functional calculations (DFT). In addition, the intrinsic reaction coordinate calculations indicated that the transition structure is that of a concerted, but highly asynchronous, DA reaction. Based on the DFT and M?ller-Plesset second order calculations the activation energy was estimated to be about 15 kcal mol(-1). The results of a natural population analysis indicated that there is significant charge transfer in the transition state, and it is proposed that possibly the enzyme plays a dual role of not only folding the substrate into the proper conformation for the DA reaction to occur, but also lowering its activation energy by stabilization of the highly polarized transition structure.     

On the regioselectivity of the Ru-catalyzed intramolecular [5 + 2] cycloaddition

The influence of substituents on which cyclopropyl bond cleaves in the cycloisomerization of cyclopropylenynes catalyzed by CpRu(N&tbd1;CCH(3))(3)(+)PF(6)(-) is compared to the corresponding Rh-catalyzed reaction. With the trans cyclopropyl substrates, the bond energy of the cleaving bond appears to be an important factor. With cis cyclopropyl substrates, steric effects appear to dominate.     

The fascinating construction of pyridine ring systems by transition metal-catalysed [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition reactions

Cycloaddition reactions compose one of the most important classes of reactions when it comes to the simultaneous formation of several bonds in one reaction step. The de novo construction of carbocyclic aromatic systems from acetylenes was also found as an excellent possibility for the assembly of heteroaromatic systems. The transition metal-catalysed [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction constitutes a fascinating tool for the synthesis of pyridines from nitriles and the most recent developments demonstrate the ability to control the substitution pattern as well as the possibility of introducing chirality by the use of achiral substrates and a chiral catalyst under mild conditions. In this tutorial review we are focusing on the de novo construction of pyridine ring systems by the transition metal-catalysed [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction. After surveying the mechanistic features and intermediates of the reaction depending on the different metal complexes used, we depict the preparation of achiral pyridine derivatives. The last section describes the advances in the synthesis of chiral pyridines and biaryls using the cyclotrimerization method. The various possibilities of introducing chirality by catalytic means are presented and illustrated by instructive examples. This review will be of interest for people active in: Organic Chemistry, Organometallic Chemistry, Transition Metal Chemistry, Stereoselective Synthesis, Heterocyclic Chemistry.     

Rhodium N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed [4 + 2] and [5 + 2] cycloaddition reactions

[reactions: see text] A rhodium complex of N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) has been developed for intra- and intermolecular [4 + 2] and intramolecular [5 + 2] cycloaddition reactions. This is the first use of a transition-metal NHC complex in a Diels-Alder-type reaction. For the intramolecular [4 + 2] cycloaddition reactions, all the dienynes studied were converted to their corresponding cycloadducts in 91-99% yields within 10 min. Moreover, up to 1900 turnovers have been obtained for the intramolecular [4 + 2] cycloaddition at 15-20 degrees C. For the intermolecular [4 + 2] cycloadditions, high yields (71-99%) of the corresponding cycloaddition products were obtained. The reaction time and yield were highly dependent upon the diene and the dienophile. For the intramolecular [5 + 2] cycloaddition reactions, all the alkyne vinylcyclopropanes studied were converted to their corresponding cycloadducts in 91-98% yields within 10 min. However, the catalytic system was not effective for an intermolecular [5 + 2] cycloaddition reaction.     

Catalytic enantioselective [2 + 4] and [2 + 2] cycloaddition reactions with propiolamides

We report here the catalytic and highly enantioselective [2 + 4] and [2 + 2] cycloaddition reactions of electron-rich dienes or silyl enol ethers with electron-deficient propiolamide derivatives induced by copper(II).3-(2-naphthyl)-L-alanine amide complex.