Stereoselective synthesis of functionalized pyrrolidines by ruthenium porphyrin-catalyzed decomposition of alpha-diazo esters and cascade azomethine ylide formation/1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions

[reaction: see text] Ruthenium porphyrins catalyze three-component coupling reaction of alpha-diazo esters with a series of N-benzylidene imines and alkenes to form functionalized pyrrolidines in excellent diastereoselectivities. The reaction proceeds via a reactive ruthenium-carbene intermediate and its subsequent reaction with imine to generate azomethine ylide, which reacts with alkenes via 1,3-diploar cycloaddition.     

Regioselective nucleophilic addition to carbonyl ylide intermediates: a novel diastereoselective synthesis of cycloalkyl fused furan-3-ones

[structures: see text] A range of cis-fused hexahydro-1-benzofuran-3(2H)-one or tetrahydro-2H-cyclopenta[b]furan-3(3aH)-one ring systems was synthesized by the rhodium(II) acetate catalyzed reaction of alpha-diazo carbonyl compounds in the presence of various oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur nucleophiles. A double-nucleophilic addition was possible by using an excess of alpha-diazo ketone. These reactions proceeded with complete diastereoselectivity, and the stereochemistry was confirmed by the single-crystal X-ray analysis. This process discloses the first example of tandem cyclization-nucleophilic addition reaction.     

Simple preparation of alpha-diazo esters

[reaction: see text] The TiCl4-mediated reaction of an ester with benzoyl chloride results in high yields of the alpha-benzoylated ester. Diazo transfer of the benzoylated ester utilizing p-acetoamidobenzenesulfonyl azide affords the alpha-diazo ester in good yield. Using this simplified procedure, it is easy to prepare gram quantities of alpha-diazo esters.     

Cyclization-cycloaddition casade of rhodium carbenoids using different carbonyl groups. Highlighting the position of interaction

A series of 3-diazoalkanediones, when treated with a catalytic quantity of a rhodium(II) carboxylate, were found to afford oxabicyclic dipolar cycloadducts derived by the trapping of a carbonyl ylide intermediate. The reaction involves generation of the 1,3-dipole by intramolecular cyclization of the keto carbenoid onto the oxygen atom of the neighboring keto group. Both five- and six-ring carbonyl ylides are formed with the same efficiency. A study of the tandem cyclization-cycloaddition cascade of several alpha-diazo ketoesters was also carried out, and the cascade sequence proceeded in high yield. When the interacting keto carbonyl group was replaced by an imido group, the rhodium(II)-catalyzed reaction proceeded uneventfully. In contrast, alpha-diazo amidoesters do not undergo nitrogen extrusion on treatment with a Rh(II) catalyst. Instead, the diazo portion of the molecule undergoes 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition with various dipolarophiles to give substituted pyrazoles as the final products.     

An approach toward isoindolobenzazepines using the ammonium ylide/Stevens

Ammonium ylides derived from the Cu(II)-catalyzed decomposition of alpha-diazo carbonyls tethered to tertiary amines underwent a benzylic Stevens [1,2]-rearrangement to give tetrahydroisoquinolines or benzazepines containing fused five-membered rings, a feature found in the cephalotaxus alkaloids. Model studies were also carried out toward the synthesis of lennoxamine, a member of the isoindolobenzazepine family of alkaloids. The approach utilized is based on the Rh(II)-catalyzed reaction of an alpha-diazo carbonyl compound containing an amido group in the gamma-position. Treatment of several N,N-dialkyl-substituted amido diazo-esters with Rh2(OAc)4 in benzene at 80 degrees C in the presence of several dienophiles gave [4 + 2]-cycloadducts derived from the Diels-Alder reaction of a transient alpha-amino isobenzofuran intermediate. In the absence of an external trapping agent, no rearranged product derived from an ammonium ylide intermediate could be detected in the crude reaction mixture. In contrast to this result, reaction of the related diazo dihydroisoquinoline amide 46 with Rh2(OAc)4 afforded the isoindolobenzazepine ring system in high yield. Formation of the 5,7-fused skeleton was rationalized in terms of a spirocyclic ammonium ylide that underwent a preferential Stevens [1,2]-shift of the benzylic carbon atom. While we were ultimately thwarted in using the ammonium ylide/rearrangement cascade for a lennoxamine synthesis by an uncooperative diazo transfer reaction, the cascade sequence was shown to be useful for the preparation of various isoindolobenzazepines.     

Unusual reaction of beta-hydroxy alpha-diazo carbonyl compounds with Cl3CCN/NaH and Rh(II)-catalyzed reaction of beta-trichloroacetylamino alpha-diazo carbonyl compounds

The hydroxyl group was directly converted into the trichloroacetylamino group by reacting beta-hydroxy alpha-diazo carbonyl compounds with Cl(3)CCN and NaH. Rh(II)-catalyzed reactions of the beta-amino alpha-diazo carbonyl compounds were discussed. [reaction: see text]     

Copper-catalyzed [4 + 1] cycloadditions of alpha,beta-acetylenic ketones with diazoacetates to form trisubstituted furans

Copper-catalyzed [4 + 1] cycloaddition reaction of alpha,beta-acetylenic ketones with alpha-diazo esters offers an efficient, direct route to highly substituted furans. The reaction conditions and the scope of the process are examined, and a possible mechanism is proposed.     

Stereoselective intramolecular 1,3 C-H insertion in Rh(II) carbene reactions

[reaction: see text] 1,3 C-H insertion has been found to be a predominant reaction pathway in the Rh(II)-mediated reaction of beta-tosyl alpha-diazo carbonyl compounds.     

1,2-vinyl and 1,2-acetylenyl migration in Rh(II) carbene reaction: remarkable bystander effect

A series of beta-(trichloroacetyl)amino alpha-diazo carbonyl compounds have been synthesized, and their Rh(II)-catalyzed reaction was investigated. 1,2-Migration was the predominant reaction pathway, and the migratory aptitude was found to be dramatically affected by the beta-substituents. The 1,2-vinyl and 1,2-acetylenyl group migration occurs preferentially in the presence of beta-hydrogen in Rh(2)(OAc)(4)-catalyzed reaction of beta-(trichloroacetyl)amino alpha-diazo carbonyl compounds. A possible reaction mechanism is discussed.     

2-Diazoacetoacetic acid, an efficient and convenient reagent for the synthesis of alpha-diazo-beta-ketoesters

The formation of various alpha-diazo acetoacetic esters can be obtained in a single transformation with good to excellent yields using readily available 2-diazoacetoacetic acid.     

Cu(I)-carbenoid- and Ag(I)-Lewis acid-catalyzed asymmetric intermolecular insertion of alpha-diazo compounds into N-H bonds

Chiral Cu(I)-bisoxazoline- and Cu(I)-PN-complexes were found to catalyze the intermolecular insertion of alpha-diazo compounds into N-H bonds. The insertion reactions proceed with enantioselectivities of up to 28% ee for the different alpha-diazo acetates into one of the N-H bonds of different amines. Analogous chiral Ag(I) complexes were found to give higher enantioselectivities of up to 48% ee, however, lower yields were obtained. There are indications, that the Ag(I)-mediated reactions follow a different reaction mechanism compared to the Cu(I)-catalyzed insertions. It is demonstrated that different alpha-amino acid derivatives can be obtained via this approach in good yields and with low to moderate enantioselectivities. However, the results obtained are the highest asymmetric inductions obtained for an intermolecular N-H insertion via chiral carbene complexes or chiral Lewis acid catalysis.     

1,2-Thio group migration in Rh(II) carbene reactions

[reaction: see text] A series of beta-thio group substituted alpha-diazo carbonyl compounds have been prepared by nucleophilic substitution reactions of thiophenol, thionaphthol, or benzyl mercaptan with beta-acetoxy-alpha-diazo carbonyl compounds. The diazo decomposition of these diazo carbonyl compounds with various transition metal catalysts, including Rh(II) carboxylates and Cu(I) and Cu(II) complexes, has been investigated. It was found that the diazo decomposition of these compounds gave 1,2-thio group migration products. No 1,2-hydride or 1,2-aryl migration products were observed in all cases.     

Fragmentation of peptides with N-terminal dimethylation and imine/methylol adduction at the tryptophan side-chain

The reaction between formaldehyde and the side-chain of tryptophan results in a methylol adduct. This methylol adduct formation also occurs during reductive methylation reactions. In the current study, we investigate the fragmentation pattern of peptides with N-terminal dimethylation and methylol adduction at the tryptophan side-chain. Once formed, the methylol group can easily undergo water loss to form an imine. The peptides with imine or methylol adduct on tryptophan exhibit similar MS/MS fragmentation patterns. We observed ions resulting from an intramolecular reaction between the dimethylamino group at the peptide N-terminus or the lysine side-chain and the imine group. This reaction reduces the imine to a methyl group. We also observed the loss of the imine adduct on tryptophan. This reaction is likely to occur through the reaction of an amino or hydroxyl group with the imine adduct followed by subsequent loss of methylenimine or formaldehyde.     

Synthesis and characterization of chiral iron carbonyl complexes from imine ligands with carbohydrates and amino acids as substituents

Imine ligands derived from 6-amino-6-desoxy-1,2,3-O-trimethyl--d-glucopyranose or from various amino acid esters react with Fe₂(CO)₉ to give chiral iron carbonyl complexes. Derivatives produced from benzaldehyde react via a C–H activation reaction in ortho-position with respect to the exocyclic imine substituent followed by an intramolecular hydrogen transfer reaction of the activated hydrogen towards the former imine carbon atom. The molecular structure of the diiron hexacarbonyl complexes of benzylideneamino-l-phenylalanine ethyl ester and benzylideneamino-l-methionine methyl ester were characterized by means of X-ray structure determinations. Imines produced from cinnamaldehyde upon reaction with Fe₂(CO)₉ produce mononuclear iron tricarbonyl complexes with the imine ligand being coordinated in a η⁴-fashion.     

Asymmetric synthesis of cis-5-substituted pyrrolidine 2-phosphonates using metal carbenoid NH insertion and delta-amino beta-ketophosphonates

Cis-5-substituted pyrrolidine phosphonates, proline surrogates, are prepared by a highly stereoselective intramolecular metal carbenoid N-H insertion from a sulfinimine-derived delta-amino alpha-diazo beta-ketophosphonate. [reaction: see text]     

Friedel-Crafts reactions catalyzed by samarium diiodide

Samarium diiodide is an efficient precatalyst for the Friedel-Crafts reaction involving various aromatic substrates and chelating electrophiles. Alkyl 3,3,3-trifluoropyruvates are transformed into α-hydroxyesters in good yields with total regioselectivity. In reactions involving an ethyl glyoxylate or a glyoxylic imine, α-hydroxyesters or α-aminoesters are obtained with variable amounts of products resulting from a double Friedel-Crafts reaction.     

Electronic effects in migratory groups. [1,4]-versus[1,2]-rearrangement in rhodium carbenoid generated bicyclic oxonium ylides

The variety of alpha-diazo beta-keto esters (3a-f, 8a-f) with varying substituents (ED/EW) on the phenyl ring of the O-benzyl group were prepared. The rhodium(II) acetate catalyzed decomposition of diazo compounds in benzene reflux conditions. The ratio of 1,4 versus 1,2 migration product was determined. It was found that an increase in electron density on the benzylic carbon of the migrating group prefers 1,4 migration products (4, 9) while a decrease in electron density leads to a preponderance of 1,2 migration products (5, 10). The results obtained were correlated to the mechanistic aspect of the product selectivity. The intermediacy of the intramolecular oxonium ylide formation was demonstrated by crossover experiments. The preference for the formation of 2,3 sigmatropic rearrangement product over 1,2 and 1,4 was demonstrated by performing the reaction with alpha-diazo beta-keto esters (13a, 13b) with O-allyl and O-propargyl at C3. The effect of solvent, temperature, and mole percentage of rhodium(II) acetate was also studied.     

Synthesis of (+/-)-3H-epivincamine via a Rh(II)-triggered cyclization/cycloaddition cascade

A synthesis of (+/-)-3H-epivincamine is reported. Important steps include (1) a Rh(II)-catalyzed intramolecular [3+2]-cycloaddition of an alpha-diazo indolo amide, (2) a reductive ring opening of the cycloadduct, (3) a decarboethoxylation reaction, and (4) a base-induced keto-amide ring contraction.     

The mutual influence of the imine substituents of terephthal-bis-imines concerning their reactivity towards Fe2(CO)9

The reaction of terephthal-bis-imines with Fe₂(CO)₉ proceeds via a C---H activation reaction in the ortho position with respect to one of the imine functions. The corresponding hydrogen atom is shifted towards the former imine carbon atom producing a methylene group instead. The dinuclear iron complexes formed by this reaction sequence and showing no coordination of the second imine group were isolated from reactions of bis-imines with both phenyl and cyclohexyl substituents at the imine nitrogen atoms. In addition, we observed three different reaction pathways of the second imine substituent of the starting material which is obviously thus influenced by the fact that the first one is coordinating an Fe₂(CO)₆ moiety. If the organic substituent at the imine nitrogen atoms is a phenyl group the formation of a trinuclear complex is achieved in which an additional Fe(CO)₃ group is coordinating the CN double bond and one of the carbon---carbon bonds of the central phenyl ring in an η⁴-fashion. The same reaction leads to the isolation of a tetranuclear iron---carbonyl compound in which both imine substituents were transformed via the pathway described above, each building up dinuclear subunits. In contrast to this the reaction of a bis-imine with cyclohexyl groups at the imine nitrogen and thus an enhanced nucleophilicity leads to the formation of a tetranuclear complex in which only one imine group reacts under C---H activation with subsequent hydrogen migration towards the former imine carbon atom. The second imine substituent also shows a C---H activation reaction in the ortho position with respect to the imine group but the corresponding hydrogen atom is transferred to one of the aromatic carbon atom of the central phenyl ring of the ligand. The C=N double bond remains unreacted and only coordinates the second Fe₂(CO)₆ moiety via the nitrogen lone pair.     

Electronic and steric control in regioselective addition reactions of organolithium reagents with enaldimines

A reaction mode of imines derived from naphthalene-1-carbaldehyde and acyclic alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes with organolitium reagents was dependent on the characteristic nature of a substituent on the imine nitrogen atom. An imine having an electron-withdrawing aryl group on the nitrogen atom behaves as a 1,2-directing imine toward organolithium reagents. In contrast, an imine bearing an alkyl or a bulky aryl group favors 1,4-addition of organolithium reagents. Electronic and steric tuning of a substituent on the imine nitrogen atom for a reaction mode was rationalized on the basis of molecular orbital calculations.