Stereoselective Reactions of Phthalimido-Substituted Radicals Derived from (±)-Threonine: A comparison with reactions of N-phthaloyliminium ions

Stereoselective reactions of phthalimido-substituted radicals derived from (±)-threonine with different radical traps are reported (Scheme 3, Table 1). A strong influence of the nature of the radical trap on the stereoselectivity was noticed. Small nucleophilic radical traps gave preferentially the syn products. The observed selectivities are explained with the A^1,3 strain model and depend on steric and electronic effects (Fig. 2). Reactions with electrophilic radical traps such as diphenyl diselenide gave the anti diastereoisomers with moderate stereocontrol, presumably due to stereoelectronic effects. The same stereochemical outcome, i.e., preferential formation of the anti products, was observed for the reactions of the related N-phthaloyliminium ion (Scheme 5, Table 2). The stereochemistry of the ionic reaction is rationalized by a Felkin-Anh model (Fig. 3).     

Diastereoselective Hydrogen‐Transfer Reactions: An Experimental and DFT Study

Radical reductions of halogenated precursors bearing a heterocycle exo (α) to the carbon‐centered radical proceed with enhanced anti‐selectivity, a phenomenon that we termed “exocyclic effect”. New experimental data and DFT calculations at the BHandHLYP/TZVP level demonstrate that the origin of the exocyclic effect is linked to the strain energy required for a radical intermediate to reach its reactive conformation at the transition state (ΔE^≠_strain). Furthermore, radical reductions of constrained THP systems indicate that high 2,3‐anti inductions are reached only when the radical chain occupies an equatorial orientation. Hydride deliveries to different acyclic substrates and calculations also suggest that the higher anti‐selectivities obtained with borinate intermediates are not related to the formation of a complex mimicking an exocycle. From a broader standpoint, this study reveals important conformational factors for reactions taking place at a center vicinal to a heterocycle or an α‐alkoxy group.     

Unexpected ambidoselectivity in crossed-aldol reactions of α-oxy aldehyde trichlorosilyl enolates

The ambido-, stereo- and enantioselectivity of the phosphoramide-promoted aldol reactions of α-oxy aldehyde trichlorosilyl enolates with benzaldehyde has been investigated. Analysis of the products from α-tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy α-deuterioacetaldehyde trichlorosilyl enolate confirmed that this 1,2-bis-silyloxyethene derivative reacted as a tert-butyldimethylsilyl enolate rather than trichlorosilyl enolate in the aldol reaction with very high ambidoselectivity. The phosphoramide-coordinated trichlorosilyl group acted as an organizing center for the aldol reaction. From the aldol process, excellent anti-diastereoselectivity could be achieved. The enantioselectivity remained moderate to low for both anti- and syn-diastereomer with a wide range of phosphoramide catalysts. α-Triisopropylsilyloxy, phenoxy and benzyloxy acetaldehyde trichlorosilyl enolates also reacted in a similar fashion with benzaldehyde to give aldol products with varying degrees of selectivities.     

Some Unusual Products from the Thermal Reaction of Azulenes with Dimethyl Acetylenedicarboxylate

The thermal reaction of azulene-1-carbaldehydes 5 and 6 with excess dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (ADM) in decalin leads mainly to the formation of (1 + 1) and (1 + 2) adducts arising from the addition of ADM at the seven-membered ring of the azulenes (cf. Schemes 2 and 4). The (1 + 2) adducts are formed in a homo-Diels-Alder reaction of ADM and isomeric tricyclic carbaldehydes which are derived from the primary tricyclic carbaldehydes by reversible [1s5s]-C shifts (cf. Schemes 3 and 5). The thus formed pentacyclic carbaldehydes seem to undergo deep-seated skeletal rearrangements (cf. Scheme 7) which result finally in the formation of the formyl-tetrahydrocyclopenta[bc]acenaphthylene-tetraesters 12 and 19 , respectively. In other cases, e.g., azulene-1-carbaldehydes 7 and 8 (cf. Scheme 8), the thermal reaction with excess ADM furnishes only the already known tetracycfic (1 + 2) adducts of type anti- 26 to ‘anti’- 29 . The thermal reaction of 1,3,4,8-tetramethylazulene ( 9 ) with excess ADM in decalin resulted in the formation of two (1 + 2) and one (1 + 3) adduct in low yields (cf. Scheme 9). The latter turned out to be the 2,6-bridged barrelene derivative 32 . There are structural evidences that 32 is formed by similar pathways as the formyl-tetrahydrocyclopenta[bc]acenaphthylene-tetraesters (cf. Schemes 7 and 11). [²H₃]Me-Labelling experiments are in agreement with the proposed mechanisms (cf. Scheme 13).     

Chiral Acylsilanes in Organic Synthesis. Diastereoselective 1,2-Additions to Racemic Alkoxymethyl-Substituted Acylsilanes

The synthesis of the three alkoxymethyl-substituted acyisilanes 1 – 3 is described (Schemes 1 and 2). Their reactions with NaBH₄ as well as PhLi gave the corresponding alcohols with moderate to good diastereoisomeric induction (up to 78% de; see Table), depending upon the solvent used (Scheme 3). The results indicate that in Et₂O, the reactions with PhLi proceed via 6-membered chelates (see C in Scheme 4) leading to the products with high de's (74–78%). In THF, these chelates are not formed, and as a consequence, the additions take place with reversed and lower stereoselectivities (34–50% de).     

Stereoselectivity of the Radical Reductive Alkylation of Enamines: Importance of the Allylic 1,3-Strain Model

Radical addition to enamines using Bu₃SnH as reducing agent are reported (Schemes 2 and 4). The diastereoselectivity of these reactions was examined in different systems (Tables 1 and 2). Enamines derived from cyclic ketones such as cyclohexanone were alkylated with high diastereoselectivity with preferential formation of the cis-disubstituted cycloalkanes. In acyclic systems such as enamines derived from propiophenone and diethyl ketone, moderate to high stereoselectivities were observed in the H-abstraction step. A model based principally on minimization of allylic 1,3-strain (A^1,3 strain) was deduced from the experimental results and semi-empirical (AM1) calculations.     

Tandem Anionic oxy‐Cope Rearrangement/Oxygenation Reactions as a Versatile Method for Approaching Diverse Scaffolds

Tandem anionic oxy‐Cope rearrangement/radical oxygenation reactions provide δ,?‐unsaturated α‐(aminoxy) carbonyl compounds, which serve as convenient precursors to diverse compound classes. Functionalized carbocycles are accessible by very rare all‐carbon 5‐endo‐trig cyclizations, but also common 5‐exo‐trig radical cyclizations, based on the persistent radical effect. The tandem reactions can be further extended by highly diastereoselective allylation or reduction steps to give complex scaffolds.     

Acyclic β-amino acid catalyzed asymmetric anti-selective Mannich-type reactions

The ability of a primary amine containing acyclic β³-amino acids to catalyze direct asymmetric anti-selective Mannich-type reactions is presented. The reactions are generally highly diastereo- and enantioselective to give the corresponding Mannich products with up to >19:1 dr (anti/syn) and 88–99% ee.     

The Methoxycarbonylation of Vinyl Acetate Catalyzed by Palladium Complexes of [1,2‐Phenylenebis(methylene)]bis[di(tert‐butyl)phosphine]

Palladium complexes of [1,2‐phenylenebis(methylene)]bis[di(tert‐butyl)phosphine] ( 1 ) catalyze the methoxycarbonylation of vinyl acetate (= ethenyl acetate) in the presence of methanesulfonic acid (Scheme 1). High selectivities to ester products can be obtained if free phosphine ligand is in excess over the amount of added acid (Table 1). Selectivities to methyl 2‐acetoxypropanoate, a precursor to lactate esters, can be as high as 3.6 : 1 at low temperature and pressure (Table 2). Replacing ^tBu by ⁱPr groups leads to less‐active catalysts and lower selectivities to the branched product. Replacing the phenylene moiety by a naphthalenediyl moiety also gives lower activity, but with similar selectivity to the phenylene‐based analogues. Linear hydrocarbon‐chain linkers as the backbone instead of the phenylenebis(methylene) linker leads to poor catalysis, except for a propane‐1,3‐diyl linker, which gives good rates but poor branched selectivity (Table 5). The effect of different reaction conditions on the catalysis is discussed. The syntheses of the new xylene‐based diphosphines 2 – 5 with one to four ⁱPr groups replacing the ^tBu groups at the P‐atoms of 1 and of the ligands 6 and 7 based on 1,2‐ and 2,3‐dimethylnaphthalene are also described (Schemes 2 and 3).     

Zinc(II)‐Catalyzed Intermolecular Hydrative Aldol Reactions of 2‐En‐1‐ynamides with Aldehydes and Water to form Branched Aldol Products Regio‐ and Stereoselectively

This work describes zinc(II)‐catalyzed hydrative aldol reactions of 2‐en‐1‐ynamides with aldehydes and water to afford branched aldol products regio‐ and stereoselectively. The anti and syn selectivity can be modulated by the sizes of sulfonamides to yield E‐ and Z‐configured zinc(II) dienolates selectively. This new reaction leads to enantiopure aldol products by using a cheap chiral sulfonamide. The mechanistic analysis reveals that the sulfonamide amides of the substrates can trap a released proton to generate dual acidic sites to activate a carbonyl allylation reaction.     

Modification of Cyclosporin A (CS): Generation of an enolate at the sarcosine residue and reactions with electrophiles

Strong bases (lithium diisopropylamide (LDA) or BuLi) convert cyclosporin A (CS) to hexalithio derivative containing a Li alkoxide, four Li azaenolate, and one Li enolate units. The Li₆ compound is solubilized in tetrahydrofuran (THF) by addition of excess LDA or LiCl. Reactions with electrophiles (alkyl halides, aldehydes, ClCO₂R, CO₂, (RS)₂, D₂O) at low temperatures give products containing new side chains in amino-acid residue 3 of the cyclic undecapeptide (see 1 – 13 , Schemes 1, and 2, and Figs. 1 and 2) in moderate to high yields and, with Re- or Si-selectivities, depending upon the conditions of lithiation of up to 7:1, Pure CS derivatives (Scheme 2, Table 1 in the Exper. Part) can be isolated by column chromatography. N-Alkylations or cleavage of the peptide backbone by carbonyl addition occur only at higher temperatures and/or with prolonged reaction times (see 14 and 15 in Scheme 4). Very little or no epimerization of stereogenic centers occurs under the conditions employed. Possible reasons for the feasibility of these surprizing conversions of CS are discussed (Schemes 4 and 5 and Fig. 3). For comparision, [MeAla³]CS ( 2b ) and [D -MeAla³]CS ( 2a ) were also prepared by conventional peptide synthesis in solution (Schemes 6 and 7). Their ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR spectra are compared with those of CS (Table 2 in the Exper. Part).     

Preparation of the β3‐Homoselenocysteine Derivatives Fmoc‐β3hSec(PMB)‐OH and Boc‐β3hSec(PMB)‐OH for Solution and Solid‐Phase‐Peptide Synthesis and Selenoligation

The title compounds, 4 and 7 , have been prepared from the corresponding α‐amino acid derivative selenocystine ( 1 ) by the following sequence of steps: cleavage of the Se? Se bond with NaBH₄, p‐methoxybenzyl (PMB) protection of the SeH group, Fmoc or Boc protection at the N‐atom and Arndt–Eistert homologation (Schemes 1 and 2). A β³‐heptapeptide 8 with an N‐terminal β³‐hSec(PMB) residue was synthesized on Rink amide AM resin and deprotected (‘in air’) to give the corresponding diselenide 9 , which, in turn, was coupled with a β³‐tetrapeptide thiol ester 10 by a seleno‐ligation. The product β³‐undecapeptide was identified as its diselenide and its mixed selenosulfide with thiophenol (Scheme 3). The differences between α‐ and β‐Sec derivatives are discussed.     

Reactions of Sulfanyl Chlorides with Thiocamphor and Thiofenchone: Wagner?Meerwein Rearrangement of an Intermediate Thiocarbonylium Ion

The reaction of sulfanyl and disulfanyl chlorides with thiocamphor ( 6 ) in the presence of Et₃N leads to unsymmetrical di‐ and trisulfanes, respectively (Schemes 2 and 4). A reaction mechanism via a thiocarbonylium ion, which is immediately deprotonated, is proposed. The formation of a minor product 10 in the absence of a base, resulting from a Wagner? Meerwein rearrangement, is an additional evidence for the intermediacy of a thiocarbonylium ion (Scheme 3). On the other hand, the non‐enolizable thiofenchone ( 13 ) reacts with sulfanyl chlorides in CH₂Cl₂/Et₃N to give exclusively products with a rearranged bicyclic skeleton (Scheme 5). A Wagner? Meerwein rearrangement of the intermediate thiocarbonylium ion is the key step. The structures of the products 10 and 14 , which have rearranged bicyclic systems, have been established by X‐ray crystallography.     

Synthesis of Aryl- and Alkyl-Containing 3-Methylene-5-hydroxy Esters via a Barbier Allylation Reaction

The formation of C−C bonds via the allylation of carbonyl compounds has been widely applied in total syntheses. Amongst the many possible strategies, the Barbier-type allylation in aqueous media has received only moderate attention over the last decades despite its mild reaction conditions. In this study, we investigated the indium (In⁰) and zinc (Zn⁰) mediated Barbier allylation reaction to efficiently synthesize base-labile 3-methylene-5-hydroxy containing building blocks for natural product total synthesis. As model study we selected the allylation of lipidic undecanal with ethyl 3-(bromomethyl)but-3-enoate in the presence of either Zn⁰ or In⁰ and investigated the effects of additives on yields and selectivities. We then applied the optimized reaction conditions to sterically demanding allyl bromides and functionalized aromatic aldehydes yielding eleven new homoallylic alcohols, one of which was further transformed via oxidation and reduction sequences.     

Reaction of 2‐(Polyfluoroacyl)cycloalkanones with Hydroxylamine

The 2‐acylcycloalkanones 1a – g and 3a – c , possessing a polyfluoroalkyl group, react with hydroxylamine regio‐ and stereoselectively to yield 4,5‐dihydroisoxazol‐5‐ols 2a – g and 4a – c , respectively, i.e., products of N‐addition to the oxo group at the cycloalkane ring (Schemes 1 and 2). The products 2 and 4 can be dehydrated under drastic conditions only (Schemes 3 and 4). The structure of one of the 4,5‐dihydroisoxazol‐5‐ols was confirmed by X‐ray crystal‐structure analysis.     

A New Alkylation Method for Heptalene‐4,5‐dicarboxylates and of One of Their Pseudoester Forms

Dimethyl heptalene‐4,5‐dicarboxylates

1 The locants of heptalene itself are maintained throughout the whole work. See footnote 4 in [1] for reasoning.

undergo preferentially a Michael addition reaction at C(3) with α‐lithiated alkyl phenyl sulfones at temperatures below ?50°, leading to corresponding cis‐configured 3,4‐dihydroheptalene‐4,5‐dicarboxylates (cf. Table 1, Schemes 3 and 4). The corresponding heptalenofuran‐1‐one‐type pseudoesters of dimethyl heptalene‐4,5‐dicarboxylates (Scheme 5) react with [(phenylsulfonyl)methyl]lithium almost exclusively at C(1) of the furanone group (Scheme 6). In contrast to this expected behavior, the uptake of 1‐[phenylsulfonyl)ethyl]lithium occurs at C(5) of the heptalenofuran‐1‐ones as long as they carry a Me group at C(11) (Schemes 6 and 7). The 1,4‐ as well as the 1,6‐addition products eliminate, on treatment with MeONa/MeOH in THF, benzenesulfinate, thus leading to 3‐ and 4‐alkylated dimethyl heptalene‐4,5‐dicarboxylates, respectively (Schemes 8–13). The configuration of the addition reaction of the nucleophiles to the inherently chiral heptalenes is discussed in detail (cf. Schemes 14–19) on the basis of a number of X‐ray crystal‐structure determinations as well as by studies of the temperature‐dependence of the ¹H‐NMR spectra of the addition products.     

Highly Selective Radical Monoreduction of Dihalides Confined to a Dynamic Supramolecular Host

Reduction of alkyl dihalide guests ( 2 – 5 and 7 ) with trialkylsilanes (R₃SiH) was performed in water-soluble host 1 to investigate the effects of confinement on fast radical reactions (k≥10³ m ⁻¹ s⁻¹). High selectivity (>95 %) for mono-reduced products was observed for primary and secondary dihalide guests under mild conditions. The results highlight the importance of host–guest complexation rates to modulate the product selectivity in radical reactions.     

Glycosylidene Carbenes. Part 32

Acylation and sulfonylation of the N,N′‐unsubstituted glucosylidenespirodiaziridines 1A / 1B 95 : 5 with Ac₂O, BzCl, FmocCl, TsCl, (naphthalen‐2‐yl)sulfonyl, and (2,4,6‐triisopropylphenyl)sulfonyl chloride, and concomitant rearrangement gave the acylated and sulfonylated gluconolactone hydrazones 2B – 2G in 40–83% yield (Scheme 2). Similarly, the galacto and manno analogues 3A / 3B 95 : 5 and 5A / 5B 55 : 45 and the mannofuransoylidene‐diaziridine 30 were acetylated and tosylated to give 4A, 4B, 6, 31A , and 31B (55–73% yield; Schemes 2 and 5). ¹⁵N‐Labelling of 11A / 11B and 14A / 14B showed that the pseudoequatorial NH of the gluco diaziridines 1 and the pseudoaxial NH of the galacto diaziridines 3 were preferentially acetylated and tosylated (Scheme 3). Sulfonylation of the N‐methylated diaziridines 19A / 19B 72 : 28, 22A / 22B 85 : 15, 25A / 25B 85 : 15, 28A / 28B 80 : 20, and 33A / 33B / 33C / 33D 76 : 4 : 12 : 8 yielded the N‐methyl‐N‐tosylglyconolactone hydrazones 20, 23, 26, 29 , and 34 (44–66%; Schemes 4 and 5). The methylated N‐atom of the diaziridines proved more reactive, irrespective of the configuration at C(2) and C(4). The products were readily hydrolysed to glyconolactones.     

An efficient Yb(OTf)3 catalyzed alkylation of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds using alcohols as substrates

A highly efficient and environmentally friendly method for catalytic benzylation/allylation of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds with alcohols has been developed by using Yb(OTf)₃ as a catalyst. The reactions proceed smoothly to give the desired products in moderate to excellent yields, mostly at room temperature. The catalyst can be recovered and reused at least six times without visible loss of catalytic activity for such reactions.     

Enantioselective Nickel-Catalyzed anti-Arylmetallative Cyclizations onto Acyclic Ketones

Domino reactions involving nickel-catalyzed additions of (hetero)arylboronic acids to alkynes, followed by cyclization of the alkenylnickel intermediates onto tethered acyclic ketones to give chiral tertiary-alcohol-containing products in high enantioselectivities, are described. The reversible E/Z isomerization of the alkenylnickel intermediates enables overall anti-arylmetallative cyclization to occur. The ring system of the products are substructures of certain diarylindolizidine alkaloids.