Bifunctionalized Allenes,Part XI: Competitive Electrophilic Cyclization and Addition Reactions of 4‐Phosphorylated Allenecarboxylates

The reaction of the 4‐phosphorylated allenecarboxylates with different electrophilic reagents such as sulfuryl chloride, bromine, benzenesulfanyl, and benzeneselanyl chlorides takes place with a 5‐endo‐trig cyclization or 2,3‐addition reaction depending on the kind of the substituents in the phosphoryl group. Treatment of the 4‐(dimethoxyphosphopyl)‐allenoates with electrophiles gives a mixture of 2,5‐dihydro‐1,2‐oxaphospholes and furan‐2(5H)‐ones in the ratio of about 1.7:1 as a result of the neighboring group participation of phosphonate and carboxylate groups in the cyclization. On the other hand, (3E)‐4‐(diphenylphosphoryl)‐alk‐3‐enoates were prepared, in moderate yields, by chemo‐, regio, and stereoselective electrophilic addition to the C² C³‐double bond in the allenoate moiety. A possible mechanism involving cyclization and addition reactions of the 4‐phosphorylated allenecarboxylates was proposed.     

Photochemistry of N‐(2‐Acylphenyl)‐2‐methylprop‐2‐enamides: Competition between Photocyclization and Long‐Range Hydrogen Abstraction

The photochemical reactions of various ‘N‐methacryloyl acylanilides’ (=N‐(acylphenyl)‐2‐methylprop‐2‐enamides) have been investigated. Under irradiation, the acyl‐substituted anilides 1a – 1c and 1o afforded exclusively the corresponding quinoline‐based cyclization products of type 2 (Table 1). In contrast, irradiation of the benzoyl (Bz)‐substituted anilides 1e – 1h afforded a mixture of the open‐chain amides 4e – 4h and the cyclization products 2e – 2h . Irradiation of the para‐acyl‐substituted anilides 6a – 6e and 6h afforded the corresponding quinoline‐based cyclization products of type 5 as the sole products (Table 2). The formation of the cyclization products 2a – 2c and 2o can be rationalized in terms of 6π‐electron cyclization, followed by thermal [1,5] acyl migration, and that of compounds 3p, 5a – 5e , and 5h can be explained by a 6π‐electron cyclization only. The formation of the open‐chain amides 4e – 4h probably follows a mechanism involving a 1,7‐diradical, C and a spirolactam of type D (Scheme). Long‐range ζ‐H abstraction by the excited carbonyl O‐atom of the benzoyl group on the aniline ring is expected to proceed via a nine‐membered cyclic transition state, as proposed on the basis of X‐ray crystallographic analyses (Fig. 2).     

Selective Synthesis of 1,2‐Diarylpyrrolo[3,4‐b]pyridine‐5,7‐diones via Cyclization Reaction of β‐Enamino Imides with Cinnamaldehydes

The novel 1,2‐diaryl substituted pyrrolo[3,4‐b]pyridine‐5,7‐diones were selectively synthesized in high yields by the base catalyzed cyclization reaction of 3‐arylamino‐1‐methyl‐1H‐pyrrole‐2,5‐diones with cinnamaldehyde and its derivatives in acetonitrile at room temperature. However, when piperidinium trifluoroacetate was employed as catalyst, the reaction afforded a mixture of 1,2‐diaryl and 1,4‐diaryl substituted pyrrolo[3,4‐b]pyridine‐5,7‐diones in comparable yields.     

Conformational and electronic consequences in crafting extended, π-conjugated, light-harvesting macrocycles

The synthesis of a new series of free‐base, Ni^II and Zn^II 2,3,12,13‐tetra(ethynyl)‐5,10,15,20‐tetraphenyl porphyrins is described. Upon heating, two of the four ethynyl moieties undergo Bergman cyclization to afford the monocyclized 2,3‐diethynyl‐5,20‐diphenylpiceno[10,11,12,13,14,15‐jklmn]porphyrin in 30 %, 10 %, and trace yields, respectively. The structures of all products were investigated by using quantum chemical calculations and the free‐base analogue was isolated and crystallized; all compounds show significant deviation from the idealized planar structure. No fully‐cyclized bispiceno[20,1,2,3,4,5,10,11,12,13,14,15‐fghij]porphyrin was isolated from the reaction mixture. To understand why only two of the four enthynyl groups undergo Bergman cyclization, the reaction coordinates were examined by using DFT at the PWPW91/cc‐pVTZ(‐f) level coupled to a continuum solvation model. The barrier to cyclization of the second pair of ethynyl groups was found to be 5.5 kcal mol^?1 higher than the first, suggesting a negative cooperative effect and significantly slower rate for the second cyclization. Cyclization reactions for model porphyrin–enediynes with ethene‐ and H‐functionality substitutions at the meso‐phenyl rings were also examined, and found to have a similar barrier to diradical formation for the second cyclization event as for the first in these highly planar molecules. By enforcing an artificial 30° cant in two of the pyrrole rings of the porphyrin, the second barrier was increased by 2 kcal mol^?1 in the ethene model system; this suggests that the disruption of the π conjugation of the extended porphyrin structure is the cause of the increased barrier to the second cyclization event.     

Synthesis of Amide and Ester Derivatives of Naphthopyrone Carboxylic Acid

The synthesis of various amide and ester derivatives of naphthopyrone‐2‐carboxylic acid has been carried out by reaction of 1‐naphthol with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate, which gave a mixture of E and Z isomers of naphthoxy diester. The diester on hydrolysis with KOH gave corresponding diacid, which was a mixture of E and Z isomers. The E and Z isomers were difficult to separate, which were subjected to cyclization in sulfuric acid to get cyclized naphthopyrone carboxylic acid. This acid is converted into titled compounds.     

Rhodium‐Catalyzed Synthesis of Chiral Spiro‐9‐silabifluorenes by Dehydrogenative Silylation: Mechanistic Insights into the Construction of Tetraorganosilicon Stereocenters

Mechanistic insight into the construction of quaternary silicon chiral centers by rhodium‐catalyzed synthesis of spiro‐9‐silabifluorenes through dehydrogenative silylation is reported. The C₂‐symmetric bisphosphine ligand, BINAP, was effective in controlling enantioselectivity, and axially chiral spiro‐9‐silabifluorenes were obtained in excellent yields with high enantiomeric excess. Monitoring of the reaction revealed the presence of a monohydrosilane intermediate as a mixture of two constitutional isomers. The reaction proceeded through two consecutive dehydrogenative silylations, and the absolute configuration was determined in the first silylative cyclization. Competitive reactions with electron‐rich and electron‐deficient dihydrosilanes indicated that the rate of silylative cyclization increased with decreasing electron density on the silicon atom of the starting dihydrosilane. Further investigation disclosed a rare interconversion between the two constitutional isomers of the monohydrosilane intermediate with retention of the absolute configuration.     

New Selenosemicarbazides Derived from Imidazole‐Based Carbohydrazides

Imidazole‐based carbohydrazides, i.e., 3‐oxidoimidazole‐4‐carbohydrazides 1 and 2‐[(imidazol‐2‐yl)sulfanyl]acetohydrazides 6 , react with aryl isoselenocyanates 4 in MeOH at room temperature to give the corresponding selenosemicarbazides 5 and 7 , respectively, in good yields. On heating 7b in DMF in the presence of air to 100°, 1,3,4‐oxadiazole 8a was formed via cyclization and formal elimination of H₂Se. Product 8a was also obtained after heating of a mixture of 4a and 6b under the same conditions. On the other hand, on heating of a solution of 7c in MeOH at reflux, a cyclization occurred to give the corresponding 1,2,4‐triazole‐3‐selone 9b . Again, the same product was formed when a mixture of 4b and 6b was heated in MeOH. Surprisingly, analogous cyclizations of selenosemicarbazides of type 5 under the same conditions failed, and only decomposition was observed. The structures of 7a, 7d , and 9b have been established by X‐ray crystallography.     

Synthesis of some fused β‐carbolines including the first example of the pyrrolo[3,2‐c]‐β‐carboline system

Condensation of 1‐methyl‐β‐carboline‐3‐carbaldehyde with ethyl azidoacetate and subsequent thermolysis of the resulting azidopropenoate was used to [c] annulate a pyrrole ring onto the β‐carboline moiety, thus producing the first example of the pyrrolo[3,2‐c]‐β‐carboline ring system. The latter ring system results from cyclization at the C‐4 carbon, whereas cyclization at the N‐2 nitrogen atom also occurs to form a pyrazolo[3,2‐c]‐β‐carboline ring system. Condensation of β‐carboline‐1‐carbaldehyde with ethyl azidoacetate produced a non‐isolable intermediate, which immediately underwent cyclization, however in this case cyclization occurred via attack at the ester and the azide remained intact. The resulting 5‐azidocanthin‐6‐one was transformed to the first examples of 5‐aminocanthin‐6‐ones. β‐Carboline‐1,3‐dicarbaldehyde failed to give an acceptable reaction with ethyl azidoacetate, but did undergo selective condensation with dimethyl acetylene dicarboxylate at the C‐1 carbaldehyde with concomitant cyclization to form a highly functionalized 2‐formyl‐canthine derivative.     

Nickel‐Catalyzed Cyclization of ortho‐Iodoketoximes and ortho‐Iodoketimines with Alkynes: Synthesis of Highly Substituted Isoquinolines and Isoquinolinium Salts

A convenient method for the synthesis of highly substituted isoquinolines and isoquinolinium salts by the nickel‐catalyzed cyclization of ortho‐haloketoximes and ‐ketimines, respectively, with alkynes is described. The reaction of ortho‐haloketoximes and various alkynes in the presence of [Ni(PPh₃)₂Br₂] and zinc powder in a mixture of acetonitrile and tetrahydrofuran at 80 °C for 15 hours gave 1,3,4‐trisubstituted isoquinoline products in moderate to excellent yields and high regioselectivity. The corresponding isoquinoline N‐oxide was found to be the intermediate in the cyclization reaction pathway. In contrast, the reaction of ortho‐haloketimines and alkynes under similar catalytic conditions in tetrahydrofuran at 70 °C for two hours gave 1,2,3,4‐tetrasubstituted isoquinolinium salts in good to excellent yields.     

Formal Synthesis of (±)‐Trachelanthamidine via Base‐Induced Formal [3+2] Annulation and Intramolecular Cyclization

Base‐induced coupling/cyclization stepwise [3+2] annulation of α‐sulfonylacetamide with (Z)‐2‐bromoacrylates yielded polysubstituted pyroglutamates with three contiguous chiral centers with trans‐trans orientation in a one‐pot synthesis. The pyrrolizidine skeleton was obtained via an intramolecular cyclization. This facile strategy was used to synthesize (±)‐trachelanthamidine.     

Model Construction for the A–B–C Ring System of Lysergic Acid via Vilsmeier–Haack‐Type Cyclization of 1H‐Indole‐4‐propanoic Acid Derivatives

Vilsmeier–Haack‐type cyclization of 1H‐indole‐4‐propanoic acid derivatives was examined as model construction for the A–B–C ring system of lysergic acid ( 1 ). Smooth cyclization from the 4 position of 1H‐indole to the 3 position was achieved by Vilsmeier–Haack reaction in the presence of K₂CO₃ in MeCN, and the best substrate was found to be the N,N‐dimethylcarboxamide 9 (Table 1). The modified method can be successfully applied to an α‐amino acid derivative protected with an N‐acetyl function, i.e., to 27 (Table 2); however, loss of optical purity was observed in the cyclization when a chiral substrate (S)‐ 27 was used (Scheme 5). On the other hand, the intramolecular Pummerer reaction of the corresponding sulfoxide 20 afforded an S‐containing tricyclic system 22 , which was formed by a cyclization to the 5 position (Scheme 3).     

Reactivity studies of ethyl(Z)‐N‐(2‐amino‐1,2‐dicyanovinyl) formimidate with carbonyl compounds in the presence of base

The reaction of ethyl(Z)‐N‐(2‐amino‐1,2‐dicyanovinyl)formimidate 6 with carbonyl compounds in the presence of triethyl amine occurs with formation of the Schiff s base and intramolecular hydrolysis of the adjacent cyano group to give the alkylideneamino derivatives 8a‐f . When the α‐carbon of the ketone has at least one proton, the prolonged contact of 8a‐f with triethylamine causes intramolecular cyclization between this carbon and the imidate carbon atom to form a seven membered ring. This is followed by cyclization of the cyano and amido groups, leading to the pyrrolo[4,3‐b][1,4]diazepines 9 . If a strong base is used the first ring to be formed is the pyrrole ring as evidenced in the reaction of 8a with 1,8‐diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec‐7‐ene leading to 14 . The subsequent addition of methyl amine to the reaction mixture, caused cleavage of the alkylideneamino unit and formation of the amidine function from the imi date ( 15 ). The addition of acid to the imidates 8a and 8f led to the diazepine compounds 10a and 10f respectively. A suspension of compound 8e in ethanol and triethylamine evolved to a pyrazinone structure 12 under kinetic conditions (4 hours, room temperature) and to the pyrrolo[4,3‐b][1,4]diazepine 9e under thermodynamic conditions (48 hours, room temperature).     

A Study on the Intramolecular Mitsunobu Reaction of N6‐(ω‐Hydroxyalkyl)adenines

The cyclization of N ⁶‐(ω‐hydroxyalkyl)adenines with a N⁶H‐group leads to N⁶,N1 ring closure regardless of the method of the cyclization that was used. Five‐membered to eight‐membered rings were obtained using NBS/PPh₃; however, under Mitsunobu conditions, the eight‐membered fused purine was not formed. Surprisingly, the cyclization of N ⁶‐methyl‐N ⁶‐(4‐hydroxybutyl)adenine only leads to N⁶,N7 ring closure using both methods.     

Access to Multifunctionalized Benzofurans by Aryl Nickelation of Alkynes: Efficient Synthesis of the Anti‐Arrhythmic Drug Amiodarone

An unconventional nickel‐catalyzed reaction was developed for the synthesis of multifunctionalized benzofurans from alkyne‐tethered phenolic esters. The transformation involves the generation of a nucleophilic vinyl Ni^II species by the regioselective syn‐aryl nickelation of an alkyne, which then undergoes an intramolecular cyclization with phenol ester to yield highly functionalized 1,1‐disubstituted alkenes with 3‐benzofuranyl and (hetero)aryl substituents. The methodology can be used for the late‐stage benzofuran incorporation of various drug molecules and natural products, such as 2‐propylvaleric acid, gemfibrozil, biotin, and lithocholic acid. Furthermore, this arylative cyclization method was successfully applied for the efficient synthesis of the anti‐arrhythmic drug amiodarone.     

Photocycloaddition of Cyclohex‐2‐enones to 2‐Methylbut‐1‐en‐3‐yne

Irradiation (350 nm) of 2‐alkynylcyclohex‐2‐enones 1 in benzene in the presence of an excess of 2‐methylbut‐1‐en‐3‐yne ( 2 ) affords in each case a mixture of a cis‐fused 3,4,4a,5,6,8a‐hexahydronaphthalen‐1(2H)‐one 3 and a bicyclo[4.2.0]octan‐2‐one 4 (Scheme 2), the former being formed as main product via 1,6‐cyclization of the common biradical intermediate. The (parent) cyclohex‐2‐enone and other alkylcyclohex‐2‐enones 7 also give naphthalenones 8 , albeit in lower yields, the major products being bicyclo[4.2.0]octan‐2‐ones (Scheme 4). No product derived from such a 1,6‐cyclization is observed in the irradiation of 3‐alkynylcyclohex‐2‐enone 9 in the presence of 2 (Scheme 4). Irradiation of the 2‐cyano‐substituted cyclohexenone 12 under these conditions again affords only traces of naphthalenone 13 , the main product now being the substituted bicyclo[4.2.0]oct‐7‐ene 16 (Scheme 5), resulting from [2+2] cycloaddition of the acetylenic C−C bond of 2 to excited 12 .     

Ligand‐Controlled Regiodivergent Nickel‐Catalyzed Annulation of Pyridones

The 1,6‐annulated 2‐pyridone motif is found in many biologically active compounds and its close relation to the indolizidine and quinolizidine alkaloid core makes it an attractive building block. A nickel‐catalyzed C? H functionalization of 2‐pyridones and subsequent cyclization affords 1,6‐annulated 2‐pyridones by selective intramolecular olefin hydroarylation. The switch between the exo‐ and endo‐cyclization modes is controlled by two complementary sets of ligands. Irrespective of the ring size, the regioselectivity during the cyclization is under full catalyst control. Simple cyclooctadiene promotes an exo‐selective cyclization, whereas a bulky N‐heterocyclic carbene ligand results in an endo‐selective mode. The method was further applied in the synthesis of the lupin alkaloid cytisine.     

Mechanism of the Transition‐Metal‐Catalyzed Hydroarylation of Bromo‐Alkynes Revisited: Hydrogen versus Bromine Migration

A comprehensive mechanistic study of the InCl₃‐, AuCl‐, and PtCl₂‐catalyzed cycloisomerization of the 2‐(haloethynyl)biphenyl derivatives of Fürstner et al. was carried out by DFT/M06 calculations to uncover the catalyst‐dependent selectivity of the reactions. The results revealed that the 6‐endo‐dig cyclization is the most favorable pathway in both InCl₃‐ and AuCl‐catalyzed reactions. When AuCl is used, the 9‐bromophenanthrene product could be formed by consecutive 1,2‐H/1,2‐Br migrations from the Wheland‐type intermediate of the 6‐endo‐dig cyclization. However, in the InCl₃‐catalyzed reactions, the chloride‐assisted intermolecular H‐migrations between two Wheland‐type intermediates are more favorable. These Cl‐assisted H‐migrations would eventually lead to 10‐bromophenanthrene through proto‐demetalation of the aryl indium intermediate with HCl. The cause of the poor selectivity of the PtCl₂ catalyst in the experiments by the Fürstner group was predicted. It was found that both the PtCl₂‐catalyzed alkyne–vinylidene rearrangement and the 5‐exo‐dig cyclization pathways have very close activation energies. Further calculations found the former pathway would lead eventually to both 9‐ and 10‐bromophenanthrene products, as a result of the Cl‐assisted H‐migrations after the cyclization of the Pt–vinylidene intermediate. Alternatively, the intermediate from the 5‐exo‐dig cyclization would be transformed into a relatively stable Pt–carbene intermediate irreversibly, which could give rise to the 9‐alkylidene fluorene product through a 1,2‐H shift with a 28.1 kcal mol^?1 activation barrier. These findings shed new light on the complex product mixtures of the PtCl₂‐catalyzed reaction.     

The Synthesis of Adamantane Ring Containing Benzimidazole,Benzoxazole, and Imidazo[4,5‐e]benzoxazole Derivatives from 3‐Aminophenol

Adamantane derivatives containing heterocycles such as benzimidazoles, benzoxazoles, and fused imidazo[4,5‐e]benzoxazoles were synthesized from 3‐aminophenol. The route started with amidation of adamantane‐1‐carboxylic acid chloride with 3‐aminophenol furnishing N‐(3‐hydroxyphenyl)adamantane‐1‐carboxamide. Subsequent nitration gave three regioisomers. After reduction of the nitro groups, the respective aniline derivatives were used in the formation of benzimidazole and benzoxazole rings. The cyclization of the 2‐substituted benzoxazole ring was performed using two methods: via condensation of N‐(2‐amino‐3‐hydroxyphenyl)adamantane‐1‐carboxamide with carbonitriles in the presence of a Lewis acid or via Cu(II)‐catalyzed oxidative coupling of aminophenol with aromatic aldehydes. The benzimidazole ring formed by acid‐catalyzed cyclization of N‐(2‐amino‐5‐hydroxyphenyl)adamantane‐1‐carboxamide was then converted to a tricyclic system after three synthetic steps.     

Unusual Loss of Substituents in the Course of Cyclization of Tetrahydrobilines to Dihydroporphyrins

Metallo‐tetrahydrobiline rac‐ 8 was prepared to investigate its cyclization directed to the formation of N‐confused chlorins. To achieve the site‐directed selectivity of the cyclization, the 2‐position of rac‐ 2 was activated by an electron‐withdrawing cyano function and its 1‐position was blocked by a methyl group. In spite of this provision, the cyclization occurred at the apparently blocked 1‐position with loss or migration of the methyl substituent.     

Asymmetric Total Synthesis of ent‐Pyripyropene A

An asymmetric total synthesis of ent‐pyripyropene A was achieved by a convergent synthetic route. We used our originally developed Ti^III‐catalyzed radical cyclization to construct an AB‐ring portion that consisted of a trans‐decalin skeleton with five contiguous stereogenic centers. The coupling between the AB‐ring and the DE‐ring portions, and a subsequent C‐ring cyclization, led to the total synthesis of ent‐pyripyropene A. An evaluation of the insecticidal activity of ent‐pyripyropene A against two aphid species revealed that ent‐pyripyropene A was 35–175 times less active than naturally occurring pyripyropene A. This result indicated that the biological target of pyripyropene A recognizes the absolute configuration of pyripyropene A.