Ruthenium-catalyzed [2+2] cycloadditions of bicyclic alkenes and ynamides

Ruthenium-catalyzed [2+2] cycloadditions between bicyclic alkenes and ynamides were investigated. The ynamide moiety was found to be compatible with the ruthenium-catalyzed cycloaddition conditions giving the corresponding cyclobutene cycloadducts in moderate to good yields (up to 97%). Diastereoselective cycloaddition utilizing chiral cyclic ynamides were also examined and a low to moderate level of asymmetric induction was observed.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed [2 + 2] cycloadditions between bicyclic alkenes and alkynyl halides

Ru-catalyzed [2 + 2] cycloadditions between norbornadiene and alkynyl halides were found to occur in moderate to good yields (32-89%). The presence of the halide moiety greatly enhances the reactivity of the alkyne component in the cycloaddition and can be transformed into a variety of products that are difficult or impossible to obtain via direct cycloaddition. [reaction: see text]     

Cross [2 + 2] cycloaddition of bicyclic alkenes with alkynes mediated by cobalt complexes: a facile synthesis of cyclobutene derivatives.

Bicyclic alkenes 1a-e and 5 undergo [2 + 2] cycloaddition with a variety of alkynes PhC(triple bond)CPh, (TMS)C(triple bond)CH, HC(triple bond)C(CH(3))(2)OH, (TMS)C(triple bond)CCO(2)Et, PhC(triple bond)CCH(3), C(2)H(5)C(triple bond)CC(2)H(5), CH(3)C(triple bond)CC(3)H(7), and CH(3)C(triple bond)CC(2)H(5) in the presence of Co(PPh(3))(2)I(2), PPh(3), and Zn powder in toluene to afford the corresponding exo-cyclobutene derivatives 3a-m, 6, and 8a-g in fair to excellent yields. The yield of this cycloaddition is highly sensitive to the cobalt catalyst, solvent, ligand, and temperature used. A mechanism involving a metallacyclopentene intermediate is proposed to account for this cobalt-catalyzed cyclization.     

Palladium-catalyzed [2 + 2 + 2] cocyclotrimerization of benzynes with bicyclic alkenes: an efficient route to anellated 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene derivatives and polyaromatic compounds

An efficient method for the cocyclotrimerization of bicyclic alkenes and benzynes catalyzed by palladium phosphine complexes to give the corresponding norbornane anellated 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene derivatives is described. Bicyclic alkenes 1a-i undergo [2 + 2 + 2] cocyclotrimerization with benzynes generated from precursors 2a-d [2-(trimethylsilyl)phenyl triflate (2a), 4,5-dimethyl-2-(trimethylsilyl)phenyl triflate (2b), 6-(trimethylsilyl)-2,3-dihydro-1H-5-indenyl triflate (2c), 4-methyl-2-(trimethylsilyl)phenyl triflate (2d)] in the presence of PdCl(2)(PPh(3))(2) in acetonitrile at ambient temperature to yield anellated 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene products 3a-r in moderate to excellent yields. The [2 + 2 + 2] cocyclotrimerization products from oxa- and azabicyclic alkenes can be applied for the synthesis of polyaromatics, substituted benzo[b]triphenylenes (8a-f), via a simple Lewis acid mediated deoxyaromatization in good yields. In addition the [2 + 2 + 2] products undergo retro Diels-Alder reaction readily, providing a new method for the synthesis of substituted phenanthrenes and for generating isobenzofurans. A plausible mechanism is proposed to account for the catalytic [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction.     

Domino reactions for the synthesis of bridged bicyclic frameworks: fast access to bicyclo[n.3.1]alkanes

In the current bid for synthetic efficiency, multiple bond-forming transformations are becoming a key concept in organic synthesis. In this context, domino protocols have become increasingly common in the synthesis of bicyclic systems. This tutorial review aims at providing a short but authoritative overview of this topic, focusing on the preparation of bridged bicyclo[n.3.1]alkane systems, and is organized according to the number of rings created in the key domino process.     

Intramolecular [2 + 2]cycloadditions of dialkylketenes with alkenes. Regiochemistry of intramolecular [2+2]cycloadditions of ketenes with alkenes

Unsaturated dialkylketenes 7a, 7b and 7c undergo intramolecular [2 + 2]cycloadditions to give 8a (45%), 9b (23%) and 9c (45%). Intramolecular cycloadditions of dialkylketenes give higher yields than intramolecular cycloadditions of monoalkylketenes, even though dialkylketenes are less reactive than monoalkylketenes. An intramolecular competition experiment with ketene 17 establishes that trans-alkenes are approximately 33 times more reactive than cis-alkenes in intramolecular cycloadditions. Ketene 36 furnishes 22% of the expected bicyclo[3.2.0]heptanone 37 and 28% of bicyclo[3.1.1]heptanone 38.     

Toward a total synthesis of the novel neurotrophic sesquiterpene merrilactone A: a RCM and [2+2]-photocycloaddition based approach to framework construction

A new strategy toward the total synthesis of the novel structural complex and biologically potent neurotrophic factor merrilactone A from 2,3-dimethyl-2-cyclopentene-1,4-dione is outlined. The approach involving RCM and [2+2]-photocycloaddition as the key steps, is notable for the orchestration of a series of regio- and stereoselective operations that lead to the core structural motif present in the sesquiterpenoid natural product.     

Biradical intermediate in the [2 + 2] photocycloaddition of dienes and alkenes to [60]fullerene

The photocycloaddition of vinylcyclopropanes to C60 yields stereospecifically a five-membered [60]fullerene adduct. These results suggest a biradical intermediate of the [2 + 2] photocycloaddition between dienes or arylalkenes and C60. An electron transfer between the triplet excited state of C60 and the unsaturated substrates precedes the formation of the intermediate.     

[2+2]-cycloadditions of alkenes with the triphenylallenyl cation

The triphenylallenyl cation (8), generated from triphenylpropynol (7) and FSO₃H, reacts with alkenes to give the allyl cations 12, which may be deprotonated to yield the methyleneccylobutenes 14. Alternatively, 12 can be converted into the 2-vinyl-indenes 13 $\text{via}$ two subsequent electrocyclic reactions.     

Rhodium-catalyzed synthesis of cyclohexenones via a novel [4 + 2] annulation

[reaction: see text] In the presence of a rhodium catalyst, 4-alkynals react with alkynes to furnish cyclohexenones, presumably via metalacycle 1; as far as we are aware, this is the first example of the generation of this class of compounds through such a transformation. In view of the easy accessibility of 4-alkynals (alkynylmetal + alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehyde) and alkynes, this [4 + 2] cyclization constitutes an interesting new approach to functionalized cyclohexenones.     

Novel [6 + 2] cycloaddition of fulvenes with alkenes: a facile synthesis of the anislactone and hirsutane framework

[reaction: see text] In contrast to the Diels-Alder reaction of fulvenes and various alkenes, 6-aminofulvenes react with maleic anhydride (or maleimide) to give [6 + 2] cycloaddition adducts, constituting an efficient and novel route to pentaleno[1,2-c]furan, pentaleno[1,2-c]pyrrole, and cyclopenta[a]pentalene skeleton.     

A novel stereocontrolled synthesis of cis-fused bicyclic lactams via [3 + 2]-cycloaddition of alkynyltungsten complexes with tethered aziridines

Treatment of alkynyltungsten complexes with tethered aziridines in the presence of BF(3).Et(2)O led to [3 + 2]-cycloaddition reactions, affording bicyclic tungsten-enamine species stereoselectively. The stereochemistry of the resulting product reveals that ring opening of aziridine is initiated by S(N)2 attack of the tungsten fragment. Decomplexation of these organometallics with I(2) in CH(2)Cl(2), followed by hydrolysis, afforded only cis-fused bicyclic lactams efficiently. [reaction: see text]     

Synthesis of cyclopent[bindoles by formal [3+2]-addition of indolylmethyl cations to alkenes

Treatment of indole-2- or 3-methanols with tin(IV) chloride as Lewis acid in the presence of styrenes results informal [3+2]-addition of the indole stabilised cation to the alkene to give cyclopent[b]indoles with a high degree of stereoselectivity; use of methylcyclohexene as the alkene component gave the cis-fused cyclopent[b]indole 17, which was independently synthesised in enantiomerically pure form from the diketone 18.     

Photoreactions of bicyclic aziridines with alkenes and alkynes: a novel synthetic methodology for 8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane derivatives

The photochemical C-C bond cleavage of bicyclic aziridines 7 and subsequent [3 + 2] cycloaddition with electron-deficient alkenes and alkynes afforded the novel head-to-head adducts selectively and efficiently. The adducts contain the naturally occurring 8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane skeleton (e.g. tropane alkaloids). The aziridine 8 fused with a 6-membered ring also afforded the cycloadducts but in poor yields. The methylaziridine 9 reacted with an electron-deficient alkene, affording the head-to-tail adduct 23 in addition to head-to-head adducts 22a and 22b. The photoreactions of bicyclic aziridines with alkenes and alkynes indicate a similar behavior to that of aziridines with a linear chain.     

Acid catalyzed isomerization of bicyclic alkenes: a facile betweenanene synthesis

Isomerization of $\text{cis}$-bicyclo[10.8.0]eicos-1(12)-ene ($\text{1a}$) and $\text{cis}$-bicyclo[10.10.0]docos-1(12)-ene ($\text{1b}$) to [10.8]- and [10.10]betweenanene ($\text{2a}$ and $\text{2b}$) has been effected by sulfuric acid. In both cases, the betweenanene isomers were found to predominate at equilibrium (70/30 $\text{2a}$/$\text{1a}$ and 95/5> $\text{2b}$/$\text{1b}$).