Decarboxylative cyclizations and cycloadditions of palladium-polarized aza-ortho-xylylenes

Vinyl benzoxazinones undergo decarboxylation in the presence of palladium catalysts to form palladium-polarized aza-ortho-xylylenes, which are versatile reaction intermediates. These palladium-polarized aza-ortho-xylylenes are generated under exceptionally mild conditions and undergo a plethora of different reactions depending on the reaction conditions. Specifically, they undergo dimerization reactions to produce macrocycles, cyclizations to form dihydroquinolines, cycloadditions with electrophilic p-bonds, and nucleophilic attack by amines. Thus, a wide array of structurally unique aniline derivatives can be accessed from these unique intermediates.     

The acid-mediated ring opening/cyclisation reaction of N-benzyl-α-aryl-azetidinones

N-Benzyl-4-aryl-azetidinones undergo ring opening with triflic acid to form N-benzyl-cinnamamides, which either undergo cyclisation to give 5-aryl-benzazepin-3-ones or N-debenzylation to give cinnamamides.     

Intramolecular dehydrochlorination of [2-(N’,N’-dialkylhydrazino)ethyl]phosphonium salts. Chemoselective alkaline hydrolysis of triphenylphosphonioalkylhydrazinium salts

The reactions of N,N-dimethylhydrazine and N-aminopiperidine with potential triphenylvinyl-and-propenylphosphonium bromides were used to obtain adducts by the α,β-double bonds of the latter. The resulting [2-(N’,N’-dimethylhydrazino)ethyl]phosphonium salts just on moderate heating in alcohol undergo dehydration leading to the corresponding hydrazone or α,β-unsaturated hydrazine derivatives. Contrary to that, [2-(N’,N’dimethylhydrazino)-2-methylethyl]triphenylphosphonium bromide under the same conditions does not undergo dehydration. The reaction of (3-bromopropyl)-and (4-bromobutyl)triphenylphosphonium bromides with N,N-dimethylhydrazine gives phosphoniohydrazinium salts with a tri-or tetramethylene common radical. When treated with equimolar amount of ethanolic sodium ethylate, the latter products undergo alkaline reduction of one of the phenyl groups to give the corresponding diphenylphosphinoylalkylhydrazinium salts in high yields.     

A new synthesis of highly functionalized 2H-pyran derivatives

Ethyl oxo-(2-oxo-cycloalkyl)-ethanoates undergo a smooth reaction with triphenylphosphine and dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates via intramolecular Wittig reaction to produce spiro-cyclobutene derivatives. These spiro systems undergo electrocyclic ring opening reaction to produce electron-deficient 1,3-dienes, which spontaneously cyclize to 2H-pyran derivatives.     

Synthesis and electronic properties of iso-alkyl substituted hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronenes (HBC’s) from a versatile new HBC synthon, hexakis(4-acetylphenyl)benzene

Simple syntheses of a variety of soluble hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronenes are accomplished using an easily prepared hexakis(4-acetylphenyl)benzene as a common precursor. The concentration-dependent emissions of various HBC’s in solution indicate that they undergo extensive aggregation despite the presence of bulky (peripheral) isoalkyl and tert-butyl groups. The various planar HBC’s undergo reversible electrochemical oxidations and form stable monomeric cation-radical salts in solution.     

Cyclisation of α-chiral aminyl radicals

α-Chiral aminyl radicals have been generated from sulfenamides of α-amino acid esters and α-phenylethylamine using Bu₃SnH. The aminyl radicals of α-amino acid esters undergo 5-exo-trig cyclisation reactions onto side chain alkenes to yield proline analogues with reasonable diastereoselectivity. Preliminary studies show urethanyl radicals generated from sulfenamides of alkenyl urethane derivatives of α-amino acid esters and α-phenylethylamine undergo 5-exo-rig cyclisations to providing a protocol for the radical amination of unactivated alkenes. The α-ester of the amino acid or the urethane groups impart electrophilic behaviour to the aminyl radicals and facilitates cyclisation onto alkenes.     

One-way isomerization and internal rotation in anthrylethylenes in the excited triplet state

1-(2-Anthryl)-2-(bromophenyl)ethylene and 1-(2-anthryl)-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)ethylene undergo cis→trans one-way isomerization in the excited triplet state through an adiabatic process from the cis-triplet to the trans-triplet states. The trans-isomers of these compounds undergo one-way internal rotation in the excited triplet state with an activation barrier of }7 kcal mol^?1 and a frequency factor of }10¹² s^?1, while no internal rotation takes place in the excited singlet state.     

The synthesis of chiral functionalised morpholine N-oxides using a tandem Cope elimination/reverse-Cope elimination protocol

Hydroxylamine derivatives of (S)-prolinol have been generated using a Cope elimination. These undergo reverse-Cope elimination onto a pendant double bond to give morpholine N-oxides containing three contiguous chiral centres.     

Dibromocarbene and bromofluorocarbene addition to substituted allylsilanes

The dibromocarbene or bromofluorocarbene addition to substituted allyldisilanes afforded instable gem-dibromocyclopropanes or a gem-bromofluorocyclopropane, respectively. These gem-bromohalogenocyclopropanes undergo a spontaneous ring opening at room temperature to give halogenated dienylsilanes or bromo dienes or dibromotetraenes.     

Triflic anhydride-mediated synthesis of oxazoles

N-Acyl amino acid esters undergo triflic anhydride-mediated cyclodehydration to form oxazoles and bisoxazoles in a simple one-pot transformation.     

Rhodium-catalyzed cycloisomerization of allenenes via metalacycle intermediates

In the presence of a catalytic amount of the rhodium complex, allenenes undergo cycloisomerization reactions to result in the selective formation of five and seven membered exo-alkylidenecarbocycles and heterocycles via novel exo-alkylidenerhodacyclopentane intermediates.     

A highly diastereoselective synthesis of (E)-B-2-(1-cyclopropyl-1-alkenyl)-1,3,2-dioxaborinanes. Isolation and oxidation to alkyl cyclopropyl ketones

A convenient, novel synthesis of alkyl cyclopropyl ketones based on Z-1-bromo-1-alkenylboronate esters is developed. α-Bromo-(Z)-1-alkenylboronate esters readily available from literature procedures smoothly undergo a reaction with cyclopropylmagnesium bromide in tetrahydrofuran to provide the corresponding ‘ate’ complexes. These ‘ate’ complexes undergo intramolecular nucleophilic substitution reactions to provide the corresponding (E)-1-alkenylboronate esters containing cylcopropyl moiety for the first time in good isolated yields (68-82%). The carbon skeleton present in these intermediates is confirmed by oxidation with hydrogen peroxide and sodium acetate to afford the corresponding alkyl cyclopropyl ketones in good yields (72-85%).     

Samarium diiodide promoted formation of 1,2-diketones and 1-acylamido-2-substituted benzimidazoles from N-acylbenzotriazoles

N-Acylbenzotriazoles, when treated with samarium diiodide in THF, undergo self-coupling reaction to afford 1,2-diketones in good to excellent yields; while when treated with samarium diiodide in CH₃CN, they undergo ring-opening reaction to afford 1-acylamido-2-alkyl (or aryl) benzimidazoles in reasonable to good yields. A plausible mechanism was suggested.     

ortho-Alkynylphenyl thioglycosides as a new type of glycosylation donors under the catalysis of Au(I) complexes

ortho-Alkynylphenyl thioglycosides, prepared readily via Sonagashira coupling of ortho-bromophenyl thioglycosides with alkynes, could undergo glycosidation effectively under the catalysis of a gold(I) complex.     

Facile synthesis of α-hydroxy carboxylic acids from the corresponding α-amino acids

An effective and improved procedure is developed for the synthesis of α-hydroxy carboxylic acids by treatment of the corresponding protonated α-amino acid with tert-butyl nitrite in 1,4-dioxane–water. The amino moiety must be protonated and located α to a carboxylic acid function in order to undergo initial diazotization and successive hydroxylation, since neither β-amino acids nor acid derivatives such as esters and amides undergo hydroxylations. The method is successfully applied for the synthesis of 18 proteinogenic amino acids.     

A practical synthesis of 2-(N-substituted)-aminobenzimidazoles utilizing CuCl-promoted intramolecular cyclization of N-(2-aminoaryl)thioureas

A practical protocol for synthesis of 2-(N-substituted)-aminobenzimidazoles was developed. N-(2-Aminoaryl)thioureas undergo a CuCl-promoted intramolecular cyclization to give the corresponding 2-(N-substituted amino)benzimidazoles in good to excellent isolated yields.     

A diastereoselective synthesis 1-trimethylsilyl-(E)-1,3-alkenynes and a simple synthesis of alkyl trimethylsilylethynyl ketones via organoboranes

A convenient, novel diastereoselective synthesis of 1-trimethylsilyl-(E)-1,3-alkenynes and a convenient synthesis of alkyl trimethylsilylethynyl ketones based on Z-1-bromo-1-alkenylboronate esters are developed. α-Bromo-(Z)-1-alkenylboronate esters readily available using literature procedures smoothly undergo a reaction with trimethylsilylethynyllithium (derived from the deprotonation of trimethylsilylethyne with n-butyllithium) in tetrahydrofuran to provide the corresponding ‘ate’ complexes. These ‘ate’ complexes undergo intramolecular nucleophilic substitution reactions to afford the corresponding (E)-1-alkenylboronate esters containing trimethylsilylethynyl moiety which upon protonolysis with acetic acid provide the corresponding 1-trimethylsilyl-(E)-1,3-alkenynes in good yields (70-82%) and in high stereochemical purities (>98%). These intermediates upon oxidation with hydrogen peroxide and sodium acetate afford the corresponding alkyl trimethylsilylethynyl ketones in good yields (66-78%).     

Peroxy esters—III: Acid-catalyzed reaction of 4-hydroperoxy-2,5- cyclohexadienones and their derivatives

Acid-treatment of 4-hydroperoxy-2,5-cyclohexadienones (peroxy-p-quinols) and their acetates leads to the corresponding quinoxy cations through a protonation at the peroxy group, giving rise to different types of products depending on the structure of the peroxy esters. 2,4,6-Trialkyl-p-quinoxy cations undergo a rearrangement with ring opening to give 4-oxa-2-cyclopentenone derivatives, except for p-quinoxy cations with t-butyl or benzyl groups at the 4-position where 2,6-di-t-butyl-p-benzoquinone is exclusively obtained. p-Quinoxy cations with aromatic substituents at the 4-position undergo migration of this substituent to the cationic oxygen. In the case of peroxy-p-quinols (even peroxy-p-naphthoquinols) with 4-aryl substituents the protonation occurs at either O atom of the peroxy bond. Peroxy-p-quinols and their acetates with an unhindered dienone system are quite stable towards acid treatment, probably due to a competitive protonation of the peroxy and the dienone CO group. In solvents containing an oxygen function the reaction proceeds slowly.     

N-α-Benzyloxyacetyl derivatives of (S)-4-benzyl-5,5-dimethyloxazolidin-2-one for the asymmetric synthesis of differentially protected α,β-dihydroxyaldehydes

α-Dibenzylamino- and α-benzyloxy- derivatives of N-acetyl-(S)-4-benzyl-5,5-dimethyloxazolidin-2-one readily undergo highly stereoselective boron mediated syn-aldol reactions with a range of aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes, generating the syn-aldol products in good to excellent yields as single diastereoisomers after purification. In the α-dibenzylamino series, deprotection of the functionalised aldol fragments to the corresponding α-amino-β-hydroxy methyl ester or α-amino-β-hydroxyaldehyde proved problematic, with a range of N- and O-protecting groups giving mixtures of products arising from endocyclic and exocyclic cleavage pathways. However, in the α-benzyloxy series, O-silyl protection of the aldol products, and subsequent DIBAL reduction gives stereoselectively the corresponding N-1′-hydroxyalkyloxazolidin-2-ones, which undergo base promoted fragmentation to the desired highly functionalised and differentially protected α,β-dihydroxyaldehydes in good yields and without loss of stereochemical integrity.     

[2,3]-Wittig rearrangement of methyl β-pyrrolidinyl-γ-allyloxy-(E)-2-butenoate. Expeditious synthesis of 5-alkenyl-4-pyrrolidin-1-yl-5H-furan-2-ones

Dienolates of various γ-allyloxy substituted methyl β-pyrrolidinyl (E)-2-butenoate undergo a [2,3]-Wittig rearrangement to generate various 5-alkenyl-4-pyrrolidin-1-yl-5H-furan-2-one type compounds.