Controlling cis/trans-selectivity in intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions of benzo-tethered, ester linked 1,3,9-decatrienes

Predictions from DFT (B3LYP/6-31 G(d))-computed stereoisomer product distributions for intramolecular Diels-Alder (IMDA) reactions have been successfully replicated in the laboratory. Benzo-tethered hexadienyl acrylates generally undergo moderately trans-selective IMDA reactions which, as suggested by DFT calculation, arise from two opposing transition structure (TS) features: stabilising secondary orbital interactions, which are stronger in the cis-TSs, and stabilising pi-conjugative interactions between the benzo moiety and the 1,3-diene component - which are stronger in trans-TSs. Substrates carrying a removable substituent (i.e. Br or TMS) at C3 of the diene or C12 of the aromatic ring are predicted to undergo highly cis-selective thermal IMDA reactions by steric destabilisation of the trans-TS. A substrate carrying a two atom tether between C3 and C12 is predicted to undergo a highly trans-selective intramolecular cycloaddition by destabilisation of the cis-TS. These calculations are borne out experimentally.     

Automated determination of fatty acid methyl ester and cis/trans methyl ester composition of fats and oils

The determination of the fatty acid composition (as methyl esters, FAMEs) of fats and oils and their cis/trans (CTME) distribution requires a simple, but manual and time-consuming sample preparation. The so-called BF3 method is often the preferred procedure. Because FAME/CTME analyses are encountered very frequently in the food industry, an automated, robot-based alternative is proposed which uses the sodium methylate procedure. After sample weighing and the (manual) addition of heptane (2 min), a XYZ robotic autosampler is used for all remaining work, which includes reagent addition, agitation, sample settling and the final injection into the gas chromatograph (10 min). The performance of the sodium methylate and BF3 methods are compared by analysing some 30 oil and fat samples. The novel procedure is much faster (less than 15 min versus ca. 1 h) and manual sample handling is drastically decreased. The experimental results obtained with the two methods frequently are the same, while small differences can be explained by (known) differences of the two methods in the conversion of minor oil/fat constituents, such as free fatty acids, wax esters and sterol esters. In case of FAME analyses, a hot injection is to be preferred over a cold injection. The RSDs of the peak areas were 1.5% for the major fatty acids to 11% for peaks that were just above the noise level. The detection limit were approximately 0.03%.     

Lewis acid promoted aza Diels-Alder reactions of acyclic unactivated 5-dienyl pyrimidinones with N-arylimines: synthesis of novel quinoline derivatives

The chemo- as well as regioselective aza Diels-Alder reactions of 5-dienyl pyrimidinones with N-arylimines in the presence of a Lewis acid catalyst resulting in novel quinoline derivatives are reported.     

The cis–trans transformation of cyclohexane formic acid ester compounds

Trans-alkyl cyclohexane formic acid phenol ester compounds are synthesised by reaction of trans-cyclohexane formic acid and phenols. This process also produces many harmful cis-alkyl cyclohexane formic acid phenol ester compounds that are harmful to the environment. Using p-toluenesulphonic acid as the catalyst in this experiment, these cis compounds were transformed to their trans form. The yields of trans-alkyl cyclohexane formic acid phenol ester compounds were more than 70%, which was significantly higher when compared to the yields of 40–60% obtained using the control method. The effects of catalyst, reaction time and reaction temperature on cis–trans transformation were investigated. The possible mechanism of cis–trans transformation has been discussed in this report.     

Lewis acid promoted imino Diels-Alder reactions of 5-dienyl pyrimidinones with N-aryl/naphthyl imines: synthesis of novel quinoline/benzoquinoline derivatives

The chemo- as well as regioselective imino Diels-Alder reactions of 5-dienyl pyrimidinones with N-aryl as well as N-naphthyl imines in the presence of a different Lewis acid catalysts resulting in novel quinoline and benzoquinoline derivatives are reported.     

Intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions using chiral ruthenium Lewis acids and application in the total synthesis of ent-ledol

One-point binding chiral ruthenium Lewis acids incorporating the C(2)-symmetric electron-poor bidentate phosphinite ligand BIPHOP-F and a Cp or an indenyl 'roof' can efficiently catalyze asymmetric intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions of trienes to form bicyclic adducts with good to excellent asymmetric induction. This reaction forms the key step in a total synthesis of ent-ledol in 96% ee. The synthesis also helps to clarify the stereochemical assignment of ledol and inconsistencies in the measured optical rotation.     

On the origin of cis/trans stereoselectivity in intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions of substituted pentadienyl acrylates: a comprehensive density functional study

[structures: see text] A gas-phase B3LYP/6-31+G(d) study of substituent effects on the stereochemistry of both intramolecular Diels-Alder (IMDA) reactions of 9-E- and 9-Z-substituted pentadienyl acrylates and intermolecular Diels-Alder (DA) reactions between butadiene and monosubstituted alkenes and 3-substituted acrylates is reported and involves the calculation of 230 transition structures. It was found that, although exo ("anti-Alder") addition of monosubstituted ethenes to butadiene is the norm, Alder endo selectivity is more widely predicted for 3-substituted methyl acrylate dienophiles, and this was explained in terms of secondary orbital interactions (SOIs). Whereas cis/trans selectivity for IMDA reactions involving 9-E-substituted pentadienyl acrylates generally follows the normal pattern found for the corresponding intermolecular DA reactions, the 9-Z-substituted stereoisomers generally displayed trans selectivity that was much stronger than can be attributed to effects of the isolated substituent. This is strikingly so with unsaturated electron-withdrawing substituents whose endo selectivities, displayed in intermolecular DA reactions, are reversed in the IMDA reactions of pentadienyl acrylates. The origin of this anomalous Z-effect is explained in terms of the twist-mode asynchronicity concept of Brown and Houk. These ideas are used to explain the stereochemical outcomes of IMDA reactions of other triene systems.     

Intramolecular Diels-Alder and tandem intramolecular Diels-Alder/1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions of 1,3,4-oxadiazoles

The scope of intramolecular Diels-Alder and a novel tandem Diels-Alder/1,3-dipolar cycloaddition cascade of 1,3,4-oxadiazoles is disclosed. In the cases examined, the tandem cycloadditions construct three new rings with formation of four new C-C bonds and set all six stereocenters about a central six-membered ring in a single step including three contiguous and four total quaternary centers without a trace of a second diastereomer.     

Reversal of facial selectivity in complex Diels-Alder reactions

A complex Diels-Alder reaction between a semi-cyclic diene with allylic silyloxy substituents and a bromo enone presented an unusual diastereoselectivity: attack of the diene occured on its more hindered face, and this reversal of selectivity was shown to be induced by the presence of a bromo substituent in the dienophile.     

Design and development of highly effective Lewis acid catalysts for enantioselective Diels-Alder reactions

This report describes the design and development of chiral Co(III)-salen catalysts for enantioselective Diels-Alder reactions. A crystal structure of a Co-salen catalyst with two equivalents of benzaldehyde provided insight on the factors that may be important for enantioselectivity. On the basis of this structural information, new catalysts were prepared in which the "bay region" tert-butyl groups were replaced by trimethylsilyl groups. The new silyl-substituted catalysts were exceptionally effective (catalyst loadings down to 0.05 mol %) and convenient to use-room temperature, under an air atmosphere, using a minimum amount of solvent.     

Intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions: Construction of aza- and diaza-steroid type skeletons

The preparation of 2-(4-phenyl)butadienyl-piperidine 5 is described. An intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction of the intermediately formed fumaramide thereof produces stereoselectively the tricyclic lactam 6 . Its structure, as well as the configurational relationship of its 5 asymmetric centers, is corroborated on the basis of the NMR.-data. Cycloacylation of the thermodynamically stable precursors 13 and 20 leads to pentacyclic aza- or diaza-steroid type skeletons. Their structures ( 14, 16 , and 21 ) and in particular their relative configurations are elaborated. A few qualitative kinetic aspects of this intramolecular (4+2)-cycloaddition are presented.     

Asymmetric aza Diels-Alder reactions of amino acid ester imines with Brassard's diene

Imines 1 obtained from aromatic, aliphatic or functionalized aldehydes and valine tert-butyl ester undergo Lewis acid catalyzed hetero Diels-Alder reactions with Brassard's diene 2. The cycloadducts are formed in good to high yields and with diastereomer ratios of 92:8 – 97:3. For the removal of the chiral auxiliary group a new method was developed whose principle consists in the conversion of the amino acid -C-atom into an acetalic center employing a Curtius rearrangement as the key step.     

Recyclable organotungsten Lewis acid and microwave assisted Diels-Alder reactions in water and in ionic liquids

The water-soluble, organotungsten Lewis acid, [OP(2-py)₃W(CO)(NO)₂](BF₄)₂ (1), was synthesized and characterized. A series of 1-catalyzed Diels-Alder reactions were investigated under conventional heating or microwave heating conditions. The cycloaddition reactions were efficiently conducted in either water or in an ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate. The ionic liquid acts as a powerful medium not only for rate- and selectivity enhancements but also for facilitating catalyst recycling. Dramatic rate acceleration via microwave flash heating as compared to thermal heating was observed.     

Intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions of oxazole-olefins: synthesis of the Rauwolfia alkaloids suaveoline and norsuaveoline

A full account of the highly stereoselective total synthesis of two indole alkaloids, suaveoline (4) and norsuaveoline (5), is presented. Central features of the synthetic strategy include the conversion of l-tryptophan methyl ester (12) into the oxazole derivative 11 and the intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction of the oxazole-olefin 19 leading to the pentacyclic pyridine derivative 21.     

Tetrathiafulvalenenaphthalenophanes: planar chirality and cis/trans photoisomerization

A cyclophane incorporating one 1,5-dioxynaphthalene ring system and one tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) unit bridged by [SCH(2)CH(2)O] linkages has been synthesized. In this cyclophane, the TTF unit can adopt either cis or trans configurations. In addition, the 1, 5-dioxynaphthalene ring system imposes one element of planar chirality on this cyclophane. A second element of planar chirality is introduced by the trans form of the TTF unit. Thus, the cyclophane exists in diastereoisomeric forms as three pairs of enantiomers. The enantiomeric pairs associated with the cis form of the TTF unit, as well as one of those associated with the trans form, have been isolated by crystallization, and their structures assigned in the solid state by single-crystal X-ray analyses. In solution, cis/trans isomerization occurs when either the cis or the trans form of the cyclophane is exposed to light. The photoisomerization reaction can be followed by (1)H NMR and UV-vis spectroscopies, as well as by HPLC. The photoisomerization quantum yield has been measured at two different excitation wavelengths (406 and 313 nm). In both cases, the trans --> cis process (Phi = 0.20 at 406 nm) is much more efficient than the reverse cis --> trans process (Phi = 0.030 at 406 nm). Since the absorption spectra of the trans and cis isomers are different and the quantum yield of the trans --> cis photoisomerization reaction depends on the excitation wavelength, the mole fraction of the two diastereoisomers present at the photostationary state depends on the wavelength of the exciting light. No isomerization occurs when the solutions, regardless of the mole fraction of the two diastereoisomers, are stored in the dark.     

Lewis Acid promoted tandem intermolecular Diels-Alder/intramolecular allylation reactions of silyl-substituted 1,3-butadienes leading to multisubstituted 7-norbornenones and related polycyclic compounds

7-Norbornenones of exo,exo-disubstituted patterns were formed highly selectively in good yields from Lewis acid-promoted tandem intermolecular Diels-Alder/intramolecular allylation reactions. The intermolecular Diels-Alder reaction between 1,4-bis(trimethylsilyl)-1,3-butadienes or 1-trimethylsilyl-1,3-butadienes with maleic anhydride in the presence of newly sublimed AlCl3 afforded their corresponding cycloaddition adducts, which underwent AlCl3-mediated intramolecular allylation of the carbonyl group by the in situ generated allylsilane moiety affording 7-norbornenones of exo,exo-disubstituted patterns.     

Lewis acid catalyzed intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions of acyclic (Z)-substituted 1,3-dienes

Lewis acid catalyzed intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions of trienes (E,E,Z)-1a-d, (E,E,Z)-4a-d, and (E,Z,Z)-7a,b are described. Trienes containing enal or enone dienophiles cyclize in excellent yield under mild conditions using substoichiometric amounts of MeAlCl(2), in most cases with high levels of diastereoselectivity. The thermal IMDA reactions of 1a, 4a, and 7a require forcing conditions and proceed in low yield with reversed stereoselectivity in the cases of 1a and 4a.     

On the Effect of Tether Composition on cis/trans Selectivity in Intramolecular Diels–Alder Reactions

Intramolecular Diels–Alder (IMDA) transition structures (TSs) and energies have been computed at the B3LYP/6‐31+G(d) and CBS‐QB3 levels of theory for a series of 1,3,8‐nonatrienes, H₂C?CH? CH?CH? CH₂? X? Z? CH?CH₂ [? X? Z? =? CH₂? CH₂? ( 1 ); ? O? C(?O)? ( 2 ); ? CH₂? C(?O)? ( 3 ); ? O? CH₂? ( 4 ); ? NH? C(?O)? ( 5 ); ? S? C(?O)? ( 6 ); ? O? C(?S)? ( 7 ); ? NH? C(?S)? ( 8 ); ? S? C(?S)? ( 9 )]. For each system studied ( 1 – 9 ), cis‐ and trans‐TS isomers, corresponding, respectively, to endo‐ and exo‐positioning of the ? C? X? Z? tether with respect to the diene, have been located and their relative energies (E_rel^TS) employed to predict the cis/trans IMDA product ratio. Although the E_rel^TS values are modest (typically <3 kJ mol^?1), they follow a clear and systematic trend. Specifically, as the electronegativity of the tether group X is reduced (X?O→NH or S), the IMDA cis stereoselectivity diminishes. The predicted stereochemical reaction preferences are explained in terms of two opposing effects operating in the cis‐TS, namely (1) unfavorable torsional (eclipsing) strain about the C4? C5 bond, that is caused by the ? C? X? C(?Y)? group’s strong tendency to maintain local planarity; and (2) attractive electrostatic and secondary orbital interactions between the endo‐(thio)carbonyl group, C?Y, and the diene. The former interaction predominates when X is weakly electronegative (X?N, S), while the latter is dominant when X is more strongly electronegative (X?O), or a methylene group (X?CH₂) which increases tether flexibility. These predictions hold up to experimental scrutiny, with synthetic IMDA reactions of 1 , 2 , 3 , and 4 (published work) and 5 , 6 , and 8 (this work) delivering ratios close to those calculated. The reactions of thiolacrylate 5 and thioamide 8 represent the first examples of IMDA reactions with tethers of these types. Our results point to strategies for designing tethers, which lead to improved cis/trans‐selectivities in IMDAs that are normally only weakly selective. Experimental verification of the validity of this claim comes in the form of fumaramide 14 , which undergoes a more trans‐selective IMDA reaction than the corresponding ester tethered precursor 13 .     

Intramolecular Lewis acid catalyzed heterocycloaddition reactions. Cyclization of ketone heterodienophiles in the dihydrotropone series

Ketones were found to efficiently participate as heterodienophilic partners in intramolecular Lewis acid catalyzed cycloadditions with the diene system of dihydrotropone to ultimately generate substituted hydroazulenes.