Studies on the carbenium-iminium ions derived from N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide (NMMO)

Two carbenium-iminium ions, an exo-centered species 2 and a ring-centered form 3, are derived from the widely used oxidant and cellulose solvent N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide (1) by heterolytic degradation. 3 rearranges into 2 in the presence of water, in an endothermic, bimolecular reaction involving a highly organized transition state, which is the first example of a carbenium-iminium ion interconversion. The reaction mechanism was investigated by a combined approach consisting of trapping reactions, isotopic labeling, kinetic studies, and computations on the DFT level.     

Asymmetric nitrone cycloadditions and their application to the synthesis of enantiopure pyrrolidine and pyrrolizidine derivatives

The cycloaddition reactions of a pair of chiral pyrroline-N-oxides derived from d-ribose with some typical mono and disubstituted alkenes are reported. In all these reactions with monosubstituted alkenes as well as with dimethyl maleate the preferred stereochemical outcome of the cycloaddition step comes from a 5-exo-anti transition state whereas stereoisomers from the 5-exo-syn transition state are also present as minor adducts. In the reaction with dimethyl fumarate the major adduct comes from a 4-exo-5-endo-syn transition state. The further behavior of the obtained isoxazolidines upon reductive ring opening conditions depends on the kind and the geometry of the preexisting substituents and they are transformed to enantiomerically pure pyrrolidine or pyrrolizidinone derivatives.     

Synthesis of nitrogen-containing heterocycles using exo- and endo-selective radical cyclizations onto enamides

The effect of positional change of the carbonyl group of enamides on Bu₃SnH-mediated alkyl radical cyclization leading to five-, six-, seven-, and eight-membered nitrogen-containing heterocycles was examined. A 5-exo cyclization is generally preferred over a 6-endo ring closure in systems having an alkyl radical center on the enamide-acyl side chain, whereas enamides having an alkyl radical center opposite to the acyl side chain predominantly gave 6-endo cyclization products. These results suggest that the exo or endo selectivity of radical cyclization onto the alkenic bond of enamides can be controlled by positional change of the carbonyl group. For an understanding of these selectivities, heat of formation for each transition state was calculated. 6-endo-Selective radical cyclization was applied to the radical cascade, enabling a concise synthesis of a cylindricine skeleton. A 7- or 8-endo alkyl radical cyclization, however, predominated over a corresponding 6- or 7-exo ring closure regardless of the positional change of the carbonyl group of enamides.     

Synthesis of exo-glycals and their biochemical applications

exo-Glycals are both valuable synthetic tools and biologically relevant structures. This article reviews the novel synthetic approaches that have been reported to synthesize sugar based tri- or tetrasubstituted exocyclic enol ethers. Among those, the Julia modified olefinations as well as the transition metal catalyzed cross-couplings have been extensively developed. The synthesis of unprecedented fluorinated and sulfonylated phosphono-exo-glycals are also described. An overview of the biological applications in which exo-glycals acts as inhibitors or inactivator of relevant enzymes is finally presented.     

Manganese(III)-mediated facile synthesis of 3,4-dihydro-2(1H)-quinolinones: selectivity of the 6-endo and 5-exo cyclization

The 4,4-bis(ethoxycarbonyl)-3,4-dihydro-2(1H)-quinolinones 2 were easily synthesized by the oxidative 6-endo-trig cyclization of 2-[2-(N-arylamino)-2-oxoethyl]malonates 1 with manganese(III) acetate in good to excellent yields. The same reaction of N-(2,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-substituted malonate 1t exclusively produced the 5-exo-cyclized 4,4-bis(ethoxycarbonyl)-1-azaspiro[4,5]deca-6,9-diene-2,8-dione 5t instead of the corresponding dihydroquinolinone. The regioselectivity during the cyclization could be explained by the difference in the activation energy of the transition state of the 6-endo/5-exo cyclization.     

Reaction of unsaturated phosphonate monoesters with bromo- and iodo(bis-collidine) hexafluorophosphates

Reaction of unsaturated phosphonate monoesters with bromo- and iodo(bis-collidine) hexafluorophosphates are reported to lead to the formation of five- to seven-membered phostones by exo mode cyclizations. When the chains of the unsaturated phosphonate monoesters are substituted in α of the double bond by a dioxolane group endo mode cyclizations are observed. These cyclizations give rise to the formation of 1,2-oxaphosphepane-2-oxide and 1,2-oxaphosphocane-2-oxide.     

Unexpected exo selectivity for an intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction involving a doubly-activated δ-pentenolide dienophile

The intramolecular Diels-Alder cyclization of a homochiral doubly-activated δ-pentenolide system is described, proceeding predominantly via an exo transition state to provide an advanced precursor toward unique stereochemical analogs of (+)-symbioimine.     

Unusual pathway of the tantalum-catalyzed carboalumination reaction of alkenes with triethylaluminum

Carboalumination of 1-alkenes (1-hexene, 1-octene, 1-decene) with Et₃Al in the presence of catalytic amounts of TaCl₅ results in a mixture of 2-(R-substituted)- and 3-(R-substituted)-n-butylaluminums (1:1 ratio) in total yields of 75–85%. The TaCl₅-catalyzed reaction of bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene, endo-tricyclo[5.2.1.0^2,6]deca-3,8-diene, and (exo/endo)-5-methylbicyclo[2.1.1]hept-2-ene with Et₃Al leads to the formation of diethyl[2-exo-(2′-norbornylethyl)]aluminums in high yields. DFT calculations confirm the thermodynamic preference of the final exo product. The multistep reaction mechanisms for the formation of the resultant organoaluminums through tantalacyclopentanes as key intermediates are also discussed.     

Domino Diels-Alder reactions of N-methoxyethyl-7-oxa-norbornadiene-2,3-dicarboximide: an elusive, highly reactive dienophile

Flash vacuum pyrolysis (FVP) has been used to generate the novel 7-oxa-norbornadiene-2,3-dicarboxylic imide that in situ gave an unprecedented cycloaddition reaction cascade with the imidofuran, a side-product of FVP. Stereoselectivity of cycloadditions was studied with the aid of density functional calculations, which fully support observed exo/endo-selectivity.     

Microwave spectra and stable conformations of exo- and endo-norborneols

The microwave spectra of exo- and endo-norborneols and their isotopic species deuterated in the hydroxyl group have been investigated over the frequency range 8–40 GHz. Conventional Stark spectroscopy and microwave—microwave double resonance were used to assign Q and R-branch rotational transitions. From the measured transition frequencies the rotational constants A = 3605.9374(9) MHz, B = 1935.4207(8) MHz and C = 1752.3947(8) MHz have been fitted for exo-norborneol and A = 3151.4865(15) MHz, B = 2095.2483(24) MHz and C = 1914.7057(25) MHz for endo-norborneol. Quantitative measurements of the Stark splittings of selected transitions yielded the dipole components μ_a = 0.53(9) D, μ_b = 1.22(6) D and μ_c = 0.294(4) D and the total dipole moment μ = 1.36(9) D of exo-norborneol. The spectroscopic constants of the deuterated species -were used to deduce the orientation of the hydroxyl group of the only conformer found for each isomer of norborneol.     

Stereoselective synthesis of substituted exo-glycals from 1-exo-methylene pyranoses

Halo-exo-glycals of the gluco-, manno- and galacto- series, readily prepared by reaction of 1-exo-methylene pyranoses with iodonium dicollidinium triflate (IDCT), undergo Suzuki or B-alkyl Suzuki cross-coupling reactions with boronic acids or alkyl boranes to yield, in a stereoselective manner, functionalized exo-glycals.     

An expedient approach to tetrahydrofuro[3,2-b]pyridine-2(3H)-ones via activation of pyridine N-oxide by triflic anhydride

The double addition of bis(trimethylsilyl) ketene acetals [R₁, R₂ = CH₃, -(CH₂)₅-] to pyridine N-oxide promoted by triflic anhydride under mild conditions generates N-[(trifluoromethane)sulfonyl-1,2-dihydropyridine-2,4-dicarboxylic acids 2a-b. Subsequent reaction of these acids upon iodolactonization conditions affords tetrahydrofuro[3,2-b]pyridine-2(3H)-ones 3a-b containing an exo-insaturation on the products as a result of an unexpected decarboxylation.     

Formal total synthesis of (±)-fragranol via template catalyzed 4-exo cyclization

A novel approach to the synthesis of (±)-fragranol is described that relies on a radical 4-exo cyclization. This key step is catalyzed by a cationic titanocene complex with a pending amide ligand. In this manner the radical and its acceptor are bound to the titanocene center in a two-point mode. By this interaction the 4-exo cyclization that is not supported by gem-dialkyl substitution is rendered thermodynamically and kinetically favorable. Moreover, the crucial intermediates and transition structures become highly ordered. This results in a good diastereoselectivity of cyclobutane formation. From the key-intermediate, the formal total synthesis of the natural product can be completed in a few steps.     

Convergent stereocontrolled synthesis of substituted exo-glycals by Stille cross-coupling of halo-exo-glycals and stannanes

(Z)-exo-Glycals can be conveniently prepared in a convergent manner by Stille cross-coupling of (Z)-halo(Br,I)-exo-glycals and aryl or alkenyl stannanes, the latter are readily obtained by addition of tributylstannyl radicals to terminal alkynes.     

Efficient access to disubstituted exo-glycals. Application to the preparation of C-glycosyl compounds

Efficient methods of preparation of disubstituted exo-glycals by palladium cross-coupling reaction on the readily available dibromo exo-glycal and methoxycarbonyl exo-glycal have been developed. Hydrogenation of these new monosubstituted and disubstituted exo-glycals proceeded with a high stereocontrol and led to original C-glycosyl compounds.     

Double diastereoselection in asymmetric [2+3] cycloaddition of chiral oxazoline N-oxides: application to the kinetic resolution of a racemic α,β-unsaturated δ-lactone

The asymmetric [2+3] cycloaddition reaction between chiral oxazoline N-oxide 1 and α,β-unsaturated lactone 2 was studied. A double diastereoselection was observed, (1R)-1 and (R)-2 gave a mismatched pair with almost no cycloadduct obtained. A transition state model is proposed, accounting for the destabilization of transition state in the cycloaddition reaction. This result has led to kinetic resolution studies, in which both enantiomers of 1 were reacted with racemic lactone 2. The enantiomeric excess of the recovered lactone 2 was determined to be up to 70% ee, by ¹³C-{¹H} NMR analysis in a chiral liquid crystalline solvent. The experimental results are in agreement with predicted enantiomeric excesses and consistent with the transition state models.     

A quantum chemical study on the mechanism of chiral N-oxides-catalyzed Strecker reaction

The mechanism for the Strecker reaction of silyl cyanide (H₃SiCN) and benzaldehyde N-methylimine (PhCHNCH₃) catalyzed by chiral 3,3′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine N,N′-dioxide was investigated using the density functional theory (DFT) at the B3LYP/6-31G* level. The calculations revealed that the non-catalyzed reaction proceeded in a concerted way via a five-membered ring transition state, while the catalytic one occurred stepwisely via a hexacoordinate hypervalent silicate intermediate. It was predicted that both non-catalyzed and catalytic Strecker reactions involved two competitive reaction pathways, that is, addition followed by isomerization or isomerization followed by addition. The calculations indicated that two reaction pathways were comparable for both non-catalyzed and catalytic Strecker reactions. In the catalytic reaction, the strong electron donor (N-O) of chiral N-oxide played an important role in enhancing the reactivity and nucleophilicity of H₃SiCN by coordinating O atom to the Si atom of H₃SiCN. Chiral N-oxide could be used as a good catalyst for the reaction, which was in agreement with the experimental observations.     

Regioselective N-alkylation of imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine-4-oxide derivatives: an experimental and DFT study

Regioselectivities were determined for N-alkylations of imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine-4-oxide and 2-methyl-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine-4-oxide with benzyl bromide or benzyl iodide at RT using K₂CO₃ in DMF as a base. Experimental attempts have shown that N-1/N-3 ratios slightly varied according to the substitution on C-2 position. This was confirmed by DFT calculations in solvent phase. This computational study has shown first that this N-benzylation reaction passed through a S_N2 mechanism. Moreover, regioselectivity of N-benzylation has appeared essentially governed by ‘steric approach control’. It explained that opposite N-1/N-3 ratios were obtained with imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine-4-oxide and its 2-methyl-substituted analog. Finally, regioselectivities slightly varied with the nature of benzyl halide.     

Substituent control in the diastereoselectivity of dipolar cycloadditions of nitrones and their Zn(II) complexes with N-arylmaleimides

The π-π stacking interactions between maleimide's and nitrone's aromatic rings during the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition were assumed to control the exo-endo selectivity of the reaction. The exo-endo ratios change during the reactions until they reach a constant value, which depends on the substituent. Electron-withdrawing groups favour the exo adduct while electron-donating groups favour the endo adduct. The nitrone ZnBr₂ complexes react much more slowly than the free nitrone and the cycloaddition is exo selective in all cases independent of the substituents on the maleimide's aromatic ring. Thermal retrocycloaddition of the cycloadducts produce the corresponding nitrones. The ring opening in the presence of secondary amines did not induce imine formation. endo Adducts were shown for the first time to be the stable paramagnetic compounds.     

Dynamic solvation effects on the endo/exo selectivity of the Diels-Alder reaction

The endo/exo stereoselectivity of the Diels-Alder cycloaddition between cyclopentadiene and 3-crotonoyl-2-oxazolidinone catalysed by Et₂AlCl is temperature- and solvent-dependent. Eyring plots of ln(endo/exo) versus 1/T show different inversion temperatures (T_inv) depending on the reaction solvent. Using toluene-d₈ we found a break temperature (T_NMR) in a variable temperature ¹³C NMR experiment of the starting oxazolidinone, and this T_NMR corresponded to the T_inv. In several cases the differential activation entropy manages the observed stereoselectivity.