A DFT study of the domino inter

The molecular mechanism of the domino inter [4 + 2]/intra [3 + 2] cycloaddition reactions of nitroalkenes with enol ethers to give nitroso acetal adducts has been characterized using density functional theory methods with the B3LYP functional and the 6-31G basis set. The presence of Lewis acid catalyst and solvent effects has been taken into account to model the experimental environment. These domino processes comprise two consecutive cycloaddition reactions: the first one is an intermolecular [4 + 2] cycloaddition of the enol ether to the nitroalkene to give a nitronate intermediate, which then affords the final nitroso acetal adduct through an intramolecular [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction. The intermolecular [4 + 2] cycloaddition can be considered as a nucleophilic attack of the enol ether to the conjugated position of the nitroalkene, with concomitant ring closure and without intervention of an intermediate. For this cycloaddition process, the presence of the Lewis acid favors the delocalization of the negative charge that is being transferred from the enol ether to the nitroalkene and decreases the activation energy of the first cycloaddition. The [4 + 2] cycloaddition presents a total regioselectivity, while the endo/exo stereoselectivity depends on the bulk of the Lewis acid used as catalyst. Thus, for small Lewis acid catalyst, modeled by BH(3), the addition presents an endo selectivity. The [3 + 2] cycloaddition reactions present an total exo selectivity, due to the constraints imposed by the tether. Inclusion of Lewis acid catalyst and solvent effects decrease clearly the barrier for the first [4 + 2] cycloaddition relative to the second [3 + 2] one. Calculations for the activation parameters along this domino reaction allow to validate the results obtained using the potential energy barriers.     

Stereoselective Insertion of Benzynes into Lawsones: Synthesis of Biologically Important Benzannulated Bicyclo[3.3.0]octanes

An ideal stereoselective insertion of in situ generated benzynes into lawsones through domino formal [2+2]-cycloaddition followed by rearrangement is disclosed. The reaction allowed for the preparation of biologically important benzannulated bicyclo[3.3.0]octanes in good yields and with excellent selectivities by using simple substrates and conditions.     

Synthesis of benzofurans with remote bromide functionality by domino "ring-cleavage-deprotection-cyclization" reactions of 2-alkylidenetetrahydrofurans with boron tribromide

[reaction: see text] Bromination and subsequent Suzuki reactions of 2-alkylidenetetrahydrofurans, readily available by [3+2] cyclizations, afforded 1'-(2'-methoxyphenyl)-2-alkylidenetetrahydrofurans. Treatment of the latter with boron tribromide and subsequent addition of water resulted in the chemoselective formation of functionalized benzofurans containing a remote bromide functionality. The products are formed by a new domino "ring-cleavage-deprotection-cyclization" reaction. The addition of an aqueous solution of potassium tert-butoxide, rather than water, afforded saturated analogues of calycine by a "ring-cleavage-deprotection-ring-closure-lactonization" reaction.     

Phosphine‐Catalyzed Domino Reactions: A Route to Functionalized Bicyclic Skeletons

A novel strategy that involves phosphine‐catalyzed sequential [2+3] and [3+2] annulation reactions was developed. In this domino reaction, γ‐substituted allenoates were used as novel C₄ synthons, and the bicyclic cyclopenta[b]dihydrofuran derivatives were produced in good to excellent diastereoselectivities and yields under mild conditions. Furthermore, preliminary studies on an asymmetric variant of this reaction proceeded with moderate enantioselectivity.     

3H-Pyrroles as a platform for the catalyst-free construction of dihydropyrrolo[2,1-b]oxazoles: [4 + 2]-cycloaddition vs [2 + 3]-annulation with 1-cyano-3-hydroxyalkynes

Non-aromatic pyrrole isomers, 3,3-dialkyl-2-aryl-3H-pyrroles, were reacted with 1-cyano-3-hydroxyalkynes under mild, catalyst-free conditions (20–60?°C) to regio- and stereoselectively afford (Z)-2-(dihydropyrrolo[2,1-b]oxazolylidene)acetonitriles in 62–82% yield, thus evidencing the preference for [2?+?3]-annulation over the [4?+?2]-Diels-Alder alternative. The reaction involves initial nucleophilic addition of the pyrrole moiety at the triple bond followed by tandem ring closure of an anionic intermediate.     

Synthetic studies on pseudolaric acid B:Enantioselective synthesis of C4,C10-di-epi-trans-fused[5-7]-bicyclic skeleton

Studies on the synthesis of antifungal and anticancer natural product,pseudolaric acid B,have led to the enantioselective synthesis of di-epi-trans-fused [5-7]-bicyclic co re skeleton.The synthesis was achieved in 10 linear steps,which features the Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation,cyanide-opening reaction of epoxide,and intramolecular [5+2] cycloaddition reaction as the key transformations.The stereochemistry was determined by the X-ray crystallographic analysis.     

Understanding the nature of the molecular mechanisms associated with the competitive Lewis acid catalyzed [4+2] and [4+3] cycloadditions between arylidenoxazolone systems and cyclopentadiene: a DFT analysis

The molecular mechanisms of the reactions between aryliden-5(4H)-oxazolone 1, and cyclopentadiene (Cp), in presence of Lewis acid (LA) catalyst to obtain the corresponding [4+2] and [4+3] cycloadducts are examined through density functional theory (DFT) calculations at the B3LYP/6-31G* level. The activation effect of LA catalyst can be reached by two ways, that is, interaction of LA either with carbonyl or carboxyl oxygen atoms of 1 to render [4+2] or [4+3] cycloadducts. The endo and exo [4+2] cycloadducts are formed through a highly asynchronous concerted mechanism associated to a Michael-type addition of Cp to the beta-conjugated position of alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl framework of 1. Coordination of LA catalyst to the carboxyl oxygen yields a highly functionalized compound, 3, through a domino reaction. For this process, the first reaction is a stepwise [4+3] cycloaddition which is initiated by a Friedel-Crafts-type addition of the electrophilically activated carbonyl group of 1 to Cp and subsequent cyclization of the corresponding zwitterionic intermediate to yield the corresponding [4+3] cycloadduct. The next rearrangement is the nucleophilic trapping of this cycloadduct by a second molecule of Cp to yield the final adduct 3. A new reaction pathway for the [4+3] cycloadditions emerges from the present study.     

Direct Synthesis of Benzofuro[2,3‐b]pyrroles through a Radical Addition/[3,3]‐Sigmatropic Rearrangement/Cyclization/Lactamization Cascade

A straightforward synthetic method for the construction of benzofuro[2,3‐b]pyrrol‐2‐ones by a novel domino reaction through a radical addition/[3,3]‐sigmatropic rearrangement/cyclization/lactamization cascade has been developed. The domino reaction of O‐phenyl‐conjugated oxime ether with an alkyl radical allows the construction of two heterocycles with three stereogenic centers as a result of the formation of two C?C bonds, a C?O bond, and a C?N bond in a single operation, leading to pyrrolidine‐fused dihydrobenzofurans, which are not easily accessible by existing synthetic methods. Furthermore, asymmetric synthesis of benzofuro[2,3‐b]pyrrol‐2‐one derivatives through a diastereoselective radical addition reaction to a chiral oxime ether was also developed.     

Organocatalytic intermolecular [2+2] cycloaddition of norbornadienes by a stable organic radical compound

An organocatalytic [2+2] cycloaddition reaction of norbornadienes (NBDs) using catalytic amount of TEMPO was reported. Single crystal X-ray diffraction of the product revealed its detailed multicyclic structure containing a 4-membered ring, formed in intermolecular reaction. Addition of AIBN to the current catalytic system improved the product yield. Quantitative reaction of the NBD and TEMPO gave a 2:2 adduct of NBD and TEMPO, which was confirmed by HR-MS. This catalytic [2+2] addition of NBDs has great advantage in selective intermolecular coupling in comparison with [2+2] photocycloaddition.     

Enantioselective Formal [3+3] Cycloadditions of Ketones and Cyclic 1‐Azadienes by Cascade Enamine–Enamine Catalysis

An asymmetric formal [3+3] cycloaddition process with diversely structured aliphatic ketones and electron‐deficient cyclic 1‐azadienes was developed by cascade enamine–enamine catalysis of a cinchona‐based primary amine. This sequence involved a domino Michael addition–Mannich reaction to afford spirocyclic architectures in excellent diastereo‐ and enantioselectivity. Importantly, high regioselectivity was realized for a number of unsymmetrical aliphatic ketone substrates.     

A new three-step domino Knoevenagel-hetero-Diels-Alder oxidation reaction

A new catalyst-free domino Knoevenagel-hetero-Diels-Alder oxidation reaction is reported. 6H-Chromeno[4′,3′:4,5]thiopyrano[2,3-d][1,3]thiazol-4-ium-2-olates are formed in good yields via reaction of 2-(2-propynyloxy)benzaldehydes with 4-thioxo-1,3-thiazolidin-2-one.     

Rh(CO)2Cl]2-catalyzed domino reactions involving allylic substitution and subsequent carbocyclization reactions

[reaction: see text] Three novel domino reaction processes have been discovered and developed that employ the regioselective and stereoselective [Rh(CO)(2)Cl](2)-catalyzed alkylations of allylic trifluoroacetates with alpha-substituted sodiomalonates followed by an intramolecular Pauson-Khand annulation, a [5 + 2] cycloaddition, or a cycloisomerization. A unique aspect of the methodology is that a single catalyst is used to effect sequential transformations simply by increasing the temperature for the second reaction.     

Copper‐Catalyzed Formal [2+2+1] Heteroannulation of Alkenes,Alkylnitriles, and Water: Method Development and Application to a Total Synthesis of (±)‐Sacidumlignan D

A copper‐catalyzed three‐component reaction of alkenes, alkylnitriles, and water affords γ‐butyrolactones in good yields. The domino process involves an unprecedented hydroxy‐cyanoalkylation of alkenes and subsequent lactonization with the creation of three chemical bonds and a quaternary carbon center. The synthetic potential of this novel [2+2+1] heteroannulation reaction was illustrated by a concise total synthesis of (±)‐sacidumlignan D.     

Copper‐Catalyzed Formal [2+2+1] Heteroannulation of Alkenes,Alkylnitriles, and Water: Method Development and Application to a Total Synthesis of (±)‐Sacidumlignan D

A copper‐catalyzed three‐component reaction of alkenes, alkylnitriles, and water affords γ‐butyrolactones in good yields. The domino process involves an unprecedented hydroxy‐cyanoalkylation of alkenes and subsequent lactonization with the creation of three chemical bonds and a quaternary carbon center. The synthetic potential of this novel [2+2+1] heteroannulation reaction was illustrated by a concise total synthesis of (±)‐sacidumlignan D.     

Cross‐Cycloaddition of Two Different Isocyanides: Chemoselective Heterodimerization and [3+2]‐Cyclization of 1,4‐Diazabutatriene

A new cross‐cycloaddition reaction between a wide range of isocyanides and 2‐isocyanochalcones (or analogues) was developed for the expeditious synthesis of pyrrolo[3,4‐b]indoles under thermal conditions. On the basis of the experimental results and DFT calculations, a mechanism for this domino reaction is proposed involving chemoselective heterodimerization of two different isocyanides to form 1,4‐diazabutatriene intermediates, followed by an intramolecular [3+2]‐cycloaddition and 1,3‐proton shift.     

Silver‐Catalyzed Chemoselective [4+2] Annulation of Two Isocyanides: A General Route to Pyridone‐Fused Carbo‐ and Heterocycles

A silver‐catalyzed chemoselective [4+2] annulation of aryl and heteroaryl isocyanides with α‐substituted isocyanoacetamides was developed for the facile and efficient synthesis of 2‐aminoquinolones, naphthyridines, and phenanthrolines. A mechanism for this multistep domino reaction is proposed on the basis of a ¹³C‐labeling experiment, according to which an unprecedented chemoselective heterodimerization of two different isocyanides generates an α‐amidoketenimine intermediate, which undergoes 1,3‐amino migration to form an α‐imidoylketene, followed by 6 π electrocyclization.     

Design and synthesis of spirobiisoxazoline dibenzoquinone derivatives via [3 + 2] double 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction

“A series of novel spirobiisoxazoline dibenzoquinone derivatives were synthesized starting from 2,5-dimethoxybenzaldehyde in a six-step synthetic sequence”. The key step [3?+?2] double 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of oxime chloride with allenoate was performed under mild reaction conditions using sodium carbonate at ambient temperature. This is the first innovative synthesis of Spirobiisoxazoline Dibenzoquinone system where quinone ring is alkylated to isoxazoline moiety.     

Efficient three-component reactions of α-thiocyanato ketones stereoselectively forming E-3-aroylidene-2-oxindole derivatives

A new three-component reaction of α-thiocyanato ketones under microwave irradiation for the stereoselective synthesis of 25 examples of E-3-aroylidene-2-oxindole derivatives has been described. The domino reaction simultaneously installs C–S and C–C bonds through continuous [3+2] cycloaddition/ring opening of in situ generated 1,3-oxathiolanes/S_N2-type reaction sequence.     

α-Acyloxynitroso dienophiles in [4+2] hetero Diels-Alder cycloadditions: mechanistic insights

α-Acyloxynitroso derivatives are a class of heterodienophiles leading to valuable 3,6-dihydro-1,2-oxazines or the corresponding aminoalcohols in good yields. The discovery that a β-oxygenated moiety led to a domino [4+2] cycloaddition/σ_N-O bond cleavage in the presence of a catalytic amount of Lewis acid was investigated in detail, through kinetic profiling of the reaction both in the absence and presence of a promoter. These studies showed that the role of the Lewis acid was to accelerate the σ_N-O bond cleavage thereby promoting a highly reproducible sequence. In addition, our preliminary results on an asymmetric version of this domino sequence are reported.     

Efficient [4+1]/[3+2+1] bis-cyclizations stereoselectively yielding unprecedented polyacyclic indeno-fused xanthenes

Concise and efficient [4+1]/[3+2+1] bis-cyclizations of o-phthalaldehyde with cyclic 1,3-dicarbonyls have been established for the stereoselective synthesis of unprecedented polycyclic indeno[2,1-l]xanthene derivatives. The multicomponent domino reaction (MDR, AB₂ type) is easy to perform by mixing inexpensive substrates in HOAc at room temperature. The present synthesis shows attractive properties such as the simple one-pot fashion, high bond-forming efficiency, and easy purifications. Up to two new rings and four sigma-bonds were achieved in these MDRs without using any metal catalysts.