Enantioselective rhodium-catalyzed [4+2] cycloaddition of α,β-unsaturated imines and isocyanates

A [4+2] cycloaddition of α,β-unsaturated imines and isocyanates catalyzed by a phosphoramidite-rhodium complex provides pyrimidinones in good yields and high enantioselectivities.     

[2+2+2] cycloaddition reactions of α,β-unsaturated N-arylaldimines,acetylenedicarboxylates and 2-arylidene-1,3-indanediones

The domino [2+2+2] cycloaddition reaction of α,β-unsaturated N-arylaldimines, dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates and 2-arylidene-1,3-indanediones in dry methylene dichloride at room temperature afforded isomeric 2′-styryl-1,2′,3,4′-tetrahydro-1′H-spiro[indene-2,3′-pyridines] in good yields. Under similar conditions, the reaction of α,β-unsaturated N-arylaldimines with two molecules of dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates resulted in 1-aryl-6-styryl-1,6-dihydropyridine-2,3,4,5-tetracarboxylates. Additionally, the three-component reaction of α,β-unsaturated N-arylaldimines, dimethylacetylenedicarboxylate and benzoyl cyanide also gave isomeric 1,3-oxazine-4,5-dicarboxylates.     

A novel α,β-unsaturated nitrone-aryne [3+2] cycloaddition and its application in the synthesis of the cortistatin core

We describe here a novel α,β-unsaturated nitrone-aryne [3+2] cycloaddition. The resulting benzoisoxazolines underwent N-O bond reduction-elimination-electrocyclization sequence to furnish a variety of polysubstituted 2H or 2-alkylated-1-benzo-pyrans. The application of this methodology was further demonstrated in the synthesis of the oxa[3.2.1]octene moiety of cortistatin A.     

Theoretical studies on formal hetero [3+3] cycloaddition reaction between vinylogous amide and α,β-unsaturated imine cation

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations at B3LYP/6-31G** level have been carried out to study the mechanism of title reaction. The whole picture for the possible mechanism has been explored and verified both in gas phase and C₆H₅CH₃ solvent. The calculated results show that this reaction proceeds via the following several steps: (1) addition of two reactant molecules; (2) removing of H⁺ and succedent elimination of NH₃ from intermediates; (3) isomerization and final cyclization of intermediates, in which the elimination step of NH₃ is the rate-controlling one in the whole reaction process. The final product has two competitive parallel paths, in which the 6π-electron electrocyclic ring closure is not reversible.     

An amine-catalyzed enantioselective [3+2] cycloaddition of azomethine ylides and α,β-unsaturated aldehydes: applications and mechanistic implications

The catalytic enantioselective [3+2] cycloaddition between azomethine ylides and α,β-unsaturated aldehydes catalyzed by α,α-diphenylprolinol has been studied in detail. In particular, the reaction has been extended to the use of 2-alkenylidene aminomalonates generated in situ as azomethine ylide precursors. These reactions lead to the formation of pyrrolidines containing a 5-alkenyl side chain with potential for chemical manipulation. Moreover, a detailed and concise computational study has been carried out to understand the exact nature of the mechanism of this reaction and especially the consequences derived from the incorporation of the chiral secondary amine catalyst on the reaction pathway.     

Enantioselective N-heterocyclic carbene catalyzed formal [3+2] cycloaddition using α-aroyloxyaldehydes and oxaziridines

An enantioselective N-heterocyclic carbene catalysed formal [3+2] cycloaddition has been developed for the synthesis of oxazolindin-4-one products. The reaction of oxaziridines and α-aroyloxyaldehydes under N-heterocyclic carbene catalysis provides the formal cycloaddition products with excellent control of the diastereo- and enantioselectivity (12 examples, up to >95:5 dr, >99:1 er). A matched-mismatched effect between the enantiomer of the catalyst and oxaziridine was identified, and preliminary mechanistic studies have allowed the proposal of a model to explain these observations.     

The organocatalytic enantioselective [3+2] cycloaddition reaction of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes with azomethine ylides applied to the asymmetric synthesis of densely substituted pyrroloisoquinolines

The synthesis of densely functionalized pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines was accomplished using the organocatalytic [3+2] cycloaddition between enals and azomethine ylides under iminium catalysis developed in our group some years ago as the key step. The cycloaddition proceeds smoothly yielding the corresponding pyrrolidine as a single endo diastereoisomer with enantiopurity in the range of 94–96% and further manipulations of the obtained cycloadducts using high yielding reaction protocols and a final mesylation/intramolecular N-alkylation sequence allowed the synthesis of target compounds in which the integrity of all stereocenters installed during the first step is maintained.     

Rh(I)-catalyzed [5+1] cycloaddition of vinylcyclopropanes and CO for the synthesis of α,β- and β,γ-cyclohexenones

A cationic Rh(I)-catalyzed [5 + 1] cycloaddition of vinylcyclopropanes and CO has been developed, affording either β,γ-cyclohexenones as major products or α,β-cyclohexenones exclusively, under different reaction conditions.     

Mechanism and selectivity of nickel-catalyzed [3 + 2] cycloaddition of cyclopropenones and α,β-unsaturated ketones: A computational study

Density functional theory calculations have been performed to investigate the nickel-catalyzed [3 + 2] cycloaddition of cyclopropenones and α,β-unsaturated ketones. The computations show that the overall catalytic cycle consists of four major steps, including: (1) C-C oxidative addition of the cyclopropenone to afford the four-membered nickelacycle, (2) isomerization, (3) migratory insertion via a 4,1-insertion fashion, and (4) C-C reductive elimination to deliver the [3 + 2] cycloaddition product. The enantioselectivity is mainly attributed to the π-π interaction between the diphenylcyclopropenone moiety and the phenyl substituent of the oxazoline ring of the ligand. The chemoselectivity of the C = O versus C = C insertion was rationalized in terms of the steric effect.     

Bifunctional cinchona alkaloids-catalyzed asymmetric [4+2] cycloaddition reaction of β,γ-unsaturated α-keto esters with oxazolones

A highly enantioselective [4+2] cycloaddition reaction of β,γ-unsaturated α-keto esters with oxazolones was realized with readily available cinchona alkaloids as the catalysts. Using this reaction, a series of highly functionalized δ-lactones with adjacent α-quaternary-β-tertiary stereocenters were obtained in high yields (up to 97%) and with good-to-excellent enantioselectivities (up to 97% ee).     

Facile strategy for the preparation of pyrazoline derivatives through phosphine-promoted [2 + 3] cycloaddition of dialkyl azodicarboxylates with β,γ-unsaturated α-keto esters

A facile phosphine-promoted [2?+?3] cycloaddition of dialkyl azodicarboxylates with β,γ-unsaturated α-keto esters was developed, and a series of pyrazoline derivatives were obtained with good yields under mild conditions. Furthermore, the scope of the cyclizations was investigated.     

Synthesis of fluorine-substituted [2.2]paracyclophane-based carbene precursors for copper-catalyzed enantioselective boration of α,β-unsaturated ketones

Fluorine-substituted [2.2]paracyclophane-based carbene precursors have been successfully synthesized and applied to copper-catalyzed asymmetric β-boration of α,β-unsaturated ketones. Fluorination of the planar chiral carbenes has a beneficial impact on the catalytic performance of the relevant complexes. A variety of chiral β-boryl ketones were obtained in excellent yields (up to 99%) and with high enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee).     

One-pot multicoupling reaction of silylcopper reagents, organolithium compounds and α,β-unsaturated nitriles

The silylcupration of allene using a lower order silylcopper species gives an allylsilane-vinyl copper intermediate 2 which, in conjunction with an organolithium reagent, is able to participate in a one-pot multicoupling reaction with α,β-unsaturated nitriles. The scope of this tandem reaction is studied and a possible mechanism pathway is outlined.     

Use of Wittig reaction for synthesizing α,β-unsaturated and polyenoic acids

Summary The reaction of carbethoxymethylenetriphenylphosphorane with various aldehydes is a general method of synthesizing esters of ,-unsaturated and polyenoic acids.     

Iridium-catalyzed [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition of α,ω-diynes with nitriles

[Ir(cod)Cl](2)/DPPF or BINAP efficiently catalyzed the cycloaddition of α,ω-diynes with nitriles to give pyridines. The reaction can accommodate a very wide range of nitriles. Both aliphatic and aromatic nitriles smoothly reacted with α,ω-diynes to give pyridines. Ten equivalents of unactivated aliphatic nitrile were enough to give the product in high yield. Aliphatic nitriles bearing an acetal or amino moiety could be used for the reaction. The highly regioselective cycloaddition of unsymmetrical diyne bearing two different internal alkyne moieties was achieved. The observed regioselectivity could be reasonably explained by considering the different reactivities of the α-position in iridacyclopentadiene. Regioselective cycloaddition was successfully applied to the synthesis of terpyridine and quinquepyridine. This chemistry was extended to a new and efficient synthesis of oligoheteroarenes. Five aromatic or heteroaromatic rings were connected in a single operation. [Ir(cod)Cl](2)/chiral diphosphine catalyst can be applied to enantioselective synthesis. Kinetic resolution of the racemic secondary benzyl nitrile catalyzed by [Ir(cod)Cl](2)/SEGPHOS gave a central carbon chiral pyridine in 80% ee. The mechanism was analyzed on the basis of the B3LYP level of density functional calculations.     

Iridium-catalyzed [2+2+2] cycloaddition of α,ω-diynes with isocyanates

[Ir(cod)Cl](2)/BINAP was found to be an efficient catalyst for the [2+2+2] cycloaddition of α,ω-diynes with isocyanates to give 2-pyridones. A wide range of isocyanates can be used for this reaction. Both aliphatic and aromatic isocyanates smoothly reacted with α,ω-diynes to give 2-pyridones in high yields. Aliphatic isocyanates were more reactive than aromatic isocyanates. For aromatic isocyanates, the electronic properties of the substituents affected the reactivity: electron-donating substituents enhanced the reaction. The reaction of unsymmetrical α,ω-diynes possessing two different internal alkyne moieties with isocyanates was regiospecific and gave a single product. This regioselectivity could be explained by the reaction of iridacyclopentadiene with a nitrogen-carbon double bond. The regioselectivity of the reaction of malonate-derived diyne was controlled by a steric effect, while that of the reaction of ester-tethered diyne was controlled by an electronic effect. [Ir(cod)Cl](2)/chiral diphosphine catalyst could be used for the enantioselective synthesis of C-N axially chiral 2-pyridone. The reaction of diyne 1a with o-methoxyphenyl isocyanate (7a) gave C-N axially chiral 2-pyridone (R)-8aa in 78% yield with 94% ee.     

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.     

Cu-catalyzed asymmetric [3+2] cycloaddition of α-iminoamides with activated olefins

A variety of 2-amido pyrrolidines, including Weinreb-type amides, have been prepared with very high exo diastereoselectivity and enantioselectivitiy in the reaction of α-iminoamides with activated alkenes catalyzed by Cu(I)-Segphos ligands.     

Iridium-catalyzed [2+2+2] cycloaddition of α,ω-diynes with alkynyl ketones and alkynyl esters

We found that the combination of [Ir(cod)Cl]₂ and rac-BINAP served as an efficient catalyst for the [2+2+2] cycloaddition of 2,7-nonadiyne derivatives and related compounds with alkynyl ketones and alkynyl esters. The corresponding products were obtained in high yields under mild reaction conditions.