Rhodium catalyzed synthesis of isoindolinones via C-H activation of N-benzoylsulfonamides

An efficient approach to a wide range of isoindolinones, including 3-monosubstituted and 3,3-disubstituted isoindolinones, from the annulation of N-benzoylsulfonamides with olefins and diazoacetate has been developed. The transformation is broadly compatible with both terminal and internal olefins. Moreover, diazoacetate is for the first time incorporated into an amide-directed C-H functionalization reaction. Specifically, the rhodium complex [{RhCl₂Cp*}₂] enables the in situ dimerization of diazoacetate in addition to its role in catalyzing C-H functionalization/cross-coupling.     

Co2(CO)8-induced domino reactions of ethyl diazoacetate, carbon monoxide and ferrocenylimines leading to 2-(1-ferrocenyl-methylidene)-malonic acid derivatives

Novel 2-(1-ferrocenyl-methylidene)-malonic acid derivatives are obtained upon reacting ethyl diazoacetate, carbon monoxide and ferrocenylimines in the presence of Co₂(CO)₈ as catalyst under mild conditions. Presumably, the reaction involves three steps taking place in a domino fashion, (i) carbonylation of ethyl diazoacetate leading to a ketene derivative, (ii) [2+2] cycloaddition of the ketene with the ferrocenylimine present in the reaction mixture resulting in the formation of a β-lactam and (iii) N(1)-C(4) cleavage of the β-lactam ring. In most cases, 2-(1-ferrocenyl-methylidene)-malonic acid derivatives are obtained as a separable mixture of E- and Z-isomers in ratios depending on the structure of the imine component.     

Concise and diastereoselective approach to syn- and anti-N-tosyl-α-hydroxy β-amino acid derivatives

The methyl diazoacetate and aryl (N-tosyl)imines can be transformed into syn or anti α-hydroxy β-amino esters with high diastereoselectivities in three steps: the base promoted nucleophilic condensation of the methyl diazoacetate and aryl (N-tosyl)imines to give β-(N-tosyl)amino α-diazoesters, followed by oxidation with Oxone^® to generate α-oxo esters, which were reduced with NaBH₄ to yield the anti-N-tosyl-α-hydroxy β-amino ester, or hydrogenated with Pd/C (10%) as the catalyst to yield corresponding syn isomer, both in high diastereoselectivity.     

Synthesis of (E)-2-(1-ferrocenylmethylidene)malonic acid derivatives by a cobalt-catalyzed domino reaction of ethyl diazoacetate, carbon monoxide and ferrocenylimines

The domino reaction of ethyl diazoacetate, carbon monoxide and ferrocenylimines was investigated in the presence of Co₂(CO)₈ as catalyst. In most cases the main products are 2-(1-ferrocenylmethylidene) malonates formed by an N(1)-C(4) cleavage of the primarily derived β-lactams. The latter compounds could only be isolated when the reaction was carried out at relatively low CO pressure, using an excess of ethyl diazoacetate. trans-N-(tert-Butyl)-3-ethoxycarbonyl-4-ferrocenyl-β-lactam proved to be the most stable one among these compounds and could be isolated in 55% yield. N-alkyl β-lactams were shown to undergo acidic cleavage leading to the E isomers of 2-(1-ferrocenylmethylidene) malonates as the main products. The structures of the two new compounds, (E)-2-ethoxycarbonyl-3-ferrocenyl-N-((R)-1-phenylethyl)-2-propenamide and trans-N-(tert-butyl)-3-ethoxycarbonyl-4-ferrocenyl-β-lactam were confirmed by X-ray crystallography. The relative thermodynamical stability of the products as well as the energetics of the acid-mediated cleavage of the β-lactam ring was elucidated with DFT calculations.     

Copper,silver and gold-based catalysts for carbene addition or insertion reactions

Two families of catalysts containing trispyrazolylborate (Tp^x) or N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHC) with the group 11 metals have proven useful for several reactions involving the transfer of the :CHCO₂Et group from ethyl diazoacetate to saturated and unsaturated substrates.     

LiClO4-catalyzed highly diastereoselective synthesis of cis-aziridine carboxylates

Aldimines (generated in situ from aldehydes and amines) undergo ready addition with ethyl diazoacetate in the presence of a catalytic amount of lithium perchlorate in acetonitrile to afford the corresponding cis-aziridine carboxylates in high yields with high diastereoselectivity. 10 mol% LiClO₄ in acetonitrile provides a convenient catalytic media to perform the reactions under mild and neutral conditions.     

Highly efficient and selective olefination of acyl phosphonates with ethyl diazoacetate catalyzed by a cobalt(II) porphyrin complex

The cobalt(II) porphyrin complex (CoTPP) was found to be an efficient catalyst for the Wittig type olefination of acyl phosphonates with ethyl diazoacetate (EDA) in the presence of triphenylphosphine (Ph₃P). By using this one pot methodology under mild conditions, densely functionalized vinyl phosphonates were obtained in high yields and high E/Z selectivities in relatively short reaction times. A rather broad substrate spectrum and steric influence on the reaction rate were observed.     

Novel chiral dibenzo[a,c]cycloheptadiene bis(oxazoline) and catalytic enantioselective cyclopropanation of styrene

A series of chiral C₂-symmetric bis(oxazoline) ligands containing dibenzo[a,c]cycloheptadiene units were synthesized. The copper complexes, prepared in situ from copper (I)-triflate and the new enantiopure oxazoline ligands, were assessed as chiral catalysts in the enantioselective cyclopropanation of styrene with diazoacetate. Enantioselectivities up to 82 and 62%, respectively, for trans- and cis-2-phenylcyclopropanecarboxylate were observed.     

Reaction of Methyl Diazoacetate with Amines Catalyzed by Ru<Subscript>2</Subscript>(OAc)<Subscript>4</Subscript>Cl

Reactions of primary and secondary amines with methyl diazoacetate in the presence of Ru₂(OAc)₄Cl gave the corresponding N-substituted glycine methyl esters in almost quantitative yield. Catalytic decomposition of methyl diazoacetate generates methoxycarbonylcarbene which is inserted into the N-H bond of amines with high regioselectivity.     

A Computational Study on the Mechanism of Catalytic Cyclopropanation Reaction with Cobalt N-Confused Porphyrin: The Effects of Inner Carbon and Intramolecular Axial Ligand

The factors that affect acceleration and high trans/cis selectivity in the catalytic cyclopropanation reaction of styrene with ethyl diazoacetate by cobalt N-confused porphyrin (NCP) complexes were investigated using density functional theory calculations. The reaction rate was primarily related to the energy gap between the cobalt–carbene adduct intermediates, A and B, which was affected by the NCP skeletons and axial pyridine ligands more than the corresponding porphyrin complex. In addition, high trans/cis stereoselectivity was determined at the TS1 and, in part, in the isomerization process at the carbon-centered radical intermediates, C_trans and C_cis.     

Asymmetric inter- and intramolecular cyclopropanations of alkenes catalyzed by rhodium D4-porphyrin: a comparison of rhodium- and ruthenium-centred catalysts

Iodo-(5,10,15,20-tetrakis(1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8-octahydro-1,4:5,8-dimethanoanthracen-9-yl)porphyrinatorhodium(III), designated as [Rh(P*)(I)], was prepared and its catalytic activity in the asymmetric cyclopropanation of alkenes with ethyl diazoacetate (EDA) was examined. High catalyst turnovers (TON >10³) and moderate enantioselectivities (up to 68% ee) were observed. However, the obtained trans/cis ratios are low. Competition experiments revealed that electron-donating substituents on styrene accelerate the cyclopropanations. The log(k_X/k_H) versus σ⁺ plot for substituted styrenes exhibits a good linearity with a small negative ρ⁺ value (−0.14). [Rh(P*)(I)] is also active in the intramolecular cyclopropanation of allyl diazoacetates. A comparison between rhodium and ruthenium porphyrin complexes was made.     

Electronic tuning of the PNNP ligand for the asymmetric cyclopropanation of olefins catalysed by [RuCl(PNNP)]+

Cationic ruthenium complexes of the type [RuCl(L)(PNNP)]⁺ (L=OEt₂, OH₂), where PNNP is the CF₃-subsituted PNNP ligand N,N′-bis[o-(bis(4-trifluoromethylphenyl)phosphino)benzylidene]-(1S,2S)-diaminocyclohexane 1b, catalyse the asymmetric cyclopropanation of styrene, α-Me-styrene, and 1-octene with ethyl diazoacetate. These complexes are more active and give higher cis- and enantioselectivities than their analogues containing the unsubstituted ligand 1a. Thus, [RuCl(OEt₂)(1b)]PF₆ cyclopropanates α-Me-styrene with 85% cis selectivity and 86% ee in 94% isolated yield.     

Bisoxazoline ligands with an axial-unfixed biaryl backbone: the effects of the biaryl backbone and the substituent at oxazoline ring on Cu-catalyzed asymmetric cyclopropanation

The synthesis of novel C₂-symmetric bisoxazoline ligands with an axial-unfixed biaryl backbone and different substituents at the oxazoline ring is reported. The diastereomer equilibrium of these ligands in solution and their complexation behavior with the copper(I) ion were studied. Their application in Cu-catalyzed cyclopropanation of styrene, with diazoacetate, was carried out and the effects of the biaryl backbone and the substituent on the oxazoline ring in the catalysis were examined. The best result was obtained with the ligand having a 1,1′-binaphthyl backbone and a t-butyl group on the oxazoline ring, which afforded 89% de and 96% de for the trans- and cis-products of the above asymmetric cyclopropanation reaction, respectively.     

New copper(I) and silver(I) triazolato-complexes: Synthesis, reactivity and catalytic activity in olefin cyclopropanation

A new class of azolate ligands, deriving from the equimolar condensation of 3,5-diamino-1,2,4-triazole with salicylaldehyde (H₃L¹) and o-anisaldehyde (H₃L²) was prepared. In their anionic form, these species act as bridging moieties upon coordination to Cu(I) and Ag(I), giving rise to the formation of dinuclear complexes with the ligand in the typical N,N′-exobidentate conformation. The copper derivative [Cu(H₂L¹)(CH₃CN)]₂ (1) showed attractive reactivity in the replacement of the labile acetonitrile molecules. In particular, it was possible to isolate a dinuclear copper(I)-carbonyl complex [Cu(H₂L¹)(CO)]₂ (4), by substitution of the nitrile with carbon monoxide. Moreover, the reaction of 1 with ethyl diazoacetate (EDA) in CH₂Cl₂ afforded a mono-carbene product, as established by ¹³C NMR data. Finally, the copper derivative 1 proved to be a highly diastereoselective catalyst in olefin cyclopropanation in the presence of ethyl diazoacetate. In the case of internal alkenes a trans:cis ratio of up to 97:3 was reached. The X-ray structure of a dinuclear Ag(I) complex, namely [Ag(H₂L¹)(PPh₃)]₂ (3), obtained by reacting the polymeric [Ag(H₂L¹)]_n (2), with triphenylphosphine, is also reported.     

Catalytic [2+1]-cycloaddition of ethyl diazoacetate to fullerene [60]

Cyclopropanation of C₆₀-fullerene was performed with ethyl diazoacetate in the presence of Pd(PPh₃)₄ catalyst. A probable reaction mechanism is suggested.     

Catalytic reaction of 1-chloropropenyl butyl ethers with methyl diazoacetate

Catalytic reaction of trans- and cis-1-chloropropenyl butyl ethers with methyl diazoacetate catalyzed by either Rh₂(OAc)₃, or Cu(OTf)₂, or Cu(acac)₂ in the presence of the imidazolium salts [bmim]⁺ Cl^?, [bmim]⁺ BF ₄ ^? , and [bmim]⁺ PF ₆ ^? was studied. The composition and ratio of products formed was shown to depend on the reaction conditions and the nature and ratio of the components of the catalytic system.     

Chiral copper-bipyridine complexes: Synthesis, characterization and mechanistic studies on asymmetric cyclopropanation

Chiral bipyridine ligands of different steric properties when reacted with CuCl₂ formed orange, yellow or green solids of new copper(II) complexes, [Cu(L)Cl₂] (L = L2-6), in good yield. Together with [Cu(L1)Cl₂], these complexes were characterized in solution by UV-Vis spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The complexes give d-d transitions between 860 and 970 nm, and exhibit one quasi-reversible Cu(II)/Cu(I) couple between +0.405 V and +0.516 V versus NHE. Two of the copper(II) complexes, [Cu(L5)Cl₂] and [Cu(L6)Cl₂], and a copper(I) complex of L1, [Cu(L1)Cl], were characterized by X-ray crystallography. The triflate derivatives of both the Cu(I) and Cu(II) complexes are active catalysts towards the cyclopropanation of ethyl diazoacetate with styrene. The asymmetric induction suffers when the size difference between the alkyl and alkoxyl groups was minimized. The mechanism of the cyclopropanation was studied with kinetic and competition experiments. The rate is first order in catalyst and ethyl diazoacetate, inverse order with styrene and is strongly affected by the counterion.     

First enantioselective catalyst based on a chiral terpyridine: synthesis of new C2-symmetric 2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine ligands and copper-catalyzed enantioselective cyclopropanation of alkenes

New C₂-symmetric chiral 2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridines were prepared from readily available homochiral materials. Copper complexes of these ligands were prepared in situ and their catalytic activities in cyclopropanations of alkenes with alkyl diazoacetate to give cyclopropyl esters were studied. In all cases, the cyclopropyl ester yields were excellent and enantioselectivities up to 94% ee were observed. Competition experiments revealed that electron-donating substituents on styrene accelerate the reaction. Hammett plot exhibited a good linearity with negative ρ⁺ value (−0.79).     

Synthesis of 3,5-diazabicyclo [5.1.0] octenes. A new platform to mimic glycosidase transition states

All-cis 1-hydroxymethyl 2,3 bis-aminomethyl cyclopropane was used to construct the first 3,5-diazabicyclo [5.1.0]-3-octenes. This system has the interesting ability to exist in a conformation that resembles a snapshot of a glycoside hydrolysis reaction with respect to charge and geometric analogy to an oxocarbenium ion, and the positioning of the departing aglycon. The cis-configured cyclopropane core was synthesized by Cu-catalyzed intramolecular cyclopropanation of benzyl protected cis-2-butene-1,4-diol diazoacetate ester. Serial functionalization to bis-aminomethyl cyclopropanes and subsequent cyclization to amidines lead to the target bicyclic compounds in good overall yields. Several glycosidases were surveyed for the inhibitory potential of these transition state analogs, and amongst them, selective competitive inhibitors with micromolar K_i values were identified.     

Highly efficient chiral copper Schiff-base catalyst for asymmetric cyclopropanation of 2,5-dimethyl-2,4-hexadiene

A remarkable increase in catalytic activity is found for the asymmetric cyclopropanation of 2,5-dimethyl-2,4-hexadiene with diazoacetate by use of the chiral copper Schiff-base complexes, which are derived from substituted salicylaldehydes, chiral aminoalcohols, and copper acetate monohydrate. Furthermore, a combination of a chiral copper Schiff-base with a Lewis acid showed an increase in yield (up to 90%) and in enantioselectivity (up to 90% ee) for the asymmetric cyclopropanation of the diene with t-butyl diazoacetate at 20 °C.