Seleno-β-lactams: synthesis of monocyclic and spirocyclic selenoazetidin-2-ones

An efficient protocol for the synthesis of novel seleno-β-lactams using operationally simple strategies is presented. 3-Phenyl/benzylseleno-β-lactams, obtained from 2-phenyl/benzylselenoethanoic acids, are transformed to cis-3-chloro-3-phenyl/benzylseleno-β-lactams, which undergo reaction with various active aliphatic and aromatic substrates catalyzed by Lewis acid to produce cis-3-alkoxy-3-phenyl/benzylseleno-β-lactams and C-3 monosubstituted seleno-β-lactams. Halogen mediated intraselenyl cyclization of cis-3-(prop-2-ynyloxy)-3-benzylseleno-β-lactams affords novel spiro seleno-β-lactams.     

Free radical synthesis of benzofused tricyclic β-lactams by intramolecular cyclization of 2-azetidinone-tethered haloarenes

o-Halogenophenyl- and o-halogenobenzyl-4-alkenyl-β-lactams can be prepared both in the racemic form and in optically pure form using the ketene-imine cyclization. These 2-azetidinone-tethered haloarenes were used for the regio- and stereoselective preparation of benzofused tricyclic β-lactams including benzocarbapenems and benzocarbacephems via intramolecular aryl radical cyclisation.     

A photo-reagent system of benzimidazoline and Ru(bpy)3Cl2 to promote hexenyl radical cyclization and Dowd–Beckwith ring-expansion of α-halomethyl-substituted benzocyclic 1-alkanones

A combination of 2-aryl substituted 1,3-dimethyl-benzimidazolines (DMBIHs) and tris(2,2′-bipyridine)ruthenium(II) chloride, Ru(bpy)₃Cl₂ was used to promote photoinduced electron-transfer (PET) reactions of α-halomethyl-substituted benzocyclic 1-alkanones. This photo-reagent system stimulates free radical forming, cleavage of both carbon–bromine and carbon–chlorine bonds that are not activated by carbonyl groups. The resulting free radicals undergo 5-exo hexenyl cyclization as well as sequential cyclization and ring-expansion (Dowd–Beckwith) reactions to form radicals that abstract hydrogen atoms from the radical cation of DMBIH to yield the observed products. The results of a study of the effects of substituents located on the 2-aryl ring of DMBIH suggest that steric and hydrogen-bonding interactions influence the nature of the reaction pathways followed by the radical intermediates. PET reactions using an iridium complex and DMBIH were also investigated.     

A coordinatively unsaturated ruthenium methoxide as a highly effective catalyst for the halogen atom-transfer radical cyclization of N-allyl dichloroacetamides and related reactions

Atom-transfer radical cyclization (ATRC) catalyzed by coordinatively unsaturated ruthenium alkoxides 4, [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Ru(OR)]₂, is investigated, and ruthenium methoxide 4a (R=Me) is found to exhibit excellent catalytic activity for the cyclization of N-allyl-α,α-dichloroacetamides at ambient temperature. Addition of some amounts of two-electron donor ligands such as pyridine and triphenylphosphine improves the catalyst efficiency to afford the corresponding γ-lactams in high yields. The high catalytic activity of this catalyst system enables to control the diastereoselectivity of this 5-exo cyclization kinetically. The present 4a/pyridine system is also effective for the 4-exo cyclization of N-vinylacetamides to afford the corresponding β-lactams in quantitative yields. The 4a/pyridine system is also active towards the ATRP of methyl methacrylate (MMA) at room temperature to afford the poly(MMA) with narrow molecular weight distributions (M_w/M_n=1.2) at the initial stage.     

Convenient access to isoindolinones via carbamoyl radical cyclization. Synthesis of cichorine and 4-hydroxyisoindolin-1-one natural products

An efficient and convenient access to 2-tert-butylisoindolin-1-ones via an oxidative radical cyclization process from stable carbamoylxanthates, derived from secondary tert-butylamines, is described. The proposed mechanism for this transformation involves, the generation of a carbamoyl radical, its cyclization to the aromatic system, and the dilauroyl peroxide (DLP) mediated rearomatization to generate the isoindolinone ring system. Additionally, the syntheses of cichorine and 4-hydroxyisoindolin-1-one natural products were carried out to underscore the synthetic potential of this xanthate-based carbamoyl radical-oxidative cyclization.     

Cyclization reactions of 4-(3′-butenyl)azetidin-2-one a route to the carbopenam ring system

Cyclization of 4-(3′-butenyl)azetidin-2-one, $\text{2}$ initiated by electrophilic reagents such as I₂, Hg(OAc)₂ results in the formation of bicyclic β-lactams having the carbopenam ring skeleton. Reaction of $\text{2}$ with Br₂ results in simple addition of Br₂ to the double bond, while PhSBr gives a mixture of cyclization and addition products.     

Stereoselective synthesis and Lewis acid mediated functionalization of novel 3-methylthio-β-lactams

A proficient etiquette for the stereoselective synthesis of novel 3-methylthio-β-lactams and their Lewis acid mediated functionalization is described. Treatment of 2-methylthioethanoic acid and appropriate imines in the Staudinger reaction leads to the stereocontrolled synthesis of novel trans-3-methylthio-β-lactams in excellent yields. cis-3-Chloro-3-methylthio-β-lactams, obtained from stereoselective chlorination of trans-3-methylthio-β-lactams using N-chlorosuccinimide (NCS) and AIBN, were subjected to Lewis acid (TiCl₄ or SnCl₄) mediated functionalization using various active aromatic, heterocyclic and aliphatic compounds (nucleophiles). This reaction provides an easy access to novel, stereoselective cis-3-monosubstituted-3-methylthio-β-lactams, which further undergo smooth desulfurization with Raney-nickel to afford C-3 cis- and trans-monosubstituted-β-lactams. The cis or trans configuration of the hydrogen/chloro/nucleophile substituent at C-3 was assigned with respect to C4–H.     

A short and convenient access to a trans-hydrindane unit from the anti-meso-acetylmethyldivinylcyclopentane via a radical pathway

An efficient route for multigram synthesis of a trans-hydrindane unit, involving a selective 6-endo-trig α-carbonyl radical cyclization of the α-xanthyl ketone 10 derivating from the anti-meso-acetylmethyldivinylcyclopentane 9 through a xanthate group transfer, is achieved in good yield. Preparation of an advanced intermediate for the Julia-Kocienski coupling, used in the elaboration of the trienic system of vitamin D (or calciferol) analogs, was materialized by conversion of the xanthate moiety to a 2-benzothiazole sulfonyl group.     

Radical cyclizations in 1,4-dimethylpiperazine

N-Allylic or N-vinylic α,α,α-trichloroacetamides, upon heating in 1,4-dimethylpiperazine, undergo radical cyclization to give the corresponding γ-lactams.     

Regioselective synthesis of substituted 1-indanols, 2,3-dihydrobenzofurans and 2,3-dihydroindoles by electrochemical radical cyclization using an arene mediator

Electrochemical reduction of haloarenes carrying 2-(1-hydroxybut-3-enyl), 2-allyloxy or N-allyl-N-methylamino group in the presence of phenanthrene as a mediator generated the corresponding aryl radicals and gave the corresponding 5-exo cyclization products in good yields. Higher regio- and stereoselectivities than those of usual radical cyclization using AIBN-Bu₃SnH were achieved.     

Elemental F2 with Transannular Dienes: Regioselectivities and Mechanisms

Three reaction paths, namely, molecule‐induced homolytic, free radical, and electrophilic, were modeled computationally at the MP2 level of ab initio theory and studied experimentally for the reaction of F₂ with the terminal dienes of bicyclo[3.3.1]nonane series. The addition of fluorine is accompanied by transannular cyclization to the adamantane derivatives in which strong evidence for the electrophilic mechanism both in nucleophilic (acetonitrile) and non‐nucleophilic (CFCl₃, CHCl₃) solvents were found. The presence of KF in CFCl₃ and CHCl₃ facilitates the addition and substantially reduces the formation of tar products.     

Titanocene (III) chloride mediated radical induced synthesis of (−)-methylenolactocin and (−)-protolichesterinic acid

Enantioselective synthesis of two anti-tumor antibiotics, (−)-methylenolactocin and (−)-protolichesterinic acid, has been achieved through titanocene(III) chloride mediated radical cyclization reaction starting from commercially available d-mannitol. Titanocene(III) chloride (Cp₂TiCl) was prepared in situ from commercially available titanocene dichloride (Cp₂TiCl₂) and zinc dust in THF.     

Synthesis of 6,6-dimethyltricyclo[5.4.0.02,8]undecane-2,9-diol for (ent-)longipinane-type sesquiterpenoids using two types of radical cyclization reactions

A synthetic route to 6,6-dimethyltricyclo[5.4.0.0^2,8]undecane-2,9-diol, a key precursor to (ent-)longipinane-type sesquiterpenoids, is described. This unique core common to (ent-)longipinanes was constructed using two types of intramolecular radical cyclization reactions, namely, intramolecular coupling of an acid chloride and an alkyl iodide mediated by SmI₂, TBAI and HMPA, and the coupling of a ketone and an epoxide mediated by Cp₂TiI₂ and SmI₂.     

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.     

An expedient synthesis of indolo[1,2-a]quinolines via Mn(OAc)3-mediated oxidative free radical cyclization and NaI/O2-assisted dealkoxycarbonylation/aerobic oxidation cascade

An expedient synthetic procedure of indolo[1,2-a]quinolines was developed using a sequential Cu-mediated N-arylation of indole, Mn(OAc)₃-mediated oxidative free radical cyclization, and NaI/O₂-assisted concomitant dealkoxycarbonylation/aerobic oxidation. The last step was replaced by a palladium-catalyzed decarboxylation/elimination protocol for the allyl ester derivatives.     

Facile stereoselective synthesis of cis- and trans-3-alkoxyazetidin-2-ones

A highly stereoselective synthesis of cis- and trans-3-alkoxy-3-phenyl/benzylthioazetidin-2-ones is described. The reaction of α-chlorosulfide-β-lactams with various alcohols catalyzed by a Lewis acid such as ZnCl₂ in the presence of molecular sieves (3-4 Å) leads to cis-3-alkoxy-3-phenyl/benzylthio-β-lactams whereas treatment of potassium 2-alkoxy-2-phenylthioethanoate with appropriate Schiff's base using POCl₃ in the presence of triethylamine leads to the formation of trans-3-alkoxy-3-phenylthioazetidin-2-ones as major products.     

Recent results in the free radical mediated synthesis of enantiomerically pure,highly functionalized carbocycles from carbohydrates

The free radical cyclization strategy applied to precursors 1, 2 and 14 shows the power and the state of art of this ring closing method for the stereocontrolled synthesis of enantiomerically pure, highly functionalized carbocycles from carbohydrates. The tributyltin hydride mediated free radical cyclization of alkyne tethered N,N-diphenylhydrazones (1) and oxime ethers (2) give the stannylated aminocyclopentitol derivatives 4 and 11, respectively, in moderate yield and with complete stereoselectivity. The 6-exo-trig cyclization of aldehyde/oxime ether 14 derived from D-glucose has been revisited using tributyltin hydride as a reagent. This new protocol shows a superior stereoselection compared with the previous results obtained with samarium diiodide. In summary, an efficient protocol has been set up for the synthesis of enantiomerically pure, polyhydroxy aminocyclohexane derivatives, which are difficult to obtain by other methodologies.     

Copper catalyzed borylative cyclization of 3-arylallyl carbamoyl chloride with B2pin2: stereoselective synthesis of cis-2-aryl-3-boryl-γ-lactams

Borylative cyclization of E-3-arylallyl carbamoyl chlorides is achieved through copper catalyzed intramolecular carboboration with B₂pin₂. 2-Aryl-3-boryl-γ-lactams are formed with exclusive cis-diastereoselectivity. CuBr-Dppp combination gives the best outcomes. The substrate scope is profiled.     

Diastereoselective synthesis of 2-fluoroaziridine-2-carboxylates by Reformatsky-type aza-Darzens reaction

The reaction of ethyl dibromofluoroacetate with imines using zinc metal gave 2-fluoroaziridine-2-carboxylates via aza-Darzens reaction of the primary product of the Reformatsky reaction with high diastereoselectivity in excellent yields (quantitative yield and Dr = 85:15). This chemoselective formation of 2-fluoroaziridines was achieved by using CH₃CN as a solvent. Interestingly, the reaction proceeded without activation of zinc metal, which was necessary for the Reformatsky reaction of bromodifluoroacetate. None of α-bromo-α-fluoro-β-lactams, four-membered cyclization products, and noncyclized 3-amino-2-bromo-2-fluorocarboxylic esters, usual Reformatsky adducts, were formed.