Theoretical studies on the stereochemical course of 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides derived from indol‐2,3‐dione and thiazolidine‐4‐carboxylic acid

1,3‐Dipolar cycloadditon of azomethine ylides with different dipolarophiles leads to the formation of novel heterocyclic spiro compounds having two or more chiral centers. The theoretical studies (HF/3–21G) on the 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition reaction between ethene and azomethine ylide A4 derived from isatin and thaizolidine‐4‐carboxylic acid, indicates that the energy barrier for this addition is about ～ 8 kcal/mol higher than that in simplest azomethine ylide A1 . HF/3–21G studies on a series of azomethine ylides A2 and A3 suggested that the increased barrier is mainly due to stabilization of azomethine ylides arising from aromatic indol nucleus. Semi‐empirical studies indicate that the cycloaddition is streocontrolled as the transition states corresponding to only the stericlly allowed paths could be located on the potential energy surface.     

Tri‐ and Tetrasubstituted N‐Phthalimidoaziridines in 1,3‐Dipolar Cycloaddition Reactions

The thermal reactions of the 2,2,3‐trisubstituted N‐phthalimidoaziridine 1a with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (DMAD), thioketones 4a – 4d , and dimethyl azodicarboxylate ( 5 ) proceed even at room temperature leading to the five‐membered cycloadducts 2a, 6 – 8 , and 12 , respectively, with retention of the spatial arrangement of the aziridine substituents, in contrast to the expectation based on the conservation of orbital symmetry in concerted reactions. The analogous reactions of the tetrasubstituted phthalimidoaziridine 1b with thioketones at 40° lead to the 1,3‐thiazolidine derivatives 10 and 11 as mixtures of diastereoisomers. These unexpected results may be explained by either the isomerization of the intermediate azomethine ylides or a non‐concerted stepwise cycloaddition reaction of these ylides with the dipolarophiles. The structures of some adducts have been determined by X‐ray crystallography.     

Thermolysis of dimethyl <Emphasis Type="Italic">cis</Emphasis>- and <Emphasis Type="Italic">trans</Emphasis>-1 pthalimidoaziridine-2,3-dicarboxylates in the presence of dipolarophiles

Thermolysis of dimethyl esters of stereoisomeric phthalimidoaziridine-2,3-dicarboxylic acids in the presence of dimethyl fumarate, dimethyl maleate, and N-phenylmaleimide occurred stereo-specifically and stereoselectively led to the formation of derivatives of 1-phthalimidopyrrolidine, products of 1,3-dipolar additrion of intermediately arising azomethine ylides. In keeping with the rules of the conservation of orbital symmetry the thermal opening of the 2,3-disubstituted 1-phthalimidoaziridines into azomethine ylides occurred conrotatory. The relative positions of the substituents in the dipolarophiles is retained in the reaction products indicating the concerted addition mechanism.     

Binaphthol-derived bisphosphoric acids serve as efficient organocatalysts for highly enantioselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides to electron-deficient olefins

A variety of chiral bisphosphoric acids derived from binaphthols have been evaluated for enantioselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions, revealing that the feature of the linker in the catalysts exerted great impact on the stereoselectivity. Among them, the oxygen-linked bisphosphoric acid 1a provided the highest level of stereoselectivity for the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction tolerating a wide range of substrates including azomethine ylides, generated in situ from a broad scope of aldehydes and α-amino esters, and various electron-deficient dipolarophiles such as maleates, fumarates, vinyl ketones, and esters. This reaction actually represents one of the most enantioselective catalytic approaches to access structurally diverse pyrrolidines with excellent optical purity. Theoretical calculations with DFT method on the formation of azomethine ylides and on the transition states of the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition step showed that the dipole and dipolarophile were simultaneously activated by the bifunctional chiral bisphosphoric acids through the formation of hydrogen bonds. The effect of the bisphosphoric acids on reactivity and stereochemistry of the three-component 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction was also theoretically rationalized. The bisphosphoric acid catalyst 1a may take on a half-moon shape with the two phosphoric acid groups forming two intramolecular hydrogen bonds. In the case of maleates, one phosphate acts as a base to activate the 1,3-dipole, and simultaneously, the two hydroxyl groups in the catalyst 1a may respectively form two hydrogen bonds with the two ester groups of maleate to make it more electronically deficient as a much stronger dipolarophile to participate in a concerted 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition with azomethine ylide. However, in the cases involving acrylate and fumarate dipolarophiles, only one hydroxyl group forms a hydrogen bond with the ester functional group to lower the LUMO of the C-C double bond and another one is remained to adjust the acidity and basicity of two phosphoric acids to activate the dipole and dipolarophile more effectively.     

Diastereofacial selectivity in azomethine ylide cycloaddition reactions derived from chiral α-cyanoaminosilanes

A series of α-cyanoaminosilanes has been found to act as azomethine ylide equivalents. Treatment of these compounds with silver fluoride in the presence of electron deficient olefins gives substituted pyrrolidines in high yield. The extent ofdiastereoselectivity associated with the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of chiral azomethine ylides with several dipolarophiles has been studied. Reasonable levels of such diastereoselectivity have been found when optically active α-cyanoaminosilanes are employed as azomethine ylide equivalents. These compounds can be prepared in multigram quantities by treating the appropriate chiral amine with chlorotrimethylsilane followed by reaction of the resulting secondary amine with formaldehyde in the presence of potassium cyanide. It was found that N-benzyl-N-cyanomethyl-N-trimethylsilylmethylamine undergoes stereospecific cycloaddition with dimethyl fumarate and maleate. The stereospecificity of the reaction is consistent with a concerted cycloaddition reaction.     

Aromatic CC Bonds as Dipolarophiles: Facile Reactions of Uncomplexed Electron‐Deficient Benzene Derivatives and Other Aromatic Rings with a Non‐Stabilized Azomethine Ylide

Non‐stabilized azomethine ylide 4 a reacts smoothly at room temperature with a variety of uncomplexed aromatic heterocycles and carbocycles on the condition that the ring contains at least one or two electron‐withdrawing substituents, respectively. Aromatic substrates, including pyridine and benzene derivatives, participate as 2 π components in [3+2] cycloaddition reactions and interact with one, two, or three equivalent(s) of the ylide, depending on their structure and substitution pattern. Thus, this process affords highly functionalized polycyclic structures that contain between one and three pyrrolidinyl ring(s) in useful yields. These results indicate that the site selectivity of the cycloaddition reactions strongly depends on both the nature and the positions of the substituents. In most cases, the second 1,3‐dipolar reaction occurs on the opposite face to the one that contains the first pyrrolidinyl ring. DFT calculations on model compounds indicate that a concerted mechanism features a low activation barrier.     

Study of Regiochemical Trends During the Synthesis of Furan and 5‐(p‐chlorophenyl)Furan Containing Novel Spiropyrrolidine Library Through 1,3‐dipolar Cycloaddition Reactions

A new class of functionalized furan and 5‐(p‐chlorophenyl)furan containing spiropyrrolidines has been synthesized in moderate to excellent yields by the one‐pot, three‐component 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition reaction of in situ generated azomethine ylides with various furan/aryl furan‐substituted chalcones as dipolarophiles. The effect of electron deficient substituents at the fifth position of the furan ring in the chalcone on the regiochemistry of the cycloaddition formed was studied. The structures of the newly synthesized cycloaddicts were proved by analytical and spectral data.     

Alkenyl Arenes as Dipolarophiles in Catalytic Asymmetric 1,3‐Dipolar Cycloaddition Reactions of Azomethine Ylides

The use of alkenyl arenes as dipolarophiles in the catalytic asymmetric 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides is reported. Under appropriate reaction conditions with a Cu^I or Ag^I catalyst either the exo or the endo adduct was obtained with high stereoselectivity. This process provides efficient access to highly enantiomerically enriched 4‐aryl proline derivatives. The observed results are compatible with the blockage of one prochiral face of the 1,3‐dipole, as well as with the efficient transmission of electrophilicity towards the terminal carbon atom of the dipolarophile. This polarization results in a change from a concerted to a stepwise mechanism.     

Chiral N,O‐Ligand/[Cu(OAc)2]‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Construction of 4‐Aminopyrrolidine Derivatives by 1,3‐Dipolar Cycloaddition of Azomethine Ylides with α‐Phthalimidoacrylates

A protocol to access useful 4‐aminopyrrolidine‐2,4‐dicarboxylate derivatives has been developed. A variety of chiral N,O‐ligands derived from 2,3‐dihydroimidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine motifs have been evaluated in the asymmetric 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides to α‐phthalimidoacrylates. Reactions catalyzed by copper in combination with ligand 7‐Cl‐DHIPOH provided the highest level of stereoselectivity for the 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition reaction. The reaction tolerates both β‐substituted and β‐unsubstituted α‐phthalimidoacrylate as dipolarophiles, affording the corresponding quaternary 4‐aminopyrrolidine cycloadducts with excellent diastereo‐ (>98:2 d.r.) and enantioselectivities (up to 97 % ee). Removal of the phthalimido protecting group can be accomplished by a simple NaBH₄ reduction. Theoretical calculations employing DFT methods show this cycloaddition reaction is likely to proceed through a stepwise mechanism and the stereochemistry was also theoretically rationalized.     

1,3-Dipolar cycloadditions with azomethine ylide species generated from aminocyclopropanes

Two types of bicyclic N-cyclopropyl glycine ester derivatives have been prepared and put under scrutiny as possible precursors of azomethine ylides. The results demonstrate that they can indeed participate in 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions with dipolarophiles, as illustrated in the cases of phenyl vinyl sulfone, N-phenylmaleimide, diethyl fumarate and diethyl maleate. The relative configurations of the major diastereoisomers produced are consistent with the predicted generation of azomethine ylide species, reacting in concerted cycloaddition processes. This unprecedented way of generating such 1,3-dipoles provides access to functionalised pyrrolizidine and pyrrolidine derivatives, that would be difficult to make directly by more classic methods. It was also found that using phenyl vinyl sulfone or N-phenylmaleimide as the dipolarophile reactant, a domino nucleophilic conjugate addition/1,3-dipolar cycloaddition process may operate competitively.     

Thermolysis of 1-phthalimidoaziridine-2-carbonitriles in the presence of dipolarophiles

Thermolysis of trans-3-phenyl-1-phthalimidoaziridine-2-carbonitrile and trans-1-phthalimidoaziridine-2,3-dicarbonitrile in the presence of several dipolarophiles involves 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition to intermediate azomethine ylides and leads to 1-phthalimidopyrrolidine derivatives with good yields and high stereoselectivity. Thermally induced opening of the three-membered ring in trans-2,3-disubstituted 1-phthalimidoaziridines occurs in conrotatory mode to produce the corresponding cis-azomethine ylides in keeping with the orbital symmetry conservation rules. The relative configuration of substituents in the dipolarophiles is retained, which implies concerted mechanism of the addition.     

Synthetic and spectral studies of novel spiro {bicyclo[3,3,0]octene‐8,3′(2′H)‐indol}‐2′‐ones obtained from indol‐2,3‐diones

The present article reports our approach toward the synthesis of spiro compounds via indol‐2,3‐diones. Thus, reaction of indol‐2,3‐dione derivatives with a secondary cyclic amino acid, namely, (R)‐(−)‐thiazolidine‐4‐carboxylic acid, affords a thiazolo‐oxazolidinone as the main product. When the reaction is carried out in the presence of a dipolarophile, 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition to the intermediate azomethine ylide leads to a novel spiro compound. The products have been characterized on the basis of spectral studies, and the geometry of the intermediate iminium compound has been optimized by use of the semiempirical molecular orbital method. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 10: 381–384, 1999     

Diastereoselective lithium salt-assisted 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides to the fullerene C60

An efficient method for the diastereoselective synthesis of 5-substituted 3,4-fulleroproline esters based on the lithium salt-assisted cycloaddition of azomethine ylides has been developed. A series of the fulleroproline esters containing either electron donating or electron withdrawing substituents was prepared with high yields and diastereoselectivities provided by the S-trans-configuration of ylide generated in situ from the corresponding Schiff base in the presence of a lithium salt and base. This method provides easy preparation of 3,4-fulleroproline derivatives suitable for fullerene-based peptide synthesis.     

Three‐component 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition reactions in synthesis of spiro[pyrrolidine‐2,3′‐oxindoline] derivatives

Regio‐ and stereospecific syntheses of several spiro[pyrrolidine2,3′‐oxindole] derivatives by cycloaddition trapping of azomethine ylides generated in situ, via decarboxylative condensation of isatin with α‐amino acids or by reaction of secondary amines with isatin, are reported. 2,6‐Dibenzylidenecyclohexanone, 2‐arylidene‐1‐tetralone, and arylidenemalononitrile derivatives have been efficiently used as trapping dipolarophiles. The regio‐ and stereochemistry of the additions are controlled by both frontier orbital and steric interactions. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 13:324–329, 2002; Published online in Wiley Interscience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/hc.10038     

Dipolar Cycloaddition Reactions of Azomethine Ylides Generated by endocyclic‐exocyclic 1,3‐dipole Rearrangement

Dipolar cycloaddition of polycyclic azomethine ylides, in which the central nitrogen atom is part of a pyrrolidine ring and bears a methoxycarbonyl group with norbornenes has been shown to produce two main types of products featuring pyrrolizidine rings. In conjuction with results of quantum chemical calculations (B3LYP), mechanistic rationale was postulated. The key reaction step is unprecedented endocyclic to exocyclic azomethine ylide rearrangement by an intermolecular prototropic migration (formal [1,3] H‐shift).     

One‐pot Regioselective Synthesis of Novel 1‐N‐Methyl‐spiro[2,3′]oxindole‐spiro[3,3″]‐1″‐N‐arylpyrrolidine‐2″,5″‐dione‐4‐arylpyrrolidines through Multicomponent 1,3‐Dipolar Cycloaddition Reaction of Azomethine Ylide

An atom economic and facile synthesis of novel dispiro–oxindole–pyrrolidines has been achieved via a three‐component tandem cycloaddition of azomethine ylide generated in situ from isatin and sarcosine by decarboxylative condensation with N‐aryl‐3‐benzylidene‐pyrrolidine‐2,5‐dione derivatives as dipolarophiles. The salient features of synthetic procedure are characterized by the mild reaction conditions, high yields, high regioselectivity and stereoselectivity, one‐pot procedure, and operational simplicity. This regioselectivity was assumed to be under the influence of π–π stacking interactions between the aromatic rings of azomethine ylide and N‐aryl‐3‐benzylidene‐pyrrolidine‐2,5‐diones that further control the exo–endo selectivity of the reaction 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition. The regiochemistry and structures of the cycloadducts were determined with spectroscopic data.     

Unprecedented 1,4-stannatropy: effective generation of azomethine ylides as nitrile ylide equivalents from N-(stannylmethyl)thioamides

Generation and cycloaddition of less- or non-stabilized azomethine ylides, or nitrile ylide equivalents, via unprecedented 1,4-stannatropy of N-(tributylstannylmethyl)thioamides were achieved. The reactions with dipolarophiles, such as electron-deficient alkenes and alkynes, afforded corresponding pyrrolidine and pyrrole derivatives effectively.     

Catalytic Asymmetric [ 2,3 ] -Sigmatropic Rearrangement of Sulfur Ylides Generated from Carbenoids

The catalytic asymmetric reactions of oxygen or sulfur ylides generated from carbenoids have attracted consider able attention in recent years. High enantioselectivities have been achieved in the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions and [ 2,3 ]-sigmatropic rearrangement of oxygen ylides. In contrast to the oxygen ylide, the corresponding catalytic asymmetric reaction of sulfur ylide is less developed. Compared to oxygen ylides, the sulfur ylides are more stable and experimental evidence supports a free ylide rather than a metal-bound ylide as reaction intermediate. That means the enantio-control must be in the step of the ylide formation. If the subsequent reaction such as [ 2,3 ]-sigmatropic rearrangement or 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition is a concerted process and is faster than the racemization of the chiral ylide intermediate, then the catalytic asymmetric sulfur ylide reaction will be possible.     

Stereoselective synthesis of functional derivatives of 2-(2-carboxyethyl)pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid

Azomethine ylides generated from dimethyl 2-(arylmethylideneamino)pentanedioates by the action of AgOAc and Et₃N reacted with dipolarophiles in regio-and stereoselective fashion to form 5-aryl-2-(2-carboxyethyl)pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid derivatives. 1,3-Dipolar cycloaddition of divinyl sulfone to the azomethine ylide generated from the Schiff base derived from methyl (S)-2-phthalimido-4-oxobutanoate and dimethyl glutamate gave chiral simplified kaitocephalin analogs.     

Regioselective 1,3‐Dipolar Cycloadditions of (1Z)‐1‐(Arylmethylidene)‐5,5‐dimethyl‐3‐oxopyrazolidin‐1‐ium‐2‐ide Azomethine Imines to Acetylenic Dipolarophiles

The 5,5‐dimethylpyrazolidin‐3‐one ( 4 ), prepared from ethyl 3‐methylbut‐2‐enoate ( 3 ) and hydrazine hydrate, was treated with various substituted benzaldehydes 5a – i to give the corresponding (1Z)‐1‐(arylmethylidene)‐5,5‐dimethyl‐3‐oxopyrazolidin‐1‐ium‐2‐ide azomethine imines 6a – i . The 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition reactions of azomethine imines 6a – h with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (=dimethyl but‐2‐ynedioate; 7 ) afforded the corresponding dimethyl pyrazolo[1,2‐a]pyrazoledicarboxylates 8a – h , while by cycloaddition of 6 with methyl propiolate (=methyl prop‐2‐ynoate; 9 ), regioisomeric methyl pyrazolo[1,2‐a]pyrazolemonocarboxylates 10 and 11 were obtained. The regioselectivity of cycloadditions of azomethine imines 6a – i with methyl propiolate ( 9 ) was influenced by the substituents on the aryl residue. Thus, azomethine imines 6a – e derived from benzaldehydes 5a – e with a single substituent or without a substituent at the ortho‐positions in the aryl residue, led to mixtures of regioisomers 10a – e and 11a – e . Azomethine imines 6f – i derived from 2,6‐disubstituted benzaldehydes 5f – i gave single regioisomers 10f – i .