Radical Cyclization/β-Elimination Tandem Reactions: Enantiopure Sulfoxides as Temporary Chiral Auxiliaries

Alkylidene-substituted cyclopentane derivatives are formed in high enantiomeric purity by the reaction shown below. A highly diastereoselective radical cyclization is followed by elimination of a β-sulfinyl radical. Interestingly, the addition of the Lewis acid methylaluminum bis(2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenoxide) (MAD) totally reverses the stereochemical outcome of the reaction. E=CO₂Me.     

Rate Enhancement of the Radical 1,2-Acyloxy Shift (Surzur–Tanner Rearrangement) by Complexation with Lewis Acids

New prospects for synthetic applications are offered by the 1,2-acyloxy shift of β-(acyloxy)alkyl radicals, which proceeds with high yields under Lewis acidic conditions [Eq. (1)]. With the exception of cyclizations, this is the first Lewis acid mediated acceleration of a radical rearrangement.     

Efficient Lewis Acids Catalyzed Aza-Michael Reactions of Enones with Carbamates

The β-amino carbonyl functionality is not only a segment of biologically important natural products but also a versatile intermediate for the synthesis of nitrogen-containing compounds.1 The development of novel synthetic methods leading to β-amino ketone, β-amino acids or their derivatives has attracted much attention in organic synthesis.2 Among the traditional methods for generating β-amino carbonyl compounds, Mannich-type reaction is one of the classical and powerful methods.3 However,…     

Some New Radical Reactions of Xanthates

Xanthates are convenient precursors of a variety of radicals that can be captured in an inter- or intramolecular fashion. Overall, the process involves rupture of the sulfide C-S bond and addition of the elements of the xanthate to the olefinic trap. The xanthate in the product can be used in another radical sequence or ionically modified in a great variety of ways. S-Propargyl xanthates exhibit a special but interesting behaviour which involves a sigmatropic rearrangement to the corresponding allene and ring closure to a novel betaine.     

Lewis Base Free Oxophosphonium Ions: Tunable,Trigonal‐Planar Lewis Acids

Oxophosphonium ions (R₂P=O)⁺ are fascinating chemical intermediates related to the well‐known acylium cations (RC=O)⁺, and comprise a tricoordinate phosphorus(V) center with a phosphorus–oxygen double bond. Here, we report the synthesis of two oxophosphonium ions stabilized by bulky imidazolin‐2‐imine and imidazolin‐2‐olefin substituents attached to phosphorus. The novel species were characterized by NMR spectroscopy and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis, and the bonding situation was probed by DFT calculations. Determination of the acceptor number and the fluoride ion affinity revealed that the choice of the substituents has a strong influence on the electrophilicity of the phosphorus center. Additionally, the formation of Lewis base adducts with pyridine derivatives and the reactivity with isopropyl alcohol was explored.     

A Hydrogen Chloride‐Free Pinner Reaction Promoted by Lewis Acids

A hydrogen chloride‐free variation of the Pinner reaction was developed, in which alcohols react with carbonitriles to furnish carboxylates. Best results were achieved with aliphatic alcohols, and aliphatic or benzylic nitriles in the presence of 2 equiv. of trimethylsilyl triflate (Me₃SiOTf). With these substrates, yields exceeding 80% were achieved. A strictly neutral variation of this protocol is possible, when 1 equiv. of Et₃N is added to the reaction mixture.     

Which Factors Determine the Reactivity and Regioselectivity of Free Radical Substitution and Addition Reactions?

The relative importance of bond strength, steric effects, and polarity in determining the rate and orientation of free radical subsitution and free radical addition reaction is considered. The factors which control substitution reaction (radical transfer reaction) are gathered together as five “rules”, and a similar five “rules” are proposed for addition rections. These “rules” are shown to be special cases of two “laws” which govern all free radical reactions.     

Regioselective Magnesiation and Zincation Reactions of Aromatics and Heterocycles Triggered by Lewis Acids

Mixed TMP-bases (TMP=2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidyl), such as TMPMgCl ⋅ LiCl, TMP₂Mg ⋅ 2LiCl, TMPZnCl ⋅ LiCl and TMP₂Zn ⋅ 2LiCl, are outstanding reagents for the metalation of functionalized aromatics and heterocycles. In the presence of Lewis acids, such as BF₃ ⋅ OEt₂ or MgCl₂, the metalation scope of such bases was dramatically increased, and regioselectivity switches were achieved in the presence or absence of these Lewis acids. Furthermore, highly reactive lithium bases, such as TMPLi or Cy₂NLi, are also compatible with various Lewis acids, such as MgCl₂ ⋅ 2LiCl, ZnCl₂ ⋅ 2LiCl or CuCN ⋅ 2LiCl. Performing such metalations in continuous flow using commercial setups permitted practical and convenient reaction conditions.     

Stereoselection at the Steady State: The Design of New Asymmetric Reactions

Not a new principle , but a shrewd analysis of stereoconvergent reactions is leading to new and highly efficient asymmetric reactions. A prochiral compound can be converted through a clever combination of competing reactions, one of which must be stereoselective, into a sole chiral product (shown above). The strategy is reviewed by using a radical cyclization reaction as an example.     

The Behavior of Acid Halides Toward Lewis Acids and Lewis Bases

Reactions of some typical acid halides of carbonic and trithiocarbonic acids and of orthophosphoric and sulfuric acids with Lewis acids and Lewis bases are compared. Acylium, perfluoroacylium, thioacylium, and even sulfonylium ions are obtainable with Lewis acids. It is possible by conductivity measurements and by electronic and above all IR spectroscopic investigations to determine whether the 1:1 adducts of acid halides and Lewis compounds are acylium or sulfonylium salts or donor-acceptor complexes. In the reaction with Lewis bases, the halogen atom in the acid halide is replaced by the electron donor, generally with formation of nonpolar molecular compounds or complexes.     

Roles of Lewis Acid Catalysts in Diels-Alder Reactions between Cyclopentadiene and Methyl Acrylate

The Diels-Alder reaction of cyclopentadiene with methyl acrylate catalyzed by AlCl₃ has been theoretically investigated. M06-2X level DFT calculations have shown that the formation of two C−C bonds is asynchronous in the cycloaddition both in the endo path and in the exo path, thus making a good contrast to the well-known concept of [4+2] reactions based on the orbital symmetry arguments. It was found that the catalyst facilitates the cycloaddition and brings a higher endo selectivity in the highly asynchronous process, as compared with the reaction of the diene and the dienophile without the catalyst.     

Reactions of 3-Thia(Selena)Pentane-1,5-Diones with Lewis Acids

3-Thia(selena)pentane-1,5-diones react with Lewis acids by heteroatom. In these reactions soft Lewis acids such as tin tetrachloride and antimony pentachloride form adducts but hard Lewis acid such as phosphorus pentachloride oxidizes chalcogen atom of 3-thia(selena)-pentane-1,5-dione. Carbon analogues of these diketones form pyrylium salts in the reactions with these Lewis acids.     

Regiodivergent Cyclobutanone Cleavage: Switching Selectivity with Different Lewis Acids

The exploitation of strain release in small rings as driving force to enable complex transformations is a powerful synthetic tool. Among them, cyclobutanones are particularly versatile substrates that can be elaborated in a wide variety of structurally diverse building blocks. Herein, Lewis acid catalyzed rearrangement reactions are presented that provide selective access to two structurally distinct polycyclic scaffolds, that is, indenylacetic acid derivatives and benzoxabicyclo[3.2.1]octan‐3‐ones. The choice of the Lewis acid fully controls the reaction pathway and the regioselectivity of the cyclobutanone C?C bond cleavage site.     

Free Radical Studies at Low Temperatures

Free radicals can be produced in the gas phase and then condensed together with the molecules of an inert gas; they can also be generated and trapped in isolated sites in rigid solids. IR and ESR spectra of trapped radicals provide information concerning their structure and chemical properties. The techniques employed for producing and studying radicals are reviewed and a number of recent IR and ESR investigations of trapped radicals are discussed. The last part of the article deals exclusively with the applications of the rotating cryostat to the study of the ESR spectra and reactions of trapped radicals at low temperatures.     

How Lewis Acids Catalyze Diels–Alder Reactions

The Lewis acid(LA)‐catalyzed Diels–Alder reaction between isoprene and methyl acrylate was investigated quantum chemically using a combined density functional theory and coupled‐cluster theory approach. Computed activation energies systematically decrease as the strength of the LA increases along the series I₂<SnCl₄<TiCl₄<ZnCl₂<BF₃<AlCl₃. Emerging from our activation strain and Kohn–Sham molecular orbital bonding analysis was an unprecedented finding, namely that the LAs accelerate the Diels–Alder reaction by a diminished Pauli repulsion between the π‐electron systems of the diene and dienophile. Our results oppose the widely accepted view that LAs catalyze the Diels–Alder reaction by enhancing the donor–acceptor [HOMO_diene–LUMO_dienophile] interaction and constitute a novel physical mechanism for this indispensable textbook organic reaction.     

Catalysts Based on Amino Acids for Asymmetric Reactions in Water

Wet and wild : Water is a powerful force in nature, as evident in the painting “ES” by Zdzislaw Beksinski (1985, oil, 92 cm×90 cm; reproduced with permission from Piotr Dmochowski), as well as a promising medium for asymmetric reactions. As catalysts, natural amino acids are ideal candidates. This Minireview summarizes recent advances in asymmetric catalysis in water, with amino acids and their derivatives as effective catalysts or essential components.