Generation and reaction of tungsten-containing carbonyl ylides: [3 + 2]-cycloaddition reaction with electron-rich alkenes

Novel tungsten-containing carbonyl ylides 7, generated by the reaction of the o-alkynylphenyl carbonyl derivatives 1 with a catalytic amount of W(CO)(5)(thf), reacted with alkenes to give polycyclic compounds 5 through [3 + 2]-cycloaddition reaction followed by intramolecular C-H insertion of the produced nonstabilized carbene complex intermediates 8. In the presence of triethylsilane, these tungsten-containing carbene intermediates 8 were smoothly trapped intermolecularly by triethylsilane to give silicon-containing cycloadducts 17 with regeneration of the W(CO)(5) species. By this procedure, the scope of alkenes employable for this reaction was clarified. The presence of the tungsten-containing carbonyl ylide 7c was confirmed by direct observation of the mixture of o-ethynylphenyl ketone 1c and W(CO)(5)(thf-d(8)). Careful analysis of the intermediate by 2D NMR, along with the observation of the direct coupling with tungsten-183 employing the (13)C-labeled substrate, confirmed the structure of the ylide 7c. Examination using (E)- or (Z)- vinyl ether revealed that the [3 + 2]-cycloaddition reaction proceeded in a concerted manner and that the facial selectivity of the reaction differed considerably depending on the presence or absence of triethylsilane. These results clarified the reversible nature of this [3 + 2]-cycloaddition reaction.     

Photochemical reactions. 144th Communication. Photochemistry of 5,6-epoxy-1,3-dienes in the ionone series: Influence of a methoxy group in position 7

On triplet excitation (λ > 280 nm, acetone), the epoxydiene (E)- 5 undergoes initial cleavage of the C(5)? O bond of the oxirane and subsequent cleavage of the C(6)? C(7) bond leading to the diradical intermediate e which reacts by recombination furnishing the cyclic compounds (E/Z)- 6 , (E/Z)- 7,8 , and 9 . Alternatively, a H -shift leads to the aliphatic methyl-enol ether 10 which undergoes a photochemical [2+2]-cycloaddition to compounds 12 and 13 , the main products on triplet excitation of (E)- 5 . On singlet excitation (λ = 254 nm, MeCN), (E)- 5 undergoes cleavage to the carbene intermediates f and g . The vinyl carbene f reacts with the adjacent double bond furnishing the cyclopropene 14 as the main product. From the carbene intermediate g , the methyl-enol ether 15 arises by carbene insertion into the neighboring C? H bond. Furthermore, the diastereomer of the starting material, the epoxydiene (E)- 16 , and compounds 17A+B are formed via the ylide intermediate h . Finally, the cyclobutene 18 is the product of an electrocyclic reaction of the diene side chain.     

Dearomative Indole [5+2] Cycloaddition Reactions: Stereoselective Synthesis of Highly Functionalized Cyclohepta[b]indoles

The first dearomative indole [5+2] cycloaddition reaction with an oxidopyrylium ylide resulted in efficient and diastereoselective construction of some highly functionalized and synthetically challenging oxacyclohepta[b]indoles. The protocol proceeds under very mild reaction conditions, thus enabling high functional‐group tolerance and unique endo selectivity.     

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.     

Asymmetric Total Synthesis of (−)‐Englerin A through Catalytic Diastereo‐ and Enantioselective Carbonyl Ylide Cycloaddition

An asymmetric total synthesis of the guaiane sesquiterpene (?)‐englerin A, a potent and selective inhibitor of the growth of renal cancer cell lines, was accomplished. The basis of the approach is a highly diastereo‐ and enantioselective carbonyl ylide cycloaddition with an ethyl vinyl ether dipolarophile under catalysis by dirhodium(II) tetrakis[N‐tetrachlorophthaloyl‐(S)‐tert‐leucinate], [Rh₂(S‐TCPTTL)₄], to construct the oxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane framework with concomitant introduction of the oxygen substituent at C9 on the exo‐face. Another notable feature of the synthesis is ruthenium tetraoxide‐catalyzed chemoselective oxidative conversion of C9 ethyl ether to C9 acetate.     

Chemistry of o-Benzoquinones and Masked o Benzoquinones VII.: Regioselective and Stereoselective Cycloadditions of 6, 7-Dipropyl- and 8, 9-Eipropyl-1, 4-Dioxaspiro[4.5] deca-6, 8-Di-En-2, 10-Dione with Monosubstituted Ethylenes

The cycloadditions of the titled two masked o-benzoquinones, 2 and 3 , with monosubstituted ethylenes including ethyl acrylate, styrene, ethyl vinyl ether and 1-hexene were studied. The reactions proceeded with high stereoselectivity and regioselectivity to give endo head-to-head adducts when ethyl acrylate, styrene and ethyl vinyl ether were used as addenda. In the case of 1-hexene, the reaction with 2 took place with high regioselectivity but low stereoselectivity to afford endo as well as exo head-to-head adducts while the reaction with 3 occurred with less regioselectivity to produce presumably all the eight possible isomers. The regiochemistry of the adducts were determined by the ¹H nmr analysis of their hydrolysis products, bicyclo[2,2,2]oct-5-en-2,3-diones 6 , and the subsequent photolysis products, 1,3-cyclohexadienes 7 . The stereochemistry was established by the study of the lanthanide induced shifts of compounds 6a-6f with Fu(fod)₃. The regioselectivity and stereoselectivity of these cycloaddition reactions were explained in terms of frontier molecular orbital theory and steric effect. The present study provides also a facile method to prepare regioselectively bicyclo[2, 2, 2]oct-5-en-2,3-diones (stereo-selectively also) and 1,3-cyclohexadienes from unsymmetric catechols via masked o-benzoquinones.     

Photochemical Reactions. 129th Communication. Photochemistry of a conjugated diepoxydiene: Product formation via carbonyl ylide and carbene intermediates with participation of neighbouring epoxy functions

On singlet excitation (λ=254 nm, acetonitrile) the diepoxydiene (E)- 7 undergoes photocleavage to the carbonyl ylide VII and the carbenes X and XI . The carbonyl ylide VII rearranges to the thermally labile dioxabicyclo [3.2.1]octene 20 or fragments via VIII to the aldehyde 9 and propyne. The carbene X , showing behaviour typical of vinyl carbenes, undergoes addition to the adjacent double bond furnishing the cyclopropene 11 . The carbene XI , however, undergoes an insertion reaction into the neighbouring oxirane C,C-bond leading to the oxetene (E)- 21 which can be isolated at ?78°, but at room temperature is rapidly transformed to the aldehyde 10 . On triplet excitation (acetone, λ>280 nm), however, (E)- 7 shows the typical behaviour of epoxydienes, undergoing C, O-cleavage of the oxirane and isomerization to 22, 23 and (E/Z)- 24 .     

Switchable [3+2] and [4+2] Heteroannulation of Primary Propargylamines with Isonitriles to Imidazoles and 1,6‐Dihydropyrimidines: Catalyst Loading Enabled Reaction Divergence

Isonitrile 1 due to its carbene‐like reactivity serves generally as a one‐carbon synthon in a diverse set of organic transformations. We report in this article that the isocyano group can also act as a polarized triple bond to undergo, as a two‐atom synthon, heteroannulation with primary propargylamines 15 . In addition, we serendipitously discovered that the reaction pathways can be modulated by simply changing the catalyst loading. In the presence of 0.1 equiv of Yb(OTf)₃ or TfOH, the reaction between 1 and 15 afforded exclusively imidazoles 16 by a formal [3+2] cycloaddition. At a higher catalyst loading (Yb(OTf)₃ (0.4 equiv) or TfOH (0.5 equiv)) under otherwise identical conditions, the same reaction furnished 1,6‐dihydropyrimidines 17 in good to excellent yields by way of a formal [4+2] cycloaddition process. Mechanistic investigations indicated that both annulations went through an amidine intermediate resulting from the insertion of the isocyano group to the NH bond of the primary amine. Subsequent catalyst‐loading‐dependent 5‐exo‐dig or 6‐endo‐dig cyclization provided selectively the two heterocycles, respectively.     

Platinum(II)-catalyzed generation and [3+2] cycloaddition reaction of α,β-unsaturated carbene complex intermediates for the preparation of polycyclic compounds

Pt(II)-catalyzed generation of unsaturated carbene complex intermediates from various propargyl ether derivatives based on electrophilic activation of alkynes was realized. These in situ generated unsaturated carbene complexes undergo [3+2] cycloaddition reaction with various vinyl ethers, leading to efficient formation of indoles, naphthols, and benzofuran fused with a five-membered ring in high yields.     

Tandem furo[3,4-b]pyridine formation—Diels-Alder reaction: an approach to the synthesis of nitrogen containing heterocyclic analogues of 1-arylnaphthalene lignans

The coupling of Fischer carbene complexes with 2-alkynyl-3-pyridine carbonyl derivatives has been examined. The reaction affords furo[3,4-b]pyridine as transient intermediates; the latter undergo [4+2] cycloaddition with an electron-deficient dienophile. Acid/base-induced ring opening of the exo-cycloadducts followed by aromatization give substituted quinolines related to heterocyclic analogues of 1-arylnaphthalene lignans. An intramolecular variant of this protocol is also feasible with use of unactivated alkenyl tethers; however, the bridged cycloadducts are unisolable as they undergo spontaneous ring opening to yield alcohol. This method is also useful for the in situ generation of the furo[3,4-b]quinoline intermediate for the first time, which can be trapped with dienophiles.     

C(sp3)H Activation without a Directing Group: Regioselective Synthesis of N‐Ylide or N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes Controlled by the Choice of Metal and Ligand

N‐Ylide complexes of Ir have been generated by C(sp³)?H activation of α‐pyridinium or α‐imidazolium esters in reactions with [Cp*IrCl₂]₂ and NaOAc. These reactions are rare examples of C(sp³)?H activation without a covalent directing group, which—even more unusually—occur α to a carbonyl group. For the reaction of the α‐imidazolium ester [ 3 H]Cl, the site selectivity of C?H activation could be controlled by the choice of metal and ligand: with [Cp*IrCl₂]₂ and NaOAc, C(sp³)?H activation gave the N‐ylide complex 4 ; in contrast, with Ag₂O followed by [Cp*IrCl₂]₂, C(sp²)?H activation gave the N‐heterocyclic carbene complex 5 . DFT calculations revealed that the N‐ylide complex 4 was the kinetic product of an ambiphilic C?H activation. Examination of the computed transition state for the reaction to give 4 indicated that unlike in related reactions, the acetate ligand appears to play the dominant role in C?H bond cleavage.     

Intermolecular 1,5-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of tungsten-containing vinylazomethine ylides leading to seven-membered heterocycles

[STRUCTURE: SEE TEXT] Intermolecular 1,5-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of tungsten-containing vinylazomethine ylide, generated from o-(alk-3-en-1-ynyl)phenylbenzaldimines and tungsten carbonyl complex, with ketene acetals proceeds efficiently to give azepino[1,2-a]indole derivatives in good yield. Formation of [5+2] or [3+2] cycloadducts can be controlled by an appropriate choice of dipolarophile.     

Total Syntheses of (+)‐Polygalolide A and (+)‐Polygalolide B: Elucidation of the Absolute Stereochemistry and Biogenetic Implications

The total syntheses of (+)‐polygalolide A and (+)‐polygalolide B have been completed by using a carbonyl ylide cycloaddition strategy. Three of the four stereocenters, including two consecutive tetrasubstituted carbon atoms at C2 and C8, were incorporated through internal asymmetric induction from the stereocenter at C7 by a [Rh₂(OAc)₄]‐catalyzed carbonyl ylide formation/intramolecular 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition sequence. The arylmethylidene moiety of these natural products was successfully installed by a Mukaiyama aldol‐type reaction of a silyl enol ether with a dimethyl acetal, followed by elimination under basic conditions. We have also developed an alternative approach to the carbonyl ylide precursor based on a hetero‐Michael reaction. This approach requires 18 steps, and the natural products were obtained in 9.8 and 9.3 % overall yields. Comparison of specific rotations of the synthetic materials and natural products suggests that polygalolides are biosynthesized in nearly racemic forms through a [5+2] cycloaddition between a fructose‐derived oxypyrylium zwitterion with an isoprene derivative.     

Three-component synthesis of polysubstituted pyrroles from α-diazoketones, nitroalkenes, and amines

Polysubstituted pyrroles are regiospecifically synthesized via the copper-catalyzed three-component reaction of α-diazoketones, nitroalkenes, and amines under aerobic conditions. The cascade process involves an N-H insertion of carbene, a copper-catalyzed oxidative dehydrogenation of amine, and a [3 + 2] cycloaddition of azomethine ylide.     

1-Methoxycarbonyl-substituiertes 2,3-Dihydropyridin-4(1H)-on (= Methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-4-oxopyridin-1-carboxylat) als Chromophor für die photochemische [2 + 2]-Cycloaddition

1-Methoxycarbonyl-Substituted 2,3-Dihydropyridin-4(1H)-one(= Methyl 1,2,3,4-Tetrahydro-4-oxopyridine-1-carboxylate) as Chromophore for Photochemical [2 + 2]-Cycloadditions With olefins having an electron-acceptor as well as with olefins having an electron-donor substituent, 1-methoxycarbonyl-substituted dihydropyridinone 12 undergoes [2 + 2] cycloaddition in good preparative yields. The photochemical cycloaddition is highly regioselective. For preparative purposes, the ring junction can be equilibrated to the thermodynamically more stable cis-junction. Only the ‘endo’/‘exo’ selectivity at the C-atom bearing the olefin substituent cannot be controlled. The photodimerization of 12 is the only side reaction. Using a slight excess of the olefin, the photodimerization can be suppressed. The protecting group at the N-atom of the dihydropyridinone can be varied in order to introduce an internal sensitizer, as shown with 1-acyl-substituted compound 29 , which underwent the cycloaddition process even with sunlight.     

Chemical ionization mass spectra of some 2-norbornyl derivatives

Chemical ionization mass spectra of exo- and endo-2-norbornanols and their phenylurethane derivatives have been obtained with several reactant ions. Small differences are noted in the abundances of norbornyl and [M+H]⁺ ions for the phenylurethane derivatives: more norbornyl ions with the exo compounds. Relative rate constants for decomposition of [M+H]⁺ ions, k_exo/k_endo ? 1-2. No evidence was found for s?-participation in the decomposition of these ions. The i-C₄H₁₀ chemical ionization spectrum of endo-2-norbornanol contains a much greater abundance of [M-H]⁺ ions than the i-C₄H₁₀ chemical ionization spectrum of exo-2-norbornanol. This difference presumably results from steric hindrance toward attack of the endo hydrogen.     

Total syntheses of (+)-polygalolide a and (+)-polygalolide b: elucidation of the absolute stereochemistry and biogenetic implications

The total syntheses of (+)-polygalolide?A and (+)-polygalolide?B have been completed by using a carbonyl ylide cycloaddition strategy. Three of the four stereocenters, including two consecutive tetrasubstituted carbon atoms at C2 and C8, were incorporated through internal asymmetric induction from the stereocenter at C7 by a [Rh(2) (OAc)(4)]-catalyzed carbonyl ylide formation/intramolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition sequence. The arylmethylidene moiety of these natural products was successfully installed by a Mukaiyama aldol-type reaction of a silyl enol ether with a dimethyl acetal, followed by elimination under basic conditions. We have also developed an alternative approach to the carbonyl ylide precursor based on a hetero-Michael reaction. This approach requires 18 steps, and the natural products were obtained in 9.8 and 9.3?% overall yields. Comparison of specific rotations of the synthetic materials and natural products suggests that polygalolides are biosynthesized in nearly racemic forms through a [5+2] cycloaddition between a fructose-derived oxypyrylium zwitterion with an isoprene derivative.     

Highly Selective Copper‐Catalyzed Asymmetric [3+2] Cycloaddition of Azomethine Ylides with Acyclic 1,3‐Dienes

The first examples of the catalytic asymmetric 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides with acyclic activated 1,3‐dienes (and 1,3‐enynes) are described. Under copper catalysis, a selective cycloaddition at the terminal γ,δ‐C?C bond is observed. In addition, depending on the ligand used, either the exo or the endo adduct can be obtained with high selectivity. Under appropriate reaction conditions, the acyclic 1,6‐addition product is detected, suggesting a stepwise mechanism. The resulting C4‐alkenyl‐substituted pyrrolidines are suitable substrates for further access to polycyclic systems, as highlighted by the preparation of hexahydrochromeno[4,3‐b]pyrrole and the tetracyclic core of the alkaloid gracilamine.     

Use of chiral Ti(IV) complexes in the cycloaddition of C,N-diphenylnitrone to tert-butyl vinyl ether

The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of C,N-diphenylnitrone to tert-butyl vinyl ether in the presence of several chiral Ti(IV) species which incorporate different bidentate C₂-symmetrical ligands has been investigated. Several complexes have shown very efficient catalytic activity. The endo/exo selectivity of the process can be dramatically reversed in relation to the uncatalysed reaction, but low enantioselectivities up to 41% ee are found.     

RhII‐Catalyzed [3+2] Cycloaddition of 2 H‐Azirines with N‐Sulfonyl‐1,2,3‐Triazoles

Rh^II‐catalyzed intermolecular [3+2] cycloaddition of 2 H‐azirines with N‐sulfonyl‐1,2,3‐triazoles is disclosed, in which a series of fully functionalized pyrroles is produced via rhodium azavinyl carbene intermediates. A distinct feature of this reaction is that the azavinyl carbene serves as a [2 C] equivalent, instead of as [1 C] or aza‐[3 C] synthons, which have been reported previously in cyclopropanations and [3+n] cycloadditions. Moreover, this methodology has also been successfully applied in the total synthesis of URB447 as well as the formal synthesis of Atorvastatin (Lipitor).