Stereochemistry as a tool in deciphering the processes of a tandem iminium cyclization and Smiles rearrangement

To understand the detailed mechanism of a recently reported tandem iminium cyclization and Smiles rearrangement, the reaction processes of a chiral substrate were investigated by monitoring its stereochemical courses. Under the tandem reaction conditions, chiral aldehyde 1 derived from l-prolinol led to two surprising results. First, the iminium cyclization gave a diastereomeric mixture with the cis-configured product as the predominant one. Second, Smiles rearrangement of both cis- and trans-2 led to the same product 3a directly derived from the trans isomer. The former was rationalized by the postulation of a Cram's chelate transition state leading to the cis product as kinetically favored. The latter was due to the equilibration between the trans/cis pair involving a carbocation intermediate and the steric hindrance, which prevented the cis isomer from undergoing the intramolecular nucleophilic substitution. This hypothesis was further supported by the results of a competition experiment in which the addition of 1 equiv of p-methoxyaniline in the rearrangement step led to a significant amount of anilinyl-exchanged rearrangement product.     

Ligand-controlled, complementary stereoselectivity in the platinum-catalyzed intramolecular silaboration of alkenes

An intramolecular silaboration of borylsilanyl homoallyl ethers was achieved using a platinum catalyst, giving 1-oxa-2-silacyclopentanes in high yields. The stereoselectivity of the reactions of sec-homoallyl ethers strongly depended on the phosphorus ligand of the platinum catalysts used. The platinum complex bearing the PCyPh2 ligand was found to be the most trans-selective catalyst (trans/cis = 81:19-92:8), whereas a highly cis-selective cyclization was achieved using a platinum catalyst having tris(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl)phosphite ligand (trans/cis = 8:92-6:94). The synthetic utility of the intramolecular silaboration was demonstrated by the complementary synthesis of a pair of diastereomers of 6-methylheptane-1,3,5-triol.     

Enzymatic resolution, desymmetrization, and dynamic kinetic asymmetric transformation of 1,3-cycloalkanediols

An efficient desymmetrization of cis-1,3-cyclohexanediol to (1S,3R)-3-(acetoxy)-1-cyclohexanol ((R,S)-2a) was performed via Candida antarctica lipase B (CALB)-catalyzed transesterification, in high yield (up to 93%) and excellent enantioselectivity (ee's up to >99.5%). (R,R)-Diacetate ((R,R)-3a) was obtained in a DYKAT process at room temperature from (1S,3R)-3-acetoxy-1-cyclohexanol ((R,S)-2a), in a high trans/cis ratio (91:9) and in excellent enantioselectivity of >99%. Metal- and enzyme-catalyzed dynamic transformation of cis/trans-1,3-cyclohexanediol using PS-C gave a high diastereoselectivity for cis-diacetate (cis/trans = 97:3). The (1R,3S)-3-acetoxy-1-cyclohexanol (ent-(R,S)-2a) was obtained from cis-diacetate by CALB-catalyzed hydrolysis in an excellent yield (97%) and selectivity (>99% ee). By deuterium labeling it was shown that intramolecular acyl migration does not occur in the transformation of cis-monoacetate to the cis-diacetate.     

Radical carbonylation/reductive cyclization for the construction of tetrahydrofuran-3-ones and pyrrolidin-3-ones

Beta-hydroxyalkyl aryl chalcogenides obtained by regioselective ring-opening of epoxides with benzeneselenolate or -tellurolate were found to undergo efficient hetero-Michael addition when treated with ethyl propiolate. Subsequent carbonylation/reductive cyclization of the resulting vinylogous carbonates in the presence of AIBN/TTMSS and carbon monoxide (80 atm) afforded 2,5-disubstituted tetrahydrofuran-3-ones, predominantly as cis isomers (cis/trans = 4/1-9/1). Starting from a polymer-supported diaryl diselenide, the methodology was also successfully extended to solid-phase synthesis. Vinylogous carbamates prepared by hetero-Michael addition of aziridines to electron-deficient alkynes were regioselectively ring-opened with benzeneselenolate from the sterically least hindered side. Radical carbonylation/reductive cyclization of the resulting N-vinyl-beta-amino-alkyl phenyl selenides afforded 2,5-disubstituted pyrrolidin-3-ones, predominantly as cis isomers (cis/trans = 3/1-12/1).     

Weak intramolecular proton-hydride and proton-fluoride interactions: experimental (NMR, X-ray) and DFT studies of the bis(NBH(3)) and bis(NBF(3)) adducts of 1,3-dimethyl-1,3-diazolidine

Bis(NBH(3)), bis(NBF(3)), and NBF(3)/NBH(3) adducts 1-3 were prepared from 1,3-dimethyl-1,3-diazolidine and characterized by the (1)H, (13)C, (11)B, (19)F, 2D (1)H(-13)C HETCOR and NOESY NMR spectra. The structures and conformations of the adducts were established by the variable-temperature (1)H NMR spectra, the X-ray diffraction method (adduct 2A), and density functional calculations at different theoretical levels. The experimental and theoretical data have revealed that bis adducts 1-3 prefer trans orientations of the borane groups (1A, 2A, 3A) in solution, the solid state, and the gas phase. The studies have shown that the energetic preference of trans adducts with respect to cis compounds, decreasing as 2A (2.9 kcal/mol) > 3A (2.7 kcal/mol) > 1A (1.4 kcal/mol), is dictated by spatially repulsive interactions between the CH(3), BH(3), and BF(3) groups. The results of DFT calculations agree well with an experimental trans/cis isomeric ratio of 9:1 determined in solutions of adduct 1. The calculated geometry and energy, as well as the topological analysis of electronic densities, show that trans adducts 1-3 should exist in gas phase as twist conformations T-2 stabilized by the intramolecular C-H(delta+)...(-delta)H-B or C-H(delta+)...(-delta)F-B interactions. These interactions are characterized as closed-shell. The energy of one proton-hydride and proton-fluoride intramolecular contact, estimated as 1.9 (1A-T-2) and 0.7 (2A-T-2) kcal/mol, respectively, classifies the "elongated" intramolecular interactions CH(delta+)...(-delta)HB and CH(delta+)...(-delta)FB as weak ones. It has been established that, on going from gas phase to a condensed phase (solution and solid), the twist-conformations T-2 transform to conformations T-1, probably by intermolecular dipole-dipole interactions. The data presented in this work show that despite a weakness of the "elongated" proton-hydride and proton-fluoride interactions, they can play a significant role in the stabilization of conformational molecular states, especially when cooperativity is in action.     

Intramolecular coupling of allyl carboxylates with allyl stannanes and allyl silanes: a new type of reductive elimination reaction?

The palladium-catalyzed intramolecular coupling of allyl stannanes with allyl carboxylates provides a general synthesis of five- and six-membered-ring carbocycles. The intramolecular coupling leads selectively to trans five-membered carbocycles and cis six-membered carbocycles, regardless of the cis or trans configuration of the allylic functions in the starting material. For example, the stereoselective synthesis of 10-epi-elemol demonstrated the cis configuration of the six-membered carbocycles. The related Oppolzer cyclization leads to lower yields, or fails completely, with substrates substituted at C-3 of the allyl and/or alkene terminus. The palladium-catalyzed intramolecular coupling of allyl silanes with allyl trifluoroacetates allows the synthesis of trans five-membered-ring carbocycles and requires the use of a bicyclic phosphite as the ligand. DFT calculations suggest that the preferred pathway for the intramolecular allyl/allyl coupling is by formation of the Cbond;C bond between the C-3 termini of the allyl ligands of bis(eta(3)-allyl)palladium complexes.     

Stereocontrolled Preparation of Spirocyclic Ethers by Intramolecular Trapping of Oxonium Ions with Allylsilanes

The stereoselectivity of the spontaneous intramolecular cyclization of 2-(benzenesulfonyl)-2-(4-((trimethylsilyl)methyl)-4-pentenyl)tetrahydropyrans substituted by alkyl groups at various ring positions has been examined. For the 4- and 6-methyl derivatives, formation of the spirocyclic center occurs exclusively anti to the methyl. The outcome in the 5-methyl example is a 3.7:1 syn/anti split. For the trans-4,6-dimethyl derivative, the substituents act in a reinforcing manner and direct cyclization uniquely in one direction. Both the cis and trans bicyclic ethers ring close on that pi-surface of the intermediate oxonium ion syn to the angular hydrogen. The results are rationalized in terms of the predilection of the associated oxonium ions for nucleophilic capture via a chairlike or twist-boat transition state.     

Living polymerization of aryl substituted acetylenes by MoCl5 and WCl6 based initiators: The ortho phenyl substituent effect

The polymerization of phenylacetylene initiated by MoCl₅ and WCl₆ based initiators was monitored directly in the NMR sample tube and demonstrated the presence of backbiting and intramolecular cyclization reactions. It was shown that the ratio of cis to trans structural units obtained by isomerization prior to double bond formation dictates the degree of backbiting and intramolecular cyclization reactions. This cis–trans ratio determines the length of cis–transoidal sequences present in the polymer backbone which are available for both backbiting and intrachain cyclization reactions. The cyclic trimers obtained in the metathesis polymerization of phenylacetylene are formed only through the cis–cisoidal-induced backbiting and/or intramolecular reactions. The o-trimethylsilylphenylacetylene follows a living mechanism of polymerization. This is due to the fact that the size of the ortho substituent suppresses the cis–transoidal to cis–cisoidal isomerization reactions and therefore eliminates the backbiting reactions. The steric hindrance provided by the size of the ortho substituent also eliminates interchain and intrachain reactions.     

Synthesis of 3,4-disubstituted piperidines by carbonyl ene and prins cyclizations: switching between kinetic and thermodynamic control with Brønsted and Lewis acid catalysts

A novel approach to cis and trans 3,4-disubstituted piperidines is described. Carbonyl ene cyclization of aldehydes 4a-e catalyzed by MeAlCl(2) in refluxing chloroform afforded the trans piperidines 7a-e with diastereomeric ratios of up to 93:7, while aldehyde 4f afforded solely the cis product 6f, which was resistant to isomerization to the trans isomer. It was demonstrated for 4a that the cyclization catalyzed by a variety of Lewis acids at low temperature proceeded under kinetic control to afford predominantly the cis piperidine 6a, and this isomerized to the thermodynamically more stable trans piperidine 7a on warming. In contrast, Prins cyclization of 4a-e catalyzed by concentrated hydrochloric acid in CH2Cl2 at low temperature afforded cis piperidines 6a-e with diastereomeric ratios of up to >98:2. The yield and diastereoselectivity of these cyclizations could be improved by using HCl-saturated CH2Cl2 to form the corresponding chloride, followed by elimination of HCl effected by ammonia. Aldehydes 4f and 4galso cyclized in good yield under the latter conditions. Mechanistic studies supported by DFT calculations (B3LYP/6-31G(d)) suggest that the cyclizations proceed via a mechanism with significant carbocationic character, with the cis carbocation being more stable than the trans carbocation. DFT calculations (B3LYP/6-31G(d)) of the transition state energies for concerted cyclization show that the cis piperidine is also the favored product from cyclization through a more concerted mechanism.     

Photophysical studies of the trans to cis isomerization of the push-pull molecule: 1-(pyridin-4-yl)-2-(N-methylpyrrol-2-yl)ethene (mepepy)

Organic molecules possessing intramolecular charge-transfer properties (D-pi-A type molecules) are of key interest particularly in the development of new optoelectronic materials as well as photoinduced magnetism. One such class of D-pi-A molecules that is of particular interest contains photoswitchable intramolecular charge-transfer states via a photoisomerizable pi-system linking the donor and acceptor groups. Here we report the photophysical and electronic properties of the trans to cis isomerization of 1-(pyridin-4-yl)-2-(N-methylpyrrol-2-yl)ethene ligand (mepepy) in aqueous solution using photoacoustic calorimetry (PAC) and theoretical methods. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations demonstrate a global energy difference between cis and trans isomers of mepepy to be 8 kcal mol(-1), while a slightly lower energy is observed between the local minima for the trans and cis isomers (7 kcal mol(-1)). Interestingly, the trans isomer appears to exhibit two ground-state minima separated by an energy barrier of approximately 9 kcal mol(-1). Results from the PAC studies indicate that the trans to cis isomerization results in a negligible volume change (0.9 +/- 0.4 mL mol(-1)) and an enthalpy change of 18 +/- 3 kcal mol(-1). The fact that the acoustic waves associated with the trans to cis transition of mepepy overlap in frequency with those of a calorimetric reference implies that the conformational transition occurs faster than the approximately 50 ns response time of the acoustic detector. Comparison of the experimental results with theoretical studies provide evidence for a mechanism in which the trans to cis isomerization of mepepy results in the loss of a hydrogen bond between a water molecule and the pyridine ring of mepepy.     

Enantioselective synthesis of trans-dihydrobenzofurans via primary amine-thiourea organocatalyzed intramolecular Michael addition

A primary amine-thiourea organocatalyzed intramolecular Michael addition access was developed for the synthesis of trans-dihydrobenzofurans. Under the catalysis of an (R,R)-1,2-diphenylethylamine derived primary amine-thiourea bearing a glucosyl scaffold, the corresponding trans-dihydrobenzofurans were obtained in high yields with excellent level of enantioselectivities (94 to >99% ee). Moreover, an in situ isomerization occurring at high temperature gave good to excellent trans/cis ratios as well (trans/cis: 84/16-96/4).     

α-三唑基查尔酮与苯肼的加成-关环反应研究

(Z)或(E)-1,3-二芳基-2-(1H-1,2,4-三唑-1-基)-2-丙烯-1-酮与苯肼在醋酸中反应均生成顺式和反式吡唑啉异构体混合物,但是在三乙胺催化下却只生成反式的异构体。制备了三对顺、反式的1-苯基-3,5-二芳基-4-(1H-1,2,4-三唑-1-基)-2-吡唑啉衍生物,其结构为^1HNMR和元素分析证实,初步论证了经α-氮原子的加成-环化反应机理。     

Unusual temperature dependence in the cis/trans-oxetane formation discloses competitive syn versus anti attack for the Paternò-Büchi reaction of triplet-excited ketones with cis- and trans-cylooctenes. Conformational control of diastereoselectivity in the cyclization and cleavage of preoxetane diradicals

Toluene-d(8) solutions of cis- and trans-cyclooctene (cis- and trans-1a) as well as (Z)- and (E)-1-methylcyclooctene (cis- and trans-1b) have been irradiated at temperatures between -95 and +110 degrees C in the presence of benzophenone (BP) to afford mixtures of the cis- and trans-configured oxetanes 2a,b and the regioisomeric 2b'. Correspondingly, benzoquinone (BQ) gave with cis- and trans-1a the cycloadducts cis- and trans-3a. The cis/trans diastereomeric ratios of the [2 + 2]-cycloadducts 2 and 3 display a strong temperature dependence; with cis- and trans-1a or cis-1b as starting materials, the diastereoselectivity of the oxetane formation is high at low temperature, under preservation of the initial cyclooctene configuration. With increasing temperature, the cis diastereoselectivity decreases continuously for the cis-cyclooctenes; in the case of the cis-1a, the diastereoselectivity is even switched to trans (cis/trans ca. 20:80) at very high temperatures. For the strained trans-1a, the trans-oxetanes are strongly preferred over the entire temperature range, with only minor leakage (up to 10%) to the cis-oxetanes at very high temperatures. Oxetane formation is accompanied by nonthermal trans-to-cis isomerization of the cyclooctene. The methyl-substituted trans-1b constitutes an exceptional substrate; it displays cis diastereoselectivity in the [2 + 2] photocycloaddition at low temperatures for both regioisomers 2b and 2b', and the trans selectivity increases at moderate temperature (cis/trans = 4:96), to decrease again at high temperature, especially for the minor regioisomer 2b'. This complex temperature behavior of the cis/trans diastereoselectivity may be rationalized in terms of the triplet-diradical mechanism of the Paternò-Büchi reaction. We propose that the cyclooctene may be competitively attacked by the triplet-excited ketone from the higher (syn) or the less (anti) substituted side; such syn and anti trajectories have hitherto not been considered. To account for the unusual temperature behavior in the diastereoselectivity of the present [2 + 2] photocycloaddition, we suggest that temperature-dependent conformational changes of the resulting triplet preoxetane diradicals compete with their cyclization to the cis/trans-oxetane diastereomers and retro cleavage to the cis-cyclooctene.     

Formation of unsaturated bicyclic γ-butyrolactone by oxidative dimerization of 2-methyl-2-ethynylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid

Conclusions The oxidative dimerization of a mixture of the trans and cis isomers of 2-methyl-2-ethynylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid in the presence of CuCl and NH₄Cl gives, along with bis(trans-1-methyl-2-carboxyl-1-cyclopropyl)diacetylene (53% yield), also the corresponding dilactone, and specifically bi(1-methyl-4-oxo-3-oxabicyclo[3.1.0]-2-hexalidene)methyl (14% yield), which is probably formed via the intramolecular cyclization of the intermediately formed bis(cis-1-methyl-2-carboxy-1-cyclopropyl) diacetylene.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 5, pp. 1164–1166, May, 1981.     

Dramatic decrease of the cis content and molecular weight of cis‐transoidal polyphenylacetylene at 23 °C in solutions prepared in air

The thermal cis–trans isomerization of cis‐transoidal polyphenylacetylene (PPA) synthesized with Noyori's catalyst [Rh(C?CPh)(norbornadiene)(PPh₃)₂] has been investigated under both ambient and inert atmospheres in solution and in bulk. In all cases, an intramolecular cyclization results in cis–trans isomerization, and subsequent chain cleavage produces 1,3,5‐triphenylbenzene. This reaction is accelerated by the presence of air, particularly when the reaction takes place in solution. Decreases in the cis content and molecular weight show that the intramolecular cyclization process takes place at 23 °C in solution. The mechanism of this reaction is identical to that reported previously for cis‐cisoidal and cis‐transoidal PPA synthesized with Ziegler–Natta catalysts. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 3212–3220, 2002     

Amino-zinc-enolate carbometalation reactions: application to ring closure of terminally substituted olefin for the asymmetric synthesis of cis- and trans-3-prolinoleucine

The amino-zinc-enolate cyclization reaction is a straightforward route for the synthesis of 3-substituted prolines. As classical intramolecular carbometalation reactions, the applicability of the addition of zinc to a double bond was limited to a substrate in which the terminal alkene carbon was unsubstituted. Being interested in the synthesis of cis- and trans-3-prolinoleucine derivatives for our structure-activity relation (SAR) studies, we focused our effort on the preparation of these compounds by amino-zinc-enolate cyclization of terminally substituted double bonds. Herein we report that the attachment of an activating group such as cyclopropyl to the terminal olefin carbon allows the amino-zinc-enolate cyclization of a terminally substituted alkene. The reaction is stereospecific, leading to a trans-3-substituted proline derivative, whereas a cis stereochemistry was observed with the amino-zinc-enolate cyclization of terminally nonsubstituted olefins. Absolute configurations obtained for the 3-prolinoleucine were established by X-ray analysis, NMR, and optical activity comparison of the cis and trans derivatives obtained by an unambiguous pathway.     

Stereoselectivity in intramolecular diels alder reactions I : synthesis of hydroisoindoles

The effects of solvent, steric bulk and the nature of the electron demand (normal or inverse) on the ratio of cis vs trans isomers during intramolecular DIELS-ALDER cyclization of 4-aza-1,6,8-trienes were studied.     

Stereoselective cyclization and pyramidal inversion strategies for P-chirogenic phospholane synthesis

Preparation of P-chirogenic mono- and bisphospholanes is reported. The demonstrated method employs a stereoselective cyclization of cyclic sulfates with primary phosphines in the presence of base to generate "cis" or "cis/cis" P-chirogenic phospholanes followed by heat-induced pyramidal inversion to provide "trans" or "trans/trans" P-chirogenic phospholanes. A rhodium complex of one "trans/trans" phospholane is applied to the highly enantioselective asymmetric hydrogenation of a substrate precursor to the pharmaceutical candidate pregabalin.     

Cascade radical cyclizations of benzannulated enyne-allenes. Unusual cleavage of a benzene ring leading to twisted 1,1'-dialkyl-9,9'-bifluorenylidenes and spiro[1H-cyclobut[a]indene-1,9'-[9H]fluorenes

Treatment of the benzannulated enediynyl propargylic alcohol 16 (isomer ratio = 2:1) with thionyl chloride induced a sequence of reactions leading to the twisted 1,1'-dipropyl-9,9'-bifluorenylidene 17, the polycyclic compounds 18 and 19, and the spiro[1H-cyclobut[a]indene-1,9'-[9H]fluorene] 20 (trans/cis = 5:1). The transformation from 16 to the unexpected 17 presumably involved an initial formation of the benzannulated enyne-allene 21 followed by a C(2)-C(6) cyclization reaction and an intramolecular radical-radical coupling reaction, giving rise to the formal Diels-Alder adduct 23. Repeat of this sequence then furnished 24. Cleavage of the bond connecting the two carbons having the propyl substituent afforded 25. A subsequent rotation of the carbon-carbon bond joining the two central five-membered rings then gave the trans isomer 26. Oxidation of 26, presumably by oxygen, followed by hydrolysis then produced 17. Interestingly, the pathway leading to 17 involved an unusual cleavage of a benzene ring. The X-ray crystal structure of 17 reveals that it has a twist angle of 45.2 degrees for the carbon-carbon double bond connecting the two bifluorenylidene fragments. The spiro[1H-cyclobut[a]indene-1,9'-[9H]fluorene] 20 apparently was produced via two intramolecular [2 + 2] cycloaddition reactions of the benzannulated enyne-allene moieties, generated in situ from the benzannulated enediynyl propargylic alcohols. The twisted 1,1'-dimethyl-9,9'-bifluorenylidene 33 and the spiro[1H-cyclobut[a]indene-1,9'-[9H]fluorene] 39 (trans/cis = 3:1) were likewise produced from 32 and 38, respectively.     

Fluorinated alcohol mediated displacement of the C10 acetoxy group of benzo[a]pyrene-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrotetraol tetraacetates: a new route to diol epoxide-deoxyguanosine adducts

We describe a novel trifluoroethanol (TFE) or hexafluoropropan-2-ol (HFP) mediated substitution reaction of the bay-region C10 acetoxy group in four stereoisomeric 7,8,9,10-tetraacetoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrenes (tetraol tetraacetates, two pairs of cis and trans isomers at the 9,10 positions) by the exocyclic N2-amino group of O6-allyl-3',5'-di-O-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-2'-deoxyguanosine (3). The tetraacetates are derived from cis and trans hydrolysis of (+/-)-7beta,8alpha-dihydroxy-9beta,10beta-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P DE-1) and of (+/-)-7beta,8alpha-dihydroxy-9alpha,10alpha-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P DE-2) at C-10 followed by acetylation. Excellent yields and high regioselectivity were observed. Similar cis/trans product ratios were observed for each set of cis and trans tetraol tetraacetates derived from DE-1 ( approximately 75/25) and from DE-2 (approximately 67/33) in HFP. This strongly suggests that the substitution proceeds via an SN1 mechanism involving a carbocation intermediate that is common to the cis and trans tetraacetates. Since it is likely that the cis and trans products from 3 arise from different conformations of the carbocation, its lifetime must be sufficiently long to permit conformational equilibration before its capture by the purine nucleophile. The corresponding reaction of (+/-)-9alpha-bromo-7beta,8alpha,10beta-triacetoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene with 3 in HFP was highly regio- and stereoselective and gave exclusively trans 10beta-adducts. This newly developed substitution reaction provides an attractive alternative synthetic strategy for the preparation of polycyclic hydrocarbon adducted oligonucleotide building blocks.