Water‐Soluble Non‐Classical Benzene Mimetics

A new generation of saturated benzene mimetics, 2‐oxabicyclo[2.1.1]hexanes, was developed. These compounds were designed as analogues of bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane with an improved water solubility. Crystallographic analysis of 2‐oxabicyclo[2.1.1]hexanes revealed that they occupy a novel chemical space, but, at the same time, resemble the motif of meta‐disubstituted benzenes.     

1,3-Difunctionalizations of [1.1.1]Propellane via 1,2-Metallate Rearrangements of Boronate Complexes

1,3-Disubstituted bicyclo[1.1.1]pentanes (BCPs) are valuable bioisosteres of para-substituted aromatic rings. The most direct route to these structures is via multicomponent ring-opening reactions of [1.1.1]propellane. However, challenges associated with these transformations mean that difunctionalized BCPs are more commonly prepared by multistep reaction sequences with BCP-halide intermediates. Herein, we report three- and four-component 1,3-difunctionalizations of [1.1.1]propellane with organometallic reagents, organoboronic esters, and a variety of electrophiles. This process is achieved by trapping intermediate BCP-metal species with boronic esters to form boronate complexes, which are versatile intermediates whose electrophile-induced 1,2-metallate rearrangement chemistry enables a broad range of C−C bond-forming reactions.     

General Synthesis of 3-Azabicyclo[3.1.1]heptanes and Evaluation of Their Properties as Saturated Isosteres**

A general approach to 3-azabicyclo[3.1.1]heptanes by reduction of spirocyclic oxetanyl nitriles was developed. The mechanism, scope, and scalability of this transformation were studied. The core was incorporated into the structure of the antihistamine drug Rupatidine instead of the pyridine ring, which led to a dramatic improvement in physicochemical properties.     

Recent advances in the applications of [1.1.1]propellane in organic synthesis

As a highly strained small molecule, [1.1.1]propellane has been widely used in various synthetic transformations owing to the exceptional reactivity of the central bond between the two bridgehead carbons. Utilizing strain-release approaches, the rapid development of strategies for the construction of bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane (BCP) and cyclobutane derivatives using [1.1.1]propellane as the starting material has been witnessed in the past few years. In this review, we highlight the most recent advances in this field. Accordingly, the reactivity of [1.1.1]propellane can be divided into three pathways, including radical, anionic and transition metal-catalyzed pathways under appropriate conditions.     

Si3S-, Si3Se-, Si3Te-Bicyclo[1.1.0]butanes and Si3S2-Bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane

The reaction of trisilirene 1 with propylene sulfide or elemental sulfur produced Si₃S-bicyclo[1.1.0]butane 2, which underwent Si–Si insertion of a second S atom forming Si₃S₂-bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane 3. Analogous reactions of 1 with elemental Se or Te resulted in the formation of heavier analogues of 2, namely, Si₃Se-bicyclo[1.1.0]butane 4 and Si₃Te-bicyclo[1.1.0]butane 5.

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GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT     

Recent advances in the applications of [1.1.1]propellane in organic synthesis

As a highly strained small molecule, [1.1.1]propellane has been widely used in various synthetic transformations owing to the exceptional reactivity of the central bond between the two bridgehead carbons. Utilizing strain-release approaches, the rapid development of strategies for the construction of bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane (BCP) and cyclobutane derivatives using [1.1.1]propellane as the starting material has been witnessed in the past few years. In this review, we highlight the most recent advances in this field. Accordingly, the reactivity of [1.1.1]propellane can be divided into three pathways, including radical, anionic and transition metal-catalyzed pathways under appropriate conditions.     

Synthesis of Bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane (BCP)-Based Straight-Shaped Diphosphine Ligands**

[1.1.1]Propellane, which is structurally simple and compact, exhibits promising potential for the synthesis of disubstituted straight-shaped bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane (BCP) compounds by manipulation of its highly reactive internal C−C bond. BCPs are considered to be isosteres of 1,4-disubstituted benzenes, which have found broad applications in the areas of functional molecules and drug discovery. The internal C−C single bond of [1.1.1]propellane is regarded as a charge-shift bond, which can be readily cleaved by radical means to construct BCPs. We herein report a novel synthetic method for (un)symmetric diphosphines based on the BCP motif, which can be interpreted as isosteres of 1,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)benzenes. The obtained BCP-diphosphine derivatives were used to generate a straight-shaped Au complex and an Eu-based coordination polymer.     

Bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane Embedded in Porphyrinoids**

We report a two-step approach to obtain synthetically versatile bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane (BCP) derivatives using Grignard reagents. This method allows the incorporation of BCP units in tetrapyrrolic macrocycles and the synthesis of a new class of calix[4]pyrrole analogues by replacing two bridging methylene groups with two BCP units. In addition, a doubly N-confused system was also formed in the presence of electron-withdrawing substituents at the BCP bridgeheads. The pyrrole rings in BCP containing macrocycles exist in 1,3-alternate or αβαβ conformations, as observed from single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses and 2D NMR spectroscopy.     

A General and Practical Route to Functionalized Bicyclo[1.1.1]Pentane-Heteroaryls Enabled by Photocatalytic Multicomponent Heteroarylation of [1.1.1]Propellane

1-Aryl-substituted bicyclo[1.1.1]pentanes (BCPs) are an important class of BCP derivatives with widespread application in drug development. Most syntheses of these materials require multiple chemical steps via BCP electrophiles or nucleophiles derived from [1.1.1]propellane. Although one-step, multicomponent radical cross-coupling reactions could provide a more sustainable and rapid route to access diverse heteroarylated BCPs, current approaches are limited to tertiary alkyl radicals, leading to a decrease in their practical value. In this study, a conceptually different approach enabled by a radical multicomponent heteroarylation of [1.1.1]propellane to access functionalized heteroarylated BCPs is described. Importantly, this protocol is compatible with primary-, secondary-, and tertiary aliphatic radicals, as well as various fluoroalkyl radical sources, thus enabling rapid library generation of sought-after BCP derivatives for drug development.     

On-Surface Synthesis of Polyphenylene Wires Comprising Rigid Aliphatic Bicyclo[1.1.1]Pentane Isolator Units

Bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane (BCP) motifs are of growing importance to the pharmaceutical industry as sp³-rich bioisosteres of benzene rings and as molecular building blocks in materials science. Herein we explore the behavior of 1,3-disubstituted BCP moieties on metal surfaces by combining low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy / non-contact atomic force microscopy studies with density functional theory modeling. We examine the configuration of individual BCP-containing precursors on Au(111), their supramolecular assembly and thermally activated dehalogenative coupling reactions, affording polymeric chains with incorporated electronically isolating units. Our studies not only provide the first sub-molecular insights of the BCP scaffold behavior on surfaces, but also extend the potential application of BCP derivatives towards integration in custom-designed surface architectures.     

Spiro[3.3]heptane as a Saturated Benzene Bioisostere**

The spiro[3.3]heptane core, with the non-coplanar exit vectors, was shown to be a saturated benzene bioisostere. This scaffold was incorporated into the anticancer drug sonidegib (instead of the meta-benzene), the anticancer drug vorinostat (instead of the phenyl ring), and the anesthetic drug benzocaine (instead of the para-benzene). The patent-free saturated analogs obtained showed a high potency in the corresponding biological assays.     

Alkoxide-Accelerated [1,3] Sigmatropic Shift of Bicyclo[3.2.1]oct-6-en-2-ols to 8-endo-Hydroxybicyclo[3.3.0]oct-2-en-4-ones

Bicyclo[3.2.1]oct-6-en-2-ols 6 are shown to undergo [1,3] sigmatropic shift to afford 8-endo-hydroxy-bicyclo[3.3.0]oct-2-en-4-ones 8 under the influence of potassium hydride.     

1,3‐Difunctionalizations of [1.1.1]Propellane via 1,2‐Metallate Rearrangements of Boronate Complexes

1,3‐Disubstituted bicyclo[1.1.1]pentanes (BCPs) are valuable bioisosteres of para‐substituted aromatic rings. The most direct route to these structures is via multicomponent ring‐opening reactions of [1.1.1]propellane. However, challenges associated with these transformations mean that difunctionalized BCPs are more commonly prepared by multistep reaction sequences with BCP‐halide intermediates. Herein, we report three‐ and four‐component 1,3‐difunctionalizations of [1.1.1]propellane with organometallic reagents, organoboronic esters, and a variety of electrophiles. This process is achieved by trapping intermediate BCP‐metal species with boronic esters to form boronate complexes, which are versatile intermediates whose electrophile‐induced 1,2‐metallate rearrangement chemistry enables a broad range of C?C bond‐forming reactions.     

Rearrangements of the [2+2]-cycloadducts of DDQ and 2-ethynylpyrroles

The [2+2]-cycloadducts of DDQ and 2-ethynylpyrroles, upon ethanolysis (reflux, 15 min or room temperature, 24 h), rearrange from bicyclo[4.2.0]octadienediones to bicyclo[3.2.0]heptadienone- and cyclobutenyl-dihydrofuranone moieties in 55-83% yields, the former rearrangement being the major direction. Benzoquinone ring cleavage is regioselective to afford mostly bicyclo[3.2.0]heptadienone-pyrrole ensembles (85-90% selectivity) in 39-78% yields. The only exception is when the starting compounds contain an ethoxycarbonyl substituent and the pyrrole counterpart is a 4,5,6,7-tetrahydroindole fragment. In this case, the ratio of the rearrangement products is 1:1.2 in a total yield of 83%. An important feature of the dihydrofuranone pathway rearrangement is its 100% diastereoselectivity.     

Expeditious synthesis of N-bridged heterocycles via dipolar cycloaddition of pentafulvenes with 3-oxidopyridinium betaines

A new and highly versatile approach towards the synthesis of bicyclo[6.3.0]undecanes and bicyclo[5.3.0]decanes was accomplished. The methodology adopted involved [6+3] and [3+2] cycloaddition reactions of pentafulvenes with 3-oxidopyridinium betaines generated either by the action of a base on the pyridinium salt or thermally from pyridinium betaine dimer. These well-functionalized bicyclo[6.3.0]undecanes and bicyclo[5.3.0]decanes offer a wide range of synthetic options, which can be expected to translate into a variety of rapid and efficient synthesis of natural products.     

Rh(I)-catalyzed ring-closing reaction of allenynes: selective construction of cycloheptene, bicyclo[5.3.0]decadienone, and bicyclo[5.2.0]nonene frameworks

Highly selective formation of cycloheptene, bicyclo[5.3.0]decadienone, and bicyclo[5.2.0]nonene skeletons from tri- and tetrasubstituted allenynes has been achieved via a Rh(I)-catalyzed ring-closing reaction and proper choice of substrate and/or reaction conditions.     

Simple NMR method for assigning relative stereochemistry of bridged bicyclo[3.n.1]-2-enes and tricyclo[7.n.1.0]-2-enes

The stereochemistry of syn and anti-forms of bridged bicyclo[3.n.1]-2-ene, tricyclo[7.n.1.0]-2-ene (n=1-3) and bicyclo[4.3.1]dec-7-ene derivatives can be assigned from the ¹³C chemical shift difference of the double bond. Both syn-9-R-bicyclo[3.3.1]non-2-enes and syn-13-R-tricyclo[7.3.1.0^2,7]tridec-2(7)-enes have a large shielding difference between sp² carbons, while the corresponding anti-forms have a smaller one. In contrast, 8-R-bicyclo[3.2.1]oct-2-enes and 12-R-tricyclo[7.2.1.0^2,7]dodec-2(7)-enes have an inverse correlation. The reason of this specificity is the influence of the γ-gauche effect on the chemical shift of C(2) atom. The GIAO theory has been applied to investigate the ¹³C chemical shifts. The conformational equilibrium in the formamide group of 13-formylamino-tricyclo[7.3.1.0^2,7]tridec-2(7)-enes has been studied.     

A novel synthesis of bicyclo[3.3.0]oct-1-en-3-ones from cyclobutanones through [chloro(p-tolylsulfinyl)methylidene]cyclobutanes with ring expansion

Treatment of [chloro(p-tolylsulfinyl)methylidene]cyclobutanes, which were synthesized from cyclobutanones and chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide in three steps in high overall yields, with excess cyanomethyllithium gave enaminonitriles in high yields. Heating of these enaminonitriles with H₃PO₄ in acetic acid gave 2-cyanobicyclo[3.3.0]oct-1-en-3-ones in good yield. On the other hand, treatment of the [chloro(p-tolylsulfinyl)methylidene]cyclobutanes with cyanomethyllithium followed by lithium carbanion of the homologues of acetonitrile afforded enaminonitriles having a substituent at the 3-position. Heating of the enaminonitriles with H₃PO₄ in acetic acid gave 2-substituted bicyclo[3.3.0]oct-1-en-3-ones in good to high yields. This method offers a novel and versatile procedure for synthesis of 2-substituted bicyclo[3.3.0]oct-1-en-3-ones from cyclobutanones in good overall yields.     

Vinylogous Reactivity of Cyclic 2‐Enones: Organocatalysed Asymmetric Addition to 2‐Enals to Synthesize Fused Carbocycles

A method for asymmetric and site selective annulations at the γ and γ′ positions of cyclic 2‐enones with α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes has been developed. The organocatalysed [3+3]‐annulations proceed with high levels of regio‐, diastereo‐, and enantioselectivity, affording a series of high value fused carbocycles. Further elaboration gave key lactones (both bridged and fused).