Catalytic enantioselective [2 + 4] and [2 + 2] cycloaddition reactions with propiolamides

We report here the catalytic and highly enantioselective [2 + 4] and [2 + 2] cycloaddition reactions of electron-rich dienes or silyl enol ethers with electron-deficient propiolamide derivatives induced by copper(II).3-(2-naphthyl)-L-alanine amide complex.     

DABCO-catalyzed [2+2] cycloaddition reactions of allenoates and trifluoromethylketones: synthesis of 2-alkyleneoxetanes

DABCO was found to be an efficient catalyst for the formal [2+2] cycloaddition reaction of allenoates and trifluoromethylketones (Paterno-Buchi reaction) to give the corresponding 2-alkyleneoxetanes in good yields with good diastereoselectivities.     

Phosphine-catalyzed [4+2] cycloaddition of sulfamate-derived cyclic imines with allenoates: synthesis of sulfamate-fused tetrahydropyridines

Using n-PrPPh₂ as the nucleophilic catalyst, the [4+2] cycloaddition reaction of the sulfamate-derived cyclic imines with allenoates works efficiently to yield various sulfamate-fused tetrahydropyridines in high yields with excellent diastereoselectivities. Using amino acid-based bifunctional phosphine as chiral catalyst, an asymmetric [4+2] cycloaddition reaction was achieved, giving chiral sulfamate-fused tetrahydropyridines in high yields with good enantiomeric excesses.     

Remote regioselective organocatalytic asymmetric [3+2] cycloaddition of N-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl isatin ketimines with cyclic 2,4-dienones

An organocatalytic asymmetric [3+2] cycloaddition of trifluoromethyl-containing azomethine ylides with cyclic 2,4-dienones was developed.The process enables efficient incorporation of CF3 groups into functionalized spiro [pyrro lid in-3,2'-oxindoles] in high yields with good to excellent enantio-and diastereoselectivities.     

Phosphine-catalyzed [3 + 2] cycloaddition of allenoates with trifluoromethylketones: synthesis of dihydrofurans and tetrahydrofurans

The triphenylphosphine-catalyzed formal [3 + 2] cycloaddition of allenoates and trifluoromethylketones was realized to give the corresponding dihydrofurans in good yields with excellent γ-regioselectivities. Hydrogenation of the dihydrofurans gave 2,4,4-trisubstituted tetrahydrofurans in good yields with exclusive cis-selectivities.     

Organotransition metal [3+2] cycloaddition reactions

The review, covering the literature of roughly the last three decades, describes the [3+2] cycloaddition reactions of metalla dipolarophiles M=X with organic 1,3-dipoles, and of metalla 1,3-dipoles, M---X=Y and X---M=Y, with organic dipolarophiles. The resulting 5-membered metalla heterocycles can undergo consecutive insertion and/or reductive elimination reactions to give synthetically interesting organic heterocycles. The reactivity of the organometal 1,3-dipoles is explained by extensive series of isolobal transformations to classic organic 1,3-dipoles.     

Thermal [3+2] cycloaddition reaction of azomethine imines with allenoates for dinitrogen-fused heterocycles

The thermal [3+2] cycloaddition reactions of two classes of azomethine imines with allenoates have been investigated. The reactions are operationally simple and proceed smoothly under mild reaction conditions to provide a variety of dinitrogen-fused heterocycles in moderate to excellent yields.     

Mechanism, regioselectivity, and the kinetics of phosphine-catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition reactions of allenoates and electron-deficient alkenes

With the aid of computations and experiments, the detailed mechanism of the phosphine-catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition reactions of allenoates and electron-deficient alkenes has been investigated. It was found that this reaction includes four consecutive processes: 1) In situ generation of a 1,3-dipole from allenoate and phosphine, 2) stepwise [3+2] cycloaddition, 3) a water-catalyzed [1,2]-hydrogen shift, and 4) elimination of the phosphine catalyst. In situ generation of the 1,3-dipole is key to all nucleophilic phosphine-catalyzed reactions. Through a kinetic study we have shown that the generation of the 1,3-dipole is the rate-determining step of the phosphine-catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition reaction of allenoates and electron-deficient alkenes. DFT calculations and FMO analysis revealed that an electron-withdrawing group is required in the allene to ensure the generation of the 1,3-dipole kinetically and thermodynamically. Atoms-in-molecules (AIM) theory was used to analyze the stability of the 1,3-dipole. The regioselectivity of the [3+2] cycloaddition can be rationalized very well by FMO and AIM theories. Isotopic labeling experiments combined with DFT calculations showed that the commonly accepted intramolecular [1,2]-proton shift should be corrected to a water-catalyzed [1,2]-proton shift. Additional isotopic labeling experiments of the hetero-[3+2] cycloaddition of allenoates and electron-deficient imines further support this finding. This investigation has also been extended to the study of the phosphine-catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition reaction of alkynoates as the three-carbon synthon, which showed that the generation of the 1,3-dipole in this reaction also occurs by a water-catalyzed process.     

Palladium-catalyzed asymmetric [3 + 2] trimethylenemethane cycloaddition reactions

Transition-metal-catalyzed trimethylenemethane (TMM) [3 + 2] cycloadditions provide direct routes to functionalized cyclopentanes. This reaction has been shown to be a highly chemo-, regio-, and diastereoselective process. We report a palladium-catalyzed asymmetric [3 + 2] trimethylenemethane (TMM) cycloaddition between 3-acetoxy-2-trimethylsilylmethyl-1-propene and various di- and trisubstituted olefins. Yields of exo-methylenecyclopentane products range from 59 to 99%, and enantiomeric excesses range from 58 to 92% ee.     

Gold-catalyzed formal [3 + 3] and [4 + 2] cycloaddition reactions of nitrosobenzenes with alkenylgold carbenoids

We report two new formal cycloaddition reactions between nitrosobenzenes and alkenylgold carbenoids. We obtained quinoline oxides 3 in satisfactory yields from the gold-catalyzed [3 + 3]-cycloadditions between nitrosobenzenes and alkenyldiazo esters 1. For propargyl esters 5, its resulting gold carbenes react with nitrosobenzene to give alkenylimine 8, followed by a [4 + 2]-cycloaddition with nitrosobenzene.     

[4+2]cycloaddition reactions of triarylphosphaalkene

Cycloaddition reactions of mesityl(diphenyliiifithylene)phosphine ($\text{1}$) were Investigated. With several dienes, no Diels-Alder reactions were oEserved. With azides, diphenyidiazomethane and 2,4,6-trimethylbenzonitrile oxide, the corresponding cycloadducts ($\text{4}$$\text{12}$$\text{17}$$\text{12}$were obtained. In the case of phenyl azide, a competing Staudinger reaction occurred leading to $\text{3}$.     

Gold-catalyzed transannular [4+3] cycloaddition reactions

In the presence of a catalytic amount of Au(I) and Ag(I) salts, the 14-membered furanophane II with an allene function located across the ring undergoes both a transannular [4+3] and [4+2] cycloaddition. Secondary rearrangement products containing a tricyclic ring system were isolated when the catalyst was PtCl₂.     

Rhodium N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed [4 + 2] and [5 + 2] cycloaddition reactions

[reactions: see text] A rhodium complex of N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) has been developed for intra- and intermolecular [4 + 2] and intramolecular [5 + 2] cycloaddition reactions. This is the first use of a transition-metal NHC complex in a Diels-Alder-type reaction. For the intramolecular [4 + 2] cycloaddition reactions, all the dienynes studied were converted to their corresponding cycloadducts in 91-99% yields within 10 min. Moreover, up to 1900 turnovers have been obtained for the intramolecular [4 + 2] cycloaddition at 15-20 degrees C. For the intermolecular [4 + 2] cycloadditions, high yields (71-99%) of the corresponding cycloaddition products were obtained. The reaction time and yield were highly dependent upon the diene and the dienophile. For the intramolecular [5 + 2] cycloaddition reactions, all the alkyne vinylcyclopropanes studied were converted to their corresponding cycloadducts in 91-98% yields within 10 min. However, the catalytic system was not effective for an intermolecular [5 + 2] cycloaddition reaction.     

Reactivity of allenoates toward aziridines: [3+2] and formal [3+2] cycloadditions

The reactivity of buta-2,3-dienoates toward aziridines is reported. Allenoates react as 2π-component in the [3+2] cycloaddition with the azomethine ylide generated from cis-1-benzyl-2-benzoyl-3-phenylaziridine affording 4-methylenepyrrolidines in a site-, regio-, and stereoselective fashion. Under conventional thermolysis, cis- and trans-2-benzoyl-1-cyclohexyl-3-phenylaziridines showed a different reactivity. These aziridines participate in formal [3+2] cycloadditions with allenes via C-N bond cleavage of the three-membered ring leading to functionalized pyrroles.     

Stereospecific [2+2] cycloaddition reactions of diphosphorus with alkenes

[2+2] Cycloaddition reactions of P₂ with alkenes were predicted to have concerted paths, that is, pseudoexcitation, distorted 2π_s+2π_s, and 2π_s+2π_a processes without any interventions of intermediates. The pseudoexcitation and/or distorted 2π_s+2π_s paths with retention of configuration of alkenes are kinetically preferred to the 2π_s+2π_a path with inversion of configuration. The reactions were predicted from the appreciable difference in the calculated enthalpies of activation to be stereospecific.     

Recent advances in [2+2+2] cycloaddition reactions

The [2+2+2] cycloaddition is an elegant, atom-efficient and group tolerant process for the synthesis of carbo- and heterocycles, mostly aromatic, involving the formation of several C-C bonds in a single step. Cyclotrimerisation is catalyzed by a variety of organometallic complexes, including more than 15 different metals. The aim of this tutorial review is to point out the most recent advances in this field and to encourage the use of this reaction enroute to complex molecules. After summarizing the most common catalysts and reaction conditions generally used, we survey the mechanistic features currently accepted for this reaction. Section 4 covers the scope of the different [2+2+2] cycloaddition versions starting with the cyclotrimerisation of three triple bonds, including nitriles, with especial emphasis on asymmetric reactions that create central, axial or planar chirality. Then, reactions that use double bonds are addressed. Finally, the most outstanding examples of natural products synthesis using [2+2+2] cycloadditions as a key step reported recently are shown.     

[2+2]- AND [4+2] cycloaddition reactions of 1,3-diazabutadienes with diphenylketene

1,3-Diazabutadienes react with diphenylketene in [2+2] - and [4+2] cycloaddition reactions, depending on the substitution pattern. Spectroscopic data (IR, ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR) and results of quantummechanical model calculations (ab initio 3-21G) are presented.     

Regioselective reactions of 1-alkylidene-2-oxyallyl cations with furan: control of [4 + 3] cycloaddition, [3 + 2] cycloaddition, and electrophilic substitution

The ring opening of alkylidenecyclopropanone acetal under acidic conditions produces the 1-alkylidene-2-oxyallyl cation as an intermediate, which reacts with furan to give the [3 + 2] and [4 + 3] cycloadducts as well as an electrophilic substitution product. The product distribution is controlled by the oxy substituents of the cation and by the solvent employed.     

Phosphine-catalyzed dearomative [3+2] annulation of 3-nitroindoles and allenoates

The efficient phosphine-catalyzed dearomative [3+2] annulation of 3-nitroindoles with allenoates has been successfully developed, providing a facile access to cyclopenta[b]indolines with good to excellent yields and high diastereoselectivities. This strategy features mild reaction conditions, high functional group tolerance, and scalability. Additionally, the 2-nitrobenzofuran and 2-nitrobenzothiophene were good dearomative [3+2] annulation partners.