Construction of C-nucleosides diversified by [3+2] cycloaddition from a sugar-based mesoionic ring

A mesoionic acyclic C-nucleoside (4), serves as the starting chiron to construct highly functionalized 2-aza-7-thiabicyclo[2.2.1]heptanes and heptenes by means of a [3+2] cycloaddition with acetylenic and olefinic dipolarophiles. Further elimination of either sulfur or hydrogen sulfide leads to acyclic C-nucleosides bearing a heterocyclic moiety of 2-pyridone.     

The fascinating construction of pyridine ring systems by transition metal-catalysed [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition reactions

Cycloaddition reactions compose one of the most important classes of reactions when it comes to the simultaneous formation of several bonds in one reaction step. The de novo construction of carbocyclic aromatic systems from acetylenes was also found as an excellent possibility for the assembly of heteroaromatic systems. The transition metal-catalysed [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction constitutes a fascinating tool for the synthesis of pyridines from nitriles and the most recent developments demonstrate the ability to control the substitution pattern as well as the possibility of introducing chirality by the use of achiral substrates and a chiral catalyst under mild conditions. In this tutorial review we are focusing on the de novo construction of pyridine ring systems by the transition metal-catalysed [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction. After surveying the mechanistic features and intermediates of the reaction depending on the different metal complexes used, we depict the preparation of achiral pyridine derivatives. The last section describes the advances in the synthesis of chiral pyridines and biaryls using the cyclotrimerization method. The various possibilities of introducing chirality by catalytic means are presented and illustrated by instructive examples. This review will be of interest for people active in: Organic Chemistry, Organometallic Chemistry, Transition Metal Chemistry, Stereoselective Synthesis, Heterocyclic Chemistry.     

Triptycenediols by rhodium-catalyzed [2+2+2] cycloaddition

An efficient, modular synthesis of triptycene derivatives is presented, in which the triptycene ring system is constructed from readily available anthraquinone and alkyne starting materials. A rhodium-catalyzed alkyne cyclotrimerization reaction serves as the key step in this new method for the preparation of these useful unnatural products.     

Charge transfer chromophore-stopped [2]rotaxane through [2 + 2] cycloaddition

Three charge-transfer chromophore-terminated [2]rotaxanes were synthesized, using a high-yield [2 + 2]cycloaddition reaction in apolar solvent at room temperature. Two solvent-driving molecular shuttles were constructed, which exhibit distinct conformations in different solvent as a result of the shuttling movement of the macrocycle.     

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.     

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.     

Nitrogen heteroaromatic cations by [2+2+2] cycloaddition

A modular approach to the construction of monocationic quaternary N-heteroaromatic frameworks was developed capitalizing on a direct pyridine-type nitrogen quaternization followed by metal-catalyzed [2+2+2] cycloaddition with gaseous acetylene. The flexibility of the route is demonstrated on 12 diverse scaffolds based on pyridinium, quinolinium, thiazolium, benzothiazolium, imidazolium, and pyrimidinium. Electrochemical study revealed a quinolinium redox system with two electrochemically distinct forms that are interconverted by a homogeneous chemical reaction triggered by fast electron transfers (reduction at -0.7 V and oxidation at -0.05 V).     

[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 $\text{3}$.     

Rh(I)-catalyzed formal [6 + 2] cycloaddition of 4-allenals with alkynes or alkenes in a tether

Rh(I)-catalyzed formal [6 + 2] cycloaddition of allenal 6 having an alkyne or alkene in a tether proceeded smoothly, giving 5-8- and 6-8-fused bicyclic ketone derivatives 7 in good to excellent yields. It was also found that cyclization of enantiomerically enriched (S)-6a (94% ee) gave cyclic ketone derivative (S)-7a in high yield with reasonable chirality transfer (86% ee). This result indicates that this cyclization proceeds through stereoselective formation of rhodacycle H' followed by insertion of a multiple bond.     

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

Enantioselective cycloaddition using chiral transition metal catalysts is an atom-economical and efficient synthetic tool for the construction of chiral carbo- and heterocyclic skeletons. This short account discloses our recent results of inter- and intramolecular enantioselective [2 + 2 + 2] cycloadditions of alkyne and/or alkene moiety(ies). Chiral iridium complexes catalyzed the alkyne trimerization for the generation of axial chirality(ies), and chiral rhodium ones catalyzed alkyne-alkyne-alkene cyclization for the generation of a quaternary carbon including spirocyclic system.     

Cu-promoted [2 + 2] cycloaddition of 1,4-bisallenes

The thermal reaction of 1,4-bisallenes with the aid of Cu salt/amine significantly suppressed the formal [3,3] sigmatropic rearrangement resulting in the highly selective formation of the bicyclo[4.2.0]octadiene framework. This reaction could be applied to the one-pot synthesis of bicyclo[4.2.0]octadienes from 1,5-hexadiynes via the Crabbé homologation.     

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.     

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.     

Nickel-catalyzed [4+2] cycloaddition for highly substituted arenes

Nickel(0) catalyzed [4+2] cycloaddition of electron-deficient dienes to alkynes and subsequent aromatization gave highly substituted arenes. This formal inverse electron-demand Diels-Alder cycloaddition is attributed to the formation of a seven-membered nickelacycle from a diene and an alkyne.     

Regioselective [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition of a nickel-benzyne complex with 1,3-diynes

[reaction: see text] Reactions of nickel(0)-benzyne complexes with a range of symmetrically substituted 1,3-diynes in the presence of triethylphosphine lead to the regioselective formation of 2,3-dialkynyl naphthalenes. The regioselectivity can be reversed when the diyne possesses substituents of high steric bulk, allowing selective formation of either symmetric dialkynyl naphthalene.     

Recent progress in cobalt-mediated [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition reactions

For many years, our research group has been interested in the new developments of cobalt-mediated cyclizations. In this article, our recent achievements in the field of inter- and intramolecular [2 + 2 + 2] cyclizations are compiled.