Studies on the synthesis of (+/-)-stenine: a combined intramolecular [4 + 2]-cycloaddition/rearrangement cascade

Several cyclic 2-(methylthio)-5-amidofurans containing tethered unsaturation were prepared via the reaction of dimethyl(methylthio)sulfonium tetrafluoroborate (DMSTF) with beta-alkoxy-gamma-dithiane lactams. Thermolysis of these furans resulted in an intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction (IMDAF). The resulting oxa-bridge cycloadducts underwent a subsequent 1,2-methylthio shift to form tricyclic lactams in high yield. Furan 9, annealed to an azepine ring, underwent the IMDAF reaction at or below room temperature. Conformational effects imposed by the placement of a carbonyl group within the tether, combined with a rotational bias about the C(2)-N bond, enhances the rate of the IMDAF reaction of the seven-ring system so that it occurs readily at 25 degrees C. The feasibility of using the cascade sequence in the context of a total synthesis of the Stemona alkaloid (+/-)-stenine was explored. The eventual synthesis of (+/-)-stenine was carried out by an intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction of a 2-amido-5-methylthio-substituted furan containing a trans-pent-3-enoic acid methyl ester side chain in order to create the desired azepinoindole skeleton. This was followed by a series of reductions to set the syn-anti stereochemical relationship at the incipient ring fusion sites present in stenine. All six stereocenters at the azepinoindole core were derived in high stereoselectivity from the functionality present in the rearranged cycloadduct 10. Compound 10 was converted to stenine in 11 additional steps via a sequence that features a Crabtree's-catalyst directed hydrogenation, iodolactonization, and a Keck allylation.     

Novel intramolecular (4 + 1) and (4 + 2) annulations of halopolyenes by cascade radical reaction

Free radical reaction of vinyl iodides having dinenoate function in the presence of tributyltin hydride or tris(trimethylsilyl)silane caused a sequential cyclization reaction to produce (4 + 1) and (4 + 2) annulated compounds by means of a cascade radical reaction. Stereogenic centers of the cascade reaction were highly controlled. On the contrary, the cathodic electrolysis of the vinyl iodides afforded monocyclic compounds.     

Electronic factors in (4 + 2)-cycloaddition reactions of phosphaalkenes

Reactions involving the (4 + 2)-cycloaddition of phosphaalkenes to 1,3-butadiene have been characterized in the framework of the frontier-orbital approach. MNDO and nonempirical calculations in the 4-31G basis have shown that most of these reactions take place under normal electronic conditions. The -electronic stabilization energies of the transition states of the reactions have been evaluated. The influence of substituents on the relative rate and regioselectivity of the reactions of phosphaalkenes with derivatives of 1,3-butadiene has been considered.Institute of Organic Chemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR, Kiev. Scientific-Research Institute of Technical Physics, Far-Eastern University. Vladivostok. Translated from Teoreticheskaya i Éksperimental'naya Khimiya, Vol. 27, No. 4, pp. 462–466, July–August, 1991. Original article submitted October 12, 1990.     

A new chiral Rh(II) catalyst for enantioselective [2 + 1]-cycloaddition. mechanistic implications and applications

A novel chiral Rh(II) catalyst (1) is introduced for the [2 + 1]-cycloaddition of ethyl diazoacetate to terminal acetylenes and olefins with high enantioselectivity. The catalyst 1 consists of one acetate bridging group and three mono-N-triflyldiphenylimidazoline-2-one bidentate ligands (DPTI) spanning the Rh(II)-Rh(II) metallic center in a structure that was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. A rational mechanism is advanced that provides a straightforward explanation for the enantioselectivity and absolute stereochemical course of the [2 + 1]-cycloaddition reactions. A key element in this explanation is the cleavage of one of the Rh-O bonds of the bridging acetate group in the intermediate Rh-carbene complex to form a new pentacoordinate Rh carbene complex (formally 1.5 valent Rh) that can undergo [2 + 2]-cycloaddition with the C-C pi-bond of the acetylenic or olefinic substrate. Reductive elimination of the resulting adduct affords the cyclopropene or cyclopropane product. The C2-symmetry of the two DPTI ligands orthogonal to the bridging acetate also contributes to the high observed enantioselectivity and mechanistic clarity. The catalyst 1, which functions effectively at 0.5 mol %, can be recovered efficiently for reuse. Its ready availability, robustness, and effectiveness suggest it as a useful addition to the list of practical chiral Rh(II) catalysts for synthesis.     

The (4+3)-cycloaddition reaction: heteroatom-substituted allylic cations as dienophiles

The (4+3)-cycloaddition of allylic cations to dienes is a powerful method for the direct synthesis of seven-membered rings. Recent developments in this area have included new methods for the generation of allylic cations, diastereoselective and catalytic, enantioselective reactions, an increased understanding of the diverse mechanistic possibilities of the reaction and applications to the total synthesis of natural products and their analogues.     

The (4+3)-cycloaddition reaction: simple allylic cations as dienophiles

The (4+3)-cycloaddition of allylic cations to dienes is a powerful method for the direct synthesis of seven-membered rings. Recent developments in this area have included new methods for the generation of allylic cations, diastereoselective and catalytic, enantioselective reactions, an increased understanding of the diverse mechanistic possibilities of the reaction and applications to the total synthesis of natural products and their analogues.     

Enantioselective [4+2]-cycloaddition reaction of a photochemically generated o-quinodimethane: mechanistic details, association studies, and pressure effects

1,2,3,4-Tetrahydro-2-oxoquinoline-5-aldehyde (2) was prepared from m-aminobenzoic acid and 3-ethoxyacryloyl chloride (4) in 19 % overall yield. Compound 2 underwent a photochemically induced [4+2]-cycloaddition reaction with various dienophiles upon irradiation in toluene solution. The exo product 10 a was obtained with acrylonitrile (9 a) as the dienophile, whereas methyl acrylate (9 b) and dimethyl fumarate (9 c) furnished the endo products 11 b and 11 c (69-77 % yield). The reactions proceeded at -60 degrees C in the presence of the chiral complexing agent 1 (1.2 equiv) with excellent enantioselectivity (91-94 % ee). The enantiomeric excess increases in the course of the photocycloaddition as a result of the lower product association to 1. The intermediate (E)-dienol 8 was spectroscopically detected at -196 degrees C in an EPA (diethyl ether/isopentane/ethanol) glass matrix. The association of the substrate 2 to the complexing agent 1 was studied by circular dichroism (CD) titration. The measured association constant (K(A)) was 589 M(-1) at room temperature (25 degrees C) and normal pressure (0.1 MPa). An increase in pressure led to an increased association. At 400 MPa the measured value of K(A) was 703 M(-1). Despite the stronger association the enantioselectivity of the reaction decreased with increasing pressure. At 25 degrees C the enantiomeric excess for the enantioselective reaction 2 + 9 a-->10 a decreased from 68 % ee at 0.1 MPa to 58 % ee at 350 MPa. This surprising behavior is explained by different activation volumes for the diastereomeric transition states leading to 10 a and ent-10 a.     

Formal total synthesis of (+/-)-gamma-lycorane and (+/-)-1-deoxylycorine using the [4+2]-cycloaddition/rearrangement cascade of furanyl carbamates

The total syntheses of gamma-lycorane and (+/-)-1-deoxylycorine were accomplished using an intramolecular Diels-Alder cycloaddition of a furanyl carbamate as the key step. The initially formed [4+2]-cycloadduct undergoes nitrogen-assisted ring opening followed by deprotonation/reprotonation of the resulting zwitterion to give a rearranged hexahydroindolinone. The stereochemical outcome of the IMDAF cycloaddition has the side arm of the tethered alkenyl group oriented syn with respect to the oxygen bridge. The key intermediate used in both syntheses corresponds to hexahydroindolinone 20. Removal of the t-Boc group in 20 followed by reaction with 6-iodobenzo[1,3]dioxole-5-carbonyl chloride afforded enamide 22. Treatment of this compound with Pd(OAc)(2) employing the Jeffrey modification of the Heck reaction provided the galanthan tetracycle 24 in good yield. Compound 24 was subsequently converted into (+/-)-gamma-lycorane using a four-step procedure to establish the cis-B,C-ring junction. A radical-based cyclization of the related enamide 33 was used for the synthesis of 1-deoxylycorine. Heating a benzene solution of 33 with AIBN and n-Bu(3)SnH at reflux gave the tetracyclic compound 38 possessing the requisite trans fusion between rings B and C in good yield. After hydrolysis and oxidation of 38 to 40, an oxidative decarboxylation reaction was used to provide the C(2)(-)C(3)(-)C(12) allylic alcohol unit characteristic of the lycorine alkaloids. The resulting enone was eventually transformed into (+/-)-1-deoxylycorine via known synthetic intermediates.     

Features of the (2+3)-cycloaddition of trifluoroacetonitrile oxide

The (2+3)-cycloaddition of trifluoroacetonitrile oxide is a function of the donor and steric properties of dipolarophiles and usually proceeds regiospecifically. A significant temperature effect was found for the cycloaddition of trifluoroacetonitrile oxide to dipolarophiles with low donor capacity.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 7, pp. 972–974, July, 1989.     

Singlet oxygen photooxygenation of furans : Isolation and reactions of (4+2)-cycloaddition products (unsaturated sec.-ozonides)

Tetraphenylporphin-photosensitized oxygenations of furan (19), 2-methylfuran (26), 2-ethylfuran (39), furfurylalcohol (24), 2-acetylfuran (40), 2-methoxyfuran (42), 2,5-dimethylfuran (30), furfural (25) and 5-methylfurfural (41) in non-polar aprotic solvents yield the corresponding monomeric unsaturated secondary ozonides due to a (4+2)-cycloaddition of singlet oxygen to these furans. With the exception of the ozonide derived from 25, the ozonides were isolated and characterized (¹H- and ¹³C-NMR spectra, etc.). In non-polar aprotic solvents, the ozonides derived from 19, 26 and 39 undergo thermal rearrangements to the corresponding cis-diepoxides and epoxylactones. Ozonide 31, derived from 30, however, dimerizes, only above about 60° is a cis-diepoxide formed from either 31 or its dimer. Rose bengal-photosensitized oxygenations of the furans in alcohols (MeOH, EtOH, i-PrOH) also produce the corresponding ozonides as the primary products of (4+2)-cycloadditions of singlet oxygen to these furans. However, reactions of the alcohols with the ozonides are too fast to allow the ozonides to be isolated. Instead, the same products are obtained as are isolated from reactions carried out by dissolving the ozonides in the alcohols. Depending on the structure of the ozonide, three pathways are available to ozonide/alcohol (ROH) interactions:(1) addition of ROH to yield alkoxy hydroperoxides; one out of several possible isomers is formed in a completely stereoselective and regiospecific reaction; (2) elimination of a bridgehead proton by ROH as a base, as observed with the ozonide derived from 19 to give hydroxy butenolide (78) in yields between 20 and 60%, and (3) ROH-attack on a carbonyl side-chain under elimination of the corresponding alkyl ester, as observed with furfural photooxygenation which yielded hydroxy butenolide (78) in high yields (95%). Interaction of ozonide 31 with tert.-butyl alcohol (t-BuOH) yields quantitatively cis-3-oxo-1-butenylacetate (81) by a Baeyer-Villiger-type rearrangement with vinyl group migration Hydrogenbonding between the alcohol and the peroxy group of the ozonides assist the heterolysis of the C—O bonds in the ozonides; the most stabilized cation develops. Front-attack of ROH on this cation explains the stereoselectivity as well as the regiospecificity of the alkoxy hydroperoxide formation; with a bulky alcohol like t-BuOH, ROH-attack on the cation is sterically hindered thus allowing a rearrangement to occur. 1,3-Dipolar cycloaddition of p-nitrophenyl azide to ozonide 31 proceeds stereoselectively to one of the isomers 87a/87b. Finally, kinetic results of furan photooxygenation in methanol show the following order of furan-reactivity towards singlet oxygen: 30 > 42 > 26 > 19 > 41 > 25, with absolute rate constants ranging from 1.8 × 10⁸ (with 30) to 8.4 × 1O⁴ M^-1P^-1 (with 25).     

Substrate control of stereoselection in the rhodium(I) catalyzed intramolecular [4 + 2] cycloaddition reaction

The Rh(I) catalyzed intramolecular [4 + 2] cycloaddition of representative achiral and chiral enedienes has been shown to proceed with excellent levels of stereoselectivity and in high yield under mild reaction conditions. In contrast, the corresponding noncatalyzed cycloadditions for three substrates in the latter category require higher temperatures and exhibit low levels of stereocontrol.     

(4+2)-cycloaddition of nitroalkenes with ynamines; formation of a 4H-1,2-oxazine 2-oxide derivative

The formation of a thermally unstable (4+2)-cycloadduct, a 4H-1,2-oxazine 2-oxide derivative ($\text{1}$), from the reaction of 1-nitrocyclopentene with 1-phenyl-2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)acetylene has been proven by the structure elucidation of isoxazole derivative $\text{3}$ which results from thermal rearrangement and by the structure determination of the 1,3-dipolar adducts $\text{5}$ of $\text{1}$ with electron-deficient acetylenes.     

Regio- and Chemoselective Formal (4+1) Carbocyclization of Chalcones with Internal Alkynes via Rhodium(III) Catalysis

A rhodium(III)-catalyzed oxidative cyclization of chalcones with internal alkynes is reported, generating biologically important 3,3-disubstituted 1-indanones along with reusable aromatic aldehydes. This transformation features unique (4+1) reaction mode, excellent regioselectivity in alkyne insertion, broad substrate scope, allows for the construction of quaternary carbon centers, and is scalable. Steric hindrance from substrate and ligand probably controls the chemoselectivity of this carbocyclization. Importantly, this discovery enables a practical two-step protocol switching the overall reaction of acetophenones with internal alkynes from a (3+2) to a (4+1) annulation.     

Methoxymethylsilylene: (1 + 6)- and (1 + 4)-cycloadditions to heterotrienes

Co-pyrolytic gas phase reactions of 1,2-dimethyl-1,1,2,2-tetra-(methoxy)disilane with conjugated 1-oxatrienes in a flow-reactor furnish, via intermediate methoxymethylsilylene, mixtures of diastereoisomers of 3-phenyl-1-oxa-2-silacyclohepta-4,6-dienes and 3-styryl-1-oxa-2-silacyclopent-4-enes, usually including smaller amounts of the corresponding 1-oxa-2-silacy-clopent-3-ene isomers. In co-pyrolysis with an analogous N-isopropylazatriene, five-membered rings were formed preferentially, and seven-membered isomers could not be detected by NMR spectroscopy. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

(2+2)-cycloaddition of triazolinediones to strained bicycloalkenes

Substituted norbornenes and dibenzobarrelene react under forced conditions with $\text{N}$-methyl-1,2,4-triazolin-3,5-diones to afford urazoles via (2+2)-cycloaddition.     

Regioselective [4 + 2]-cycloaddition of styrene to 4-isopropoxalyl-1H-pyrrole-2,3-diones

Russian Journal of Organic Chemistry -     

Formal intramolecular [5 + 2] photocycloaddition reactions of maleimides: a novel approach to the CDE ring skeleton of (-)-cephalotaxine

A concise approach to the cephalotaxine CDE ring skeleton based on the intramolecular formal [5 + 2] photocycloaddition of cyclopentenyl-substituted maleimides is described. An investigation of the diastereoselectivity afforded by various protected alkoxy groups demonstrated that the best selectivity (3.5:1) was afforded by the free hydroxyl group, strongly suggesting a hydrogen-bonded excited state. Reaction: see text.     

Structure of the human telomere in K+ solution: an intramolecular (3 + 1) G-quadruplex scaffold

We present the intramolecular G-quadruplex structure of human telomeric DNA in physiologically relevant K(+) solution. This G-quadruplex, whose (3 + 1) topology differs from folds reported previously in Na(+) solution and in a K(+)-containing crystal, involves the following: one anti.syn.syn.syn and two syn.anti.anti.anti G-tetrads; one double-chain reversal and two edgewise loops; three G-tracts oriented in one direction and the fourth in the opposite direction. The topological characteristics of this (3 + 1) G-quadruplex scaffold should provide a unique platform for structure-based anticancer drug design targeted to human telomeric DNA.