Radical reactions of epoxy esters induced by titanocene chloride

The reductive radical cyclizations of several epoxy esters have been achieved using titanocene chloride. The tether length from the initial radical to the carbonyl acceptor is the key of the reactions. We obtained products from radical cyclization onto carbonyl formate and products from formate and hydrogen elimination. The stereochemical outcome of the 5-exo radical cyclization of two diastereomers is reported. A radical cascade cyclization of an unsaturated epoxy formate is also described.     

Synthesis of nitrogen-containing heterocycles using exo- and endo-selective radical cyclizations onto enamides

The effect of positional change of the carbonyl group of enamides on Bu₃SnH-mediated alkyl radical cyclization leading to five-, six-, seven-, and eight-membered nitrogen-containing heterocycles was examined. A 5-exo cyclization is generally preferred over a 6-endo ring closure in systems having an alkyl radical center on the enamide-acyl side chain, whereas enamides having an alkyl radical center opposite to the acyl side chain predominantly gave 6-endo cyclization products. These results suggest that the exo or endo selectivity of radical cyclization onto the alkenic bond of enamides can be controlled by positional change of the carbonyl group. For an understanding of these selectivities, heat of formation for each transition state was calculated. 6-endo-Selective radical cyclization was applied to the radical cascade, enabling a concise synthesis of a cylindricine skeleton. A 7- or 8-endo alkyl radical cyclization, however, predominated over a corresponding 6- or 7-exo ring closure regardless of the positional change of the carbonyl group of enamides.     

Synthesis of (−)-aphanorphine using a sulfur-directed aryl radical cyclization

Treatment of radical precursor 15a having a vinyl sulfide moiety with Bu₃SnH in the presence of AIBN in boiling benzene afforded exclusively the 6-exo cyclization product 16a, whereas similar treatment of the exo-methylene compound 15b gave a mixture of the 6-exo cyclization product 16b and the endo-olefin product 17 formed by a 1,5-hydrogen shift. Based on these findings, the synthesis of (−)-aphanorphine was achieved using a sulfur-directed 6-exo-selective aryl radical cyclization of 22.     

Intramolecular addition of carbon radicals to aldehydes: synthesis of enantiopure tetrahydrofuran-3-ols

A simple and efficient substrate-controlled asymmetric synthesis of enantiopure tetrahydrofuran-3-ols by a 5-exo-trig radical cyclization is described. This cyclization occurs when a δ-carbon radical adds intramolecularly to the carbonyl group of an aldehyde. The δ-carbon radicals can be efficiently produced from the tin hydride mediated deselenenylation of 5-phenylseleno-3-oxapentanals, which were easily prepared starting from commercially available enantiopure epoxides or chlorohydrins.     

自由基环化制备β-内酰胺的理论研究

使用密度泛函方法在UB3LYP/6-311＋＋G(3df, 2p)水平上对自由基环化合成β-内酰胺的四种反应途径进行理论研究. 结合Marcus理论对影响反应的热力学及动力学因素进行分析, 发现氨基甲酰基自由基4-exo环合反应是理想的动力学控制过程; 酰胺自由基的4-exo环合反应与5-endo环合反应相比是动力学有利的转化过程; 单取代的酰胺烷基自由基的4-exo环合反应是一类动力学和热力学都较为不利的反应; 羰基自由基加成亚胺N＝C双键的4-exo环合反应与5-endo环合反应相比动力学不利而热力学有利.     

Diastereospecific synthesis of novel [3.6.6.4.7]-fused pentacyclic β-lactams by 6-exo-trig, 7-endo-dig tandem radical cyclization

An efficient synthesis of pentacyclic β-lactams has been achieved in high yield via a novel 6-exo-trig, 7-endo-dig tandem radical cyclization.     

Alkyl radical cyclization to vinylogous carbonates for the stereoselective synthesis of unsymmetrical dioxa-cage compounds: effect of conformation on the rate of cyclization versus reduction

An efficient strategy for the stereoselective construction of unsymmetrical dioxa-cage compounds containing ether linkages employing a 6-exo-trig alkyl radical cyclization to vinylogous carbonates is developed. The radical precursors are prepared from the diols obtained from the Diels-Alder adducts via iodoetherification followed by addition of the alcohol to the ethyl propiolate. The geometrical constrains play important role in deciding the outcome of the reaction as cyclization versus simple reduction. Formation of the mono-oxa-cage compounds via a 5-exo-trig intramolecular alkyl radical cyclization to olefin is also described. The dioxa-cages could also be assembled employing a tandem oxymercuration reduction-radical cyclization to vinylogous carbonates protocol with equal efficiency and with reduced number of steps.     

A copper-catalyzed domino radical cyclization route to benzospiro-indolizidinepyrrolidinones

In this Letter the synthesis of benzospiro-indolizidinepyrrolidinones is described by a domino atom transfer radical cyclization reaction using a copper catalyst. The structure of one of the products was established by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The investigated precursors, bearing a homo allyl substituent on the N-indole, result in a 5-exo-trig, followed by a 6-endo-trig cyclization. When the N-indole is substituted with an allyl group, only the spiro-cyclization occurs.     

Titanocene(III) mediated radical cyclizations of epoxides for the synthesis of medium-sized cyclic ethers

Titanocene(III) chloride (Cp₂TiCl) mediated 7-exo and 8-endo radical cyclizations of epoxides towards the synthesis of 7- and 8-membered cyclic ethers have been described. Titanocene(III) chloride was prepared in situ from commercially available titanocene dichloride (Cp₂TiCl₂) and activated zinc dust in THF.     

Enhanced reactivity in radical cyclizations of hydrazones using the silicon-tethered 1-bromovinyl group

A silicon-tethered 1-bromovinyl group was shown to function as a radical precursor for tin-mediated vinyl additions to chiral α- or β-hydroxyhydrazone. In contrast to related thiyl-mediated methods, these vinyl bromides were not limited to the 5-exo cyclization mode. A series of Si-tethered 5-exo and 6-exo cyclizations formed the corresponding five- and six-membered exo-methylene-substituted oxasilacycles. Treatment with fluoride cleaved the Si-C and Si-O bonds to afford the corresponding allylic hydrazines. Diastereoselectivities ranged from 2:1 to 25:1 (anti:syn) for the 5-exo cyclizations, depending on the size of the exocyclic substituent, but 6-exo cyclization was not diastereoselective. A variant involving Tamao oxidation of the exo-methylene oxasilacyclopentane intermediate afforded a methyl ketone, a net process corresponding to addition of a radical acyl anion equivalent.     

Intramolecular regioselective addition of radicals and carbanions to ynol ethers. A strategy for the synthesis of exocyclic enol ethers

The scope and limitations of radical and anionic cyclization reactions involving halo ynol ethers have been investigated. 5-exo and 6-exo radical cyclizations of 6-iodo and 7-iodo ynol ethers proceeded well when the oxygen of the ynol ether was bearing an ethyl group. Exocyclic iodoenol ethers resulting from these cyclizations were highly unstable and decomposed rapidly. Li-I exchange of iodo ynol ethers proceeded smoothly at −78 °C. 6-Alkoxy-5-hexynyllithiums underwent regiospecific 5-exo-dig anionic cyclization to produce five-membered rings bearing an exocyclic enol ether moiety. The cyclized vinyllithium intermediate was successfully trapped with electrophiles to afford functionalized cycloalkoxyalkylidene derivatives in modest to good yields. 7-Alkoxy-6-heptynyllithiums did not cyclize via a 6-exo anionic process.     

6-endo Versus 5-exo radical cyclization: streamlined syntheses of carbahexopyranoses and derivatives by 6-endo-trig radical cyclization

Three factors that can direct 6-endo radical cyclization over 5-exo ring closure: substitution at C-5, vinyl radical cyclization and ring strain, have been considered in the context of the preparation of carbapyranoses from carbohydrate derivatives. As a result, alkyl radicals in substrates containing a strain inducing 2,3-O-isopropylidene ring, and vinyl radical in non-strained compounds undergo a completely regioselective 6-endo-trig ring closure leading to carbasugar derivatives.     

Stereoselective 5-exo-trig radical cyclization in the enantioselective synthesis of Pregabalin

A practical stereoselective 5-exo-trig radical cyclization procedure was developed in order to prepare enantiomerically pure GABA derivative precursors (4-alkyl-pyrrolidin-2-ones). This procedure allows much more rapid access to optically pure GABA derivatives, such as the powerful antiepileptic agent (S)-(+)-3-aminomethyl-5-methylhexanoic acid (Pregabaline).     

Radical cascade cyclizations and platinum(II)-catalyzed cycloisomerizations of ynamides

Ynamides are tested as new partners in radical and organometallic transformations. A radical cascade involving a 5-exo-dig cyclization followed by a 6-endo-trig radical trapping transforms ynamides into hetero-polycyclic compounds such as isoindoles, isoindolinones and pyrido-isoindolones. Various ene-tosylynamides react with platinum(II) chloride and lead to bicyclic nitrogenated heterocycles. This unprecedented and easily operated process can be coupled with a hydrolysis of the intermediate cyclic tosylenamides in a one-pot transformation, which provides cyclobutanones.     

3-exo-tet Cyclization of 2,2-disubstituted 1,3-dihalopropanes with indium in aqueous and ionic liquid solvent system

The 3-exo-tet cyclization of 2,2-disubstituted 1,3-dihalopropanes with In powder in THF solution of 20% H₂O, dioxane solution of 20% H₂O, and ionic liquids, such as [bmim]Br, [bmim]Cl, and [bmin]BF₄, respectively, was efficiently carried out to form the corresponding 1,1-disubstituted cyclopropanes in good yields. The cyclopropanation of 2,2-disubstituted 1,3-dihalopropanes with In powder in ionic liquids, such as [bmim]Br, [bmim]Cl, and [bmin]BF₄, was markedly accelerated compared with that in a THF solution of 20% H₂O and a dioxane solution of 20% H₂O. The mechanism was proposed to involve the radical 3-exo-tet cyclization of the formed 3-halopropyl radical.     

Radical cyclization of homopropargylic bromomethyldimethylsilyl ethers. Evidence for a hetero-trans-cycloheptene intermediate

This communication describes our preliminary results on the radical cyclization of homopropargylic bromomethyldimethylsilyl ethers, an unknown reaction. With precursor 5a, only the very rare 7-endo-dig process was observed. The reduction of the resulting vinyl radical is not stereoselective and gives a cis/trans, 1.35:1 mixture of silaoxepan derivatives, as determined after a methyllithium treatment yielding olefins 11 and 12. This represents a new example of formation of a trans heterocyclic cycloheptene. With disubstituted precursor 5b, the system is less reactive and still no 6-exo-dig radical cyclization has been observed.     

Highly diastereoselective radical addition–cyclization strategy: facile synthesis of substituted furans

A novel strategy is described in which an intermolecular carbon-centered radical addition to a β-oxygenated acceptor followed by intramolecular cyclization leads to the formation of 2,3,4- and 2,3,4,5-substituted furan rings. Excellent levels of 2,4-trans selectivity are observed in accordance with the Beckwith–Houk model for selectivity in 5-exo radical cyclizations.     

Convenient switching of 7-endo/6-exo radical cyclization

7-endo/6-exo Selectivity of radical cyclization to α,β-unsaturated amides was readily controlled by the presence or absence of a temporary substituent, a phenylthio or chlorine group, at the α-position of the acceptor.     

A radical cyclization route to cyclic imines

A novel route to cyclic imines based on 5-exo radical cyclization is explored. The radical precursors are imines prepared from allylamine and readily available α-phenylselenenyl ketones.     

Tandem radical cyclization-based strategy for the synthesis of oxa- and aza-cages: a case of fragmentation versus cyclization

A new strategy for the synthesis of oxa- and aza-cage compounds based on tandem radical cyclizations is described. The iodides 1 lead to oxa-cages 3 after two tandem radical cyclizations. The ester 10aa on reaction with n-Bu₃SnH and AIBN gives rise to the oxa-cage 12aa after two tandem 5-exo-trig cyclizations. On the other hand, reaction of the ketones 17aa and 21 under similar conditions furnished the oxa-cages 20aa and 23, respectively, via a double 5-exo-trig tandem radical cyclization followed by fragmentation.