Enantioselective synthesis of 2-substituted cyclobutanones

[formula: see text] An enantioselective synthesis of 2-substituted cyclobutanones has been achieved by sequential application of the titanium-mediated cyclopropanation of alpha-hydroxy esters and the pinacol-type rearrangement of the resulting alpha-hydroxycyclopropylcarbinols.     

Cyclobutanones for the stereoselective synthesis of bifunctional macrolide intermediates

Beckmann fragmentation of the oximes 5 and 6 respectively, which were derived from the cyclobutanones 3 and 4, furnished the bifunctional five carbon units 7 and 8 with ca. 98% and 91% stereoselectivity.     

1-bromo-1-ethoxycyclopropane: a new reagent for cyclobutanone synthesis

A variety of of cyclobutanones have been prepared in high yield from 1-bromo-1-ethoxycyclopropane via lithiation, addition to aldehydes or ketones, and mild acid-catalyzed rearrangement of the adducts.     

Expedient approach to chiral cyclobutanones: asymmetric synthesis of cyclobut-G

An efficient one-pot asymmetric synthesis of cyclobutanones from chiral enol ethers is described. The approach is illustrated with alkyl- and functionalized alkyl-substituted enol ethers (nine examples). A new enantioselective synthesis of cyclobut-G (Lobucavir) could thus be achieved.     

Cyclobutanone photoadducts of HCN and malononitrile: useful intermediates for the synthesis of C-nucleosides

Photochemistry of cyclobutanones in the presence of HCN or malononitrile give photoadducts derived from oxacarbene insertion into C-H. These intermediates are useful for the preparation of C-nucleosides by structural elaboration of the CN groups.     

Enantioselective synthesis of gamma-aryl-gamma-butyrolactones by sequential asymmetric epoxidation, ring expansion, and Baeyer-Villiger oxidation

This paper describes an enantioselective synthesis of gamma-butyrolactones, using the N-tolyl-substituted oxazolidinone-containing ketone as catalyst and Oxone as oxidant via a sequential asymmetric epoxidation of benzylidenecyclopropanes, ring expansion, and Baeyer-Villiger oxidation. Up to 91% ee was obtained. Optically active cyclobutanones can also be obtained by suppressing the Baeyer-Villiger oxidation with use of more ketone catalyst and less Oxone.     

An expedient synthesis of cis/trans-1,3-disubstituted cyclobutanols

A two-step procedure is described to access 3-alkoxycyclobutanones from chloroacetyl chloride utilizing a step-wise [2+2] ketene cycloaddition followed by catalytic hydrogenation to reduce the α-chlorine in a single reaction sequence. The resulting cyclobutanones can be readily converted into a variety of cis or trans-1,3-disubstituted aminocyclobutanols and cyclobutanediols.     

Photochemistry on soluble polymer supports: synthesis of nucleosides

[reaction: see text] A new soluble polymer support synthesis of nucleosides is described. The photochemical ring expansion of cyclobutanones in the presence of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) results in polymer-supported ribosides. These photoadducts can be cleaved from the polymer under Vorbrüggen coupling conditions with TMS-protected purines and pyrimidines to give ribonucleosides. The method has been extended to include modified PEGs with dendritic end-groups in order to improve the loading levels for these coupling reactions.     

Very high stereoselectivity in organocatalyzed desymmetrizing aldol reactions of 3-substituted cyclobutanones

N-Phenylsulfonyl (S)-proline catalyzes the direct aldol reaction of 3-substituted cyclobutanones and aryl aldehydes in good yield and with excellent diastereoselectivity and enantioselectivity. This desymmetrization process provides highly functionalized cyclobutanones with control over three contiguous stereogenic centers.     

Parallel kinetic resolution of 4-alkynals catalyzed by Rh(I)/Tol-BINAP: synthesis of enantioenriched cyclobutanones and cyclopentenones

A Rh(I)/(R)-Tol-BINAP catalyst reacts with a racemic mixture of 4-alkynals to selectively furnish a cyclobutanone from the (R)-substrate and a cyclopentenone from the (S)-substrate. This method is noteworthy from several standpoints, including the scarcity of parallel kinetic resolutions (especially those that are catalyzed or that involve carbon-carbon bond formation) and the dearth of catalytic processes that generate enantioenriched cyclobutanones.     

Palladium-catalyzed, asymmetric Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of prochiral cyclobutanones with PHOX ligands

Described in this report is a general method for the conversion of prochiral 3-substituted cyclobutanones to enantioenriched γ-lactones through a palladium-catalyzed Baeyer-Villiger oxidation using phosphinooxazoline ligands in up to 99% yield and 81% ee. Lactones of enantiopurity ≥93% could be obtained through a single recrystallization step. Importantly, 3,3-disubtituted cyclobutanones produced enantioenriched lactones containing a β-quaternary center.     

Controllable Skeleton Rearrangement of 3‐Substituted Cyclobutanones under Basic Conditions†

Divergent skeleton rearrangements of cyclobutanones under simply basic conditions have been described. The reaction pathway is controlled by the nature of Z group on 3‐substituted cyclobutanones, leading to the formation of various lactones, lactams and acids. Preliminary results on enantioselective reaction were also reported.     

A method for synthesis of bicyclo[3.3.0]oct-1-en-3-ones from cyclobutanones with one-carbon ring expansion and its application to a formal synthesis of racemic 1-desoxyhypnophilin

A method for synthesis of 2-cyanobicyclo[3.3.0]oct-1-en-3-ones and 2-substituted bicyclo[3.3.0]oct-1-en-3-ones was developed by assembly of three components, cyclobutanones, chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide, and nitriles, with one-carbon ring expansion of the cyclobutane ring. As an application of this method, a formal synthesis of 1-desoxyhypnophilin in racemic form was performed starting from 3,3-di(phenylthiomethyl)cyclobutanone.     

Regio and stereospecific ring expansion of optically active cyclopropylvinylcarbinols. Diastereoselective synthesis of cis Quercus- lactone b.

(-)-(S) dimethyl α-methylsuccinate, from enzymatic resolution, underwent acyloin cyclization followed by stereospecific C4→ C3 ring contraction to provide chiral cyclopropylvinylcarbinols. Then, BF₃-Et₂O induced regio- and stereospecific C3 → C4 ring expansion led to optically active cyclobutanones precursors of cis γ-lactones, with high enantiomeric excesses.     

Intramolecular [2 + 2] cycloaddition reactions of alkynyl ether derived ketenes. A convenient synthesis of donor-acceptor cyclobutanes

Mild thermolysis of tert-butyl alkynyl ethers furnishes aldoketenes, which undergo facile [2 + 2] cycloaddition reactions with pendant di- and trisubstituted alkenes. A wide variety of cis-fused cyclobutanones are produced in moderate to high diastereoselectivity and good to excellent yields by this method, and free hydroxyl groups are tolerated in the ene-ynol ether starting materials. Enol-ynol ethers also undergo efficient reaction to produce donor-acceptor cyclobutanes in high yields.     

Use of cyclobutyl derivatives as intermediates in the synthesis of 1,2a,3,8b-tetrahydro-2H-cyclobuta[c]chromenes

Starting from cyclobutanones and tertiary cyclobutanols several new chromenes containing a cyclobutane ring have been prepared by acid catalyzed intramolecular alkylation of an oxygen-carrying aromatic ring. Interestingly one of the cyclobutanols leads to 3-[(4-methoxyphenoxy)methyl]-2,2,3-trimethylcyclopentanone that is a precursor in the synthesis of the carotenoid pigment capsorubin.     

Palladium-catalyzed sequential carbon-carbon bond cleavage/formation producing arylated benzolactones

3-(2-Hydroxyphenyl)cyclobutanones react with aryl bromides in the presence of palladium catalysts to afford 4-arylmethyl-3,4-dihydrocoumarins in high yields through a sequence involving carbon-carbon bond cleavage and formation. In the case of the reaction with 2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)cyclobutanones, five- or seven-membered lactones were produced depending on the presence of an additional substituent at the 2-position.     

Synthesis of Bridged Cyclopentane Derivatives by Catalytic Decarbonylative Cycloaddition of Cyclobutanones and Olefins

Herein, we report an intramolecular rhodium‐catalyzed decarbonylative coupling between cyclobutanones and alkenes that proceeds by C?C activation and provides a distinct approach to a diverse range of saturated bridged cyclopentane derivatives. In this reaction, cyclobutanones serve as cyclopropane surrogates, reacting in a formal (4+2?1) transformation. To demonstrate the efficacy of this method, it was applied in a concise synthesis of the antifungal drug Tolciclate.     

The mass spectra of substituted cyclobutanones

The low resolution mass spectra of several di-, tri-and tetra-methylated cyclobutanones were determined at high and low ionizing voltages. The spectra are discussed in terms of the competition between loss of CO or loss of a ketene from the molecular ion of the cyclobutanone. The mass spectral results are correlated with the known photochemical behavior of the cyclobutanones and possible mechanistic implications are discussed.     

Enantioselective Desymmetrization of Cyclobutanones: A Speedway to Molecular Complexity

Cyclobutanones hold a privileged role in enantioselective desymmetrization because their inherent ring strain allows for a variety of unusual reactions to occur. Current strategies include α‐functionalization, rearrangement, and C?C bond activation to directly convert cyclobutanones into a wide range of enantiomerically enriched compounds, including many biologically significant scaffolds. This Minireview provides an overview of state‐of‐the‐art methods that generate complexity from prochiral cyclobutanones in a single operation.