Radical cyclization approach to spirocyclohexadienones

Cyclization of an aryl radical at the ipso position of a p-O-aryl-substituted acetamide or benzamide generates oxindoles or quinolones bearing spirocyclohexadienone rings. This versatile reaction is applied to formal syntheses of the vasopressin inhibitor SR121463A and aza-galanthamine.     

Radical cyclization cascade involving ynamides: an original access to nitrogen-containing heterocycles

A radical cascade involving a 5-exo-dig cyclization followed by a 6-endo-trig radical trapping transforms ynamides into heterogeneous polycyclic compounds in good yields. This leads interestingly to the formation of isoindols, isoindolinones, and pyridoisoindolones. [reaction: see text]     

Radical cyclization as an approach toward the synthesis of pyrrolidines

Free radical cyclizations of several bromo allyl and diallyl substituted sulfonamides are described. The regiochemical course of these cyclizations depend on the nature of the substituent groups attached to the π-bond.     

Palladium-catalyzed oxidative cyclization of 3-phenoxyacrylates: an approach to construct substituted benzofurans from phenols

In this paper, a novel and applicable synthesis of benzofurans from commercially available phenols and propiolate through the direct oxidative cyclization has been developed. In the presence of Pd(OAc)(2)/PPh(3) and CF(3)CO(2)Ag, (E)-type 3-phenoxyacrylates underwent reaction smoothly to generate the corresponding benzofurans in good yields in benzene at 110 °C under the air pressure. In addition, this transformation of phenols into benzofurans can also be carried out in one pot. The process was simple and efficient. A tentative mechanism of palladium-catalyzed oxidative cyclization of 3-phenoxyacrylates was proposed.     

Radical polymerization initiated by Bergman cyclization

The diradical generated by the Bergman cyclization of 3,4-benzocyclodec-3-ene-1,5-diyne is shown to initiate the radical polymerization of several monomers. Methacrylates are polymerized to high molecular weight by the diradical initiator much more efficiently than other monomers. The relation between the rate of polymerization and the degree of polymerization indicates that the polymer primarily propagates as a monoradical. This monoradical growth is in agreement with established theory predicting that diradical initiators can produce high polymer only through chain transfer followed by monoradical growth due to the rapid intramolecular termination of short diradical chains. In agreement with this mechanism, the polymerization rate of acrylonitrile initiated by the diradical is shown to increase by more than 20-fold upon addition of a chain transfer agent. Small molecule products consistent with intramolecular termination of diradical oligomers were isolated, and the structures of these molecules suggest how the diradical self-terminates in the absence of chain transfer.     

Green and diasteroselective oxidative cyclization of bisnaphthols to spirans

Hydrogen peroxide/MoO₃, as an efficient and clean oxidizing system was used to afford diasteroselective oxidative cyclization of bisnaphthols to spirans in ethanol at 60 °C with high yields. Bisnaphthols were prepared by the reaction of a series of aldehydes and 2-naphthol in the presence of a catalytic amount of H₃[P(Mo₃O₁₀)₄].nH₂O (HPa) in refluxing dichloromethane.     

A concise synthesis of tetrabenazine: an intramolecular aza-Prins-type cyclization via oxidative C-H activation

A concise synthesis of tetrabenazine and dihydrotetrabenazine is described. The key feature of this synthesis is the intramolecular aza-Prins-type cyclization of an amino allylsilane via oxidative C-H activation.     

Tightly convoluted polymeric phosphotungstate catalyst: an oxidative cyclization of alkenols and alkenoic acids

[reaction: see text] A tightly convoluted polymeric phosphotungstate catalyst was prepared via ionic assembly of H3PW12O40 and poly(alkylpyridinium). An oxidative cyclization of various alkenols and alkenoic acids was efficiently promoted by the polymeric catalyst in aq H2O2 in the absence of organic solvents to afford the corresponding cyclic ethers and lactones in high yield. The catalyst was reused four times without loss of catalytic activity.     

A general strategy to elisabethane diterpenes: stereocontrolled synthesis of elisapterosin B via oxidative cyclization of an elisabethin precursor

Described is an efficient synthesis of the complex bioactive natural product, elisapterosin B, a potent in vitro inhibitor of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rb. The synthesis elisapterosin B, prepared in its enantiomeric form, proceeds by a highly stereocontrolled sequence commencing with a simple glutamic acid derived compound. Pivotal steps in the sequence include (a) a pinacol-type ketal rearrangement to transfer chirality, (b) an IMDA reaction of an E,Z-diene to construct the elisabethin skeleton, and (c) a biosynthesis-inspired oxidative cyclization of the elisabethin precursor to elisapterosin B.     

Retrievable magnetic copper ferrite nanoparticles: an efficient catalyst for air oxidative cyclization of bisnaphthols

Herein, a green and efficient heterogeneous and photocatalytic system for the oxidation of bisnaphthols in acetonitrile under light-emitting diode will be presented. In this reaction, aerial oxygen and H₂O₂ have been used as oxidant in the presence of copper ferrite nanoparticles and N-hydroxyphthalimide as an organic co-catalyst. Copper ferrite nanoparticles were magnetically separated, the efficiency of which remained nearly unchanged up to five cycles. Magnetic copper ferrite nanoparticles were synthesized by sol–gel method and characterized by XRD, FT-IR, SEM, TEM, VSM and DRS analysis. In this project, both sets of diastereomers were formed.

Graphical abstract

Catalytic system for the oxidation of bisnaphthols.

     

Enantioselective cyclization of 4-alkenoic acids via an oxidative allylic C-H esterification

An enantioselective intramolecular oxidative cyclization of 4-alkenoic acids was developed. The reaction proceeded via a π-allyl Pd intermediate generated by an allylic C-H activation to give γ-lactone derivatives with moderate to good enantioselectivity. Spiro bis(isoxazoline) ligand, SPRIX, was indispensable for this asymmetric transformation.     

Radical cyclization of vinylic ethers: expedient synthesis of (+)-monocerin

Stereoselective synthesis of (+)-monocerin was accomplished via radical cyclization of a vinylic ether intermediate.     

Radical cyclization by ipso substitution of the methoxy group: considerable effect of HMPA on samarium-mediated cyclization

Alkyl radicals generated by treatment of thiocarbamates of conformationally favorable 3-alkyl-3-arylpropan-1-ols with tris(trimethylsilyl)silane and AIBN efficiently undergo intramolecular ipso substitution of the methoxy group, yielding the corresponding cyclized products. In contrast, either conformationally favorable or flexible 1-arylalkan-3- or 4-ones easily cyclize into five- or six-membered condensed rings by treatment with SmI(2) via ketyl radical intermediates. The addition of HMPA as cosolvent dramatically changes the cyclization mode of the SmI(2)-induced reaction, and the para-cyclization products are exclusively formed. This "HMPA effect" can be rationalized by the strong chelating ability of HMPA with the samarium atom.     

Radical cyclization cascades of unsaturated Meldrum's acid derivatives

Unsaturated, differentially substituted Meldrum's acid derivatives undergo cascade cyclizations upon ester reduction with SmI(2)-H(2)O. The cascade cyclizations proceed in good yield and with high diastereocontrol and convert simple, achiral starting materials to complex molecular architectures, bearing up to four stereocenters, in a single operation. The cascades are triggered by the generation and trapping of unusual radical-anions formed by electron transfer to the ester carbonyl.     

Radical cyclization of 4-aryl-1-iodobutene derivatives to form dihydronaphthalene scaffold

Synthesis of dihydronaphthalene derivatives was carried out by allyltributylstannane-mediated vinyl radical cyclization as the key step from 4-aryl-1-iodobutene derivatives, which were derived from Baylis-Hillman adducts via vinyl radical cyclization.     

Facile oxidative cyclization and carbonylation of allylicalcohols

Palladium chloride catalyzed reaction [room temperature, one atmosphere] of primary, secondary, and tertiary allylic alcohols with carbon monoxide and oxygen, hydrochloric acid, and cupric chloride in tetrahydrofuran affords five-membered ring lactones.