Chemo-, regio- and stereoselective addition of triorganoindium reagents to acetates of Baylis-Hillman adducts: a new strategy for the synthesis of (E)- and (Z)-trisubstituted alkenes

The addition of several trialkyl or triarylindium reagents to the acetates of Baylis-Hillman adducts proceeds readily under the catalysis of copper and palladium derivatives. The reactions of trialkylindiums are catalyzed efficiently by CuI whereas additions of triarylindiums produce better results with Pd(PPh₃)₄. The reactions with 3-acetoxy-2-methylenealkanoates provide (E)-alkenes, whereas similar reactions with 3-acetoxy-2-methylenealkanenitriles lead to (Z)-alkenes. All the reactions are highly regio- and stereoselective and high yielding.     

Some applications of zirconium(IV) tetrachloride (ZrCl4) and zirconium(IV) oxydichloride octahydrate (ZrOCl2.8H2O) as catalysts or reagents in organic synthesis

Both ZrCl₄ and ZrOCl₂.8H₂O are commercially available solid chemicals. Due to their low toxicities (LD₅₀ [ZrCl₄ oral rate] = 1688 mg/kg), (LD₅₀ [ZrOCl₂.8H₂O oral rate] = 2950 mg/kg), low costs, ease of handling, high activity, the zirconium(IV) compounds are potential green catalysts or reagents which are of importance from different views. In this review we have paid attention to the applications of these compounds as reagents or catalysts in Friedel-Crafts reactions, Fries rearrangements, reduction and oxidation reactions, cycloaddition and hydrometalation reactions, protection and deprotection of functional groups, reactions of epoxides, iodination of alcohols, S-alkylation of thiols with alcohols, Michael addition, condensation of indoles with carbonyl compounds, Claisen ester condensation, Baylis-Hillman reaction, preparation of organozirconium compounds and some other miscellaneous reactions.     

Bismuth triflate-catalyzed rearrangement of acetates of the Baylis-Hillman adducts into (E)-trisubstituted alkenes

In the presence of a catalytic amount of bismuth triflate, methyl 3-acetoxy-3-aryl-2-methylenepropanoates and 3-acetoxy-3-aryl-2-methylenepropanitriles were smoothly converted into methyl (2E)-2-(acetoxymethyl)-3-arylprop-2-enoates and (2E)-2-(acetoxymethyl)-3-arylprop-2-enenitriles, respectively. A remarkable reversal in stereochemical directions from ester to nitrile was observed. 3-Aryl-3-hydroxy-2-methylenepropanoates and 3-aryl-3-hydroxy-2-methylenepropanitriles could be easily obtained as Baylis-Hillman adducts from methyl acrylate and acrylonitrile, respectively. The overall process is an efficient isomerization of the Baylis-Hillman adducts to the corresponding cinnamyl derivatives. The isomerization reaction proceeded rapidly and afforded smoothly the cinnamyl acetates in moderate to very good yields using catalytic amounts of Bi(OTf)₃·4H₂O (10 mol %).     

An unexpected highly diastereoselective double Baylis-Hillman reaction of per- (or poly)fluorophenyl aromatic aldimines with methyl vinyl ketone

Aza-Baylis-Hillman reaction of per- (or poly)fluorophenyl aromatic aldimines 1 with methyl vinyl ketone (MVK) was studied. It was found that both the used Lewis base and solvent can significantly affect the reaction. Using triphenylphosphine as a Lewis base, the reaction of 1 with MVK proceeded smoothly to give the normal Baylis-Hillman adduct 2 along with the double Baylis-Hillman adduct 3 as by-product in THF. When 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane was used as a Lewis base in DMF, the aza-Baylis-Hillman reaction of 1 with MVK gave the double aza-Baylis-Hillman adduct 3 exclusively in moderate to good yields with excellent diastereoselectivities. The double Baylis-Hillman adduct 3 was conveniently converted to fluorine-containing 4-alkylidene-2-cyclohexen-1-ones under mild reaction conditions in good yields.     

Synthesis and bioactivity of novel (3-chloro-5-(trifluoromethyl)pyridin-2-yloxy)phenyl containing acrylate and acrylonitrile derivatives

Fifteen novel (3-chloro-5-(trifluoromethyl)pyridin-2-yloxy)phenyl containing Baylis-Hillman adduct derivatives were designed and synthesized. Evaluation of their biological activities showed that methyl 2-((3-(3-chloro-5-(trifluoromethyl)pyridin-2-yloxy)phenoxy)(phenyl)methyl)acrylate (2g) exhibited efficient broad-spectrum fungicidal activity, with 100% control of wheat powdery mildew and cucumber downy mildew and 98% control of cucumber anthracnose at 400 g ai/ha. Some of the other title compounds 2, 3 and two Baylis-Hillman bromide intermediates (11a, 11b) had moderate to good fungicidal activity.     

Lewis base effects in the Baylis-Hillman reaction of imines with cyclohex-2-en-1-one and cyclopent-2-en-1-one

In the Baylis-Hillman reaction of N-benzylidene-4-methyl-benzenesulfonamide with cyclohex-2-en-1-one or cyclopent-2-en-1-one, we found that, in the presence of a catalytic amount of DMAP, the Baylis-Hillman reaction can be greatly accelerated to give the normal Baylis-Hillman adduct 1 or 3 in good or very high yields: moreover, using PBu3 as a Lewis base in the reaction of N-benzylidene-4-methylbenzenesulfonamide with cyclopent-2-en-1-one, the normal Baylis-Hillman adducts 3 could be obtained in very high yields within 5 h, however, using PBu3 or DBU as a Lewis base in the reaction of N-benzylidene-4-methyl-benzenesulfonamide with cyclohex-2-en-1-one, beside the normal Baylis-Hillman adduct 1 abnormal Baylis-Hillman adduct 3-aryl-2-[(4-methylphenyl)sulfonyl]-2-azabicyclo[2.2.2]octan-5-one 2 was formed at the same time; the substituent's effects were also examined.     

Facile route to 1-phosphoryl- and 1-sulfonyl-1,3-dienes via palladium-catalyzed elimination of allylic acetates

The palladium(II)-catalyzed chloroacetoxylation of 1,3-dienes is employed to prepare 1-chloro-4-acetoxy-2-alkenes which are then transformed into 1-phosphoryl- or 1-sulfonyl-4-acetoxy-2-alkenes respectively. Elimination of acetate is promoted by palladium(O)-catalysis or by sodium hydride, producing the useful 1-phosphory]- or 1-sulfonyl-1,3-dienes.     

Trifluoroacetic acid: a more effective and efficient reagent for the synthesis of 3-arylmethylene-3,4-dihydro-1H-quinolin-2-ones and 3-arylmethyl-2-amino-quinolines from Baylis-Hillman derivatives via Claisen rearrangement

Trifluoroacetic acid has been discovered to be a highly effective and efficient reagent for the tandem Claisen rearrangement and cyclization reaction to yield 3-arylmethylene-3,4-dihydro-1H-quinolin-2-ones from compounds obtained from the S_N2 reaction between anilines and acetyl derivatives of Baylis-Hillman adducts of acrylates in the presence of DABCO. In contrast, similar compounds obtained from the acetyl derivatives of Baylis-Hillman adduct of acrylonitrile on treatment with trifluoroacetic acid directly furnish 3-arylmethyl-2-amino-quinoline via tandem Claisen rearrangement, cyclization and isomerization.     

Straightforward asymmetric entry to highly functionalized 3-substituted 3-hydroxy-beta-lactams via Baylis-Hillman or bromoallylation reactions

The reaction of various activated vinyl systems, including 2-cyclopenten-1-one, with enantiopure azetidine-2,3-diones 1 was promoted by DABCO to afford the corresponding optically pure Baylis-Hillman adducts 2 without detectable epimerization. However, the reaction of alpha-keto lactams 1 with but-3-yn-2-one was not as successful, giving the corresponding beta-halo Baylis-Hillman adduct in low yield. Metal-mediated bromoallylation reaction between 2,3-dibromopropene and azetidine-2,3-diones 1 was investigated in aqueous media. Surprisingly, indium was unable to promote the bromoallylation reaction of alpha-keto lactams 1, but the Sn-Hf(4)Cl-promoted bromoallylation of ketones 1 proceeded efficiently to achieve bromohomoallyl alcohols 5 as single diastereomers. On this basis, simple and fast protocols for the asymmetric synthesis of the potentially bioactive 3-substituted 3-hydroxy-beta-lactam moiety were developed.     

Ene Reaction with Pummerer-Type Reaction Intermediate of α-(Methylthio)isobutyl Acetamide: A New Synthesis of Pellitorine

Pummerer-type reaction intermediate 2 of α-(methylthio)isobutyl acetamide ( 1 ) has been found to react with 1-alkenes to afford ene adducts 3 . Pellitorine 4 was synthesized from the adduct 3d.     

Alkylation of alkenes: ethylaluminum sesquichloride-mediated hydro-alkyl additions with alkyl chloroformates and di-tert-butylpyrocarbonate

A general method for the hydro-alkyl addition to the nonactivated C=C double bond of alkenes using alkyl chloroformates (primary, secondary), 12, and di-tert-butylpyrocarbonate, 52, mediated by ethylaluminum sesquichloride (Et(3)Al(2)Cl(3)) has been developed. Reaction of 12 and 52, respectively, with Et(3)Al(2)Cl(3) gives an alkyl cation which is added to the alkene; hydride transfer to the adduct carbenium ion or, if applicable, 1,2-H shift followed by hydride transfer from Et(3)Al(2)Cl(3) to the rearranged adduct carbenium ion gives the saturated addition product. The reaction has been applied to 1-alkenes, 2-methyl-1-alkenes, internal double bonds, and to three cyclic alkenes. Special interest has been focused on alkylations of unsaturated fatty compounds, such as oleic acid (2), which are important renewable feedstocks. 2-Methylalkanes, 3-methylalkanes, 2,4-dimethylalkanes, 2,3-dimethylalkanes, 2,2,4-trimethylalkanes, cyclohexylalkanes, and carboxylic acids and esters with the respective branched alkyl chain have been synthesized with good to moderate yields.     

Synthesis of 3,4-disubstituted 2(1H)-quinolinones via intramolecular Friedel-Crafts reaction of N-arylamides of Baylis-Hillman adducts

3,4-Disubstituted 2(1H)-quinolinones were synthesized starting from the Baylis-Hillman adducts via the following sequential processes: (i) hydrolysis of the Baylis-Hillman adduct to acid, (ii) EDC coupling with anilines, (iii) H₂SO₄-assisted intramolecular Friedel-Crafts cyclization, and the final (iv) DBU-mediated isomerization.     

IBX/LiBr-promoted one-pot oxidative anti-Markownikov bromohydroxylation/bromoalkoxylation of Baylis-Hillman olefins

The first example of one-pot oxidative anti-Markownikov bromohydroxylation and bromoalkoxylation of Baylis-Hillman (BH) adducts (olefins) is reported. The reaction is performed at rt using LiBr as the bromine source and 2-iodoxybenzoic acid (IBX) as the oxidant. The process involves oxidation of BH adducts with IBX to give β-ketomethylene compounds in situ, which undergo highly regioselective vicinal functionalization with LiBr/H₂O or LiBr/ROH in the same vessel to afford α-bromo-β-hydroxy or α-bromo-β-alkoxy compounds, respectively, in excellent yields. The α-bromo-β-hydroxy compounds are readily transformed into epoxides in aq NaOH.     

Model studies in the lepadin series: synthesis of enantiopure decahydroquinolines by aminocyclization of 2-(3-aminoalkyl)cyclohexenones

Syntheses of enantiopure 3-acetoxy-2-methyldecahydroquinolines are accomplished by coupling cyclohexenyllithium 3 with α-amino epoxides and an aminocyclization of 2-(3-aminoalkyl)cyclohexenones (i.e., 5 and 9) as the key steps. The procedure allows the incorporation of alkyl substituents at C(5) to give enantiopure 2,3,5-trisubstitued decahydroquinolines.     

Ene Reaction with Pummerer-Type Reaction Intermediate of 1-[(2-Methylthio)ethanoyl]pyrrolidine: A Novel Synthesis of Trichonine

Pummerer-type reaction intermediate 2 of 1-[(2-methylthio)ethanoyl]pyrrolidine (1) has been found to react with 1-alkenes to afford ene adducts 3 . Trichonine 4 was synthesized from the adduct 3g .     

Titanium(IV) chloride and the amine-promoted baylis-hillman reaction

In the Baylis-Hillman reaction, we found that, when the reactions of arylaldehydes with methyl vinyl ketone were carried out at <-20 degrees C using a catalytic amount of amine as a Lewis base in the presence of titanium(IV) chloride, the chlorinated compounds 1 could be obtained as the major product in very high yields for various arylaldehydes. In addition, acrylonitrile could undergo the same reaction to give the corresponding chlorinated product in moderate yield.     

Stereoselective Synthesis of (Z)-Perfluoroalkyl-1-iodo-1-triisopropyl Silylalkenes: A Convenient Route to Perfluoroalkyl-Substituted Unsaturated Synthons

The quantitative and fully stereoselective synthesis of (Z)-perfluoroalkyl-1-iodo-1-triisopropylsilylalkenes and their easy, high-yielding transformation into the corresponding 1-iodo-2-perfluoroacetylenes and (Z)-2-perfluoroalkyl-1-iodo-1-alkenes, compounds of interest as synthons for classical organometallic chemistry or for metal-catalyzed coupling reactions, are discussed.     

Synthesis of 1-substituted (S)-4-acetoxy-1-penten-3-ones using (S)-lactic acid as a chiral source and their synthetic reactions

Ylide reaction of (S)-3-acetoxy-1-triphenylphosphoranylidene-2-butanone, derived from (S)-lactic acid, with aldehydes gives 1-substituted (S)-4-acetoxy-1-penten-3-one derivatives, which are shown to be transformed into useful chiral compounds by stereoselective reduction or the Johnson-Claisen rearrangement.     

Palladium-catalyzed synthesis of nucleoside adducts from bay- and fjord-region diol epoxides

Palladium-catalyzed C-N bond formation has been utilized to synthesize covalent 2'-deoxyadenosine (dA) and 2'-deoxyguanosine (dG) adducts of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) series 1 (syn) and benzo[c]phenanthrene (BcPh) series 2 (anti) diol epoxides. For this, (+/-)-10 alpha-amino-7 beta,8 alpha,9 beta-trisbenzoyloxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydro BaP and (+/-)-1 beta-amino-2 alpha,3 alpha,4 beta-trisbenzoyloxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro BcPh were coupled with 6-halo-9-[3,5-bis-O-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-beta-D-erythro-pentofuranosyl]purine and O6-benzyl-3',5'-bis-O-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-2-bromo-2'-deoxyinosine, using a (+/-)-BINAP-Pd complex and Cs2CO3. For the synthesis of the dA adducts, both the 6-chloro- as well as the 6-bromopurine nucleoside derivatives were analyzed for the C-N coupling reaction with the hydrocarbon amino tribenzoates. With the BaP amino tribenzoate, the 6-chloronucleoside provided satisfactory results, whereas the 6-bromo analogue proved to be superior with the BcPh amino tribenzoate. Overall, lower yields of the dA adducts were obtained with the more hindered fjord-region BcPh amino tribenzoate as compared to the bay-region BaP amino tribenzoate. In contrast to reactions leading to the dA adducts, the C-N reactions of both BaP and BcPh amino tribenzoates with the 2-bromo-2'-deoxyinosine derivative proceeded in comparable yields. This seems to indicate that such Pd-catalyzed adduct forming reactions at the C-6 position may be influenced by steric constraints of the amine component, whereas those at the C-2 position are less sensitive. Diastereomeric adduct pairs were separated and characterized by spectral methods and by comparisons to adducts produced by direct displacement reactions as well as those formed from DNA alkylation by diol epoxides.     

Action du methyltri(n-butyl)fluorophosphorane sur les halogenures et les sulfonates d'alkyle

Monofluorophosphoranes R₃MePF are used in exchange reactions to prepare monofluorinated organic compounds. Tri(n-butyl)methylfluorophosphorane (n-Bu₃MePF), easily available, is the most reactive. In solvents of low polarity or even in non-polar solvents, it reacts at ?70° with alkyl sulphonates and halides activated by ester, ketone, or ether functions. Thus, fluorinated epoxides can be obtained directly by exchange from their chlorinated or brominated homologues.