Dimerization of cyclopropyl ketones and crossed reactions of cyclopropyl ketones with enones as an entry to five-membered rings

An unexpected dimerization of cyclopropyl ketones was observed, and analysis of the reaction pathway led to development of a synthetically useful crossed reaction between cyclopropyl ketones and enones to afford densely functionalized cyclopentane products.     

Highly diastereoselective one-pot synthesis of spiro[cyclopenta[a]indene-2,2'-indene]diones from 1-indanones and aromatic aldehydes

Treatment of 1-indanones with aromatic aldehydes and NaOEt in THF affords complex spiropolycyclic compounds through a four-component reaction in which two molecules of each starting compound are combined with formation of four new carbon-carbon bonds, leading to the elaboration of a new five-membered ring that bears five contiguous stereogenic centers with a well-defined relative configuration. Different amounts of a minor epimer of the main product are also formed. The presence of methoxy substituents in the indanone component and the use of aldehydes derived from pi-excedent heterocycles make the dimerization step a slower transformation. In these cases, better yields of spirodimers are obtained starting from the preformed enones. The reaction seems to take place by cross-aldol condensation, dehydration, and dimerization of the thus formed enones. The molecular mechanism of the dimerization reaction of enone 5g has been studied using DFT methods at the B3LYP/6-31G level. The dimerization takes place through a process involving a Michael addition of a carbanion, obtained by deprotonation of 5g at the 3-position, to a second molecule of 5g, followed by an intramolecular Michael addition in the corresponding intermediate. The final protonation of the resulting anion accounts for the formation of the cis-fused pentacyclic system.     

Organocatalytic regioselective Michael additions of cyclic enones via asymmetric phase transfer catalysis

Cyclohexanone and cycloheptanone can be enantioselectively functionalized in the 3-position with up to 92% ee and 87% ee, respectively, by the base-promoted dimerization of the corresponding enones using 3,4,5-tribenzyloxybenzyl cinchoninium bromide, as a new effective catalyst.     

The chemistry of 5-hydroxy-6-(hydroxyalkyl)uracils. Synthesis of spiro[pyrimidine-4,2′-pyrano[3,2-d]pyrimidines]

Both 5-acetoxy-6-(acetoxymethyl)-1-methyluracil 1 and its parent diol 11 are converted into the spiro[pyrimidine-4,2′-pyrano[3,2-d]pyrimidine] 6 when treated, respectively, with hot methanolic pyridine and with one equivalent of acetic anhydride. The formation of 6 can be explained in terms of the generation and dimerization of the reactive 5-oxo-6-methylene pyrimidine 2 . The structure of 6 was determined by ¹³C nmr spectroscopy and by chemical transformations that lead to the pyrimidinylethylhydantoin 9 and the 6,6′-[1,2-ethanediyl]bispyrimidine 10 . The more complex 5-hydroxy-6-(hydroxyalkyl)uracils represented by the 6,5′-cyclourid-ines 17 undergo an analogous dimerization when treated with acetic anhydride to give structures 22a and 22b . Dimer 22a was also prepared via the 5-phosphate ester 18 . The stereochemistry of dimers 22a and 22b , which is apparent from their ¹H nmr spectra, indicates that two molecules of the enones 21a or 21b dimerize in a highly stereoselective manner.     

Bridgehead Substitution via Putative Norborn‐1‐en‐3‐ones: Application in the Synthesis of Complex Molecules

The base‐mediated formation of a bridgehead double bond in a bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane system (anit‐Bredt molecules) is described. The synthesis of exocyclic norbornyl enones by Wittig reaction of α‐diketones is reported. These enones and their Michael adducts are used as substrates for the generation of transient bridgehead enones and their trapping with MeOH and H₂O. Bridgehead alcohols are easily synthesized from norbornyl enones and are exploited for the diversity oriented synthesis of frameworks of natural and unnatural products.     

Azoles: Effective Catalysts for Baylis-Hillman Reaction in Aqueous Media

β-Substituted enones have been considered less reactive in Baylis-Hillman reaction. The reaction of cyclic enones is sluggish or does not occur at all under traditional conditions. Various catalysts have been developed to pro mote the reaction of cyclic enones but with limited success. In previous study, we found that imidazole can catalyze the Baylis-Hillman reaction involving cyclic enones in aqueous THF solution. [1] In our continued efforts, a variety of azole compounds were examined in Baylis-Hillman reaction. We found that the azoles act as effective catalysts in properly adjusted water solution.     

Imidazoles: Effective Catalysts for Baylis-Hillman Reaction in Aqueous Media

β-Substituted enones have been considered less reactive in Baylis-Hillman reaction. The reaction of cyclic enones is sluggish or does not occur at all under traditional conditions. Various catalysts have been developed to pro mote the reaction of cyclic enones but with limited success. In previous study, we found that imidazole can catalyze the Baylis-Hillman reaction involving cyclic enones in aqueous THF solution.[1] In our continued efforts, we screened a variety of imidazoles to develop superior catalyst, and we found that the reaction could be greatly accelerated by adjusting the pH value of the water solution.     

Direct Umpolung Morita–Baylis–Hillman like α‐Functionalization of Enones via Enolonium Species

Herein we report on the umpolung of Morita–Baylis–Hillman type intermediates and application to the α‐functionalization of enone C?H bonds. This reaction gives direct access to α‐chloro‐enones, 1,2‐diketones and α‐tosyloxy‐enones. The latter are important intermediates for cross‐coupling reaction and, to the best of our knowledge, cannot be made in a single step from enones in any other way. The proposed mechanism is supported by spectroscopic studies. The key initial step involves conjugate attack of an amine (DABCO or pyridine), likely assisted by hypervalent iodine acting as a Lewis acid leading to formation of an electrophilic β‐ammonium‐enolonium species. Nucleophilic attack by acetate, tosylate, or chloride anion is followed by base induced elimination of the ammonium species to give the noted products. Hydrolysis of α‐acetoxy‐enones lead to formation of 1,2‐diketones. The α‐tosyl‐enones participate in Negishi coupling reactions under standard conditions.     

Regioselectivity switch achieved in the palladium catalyzed α-arylation of enones by employing the modified Kuwajima-Urabe conditions

A new regioselective approach to the synthesis of α-aryl enones is reported. This represents an important application of the Kuwajima-Urabe protocol toward the synthesis of this simple albeit complex functional array. Several α-aryl enones were synthesized by the palladium catalyzed arylation of triethylsilylenol ethers of enones with high regioselectivity and broad scope, utilizing sterically encumbered electron-rich phosphine ligands to drive the reaction.     

One-pot beta-substitution of enones with alkyl groups to beta-alkyl enones

Vinylic hydrogens at the beta-position of enones were effectively substituted with alkyl groups in a one-pot procedure to afford beta-alkyl enones in good to high isolated yields by conjugate addition of higher-order dialkyl cyanocuprates to enones, followed by a reaction with N-tert-butylbenzenesulfinimidoyl chloride at -78 degree C.     

A new and efficient chemoenzymatic route to both enantiomers of α′-acetoxy and α′-hydroxy-α-methoxy cyclic enones

A chemoenzymatic synthesis of both enantiomers of the pharmacologically interesting α′-acetoxy and α′-hydroxy-α-methoxy cyclic enones starting from α-hydroxy cyclic enones is described. Protection of 1,2-diketones, manganese(III) acetate-mediated acetoxylation followed by enzyme-mediated hydrolysis of α′-acetoxy enones gives acetoxy enones 3a–d and hydroxy enones 4a–d with high enantiomeric excesses (up to 99%) and good yields. The transesterification of rac-4b in the presence of DMAP afforded (+)-4b and (−)-3b in high enantiomeric excesses (91–94%) and good chemical yields.     

Baylis-Hillman Reaction Involving Substituted Cyclic Enones in Aqueous Media

β-Substituted enones have been considered less reactive in Baylis-Hillman reaction. The reaction of cyclicenones is sluggish or does not occur at all under traditional conditions. [1] Therefore, substituted cyclic enones havebeen less explored in Baylis-Hillman reaction due to the extremely low reactivity. In this communication, we reported Baylis-Hillman reaction of substituted cyclic enones using our previously developed conditions with imidazole as catalyst. The reaction proceeded smoothly in aqueous media affording the desired product with good yields and moderate diastereoselectivity.     

Copper(II)-bis(oxazoline) catalyzed asymmetric Diels-Alder reaction with alpha'-arylsulfonyl enones as dienophiles

Alpha'-arylsulfonyl enones are efficient bidentate dienophiles for the Cu(II)-bis(oxazoline) catalyzed enantioselective Diels-Alder reaction with a number of dienes, affording the corresponding products with good to high enantiomeric excesses. The resulting products can be alkylated and the sulfone removed, so alpha'-arylsulfonyl enones can be regarded as surrogates of simple monodentate enones, which are poor dienophiles with this catalytic system.     

Pd-catalyzed dehydrogenative cross-coupling of polyfluoroarenes with heteroatom-substituted enones

The first example of intermolecular regioselective α-arylation of heteroatom-substituted enones with polyfluoroarenes via twofold C-H bond functionalization using a palladium catalyst is reported. This approach provides rapid access to a wide range of α-fluoroarylated enones of interest in life science.     

Studies on K2CO3-catalyzed 1,4-addition of 1,2-allenic ketones with diethyl malonate: controlled selective synthesis of beta,gamma-unsaturated enones and alpha-pyrones

The K2CO3 (10 mol %)-catalyzed 1,4-addition reaction of diethyl malonate with various substituted 1,2-allenic ketones leading to polyfunctionalized beta,gamma-unsaturated enones 3 or 4 was studied. With 3-unsubstituted 1-substituted-1,2-allenyl ketones, the highly selective formation of beta,gamma-unsaturated enones 4 was observed; with 1,2-allenyl ketones bearing one or two 3-substituents in the allenyl group, only beta,gamma-unsaturated enones 3 with an unmigrated carbon-carbon double bond were produced; with 3-monosubstituted-1,2-allenyl ketones Z-beta,gamma-unsaturated enones 3 were formed with excellent stereoselectivity (E:Z > 96:4); with propadienyl ketones, mixtures of beta,gamma-unsaturated enones 3 and 4 were formed. alpha-Pyrone derivatives were synthesized via the K(2)CO(3)-catalyzed or -promoted reaction of 1,2-allenic ketones with diethyl malonate via a sequential Michael addition-carbon-carbon double bond migration-lactonization process.     

Divergent reaction pathways of a cationic intermediate: rearrangement and cyclization of 2-substituted furyl and benzofuryl enones catalyzed by iridium(III)

In contrast to 2-substituted pyrrole enones, furyl and benzofuryl enones do not undergo the Nazarov electrocyclization. Instead, these furyl and benzofuryl enones exhibit unusual rearrangement sequences in the presence of catalytic amounts of [IrBr(CO)(DIM)((R)-(+)-BINAP)](SbF(6))(2) (1; DIM = diethylisopropylidene malonate) and AgSbF(6) (1:1). A 1,2-H shift followed by intramolecular Friedel-Crafts alkylation leads to synthetically valuable cyclohexanones with furanylic quaternary centers. The electrophilicity of 1 is essential for this rearrangement.     

1,4-Additions of electron-rich heterocycles onto β-perfluoroalkyl enones

β-(Trifluoromethyl) enones, easily obtained in few steps from commercially available methyl hemiketal of trifluoroacetaldehyde, react with electron-rich O- and N-containing heterocycles (furans and benzofurans, pyrroles and indoles, hydroxycoumarins), through a 1,4 addition, to give heterocycles bearing a functionalized side-chain. β-(chlorodifluoromethyl)enones and β-(pentafluoroethyl)enones behave in the same way.     

Preparation of alpha-sulfenyl enones by thermal fragmentation of beta-sulfenyl enol triflates

[reaction: see text] The synthetic scope and mechanism of the fragmentation of cyclic beta-sulfenyl enol triflates to give alpha-sulfenyl enones are described. This transformation is the central step in a mild, functional group-tolerant method for preparing alpha-sulfenyl enones.     

Palladium-catalyzed conjugate addition of terminal alkynes to enones

A practical protocol for the hydroalkynylation of enones using Pd catalysis is reported. The reaction proceeds efficiently with a variety of alkynes as well as with several cyclic and acyclic enones, providing synthetically relevant β-alkynyl ketones in good to excellent yields.     

Organometallic catalysis: From concepts to selected applications

This article is devoted to the use of some concepts of organometallic chemistry for their application in homogeneous catalysis developed in our laboratory in Lille and presented in the Gecom-Concoord meeting in Albé. The first examples will deal with the use of bifunctional ligands, where it will be shown that designing an aminophosphine ligand allows one to improve the rate of linear dimerization of dienic substrates by two orders of magnitude, as compared with the same reaction conducted in protic media. Another application will concern the use of the hemilability character of a suitable methoxy substituted, sterically hindered alcoxy ligand, responsible for the original metathesis reaction of terminal acetylenes. The second part will be devoted to the use of transmetalation reactions, at first in polymerization reactions, where the concept of Coordinative Catalyzed Chain Growth Transfer will be established using Lanthanide complexes and magnesium dialkyls, applied to olefins, conjugated dienes, styrene and isoprene/styrene statistical copolymerization. The last topic will develop carbonylation reactions using boronic acids and enones or alkynes, in which the key step is a transmetalation/carbonylation sequence, opening the way to new catalytic carbonylation processes.