Anomalous reaction of Rh2(OAc)4-generated transient carbonyl ylides: chemoselective synthesis of epoxy-bridged tetrahydropyranone, oxepanone, oxocinone, and oxoninone ring systems

A series of symmetrical and unsymmetrical alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones such as arylmethylidenecycloalkanones (16, 19), bis(arylmethylidene)cycloalkanones (21, 23, 27), bisdiphenylnonatetraenones (30), and bis(phenylpropenylidene)cycloalkanones (33, 38, 42) were synthesized and subjected to the rhodium(II)-catalyzed tandem cyclization-cycloaddition reactions with various alpha-diazo ketones. These reactions afforded spiro epoxy-bridged tetrahydropyranone, spiro epoxy-bridged oxepanone (41, 43), epoxyoxocin-4(5H)-one (35, 37), and epoxyoxonin-5(6H)-one (40) frameworks starting from relatively simple precursors. The regio- and stereochemistry and solid-state architecture arrangements of several products were characterized by single-crystal X-ray structure analysis. The cycloaddition of carbonyl ylides with the compounds having both C=O and C=C groups was found to be chemo- and regioselective. Interestingly, an unusual ring enlargement of cycloadducts 34, 36, and 41 derived from C=O group addition was observed, affording epoxyoxocin-4(5H)-one and epoxyoxonin-5(6H)-one frameworks. Examples for the tandem cyclization-cycloaddition-ring enlargement reaction were also described. The rhodium(II)-generated carbonyl ylides behaved anomalously, furnishing the cycloadducts as a result of the cycloaddition of carbonyl ylides to C=O group despite the presence of C=C groups.     

A facile regioselective construction of spiro epoxy-bridged tetrahydropyranone frameworks

Investigations on the reactivity profile of the transient five-membered-ring cyclic carbonyl ylides, generated from α-diazo ketones, in the presence of the CO group of various simple ketones and symmetrical/unsymmetrical 1,2-diones were carried out. The reaction of α-diazo ketones with 1,2-naphthoquinone furnished interesting diastereomeric cycloadducts in which both the CO groups acted as dipolarophilic sites. The similar reaction in the presence of several isatin derivatives afforded novel spiro dioxa-bridged indole derivatives as a mixture of diastereomers. The single crystal X-ray structure analysis manifestly revealed the mode of cycloaddition and the stereochemistry of two of the diastereomers. A diverse set of novel spiro epoxy-bridged tetrahydropyranone frameworks have been constructed in good yield via the tandem cyclization-cycloaddition of α-diazo ketones with the CO group as heterodipolarophile in a regioselective manner.     

Highly stereoselective three-component reactions of phenylselenomagnesium bromide,acetylenic sulfones,and saturated aldehydes/ketones or alpha,beta-unsaturated enals or enones

beta-Phenylseleno-alpha-tolylsulfonyl-substituted alkenes were synthesized via the three-component conjugate-nucleophilic addition of acetylenic sulfones, phenylselenomagnesium bromide, and carbonyl compounds, such as aldehydes, aliphatic ketones, or alpha,beta-unsaturated enals or enones. The reaction is highly regio- and stereoselective with moderate to good yields. Functionalized allylic alcohols were obtained in the case of aldehydes and aliphatic ketones. In the case of alpha,beta-unsaturated enones, functionalized allylic alcohols or functionalized gamma,delta-unsaturated ketones were obtained, depending on the structures of the ketones.     

Stereoselective alkylation of alpha,beta-unsaturated imines via C-H bond activation

The stereoselective alkylation of alpha,beta-unsaturated imines via C-H activation followed by imine hydrolysis produces tri- and tetrasubstituted alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes. In the presence of a rhodium catalyst, alpha,beta-unsaturated N-benzyl imines derived from methacrolein, crotonaldehyde, and tiglic aldehyde undergo directed C-H activation at the beta-position and react with terminal alkenes and alkynes to form the tri- and tetrasubstituted alpha,beta-unsaturated imines with very high stereoselectivity. Hydrolysis to provide alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes can be performed under carefully controlled conditions that maintain the stereochemistry of the beta-alkylated imine products. Alternatively, for beta-alkylation products of the N-benzyl imine of methacrolein, hydrolysis can be performed under conditions that provide complete isomerization to the E isomer.     

A facile three-component one-pot synthesis of structurally constrained tetrahydrofurans that are t-RNA synthetase inhibitor analogues

A one-pot procedure for the efficient synthesis of tRNA inhibitor analogues was developed. Thus, three-component 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions of carbonyl ylides derived from diazoindan-1,3-dione and aldehydes with other dipolarophiles in 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane in 80 degrees C gave ring-fused tetrahydrofurans having three stereocenters in good yield.     

Photo- and thermoinduced generation of 1,3-diaryl carbonyl ylides from 2,3-diaryloxiranes 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions to dipolarophiles

A group of symmetrically substituted 2,3-diaryloxiranes have been studied as photoprecursors for carbonyl ylides. The stereochemistry of the adducts obtained upon interception of these 4n pi-transient systems with a variety of dipolarophiles provides information on the mode(s) of electrocyclic opening of the oxiranes to carbonyl ylides, as well as the mechanism of the 4n + 2 cycloaddition process. The stereochemistry of the dipolarophiles is preserved in the cycloadducts, which is consistent with a concerted addition process; however, solvent effects, steric hindrance, and possibly secondary orbital overlap factors all may play a role in determining the product distribution.     

Dienamine catalysis: organocatalytic asymmetric gamma-amination of alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes

A new concept in organocatalysis is presented, the direct asymmetric gamma-functionalization of alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes. We disclose that secondary amines can invert the usual reactivity of alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes, enabling a direct gamma-amination of the carbonyl compound using azodicarboxylates as the electrophilic nitrogen-source. The scope of the reaction is demonstrated for the enantioselective gamma-amination of different alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes, giving the products in moderate to good yields and with high enantioselectivities up to 93% ee. Experimental investigations and DFT calculations indicate that the reaction might proceed as a hetero-Diels-Alder cycloaddition reaction. Such a mechanism can explain the "unexpected" stereochemical outcome of the reaction.     

Highly Efficient and Stereoselective Construction of Bispirooxindole Derivatives via a Three-Component 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition Reaction

A highly regio- and stereoselective synthesis of bispirooxindoles by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of in situ generated azomethine ylides from isatin and proline to different electron-deficient alkenes has been developed. The synthesis affords the desired bispiro scaffold compounds in excellent yields with high regioselectivity under mild conditions. The stereochemistry was determined by single-crystal X-ray analysis.     

Binaphthol-derived bisphosphoric acids serve as efficient organocatalysts for highly enantioselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides to electron-deficient olefins

A variety of chiral bisphosphoric acids derived from binaphthols have been evaluated for enantioselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions, revealing that the feature of the linker in the catalysts exerted great impact on the stereoselectivity. Among them, the oxygen-linked bisphosphoric acid 1a provided the highest level of stereoselectivity for the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction tolerating a wide range of substrates including azomethine ylides, generated in situ from a broad scope of aldehydes and α-amino esters, and various electron-deficient dipolarophiles such as maleates, fumarates, vinyl ketones, and esters. This reaction actually represents one of the most enantioselective catalytic approaches to access structurally diverse pyrrolidines with excellent optical purity. Theoretical calculations with DFT method on the formation of azomethine ylides and on the transition states of the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition step showed that the dipole and dipolarophile were simultaneously activated by the bifunctional chiral bisphosphoric acids through the formation of hydrogen bonds. The effect of the bisphosphoric acids on reactivity and stereochemistry of the three-component 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction was also theoretically rationalized. The bisphosphoric acid catalyst 1a may take on a half-moon shape with the two phosphoric acid groups forming two intramolecular hydrogen bonds. In the case of maleates, one phosphate acts as a base to activate the 1,3-dipole, and simultaneously, the two hydroxyl groups in the catalyst 1a may respectively form two hydrogen bonds with the two ester groups of maleate to make it more electronically deficient as a much stronger dipolarophile to participate in a concerted 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition with azomethine ylide. However, in the cases involving acrylate and fumarate dipolarophiles, only one hydroxyl group forms a hydrogen bond with the ester functional group to lower the LUMO of the C-C double bond and another one is remained to adjust the acidity and basicity of two phosphoric acids to activate the dipole and dipolarophile more effectively.     

1,3-Dipolar cycloadditions of nonstabilized azomethine ylides to planar chalcones via regio- and stereoselective route: A three-component strategy

Simple and efficient strategies toward the synthesis of trisubstituted pyrrolizidines and disubstituted oxazolidine systems by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions using arylaldehydes and α-amino acids have been developed, followed by a one-pot, three-component strategy. Electron-deficient dipolarophiles, chalcones, were reacted with nonstabilized azomethine ylides derived from arylaldehyde and L-proline in dry dimethyl formamide, leading to substituted pyrrolizidines. The route to substituted oxazolidines involved cycloaddition to the C?O bond of a second molecule of the aldehyde. The structures and stereochemistry of the cycloadducts were established by infrared (IR), NMR spectroscopy, and single-crystal x-ray crystallographic analyses. Condensed Fukui functions and local electrophilicity indices have been computed to characterize the reactive sites and predict the preferred interactions of azomethine ylides to planar chalcones. The softness-matching indices have been evaluated to determine the regioselectivity of the cycloaddition reactions. The theoretical predictions were found to be in complete agreement with the experimental results, implying that the density functional theory (DFT)-based reactivity indices correctly predict the regioselectivities of 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of azomethine ylides to planar chalcones. The frontier molecular orbital (FMO) energies, electronic chemical potentials, chemical hardness, chemical softness, and global electrophilicity indices of azomethine ylides have been calculated at the DFT/B3LYP/6-31 + G (d, p) level of theory.     

A Facile Three-Component One-Pot Synthesis of Structurally Constrained Tetrahydrofurans, Which Are t-RNA Synthetase Inhibitor Analogues

A one-pot procedure for the efficient synthesis of a small library of t-RNA inhibitor analogues was developed. Thus,Rh2(OAc)4 catalyzed three-component 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions of carbonyl ylides derived from diazoindan-1,3-dione and aldehydes with other dipolarophiles in 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane at 80 ℃ gave ring fused tetrahydrofurans having three stereocenters in good yield.     

Multicomponent reactions of diazoamides: diastereoselective synthesis of mono- and bis-spirofurooxindoles

This paper describes the intermolecular generation of carbonyl ylides by dirhodium(II) tetraacetate-catalyzed reaction of 3-diazoindol-2-ones in the presence of aryl aldehydes and heteroaryl aldehydes. These carbonyl ylides were subsequently trapped with dipolarophiles such as dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate, maleic anhydride, and ethyl acrylate to afford spirofurooxindoles. Consequently, diastereoselective synthesis of spirodihydrofurooxindoles through the multicomponent reactions of cyclic diazoamides was successfully achieved for the first time. The stereochemistry of the spirofurooxindole is unequivocally corroborated by the single-crystal X-ray analysis of the representative product 4o. Interestingly, these reactions were extended to double multicomponent reactions of bis-cyclic diazoamides to afford the respective complex polycycles in a tandem manner, which led to the construction of four carbon-carbon bonds, two carbon-oxygen bonds, and four chiral centers in a single synthetic step.     

1,3 Dipolar cycloadditions of azomethine ylides with aromatic aldehydes. syntheses of 1-oxapyrrolizidines and 1,3-oxazolidines.

Substituted 1-oxapyrrolizidines have been synthetized by cycloaddition of azomethine ylides, generated by aldehydes induced decarboxylation of proline, with carbonyl dipolarophyles. The stereochemistry of the cycloadducts indicate that they arise from the stereospecific formation of one isomer of the azomethine ylide.     

Lewis acid induced tandem Diels-Alder reaction/ring expansion as an equivalent of a [4 + 3] cycloaddition

Aluminum chloride induced reaction between cyclopentadiene and alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes results in the stereoselective formation of the products of a formal [4 + 3] cycloaddition. The reaction proceeds by a tandem Diels-Alder reaction/ring expansion.     

Trends in structure-toxicity relationships for carbonyl-containing alpha,beta-unsaturated compounds

Using toxicity data for 30 aliphatic polarized alpha,beta-unsaturated derivatives of esters, aldehydes, and ketones, a series of six structure-toxicity relationships were evaluated. The structure feature of all assessed compounds, an acetylenic or olefinic moiety conjugated to a carbonyl group, is inherently electrophilic and conveys the capacity to exhibit enhanced toxicity. However, the toxic potency of alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds is dependent on the specific molecular structure with several trends being observed. Specific observations include: (1) between homologues, the acetylenic-substituted derivative was more toxic than the corresponding olefinic-substituted one, respectively; (2) between olefinic-homologues, terminal vinyl-substituted derivative was more toxic than the internal vinylene-substituted one; (3) within alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones, methyl substitution on the vinyl carbon atoms reduces toxicity with methyl-substitution on the carbon atom farthest from the carbonyl group exhibiting the greater inhibition; (4) between alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds with the carbon-carbon double bond on the end of the molecule (vinyl ketones) and those with carbon-oxygen double bonds on the end of the molecule (aldehydes), the ketones are more toxic than the aldehydes; (5) between homologues of alpha,beta-unsaturated esters, those with additional unsaturated moieties (allyl, propargyl, or vinyl groups) were more toxic than homologues having relevant unsaturated moieties (propyl or ethyl groups); (6) between alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds with different shaped alkyl-groups (i.e. different degrees of branching), homologues with straight-chain hydrocarbon moieties were more toxic than those with branched groups.     

Palladium-catalyzed enantioselective conjugate addition of arylboronic acids

[reaction: see text] The first asymmetric palladium-catalyzed conjugate addition of arylboronic acids to alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes, ketones, and esters is described. For cyclic substrates, excellent chemo-, regio-, and enantioselectivities are achieved when a Pd(O2CCF3)2/DuPHOS catalyst is applied.     

Sequential reactions promoted by manganese: completely stereoselective synthesis of (E)-alpha,beta-unsaturated amides, ketones, aldehydes, and carboxylic acids

A complete E-selective synthesis of alpha,beta-unsaturated amides through a sequential reaction of a range of dichloroamides with a variety of aldehydes promoted by Rieke manganese (Mn*) is reported. A mechanism based on a sequential aldol-type reaction and a completely stereoselective beta-elimination is proposed to explain these results. The unsaturated amides obtained are readily and efficiently transformed into alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones, aldehydes, or carboxylic acids without loss of the diastereoisomeric purity of the C-C double bond.     

Direct amination of homoenolates catalyzed by N-heterocyclic carbenes

N-Heterocyclic carbenes derived from N-mesityl-N-methyltriazolium salts are effective catalysts for generating homoenolate species from alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes. The unique intermediate adds to the electrophilic nitrogen of 1-acyl-2-aryldiazenes, and the resulting activated carbonyl unit undergoes an intramolecular acylation event. This formal [3+2] cycloaddition between alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes and acylaryldiazenes, catalyzed by an N-heterocyclic carbene, produces substituted pyrazolidinones in good yields. This new NHC-catalyzed reaction accommodates aromatic and alkyl alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes and various aromatic diazenes. A chiral triazolium salt catalyzes the formation of the pyrazolidinone product in moderate yield and good enantioselectivity. The pyrazolidinones can undergo reductive N-N bond cleavage to give beta-amino acid derivatives.     

Expeditious synthesis of bicyclic pyrrolidine/pyrrolizidine/thiazolidine grafted macrocycles through intramolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides

Stereoselective synthesis of bicyclic pyrrolidine and pyrrolizidine grafted macrocycles has been accomplished through intramolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition (1,3-DC) reaction. Alkenyl aldehydes 4a–b derived from salicylaldehyde have been reacted with secondary aminoacids to generate azomethine ylides which in turn were trapped intramolecularly by suitably placed dipolarophiles to give the corresponding macrocycle in moderate yield. The structures were assigned by 2D NMR spectra and the regio- and stereochemical outcome of the cycloadducts was established by a single crystal X-ray analysis of one of the products.     

Polar [3 + 2] cycloaddition of ketones with electrophilically activated carbonyl ylides. Synthesis of spirocyclic dioxolane indolinones

The [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction between carbonyl ylides generated from epoxides and ketones (ethyl pyruvate, ethyl phenylglyoxylate, isatin, N-methylisatin and 5-chloroisatin) to give substituted dioxolanes and spirocyclic dioxolane indolinones was investigated. The effect of microwave irradiation on the outcome of the reaction was studied. The thermal reaction between 2,2-dicyano-3-phenyloxirane and N-methylisatin was theoretically studied using DFT methods. This reaction is a domino process that comprises two steps. The first is the thermal ring opening of the epoxide to yield a carbonyl ylide intermediate, whereas the second step is a polar [3 + 2] cycloaddition to yield the final spiro cycloadducts. The cycloaddition presents a low stereoselectivity and a large regio- and chemoselectivity. Analysis of the electrophilicity values and the Fukui functions of the reagents involved in the cycloaddition step allowed the chemical outcome to be explained.