Isomerization and 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of gem-difluorinated NH-azomethine ylides in the reaction of difluorocarbene with diarylmethanimines

Reaction of difluorocarbene with diarylmethanimines leads to the formation of gem-difluorinated NH-azomethine ylides, two types of competing transformations of which are found to be characteristic: a formal 1,2-H shift into N-(difluoromethyl)imines and 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition to electron-deficient multiple bonds. α,α,α-Trifluoroaceto-phenones are efficient dipolar traps for difluoro NH-ylides, the addition of which to the dipole proceeds regioselectively with the formation of 4-fluoro-2,5-dihydrooxazoles. According to the quantum-chemical calculations by the DFT B3LYP/6-31G* method, 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of difluorinated NH-azomethine ylides to a C=O bond with the formation of 4-fluoro derivatives of oxazole has lower barrier of activation than the reaction, leading to another regioisomer; the formal 1,2-H shift in the ylide occurs intermolecularly with participation of an imine, a precursor of the ylide.     

Tandem oxidation processes for the preparation of functionalized cyclopropanes

[reaction: see text] A novel manganese dioxide-mediated tandem oxidation process (TOP) has been developed which allows the direct conversion of allylic alcohols into cyclopropanes, the intermediate aldehydes being trapped in situ with a stabilized sulfur-ylide. This methodology has been applied successfully to a variety of allylic alcohols and to a formal synthesis of the simple, naturally occurring lignan, (+/-)-picropodophyllone.     

Diethyl bromodifluoromethylphosphonate: a highly efficient and environmentally benign difluorocarbene precursor

A convenient method for the difluoromethylation of phenols and thiophenols, using diethyl bromodifluoromethylphosphonate (1) as a difluorocarbene precursor, is described. This commercially available phosphonate was found to undergo an extremely facile P-C bond cleavage on basic hydrolysis (−78 °C to rt), presumably leading to the bromodifluoromethyl anion, which subsequently converts to a difluorocarbene intermediate. The latter is trapped by phenolates 2 or thiophenolates 3 to give the corresponding difluoromethyl ethers and thioethers in good to excellent yield. The resulting eco-friendly side product, diethyl phosphate ion, is easily separated from the reaction mixture due to its excellent solubility in water. Due to the mild conditions applied to this reaction, phenolate ions bearing carbonyl or enolate functions are selectively difluoromethylated.     

Reaction of difluorocarbene with propargyl esters and efficient synthesis of difluorocyclopropyl ketones

Difluorocarbene generated from FSO₂CF₂CO₂SiMe₃ (TFDA) at 120 °C could reacted with terminal alkynes having an ester group at the α position to the triple bond. Difluorocyclopropenes were further converted to difluorocyclopropyl ketones under alkaline condition. Mechanism for the conversion was studied.     

NHC-catalyzed generation of difluorocarbene and its application to difluoromethylation of oxygen nucleophiles

Controlled generation of difluorocarbene was effected by an NHC catalyst under mild conditions starting from trimethylsilyl 2,2-difluoro-2-fluorosulfonylacetate (TFDA). Cyclohexenones and tetralones were treated with TFDA in the presence of catalytic amounts of N,N′-dimesitylimidazolium chloride and sodium carbonate. The ketones were difluoromethylated with the generated difluorocarbene to afford enol difluoromethyl ethers without difluorocyclopropanation. The ethers thus obtained were dehydrogenated with DDQ to furnish aryl difluoromethyl ethers in high yield. Under similar conditions, secondary amides underwent difluoromethylation selectively on the oxygen atom to give difluoromethyl imidates, which allows the formation of 2-difluoromethoxypyridines.     

The mechanism of difluorocarbene generation from phenyl(trifluoromethyl)mercury

The difluorocarbene generation from phenyl(trifluoromethyl)mercury, PhHgCF₃, is discussed. It is suggested that the nucleophilic attack of iodide anion on PhHgCF₃ followed by decomposition of such an intermediate is the key step in the mechanism. Phase-transfer catalwsts do not influence this process.     

Phosphite-mediated annulation: an efficient protocol for the synthesis of multi-substituted cyclopropanes and aziridines

In the presence of phosphite or phosphine, the reaction between 4-, 2-nitrobenzaldehyde and methylidenemalononitriles proceeded smoothly to give the cyclopropane derivatives in high yields, while the reaction between 4-, 2-benzaldehyde, and N-tosylbenzaldimines afforded the azidridine derivatives in moderate to high yields. A plausible mechanism was proposed and the strongly electron-withdrawing nitro-group is believed to play a critical role in these transformations.     

Highly diastereo- and regioselective transition metal-catalyzed additions of metal hydrides and bimetallic species to cyclopropenes: easy access to multisubstituted cyclopropanes

The first highly efficient, diastereo- and regioselective transition metal-catalyzed addition of metal hydrides (stannanes, silanes, and germanes) and bimetallic species (ditins and silyltins) to cyclopropenes has been developed. It was shown that the addition across the double bond of cyclopropenes is generally controlled by steric factors and proceeds from the least hindered face. This methodology represents a powerful and atom-economic approach toward a wide variety of highly substituted stereodefined cyclopropylmetals, useful building blocks unavailable by other methods.     

Geometry of molecules: Part 5. Interatomic distances and electronic structures of some aloukyl-substituted cyclopropanes and cyclopropenes by the IMOA method

The geometric and electronic structures of some alkyl- and vinyl-substituted cyclopropanes and cyclopropenes have been computed by the iterative maximum overlap approach (IMOA). Some MINDO/3 calculations have been carried out for comparison. Asymmetries introduced in the three-membered rings by the substitution are discussed in detail. Comparison of the predicted bond distances in vinylcyclopropane with microwave data indicates the presence of a conjugative HOMO-LUMO interaction between the strained ring and the ethylene moiety. It is stressed that interatomic distances and bond lengths should be distinguished in strained systems. The bond lengths are defined as segments of curves passing through the points of maximum electron density and the relevant nuclei. They are calculated and discussed for some characteristic highly strained rings. The estimated heats of formation and strain energies are in satisfactory agreement with available experimental data.     

Synthesis of cyclopropanes via organoiron methodology: preparation and rearrangement of divinylcyclopropanes

Addition of alkenyl Grignard reagents to (1-methoxycarbonylpentadienyl)iron(1+) cation generates the corresponding (2-alkenylpent-3-en-1,5-diyl)iron complexes. Oxidatively induced-reductive elimination of these complexes gives divinylcyclopropanes which can undergo subsequent Cope rearrangement to give 1,4-cycloheptadienes.     

Synthesis of cyclopropanes via organoiron methodology: preparation of rac-dysibetaine CPa

The cyclopropane containing betaine, rac-dysibetaine CPa, was prepared from (1-methoxycarbonylpentadienyl)-Fe(CO)2PPh3+ by nucleophilic addition of nitromethane anion followed by oxidatively induced reductive elimination.     

Synthesis of polyfunctionalized vinyl cyclopropanes via the NaI-catalyzed ring-opening cyclization of doubly activated cyclopropenes with 1,1-bis(phenylsulfonyl)ethylene

A NaI-catalyzed reaction of 3,3-bis(alkoxycarbonyl)cyclopropenes in the presence of 1,1-bis(phenylsulfonyl)ethylene providing an efficient route to a series of polyfunctionalized vinyl cyclopropanes is described. The reaction is general for a range of different 3,3-bis(alkoxycarbonyl)cyclopropenes affording the products in moderate to high yields. A plausible rationale for this transformation is discussed.     

Reaction of difluorocarbene with 2H-azirines: generation and transformations of strained azomethine ylides -- aziriniodifluoromethanides

The reaction of difluorocarbene with azirines affords a new type of azomethine ylides, viz., strained aziriniodifluoromethanides. 1,3-Dipolar cycloadditions of ylides derived from 2-unsubstituted 3-arylazirines to dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate and aldehydes give derivatives of 2,2-difluoro-1-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-3-ene-3,4-dicarboxylic acids and 1,4-oxazin-3(4H)-ones, respectively. Ylides derived from 2-mono- and 2,2-disubstituted azirines undergo isomerization to 2-aza-1,3-diene derivatives. 2,2-Difluoro-1-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-3-enes are transformed into 2-fluoropyridine derivatives in high yields and react with amines to give 2,4-diamino-1-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-2-ene derivatives.     

Regio- and stereoselective reductions of gem-difluorinated vinyloxiranes

[reaction: see text] gem-Difluorinated vinyloxiranes are versatile building blocks for the synthesis of fluorinated compounds. Investigations of their reactions with nucleophiles resulted in highly regio- and stereoselective reductions. In their reactions with LiAlH4, hydride reacted at the allylic epoxide carbon to produce homoallylic alcohols exclusively. Moreover, regio- and stereoselective S(N)2' reactions were observed with DIBAL-H and BH3 x THF; the former afforded E allylic alcohols, whereas the latter furnished the corresponding Z isomers with excellent selectivities.     

3-deoxy-3,3-difluoro-D-arabinofuranose: first stereoselective synthesis and application in preparation of gem-difluorinated sugar nucleosides

The design and synthesis of gem-difluorinated sugar nucleosides were described. The key intermediate, 3-deoxy-3,3-difluoro-d-arabinofuranose 9, was first stereoselectively prepared from the chiral gem-difluorohomoallyl alcohol 12. The kinetic formation of single anti-14 in the benzylation of 12 could be accomplished by controlling the amount of sodium hydride used. The dihydroxylation of 14 (a mixture of anti and syn isomers) followed by deprotection and oxidation stereoselectively afforded furanose 9 with the arabino configuration at the C2 position. N(1)-(3-Deoxy-3,3-difluoro-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl)cytosine 6 was prepared from 9 by the glycosylation reaction. 4'-Thiofuranose 25 was easily synthesized from 9. The oxidation of 25 followed by the condensation with silylated N(4)-benzoylcytosine (Pummerer reaction) failed to give our desired protected nucleoside l-3'-deoxy-3',3'-difluoro- 4'-thiocytidine 27', but the regioisomer 27 was obtained. The regiochemistry of the Pummerer reaction was determined by the kinetic acidity of the alpha-proton of 4'-thiofuranose 25.     

Doubly activated cyclopropanes as synthetic precursors for the preparation of 4-nitro- and 4-cyano-dihydropyrroles and pyrroles

[reaction: see text] 1-Nitro- and 1-cyano-cyclopropyl ketones have been prepared in an expedient manner from cyclopropanation reactions of alkenes by diazo compounds or in situ-generated phenyliodonium ylides catalyzed by Rh(II) carboxylates. The doubly activated cyclopropanes were used as synthetic precursors for the regiospecific synthesis of 4-nitro- and 4-cyano-dihydropyrroles upon treatment with primary amines. Oxidation of the dihydropyrroles with DDQ allows rapid access to densely functionalized pyrroles.