Preliminary investigations on novel camphor-derived chiral sulfones: completely stereoselective formation of tricyclic β-hydroxy sulfones from 8- and 10-functionalized camphor derivatives

Some camphor-derived chiral allylic and benzylic sulfones in which the sulfonyl group is located at the C-10, C-9 or C-8 methyl groups of (+)-camphor were synthesized. The C-9 and C-8 substituted sulfones were obtained via Wagner-Meerwein rearrangements of the bicyclic camphor framework. On treatment with LDA, the C-10 and C-8 substituted sulfones cyclized with complete stereoselectivity, affording tricyclic β-hydroxy sulfones whose relative configurations were determined by X-ray crystallography. Tricyclic sulfones 23 and 24 underwent both β-elimination and retro-aldol reactions on further exposure to base. Reduction of the carbonyl group of the C-10 substituted sulfones afforded exo-configured isobornyl sulfones with high stereoselectivity. Reaction of the lithiated isobornyl benzyl sulfone 32 with benzaldehyde generated all four of the possible product diastereomers, of which three were isolated pure by chromatography. Attempted desulfonylation of these diastereomers failed to generate the desired optically active homobenzylic alcohols but the same sulfonyl carbanion trapping/desulfonylation sequence was successful in a model achiral series of compounds.     

Bis(oxazoline)–ligand-mediated asymmetric [2,3]-Wittig rearrangement of benzyl ethers: reaction mechanism based on the hydrogen/deuterium exchange effect

We have investigated the mechanism of chiral induction in the asymmetric [2,3]-Wittig rearrangement of allyl benzyl ether in the presence of a bis(oxazoline) chiral ligand [(S,S)-Box–tBu] by comparing the reaction of both enantiomers of monodeuterated benzyl ether 1a–d. As a result, we found that chirality was induced via enantioselective deprotonation followed by efficient chirality transfer of the resulting chiral benzyl carbanion with the inversion of stereochemistry. It was revealed that the chiral ligand facilitates selective deprotonation as well as prevents the chiral carbanion from racemization. Moreover, we examined the effect of the o-methoxy substituent on the benzene ring.     

Distal Allylic/Benzylic C−H Functionalization of Silyl Ethers Using Donor/Acceptor Rhodium(II) Carbenes

Regio‐ and stereoselective distal allylic/benzylic C?H functionalization of allyl and benzyl silyl ethers was achieved using rhodium(II) carbenes derived from N‐sulfonyltriazoles and aryldiazoacetates as carbene precursors. The bulky rhodium carbenes led to highly site‐selective functionalization of less activated allylic and benzylic C?H bonds even in the presence of electronically preferred C?H bonds located α to oxygen. The dirhodium catalyst Rh₂(S‐NTTL)₄ is the most effective chiral catalyst for triazole‐derived carbene transformations, whereas Rh₂(S‐TPPTTL)₄ works best for carbenes derived from aryldiazoacetates. The reactions afford a variety of δ‐functionalized allyl silyl ethers with high diastereo‐ and enantioselectivity. The utility of the present method was demonstrated by its application to the synthesis of a 3,4‐disubstituted l ‐proline scaffold.     

Lithium Choreography: Intramolecular Arylations of Carbamate‐Stabilised Carbanions and Their Mechanisms Probed by In Situ IR Spectroscopy and DFT Calculations

Deprotonation of O‐allyl, O‐propargyl or O‐benzyl carbamates in the presence of a lithium counterion leads to carbamate‐stabilised organolithium compounds that may be quenched with electrophiles. We now report that when the allylic, propargylic or benzylic carbamate bears an N‐aryl substituent, an aryl migration takes place, leading to stereochemical inversion and C‐arylation of the carbamate α to oxygen. The aryl migration is an intramolecular S_NAr reaction, despite the lack of anion‐stabilising aryl substituents. Our in situ IR studies reveal a number of intermediates along the rearrangement pathway, including a “pre‐lithiation complex,” the deprotonated carbamate, the rearranged anion, and the final arylated carbamate. No evidence was obtained for a dearomatised intermediate during the aryl migration. DFT calculations predict that during the reaction the solvated Li cation moves from the carbanion centre, thus freeing its lone pair for nucleophilic attack on the remote phenyl ring. This charge separation leads to several alternative conformations. The one having Li⁺ bound to the carbamate oxygen gives rise to the lowest‐energy transition structure, and also leads to inversion of the configuration. In agreement with the IR studies, the DFT calculations fail to locate a dearomatised intermediate.     

Distal Allylic/Benzylic C−H Functionalization of Silyl Ethers Using Donor/Acceptor Rhodium(II) Carbenes

Regio- and stereoselective distal allylic/benzylic C−H functionalization of allyl and benzyl silyl ethers was achieved using rhodium(II) carbenes derived from N-sulfonyltriazoles and aryldiazoacetates as carbene precursors. The bulky rhodium carbenes led to highly site-selective functionalization of less activated allylic and benzylic C−H bonds even in the presence of electronically preferred C−H bonds located α to oxygen. The dirhodium catalyst Rh₂(S-NTTL)₄ is the most effective chiral catalyst for triazole-derived carbene transformations, whereas Rh₂(S-TPPTTL)₄ works best for carbenes derived from aryldiazoacetates. The reactions afford a variety of δ-functionalized allyl silyl ethers with high diastereo- and enantioselectivity. The utility of the present method was demonstrated by its application to the synthesis of a 3,4-disubstituted l -proline scaffold.     

Asymmetric [2,3]‐Wittig Rearrangement of Oxygenated Allyl Benzyl Ethers in the Presence of a Chiral di‐tBu‐bis(oxazoline) Ligand: A Novel Synthetic Approach to THF Lignans

We have accomplished highly enantioselective [2,3]‐Wittig rearrangements of functionalized allyl benzyl ethers in the presence of a chiral di‐tBu‐bis(oxazoline) ligand. In various oxygenated benzylic ethers, the reactions proceeded with excellent diastereo‐ and enantioselectivities, although the presence of a methoxy substituent at the ortho‐position on the benzyl group drastically decreased the enantioselectivity. Conversely, o‐ethyl and o‐phenyl substituents had no significant effect on the selectivity. We found that the C2‐substituent of the allylic moiety played an important role in producing high enantioselectivity. Highly enantioselective [2,3]‐Wittig rearrangement in the presence of catalytic amounts of the chiral ligands is also described.     

Homologous SNV Reaction: Synthesis of l‐Methyl‐4‐[4′‐phenylsulfonyl‐1′,3′‐butadienyl]pyridinium Iodide and Its Reactivity with Thiol Groups Giving Rise to the Chromophoric Thioether

Thioether 4‐[(1′E,3′E)‐4′‐phenylsulfanyl‐1,3′‐butadienyl]pyridine 8 and sulfone 4‐(4′‐phenylsulfonyl‐1′,3′‐butadienyl)pyridine 14 were prepared by reaction of the carbanions derived from allylic thioether or allylic sulfone with isonicotinaldehyde. The reaction with the sulfonyl carbanion occurred at the α position and on heating the alcolate gave the dienic sulfone 14 . The corresponding pyridinium iodide 10 and 15 were prepared by reaction with methyl iodide, respectively, on pyridine derivates 8 and 14 . The dienic pyridinium thioether 10 showed a long wavelength absorption band centered at 420 nm. The reaction of dienic pyridinium sulfone 15 with thiophenol gave the dienic pyridinium thioether 10 by a nucleophilic vinylic substitution. The reaction of sulfone 15 with glutathione was of second order and the rate constant was 8.5 M^?1s^?1 at 30°C and pH 7, about 500 times smaller than the rate constant observed with (E)‐1‐methyl‐4‐(2‐methylsulfonyl‐1‐ethenyl)pyridinium iodide 1 . The dienic pyridinium thioether 10 was a negative solvatochrome.     

Metal complexes in organic synthesis—V: Alkylations of pentane-2,4-dione with allylic alcohols under palladium catalysis

Pentane-2,4-dione with allylic alcohols or benzyl alcohol with palladium catalysts gives high yields of C-monoalkylated diketones, arising mainly from reaction at the terminal end of the allyic system for alkyl monosubstituted allyl alcohols. The effect of the catalyst on the alcohols has been evaluated; rearrangements and disproportionations have been observed.     

Pursuit of reinitiation efficiency of resonance‐stabilized monomeric allyl radical generated via “degradative monomer chain transfer” in allyl polymerization

For a deeper understanding of allyl polymerization mechanism, the reinitiation efficiency of resonance‐stabilized monomeric allyl radical was pursued because in allyl polymerization it is commonly conceived that the monomeric allyl radical generated via the allylic hydrogen abstraction of growing polymer radical from monomer, i.e., “degradative monomer chain transfer,” has much less tendency to initiate a new polymer chain and, therefore, this monomer chain transfer is essentially a termination reaction. Based on the renewed allyl polymerization mechanism in our preceding article, the monomer chain transfer constant in the polymerization of allyl benzoate was estimated to be 2.7 × 10^?2 at 80 °C under the polymerization condition, where the coupling termination reaction of growing polymer radical with allyl radical was negligible and, concurrently, the reinitiation reaction of allyl radical was enhanced significantly. The reinitiation efficiencies of monomeric allyl radical were pursued by the dead‐end polymerizations of allyl benzoate at 80, 105, and 130 °C using a small amount of initiators; they increased remarkably with raised temperature. Thus, the enhanced reinitiation reactivity of allyl radical at an elevated temperature could bias the well‐known degradative monomer chain transfer characteristic of allyl polymerization toward the chain transfer in common vinyl polymerization. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010     

Regio- and diastereoselective functionalization of (−)-cytisine

(−)-N-Benzyl cytisine has been stereoselectively substituted in moderate to high yields on its carbon 6 (Csp³ α to the pyridone nitrogen). The reaction involved the in situ trapping of the carbanion formed by reaction of lithium diisopropyl amide (LDA) and its reaction with electrophiles (alkyl, allyl, benzyl halides, non-enolizable aldehydes, and Weinreb amide). In the absence of an electrophile or with its addition after the formation of the carbanion, a dimeric structure was isolated (yield: 42%) resulting from the 1,4-addition of the carbanion on the pyridone ring of another cytisine molecule. Deprotection of the benzyl group (Olofson's reagent) allowed the formation of 6-substituted derivatives of the natural product, cytisine, a potent agonist of nicotinic receptors of subtype α₄β₂.     

Dechalcogenative allylic selenosulfide and disulfide rearrangements: complementary methods for the formation of allylic sulfides in the absence of electrophiles. Scope, limitations, and application to the functionalization of unprotected peptides in aqueous media

Primary allylic selenosulfates (seleno Bunte salts) and selenocyanates transfer the allylic selenide moiety to thiols giving primary allylic selenosulfides, which undergo rearrangement in the presence of PPh3 with the loss of selenium to give allylically rearranged allyl alkyl sulfides. This rearrangement may be conducted with prenyl-type selenosulfides to give isoprenyl alkyl sulfides. Alkyl secondary and tertiary allylic disulfides, formed by sulfide transfer from allylic heteroaryl disulfides to thiols, undergo desulfurative allylic rearrangement on treatment with PPh3 in methanolic acetonitrile at room temperature. With nerolidyl alkyl disulfides this rearrangement provides an electrophile-free method for the introduction of the farnesyl chain onto thiols. Both rearrangements are compatible with the full range of functionality found in the proteinogenic amino acids, and it is demonstrated that the desulfurative rearrangement functions in aqueous media, enabling the derivatization of unprotected peptides. It is also demonstrated that the allylic disulfide rearrangement can be induced in the absence of phosphine at room temperature by treatment with piperidine, or simply by refluxing in methanol. Under these latter conditions the reaction is also applicable to allyl aryl disulfides, providing allylically rearranged allyl aryl sulfides in good yields.     

Selective Benzylic and Allylic Alkylation of Protic Nucleophiles with Sulfonamides through Double Lewis Acid Catalyzed Cleavage of sp3 Carbon–Nitrogen Bonds

The acid‐catalyzed benzylic and allylic alkylation of protic nucleophiles is fundamentally important for the formation of carbon? carbon and carbon? heteroatom bonds, and it is a formidable challenge for benzylic and allylic amine derivatives to be used as the alkylating agents. Herein we report a highly efficient benzylic and allylic alkylation of protic carbon and sulfur nucleophiles with sulfonamides through double Lewis acid catalyzed cleavage of sp³ carbon–nitrogen bonds at room temperature. In the presence of a catalytic amount of inexpensive ZnCl₂‐TMSCl (TMSCl: chlorotrimethylsilane), 1,3‐diketones, β‐keto esters, β‐keto amides, malononitrile, aromatic compounds, thiols, and thioacetic acid can couple with a broad range of tosyl‐activated benzylic and allylic amines to give diversely functionalized products in good to excellent yields and with high regioselectivity. Furthermore, the cross‐coupling reaction of 1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds with benzylic propargylic amine derivatives has been successfully applied to the one‐step synthesis of polysubstituted furans and benzofurans.     

Synthetic scope, computational chemistry and mechanism of a base induced 5-endo cyclization of benzyl alkynyl sulfides

We present an experimental and computational study of the reaction of aryl substituted benzyl 1-alkynyl sulfides with potassium alkoxide in acetonitrile, which produces 2-aryl 2,3-dihydrothiophenes in poor to good yields. The cyclization is most efficient with electron withdrawing groups on the aromatic ring. Evidence indicates there is rapid exchange of protons and tautomerism of the alkynyl unit prior to cyclization. Theoretical calculations were also conducted to help rationalize the base induced 5-endo cyclization of benzyl 1-propynyl sulfide (1a). The potential energy surface was calculated for the formation of 2,3-dihydrothiophene in a reaction of benzyl 1-propynyl sulfide (1a) with potassium methoxide. Geometries were optimized with CAM-B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) in acetonitrile with the CPCM solvent model. It is significant that the benzyl propa-1,2-dien-1-yl sulfane (6) possessed a lower benzylic proton affinity than the benzyl prop-2-yn-1-yl sulfane (8) thus favoring the base induced reaction of the former. From benzyl(propa-1,2-dien-1-yl sulfane (6), 2,3-dihydrothiophene can be formed via a conjugate base that undergoes 5-endo-trig cyclization followed by a protonation step.     

Pd-Catalyzed allylic alkylation of secondary nitroalkanes

A Pd-catalyzed allylic alkylation of secondary nitroalkanes, using a catalytic amount of external base, was developed. Simple allyl carbonate and monosubstituted allyl carbonates were used as electrophiles, and bulky secondary nitroalkanes were used as nucleophiles. This is the first catalytic allylic alkylation of bulky secondary nitroalkanes, such as 2-nitroheptane. The use of the strong base DBU in the aprotic polar solvent DMSO is a key in realizing the high reactivity. In an attempt to develop an asymmetric reaction, 2-aryloxazoline ligand PHOX L1 gave excellent results for inducing chirality at the π-allyl moiety. As for asymmetric induction at the α-position of the NO₂ functionality, the free OH-group containing 2-aryloxazoline ligand L4 showed moderate selectivity.     

Repairing the Thiol‐Ene Coupling Reaction

Thiol‐ene coupling (TEC) reactions emerged as one of the most useful processes for coupling different molecular units under reaction mild conditions. However, TEC reactions involving weak C? H bonds (allylic and benzylic fragments) are difficult to run and often low yielding. Mechanistic studies demonstrate that hydrogen‐atom transfer processes at allylic and benzylic positions are responsible for the lack of efficiency of the radical‐chain process. These competing reactions cannot be prevented, but reported herein is a method to repair the chain process by running the reaction in the presence of triethylborane and catechol. Under these reaction conditions, a unique repair mechanism leads to an efficient chain reaction, which is demonstrated with a broad range of anomeric O‐allyl sugar derivatives including mono‐, di‐, and tetrasaccharides bearing various functionalities and protecting groups.     

Ruthenium‐Catalyzed Oxidant‐Free Allylation of Aromatic Ketoximes with Allylic Acetates at Room Temperature

Substituted aromatic ketoximes reacted efficiently with allylic acetates in the presence of {[RuCl₂(p‐cymene)]₂} and AgSbF₆ in 1,2‐dichloroethane at ambient temperature, providing ortho‐allyl aromatic ketoximes in a highly regioselective manner without an oxidant. In the reaction, the acetate group of allyl acetate acts as a base to activate the C?H bond of aromatics. Later, ortho‐allyl aromatic ketoximes were converted into ortho‐allyl aromatic ketones in the presence of HCl.     

The photochemical reaction between 1,4-dicyanonaphtalene and methylbenzenes: Electron transfer and formation of benzylic radicals

The photochemical reaction of 1,4-dicyanonaphtalene (1) in the presence of methylbenzenes (2a–c) in acetonitrile affords 1 - benzyl - 4 - cyanonaphtalenes (3), 1 - benzyl - 1,4 - dicyano - 1,2 - dihydronaphtalenes (4), 2 - benzyl - 1,4 - dicyano - 1,2 - dihydronaphtalenes (5 and 6) and the tetracyclic derivatives 7 and 8. Compounds 3, 7 and 8 are not the products of subsequent transformations of compound 4. No photochemical reaction is observed in non-polar media, in which, on the contrary, exciplex emission is detected. Experiments in the presence of electron acceptors, electron donors and strong acids support the idea that the reaction is initiated by electron transfer from the methylbenzenes to singlet excited 1, followed by protolytic equilibrium of the benzylic radical cation to the corresponding radical, which is the attacking species.     

Tandem Thorpe Reaction/Palladium Catalyzed Asymmetric Allylic Alkylation: Access to Chiral β‐enaminonitriles with Excellent Enantioselectivity

A new type of nucleophile, a 3‐imino nitrile carbanion generated in situ by Thorpe reaction of acetonitrile with a base, was developed successfully and applied in a Pd‐catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation with mono‐substituted allyl reagents under Pd/SIOCPhox catalysis, affording β‐enaminonitrile products in high yields with excellent regio‐ and enantioselectivities.     

A Light/Ketone/Copper System for Carboxylation of Allylic C−H Bonds of Alkenes with CO2

A photo‐induced carboxylation reaction of allylic C?H bonds of simple alkenes with CO₂ is prompted by means of a ketone and a copper complex. The unique carboxylation reaction proceeds through a sequence of an endergonic photoreaction of ketones with alkenes forming homoallyl alcohol intermediates and a thermal copper‐catalyzed allyl transfer reaction from the homoallyl alcohols to CO₂ through C?C bond cleavage.     

Synthesis of benzylic boronates via palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of bis(pinacolato)diboron with benzylic halides

The palladium cross-coupling reaction of benzyl halides with diboron 1 yielded structurally diverse pinacol benzylic boronates. Under these reaction conditions, sensitive functionalities such as esters and nitriles are tolerated and the benzylic boronates are obtained in good to high yields.