Stereoselective bidirectional synthesis of spiroacetals via Rh(II)-catalysed double C–H insertion

The stereoselective synthesis of 5,5-spiroacetals by Rh(II)-catalysed double C–H insertion of methylene acetals bearing two diazo ester substituents is described. The diastereoselectivity of this bidirectional approach can be tuned through appropriate choice of catalyst, and chiral catalysts lead to products with up to 89% ee. The diastereoselectivity of the first cyclisation suggests that the second cyclisation proceeds via a non-concerted pathway.     

Diastereo- and regioselective palladium-indium bimetallic cyclisation-Barbier-type allylation cascades

A new diastereo-and regioselective Pd/In bimetallic cascade process which assembles three contiguous chiral centres is described. Pd(0)-catalysed cyclisation of aryl iodides onto proximate 1,3-dienes generates π-allylpalladium(II) species, transmetallation with indium and subsequent Barbier-type addition to aldehydes affords heterocyclic homoallylic alcohols.     

Enantioselective synthesis of N-heterocycles via intramolecular Pd(0)-catalysed allylic amination

An efficient and stereoselective synthesis of pyrrolidine-, piperidine-, and azepane-type N-heterocycles is described by the intramolecular Pd(0)-catalysed cyclisation of amino allylic carbonates. The use of chiral ligands gave the corresponding heterocyclic derivatives having er values that were from moderate to good.     

C-O and C-C bond formation in the cyclisation of gem-(dialkoxymethyl)-1,6-dienes catalysed by tin(IV) triflimidate at room temperature

We described herein a Sn(NTf₂)₄-catalysed cyclisation of gem-(dialkoxymethyl)-1,6-dienes and derivatives where cyclohexane or tetrahydrofuran rings are formed following either a 6-enexo-endo-trig process or a 5-exo-trig process, respectively, depending on substitution patterns. The latter process features an unusual dealkylative ether cyclisation, triggered by the strong Lewis acid character of the tin(IV) triflimidate catalyst.     

Transition metals in organic synthesis. Part 101: Convergent total synthesis of 1,6-dioxygenated carbazole alkaloids

Using a palladium(II)-catalysed oxidative cyclisation as key step, we describe a highly efficient total synthesis of a series of naturally occurring 1,6-dioxygenated carbazole alkaloids: clausenine, 6-methoxymurrayanine, clausenol, clausine G, clausine I, clausine Z and methyl 1,6-dihydroxy-9H-carbazole-3-carboxylate.     

Computational studies on the mechanism of the gold(I)-catalysed rearrangement of cyclopropenes

Density functional theory calculations have been employed to investigate the mechanism of gold(I)-catalysed rearrangements of cyclopropenes. Product formation is controlled by the initial ring-opening step which results in the formation of a gold-stabilised carbocation/gold carbene intermediate. With 3-phenylcyclopropene-3-methylcarboxylate, the preferred intermediate allows cyclisation via nucleophilic attack of the carbonyl group and hence butenolide formation. Further calculations on simple model systems show that substituent effects can be rationalised by the charge distribution in the ring-opening transition state and, in particular, a loss of negative charge at what becomes the β-position of the intermediate. With 1-C(3)H(3)R cyclopropenes (R = Me, vinyl, Ph), ring-opening therefore places the substituent at the β-position.     

A new approach to cyclic nitrones: Application to the synthesis of α,α′-disubstituted piperidines and pyrrolidines

A new synthesis of nitrones is described. This involves the Ag(I)-catalysed cyclisation of allenic oximes, the resulting nitrones being trapped by various 1,3-dipolarophiles.     

A facile gold(I)-catalysed intramolecular alkyne hydroarylation approach to methyl 5-amino-2H-1-benzopyran-8-carboxylate derivatives

A high yielding and selective method for producing methyl 5-amino-2H-1-benzopyran-8-carboxylate derivatives via gold(I)-catalysed intramolecular alkyne hydroarylation has been developed.     

Zur Cyclisierung von Dehydrolinalylacetat in Gegenwart von Zinkchlorid

ZnCl₂-catalysed cyclisation of dehydrolinalyl acetate. Dehydrolinalyl acetate has been converted to carvenone ( 5 ), the corresponding enol acetate 2-acetoxy-p-mentha-1,3-diene ( 6 ), and to 2-acetoxy-2-carene ( 7 ). The acetate of the pyran 8 is also formed. The same intermediate is postulated in the formation of both 6 and 7 .     

Formal synthesis of (±)-brazilin and total synthesis of (±)-brazilane

A convergent synthesis towards (±)-brazilin and (±)-brazilane has been reported from 3,4-dimethoxy benzaldehyde in <15 reaction steps. Palladium(II)-catalysed intramolecular Friedel–Crafts cyclisation and Lewis acid supported intermolecular Friedel–Crafts alkylation reactions have been demonstrated. A tetracyclic substituted indane common key intermediate is employed to furnish the desired two molecules in good to excellent yield. Pd(OH)₂ has played a crucial role in the total synthesis of (±)-brazilane.     

Free radical cyclisation of enamides leading to biologically important γ-lactams

This review describes the free radical cyclisation of enamides using tributyltin hydride, manganese(III) acetate, copper(I) complexes or dichlorotris(triphenylphosphine)ruthenium(II). These cyclisations can proceed via either 4-exo or 5-endo pathways, to produce β- or γ-lactam products, respectively. In general, the reactions produce γ-lactams derived from an unusual (disfavoured) 5-endo-trig radical cyclisation. These results can be explained on the basis of a reversible cyclisation mechanism; the 4-exo cyclisation produces the kinetically favoured β-lactam while the 5-endo cyclisation produces the thermodynamically more stable γ-lactam.     

Novel C2-symmetric bisoxazolines with a chiral trans-(2R,3R)-diphenylcyclopropane backbone: preparation and application in several enantioselective catalytic reactions

Various chiral bisoxazoline ligands with a chiral trans-(2R,3R)-diphenylcyclopropane backbone have been efficiently synthesized (five examples). These chiral ligands were tested and compared in palladium(0)-catalysed enantioselective allylic alkylations (up to 97% ee), copper(I)-catalysed enantioselective cyclopropanations (up to 89% ee) and aziridinations (up to 90% ee). We observed that the presence of a stereogenic centre on the oxazoline moiety is mandatory in order to obtain acceptable enantioselectivities.     

Synthesis of (−)-pinidinone

The diastereoselective PdCl₂/CuCl₂-catalysed intramolecular methoxyaminocarbonylation of N-benzyl protected alkenyl amine 4 was used as a key step in the total synthesis of the naturally occurring piperidine alkaloid (−)-pinidinone. Commercially available (S)-propylene oxide was employed as starting material, delivering the key substrate 4 in three steps and 68% overall yield. Subsequently, the influence of various reaction parameters on the diastereoselectivity of the key cyclisation of 4 was scrutinised. Copper(II) chloride proved to be the optimum reagent and/or co-catalyst for the successful aminocyclisation-methoxycarbonylation tandem transformation of alkenyl amine 4 into the desired methyl esters 3 and 8. The latter were subsequently transformed into the title natural product.     

An iodoacetamide-based free radical cyclisation approach to the 7,12-dihydro-indolo[3,2-d][1]benzazepin-6(5H)-one (paullone) system

A potentially versatile route to 2-(2-aminoaryl)indoles is described based on a palladium-mediated cyclisation of N-substituted indoles, together with free radical cyclisation of their N-benzyliodoacetamide derivatives to the 7,12-dihydro-indolo[3,2-d][1]benzazepin-6(5H)-one system.     

Tandem intermolecular-intramolecular carbolithiation: application to the synthesis of silacyclopentanes

Silacyclopentanes have been prepared from vinyl(homoallyl)silanes or vinyl(homopropargyl)silanes and organolithium reagents by a tandem intermolecular-intramolecular sequence involving a 5-exo cyclisation process. The unexpected stereochemical outcome of the sequence involving a 5-exo-dig cyclisation is rationalised.     

Gold(I)-catalysed arylation of 1,6-enynes: different site reactivity of cyclopropyl gold carbenes

Gold(I)-catalysed addition of electron-rich arenes and heteroarenes to 1,6-enynes gives two different types of products by reaction of the intermediate cyclopropyl gold carbenes at the cyclopropane or at the carbene.     

Investigation of the Cyclopentenone Formation via the α-Alkynone Cyclisation: Synthesis of the Acorone Intermediate 8-Methylspiro[4.5]deca-3,7-dien-2-one

As a further application of the cyclopentenone formation A→C via the thermal α-alkynone cyclisation B→C and in order to test the fate of an isolated C,C-double bond within a molecule under these conditions, we investigated the synthesis of the acorone intermediate 3 starting from the known carboxylic acid 1 . The α-alkynone 2 was obtained from 1 via the acyl chloride 6 and a Pd(II)-catalysed route (22%). The thermolysis of 2 at 550° provided the target molecule 3 (48%) together with the product 9 (20%) of a competing intramolecular ene reaction and its dimer 10 (4%). At a higher thermolysis temperature (650°), the spiro ketone 3 was found to be unstable, affording the retro-Diels-Alder fragments 4-methylidene-2-cyclopentenone ( 12 ) (33%) and isoprene (32%). A further example of the influence of an isolated double bond on the yield of the cyclopentenone-formation sequence A→C was provided by the comparison of the annelation 14→20 (5% overall with Pd(II)-catalysed acylation) with that of its non-olefinic analogue 17→21 (53% overall with Friedel-Crafts acylation).     

Metal-catalysed radical cyclisations leading to N-heterocycles: new approaches to gabapentin and pulchellalactam

The copper(I) or ruthenium(II)-mediated radical cyclisation of halo-amides has been utilised to afford functionalised pyrrolidinones via 5-endo-trig or 5-exo-trig radical cyclisation pathways. This methodology has been applied to novel and concise syntheses of the anti-epileptic drug gabapentin and the biologically active natural product pulchellalactam.     

Regio- and stereoselective 6-exo-trig radical cyclisations onto chiral perhydro-1,3-benzoxazines: synthesis of enantiopure 3-alkylpiperidines

Enantiopure 3-alkyl substituted piperidines are prepared by diastereoselective 6-exo-trig cyclisation of perhydro-1,3-benzoxazines derived from (−)-(8)-amino menthol. The diastereoselective cyclisation is promoted by tributyltin hydride, and the competitive 1,5-hydrogen migration depends on the position of the acceptor double bond and the radical site.     

A highly diastereoselective series of Nicholas cyclisation reactions of N-Boc-protected propargylamines

The reaction of N-Boc-protected propargylamine with salicylaldehyde derivatives and their subsequent Nicholas cyclisation reaction to provide a range of novel benzopyrans is reported. The cyclisation reactions proceeded with excellent levels of diastereoselectivity to afford compounds with cis-relative stereochemistry. As far as we are able to ascertain these are the first reported examples of Nicholas cyclisation reactions of propargyl alcohols that bear a terminal alkynyl N-protected amino motif.