Phosphine-catalyzed annulations of azomethine imines: allene-dependent [3 + 2], [3 + 3], [4 + 3], and [3 + 2 + 3] pathways

In this paper we describe the phosphine-catalyzed [3 + 2], [3 + 3], [4 + 3], and [3 + 2 + 3] annulations of azomethine imines and allenoates. These processes mark the first use of azomethine imines in nucleophilic phosphine catalysis, producing dinitrogen-fused heterocycles, including tetrahydropyrazolo-pyrazolones, -pyridazinones, -diazepinones, and -diazocinones. Counting the two different reaction modes in the [3 + 3] cyclizations, there are five distinct reaction pathways-the choice of which depends on the structure and chemical properties of the allenoate. All reactions are operationally simple and proceed smoothly under mild reaction conditions, affording a broad range of 1,2-dinitrogen-containing heterocycles in moderate to excellent yields. A zwitterionic intermediate formed from a phosphine and two molecules of ethyl 2,3-butadienoate acted as a 1,5-dipole in the annulations of azomethine imines, leading to the [3 + 2 + 3] tetrahydropyrazolo-diazocinone products. The incorporation of two molecules of an allenoate into an eight-membered-ring product represents a new application of this versatile class of molecules in nucleophilic phosphine catalysis. The salient features of this protocol--the facile access to a diverse range of nitrogen-containing heterocycles and the simple preparation of azomethine imine substrates--suggest that it might find extensive applications in heterocycle synthesis.     

Nucleophilic phosphine-catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition of allenes with N-(thio)phosphoryl imines and acidic methanolysis of adducts N-(thio)phosphoryl 3-pyrrolines: a facile synthesis of free amine 3-pyrrolines

In this report, the dipolarophile imines with easily removable activating group O,O-diethyl(thio)phosphoryl have been investigated in the nucleophilic phosphine-catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition reaction of electron-deficient allenes. Under the catalysis of a tertiary phosphine, N-(thio)phosphorylimines readily undergo the [3+2] cycloaddition reaction with ethyl 2,3-butadienoate or ethyl 2,3-pentadienoate, affording the corresponding N-(thio)phosphoryl 3-pyrrolines in moderate to high yields with good diastereoselectivity. Removal of the (thio)phosphoryl group from the adducts has been successfully achieved via the acidic methanolysis of the P-N bond, giving the free amine 3-pyrrolines in fair to good yields without severe aromatization. Thus, a facile synthesis of N-unsubstituted 3-pyrrolines is established from the phosphine-catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition reaction of allenes with imines.     

Phosphine-Catalyzed [3+2] Cycloaddition of Aza-Aurones and Allenoates: Enantioselective Synthesis of 2-Spirocyclopentyl-Indolin-3-Ones

An enantioselective phosphine-catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition between aza-aurones and allenoates is here described. The reaction proceeded under mild reaction conditions to afford 2-spirocyclopentyl indolin-3-one derivatives as single γ-isomer and with high levels of stereocontrol.     

A highly regio- and stereo-selective [3+2] annulation of allylic compounds and 2-substituted 1,1-dicyanoalkenes through a catalytic carbon-phosphorus ylide reaction

A highly regio- and stereo-selective phosphine-catalyzed [3+2] annulation reaction between allylic compounds and 2-substituted 1,1-dicyanoalkenes through a catalytic phosphorus ylide reaction was developed. This reaction has the total reversed regioselectivity compared to that of the reactions of activated alkenes without the 2-substituents or reactions using the allenoates as the C3 component.     

Phosphine-catalyzed synthesis of highly functionalized coumarins

2-Styrenyl allenoates are converted into cyclopentene-fused dihydrocoumarins through phosphine-catalyzed regio- and diastereoselective [3 + 2] cycloadditions. Remarkably, changing the solvent from THF to benzene promotes the conversion of the 2-(2-nitrostyrenyl) allenoate into a tricyclic nitronate through a previously undocumented mode of phosphine catalysis. This nitronate was subjected to efficient face-, regio-, and exo-selective 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions to provide tetracyclic coumarin derivatives.     

Elucidation of the reaction mechanisms and diastereoselectivities of phosphine-catalyzed [4 + 2] annulations between allenoates and ketones or aldimines

The phosphine-catalyzed [4 + 2] annulations between allenoates and electron-poor trifluoromethyl ketones or N-tosylbenzaldimine dipolarophiles have been investigated in continuum solvation using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The detailed reaction mechanisms as well as the high cis-diastereoselectivities of the reactions have been firstly clarified. Our calculated results reveal that the whole catalytic process is presumably initiated with the nucleophilic attack of phosphine catalyst at the allenoate to produce the zwitterionic intermediate , which subsequently undergoes γ-addition to the electron-poor C[double bond, length as m-dash]O (or C[double bond, length as m-dash]N) dipolarophile to form another intermediate . The following [1,3] hydrogen shift of is demonstrated to proceed via two consecutive proton transfer steps without the assistance of protic solvent: the anionic O6 (or N6) of first acts as a base catalyst to abstract a proton from C1 to produce the intermediate , and then the OH (or NH) group can donate the acidic proton to C3 to complete the [1,3] hydrogen shift and generate the intermediate . Finally, the intramolecular Michael-type addition followed by the elimination of catalyst furnishes the final product. High cis-diastereoselectivities are also predicted for both the two reactions, which is in good agreement with the experimental observations. For the reaction of allenoates with trifluoromethyl ketones, the first proton transfer is found to be the diastereoselectivity-determining step. The cumulative effects of the steric repulsion, electrostatic interaction as well as other weak interactions appear to contribute to the relative energies of transition states leading to the diastereomeric products. On the contrary, in the case of N-tosylbenzaldimines, the Michael-type addition is found to be the diastereoselectivity-determining step. Similarly, steric repulsion, as well as electrostatic interaction is also identified to be the dominant factors in controlling the high cis-diastereoselectivity of this reaction.     

Theory of 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions: distortion/interaction and frontier molecular orbital models

Quantum chemical calculations of activation barriers and reaction energies for 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions by the high-accuracy CBS-QB3 method reveal previously unrecognized quantitative trends in activation barriers. The distortion/interaction model of reactivity explains why (1) there is a monotonic decrease of approximately 6 kcal/mol in the activation energy along the series oxides, imine, and ylide for the diazonium, nitrilium, and azomethine betaine classes of 1,3-dipoles; (2) nitrilium and azomethine betaines with the same trio of atoms have almost identical cycloaddition barrier heights; (3) barrier heights for the cycloadditions of a given 1,3-dipole with ethylene and acetylene have the same activation energies (mean absolute deviation of 0.6 kcal/mol) in spite of very different reaction thermodynamics (Delta DeltaH(rxn) range = 14-43 kcal/mol) and frontier molecular orbital (FMO) energy gaps. The energy to distort the 1,3-dipole and dipolarophile to the transition state geometry, rather than FMO interactions or reaction thermodynamics, controls reactivity for cycloadditions of 1,3-dipoles with alkenes or alkynes. A distortion/interaction energy analysis was also carried out on the transition states for the cycloadditions of diazonium dipoles with a set of substituted alkenes (CH2CHX, X = OMe, Me, CO 2Me, Cl, CN) and reveals that FMO interaction energies between the 1,3-dipole and the dipolarophile differentiate reactivity when transition state distortion energies are nearly constant.     

Recent advances in "formal" ruthenium-catalyzed [2+2+2] cycloaddition reactions of diynes to alkenes

"Formal" and standard RuII-catalyzed [2+2+2] cycloaddition of 1,6-diynes to alkenes gave bicyclic 1,3-cyclohexadienes in relatively good yields. When terminal 1,6-diynes 1 were used, two isomeric bicyclic 1,3-cyclohexadienes 4 or 6 were obtained, depending on the acyclic or cyclic nature of the alkene partner. When unsymmetrical substituted 1,6-diynes 7 were used, the reaction with acyclic alkenes took place regio- and stereoselectively to afford bicyclic 1,3-cyclohexadienes 8. A cascade process that behaves as a "formal" RuII-catalyzed [2+2+2] cycloaddition explained these results. Initially, a Ru-catalyzed linear coupling of 1,6-diynes 1 and 7 with acyclic alkenes occurs to give open 1,3,5-trienes of type 3, which after a thermal disrotatory 6e(-) pi-electrocyclization led to the final 1,3-cyclohexadienes 4 and 8. When disubstituted 1,6-diyne 10 was used with electron-deficient alkenes, new exo-methylene cyclohexadienes 12 arose from a competitive reaction pathway.     

Cycloaddition of trifluoromethyl azafulvenium methides: synthesis of new trifluoromethylpyrrole-annulated derivatives

The chemistry of trifluoromethyl azafulvenium methides was explored leading to a new route to trifluoromethylpyrrole-annulated systems. The first evidence of azafulvenium methides acting as 1,3-dipoles is reported. These azafulvenium methides showed site selectivity in the reaction with strong electron-deficient dipolarophiles leading exclusively to 1,3-cycloadducts. In the cycloaddition with less-activated dipolarophiles 1,7-cycloadducts resulting from [8π+2π] cycloaddition are also formed. FMO analysis of the cycloaddition reactions allowed the rationalization of the observed selectivity.     

Formal and standard ruthenium-catalyzed [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of 1,6-diynes to alkenes: a mechanistic density functional study

"Formal" and standard Ru(II)-catalyzed [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition of 1,6-diynes 1 to alkenes gave bicyclic 1,3-cyclohexadienes in relatively good yields. The neutral Ru(II) catalyst was formed in situ by mixing equimolecular amounts of [Cp*Ru(CH3CN)3]PF6 and Et4NCl. Two isomeric bicyclic 1,3-cyclohexadienes 3 and 8 were obtained depending on the cyclic or acyclic nature of the alkene partner. Mechanistic studies on the Ru catalytic cycle revealed a clue for this difference: (a) when acyclic alkenes were used, linear coupling of 1,6-diynes with alkenes was observed giving 1,3,5-trienes 6 as the only initial reaction products, which after a thermal disrotatory 6e-pi electrocyclization led to the final 1,3-cyclohexadienes 3 as probed by NMR studies. This cascade process behaved as a formal Ru-catalyzed [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition. (b) With cyclic alkenes, the standard Ru-catalyzed [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition occurred, giving the bicyclic 1,3-cyclohexadienes 8 as reaction products. A complete catalytic cycle for the formal and standard Ru-catalyzed [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition of acetylene and cyclic and acyclic alkenes with the Cp*RuCl fragment has been proposed and discussed based on DFT/B3LYP calculations. The most likely mechanism for these processes would involve the formation of ruthenacycloheptadiene intermediates XXIII or XXVII depending on the alkene nature. From these complexes, two alternatives could be envisioned: (a) a reductive elimination in the case of cyclic alkenes 7 and (b) a beta-elimination followed by reductive elimination to give 1,3,5-hexatrienes 6 in the case of acyclic alkenes. Final 6e-pi electrocyclization of 6 gave 1,3-cyclohexadienes 3.     

Efficient synthesis of polycyclic dispirooxindoles via domino Diels–Alder cyclodimerization reaction

Three-component reactions of 4-cyanopyridine or ethyl isonicotinate with electron-deficient alkynes and isatins in dimethoxyethane at room temperature afforded spiro[3H-indole-3,2′-[2H,9aH-pyrido[2,1-b][1,3]oxazine] derivatives. Alternately, the similar three-component reaction at elevated temperature resulted in polycyclic dispirooxindole derivatives. The reaction mechanism is believed to involve sequential generation and cycloaddition of Huisgen's 1,4-dipole, and Diels–Alder cyclodimerization reaction. The similar three-component reactions containing acenaphthenequinone and phenanthrenequinone also afforded corresponding polyheterocyclic derivatives.     

Uncharacteristic thione behavior in a Huisgen cycloaddition reaction: a kinetic and theoretical study

In the reaction of phthalazinium-2-dicyanomethanide with adamantanethione the rare ring system [1,3]thiazolo[2,3-a]phthalazine was obtained. An X-ray crystal structure of the product shows regioselectivity with the thione carbon bonded to the dicyanomethanide terminus of the 1,3-dipole. UV kinetic measurements and DFT calculations showed that the rate of cycloaddition of adamantanethione was significantly slower than that of DMAD and no super-dipolarophile character was exhibited. This arose from exceptional lowering of the HOMO energy of the 1,3-dipole by the cyano substituents.     

Phosphine-catalyzed [4+2] cycloaddition of sulfamate-derived cyclic imines with allenoates: synthesis of sulfamate-fused tetrahydropyridines

Using n-PrPPh₂ as the nucleophilic catalyst, the [4+2] cycloaddition reaction of the sulfamate-derived cyclic imines with allenoates works efficiently to yield various sulfamate-fused tetrahydropyridines in high yields with excellent diastereoselectivities. Using amino acid-based bifunctional phosphine as chiral catalyst, an asymmetric [4+2] cycloaddition reaction was achieved, giving chiral sulfamate-fused tetrahydropyridines in high yields with good enantiomeric excesses.     

Unusual formal [4 + 2] cycloaddition of ethyl allenoate with arylidenoxindoles: synthesis of dihydropyran-fused indoles

An unusual DABCO-catalyzed formal [4 + 2] cycloaddition of ethyl allenoate, as a surrogate of a "1,2-dipole", with various arylidenoxindoles has been developed for the synthesis of dihydropyran-fused indoles. The DFT mechanistic study indicates that the cycloaddition takes place stepwise and the essential role of the catalyst is to raise the HOMO of allenoate.     

Enantiocontrolled synthesis of highly functionalized tropanes via [5 + 2] cycloaddition to eta(3)-pyridinylmolybdenum pi-complexes

[reaction: see text] A chiral, nonracemic eta(3)-pyridinyl scaffold participates in [5 + 2] cycloaddition with electron-deficient alkenes, an allene, and an alkyne to give eta(3)-allylmolybdenum bicyclic adducts. The adducts can be demetalated, providing a convergent route to highly functionalized tropanes. High enantiocontrol can be achieved throughout the cycloaddition and demetalation sequence.     

Highly site, regio-, and stereoselective multicomponent reaction of benzimidazole carbenes, isothiocyanates, and allenoates

The novel three-component reaction of benzimidazole carbenes with isothiocyanates and allenoates proceeded efficiently in a highly site, regio-, and stereoselective manner to produce predominantly spiro[benzimidazoline-2,3′-tetrahydrothiophene] derivatives. The reaction was proposed to occur via a tandem nucleophilic addition of carbenes to isothiocyanates followed by an unusual [3+2] cycloaddition to the less activated carbon-carbon double bond of allenoates.     

Phosphine-catalyzed dearomative [3+2] annulation of 3-nitroindoles and allenoates

The efficient phosphine-catalyzed dearomative [3+2] annulation of 3-nitroindoles with allenoates has been successfully developed, providing a facile access to cyclopenta[b]indolines with good to excellent yields and high diastereoselectivities. This strategy features mild reaction conditions, high functional group tolerance, and scalability. Additionally, the 2-nitrobenzofuran and 2-nitrobenzothiophene were good dearomative [3+2] annulation partners.     

Phosphine‐Catalyzed Enantioselective Dearomative [3+2]‐Cycloaddition of 3‐Nitroindoles and 2‐Nitrobenzofurans

Over the past years, the metal‐catalyzed dearomative cycloaddition of 3‐nitroindoles and 2‐nitrobenzofurans have emerged as a powerful protocol to construct chiral fused heterocyclic rings. However, organocatalytic dearomative reaction of these two classes of heteroarenes has become a long‐standing challenging task. Herein, we report the first example of phosphine‐catalyzed asymmetric dearomative [3+2]‐cycloadditio of 3‐nitroindoles and 2‐nitrobenzofurans, which provide a new, facile, and efficient protocol for the synthesis of chiral 2,3‐fused cyclopentannulated indolines and dihydrobenzofurans by reacting with allenoates and MBH carbonates, respectively through a dearomative [3+2]‐cycloaddition.     

Cycloaddition reactions of allenylphosphonates and related allenes with dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates, 1,3-diphenylisobenzofuran, and anthracene

Cycloaddition reactions of allenylphosphonates [(RO)(2)P(O)[(R(1))C═C═CR(2)(2)] with dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates, 1,3-diphenylisobenzofuran, and anthracene have been investigated and compared with those of allenoates [(EtO(2)C)RC═C═CH(2)] and allenylphosphine oxides [Ph(2)P(O)(R(1))C═C═CR(2)(2)] in selected cases. Allenylphosphonates (RO)(2)P(O)(Ar)C═C═CH(2) with an α-aryl group preferentially undergo [4 + 2] cycloaddition with DMAD/DEAD under thermal activation, but in addition to the expected 1:1 (allene: DMAD) product, the reaction also leads to 1:2 as well as 2:1 products that were not reported before. When an extra vinyl group is present at the γ-carbon of allenylphosphonate [e.g., (OCH(2)CMe(2)CH(2)O)P(O)(Ph)C═C═CH(C═CHMe)], [4 + 2] cycloaddition takes place utilizing either the vinylic or the aryl end, but additionally a novel cyclization wherein complete opening of the [β,γ] carbon-carbon double bond of the allene is realized. In contrast to these, the reaction of allenylphosphonate (OCH(2)CMe(2)CH(2)O)P(O)(H)C═C═CMe(2) possessing a terminal ═CMe(2) group with DMAD occurs by both [2 + 2] cycloaddition and ene reaction. While the reaction of ═CH(2) terminal allenylphosphonates as well as allenylphosphine oxides with 1,3-diphenylisobenzofuran afforded preferentially endo-[4 + 2] cycloaddition products via [α,β] attack, the analogous allenoates [(EtO(2)C)RC═C═CH(2)] underwent exo-[4 + 2] cyclization. Under similar conditions, allenylphosphonates with a terminal ═CR(2) group gave only [β,γ]-cycloaddition products. An unusual ring-opening of a [4 + 2] cycloaddition product followed by ring-closing via [4 + 4] cycloaddition, as revealed by (31)P NMR spectroscopy, is reported. Anthracene reacted in a manner similar to 1,3-diphenylisobenzofuran, albeit with lower reactivity. Key products, including a set of exo- and endo- [4 + 2] cycloaddition products, have been characterized by single crystal X-ray crystallography.     

铱催化环加成反应的研究进展

过渡金属催化环加成反应是合成单环及多环化合物的重要方法,也是有机化学的研究热点之一.综述了近年来铱催化环加成反应的研究进展,主要包括了[2+2+1],[2+2+2],[4+2],1,3-偶极环加成反应等,及少量关于[3+2+2],[3+2],[5+1]环加成反应的报道,并讨论了部分铱催化环加成反应机理.