Synthesis of isoindolinones: Intramolecular [4+2] cycloaddition/retro [4+2] of pyridone propiolamides

A new synthesis of isoindolinones was discovered during a screening campaign aimed at the development of novel methods for the synthesis of pyridone-EZH2 inhibitor analogues. The reaction proceeds via an intramolecular [4+2] cycloaddition of a pyridone with a tethered propiolamide moiety followed by extrusion of isocyanic acid. The discovery, optimization, and scope of the methodology are described.     

Catalytic [2+2] and [3+2] cycloaddition reactions of allenoates with cyclic ketimines

Cyclic ketimines as electrophiles for [2+2] and [3+2] cycloaddition reactions of allenoates have been developed, affording functionalized sultam-fused azetidines and dihydropyrroles, respectively, in good yields with high regioselectivities.     

Highly enantioselective [4 + 2] cycloaddition reactions catalyzed by a chiral N-methyl-oxazaborolidinium cation

The reaction of lithium aryl borohydrides with salts of beta-amino alcohols provides a new route for the synthesis of oxazaborolidines. This method also leads to the first synthesis of hitherto elusive N-methyl oxazaborolidine cations, specifically the cationic proline derivative 3. Compound 3 is a strong chiral Lewis acid which is very effective for catalysis of [4 + 2]-cycloaddition reactions in good yield and with high enantioselectivity. Several diverse examples illustrate the scope of these catalytic reactions.     

[4+2]cycloaddition reactions of triarylphosphaalkene

Cycloaddition reactions of mesityl(diphenyliiifithylene)phosphine ($\text{1}$) were Investigated. With several dienes, no Diels-Alder reactions were oEserved. With azides, diphenyidiazomethane and 2,4,6-trimethylbenzonitrile oxide, the corresponding cycloadducts ($\text{4}$$\text{12}$$\text{17}$$\text{12}$were obtained. In the case of phenyl azide, a competing Staudinger reaction occurred leading to $\text{3}$.     

Catalytic enantioselective intermolecular [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition of an alkene and two alkynes

A catalytic enantioselective intermolecular [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition of one molecule of alkene (enone) and two molecules of alkyne was developed in the presence of a nickel complex modified by chiral monodentate oxazoline ligands, which have not previously been used as chiral ligands for transition metals in asymmetric catalysts, and an aluminium phenoxide.     

Rhodium N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed [4 + 2] and [5 + 2] cycloaddition reactions

[reactions: see text] A rhodium complex of N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) has been developed for intra- and intermolecular [4 + 2] and intramolecular [5 + 2] cycloaddition reactions. This is the first use of a transition-metal NHC complex in a Diels-Alder-type reaction. For the intramolecular [4 + 2] cycloaddition reactions, all the dienynes studied were converted to their corresponding cycloadducts in 91-99% yields within 10 min. Moreover, up to 1900 turnovers have been obtained for the intramolecular [4 + 2] cycloaddition at 15-20 degrees C. For the intermolecular [4 + 2] cycloadditions, high yields (71-99%) of the corresponding cycloaddition products were obtained. The reaction time and yield were highly dependent upon the diene and the dienophile. For the intramolecular [5 + 2] cycloaddition reactions, all the alkyne vinylcyclopropanes studied were converted to their corresponding cycloadducts in 91-98% yields within 10 min. However, the catalytic system was not effective for an intermolecular [5 + 2] cycloaddition reaction.     

[2+2]- AND [4+2] cycloaddition reactions of 1,3-diazabutadienes with diphenylketene

1,3-Diazabutadienes react with diphenylketene in [2+2] - and [4+2] cycloaddition reactions, depending on the substitution pattern. Spectroscopic data (IR, ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR) and results of quantummechanical model calculations (ab initio 3-21G) are presented.     

Recent advances in enantioselective [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition

Enantioselective cycloaddition using chiral transition metal catalysts is an atom-economical and efficient synthetic tool for the construction of chiral carbo- and heterocyclic skeletons. This short account discloses our recent results of inter- and intramolecular enantioselective [2 + 2 + 2] cycloadditions of alkyne and/or alkene moiety(ies). Chiral iridium complexes catalyzed the alkyne trimerization for the generation of axial chirality(ies), and chiral rhodium ones catalyzed alkyne-alkyne-alkene cyclization for the generation of a quaternary carbon including spirocyclic system.     

Intramolecular [4+2] cycloaddition reactions of enamines and enamides

An attempt to utilize a new strategy for alkaloid synthesis which features the intramolecular [4+2] cycloaddition of enamines and enamides for the construction of the tetracyclic spiroamine skeleton characteristic of the Erythrina alkaloids was unsuccessful, unexpectedly giving a bridged cycloadduct rather than a fused one.     

Rhodium-catalyzed enantioselective [2+2+2] cycloaddition of diynes with unfunctionalized alkenes

A chiral rhodium complex catalyzed an enantioselective [2+2+2] cycloaddition of unsymmetrical diynes with norbornene, and tetracyclic products were obtained in good to excellent ee. The cycloaddition of a symmetrical diyne with styrene derivatives as coupling partners gave bicyclic products in good ee.     

Diastereo- and enantioselective palladium-catalyzed dearomative [4+2] cycloaddition of 3-nitroindoles

A Pd-catalyzed asymmetric decarboxylative [4+2] cycloaddition of 3-nitroindoles and vinyl benzoxazinanones is developed through a dearomatization approach. The reaction provides an efficient protocol for constructing a series of chiral tetrahydro-5H-indolo[2,3-b]quinolines in high yields and with excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivities.     

Gold-catalyzed transannular [4+3] cycloaddition reactions

In the presence of a catalytic amount of Au(I) and Ag(I) salts, the 14-membered furanophane II with an allene function located across the ring undergoes both a transannular [4+3] and [4+2] cycloaddition. Secondary rearrangement products containing a tricyclic ring system were isolated when the catalyst was PtCl₂.     

Rh-catalyzed intermolecular and enantioselective [4 + 2] cycloaddition of 1,3-dienes with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate

A Rh-BINAP complex catalyzed an intermolecular and enantioselective [4 + 2] cycloaddition of 1-monosubstituted, 1,1- or 1,2-disubstituted buta-1,3-dienes with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate to give chiral cyclohexa-1,4-dienes.     

Inverse electron-demand aza-[4+2] cycloaddition reactions of allenamides

An inverse electron-demand aza-[4+2] cycloaddition reaction of allenamides with 1-azadiene is described here. Effects of solvents on diastereoselectivity along with synthetic scopes and mechanistic insights are illustrated. Despite some synthetic limitations, this aza-[4+2] cycloaddition does provide a useful template for the synthesis of aza-glycoside related heterocycles.     

Gold-catalyzed formal [3 + 3] and [4 + 2] cycloaddition reactions of nitrosobenzenes with alkenylgold carbenoids

We report two new formal cycloaddition reactions between nitrosobenzenes and alkenylgold carbenoids. We obtained quinoline oxides 3 in satisfactory yields from the gold-catalyzed [3 + 3]-cycloadditions between nitrosobenzenes and alkenyldiazo esters 1. For propargyl esters 5, its resulting gold carbenes react with nitrosobenzene to give alkenylimine 8, followed by a [4 + 2]-cycloaddition with nitrosobenzene.     

Bay-area selective thermal [4+2] and [4+4] cycloaddition reactions of triply linked ZnII diporphyrin with o-xylylene

A triply linked ZnII diporphyrin underwent site-selective cycloaddition reactions with thermally generated o-xylylene to provide a triply linked porphyrin-chlorin hybrid and a triply linked chlorin dimer in moderate yields. The former product is a symmetry-allowed [4+2] cycloadduct, while the latter is a symmetry-forbidden [4+4] cycloadduct. Oxidation of the latter product with 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ) provided a triply linked diporphyrin fused with a benzocyclooctatriene segment. This oxidized product and above [4+2] cycloadduct were structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The observed site-selectivity is considered to arise from the large MO coefficients at the bay-area in the LUMO of the triply linked diporphyrin. The anomalous thermal [4+4] cycloaddition may be ascribed to the highly conjugated and quite perturbed electronic properties of triply linked ZnII diporphyrin.     

Catalytic [2+2+2] and thermal [4+2] cycloaddition of 1,2-bis(arylpropiolyl)benzenes

We have determined that a cationic rhodium(I)/Segphos complex catalyzes an enantio- and diastereoselective intermolecular [2+2+2] cycloaddition of 1,2-bis(arylpropiolyl)benzenes with various monoalkynes at room temperature to give axially chiral 1,4-teraryls possessing an anthraquinone structure in good yields with good enantio- and diastereoselectivities. We have also determined that a thermal intramolecular [4+2] cycloaddition of 1,2-bis(arylpropiolyl)benzenes proceeds at 60 degrees C to give aryl-substituted naphthacenediones in moderate to good yields.     

Hydrotalcite catalysed [4+2] cycloaddition reactions of nitroso- and azo-alkenes

The generation of nitroso- and azo-alkenes and their [4+2] cycloaddition reactions with furan and ethyl vinyl ether, producing dihydro-1,2-oxazines and tetrahydropyridazines, by the use of catalytic Mg:Al 3:1 hydrotalcite, is described. The absence of an organic solvent, the catalytic quantities of Ht required together with its regeneration and reuse, may be regarded as environmentally friendly, greener and economically advantageous over the usual methods.     

Recent advances in [2+2+2] cycloaddition reactions

The [2+2+2] cycloaddition is an elegant, atom-efficient and group tolerant process for the synthesis of carbo- and heterocycles, mostly aromatic, involving the formation of several C-C bonds in a single step. Cyclotrimerisation is catalyzed by a variety of organometallic complexes, including more than 15 different metals. The aim of this tutorial review is to point out the most recent advances in this field and to encourage the use of this reaction enroute to complex molecules. After summarizing the most common catalysts and reaction conditions generally used, we survey the mechanistic features currently accepted for this reaction. Section 4 covers the scope of the different [2+2+2] cycloaddition versions starting with the cyclotrimerisation of three triple bonds, including nitriles, with especial emphasis on asymmetric reactions that create central, axial or planar chirality. Then, reactions that use double bonds are addressed. Finally, the most outstanding examples of natural products synthesis using [2+2+2] cycloadditions as a key step reported recently are shown.     

Organotransition metal [3+2] cycloaddition reactions

The review, covering the literature of roughly the last three decades, describes the [3+2] cycloaddition reactions of metalla dipolarophiles M=X with organic 1,3-dipoles, and of metalla 1,3-dipoles, M---X=Y and X---M=Y, with organic dipolarophiles. The resulting 5-membered metalla heterocycles can undergo consecutive insertion and/or reductive elimination reactions to give synthetically interesting organic heterocycles. The reactivity of the organometal 1,3-dipoles is explained by extensive series of isolobal transformations to classic organic 1,3-dipoles.