An Oxidative Rearrangement of 6‐Phenylbicyclo[3.2.0]heptan‐6‐ol to 1,1′‐Biphenyl‐Carbaldehydes: A Mechanistic Study

Acid‐catalyzed rearrangement of 6‐phenylbicyclo[3.2.0]heptan‐6‐ol gave 1,1′‐biphenyl and 1,1′‐biphenyl‐carbaldehydes in small amounts as well as the expected rearrangement products. A detailed study of the reaction mechanism revealed that the conversion occurs via an oxidative process through the consecutive formation of cycloheptadienes, cycloheptatrienes, and 1,1′‐biphenyls. The acid‐catalyzed rearrangement of 6‐phenylbicyclo[3.2.0]hept‐2‐en‐6‐ols gave 1‐ and 2‐phenylcycloheptatrienes directly, from which 1,1′‐biphenyl and 1,1′‐biphenyl‐carbaldehydes were obtained by oxidation.     

Azocinoindole Synthesis by a Gold(I)‐Catalyzed Ring Expansion of 2‐Propargyl‐β‐Tetrahydrocarboline

A new methodology taking advantage of gold(I)‐catalyzed ring expansion has been developed to assemble tricyclic 1H‐azocino[5,4‐b]indoles from 2‐propargyl‐β‐tetrahydrocarbolines. The azocinoindoles were obtained in moderate to excellent yields; the structure of which was established by X‐ray crystallographic analysis. A mechanism involving regioselective intramolecular hydroarylation, [1,2]‐alkenyl migration and carbon–carbon bond‐fragmentation was proposed.     

Chiral N,O‐Ligand/[Cu(OAc)2]‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Construction of 4‐Aminopyrrolidine Derivatives by 1,3‐Dipolar Cycloaddition of Azomethine Ylides with α‐Phthalimidoacrylates

A protocol to access useful 4‐aminopyrrolidine‐2,4‐dicarboxylate derivatives has been developed. A variety of chiral N,O‐ligands derived from 2,3‐dihydroimidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine motifs have been evaluated in the asymmetric 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides to α‐phthalimidoacrylates. Reactions catalyzed by copper in combination with ligand 7‐Cl‐DHIPOH provided the highest level of stereoselectivity for the 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition reaction. The reaction tolerates both β‐substituted and β‐unsubstituted α‐phthalimidoacrylate as dipolarophiles, affording the corresponding quaternary 4‐aminopyrrolidine cycloadducts with excellent diastereo‐ (>98:2 d.r.) and enantioselectivities (up to 97 % ee). Removal of the phthalimido protecting group can be accomplished by a simple NaBH₄ reduction. Theoretical calculations employing DFT methods show this cycloaddition reaction is likely to proceed through a stepwise mechanism and the stereochemistry was also theoretically rationalized.     

Asymmetric 1,3‐Dipolar Cycloadditions of 2‐Diazocyclohexane‐1,3‐diones and Alkyl Diazopyruvates

The 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition reactions of 2‐diazocyclohexane‐1,3‐dione ( 7a ; Table 1) and of alkyl diazopyruvates ( 11a – e ; Table 3) to 2,3‐dihydrofuran and other enol ethers have been investigated in the presence of chiral transition metal catalysts. With Rh^II catalysts, the cycloadditions were not enantioselective, but those catalyzed by [Ru^IICl₂( 1a )] and [Ru^IICl₂( 1b )] proceeded with enantioselectivities of up to 58% and 74% ee, respectively, when diazopyruvates 11 were used as substrates. The phenyliodonium ylide 7c yielded the adduct 8a in lower yield and poorer selectivity than the corresponding diazo precursor 7a (Table 2) upon decomposition with [Ru(pybox)] catalysts. This suggests that ylide decomposition by Ru^II catalysts, contrary to that of the corresponding diazo precursors, does not lead to Ru‐carbene complexes as reactive intermediates. Our method represents the first reproducible, enantioselective 1,3‐cycloaddition of these types of substrates.     

Catalytic Divergent [3+3]‐ and [3+2]‐Cycloaddition by Discrimination Between Diazo Compounds

Highly selective divergent cycloaddition reactions of enoldiazo compounds and α‐diazocarboximides catalyzed by copper(I) or dirhodium(II) have been developed. With tetrakis(acetonitrile)copper(I) tetrafluoroborate as the catalyst epoxypyrrolo[1,2‐a]azepine derivatives were prepared in good yields and excellent diastereoselectivities through the first reported [3+3]‐cycloaddition of a carbonyl ylide. Use of Rh₂(pfb)₄ or Rh₂(esp)₂ directs the reactants to regioselective [3+2]‐cycloaddition generating cyclopenta[2,3]pyrrolo[2,1‐b]oxazoles with good yields and excellent diastereoselectivities.     

Control of the Stereochemical Course of [4+2] Cycloaddition during trans‐Decalin Formation by Fsa2‐Family Enzymes

Enzyme‐catalyzed [4+2] cycloaddition has been proposed to be a key transformation process in various natural product biosynthetic pathways. Recently Fsa2 was found to be involved in stereospecific trans‐decalin formation during the biosynthesis of equisetin, a potent HIV‐1 integrase inhibitor. To understand the mechanisms by which fsa2 determines the stereochemistry of reaction products, we sought an fsa2 homologue that is involved in trans‐decalin formation in the biosynthetic pathway of an enantiomerically opposite analogue, and we found phm7, which is involved in the biosynthesis of phomasetin. A decalin skeleton with an unnatural configuration was successfully constructed by gene replacement of phm7 with fsa2, thus demonstrating enzymatic control of all stereochemistry in the [4+2] cycloaddition. Our findings highlight enzyme‐catalyzed [4+2] cycloaddition as a stereochemically divergent step in natural product biosynthetic pathways and open new avenues for generating derivatives with different stereochemistry.     

Cyclobutene Formation in PtCl2‐Catalyzed Cycloisomerizations of Heteroatom‐Tethered 1,6‐Enynes

Aza(oxa)bicyclo[3.2.0]heptenes are accessed through the PtCl₂‐catalyzed cycloisomerizations of heteroatom‐tethered 1,6‐enynes featuring a terminal alkyne and amide as the solvent. It is shown that the weak coordinating properties of the solvent and alkyl substituent(s) at the propargylic carbon atom favor the formation of cyclobutenes instead of other possible cycloisomerization products such as 1,3‐diene derivatives or cyclopropane‐fused heterocycles.     

Copper(I)‐Catalyzed Asymmetric [3+2]‐Cycloaddition of α‐Substituted Iminoesters with α‐Trifluoromethyl α,β‐Unsaturated Esters

Reported herein is an example of highly regio‐, diastereo‐ and enantioselective Cu(I)‐catalyzed intermolecular [3+2] cycloaddition reaction of α‐substituted iminoesters with α‐trifluoromethyl α,β‐unsaturated esters. This novel strategy provided a facile access to pyrrolidines with two skipped (aza)quaternary stereocenters including a CF₃ all‐carbon quaternary stereocenter. A broad substrate scope was observed and high yields (up to 94%) with excellent diastereoselectivity (up to >20 : 1 d.r.) and enantioselectivity (up to 98% ee) were obtained.     

Desilylation‐Activated Propargylic Transformation: Enantioselective Copper‐Catalyzed [3+2] Cycloaddition of Propargylic Esters with β‐Naphthol or Phenol Derivatives

A copper‐catalyzed asymmetric [3+2] cycloaddition of 3‐trimethylsilylpropargylic esters with either β‐naphthols or electron‐rich phenols has been realized and proceeds by a desilylation‐activated process. Under the catalysis of Cu(OAc)₂?H₂O in combination with a structurally optimized ketimine P,N,N‐ligand, a wide range of optically active 1,2‐dihydronaphtho[2,1‐b]furans or 2,3‐dihydrobenzofurans were obtained in good yields and with high enantioselectivities (up to 96 % ee). This represents the first desilylation‐activated catalytic asymmetric propargylic transformation.     

One Stone for Three Birds‐Rhodium‐Catalyzed Highly Diastereoselective Intramolecular [4+2] Cycloaddition of Optically Active Allene‐1,3‐dienes

RhCl(PPh₃)₃‐catalyzed [4+2] intramolecular cycloaddition of optically active axially chiral allene‐dienes afforded cis‐fused [3.4.0]‐bicyclic products with three chiral centers in good yields with an excellent chemo‐ and diastereoselectivity. A pair of enantiomers of such products was generated highly selectively from both enantiomers of starting allene‐dienes, indicating that the axial chirality dictated the absolute configurations of the three in situ generated chiral centers with a very high efficiency of chirality transfer.     

Stereoselective Construction of 1,3‐Disilylcyclopentane Derivatives by Scandium‐Catalyzed [3+2] Cycloaddition of Allylsilanes to β‐Silylenones

The Sc(OTf)₃‐catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition of allylsilanes to β‐silyl‐α,β‐unsaturated ketones (β‐silylenones) has been developed to form five‐membered syn‐1,3‐disilylketones diastereoselectively through the rearrangement of the silicon substituents on the allylsilane. Stabilization of the carbocation intermediates by a double silicon effect plays a key role in directing the course of the reaction to favor the [3+2] cycloaddition pathway over simple allylation.     

Nickel‐Catalyzed Synthesis of N‐Aryl‐1,2‐dihydropyridines by [2+2+2] Cycloaddition of Imines with Alkynes through T‐Shaped 14‐Electron Aza‐Nickelacycle Key Intermediates

Despite there being a straightforward approach for the synthesis of 1,2‐dihydropyridines, the transition‐metal‐catalyzed [2+2+2] cycloaddition reaction of imines with alkynes has been achieved only with imines containing an N‐sulfonyl or ‐pyridyl group. Considering the importance of 1,2‐dihydropyridines as useful intermediates in the preparation of a wide range of valuable organic molecules, it would be very worthwhile to provide novel strategies to expand the scope of imines. Herein we report a successful expansion of the scope of imines in nickel‐catalyzed [2+2+2] cycloaddition reactions with alkynes. In the presence of a nickel(0)/PCy₃ catalyst, a reaction with N‐benzylidene‐P,P‐diphenylphosphinic amide was developed. Moreover, an application of N‐aryl imines to the reaction was also achieved by adopting N‐heterocyclic carbene ligands. The isolation of an (η²‐N‐aryl imine)nickel(0) complex containing a 14‐electron nickel(0) center and a T‐shaped 14‐electron five‐membered aza‐nickelacycle is shown. These would be considered as key intermediates of the reaction. The structure of these complexes was unambiguously determined by NMR spectroscopy and X‐ray analyses.     

Stereoselective Synthesis of Tetrahydrofuran Spiro‐β‐Lactams by Ru‐Catalyzed Metathesis of 7‐Oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptenes

A new method for the synthesis of spiro‐β‐lactams tethered to tetrahydrofuran rings is described. The procedure is based on Ru‐catalyzed metathesis sequences with oxanorbornene precursors easily obtained by the Staudinger [2+2] cycloaddition of related imines.     

Asymmetric Total Synthesis of (−)‐Englerin A through Catalytic Diastereo‐ and Enantioselective Carbonyl Ylide Cycloaddition

An asymmetric total synthesis of the guaiane sesquiterpene (?)‐englerin A, a potent and selective inhibitor of the growth of renal cancer cell lines, was accomplished. The basis of the approach is a highly diastereo‐ and enantioselective carbonyl ylide cycloaddition with an ethyl vinyl ether dipolarophile under catalysis by dirhodium(II) tetrakis[N‐tetrachlorophthaloyl‐(S)‐tert‐leucinate], [Rh₂(S‐TCPTTL)₄], to construct the oxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane framework with concomitant introduction of the oxygen substituent at C9 on the exo‐face. Another notable feature of the synthesis is ruthenium tetraoxide‐catalyzed chemoselective oxidative conversion of C9 ethyl ether to C9 acetate.     

RhII‐Catalyzed [3+2] Cycloaddition of 2 H‐Azirines with N‐Sulfonyl‐1,2,3‐Triazoles

Rh^II‐catalyzed intermolecular [3+2] cycloaddition of 2 H‐azirines with N‐sulfonyl‐1,2,3‐triazoles is disclosed, in which a series of fully functionalized pyrroles is produced via rhodium azavinyl carbene intermediates. A distinct feature of this reaction is that the azavinyl carbene serves as a [2 C] equivalent, instead of as [1 C] or aza‐[3 C] synthons, which have been reported previously in cyclopropanations and [3+n] cycloadditions. Moreover, this methodology has also been successfully applied in the total synthesis of URB447 as well as the formal synthesis of Atorvastatin (Lipitor).     

Synthesis of dispiro[oxindole‐pyrrolidine]‐thiazolo[3,2‐a][1,3,5]triazines by 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition

The 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition of an azomethine ylide generated by a decarboxylative route from sarcosine and isatin to 7‐arylmethylidene‐3‐aryl‐3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐thiazolo[3,2‐a][1,3,5]triazin‐6(7H)‐ones afforded novel dispiro[oxindole‐pyrrolidine]‐thiazolo[3,2‐a][1,3,5]triazines in moderate yields. The structures of the products were determined and characterized thoroughly by NMR, MS, IR, and elemental analysis. The results of experiment indicated that this 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition proceeded with high stereoselectivity and regioselectivity. J. Heterocyclic Chem., (2011).     

Novel Synthesis of 2‐Alkylquinolizinium‐1‐olates and Their 1,3‐Dipolar Cycloaddition Reactions with Acetylenes

Several 2‐alkylquinolizinium‐1‐olates 9 , i.e., heterobetaines, were prepared from ketone 11 , the latter being readily available either from pyridine‐2‐carbaldehyde via a Grignard reaction, followed by oxidation with MnO₂, or from 2‐picolinic acid (=pyridine‐2‐carboxylic acid) via the corresponding Weinreb amide and subsequent Grignard reaction. Mesoionic heterobetaines such as quinolizinium derivatives have the potential to undergo cycloaddition reactions with double and triple bonds, e.g., 1,3‐dipolar cycloadditions or Diels? Alder reactions. We here report on the scope and limitations of cycloaddition reactions of 2‐alkylquinolizinium‐1‐olates 9 with electron‐poor acetylene derivatives. As main products of the reaction, 5‐oxopyrrolo[2,1,5‐de]quinolizines (=‘[2.3.3]cyclazin‐5‐ones’) 19 were formed via a regioselective [2+3] cycloaddition, and cyclohexadienone derivatives, formed via a Diels? Alder reaction, were obtained as side products. The structures of 2‐benzylquinolizinium‐1‐olate ( 9a ) and two ‘[2.3.3]cyclazin‐5‐ones’ 19i and 19l were established by X‐ray crystallography.     

Difference in photochemical behavior in 3,6‐ and 2,5‐di‐tert‐butyl‐3H‐azepine: The first photochemical bond formation between 2‐ and 6‐position of 3H‐azepine ring

Different photochemical behavior between 3,6‐ and 2,5‐di‐t‐butyl‐3H‐azepine was observed. The former gave wavelength dependent products 3,5‐di‐t‐butylpyridine on irradiation through Pyrex filter via photolysis and 4,7‐di‐t‐butyl‐2‐azabicyclo[3.2.0]hepta‐2,6‐diene on irradiation through quartz filter via photo‐isomerization. Meanwhile, 2,5‐di‐t‐butyl derivative gave exclusively a labile 2,5‐di‐t‐butyl‐6‐azabicyclo‐[3.2.0]hepta‐2,6‐diene on irradiation through Pyrex filter via hitherto unknown photoisomerization mode of the bond formation between 2‐ and 6‐position of the ring.     

[5+2] Cycloaddition of 2‐(2‐Aminoethyl)oxiranes with Alkynes via Epoxide Ring‐Opening: A Facile Access to Azepines

A new FeCl₃ and BF₃?OEt₂ co‐catalyzed tandem hetero‐[5+2] cycloaddition of 2‐(2‐aminoethyl)oxiranes with a wide range of alkynes, including terminal alkynes and alkyl‐substituted internal alkynes is presented. This is the first example of rapid and facile production of diverse 2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐azepines through a sequence of epoxide ring‐opening, annulation, and dehydroxylation with broad substrate scope and exquisite selectivity control.     

Copper‐Catalyzed Formation of α‐Alkoxycycloalkenones from N‐Tosylhydrazones

The combination of 20 mol % of copper iodide and lithium tert‐butoxide triggers the formation of a broad range of substituted, functionalized α‐alkoxy 2H‐naphthalenones from readily available N‐tosylhydrazones. The data suggests that this transformation occurs through cycloaddition of a copper carbenoid with an ester, followed by a Lewis acid‐catalyzed [1,2] alkyl shift of the in situ generated alkoxyepoxide intermediate.