Synthesis of heteroarenes using cascade radical cyclisation via iminyl radicals

Cascade radical cyclisation involving homolytic aromatic substitution has been used to synthesise new tetracycles. Treatment of vinyl iodide radical precursors with Me(3)Sn. radicals (from hexamethylditin) yielded intermediate vinyl radicals which undergo 5-exo cyclisation onto suitably placed nitrile groups to yield intermediate iminyl radicals. The iminyl radicals undergo aromatic homolytic substitution via 6-endo cyclisation (or 5-exo cyclisation followed by neophyl rearrangement) with loss of hydrogen (H.) in a H-abstraction step. We propose that this abstraction was facilitated by tert-butoxyl (t-BuO.) radicals from di-tert-butyl peroxide or methyl radicals, generated from breakdown of trimethylstannyl radicals (Me(3)Sn.). The biologically active alkaloids mappicine and luotonin A were synthesised using the new methodology. A novel radical conversion of nitriles to primary amides is proposed.     

Synthesis of conformationally restricted sulfonamides via radical cyclisation

A convenient synthesis of conformationally restricted sulfonamides such as compounds (12) and (40) with seven- and eight-membered ring structures has been achieved using radical reaction. These compounds and their analogs are expected to serve as important pharmacophores in drug discovery.     

Concise syntheses of (±)-protoemetinol and related alkaloids using radical cyclisation

Both (±)-protoemetinol, its 3-epi-isomer and (±)-3-desmethyl protoemetinol have been prepared in five linear steps from a dihydroisoquinoline using a 6-exo-trig cyclisation of a vinyl radical in the key step. This novel and particularly short route has potential application in the synthesis of Alangium and Mitragyna alkaloids.     

Synthesis of highly condensed heterocycles using radical reactions

Using radical chemistry novel highly condensed heterocycles have been synthesized. The mechanism for their formation is discussed.     

Synthesis of difluorinated carbocyclic analogues of 5-deoxypentofuranoses and 1-amino-5-deoxypentofuranoses: en route to fluorinated carbanucleosides

The synthesis of difluorinated carbocyclic analogues of 5-deoxypentofuranoses and 1-amino-5-deoxypentofuranoses is described. The sequence involves an addition of PhSeCF₂TMS to carbohydrate-derived aldehydes or their corresponding tert-butanesulfinylimines followed by a radical cyclization. Optimized conditions for the PhSeCF₂TMS addition to α-chiral aldehydes have been disclosed and its unusual diastereoselectivity is discussed. Application of the sequence using Ellman's auxiliary allows a more direct access to 1-aminopentose analogues with a complete control of the pseudo-anomeric center configuration.     

Synthesis of heterocyclic compounds using radical reactions and evidence for the formation of spiro radical intermediates

Synthesis of novel heterocycles using radical reactions have been described. Reaction mechanism of their formation is also presented.     

Synthetic applications of aryl radical building blocks for cyclisation onto azoles

2-(2-Bromophenyl)ethyl groups have been used as building blocks in radical cyclisation reactions onto azoles to synthesise tri- and tetra-cyclic heterocycles. 2-(2-Bromophenyl)ethyl methanesulfonate was used to alkylate azoles (imidazoles, pyrroles, indoles and pyrazoles) for the synthesis of the radical precursors. Cyclisations of the intermediate aryl radicals yield new 6-membered rings attached to the azoles. The aryl radicals undergo intramolecular homolytic aromatic substitution onto the azole rings. Tributylgermanium hydride has been used with success to replace the toxic and troublesome tributyltin hydride. Initial studies show that the protocol can be used on solid phase resins. The molecular and crystal structures of methyl 5,6-dihydroimidazo[5,1-a]iso-quinoline-1-carboxylate and methyl 5,6-dihydroimidazo[2,1-a]isoquinoline-3-carboxylate were determined by X-ray crystallography.     

Synthesis of 13a-methylphenanthroindolizidines using radical cascade cyclization: synthetic studies toward (±)-hypoestestatin 1

A radical cascade involving 6-endo cyclization of aryl radicals generated from N-acryloyl-N-(1-methylethenyl)-9-bromophenanthren-10-ylmethylamines, followed by 5-endo-trig cyclization of the resulting α-amidoyl radicals afforded phenanthroindolizidines bearing a methyl substituent at the angular C13a position. 2,3,6-Trimethoxy derivative was synthesized by using this method, but its spectral data were not in accord with those of literature values reported for hypoestestatin 1. Further synthetic study toward hypoestestatin 1 is demonstrated.     

Copper-catalyzed radical cascade reaction of isocyanate and ethers

A novel copper-catalyzed amination of ethers using isocyanates and DTBP is developed. The reaction provides a unique approach to the synthesis of Boc-protected α-aminals through three-component radical cascade reactions. It provides an alternative method for the construction of this type of valuable motifs in high yield. Meanwhile, the method exhibits high tolerance of various functional groups, such as ether, halide, ester and acyl functionalities.     

Synthesis of cyclopropyl silyl ethers and their facile ring opening by photoinduced electron transfer as key step in radical/radical cationic cascade reactions

Various ring-fused cyclopropyl silyl ethers with an benzylic, olefinic or acetylenic side chain have been synthesized. Upon oxidative photoinduced electron transfer (PET) the cyclopropane ring opens and forms a reactive β-keto radical, which undergoes intramolecular cyclization. In some cases we observed only formation of ring opened non-cyclized products. With olefinic side chain 5-exo-trig mode of cyclization rather than 6-endo-trig mode of cyclization takes place whereas in case of acetylenic side chain we observed 6-endo cyclization.     

A stereoselective route to multi-substituted tetrahydropyrans by vinyl radical cyclization

The tin-mediated 6-exo-trig radical cyclization of the acetylenic β-alkoxy acrylates proceeded smoothly to give fully substituted tetrahydropyrans in good yields with high equatorial selectivity irrespective of the stereochemistry of the propargylic position.     

Formation of five- and six-membered heterocyclic rings under radical cyclisation conditions

This review describes the formation of five- and six-membered heterocyclic rings in various organic molecules by radical cyclisation and covers mostly the literature published in 2005.     

Total synthesis of (±)-stemonamide, (±)-isostemonamide, (±)-stemonamine, and (±)-isostemonamine using a radical cascade

A total synthesis of (±)-stemonamide and (±)-isostemonamide has been achieved by using a radical cascade that involves two endo-selective cyclizations. (±)-Stemonamine and (±)-isostemonamine are synthesized by chemoselective reduction of (±)-stemonamide and (±)-isostemonamide, respectively.     

Synthesis of pyridine fused polycyclic amines using sequential ring-closing metathesis and radical cyclisation reactions

The syntheses of novel pyridine fused polycyclic bridgehead amines are described using sequential ring-closing metathesis (RCM) and 5-exo-trig intramolecular radical cyclisation reactions. Critical to the success of the two sequential steps were the RCM catalyst and/or the nature of the nitrogen atom.     

Mn(III)-mediated radical cascade reaction of boronic acids with isocyanides: Synthesis of diimide derivatives

A manganese(Ⅲ)-promoted oxidative radical cascade reaction of easily accessible arylboronic acids with isocyanides to construct diimide derivatives was studied. This protocol provides a new way to synthesis of acetyl diimide derivatives. New C-C, C-N and C=O bonds were formed in one step.     

Radical addition to isonitriles: a route to polyfunctionalized alkenes through a novel three-component radical cascade reaction

The reaction of aromatic disulfides, alkynes, and isonitriles under photolytic conditions affords polyfunctionalized alkenes--beta-arylthio-substituted acrylamides or acrylonitriles--in fair yields through a novel three-component radical cascade reaction. The procedure entails addition of a sulfanyl radical to the alkyne followed by attack of the resulting vinyl radical to the isonitrile. A fast reaction, e.g., scavenging by a nitro derivative or beta-fragmentation, is necessary in order to trap the final imidoyl radical, since addition of vinyl radicals to isonitriles seems to be a reversible process. The stereochemistry of the reaction is discussed, particularly with respect to the stereochemical outcome of related hydrogen abstraction reactions by the same vinyl radicals. The lower or even inverted preference for either geometrical isomer observed in our cases with respect to that encountered in hydrogen abstraction reactions is explained in terms of transition-state interactions and/or isomerization of the final imidoyl radical. The latter possibility is supported by semiempirical calculations, which show that the spin distribution in the imidoyl radical can allow rotation of the adjacent carbon-carbon double bond prior to beta-fragmentation.     

Synthesis of the asperparaline core by a radical cascade

A concise access to the pentacyclic core structure of the asperparalines is described. The key step is a radical cascade sequence comprised of a 1,6-hydrogen atom transfer followed by 6-exo-trig and 5-exo-trig cyclizations.