A novel and facile stereocontrolled synthetic method for polyhydro-quinolines and pyridopyridazines via a diene-transmissive Diels-Alder reaction involving inverse electron-demand hetero Diels-Alder cycloaddition of cross-conjugated azatrienes

Cross-conjugated azatrienes bearing an electron-withdrawing sulfonyl or benzoyl group on the nitrogen atom underwent, on heating or in the presence of a Lewis acid (TMSOTf), an initial inverse electron-demand hetero Diels-Alder reaction with electron-rich dienophiles (vinyl ether, vinyl thioether, and allenyl ether) to produce 1:1 cycloadducts with high endo selectivity. The initial cycloadducts thus obtained underwent a second Diels-Alder reaction stereoselectively on the newly formed diene unit with electron-deficient dienophiles to give the crossed bis-cycloadducts, octahydroquinolines, with high diastereo-π-facial selectivity. The N-sulfonylazatrienes tethering an ortho-cinnamyloxyphenyl dienophile at the triene terminal underwent an initial intramolecular hetero Diels-Alder reaction of the inverse electron-demand type. The subsequent second Diels-Alder reaction of the formed mono-cycloadducts completed the diene-transmissive hetero Diels-Alder protocol to give benzopyrano[3,4-c]quinolines in a highly stereoselective manner.     

One-pot enyne metathesis/Diels-Alder reaction for the construction of highly functionalized novel polycyclic aza-compounds

Various tricyclic dienes were synthesized via enyne metathesis using the first generation Grubbs catalyst. The enyne metathesis proceeded smoothly in refluxing CH₂Cl₂ with a low catalyst loading (3.0 mol %), giving good yields (72-89%) of the tricyclic products 6 and 16. The resulting 1,3-dienes are suitable precursors of polycyclic structures via a Diels-Alder process. One-pot RCM/Diels-Alder reactions of the enyne products with dienophiles proceeded smoothly to afford polycyclic compounds as a single cycloadduct. The structures of the Diels-Alder adducts were determined by ¹H NMR spectra and X-ray analysis. The cycloadducts were formed via the approach of the dienophiles towards the diene in endo mode.     

New synthetic approach to α-fluoro-β-arylvinyl sulfones and their application in Diels-Alder reactions

A new pathway towards α-fluoro-β-arylvinyl sulfones was elaborated. The reaction of β-bromo-β-fluorostyrenes with sodium 4-methylphenylsulfinate proceeds with maximum 94:6 stereoselectivity and 72-90% yields. The formed α-fluoro-β-arylvinyl sulfones were found to be good dienophiles for Diels-Alder reactions with simple 1,3-dienes. From corresponding (E)-configured dienophiles and cyclopentadiene, cycloadducts bearing the fluorine substituent in exo-position were formed predominantly, while with diphenylisobenzofuran the products with endo-orientation of the fluorine were obtained as the major products. From these cycloadducts, as a proof of principle, p-toluenesulfinic acid was eliminated to give 2-fluoro-3-(4-nitrophenyl)norbornadiene, the formal [4+2]-cycloadduct of cyclopentadiene and 1-fluoro-2-(4-nitrophenyl)acetylene, or the corresponding diphenylisobenzofuran cycloadducts, respectively. This reaction was not successful when other β-hydrogen atoms are accessible for elimination.     

Reactions of acceptor substituted thiophene-1,1-dioxides with cyclopentadiene: control of selectivity by substitution

Diels-Alder reactions of thiophene-1,1-dioxides with strong electron withdrawing groups (EWG) were studied experimentally and theoretically. Thiophene-1,1-dioxides with two strong EWG behave as dienophiles and regio- and stereoselectively react with cyclopentadiene to give [2+4] cycloadducts 2a-c, which are derivatives of benzothiophene. In contrast, thiophene-1,1-dioxides with one EWG behave as dienes in the inverse electron demand Diels-Alder reaction yielding dihydro-1H-indenes derivatives. Cope [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement of adducts 2a-c was also demonstrated. MP2 calculations successfully rationalize the contrasting regioselectivities of these cycloaddition reactions.     

Novel and versatile protocol for the preparation of functionalized benzocyclotrimers

2-Bromo-3-(trimethylstannyl)cyclopenta-1,3-diene is the key-intermediate for the synthesis of vic-bromo(trimethylstannyl)bicycloolefins via Diels-Alder reaction with dienophiles. The cycloadducts can be cyclotrimerized by copper(I) 2-thiophenecarboxylate (CuTC) to afford functionalized benzocyclotrimers.     

Green-light-driven thioxanthylium-based organophotoredox catalysts: Organophotoredox promoted radical cation Diels-Alder reaction

Thioxanthylium-based organophotoredox catalysts that operate under irradiation with green light have been developed. These catalysts present high excited-state reduction potentials (E₀′(C¹/C^?)?=?+1.79–1.94?V vs SCE). They are able to efficiently activate dienophiles under green or blue light irradiation afforded the targeted radical cation Diels-Alder cycloadducts in good yields. The present thioxanthylium-based catalysts provide a new green-light-driven photoredox catalysis system.     

Selective synthesis of multiply substituted 7-norbornenone derivatives or Diels-Alder cycloadducts from 1,2,3,4-tetrasubstituted 1,3-butadienes and maleic anhydride with or without Lewis acids

Reactions of 1,2,3,4-tetrasubstituted 1,3-butadienes with maleic anhydride and other dienophiles were investigated with or without addition of Lewis acid. When the silylated 1,3-butadienes, such as 1,4-bis(trimethylsilyl)-1,3-butadienes or 1-trimethylsilyl-1,3-butadienes, were treated with maleic anhydride in the presence of 2 equiv of AlCl₃, multi-substituted 7-norbornenones of well-defined exo,exo-disubstituted patterns were produced by an unprecedented and synthetically useful tandem process. Although some tetrasubstituted 1,3-butadienes could react directly with maleic anhydride under relative harsh conditions to afford Diels-Alder cycloadducts, the reactions, in the presence of 1 equiv of AlCl₃, afforded the corresponding cycloadducts in higher yields under mild conditions. These results showed that the size and substitution pattern of substituents on the butadienyl skeleton played a very important role in the reactivity of butadienes as a partner for the Diels-Alder reaction and Lewis acid could promote and/or realize the process of a Diels-Alder reaction.     

A novel and efficient stereo-controlled synthesis of hexahydroquinolinones via the diene-transmissive hetero-Diels-Alder reaction of cross-conjugated azatrienes with ketenes and electrophilic dienophiles

The diene-transmissive hetero-Diels-Alder (DTHDA) reactions of cross-conjugated azatrienes (divinylimines or penta-1,4-dien-3-imines) having an N-aryl, N-alkyl, or N-dimethylamino substituent have been examined. The initial reaction of the azatrienes with diphenylketene at room temperature yielded β-lactams of [2+2] cycloadducts, which upon heating underwent [1,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement to produce the formal [4+2] cycloadducts. The reaction of N-phenylazatriene with dimethylketene or dichloroketene produced the [2+2] cycloadducts only, while the reaction of N-(dimethylamino)azatriene with dichloroketene gave the [4+2] cycloadduct without heating. When the [2+2] cycloadduct has two different vinyl substituents at C-4 of the β-lactam ring, the regioselectivity of the rearrangement depends on steric factors and the electronic demand of the substituents. The second Diels-Alder reaction of the initial [4+2] cycloadducts with electron-deficient dienophiles (TCNE, N-phenylmaleimide) stereoselectively yielded hexahydroquinolinone derivatives. Similarly, a tandem intermolecular-intramolecular mode of the aza-DTHDA reactions produced tetracyclic nitrogen-containing heterocycles in a regio- and stereoselective manner.     

Synthesis and reactivity of a stable precursor of 2-cyano-1,3-butadiene

A new, productive synthesis of 3-cyano-2,5-dihydrothiophene-1,1-dioxide (3) is described. This substituted sulfolene serves as a stable precursor of 2-cyano-1,3-butadiene and can be used in the Diels-Alder reactions without isolation of the unstable diene.The Diels-Alder reactions of 2-cyano-1,3-butadiene appear to proceed in high yield only with electron-deficient dienophiles, but ¹³C NMR shows that in some cases the products are a mixture of regioisomeric cycloadducts.     

Computational and experimental investigation of the Diels-Alder cycloadditions of 4-chloro-2(H)-pyran-2-one

4-Chloro-2(H)-pyran-2-one undergoes thermal Diels-Alder cycloaddition with electron-deficient dienophiles to afford, without any significant selectivity, 6-endo- and 5-endo-substituted bicyclic lactone cycloadducts. In contrast to 3- and 5-bromo-2(H)-pyran-2-one, 4-chloro-2(H)-pyran-2-one does not undergo thermal cycloadditions with electron-rich dienophiles. The regio- and stereochemical preferences of the cycloadditions of 4-chloro-2(H)-pyran-2-one and other related 2(H)-pyran-2-ones are investigated computationally. Calculations were carried out on the transition states leading to the four possible regio- and stereoisomeric cycloadducts using density functional theory (B3LYP/6-31G). These studies allow prediction of the regio- and stereoselectivity in these reactions which are in line with experimental observations.     

Intermolecular Diels-Alder reactions of brominated masked o-benzoquinones with electron-deficient dienophiles. A detour method to synthesize bicyclo[2.2.2]octenones from 2-methoxyphenols

Intermolecular Diels-Alder reactions of masked o-benzoquinones, i.e., 6,6-dimethoxy-2,4-cyclohexadienones 5-7 and 21-24 generated from 2-methoxyphenols 1-3 and 17-20, respectively, with electron-deficient dienophiles leading to highly functionalized bicyclo[2.2.2]octenones are described. The masked o-benzoquinones (MOBs) 5-7 underwent Diels-Alder cycloadditions with methyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, and methyl vinyl ketone to provide bicyclo[2.2.2]octenones 13a-c to 15a-c (direct method) in low to moderate yields with the concomitant formation of considerable amounts of dimers 9-11. To retard dimerization and to improve the yields of the requisite bicyclo[2.2.2]octenones, a detour method comprised of sequential bromination of 2-methoxyphenols 1-4, oxidation and Diels-Alder reaction, and debromination has been developed. The oxidation of bromophenols 17-20 produced MOBs 21-24 which are stable enough to be isolated. The MOBs 21-24 underwent cycloaddition with electron-deficient dienophiles in a very efficient manner to afford the corresponding cycloadducts 25a-c to 28a-c in good to high yields without self-dimerization. When the cycloadducts 25a-c to 28a-c were treated with either Bu(3)SnH/AIBN or tributylammonium formate-palladium reagent, the corresponding debrominated products 13a-cto 16a-c were obtained in high to excellent yields. In general, the cycloadducts 13a-c to 15a-c were obtained in 20-40% higher yields via the detour method than those via the direct method. In both routes, the Diels-Alder reactions proceeded in a highly regio- and stereoselective manner to furnish a single cycloadduct in each case.     

Diels-Alder cycloadditions of functionalized (Z)-1-benzylidene-2-methylene cyclohexanes: the beneficial effect of high pressure

Diels-Alder cycloaddition reactions have been studied on substituted (Z)-1-benzylidene-2-methylene cyclohexanes 3. The use of very reactive dienophiles allowed the formation of the expected polycyclic structures whereas hyperbaric conditions (16 kbar) were necessary to form the adducts with less reactive dienophiles. An exo stereoselectivity was observed during the reaction with acrylates.     

Reactions of thebaine with cis- and trans-disubstituted dienophiles

Thebaine has been shown to undergo Diels-Alder reactions with trans-disubstituted ethylenes containing relatively bulky groups. These were correlated with reactions in which the corresponding cis-disubstituted dienophiles were used. Reductions, Grignard reactions and base-catalyzed rearrangements of the adducts are described.     

Hetero Diels-Alder reaction: a novel strategy to regioselective synthesis of pyrimido[4,5-d]pyrimidine analogues from Biginelli derivative

A number of potent pyrimido[4,5-d]pyrimidine analogues have been efficiently synthesized by hetero Diels-Alder cycloaddition of 6-methyl-4-phenyl-2-thioxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrimidine-5-carboxylic acid methyl ester, a Biginelli compound with N-arylidine-N′-methylformamidines and N-arylidine guanidine in dry toluene. Structures of the newly obtained cycloadducts were established on the basis of elemental and spectral (IR, NMR and Mass) data. The molecular mechanism of the observed cycloaddition reaction has been investigated theoretically by means of PM3 semiempirical method. Transition state structure determinations and activation energy calculations have shown the preference for the endo approach over the exo approach of dienophile towards the diene fragments used, which is consistent with the experimental results. The studied cycloadditions proceed via an asynchronous concerted mechanism. It was demonstrated that FMO theory could reasonably predict the relative reactivities between dienes as well as indicating that these reactions belong to normal Diels-Alder type cycloadditions.     

Preparation and Diels-Alder chemistry of 4-vinylimidazoles

Various 4-vinylimidazole derivatives have been prepared from the corresponding 4-iodoimidazoles or from urocanic acid. Several methods for the elaboration of these vinylimidazoles and their Diels-Alder reactions are reported. All of the vinylimidazoles prepared in the course of this study react with N-phenylmaleimide quite readily with mild thermal activation providing a single cycloadduct, in most cases the initial, nonaromatic adduct. With more electron rich substrates, there is a tendency for these initial cycloadducts to undergo aromatization, ene reaction, and oxidation although this can be circumvented to a large extent by the choice of reaction conditions. Limited reactions were observed with other dienophiles, providing the expected cycloadducts in most cases, although an abnormal adduct was obtained in one case with dimethyl acetylene dicarboxylate. These substrates also participate in regioselective Diels-Alder reactions with monoactivated dienophiles, but require fairly forcing conditions, thus only providing the aromatized cycloadducts in modest yields. An investigation of substituent effects at the 2-position of the imidazole moiety was undertaken, in which electron-donating and weakly electron-withdrawing substituents are tolerated. In addition, several substrates with terminally substituted vinyl moieties have been investigated.     

An experimental and computational investigation of the Diels-Alder cycloadditions of halogen-substituted 2(H)-pyran-2-ones

[reaction: see text] Diels-Alder reactions of 3- and 5-halo-subsituted 2(H)-pyran-2-ones with both electron-rich and electron-deficient dienophiles afford stable and readily isolable bridged bicyclic lactone cycloadducts. These cycloadditions proceed with excellent regioselectivity and very good stereoselectivity. In contrast, Diels-Alder reactions of 4-halo-subsituted 2(H)-pyran-2-ones afford cycloadducts which are very prone to loss of bridging CO(2) and the subsequent formation of barrelenes ([2.2.2]cyclooctenes). Furthermore, these cycloadditions proceed with only moderate regio- and stereoselectivity. For both series of the 3- and 5-halo-subsituted 2(H)-pyran-2-ones and 4-halo-subsituted 2(H)-pyran-2-ones, the reactivity patterns do not significantly change between the halogens. The regio- and stereochemical preferences of the cycloadditions of halo-substituted 2(H)-pyran-2-ones are investigated computationally. Calculations were carried out on the transition states leading to the four possible regio- and stereoisomeric cycloadducts by using density functional theory (B3LYP/6-31G). These studies allow prediction of the regio- and stereoselectivity in these reactions which are broadly in line with experimental observations.     

Reactive diene for synthesis of substituted catechols

(2R,3R)-2,3-Dimethoxy-2,3-dimethyl-5,6-dimethylene-1,4-dioxane has been synthesized and is a highly efficient diene in Diels-Alder reactions. Reaction with acetylenic dienophiles provides a simple route to substituted catechols. Reactions with some ethylenic dienophiles are also reported.     

Additionsreaktionen der nitrosogruppe—XIV: Diels-Alder-reaktionen nitrosubstituierter benzofuroxane

Nitro-substituted benzofuroxanes react as dienophiles in Diels-Alder reactions to give adducts of the structure3 or4, respectively. The o-bis-nitroso-benzene form, intermediate in the interconversion of the two furoxan structures, could not be trapped by cycloaddition with butadienes.     

Investigation of the Diels-Alder cycloadditions of 2(H)-1,4-oxazin-2-ones

[Reaction: see text]. A variety of 5-chloro-2(H)-1,4-oxazin-2-ones bearing a range of substituents at their 3- and 6-positions undergo Diels-Alder cycloaddition as a 2-azadiene component with electron-rich, electron-deficient, and electron-neutral dienophiles. These reactions proceed with moderate regio- and stereoselectivity to afford relatively stable and readily isolable bridged bicyclic lactone cycloadducts. Chemical manipulation of these cycloadducts affords highly substituted and functionally rich piperidines. The regio- and stereochemical preferences of the cycloadditions of 5-chloro-2(H)-1,4-oxazin-2-ones are investigated computationally using density functional theory (B3LYP/6-31G).     

syn-π-Face- and endo-selective, inverse electron-demand Diels-Alder reactions of 3,4-di-tert-butylthiophene 1-oxide with electron-rich dienophiles

Diels-Alder reactions of 3,4-di-tert-butylthiophene 1-oxide with oxygen (or sulfur)-substituted dienophiles and with simple alkenic dienophiles, which are classified as an inverse electron-demand Diels-Alder reaction on the basis of DFT calculations, took place exclusively at the syn-π-face of the diene with respect to the SO bond to provide the corresponding adducts in high yields.