Intramolecular ketenimine-ketenimine [2 + 2] and [4 + 2] cycloadditions

Bis(ketenimines), in which the two heterocumulenic functions are placed in close proximity on a carbon skeleton to allow their mutual interaction, show a rich and not easily predictable chemistry. Intramolecular [2 + 2] or [4 + 2] cycloadditions are, respectively, observed when both ketenimine functions are supported on either ortho-benzylic or 2,2'-biphenylenic scaffolds. In addition, nitrogen-to-carbon [1,3] and [1,5] shifts of arylmethyl groups in N-arylmethyl-C,C-diphenyl ketenimines are also disclosed.     

2 + 4] and [4 + 2] cycloadditions of o-thioquinones with 1,3-dienes: a computational study

Cycloadditions of o-thioquinones (o-TQs) with 1,3-dienes could proceed via either a [2 + 4] or a [4 + 2] mechanism. Under kinetic control and with acyclic dienes the reaction affords the spiro cycloadducts 5deriving from the [2 + 4] path as the main products. Under thermodynamic control, or with cyclic dienes, the o-TQs behave as heterodienes to give the benzoxathiin derivatives 4, in most cases with complete regioselectivity. In the present computational study, DFT calculations were performed in order to achieve a deep understanding of both [2 + 4] and [4 + 2] paths. The reactions of three o-TQs with six 1,3-dienes were thoroughly investigated at the B3LYP/TZVP//B3LYP6-31G level, and the two reaction mechanisms were then compared, evidencing that [2 + 4] cycloadditions are kinetically favored, strongly asynchronous, or even unconcerted, while [4 + 2] reactions are thermodynamically favored, quite asynchronous, but undoubtedly concerted. Moreover, the observed regioselectivity was rationalized by mean of the FMO theory and by comparison of the activation energies for different pathways.     

DABCO and Bu(3)P catalyzed [4 + 2] and [3 + 2] cycloadditions of 3-acyl-2H-chromen-ones and ethyl 2,3-butadienoate

DABCO-catalyzed [4 + 2] and Bu(3)P-catalyzed [3 + 2] cycloadditions between 3-acyl-2H-chromen-ones and ethyl 2,3-butadienoate were developed for the synthesis of dihydropyran-fused and cyclopenten-fused chromen-2-ones with high regio- and stereo-selectivities, respectively. The synthetic procedures have the advantages of mild reaction conditions, convenient handling and good atom economy as well as a wide substrate scope, which make this method useful for the synthesis of potentially biologically active dihydropyran-fused and cyclopenten-fused chromen-2-ones derivatives. Possible reaction mechanisms have also been proposed on the basis of previous literature and our investigation.     

DFT study on [4+2] and [2+2] cycloadditions to [60] fullerene

The functionalisation of C₆₀ fullerene with 2,3-dimethylene-1,4-dioxane (I) and 2,5-dioxabicyclo [4.2.0]octa-1(8),6-diene (II) was investigated by the use of density functional theory calculations in terms of its energetic, structural, field emission, and electronic properties. The functionalisation of C₆₀ with I was previously reported experimentally. The I and II molecules are preferentially attached to a C—C bond shared and located between two hexagons of C₆₀ via [4+2] and [2+2] cycloadditions bearing reaction energies of ?15.9 kcal mol^?1 and ?72.4 kcal mol^?1, respectively. The HOMO-LUMO energy gap and work function of C₆₀ are significantly reduced following completion of the reactions. The field electron emission current of the C₆₀ surface will increase after functionalisation of either the I or II molecule.     

Tandem au-catalyzed 3,3-rearrangement-[2 + 2] cycloadditions of propargylic esters: expeditious access to highly functionalized 2,3-indoline-fused cyclobutanes

The treatment of readily available propargylic indole-3-acetates with a catalytic amount of AuCl(PPh3)/AgSbF6 leads to tandem activations of the propargylic esters and the in situ generated allenylic esters, resulting in expeditious access to highly functionalized cyclobutanes with fused 2,3-indoline and gamma-lactone rings and an exocyclic E-double bond through sequential 3,3-rearrangement and [2 + 2] cyclization.     

Tandem double intramolecular [4 + 2]/[3 + 2] cycloadditions of nitroalkenes

[reaction: see text]. A new class of tandem [4 + 2]/[3 + 2] cycloadditions of nitroalkenes is described in which both pericyclic processes are intramolecular. Two subclasses of intra [4 + 2]/intra [3 + 2] cycloadditions have been explored in which the dipolarophile is tethered at either C(5) or C(6) of the nitronate. For both families of precursors, the cycloadditions occur in good yield and are found to be highly regio- and stereoselective. This method converts linear polyenes to functionalized polycyclic systems bearing up to six stereogenic centers.     

Photochemically induced [4+2]- versus [3+2]-cycloreversion reaction of hexasubstituted 2,3-diaza-bicyclo[3.1.0]hex-2-enes

Hexasubstituted 2,3-diaza-bicyclo[3.1.0]hex-2-enes containing large substituents at C-4 and C-6 upon irradiation undergo a novel [4+2]cycloreversion reaction leading to 2,3-diazahexatriens besides the normal [3+2]cycloreversion.     

Mechanically facilitated retro [4+2] cycloadditions

Poly(methyl acrylate)s (PMAs) of varying molecular weights were grown from a [4+2] cycloaddition adduct of maleimide with furan containing two polymerization initiators. Subjecting the corresponding PMA (>30 kDa) chains to ultrasound at 0 °C resulted in a retro [4+2] cycloaddition reaction, as observed by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and UV-vis spectroscopy, as well as labeling of the liberated maleimide and furan moieties with appropriate chromophores featuring complementary functional groups. Similar results were obtained by sonicating analogous polymers that were grown from a thermally robust [4+2] cycloaddition adduct of maleimide with anthracene. The generation of anthracenyl species from these latter adducts allowed for the rate of the corresponding mechanically activated retro [4+2] cycloaddition reaction to be measured. No reduction in the number average molecular weight (M(n)) or liberation of the maleimide, furan, or anthracene moieties was observed (i) for polymers containing the cycloaddition adducts with M(n) < 20 kDa, (ii) for high molecular weight PMAs (M(n) > 60 kDa) featuring terminal cycloaddition adducts, or (iii) when the cycloaddition adducts were not covalently linked to a high molecular weight PMA. Collectively, these results support the notion that the aforementioned retro [4+2] cycloaddition processes were derived from a vectorially opposed mechanical force applied to adducts embedded within the polymer chains.     

Lewis acid induced [4+3] cycloadditions of 2-silyloxyacroleins. Insights on the mechanism from a DFT analysis

The mechanism for the Lewis acid induced [4+3] cycloadditions of 2-(trimethylsilyloxy)acrolein with furan has been examined here through DFT calculations at B3LYP/6-31G* level. The mechanism is a three-step process initialized by the nucleophilic attack of furan to the β-conjugated position of acrolein yielding a zwitterionic intermediate. The key step on the formation of the seven-membered ring is the electrophilic attack of the furan residue to the carbonyl carbon in this intermediate. The endo selectivity experimentally observed is reproduced by the calculations.     

Reactivity of allenoates toward aziridines: [3+2] and formal [3+2] cycloadditions

The reactivity of buta-2,3-dienoates toward aziridines is reported. Allenoates react as 2π-component in the [3+2] cycloaddition with the azomethine ylide generated from cis-1-benzyl-2-benzoyl-3-phenylaziridine affording 4-methylenepyrrolidines in a site-, regio-, and stereoselective fashion. Under conventional thermolysis, cis- and trans-2-benzoyl-1-cyclohexyl-3-phenylaziridines showed a different reactivity. These aziridines participate in formal [3+2] cycloadditions with allenes via C-N bond cleavage of the three-membered ring leading to functionalized pyrroles.     

Transition metal-catalyzed intermolecular [5+2] and [5+2+1] cycloadditions of allenes and vinylcyclopropanes

Initial examples of the intermolecular Rh(I)-catalyzed [5+2] cycloaddition reaction of bifunctional allenes and vinylcyclopropanes are described. The reactions proceed with facility and in yields of up to 99% with a variety of alkyne-, ester-, styrene-, or cyano-substituents on the allene to afford the corresponding cycloadducts. In the presence of CO, the reaction proceeds to an eight-membered ring cycloadduct and its transannularly closed product, providing the first example of a three-component [5+2+1] cycloaddition with allenes.     

Understanding the nature of the molecular mechanisms associated with the competitive Lewis acid catalyzed [4+2] and [4+3] cycloadditions between arylidenoxazolone systems and cyclopentadiene: a DFT analysis

The molecular mechanisms of the reactions between aryliden-5(4H)-oxazolone 1, and cyclopentadiene (Cp), in presence of Lewis acid (LA) catalyst to obtain the corresponding [4+2] and [4+3] cycloadducts are examined through density functional theory (DFT) calculations at the B3LYP/6-31G* level. The activation effect of LA catalyst can be reached by two ways, that is, interaction of LA either with carbonyl or carboxyl oxygen atoms of 1 to render [4+2] or [4+3] cycloadducts. The endo and exo [4+2] cycloadducts are formed through a highly asynchronous concerted mechanism associated to a Michael-type addition of Cp to the beta-conjugated position of alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl framework of 1. Coordination of LA catalyst to the carboxyl oxygen yields a highly functionalized compound, 3, through a domino reaction. For this process, the first reaction is a stepwise [4+3] cycloaddition which is initiated by a Friedel-Crafts-type addition of the electrophilically activated carbonyl group of 1 to Cp and subsequent cyclization of the corresponding zwitterionic intermediate to yield the corresponding [4+3] cycloadduct. The next rearrangement is the nucleophilic trapping of this cycloadduct by a second molecule of Cp to yield the final adduct 3. A new reaction pathway for the [4+3] cycloadditions emerges from the present study.     

Enantioselective palladium-catalyzed [3 + 2] cycloadditions of trimethylenemethane with nitroalkenes

Nitroalkenes readily undergo palladium-catalyzed [3 + 2] cycloaddition with trimethylenemethane to generate nitrocyclopentanes in excellent yield and enantioselectivity. Furthermore, the products thus formed are highly versatile synthetic intermediates and provide convenient access to both cyclopentylamines and cyclopentenones.     

Photoinduced [4 + 4] cycloadditions of o-quinones with oxazoles

[reaction: see text] Photocycloadditions of 9,10-phenanthraquinone (PQ) with oxazoles (1a and 1b) gave [4 + 4] products 2 with the O=C-C=O functionality in PQ and the 2-azadiene moiety in oxazole as 4pi addends. Photoreactions of 1-acetylisatin (IS) with 1a, 1c, and 1d gave [4 + 4] product A, which underwent further [2 + 2] reactions with another (3)IS to furnish 5. These regioselective and diastereoselective [4 + 4] photocycloadditions are rationalized by the intervening of the key conformers for ISC and bond formation of the most stable 1,6-diradical intermediates.     

On the diastereoselectivity of ru-catalyzed [5 + 2] cycloadditions

[reaction: see text]. Ru-catalyzed cycloisomerization of cyclopropylenynes proceeds with good to high diastereoselectivities to form hexahydroazulenes.     

Microwave-assisted [3 + 2] cycloadditions of azomethine ylides

The microwave-assisted intramolecular [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of azomethine ylides to activated and nonactivated alkenes and alkynes is described. The procedure allows the synthesis of pyrrolidines and pyrrole products in good to excellent overall yields in short reaction times. It appears from parallel comparative studies that the microwave procedure favors the reaction times and overall purity of the crude reaction mixture. The reactions can also be performed in the absence of solvent. [reaction: see text]     

Syntheses of seven-membered rings: ruthenium-catalyzed intramolecular [5+2] cycloadditions

The Ru-catalyzed intramolecular [5+2] cycloaddition of cyclopropylenynes is investigated with respect to the regio- and diastereoselectivity as well as the functional group compatibility of the reaction. Evidence for the mechanism as occurring through a ruthenacyclopentene intermediate is elucidated from 1) the study of the diastereoselectivity of the cycloaddition; 2) the effect of variation of substituents on the regioselectivity of cyclopropyl bond cleavage in 1,2-trans- and 1,2-cis-disubstituted cyclopropanes and 3) examples that clearly do not involve ruthenacyclohexene as intermediates as products still incorporate the cyclopropyl moiety. The scope and limitations of the Ru-catalyzed cycloaddition are discussed and compared with the Rh-catalyzed reaction. The potential power of this methodology towards natural product total synthesis is demonstrated by the formation of several polycyclic systems with the chosen reaction conditions and readily available cyclopropylenyne substrates.     

Catalytic intermolecular enal-alkyne [3 + 2] reductive cycloadditions

A catalytic, intermolecular [3 + 2] reductive cycloaddition of enals and alkynes has been developed. The method provides a nickel-catalyzed strategy for combining two simple acyclic pi-systems into a five-membered ring product by effecting a net two-electron reduction of the starting materials mediated by triethylborane as the reducing agent. The use of a protic solvent is a key feature of the process.