Diastereoselective Simmons-Smith cyclopropanations of allylic amines and carbamates

Cyclopropanation of 3-(N,N-dibenzylamino)cyclohexene with either Zn(CH(2)I)(2)(Wittig-Furukawa reagent) or CF(3)CO(2)ZnCH(2)I (Shi's reagent) gives the corresponding syn-cyclopropane as a single diastereoisomer, whilst cyclopropanation of 3-(N-tert-butoxycarbonylamino)cyclohexene with CF(3)CO(2)ZnCH(2)I gives the corresponding anti-cyclopropane exclusively; facile N-deprotection gives access to either diastereoisomer of the trifluoroacetic acid salt of 2-aminobicyclo[4.1.0]heptane.     

Asymmetric control in Diels–Alder cycloadditions of chiral 9-aminoanthracenes by relay of stereochemical information

Two approaches to the synthesis of chiral 9-amino anthracenes are described. The first, by nucleophilic addition of organolithium reagents to imines promoted by BF₃·OEt₂, unexpectedly provided stable aminoboranes as products. The second approach, using palladium catalysed cross coupling, was more successful for primary amines, and the key 9-(α-methylbenzylamino)anthracene subjected to cycloadditions with N-methyl maleimide and maleic anhydride. Excellent reactivity was achieved with good levels of diastereoselectivity, through a favourable combination of electrostatic and hydrogen bonding effects. Trial studies of the retro Diels–Alder reaction of these cycloadducts were also performed.     

Synthesis and application of novel imidazole and 1H-tetrazolic acid containing catalysts in enantioselective organocatalyzed Diels–Alder reactions

Herein we report studies on the organocatalytic Diels–Alder reaction using a variety of catalysts capable of activating α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds for reactions with dienes. The structurally attractive catalysts 4 and 14 were utilized in the enantioselective organocatalytic Diels–Alder reactions. Catalyst 4 provided the products in fair yields and more importantly in good enantioselectivities of up to 83% ee. Catalyst 14 was synthesized in high yield and was assessed in the enantioselective organocatalytic Diels–Alder reaction. Catalyst 14 proved to be a highly active and selective catalyst providing the products in high yield and high enantioselectivities up to 95% ee.     

Detection of DNA probes using Diels Alder cycloaddition and SERRS

A number of methods for detecting specific DNA sequences have been used to provide data for use in diagnosis of disease states and examination of gene expression. This study shows how the use of labelled oligonucleotides created by Diels Alder cycloaddition can be used as surface enhanced resonance Raman scattering (SERRS) active probes that provide easily identifiable signals at low concentrations in a mixture. The probes were produced by first tagging the oligonucleotides with a furan residue at the 5'-terminus to act as the diene. Three specifically designed benzotriazole azo maleimide dyes were then used as dienophiles to undergo cycloaddition with the furan modified oligonucleotide to generate SERRS active probes. These probes gave excellent SERRS signals from a silver-PVA film. Surface mapping of the silver PVA film indicated that the distribution of the dyes was uniform and that the number of moles of probe detected at any one time was approximately in the attomole region.     

Camphor-derived sulfonylhydrazines: catalysts for Diels-Alder cycloadditions

Camphor-derived sulfonylhydrazines proved to be very active for organocatalyzed Diels-Alder cycloadditions with cyclopentadiene. Good chemical yields and enantiomeric excesses up to 89% and 88% are obtained for endo/exo adducts.     

Diels—Alder reaction between naphthalene and N-phenylmaleimide under mild conditions

The rate and equilibrium constants for the Diels—Alder reactions between benzene or naphthalene and several dienophiles at 25 °C were calculated from the data on the ionization potentials of dienes and electron affinity energies of dienophiles, as well as the reaction enthalpies. The highest yield of the adduct was predicted for the reaction of naphthalene with N-phenylmaleimide. However, the time of its formation in 50% yield exceeds 30 years. The use of gallium chloride as a catalyst affords the endo-adduct for seven days at room temperature in 30% yield. The rate ((2±0.5)·10–6 L mol^–1 s^–1) and equilibrium constants (5±2 L mol^–1) of the reaction were determined.     

Conformations of allylic fluorides and stereoselectivities of their diels-alder cycloadditions

The preparations of new allylic fluorides from the corresponding alcohols are reported. Conformational analysis is achieved by comparison of experimental NMR measurements with theoretical (B3LYP) calculations of relative energies of conformers and J(H,H) and J(H,F) coupling constants. The Diels-Alder reactions of allylic fluorides are investigated experimentally and theoretically. The stereoselectivities of the reactions were determined by NMR analysis and, in one case, by X-ray crystallography. Theoretical predictions of stereoselectivity based upon transition state modeling provided good agreement with experiment. Theoretical models for allylic fluorides and transition state conformations are reported.     

Differences in reactivity and selectivity between radical additions and cycloadditions

Alkenes and alkynes show one-bone-bond reactivity with radicals and two-bond reactivity with diazomethane.     

1,2-Benzoquinones in Diels-Alder reactions, dipolar cycloadditions, nucleophilic additions, multicomponent reactions and more

A brief account of the recent developments in the chemistry of 1,2-benzoquinones is presented in this tutorial review. The title compounds exhibit commendable versatility in both Diels-Alder and dipolar cycloaddition reactions. They have also been employed as electrophilic reaction partners in nucleophile-triggered catalytic processes and related multicomponent reactions. These, along with other reactions described here, lead to the synthesis of densely functionalised carbocyclic and heterocyclic frameworks that are otherwise difficult to access.     

Palladium-diphosphite catalysts for the asymmetric allylic substitution reactions

[structure: see text] We have designed a series of diphosphite ligands to study the effect of the backbone, the size of the chelate ring, and the substituents of the biphenyl moieties and to determine the scope of this type of ligand in the Pd-catalyzed asymmetric substitution reactions of different types of substrates. Good-to-excellent activities and enantioselectivities have been obtained for disubstituted linear substrate 11 (TOF's up to >2000 mol x (mol x h)(-1), ee values up to 99%) and cyclic substrate 14 (TOF up to 285 mol x (mol x h)(-1), ee values up to 92%). However, these ligands are inadequate for the Pd-catalyzed allylic alkylation of monosubstituted linear substrates because they provide low enantioselectivities.     

N,N-dimethylaniline as a solvent for intramolecular Diels Alder reactions. Improved yields and changes in stereoisomer ratios

N,N-Dimethylaniline was found to be a superior solvent for intramolecular Diels Alder closures of 1,3,8-nonatrienes to trans-hydrindenes.     

Uranium iodides as catalysts for Diels–Alder reactions

Uranium triiodide is found to be an efficient Lewis acid catalyst for various Diels–Alder reactions which are performed in mild conditions and with low amounts of catalysts. The replacement of an iodide by a dihydrobis(pyrazolyl)borate ligand does not increase activity or selectivity.     

Stereoselectivity of nitrile oxide cycloadditions to chiral allylic fluorides: experiment and theory

The cycloadditions of nitrile oxides with new and previously studied allylic fluorides were examined. The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions were also investigated theoretically with density functional theory (B3LYP) based transition-state modelling. The predictions provided reasonable agreement with experiment, indicating that both steric and electronic effects have important influences on the stereoselectivities of these reactions.     

Cycloruthenated complexes as homogeneous catalysts for atom-transfer radical additions

Various cycloruthenated complexes were used as homogeneous catalysts for the atom-transfer radical addition of polyhalogenated compounds to several olefinic substrates. Yields obtained through conventional or microwave heating could reach high values (up to 98% with CBrCl₃ and 88% with CCl₄).     

Inverse electron demand Diels–Alder reaction as a novel method for functionalization of natural chlorins

1. Download high-res image (95KB)
2. Download full-size image

     

Binuclear Fe-complexes as catalysts for the ligand-free regioselective allylic sulfenylation

Binuclear Fe-complexes that are readily prepared by treating Bu(4)N[Fe(CO)(3)(NO)] with an excess of thiol or from Fe-salts under reductive conditions are potent catalysts for the regioselective allylic sulfenylation. Low catalyst loadings of only 0.25 mol% and reaction temperatures of only 40 °C allow for the coupling of functionalized allylic starting materials with functionalized mercaptans in good yield with full retention of the configuration.     

Active low-valent niobium catalysts from NbCl5 and hydrosilanes for selective intermolecular cycloadditions

An active niobium catalyst was developed via a simple and nontoxic reduction method from NbCl(5)/hydrosilane and utilized for the selective [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of terminal alkynes and alkenes/α,ω-dienes, to give 1,3-cyclohexadiene derivatives in high yields with excellent chemo- and regioselectivity.     

Naphthyl-substituted bisoxazoline and pyridylbisoxazoline-copper(I) catalysts for asymmetric allylic oxidation

The synthesis of naphthyl substituted malonyl-derived and pyridine-based bisoxazolines and their applications in the asymmetric allylic oxidation of cyclohexene with t-butyl p-nitroperbenzoate have been performed with much improved reactivity (75% yield) while maintaining very good enantioselectivity (85% ee). A 1-naphthyl group as the side chain of the oxazoline ligand was found to be optimal. Correlations between the nature of the substituents on the bisoxazolines and the reactivity/selectivity have been established. Tridentate pyridylbisoxazoline ligands with naphthyl groups were also synthesized and employed.