Synthesis of 5-endo-, 5-exo-, 6-endo- and 6-exo-hydroxylated analogues of epibatidine

A convenient, high-yield synthesis of N-Boc-7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-one (7) was developed by SmI₂-mediated desulfonylation of 6. Thus, 5-endo-, 5-exo-, 6-endo-, and 6-exo-hydroxylated epibatidine analogues 2a,b and 3a,b were synthesized from 7 by using a Pd(PPh₃)₄-catalyzed reductive Heck coupling reaction and SmI₂-mediated reduction of the carbonyl group as the key steps. Other reaction conditions for the reductive Heck procedure and the reduction step were also investigated.     

The regioselectivity of the addition of benzeneselenyl chloride to 7-azanorborn-5-ene-2-yl derivatives is controlled by the 2-substituent: new entry into 3- and 4-hydroxy-5-substituted prolines

The electrophilic addition of benzeneselenyl chloride to the alkene moiety of 7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-yl derivatives has been studied. With camphanates 8 and 9N-Boc-5-endo-chloro-6-exo-phenylseleno-7-azanorborn-2-yl camphanates 10 and 11 are obtained with high regioselectivity due to a steric control. With N-Boc-7-azanorbor-5-en-2-one (2) the corresponding 6-endo-chloro-5-exo-phenylseleno derivative 15 is obtained in high yield due to a kinetic control attributed to the electron-releasing ability of the homoconjugated carbonyl group. Bicyclic adducts 10 and 11 and 15 are readily converted into 4-hydroxy-(14) and 3-hydroxy-5-substituted proline derivatives 19, respectively.     

Catalytic enantioselective Diels-Alder reactions of furans and 1,1,1-trifluoroethyl acrylate

Catalytic enantioselective Diels-Alder reactions of furans and 1,1,1-trifluoroethyl acrylate in the presence of oxazaborolidium catalysts 2 or 3 provide 7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-enes with high endo-selectivity and excellent enantioselectivity.     

Synthesis and ring opening reactions of 2-glyco-1,4-dimethyl-3-nitro-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-enes

The high-pressure asymmetric Diels-Alder reactions of d-galacto- (1a) and d-manno-3,4,5,6,7-penta-O-acetyl-1,2-dideoxy-1-nitrohept-1-enitol (1b) with 2,5-dimethylfuran (2) afforded mixtures of cycloadducts, from which the (2S,3R)-3-exo-nitro (3a and 3b), (2R,3S)-3-exo-nitro (4a and 4b), and (2R,3S)-1′,2′,3′,4′,5′-penta-O-acetyl-1′-C-(1,4-dimethyl-3-endo-nitro-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-exo-yl)-d-galacto-pentitol (5b) were isolated pure. Deacetylation of these compounds led to new chiral mono-, bi-, and tricyclic ethers, being their asymmetric centers arising from the chiral inductor used in the cycloaddition reaction. A ring opening mechanism through a 1-nitro-1,3-cyclohexadiene intermediate has been proposed.     

Acid-catalyzed aza-Diels-Alder versus 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of methyl glyoxylate oxime with cyclopentadiene

The acid-catalyzed 1,4- and 1,3-cycloadditions between methyl glyoxylate oxime (1) and cyclopentadiene were investigated using various Lewis and/or Bronsted acids at different temperatures in dichloromethane as solvent. Besides the expected new adducts, (±)-methyl [(3-exo)-2-hydroxy-2-azabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene]-3-carboxylate (2) and (±)-methyl [(3-endo)-2-hydroxy-2-azabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene]-3-carboxylate (3), a third adduct, (±)-methyl (1R,4R,5R)-(2-oxa-3-azabicyclo[3.3.0]oct-7-ene)-4-carboxylate (4), whose formation can be explained by a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition, was obtained. Yields and product ratios were found to be more dependent on the catalyst than on the temperature; these results and the stereochemistry of the adducts, confirmed by spectroscopic data (¹H and ¹³C NMR) and by X-ray crystallography, were used to analyze and propose a mechanistic explanation for both cycloadditions.     

Synthesis of certain 1,7,7-trimethyl-bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane derivatives with anticonvulsant, hypoglycemic and anti-inflammatory potential

Starting from (1,7,7-trimethyl-bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ylideneamino)-acetic acid methyl esters 6a, 6b, the aryl esters of exo-2-[methyl-(1,7,7-trimethyl-bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl)-amino]-ethanol (10a-f) and exo-2-[methyl-(1,7,7-trimethyl-bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl)-amino-2-phenyl-ethanol (10g-n) are prepared. Also, from the reaction of 1,7,7-trimethyl-bicyclo[2.2.1]heptan nitramine 4 with either 2-amino-1-(4-nitrophenyl)-propane-1,3-diol (17) or 1-aminomethyl-cyclohexanol (18), the alcohol exo-1-[(1,7,7-trimethyl-bicylo[2.2.1]hept-2-ylamino)-methyl]-cyclohexanol (13), exo-1-(4-aminophenyl)-2-(1,7,7-trimethyl-bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ylamino)-propane-1,3-diol (14) and 1-(4-aminophenyl)-2-[methyl-1,7,7-trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl]-amino]-propane-1,3-diol (16) are synthesized. At a dose level of 12.5 mg/kg, compounds 16 and 14 show a significant anticonvulsant protection against pentylenetetrazole seizures (100% and 83% protection, respectively) compared with diphenylhydantoin sodium (50 mg/kg, 100%) and deramciclane fumarate (25 mg/kg, 83%), used as reference drugs. Compound 10b at dose level of 50 mg/kg displayed 41%, hypoglycemic activity, compared with gliclazide (10 mg/kg, 23%) as reference drug. Furthermore, the prepared compounds are screened for their anti-inflammatory potential at a dose level of 50 mg/kg. Compounds 10i, 10g, 14 and 10m exhibited 92%, 90%, 88% and 80% inhibition in rat paw weight, respectively, with no sign of ulcerogenicity, compared with indomethecin (5 mg/kg, 81%).     

Synthesis and chemistry of tricyclic cyclopropene-tricyclo[3.2.2.0]nona-2(4),6-diene

The 1,2-bridged tricyclic cyclopropene, tricyclo[3.2.2.0^2,4]nona-2(4),6-diene (1), has been synthesized by the elimination of 2-bromo-4-chlorotricyclo[3.2.2.0^2,4]-non-6-ene (5). Cyclopropene 1 will undergo different isomerizations in ether solution and in neat conditions. Compound 1 rearranged to an anti-Bredt compound 4 via diradical mechanism in ether and tricyclic compound 6 via vinyl carbene mechanism in neat conditions. Compound 1 can be trapped with DPIBF at different temperatures yielding different results: the exo-endo adduct 2 (exo-addition from the view of the cyclopropene and endo-addition from the view of bicyclo[2.2.2]octene) is a sole product at 0°C by slowly addition of methyllithium, and the exo-endo adduct 2, endo-endo adduct 9, anti-Bredt adduct 3, and styrene 8 are isolated at ether refluxing temperature. Styrene 8 is proposed to be formed from endo-endo adduct 9 by diradical mechanism. The chemistry of exo-endo adduct 2 and endo-endo adduct 9 is as well studied. The exo-endo adduct 2 undergoes hydration in trifluoroacetic acid to generate 1,3-cis-diol 11 followed by eliminations of water and formaldehyde to give naphthalene 12. The endo-endo adduct 9 reacts with water in tetrahydrofuran-containing silica gel to yield 1,4-cis-diol 10. Both 9 and 10 react with trifluoroacetic acid to form trans-3-hydroxy trifluoroacetate 13. Compound 13 will undergo hydrolysis and isomerization to generate 1,3-cis-diol 11 in trifluoroacetic acid.     

Cage-like amines in the synthesis and oxidation of camphor-10-sulfonic acid amides

Reactions of bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-exo- and -endo-2-ylmethanamines, exo-5,6-epoxybicyclo-[2.2.1]hept-exo-2-ylmethanamine, 1-(bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl)ethanamine, and 1-(1-adamantyl)ethanamine with camphor-10-sulfonyl chloride in chloroform in the presence of triethylamine gave the corresponding sulfonamides having two cage-like fragments. Stereoisomeric N-(bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-ylmethyl)camphor-10-sulfonamides were oxidized with peroxyphthalic acid generated in situ from phthalic anhydride and 50% hydrogen peroxide. The exo stereoisomer was thus converted into the corresponding 5,6-epoxy derivative, while the endo isomer gave rise to 4-(7,7-dimethyl-2-oxobicyclo[2.2.1]hept-1-ylmethyl)-4-azatricyclo[4.2.1.0^3,7]-nonan-exo-2-ol (substituted azabrendane). The structure of the synthesized camphor-10-sulfonamides was confirmed by IR and ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra with the use of homo- (COSY) and heteronuclear ¹H-¹³C correlation techniques (HMQC, HMBC). Heterocyclization of sulfonamides of the norbornene series was also simulated by quantum-chemical calculations at the PM3 and BHandHLYP/6-31G(d) levels of theory.     

A comparative study of the multicomponent Ugi reactions of an oxabicycloheptene-based β-amino acid in water and in methanol

Di-exo-3-amino-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-2-carboxylic acid 1, five aldehydes and two isocyanides were reacted both in methanol and in water to prepare a 10-membered β-lactam library via a Ugi-4-centre-3-component reaction. The yields were found to be similar in water and methanol. The diastereoselectivities of the aqueous reactions were similar, though in a few cases higher than those in methanol. The benefits of water are the facile isolation of the precipitated product and the shorter reaction time.     

Reactions of Bi-, Tri-, and tetracyclic amines with succinic anhydride

Succinic anhydride reacted with cage-like amines {bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-exo-and-endo-2-yl-methanamines, 2-(bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-endo-2-yl)ethanamine, exo-5,6-epoxybicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-exo-2-yl-methanamine, tetracyclo[6.2.1.1^3,6.0^2,7]dodec-9-en-endo-4-ylmethanamine, 1-(bicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-yl)ethanamine, and 4-azatricyclo[5.2.1.0^2,6]dec-8-ene} to give the corresponding amido acids having a cage-like fragment. The latter were converted into carboximides by the action of hexamethyldisilazane in boiling benzene in the presence of zinc(II) chloride and then into epoxy derivatives. The structure of the newly synthesized compounds was confirmed by IR and NMR spectroscopy.     

Sodium dithionite initiated regio- and stereoselective radical addition of polyfluoroalkyl iodide with norbornene analogs

Sodium dithionite initiated free-radical addition of polyfluoroalkyl iodides (2m-2s) with norbornene 1a and its derivatives, such as norbornene-2-carboxylates 1b and 1c, and norbornene-2-carboxylic acids 1d and 1e was investigated. In all the cases, the addition of R_F group was stereoselectively delivered at exo-position and the predominant configuration of products was trans. Under the similar condition, norbornene-2-carboxylic ethyl ester 1b reacted with 2p to give 6-exo-R_F-5-endo-iodo adduct 3bp and 5-exo-R_F-6-endo-iodo adduct 5bp in the ratio of 4:1. While 1c, which has a heavy crowded group in the 2-endo-position, gave 6-exo-R_F-5-endo-iodo adduct 3cp and polyfluoroalkylated product 4cp retaining the trans-configuration and the exo-orientation of R_F group. The fluoroalkylation-lactonization reaction occurred in the reaction of norbornene-2-endo-carboxylic acids 1d and 1e with polyfluoroalkyl iodides to afford the corresponding fluoroalkylated γ-lactone products (7dp-7ds, and 7em-7er). The configuration of the products was further confirmed by 2D NMR and X-ray diffraction analyses for the first time.     

Stereoselective carbonyl reductions of chloro-substituted 8-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-6-en-3-ones

The lithium aluminium hydride reduction of 2,2,4,4-tetrachloro-8-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-6-en-3-one (8) was reinvestigated. In contrast to most halogeno-substituted oxabicyclic ketones, which give predominantly the corresponding endo alcohols, the expected (3endo)-2,2,4,4-tetrachloro-8-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-6-en-3-ol (9n) is formed in a minute proportion. An X-ray structure analysis of the dominating product gave proof of the exo-alcohol, i.e., (3exo)-2,2,4,4-tetrachloro-8-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-6-en-3-ol (9x). On the other hand, reduction of trichloroketone 11, 2,2,endo-4-trichloro-8-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-6-en-3-one, and the methoxy-substituted chloroketones 13 and 14 provided the corresponding endo alcohols (12 and 15).     

Improved syntheses of precursors for PET radioligands [F]XTRA and [F]AZAN

Improved syntheses of 7-methyl-2-exo-[3′-(2-bromopyridin-3-yl)-5′-pyridinyl]-7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptanes (3) and 7-methyl-2-exo-[3’-(6-bromopyridin-2-yl)-5′-pyridinyl]-7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptanes (4), precursors for PET radioligands [¹⁸F]XTRA (1) and [¹⁸F]AZAN (2), involving a key Stille coupling step followed by deprotection of Boc group and N-methylation are described. The new synthetic procedures provided the title compounds in more than 40% overall yields.     

Manganese(III)-mediated facile synthesis of 3,4-dihydro-2(1H)-quinolinones: selectivity of the 6-endo and 5-exo cyclization

The 4,4-bis(ethoxycarbonyl)-3,4-dihydro-2(1H)-quinolinones 2 were easily synthesized by the oxidative 6-endo-trig cyclization of 2-[2-(N-arylamino)-2-oxoethyl]malonates 1 with manganese(III) acetate in good to excellent yields. The same reaction of N-(2,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-substituted malonate 1t exclusively produced the 5-exo-cyclized 4,4-bis(ethoxycarbonyl)-1-azaspiro[4,5]deca-6,9-diene-2,8-dione 5t instead of the corresponding dihydroquinolinone. The regioselectivity during the cyclization could be explained by the difference in the activation energy of the transition state of the 6-endo/5-exo cyclization.     

A novel transformation of 1-exo-substituted 2a-aroyl-1,2,2a,8b-tetrahydro-3H-benzo[b]cyclobuta[d]pyran-3-ones with sulfoxonium ylide to highly strained 2a-(1-arylethenyl)-1,2,2a,7b-tetrahydrocyclobuta[b]benzofurans

When 1-substituted 2a-aroyl-1,2,2a,8b-tetrahydro-3H-benzo[b]cyclobuta[d]pyran-3-ones (1) were treated with dimethylsulfoxonium methylide, 1-endo isomers (endo-1) gave 1-substituted 3-aroyl-1,2,4a,9b-tetrahydrodibenzofuran-4-ols (2) exclusively as expected. On the other hand, 1-exo isomers (exo-1) underwent a novel transformation to 1-substituted 2a-(1-arylethenyl)-1,2,2a,7b-tetrahydrocyclobuta[b]benzofurans (3), together with 2.     

Selectfluor-promoted fluorination of piperidinyl olefins

A simple and straightforward synthesis of 1-substituted-4-aryl-5-fluoro-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (3) or 1-substituted 4-diarylmethanoyl-4-fluoropiperidine (6) by the treatment of piperidinyl exo- or endo-olefin with 1-chloromethyl-4-fluoro-1,4-diazoniabicyclo[2.2.2]octane bis(tetrafluoroborate (Selectfluor) is reported. Two transformations from endo-olefin 1 to allylic fluoride 3 and from exo-olefin 2 to fluorohydrin 6 proceed via allylic fluorination and fluorohydroxylation in moderate yields. It presents two novel reactions promoted by Selectfluor and broadens the scope of application.     

Photocrosslinkable polynorbornene-based block copolymers with enhanced dielectric and thermal properties

Block copolymers poly(endo-N-3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)biphenyl-norbornene-pyrrolidine)-block-poly(exo-N-(cinnamoyloxyethyl)-7-oxanorborn-5-ene-2,3-dicarboximide) (endo-PTNP-b-exo-PCONBI) and poly(exo-N-3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)biphenyl-norbornene-pyrrolidine)-block-poly(exo-N-(cinnamoyloxyethyl)-7-oxanorborn-5-ene-2,3-dicarboximide) (exo-PTNP-b-exo-PCONBI) were synthesized by ring-opening metathesis polymerization. The endo- or exo-PTNP served as the high dielectric functional chain, and exo-PCONBI acted as the crosslinking segment. The endo-PTNP-b-exo-PCONBI, in which endo-PTNP has a high content of trans double bond and adopts isotactic configuration, shows a dielectric constant (ε) of 15.5, whereas exo-PTNP-b-exo-PCONBI, in which exo-PTNP has 67% trans double bonds and atactic microstructure, displays relatively low ε of 7.1. The cinnamate groups in exo-PCONBI were crosslinked to form three-dimensional network by cycloaddition reaction under UV irradiation. Exposed to UV-light for 10 min, the cinnamate group in polymer films has a crosslinking conversion of 36%, as determined by UV-Vis absorption measurements. By photocrosslinking, the polymer film has an increased ε of 16.6, a dielectric loss of 0.03, an elevated glass-transition temperature of 137 °C, and an enhanced decomposition temperature of 405 °C, compared to those of polymer films without irradiation.     

Ozonolysis of bis-endo-diacylbicyclo[2.2.1]heptenes in dichloromethane-methanol

Ozonolysis of bis-endo-diacylbicyclo[2.2.1]heptenes 3a-d at −78 °C in dichloromethane-methanol gave the hydroperoxides 6a-d in 70-80% yields. Ozonolysis of bis-endo-diacetylbicyclo[2.2.2]octene 15 and bis-endo-diacetyl-7-oxabicyclo-[2.2.1]heptene 16 under the same reaction conditions gave the hydroperoxides 17 and 18, respectively. The intramolecular sequential nucleophilic addition of the carbonyl groups to the carbonyl oxide group was observed for the first time and was found to be faster than the intermolecular nucleophilic addition of a methanol molecule to the carbonyl oxide group. Ozonolysis of compound 23 in CH₂Cl₂-MeOH at −78 °C followed by reduction with Me₂S gave compounds 24 and 25, in which the stereochemistry of the methoxyl groups was determined by X-ray analysis.     

Solid-state and solution photocycloadditions of 4-acyloxy-2-pyrones with maleimide

Solid-state photosensitized reactions of 4-acyloxy-2-pyrones (1b,c) with maleimide (2) afforded endo-endo double-[4+2] cycloadducts (3b,c) with high stereoselectivity. Sensitized photoreactions of 1a-d with 2 in solution gave exo-endo double-[4+2] cycloadducts (4a-d). 2-Pyrones 1a-d were photolyzed to give carboxylic acids (5a-d) via their valence isomerization in the solid state and in solution. Such kinds of photoreaction of the 4-acyloxy-2-pyrones were dramatically different from regio- and stereoselective [2+2] cycloadditions of 4-alkyloxy-2-pyrones. The photoreaction mechanisms of 1 with 2 and 1 itself were analyzed by powder X-ray diffraction analysis and MO calculations.     

Structural analysis of three methyl N-phosphorylated 5,6-dihydroxy-2-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-3-carboxylates

Both exo and endo isomers of (±)-methyl N-diphenylphosphoryl-2-azabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-3-carboxylate and (±)-methyl N-diphenylphosphoryloxy-2-azabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-3-carboxylate were dihydroxylated with OsO₄. The unexpected formation of (±)-methyl 5,6-dihydroxy-N-diphenylphosphoryl-2-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-3-endo-carboxylate from (±)-methyl N-diphenylphosphoryloxy-2-azabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-3-endo-carboxylate is discussed based on NMR analyses and experimental observations. The two N-diphenylphosphoryl dihydroxybicycles are analyzed in terms of their crystalline structure by X-ray crystallography.