A phosphine-catalyzed [3 + 2] annulation reaction of modified allylic compounds and N-tosylimines

A phosphine-catalyzed annulation of modified allylic ylides with various aromatic imines to form 3-pyrrolines was developed. The presence of a substituent in the allylic compound is crucial for this reaction. Without the substituent, (E)-dienylimines will be produced via the dimerization of the allylic compounds.     

Phosphine-catalyzed cascade [3 + 2] cyclization-allylic alkylation, [2 + 2 + 1] annulation, and [3 + 2] cyclization reactions between allylic carbonates and enones

The phosphine-catalyzed annulations between Morita-Baylis-Hillman adduct carbonates and enones are reported. Under the catalysis of PBu(3) (20 mol %), cascade [3 + 2] cyclization-allylic alkylation, [2 + 2 + 1] annulation, and [3 + 2] cyclization reactions chemoselectively occur depending on the substituent variation of both the carbonate and enone. These reactions provide efficient syntheses of highly functionalized cyclopentenes and cyclopentanes.     

An application of the phosphine-catalyzed [4 + 2] annulation in indole alkaloid synthesis: formal syntheses of (+/-)-alstonerine and (+/-)-macroline

[reaction: see text] An application of the phosphine-catalyzed [4 + 2] annulation in the formal synthesis of alstonerine and macroline is reported. A phosphine-catalyzed [4 + 2] reaction between imine 7a and allene 8 formed the D ring of the target indole alkaloids. A subsequent intramolecular Friedel-Crafts acylation provided the C ring of the bridged tetracycle. Deprotection, followed by methylation of the bridged nitrogen, deoxygenation of the C6 ketone, and reduction of the C16 carbethoxy group provided the previously known intermediate 3.     

Synthesis of functionalized allylic sulfoxides and their use in the construction of 2,3,4-trisubstituted furans via a [3 + 2] annulation

A route to 2,3,4-trisubstituted furan derivatives based on a [3 + 2] annulation of functionalized allylic sulfoxides and aldehydes is described. In this strategy, the precursors of allylic sulfoxides 4, allylic sulfides 3, were synthesized via a thiomethylation reaction of an alpha-EWG ketene-S,S-acetal 1 (EWG: electron-withdrawing group), formaldehyde, and a thiol 2 in high to excellent yields. Allylic sulfoxides 4 were prepared by a highly regioselective oxidation of 3, using m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid as oxidant. Thus, starting from these readily available sulfoxides 4, 2-alkylthio-3,4-disubstituted furans 6 were efficiently constructed via the [3 + 2] annulation reaction of 4 with aldehydes 5 under mild conditions. Further replacement of the 2-alkylthio group of 6 with amines led to the formation of 2-amino-3,4-disubstituted furan derivatives 7.     

Iron-mediated [3 + 2] or [3 + 3] annulation of 2-(2-(ethynyl)phenoxy)-1-arylethanones: selective synthesis of indeno[1,2-c]chromenes and 5H-naphtho[1,2-c]chromenes

An iron-mediated tandem annulation strategy has been developed for the synthesis of numerous functional indeno[1,2-c]chromenes and 5H-naphtho[1,2-c]chromenes. This work is the first to disclose an iron-mediated method through sequential electrophilic addition of a ketone to an alkyne and annulation tandem reaction. Importantly, a halide is introduced into the products by a ring-opening process among the annulation of alkynylcyclopropanes, which makes the methodology more attractive for organic synthesis.     

A phosphine-catalyzed [3+6] annulation reaction of modified allylic compounds and tropone

A novel phosphine-catalyzed reaction of modified allylic compounds, including acetates, bromides, chlorides, or tert-butyl carbonates derived from the Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) reaction with tropone to yield [3+6] annulation products in excellent yields was developed. It offers a simple and convenient method for constructing bridged nine-membered carbocycles.     

Synthesis of benzonorcaradienes by gold(I)-catalyzed [4+3] annulation

A formal [4 + 3]-annulation of vinyl arenes and diynyl propargyl esters is described. A mechanism involving cationic phosphinegold(I)-catalyzed tandem cyclopropanation/hydroarylation to produce the benzonorcaradiene products is proposed. In accord with this mechanism, the alkynyl cyclopropane can also be prepared with excellent regio- and diastereocontrol.     

Synthesis of psudoheliotridane via formal [3+2] annulation and ring-closing metathesis

Base-induced coupling/cyclization stepwise [3+2] annulation of α-sulfonylacetamide with (Z)-2-bromoacrylates yielded polysubstituted pyroglutamates with three contiguous chiral centers with trans-trans orientation in a one-pot synthesis. The pyrrolizidine skeleton was obtained via the ring-closing metathesis (RCM) method. This facile strategy was used to synthesize psudoheliotridane.     

Regioselective and stereoselective synthesis of tetrahydrofurans from a functionalized allylic silane and an aldehyde via formal [3+2]-cycloaddition reaction

Allylsilanes are known as useful reagents for the stereoselective formation of ring systems. Previous studies have shown that tetrahydrofurans can be constructed via formal [3+2]-cycloadditions of aldehydes and allylsilanes. A new challenge is to understand the intermediate, after a nucleophile attacks a carbonyl activated by the Lewis acid, in which two silyl-protected alkoxy groups with chemical equivalency could undergo formal cycloaddition reaction to afford a disubstituted and/or a trisubstituted tetrahydrofuran. Preparation of the protected α-hydroxy aldehyde and a functionalized allylic silane is discussed, as well as their formal cycloaddition reaction to form tetrahydrofurans.     

Regioselective intramolecular [3+2] annulation of allene-nitrones

The regioselective intramolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of the phenylsulfonylallene-nitrone derivatives has been developed. This reaction showed that the distal double bond of the allene exclusively reacted with the nitrone group to produce the bicyclic isoxazolidine derivatives regardless of the substitution pattern on the allenyl moiety.     

Divergent amine-catalyzed [4 + 2] annulation of Morita-Baylis-Hillman allylic acetates with electron-deficient alkenes

An amine-catalyzed [4 + 2] annulation of Morita-Baylis-Hillman allylic acetates 2 with electron-deficient alkenes or diazenes has been developed for efficient syntheses of highly functionalized cyclohexenes, tetrahydropyridazines, and important spirocycles. This reaction unveils a new reactivity pattern of the intensely studied allylic compounds 2 acting as a C(4) synthon in Lewis base catalyzed annulation reactions and also showcases divergent catalysis between tertiary amines and phosphines.     

Stereoselective synthesis of highly substituted gamma-lactams by the [3+2] annulation of alpha-siloxy allylic silanes with chlorosulfonyl isocyanate

[reaction: see text] A stereoselective synthesis of gamma-lactams by the [3+2] annulation of alpha-siloxy allylic silanes with N-chlorosulfonyl isocyanate (ClSO(2)NCO) was developed. The use of these allylic silanes allowed for further diastereoselective substitution of the resultant N,O-acetal to give highly substituted gamma-lactams. Oxidation of the silyl group afforded access to complex beta-hydroxy-gamma-lactams.     

Phosphine-catalyzed [3+3] annulation reaction of modified tert-butyl allylic carbonates and substituted alkylidenemalononitriles

A phosphine-catalyzed [3+3] annulation reaction of modified tert-butyl allylic carbonates with various alkylidenemalononitriles to form cyclohexenes was developed. The use of protic solvent is crucial in this reaction. When non-polar solvent, toluene or xylene, was used, only non-cyclized product was obtained.     

A [3+2] annulation procedure for methylenecyclopentanes

A two step sequence converts certain cyclic enones to fused methylenecyclopentanes using the annulation reagent 2-chloromethyl-3-trimethylsilylpropene.     

Total Synthesis of +-alexine by utilizing a highly stereoselective [3+2] annulation reaction of an N-tosyl-alpha-amino aldehyde and a 1,3-bis(silyl)propene

A novel route towards the polyhydroxylated pyrrolizidine alkaloid (+)-alexine has been developed. A key step in this synthesis is a highly stereoselective [3+2] annulation reaction of N-Ts-alpha-amino aldehyde 7 a (Ts=tosyl) and 1,3-bis(silyl)propene 8 a for the construction of the polyhydroxylated pyrrolidine subunit of the target molecule. Previous synthetic strategies rely on carbohydrates that require several protecting-group manipulations, thereby making the total number of steps relatively high. The [3+2] annulation strategy compares favorably with carbohydrate-based syntheses and constitutes a highly efficient entry to polyhydroxylated alkaloids.     

Phosphine-catalyzed dearomative [3+2] annulation of 3-nitroindoles and allenoates

The efficient phosphine-catalyzed dearomative [3+2] annulation of 3-nitroindoles with allenoates has been successfully developed, providing a facile access to cyclopenta[b]indolines with good to excellent yields and high diastereoselectivities. This strategy features mild reaction conditions, high functional group tolerance, and scalability. Additionally, the 2-nitrobenzofuran and 2-nitrobenzothiophene were good dearomative [3+2] annulation partners.     

An unexpected phosphine-catalyzed [3 + 2] annulation. Synthesis of highly functionalized cyclopentenes

An unexpected phosphine-catalyzed [3 + 2] annulation from electron-deficient allenes and substituted alkylidenemalononitriles was realized in which the allylic moiety of the substituted alkylidenemalononitriles served as the three carbon unit of the cyclopentenes instead of the electron-deficient allenes.     

Synthesis of (+/-)-strychnofoline via a highly convergent selective annulation reaction

Studies aimed at preparing (+/-)-strychnofoline by total synthesis are detailed. The route described makes use of a recently developed MgI(2)-mediated ring-expansion reaction of spiro[cyclopropan-1,3'-oxindole] with a cyclic disubstituted aldimine. The ring-expansion product was formed as a single diastereoisomer in 55 % yield, possessing the same stereochemical pattern found in strychnofoline. In addition, our synthetic effort has led to the development of new reaction methodology to access 3,4-disubstituted cyclic aldimines.     

The formal total synthesis of (+/-)-strychnine via a cobalt-mediated [2 + 2 + 2]cycloaddition

A short, highly convergent total synthesis of racemic isostrychnine, and thus strychnine, has been completed. The route involves 14 steps in the longest linear sequence and is highlighted by a cobalt-mediated [2 + 2 + 2]cycloaddition of an alkynylindole nucleus to acetylene.