Asymmetric Organocatalytic Stepwise [2+2] Entry to Tetra‐Substituted Heterodimeric and Homochiral Cyclobutanes

An asymmetric synthesis of tetra‐substituted cyclobutanes involving an organocatalytic, stepwise [2+2]‐cycloaddition is described. The secondary‐amine‐catalyzed method allows for the hetero‐dimerization of two different cinnamic‐acid‐derived sub‐units, opening a novel one‐step assembly to densely functionalized, head‐to‐tail coupled dimeric cyclobutanes in high enantiomeric excess. A series of selective synthetic interconversions in these sensitive cycloadducts is also described.     

Regioselective photodimerization of cinnamic acids in water: Templation with cucurbiturils

Cinnamic acids upon irradiation in solution undergo geometric isomerization while dimerizing to different dimers in the crystalline state. Controlling the nature of the dimer formed upon irradiation remains a challenging task. We have aligned a variety of cinnamic acid molecules in a head-head fashion employing cucurbit[8]uril, a weakly water soluble host as a template. The water solubility of cucurbit[8]uril is enhanced by inclusion of water soluble cinnamic acids and positions the olefins in an arrangement that favors the formation of syn head-head cyclobutanes in near quantitative yields. This methodology works in both solid state as well as in aqueous solution. Irradiation of cinnamic acid complexes with gamma-cyclodextrin has been carried out as a comparison. We find that while cucurbit[8]uril functions well both in solid state and aqueous solution, cyclodextrin works best as solid complexes only. Consistent with the postulated requirement of large cavities for templating olefins to dimerization, irradiation of complexes of cinnamic acid with cucurbit[7]uril resulted in only the corresponding cis isomers.     

DNA‐Templated [2+2] Photocycloaddition: A Straightforward Entry into the Aplysinopsin Family of Natural Products

Biosynthetic considerations inspired us to harness the templating properties offered by DNA to promote a [2+2] photoinduced cycloaddition. The method was developed based on the dimerization of (E)‐aplysinopsin, which was previously shown to be unproductive in solution. In sharp contrast, exposure of this tryptophan‐derived olefin to light in the presence of salmon testes DNA (st‐DNA) reproducibly afforded the corresponding homo‐dimerized spiro‐fused cyclobutane in excellent yields. DNA provides unique templating interactions enabling a singular mimic of the solid‐state aggregation necessary for the [2+2] photocycloaddition to occur. This method was ultimately used to promote the prerequisite dimerizations leading to both dictazole B and tubastrindole B, thus constituting the first example of a DNA‐mediated transformation to be applied to the total synthesis of a natural product.     

二芳基乙烯类酸致变色材料的光机械效应

本文合成了氟代萘乙烯基苯并唑BO1N4F和氟代萘乙烯基苯并噻唑BT1N4F,二者在紫外光照下可发生拓扑[2+2]环加成反应,生成的主产物为β-型二聚体.由于前者的光化学反应效率高于后者,因此,BO1N4F的光二聚反应导致晶体内部产生较大的张力.当累积在棒状晶体中的张力快速释放时,晶体发生爆裂,产生的碎片跳离原位置;当累积在针状晶体中的张力缓慢释放时,晶体发生显著的背光弯曲.此外,光二聚反应将平面形二芳基乙烯分子转化为蝴蝶形环丁烷衍生物,共轭分子的去平面化导致基于二聚体D-BO1N4F的薄膜对三氟乙酸蒸气的检测限低于薄膜BO1N4F.可见,光诱导[2+2]环加成反应不仅能改善二芳基乙烯衍生物在薄膜中的荧光传感性能,而且是分子晶体产生光机械效应的驱动力.     

Construction of Cyclobutanes by Multicomponent Cascade Reactions in Homogeneous Solution through Visible-Light Catalysis

[2+2] Photocycloaddition of two olefins is a general method to assemble the core scaffold, cyclobutane, found in numerous bioactive molecules. A new approach to synthesize cyclobutanes through multicomponent cascade reactions by merging aldol reaction and Witting reaction with visible-light-induced [2+2] cycloaddition is reported. An array of cyclobutanes with high selectivity has been achieved from commercially available aldehydes, ketones (or phosphorus ylide), and olefins with visible-light irradiation of a catalytic amount of (fac-tris(2-phenylpyridinato-C₂,N)iridium) ([Ir(ppy)₃]) at room temperature. Control experiments and spectroscopic studies revealed that the triplet–triplet energy transfer from the excited [Ir(ppy)₃]* to enones, generated in situ from aldehyde and ketone or aldehyde and phosphorus ylide, is responsible for these simple and efficient muticomponent transformations.     

Enantioselective crossed intramolecular [2+2] photocycloaddition reactions mediated by a chiral chelating Lewis acid

In intramolecular [2+2] photocycloaddition reactions, the two tethered olefins can approach each other in a straight or in a crossed fashion. Despite the fact that the latter reaction mode leads to intriguing, otherwise inaccessible bridged skeletons, there has so far not been any enantioselective variants thereof. This study concerned the crossed [2+2]-photocycloaddition of 2-(alkenyloxy)cyclohex-2-enones to bridged cyclobutanes. It was found that the reaction could be performed with high enantioselectivity (80–94% ee) under visible light conditions when employing a chiral rhodium Lewis acid as a catalyst (2 mol%).

An enantioselective crossed [2+2] photocycloaddition is presented which proceeds under visible light irradiation in the presence of a chiral Lewis acidic metal complex. Chelation of two oxygen atoms to the metal centre accounts for the observed enantioface differentiation.     

Templating photodimerization of trans-cinnamic acids with cucurbit[8]uril and gamma-cyclodextrin

Cucurbit[8]uril and gamma-cyclodextrin are able to align two olefin molecules in a head-head fashion within their large cavities. Excitation of such templated olefins results in syn head-head cyclobutanes in nearly quantitative yields. The methodology revealed here works with trans-cinnamic acids that do not dimerize either in solution or in the solid state and with the ones that yield only anti head-tail dimer in the solid state. [reaction: see text]     

Stereoselective Nickel‐Catalyzed [2+2] Cycloadditions of Ene‐Allenes

A stereoselective nickel‐catalyzed [2+2] cycloaddition of ene‐allenes is reported. This transformation encompasses a broad range of ene‐allene substrates, thus providing efficient access to fused cyclobutanes from easily accessed π‐components. A simple and inexpensive first‐row catalytic system comprised of [Ni(cod)₂] and dppf was used in this process, thus constituting an attractive approach to synthetically challenging cyclobutane frameworks under mild reaction conditions.     

Dihydrobiphenylenes through Ruthenium‐Catalyzed [2+2+2] Cycloadditions of ortho‐Alkenylarylacetylenes with Alkynes

A new synthetic route to dihydrobiphenylenes has been developed. The process involves a mild Ru^II‐catalyzed [2+2+2] dimerization of ortho‐alkenylarylacetylenes or its more versatile variant, the Ru‐catalyzed [2+2+2] cycloaddition of ortho‐ethynylstyrenes with alkynes. Mechanistic aspects of this [2+2+2] cycloaddition are discussed.     

Formal intermolecular [2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of allenamide [corrected] with alkenes via gold catalysis

An efficient method was developed to construct the densely functionalized cyclobutane[corrected] adducts through formal intermolecular cycloaddition of allenamides [corrected] with electron-rich olefins via gold catalysis, in which vinyl ethers/amides and electron-rich styrenes worked very well. In addition, a series of allenamide [corrected] dimerization products were prepared from the same allenamide [corrected] substrates.     

Gadolinium Photocatalysis: Dearomative [2+2] Cycloaddition/Ring‐Expansion Sequence with Indoles

Lanthanide photocatalysts are much less investigated in synthetic chemistry than rare and expensive late transition metals. We herein introduce Gd^III photocatalysis of a highly regioselective, intermolecular [2+2] photocycloaddition/ring‐expansion sequence with indoles, which could provide divergent access to cyclopenta[b]indoles and indolines. A simple and commercially available Gd(OTf)₃ salt is sufficient for this visible‐violet‐light‐induced transformation. The reaction proceeds either through a transient or start‐to‐end dearomatization cascade and shows excellent regioselectivity (usually >95:5 r.r.), broad scope (59 examples), good functional group tolerance and facile scale‐up under mild, direct visible‐light‐excitation conditions. Mechanistic investigations reveal that direct excitation of the Gd(OTf)₃/indole mixture gives an excited state intermediate, which undergoes the subsequent [2+2] cycloaddition and cyclobutane‐expansion cascade.     

Dimerization of Dimethyl 2‐(Naphthalen‐1‐yl)cyclopropane‐1,1‐dicarboxylate in the Presence of GaCl3 to [3+2], [3+3], [3+4], and Spiroannulation Products

In the presence of a catalytic amount of GaCl₃, dimethyl 2‐(naphthalen‐1‐yl)cyclopropane‐1,1‐dicarboxylate 5 undergoes selective [3+2]‐annulation‐type dimerization to give a polysubstituted cyclopentane containing two naphthalenyl substituents in the vicinal position (Scheme 2). Treatment of the same cyclopropane with an equimolar amount of GaCl₃?THF results in dimerization with electrophilic attack on each of the benzene rings to give [3+3] and [3+4] annulation products. The latter represent a new type of dimerization of donor? acceptor cyclopropanes. Finally, under conditions of double catalysis with GaCl₃, 3,3,5,5‐tetrasubstituted 4,5‐dihydropyrazole, this cyclopropane‐dicarboxylate undergoes stereospecific dimerization as a result of electrophilic ipso‐attack to give a tetracyclic pentaleno[6a,1‐a]naphthalene derivative (Scheme 5). Possible reaction mechanisms are proposed.     

Cyclobutane and Cyclobutene Synthesis: Catalytic Enantioselective [2+2] Cycloadditions

Cyclobutanes and cyclobutenes are important structural motifs found in numerous biologically significant molecules, and they are useful intermediates for chemical synthesis. Consequently, [2+2] cycloadditions to access cyclobutanes and cyclobutenes have been established to be particularly useful transformations. Within the last 10 years, an increase in the frequency of publications for catalytic enantioselective [2+2] cycloadditions has occurred. These reactions provide access to a wide array of enantiomerically enriched chemical diversity that was not previously attainable. Described in this review are the advances made in catalytic enantioselective [2+2] cycloadditions to access cyclobutanes and cyclobutenes.     

NMR analyses of two isomeric cyclobutanes from a [2 + 2] photocycloaddition

Complete ¹H and ¹³C NMR assignments are reported for two isomeric cyclobutanes generated from the photochemical [2 + 2] cycloaddition of N‐methylisocarbostyril and 4‐methoxy‐3‐buten‐2‐one. The reaction is 100% regioselective and demonstrates the potential synthetic utility of de Mayo type reactions using an isocarbostyril and a stable β‐dicarbonyl enol derivative. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Photochemistry of 2-Cyclohexene-imines and 2,3,4,4a,5,6-Hexahydroquinolines. Preliminary communication

The 2-cyclohexene-imines 2b–2d and the hexahydroquinolines 5a, b are synthesized. n,π*-Excitation of these α,β-unsaturated imines leads to (E/Z) isomerization for compounds 2 while compounds 5 are unreactive. No cyclobutanes are formed from 2 or 5 under these conditions in the presence of olefins, and only 2d adds to 2,3-dimethyl-2-butene via the C?N bond to give an azetidine. On π,π* excitation 2 and 5 rearrange to the corresponding β,γ-unsaturated imines 8 and 9 with low efficiency. It is concluded that the failure of such imines to undergo [2+2]-photocycloadditions with olefins is not mainly due to radiationless decay via (E/Z) isomerization.     

Copper Catalyzed Asymmetric [4 + 2] Annulations of D‐A Cyclobutanes with Aldehydes

Copper catalyzed enantioselective [4 + 2] annulations of D‐A cyclobutanes and aldehydes have been developed. In the presence of a side arm modified chiral bisoxazoline (SaBOX) ligand, the [4 + 2] annulations proceeded smoothly with a broad substrate scope. 22 examples were studied, leading to the corresponding products with various functional groups in 41%–99% yields with >99/1 dr and 90%–96% ee. The resulting product with two ester groups was mono‐reduced, giving the corresponding product in excellent diastereoselectivity without loss of the enantiopurity.     

Chiral Silver Amides as Effective Catalysts for Enantioselective [3+2] Cycloaddition Reactions

Asymmetric [3+2] cycloaddition of α‐aminoester Schiff bases with substituted olefins is one of the most efficient methods for the preparation of chiral pyrrolidine derivatives in optically pure form. In spite of its potential utility, applicable substrates for this method have been limited to Schiff bases that bear relatively acidic α‐hydrogen atoms. Here we report a chiral silver amide complex for asymmetric [3+2] cycloaddition reactions. A silver complex prepared from silver bis(trimethylsilyl)amide (AgHMDS) and (R)‐DTBM‐SEGPHOS worked well in asymmetric [3+2] cycloaddition reactions of α‐aminoester Schiff bases with several olefins to afford the corresponding pyrrolidine derivatives in high yields with remarkable exo‐ and enantioselectivities. Furthermore, α‐aminophosphonate Schiff bases, which have less acidic α‐hydrogen atoms, also reacted with olefins with high exo‐ and enantioselectivities. The stereoselectivities of the [3+2] cycloadditions with maleate and fumarate suggested that the reaction proceeded by means of a concerted mechanism. An NMR spectroscopic study indicated that complexation of AgHMDS with the bisphosphine ligand was not complete, and that free AgHMDS, which did not show any significant catalytic activity, existed in the catalyst solution. This means that significant ligand acceleration occurred in the current reaction system.     

Enantioselective Template‐Directed [2+2] Photocycloadditions of Isoquinolones: Scope,Mechanism and Synthetic Applications

A strategy for the enantioselective [2+2] photocycloaddition of isoquinolones with alkenes is presented, in which the formation of a supramolecular complex between a chiral template and the substrate ensures high enantioface differentiation by shielding one face of the substrate. Fifteen different electron‐deficient alkenes and ten different substituted isoquinolones undergo efficient photocycloaddition, yielding the cyclobutane products in excellent yields and with outstanding regio‐, diastereo‐ and enantioselectivities (up to 99 % ee). The mechanism of the reaction is investigated by means of triplet sensitization/quenching and radical clock experiments, the results of which are consistent with the involvement of a triplet excited state and a 1,4‐biradical intermediate. The variety of functionalized cyclobutanes obtained using this approach can be further increased by straightforward synthetic transformations of the photoadducts, allowing rapid access to libraries of compounds for various applications.     

Synthesis of Functionalized Tetrahydropyridines by SnCl4-Mediated [4+2] Cycloaddition between Donor–Acceptor Cyclobutanes and Nitriles

Cycloadditions of strained carbocycles promoted by Lewis acids are powerful methods to construct heterocyclic frameworks. In fact, the formal [3+2] cycloadditions of donor–acceptor (DA) cyclopropanes with nitriles has seen particular success in synthesis. In this work, we report on the first [4+2] cycloaddition of nitriles with DA cyclobutanes by Lewis acid activation. Tetrahydropyridine derivatives were obtained in up to 91 % yield from various aryl-activated cyclobutane diesters and aliphatic or aromatic nitriles.     

Self-assembly of a (benzothiazolyl)ethenylbenzocrown ether into a sandwich complex and stereoselective [2+2] photocycloaddition

In the presence of Ba²⁺ ions, (benzothiazolyl)ethenylbenzocrown ether forms the stable sandwich complex 2L⋅Ba²⁺ with an unusual structure, in which the benzothiazole fragments are arranged one above the other. Irradiation of the sandwich complex with visible light induces stereoselective [2+2] cycloaddition giving rise to two “head-to-head” isomers of biscrown-cyclobutane. The addition of dibasic dicarboxylic acids that additionally stabilize the sandwich complex in a favorable conformation affects the isomer ratio of the cyclobutanes formed. The conformational equilibria for the sandwich complex and cyclobutanes were studied by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 7, pp. 1524–1533, July, 2005.