Dye-sensitized photooxygenation of sugar furans: novel bis-epoxide and spirocyclic C-nucleosides

Dye-sensitized photooxygenation of 2-methyl 5-(2,3,5-tri-O-acetyl-β-d-ribofuranosyl)furoate leads to (1S,4R)-endo-peroxide, highlighting a high facial diastereoselectivity. This endo-peroxide rearranges into syn-(1R,2R:3S,4R)-diepoxide C-nucleoside, while by Et₂S-reduction followed by NEt₃ catalysis affords a spirocyclic C-nucleoside.     

The synthesis and biological activity of novel spiro-isoxazoline C-disaccharides based on 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of exo-glycals and sugar nitrile oxides

A series of novel spiro-isoxazoline C-disaccharides were synthesized by the key step of 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions of exo-glycals and sugar nitrile oxides, and followed by catalytic debenzylation in the presence of Pd(OH)₂/C. The cycloaddition reactions were carried out stereoselectively and afforded α-isomers exclusively except in the case of galactose. The biological activities of the novel disaccharides against the glycosidases (α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and β-glucosidase) and HIV and BVDV were evaluated.     

The Choice of Rhodium Catalysts in [2+2+2] Cycloaddition Reaction: A Personal Account

[2+2+2] Cycloaddition reaction is a captivating process that assembles six-membered rings from three unsaturations with complete atom economy. Of the multiple transition metals that can be used to catalyze this reaction, rhodium offers many advantages. These include high activity and versatility, but especially the ability to easily tune the reactivity and selectivity by the modification of the ligands around the metal. In this personal account, we summarize our endeavours in the development of efficient and sustainable [2+2+2] cycloaddition reactions to prepare products of interest, develop conditions in which the catalyst can be recovered and reused, and understand the mechanistic details that govern the selectivity of the processes.     

2+2] Cycloaddition of ketenes with ynamides. A general method for the synthesis of 3-aminocyclobutenone derivatives

Ynamides react with ketenes in [2+2] cycloadditions leading to a variety of substituted 3-aminocyclobut-2-en-1-ones. The ynamides employed in these reactions are readily available via the copper-promoted N-alkynylation of carbamates and sulfonamides with alkynyl bromides and iodides. The scope of the [2+2] cycloaddition with regard to both the ketene and ynamide component is described.     

Intramolecular cycloadditions of keteniminium salts. A practical asymmetric synthesis of prostaglandins.

The intramolecular [2 + 2] cycloaddition of keteniminium salt 5 derived from (2S, 5S)-dimethylpyirolidine is the key step of a short synthetic route toward prostaglandins.     

Unexpected Ti-catalyzed formal intramolecular [4+4] cycloaddition of 1,1′-bi[(S,S)-6-(trimethylsilyl)cyclohepta-2,4-dien-1-yl]

Reductive disilylation (Li+Me₃SiCl−THF) of 1,3,5-cycloheptatriene led to 1,1′-bi[(S^∗,S^∗)-6-(trimethylsilyl)cyclohepta-2,4-dien-1-yl] (2). In the presence of TiCl₄ in dichloromethane, 2 gave rise to a spherical molecule 5 resulting from an intramolecular formal [4+4] supra-supra cycloaddition.     

Cycloaddition reactions of 1,3-diazabuta-1,3-dienes with alkynyl ketenes

The cycloaddition reactions of ‘all-carbon’ 1,3-diazabuta-1,3-dienes with a few conjugated and unconjugated alkynyl ketenes are described. The reactions provide some interesting azetidinones and dihydropyrimidinones bearing an alkynyl moiety. The regiochemistry of cycloadduct is related with the degree of conjugation of the alkynyl ketene. Moreover, two alternative approaches to ‘all-carbon’ 1,3-diazabuta-1,3-dienes are reported.     

Synthesis of 2-iodoynamides and regioselective [2+2] cycloadditions with ketene

The first synthesis of 2-iodoynamides is described as well as the first [2+2] cycloadditions of ketene with iodo alkynes.     

1,3-Dipolar cycloaddition reactions on carbohydrate-based templates: synthesis of spiro-isoxazolines and 1,2,4-oxadiazoles as glycogen phosphorylase inhibitors

1,3-Dipolar cycloaddition of aryl nitrile oxides to benzyl/acetyl-protected exo-glucals and to a benzoylated glucosyl cyanide led in high yield to spiro-isoxazolines and to 3-aryl-5-glucosyl-1,2,4-oxadiazoles, respectively. The choice of the protective groups was important to the outcome of the cycloaddition and for the deprotection of the adducts. Cleavage of the ester protecting groups (acetyl, benzoyl) provided water-soluble spiro-isoxazolines and 3-aryl-5-glucosyl-1,2,4-oxadiazoles, evaluated as glycogen phosphorylase inhibitors. Preliminary tests showed IC₅₀ values in the μM range.     

N-Iodosaccharin (NISac): a new reusable catalyst for formal [2+4] cycloaddition of imines and enones

The first example of N-iodosaccharin (NISac)-catalyzed step, pot and atom economic synthesis of 1,3-oxazines via formal [2+4] cycloaddition of imines and enones has been reported. No by-product formation, operational simplicity, ambient temperature and high yields (85-95%) are the salient features of the present synthetic protocol. After isolation of the product, the catalyst NISac can be easily recovered and reused without any loss of efficiency.     

Intramolecular formal [4+2] cycloaddition reactions of secondary and tertiary aryldiacetylene alcohols

Thermal and thionyl chloride induced cycloaromatizations of secondary and tertiary aryldiacetylene alcohols were studied. The secondary alcohol did not respond to thionyl chloride, but in all the other cases presumptive biradical intermediates evolved either by intramolecular radical coupling or, when derived from a xanthene scaffold, by intramolecular radical acylation to a diketone that finally afforded a p-methylene-quinone.     

Enantioselective 1,3-Dipolar [6+4] Cycloaddition of Pyrylium Ions and Fulvenes towards Cyclooctanoids

Organocatalytic enantioselective 1,3-dipolar [6+4] cycloadditions of pyrylium ion intermediates with fulvenes promoted by a chiral primary amine catalyst have been developed to proceed in moderate to good yields and high enantioselectivities. The resultant chiral bicyclo[6.3.0]undecane scaffold containing a transannular bridging ether is densely functionalised providing a rigid scaffold for further manipulations. Computational studies give important insights into the role of the primary amine catalyst. Analysis of the reaction shows that the catalytic reaction proceeds in a step-wise manner and rationalises the stereochemical outcome of the reaction. Several stereoselective complexity-generating transformations, facilitated by the diverse functional groups and transannular bridge, are presented, highlighting the versatility of the core towards a number of the cyclooctanoid natural products.     

Highly regio- and stereoselective synthesis of tricyclic frameworks using Baylis-Hillman derivatives

A simple and convenient synthetic route for the synthesis of tricyclic chromeno[4,3-b]pyrrolidine frameworks using Baylis-Hillman bromides involving in situ formation of an imine, decarboxylation and a [3+2] cycloaddition sequence is described.     

Capping the upper and lower rims of calix[4]arenes by aryl dinitrile oxide reactions

1,3-Dipolar cycloadditions of upper- and lower-rim diallylcalix[4]arenes (1 and 3) with aryl dinitrile oxides provide a unique and efficient way of capping the calix[4]arenes. When dinitrile oxides reacted with 5-allylcalix[4]arene 7, they underwent a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition on one side and an electrophilic substitution on the other side, which led to a novel type of asymmetric calix[4]arenes (9 and 12).     

β-Tosylethylazide: a useful synthon for preparation of N-protected 1,2,3-triazoles via click chemistry

β-Tosylethylazide (TSE-N₃), which can be prepared in one step from p-tolyl vinyl sulfone and sodium azide/H₂SO₄, undergoes metal-catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions with alkynes to produce TSE-protected 1,2,3-triazoles. The protecting group can be removed using potassium tert-butoxide in THF at −78 to 0 °C.     

Aza- and carbo-[3+3] annulations of exo-cyclic vinylogous amides and urethanes. Synthesis of tetrahydroindolizidines and an unexpected formation of hexahydroquinolines

[3+3] Annulations of exo-cyclic vinylogous amides and urethanes with vinyl iminium salts are described here. We observed an intriguing dichotomy in their reaction pathways. For pyrrolidine- and azepane-based vinylogous amides or urethanes, aza-[3+3] annulation would dominate to give tetrahydroindolizidines, whereas, unexpectedly, for piperidine-based vinylogous amides or urethanes, carbo-[3+3] annulation was the pathway, leading to hexahydroquinolines. The origin for such a contrast is likely associated with a switch in the initial reaction pathway between C-1,2-addition and C-1,4-addition.     

Synthesis of nitrogen bicyclic scaffolds: pyrimido[1,2-a]pyrimidine-2,6-diones

The multi-step synthesis of 1,3,7-trisubstituted pyrimido[1,2-a]pyrimidinediones starting from isothiocyanates is described. These nitrogen bicycles were prepared by an iterative sequence of functionalization/cyclocondensation reactions. [4+2] Cycloaddition reactions took place between diazadienic chains and various acyl chlorides providing sophisticated heterobicycles.     

Reactivity of allenoates towards aziridines: synthesis of functionalized methylenepyrrolidines and pyrroles

The reactivity of buta-2,3-dienoates towards aziridines is reported. Typically, allenoates react as the 2π-component in the [3+2] cycloaddition with azomethine ylides generated from aziridines, affording 4-methylenepyrrolidines in a site-, regio- and stereoselective fashion. However, N-cyclohexyl- or N-tert-butyl-2-benzoyl-3-phenylaziridines showed a different reactivity in the reaction with buta-2,3-dienoates. Pyrrole derivatives were obtained as single or major products resulting from a formal [3+2] cycloaddition via C-N bond cleavage of the three-membered ring heterocycle leading to functionalized pyrroles. From the reaction with allenoates bearing bulkier C-4 substituents 4-methylenepyrrolidines were also formed as minor products.     

Enantioselective synthesis of the spirotryprostatin A scaffold

The pentacyclic spirotryprostatin scaffold embodies an oxindole with an all-carbon quaternary stereocenter. The scaffold can efficiently be accessed in a one-pot reaction sequence consisting of a highly enantioselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition, N-acylation of the resulting stereochemically complex 3,3′-pyrrolidinyl-spirooxindole core with Fmoc-proline and spontaneous ring closure upon N-deprotection.     

New synthesis of 3-fluoropyridine derivatives

The reaction of 2,2-bis(dimethylamino)-3,3-difluoro-1-methylcyclobutane-carbonitrile with alkyl lithiums leads to the formation of 6-alkyl-2-(dimethylamino)-3-fluoro-5-methylpyridines in moderate to good yields.