Ligand effects in the Rh(II) catalyzed reaction of α-diazo ketoamides

The rhodium(II) catalyzed decomposition of several α-diazo ketoamides resulted in either formation of a push-pull carbonyl ylide intermediate followed by intramolecular [3+2]-cycloaddition across the tethered π-bond or C-H insertion of the initially formed rhodium carbenoid into the C₅-position of the lactam ring followed by a carboethoxy-decarboxylation reaction. The chemoselectivity exhibited by the rhodium carbenoid intermediate was found to be markedly dependent on the metal ligands employed.     

A Rh(II)-catalyzed cycloaddition approach toward the synthesis of komaroviquinone

Using a rhodium(II)-catalyzed cyclization/cycloaddition sequence as the key reaction step, the icetexane core of komaroviquinone was constructed by an intramolecular dipolar-cycloaddition of a carbonyl ylide dipole across a tethered π-bond. The ylide was arrived at by cyclization of a rhodium carbenoid intermediate onto a proximal ester group. Efforts toward the preparation of the required precursor for elaboration to the natural product are discussed.     

The interaction of rhodium carbenoids with carbonyl compounds as a method for the synthesis of tetrahydrofurans

The transition metal catalyzed reaction of α-diazo carbonyl compounds has found numerous applications in organic synthesis, and its use in either heterocyclic or carbocyclic ring formation is well precedented. In contrast to other catalysts that are suitable for carbenoid reactions of diazo compounds, those constructed with the dirhodium(II) framework are most amenable to ligand modification that, in turn, can influence reaction selectivity. The reaction of rhodium carbenoids with carbonyl groups represents a very efficient method for generating carbonyl ylide dipoles. Rhodium-mediated carbenoid–carbonyl cyclization reactions have been extensively utilized as a powerful method for the construction of a variety of novel polycyclic ring systems. This article will emphasize some of the more recent synthetic applications of the tandem rhodium carbenoid cyclization/cycloaddition cascade for natural product synthesis. Discussion centers on the chemical behavior of the rhodium metal carbenoid complex that is often affected by the nature of the ligand groups attached to the metal center.     

Synthesis of furo[3,4-c]furans using a rhodium(II)-catalyzed cyclization/Diels-Alder cycloaddition sequence

A series of 2-alkynyl 2-diazo-3-oxobutanoates, when treated with a catalytic quantity of rhodium(II) acetate, afforded furo[3,4-c]furans in good yield. The reaction proceeds by addition of a rhodium-stabilized carbenoid onto the acetylenic pi-bond to give a vinyl carbenoid that subsequently cyclizes onto the neighboring carbonyl group to produce the furan ring. These furo[3,4-c]furans react with various dienophiles, furnishing anisole derivatives derived by loss of water from the initially formed Diels-Alder cycloadducts. The Rh(II)-catalyzed cyclization reaction was quite versatile with regard to the nature of the interacting carbonyl group. The methodology was applied to the synthesis of several oxa-polyheterocyclic systems by first generating a 2-alkoxy-substituted furan and then allowing it to undergo a subsequent intramolecular Diels-Alder cycloaddition. Ring opening of the resulting cycloadduct is followed by deprotonation to furnish a rearranged keto lactone. The potential use of this method for the synthesis of the alkaloid strychnine was probed using suitable model diazo compounds. To establish the viability of this approach, the Rh(II)-catalyzed cyclization/cycloaddition sequence of alpha-diazo amides 64 and 68 were studied. Both compounds underwent the sequential process in good overall yield, leading to novel pentacyclic products. The structural features of the resultant products present numerous opportunities for postcycloaddition manipulations that could be exploited to synthetic advantage.     

Synthesis of enantiopure ethyl (1S,9aS)- and (1S,9aR)-1-phenyl-4,9-dioxohexahydropyrrolo[1,2-d][1,4]oxazepine-9a(7H)-carboxylate by carbenoid/ylide/Stevens-[1,2]-shift with ring enlargement

Enantiomerically pure ethyl (1S,9aS)- and (1S,9aR)-1-phenyl-4,9-dioxohexahydropyrrolo[1,2-d][1,4]oxazepine-9a(7H)-carboxylate were obtained by Cu(II)-catalyzed decomposition of an α-diazo carbonyl tethered to a chiral morpholinone. The reaction occurred with moderate diastereoselectivity but with complete enantioselectivity through the carbenoid/spiro-[5,6]-ammonium ylide/Stevens-[1,2]-shift with ring enlargement sequence.     

Synthetic Applications of Carbonyl Ylides Generated via the Tandem Cyclization Cycloaddition Reaction of Rhodium Carbenoids

The author's chemical studies dealing with the generation of carbonyl ylides via the rhodium(II) induced cyclization of α-diazo alkanediones are summarized, Dipole formation occurs by reaction of a transient rhodium carbenoid intermediate with a neighboring carbonyl group. These cyclizations are performed under extremely mild conditions, typically at room temperature in a neutral organic solvent. Since these cycloadditions involve carbonyl ylides, the resulting products are oxabicycles of varying ring size. When the dipolarophile is intramolecularly tethered to the dipole, the subsequent cycloaddition affords complex oxapolycyclic systems with three (or more) component rings.     

Rhodium(II)-catalyzed carbocyclization reaction of alpha-diazo carbonyls with tethered unsaturation

o-Alkynyl-substituted alpha-diazoketones undergo internal cyclization to produce indenone derivatives upon treatment with catalytic quantities of Rh(II)-carboxylates. A variety of structural influences were encountered by varying the nature of the substituent group attached to the diazo center. The cyclization reaction involves addition of a rhodium-stabilized carbenoid onto the acetylenic pi-bond to generate a cycloalkenone carbenoid. The cyclized carbenoid was found to undergo both aromatic and aliphatic C-H insertion as well as cyclopropanation across a tethered pi-bond. Subjection of diazo phenyl acetic acid 3-phenylprop-2-ynyl ester to Rh(II) catalysis furnished 8-phenyl-1, 8-dihydro-2-oxacyclopenta[a]indenone in high yield. The formation of this compound involves cyclization of the initially formed carbenoid onto the alkyne to produce a butenolide which then undergoes C-H insertion into the neighboring aromatic system. When a vinyl ether is added, the initially formed rhodium carbenoid intermediate can be intercepted by the electron-rich pi-bond prior to cyclization. Different rhodium catalysts were shown to result in significant variation in the product ratios. The competition between bimolecular cyclopropanation, 1,2-hydrogen migration, and internal cyclization was probed using several enol ethers as well as diazoesters which possess different substituent groups on the ester backbone. The specific path followed was found to depend on electronic, steric, and conformational factors.     

Chiral synthons from α-pinene: enantioselective syntheses of bicyclo[3.3.0] and [3.2.1]octanones

Enantioselective syntheses of bicyclo[3.3.0]octan-3-one, bicyclo[3.2.1]octan-3-one and bicyclo[3.2.1]octan-2-one derivatives were accomplished by employing a chiron based approach, using intramolecular rhodium carbenoid C–H insertion, acid catalysed cyclisation of α-diazo ketone and intramolecular type II carbonyl ene reactions as key steps.     

Efficient construction of the oxatricyclo[6.3.1.0(0,0)]dodecane core of komaroviquinone using a cyclization/cycloaddition cascade of a rhodium carbenoid intermediate

The rhodium(II)-catalyzed cyclization/cycloaddition cascade of a o-carbomethoxyaryl diazo dione is described as a potential route to the oxatricyclo[6.3.1.0(0,0)]dodecane substructure of the icetexane diterpene komaroviquinone. The initially formed carbonyl ylide dipole prefers to cyclize to an epoxide at 25 degrees C but can be induced to undergo cycloaddition across the tethered pi-bond at higher temperatures. [reaction: see text]     

A DFT study on the mechanism of gold(III)-catalyzed synthesis of highly substituted furans via [3, 3]-sigmatropic rearrangements and/or [1, 2]-acyloxy migration based on propargyl ketones

The mechanisms of gold(III)-catalyzed synthesis of highly substituted furans via [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangements and/or [1,2]-acyloxy migration based on propargyl ketones have been investigated using density functional theory calculations at BHandHLYP/6-31G(d,p) (SDD for Au) level of theory. Solvent effects on these reactions were explored using calculations that included a polarizable continuum model (PCM) for the solvent (toluene). Two plausible pathways that lead to the formation of Au(III) vinyl carbenoid and an allenyl structure through [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangements, [1,2]-acyloxy migration via oxirenium and dioxolenylium were performed. Our calculated results suggested: (1) the major pathway of the cycle causes an initial Rautenstrauch-type [1,2]-migration via oxirenium to form an Au(III) vinyl carbenoid. Subsequent cycloisomerization of this intermediate then provides the corresponding furan whether for the methyl-substituted propargylic acetates or the phenyl-substituted propargylic acetates; (2) for the methyl-substituted propargylic acetates, the formation of Au(III) vinyl carbenoid structures was the rate-determining step. However, intramolecular nucleophilic attack and subsequent cycloisomerization to give the final product was rate-determining for the phenyl-substituted propargylic acetates. The computational results are consistent with the experimental observations of Gevorgyan, et al. for gold(III)-catalyzed synthesis of highly substituted furans based on propargyl ketones.     

Catalytic Decomposition of Diazo Compounds as a Method for Generating Carbonyl‐Ylide Dipoles

The transition metal catalyzed reaction of α‐diazo carbonyl compounds has found numerous applications in organic synthesis, and its use in either heterocyclic or carbocyclic ring formation is well‐precedented. In contrast to other catalysts that are suitable for carbenoid reactions of diazo compounds, those constructed with the dirhodium(II) framework are most amenable to ligand modification that, in turn, can influence reaction selectivity. The reaction of rhodium carbenoids with carbonyl groups represents a very efficient method for generating carbonyl ylide dipoles. Rhodium‐mediated carbenoid–carbonyl cyclization reactions have been extensively utilized as a powerful method for the construction of a variety of novel polycyclic ring systems. This article will emphasize some of the more recent synthetic applications of the tandem cyclization/cycloaddition cascade for natural product synthesis. Discussion centers on the chemical behavior of the rhodium metal–carbenoid complex that is often affected by the nature of the ligand groups attached to the metal center.     

The Rhodium(II) Carbenoid Cyclization-Cycloaddition Cascade of alpha-Diazo Dihydroindolinones for the Synthesis of Novel Azapolycyclic Ring Systems

Tandem carbonyl ylide formation-1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of α-diazo N-acetyl-tetrahydro-β-carbolin-1-one derivatives occur efficiently in the presence of a dirhodium catalyst to afford bimolecular cycloadducts in high yield. The Rh(II)-catalyzed reaction also takes place intramolecularly to give products derived from trapping of the carbonyl ylide dipole with a tethered alkene. The power of the intramolecular cascade sequence is that it rapidly assembles a pentacyclic ring system containing three new stereocenters and two adjacent quaternary centers stereospecifically in a single step and in high yield.     

Synthesis of isoquinolines and heterocycle-fused pyridines via three-component cascade reaction of aryl ketones, hydroxylamine, and alkynes

An efficient one-pot synthesis of isoquinolines and heterocycle-fused pyridines by three-component reaction of aryl ketones, hydroxylamine, and alkynes is developed. The reaction involves condensation of aryl ketones and hydroxylamine, rhodium(III)-catalyzed C-H bond activation of the in situ generated aryl ketone oximes, and cyclization with internal alkynes. This protocol enables rapid assembly of multisubstituted isoquinolines as well as γ-carbolines, furo[2,3-c]pyridines, thieno[2,3-c]pyridines, and benzofuro[2,3-c]pyridines from readily available substrates.     

Rhodium(II)-catalyzed cyclization of amido diazo carbonyl compounds

A series of acyclic diazo ketoamides were prepared from N-benzoyl-N-alkylaminopropanoic acids and were treated with a catalytic amount of rhodium(II) acetate. The resultant carbenoids underwent facile cyclization onto the neighboring amide carbonyl oxygen atom to generate seven-membered carbonyl ylide dipoles. Subsequent collapse of the dipoles with charge dissipation produce bicyclic epoxides which undergo further reorganization to give substituted 5-hydroxydihydropyridones in good yield. Depending on the nature of the substituent groups, it was possible to trap some of the initially formed carbonyl ylide dipoles with a reactive dipolarophile such as DMAD. In other cases, cyclization of the dipole to the epoxide is much faster than bimolecular trapping. A related cyclization/rearrangement sequence occurred when diazo ketoamides derived from the cyclic pyrrolidone and piperidone ring systems were subjected to catalytic quantities of Rh(II) acetate. With these systems, exclusive O-cyclization of the amido group onto the carbenoid center occurs to generate a seven-ring carbonyl ylide dipole. Starting materials are easily prepared, and the cascade sequence proceeds in good yield and does not require special precautions. The overall procedure represents an efficient one-pot approach toward the synthesis of various indolizidine and quinolizidine ring systems.     

Cyclization-cycloaddition casade of rhodium carbenoids using different carbonyl groups. Highlighting the position of interaction

A series of 3-diazoalkanediones, when treated with a catalytic quantity of a rhodium(II) carboxylate, were found to afford oxabicyclic dipolar cycloadducts derived by the trapping of a carbonyl ylide intermediate. The reaction involves generation of the 1,3-dipole by intramolecular cyclization of the keto carbenoid onto the oxygen atom of the neighboring keto group. Both five- and six-ring carbonyl ylides are formed with the same efficiency. A study of the tandem cyclization-cycloaddition cascade of several alpha-diazo ketoesters was also carried out, and the cascade sequence proceeded in high yield. When the interacting keto carbonyl group was replaced by an imido group, the rhodium(II)-catalyzed reaction proceeded uneventfully. In contrast, alpha-diazo amidoesters do not undergo nitrogen extrusion on treatment with a Rh(II) catalyst. Instead, the diazo portion of the molecule undergoes 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition with various dipolarophiles to give substituted pyrazoles as the final products.     

Base catalyzed intramolecular cycloaddition of dialkyl(4-hydroxybutyn-2-yl)[3-(<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-tolyl)propyn-2-yl]ammonium chlorides and intramolecular recyclization of the products obtained

Dialkyl(4-hydroxybutyn-2-yl)[3-(p-tolyl)propyn-2-yl]ammonium chlorides undergo a diene synthesis type intramolecular cyclization in aqueous base medium to give 2,2-dialkyl-4-hydroxymethyl-6-methyl-benzo[f]isoindolinium chlorides. Under conditions of aqueous base fission intramolecular cyclization of the latter gives 4-dialkylaminomethyl-8-methyl-1,3-dihydronaphtho[1,2-c]furans.     

Tandem cyclization of alkynes via rhodium alkynyl and alkenylidene catalysis

A rhodium(I)-catalyzed tandem cyclization of alkynes has been developed. The reaction allows for multiple bond formations to occur at both the alpha- and beta-positions of alkynes under mild conditions to yield a variety of fused ring systems as the products. In the presence of triethylamine and the complex derived from [Rh(COD)Cl]2 and P(4-F-C6H4)3, a terminal alkyne is converted to a rhodium alkynyl species which reacts with a tethered alkyl halide at the beta-position to provide a beta,beta-disubstituted alkenylidene complex. The rhodium alkenylidene species then undergoes additional ring closures with a range of pendent functional groups such as alkene, hydroxyl, and phenyl groups through [2 + 2] cycloaddition, nucleophilic addition, and 6pi-electrocyclization processes, respectively.     

Rhodium-catalyzed synthesis of 2,3 – Disubstituted N-methoxy pyrroles and furans via [3+2] cycloaddition between metal carbenoids and activated olefins

For the first time, we report the synthesis of 2-substituted N-alkoxy pyrrole 3-carboxylate and furan 3-carboxylate via Rh-catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition between α-diazo oxime ether or α-diazo carbonyl compounds with vinyl equivalents in a one-pot process. We have demonstrated ethyl vinyl ether as well as vinyl acetate as vinyl equivalents and both were found to give excellent yields. We have also demonstrated the synthesis of N-alkoxy dihydropyrrole derivatives by carrying out the reaction at low temperature.     

An approach toward the alkaloid (±)-mersicarpine using a rhodium(II) carbenoid cyclization-cycloaddition cascade of an α-diazo dihydroindolinone

A tandem carbonyl ylide/1,3-dipolar cycloaddition cascade of α-diazo indole-2,3-dione with several different dipolarophiles was investigated. The intermolecular Rh(II)-catalyzed reaction occurs efficiently and affords dipolar cycloadducts in high yields. The analogous intramolecular reaction also takes place and gives an azapolycyclic product derived from trapping of the carbonyl ylide dipole with a tethered alkene. The power of the intramolecular cascade sequence is that it rapidly assembles polycyclic ring systems containing both multiple stereocenters and adjacent quaternary carbon centers in a single step in high yield. This cascade reaction was successfully utilized in a model study directed toward the total synthesis of mersicarpine.     

12-Acylindolo[1,2-c]quinazolines by palladium-catalyzed cyclocarbonylation of o-alkynyltrifluoroacetanilides

6-Trifluoromethyl-12-acylindolo[1,2-c]quinazolines are prepared in high yield through the palladium-catalyzed reaction of bis(o-trifluoroacetamidophenyl)acetylene with aryl or vinyl halides and triflates. The reaction, which tolerates a variety of important functional groups, probably involves the formation of a 3-acyl-2-(o-trifluoroacetamidophenyl)indole intermediate, followed by its cyclization to the indoloquinazoline product. [reaction: see text]