Gas-phase identity nucleophilic substitution reactions of cyclopropenyl halides

The gas-phase identity nucleophilic substitution reactions of halide anions (X = F, Cl, and Br) with cyclopropenyl halides, X(-) + (CH)(3)X <= => X(CH)(3) + X(-), are investigated theoretically at four levels of theory, B3LYP/6-311+G**, MP2/6-311+G**, G2(+)MP2//MP2/6-311+G**, and G2(+)//MP2/6-311+G**. Four types of reaction paths, the sigma-attack S(N)2, pi-attack S(N)2'-syn, and S(N)2'-anti and sigmatropic 1,2-shift, are possible for all the halides. In the fluoride anion reactions, two types of stable adducts, syn- and anti-1,2-difluorocyclopropyl anions, can exist on the triple-well-type potential energy surface of the identity substitution reactions with rearrangement of double bond (C=C), S(N)2'-syn, and S(N)2'-anti processes. The TSs for the sigma-attack S(N)2 paths have "open" (loose) structures so that the ring positive charges are high rendering strong aromatic cyclopropenyl (delocalized) cation-like character. In contrast, in the pi-attack S(N)2' paths, a lone pair is formed at the unsubstituted carbon (C3), which stabilizes the 1,2-dihalocyclopropyl (delocalized) anion-like TS by two strong n(C)-sigma*(C-F) vicinal charge-transfer delocalization interactions. The barrier height increases in the order S(N)2'-anti < sigma-attack S(N)2 < S(N)2'-syn for X = Cl and Br, whereas for X = F the order is changed to S(N)2'-anti < S(N)2'-syn < sigma-attack S(N)2 due to the stable difluoro adduct formation. The sigmatropic 1,2-shift (circumambulatory) reactions have high activation barriers and cannot interfere with the substitution reactions.     

Chiral alpha-substituted carbonyls and alcohols from the S(N)2' displacement of cuprates on chiral carbonates: An alternative to the alkylation of chiral enolates

A highly stereoselective sequence of reactions, based on the anti-selective S(N)2' addition of cuprates to allylic carbonates, transforms alkynes or alkenyl halides into carbonyls having alpha-chiral centers. The method, which uses menthone as a chiral auxiliary, is a useful alternative to the alkylation of chiral enolates with the added advantage of allowing for the "alkylation" of sec- and tert-alkyl and aryl groups.     

S(N)2 ring opening of beta-lactones: an alternative to catalytic asymmetric conjugate additions

Merging catalytic asymmetric acyl halide-aldehyde cyclocondensation (AAC) reactions with ensuing Grignard-mediated ring opening of the derived enantiomerically enriched beta-lactones is presented as a generally useful asymmetric synthesis of beta-disubstituted carboxylic acids. Enantiomerically enriched beta-lactones are subject to efficient S(N)2 ring opening with a variety of copper-modified alkyl Grignard reagents, including highly branched nucleophiles. Considerable structural variation in the lactone electrophile is also tolerated. Phenyl- and vinyl-derived organometallics are not efficient nucleophiles for the ring-opening reactions.     

Copper-catalyzed regioselective allylic substitution reactions with indium organometallics

The first nucleophilic allylic substitution reactions of triorganoindium compounds with allylic halides and phosphates are reported. The reactions of trialkyl- and triarylindium reagents with cinnamyl and geranyl halides and phosphates, with the aid of copper catalysis [Cu(OTf)(2)/P(OEt)(3)], are described. In general, the reaction proceeds efficiently to give good yields and regioselectively to afford the S(N)2' product.     

Aziridines from intramolecular alkene aziridination of sulfamates: reactivity toward carbon nucleophiles. application to the synthesis of spisulosine and its fluoro analogue

Catalytic intramolecular alkene aziridination of sulfamate is an emerging methodology for the asymmetric synthesis of chiral functionalized amines involving the formation of bicyclic aziridines. This study demonstrates the ability of the latter to undergo ring-opening with various carbon nucleophiles: Grignard reagents, lithium salts of terminal alkynes, dithiane, malonate. These S(N)2-type reactions occur with high levels of regio- and chemoselectivity to generally afford seven-membered cyclic sulfamidates in good yields. Carbon nucleophiles have also been found to react with these sulfamidates provided that the sulfamate ester has been previously activated by introduction of a tosyl substituent on the NH group. The versatility of this strategy has been illustrated with the syntheses of spisulosine and its fluoro analogue.     

Nucleophilicity parameters for amines, amino acids and peptides in water. Variations in selectivities for quinone methides

Second order rate constants for reactions of 4,4'-dimethylaminobenzhydrylium cations with amines and other nucleophiles in water define a scale of nucleophilicity (N(+)' = log k + 2.63). The N(+)' scale can be extended by linking directly to an established N(+) scale based on reactions of methyl vinyl pyridinium cations with amine nucleophiles. Logarithms of rate constants for other benzhydrylium ions and quinone methides (QMs) are correlated by the equation: log k = s(E)N(+)' + constant, having a nucleophilicity parameter (N(+)' defined as in the Ritchie N(+) equation with N(+)' = 4.75 for hydroxide ion), and an electrophile's response (selectivity) parameter (s(E), as in the Swain-Scott equation). Correlations for other benzhydrylium cations require only one slope and one intercept per cation, and fit data for up to 54 amines, amino acids and peptide nucleophiles; the slope s(E) increases as the reactivity of the cation decreases. Contrary to recent reports, s(E) is significantly less than unity for reactions of o- and p-benzoquinone methides. As the reactivities of QMs decrease, s(E) increases and the response of s(E) to changes in reactivity is larger for QMs than for cations.     

Chirality transfer in Au-catalyzed cyclization reactions of monoallylic diols: selective access to specific enantiomers based on olefin geometry

The gold(I)-catalyzed cyclization of monoallylic diols to form tetrahydropyrans is shown to be highly stereoselective when chiral allylic alcohols are employed. Substrates that differ only in olefin geometry provide enantiomeric products from formal S(N)2' reactions in high yields with excellent chirality transfer. The allylic alcohol stereochemistry also efficiently controls the facial selectivity when the substrates include additional stereocenters.     

Enantioselective copper-catalyzed allylic alkylation with dialkylzincs using phosphoramidite ligands

[reaction: see text]. In the presence of a catalytic amount of copper salts, cinnamyl halides undergo a regio- and enantioselective S(N)2' alkylation with dialkylzincs using chiral phosphoramidites as ligands. An S(N)2':S(N)2 ratio of 85:15 and enantiomeric excesses up to 77% for the chiral S(N)2' products are found. Variation of solvent and reaction temperature revealed that the highest regio- and enantioselectivities are found using coordinating solvents of -40 degrees C.     

Rearrangement of the (6S,8R,11S) and (6R,8S,11R) exocyclic 1,N2-deoxyguanosine adducts of trans-4-hydroxynonenal to N2-deoxyguanosine cyclic hemiacetal adducts when placed complementary to cytosine in duplex DNA

trans-4-Hydroxynonenal (HNE) is a peroxidation product of omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids. The Michael addition of deoxyguanosine to HNE yields four diastereomeric exocyclic 1,N(2)-dG adducts. The corresponding acrolein- and crotonaldehyde-derived exocyclic 1,N(2)-dG adducts undergo ring-opening to N(2)-dG aldehydes, placing the aldehyde functionalities into the minor groove of DNA. The acrolein- and the 6R-crotonaldehyde-derived exocyclic 1,N(2)-dG adducts form interstrand N(2)-dG:N(2)-dG cross-links in the 5'-CpG-3' sequence context. Only the HNE-derived exocyclic 1,N(2)-dG adduct of (6S,8R,11S) stereochemistry forms interstrand N(2)-dG:N(2)-dG cross-links in the 5'-CpG-3' sequence context. Moreover, as compared to the exocyclic 1,N(2)-dG adducts of acrolein and crotonaldehyde, the cross-linking reaction is slow (Wang, H.; Kozekov, I. D.; Harris, T. M.; Rizzo, C. J. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2003, 125, 5687-5700). Accordingly, the chemistry of the HNE-derived exocyclic 1,N(2)-dG adduct of (6S,8R,11S) stereochemistry has been compared with that of the (6R,8S,11R) adduct, when incorporated into 5'-d(GCTAGCXAGTCC)-3'.5'-d(GGACTCGCTAGC)-3', containing the 5'-CpG-3' sequence (X = HNE-dG). When placed complementary to dC in this duplex, both adducts open to the corresponding N(2)-dG aldehydic rearrangement products, suggesting that the formation of the interstrand cross-link by the exocyclic 1,N(2)-dG adduct of (6S,8R,11S) stereochemistry, and the lack of cross-link formation by the exocyclic 1,N(2)-dG adduct of (6R,8S,11R) stereochemistry, is not attributable to inability to undergo ring-opening to the aldehydes in duplex DNA. Instead, these aldehydic rearrangement products exist in equilibrium with stereoisomeric cyclic hemiacetals. The latter are the predominant species present at equilibrium. The trans configuration of the HNE H6 and H8 protons is preferred. The presence of these cyclic hemiacetals in duplex DNA is significant as they mask the aldehyde species necessary for interstrand cross-link formation.     

Regio- and stereoselective reductions of gem-difluorinated vinyloxiranes

[reaction: see text] gem-Difluorinated vinyloxiranes are versatile building blocks for the synthesis of fluorinated compounds. Investigations of their reactions with nucleophiles resulted in highly regio- and stereoselective reductions. In their reactions with LiAlH4, hydride reacted at the allylic epoxide carbon to produce homoallylic alcohols exclusively. Moreover, regio- and stereoselective S(N)2' reactions were observed with DIBAL-H and BH3 x THF; the former afforded E allylic alcohols, whereas the latter furnished the corresponding Z isomers with excellent selectivities.     

S(N)/S(N)' competition: selective access to new 10-fluoro artemisinins

In this paper, we report a simple route to accede to a new family of C-10 fluorinated derivatives of artemisinin 7. We demonstrated that nucleophilic substitution of the allylic bromide 6 with alcohols can occur at carbon 10 (compounds 7) under solvolytic conditions (S(N)'/S(N) ratio, 87:13). Furthermore, using the particular properties of hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP), we are able to increase the selectivity of the substitution. Primary alcohols are completely selective for allylic substitution. With amines as nucleophiles, selectivity of substitution is dependent on their nucleophilicity, but attack at carbon 16 was always favored. However, the S(N)'/S(N) ratio could be slightly increased by adding HFIP, which is able to modulate their nucleophilicity through hydrogen bonding. In preliminary in vitro assessments, these new compounds, 7, exhibited a satisfying activity against malaria.     

Redox-active ligand-mediated oxidative addition and reductive elimination at square planar cobalt(III): multielectron reactions for cross-coupling

Square planar cobalt(III) complexes with redox-active amidophenolate ligands are strong nucleophiles that react with alkyl halides, including CH(2)Cl(2), under gentle conditions to generate stable square pyramidal alkylcobalt(III) complexes. The net electrophilic addition reactions formally require 2e(-) oxidation of the metal fragment, but there is no change in metal oxidation state because the reaction proceeds with 1e(-) oxidation of each amidophenolate ligand. Although the four-coordinate complexes are very strong nucleophiles, they are mild outer-sphere reductants. Accordingly, addition of alkyl- or phenylzinc halides to the five-coordinate organometallic complexes regenerates the square planar starting materials and extrudes C-C coupling products. The net 2e(-) reductive elimination reaction also occurs without a oxidation state change at the cobalt(III) center. Together these reactions comprise a complete, well-defined cycle for cobalt Negishi-like cross-coupling of alkyl halides with organozinc reagents.     

Double lawton SN2'addition to epoxyvinyl sulfones: selective construction of the stereotetrads of aplyronine A

[reaction: see text] Enantiopure epoxyvinyl sulfones function as templates for the diastereoselective construction of the three stereotetrads of aplyronine A. Lawton S(N)2' addition of 3,5-dimethylpyrazole followed by its displacement in an alcohol-directed Lawton S(N)2' reaction establishes the required product stereochemistry with high selectivity.     

Preparation and regioselective SN2' reaction of novel gem-difluorinated vinyloxiranes with RLi

A series of hitherto unknown 3,4-epoxy-1,1-difluorobutenes were prepared from the readily accessible alpha,beta-epoxy ketones and these compounds were found to undergo regioselective S(N)2' reactions with hard RLi nucleophiles occurring at the highly positively charged terminal fluorine-possessing sp(2) carbon atom in quite sharp contrast to the cases of the corresponding nonfluorinated vinyloxiranes which only attained a low level of regioselectivity. Addition of HMPA substantially improved the products' olefinic stereoselectivity. Theoretical calculations were used to qualitatively explore the nature of selectivity in these reactions.     

Reactions of diiminopyridine ligands with chalcogen halides

The reactions of the chalcogen halides (Ch = S, Se, Te) with a series of diiminopyridine (DIMPY) ligands were explored. It was determined through these studies that varying both the substitution on the α-carbon and the chalcogen halide reagent afforded different products. If methyl groups were present on the α-carbon, reactivity was observed through the eneamine tautomer to yield N,N',C-bound neutral chalcogen complexes. In the cases where H and C(6)H(5) groups were in the same position, N,N',N″-chelated chalcogen cations or dications were produced. Many of the reactions resulted in complex mixtures postulated to occur by the release of halogen decomposing the product or, for reactions with the CH(3) substituted ligand, uncontrollable reactivity with the eneamine tautomer. This is the first report of reactions of sulfur and selenium halides with the ubiquitous diiminopyridine ligands and only the second example for a tellurium halide.     

6-bromopurine nucleosides as reagents for nucleoside analogue synthesis.

Surprisingly facile direct substitution reactions with acetyl-protected 6-bromopurine nucleosides are described. Included in the series of bromonucleosides studied is the guanosine derivative N(2)-2',3',5'-tetraacetyl-6-bromopurine ribonucleoside, the synthesis of which is reported here for the first time. Brominated nucleosides had not previously been considered optimal substrates for S(N)Ar reactions given the general reactivity trend for halogenated aromatic systems (i.e. F > Cl > Br > I). However, even weakly nucleophilic aromatic amines give high yields of the substitution products in polar solvents with these 6-bromopurine nucleosides. For primary aromatic amines, secondary aliphatic amines, and imidazole, reaction takes place only at C6, with no effect on the acetyl-protected ribose. In addition, we report the first synthesis of 3',5'-di-O-acetyl-6-bromopurine-2'-deoxyribonucleoside and its reaction with an arylamine in MeOH in the absence of added metal catalyst. Thus, C6-arylamine derivatives of both adenosine and 2'-deoxyadenosine can be prepared via simple S(N)Ar reactions with the corresponding 6-bromo precursor. We also describe high yielding and C6-selective substitution reactions with 6-bromonucleosides using alcohol and thiol nucleophiles in the presence of added base (DBU). Finally, C6-bromonucleosides are shown to be readily hydrogenated to give purine or 2-aminopurine products in good yield. This work increases the arsenal of reactions and strategies available for the synthesis of nucleoside analogues as potential biochemical tools or new therapeutics.     

Practical approach to alpha- or gamma-heterosubstituted enoic acids

The reaction of alkenyl trichloromethyl carbinols with various nucleophiles under protic basic conditions reveals that mercaptans participate by alpha-substitution (S(N)2) of the intermediate alkenyl gem-dichloroepoxides. Conversely, hydroxide results in preferential gamma-substitution with stereoselective allylic transposition (S(N)2'). Regioselectivity with alkoxides depends upon the level of alkene substitution. [reaction: see text]     

Diastereoselective nucleophilic substitution reactions of oxasilacyclopentane acetals: application of the "inside attack" model for reactions of five-membered ring oxocarbenium ions

The additions of nucleophiles to oxocarbenium ions derived from oxasilacyclopentane acetates proceeded with high diastereoselectivity in most cases. Sterically demanding nucleophiles such as the silyl enol ether of diethyl ketone add to the face opposite the C-2 substituent. These reactions establish the syn stereochemistry about the newly formed carbon-carbon bond. Small nucleophiles such as allyltrimethylsilane do not show this same stereochemical preference: they add from the same face as the substituent in C-2-substituted oxocarbenium ions. The stereoselectivities exhibited by both small and large nucleophiles can be understood by application of the "inside attack" model for five-membered ring oxocarbenium ions developed previously for tetrahydrofuran-derived cations. This stereoelectronic model requires attack of the nucleophile from the face of the cation that provides the products in their lower energy staggered conformations. Small nucleophiles add to the "inside" of the lower energy ground-state conformer of the oxocarbenium ion. In contrast, sterically demanding nucleophiles add to the inside of the envelope conformer where approach is anti to the C-2 substituent of the oxocarbenium ion, regardless of the ground-state conformer population.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the aminolysis of aryl phenyl chlorothiophosphates with anilines

Kinetic studies of the reactions of aryl phenyl chlorothiophosphates (1) and aryl 4-chlorophenyl chlorothiophosphates (2) with substituted anilines in acetonitrile at 55.0 degrees C are reported. The negative values of the cross-interaction constant rhoXY (rhoXY = -0.22 and -0.50 for 1 and 2, respectively) between substituents in the nucleophile (X) and substrate (Y) indicate that the reactions proceed by concerted SN2 mechanism. The primary kinetic isotope effects (kH/kD = 1.11-1.13 and 1.10-1.46 for 1 and 2, respectively) involving deuterated aniline nucleophiles are obtained. Front- and back-side nucleophilic attack on the substrates is proposed mainly on the basis of the primary kinetic isotope effects. A hydrogen-bonded, four-center-type transition state is suggested for a front-side attack, while the trigonal bipyramidal pentacoordinate transition state is suggested for a back-side attack. The MO theoretical calculations of the model reactions of dimethyl chlorothiophosphate (1') and dimethyl chlorophosphate (3') with ammonia are carried out. Considering the specific solvation effect, the front-side nucleophilic attack can occur competitively with the back-side attack in the reaction of 1'.     

Preparation of C2-symmetric allenes by palladium-catalyzed double-nucleophilic substitution on 3-bromopenta-2,4-dienyl acetate

Easily accessible 3-bromopenta-2,4-dienyl acetate was applied to the palladium-catalyzed reaction with soft nucleophiles. The reaction proceeded through the stepwise 2-fold nucleophilic substitution via formal S(N)2' and S(N)2 processes giving the various doubly functionalized C(2)-symmetric allenes in good yields.