exo- and enantioselective cycloaddition of azomethine ylides generated from N-alkylidene glycine esters using chiral phosphine-copper complexes

High diastereo- and enantioselectivities were obtained for the asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides generated from N-alkylideneglycine esters with dipolarophiles using chiral phosphine-copper complexes as catalysts. Whereas the cycloaddition of azomethine ylides catalyzed by metal salts generally afforded endo-adducts as the predominant product, the present method is the first example of an exo-selective cycloaddition. [reaction: see text]     

Asymmetric synthesis of multifunctionalized pyrrolines by a ruthenium porphyrin-catalyzed three-component coupling reaction

[reaction: see text] Chiral multifunctionalized pyrrolines have been synthesized by a ruthenium porphyrin catalyzed three-component coupling reaction. In a one-pot reaction, ruthenium porphyrins catalyzed in situ generation of chiral azomethine ylides from chiral diazo esters and imines. Asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions of the chiral azomethine ylides with dipolarophiles afforded the corresponding pyrrolines in good yields and high diastereoselectivity (up to 92% de).     

trans-3,4-Disubstituted pyrrolidines by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition: enantioselective approaches and their limitations

In the presence of a chiral Lewis acid as co-catalyst, the acid-catalysed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction yielding trans-3,4-disubstituted pyrrolidines from an azomethine ylide and achiral α,β-unsaturated dipolarophiles proceeded with low enantioselectivity. Therefore a number of α,β-unsaturated dipolarophiles linked to chiral auxiliaries were examined as substrates. Camphorsultam was the best auxiliary and gave good diastereoselectivity (dr=74:26). When combining chiral Lewis acids with a dipolarophile linked to a chiral auxiliary, the enantioselectivity could be slightly increased. As judged by ¹³C NMR, the small effect of the chiral Lewis acids on selectivity was probably due to breakdown of the initially formed complex with the dipolarophile caused by the dipole precursor.     

Novel dipolarophiles and dipoles in the metal-catalyzed enantioselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides

The catalytic asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides constitutes one of the most powerful and atom economical methods for the enantioselective construction of pyrrolidines. This article highlights the recent developments in this area, with special focus on contributions improving the structural scope at the dipolarophile and azomethine ylide partners.     

A new chiral phosphine oxide ligand for enantioselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions of azomethine ylides

A new set of phosphorus-containing chiral ligands has been synthesized and used with silver(I) for the catalytic asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of azomethine ylides. One of these ligands (POFAM6) was found to produce an effective catalyst for the asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of azomethine ylides with electron deficient dipolarophiles to form pyrrolidines in up to 97% yield and 89% ee.     

An efficient,one-pot,three-component procedure for the synthesis of chiral spirooxindolopyrrolizidines via catalytic highly enantioselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition

The catalytic, highly regio-, diastereo-, and enantioselective synthesis of a small library of chiral spirooxindolopyrrolizidines via a three-component 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of azomethine ylides, derived from isatin, with electron-deficient dipolarophiles, 3-(2-alkenoyl)-1,3-oxazolidin-2-ones, is described. A chiral copper(II) complex of cyclohexane-1,2-bis(arylmethyleneamine) catalyzed this process at room temperature. The reaction mechanism is discussed on the basis of the assignment of the absolute configuration of the cycloadducts.     

Recent advances in the enantioselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides and dipolarophiles

The synthesis of diastereo- and enantiopure heterocyclic molecules via catalytic asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction between azomethine ylides, generated in situ from α-amino acid-derived iminoesters and dipolarophiles is considered one of the most powerful and versatile techniques. In this review, we make a detailed overview of the latest developments in this area since 2014 and highlight the recent improvements in the structural scope of dipolarophiles, azomethine ylide precursors, and chiral ligands.     

Highly enantioselective copper(I)-fesulphos-catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides

The catalyst system formed by Cu(CH3CN)4ClO4 and the planar chiral P,S-ligand Fesulphos behaves as a very efficient chiral Lewis acid in the catalytic asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides. This catalyst shows a remarkable reactivity at low catalyst loading (0.5-3 mol %), affording in good yields the endo adducts with exceptional levels of enantioselectivity (up to >99% ee). This catalytic asymmetric procedure has a broad structural scope with regard to both azomethine and dipolarophile substitution. The first examples of catalytic asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition with ketimine-derived azomethines are reported.     

Alkenyl Arenes as Dipolarophiles in Catalytic Asymmetric 1,3‐Dipolar Cycloaddition Reactions of Azomethine Ylides

The use of alkenyl arenes as dipolarophiles in the catalytic asymmetric 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides is reported. Under appropriate reaction conditions with a Cu^I or Ag^I catalyst either the exo or the endo adduct was obtained with high stereoselectivity. This process provides efficient access to highly enantiomerically enriched 4‐aryl proline derivatives. The observed results are compatible with the blockage of one prochiral face of the 1,3‐dipole, as well as with the efficient transmission of electrophilicity towards the terminal carbon atom of the dipolarophile. This polarization results in a change from a concerted to a stepwise mechanism.     

1,3-Dipolar cycloadditions with azomethine ylide species generated from aminocyclopropanes

Two types of bicyclic N-cyclopropyl glycine ester derivatives have been prepared and put under scrutiny as possible precursors of azomethine ylides. The results demonstrate that they can indeed participate in 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions with dipolarophiles, as illustrated in the cases of phenyl vinyl sulfone, N-phenylmaleimide, diethyl fumarate and diethyl maleate. The relative configurations of the major diastereoisomers produced are consistent with the predicted generation of azomethine ylide species, reacting in concerted cycloaddition processes. This unprecedented way of generating such 1,3-dipoles provides access to functionalised pyrrolizidine and pyrrolidine derivatives, that would be difficult to make directly by more classic methods. It was also found that using phenyl vinyl sulfone or N-phenylmaleimide as the dipolarophile reactant, a domino nucleophilic conjugate addition/1,3-dipolar cycloaddition process may operate competitively.     

1,3-Dipolar cycloaddition of hydrazones with α-oxo-ketenes: a three-component stereoselective entry to pyrazolidinones and an original class of spirooxindoles

Stereodefined monocyclic, spirobicyclic, and bis-spirotricyclic pyrazolidin-3-ones can be prepared efficiently by a three-component reaction involving a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine imines obtained from hydrazones with α-oxo-ketene dipolarophiles generated in situ. The reaction allows the creation of four covalent bonds and two contiguous chiral quaternary centers with excellent diastereoselectivity in a single catalyst/additive-free, highly atom-economical transformation. From a fundamental point of view, the reaction introduces α-oxo-ketenes as effective dipolarophiles in 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions.     

Asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of N-metalated azomethine ylides to methyl (S)-2-(p-tolylsulfinyl)acrylate. Synthesis of optically pure 2,4,5-trisubstituted 2,5-dihydro-1H-pyrroles

The first 1,3-dipolar reaction of azomethine ylides with optically pure vinyl sulfoxide are reported. The presence of the sulfinyl group increase the reactivity of the acrylate moiety as a dipolarophile, and the reactions evolve with complete regio- and endo-selectivities. Nevertheless, mixtures of the two diastereoisomers 4 and 5 (75-88% de) resulting from the anti dipole/s-cis dipolarophile and syn dipole/s-trans dipolarophile approaches, respectively, are obtained. The stereoselectivity can be controlled by using THF or MeCN as solvents or by changing the reaction temperature in MeCN. After separation of the cycloadducts, optically pure 2,5-dihydro-1H-pyrroles are easily obtained by pyrolytic desulfinylation.     

Thermal transformations of alk-1-enyl-N-phthalimidoaziridines

Thermolysis of alk-1-enyl-N-phthalimidoaziridines leads to products of 1,5-electrocyclization of intermediate azomethine ylides with participation of C=C bonds. If acyl or alkoxycarbonyl substituent is present in the aziridine ring, the C=O bond is also involved. Thermolysis of the title compounds in the presence of N-phenylmaleimide or dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate under analogous conditions gives products of 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides to the double or triple bond of the dipolarophile.     

Tandem cyclization-cycloaddition behavior of rhodium carbenoids with carbonyl compounds: stereoselective studies on the construction of novel epoxy-bridged tetrahydropyranone frameworks

Investigations and stereoselective studies on the tandem reactions of carbonyl ylides generated from alpha-diazo ketones in the presence of carbonyl compounds are presented in this paper. Intramolecular cyclization of rhodium carbenoids generated the transient five- or six-membered-ring carbonyl ylide dipoles, which efficiently underwent 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions with various dipolarophiles such as aromatic aldehydes 15, alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes 18/24, alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones 27/28/31, and dienone 34. The transient carbonyl ylides underwent cycloadditions with various aromatic aldehydes to furnish diverse epoxy-bridged tetrahydropyranone ring systems in a diastereoselective manner. The cycloaddition of carbonyl ylides with alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes 18/24 or dienone 34 afforded C=O addition products in a chemoselective manner despite the presence of C=C bonds in the above dipolarophiles. Alternatively, the cycloaddition of carbonyl ylides with alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones 27/28 provided both the C=O and C=C cycloaddition products. The cycloaddition of carbonyl ylides with carbonyl compounds occurred in good yields and was found to be highly regio- and stereoselective. Single-crystal X-ray analyses were performed to unambiguously establish the structure and stereochemistry of the novel epoxy-bridged tetrahydropyranone ring systems 35a/38. Compound 35a exhibited both intermolecular C-H...O and intramolecular C-H...pi interaction motifs in the solid-state architecture. The regio-, chemo-, and stereoselectivity observed in these reactions have been investigated by semiempirical AM1 MO calculations. FMO analyses and transition state calculations have been performed for the cycloaddition of carbonyl ylides with alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds such as tetracyclone (34) and cyclopentenone (27a). Both FMO and transition state calculations correctly predicted the regio- and stereochemistry of the cycloadducts. The calculations further revealed that a severe steric interaction caused by the phenyl rings present in dipolarophile 34 with dipole 14a increases the activation barrier of the transition state during the cycloaddition process.     

An easy access to novel steroidal dispiropyrrolidines through 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides

A facile one-pot synthesis of novel steroidal dispiropyrrolidines has been accomplished by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of various azomethine ylides derived from isatin/acenaphthenequinone/ninhydrin and sarcosine with various estrone derivatives as dipolarophiles, in good yield. The effect of various solvents on the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction are also studied.     

A convenient procedure for the catalytic asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides and alkenes

[reaction: see text] Silver fluoride and cinchona alkaloids catalyze the diastereo- and enantioselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition between azomethine ylides, generated from N-alkylideneglycine esters, and acrylates to give the corresponding endo-adducts. Azomethine ylides derived from aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes react in a highly diastereoselective reaction with good yields and enantioselectivities of the substituted pyrrolidines.     

The first example of the generation of azomethine ylides from a fluorocarbene: 1,3-cyclization and 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition

The reaction of Schiff bases with fluorocarbene, generated by reduction of dibromofluoromethane with active lead in the presence of Bu₄NBr under ultrasound irradiation, involves the formation of fluoro-substituted azomethine ylides which undergo cyclization into aziridines. 1,3-Cyclization of ylides, generated from N-arylimines of benzaldehyde, proceeds stereoselectively. When carrying out the reaction of Schiff bases with fluorocarbene in the presence of dimethyl maleate or dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate, the products of dehydrofluorination of the primary adducts of the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of fluoro-substituted azomethine ylides to multiple bonds of dipolarophiles were obtained. In the case of the reaction of N-alkylimines of benzaldehyde the cycloaddition of ylides to dimethyl maleate completely suppressed the cyclization to aziridines.     

Synthesis of glucosylspiro-oxindole derivatives via one-pot three-component cycloaddition of azomethine ylides

Highly regio- and stereoselective synthesis of glucosylspiro-oxindole/acenaphthenone derivatives was accomplished through 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition (1,3-DC) reaction. The glucosyl α,β-unsaturated-7,3-lactone (a sugar lactone) derived from d-glucose was used as a chiral dipolarophile in 1,3-DC reaction for the first time. The azomethine ylides generated from sarcosine/l-proline/thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid/piperidine-2-carboxylic acid with isatin and acenaphthoquinone were trapped by the sugar lactone to give a series of glucosylspiro-pyrrolidine derivatives in good yields.     

Generation and cycloaddition of polymer-supported azomethine ylide via a 1,2-silatropic shift of alpha-silylimines: traceless synthesis of pyrrolidine derivatives

The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of polymer-supported azomethine ylides to dipolarophiles gave pyrrolidine derivatives in good yields. The azomethine ylides were generated from resin-bound alpha-silylimines via a 1,2-silatropic shift. The features of this method are not only a traceless synthesis but also a unique solid-phase route to pyrrolidines with extensive diversity. [reaction: see text]     

Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts as effective dipolarophiles in copper(I)-catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition with azomethine ylides: asymmetric construction of pyrrolidine derivatives containing quaternary stereogenic center

The first catalytic asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides with easily accessible Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts as the dipolarophiles has been developed successfully and provides the highly substituted pyrrolidines bearing a unique quaternary and two tertiary stereogenic centers in excellent diastereoselectivity and up to 97% ee.