High‐Yield Formation of Substituted Tetracyanobutadienes from Reaction of Ynamides with Tetracyanoethylene

A high‐yielding sequence of [2+2] cycloaddition–retroelectrocyclization of ynamides with tetracyanoethylene (TCNE) is described. The reaction provided tetracyanobutadiene (TCBD) species, which were characterized by various techniques. DFT and TD‐DFT calculations were also performed to complement experimental findings.     

Reaction of ene-bis(phosphinylallenes): [2+2] versus [4+2] cycloaddition

Reaction of ene-bis(phosphinylallenes), derived from ene-bis(propargyl alcohols) and chlorodiphenylphosphine, was investigated. Benzene-bridged bis(phosphinylallenes) exclusively gave intramolecular [2+2] cycloadducts in the presence of dimethyl fumarate in sharp contrast to the reaction of benzene-bridged bis(sulfinylallenes), which gave the corresponding [4+2] cycloadducts. On the other hand, substituted ethylene- or five-membered heterocycle-bridged bis(phosphinylallenes) provided [4+2] cycloadducts. Reaction of benzene-bridged diallene bearing both a sulfinyl group and a phosphinyl group on the two allenyl groups was also described.     

Photochemical Experiments with 2,3-Bis(Tert-Butylsulfonyl)Bicyclo[2.2.2]Octa-2,5-Diene and Related Systems

The irradiation of 2,3-bis(tert-butylsulfonyl)norbornadiene (5) and 2-(tert-butylsulfonyl)norbornadiene (6) yielded the expected quadricyclane derivatives as stable molecules. The irradiation of 2,3-bis(tert-butylsulfonyl)bicyclo[2.2.2]octa-2,5-diene(7) 2,3-bis(tert-butylsulfonyl)-exo-7,8-epoxybicyclo[2.2.2]-octa-2,5-diene (8) and 8,9-bis(tert-butylsulfonyl)-4-anti-phenyl-3,5-dioxa-exo-tricyclo[5.2.2.0^2,6] undeca-8,10-diene 9a and its syn-isomer 9b yielded the corresponding tetracyclic and pentacyclic systems, respectively. The photoproducts of 8 and 9 reverted to the starting products slowly at room temperature. The half-life of the photoproduct of 7 was determined to be 34 min at 50 °C. Compound 9a reacted with n-BuLi to yield the unexpected desulfonylation product 27a.     

Mechanical Motion in Crystals Triggered by Solid State Photochemical [2+2] Cycloaddition Reaction

Some special crystals respond to light by jumping, scattering or bursting just like popping of popcorn kernels on a hot surface. This rare phenomenon is called the photosalient (PS) effect. Molecular level control over the arrangement of light-responsive molecules in microscopic crystals for macroscale deformation or mechanical motion offers the possibility of using light to control smart material structures across the length scales. Photochemical [2+2] cycloaddition has recently emerged as a promising route to obtain photoswitchable structures and a wide variety of frameworks, but such reaction in crystals leading to macroscopic mechanical motion is relatively less explored. Study of chemistry of such novel soft crystals for the generation of smart materials is an imperative task. This minireview highlights recent advances in solid-state [2+2] cycloaddition in crystals to induce macroscale mechanical motion and thereby transduction of light into kinetic energy.     

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.     

Metalla-Claisen Rearrangement in Gold-Catalyzed [4+2] Reaction: A New Elementary Reaction Suggested for Future Reaction Design

We report here computational evidence for a metalla-Claisen rearrangement (MCR) in the case of gold-catalyzed [4+2] cycloaddition reaction of yne-dienes. The [4+2] reaction starts from exo cyclopropanation, followed by MCR and reductive elimination. The cyclopropane moiety formed in the first step is crucial for a low barrier of the MCR step. In addition, the importance of an appropriate combination of the tether group and the terminal substituent on alkyne in the yne-diene substrates was studied. The mechanism of rhodium-catalyzed [4+2] reaction of yne-dienes was also investigated to see whether an MCR mechanism is involved or not. The findings and new understanding hereby reported represent an important advance in the catalysis field.     

Synthetic studies of pestalotiopsin A: asymmetric synthesis of the 2-oxabicyclo[3.2.0]heptane substructure

A functionalized 2-oxabicyclo[3.2.0]heptan-3-one derivative, possessing all the skeletal carbons of pestalotiopsin A, has been synthesized. For the preparation of intermediary cyclobutane derivatives in enantioenriched form, the Lewis acid-catalyzed [2+2] cycloaddition of N-propiolated Oppolzer’s camphorsultam with dimethylketene bis(trimethylsilyl) acetal followed by a stereoselective 1,4-hydride addition/protonation, has been developed.     

Co(I) catalyzed yne–ene–yne [2+2+2] cycloaddition: synthesis of highly strained pentacyclic bis-lactones. A new access to tetraaryl N-hydroxyphthalimides

Highly strained pentacyclic bis-lactones can be obtained by an unusual Co(I) catalyzed [2+2+2] cycloaddition of an yne–ene–yne diester substrate. These bis-lactones can be further transformed into tetraaryl N-hydroxyphthalimides which are potential aerobic oxidation organocatalysts.     

Reactions of N-vinylic phosphazenes with azodicarboxylic and acetylenic esters

N-Vinylic phosphazenes react as enamines (1,4-addition) with azodicarboxylic esters, whereas different behavior is observed when these phosphazenes react with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (3,4-addition). A [2+2] cycloaddition reaction of the vinyl moiety of vinylic phosphazenes with the acetylenic triple bond of the acetylenic esters followed by a ring opening leads to the formation of functionalized conjugated phosphazenes.     

Thiourea-catalyzed asymmetric formal [3+2] cycloaddition of azomethine ylides with nitroolefins

A chiral thiourea catalyst possessing an amine function catalyzes an asymmetric [3+2] cycloaddition of azomethine ylides to nitroolefins to provide highly functionalized pyrrolidines with high diastereo- and enantioselectivities (up to 98:1:1 dr, 92% ee). The reaction proceeds in a stepwise manner consisting of Michael addition and subsequent intramolecular aza-Henry reaction. Both reactions are promoted by the thiourea catalyst, and the reaction rate of the latter step is efficiently enhanced by the addition of 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol.     

[4+2] Cycloaddition reactions of 4-sulfur-substituted 2-pyridones with electron-deficient dienophiles

[4+2] Cycloaddition reactions of 4-(phenylthio)-1-tosyl-2-pyridone (6a) and 4-(phenylsulfonyl)-1-tosyl-2-pyridone (6b) with electron-deficient dienophiles 7 (N-methylmaleimide, N-phenylmaleimide, and methyl acrylate) gave new isoquinuclidine products 8-10. The N-tosyl group of 6a and 6b was also efficiently converted to N-alkyl derivatives 6c-f, which showed different stereoselectivity toward reactions with dienophiles 7. Several other dienophiles 15 (dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate, methyl vinyl ketone, ethyl vinyl ether, and methyl methacrylate) were found not to react with 6a or 6b, but led to the formation of tosyl migration products 4-(phenylthio)-O-tosyl-pyridinol (16a) and 4-(phenylsulfonyl)-O-tosyl-2-pyridinol (16b), respectively. The reactivity, regioselectivity, and stereoselectivity of the cycloaddition reactions were also compared with semi-empirical calculations.     

Organocatalytic intermolecular [2+2] cycloaddition of norbornadienes by a stable organic radical compound

An organocatalytic [2+2] cycloaddition reaction of norbornadienes (NBDs) using catalytic amount of TEMPO was reported. Single crystal X-ray diffraction of the product revealed its detailed multicyclic structure containing a 4-membered ring, formed in intermolecular reaction. Addition of AIBN to the current catalytic system improved the product yield. Quantitative reaction of the NBD and TEMPO gave a 2:2 adduct of NBD and TEMPO, which was confirmed by HR-MS. This catalytic [2+2] addition of NBDs has great advantage in selective intermolecular coupling in comparison with [2+2] photocycloaddition.     

1-氮杂-2,8-二氧杂二环[3.3.0]-辛烷类化合物合成的新方法

以苯基-3,5-二(甲氧基羰基)-2-异(口恶)唑啉-N-氧化物为偶极体,丙烯酸乙酯为亲偶极体,通过[3+2]环加成反应,简便地合成了含有多官能团的1-氮杂-2,8-二氧杂二环[3.3.0]-辛烷类化合物。该反应条件温和,产率较高(50%～93%).化合物的结构经元素分析,¹H NMR,¹³C NMR,IR和MS确认和表证,并对其波谱性质进行了讨论。     

A highly diastereoselective synthesis of 3-carbethoxy-2,5-disubstituted-3-pyrrolines by phosphine catalysis

Tributylphosphine was used as catalyst to facilitate a [3+2] cycloaddition between γ-substituted allenoates and N-sulfonylimines. The resulting adducts, 3-carbethoxy-2,5-disubstituted-3-pyrrolines, were formed in excellent yields with high diastereoselectivity. The reaction went to completion in several hours at room temperature, and the starting materials were easily prepared with one step from commercially available compounds via known procedures.     

Isolation of p-tricyanovinylphenyldicyanomethide ion via a [2+2] cycloaddition of 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) molecules

In the presence of CoCl₂·6H₂O and dppm (bis(diphenylphosphino) methane), the reaction of TCNQ (7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane) molecules by [2+2] cycloaddition forms a p-tricyanovinylphenyldicyanomethide ion (PCQ⁻), which has been obtained as one anion unit in one new compound [Co(dppmdo)₃][PCQ⁻]₂·H₂O 1 (dppmdo = bis(diphylphospine oxide) methane). Its structure was determined by X-ray crystallography: 1 crystallizes in with a = 14.174(3) Å, b = 19.553(4) Å, c = 19.776(4) Å, α = 112.72(3)°, β = 95.43(3)°, γ = 110.79(3)°, and Z = 2. It was characterized by IR spectra, UV–Vis spectra, and cyclic voltammogram. Magnetic properties indicate that no magnetic coupling between PCQ⁻ and [Co(dppmdo)₃]²⁺ unit.     

Chiral N-phosphino sulfinamide ligands in rhodium(I)-catalyzed [2+2+2] cycloaddition reactions

The combination of cationic rhodium(I) complexes with N-phosphino tert-butylsulfinamides (PNSO) ligands is efficient for catalytic intra- and intermolecular [2+2+2] cycloaddition reactions. PNSO ligands are a new class of chiral bidentate ligands, which have the characteristic of combining the easily accessible sulfur chirality with the coordinating capacity of phosphorous. Cycloaddition of open-chained and macrocyclic E-enediynes with these chiral complexes have proved to be highly efficient in terms of yields, giving moderate enantiomeric excesses of the corresponding cyclohexadiene derivatives. In addition Rh(I)/PNSO complexes catalyzed the intermolecular cycloaddition of diynes with monoalkynes in mild reaction conditions and short reaction times.     

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.     

Sequential pericyclic reaction of ene-diallene: synthesis of (±)-estrone

The one-pot construction of perhydrophenanthrene from an acyclic substrate was achieved via a sequential pericyclic reaction, which involved the in situ generation of ene-diallene species due to Myers' propargyl alcohol-allene transformation. The resulting perhydrophenanthrene derivative could be successfully converted into (±)-estrone.     

Rhodium-Catalyzed Chemo-, Regio-, Diastereo-, and Enantioselective Intermolecular [2+2+2] Cycloaddition of Three Unsymmetric 2π Components

We have developed the Rh⁺/H₈-binap-catalyzed chemo-, regio-, diastereo-, and enantioselective intermolecular [2+2+2] cycloaddition of three unsymmetric 2π components. Thus, two arylacetylenes react with a cis-enamide to yield a protected chiral cyclohexadienylamine. Moreover, replacing one arylacetylene with a silylacetylene enables the [2+2+2] cycloaddition of three distinct unsymmetric 2π components. These transformations proceed with excellent selectivity (complete regio- and diastereoselectivity and up to >99 % yield and >99 % ee). Mechanistic studies suggest the chemo- and regioselective formation of a rhodacyclopentadiene intermediate from the two terminal alkynes.