Double allylation reactions of (2-azaallyl)stannanes: synthesis of N,N-bis(3-butenyl)amines and their conversion to 2,3,6,7-tetrahydroazepines via ring-closing metathesis

[reaction in text] Treatment of (2-azaallyl)stannanes (i) with 2.2 equiv of allylmagnesium bromide afforded good yields of N,N-bis(3-butenyl)amines derivatives (ii), which were subjected to ring-closing metathesis to afford 2,3,6,7-tetrahydroazepines (iii). Thus, (2-azaallyl)stannanes are the synthetic equivalents of amine alpha,alpha'-dications.     

Cycloadditions of 2-azaallyllithium species with conjugated polyenes

2-Azaallyllithium species [R(1)CH(-)N=C(X)R(2)Li(+), where R(1) and R(2) are alkyl and X = OMe] were generated by tin-lithium exchange of (2-azaallyl)stannanes and underwent [pi4s+pi2s] and [pi6s+pi4s] cycloadditions with cyclic dienes and trienes, respectively, to generate novel bridged azabicyclic compounds in a highly diastereoselective endo fashion. The periselectivity using cycloheptatriene was modest, producing a 1:1 mixture of [pi6s+pi4s] and [pi4s+pi2s] adducts. The reactions of 2-azaallyllithium species with dienes proceeded by a [pi4s+pi2s] pathway. The cycloadducts derived from cyclic 2-azaallyllithium species possess the 7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane (tropane) or 8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane ring system and have been elaborated into cocaine-like analogues.     

A three-component, one-pot synthesis of indolizidines and related heterocycles via the [3+2] cycloaddition of nonstabilized azomethine ylides

Nonstabilized azomethine ylides (i.e. those bearing only hydrogens or alkyl groups) can be generated from (2-azaallyl)stannanes and (2-azaallyl)silanes through an intramolecular N-alkylation/demetalation cascade. The resulting ylides undergo [3+2] cycloaddition with electron-poor or electron-rich dipolarophiles yielding indolizidines and related 1-aza[m.3.0]bicycloalkane systems in good yield. An in situ protocol allows for a one-pot, three-component synthesis of indolizidines. The (2-azaallyl)stannanes tolerate enolizable hydrogens in these cycloadditions, while (2-azaallyl)silanes do not. The mechanism of the cycloaddition cascade is clarified by a series of control experiments. The same (2-azaallyl)stannanes may be transmetalated by n-butyllithium to generate 2-azaallyllithiums, which also may undergo a [3+2] cycloaddition/N-alkylation cascade to form indolizidines.     

Synthesis of N,N-bis(3-butenyl)amines from 2-azaallyl dication synthetic equivalents and conversion to 2,3,6,7-tetrahydroazepines by ring-closing metathesis

N,N-Bis(3-butenyl)amines can be prepared by the double allylation of either (2-azaallyl)stannanes or (2-azaallyl)nitriles, both of which thereby act as synthetic equivalents to amine alpha,alpha'-dications (2-azaallyl dications). Allylmagnesium bromide is the reagent of choice for the double allylation of both substrates, although allyllithium also effects the double allylation of (2-azaallyl)nitriles. Ring-closing metathesis can be performed on the N-protected amines, or with in situ protonation, on the free amines to provide 2,3,6,7-tetrahydroazepines. (2-Azaallyl)nitriles can also be monoallylated to provide N-(3-butenyl)aminonitriles, whereas the double allylation of (2-azaallyl)stannanes cannot be stopped at monoallylation. (2-Azaallyl)silanes undergo monoallylation to give N-(3-butenyl)aminosilanes but do not undergo double allylation.     

Azomethine ylides from tin-substituted cyclic carbinol amides: a new route to highly substituted pyrrolizidines

[reaction: see text] Addition of organolithium and organomagnesium reagents to N-(tri-n-butylstannylmethyl)phthalimides yields N-(tri-n-butylstannylmethyl) cyclic carbinol amides, which form azomethine ylides upon treatment with HF.pyridine. This novel route to azomethine ylides allows rapid access to highly functionalized pyrrolizidines (1,2,3,9b-tetrahydropyrrolo[2,1-a]isoindol-5-ones).     

Rhodium N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed [4 + 2] and [5 + 2] cycloaddition reactions

[reactions: see text] A rhodium complex of N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) has been developed for intra- and intermolecular [4 + 2] and intramolecular [5 + 2] cycloaddition reactions. This is the first use of a transition-metal NHC complex in a Diels-Alder-type reaction. For the intramolecular [4 + 2] cycloaddition reactions, all the dienynes studied were converted to their corresponding cycloadducts in 91-99% yields within 10 min. Moreover, up to 1900 turnovers have been obtained for the intramolecular [4 + 2] cycloaddition at 15-20 degrees C. For the intermolecular [4 + 2] cycloadditions, high yields (71-99%) of the corresponding cycloaddition products were obtained. The reaction time and yield were highly dependent upon the diene and the dienophile. For the intramolecular [5 + 2] cycloaddition reactions, all the alkyne vinylcyclopropanes studied were converted to their corresponding cycloadducts in 91-98% yields within 10 min. However, the catalytic system was not effective for an intermolecular [5 + 2] cycloaddition reaction.     

Transmetallation of n-(trialkylstannyl)methylimines. A new method for the generation and cycloaddition of 2-azaallyl anions.

Transmetallation of imines 1 at −78° with RLi provided 2-azaallyl anions 2, which readily undergo cycloaddition with olefinic anionophiles, providing pyrrolidines. Of particular note is the generation of unstabilized 2-azaallyl anions for the first time (Table 1, entries 1–3).     

Nonstabilized N-unsubstituted azomethine ylides: a synthesis of indolizidine 239CD

[formula: see text] Treatment of a (2-azaallyl)stannane with HF.pyridine generated a nonstabilized N-unsubstituted azomethine ylide, which was found to undergo an efficient and stereoselective dipolar cycloaddition with phenyl vinyl sulfone to produce a trans-2,5-dialkylpyrrolidine that was further transformed into the dendrobatid alkaloid indolizidine 239CD.     

Preparation of 2-azaallyl anions and imines from N-chloroamines and their cycloaddition and allylation

Exposure of N-chloroamines to KO^tBu or LDA, in the presence of PMDETA or HMPA, provides 2-azaallyl anions capable of π4s + π2s cycloaddition reactions with a range of olefins. Good yields were achieved with stabilised systems, however, they were more modest when accessing semi-stabilised 2-azaallyl anions. By modifying the reaction conditions, one-pot dehydrochlorination/allylation can also be achieved with a range of N-chloroamines.     

Synthesis of an elusive,stable 2-azaallyl radical guided by electrochemical and reactivity studies of 2-azaallyl anions

The super electron donor (SED) ability of 2-azaallyl anions has recently been discovered and applied to diverse reactivity, including transition metal-free cross-coupling and dehydrogenative cross-coupling processes. Surprisingly, the redox properties of 2-azaallyl anions and radicals have been rarely studied. Understanding the chemistry of elusive species is the key to further development. Electrochemical analysis of phenyl substituted 2-azaallyl anions revealed an oxidation wave at E_1/2 or E_pa = −1.6 V versus Fc/Fc⁺, which is ∼800 mV less than the reduction potential predicted (E_pa = −2.4 V vs. Fc/Fc⁺) based on reactivity studies. Investigation of the kinetics of electron transfer revealed reorganization energies an order of magnitude lower than commonly employed SEDs. The electrochemical study enabled the synthetic design of the first stable, acyclic 2-azaallyl radical. These results indicate that the reorganization energy should be an important design consideration for the development of more potent organic reductants.

The super electron donor (SED) capabilities of 2-azaallyl anions has recently been discovered and applied to diverse reactivity; their structures and electron transfer characteristics are reported herein.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed [2+2] cycloadditions of bicyclic alkenes and ynamides

Ruthenium-catalyzed [2+2] cycloadditions between bicyclic alkenes and ynamides were investigated. The ynamide moiety was found to be compatible with the ruthenium-catalyzed cycloaddition conditions giving the corresponding cyclobutene cycloadducts in moderate to good yields (up to 97%). Diastereoselective cycloaddition utilizing chiral cyclic ynamides were also examined and a low to moderate level of asymmetric induction was observed.     

Formal [3 + 2] cycloaddition of azomethine ylides generated in situ with unactivated cyclic imines: A facile approach to tricyclic imidazolines derivatives

A simple and efficient method for the synthesis of tricyclic imidazolines derivatives via [3 + 2] 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition between nonstabilized azomethine ylide generated in situ with unactivated cyclic imines is reported here. The method provided easy and mild access to various fused tricyclic hexahydroimidazo[5,1-a]isoquinolines in excellent yields (up to 96%). This protocol is simple and easy to handle.     

Palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of 2-iodo-4-(phenylchalcogenyl)-1-butenes

[reaction: see text] 2-Iodo-4-(phenylchalcogenyl)-1-butenes 2 or 3, which are derived from the ring-opening reaction of methylenecyclopropanes (MCPs) 1 by iodine, can be applied to some palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions such as the Sonogashira, Heck, Kumada, Suzuki, and Negishi reactions under mild conditions to give the corresponding coupling products in good yields. These reactions proceeded smoothly at room temperature (20 degrees C) in most cases without any phosphine ligand and additive. The phenylchalcogenyl group plays an important role in the reactions and a plausible reaction mechanism has been proposed.     

Intramolecular [2+2+2] cycloaddition reactions of yne-ene-yne and yne-yne-ene enediynes catalysed by Rh(I): experimental and theoretical mechanistic studies

N-tosyl-linked open-chain yne-ene-yne enediynes 1 and 2 and yne-yne-ene enediynes 3 and 4 have been satisfactorily synthesised. The [2+2+2] cycloaddition process catalysed by the Wilkinson catalyst [RhCl(PPh(3))(3)] was tested with the above-mentioned substrates resulting in the production of high yields of the cycloadducts. Enediynes 1 and 2 gave standard [2+2+2] cycloaddition reactions whereas enediynes 3 and 4 suffered β-hydride elimination followed by reductive elimination of the Wilkinson catalyst to give cycloadducts, which are isomers of those that would be obtained by standard [2+2+2] cycloaddition reactions. The different reactivities of these two types of enediyne have been rationalised by density functional theory calculations.     

Synthesis of Delta(1)-1,2-diazetines via a Diels-Alder cycloaddition approach

[reaction: see text] A novel method for the synthesis of Delta(1)-1,2-diazetines is presented. Diels-Alder cycloaddition of dienophile 4 with five dienes afforded cycloadducts in good to excellent yields. Four of the obtained cycloadducts were converted to the corresponding diazetines.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed [2 + 2] cycloadditions of ynamides

Ruthenium-catalyzed [2 + 2] cycloadditions between norbornene and ynamides were investigated. The ynamide moiety was found to be compatible with the ruthenium-catalyzed cycloaddition conditions, giving the corresponding cyclobutene cycloadducts in moderate to good yields (up to 97%). [reaction: see text]     

Stereoselective synthesis of cycloheptanone derivatives via an intermolecular [5 + 2] cycloaddition reaction

[reaction: see text] A [5 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of a new five-carbon unit was developed on the basis of a dicobalt hexacarbonyl propargyl cation species. Under the influence of EtAlCl(2), [5-benzoyloxy-2-(triisopropylsiloxy)-1-penten-3-yne)]dicobalt hexacarbonyl reacted with enol triisopropylsilyl ethers to yield seven-membered dicobalt acetylene complexes in good yield. The reactions with cyclic enol silyl ethers as well as acyclic enol silyl ethers exhibited remarkably high diastereoselectivity. The cycloadducts can be easily converted into various kinds of cycloheptanone derivatives.     

Perfluoroalkylphosphines and arsines obtained by Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction with organoheteroatom stannanes

Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of organoheteroatom stannanes containing elements of the groups 15 (P, As) and 16 (Se) with perfluoroalkyl iodides (R_fI) was studied. Herein, a one-pot two-step reaction to form P–R_f, As–R_f and Se–R_f bonds is reported. The stannanes n-Bu₃SnZPh_n (Z = P, As, Se; n = 1–2) were generated in situ by the reaction of the Ph_nZ⁻ anion with n-Bu₃SnCl. The cross-coupling reactions of these stannanes with R_fI afforded C-heteroatom products, new perfluoroalkylarsines and perfluoroalkylselenides in good yields (47–90%) and perfluoroalkylphosphines in moderate yields (15–48%).     

Four-component coupling reactions of silylacetylenes, allyl carbonates, and trimethylsilyl azide catalyzed by a Pd(0)-Cu(I) bimetallic catalyst. Fully substituted triazole synthesis from seemingly internal alkynes

Fully substituted triazoles were synthesized via the four-component coupling reaction of unactivated silylacetylenes, two equivalents of allyl carbonates, and trimethylsilyl azide in the presence of a Pd(0)-Cu(I) bimetallic catalyst. Various trisubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles were obtained in good yields. The reaction most probably proceeds through the [3+2] cycloaddition reaction between the alkynylcopper species and azide followed by the cross-coupling reaction between the vinylcopper intermediate and π-allylpalladium complex.     

Rhodium-catalyzed intramolecular [4 + 2] cycloadditions of alkynyl halides

[reaction: see text] Cationic rhodium(I)-catalyzed intramolecular [4 + 2] cycloadditions of diene-tethered alkynyl halides were found to occur in good yields (70-87%). The halide moiety is compatible with the cycloaddition reactions, and no oxidative insertion to the alkynyl halide was observed. The halogen-containing cycloadducts could be transformed into a variety of products that are difficult or impossible to obtain via direct cycloaddition.