Iodine-catalyzed stepwise [4+2] cycloaddition of phenothiazine- and ferrocene-containing Schiff bases with DHP promoted by microwave irradiation

On simultaneous effect of iodine-catalysis and microwave irradiation Schiff bases deactivated by electron-donating C-phenothiazinyl- and ferrocenyl-substituents, respectively, underwent formal inverse electron demand aza-Diels-Alder (DA) cycloaddition with 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrane (DHP) employed as donor component. Depending on the substitution pattern of the N-phenyl group the reactions of phenothiazine-containing imines afforded 2H-pyrano[3,2-c]quinolines or 3-(3-hydroxypropyl)quinolines. Irrespective of the electronic properties of the N-phenyl substituent the less reactive ferrocene-based imines were directly converted into quinoline products. The intermediate iodoiminium ions were analysed by B3LYP/DGZVP calculations suggesting stepwise mode for the cycloaddition process. In one case the regioselectivity of the second step of cycloaddition was also interpreted by DFT analysis of the alternative rotamers of the primarily formed DHP adduct.     

Reactivity and regioselectivity in the synthesis of spiroindoles via indole o-quinodimethanes. An experimental and computational study

The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions of stable nitrile oxides with indole o-quinodimethanes have been examined. In all cases the ‘exo-anti’ addition products, dispiroisoxazolines, were isolated in moderate to good yields (25-47%). In addition, from the reaction of one of the indole quinodimethanes with mesitonitrile oxide the ‘exo-syn’ addition product was isolated in 7% yield along with the remarkable indole quinodimethane dimerization and cycloaddition product, which was isolated in 13% yield. An analogous dimerization and cycloaddition product was isolated in 18% yield from the reaction of the N-acetyl-indole quinodimethane with mesitonitrile oxide. In the case of the reaction of the N-benzoylindole quinodimethane with the 2,6-dichlorobenzonitrile oxide an oxime was also isolated in 13% yield. The proposed reaction mechanism is supported by semiempirical (AM1) MO calculations via FMO interactions. The observed selectivity was explained by an investigation of the transition states carried out also for analogous dispiroisoxazolines.     

Salt, concentration, and temperature effects on an asparagine-based, aqueous Diels-Alder cycloaddition

Results are reported on the salt, concentration, and temperature effects in an aqueous, auxiliary-mediated asymmetric Diels-Alder cycloaddition. The auxiliaries were prepared under basic aqueous conditions from asparagine and trimethylacetaldehyde, and coupled to acryloyl chloride to generate dienophiles in one pot. Temperature and concentration modestly impacted cycloaddition stereochemistry. Experiments with a range of salts examined the speculation that complexation between the counterion of the auxiliary carboxylate and the dienophile carbonyl promotes the formation of the minor endo product, reducing cycloaddition diastereoselectivity for the endo products. The transformation was poorly selective for the carboxylic acid but gave moderate selectivities for several metallated carboxylates. The magnitude of the diastereoselectivity of the endo products was weakly dependent on carboxylate counterion and more strongly influenced by the basicity of the salt anion. Data presented suggest that Lewis acid catalysis reduces cycloaddition diastereoselectivity for the endo products.     

Stereoselective synthesis of l-isoxazolidinyl thymidine from N-benzyl-1,2-di-O-isopropylidene-d-glyceraldehyde nitrone (BIGN)

A synthetic approach to l-isoxazolidinyl nucleosides is demonstrated by the stereoselective conversion of N-benzyl-1,2-di-O-isopropylidene-d-glyceraldehyde nitrone (BIGN) into cis and trans l-isoxazolidinyl thymidine. The methodology consists of the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of BIGN with either vinyl acetate or a vinyl base to give key intermediates that are easily transformed into the target compound. The experimental results of the cycloaddition reactions can be qualitatively explained by theoretical ab initio calculations.     

The diels-alder chemistry of 1-vinyl-2-pyridones

The Diels-Alder chemistry of a series of 1-vinyl-2-pyridones using a variety of dienophilic species including dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate, benzyne, maleic anhydride and methyl vinyl ketone has been explored in order to determine the generality of this method for generation of N-vinylisoquinuclidines. In general, the cycloaddition reactions lead to modestly high yeilds of the azabicyclooctane products. In the course of these studies, we noted that retro-Diels-Alder reactions of N-vinylisoquinuclidienones lead to generation of N-vinylisocyanates and a benzene fragment while the corresponding mono-unsaturated isoquinuclidenones form the corresponding pyridones by elimination of an ethylene unit. Lastly, the regio- and stereochemical courses for the π2+ π4 addition reactions of methyl vinyl ketone and 1-vinyl-2-pyridones were investigated. The major products from these reactions appear to result from reaction pathways predicted to be of low energy using first-order molecular orbital methods.     

The preparation of 7-substituted norbornadiene-2,3-dicarboxylic anhydrides and an experimental and theoretical study of their reactivity

Four new substituted methano-bridged or heteroatom-bridged norbornadienomaleic anhydrides have been prepared and converted to sesquinorbornadiene anhydrides by reaction with cyclic 1,3-dienes. The versatility of parity reversal, in conjunction with N-substituent steric effects, has been used to produce all three possible stereoisomers of the N,O-sesquinorbornadiene anhydrides in separate, stereoselective cycloadditions. The anhydrides have been synthesized by cyclization of their diacids (in situ production) or by flash vacuum pyrolysis of their furan adducts (yielding crystalline products); further fragmentation occurs at these or higher temperatures to produce five-membered carbocyclic or heterocyclic anhydrides. Activation energies have been evaluated for the fragmentation and cycloaddition processes using DFT calculations (B3LYP/6-31G∗) and these calculations correctly predict, which reaction can be intercepted at the norbornadienomaleic anhydride stage and preferred stereochemistry of cycloadducts.     

Regioselectivity of the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of fluorinated fluoren-9-iminium ylides to heteroelement-containing dipolarophiles: Experimental and quantum-chemical study

N-Substituted 9H-fluoren-9-imines react with difluorocarbene to give the corresponding iminium ylides whose further transformations in the absence of active dipolarophiles depend on the substituent at the nitrogen atom and reaction conditions. N-Ethyl-, N-benzyl-, and N-(2-phenylethyl)-9H-fluoren-9-imines are thus converted in low yield into the formal cyclodimerization products and/or 9H-fluorene-9-carboxamides. N-Methyl-substituted fluoreniminium ylide readily adds at the C=N bond of initial N-(9H-fluoren-9-ylidene)-methanamine with formation of spiro-fused imidazolidine derivative; in the presence of fluorenone, acetaldehyde, or benzaldehyde, addition at the C=O group of the dipolarophile occurs to give the corresponding oxazolidine derivatives. The regioselectivity of the cycloaddition of iminium ylides having a fluorene fragment at a double carbon-heteroelement bond can be described by quantum-chemical calculations in terms of the density functional theory (DFT; local hard and soft acids and bases concept): the cycloaddition leads preferentially to the 2,2-difluoro-substituted adduct.     

Halogenated catechols from cycloaddition reactions of η-(2-ethoxyvinylketene)iron(0) complexes with 1-haloalkynes

1-Chloroalkynes and 1-bromohexyne undergo cycloaddition reactions with ethoxyvinylketeneiron(0) complexes to form chloro and bromocatechols. With most substituents, the halogen is incorporated ortho to the phenolic hydroxyl group regioselectively. With chloroethyne, chlorohexyne, and methyl chloropropiolate, the reverse regioselection is observed. Ab initio calculations reveal that the products are, in most cases, nearly isoenergetic, which indicates that the intermediate ketene-alkyne adduct geometry must be important in determining the product distribution.     

Structures of the phosphinidene germylenoid HP=GeLiF and its cycloaddition reaction with ethylene

The structures of phosphinidene germylenoid HP=GeLiF were studied for the first time by using DFT (density functional theory) calculations. The geometries were optimized at the B3LYP/6-311+G (d, p) level at first and then the single-point energies were calculated at QCISD/6-311++G (d, p) level. Theoretical calculations predicted that HP=GeLiF has two equilibrium structures, the p-complex (1) and the three-membered-ring (2) structures, in which structure 1 has the lower energy and is more stable than 2. To exploit the reactivity of HP=GeLiF, the cycloaddition reaction of 1 and ethylene was investigated at the same level of theory. From the potential energy profile, we predicted that the cycloaddition reaction has one dominant reaction pathway. The calculated result shows that the dominant reaction pathway is a [2?+?2] cycloaddition reaction which is the interaction of two π bonds in HP=GeLiF and ethylene molecule, and a four-membered-ring P-heterocyclic germylene is formed. Since sp³ hybridization of Ge atom in this four-membered-ring germylene, it may further react with another ethylene and finally forming a spiro-Ge-heterocyclic compound involving phosphorus. This means that this reaction involves a [2?+?2] cycloaddition as the initial step, and then a [2?+?1] cycloaddition carried out.     

Experimental Evidence for the Involvement of Dinuclear Alkynylcopper(I) Complexes in Alkyne–Azide Chemistry

Dinuclear alkynylcopper(I) ladderane complexes are prepared by a robust and simple protocol involving the reduction of Cu₂(OH)₃OAc or Cu(OAc)₂ by easily oxidised alcohols in the presence of terminal alkynes; they function as efficient catalysts in copper‐catalysed alkyne–azide cycloaddition reactions as predicted by the Ahlquist–Fokin calculations. The same copper(I) catalysts are formed during reactions by using the Sharpless–Fokin protocol. The experimental results also provide evidence that sodium ascorbate functions as a base to deprotonate terminal alkynes and additionally give a convincing alternative explanation for the fact that the Cu^I‐catalysed reactions of certain 1,3‐diazides with phenylacetylene give bis(triazoles) as the major products. The same dinuclear alkynylcopper(I) complexes also function as catalysts in cycloaddition reactions of azides with 1‐iodoalkynes.     

Stereoconvergent and stepwise 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of nitrile oxides and nitrile imines

The first example of stereoconvergent 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of nitrile oxides and nitrile imines with E/Z isomeric mixture of electron-deficient olefins is reported, delivering isoxazolines and pyrazolines bearing two vicinal stereogenic tertiary and trifluoromethylated quaternary carbon centers with perfect regioand diastereoselectivities. The possibility of concerted cycloaddition/epimerization sequence under basic condition to form the thermodynamically stable diastereomers is excluded th...     

A theoretical investigation on the regioselectivity of the [3+2] cycloaddition of nitrile oxide and N-vinylpyrrole

Theoretical calculations were performed on the [3+2] cycloaddition (32CA) reaction of nitrile oxide and N-vinylpyrrole. The regiochemistry of the reaction has been studied based on potential energy surface analysis and global and local reactivity indices of the reactants. The global electron density transfer (GEDT) calculations at the possible transition states revealed that this cycloaddition has a nearly non-polar character. The ELF topological analyses of the selected structures involved in the intrinsic reaction coordinate (IRC) of TS1a suggests that this 32CA reaction takes place through a two-stage one-step 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.     

GeCl<Subscript>2</Subscript> cycloaddition reactions to unsaturated organic compounds taking ethylene,buta-1,3-diene,and hexa-1,3,5-triene as examples: a quantum chemical study

The cycloaddition reactions of dichlorogermylene GeCl₂ to ethylene, buta-1,3-diene, and hexa-1,3,5-triene were studied within the framework of the density functional theory (PBE and B3LYP density functionals) and by the ab initio CBS-QB3 method. The energy characteristics of the reaction of GeCl₂ with ethylene were refined and non-empirical quantum chemical calculations of reaction pathways in the GeCl₂ + buta-1,3-diene and GeCl₂ + hexa-1,3,5-triene systems were carried out for the first time. It was shown that the [2+1] cycloaddition reactions are kinetically hindered and thermodynamically unfavorable, while the [4+1] and [6+1] cycloaddition reactions are characterized by low barriers and result in thermodynamically favorable products. For the [4+1] cycloaddition to buta-1,3-diene and [6+1] cycloaddition to hexa-1,3,5-triene, the most energetically favorable reaction pathways involve a suprafacial and antarafacial approach of reactants, respectively.     

Concerted cycloaddition reactions: a study using the parabolic model and quantum chemical modeling

Concerted cycloaddition reactions were studied by the method of intersecting parabolas (M3IP) and quantum chemical calculations. Experimental data were processed within the framework of the M3IP method and an algorithm for calculating the activation energies (E) and rate constants (k) for reactions from the enthalpies of reactions was developed. The parameters E and k for twelve cycloaddition reactions not studied previously were calculated. Factors affecting the activation energies were established and evaluated; these include the enthalpy of reaction, substituents, and the molecular structure of reactants. Quantum chemical modeling and topological analysis of transition states (TS) of six concerted cycloaddition reactions were performed. Depending on structure of the starting olefins, the TS of reactions can have either a symmetric or asymmetric geometry. This influences their electronic structures, the energies of chemical bonds, and the activation energies of reactions. A comparison of the activation energy values obtained from the M3IP and DFT(B3lyp/6-311++G** ) calculations revealed good agreement between them.     

Diels-Alder adducts derived from the natural phthalide Z-ligustilide

Z-Ligustilide, a naturally occurring phthalide isolated from Ligusticum porteri, underwent Diels-Alder reactions with different dienophiles yielding novel tricyclic products with potentially interesting biological properties. Where selectivity was possible, the reactions performed showed regio- and stereoselectivity. The experimental results with ethyl acrylate were compared with the selectivity predicted by ab initio calculations.     

Unexpected nitrilimine cycloaddition of thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidine derivatives

1,3-Dipolar cycloaddition of 2-arylidene-6,7-dihydro-5H-thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidine-3(5H)-ones to diphenylnitrilimine (generated in situ by triethylamine dehydrohalogenation of the N′-phenylbenzohydrazonoyl chloride) proceeded regio- and site-selectively affording a mixture of two unexpected isomer products at reflux temperature. The cycloaddition/ring-opening/rearrangement/substitution, mechanism of the reaction was also discussed.     

Sequential azomethine imine cycloaddition-palladium catalysed cyclisation processes

In situ generation of azomethine imines from aryl/heteroaryl aldehydes and N,N′-disubstituted hydrazines followed by cycloaddition to N-methylmaleimide generates pyrazolidines, which undergo Pd(0) catalysed cyclisation involving the aldehyde and hydrazine substituents, with formation of 6-8 membered rings in good yield. AMI calculations indicate the preferred configuration of the azomethine imines involved and identify the most likely cycloaddition transition states.     

Catalytic opening of the diaziridine fragment in 6-aryl-1,5-diazabicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes

Treatment of 6-aryl-1,5-diazabicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes with Lewis acids [BF₃·Et₂O or In(OTf)₃] promotes opening of the diaziridine ring, followed by formation of 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition products with N-arylmaleimides. The conversion of the initial diaziridine depends on the nature of the 6-aryl group. Diazabicyclohexanes with donor substituents react quantitatively to give (in the absence of dipolarophiles) the corresponding azomethine imine dimers, 1,2,4,5-tetrazine derivatives. The conversion of diazabicyclohexanes having acceptor substituents is poor; simultaneously, the fraction of the hydrolysis products increases. The stereoselectivity in the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition, i.e. the ratio of the cis-and trans-adducts, depends on the catalyst and solvent. Azomethine imine dimers react with N-arylmaleimides in the presence of indium(III) trifluoromethanesulfonate to give the same 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition products as those obtained from parent 1,5-diazabicyclohexanes.     

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.