Photoreactions of β-aziridinylacrylonitriles and acrylates with alkenes: the substituent effects on the formation of [3+2] cycloadducts

The photochemical C,C-bond cleavage of trisubstituted aziridines 3-6 and consequent [3+2] cycloaddition with electron-deficient alkenes afforded the novel head-to-head adducts (1,2,3,5-tetrasubstituted pyrrolidines) selectively and efficiently. The aziridines 3 and 5 reacted with molecular oxygen, affording dioxazolidine 26 and cleaved products, respectively. The results may suggest that the C,C-bond of aziridine cleaves biradically. The photoreactions of N-tritylaziridines 7-9 possessing diester, dinitrile, and butadiene groups in the side chain with electron-deficient alkenes yielded 2,3-cis-pyrrolidine derivatives 29, 30, and 33 exclusively. In particular, the dinitrile 8 also reacted with non-electron-deficient alkenes. The formal synthesis of the indolizidine fragment 10 of stellettamides starting from the pyrrolidine (E)-33 was achieved in a convenient manner.     

Michael monoadditions of nitromethane or nitroethane with electrophilic gem-disubstituted alkenes over alumina under microwave irradiation

Nitromethane 1a or nitroethane 1b react with electrophilic alkenes 2a-i RCHC(CN)(Y) with Y=CO₂R′, CN, CONH₂ adsorbed on alumina to give selectively at room temperature or under focused microwave irradiation new Michael monoadducts 5 (two diastereoisomers) or 6 (four diastereoisomers) after a few minutes. It is possible to obtain only two diastereoisomers of 6 by reaction of the corresponding nitroalkene and methylcyanoacetate in the presence of catalytic amounts of piperidine. Mechanisms are proposed. Some examples of addition of nitroalkanes with electron-deficient alkynes in dry media coupled with microwave irradiation conditions are also described.     

Organolithium-induced synthesis of acyclic unsaturated amino alcohols from epoxides of dihydropyrroles and tetrahydropyridines

The alkylative double ring-opening of Bus-protected 2,5-dihydropyrrole epoxides 13 and 29 with organolithiums to give 3-substituted 1-aminobut-3-en-2-ols 13-19 and 30-32 are described. Bus-protected tetrahydropyridine epoxide 38 reacts with organolithiums to give 4-substituted 1-aminobut-4-en-3-ols 39 and tetrahydropyridinol 40.     

Synthesis of polyfunctionalized furans from 3-acetyl-1-aryl-2-pentene-1,4-diones

The BF₃-catalyzed cyclization of 3-acetyl-1-aryl-2-pentene-1,4-diones 1a-e in the presence of water in boiling tetrahydrofuran gave bis(3-acetyl-5-aryl-2-furyl)methanes 2a-e in 26-79% yields along with a small amount of 3-acetyl-5-aryl-2-methylfurans 3a-e. The exact structure of 2a was determined by X-ray crystallography. The use of a half volume of the solvent for the reaction of 1a resulted in the formation of 2,4-bis(3-acetyl-5-phenyl-2-furfuryl)-3-acetyl-5-phenylfuran (4) together with 2a and 3a. A similar reaction of 1a was carried out in the presence of 3-acetyl-5-(4-methylphenyl)-2-methylfuran (3d) to afford 4-(3-acetyl-5-phenyl-2-furfuryl)-3-acetyl-5-(4-methylphenyl)-2-methylfuran (5) in 49% yield. The BF₃-catalyzed reaction of 1a with 2,4-pentanedione in dry tetrahydrofuran at 23°C gave 3-(3-acetyl-5-phenyl-2-furfuryl)-4-hydroxy-3-penten-2-one (6a) and 3-(3-acetyl-2-methyl-4-phenyl-5-furyl)-4-hydroxy-3-penten-2-one (7a) in 66 and 24% yields, respectively. The product distribution depended on the reaction temperature. A similar reaction of 1b-e also yielded the corresponding trisubstituted furans 6b-e and tetrasubstituted furans 7b-e in good yields. These results suggested the presence of the furfuryl carbocation intermediate A during the reaction. The one-pot synthesis of 6a and 7a was also achieved by a similar reaction using phenylglyoxal. The deoxygenation of 1a with triphenylphosphine gave 3a in 88% yield, while 1a was treated with concentrated hydrochloric acid to yield 3-acetyl-2-chloromethyl-5-phenylfuran (8) which was quantitatively transformed in ethanol into 3-acetyl-2-ethoxymethyl-5-phenylfuran (9) and in water into 3-acetyl-5-phenylfurfuryl alcohol (10), respectively. In addition, the Diels-Alder reaction of cyclopantadiene with 1a gave the corresponding [4+2] cycloaddition products 11 and 12.     

Photoreactions of β-aziridinylacrylonitriles and acrylates with alkenes: formation of head-to-head adducts and application to the preparation of pyrrolizidine alkaloid

The photochemical C,C-bond cleavage of N-benzyl β-aziridinylacrylonitrile 1 and acrylate 2 and the subsequent [3+2] cycloaddition with electron-deficient alkenes afforded head-to-head adducts selectively and efficiently. Irradiation of N-phenyl aziridine 3 with acrylonitrile gave adducts, but photoreaction of N-benzoyl aziridine 4 and thermal reactions of 3 and 4 with alkenes yielded C(γ),N-cleaved products instead of cycloadducts. N-trityl aziridine 5 also reacted with electron-deficient alkenes, affording 2,3-cis-pyrrolidine derivatives exclusively. A formal synthesis of a pyrrolizidine alkaloid, isoretronecanol (27), starting from 5 was achieved in a convenient manner.     

The synthesis of bromo and iodo trifunctionalised tribenzosilatranes

In this report we present a direct synthesis of bromo 8 and iodo 9 trisubstituted tribenzosilatranes. Commercially available o-anisidine 1 was transformed into the triarylamine 3 in a two-step sequence, which was halogenated to furnish the tribromo 4 or the triiodo 5 substituted triamines, respectively. Subsequent deprotection of the methyl ethers furnished the novel tripod ligands 6 and 7. A transilylation reaction in the last step led to the synthesis of the desired para-halogenated tribenzosilatranes 8 and 9.     

Manganese(III) acetate based oxidative cyclizations of 3-oxopropanenitriles with conjugated alkenes and synthesis of 4,5-dihydrofuran-3-carbonitriles containing heterocycles

4,5-Dihydrofuran-3-carbonitriles 3a-i were obtained through oxidative cyclizations of 3-oxo-3-phenylpropanenitrile 1a, 3-oxo-3-thien-2-ylpropanenitrile 1b, 3-(2-furyl)-3-oxopropanenitirle 1c, 3-(1-benzofuran-2-yl)-3-oxopropanenitrile 1d, and 4,4-dimethyl-3-oxopropanenitrile 1e mediated manganese(III) acetate with 1,1-diphenyl-1-butene 2a and 1,2-diphenyl-1-pentene 2b. The treatments of these 3-oxopropanenitriles with 2-thienyl substituted alkenes such as 2-[(E)-2-phenylvinyl]thiophene 2c, 2-[(E)-1-methyl-2-phenylvinyl]thiophene 2d, and 2-(1-phenylvinyl)thiophene 2e formed 5-(2-thienyl)-4,5-dihydrofuran-3-carbonitriles 3j-r in good yields (45-93%). As a result, 2-thienyl substituted alkenes formed products in higher yields than phenyl substituted derivatives.     

1,2- versus 1,3-Silyl migration in the reaction of acylsilanes with silyl-substituted carbanions

The Peterson olefination of acylsilanes 1 by silylated carbanions 5,14 to give alkenes 13,17 via a 1,3-silyl shift is favored by the stabilization of the carbanion intermediate 16 through two sulfide units versus one as in 12, while a combination of DMPS on 1 and TBS on 14 leads to 1,2-migration product 15.     

Ene reactions of acyl nitroso intermediates with alkenes and their halocyclization

Highly reactive acyl nitroso intermediates were formed in situ by transition metals-catalyzed hydrogen peroxide oxidation of hydroxamic acids 1a-b and these transient species trapped with alkenes 2a-c to afford the corresponding ene products 3a-d and 4b up to 91% yield, and halocyclization of 3d gave substituted oxazolidinone 5a in 77% yield.     

Captodative olefins: methyl 2-aryloxy-3-dimethyl-aminopropenoates and their application in a new synthesis of benzofurans

The β-substituted captodative olefins methyl 2-aryloxy-3-dimethylaminopropenoates 4a-h were synthesized, via aminomethylenation of the corresponding 2-phenoxyacetic esters 9a-h. Lewis acid promoted intramolecular cyclization of alkenes 4 led to benzofurans 7a-h, in an efficient synthetic approach to the benzofuran frame.     

Manganese(III)-based oxidation of 1,2-disubstituted pyrazolidine-3,5-diones in the presence of alkenes

The manganese(III)-catalyzed aerobic oxidation of 1,2-disubstituted pyrazolidine-3,5-diones 1 in the presence of alkenes 2 gave the corresponding pyrazolidinediones 3 which were doubly hydroperoxyalkylated at the 4-position in high yields. On the other hand, pyrazolidinediones 1 were oxidized with manganese(III) acetate in the presence of alkenes 2 at elevated temperature to produce the 4,4-bis(alkenyl)pyrazolidinediones 4 in good yields instead of the pyrazolidine-fused dihydrofuran analogue IV. A similar cerium(IV)-mediated oxidation of pyrazolidinedione 1a with an alkene 2a afforded the doubly 4-methoxyethylated derivative 5. The stability of the free hydroperoxyl group and the reaction pathway for the aerobic and the metal-mediated oxidation reactions were also discussed.     

On the use of the modified Julia olefination for bryostatin synthesis

Modified Julia olefination reactions using aldehyde 27 and the benzothiazol-2-yl sulfones 13 and 39 provide efficient syntheses of alkenes 28 and 42, which are advanced intermediates for syntheses of bryostatins.     

Diastereoselective addition of nitro compounds to α,β-unsaturated γ-butyrolactones

Herein, we report our results on the diastereoselective addition of nitro compounds to α,β-unsaturated γ-butyrolactones, which afforded the corresponding Michael adducts 9-17 in moderate to good yields and good to excellent diastereoisomeric ratio. A one-pot conversion of α,β-unsaturated γ-butyrolactones 7 and 8 to the corresponding trisubstituted keto-γ-butyrolactones 24 and 25 via a tandem Michael-Nef protocol is also described.     

Organometallic reagent-mediated one-pot synthesis of 3,5,6-trisubstituted naphthostyrils

A one-pot synthesis of 3,5,6-trisubstituted naphthostyrils is described. Addition of organometallic reagents to β-iodovinyl ketone 1 followed by elimination gave the Z-form β-alkyl vinyl ketone 15. Intramolecular cyclization of 15 under the reaction conditions afforded 3,5,6-trisubstituted naphthostyrils 4.     

Palladacycle as highly efficient catalyst for ring opening of oxabicyclic alkenes with organozinc halides

Ring opening reaction of oxabicylic alkenes 4 with in situ prepared organozinc halides 5 was catalyzed by palladacycle 3 with high efficiency. Good yields of the corresponding 1,2-dihydronaphth-1-ols (6) were provided when as low as 0.05 mol% of palladacycle 3 was used. ³¹P NMR study showed that the skeleton of 3 remained intact in the reaction, which implied that palladacycle 3 did not serve as a catalyst precursor but a catalyst in the reaction.     

Michael addition of chiral formaldehyde N,N-dialkylhydrazones to activated cyclic alkenes

The nucleophilic conjugate addition of chiral formaldehyde N,N-dialkylhydrazones 1 to doubly activated cyclic alkenes 2-8 proceeds smoothly to afford the corresponding Michael adducts 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, and 25 in variable yields and selectivities. The reactions take place either spontaneously or in the presence of MgI₂ as a mild Lewis acid depending on the type of substrate. Release of the chiral auxiliary was achieved by transformation of the hydrazone moiety into acetals, dithioacetals or nitriles.     

Stereoselective CrCl2-mediated condensation of aldehydes with functionalized 1,1,1-trichlorides: synthesis of trisubstituted (Z)-chloroolefins

The CrCl₂-mediated condensation of aldehydes 1 with a variety of functionalized 1,1,1-trichlorides 2 affords trisubstituted chloroolefins 4 in excellent yields and generally high Z-stereoselectivity. The intermediate dichlorohydrin adducts 3 can be isolated in good yields under conditions of limited reagent and reduced temperature.     

Dibromomethane as one-carbon source in organic synthesis: a versatile methodology to prepare the cyclic and acyclic α-methylene or α-keto acid derivatives from the corresponding terminal alkenes

Ozonolysis of mono-substituted alkenes A-1 followed by reacting with a preheated mixture of CH₂Br₂-Et₂NH affords α-substituted acroleins A-2 in good yields. Under very mild reaction conditions, these α-substituted acroleins A-2 can be easily converted to α-methylene esters A-4, which could be further converted to the corresponding α-keto esters A-5. This methodology can be also applied to the preparation of α-methylene lactones B-4, α-methylene lactams, and α-keto lactones B-5 with various ring sizes.     

A facile synthesis of highly functionalized dihydrofurans based on 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) catalyzed reaction of halides with enones

Treatment of halides 5 with electrophilic alkenes 2 afforded the corresponding dihydrofurans 3 and 4 in the presence of 1, 4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) with good to excellent yields and in a stereoselective manner in most cases. Moreover, the stereoisomers 3 and 4 could be easily transformed each other in the presence of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU).     

Imidomethylation of C-nucleophiles using O-phthalimidomethyl trichloroacetimidate and catalytic amounts of TMSOTf

The O-phthalimidomethyl trichloroacetimidate (1), as a latent aminomethylating agent, exhibits high electrophilicity towards a variety of C-nucleophiles in the presence of catalytic amounts of TMSOTf and mild reaction conditions. The nucleophiles include aromatics, alkenes and active methylene compounds 2-11 whereby a phthalimidomethyl group could be introduced to give compounds 12-22. Removal of the phthaloyl group gave the respective amines, β-amino ketones, and β-amino acids. The O-(trichloroacetamido)methyl trichloroacetimidate (35) was also found to be a good amidomethylating agent.