Mechanistic study on the palladium-catalyzed (3 + 2) intramolecular cycloaddition of alk-5-enylidenecyclopropanes

The intramolecular (3 + 2) cycloaddition of alkenylidenecyclopropanes to alkenes under palladium catalysis provides a practical and stereoselective entry into a variety of interesting bicycles. The reaction outcome and stereoselectivity of the process are somewhat dependent on the characteristics of the substrate and of the palladium ligand, which is not easy to justify on the basis of the current mechanistic understanding. We therefore decided to study the different mechanistic alternatives from a theoretical point of view. The energies of the reaction intermediates and transition states for different possible pathways have been explored at DFT level in a model system, and using PH(3) and P(OMe)(3) as ligands. The results obtained suggest that the most favourable reaction pathway involves an initial oxidative addition of Pd(0) at the distal position of the cyclopropane to afford a palladacyclobutane intermediate. The evolution of this intermediate into the final cycloadduct can occur following different paths, the most favorable depending on the configuration and substitution of the alkene cycloaddition partner, and the number of ancillary ligands coordinated to Pd. The computational results are consistent with the experimental observations and provide the basis for proposing which would be the operative mechanistic pathway in different cases. The results also allow us to explain the stereochemical divergences observed in some of the reactions.     

Palladium-catalyzed [3+2] intramolecular cycloaddition of alk-5-ynylidenecyclopropanes: a rapid,practical approach to bicyclo[3.3.0]octenes

Readily accessible hex-5-ynylidenecyclopropane derivatives cycloisomerize to bicyclic five-membered carbocycles upon heating with catalytic amounts of a palladium complex.     

Palladium-catalyzed asymmetric [3 + 2] trimethylenemethane cycloaddition reactions

Transition-metal-catalyzed trimethylenemethane (TMM) [3 + 2] cycloadditions provide direct routes to functionalized cyclopentanes. This reaction has been shown to be a highly chemo-, regio-, and diastereoselective process. We report a palladium-catalyzed asymmetric [3 + 2] trimethylenemethane (TMM) cycloaddition between 3-acetoxy-2-trimethylsilylmethyl-1-propene and various di- and trisubstituted olefins. Yields of exo-methylenecyclopentane products range from 59 to 99%, and enantiomeric excesses range from 58 to 92% ee.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed [3 + 2] intramolecular cycloaddition of alk-5-ynylidenecyclopropanes promoted by the "first-generation" Grubbs carbene complex

The well-known "first generation" Grubbs metathesis complex is capable of catalyzing the intramolecular [3 + 2] cycloaddition of alk-5-ynylidenecyclopropanes. It appears that the species responsible for the catalysis is a ruthenium complex generated in situ from the Grubbs carbene in the presence of the substrate.     

Palladium-catalysed [3+2] cycloaddition of alk-5-ynylidenecyclopropanes to alkynes: a mechanistic DFT study

The mechanism of the palladium-catalysed [3+2] intramolecular cycloaddition of alkylidenecyclopropanes to alkynes has been computationally explored at DFT level. The energies of the reaction intermediates and transition states for different possible pathways have been calculated in a model system that involves the use of PH3 as a ligand. The results obtained suggest that the most favourable reaction pathway involves the initial C--C oxidative addition of the cyclopropane to a Pd0 complex to give an alkylidenepalladacyclobutane, which isomerises to a methylenepalladacyclobutane intermediate. Subsequent cyclisation by alkyne carbometallation, followed by reductive elimination affords the final product. An alternative mechanism consisting of a palladaene-type rearrangement is less probable in terms of Gibbs energy, but cannot be fully discarded because it is competitive if one considers electronic energies. For substrates that present an ester group at the terminal position of the triple bond we have found an alternative, more favourable mechanistic route that explains why the [3+2] cycloaddition of these types of systems does not lead to the expected cycloadducts.     

Preparation of 3-azabicyclo [3.2.0] heptenones by intramolecular [2+2] cycloaddition

Pyrolysis of N-allyl enaminoesters is a general method for the stereoselective synthesis of 3-azabicyclo[3.2.0] heptenones ; the reaction involves a [2+2] intramolecular cycloaddition of an intermediate iminoketene.     

On the regioselectivity of the Ru-catalyzed intramolecular [5 + 2] cycloaddition

The influence of substituents on which cyclopropyl bond cleaves in the cycloisomerization of cyclopropylenynes catalyzed by CpRu(N&tbd1;CCH(3))(3)(+)PF(6)(-) is compared to the corresponding Rh-catalyzed reaction. With the trans cyclopropyl substrates, the bond energy of the cleaving bond appears to be an important factor. With cis cyclopropyl substrates, steric effects appear to dominate.     

Palladium-catalyzed [3 + 3] cycloaddition of trimethylenemethane with azomethine imines

A palladium-catalyzed [3 + 3] cycloaddition of trimethylenemethane (TMM) with azomethine imines has been developed to produce hexahydropyridazine derivatives under simple and mild conditions. The use of substituted TMM precursors highlights the difference of this system from previously reported [3 + 2] cycloaddition of TMMs under palladium catalysis. The present [3 + 3] cycloaddition reactions are also applicable to couplings with nitrones.     

A sulfinyl-directed asymmetric [5C + 2C] intramolecular acetoxypyranone-alkene cycloaddition

[reaction: see text] Introduction of a homochiral p-tolylsulfinyl group at the trans terminal position of an alkene induces a total diastereodifferentiation in the intramolecular cycloaddition of the latter to 3-oxidopyrylium ylide precursors. The cycloadducts can be readily desulfinylated to afford enantiomerically pure oxa-bridged bicyclo[5.3.0]decane ring systems. Theoretical calculations confirm that diastereoselectivity stems from the conformational preferences of the alkenylsulfoxide unit in the transition state of the reaction.     

On the regioselectivity of the intramolecular [2 + 2]-photocycloaddition of alk-3-enyl tetronates

The simple diastereoselectivity and the regioselectivity of the [2 + 2]-photocycloaddition of alk-3-enyl tetronates were studied, depending on the nature of the substituent R in the α-position. Fourteen tetronates were synthesized and their intramolecular photocycloaddition reactions performed. If R was an alkoxycarbonyl group and if the olefin, which underwent the intramolecular addition, was sterically congested, crossed photoproducts prevailed and were formed in yields between 35 and 65%. In all other cases, the straight photoproducts were obtained as the main reaction products in yields ranging from 39 to 84%. The structures of the photochemical products were thoroughly investigated by one- and two-dimensional NMR experiments. In all cases, the diastereoselectivitiy was excellent and only a single diastereoisomer was formed. A mechanistic model is proposed, which explains the regioselectivity of the [2 + 2]-photocycloaddition reaction.     

Palladium-catalyzed bisdiene carbocyclizations: a facile [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction mode

[reaction: see text] In contrast to alkyl-substituted bisdienes, aryl-substituted substrates undergo surprisingly facile palladium-catalyzed carbocyclization via a novel [3 + 2] cycloaddition mode.     

Palladium-catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition of carbon dioxide and trimethylenemethane under mild conditions

Carbon dioxide undergoes a Pd-catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition with trimethylenemethane (TMM) under mild conditions (1 atm, 75 degrees C, 30 min) to produce a gamma-butyrolactone product in 63% yield, when the Pd-TMM complex is generated from 2-(acetoxymethyl)-3-(trimethylsilyl)propene. The reaction reported here is more rapid than the all-carbon [3+2] cycloaddition, and only the gamma-butyrolactone is produced in a competition experiment. With substituted substrates, the reaction is completely regioselective, producing the product derived from the kinetic Pd-TMM complex.     

A formal [3 + 3] cycloaddition reaction. 5. An enantioselective intramolecular formal aza-[3 + 3] cycloaddition reaction promoted by chiral amine salts

A detailed account on chiral secondary amine salt promoted enantioselective intramolecular formal aza-[3 + 3] cycloadditions is described here for the first time. The dependence of enantioselectivity on the structural feature of these chiral amines is thoroughly investigated. This study also reveals a very interesting reversal of the stereochemistry in the respective cycloadducts obtained using C(1)- and C(2)-symmetric amine salts. In addition, the influence of solvents, counteranions, and temperatures on the enantioselectivity is described, and a unified mechanistic model based on experimental results as well as semiempirical calculations is proposed.     

Rh(I)-catalyzed intramolecular [3 + 2] cycloaddition of trans-vinylcyclopropane-enes

Vinylcyclopropane (VCP) has been well applied as a five-carbon component, rather than a three-carbon component, in transition-metal catalyzed cycloadditions. Here we demonstrate a Rh(I)-catalyzed [3 + 2] reaction of trans-VCP-enes, where VCP acts as a three-carbon synthon to furnish five-membered carbocycles. This novel cycloaddition is efficient in generating bicyclic cyclopentanes in good yields from simple and easily prepared substrates. When cis-VCP-ene is used as the substrate, VCP acts as a five-carbon unit to give a [5 + 2] cycloadduct. Rationalization of the [3 + 2] and [5 + 2] cycloadditions of VCP-enes has been proposed.     

Synthesis of conformationally restricted nicotine analogues by intramolecular [3+2] cycloaddition

We describe the synthesis of a series of conformationally constrained nicotine analogues 2-5 from appropriate pyridine-containing enals, featuring an intramolecular azomethine ylide-alkene [3+2] cycloaddition. The objective of the current project is to develop new selective nAChRs-targeting ligands. Of the nicotine analogues that we have studied, the conformation-restricting ring B unit can be either a five-membered carbocycle, or a six-membered carbocycle or heterocycle. The present work constitutes a general method for rapid assembly of other related tricyclic nicotine analogues.     

The intramolecular nitrile oxide-olefin [3+2] cycloaddition route to the maytansinoids

The macrocyclization of the olefinic nitrile oxide 24 to the ansa-macrolide skeleton 26, a model for a novel approach to the maytansinoids, is described.     

Aqueous-phase deactivation and intramolecular [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition of oxanorbornadiene esters

Both inter- and intramolecular degradation pathways were identified for the aqueous phase deactivation of oxanorbornadiene (OND) electrophiles, and propargylic OND esters were found to undergo facile intramolecular [2 + 2 + 2] homo-Diels-Alder cycloaddition in polar media.