Catalytic [4+1] cycloaddition of alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds with isocyanides

The GaCl(3)-catalyzed [4+1] cycloaddition reactions of alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones with isocyanides leading to lactone derivatives are described. While some other Lewis acids also show catalytic activity, GaCl(3) was the most efficient catalyst. The reaction is significantly affected by the structure of both the isocyanides and the alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones. Aromatic isocyanides, especially sterically demanding ones and those bearing an electron-withdrawing group, can be used, but aliphatic isocyanides cannot. The bulkiness of substituents at the beta-position of acyclic alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones is an important factor for the reaction to proceed efficiently. Generally, the more the bulky substituent, the higher is the yield. The reaction of alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones bearing geminal substituents at the beta-position gave the corresponding products in high yields. In monosubstituted derivatives, the yields are relatively low. However, substrates having a bulky substituent, such as a tert-Bu group, at the beta-position give high yields. Bulkiness is also required in cyclic alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones, but the effect is small. In alkyl vinyl ketones, the reactivity decreased with the steric bulk of the alkyl group. In aryl vinyl ketones, the presence of an electron-donating group on the aromatic ring decreases the reactivity. The success of the catalysis can be attributed to the low affinity of GaCl(3) toward heteroatoms, compared with usual Lewis acids.     

A GaCl3-catalyzed [4+1] cycloaddition of alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds and isocyanides leading to unsaturated gamma-lactone derivatives

A GaCl3-catalyzed reaction of alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones with isocyanides leading to the formation of unsaturated lactone derivatives is described. This is the first example of the catalytic [4+1] cycloaddition of alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones and isocyanides. GaCl3 is an excellent catalyst due to its lower oxophilicity, which is desirable for all of the key steps, such as E/Z isomerization, cyclization, and deattachment from the products.     

Trends in structure-toxicity relationships for carbonyl-containing alpha,beta-unsaturated compounds

Using toxicity data for 30 aliphatic polarized alpha,beta-unsaturated derivatives of esters, aldehydes, and ketones, a series of six structure-toxicity relationships were evaluated. The structure feature of all assessed compounds, an acetylenic or olefinic moiety conjugated to a carbonyl group, is inherently electrophilic and conveys the capacity to exhibit enhanced toxicity. However, the toxic potency of alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds is dependent on the specific molecular structure with several trends being observed. Specific observations include: (1) between homologues, the acetylenic-substituted derivative was more toxic than the corresponding olefinic-substituted one, respectively; (2) between olefinic-homologues, terminal vinyl-substituted derivative was more toxic than the internal vinylene-substituted one; (3) within alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones, methyl substitution on the vinyl carbon atoms reduces toxicity with methyl-substitution on the carbon atom farthest from the carbonyl group exhibiting the greater inhibition; (4) between alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds with the carbon-carbon double bond on the end of the molecule (vinyl ketones) and those with carbon-oxygen double bonds on the end of the molecule (aldehydes), the ketones are more toxic than the aldehydes; (5) between homologues of alpha,beta-unsaturated esters, those with additional unsaturated moieties (allyl, propargyl, or vinyl groups) were more toxic than homologues having relevant unsaturated moieties (propyl or ethyl groups); (6) between alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds with different shaped alkyl-groups (i.e. different degrees of branching), homologues with straight-chain hydrocarbon moieties were more toxic than those with branched groups.     

Preparation of fluoroalkyl imines, amines, enamines, ketones, alpha-amino carbonyls, and alpha-amino acids from primary enamine phosphonates

A simple method for preparation of fluoroalkyl beta-enaminophosphonates 1 from alkylphosphonates 2 and perfluoroalkyl nitriles 3 is reported. Olefination reaction of functionalized phosphates 1 with aldehydes gives alpha,beta-unsaturated imines 5. Acid hydrolysis of these fluoroalkyl derivatives 5 affords alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones 6, while their selective reduction with hydrides leads to the formation of allylamines 7, enamines 8, and saturated ketones 9 or amines 10. Selective oxidative cleavage of the carbon-carbon double bond of allylamines 7 gives fluorinated alpha-amino aldehydes 12, alpha-amino ketones 13, or alpha-amino acid derivatives 14.     

Enantioselective conjugate radical addition to alpha'-hydroxy enones

Enantioselective conjugate radical addition to alpha'-hydroxy alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones, compounds containing bidentate donors, has been investigated. It has been found that radical additions to alpha'-hydroxy alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones in the presence of Mg(NTf2)2 and bisoxazoline ligand 5a proceeded cleanly, yielding the addition products in high chemical yields and good enantiomeric excesses.     

New rearrangement of 4-isoxazoline system: conversion of ketones into alpha,beta-unsaturated amides

A new rearrangement pattern of the 4-isoxazoline system is reported. The reaction, starting from 3,3-disubstituted derivatives and leading to alpha,beta-unsaturated amides, proceeds through the quaternarization of the nitrogen atom and involves the heterolytic cleavage of C(3)-N bond, assisted by the formation of a relatively stable intermediate. The overall process represents a useful conversion of ketones into alpha,beta-unsaturated amides.     

Highly stereoselective three-component reactions of phenylselenomagnesium bromide,acetylenic sulfones,and saturated aldehydes/ketones or alpha,beta-unsaturated enals or enones

beta-Phenylseleno-alpha-tolylsulfonyl-substituted alkenes were synthesized via the three-component conjugate-nucleophilic addition of acetylenic sulfones, phenylselenomagnesium bromide, and carbonyl compounds, such as aldehydes, aliphatic ketones, or alpha,beta-unsaturated enals or enones. The reaction is highly regio- and stereoselective with moderate to good yields. Functionalized allylic alcohols were obtained in the case of aldehydes and aliphatic ketones. In the case of alpha,beta-unsaturated enones, functionalized allylic alcohols or functionalized gamma,delta-unsaturated ketones were obtained, depending on the structures of the ketones.     

A novel pyrrolidine imide catalyzed direct formation of alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones from unmodified ketones and aldehydes

A method for direct, stereoselective preparation of (E)-alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones from ketones and aldehydes, promoted by a novel pyrrolidine imide organocatalyst, has been developed in moderate to high yields. Unlike the Claisen-Schmidt condensation and Lewis acid catalyzed tandem aldol-dehydration processes, this method provides mild reaction conditions to access alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones from simple, unmodified ketones. [reaction: see text]     

Unsaturated nitriles: stereoselective MgO eliminations

Alpha,beta-unsaturated nitriles are readily synthesized by eliminating MgO from beta-hydroxynitriles. Deprotonating acyclic, and cyclic, beta-hydroxynitriles with excess MeMgCl smoothly generates dianion intermediates that eject MgO with concurrent formation of alpha,beta-unsaturated nitriles. Alternatively, sequential addition of lithioacetonitrile and MgBr(2) to aldehydes and ketones generates magnesium alkoxides in situ that eliminate MgO upon addition of MeMgCl. The MeMgCl-induced MgO eliminations smoothly generate alpha,beta-unsaturated nitriles from hindered ketones that are otherwise difficult to synthesize.     

An efficient method for cyclopentene annulation onto alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones: W(CO)(5)(L)-catalyzed 5-endo-dig cyclization of 6-siloxy-5-en-1-ynes

[reaction: see text] A highly efficient method for the cyclopentene annulation onto alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones is described. Indium-mediated 1,4-propargylation onto alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones in the presence of tert-butyldimethylsilyl triflate and dimethyl sulfide gives the 6-siloxy-5-en-1-yne derivatives, which undergo W(CO)(5)(L)-catalyzed 5-endo-dig cyclization to give the corresponding cyclopentene derivatives in good yield.     

Synthetic organic chemistry with 2-ethoxy-2-(phenylselenenyl)perfluoroalk-2-enenitrile: application to alpha-cyanoperfluoroacylation of aldehydes

(Z)- and (E)-2-Ethoxyperfluoro-2-(phenylselenenyl)alk-2-enenitriles 2-4 prepared by our original method underwent transmetalation on treatment with n-BuLi or EtMgBr, and the successive reaction with aldehyde and ketones afforded the corresponding allylic alcohols 10a-f, 9a, and 11a,b in good to high yields. Hydrolysis of the alcohols gave alpha-cyano-alpha,beta-unsaturated perfluoroalkyl ketones 13a-c, 13e, 12a, and 15a. alpha-Cyanoperfluoroalkyl ketones were easily converted to alpha,beta-unsaturated 3-aryl-2-cyanoallylic alcohols 18-22 having interesting biological activities and chemical reactivities.     

Regioselective Heck couplings of alpha,beta-unsaturated tosylates and mesylates with electron-rich olefins

[chemical reaction: see text]. Highly regioselective Heck couplings of alpha,beta-unsaturated tosylate and mesylate derivatives with N-acyl N-vinylamines and vinyl ethers were achieved. Several 2-alkoxy-1,3-dienes and 2-acylamino-1,3-butadienes were synthesized in good yields using 1.5 mol % of Pd2(dba)3, 3 mol % of DPPF, and diisopropylethylamine in dioxane. When working with alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones and esters, this method provides a less costly alternative to similar couplings using a triflate electrophile.     

Reaction of beta-ethoxyvinyl lithiums generated from phenyltellanyl- and ethyltellanylacetaldehyde diethyl acetals with aldehydes and ketones and successive hydrations

Reactions of alpha-tellanyl-beta-ethoxyvinyl lithiums of aldehydes and ketones proceeded in good to high yields and the successive treatment with acids gave the alpha-tellanyl alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes. alpha-Tellanyl alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes easily transformed to more useful compounds.     

A new type of catalytic tandem 1,4-addition-aldol reaction which proceeds through an (oxa-pi-allyl)rhodium intermediate

The reaction of 9-aryl-9-borabicyclo[3.3.1]nonanes (B-Ar-9BBN) with alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones and aldehydes in the presence of 3 mol % [Rh(OMe)(cod)](2) in toluene at 20 degrees C for 2 h gave high yields of the tandem 1,4-addition-aldol reaction products with high syn selectivity. The reaction proceeds through the catalytic cycle consisting of 1,4-addition of an organorhodium species to an alpha,beta-unsaturated ketone and the aldol addition of the resulting (oxa-pi-allyl)rhodium intermediate to an aldehyde.     

Extremely Efficient Chiral Induction in Conjugate Additions of p-Tolyl alpha-Lithio-beta-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl Sulfoxide and Subsequent Electrophilic Trapping Reactions

Reaction of p-tolyl alpha-lithio-beta-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl sulfoxide with alpha,beta-unsaturated esters gave the conjugate addition products as a single diastereomer. The intermediate enolates were subsequently trapped with various alkyl halides or aldehydes to give the products with extremely high stereoselectivity. The reaction with alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones also proceeded with high diastereoselectivity. Protolysis of the enolates derived from the alpha-methyl-alpha,beta-unsaturated esters gave the products with high stereoselectivity. The stereo- and regioselective elimination of the sulfinyl group gave chiral homoallylic carboxylates.     

Olefination of ketones using a gold(III)-catalyzed Meyer-Schuster rearrangement

An atom-economical and efficient olefination strategy for ketones is described. Ethoxyacetylide addition followed by a gold-catalyzed Meyer-Schuster rearrangement affords alpha,beta-unsaturated esters, generally in excellent overall yield from the starting ketones. The alkynophilicity of Au3+ promotes an interaction with the electron-rich acetylenes that catalyzes the Meyer-Schuster rearrangement selectively over other conceivable pathways.     

Design of new chiral phase-transfer catalysts with dual functions for highly enantioselective epoxidation of alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones

A new chiral ammonium bromide, 1-Br, possessing diarylmethanol functionality as a substrate recognition site has been designed as a promising, dual-functioning catalyst for the highly enantioselective epoxidation of alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones under mild phase-transfer conditions. For instance, vigorous stirring of a mixture of chalcone, 1-Br (3 mol %), and 13% NaOCl in toluene at 0 degrees C for 24 h gave rise to epoxy chalcone quantitatively with 96% ee. A variety of alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones can also be epoxidized with rigorous stereochemical control, clearly demonstrating the effectiveness and utility of the present system. Further, a successful single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of 1-PF6 uncovered its distinctive three-dimensional molecular architecture and provided useful information for postulating the transition state.     

A facile and chemoselective conjugate reduction using polymethylhydrosiloxane (PMHS) and catalytic B(C6F5)3

A highly chemoselective conjugate reduction of electron-deficient Michael acceptors, including alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones, carboxylic esters, nitriles and nitro compounds with PMHS in the presence of catalytic B(C6F5)3 is described.     

Enantioselective Friedel-Crafts alkylations of alpha,beta-unsaturated 2-acyl imidazoles catalyzed by bis(oxazolinyl)pyridine-scandium(III) triflate complexes

An enantioselective Friedel-Crafts alkylation with alpha,beta-unsaturated 2-acyl imidazoles and electron-rich aromatic nucleophiles catalyzed by bis(oxazolinyl)pyridine-scandium(III) triflate complexes has been accomplished. These alpha,beta-unsaturated 2-acyl imidazoles are effective electrophiles for the Friedel-Crafts reaction. The resulting adduct 2-acyl imidazole is easily converted to amides, esters, carboxylic acids, ketones, and aldehydes by methylation and subsequent displacement of the imidazole residue.     

A novel chiral sulfonium yilde: highly enantioselective synthesis of vinylcyclopropanes

A newly designed chiral sulfonium allylide, generated in situ from the corresponding sulfonium salt in the presence of KOBu(t), reacted with alpha,beta-unsaturated esters, ketones, amides, and nitriles to afford trans-2-silylvinyl-trans-3-substituted cyclopropyl esters, ketones, amides, and nitriles with outstanding diastereoselectivity and excellent enantioselectivity in good to high yields. A mechanistic rationale is proposed.