A synthesis, including asymmetric synthesis, of α-quaternary α-amino aldehydes from ketones and chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide via sulfinylaziridines

Treatment of 1-chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides, prepared from ketones and chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide, with N-lithio arylamines resulted in the formation of sulfinylaziridines in good to high yields. The sulfinylaziridines were treated with N-lithio aniline or N-lithio p-chloroaniline to afford α-quaternary α-amino aldehydes in good yields. From α-quaternary α-amino aldehydes, α-quaternary α-amino acid esters and β-quaternary β-amino alcohols were obtained. When optically active chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide was used in this procedure, a method for the synthesis of optically active α-quaternary α-amino aldehydes was realized. The reaction mechanism, including asymmetric induction, for the formation of the sulfinylaziridines is described.     

A novel route to fully substituted cyanoallenes from three components, ketones, chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide, and nitriles, via α-bromocyclopropyl p-tolyl sulfoxides

Treatment of 1-chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides, which were derived from ketones and chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide in high yields, with lithium α-carbanion of nitriles gave the adducts in quantitative yields. The adducts were converted to α-bromocyclopropyl p-tolyl sulfoxides in two steps in good yields. Finally, the sulfoxides were treated with excess lithium carbanion of isobutyronitrile to afford fully substituted cyanoallenes in high to quantitative yields via sulfoxide-lithium exchange reaction. This procedure offers a novel synthetic method for fully substituted cyanoallenes with coupling of three components (ketones, chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide, and nitriles) in good overall yields.     

A novel synthesis of cyclic α-amino aldehydes, amino alcohols, and α-amino acid methyl esters from cyclic ketones through sulfinylaziridines

Treatment of 1-chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides, which were synthesized from cyclic ketones and chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide in three steps in good yields, with N-lithio arylamines gave sulfinylaziridines in high yields. On treatment with N-lithio aniline or N-lithio p-chloroaniline, the sulfinylaziridines gave α-amino aldehydes in high yields. The α-amino aldehydes were converted to amino alcohols and α-amino acid methyl esters in moderate to good yields. This procedure offers an efficient method for synthesis of cyclic α-quaternary α-amino aldehydes, amino alcohols, and α-amino acid derivatives from cyclic ketones.     

New synthesis of multi-substituted α-chlorocyclobutanones from 1-chloro-3-cyanoalkyl p-tolyl sulfoxides by 4-Exo-Dig nucleophilic ring closure of magnesium carbenoids to nitrile group as the key reaction

1-Chloro-3-cyanoalkyl p-tolyl sulfoxides were easily prepared from 1-chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides, which were synthesized from carbonyl compounds and chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide, with lithium α-cyano carbanion of acetonitrile derivatives in good yields. Treatment of these sulfoxides with i-PrMgCl resulted in the formation of multi-substituted α-chlorocyclobutanones in good to high yields via the 4-Exo-Dig nucleophilic ring closure of the generated magnesium carbenoid intermediates to the nitrile group. This procedure provides a new and good way for the synthesis of multi-substituted α-chlorocyclobutanones from carbonyl compounds and substituted acetonitriles with formation of three carbon–carbon bonds in relatively short steps.     

A new synthesis, including asymmetric synthesis, of spiro[4.n]alkenones from three components: cyclic ketones, chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide, and acetonitrile; and a formal total synthesis of racemic acorone

1-Chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides were synthesized from several kinds of cyclic ketones and chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide in good yields. Treatment of the 1-chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides with cyanomethyllithium at −78°C to room temperature gave spirocyclic enaminonitriles in high yields. Acidic treatment of the enaminonitriles afforded spiro[4.n]alkenones in good yields. By using an unsymmetrical cyclic ketone, α-tetralone, and optically active chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide, this procedure afforded enantiomerically pure spiro[4.5]decenone in good yield with excellent asymmetric induction from the sulfoxide chiral center. By using this method a formal total synthesis of a racemic spirocyclic sesquiterpene, acorone, was realized.     

A novel synthesis, including asymmetric synthesis, of 2,4,4-trisubstituted 2-cyclopentenones based on the reaction of 1-chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides with acetonitrile and its homologues

Reaction of 1-chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides, which were synthesized from chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide and ketones in high overall yields, with cyanomethyllithium (lithium α-carbanion of acetonitrile) gave adducts in high to quantitative yields. The adducts were treated with LDA followed by lithium α-carbanion of the homologues of acetonitrile to give 3,5,5-trisubstituted enaminonitriles in good to high yields. Hydrolysis of the enaminonitriles under acidic conditions gave 2,4,4-trisubstituted 2-cyclopentenones in good yields. By using the optically active chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide and unsymmetrical ketones, this procedure gave the optically pure 2,4,4-trisubstituted 2-cyclopentenones. The scope and limitations of this method and the mechanism of the reactions are also discussed. These procedures offer a new and effective method for the synthesis of 2,4,4-trisubstituted 2-cyclopentenones from four components, ketones, chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide, acetonitrile, and its homologues.     

A synthesis of optically active α-quaternary α-amino acids and esters by assembling three components, ketones, (R)-chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide, and sodium azide, via sulfinyloxiranes

Treatment of lithium α-sulfinyl carbanion of chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxides with ketones at low temperature afforded adducts in almost quantitative yields, which were exposed to t-BuOK to give sulfinyloxiranes in high yields. The sulfinyloxirane was reacted with benzylamine to give α-amino aldehyde, which was oxidized with iodine in methanol to afford α-amino carboxylic ester in moderate yield. The sulfinyloxiranes were treated with sodium azide to afford α-azido aldehydes in good yields. Oxidation with NaClO₂ followed by catalytic hydrogenation of the azido group of the α-azido aldehydes gave α-quaternary α-amino acids in good overall yields. The oxidation of the azido aldehydes with iodine in methanol in the presence of KOH followed by the catalytic hydrogenation resulted in α-quaternary α-amino acid methyl esters in good yields. When these reactions were carried out starting from unsymmetrical ketones and optically pure (R)-chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide, a new method for a synthesis of optically active α-quaternary α-amino acids and esters in good overall yields was realized.     

Photoinitiators and photoinitiation, 12. The aromatic ketone/t-amine Type-II photoinitiating system. Identification of the initiating species

The system benzophenone/N,N-dimethylaniline (DMA) representing a typical Type-II photoinitiating system is irradiated in the presence of 1,1-di(p-tolyl)ethylene (DTE) as a non-polymerising model substrate. In the presence of DMA the excited triplet state of benzophenone is not quenched by DTE and N-[3,3-di(p-tolyl)propyl]-N-methylaniline is isolated as the major product, indicating the DMA derived radical as the main initiating species in such Type-II systems. The mechanism of the reaction and its implications are discussed.     

Synthesis, including asymmetric synthesis, of 1-substituted cyclopentenes from cyclobutanones with one-carbon ring-expansion by 1,2-carbon-carbon insertion of magnesium carbenoids

Treatment of 1-chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides, which were derived from cyclobutanones and chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide, with lithium enolate of tert-butyl carboxylates, amides, lithium α-sulfonyl carbanions, and lithium α-carbanion of acetonitrile gave adducts in high to quantitative yields. The adducts were treated with Grignard regents, such as i-PrMgCl and EtMgCl in toluene to afford 1-substituted cyclopentenes in good to high yields with one-carbon ring-expansion via 1,2-carbon-carbon (1,2-CC) insertion reaction of the generated magnesium carbenoid intermediates. The magnesium carbenoid 1,2-CC insertion was found to be highly stereospecific. When optically pure chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide was used in this procedure, optically active 1-substituted cyclopentenes were obtained in high optical purity.     

A novel synthesis of 2,4,4-trisubstituted 2-cyclopentenones by consecutive reaction of 1-chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides with acetonitrile and its homologues

1-Chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides were synthesized from several kinds of ketones and chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide in three steps in high overall yields. Treatment of the 1-chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides with cyanomethyllithium (lithium α-carbanion of acetonitrile) at low temperature gave the adducts in almost quantitative yields. The adducts were then treated with LDA followed by excess lithium α-carbanion of the homologues of acetonitrile to afford 3,5,5-trisubstituted cyclopentadienyl enaminonitriles, which were hydrolyzed and heated under acidic conditions to give 2,4,4-trisubstituted 2-cyclopentenones in good overall yields.     

Diastereoselective hydrogenation of α,β-unsaturated but-2-enamides to access the chiral 3-(p-tolyl) butanoic acids

An alternative methodology for the synthesis of chiral 3-(p-tolyl) butanoic acids is presented. This was accomplished through the diastereoselective hydrogenation reaction of different chiral N-3-(p-tolyl) but-2-enamides, using Pd/C in EtOH, to produce the corresponding chiral N-3-(p-tolyl) butanamides with high chemical yields and moderate diastereomeric ratios. Removal of the chiral auxiliary from N-3-(p-tolyl) butanamides gave the respective enantiomerically pure acids.     

Chiral sulfoxide ligands bearing nitrogen atoms as stereocontrollable coordinating elements in palladium-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylations

Palladium-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylations were studied by using chiral sulfoxide ligands bearing nitrogen atoms as coordinating elements, such as chiral α-sulfinylacetamides, β or γ-amino sulfoxides, and β-sulfinyl sulfonamides. The effects of the chiral sulfinyl functions on the asymmetric induction were demonstrated. Use of (S)-2-pyrrolidinophenyl p-tolyl sulfoxide or (S)-2-(N-butyl-N-methylaminomethyl)phenyl p-tolyl sulfoxide as chiral ligands in the palladium-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylations provided the highest enantioselectivity (50 or 58% e.e., respectively) among chiral sulfoxide ligands examined by us. The participation of the sulfinyl groups in these catalytic asymmetric reactions is rationalized, and the mechanism for the asymmetric induction is proposed on the basis of the stereochemical outcome obtained.     

Direct alkenylation of arylamines at the ortho-position with magnesium alkylidene carbenoids and some theoretical studies of the reactions

1-Chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides were synthesized from ketones and chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide in high yields. Treatment of the sulfoxides with isopropylmagnesium chloride at −78 °C in toluene gave magnesium alkylidene carbenoids (α-chloro alkenylmagnesium chlorides), which were treated with N-lithio arylamines to afford ortho-alkenylated arylamines in moderate yields. The reaction, in some cases, proceeded in a highly stereospecific manner at the carbon bearing the chlorine and the sulfinyl group. The structures of the α-chloro alkenylmagnesium chlorides and the reactivity of the N-lithio meta-substituted anilines were studied at the B3LYP and MP2 levels of theory with the 6-31(+)G* basis set. This reaction offers a quite novel and direct alkenylation of arylamines at the ortho-position of the aromatic ring.     

A synthesis of esters, amides, and sulfones bearing a 1-cyclopentenyl group at the α-position from cyclobutanones with one-carbon ring-expansion

Treatment of 1-chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides, derived from cyclobutanones and chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide, with lithium enolate of carboxylic acid tert-butyl esters, lithium enolate of carboxylic acid N,N-dimethylamides, or lithium α-carbanion of alkyl phenyl sulfones gave adducts in high yields. The adducts were treated with isopropylmagnesium chloride or ethylmagnesium chloride in dry toluene to give esters, amides, and sulfones bearing a 1-cyclopentenyl group at the α-position in moderate to good yields with one-carbon ring-expansion via magnesium carbenoid 1,2-CC insertion reaction. The magnesium carbenoid 1,2-CC insertion reaction proved to be highly stereospecific. The reaction mechanism and origin of the specificity are described.     

Synthesis,including asymmetric synthesis,of 3-oxabicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes and bicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes by the 1,5-CH insertion of cyclopropylmagnesium carbenoids as the key reaction

The addition reactions of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds with dichloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide in the presence of NaHMDS or LDA resulted in the formation of adducts, 1-chlorocyclopropyl p-tolyl sulfoxides bearing a carbonyl group at the 2-position, in almost quantitative yields. The carbonyl group of the adducts was transformed to various ether groups to give 1-chlorocyclopropyl p-tolyl sulfoxides bearing an ether functional group at the 2-position in short steps. Treatment of these products with i-PrMgCl at low temperature afforded cyclopropylmagnesium carbenoids via the sulfoxide-magnesium exchange reaction. 1,5-Carbon–hydrogen insertion (1,5-CH insertion) reaction of the generated magnesium carbenoid intermediates took place to give 3-oxabicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes or bicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes bearing an ether group at the 4-position in moderate to good yields. When this procedure was carried out starting with enantiopure dichloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide, enantiopure 3-oxabicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes were obtained in good overall yields. These procedures provide a good way for the synthesis, including asymmetric synthesis, of multisubstituted 3-oxabicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes and bicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes from α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds and dichloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide in short steps.     

A novel synthesis, including asymmetric synthesis, of α-quaternary α-amino acid methyl esters from ketones via sulfinyloxiranes

Sulfinyloxiranes were synthesized from ketones and chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide in two steps in almost quantitative yields. The sulfinyloxiranes were treated with NaN₃ in the presence of NH₄Cl to afford α-azido aldehydes, which were oxidized with iodine in the presence of KOH in methanol to give α-azido methyl esters in good overall yields. Catalytic hydrogenation of the α-azido esters afforded α-quaternary α-amino acid methyl esters in quantitative yields. Starting from β-tetralone and optically pure (R)-chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide, an asymmetric synthesis of optically pure (R)-(+)-methyl 2-aminotetraline-2-carboxylate was realized in good overall yields.     

An asymmetric synthesis of carboxylic acid derivatives,including lactic acid and α-amino acid derivatives,from optically active 1-chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides and ester lithium enolates with creation of chirality at the α-position

Treatment of optically active 1-chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides, which were synthesized from symmetrical ketones or methyl formate and (R)-(−)-chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide in three steps, with lithium enolate of carboxylic acid tert-butyl esters gave optically active adducts having a substituent (alkyl, alkoxy, or dibenzylamino group) at the α-position with high 1,4-chiral induction from the sulfur chiral center. The adducts were converted to optically active esters, lactic acid, and α-amino acid derivatives having a chiral center at the α-position. When this addition reaction was carried out with an ester enolate generated from excess carboxylic acid tert-butyl ester with LDA in the presence of HMPA, the diastereomer of the adduct was obtained. By using the two reaction conditions for the generation of the ester enolate, a new method for asymmetric synthesis of both enantiomers of carboxylic acid derivatives having a substituent at the α-position from the one chiral source, (R)-(−)-chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide, was achieved.     

The first example for the asymmetric synthesis of allenes by the Doering-LaFlamme allene synthesis with enantiopure cyclopropylmagnesium carbenoids

The reaction of lithium α-sulfinyl carbanion of enantiopure dichloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide with α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds gave optically active 1-chlorocyclopropyl p-tolyl sulfoxides having a carbonyl group with high asymmetric induction from the sulfur chiral center. Reduction of the carbonyl group followed by treatment with Grignard reagent, the 1-chlorocyclopropyl p-tolyl sulfoxides resulted in the formation of enantiopure allenic alcohols via the Doering-LaFlamme-type rearrangement of enantiopure cyclopropylmagnesium carbenoid intermediates. This is the first example for the asymmetric synthesis of allenes by the Doering-LaFlamme allene synthesis.     

Asymmetric allylation of N-benzoylhydrazones promoted by novel C2-symmetric bis-sulfoxide organocatalysts

Novel C₂-symmetric bis-sulfoxide/N-oxide (R,R)-5 was prepared in good yield according to the Andersen protocol with (S)-menthyl p-tolyl sulfinate (2 equiv) and the dilithium derivate of 2,6-dimethylpyridine N-oxide. Reduction of (R,R)-5 to pyridine/bis-sulfoxide (R,R)-6 was accomplished by means of Katritzky’s procedure (Fe⁰/AcOH). Both bis-sulfoxides (R,R)-5 and (R,R)-6 are efficient chiral organocatalysts in the asymmetric allylation of N-benzoyl hydrazones derived from both aldehydes and ketones.     

A novel method for asymmetric synthesis of both enantiomers of α-substituted carboxylic acid derivatives from optically active 1-chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides and lithium ester enolates with 1,4-chiral induction from the sulfur chiral center

Treatment of optically active 1-chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides, which were synthesized from symmetrical ketones and (R)-(−)-chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide in three steps, with lithium enolate of carboxylic acid tert-butyl esters gave optically active adducts having a substituent at the α-position with high 1,4-chiral induction from the sulfur chiral center in high yields. The adducts were converted to optically active esters and carboxylic acids having a chiral center at the α-position. When this addition reaction was carried out with the ester enolate generated from excess carboxylic acid tert-butyl ester with LDA in the presence of HMPA, the diastereomer of the adduct was obtained. By using the two reaction conditions for the generation of the ester enolates, a new method for asymmetric synthesis of both enantiomers of carboxylic acid derivatives having a substituent at the α-position from the one chiral source, (R)-(−)-chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide, was realized.