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.     

W(CO)5(L)-catalyzed formal cope rearrangement of allenyl silyl enol ethers

[reaction: see text] On treatment of 5-siloxyhexa-1,2,5-trienes with a catalytic amount of W(CO)(6) under photoirradiation, formal Cope rearrangement proceeded to give 2-siloxyhex-1-en-5-ynes in good yield. The electrophilic activation of the allenyl moiety by W(CO)(5) triggers the intramolecular attack of the silyl enol ether in a 6-endo manner to produce a cyclohexenyl tungsten species. Carbon-carbon bond cleavage occurs by electron donation from the anionic W(CO)(5) into the silyloxonium moiety to afford the products with regeneration of the W(CO)(5)(L).     

W(CO)5(L)-catalyzed 6-endo-selective cyclization and formal Cope rearrangement of allenyl silyl enol ethers

On treatment of 5-siloxy-1,2,5-trienes with a catalytic amount of W(CO)₆ under photoirradiation, two types of synthetically useful compounds, that is, 6-endo-cyclized products or formal Cope rearrangement products, are obtained selectively via the same intermediates simply by changing reaction conditions. In these reactions, electrophilic activation of the allene moiety is effectively achieved by coordination of W(CO)₅, allowing intramolecular attack by neutral carbon nucleophiles in a 6-endo manner.     

W(CO)5-amine catalyzed exo- and endo-selective cyclizations of omega-alkynyl silyl enol ethers: a highly useful method for the construction of polycyclic compounds

[reaction: see text] A highly useful method for the construction of polycyclic compounds based on the amine-controlled exo- and endo-selective cyclizations of omega-alkynyl silyl enol ethers catalyzed by W(CO)5L is reported. When bis-alkynyl silyl enol ethers were treated with a catalytic amount of W(CO)6, DABCO, and water under photoirradiation, synthetically useful tricyclic ketones were obtained in good yield.     

Mild and efficient pentafluorophenylammonium triflate (PFPAT)-catalyzed C-acylations of enol silyl ethers or ketene silyl (Thio)acetals with acid chlorides

A pentafluorophenylammonium triflate (PFPAT) catalyst (5 mol %) successfully promoted C-acylation of enol silyl ethers with acid chloride to produce various beta-diketones (12 examples; 62-92% yield). Similarly, C-acylation of ketene silyl acetals or ketene silyl thioacetals (i.e., crossed Claisen condensation) proceeded smoothly to provide not only alpha-monoalkylated beta-keto (thio)esters but also thermodynamically unfavorable (less accessible) alpha,alpha-dialkylated beta-keto (thio)esters in good to excellent yield (38 examples; 60-92% yield).     

Highly enantioselective michael addition of silyl nitronates to alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes catalyzed by designer chiral ammonium bifluorides: efficient access to optically active gamma-nitro aldehydes and their enol silyl ethers

Highly enantioselective Michael addition of silyl nitronates to alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes has been accomplished by the utilization of designer N-spiro C2-symmetric chiral quaternary ammonium bifluoride 1 as an efficient catalyst, providing direct access to both optically active gamma-nitro aldehydes, a very useful precursor to various complex organic molecules including aminocarbonyls, and their enol silyl ethers, a Mukaiyama donor of potential synthetic utility for further selective transformations. For instance, the reaction of trimethylsilyl nitronate 2 (R1 = Me) with trans-cinnamaldehyde (R2 = Ph, R3 = H) in toluene in the presence of (R,R)-1 (2 mol %) proceeded smoothly at -78 degrees C to give the desired enol silyl ether 3 (R1 = Me, R2 = Ph, R3 = H) in 90% isolated yield (anti/syn = 83:17) with 97% ee (anti isomer), and simple treatment of 3 thus obtained with 1 N HCl in THF at 0 degrees C afforded the corresponding gamma-nitro aldehyde 4 quantitatively without loss of diastereo- and enantioselectivity.     

Pd(OH)2/C-mediated selective oxidation of silyl enol ethers by tert-butylhydroperoxide, a useful method for the conversion of ketones to alpha,beta-enones or beta-silyloxy-alpha,beta-enones

[reaction: see text] Pd(OH)2-catalyzed oxidation of silyl enol ethers by t-BuOOH gives either beta-silyloxy-alpha,beta-enones or alpha,beta-enones in good yields depending on the base used.     

Silazanes/catalytic bases: mild,powerful and chemoselective agents for the preparation of enol silyl ethers from ketones and aldehydes

We have developed an efficient method for the preparation of enol silyl ethers using novel agents, silazanes together with NaH or DBU catalyst, wherein TMS and TBDMS groups were smoothly and chemoselectively introduced into ketones and aldehydes under mild conditions.     

Titanium(III)-induced intramolecular radical cyclization of epoxyallene ethers: an efficient method for synthesis of multifunctional tetrahydrofurans

Ti(III)-mediated intramolecular free radical cyclization of epoxyallene ethers in an exo-mode was studied. The reaction afforded an efficient and highly regioselective method of synthetically important 3-vinyl-4-hydroxymethyl tetrahydrofurans.     

Regioselective synthesis of 5-alkylsalicylates, 5-alkyl-2-hydroxy-acetophenones, and 5-alkyl-2-hydroxy-benzophenones by [3 + 3] cyclization of 1,3-bis(silyl enol ethers) with 2-alkyl-1,1,3,3-tetraethoxypropanes

A variety of 5-alkylsalicylates, 5-alkyl-2-hydroxy-acetophenones, and 5-alkyl-2-hydroxy-benzophenones was regioselectively prepared by TiCl4 mediated formal [3 + 3] cyclization of 1,3-bis(silyl enol ethers) with 2-alkyl-1,1,3,3-tetraethoxypropanes.     

Catalytic (2 + 2)-cycloaddition reactions of silyl enol ethers. A convenient and stereoselective method for cyclobutane ring formation

An efficient catalytic (2 + 2)-cycloaddition reaction leading to the formation of cyclobutane rings has been devised. The process transforms silyl enol ethers and alpha,beta-unsaturated esters into polysubstituted cyclobutanes with a high degree of trans-stereoselectivity. Both the rate and stereoselectivity of the process can be controlled by the choice of the ester group and silyl substituents. The results of stereochemical studies show that the cycloaddition step in this reaction proceeds in a nonstereospecific manner and, thus, by a pathway involving sequential nucleophilic additions via a short-lived zwitterionic intermediate.     

Gold(I)-catalyzed isomerization of allenyl carbinol esters: an efficient access to functionalized 1,3-butadien-2-ol esters

A study concerning the gold(I)-catalyzed rearrangement of diversely substituted allenyl carbinol esters into functionalized 1,3-butadien-2-ol esters is described. The mild conditions employed allow the efficient, rapid, and stereoselective synthesis of a variety of such compounds via a new 1,3-shift of an ester moiety onto a gold-activated allene. [structure: see text]     

Fe(III) halides as effective catalysts in carbon-carbon bond formation: synthesis of 1,5-dihalo-1,4-dienes, alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones, and cyclic ethers

Iron(III) halides have proven to be excellent catalysts in the coupling of acetylenes and aldehydes. When terminal acetylenes were used the main products obtained were 1,5-dihalo-1,4-dienes with (E,Z)-stereochemistry contaminated in some cases with (E)-alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones. The former carbonyl derivatives were the sole products isolated when nonterminal aromatic alkynes were used. When homopropargylic alcohols were used, a Prins-type cyclization occurred yielding 2-alkyl-4-halo-5,6-dihydro-2H-pyrans. In addition, anhydrous ferric halides are also shown to be excellent catalysts for the standard Prins cyclization with homoallylic alcohols. Isolation of an intermediate acetal, calculations, and alkyne hydration studies provide substantiation of a proposed mechanism.     

W(CO)5(L)-catalyzed tandem intramolecular cyclopropanation/cope rearrangement for the stereoselective construction of bicyclo[5.3.0]decane framework

Utilizing the biscarbene character of electrophilically activated alkynes, a novel tandem intramolecular cyclopropanation/Cope rearrangement of 3-siloxy-1,3,9-trien-7-ynes catalyzed by W(CO)5(L) for the stereoselective construction of bicyclo[5.3.0]decane framework is achieved. When 3-siloxy-1,3,9-trien-7-ynes were treated with a catalytic amount of W(CO)6 under photoirradiation, bicyclo[5.3.0]decanes were obtained in good yield stereoselectively. In this reaction, the Cope rearrangement of the divinylcyclopropane intermediates, generated by the intramolecular cyclopropanation of 3-siloxy-1,3,9-trien-7-ynes based on the W(CO)5(L)-catalyzed electrophilic activation of alkynes, occurs to give synthetically useful functionalized bicyclo[5.3.0]decane derivatives stereoselectively.     

InCl(3)-catalyzed domino reaction of aromatic amines with cyclic enol ethers in water: a highly efficient synthesis of new 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline derivatives

The tetrahydroquinoline moiety is a structural feature of many natural products. By using a domino reaction of aromatic amines and cyclic enol ethers or 2-hydroxy cyclic ether catalyzed by indium chloride in water, various tetrahydroquinoline derivatives were synthesized efficiently. Most cyclization products showed cis selectivity. The use of 2,3-dihydrofuran as the cyclic enol ether provided both higher reactivity and cis selectivity than the use of 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran. The cis selectivity was tentatively rationalized due to chelation control in water.