Zinc-mediated ring-expansion and chain-extension reactions of beta-keto esters

[Chemical reaction: see text] The reaction of cyclic beta-keto esters with CF3CO2ZnCH2I provided the corresponding ring-expanded products in moderate to good yields. Although alpha-substituted acyclic beta-keto esters reacted with much less efficient, chain-extension reaction of simple beta-keto esters also proceeded effectively to generate gamma-keto esters in high yields.     

In- or In(I)-employed tailoring of the stereogenic centers in the Reformatsky-type reactions of simple ketones, alpha-alkoxy ketones, and beta-keto esters

[reactions: see text] Comprehensive studies were carried out on efficient In- or In(I)-based diastereoselective Reformatsky-type reactions of simple ketones, alpha-alkoxy ketones, and beta-keto esters. High anti selectivity was established in the addition of the branched alpha-halo ester derivatives to simple ketones using indium metal under THF-refluxing conditions. The stereochemistry undoubtedly indicated that the involvement of a cyclic transition state, formed from the ketone and stereochemically preferred transient E-enolate derived from the branched alpha-halo ester. Next, with the view of tailoring high degree of stereoselection, the concept of chelation-controlled addition of indium enolates was envisioned. In this line, marvelously syn selective additions to alpha-alkoxy ketones and beta-keto esters were established. Interestingly, these diastereoselective additions to alpha-alkoxy ketones and beta-keto esters require either In(I)X or In-InCl3 systems in toluene under ultrasonication, while very poor efficiency and diastereoselectivity were obtained using indium metal or THF as solvent. The stereochemistry of key products was unambiguously determined by the single-crystal X-ray structure analyses. On the basis of the observed astonishing diastereoselectivities due to strong chelation plausibly, a low-valent RIn(I)-type transient spices could be projected as very reactive spices in the Reformatsky-type reactions.     

Novel intramolecular cyclopropanation reaction of unsaturated beta-keto esters

[reaction: see text] Fused cyclopropane beta-keto esters are versatile intermediates for the synthesis of many biologically active natural products. Here we report a new intramolecular cyclopropanation reaction of unsaturated beta-keto esters. In the presence of I(2), Et(3)N, and Lewis acids such as Mg(ClO(4))(2) and Yb(OTf)(3), beta-keto esters 1 bearing various olefin substituents were transformed to fused cyclopropanes 2 in a highly stereospecific manner with moderate to good yields. The mechanism of the reaction was also investigated.     

Catalytic enantioselective fluorination of beta-keto esters by phase-transfer catalysis using chiral quaternary ammonium salts

[reaction: see text] The catalytic enantioselective electrophilic fluorination promoted by quaternary ammonium salt from cinchonine as a phase-transfer catalyst is described. Treatment of beta-keto esters with N-fluorobenzenesulfonimide as the fluorine source under mild reaction conditions afforded the corresponding alpha-fluoro beta-keto esters in exellent yields with good to moderate enantiomeric excesses     

Enantioselective alkylation of beta-keto esters by phase-transfer catalysis using chiral quaternary ammonium salts

Catalytic enantioselective alkylation promoted by a quaternary ammonium salt from cinchonine as a phase transfer catalyst is described. Treatment of cyclo beta-keto esters with alkyl halide under mild reaction conditions afforded the corresponding alpha-alkylated beta-keto esters in moderate to excellent yields with high enantiomeric excesses     

Solvent-dependent chemoselectivities in Ce(IV)-mediated oxidative coupling reactions

The oxidative coupling of 1,3-diketones, beta-keto esters, and beta-keto silyl enol ethers with allyl trimethylsilane in the presence of CTAN was investigated. In the case of acyclic diketones and esters, different chemoselectivities were observed in CH(3)CN and CH(2)Cl(2) leading to good yields of allylation and dihydrofuran products, respectively. [reaction: see text]     

Manganese-catalyzed construction of tetrasubstituted benzenes from 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds and terminal acetylenes

Treatment of beta-keto esters with terminal acetylenes in the presence of a catalytic amount of a manganese complex, MnBr(CO)5, and molecular sieves, gave multisubstituted aromatic compounds in good to excellent yields. This reaction employs [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition of beta-keto esters and 2 equiv of terminal acetylenes with dehydration. In the case of a 1,3-diketone, the corresponding acetophenone derivative and its deacylated compound can be synthesized selectively.     

Photoinduced electron-transfer reaction of α-bromomethyl-substituted benzocyclic β-keto esters with amines: selective reaction pathways depending on the nature of the amine radical cations

Photoinduced electron-transfer reaction of α-bromomethyl-substituted benzocyclic β-keto esters with tertiary amines was investigated. Debrominated β-keto esters and ring-expanded γ-keto esters were obtained as major products. On the basis of mechanistic experiments it was concluded that these products are formed via a reaction sequence of selective carbon–bromine bond cleavage and subsequent competitive hydrogen abstraction and Dowd–Beckwith ring-expansion of the resulting primary alkyl radicals. The characteristic product distribution observed for the type of amine used is rationalized on the basis of selective reaction pathways of generated radical intermediates that depend on the nature of the amine radical cations.     

Direct carbon-carbon bond formation via chemoselective soft enolization of thioesters: a remarkably simple and versatile crossed-Claisen reaction applied to the synthesis of LY294002

Thioesters undergo chemoselective soft enolization and acylation by N-acylbenzotriazoles on treatment with MgBr2 x OEt2 and i-Pr2NEt to give beta-keto thioesters. Prior enolate formation is not required, and the reaction is conducted using untreated CH2Cl2 open to the air. The coupled products are stable synthetic equivalents of beta-keto acids and can be converted directly into beta-keto esters, beta-keto amides, and beta-diketones under mild conditions. The utility of this carbon-carbon bond-forming method is shown through the synthesis of the PI3-K inhibitor LY294002.     

Sulfonic acid functionalized silica: an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for a three-component synthesis of 1,4-dihydropyridines under solvent-free conditions

Sulfonic acid functionalized silica catalyzed the three-component reaction of aromatic amines, alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes and beta-keto esters forming the corresponding 1,4-dihydropyridines in short reaction times and in high yields.     

Efficient and reusable PdCl2(MeCN)2/CuCl2/PEG-400 system for cyclization of alkenyl beta-keto esters and amides

PEG-400 [poly(ethylene glycol-400)] was found as an effective medium for the PdCl(2)(MeCN)(2)-catalyzed hydroalkylation cyclization of alkenyl beta-keto esters and amides. In PEG-400, no additives such as Me(3)SiCl and Ln(OTf)(3) were required for the complete conversion of alkenyl beta-keto esters. The results also showed that CuCl(2) could promote the reaction. In the presence of PdCl(2)(MeCN)(2), CuCl(2), and PEG-400, various alkenyl beta-keto esters and amides underwent a selective cyclization reaction to give good to excellent yields of the desired six-membered-ring carbocycles. Furthermore, the PdCl(2)(MeCN)(2)/CuCl(2)/PEG-400 system could be recycled and reused five times without any loss of catalytic activity.     

Catalytic asymmetric Michael reaction of beta-keto esters: effects of the linker heteroatom in linked-BINOL

We describe the development of a general catalytic asymmetric Michael reaction of acyclic beta-keto esters to cyclic enones, in which asymmetric induction occurs at the beta-position of the acceptors. Among the various asymmetric catalyst systems examined, the newly developed La-NR-linked-BINOL complexes (R = H or Me) afforded the best results in terms of reactivity and selectivity. In general, the NMe ligand 2 was suitable for the combination of small enones and small beta-keto esters, and the NH ligand 1 was suitable for bulkier substrates (steric tuning of the catalyst). Using the La-NMe-linked-BINOL complex, the Michael reaction of methyl acetoacetate (8a) to 2-cyclohexen-1-one (7b) gave the corresponding Michael adduct 9ba in 82% yield and 92% ee. The linker heteroatom in linked-BINOL is crucial for achieving high reactivity and selectivity in the Michael reaction of beta-keto esters. The amine moiety in the NR-linked-BINOL can also tune the Lewis acidity of the central metal (electronic tuning of the catalyst), which was supported by density functional studies and experimental results. Another advantage of the NR-linked-BINOL ligand as compared with O-linked-BINOL is the ease of modifying a substituent on the amine moiety, making it possible to synthesize a variety of NR-linked-BINOL ligands for further improvement or development of new asymmetric catalyses by introducing additional functionality on the linker with the amine moiety. The efficiency of the present asymmetric catalysis was demonstrated by the synthesis of the key intermediate of (-)-tubifolidine and (-)-19,20-dihydroakuammicine in only five steps compared to the nine steps required by the original process from the Michael product of malonate. This strategy is much more atom economical. On the basis of the results of mechanistic studies, we propose that a beta-keto ester serves as a ligand as well as a substrate and at least one beta-keto ester should be included in the active catalyst complex. Further improvement of the reaction by maintaining an appropriate ratio of the La-NMe-linked-BINOL complex and beta-keto esters is also described.     

Direct catalytic asymmetric mannich reactions of malonates and beta-keto esters

The first catalytic asymmetric direct Mannich reaction of malonates and beta-keto esters has been developed. Malonates react with an activated N-tosyl-alpha-imino ester catalyzed by chiral tert-butyl-bisoxazoline/Cu(OTf)(2) to give the Mannich adducts in high yields and with up to 96% ee. These reactions create a chiral quaternary carbon center and it is demonstrated that this new direct Mannich reactions provides for example a new synthetic procedure for the formation of optically active beta-carboxylic ester alpha-amino acid derivatives. A series of different beta-keto esters with various ester substituents has been screened as substrates for the catalytic asymmetric direct Mannich reaction and it was found that the best results in terms of yield, diastereo- and enantioselectivity were obtained when tert-butyl esters of beta-keto esters were used as the substrate. The reaction of different beta-keto tert-butyl esters with the N-tosyl-alpha-imino ester gave the Mannich adducts in high yields, diastereo- and enantioselectivities (up to 95% ee) in the presence of chiral tert-butyl-bisoxazoline/Cu(OTf)(2) as the catalyst. To expand the synthetic utility of this direct Mannich reaction a diastereoselective decarboxylation reaction was developed for the Mannich adducts leading to a new synthetic approach to attractive optically active beta-keto alpha-amino acid derivatives. Based on the stereochemical outcome of the reactions, various approaches of the N-tosyl-alpha-imino ester to the chiral bisoxazoline/Cu(II)-substrate intermediate are discussed.     

Formation of a quaternary carbon center through the Pd(0)/PhCOOH-catalyzed allylation of cyclic beta-keto esters and 1,3-diketones with alkynes

Formation of a quaternary carbon center through the allylation of beta-keto esters and 1,3-diketones with alkynes is accomplished by the use of Pd(0)/benzoic acid catalyst. Reactions of various cyclic beta-keto esters and 1,3-diketones with alkynes in the presence of Pd(2)dba(3).CHCl(3) (5 mol %), PPh(3) (40 mol %), and PhCOOH (10 mol %) proceeded at 100 degrees C in toluene (5 M) to give the corresponding allylation products in high yields in a regio- and stereoselective manner. The possibility of asymmetric allylation is also discussed.     

New three-component reaction: novel formation of a seven-membered ring by the unexpected reaction at the gamma-position of the beta-keto ester

[reaction: see text] The novel three-component reaction of aromatic aldehydes, ethylenediamine, and beta-keto esters is described. In this reaction, beta-keto esters react at the gamma-position which is generally unreactive to produce the seven-membered ring compounds. Products have secondary amines and beta-enamino esters, which can serve in further functionalizations to produce molecular diversity.     

Efficient and stereoselective synthesis of bicyclo[3.2.1]octan-8-ones: synthesis and palladium-catalyzed isomerization of functionalized 2-vinyl-2,3,3a,4,5,6-hexahydro-2,3-benzofurans

A new C,O-cyclodialkylation of dilithiated cyclic beta-keto esters and beta-keto sulfones with 1,4-dibromo-2-butene is reported which results in regio- and diastereoselective formation of 2-vinyl-2,3,3a,4,5,6-hexahydro-2,3-benzofurans. The products could be efficiently transformed into functionalized bicyclo[3.2.1]octan-8-ones by a palladium-catalyzed rearrangement reaction. In case of sulfone derivatives, this rearrangement proceeds with high stereospecifity to give exclusively the endo-configured diastereomers. The bicyclo[3.2.1]octane skeleton is present in a large number of pharmacologically important natural products.     

Enantioselective synthesis of alpha-amino acids from N-tosyloxy beta-lactams derived from beta-keto esters

A novel synthetic sequence has been developed to convert simple beta-keto esters into enantiomerically enriched alpha-amino acids. The key features of this sequence include the addition of azide to the C3 position of beta-keto ester derived N-tosyloxy-beta-lactams through a concomitant nucleophilic addition/N-O bond reduction reaction, a mild CsF-induced N1 benzylation of alpha-azido monocyclic beta-lactams, the preparation of alpha-keto-beta-lactams through a novel four-step sequence from the corresponding 3-azido-1-benzyl-beta-lactams, and TEMPO-mediated ring expansion of these compounds to the corresponding N-carboxy anhydrides (NCAs). In addition, the synthesis, isolation, and characterization of unusual 3-imino and 3-chloramino-beta-lactams is reported.     

Decarboxylative aldol reactions of allyl beta-keto esters via heterobimetallic catalysis

Mild and selective heterobimetallic-catalyzed decarboxylative aldol reactions involving allyl beta-keto esters have been developed. The reaction is promoted by Pd(0)- and Yb(III)-DIOP complexes at room temperature and involves the in situ formation of a ketone enolate from allyl beta-keto esters followed by addition of the enolate to aldehydes. The reaction is a new example of heterobimetallic catalysis in which the optimized reaction conditions require the addition of both metals.     

Electronic effects in migratory groups. [1,4]-versus[1,2]-rearrangement in rhodium carbenoid generated bicyclic oxonium ylides

The variety of alpha-diazo beta-keto esters (3a-f, 8a-f) with varying substituents (ED/EW) on the phenyl ring of the O-benzyl group were prepared. The rhodium(II) acetate catalyzed decomposition of diazo compounds in benzene reflux conditions. The ratio of 1,4 versus 1,2 migration product was determined. It was found that an increase in electron density on the benzylic carbon of the migrating group prefers 1,4 migration products (4, 9) while a decrease in electron density leads to a preponderance of 1,2 migration products (5, 10). The results obtained were correlated to the mechanistic aspect of the product selectivity. The intermediacy of the intramolecular oxonium ylide formation was demonstrated by crossover experiments. The preference for the formation of 2,3 sigmatropic rearrangement product over 1,2 and 1,4 was demonstrated by performing the reaction with alpha-diazo beta-keto esters (13a, 13b) with O-allyl and O-propargyl at C3. The effect of solvent, temperature, and mole percentage of rhodium(II) acetate was also studied.     

An improved catalyst system for the iron-catalyzed intermolecular ring-expansion reactions of epoxides

A considerable improvement is reported in the iron-catalyzed ring-expansion reactions of epoxides generating tetrahydrofuran derivatives by formal insertion of an alkene. Optimization of the catalyst system revealed that a preformed [Fe(salen)] complex minimizes the formation of polymerization side-products so that increased yields of intermolecular reactions were obtained. However, more importantly, the scope of the reaction could also be enlarged considerably. The iron-catalyzed ring-expansion reaction can now be applied to some styrene oxide derivatives, acting as radical donors, as well as to a wide variety of acceptor-substituted acyclic alkenes and cyclic dienes that act as radical acceptors. The use of unsymmetrical radical acceptors led to interesting questions concerning the regiochemistry of the reactions. The conservation of the stereochemistry of the starting materials in the products was investigated through a study of the reactions of E- and Z-configured acceptor-substituted double bonds. The reactions of fumaric and maleic esters were performed and the ratios of diastereomeric and regioisomeric products were determined.