Homolytic aromatic substitution: a radical approach towards the synthesis of 5-azaoxindoles

A range of 5-azaoxindoles have been synthesised employing homolytic aromatic substitution onto pyridine as the pivotal step.     

SmI2-mediated dialdehyde ‘radical then aldol’ cyclization cascades: a feasibility study

Dialdehydes undergo ‘radical then aldol’ cyclization cascades upon treatment with SmI₂, generating four contiguous stereocenters with high diastereocontrol. The scope of the process has been explored and the cascade has been extended to also include lactone reduction.     

A tandem radical cyclization route to tricyclo[4.3.n.0]alkanes

A facile route to tricyclo[4.3.n.0^1,5]alkane skeletons from conjugated cyclic enones was developed through tandem free radical cyclization reaction sequence involving the cyclopropylmethyl radical mediated rearrangement. The scope and limitation of the reaction was investigated.     

Synthesis of nitrogen-containing heterocycles using exo- and endo-selective radical cyclizations onto enamides

The effect of positional change of the carbonyl group of enamides on Bu₃SnH-mediated alkyl radical cyclization leading to five-, six-, seven-, and eight-membered nitrogen-containing heterocycles was examined. A 5-exo cyclization is generally preferred over a 6-endo ring closure in systems having an alkyl radical center on the enamide-acyl side chain, whereas enamides having an alkyl radical center opposite to the acyl side chain predominantly gave 6-endo cyclization products. These results suggest that the exo or endo selectivity of radical cyclization onto the alkenic bond of enamides can be controlled by positional change of the carbonyl group. For an understanding of these selectivities, heat of formation for each transition state was calculated. 6-endo-Selective radical cyclization was applied to the radical cascade, enabling a concise synthesis of a cylindricine skeleton. A 7- or 8-endo alkyl radical cyclization, however, predominated over a corresponding 6- or 7-exo ring closure regardless of the positional change of the carbonyl group of enamides.     

Synthesis of five- to seven-membered polyfunctional terpenic carbocycles via Ti(III)-catalyzed radical cyclizations of epoxypolyprenes

Ring size on Ti(III)-mediated radical cyclization of monoepoxypolyprenoids can be controlled by varying the substitution pattern and/or the electronic distribution of the double bond involved in the ring closure. The feasibility of applying this idea to tandem cyclizations has also been proven. Besides, when a silyloxy function is located in α position to the oxirane ring of the acyclic polyprene, the cyclization leads to carbocyclic terpenoids doubly functionalized in the A ring with acceptable yields. These results widen significantly the scope of this methodology.     

Photochemical and radical initiator-induced reaction of allylic indium compounds

Intramolecular cyclization of allylic radicals generated from allylindium compounds both by photolysis or by the reaction of radical initiators was examined. The photolysis of allylic indium compounds, prepared from 8-bromo- or 8-iodooct-1,6-dienes and powdered indium metal, led to the formation of the 5-exo-trig products. Benzoyl peroxide as a radical initiator was also effective for the cyclization. In contrast, the radical initiators with oxidizing nature, such as tert-butyl hypochlorite, induced iodocyclization producing iodomethylcyclopentane via an oxidation of the iodide on the indium atom.     

Cascade radical cyclization/cross-coupling of halobenzamides by synergistic Cu/Fe catalysis: An access to 7-tert-alkylated isoquinolinediones

A Cu/Fe-cocatalyzed cyclization of halobenzamides with azo reagents involving regioselective radical/radical cross-coupling toward functionalized isoquinolinediones was developed. Applying azo reagents as the coupling partner, in the presence of cheap, facile and ligand-free catalytic combination of CuI/Fe(NH₄)₂(SO₄)₂·6H₂O/air, the halobenzamide radicals generated by a prior radical addition/cyclization process underwent radical/radical cross-coupling via the cleavage of C-X (X?=?F, Cl, Br, I, OMe, OBn) bond with excellent site selectivity, leading to a series of isoquinolinediones furnished dual distal α-functional quaternary moieties. In addition, the theoretical calculation on the C-X bond cleavage and the positional selectivity using unrestricted density functional theory (DFT) was also conducted.     

Atom transfer radical cyclization reactions (ATRC): synthetic applications

Atom transfer cyclization reactions (ATRC) provide rapid access to functionalized γ-butyrolactones.     

Enantioselective radical cyclization of α,β-unsaturated sulfonyl compounds

Enantioselective intramolecular radical cyclization of benzimidazolyl iodoalkenyl and iodoalkadienyl sulfones using chiral Lewis acids gave products with good enantioselectivity. Newly formed chiral centers could be induced effectively by enantioselective coordination to one of the sulfonyl oxygens.     

Synthesis of Pyrimidine Annelated Heterocycles [1]. Regioselective Heterocyclization of 6-Cyclopent-2-enyl-5-hydroxy-1,3-dimethyl-pyrimidine-2,4( 1H, 3H)-dione and 5-Cyclopent-2-enyl-6-hydroxy-1,3-dimethylpyrimidine-2,4( 1H, 3H)-dione

Summary. Two hitherto unreported pyrimidine annelated heterocycles were synthesized from 6-cyclopent-2-enyl-5-hydroxy-1,3-dimethylpyrimidine-2,4(1H,3H)-dione and 5-cyclopent-2-enyl-6-hydroxy-1,3-dimethylpyrimidine-2,4(1H,3H)-dione by reaction with pyridine hydrotribromide or hexamethylenetetramine hydrotribromide. The first one was also obtained by reaction with concentrated sulfuric acid.Received October 28, 2002; accepted October 30, 2002 Published online June 2, 2003     

Novel synthesis of substituted pyrrolidines and piperidines via radical addition-ionic cyclization reaction of oxime ethers

We have developed a novel synthetic route to nitrogen-containing heterocycles via radical addition-ionic cyclization reaction. Treatment of oxime ethers carrying the tosyloxy group with Et₃B and alkyl iodide in the presence of Lewis acid gave the substituted pyrrolidines and piperidines. The reaction of oxime ethers carrying the methoxycarbonyl group proceeded under the same conditions to give the amino esters, which were easily converted into the corresponding lactams by the treatment with concd HCl. On the other hand, the oxime ether bearing the phenoxycarbonyl group afforded directly alkylated lactams under the radical reaction conditions. The utility of this domino reaction was demonstrated by the synthesis of (±)-bgugaine and the formal synthesis of 5,8-disubstituted indolizidine alkaloids.     

Stereoselective Mannich Reactions in the Synthesis of Enantiopure Piperidine Alkaloids and Derivatives

Piperidine alkaloids are members of the alkaloid family that is characterized by the presence of a six-membered nitrogen-containing heterocycle. Piperidine alkaloids are found mainly in plants and often exhibit interesting biological and pharmacological activities. Despite the accumulation of these natural products in plants, relatively low quantities of alkaloids are produced in absolute terms and thus synthesis of alkaloids and derivatives thereof remains relevant to identify targets for drug discovery. Throughout the years, researchers have come up with a myriad of methods to synthesize piperidine derivatives. This review describes methods that employ stereoselective Mannich reactions to create the core of piperidine alkaloids. Asymmetric induction in the Mannich reaction has been achieved by a range of methods that have been divided into three conceptual approaches: (1) chiral pool-based (internal asymmetric induction), (2) chiral auxiliary-based (relayed asymmetric induction) and (3) asymmetric catalysis-based (external asymmetric induction). Of each approach, we describe the reaction mechanism and rationalize the stereochemical outcome of the Mannich products.     

Synthesis of Pyrimidine-Annelated Heterocycles: Regioselective Heterocyclization of 5-(Cyclohex-2-enyl)-1,3-dimethyl-6-hydroxyuracil [1]

Summary.  5-(Cyclohex-2-enyl)-1,3-dimethyl-6-hydroxyuracil undergoes regioselective heterocyclization to afford fused tricyclic heterocycles upon treatment with bromine and m-CPBA. However, the same substrate furnished bridged tricyclic heterocycles when treated with N-iodosuccinimide and conc. H₂SO₄ and a mixture of bridged tricyclic heterocycles and fused tricyclic heterocycles when treated with hexamine hydrotribromide or pyridine hydrotribromide. Corresponding author. E-mail: kcm@klyuniv.ernet.in Received September 27, 2001. Accepted (revised) December 3, 2001     

Synthesis of 2,3,6-trisubstituted pyridines by transition-metal free cyclization of 1,3-diynes with amino acids

Amino acids are firstly employed in transition-metal free heterocyclization reaction of 1,3-diynes in the presence of K₃PO₄ and DMSO at 120 °C. This method produces 2,3,6-trisubstituted pyridines with up to 86% yield. The –CO₂H group on the amino acids is crucial for this heterocyclization reaction. The mechanism of such a heterocyclization reaction is discussed, as well.     

Redox-neutral photocatalytic cyanomethylation/cyclization cascade of olefinic amides: Access to cyanomethylated benzoxazines

A visible-light-induced photocatalytic cyanomethyl radical addition/intramolecular cyclization cascade reaction of olefinic amides has been developed under mild conditions. This reaction provides a novel method for the synthesis of various cyanomethyl-containing benzoxazines, which are useful pharmaceutical framework. The method exhibits good functional group tolerance and a wide range of substrate scope.     

Direct synthesis of 6-sulfonylated phenanthridines via silver-catalyzed radical sulfonylation-cyclization of 2-isocyanobiphenyls

A convenient and straightforward synthesis of 6-sulfonylated phenanthridines via silver-catalyzed sequential radical insertion, cyclization and aromatization of 2-isocyanobiphenyls is reported. The protocol does not require a phenanthridine scaffold as a substrate and presents a highly regioselective synthesis of 6-alkyl/arylsulfonyl phenanthridines. The protocol utilizes readily available and easy to handle sodium sulfinates as sulfonating agents and potassium persulfate as an oxidant to afford good to excellent yields of the desired products in a one-pot operation at room temperature.     

Synthesis of simple analogues of methyllycaconitine—an efficient method for the preparation of the N-substituted anthranilate pharmacophore

The synthesis of several A and AE ring analogues of the alkaloid methyllycaconitine is reported. The key 2-(2″-methylsuccinimido)benzoate ester pharmacophore is introduced using an efficient two step procedure. Esterification of the alcohol precursors with N-(trifluoroacetyl)anthranilic acid under Steglich conditions followed by sodium borohydride mediated cleavage of the trifluoroacetyl group affords the anthranilate esters. Subsequent fusion with methylsuccinic anhydride affords the N-substituted anthranilate derivatives containing the key pharmacophore present in a range of commonly occurring Delphinium and Aconitum alkaloids.     

Development of a 5-exo, 6-exo tandem radical cyclization to access bisabosqual A

Substrates were designed to undergo tandem radical cyclizations to afford the cis, cis-fused hexahydrobenzofurobenzopyran ring system of the bisabosquals. Studies with these revealed that different initiating systems gave different yields and somewhat different diastereomeric ratios. A photocatalytic cyclization was also successful with the bisabosqual substrate.     

Synthesis of highly condensed heterocycles using radical reactions

Using radical chemistry novel highly condensed heterocycles have been synthesized. The mechanism for their formation is discussed.