Donor-Acceptor Cyclopropanes: Activation Enabled by a Single,Vinylogous Acceptor

A novel class of highly activated donor-acceptor cyclopropanes bearing only a single, vinylogous acceptor is presented. These strained moieties readily undergo cycloadditions with aldehydes, ketones, thioketones, nitriles, naphth-2-ols and various other substrates to yield the corresponding carbo- and heterocycles. Diastereocontrol can be achieved through the choice of catalyst (Brønsted or Lewis acid). The formation of tetrahydrofurans was shown to be highly enantiospecific when chiral cyclopropanes are employed. A series of mechanistic and kinetic experiments was conducted to elucidate a plausible catalytic cycle and to rationalize the stereochemical outcome.     

Scandium triflate catalyzed cycloaddition of imines with 1,1-cyclopropanediesters: efficient and diastereoselective synthesis of multi-substituted pyrrolidines

A tandem ring-opening-cyclization reaction of cyclopropanes with imines in the presence of 5 mol% of scandium triflate was developed for the highly diastereoselective synthesis of multi-substituted pyrrolidines.     

Enantio‐ and Diastereoselective Cyclopropanation of 1‐Alkenylboronates: Synthesis of 1‐Boryl‐2,3‐Disubstituted Cyclopropanes

A novel, highly enantio‐ and diastereoselective synthesis of 1‐boryl‐2,3‐disubstituted cyclopropanes has been developed by means of the cyclopropanation of alkenylboronates with ethyl diazoacetate in the presence of catalytic amounts of a chiral copper(I) complex. The products can also be directly accessed from alkynes through an operationally simple, sequential hydroboration–cyclopropanation protocol. The resulting enantioenriched 1‐boryl‐2,3‐disubstituted cyclopropanes are versatile synthetic intermediates that undergo further transformations at the carbon–boron bond.     

Highly diastereoselective formation of 1,2,3-trisubstituted cyclopropane derivatives

A highly diastereoselective formation of cyclopropane derivatives was reported. When the chiral phenylvinyl epoxide reacted with lithiated 2-alkyl-1,3-dithiane or lithiated alkyl carbonanion in the presence of HMPA, cyclopropanes bearing stereochemistry at all three positions on the ring were readily obtained in high yields of 80-97% and high dr values of 68:32-99:1. This reaction was supposed to be a tandem conjugation addition-epoxide opening sequence. [reaction: see text]     

推-拉电子体系环丙烷的不对称合成及其对映选择性开环/环化反应研究进展

含有推-拉电子(DA)体系的张力环化合物,例如DA环丙烷,是非常有用的合成砌块,被应用于天然产物全合成以及合成具有生物活性的分子的研究中。 近年来,本课题组利用手性铜、镍等配合物为催化剂,一方面发展了一系列高效合成手性DA环丙烷的新方法;另一方面陆续实现了仲胺、醇、硝酮、氮杂亚胺叶立德、烯醇硅醚、吲哚等多种亲核试剂与DA环丙烷的高对映选择性开环/环化反应。 本文结合我们课题组工作综述了DA环丙烷化合物的不对称合成、开环/环化反应以及动力学拆分方面的主要研究进展并进行了展望。     

Preparation of both enantiomers of cyclopropane derivatives from the reaction of vinyl selenones with di-(−)-bornyl malonate

The reaction of vinyl selenones with di-(?)-bornyl malonate and sodium hydride occurred with low diastereoselectivity and afforded a mixture of two diastereomeric cyclopropane derivatives in comparable yields. These, however, could be easily separated by chromatography. Removal of the bornyl group afforded highly enantiomerically enriched cyclopropanes. An example of the simple conversions of these cyclopropanes into useful cyclopropane α-amino acids is also illustrated. The syntheses of several vinyl selenides and selenones are also described.     

Blue LED Irradiation of Iodonium Ylides Gives Diradical Intermediates for Efficient Metal‐free Cyclopropanation with Alkenes

A facile and highly chemoselective synthesis of doubly activated cyclopropanes is reported where mixtures of alkenes and β‐dicarbonyl‐derived iodonium ylides are irradiated with light from blue LEDs. This metal‐free synthesis gives cyclopropanes in yields up to 96 %, is operative with cyclic and acyclic ylides, and proceeds with a variety of electronically‐diverse alkenes. Computational analysis explains the high selectivity observed, which derives from exclusive HOMO to LUMO excitation, instead of free carbene generation. The procedure is operationally simple, uses no photocatalyst, and provides access in one step to important building blocks for complex molecule synthesis.     

Taming Chiral Quaternary Stereocenters via Remote H-Bonding Stereoinduction in Palladium-Catalyzed (3+2) Cycloadditions

Ring-opening transformations of donor-acceptor (D-A) cyclopropanes enable the rapid assembly of complex molecules. However, the enantioselective formation of chiral quaternary stereocenters using substrates bearing two different acceptors remains a challenge. Herein, we describe the first palladium-catalyzed highly diastereo- and enantioselective (3+2) cycloaddition of vinyl cyclopropanes bearing two different electron-withdrawing groups, a subset of D-A cyclopropanes. The key to the success of this reaction is the remote stereoinduction through hydrogen bond from chiral ligands, which thereby addressed the aforementioned challenge. A variety of chiral five-membered heterocycles were produced in good yields and with high stereoselectivity (up to 99 % yields, 99 : 1 er and >19 : 1 dr). In-depth mechanistic investigations, including control experiments and theoretical calculations, revealed the origin of the stereoselectivity and the importance of H-bonding in stereocontrol.     

Rh(III)-Catalyzed Annulative Coupling of Sulfoxonium Ylides with Allyl Acetates: Generation of Bicyclo[4.1.0]heptan-2-ones

A highly efficient Rhodium(III)-catalyzed annulative coupling was developed for generating bicyclo[4.1.0] heptan-2-ones from sulfoxonium ylides and allyl acetates under mild conditions. This cascade reaction is versatile to construct cyclopropanes, and the starting materials are stable and easily obtainable.     

Highly Stereocontrolled Cyclopropanation by the 1,3-Elimination of a Bis(tributylstannyl)propanol Derivative

The highly stereoselective ring closure of gamma-hydroxystannyl derivative was realized. The aldol reaction of methyl bis(tributylstannyl)propionate (2) with aldehyde 5 proceeds stereoselectively to give (gamma-hydroxypropyl)stannane 6, and the cyclopropanation reaction of aldol product 6 proceeds smoothly in a highly stereoselective manner presumably via a W-shape transition state. The stannyl group on the cyclopropane ring can be converted into various electrophiles with a retention of configuration. As a result, various stereocontrolled 1,2,3-trisubstituted cyclopropanes can be obtained in high yields.     

Facially selective and regioselective carbometalation of cyclopropenes by aryl Grignard reagents

Described is a Cu-catalyzed methodology for adding aryl Grignard reagents to 3-hydroxymethylcyclopropene derivatives with high regio- and diastereoselectivity. The cyclopropylmetals can be trapped with a variety of electrophiles to generate highly substituted cyclopropanes.     

Catalytic Enantioselective Synthesis of Functionalized Cyclopropanes from α-Substituted Allyl Sulfones with Donor-Acceptor or Diacceptor Diazo Reagents

The catalytic asymmetric synthesis of highly functionalized cyclopropanes from α-substituted allyl sulfones and silanes is reported. The reaction, using α-aryl diazoacetates or diacceptor diazo reagents, catalyzed by a chiral rhodium complex (Rh₂((S)-BTPCP)₄), furnished the corresponding cyclopropanes in moderate to high yields (27–97 %), high diastereoselectivities (68 : 32 to 20 : 1 d.r.) and moderate to excellent ee (40–99 %). This methodology offers a privileged access to an underexplored class of enantioenriched cyclopropanes with a high level of functionality, an asset for further post-functionalization and their incorporation into more complex structure.     

Superbase-promoted rearrangement of oxiranes to cyclopropanes

Aryl- and alkenyl substituted oxiranes, when submitted to treatment with superbasic reagents, undergo a highly regio- and stereoselective rearrangement leading to cyclopropylmethanol derivatives. The process can also be applied to mono- and dihydroxy substituted substrates thus leading to polyhydroxylated cyclopropanes.     

Efficient one-pot synthesis of highly substituted pyridin-2(1H)-ones via the Vilsmeier-Haack reaction of 1-acetyl,1-carbamoyl cyclopropanes

A facile and efficient one-pot synthesis of highly substituted pyridin-2(1H)-ones is developed via the Vilsmeier-Haack reaction of readily available 1-acetyl,1-carbamoyl cyclopropanes, and a mechanism involving sequential ring-opening, haloformylation, and intramolecular nucleophilic cyclization reactions is proposed.     

Recent advances in the total synthesis of cyclopropane-containing natural products

In this tutorial review, recent advances in the synthesis of cyclopropane-containing natural products are discussed, highlighting the application of novel synthetic methodologies and innovative synthetic strategies in the construction of highly functionalized cyclopropanes. The examples showcased herein aim to inspire students and practitioners of organic synthesis to seek further advances in the chemical synthesis of cyclopropanes, both in the context of target-oriented syntheses and method developments.     

Regioselective and stereoselective cyclizations of cyclohexadienones tethered to active methylene groups

The cyclization of 2,5-cyclohexadienones tethered to activated methylene groups was studied. The substitution around the cyclohexadienone ring serves to regioselectively direct these cyclizations based primarily on electronic effects. In the case of brominated substrates, these reactions proceed to give highly unusual electron-deficient tricyclic cyclopropanes. By using a Cinchona alkaloid-based phase-transfer catalyst, prochiral cyclohexadienones can be desymmetrized with moderate stereoselectivity.     

One pot, two phases: iron-catalyzed cyclopropanation with in situ generated diazomethane

Tamed! The safe handling of diazomethane can be accomplished by a two-phase reaction. After being generated in aqueous media, the highly reactive species transfers to the organic phase and directly converts alkenes into cyclopropanes (see scheme). An air-stable iron(III) porphyrin complex serves as the catalyst.     

Efficient synthesis of enantiomerically pure alpha-alkyl cyclopropanecarbonitrile derivatives from pyrazolines

[reaction: see text] Thermolysis of enantiopure sulfonyl pyrazolines 4 and 5, easily obtained from (Z)-3-p-tolylsulfinylacrylonitriles (1), afforded sulfonyl cyclopropanes (6, 7) in a completely stereoselective manner in almost quantitative yields. Both cyclopropanes and alkylidenecyclopropanes, containing one or two chiral carbon atoms, one of them being quaternary, were obtained by hydrogenolysis of the C-S bonding and under the conditions reported by Julia, respectively. The highly stereoselective extrusion of nitrogen suggests a concerted mechanism.     

Highly enantioselective cyclopropanation of trisubstituted olefins

A highly efficient asymmetric cyclopropanation of trisubstituted olefins with methyl diazoacetate has been developed in terms of an elaborate modified chiral bisoxazoline/copper complex as a catalyst. A broad scope of substrates is compatible with this catalyst system, including various trisubstituted olefins bearing different aryl-, fused aryl- and alkyl-substituents, providing an easy access to optically active 1,1-dimethyl cyclopropanes in good yields with excellent diastereo- and enantio-selectivity.     

[1+1+1] Cyclotrimerization for the Synthesis of Cyclopropanes

The synthesis of small rings by functionalization of C(sp³)?H bonds remains a great challenge. We report for the first time a copper‐catalyzed [1+1+1] cyclotrimerization of acetophenone derivatives under mild reaction conditions. The reaction has a broad scope for the stereoselective synthesis of cyclopropanes by trimerization of acetophenone. The developed transformation is based on an extraordinary copper‐catalyzed cascade process that allows saturated carbocycles to be obtained for the first time by cyclotrimerization through functionalization of C(sp³)?H bonds. The cascade of sixfold C(sp³)?H bond functionalization allows the synthesis of cyclopropanes in a highly stereoselective approach.