Part I: The Development of the Catalytic Wittig Reaction

We have developed the first catalytic (in phosphane) Wittig reaction (CWR). The utilization of an organosilane was pivotal for success as it allowed for the chemoselective reduction of a phosphane oxide. Protocol optimization evaluated the phosphane oxide precatalyst structure, loading, organosilane, temperature, solvent, and base. These studies demonstrated that to maintain viable catalytic performance it was necessary to employ cyclic phosphane oxide precatalysts of type 1 . Initial substrate studies utilized sodium carbonate as a base, and further experimentation identified N,N‐diisopropylethylamine (DIPEA) as a soluble alternative. The use of DIPEA improved the ease of use, broadened the substrate scope, and decreased the precatalyst loading. The optimized protocols were compatible with alkyl, aryl, and heterocyclic (furyl, indolyl, pyridyl, pyrrolyl, and thienyl) aldehydes to produce both di‐ and trisubstituted olefins in moderate‐to‐high yields (60–96 %) by using a precatalyst loading of 4–10 mol %. Kinetic E/Z selectivity was generally 66:34; complete E selectivity for disubstituted α,β‐unsaturated products was achieved through a phosphane‐mediated isomerization event. The CWR was applied to the synthesis of 54 , a known precursor to the anti‐Alzheimer drug donepezil hydrochloride, on a multigram scale (12.2 g, 74 % yield). In addition, to our knowledge, the described CWR is the only transition‐/heavy‐metal‐free catalytic olefination process, excluding proton‐catalyzed elimination reactions.     

Electrophilicities of Bissulfonyl Ethylenes

Kinetics of the reactions of bissulfonyl ethylenes with various carbanions, a sulfur ylide, and siloxyalkenes have been investigated photometrically at 20 °C. The second‐order rate constants have been combined with the known nucleophile‐ specific parameters N and s_N for the nucleophiles to calculate the empirical electrophilicity parameters E of bissulfonyl ethylenes according to the linear free energy relationship log k(20 °C)=s_N(N+E). Structure‐reactivity relationships are discussed, and it is shown that the electrophilicity parameters E derived in this work can be employed to define the synthetic potential of bissulfonyl ethylenes as Michael acceptors.     

Neutrale aromatische Tetraepoxyannulene: Tetraepoxy[26]annulene(4.2.2.2) und Tetraepoxy[30]annulene(4.4.4.2) – Systeme mit hoher molekularer Dynamik

Neutral Aromatic Tetraepoxyannulenes: Tetraepoxy[26]annulenes(4.2.2.2) and Tetraepoxy[30]annulenes(4.4.4.2) – Systems with High Molecular Dynamics The twofold cyclizing Wittig reaction of the bis‐aldehyde 6 with the ylide of the bis‐phosphonium salt 7 yields tetraepoxy[26]annulene(4.2.2.2) 4 , which exists in the two isomeric forms 4a (EE,Z,E,Z) and 4b (EE,Z,E,E). Annulene 4a is a highly dynamic system down to −80°. Temperature‐dependent ¹H‐NMR spectra of 4a establish that the (E,E)‐buta‐1,3‐dien‐1,4‐diyl as well as the (E)‐ethen‐1,2‐diyl bridges rotate around the adjacent σ‐bonds in a synchronous manner. Isomer 4b , for steric reasons, is rigid. By Wittig reaction of the bis‐aldehyde 8 with the ylide of the bis‐phosphonium salt 9 , the tetraepoxy[30]annulene(4.4.4.2) 5 is obtained, which exists also in two isomeric forms, 5a and 5b . Only 5a (EE,ZE,EE,Z) can be isolated in pure form. Like 4a , 5a is highly dynamic, the (E,E)‐buta‐1,3‐dien‐1,4‐diyl as well as the opposite (E)‐ethen‐1,2‐diyl bridge being able to rotate down to −80°. The ¹H‐NMR spectrum at −80° indicates that 5a exists in the stable conformation 5a′ . The 26‐ and 30‐membered annulenes belong to the most expanded neutral annulenes known hitherto; their ¹H‐NMR spectra confirm that they still have diatropic, aromatic character.     

The Mechanism of Phosphonium Ylide Alcoholysis and Hydrolysis: Concerted Addition of the O−H Bond Across the P=C Bond

The previous work on the hydrolysis and alcoholysis reactions of phosphonium ylides is summarized and reviewed in the context of their currently accepted mechanisms. Several experimental facts relating to ylide hydrolysis and to salt and ylide alcoholysis are shown to conflict with those mechanisms. In particular, we demonstrate that the pK_a values of water and alcohols are too high in organic media to bring about protonation of ylide. Therefore, we propose concerted addition of the water or alcohol O?H bond across the ylide P=C bond. In support of this, we provide NMR spectroscopic evidence for equilibrium between ylide and aclohol that does not require the involvement of phosphonium hydroxide. We report the first P‐alkoxyphosphorane to be characterised by NMR spectroscopy that does not undergo exchange on an NMR timescale. Two‐dimensional NMR spectroscopic techniques have been applied to the characterisation to P‐alkoxyphosphoranes for the first time.     

Photochemical reactions. 134th Communication. Photochemistry of 5,6-epoxy-5,6-dihydro-3,4-methano-β-ionone: Influence of a cyclopropane ring on the reactivity of an ylide intermediate

On ¹n,π*-excitation(λ > 347 nm), the diastereomeric methanoepoxyenones (E)- 6 undergo isomerization via C,O-cleavage of the oxirane leading to diastereomeric photoproducts ((E)- 5 →(E/Z)- 13 and 14 ; (E)- 6 →(E/Z)- 16 and 17 ). On ¹π,π*-excitation (λ = 254 nm) of either (E)- 5 ) or (E- 6 the photoproducts 9, 10 and 11 are formed. By laser flash photolysis (λ = 265 nm) the ylide intermediate 3 was detected, with a lifetime of 10 μs in MeCN at ambient temperature. Stern-Volmer analysis of the ylide quenching by MeOH disclosed that compounds 9 and 10 , but not 11 , arise from the ylide intermediate e .     

Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reactions of aryl chlorides catalyzed by a new nickel(II) σ‐aryl complex

A new nickel(II) σ‐aryl complex, trans‐chloro(9‐phenanthrenyl)bis(triphenylphosphine)nickel(II), was used as a precatalyst for the Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reactions of aryl chlorides. The catalytic conditions were optimized by investigating the cross‐coupling of p‐chloroanisole with phenylboronic acid. The results show that this complex is efficient for both electron‐rich and electron‐deficient aryl chlorides, though it gives better yields for activated arylboronic acids than deactivated ones. All isolated cross‐coupled biaryl products have been characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR, and their spectral data are consistent with those reported. Side products from the coupling of arylboronic acid with the precatalyst complex have also been isolated and characterized, which is helpful for understanding the coupling mechanism. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Manganese‐Catalyzed Hydrofunctionalization of Alkenes

The manganese‐catalyzed hydrosilylation and hydroboration of alkenes has been developed using a single manganese(II) precatalyst and reaction protocol. Both reactions proceed with excellent control of regioselectivity and in high yields across a variety of sterically and electronically differentiated substrates (25 examples). Alkoxide activation, using NaO^tBu, was key to precatalyst activation and reactivity. Catalysis was achieved across various functional groups and on gram‐scale for both the developed methodologies with catalysts loadings as low as 0.5 mol %.     

Asymmetric Sulfonium Ylide Mediated Cyclopropanation: Stereocontrolled Synthesis of (+)‐LY354740

The reaction of ester‐stabilized sulfonium ylides with cyclopentenone to give (+)‐ 5 ((1S,5R,6S)‐ethyl 2‐oxobicyclo[3.1.0]hexane‐6‐carboxylate), an important precursor to the pharmacologically important compound (+)‐LY354740, has been studied using chiral sulfides operating in both catalytic (sulfide, Cu(acac)₂, ethyl diazoacetate, 60 °C) and stoichiometric modes (sulfonium salt, base, room temperature). It was found that the reaction conditions employed had a major influence over both diastereo‐ and enantioselectivity. Under catalytic conditions, good enantioselectivity with low diastereoselectivity was observed, but under stoichiometric conditions low enantioselectivity with high diastereoselectivity was observed. When the stoichiometric reactions were conducted at high dilution, diastereoselectivity was reduced. This indicated that base‐mediated betaine equilibration was occurring (which is slow relative to ring closure at high dilution). Based on this model, conditions for achieving high enantioselectivity were established as follows: use of a preformed ylide, absence of base, hindered ester (to reduce ylide‐mediated betaine equilibration), and low concentration. Under these conditions high enantioselectivity (95 % ee) was achieved, albeit with low diastereocontrol. Our model for selectivity has been applied to other sulfonium ylide mediated cyclopropanation reactions and successfully accounts for the diastereoselectivity observed in all such reported reactions to date.     

Efficient Synthesis of Spiro[furan‐3,3′‐indoline] Derivatives via Reactions of Pyridinium Salts with Isatinylidene Acetoacetates

An efficient synthetic procedure for the functionalized spiro[furan‐3,3′‐indoline] derivatives was successfully developed by domino reactions of N‐phenacylpyridinium bromides or N‐ethoxycarbonylmethylenepyridinium bromide with isatinylidene acetoacetate in the presence of triethylamine in ethanol at room temperature. The mechanism included sequential Michael addition of the in situ generated pyridinium ylide and intramolecular substitution of enolate.     

Thermal [2+3]‐Cycloadditions of trans‐1‐Methyl‐2,3‐diphenylaziridine with CS and CC Dipolarophiles: An Unexpected Course with Dimethyl Dicyanofumarate

The thermal reaction of trans‐1‐methyl‐2,3‐diphenylaziridine (trans‐ 1a ) with aromatic and cycloaliphatic thioketones 2 in boiling toluene yielded the corresponding cis‐2,4‐diphenyl‐1,3‐thiazolidines cis‐ 4 via conrotatory ring opening of trans‐ 1a and a concerted [2+3]‐cycloaddition of the intermediate (E,E)‐configured azomethine ylide 3a (Scheme 1). The analogous reaction of cis‐ 1a with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate ( 5 ) gave dimethyl trans‐2,5‐dihydro‐1‐methyl‐2,5‐diphenylpyrrole‐3,4‐dicarboxylate (trans‐ 6 ) in accord with orbital‐symmetry‐controlled reactions (Scheme 2). On the other hand, the reactions of cis‐ 1a and trans‐ 1a with dimethyl dicyanofumarate ( 7a ), as well as that of cis‐ 1a and dimethyl dicyanomaleate ( 7b ), led to mixtures of the same two stereoisomeric dimethyl 3,4‐dicyano‐1‐methyl‐2,5‐diphenylpyrrolidine‐3,4‐dicarboxylates 8a and 8b (Scheme 3). This result has to be explained via a stepwise reaction mechanism, in which the intermediate zwitterions 11a and 11b equilibrate (Scheme 6). In contrast, cis‐1,2,3‐triphenylaziridine (cis‐ 1b ) and 7a gave only one stereoisomeric pyrrolidine‐3,4‐dicarboxylate 10 , with the configuration expected on the basis of orbital‐symmetry control, i.e., via concerted reaction steps (Scheme 10). The configuration of 8a and 10 , as well as that of a derivative of 8b , were established by X‐ray crystallography.     

Synthesis of the Aziridinomitosene Skeleton by Application of Guanidinium Ylide‐Mediated Aziridination

An aziridinomitosene skeleton, a basic core of mitomycin antibiotics, was straightforwardly prepared from N‐(p‐toluenesulfonyl)indole‐2‐carboxaldehyde in 16% overall yield by successive reactions of guanidinium ylide‐mediated aziridination, InCl₃‐catalyzed epimerization of trans‐3‐(indol‐2‐yl)aziridine‐2‐carboxylate, leading to the cis‐derivative, and dehydrative cyclization.     

THE PREPARATION OF TWO NOVEL HOMOALLYLIC ALCOHOLS VIA THE REACTION OF EPOXIDE WITH PHOSPHONIUM YLIDE

Abstract

Two novel homoallylic alcohols, E-4-(4-methoxyphenyl)- 1-phenyl-3-buten-1-01 and E-4-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1-phenyl-3-buten-1-01, were synthesised by the reaction of methelentriphenylphosphonium ylide with epoxide. The reaction first gave an initial betaine which upon treatment with butyl lithium gave a new ylide. When this new ylide reacted with the proper aldehyde, gave the corresponding homoallylic alcohol. Preliminary biological screening showed that the former alcohol possesses a significant estrogenic activity in rats. The latter alcohol was found to have partial antiestrogenic activity.     

Sulfur Ylide Promoted Synthesis of N‐Protected Aziridines: A Combined Experimental and Computational Approach

A range of N‐protected aziridines [N‐Tosyl (N‐Ts), N‐2‐trimethylsilylethanesulfonamide (N‐SES), N‐tert‐butoxycarbonylamido (N‐Boc), and N‐o‐nitrobenzenesulfonamide (oNs)] were prepared in moderate to good yield and with high enantiomeric excess of both isomers starting from N‐protected imines, using a sulfonium salt derived from Eliel’s oxathiane. The diastereoselectivities of the reactions are influenced by the imine N‐protecting group, the imine substituent, and the sulfide structure. An unusual cis selectivity was observed in the formation of N‐tosyl‐2‐phenyl‐3‐tert‐butylaziridine and N‐o‐trimethylsilylethanesulfonamide‐2‐phenyl‐3‐tert‐butylaziridine, which was explained by using computational models. The analysis suggests that betaine formation in the case of N‐tosyl‐tert‐butylaldimine aziridination using oxathiane benzyl sulfonium ylide 1 ′ is reversible and that the selectivity is determined at the rotation step, which is unusual for semistabilized ylide aziridination. We have shown herein that the steric bulk of an imine substituent, in combination with a sterically demanding sulfonium ylide, can also affect the reversibility of the reaction. This is the first example of this sort involving aziridinations using semistabilized ylides.     

Photochemical reactions. 147th Communication. Further investigation of the photochemistry of 5,6-epoxy-5,6-dihydro-β-ionone: Product formation via a carbonyl-ylide intermediate

On π,π*-excitation of the epoxyenone (E)- 1 (λ = 254 nm, MeCN), in addition to the previously isolated compounds 2 – 9 , the new products 10 – 12 , derived from the ylide intermediate c were isolated. Further evidence for the ylide c was obtained by the rapid racemization of the optically active epoxyenone (?)-(E)- 1 .     

Photochemical reactions, 136th communication. Photochemistry of conjugated epoxyenones and dienes of the ionone series: Influence of a neighboring spiro-oxirane function

The preparation and photolyses of the diepoxyenones (E)- 8 and (E)- 9 as well as the diepoxydiene (E)- 10 are described. On ¹π,π^*-excitation (λ = 254 nm), the diastereoisomeric diepoxyenones (E)- 8 and (E)- 9 undergo isomerization via the ylide intermediate f and the carbene intermediate g leading to the primary photoproducts 17A and 18–21 (Scheme 8). On ¹n, π^*-excitation (λ > 347 nm), (E)- 8 shows behaviour typical of epoxyenones undergoing C(γ), O-bond cleavage of the oxirane and isomerization to compounds 22 , (E/Z)- 23 and (E)- 24 (Scheme 10). On singlet excitation, the diepoxydiene (E)- 10 , is cleaved to the carbonyl ylide j and the carbenes 1 and m (Scheme 11). The carbonyl ylide j fragments via the dipolar intermediate k to the acetylenic dienone (E)- 31 . The carbene 1 , showing behaviour typical of vinyl carbenes, furnishes the cyclopropene 30 . The alternative carbene m , however, undergoes an insertion reaction into the neighboring oxirane C,C-bond leading to the proposed but not isolated oxetene 43 , which is further transformed to the products 33A _ B by an intramolecular cycloaddition.     

Two‐ and Three‐Component Reactions Leading to New Enamines Derived from 2,3‐Dicyanobut‐2‐enoates

The three‐component reactions of 1‐azabicyclo[1.1.0]butanes 1 , dicyanofumarates (E)‐ 5 , and MeOH or morpholine yielded azetidine enamines 8 and 9 with the cis‐orientation of the ester groups at the C?C bond ((E)‐configuration; Schemes 3 and 4). The structures of 8a and 9d were confirmed by X‐ray crystallography. The formation of the products is explained via the nucleophilic addition of 1 onto (E)‐ 5 , leading to a zwitterion of type 7 (Scheme 2), which is subsequently trapped by MeOH or morpholine ( 10a ), followed by elimination of HCN. Similarly, two‐component reactions between secondary amines 10a – 10c and (E)‐ 5 gave products 12 with an (E)‐enamine structure and (Z)‐oriented ester groups. On the other hand, two‐component reactions involving primary amines 10d – 10f or NH₃ led to the formation of the corresponding (Z)‐enamines, in which the (E)‐orientation of ester groups was established.     

Selenophen‐2‐yl‐Substituted Thiocarbonyl Ylides – at the Borderline of Dipolar and Biradical Reactivity

The reactions of aryl (selenophen‐2‐yl) thioketones with CH₂N₂ occur with spontaneous elimination of N₂, even at low temperature (?65°), to give regioselectively sterically crowded 4,4,5,5‐tetrasubstituted 1,3‐dithiolanes and/or a novel type of twelve‐membered dithia‐diselena heterocycles as dimers of the transient thiocarbonyl S‐methanides. The ratio of these products depends on the type of substituent located at C(4) of the phenyl ring. Whereas the formation of the 1,3‐dithiolanes corresponds to a [3+2] cycloaddition of an intermediate thiocarbonyl ylide with the starting thioketone, the twelve‐memberd ring has to be formed via dimerization of the ‘thiocarbonyl ylide’ with an extended biradical structure.     

Alkaline‐Earth‐Catalyzed Dehydrocoupling of Amines and Boranes

Dehydrocoupling reactions between the boranes HBpin and 9‐borabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane and a range of amines and anilines ensue under very mild reaction conditions in the presence of a simple β‐diketiminato magnesium n‐butyl precatalyst. The facility of the reactions is suggested to be a function of the Lewis acidity of the borane substrate, and is dictated by resultant pre‐equilibria between, and the relative stability of, magnesium hydride and borohydride intermediates during the course of the catalysis.     

Aqueous Wittig Reactions of Aldehydes with In Situ Formed Semistabilized Phosphorus Ylides

The Wittig reactions of three semistabilized phosphorus ylides generated in situ from the corresponding phosphonium salts with aldehydes in water without any organic cosolvent were investigated. Most of the olefination reactions completed within between 5 min and 4.5 h in refluxing water containing 1.5 equiv of LiOH and 1.4 M LiCl to afford the products in 65–100% yields. The E∶Z selectivity depended not only on the substituent attached to the benzene ring of the ylides but also on the substituent bound to the aromatic aldehydes. LiCl promotes the aqueous Wittig reactions and suppresses decomposition of the ylide or the corresponding phosphonium salt.     

磷叶立德CH2PH3和类磷叶立德自由基∙CHPH3优势构型和C—P键结构的研究

采用MP4/6-311++G(d,p)和B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p)对磷叶立德CH₂PH₃和类磷叶立德自由基∙CHPH₃进行构型优化，从电子密度拓扑分析的角度对C—P键的键结构进行了探讨。得到如下结论：类磷叶立德自由基和磷叶立德的C—P键性质类似，但磷叶立德中π键由两个电子形成，类磷叶立德自由基中π键由一个电子形成，所以前者的π性明显，而后者的π性不明显。类磷叶立德自由基中的这个单电子在碳原子附近，垂直于对称面的方向上运动，有p_(C→P)配键的特征，所以类磷叶立德自由基∙CHPH₃中的C—P键比相应的产物∙CH₂PH₂中的C—P键要弱一些。