Selective Heck reaction of aryl bromides with cyclopent-2-en-1-one or cyclohex-2-en-1-one

The selective Heck reaction of cyclopent-2-en-1-one or cyclohex-2-en-1-one with aryl bromides gives a simple access to the corresponding 3-arylcycloalk-2-en-1-ones. The choice of the base was found to be crucial to avoid the formation of 3-arylcyclopentanones or 3-arylcyclohexanones as side-products. Using KF as base, DMF as solvent and Pd(OAc)₂ as catalyst, the target products were obtained in moderate to good yields with a variety of aryl bromides. Substituents such as fluoro, trifluoromethyl, acetyl, benzoyl, formyl, ester or nitrile on the aryl bromide are tolerated. Sterically congested aryl bromides or bromopyridines can also be employed.     

N-heterocyclic carbene catalyzed aza-Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction of cyclic enones with N-tosylarylimines

N-Heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) prove to be efficient catalysts for the aza-Morita-Baylis-Hillman (aza-MBH) reaction of cyclopent-2-en-1-one or cyclohex-2-en-1-one with a variety of N-tosylarylimines to give the aza-MBH adduct in high yields. Crossover experiments show NHC can add to N-tosylarylimines in a reversible manner, which allows the addition of NHC to cyclic enones and thus catalyzes the aza-Mortia-Baylis-Hillman reaction.     

Synthesis of 5-(trifluoromethyl)cyclohexane-1,3-dione and 3-amino-5-(trifluoromethyl)cyclohex-2-en-1-one: new trifluoromethyl building block

A simple synthesis of 5-(trifluoromethyl)cyclohexane-1,3-dione and 3-amino-5-(trifluoromethyl)cyclohex-2-en-1-one from the sodium salt of methyl or ethyl-4-hydroxy-2-oxo-6-(trifluoromethyl)cyclohex-3-en-1-oate is demonstrated. The compounds represent highly functionalized reactive intermediates for the synthesis of organic and heterocyclic compounds containing a trifluoromethyl group.     

New captodative polyheterofunctionalized cyclopentenones from 2,3,5-Trichloro-4,4-dimethoxy-5-(2-methylfuran-3-yl)cyclopent-2-en-1-one and secondary amines

2,3,5-Trichloro-4,4-dimethoxy-5-(2-methylfuran-3-yl)cyclopent-2-en-1-one reacted with secondary amines to give unusual Ad_NE-substitution-fragmentation products, 5-[(1Z,2E)-1-acetyl-3-dialkylaminoprop-2-en-1-ylidene]-3-dialkylamino-2-chloro-4,4-dimethoxycyclopent-2-en-1-ones.     

Self-assisted tandem Michael-aldol reactions of alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones with aldehydes

The tandem Michael-aldol reaction of 1-[2-(methylsulfanyl)-phenyl]prop-2-en-1-one (1) or the seleno congener 4 with p-nitrobenzaldehyde in the presence of BF3.Et2O gave the Baylis-Hillman adduct 2 or 5 and onium salt 3 or 6, respectively, and selenochromanone 7 from 4.     

A new and efficient chemoenzymatic route to both enantiomers of 4-hydroxycyclohex-2-en-1-one

[reaction: see text] A chemoenzymatic synthesis of both enantiomers of the pharmacologically interesting 4-hydroxycyclohex-2-en-1-one in three steps starting from 3-methoxycyclohex-2-en-1-one is described. Manganese(III) acetate-mediated acetoxylation followed by enzyme-mediated hydrolysis of alpha-acetoxy enone affords acetoxy enone 3 and hydroxy enone 4 with high enantiomeric excesses and in good yields. The reduction of the acetoxy and hydroxy enones furnished both enantiomers of 4-hydroxycyclohex-2-en-1-one in high enantiomeric excess.     

An unexpected highly diastereoselective double Baylis-Hillman reaction of per- (or poly)fluorophenyl aromatic aldimines with methyl vinyl ketone

Aza-Baylis-Hillman reaction of per- (or poly)fluorophenyl aromatic aldimines 1 with methyl vinyl ketone (MVK) was studied. It was found that both the used Lewis base and solvent can significantly affect the reaction. Using triphenylphosphine as a Lewis base, the reaction of 1 with MVK proceeded smoothly to give the normal Baylis-Hillman adduct 2 along with the double Baylis-Hillman adduct 3 as by-product in THF. When 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane was used as a Lewis base in DMF, the aza-Baylis-Hillman reaction of 1 with MVK gave the double aza-Baylis-Hillman adduct 3 exclusively in moderate to good yields with excellent diastereoselectivities. The double Baylis-Hillman adduct 3 was conveniently converted to fluorine-containing 4-alkylidene-2-cyclohexen-1-ones under mild reaction conditions in good yields.     

Ir-Catalyzed Chemo-, Regio-, and Enantioselective Allylic Enolization of 6,6-Dimethyl-3-((trimethylsilyl)oxy)cyclohex-2-en-1-one Involving Keto-Enol Isomerization

The utilization of 6,6-dimethyl-3-((trimethylsilyl)oxy)cyclohex-2-en-1-one made from an unsymmetrical 4,4-dimethylcyclohexane-1,3-dione in iridium-catalyzed allylic enolization involving keto-enol isomerization is accomplished under mild conditions. The chemoselectivity, regioselectivity, and enantioselectivity are facilitated by the quaternary carbon and adjusting the reaction conditions. This method provides the substituted 2-(but-3-en-2-yl)-3-hydroxy-6,6-dimethylcyclohex-2-en-1-ones in good to high yields with high level of chemo-, regio-, and enantioselectivities. The chiral carbon-fluorine bond formation is induced by an adjacent chiral carbon center of the allylated 3-hydroxy-6,6-dimethylcyclohex-2-en-1-one, as well.     

Baylis-Hillman reactions of N-tosyl aldimines and aryl aldehydes with 3-methylpenta-3,4-dien-2-one

The attempted Baylis-Hillman reactions of N-tosyl aldimines and aryl aldehydes with 3-methylpenta-3,4-dien-2-one gave the corresponding Baylis-Hillman adducts 3 and 6 in moderate to good yields in the presence of DMAP in DMSO, respectively. In the case of the aza-Baylis-Hillman reactions of N-tosyl aldimines with 3-methylpenta-3,4-dien-2-one catalyzed by PBu3, the corresponding aza-Baylis-Hillman derivatives 4 and 5 were formed at the same time.     

Pinacol rearrangement of cyclopent-3-en-1,2-diols: Cyclopentenone formation and interrupting reaction

Cyclopentenyl carbocations formed as a result of the protonation of 3,4-substituted cyclopent-3-en-1,2-diols can give either cyclopent-2-en-1-one derivatives via pinacol rearrangement or interrupted reaction products similar to the Nazarov intermediate.     

One-pot assembly of tricyclo[6.2.1.0(1,6)]undecan-4-one and related polycyclic compounds by tandem electroreductive cyclization

[reaction: see text] Electroreductive tandem cyclization of 4-allyl-4-(2-bromoprop-2-en-1-yl)cyclohex-2-en-1-one to tricyclo[6.2.1.0(1,6)]undecan-4-one has been demonstrated. This protocol represents an attractive alternative to conventional tandem radical cyclization.     

Reduction of 1,4-dien-3-one steroids with LiAl2H4 or NaB2H4: stereospecific deuterium-labeling at the c-1alpha position of a 4-en-3-one steroid

Reduction of a double bond at C-1 of 1,4-dien-3-one steroids 7 and 8 with LiAl2H4 in THF or NaB2H4 in MeOH and H2O gave stereospecifically [1alpha-2H]-labeled 4-en-3-one steroids 9 and 10, respectively. When the deuterated solvents, MeO2H and 2H2O, were used for the reaction of steroid 8 with NaB2H4, [1alpha,2xi-2H2]-labeled compound 10 was produced. This indicates that the reaction proceeds through the initial hydride attack at the C-1alpha position, followed by ketonization of the 2-en-3-ol intermediate.     

Facial selectivity in the nucleophilic additions of vinylmagnesium bromide to bicyclo[2.2.2]oct-5-en-2-one derivatives

The levels of diastereoselection attainable by addition of vinylmagnesium bromide to a selection of bicyclo[2.2.2]octenone derivatives 1-6 in the presence of various Lewis acids such as LiBr, CeCl3, TiCl4, ZnBr2, MgBr2, and Et2AlCl have been determined. The 1,2-addition of ketone 1 with vinylmagnesium bromide in THF provided a mixture of anti- and syn-isomers. The reactions of 2 with vinylmagnesium bromide at room temperature afforded anti- and syn-isomers with preference to anti-isomers in most cases. These reactions in the presence of Lewis acids afforded anti-isomers as the major product with an excellent stereoselectivity or as single isomers in some cases. The ketones 3 gave surprisingly different results providing anti-isomers predominantly even in the presence of Lewis acids. The bicyclic ketones 4 and 5 and all-carbon tricyclic ketone 6 furnished the syn-isomer as the main product. There is no significant effect of Lewis acid catalysis in the nucleophilic addition reactions of 1, 4, 5, and 6. The use of a preformed vinylmagnesium bromide-CeCl3 reagent for the addition reactions of 2d-f and 3d-f provided almost exclusively syn-isomers. The substituents and reaction conditions can influence facial selectivity in the nucleophilic additions to the bicyclo[2.2.2]oct-5-en-2-one derivatives.     

Specificity of the reaction of 2,3-dichloro-4,4-dimethoxy-5-(2-methylfuran-3-yl)cyclopent-2-en-1-one with amines

2,3-Dichloro-4,4-dimethoxy-5-(2-methylfuran-3-yl)cyclopent-2-en-1-one reacted with diethyl-and dipropylamines to give products of Ad_NE replacement of the chlorine atom at the vinylic C³ atom and substitutive opening of the furan ring with simultaneous deprotection of the dimethyl acetal moiety in the 2,3-dichlorocyclopentenone fragment.     

Reactions of Enone Ethylene Ketals with Methyl Diazomalonate/Bis(acetylacetonato)copper(II)

Several cyclic and acyclic enones and their ethylene ketals/acetals were reacted with dimethyl diazomalonate under bis(acetylacetonato)copper(II) catalysis. Cyclohex-2-en-1-one ( 1 ) yielded only C–H insertion products 2 and 3 , whereas but-3-en-2-one gave a cyclopropane albeit in very low yield. The ethylene ketals 6 of cyclopent-2-en-1-one and cyclohex-2-en-1-one gave the corresponding cyclopropanes 7 , which were in turn cleaved to the ketones 8 . The acetals 9 and 10 of crotonaldehyde ((E)-but-2-enal) and cinnamaldehyde ((E)-3-phenylprop-2-enal), respectively, yielded C–O insertion and [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement products 11b, c and 12b, c , as well as cyclopropanes 11a and 11b , all of which are polyfunctional and synthetically useful compounds.     

Cross-aldol reactions of levoglucosenone and its derivatives with cyclohex-1-en-1-ol ethers

The reaction of levoglucosenone with cyclohex-1-en-1-yl trimethylsilyl ether under Mukaiyama reaction conditions gave [1 + 2]-Michael–aldol condensation product with participation of the acetal center. The reaction was accompanied by opening of the 1,6-anhydro bridge and intramolecular hemiketalization by the hydroxy group of the 2-oxocyclohex-1-enyl fragment. Under analogous conditions, dihydrolevoglucosenone gave rise to four diastereoisomeric 1,2-addition products. Internal cyclohex-1-en-1-ol ether obtained by treatment of the Michael adduct of levoglucosenone and cyclohexanone with Ac₂O–ZnCl₂ underwent intramolecular Mukaiyama reaction involving substituted α-carbon atom of the cyclohexanone fragment and acetal moiety to afford spiro derivative and product of subsequent AdE1 acetylation of intermediate α′-cyclohexenyl ether fragment.     

Isolation and X-ray structure determination of Ru4(CO)12(C6H6O), a precatalyst for the transfer hydrogenation of cyclohex-1-en-2-one

Ru₄(CO)₁₂(C₆H₆O) (1) and Ru₃(CO)₁₀(C₆H₈O) (2) have been obtained from the reaction of Ru₃(CO)₁₂ with cyclohex-1-en-2-one; 1 has been characterized by an X-ray structure determination. Both 1 and 2 have been found to be active precatalysts for the transfer hydrogenation of cyclohex-1-en-2-one.     

Synthesis of azolo[a]pyridines from 5-(bromomethyl)hept-4-en-3-one and 5-bromopent-3-en-2-one derivatives

Alkyl derivatives of 1H-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-4-ium, 5H-pyrido[1,2-a]benzimidazol-10-ium, 1H-[1,2,4]-triazolo[4,3-a]pyridin-4-ium, and 3-methylthiazolo[3,2-a]pyridin-4-ium bromides were obtained in two stages from (4Z)-5-(bromomethyl)-2,2,6,6-tetramethylhept-4-en-3-one, 5-bromo-4-methylpent-3-en-2-one, or (3E)-5-bromopent-3-en-2-one by alkylation of 1-alkyl-1H-imidazoles, 1-alkyl-1H-benz-imidazoles, 1-methyl-1H-1,2,4-triazole, and 4-methylthiazole and subsequent cyclization of the quaternary azolium salts in the presence of bases.     

A bicyclo[3.2.0]hept-3-en-6-one approach to prostaglandin intermediates

[reaction:see text] The substituted cyclopentanic structures, 6-benzyloxymethyl-7-hydroxy-2-oxabicyclo [3.3.0]octan-3-one (1), a Corey lactone derivative, and 6-exo-benzyloxymethyl-2-oxabicyclo[3.3. 0]oct-7-en-3-one (2), have been obtained stereoselectively through the bicyclo[3.2.0]hept-3-en-6-one approach via 5-benzyloxymethyl-3-hydroxy-6-heptenoic acid, easily accessible from the inexpensive monoprotected cis-2-butene-1,4-diol.     

Verbenone in the synthesis of o-menth-1-en-3-one and 5,7,7-trimethylazabicyclo[4.1.1]octane derivatives

At treatment with sulfuric acid in acetonitrile solution the verbenone (4,6,6-trimethylbicyclo[3,1.1]hept-3-en-2-one) suffers an opening of the four-membered ring with the rupture of the C¹-C⁶ bond of the pinane skeleton and transforms into o-menthene derivatives, o-mentha-1,6-dien-3-one and 8-acetamido-o-menth-1-en-3-one, whose ratio depends on the reaction conditions. E-and Z-isomers of verbenone oxime under the same conditions undergo the Beckmann rearrangement leading to the formation of 5,7,7-trimethyl-3-azabicyclo[4.1.1]oct-4-en-2-one and 5,7,7-trimethyl-2-azabicyclo[4.1.1]oct-4-en-3-one, respectively.