Mechanism of scandium ion catalyzed Diels-Alder reaction of anthracenes with methyl vinyl ketone

Rates of Diels-Alder cycloadditions of anthracenes with methyl vinyl ketone (MVK) are accelerated significantly by the presence of scandium triflate [Sc(OTf)3]. Sc(OTf)3 also promotes photoinduced electron-transfer reactions from various electron donors to MVK significantly. Comparison of the promoting effect of Sc(OTf)3 in photoinduced electron-transfer reactions of MVK with the catalytic effect of Sc(OTf)3 in the Diels-Alder reaction of 9,10-dimethylanthracene with MVK has revealed that the MVK-Sc(OTf)3 complex is a reactive intermediate in both the Diels-Alder and photoinduced electron-transfer reactions. The observed second-order rate constants of the Sc(OTf)3-catalyzed Diels-Alder reactions of anthracenes with MVK are by far larger than those expected from the observed linear Gibbs energy relation for the Diels-Alder reactions of anthracenes with stronger electron acceptors than MVK, which are known to proceed via electron transfer. This indicates that the Sc(OTf)3-catalyzed Diels-Alder reactions of anthracenes with MVK does not proceed via an electron-transfer process from anthracences to the MVK-Sc(OTf)3 complex.     

Diels-alder cycloaddition reactions of cyclopropenone ketals : Dual participation in inverse electron demand (lumodiene controlled) and normal (homodiene controlled) diels-alder reactions. Approaches to the preparation of tropones

Diels-Alder cycloadditions of the cyclopropenone ketal 1 with representative electron-deficient, electron-rich and neutral dienes are presented. The results observed are consistent with the potential for the strained olefin of the cyclopropenone ketal to exhibit accelerated participation in both inverse electron demand (LUMO_dienecontrolled) and normal(HOMO_dienecontrolled) Diels-Alder reactions. Approaches to the introduction of cycloheptatrienones, tropones, based on the room temperature and pressure-promoted Diels-Alder reactions of the cyclopropenone ketal 1 are presented.     

Metal-free,noncovalent catalysis of diels-alder reactions by neutral hydrogen bond donors in organic solvents and in water

We examined the catalytic activity of substituted thioureas in a series of Diels-Alder reactions and 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions. The kinetic data reveal that the observed accelerations in the relative rates are more dependent on the thiourea substituents than on the reactants or solvent. Although the catalytic effectiveness is the strongest in noncoordinating, nonpolar solvents, such as cyclohexane, it is also present in highly coordinating polar solvents, such as water. In 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions, the thiourea catalysts demonstrate only very moderate selectivity for reactions with inverse electron demand. Our experiments emphasize that both hydrophobic and polar interactions can co-exist, making these catalysts active, even in highly coordinating solvents. This class of catalysts increases the reaction rates and endo-selectivities of Diels-Alder reactions, in a similar manner to weak Lewis acids, without concomitant product inhibition.     

Bioorthogonal Ligations and Cleavages in Chemical Biology

Bioorthogonal reactions including the bioorthogonal ligations and cleavages have become an active field of research in chemical biology, and they play important roles in chemical modification and functional regulation of biomolecules. This review summarizes the developments and applications of the representative bioorthogonal reactions including the Staudinger reactions, the metal-mediated bioorthogonal reactions, the strain-promoted cycloadditions, the inverse electron demand Diels-Alder reactions, the light-triggered bioorthogonal reactions, and the reactions of chloroquinoxalines and ortho-dithiophenols.     

Lewis acid-mediated reactions of donor-acceptor cyclopropanes with diazo esters

The reactions of diazo esters with 2-arylcyclopropane-1,1-dicarboxylates, the represen- tatives of donor-acceptor cyclopropanes (DACs), mediated by Sc(OTf)₃, SnCl₄, and GaCl₃ proceeded with nitrogen elimination to give the C—C coupling products. No products of the formal [3+3] cycloaddition of diazo compounds to DACs were formed but the main reaction direction was addition of diazo ester to either 1,3- or 1,2-zwitterions generated upon Lewis acid-mediated cyclopropane ring opening giving rise to new 1,4- and 1,3-zwitterionic inter- mediates. The formed intermediates underwent further fragmentations and rearrangements to give substituted cyclopropanedi-, -tri-, and -tetracarboxylates. Mechanistic aspects of the observed reactions were discussed.     

Intramolecular [4 + 2] cycloadditions of iminoacetonitriles: a new class of azadienophiles for hetero Diels-Alder reactions

Iminoacetonitriles participate as reactive dienophiles in stereoselective intramolecular hetero Diels-Alder reactions which afford substituted quinolizidines. The cycloadduct with exo-oriented cyano group is obtained as the major or exclusive product of the reaction as a consequence of the alpha-amino nitrile anomeric effect The alpha-amino nitrile moieties incorporated in the cycloadducts constitute latent iminium ions, which upon exposure to mild protic or Lewis acids are unmasked, setting the stage for further useful synthetic transformations. For example, reductive decyanation with NaBH3CN excises the cyano group, while Bruylants reaction with Grignard reagents and acetylides lead to alpha-substituted amines. The substrates for these [4 + 2] cycloadditions are prepared from readily available alcohols via a Mitsunobu coupling reaction with the previously unknown, easily prepared reagent HN(Tf)CH2CN followed by cesium carbonate promoted elimination of trifluoromethanesulfinate.     

Continuous Flow Bioconjugations of NIR-AZA Fluorophores via Strained Alkyne Cycloadditions with Intra-Chip Fluorogenic Monitoring**

The importance of bioconjugation reactions continues to grow for cell specific targeting and dual therapeutic plus diagnostic medical applications. This necessitates the development of new bioconjugation chemistries, in-flow synthetic and analytical methods. With this goal, continuous flow bioconjugations were readily achieved with short residence times for strained alkyne substituted carbohydrate and therapeutic peptide biomolecules in reaction with azide and tetrazine substituted fluorophores. The strained alkyne substrates included substituted 2-amino-2-deoxy-α-D-glucopyranose, and the linear and cyclic peptide sequences QIRQQPRDPPTETLELEVSPDPAS-OH and c(RGDfK) respectively. The catalyst and reagent-free inverse electron demand tetrazine cycloadditions proved more favourable than the azide 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions. Reaction completion was achieved with residence times of 5 min at 40 °C for tetrazine versus 10 min at 80 °C for azide cycloadditions. The use of a fluorogenic tetrazine fluorophore, in a glass channelled reactor chip, allowed for intra-chip reaction monitoring by recording fluorescence intensities at various positions throughout the chip. As the Diels-Alder reactions proceeded through the chip, the fluorescence intensity increased accordingly in real-time. The application of continuous flow fluorogenic bioconjugations could offer an efficient translational access to theranostic agents.     

An approach to the Paal-Knorr pyrroles synthesis catalyzed by Sc(OTf)3 under solvent-free conditions

A facile synthesis of N-substituted pyrroles by the Paal-Knorr condensation has been accomplished using a simple procedure. Among different metal triflates screened, 1 mol % Sc(OTf)₃ efficiently promoted the reaction to give excellent yield (89-98%) under mild reaction conditions. Additionally, Sc(OTf)₃ could be recovered easily after the reactions and reused without evident loss in activity.     

Facile and efficient synthesis of polyfunctionalized benzofurans: three-component coupling reactions from an alkynylsilane, an o-hydroxybenzaldehyde derivative, and a secondary amine by a Cu(I)-Cu(II) cooperative catalytic system

The combination of 5 mol % Cu(OTf)₂ and CuCl in the presence of DMAP effectively catalyzed a three-component coupling reaction involving an alkynylsilane, an o-hydroxybenzaldehyde derivative, and a secondary amine. The reaction proceeded via intramolecular 5-exo-dig cyclization, resulting in direct synthesis of the corresponding benzofuran derivatives in moderate to excellent yields.     

Diels-alder reactions of 2-acetyl-2-cyclohexenone with enol ethers and emamines

2-Acetyl-2-cyclohexenone ($\text{2}$) undergoes inverse electron demand Diels-Alder reactions with enol ethers at 25°C. The adduct in which the oxygen adds endo is favored. Trans substituted enol ethers are ≈ 35 times as reactive as the cis isomer. Enamines react immediately with $\text{2}$ at 25°C.     

Diversity in Gold‐Catalyzed Formal Cycloadditions of Ynamides with Azidoalkenes or 2H‐Azirines: [3+2] versus [4+3] Cycloadditions

Gold‐catalyzed cycloadditions of ynamides with azidoalkenes or 2H‐azirines give [3+2] or [4+3] formal cycloadducts of three classes. Cycloadditions of ynamides with 2H‐azirine species afford pyrrole products with two regioselectivities when the C_β‐substituted 2H‐azirine is replaced from an alkyl (or hydrogen) with an ester group. For ynamides substituted with an electron‐rich phenyl group, their reactions with azidoalkenes proceed through novel [4+3] cycloadditions to deliver 1H‐benzo[d]azepine products instead.     

Cascade synthesis of benzofuran derivatives via laccase oxidation-Michael addition

The cascade synthesis of benzofuran derivatives was conducted from the reaction of catechols and 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds via oxidation-Michael addition in the presence of laccase and Sc(OTf)₃/SDS. This reaction was carried out under air at room temperature in aqueous medium, and provided benzofuran products in moderate to good yields. In addition, this reaction system showed recyclability.     

Lewis Acid Coupled Electron Transfer of Metal–Oxygen Intermediates

Redox‐inactive metal ions and Brønsted acids that function as Lewis acids play pivotal roles in modulating the redox reactivity of metal–oxygen intermediates, such as metal–oxo and metal–peroxo complexes. The mechanisms of the oxidative C?H bond cleavage of toluene derivatives, sulfoxidation of thioanisole derivatives, and epoxidation of styrene derivatives by mononuclear nonheme iron(IV)–oxo complexes in the presence of triflic acid (HOTf) and Sc(OTf)₃ have been unified as rate‐determining electron transfer coupled with binding of Lewis acids (HOTf and Sc(OTf)₃) by iron(III)–oxo complexes. All logarithms of the observed second‐order rate constants of Lewis acid‐promoted oxidative C?H bond cleavage, sulfoxidation, and epoxidation reactions of iron(IV)–oxo complexes exhibit remarkably unified correlations with the driving forces of proton‐coupled electron transfer (PCET) and metal ion‐coupled electron transfer (MCET) in light of the Marcus theory of electron transfer when the differences in the formation constants of precursor complexes were taken into account. The binding of HOTf and Sc(OTf)₃ to the metal–oxo moiety has been confirmed for Mn^IV–oxo complexes. The enhancement of the electron‐transfer reactivity of metal–oxo complexes by binding of Lewis acids increases with increasing the Lewis acidity of redox‐inactive metal ions. Metal ions can also bind to mononuclear nonheme iron(III)–peroxo complexes, resulting in acceleration of the electron‐transfer reduction but deceleration of the electron‐transfer oxidation. Such a control on the reactivity of metal–oxygen intermediates by binding of Lewis acids provides valuable insight into the role of Ca²⁺ in the oxidation of water to dioxygen by the oxygen‐evolving complex in photosystem II.     

Diels-Alder cycloadditions of 3-phenylamino-5-bromo-2-pyrone for the synthesis of constrained α-amino acid derivatives

3-Phenylamino-5-bromo-2-pyrone undergoes facile Diels-Alder cycloadditions with various electron deficient dienophiles to afford an array of functionally rich and stereochemically defined cycloadducts in good to excellent isolated yields. Due to the electron donacity of the amine group, it only proceeds in normal electron demand D-A cycloadditions. Subsequent ring openings with NaOMe provided constrained α-amino acid derivatives.     

Polysubstituted 2,3-dihydrofuro[2,3-b]pyridines and 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrano[2,3-b]pyridines via microwave-activated inverse electron demand Diels-Alder reactions

Polysubstituted 2,3-dihydrofuro[2,3-b]pyridines and 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrano[2,3-b]pyridines have been synthesized from 1,2,4-triazines using the inverse electron Diels-Alder reaction. For this purpose, 3-methylsulfanyl-1,2,4-triazines were reacted with several nucleophiles allowing the formation of appropriately substituted alkynes to undergo the intramolecular inverse electron demand Diels-Alder reaction. Sealed-tube microwave activation of the cycloaddition reaction has proved to be very efficient and allowed shorter reaction times. This strategy enabled an efficient synthesis of 3-hydroxy-2,3-dihydrofuro[2,3-b]pyridines and 4-hydroxy-3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrano[2,3-b]pyridines with several points of diversity on the bicyclic scaffold.     

A sustainable procedure for highly enantioselective organocatalyzed Diels-Alder cycloadditions in homogeneous ionic liquid/water phase

The MacMillan iminium catalyst was investigated for asymmetric Diels-Alder cycloadditions in ionic liquid/H₂O homogeneous phase. Superior selectivity, product yield, and shorter reaction times were observed in comparison with classical organic solvents. Additional advantages are the easy synthetic procedure, the excellent recovery of products, and the recyclability of the whole system.     

The first general enantioselective catalytic Diels-Alder reaction with simple alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones

The first general approach to enantioselective catalysis of the Diels-Alder reaction with simple ketone dienophiles has been accomplished. The use of iminium catalysis has enabled enantioselective access to a fundamental Diels-Alder reaction variant that has previously been unavailable using chiral Lewis acid catalysis. A new chiral amine catalyst has been developed that allows a variety of monodentate cyclic and acyclic ketones to successfully participate in enantioselective [4 + 2] cycloadditions. A wide spectrum of cyclic and acyclic diene substrates can also be accommodated in this new organocatalytic transformation. A computational model is provided that is in accord with the sense of enantioinduction observed for all reactions conducted during the course of this study.     

Imino Diels-Alder reactions: an efficient one-pot synthesis of pyrano and furanoquinoline derivatives catalyzed by SbCl3

Antimony trichloride (SbCl₃) was found to be an efficient catalyst for the inverse electron demand imino Diels-Alder reactions of in situ generated N-benzylidenes with 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran and 2,3-dihydrofuran to afford pyrano and furano[3,2-c]quinolines in excellent yields.     

Hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene/perylenedicarboxymonoimide and diimide dyads as models to study intramolecular energy transfer

Star-like and butterfly-shaped dyads based on hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene (HBC) as donor and perylenedicarboxymoniimide (PMI) or diimide (PDI) as acceptor were synthesized by Sonogashira coupling reactions and Diels-Alder cycloadditions. Intramolecular energy and electron transfer were investigated by steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy.     

Slow Reactant–Water Exchange and High Catalytic Performance of Water‐Tolerant Lewis Acids

³¹P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic measurement with trimethylphosphine oxide (TMPO) was applied to evaluate the Lewis acid catalysis of various metal triflates in water. The original ³¹P NMR chemical shift and line width of TMPO is changed by the direct interaction of TMPO molecules with the Lewis acid sites of metal triflates. [Sc(OTf)₃] and [In(OTf)₃] had larger changes in ³¹P chemical shift and line width by formation of the Lewis acid–TMPO complex than other metal triflates. It originates from the strong interaction between the Lewis acid and TMPO, which results in higher stability of [Sc(OTf)₃TMPO] and [In(OTf)₃TMPO] complexes than other metal triflate–TMPO complexes. The catalytic activities of [Sc(OTf)₃] and [In(OTf)₃] for Lewis acid‐catalyzed reactions with carbonyl compounds in water were far superior to the other metal triflates, which indicates that the high stability of metal triflate–carbonyl compound complexes cause high catalytic performance for these reactions. Density functional theory (DFT) calculation suggests that low LUMO levels of [Sc(OTf)₃] and [In(OTf)₃] would be responsible for the formation of stable coordination intermediate with nucleophilic reactant in water.