Multisite catalysis: a mechanistic study of beta-lactone synthesis from epoxides and CO--insights into a difficult case of homogeneous catalysis

Carbonylation of epoxides with a combination of Lewis acids and cobalt carbonyls was studied by both theoretical and experimental methods. Only multisite catalysis opens a low-energy pathway for trans opening of oxirane rings. This ring-opening reaction is not easily achieved with a single-site metal catalyst due to structural and thermodynamic constraints. The overall reaction pathway includes epoxide ring opening, which requires both a Lewis acid and a tetracarbonylcobaltate nucleophile, yielding a cobalt alkyl-alkoxy-Lewis acid moiety. After CO insertion into the Co-C(alkyl) bond, lactone formation results from a nucleophilic attack of the alkoxy Lewis acid entity on the acylium carbon atom. A theoretical study indicates a marked influence of the Lewis acid on both ring-opening and lactone-formation steps, but not on carbonylation. Strong Lewis acids induce fast ring opening, but slow lactone formation, and visa versa: a good balance of Lewis acidity would give the fastest catalytic cycle as all steps have low barriers. Experimentally, carbonylation of propylene oxide to beta-butyrolactone was monitored by online ATR-IR techniques with a mixture of tetracarbonylcobaltate and Lewis acids, namely BF(3), Me(3)Al, Et(2)Al(+).diglyme, and a combination of Me(3)Al/dicobaltoctacarbonyl. We found that the last two mixtures are extremely active in lactone formation.     

Stereoselectivities of thermal and Lewis acid catalyzed intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions of internally activated dienophiles to form 5–11 membered rings

The thermal and Lewis acid catalyzed intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions of 1 (n = 5–11) have been studied. The catalyzed reactions efficiently form 7–11 membered rings and produce mainly cis adducts. Lewis acids prevent the five-membered ring forming reaction.     

1,4-Zwitterionic intermediates formed by cleavage of a cyclobutane ring and their cycloaddition reactions

Cycloaddition reaction is an efficient organic reaction because all of the substrate components are introduced into a product skeleton. Recently, more than six-membered rings have been synthesized by Lewis acid-promoted ring cleavage of a cyclobutane ring followed by addition to an unsaturated bond. Typical examples in the literature of these types of reactions using 1-donor–2-acceptor cyclobutanes and 3-donor cyclobutanones with Lewis acids are presented in this Letter.     

An improved synthesis of Fmoc-N-methyl-alpha-amino acids

A highly efficient and environmentally more benign synthesis of Fmoc-N-methyl-alpha-amino acids from the corresponding Fmoc-amino acid, via intermediate 5-oxazolidinones, has been developed by using Lewis acid catalysis for the reductive opening of the oxazolidinone ring.     

Multi-stage collisionally-activated decomposition in an ion trap for identification of sequences, structures and bn --> bn-1 fragmentation pathways of protonated cyclic peptides

Cyclic penta-, hexa- and heptapeptides have been designed, synthesized and their fragmentations induced by multistage tandem mass spectrometry have been studied. Under low-energy collisionally activated decomposition (CAD), the protonated cyclic peptides mainly dissociate via ring opening pathways and the corresponding bn --> bn-1 pathways to form several sets of b ions as oxazolone rings (and b1 ions as aziridinone rings). Through repeated observation of these b ions in multistep CAD experiments, accurate sequencing and head-to-tail ring structure of cyclic peptides can be determined. The mistaken assignments of these b ions can be avoided by this sequencing method. Semiempirical molecular orbital calculations have been utilized to provide insight into the proposed dissociation mechanism. In addition, for cyclic peptides that include an Asn residue, the nitrogen of the Asn side chain is observed to be preferentially protonated, which can induce a unique ring-opening pathway with a loss of ammonia that competes with the conventional ring opening pathway.     

Diastereoselective aldol reactions of enolates generated from vicinally substituted trimethylsilylmethyl cyclopropyl ketones

[reaction: see text] Vicinally substituted trimethylsilylmethyl cyclopropyl ketones undergo facile desilylative ring opening with Lewis acids under mild conditions. The enolates, thus generated, undergo aldol addition with aldehydes and ketones. The diastereoselectivity of the reaction with aldehydes depends on the nature of the Lewis acid used. The resulting aldol product is easily converted into a substituted tetrahydrofuran derivative.     

Highly regio- and chemoselective ring opening of oxa-bridged piperidinones toward functionalized furanones and piperidines

Lewis acid mediated competitive ring-opening reactions of N-tosyl-substituted oxa-bridged piperidinone ring systems are demonstrated. A majority of the Lewis acids furnished the regio- and chemoselective reductive ring opening at the C(1)-N bond, whereas TiCl(4) furnished at the C(1)-O bond in the presence of triethylsilane, affording functionalized furanones and dihydroxypiperidines, respectively. [reaction: see text]     

非对称环硫乙烷的区域选择性亲核开环反应

环硫乙烷与它的氧类似物环氧乙烷和氮类似物氮杂环丙烷一样,是一类重要的有机合成中间体,在医药和农用化学品工业领域也得到广泛应用。通过开环和异构化反应,还广泛用于制备硫醇和硫醚等含硫化合物。本文总结了常用亲核试剂对非对称环硫乙烷的亲核开环反应及其区域选择性。环硫乙烷的亲核开环反应通常只受空间效应影响,亲核试剂进攻非对称环硫乙烷位阻小的碳原子,对于烯基取代的环硫乙烷有时可以进攻烯基的β碳原子发生SN2’开环反应。强亲核性的亲核试剂容易致使环硫乙烷脱硫生成烯烃,而亲核性相对较弱的亲核试剂容易发生多聚反应生成多硫醚。在Lewis酸存在下,电子效应会对开环反应的区域选择性产生影响,甚至起主导作用。虽然烷基取代环硫乙烷在Lewis酸存在下的开环仍然主要发生在其取代基少的碳原子上(位阻控制),但受电子效应影响,芳基和烯基取代环硫乙烷的亲核开环,其亲核试剂一般倾向于进攻环硫乙烷的芳甲位和烯丙位碳原子(电子效应控制)。     

非对称环氧乙烷的区域选择性亲核开环反应

本文总结了常用亲核试剂对非对称环氧乙烷的亲核开环反应及其区域选择性。强亲核性的亲核试剂通常只受空间效应影响,进攻非对称环氧乙烷位阻小的碳原子,对于烯基取代环氧乙烷还可以进攻烯基的β-碳原子发生S_N2'开环反应,其他亲核试剂同时受空间效应和电子效应的影响,对于烷基环氧乙烷通常进攻其取代少的碳原子, 空间效应起主导作用,而对芳基和烯基取代环氧乙烷开环反应通常发生在环氧乙烷芳甲位和烯丙位的碳原子上, 电子效应起主导作用。在质子酸或强Lewis酸存在下,虽然单烷基环氧乙烷的开环仍然发生在其取代少的碳原子上,但对于芳基、烯基和同碳双取代环氧乙烷,亲核开环反应将主要受电子效应控制,一般亲核试剂倾向于进攻环氧乙烷的芳甲位、烯丙位或多取代的碳原子。分子内的亲核开环反应主要受成环时环大小的控制, 成环时的倾向是五元环> 六元环> 七元环。环氧乙烷亲核开环的区域选择性是环氧乙烷和亲核试剂空间效应和电子效应平衡的结果。     

Sc(OTf)3-catalyzed smooth tandem [3+2] cycloaddition/ring opening of donor-acceptor cyclopropane 1,1-diesters with enol silyl ethers

Catalyzed by Lewis acids, donor-acceptor cyclopropane 1,1-diesters reacted with enol silyl ethers to afford 1,6-dicarbonyl compounds in moderate to excellent yields. This supplied a mild carbon-carbon bond-forming method from the ring opening of cyclopropanes. A smooth tandem [3+2] cycloaddition/ring opening process has been clearly proved by an independent experiment.     

非对称氮杂环丙烷的亲核开环反应及其区域选择性

本文系统地总结了各类亲核试剂对非对称氮杂环丙烷(吖丙啶)的亲核开环反应及开环的区域选择性.氮杂环丙烷亲核开环的区域选择性是一种空间效应和电子效应平衡的结果,非芳基和非烯基取代的氮杂环丙烷的亲核开环通常发生在氮杂环丙烷取代少的碳原子上,空间效应起主导作用;而芳基和烯基取代的氮杂环丙烷的亲核开环通常发生在氮杂环丙烷芳甲位和烯丙位的碳原子上,电子效应起主导作用,烯基取代的氮杂环丙烷的亲核开环还可以发生在烯基的β-碳原子上;分子内的亲核开环反应主要受成环时环大小的控制,成环时的倾向是五元环>六元环>七元环.对于亲核试剂,一般的亲核试剂也同时受电子效应和空间效应的影响; 而亲核性强的亲核试剂通常只受空间效应的影响.容易生成稳定自由基的亲核试剂容易发生单电子转移机理的开环反应,生成相当于亲核试剂进攻氮杂环丙烷中取代多的碳原子得到的开环产物.     

Silicon-guided rearrangement of 10-methyl-4,5-epoxydecalins. Methyl versus methylene migration

The Lewis acid-promoted rearrangement of two 10-methyl-4,5-epoxydecalins bearing a trimethylsilyl (TMS) group on C-1 or C-9 has been studied. Migration of the C-9 methylene group to C-5 is the major reaction pathway when the TMS and the oxirane groups are on the same ring while methyl migration results exclusively when they are on different rings.     

Synthetic studies on the taxane skeleton: construction of eight-membered carbocyclic rings by the intramolecular B-alkyl Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction

Construction of eight-membered carbocyclic rings via the intramolecular B-alkyl Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction has been studied. This protocol proved its potency through the formation of the eight-membered ring possessing a quaternary carbon on its ring in high yield, affording promise of a new access to the eight-membered ring of Taxol. [reaction: see text]     

Chiral calixarene derived from resorcinol. Part 4: Diastereoselective closure of the oxazine ring

A method for the preparation of a single diastereomer of the oxazine derivative of calixresorc[4]arene 3 has been developed. Lewis acids were employed for opening of the oxazine ring.     

Evaluation of asymmetric Diels-Alder approaches for the synthesis of the cyclohexene subunit of CP-225,917 and CP-263,114

Asymmetric synthesis of a functionalised cyclohexenone required for total synthesis of CP-225,917 and CP-263,114 is reported, using a Lewis acid-promoted Diels-Alder reaction between a 2-silyloxy-1,3-diene and a dienophile bearing an oxazolidinone auxiliary. A novel method for appendage of the exocyclic malonate unit, via cyclopropane ring opening, is also described.     

Total Synthesis of Potent Antitumor Agent (−)‐Lasonolide A: A Cycloaddition‐Based Strategy

A detailed account of the enantioselective total synthesis of (?)‐lasonolide A is described. Our initial synthetic route to the top tetrahydropyran ring involved Evans asymmetric alkylation as the key step. Initially, we relied on the diastereoselective alkylation of an α‐alkoxyacetimide derivative containing an α′ stereogenic center and investigated such an asymmetric alkylation reaction. Although alkylation proceeded in good yield, the lack of diastereoselectivity prompted us to explore alternative routes. Our subsequent successful synthetic strategies involved highly diastereoselective cycloaddition routes to both tetrahydropyran rings of lasonolide A. The top tetrahydropyran ring was constructed stereoselectively by an intramolecular 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition reaction. The overall process constructed a bicyclic isoxazoline, which was later unravelled to a functionalized tetrahydropyran ring as well as a quaternary stereocenter present in the molecule. The lower tetrahydropyran ring was assembled by a Jacobsen catalytic asymmetric hetero‐Diels–Alder reaction as the key step. The synthesis also features a Lewis acid catalyzed epoxide opening to form a substituted ether stereoselectively.     

Regioselective ring opening of alkylidenecyclopropanone silyl acetals

Alkylidenecyclopropanone silyl acetals are readily available from the reaction of an alkylidenemethyliodonium salt and ketene silyl acetals in the presence of triethylamine. The three different C-C bonds of the cyclopropane ring can be selectively cleaved with HCl, Lewis acid, or fluoride. The alkylideneallyl cation formed via the cleavage of C2-C3 bond with Lewis acids shows further selectivity in reacting with a nucleophile.     

Isomerisation Catalysee Par le Gel de Silice et L'argile Activee de N-Acyl-2,2-Dimethylaziridines: Approche Mecanistique

Silica gel and activated clay, behaving as Lewis acids, reacted with N-acyl-2,2-dimethylaziridines 1 to lead to pentacoordinated aziridinium silicate ions. The regiospecific ring opening on the CMe₂ carbon side of the intermediate I involves, after removal of the catalyst, the zwitterion II. The zwitterion II undergoes either a transfer of proton leading to the N-methallylamide 2 or intramolecular cyclization reaction leading to the oxazoline 3. The unstable oxazoline 3 on catalyst is hydrated in turn into amidoalcohol 4 via the oxazolinium silicate III.     

The reaction of Grignard reagents with 1,3-dioxolanes : III. A novel synthetic route to β-hydroxyalkyl enol ethers

The reaction of ethylmagnesium bromide, prepared in benzene with one or more molar equivalents of triethylamine, with 2-, 2,4- and 2,4,5-substituted 1,3-dioxolanes has been investigated. Besides β-hydroxyethyl sec-alkyl ethers, the normal products of the ring opening/addition reaction encountered with other Lewis bases, 2-hydroxyethyl enol ethers were formed as products of a ring opening/elimination reaction. Kinetic studies suggest an E₁ mechanism for this novel reaction.     

Synthesis of optically active 2-hydroxy monoesters via-kinetic resolution and asymmetric cyclization catalyzed by heterometallic chiral (salen) Co complex

The binuclear chiral (salen) Co complexes bearing Lewis acids of Al and Ga catalyze regio- and enantioselective ring opening of terminal epoxides with carboxylic acids. The ring opened product of epichlorohydrin with carboxylic acids followed by cyclization step in the presence of catalyst and base represent straightforward, efficient methods for the synthesis of enatiomerically enriched (>99% ee) valuable terminal epoxides. Strong synergistic effects of different Lewis acid of Co-Al and Co-Ga were exhibited in the catalytic process.