Asymmetric formal synthesis of schulzeines A and C

The asymmetric formal synthesis of schulzeines A and C is described. Key features of the synthesis include the efficient and stereoselective construction of the benzoquinolizidine skeleton via the aza-Claisen rearrangement-induced ring expansion of the 1-vinyl-N-glycyl-isoquinoline, which was prepared by the highly enantioselective asymmetric allylation of the 8-benzyloxy-substituted dihydroisoquinoline and by the acid-catalyzed transannulation of the resulting 10-membered lactam.     

Asymmetric syntheses of 1-deoxy-6,8a-di-epi-castanospermine and 1-deoxy-6-epi-castanospermine

Asymmetric syntheses of both 1-deoxy-6,8a-di-epi-castanospermine and 1-deoxy-6-epi-castanospermine, polyhydroxylated indolizidine alkaloids that act as selective glycosidase inhibitors, have been accomplished in seven steps. The key feature of our unique syntheses includes the stereoselective introduction of the C-3 and C-4 hydroxyl groups utilizing the aza-Claisen rearrangement-induced ring expansion of 1-acyl-2-alkoxyvinyl pyrrolidine and a substrate-controlled stereoselective transannulation of the resulting azoninone intermediate.     

A tandem aza-Claisen rearrangement and ring closing metathesis reaction for the synthesis of cyclic allylic trichloroacetamides

A one-pot tandem palladium(II)-catalyzed aza-Claisen rearrangement and ring closing metathesis process has been developed for the efficient synthesis of cyclic allylic trichloroacetamides. The use of chiral Pd(II) catalysts such as (S)-COP-Cl during the rearrangement stage results in the preparation of these compounds in excellent yields and in high enantiomeric excess.     

Enantiodivergent synthesis of both enantiomers of marine alkaloids haliclorensin and isohaliclorensin, a constituent of halitulin

Starting from (3R)-5-benzotriazolyl-3-phenylperhydropyrido[2,1-b][1,3]oxazole 9, the enantiodivergent syntheses of both enantiomers of the marine alkaloids haliclorensin 1 and isohaliclorensin 3 have been achieved. Our syntheses feature ring-expansion reactions for the formation of the aza-macrocycle ring system of 3 and sequential ring-expansion reactions (aza-Claisen rearrangement and Zip reaction) for the formation of the aza-macrocycle ring system of 1.     

Tandem aza-Claisen rearrangement and ring-closing metathesis reactions: the stereoselective synthesis of functionalised carbocyclic amides

A one-pot, tandem process has been developed for the efficient synthesis of functionalised carbocyclic amides. A substituted cyclopentenyl trichloroacetamide was synthesised using a tandem thermal aza-Claisen rearrangement and RCM process, while an analogous cyclohexenyl trichloroacetamide was generated with high diastereoselectivity using a tandem MOM-ether directed metal-catalysed aza-Claisen rearrangement and RCM process.     

Asymmetric Total Synthesis of Fluvirucinine A(1)

Diastereoselective vinyl addition to an amide carbonyl group and amide enolate induced aza-Claisen rearrangement are the key steps in the first asymmetric total synthesis of fluvirucinine A(1) (1), the aglycon of fluvirucin A(1). Fluvirucins are a class of macrolactam antibiotics produced by actinomycete strains that show promising biological properties.     

Unusual Diastereoselection in the Synthesis of Nine-Membered Ring Lactams and Conformation-Controlled Transannular Reactions to Generate Optically Active Indolizidinones

The aza-Claisen rearrangement of vinylpyrrolidines 1 yielded almost exclusively the trans-3,8-disubstituted nine-membered ring lactams 2 (TBS=tBuMe₂Si), independent of whether cis or trans isomers were used as starting materials. The conformation (which provided facial chirality) of the medium-sized ring controlled the regio- and diastereoselectivities of the transannular reactions that afforded indolizidinones 3 .     

Planar Chirality: Synthesis and Transannular Reactions of Unsaturated Optically Active Azoninones Bearing E-Olefins

The zwitterionic aza-Claisen rearrangement of optically active trans 4-silyloxy-2-vinylpyrrolidines and carboxylic acid fluoride generated nine-membered ring lactams with high yields. The reaction proceeded with an almost complete 1,4-chirality transfer and the exclusive generation of the E-double bond in the medium sized rings to cause additional planar chiral information. The initially formed azoninones were characterized by a pS-arrangement of the olefin with respect to the ring. The rather kinetically stable conformation underwent a flipping of the double bond to give the pR-azoninones as the thermodynamically stable products. The planar diastereomers were subjected to regio- and diastereoselective transannular ring contractions to give indolizidinones. The stereochemical outcome was strongly dependent from the planar chiral information of the double bond and the lactam unit. The so-formed optically active bicycles bearing a defined substitution pattern should serve as versatile building blocks in alkaloid synthesis.     

A method for synthesis of bicyclo[3.3.0]oct-1-en-3-ones from cyclobutanones with one-carbon ring expansion and its application to a formal synthesis of racemic 1-desoxyhypnophilin

A method for synthesis of 2-cyanobicyclo[3.3.0]oct-1-en-3-ones and 2-substituted bicyclo[3.3.0]oct-1-en-3-ones was developed by assembly of three components, cyclobutanones, chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide, and nitriles, with one-carbon ring expansion of the cyclobutane ring. As an application of this method, a formal synthesis of 1-desoxyhypnophilin in racemic form was performed starting from 3,3-di(phenylthiomethyl)cyclobutanone.     

A one-pot synthesis of 1,4-dithiins and 1,4-benzodithiins from ketones using the recyclable reagent 1,1′-(ethane-1,2-diyl)dipyridinium bistribromide (EDPBT)

A novel access to 1,4-dithiins and 1,4-benzodithiins from the corresponding ketones in one-pot using the recyclable reagent, 1,1′-(ethane-1,2-diyl)dipyridinium bistribromide (EDPBT) is described. This method is mild, simple, environmentally benign and is applied successfully for the ring expansion of 1,3-dithiolane to 1,4-dithiins and the ring expansion associated with aromatisation of cyclic ketones with or without double bonds in the ring. The main feature of this method is that EDPBT acts as a promoter in the formation of 1,3-dithiolane and as a reagent in the ring expansion step. The spent reagent can be recovered, regenerated and reused.     

A new entry to the phenanthridine ring system

A new synthesis of phenanthridine derivatives having three-point diversity has been developed based on the sequential application of three-atom economic processes viz. aza-Claisen rearrangement, ring-closing enyne metathesis and Diels–Alder reaction as key steps. An unexpected isomerisation was observed during aza-Claisen rearrangement of N-allylanilines which may open up new opportunities in heterocyclic synthesis.     

Achiral auxiliary-assisted chiral transfer via microwave-accelerated aza-Claisen rearrangement: a short synthesis of (+)-1-hydroxyquinolizidinone

A short and efficient synthesis of (+)-1-hydroxyquinolizidinone as an advanced core intermediate for the syntheses of (+)-epiquinamide, (+)-homopumiliotoxin, and (+)-lupinine is described. The key feature of our strategy includes a sequential chiral transfer using an achiral phenylsulfide auxiliary via microwave-accelerated aza-Claisen rearrangement of the unexplored N-thiophenoxyacetyl-α-vinyl piperidine substrate and the oxone-induced transannulation.     

Ring opening versus ring expansion in rearrangement of bicyclic cyclobutylcarbinyl radicals

Ring opening and expansion of multicyclic cyclobutylcarbinyl radicals provides an appealing method for the construction of heavily substituted ring systems in a stereocontrollable fashion. Here we conducted the first, systematic study on the regioselectivity in the rearrangement of various synthetically relevant cyclobutylcarbinyl radicals. It was found that a two-layer ONIOM method, namely ONIOM(QCISD(T)/6-311+G(2d,2p):B3LYP/6-311+G(2df,2p)), could accurately predict the free energy barriers of the ring openings of cyclobutylcarbinyl radicals with a precision of 0.3 kcal/mol. By using this powerful tool we found that the regiochemistry for the ring opening of monocyclic cyclobutylcarbinyl radicals could be easily predicted by the relative stability of the two possible carbon radical products. A linear correlation was found between the activation and reaction free energies. This observation indicated that the ring opening of cyclobutylcarbinyl radicals was strongly affected by the thermodynamic factors. On the basis of the above results we extended our study to the rearrangement of bicyclic cyclobutylcarbinyl radicals that could undergo both ring opening and expansion. It was found that for bicyclic cyclobutylcarbinyl radicals whose radical center was located at the bridge methyl group, ring expansion was the favored rearrangement pathway unless a strongly radical-stabilizing substituent was placed in the cyclobutyl ring adjacent to the bridge methyl group. On the other hand, for bicyclic cyclobutylcarbinyl radicals whose radical center was located at the 2-position, ring opening was the favored rearrangement pathway unless a strongly radical-stabilizing substituent was placed in the cyclobutyl ring at the bridge position.     

What accounts for the difference between singlet phenylphosphinidene and singlet phenylnitrene in reactivity toward ring expansion?

(8/8)CASSCF and (8/8)CASPT2 calculations have been performed in order to investigate the potential surface for the ring expansion of the (1)A(2) state of phenylphosphinidene (1c) to 1-phospha-1,2,4,6-cycloheptatetraene (3c). Unlike the comparable ring expansion of the (1)A(2) state of phenylnitrene (1b) to 1-aza-1,2,4,6-cycloheptatetraene (3b), ring expansion of 1c to 3c is computed to be quite endothermic. Nevertheless, cyclization of 1c, to form the bicyclic intermediate 2c in the ring expansion reaction, is computed to be only slightly more endothermic than the comparable cyclization reaction of 1b to 2b. The origins of these differences between the ring expansion reactions of 1b and 1c have been elucidated through the calculation of the energies of relevant isodesmic reactions.     

Aromatic Aza-Claisen Rearrangement of Arylpropargylammonium Salts Generated in situ from Arynes and Tertiary Propargylamines

The charge-accelerated aza-Claisen rearrangement of ammonium salts serves as a key step in the construction of complex nitrogen-containing molecules. However, much less attention has been paid to the aromatic aza-Claisen rearrangement than to the aliphatic one. Herein, we report an unprecedented aromatic aza-Claisen rearrangement of arylpropargylammonium salts, generated in situ from arynes and tertiary propargylamines, delivering structurally diverse 2-propargylanilines in moderate to good yields with high regioselectivity. This rearrangement proceeds in the absence of strong bases or transition metals, is compatible with moisture and air, tolerates a wide variety of functional groups, and is amenable to forming 11- to 13-membered heterocycles with a triple bond. The 2-propargylaniline products were treated with aluminum chloride in ethanol to afford multisubstituted indoles in moderate to excellent yields. Finally, a series of deuterium-labeling experiments was performed to elucidate the reaction mechanism.     

A new palladium(II)-catalyzed [3,3] aza-Claisen rearrangement of 3-allyloxy-5-aryl-1,2,4-oxadiazoles

A new efficient palladium(II)-catalyzed [3,3] aza-Claisen, formal sigmatropic rearrangement of 3-allyloxy-5-aryl-1,2,4-oxadiazoles was developed. The mechanism was studied by analyzing the regiochemical and stereochemical course of the reaction. The results obtained indicated the intervention of a cationic pallada-cycle similar to the one postulated for the Cope rearrangement of 1,5-dienes.     

Novel acid-catalyzed rearrangement of methanofullerenes bearing an alpha-ylidic ester to cyclopentanofullerenes: a vinyl cyclopropane-type ring expansion

A novel acid-catalyzed ring expansion of methanofullerenes bearing an alpha-ylidic ester has been investigated. Treatment of dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylate and tricycloalkylphosphine with C(60) led to the isolation of a methanofullerene ylide after passing the reaction mixtures through a basic alumina column. If the reaction mixture was passed through a silica gel column, a cyclopentanofullerene was isolated instead. These new cyclopentanofullerenes consisted of a fused cyclopentanone ring bearing an alpha-hydroxy ester and a phosphonium ylide and were confirmed by their NMR, mass, and X-ray diffraction data. The cyclopentanofullerenes were formed by the ring expansion of the corresponding methanofullerenes in the presence of silica gel. The ring expansion also proceeded by treating methanofullerene with acetic acid in chloroform. On the other hand, the methanofullerenes from RO(2)CCCCO(2)R, PAr(3), and C(60) were stable in silica gel. However, upon heating with acetic acid at 50 degrees C, they underwent ring expansion and dephosphination to give cyclopentenofullerenes. An implicit vinyl cyclopropane ring expansion mechanism was proposed to account for this novel acid-catalyzed rearrangement.     

Scope and limitations of ether-directed, metal-catalysed aza-Claisen rearrangements; improved stereoselectivity using non-coordinating solvents

In an effort to understand and enhance the stereochemical outcome of the MOM-ether directed rearrangement of allylic trichloroacetimidates we have investigated various reaction conditions for this process. A range of Pd(ii) and other metal catalysts have been shown to effectively catalyse the rearrangement providing the subsequent allylic amides in high selectivity (up to 11 : 1 ratio of diastereomers). The replacement of THF as a solvent in this reaction with non-coordinating solvents such as toluene has led to an enhancement of the directing effect resulting in a significant increase in the diastereoselective outcome (15 : 1 ratio). The reaction was also carried out for the first time, using a highly coordinating ionic solvent which disrupts binding of the Pd(ii)-catalyst to the MOM-ether yielding the allylic amide in only moderate diastereoselectivity. These results provide further evidence for the ether directed aza-Claisen rearrangement of allylic trichloroacetimidates.     

Preparation of bis[palladacycles] and application to asymmetric aza-Claisen rearrangement of allylic imidates

A variety of optically active bis[palladacycles] 1–3 were prepared from ferrocene. The synthetic application of these chiral catalysts in asymmetric aza-Claisen rearrangement of allylic imidates was carried out with high enantioselectivity.     

Explorations on the asymmetric total synthesis of isoschizogamine

Two approaches to the synthesis of isoschizogamine were reported. Both routes utilized an efficient aza-Claisen rearrangement to establish the absolute stereochemistry of the all-carbon quaternary center in the natural product. In the first approach, a highly diastereoselective (10:1) hetero-Diels-Alder reaction was utilized to reach a densely functionalized tetrahydroquinoline derivative as an advanced intermediate to the targeted alkaloid. An acylamidine intermediate was prepared and studied in the intramolecular cyclization reaction under acidic conditions in our second approach.