Tandem formation and [2,3] rearrangement of methylene ammonium ylides derived from amines and the Simmons-Smith reagent

[reaction: see text] Zinc-complexed methylene ammonium ylides are formed from tertiary amines and the Simmons-Smith reagent. These stable entities can be activated with n-BuLi to allow reactions typical of ammonium ylides such as [2,3] rearrangements. In the case of oxazolidine 12, ylide formation, activation, and subsequent [2,3] rearrangement was highly efficient and occurred with very high diastereoselectivity.     

1,2]- or [2,3]-rearrangement of onium ylides of allyl and benzyl ethers and sulfides via in situ-generated iodonium ylides

Iodonium ylides, generated in situ with bisacetoxyiodobenzene, are converted to allyl- or benzyl-substituted oxonium or sulfonium ylides via rhodium- or copper-catalyzed carbene transfer. Except for the S-benzyl example, the resulting ylides undergo rearrangement to the corresponding 2-substituted heterocycles. This demonstrates the first use of iodonium ylides as diazoketone surrogates for the generation and rearrangement of onium ylide intermediates. This abbreviated one-step method proceeds in comparable yields relative to the corresponding two-step route employing diazoketone intermediates.     

Catalytic Wittig Reactions of Semi‐ and Nonstabilized Ylides Enabled by Ylide Tuning

The first examples of catalytic Wittig reactions with semistabilized and nonstabilized ylides are reported. These reactions were enabled by utilization of a masked base, sodium tert‐butyl carbonate, and/or ylide tuning. The acidity of the ylide‐forming proton was tuned by varying the electron density at the phosphorus center in the precatalyst, thus facilitating the use of relatively mild bases. Steric modification of the precatalyst structure resulted in significant enhancement of E selectivity up to >95:5, E/Z.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Asymmetric [4+3] Cyclization of Trimethylenemethane: Regio‐, Diastereo‐, and Enantioselective Construction of Benzofuro[3,2‐b]azepine Skeletons

The palladium‐catalyzed asymmetric [4+3] cyclization of trimethylenemethane donors with benzofuran‐derived azadienes furnishes chiral benzofuro[3,2‐b]azepine frameworks in high yields (up to 98 %) with exclusive regioselectivities and excellent stereoselectivities (up to >20:1 d.r., >99 % ee). This catalytic asymmetric [4+3] cyclization of Pd‐trimethylenemethane can enrich the arsenal of Pd‐TMM reactions in organic synthesis. In addition, this strategy provides an alternative approach to chiral azepines by a transition‐metal‐catalyzed asymmetric [4+3] cyclization.     

Catalytic Asymmetric [ 2,3 ] -Sigmatropic Rearrangement of Sulfur Ylides Generated from Carbenoids

The catalytic asymmetric reactions of oxygen or sulfur ylides generated from carbenoids have attracted consider able attention in recent years. High enantioselectivities have been achieved in the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions and [ 2,3 ]-sigmatropic rearrangement of oxygen ylides. In contrast to the oxygen ylide, the corresponding catalytic asymmetric reaction of sulfur ylide is less developed. Compared to oxygen ylides, the sulfur ylides are more stable and experimental evidence supports a free ylide rather than a metal-bound ylide as reaction intermediate. That means the enantio-control must be in the step of the ylide formation. If the subsequent reaction such as [ 2,3 ]-sigmatropic rearrangement or 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition is a concerted process and is faster than the racemization of the chiral ylide intermediate, then the catalytic asymmetric sulfur ylide reaction will be possible.     

Asymmetric Synthesis of Enantioenriched 2‐Aryl‐2,3‐Dihydrobenzofurans by a Lewis Acid Catalyzed Cyclopropanation/Intramolecular Rearrangement Sequence

A cyclopropanation/intramolecular rearrangement initiated by the Michael addition of in situ generated ortho‐quinone methides (o‐QMs) has been developed for the enantioselective synthesis of 2‐aryl‐2,3‐dihydrobenzofurans containing two consecutive stereogenic centers, including a quaternary carbon atom. In the presence of a chiral oxazaborolidinium ion catalyst, the reaction proceeded in excellent yields (up to 95 %) with excellent stereoselectivity (up to >99 ee, up to >20:1 d.r.).     

Ruthenium porphyrin catalyzed tandem sulfonium/ammonium ylide formation and [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement. A concise synthesis of (+/-)-platynecine

meso-Tetrakis(p-tolyl)porphyrinatoruthenium(II) carbonyl, [Ru(II)(TTP)(CO)], can effect intermolecular sulfonium and ammonium ylide formation by catalytic decomposition of diazo compounds such as ethyl diazoacetate (EDA) in the presence of allyl sulfides and amines. Exclusive formation of [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement products (70-80% yields) was observed without [1,2]-rearrangement products being detected. The Ru-catalyzed reaction of EDA with disubstituted allyl sulfides such as crotyl sulfide produced an equimolar mixture of anti- and syn-2-(ethylthio)-3-methyl-4-pentenoic acid ethyl ester. The analogous "EDA + N,N-dimethylcrotylamine" reaction afforded a mixture of anti- and syn-2-(N,N-dimethylamino)-3-methyl-4-pentenoic acid ethyl esters with a diastereoselectivity of 3:1. The observed catalytic activity of [Ru(II)(TTP)(CO)] for the ylide [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement is comparable to the reported examples involving [Rh(2)(CH(3)CO(2))(4)] and [Cu(acac)(2)] as catalyst. Similarly, cyclic sulfonium and ammonium ylides can be produced by intramolecular reaction of a diazo group tethered to allyl sulfides and amines under the [Ru(II)(TTP)(CO)]-catalyzed reaction conditions. The subsequent [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement of the cyclic ylides furnished 2-allyl-substituted sulfur and nitrogen heterocycles in good yields (>90%). By employing [Ru(II)(TTP)(CO)] as catalyst, the cyclic ammonium ylide [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement reaction was successfully applied for the total synthesis of (+/-)-platynecine starting from cis-2-butenediol.     

Efficient synthesis of substituted 1‐dimethylamino or 1‐methylthio but‐3‐enylidene‐bis‐phosphonates,via the [2,3]‐sigmatropic rearrangement of related transient ammonium or sulfonium ylides

New variously substituted 1‐dimethylamino or 1‐methylthio but‐3‐enylidene‐bis‐phosphonates have been prepared from readily availableα‐dimethylamino or α‐methylthio methylene‐bis‐phosphonates by postulated [2,3]‐Wittig rearrangements of the corresponding N‐ or S‐allylic intermediate ylides. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 10: 281–289, 1999     

Hydrogen‐Bond‐Mediated Asymmetric Cascade Reaction of Stable Sulfur Ylides with Nitroolefins: Scope,Application and Mechanism

A hydrogen‐bond‐mediated asymmetric [4+1] annulation/rearrangement cascade of stable sulfur ylides and nitroolefins was developed. This reaction provides a facile route to enantioenriched 4,5‐substituted oxazolidinones in moderate to excellent isolated yields (65–96 %) with excellent stereocontrol (up to more than 95:5 d.r. and 97:3 e.r.). This methodology was successfully applied to the concise synthesis of two bioactive molecules. The stereocontrolled modes and mechanism have been proposed to explain the origin of this stereochemistry.     

Polycyclic N‐Heterocyclic Compounds. Part 78: Synthesis of N‐[2‐([1,2,4]Oxadiazol‐5‐yl)cyclohepten‐1‐yl]formamide Oximes and Their Evaluation as Inhibitors of Platelet Aggregation

N‐[2‐([1,2,4]Oxadiazol‐5‐yl)cyclohepten‐1‐yl]formamide oximes were synthesized by fusion of (6,7,8,9‐tetrahydro‐5H‐cyclohepta[1,2‐d]pyrimidin‐4‐yl)amidines with hydroxylamine hydrochloride through a subsequent rearrangement reaction. Effects of the products as well as the structurally related N‐[4‐([1,2,4]oxadiazol‐5‐yl)‐2,3‐dihydro[1]benzoxepin‐5‐yl]formamide oximes and N‐[4‐([1,2,4]oxadiazol‐5‐yl)‐2,3‐dihydro[1]benzothiepin‐5‐yl]formamide oximes on platelet aggregation were evaluated.     

Catalytic Asymmetric [3+1]‐Cycloaddition Reaction of Ylides with Electrophilic Metallo‐enolcarbene Intermediates

The first asymmetric [3+1]‐cycloaddition was successfully achieved by copper(I) triflate/double‐sidearmed bisoxazoline complex catalyzed reactions of β‐triisopropylsilyl‐substituted enoldiazo compounds with sulfur ylides. This methodology delivered a series of chiral cyclobutenes in good yields with high enantio‐ and diastereoselectivities (up to 99 % ee , and >20:1 d.r.). Additionally, the [3+1]‐cycloaddition of catalytically generated metallo‐enolcarbenes was successfully extended to reaction with a stable benzylidene dichlororuthenium complex.     

A facile diastereoselective synthesis of functionalized 1,2,3-trisubstituted benzocyclopentenes through the cycloaddition of bis(phenylsulfonyl)iodonium ylides to cyclic alkenes

The thermal cycloaddition of beta-disulfonyl iodonium ylides to cyclic alkenes affords exclusively 1,2,3-trisubstituted cis(1,2)/cis(2,3)-configured benzocyclopentenes by an electrophilic attack of the ylide on the olefinic double bond. This unsual transformation provides a convenient and direct method for the diastereoselective synthesis of functionalized bicyclo[3.3.0]octanes (characteristic structural units contained in polyquinane natural products), when cyclopentenes are used as cycloalkene partner.     

Competing Rearrangements of Ammonium Ylides: A Quantum Theoretical Study

The competition between the Stevens [1,2] and Sommelet-Hauser [2,3] rearrangements for a prototype ylide, N-methyl-3-propenylammonium methylide, has been investigated using ab initio and semiempirical molecular orbital methods. The activation energies for the two processes are remarkably close, separated by only 2 kJ mol(-)(1) at ROMP/6-311+G(d,p). Increasing the size of the basis set leads to a relative stabilization of the Sommelet-Hauser transition geometry, while higher levels of electron correlation (such as CCSD(T)) favor the Stevens rearrangement. Incorporation of solvent effects via the SCRF polarizable continuum model leads to a lowering of the energy barrier of the concerted [2,3] rearrangement, but has little effect on the dissociative [1,2] pathway. The activation energies of both pathways have been calculated for ylides bearing substituents on the ammonium nitrogen and the double bond. Substituents at nitrogen lead to an ylide which is sterically unstable and hence a preference for the dissociative [1,2] rearrangement. Electron-withdrawing substituents on the double bond show a preference for the [2,3] rearrangement, while mildly electron-donating alkyl substituents have very little effect on activation energies.     

Syntheses of 2,3‐dicyano‐5a,8a‐dihydro‐5a‐hydroxycyclopentano[1′,2′:4,5]pyrrolo[2,3‐b]pyrazines and 2,3‐dicyanocyclohexano[1′,2′:4,5]pyrrolo‐[2,3‐b]pyrazines

Previously synthesized 2‐(3′‐chloro‐5′,6′‐dicyanopyrazin‐2′‐yl)cyclopentan‐1‐one 1 , obtained from the reaction of 2,3‐dichloro‐5,6‐dicyanopyrazine with 1‐pyrrolidino‐1‐cyclopentene, was further reacted with primary alkylamines to give mixtures of diastereomer of 5‐alkyl‐2,3‐dicyano‐5a,8a‐dihy‐dro‐5a‐hydroxycyclopentano[1′,2′:4,5]pyrrolo[2,3‐b]pyrazines 3a‐h in high yield. The reaction of 2‐alkylamino‐3‐chloro‐5,6‐dicyanopyrazine with 1‐pyrrolidino‐1‐cyclohexene gave 5‐alkyl‐2,3‐dicyanocyclopentano[1′,2′:4,5]pyrrolo[2,3‐b]pyrazines 5a‐b together with 5‐alkylamino‐2,3‐dicyano‐6‐pyrrolidinopyrazines 6a‐b . The products prepared are all of interest as potential pesticides and new fluorescent chromophores.     

Chiral N,O‐Ligand/[Cu(OAc)2]‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Construction of 4‐Aminopyrrolidine Derivatives by 1,3‐Dipolar Cycloaddition of Azomethine Ylides with α‐Phthalimidoacrylates

A protocol to access useful 4‐aminopyrrolidine‐2,4‐dicarboxylate derivatives has been developed. A variety of chiral N,O‐ligands derived from 2,3‐dihydroimidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine motifs have been evaluated in the asymmetric 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides to α‐phthalimidoacrylates. Reactions catalyzed by copper in combination with ligand 7‐Cl‐DHIPOH provided the highest level of stereoselectivity for the 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition reaction. The reaction tolerates both β‐substituted and β‐unsubstituted α‐phthalimidoacrylate as dipolarophiles, affording the corresponding quaternary 4‐aminopyrrolidine cycloadducts with excellent diastereo‐ (>98:2 d.r.) and enantioselectivities (up to 97 % ee). Removal of the phthalimido protecting group can be accomplished by a simple NaBH₄ reduction. Theoretical calculations employing DFT methods show this cycloaddition reaction is likely to proceed through a stepwise mechanism and the stereochemistry was also theoretically rationalized.     

Synthesis of Dispiro[indole‐3,2′‐pyrrolidine‐3′,2″‐pyrrolizine]‐1″,2(1H)‐diones via Azomethine Ylide 1,3‐Dipolar Cycloaddition

The 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylide generated in situ from isatin and sarcosine to 2‐arylmethylidene‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrrolizin‐1‐ones afforded novel 1′‐methyl‐4′‐(aryl)‐1″H‐dispiro[indole‐3,2′‐pyrrolidine‐3′,2″‐pyrrolizine]‐1″,2(1H)‐diones in good yields. The structures of all the products were characterized thoroughly by NMR, infrared spectroscopy, mass spectrum, and elemental analysis.     

Catalytic Asymmetric Synthesis of [2,3]‐Fused Indoline Heterocycles through Inverse‐Electron‐Demand Aza‐Diels–Alder Reaction of Indoles with Azoalkenes

An unprecedented catalytic asymmetric inverse‐electron‐demand aza‐Diels–Alder reaction of indoles with in situ formed azoalkenes is reported. A diverse set of [2,3]‐fused indoline heterocycles were achieved in generally good yields (up to 97 %) with high regioselectivity and diastereoselectivity (>20:1 d.r.), and with excellent enantioselectivity (up to 99 % ee).     

Dipolar Cycloaddition Reactions of Azomethine Ylides Generated by endocyclic‐exocyclic 1,3‐dipole Rearrangement

Dipolar cycloaddition of polycyclic azomethine ylides, in which the central nitrogen atom is part of a pyrrolidine ring and bears a methoxycarbonyl group with norbornenes has been shown to produce two main types of products featuring pyrrolizidine rings. In conjuction with results of quantum chemical calculations (B3LYP), mechanistic rationale was postulated. The key reaction step is unprecedented endocyclic to exocyclic azomethine ylide rearrangement by an intermolecular prototropic migration (formal [1,3] H‐shift).     

Highly Efficient and Diastereoselective Construction of Tricyclic Pyrrolidine‐Fused Benzo[b]thiophene 1,1‐dioxide Derivatives via 1,3‐Dipolar [3 + 2] Cycloaddition

A rapid and highly efficient 1,3‐dipolar [3 + 2] cycloaddition of nonstabilized azomethine ylides generated in situ with benzo[b]thiophene 1,1‐dioxides as the dipolarophiles has been developed. The efficient method affords tricyclic pyrrolidine‐fused benzo[b]thiophene 1,1‐dioxide derivatives in high to excellent yields (up to 99%) with excellent diastereoselectivities (up to >25:1 dr) under mild reaction conditions. The structure of a typical product was confirmed by X‐ray crystallography.     

Synthesis of Substituted Pyrido[1,2-a]benzimidazoles by Ruthenium-Catalyzed C−H Bond Activation and Tandem Cyclization of 2-Arylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines with Iodonium Ylides

Ruthenium-catalyzed C−H bond activation and tandem cyclization of 2-arylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines with iodonium ylides proceed efficiently. For the first time, the easily available iodonium ylides and inexpensive ruthenium complex were employed to synthesize pyrido[1,2-a]benzimidazole derivatives in good yields under simple and easy-to-operate conditions. Several primary mechanism investigations and synthetic applications involving gram-scale preparation, derivatization reactions and the transformation of iodonium ylide generated in situ have also been conducted.