Copper-catalyzed aerobic [3+2]-annulation of N-alkenyl amidines

A method for the synthesis of bi- and tricyclic amidines has been developed through copper-catalyzed aerobic [3+2]-annulation reaction of N-alkenyl amidines. These cyclic amidines could be converted into mono-benzyl-protected vicinal diamines by the reduction with aluminum hydride.     

Total synthesis of asimicin via highly stereoselective [3 + 2] annulation reactions of substituted allylsilanes

A highly stereoselective total synthesis of (+)-asimicin (1) is reported. The synthesis features two chelate-controlled [3 + 2] annulation reactions-one of which (e.g., 2 + 3) constitutes a key, convergent fragment assembly step-that establish all of the stereochemistry of the bis-tetrahydrofuran unit of the natural product.     

Highly regioselective construction of spirocycles via phosphine-catalyzed [3 + 2]-cycloaddition

A direct entry to spirocycles with low to moderate regioselectivity was achieved by triphenylphosphine-catalyzed [3 + 2]-cycloaddition of active exo-methylenecycles (1) and ethyl 2,3-butadienoate (2). The regioselectivity of the reaction was greatly improved by using the bulky tert-butyl ester of the 2,3-butadienoate (5). The regioselectivity of the reaction was further enhanced by using the tert-butyl 2-butynoate as the substrate. This protocol provided an efficient entry to the skeleton of spirocarbocycles, especially spiro[4.n]alkanes.     

Phenanthridine synthesis via [2+2+2] cyclotrimerization reactions

A concise synthesis of phenanthridines via a microwave-assisted [2+2+2] cyclotrimerization reaction has been developed.     

Synthesis of azepines by a gold-catalyzed intermolecular [4 + 3]-annulation

A convenient gold(III)-catalyzed synthesis of azepines from the intermolecular annulation of propargyl esters and alpha,beta-unsaturated imines is reported (19 examples, 55-95% yield). This formal [4 + 3]-cycloaddition reaction is proposed to proceed via a stepwise process involving intramolecular trapping of an allyl-gold intermediate.     

Highly facile and stereoselective intramolecular [2 +2]photocycloadditions of bis(alkenoyl)ketenedithioacetals

The conformational change induced by the introduction of a ketenedithioacetal moiety at C-4 of 1,7-substituted-1,6-heptadiene-3,5-diones results in favorable spatial relationships between the alkenoyl groups to effect efficient intramolecular cycloadditions: irradiation of bis(alkenoyl)ketenedithioacetals in solution leads to facile and stereospecific intramolecular [2 + 2] photocycloadditions resulting in the formation of substituted bicyclo[3.2.0]heptane-2,4-diones, the observed conformational rigidity of which is attributed to the push-pull character of the ketenedithioacetal group.     

Formal [4 + 1]- and [5 + 1]-annulation by an S(N)2-conjugate addition sequence: stereoselective synthesis of highly substituted carbocycles

K(2)CO(3)-mediated reactions of 6-bromo-2-hexenoates and 7-bromo-2-heptenoate with active methylene compounds deliver highly substituted cyclopentane and cyclohexane derivatives, respectively via a sequence of S(N)2-conjugate addition reactions (formal [4 + 1]- and [5 + 1]-annulation) in a diastereoselective manner.     

Synthesis of anthracene and azaanthracene fluorophores via [2+2+2] cyclotrimerization reactions

A highly convergent [2+2+2] cyclotrimerization approach to anthracenes and 2-azaanthracenes has been developed. It allows for the facile introduction of the anthracene moiety on alkyne and nitrile bearing molecules and the rapid construction of compound arrays. This is showcased in the assembly of a collection of fluorophores and their photochemical evaluation.     

Catalytic [2+2] and [3+2] cycloaddition reactions of allenoates with cyclic ketimines

Cyclic ketimines as electrophiles for [2+2] and [3+2] cycloaddition reactions of allenoates have been developed, affording functionalized sultam-fused azetidines and dihydropyrroles, respectively, in good yields with high regioselectivities.     

Organotransition metal [3+2] cycloaddition reactions

The review, covering the literature of roughly the last three decades, describes the [3+2] cycloaddition reactions of metalla dipolarophiles M=X with organic 1,3-dipoles, and of metalla 1,3-dipoles, M---X=Y and X---M=Y, with organic dipolarophiles. The resulting 5-membered metalla heterocycles can undergo consecutive insertion and/or reductive elimination reactions to give synthetically interesting organic heterocycles. The reactivity of the organometal 1,3-dipoles is explained by extensive series of isolobal transformations to classic organic 1,3-dipoles.     

Stereoselective synthesis of functionalized pyrrolidines via a [3 + 2]-annulation of N-Ts-alpha-amino aldehydes and 1,3-Bis(silyl)propenes

An efficient protocol for stereoselective synthesis of densely functionalized pyrrolidines by a [3 + 2]-annulation of N-Ts-alpha-amino aldehydes and 1,3-bis(silyl)propenes is described.     

Highly stereoselective synthesis of 1,3-aminoalcohols via Mannich reactions

Diastereoselective synthesis of β-amino ketones by a one-pot Mannich reaction and their subsequent reduction afforded sterically congested enantiomerically pure 1,3-aminoalcohols in high diastereoselectivity: dr up to >98:<2 over two steps. The absolute configurations of the newly created stereogenic centers were assigned by NMR spectroscopy and chemical correlation.     

Functionalized cyclobutenes via multicomponent thermal [2 + 2] cycloaddition reactions

[reaction: see text] Enamine [2 + 2] cycloadditions can be achieved in useful yields simply by stirring a mixture of an aldehyde, diethylamine, a dialkyl fumarate, and potassium carbonate in acetonitrile at 25 degrees C, conditions that are compatible with the presence of a potential leaving group on the beta-position of the intermediate enamine. Methylation and elimination of the product cyclobutanes completes a mild nonphotochemical route to functionalized cyclobutenes.     

Total syntheses of chelidonine and norchelidonine via an enamide-benzyne-[2 + 2] cycloaddition cascade

Total syntheses of chelidonine and norchelidonine featuring an enamide-benzyne-[2 + 2] cycloaddition initiated cascade is described. The cascade includes a pericyclic ring-opening and intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction.     

An expedient approach for the regio- and stereoselective synthesis of novel spiroindolizidines via [3+2] cycloaddition

A new series of spiroindolizidines was synthesized by one-pot, three-component condensation of azomethine ylides, generated from 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline with ninhydrin or isatin derivatives by a 1,5-prototropic shift route, with various derivatives of trans-β-nitrostyrene in a regio- and stereoselective manner. X-ray crystal structure analysis and NMR spectroscopic data confirmed the structure outcome of the cycloaddition reaction.     

Efficient stereoselective syntheses of cyclic amino acids via Michael-induced ring-closing reactions

[reaction: see text] Zn-chelated glycine ester enolates are highly efficient nucleophiles for the synthesis of trans-methoxycarbonylcyclopropyl- and cyclobutylglycines by domino sequences of Michael additions and subsequent ring closures. They react to give the anti isomers with high yields and excellent diastereoselectivities.     

Phosphine-catalyzed cascade [3 + 2] cyclization-allylic alkylation, [2 + 2 + 1] annulation, and [3 + 2] cyclization reactions between allylic carbonates and enones

The phosphine-catalyzed annulations between Morita-Baylis-Hillman adduct carbonates and enones are reported. Under the catalysis of PBu(3) (20 mol %), cascade [3 + 2] cyclization-allylic alkylation, [2 + 2 + 1] annulation, and [3 + 2] cyclization reactions chemoselectively occur depending on the substituent variation of both the carbonate and enone. These reactions provide efficient syntheses of highly functionalized cyclopentenes and cyclopentanes.     

Gold-catalyzed formal [3 + 3] and [4 + 2] cycloaddition reactions of nitrosobenzenes with alkenylgold carbenoids

We report two new formal cycloaddition reactions between nitrosobenzenes and alkenylgold carbenoids. We obtained quinoline oxides 3 in satisfactory yields from the gold-catalyzed [3 + 3]-cycloadditions between nitrosobenzenes and alkenyldiazo esters 1. For propargyl esters 5, its resulting gold carbenes react with nitrosobenzene to give alkenylimine 8, followed by a [4 + 2]-cycloaddition with nitrosobenzene.     

Palladium-catalyzed asymmetric [3 + 2] trimethylenemethane cycloaddition reactions

Transition-metal-catalyzed trimethylenemethane (TMM) [3 + 2] cycloadditions provide direct routes to functionalized cyclopentanes. This reaction has been shown to be a highly chemo-, regio-, and diastereoselective process. We report a palladium-catalyzed asymmetric [3 + 2] trimethylenemethane (TMM) cycloaddition between 3-acetoxy-2-trimethylsilylmethyl-1-propene and various di- and trisubstituted olefins. Yields of exo-methylenecyclopentane products range from 59 to 99%, and enantiomeric excesses range from 58 to 92% ee.