A flexible approach toward trisubstituted piperidines and indolizidines: synthesis of 6-epi-indolizidine 223A

2,5,6-Trisubstituted piperidines are readily prepared by a combination of an aza-Achmatowicz oxidation of a furyl-substituted benzenesulfonamide followed by a conjugate addition to the resulting 2H-pyridone and subsequent addition of various nucleophiles to a transient N-sulfonyliminium ion. The stereochemistry of the conjugate addition product is the result of axial attack from the face opposite the diaxial substituents at C(2) and C(6). This can be attributed to steric hindrance between the pseudoaxially oriented 2,6-substituents and the equatorially approaching nucleophile, thereby leading to the exclusive formation of the kinetically favored axial 1,4-adduct. Indolizidine alkaloid 223A was isolated from a skin extract of a Panamanian population of the dendrobatid Dendrobates pumilio Schmidt (Dendrobatidae). Synthesis of the originally proposed structure of this alkaloid was achieved in 13 steps in 13.1% overall yield by using an aza-Achmatowicz oxidative rearrangement and a diastereoselective 1,4-conjugate addition as the key steps. The structure of the natural 223A alkaloid (5b) differs from that of the epi-isomer 5a synthesized in this study in the configuration at the 6-position of the indolizidine ring.     

Tandem Pummerer-Diels-Alder Reaction Sequence. A Novel Cascade Process for the Preparation of 1-Arylnaphthalene Lignans

The alpha-thiocarbocation generated from the Pummerer reaction of an o-benzoyl-substituted sulfoxide is intercepted by the adjacent keto group to produce an alpha-thio isobenzofuran as a transient intermediate which undergoes a subsequent Diels-Alder cycloaddition with added dienophiles. Acid-catalyzed ring-opening of the cycloadduct followed by aromatization gave an arylnaphthalene derivative. With acetylenic dienophiles, the tandem cyclization-cycloaddition sequence provided tetralones which result from a pinacol-type rearrangement of the primary cycloadducts. The versatility of the approach is highlighted through the synthesis of taiwanin C and E and justicidin E. The alpha-thiocarbocation generated from the Pummerer reaction of benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-yl-[6-[(ethylsulfinyl)methyl]benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-yl)methanone is intercepted by the adjacent keto group to produce an alpha-thioisobenzofuran as a transient intermediate which undergoes a subsequent Diels-Alder cycloaddition with dimethyl maleate. The initially formed Diels-Alder cycloadduct was readily converted to 5-benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-yl-8-(ethylthio)naphtho[2,3-d][1,3]dioxole-6,7-dicarboxylic acid dimethyl ester by loss of water on treatment with p-toluenesulfonic acid. Desulfurization of the thionaphthalene with Ra/Ni followed by hydrolysis of the less hindered methyl ester afforded 5-benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-ylnaphtho[2,3-d][1,3]dioxole-6,7-dicarboxylic acid 6-methyl ester which was further transformed into taiwanin C and justicidin E in good yield. Oxidation of the initial Diels-Alder cycloadduct with NaIO(4) in the presence of RuCl(3) followed by extrusion of ethyl sulfinate gave a naphthol derivative which can be converted into taiwanin E.     

The Domino Way to Heterocycles

Sequential transformations enable the facile synthesis of complex target molecules from simple building blocks in a single preparative step. Their value is amplified if they also create multiple stereogenic centers. In the ongoing search for new domino processes, emphasis is usually placed on sequential reactions which occur cleanly and without forming by-products. As a prerequisite for an ideally proceeding one-pot sequential transformation, the reactivity pattern of all participating components has to be such that each building block gets involved in a reaction only when it is supposed to do so. The development of sequences that combine transformations of fundamentally different mechanisms broadens the scope of such procedures in synthetic chemistry. This mini review contains a representative sampling from the last 15 years on the kinds of reactions that have been sequenced into cascades to produce heterocyclic molecules.     

Intramolecular amidofuran cycloadditions across an indole pi-bond: an efficient approach to the aspidosperma and strychnos ABCE core

[reaction: see text] The intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction between an amidofuran moiety tethered onto an indole component was examined as a strategy for the synthesis of Aspidosperma and Strychnos alkaloids. Furanyl carbamate 13 was acylated using the mixed anhydride 16 to provide amidofuran 12 in 68% yield. Further N-acylation of this indole furnished 17 in 88% yield. Cyclization precursors were prepared by removing the carbamate moiety followed by N-alkylation with the appropriate alkyl halides. Thermolysis of 25 provided the novel tetracyclic ketone 26 in 74% yield.     

The photosensitized rearrangement of aryl-substituted tricyclo[2.2.0.02,6]hexanes to bicyclo[3.1.0]hex-2-enes

The triplet sensitized irradiation of 3-allyl-diaryl-substituted cyclopropenes to bicyclo[3.1.0]hex-2-enes proceeds via an intramolecular [2+2]-cycloaddition followed by a subsequent rearrangement of the initially formed tricyclo[2.2.0.0^2,6]hexane skeleton.     

Stereochemical aspects of the iodine(III)-mediated aziridination reaction of some cyclic allylic carbamates

[reaction: see text] The iodine(III)-mediated aziridination reaction of an indolyl-substituted carbamate requires a Rh(II) catalyst and proceeds by a metallonitrene intermediate. Stepwise addition across the indole pi-bond followed by Rh(II) detachment generates a metal-free zwitterion, which ultimately leads to the observed products. In contrast, intramolecular aziridination of several cycloalkenyl carbamates does not require a Rh(II) catalyst and occurs via an iminoiodinane intermediate.     

Photochromism in the arylaroylaziridine system

Photochromism of a number of arylaroylaziridines has been observed in the solid state or in the rigid matrix. The photochromic behavior is dependent on the intensity of the incident radiation, the reaction medium, the wavelength of light used and on the relationship of the substituents on the three-membered ring. From the visible absorption spectra it is clear that cis-arylaroylaziridines give different colored species than do the trans isomers. These results suggest that the coloration is due to an extensive electrical interaction between the bent bonds of the aziridine ring and the π orbitals of the benzoyl and phenyl groups. Attempts to trap the colored species by co-irradiation with substrates containing a multiple bond failed. A reaction has been found to occur upon heating various arylaroylaziridines with dimethylacetylene dicarboxylate in inert solvents.     

Total Synthesis of the Alkaloid (±)‐Aspidophytine Based on Carbonyl Ylide Cycloaddition Chemistry

The Rh^II‐catalyzed cycloaddition cascade of an indolyl‐substituted α‐diazo imide was used for the total synthesis of the complex pentacyclic alkaloid (±)‐aspidophytine. Treatment of the resulting dipolar cycloadduct with BF₃?OEt₂ induces a domino fragmentation cascade. The reaction proceeds by an initial cleavage of the oxabicyclic ring and formation of a transient N‐acyl iminium ion which reacts further with the adjacent tert‐butyl ester and sets the required lactone ring present in aspidophytine. A three‐step sequence was then used to remove both the ester and OH groups. Subsequent functional group manipulations allowed for the high‐yielding conversion to (±)‐aspidophytine.     

An Approach Toward Oxidopyrylium Ylides Using Rh(II)-Catalyzed Cyclization Chemistry

The Rh(II)-catalyzed reaction of the E-isomer of 2-diazo-3,6-dioxo-6-phenyl-hex-enoic acid methyl ester was carried out in the presence of various carbonyl compounds and was found to give 1,3-dioxoles in moderate to good yield. In an attempt to prepare the starting α-diazo substrate, an unexpected pseudo-dimerization reaction was encountered when 5-phenyl-furan-2,3-dione was heated in the presence of sodium methoxide.