Thermal and catalyzed [3,3]-phosphorimidate rearrangements

[3,3]-Sigmatropic rearrangements have been widely utilized for the synthesis of structurally complex organic molecules because of the ease with which carbon-carbon bonds are formed in a regio- and stereocontrolled manner. However, there are far fewer [3,3]-rearrangements available for the selective formation of carbon-nitrogen bonds despite the enormous potential of such reactions for the preparation of stereodefined allylic amines. We describe here the scope and mechanism of a [3,3]-rearrangement of allylic phosphorimidates that provides access to stereodefined allylic amines of diverse structure. The reactive intermediate in the reaction, an allylic phosphorimidate, is produced in situ through the combination of readily available starting materials (allylic alcohols, chlorophosphites, and organic azides), rendering the reaction an efficient three-component process. Analogous to other [3,3]-rearrangements, the stereochemistry in an allylic alcohol starting material is transferred with fidelity to the allylic amine product and, further, allylic amines are produced as single olefin isomers. In addition, a crossover experiment indicates that the rearrangement is an intramolecular process. Finally, activation of the allylic moiety either through incorporation of electron-deficient functional groups or through the use of a transition-metal catalyst significantly facilitates the reaction and consequently the preparation of a wider range of substitution patterns.     

A phosphorimidate rearrangement for the facile and selective preparation of allylic amines

Allylic phosphorimidates, readily prepared from the combination of an allylic alcohol, an azide, and a chlorophosphite, undergo [3,3]-rearrangement under thermal conditions to provide single isomers of allylic phosphoramidates. This new rearrangement is tolerant of a range of substitution patterns on the reactants. Treatment of the products of the rearrangement with ethanethiolate followed by acid produces a protected allylic amine. This strategy thus provides an attractive and versatile procedure for the preparation of key synthetic intermediates, allylic amines.