Regioselective Electrophilic Additions of Bicyclo[2.2.n]alk-2-enes Controlled by Remote Epoxide Functions

The electrophilic additions of 2-nitrobenzenesulfenyl chloride to (1RS,2SR,4RS)-spiro[bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-2,2′-oxirane] ( 12 ) and (1RS,2SR,4RS)-spiro[bicyclo[2.2.2]oct-5-ene-2,2′-oxirane] ( 14 ) were not regioselective under condition of kinetic control. However, good regioselectivity was observed for the addition of 2-nitro-benzenesulfenyl chloride to (1RS,2RS,4RS)-spiro[bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-2,2′-oxirane] ( 13 ), giving (1RS,2SR,4SR,5RS,6RS)-6-exo-(2-nitrophenylthio)spiro[bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-2.2′-oxirane]-5-endo-yl chloride ( 24 ) and for the exo addition to (1RS,2RS.4RS)-spiro[bicyclo[2.2.2]oct05-ene-2,2′-oxirane] ( 15 ), giving preferntially (1RS,2SR,4SR,5RS,6 RS)-6-exo-(2-nitrophenylthio) spiro[bicyxlo[2.2.2]octane-2,2′-oxirane]-5-endo-yl chloride ( 30 ). The facial selectivity (electrophilic exo vs. endo attack on the bucyclic alkene) depended on the relative configuration of the spiroepoxide ring in the bicyclo[2.2.2]octenes 14 and 15 . The exo-epoxide 14 was attacked preferentially (6:1) on the endo face by sulfenyl whereas exo attack was preferred (7:2) in the case of the endo-epoxide 15 . No products resulting from transannular ring expansion of the spiro-epoxide moieties could be detected.