Studies on the factors controlling the stereoselectivity in electrophilic iodocyclization of alkylidenecyclopropyl ketones

An efficient electrophilic iodocyclization of alkylidenecyclopropyl ketones with N-iodosuccinimide (NIS) or I₂ in aqueous CH₃CN affording 3-oxabicyclo3.1.0]hexan-2-ols is described. NIS is a better electrophilic iodocyclization reagent than I₂. Four chiral centers were formed within one step. The stereochemistry was established by the X-ray diffraction studies of compounds 2e-2h, 2n, and 2c. It is quite interesting to observe that the substituent of the cyclopropane ring plays an important role in determining the relative stereochemistry at the 4-position: with R² being an acyl or ester group a mixture of (1S^∗,2R^∗,4S^∗,5R^∗)-2 (major) and (1R^∗,2R^∗,4R^∗,5R^∗)-2 (minor) was formed with moderate selectivity while the reaction of the substrates with R² being sulfonyl and p-methylphenylsulfonyl or R¹ being phenyl afforded (1R^∗,2R^∗,4S^∗,5S^∗)-2 or (1S^∗,2R^∗,4S^∗,5R^∗)-2f as the only product. The reaction is general for a range of different substrates to afford the products in moderate to high yields.