Diastereoselectivity in the cyclization of alkene radical cations generated under non-oxidizing conditions: contact ion pairs and memory effects

A series of highly diastereomerically enriched 1,5-dimethyl-, 2,5-dimethyl-, and 3,5-dimethyl-N-benzyl-5-nitro-4-(diphenylphosphatoxy)hexylamines were exposed to tributyltin hydride and AIBN in benzene at reflux. The ensuing reactions, interpreted in terms of radical denitration, radical ionic fragmentation, and nucleophilic substitution, lead to the formation of pyrrolidines with moderate to high diastereoselectivity. In five out of the six cases, the diastereoselectivity is best interpreted by backside attack by the amine on the initial contact ion pair generated by radical ionic fragmentation. In the exception that proves the rule, this mode of attack is disfavored by 1,3A strain in the initial contact ion pair, resulting in equilibration and subsequent attack on the opposite face.