ABSTRACT
[reaction: see text] The intramolecular Friedel-Crafts acylation of aromatics with Meldrum's acid derivatives catalyzed by metal trifluoromethanesulfonates is reported. Meldrum's acids are easily prepared, functionalized, handled, and purified. The synthesis of polysubstituted 1-indanones from benzyl Meldrum's acids was investigated thoroughly, and it was shown that a variety of catalysts were effective, while accommodating a diversity of functional groups under mild conditions. The scope, limitations, and functional group tolerance (terminal alkene and alkyne, ketal, dialkyl ether, dialkyl thioether, aryl methyl ether, aryl TIPS and TBDPS ethers, nitrile- and nitro-substituted aryls, alkyl and aryl halides) for a variety of 5-benzyl (enolizable Meldrum's acids) and 5-benzyl-5-substituted Meldrum's acids (quaternized Meldrum's acids), forming 1-indanones and 2-substituted-1-indanones, respectively, are delineated. This method was further applied to the synthesis of 1-tetralones, 1-benzosuberones, and the potent acetylcholinesterase inhibitor donepezil. Rate of cyclization as a function of ring size was established for various benzocyclic ketones via competition experiments: 1-tetralones form faster than both 1-indanones and 1-benzosuberones, and 1-benzosuberones cyclize faster than 1-indanones.
ABSTRACT
A one-pot, two-step process that transforms terminal alkynes into ethyl methyl-substituted benzylic quaternary carbon centers is described. (E)-2,2-Disubstituted-1-alkenyldimethylalanes have been shown to participate in 1,2-alkyl migration from aluminum to carbon with concomitant arylation at the 2-position to furnish ethyl methyl-substituted benzylic quaternary carbon centers, when reacted intramolecularly with aryl halides and triflates in the presence of a Pd(0) catalyst. The protocol is initiated with Cp2ZrCl2-catalyzed methylalumination of terminal alkynes followed by palladium-catalyzed intramolecular arylation of the resulting (E)-2,2-disubstituted-1-alkenyldimethylalanes, leading to 1,2-methyl shift from aluminum to carbon. In that sequence, a total of three new C-C single bonds are made, and two of the three alkyl groups on Me3Al transferred to the substrate on vicinal carbons. This method was applied to a variety of substrates, and the mechanism was investigated by deuterium-labeling experiments, which revealed that protodealumination of the final dialkylaluminum triflate or halide intermediates by CH3CN results in the formation of the fourth bond in the course of the transformation.
