Mechanistic Investigation of Castagnoli-Cushman Multicomponent Reactions Leading to a Three-Component Synthesis of Dihydroisoquinolones.

The mechanisms for the three- and four-component variants of the Castagnoli-Cushman reaction (CCR) have been investigated. A series of crossover experiments were conducted to probe the structure and reactivity of known amide-acid intermediates for the three- and four-component variants of the CCR (3CR and 4CR, respectively). Control experiments paired with in situ reaction monitoring with infrared spectroscopy for the 4CR align with a mechanism in which amide-acids derived from maleic anhydride can reversibly form free amine and cyclic anhydride. Although this equilibrium is unfavorable, the aldehyde present can trap the primary amine through imine formation and react with the enol form of the anhydride through a Mannich-like mechanism. This detailed mechanistic investigation coupled with additional crossover experiments supports an analogous mechanism for the 3CR and has led to the elucidation of new 3CR conditions with homophthalic anhydride, amines, and aldehydes for the formation of dihydroisoquinolones in good yields and excellent diastereoselectivity. This work represents the culmination of more than a decade of mechanistic speculation for the 3- and 4CR, enabling the design of new multicomponent reactions that exploit this novel mechanism.

Diastereoselective Synthesis of and Mechanistic Understanding for the Formation of 2-Piperidinones from Imines and Cyano-Substituted Anhydrides.

2-Piperidinones are synthesized in a single step from imines and 2-cyano glutaric anhydrides. The reaction provides the products in good diastereoselectivity and generates a quaternary stereogenic center. Substitutions on the anhydride skeleton are well tolerated to provide 2-piperidinones with three stereogenic centers from a single transformation. The pertinent transition structures have also been computed using quantum mechanics and reveal the key interactions controlling the stereochemical outcome of the reaction.

Stereoselective synthesis of γ-lactams from imines and cyanosuccinic anhydrides.

A reaction between imines and anhydrides has been developed with chiral disubstituted anhydrides and chiral imines. The synthesis of highly substituted γ-lactams with three stereogenic centers, including one quaternary center, proceeds at room temperature in high yield and with high diastereoselectivity in most cases. Enantiomerically pure alkyl-substituted anhydrides proceed with no epimerization, thus providing access to enantiomerically pure penta-substituted lactam products.

Stereocontrol in asymmetric γ-lactam syntheses from imines and cyanosuccinic anhydrides.

Computations (SCS-MP2//B3LYP) reveal that the asymmetric synthesis of highly substituted γ-lactams with three stereogenic centers, including one quaternary center, proceeds through a Mannich reaction between the enol form of the anhydride and the E-imine, followed by a transannular acylation. This new mechanistic picture accounts for both the observed reactivity and stereoselectivity. CH-O and hydrogen bonding interactions in the Mannich step and torsional steering effects in the acylation step are responsible for stereocontrol. It is demonstrated that this new mechanistic picture applies to the related reactions of homophthalic anhydrides with imines and presents new vistas for the design of a new reaction to access complex molecular architectures.

Synthesis of a γ-lactam library via formal cycloaddition of imines and substituted succinic anhydrides.

Formal cycloaddition reactions between imines and cyclic anhydrides serve as starting point for the synthesis of diverse libraries of small molecules. The synthesis of succinic anhydrides substituted with electron-withdrawing groups is facilitated by new mild conditions for alkylation of aryl-substituted acetyl esters with ethyl bromoacetate. These anhydrides are then used in formal cycloaddition reactions with imines to produce γ-lactams. 2-Fluoro-5-nitrophenylsuccinic anhydride reacts efficiently with imines to provide lactams that are further diversified by conversion of the nitro group to either an aniline and an azide for subsequent reactions with acylating agents and alkynes, respectively. The synthesis of cyanosuccinic anhydride is reported for the first time, and the use of this compound in reactions with imines and subsequent functionalization of the resultant lactams is demonstrated.

Ammonia synthons for the multicomponent assembly of complex gamma-lactams.

The synthesis of γ-lactams that are unsubstituted at the 1-position (nitrogen) as well as their subsequent N-functionalization is reported. A recently discovered four-component reaction (4CR) is employed with either an ammonia precursor or a protected form of ammonia that can be deprotected in a subsequent synthetic step. These methods represent the first multicomponent assembly of complex lactam structures that are unsubstituted at nitrogen. In addition, two methods for the introduction of nitrogen substituents that are not possible through the original 4CR are reported. X-ray crystallographic analysis of representative structures reveals conformational changes in the core structure that will enable future deployment of this chemistry in the design and synthesis of diverse collections of lactams suitable for the discovery of new biological probes.

Preparation of aryloxetanes and arylazetidines by use of an alkyl-aryl suzuki coupling.

The oxetan-3-yl and azetidin-3-yl substituents have previously been identified as privileged motifs within medicinal chemistry. An efficient approach to installing these two modules into aromatic systems, using a nickel-mediated alkyl-aryl Suzuki coupling, is presented.