Substituent and Solvent Effect Studies of N-Alkenylnitrone 4π Electrocyclizations.

The roles of substituent and solvent effects in promoting the 4π electrocyclization of N-alkenylnitrones to give azetidine nitrones have been investigated by experimental examination of relative rates, activation energies, and linear free energy relationships. These transformations are synthetically important because they favor the formation of a strained heterocyclic ring with imbedded functionality and stereochemical information for versatile derivatization. Mechanistic investigations, including Hammett studies, solvent-dependent Eyring studies, and solvent isotope effects, provide insight into the steric and electronic factors that control these electrocyclizations and identify trends that can be used to advance this approach towards the rapid synthesis of complex azetidines.

Nitrone and Alkyne Cascade Reactions for Regio- and Diastereoselective 1-Pyrroline Synthesis.

The synthesis of 1-pyrrolines from N-alkenylnitrones and alkynes has been explored as a retrosynthetic alternative to traditional approaches. These cascade reactions are formal [4+1] cycloadditions that proceed through a proposed dipolar cycloaddition and N-alkenylisoxazoline [3,3']-sigmatropic rearrangement. A variety of cyclic alkynes and terminal alkynes have been shown to undergo the transformation with N-alkenylnitrones under mild conditions to provide the corresponding spirocyclic and densely substituted 1-pyrrolines with high regio- and diastereoselectivity. Mechanistic studies provide insight into the balance of steric and electronic effects that promote the cascade process and control the diastereo- and regioisomeric preferences of the 1-pyrroline products. Diastereoselective derivatization of the 1-pyrrolines prepared by the cascade reaction demonstrate the divergent synthetic utility of the new method.

Synthesis of Spirocyclic 1-Pyrrolines from Nitrones and Arynes through a Dearomative [3,3']-Sigmatropic Rearrangement.

A dearomative [3,3']-sigmatropic rearrangement that converts N-alkenylbenzisoxazolines into spirocyclic pyrroline cyclohexadienones has been developed by using the dipolar cycloaddition of an N-alkenylnitrone and an aryne to access these unusual transient rearrangement precursors. This cascade reaction affords spirocyclic pyrrolines that are inaccessible through dipolar cycloadditions of exocyclic cyclohexenones and provides a fundamentally new approach to novel spirocyclic pyrroline and pyrrolidine motifs that are common scaffolds in biologically-active molecules. Diastereoselective functionalization processes have also been explored to demonstrate the divergent synthetic utility of the unsaturated spirocyclic products.

Catalyst-controlled cascade synthesis of bridged bicyclic tetrahydrobenz[b]azepine-4-ones.

A catalyst-controlled cascade reaction has been developed for the synthesis of bridged bicyclic tetrahydrobenz[b]azepin-4-ones from N-arylnitrones and allenes. This method expands the accessible structural diversity of a synthetically challenging heterocyclic scaffold and tunes a catalyst-sensitive process in a new direction.

Generation and Rearrangement of N,O-Dialkenylhydroxylamines for the Synthesis of 2-Aminotetrahydrofurans.

A new diastereoselective route to 2-aminotetrahydrofurans has been developed from N,O-dialkenylhydroxylamines. These intermediates undergo a spontaneous C-C bond-forming [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement followed by a C-O bond-forming cyclization. A copper-catalyzed N-alkenylation of an N-Boc-hydroxylamine with alkenyl iodides, and a base-promoted addition of the resulting N-hydroxyenamines to an electron-deficient allene, provide modular access to these novel rearrangement precursors. The scope of this de novo synthesis of simple nucleoside analogues has been explored to reveal trends in diastereoselectivity and reactivity. In addition, a base-promoted ring-opening and Mannich reaction has been discovered to covert 2-aminotetrahydrofurans to cyclopentyl ß-aminoacid derivatives or cyclopentenones.

Cascade Synthesis of 3-Functionalized Indoles from Nitrones and Their Conversion to Cycloheptanone-Fused Indoles.

A cascade reaction of N-aryl-α,ß-unsaturated nitrones and electron-deficient allenes has been discovered that allows single-step access to 3-functionalized indoles that usually require preformation and alkylation of an indole precursor. The heterocycles prepared through the hydrogen bond donor catalyzed cascade reaction are poised to undergo a McMurry coupling to form previously synthetically elusive cycloheptanone-fused indoles. The scope of these transformations is discussed as well as mechanistic experiments describing proposed intermediates of the cascade reaction and an initial catalytic asymmetric example that generates a carbon stereocenter during the cascade process.

Facile Synthesis of Azetidine Nitrones and Diastereoselective Conversion into Densely Substituted Azetidines.

An electrocyclization route to azetidine nitrones from N-alkenylnitrones was discovered that provides facile access to these unsaturated strained heterocycles. Reactivity studies showed that these compounds undergo a variety of reduction, cycloaddition, and nucleophilic addition reactions to form highly substituted azetidines with excellent diastereoselectivity. Taken together, these transformations provide a fundamentally different approach to azetidine synthesis than traditional cyclization by nucleophilic displacement and provide novel access to a variety of underexplored strained heterocyclic compounds.

Single-Step Modular Synthesis of Unsaturated Morpholine N-Oxides and Their Cycloaddition Reactions.

A single-flask procedure for the generation of α-keto-N-alkenylnitrones through a Chan-Lam coupling and subsequent spontaneous 6π electrocyclization of these intermediates for the synthesis of 2H-1,4-oxazine N-oxides has been developed for a variety of α-ketooximes and alkenylboronic acids. This transformation provides a new approach to C-substituted unsaturated morpholine derivatives that are poised to undergo further functionalization for the preparation of a diverse array of novel heterocyclic structures. The scope of the new method for the synthesis of 2H-1,4-oxazine N-oxides is discussed, in addition to initial studies describing the cycloaddition reactivity of these new heterocyclic intermediates.

Cascade Reactions of Nitrones and Allenes for the Synthesis of Indole Derivatives.

Cascade reactions involving nitrones and allenes are known to facilitate the rapid synthesis of several indole derivatives. The chemoselectivity of these complicated transformations can be influenced by substrate functionalization, reaction conditions, and catalyst control. While seminal studies established primary reactivity patterns, recent work has illustrated the impact of these cascade reactions for creating diverse libraries, increased the breadth of these methods with facilitated access to challenging nitrones, and shown that these transformations can be controlled by asymmetric catalysis.

Catalytic Asymmetric Synthesis of Dihydropyrido[1,2-a]indoles from Nitrones and Allenoates.

An asymmetric method for the synthesis of dihydropyrido[1,2-a]indoles from mixtures of nitrones and allenoates has been developed. This transformation showcases the use of squaramide catalysis in a complicated cascade system that has been shown to be highly sensitive to reaction conditions and substituent effects. The new method provides access to enantiomerically enriched dihydropyridoindoles from modular, non-indole reagents. The optimization and scope of the new transformation is discussed in addition to initial mechanistic experiments that indicate the role of the catalyst.

Copper-mediated synthesis of N-alkenyl-α,ß-unsaturated nitrones and their conversion to tri- and tetrasubstituted pyridines.

A Chan-Lam reaction has been used to prepare N-alkenyl-α,ß-unsaturated nitrones, which undergo a subsequent thermal rearrangement to the corresponding tri- and tetrasubstituted pyridines. The optimization and scope of these transformations is discussed. Initial mechanistic experiments suggest a reaction pathway involving oxygen transfer followed by cyclization.

Solvent-controlled bifurcated cascade process for the selective preparation of dihydrocarbazoles or dihydropyridoindoles.

A solvent-controlled cascade process has been identified for the dual purpose of the preparation of either dihydrocarbazoles or dihydropyridoindoles from identical N-aryl-α,ß-unsaturated nitrones and electron-deficient allene starting materials. These reactions proceed smoothly under mild metal-free conditions affording a range of two types of skeletally distinct indole-based heterocycles in high yield and diastereoselectivity. These transformations demonstrate the use of a bifurcated cascade process that hinges on the ring-opening event of a benzazepine intermediate for the synthesis of skeletally diverse heterocyclic products and rapid access to biologically-significant, indole-based structures.

Synthesis of N-styrenyl amidines from α,ß-unsaturated nitrones and isocyanates through CO2 elimination and styrenyl migration.

A mild, metal-free, and modular route for the preparation of N-styrenyl amidines from N-aryl-α,ß-unsaturated nitrones and isocyanates has been developed that accesses an initial oxadiazolidinone intermediate that can undergo CO(2) elimination and styrenyl migration. The use of a migration event to install N-styrenyl amidine substituents circumvents a limitation of traditional Pinner-type methods for amidine synthesis that require the use of amine nucleophiles. The modularity of the nitrone and isocyanate reagents provides access to a variety of differentially substituted N-styrenyl amidines. The scope and tolerance of the method are presented, and preliminary mechanistic data for the transformation are discussed.

Synthesis of 1,4-enamino ketones by [3,3]-rearrangements of dialkenylhydroxylamines.

The synthesis of 1,4-enamino ketones has been achieved through the [3,3]-rearrangement of dialkenylhydroxylamines generated from the addition of N-alkenylnitrones to electron-deficient allenes. The mild conditions required for this reaction, and the simultaneous installation of a fluorenyl imine N-protecting group as a consequence of the rearrangement, avoid spontaneous cyclization of the 1,4-enamino ketones to form the corresponding pyrroles and allow for the isolation and controlled divergent functionalization of these reactive intermediates. The optimization, scope, and tolerance of the new method are discussed with demonstrations of the utility of the products for the synthesis of pyrroles, 1,4-diones, and furans.

Preparation of α-imino aldehydes by [1,3]-rearrangements of O-alkenyl oximes.

The synthesis of α-imino aldehydes has been achieved through the thermal [1,3]-rearrangement of O-alkenyl benzophenone oximes. A copper-mediated C-O bond coupling between benzophenone oxime and alkenyl boronic acids provides facile access to the required O-alkenyl oximes and a Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons olefination can be applied to the α-imino aldehyde products to give γ-imino-α,ß-unsaturated esters. The scope of the method is described and mechanistic experiments are discussed.

Interrupted Fischer-indole intermediates via oxyarylation of alkenyl boronic acids.

The oxyarylation of alkenyl boronic acids with N-arylbenzhydroxamic acids has been achieved under both copper-mediated and copper-catalyzed conditions to provide access to interrupted Fischer-indole intermediates. This transformation is believed to proceed through a copper-promoted C-O bond forming event followed by a [3,3] rearrangement. The scope of the method is described and mechanistic experiments are discussed.

Preparation and rearrangement of N-vinyl nitrones: synthesis of spiroisoxazolines and fluorene-tethered isoxazoles.

N-Vinyl nitrones derived from fluorenone have been prepared via a copper-mediated coupling between fluorenone oxime and vinyl boronic acids. These compounds undergo subsequent rearrangement and addition reactions that are distinct from the traditional [3 + 2] cycloaddition reactivity of nitrones. Thermal rearrangements of fluorenone N-vinyl nitrones give spiroisoxazolines, while treatment with alkynes provides fluorene-tethered isoxazoles. The scope and limitations of the preparation of fluorenone N-vinyl nitrones and their subsequent rearrangement and addition reactions are discussed.

Preparation of α-oxygenated ketones by the dioxygenation of alkenyl boronic acids.

Two in two: Dioxygenation of alkenyl boronic acids has been achieved with N-hydroxyphthalimide. The two-step process involves etherification of an alkenyl boronic acid with N-hydroxyphthalimide followed by a [3,3] rearrangement. The dioxygenated product can then be hydrolyzed to form either the corresponding α-hydroxy ketone or the α-benzoyloxy ketone.

Regioselective synthesis of 2,3,4- or 2,3,5-trisubstituted pyrroles via [3,3] or [1,3] rearrangements of O-vinyl oximes.

The regioselective synthesis of 2,3,4- or 2,3,5-trisubstituted pyrroles has been achieved via [3,3] and [1,3] sigmatropic rearrangements of O-vinyl oximes, respectively. Iridium-catalyzed isomerization of easily prepared O-allyl oximes enables rapid access to O-vinyl oximes. The regioselectivity of pyrrole formation can be controlled by either the identity of the α-substituent or through the addition of an amine base. When enolization is favored, a [3,3] rearrangement followed by a Paal-Knorr cyclization provides a 2,3,4-trisubstituted pyrrole; when enolization is disfavored, a [1,3] rearrangement occurs prior to enolization to produce a 2,3,5-trisubstituted pyrrole after cyclization. Optimization and scope of the O-allyl oxime isomerization and subsequent pyrrole formation are discussed and mechanistic pathways are proposed. Conditions are provided for selecting either the [3,3] rearrangement or the [1,3] rearrangement product with ß-ester O-allyl oxime substrates.