Asymmetric Synthesis of Bicyclic Nitrocyclopropanes from Primary Nitro Compounds and Stereoselective Formation of Tetrahydro-2H-cyclopenta[b]furans via Ring Expansion/Cyclization Reaction.

Optically active bicyclic nitrocyclopropanes are readily prepared from primary chiral nitro compounds, prepared by the conjugate addition of propionaldehyde to a nitro alkene in the presence of proline-derived organocatalysts. The one-step cyclopropanation took place smoothly in a highly stereoselective manner regardless of the stereogenic center adjacent to the allylic unit. Although the allylation reaction catalyzed by BF3·OEt2 provides a mixture of two possible diastereomers, subsequent oxidation of the alcoholic carbon after the formation of nitrocyclopropanes gave diastereomerically pure single products. As a result, separation of the diastereomers during the reaction sequence is unnecessary. Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of the bicyclic nitrocyclopropane ketones followed by enolization resulted in stereoselective formation of a novel cyclopenta[b]furan ring in good yield via ring expansion followed by transannular nucleophilic cyclization.

Unexpected formation of stannolanes and trigonal bipyramidal tin complexes by radical cyclization reaction.

Optically active stannolanes and trigonal bipyramidal pentacoordinated tin complexes were readily prepared by radical cyclization of N-propargylated chiral aza-Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts induced by Bu(3)SnH. A translocated radical through the cyclization attacked the Bu(3)Sn group in an S(H)2 manner.

Stereoselective synthesis of 1-nitrobicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes and fused isoxazoline-N-oxides from primary nitro compounds.

The one-step preparation of 1-nitrobicyclo[3.1.0]hexane and bicycloisoxazoline-N-oxide was readily achieved from conjugate adducts of nitro alkenes and allylmalonates by treatment with Ag(2)O and iodine under basic conditions. We observed that when a primary alkyl group was present at the ß-position of the nitro group, bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane was preferentially formed, whereas if a secondary alkyl group occupied that position, isoxazoline-N-oxide was predominantly produced. High cis-selectivity was observed for the formation of cyclopentane units for both reactions. An iodomethyl adduct, considered an intermediate of the cyclization, was isolated, and its conversion to isoxazoline-N-oxide was successfully achieved. The isoxazoline-N-oxide underwent 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition with alkenes to yield tricycloheterocyclic compounds, which were readily converted to spirolactam in good yield by reductive cleavage of N-O bonds using Raney-Ni. On the other hand, 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of the isoxazoline-N-oxide to terminal alkynes yielded tricyclic aziridines stereoselectively.